Liberation Monument

The Liberation Monument is a monument in Pyongyang, North Korea. Geographic coordinates are coord|39|2|6.40|N|125|45|30.56|E (best viewed with Google Earth). It was built in 1947 to commemorate soldiers of the Red Army, who took part in Korea's liberation from Imperial Japan in the end of World War II (in particular, Soviet paratroopers took control of Pyongyang on August 24 1945). The monument is 30 meters tall, with the five-pointed red star on top of it, and texts in Russian and Korean on four sides of the monument. It is not just a notable place for official delegations, tourists and local people, but also the traditional place for wedding ceremonies.

Russian text on the Liberation Monument

"Великий советский народ разгромил японских империалистов и освободил корейский народ. Кровью, пролитой советскими воинами при освобождении Кореи, еще больше укрепились узы дружбы между корейским и советским народами. В знак всенародной благодарности воздвигнут этот памятник. 15 августа 1945 года.

This can be translated into English as:"The great Soviet people defeated Japanese imperialists and liberated Korean people. The blood shed by Soviet soldiers during the liberation of Korea, strengthened bonds of friendship between the Korean and the Soviet people still more. This monument was erected to show how grateful all the Koreans feel. August 15, 1945"

And the text on another side of the monument:

"Вечная слава великой Советской Армии, освободившей корейский народ от ига японских империалистов и открывшей ему путь к свободе и независимости! 15 августа 1945 г."

It can be translated into English as:"Eternal glory to the great Soviet Army, which unyoked Korean people from Japanese imperialists and showed them the way to freedom and independence! August 15, 1945"

External links

* [http://www.enlight.ru/camera/dprk/dprk_1614.jpgA photo of the Liberation Monument]
* [http://www.enlight.ru/camera/dprk/phen_mang.html Tourist's view on Pyongyang (in Russian)] , includes some photos of the monument