Arch of Reunification Monument
Concrete monument near Pyongyang symbolizing Korean reunification
The Arch of Reunification in Pyongyang is a monumental concrete arch on the city's outskirts depicting a reunification motif and map. Visitors on organized tours stop to view the sculpture and adjacent public plaza.
Arch of Reunification at a Glance#
Address: Mansu Hill, Pyongyang, North Korea
About Arch of Reunification#
Arch of Reunification is a state-built monument on the Reunification Highway on the western edge of Pyongyang, intended as a symbol of Korean reunification. It was unveiled in 2001 and is one of the more prominent modern monuments on Pyongyang’s outskirts.
The monument’s most distinctive feature is a large sculptural group of two stylized Korean women facing each other while jointly holding an outline map of the Korean Peninsula; the structure spans the road beneath. The arch and the sculpture are large enough to be visible from vehicles passing along the highway and from nearby viewpoints.
Built by the North Korean government as a political and commemorative monument, it has been used as a symbolic landmark in state messaging about reunification. The structure has no known public interior access and is primarily an external roadside monument.
The arch stands on the western approach into Pyongyang along the route that links the city with points north and west; it is within the city’s administrative area and adjacent to major arterial roads rather than in a park or pedestrian plaza.
- Principal sculpture: The central sculptural group shows two Korean women - one representing the North and one the South - holding a large map of a unified Korea.
- Location note: Sits directly over the Reunification Highway on the western approaches to central Pyongyang and is visible from passing vehicles on that route.
How to Get to Arch of Reunification#
The Arch is on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang; visits are only possible as part of organized, state-approved tours arranged through licensed travel operators.
Tips for Visiting Arch of Reunification#
- Mount a visit to the Arch with a broader walking tour of the Mansu Hill area to see the Juche Tower and surrounding monuments in sequence.
- Expect crowds of local tourists on national holidays-arrive early for clearer photography and quieter contemplation.
- Photography from public promenades is usually fine but avoid any restricted zones and follow posted rules.
Best Time to Visit Arch of Reunification#
Spring and autumn are best for comfortable weather and clearer skies; monument visits are typically part of guided tours year-round.
Weather & Climate near Arch of Reunification#
Arch of Reunification's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Winter) - Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Winter) climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -11°C to 28°C. Abundant rainfall (1063 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -11° - -1° | -9° | 21 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.7h |
| February | Acceptable | -8° - 2° | -6° | 18 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.2 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.6h |
| March | Good | -2° - 9° | 1° | 28 mm | some cloud | 70% | 2.2 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Very Good | 5° - 17° | 11° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 67% | 2.3 m/s | 1.0 high | 13.1h |
| May | Very Good | 11° - 22° | 16° | 73 mm | partly cloudy | 67% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| June | Very Good | 16° - 26° | 21° | 115 mm | partly cloudy | 69% | 1.8 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.6h |
| July | Good | 20° - 28° | 24° | 280 mm | overcast | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.4h |
| August | Good | 20° - 28° | 24° | 238 mm | overcast | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 13.5h |
| September | Very Good | 14° - 24° | 19° | 132 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.3h |
| October | Very Good | 6° - 18° | 12° | 44 mm | some cloud | 74% | 1.5 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.1h |
| November | Good | -1° - 9° | 3° | 40 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 1.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.0h |
| December | Acceptable | -8° - 2° | -6° | 18 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 1.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.4h |