REUNIFICATION ARK / HIGHWAY

Since 2001 the Ark of reunification is situated at the exit of Pyongyang, at the entrance of the motorway to Kaesong via Sariwon in the direction of the DMZ. Two statues of women in traditional dress, one representing North Korea, the other South Korea, symbolize the reunification proposed by Kim Il-Sung according to the North Korean ideology and the creation of the Federal Republic of Koryo. The hands of the two statues meet above the highway, holding a sphere where a reunified Korea is engraved. This sphere represents the three principles to guide a successful reunification: independence, peace, and a strong national union. In this vision of reunification, each party (North and South) accepts the other in its diversity and philosophy. The statues measure 30 metres in reference to these 3 points guiding reunification and have a width of 6.15 metres in commemoration of a joint declaration made by the North, represented by Kim Jong-Il and the South, represented by Kim Dae-Jung on 15 June 2000, which allowed some families that were separated by the border to see each other for a few hours.

The monument marks the entrance to the highway towards the South, or "reunification Highway", which stretches over a little more than 170 kilometres. Many checkpoints are installed on the road to prevent a potential invasion of the South obviously, but also to check the movements of the North Korean population who cannot move freely in the country without permission from the Administration. Construction began in 1987 and ended in 1992 for Kim Il-Sung's birthday. The road does not seem to have been renovated since as many holes and herbs are visible. The traffic is not as dense: you will see only a few Toyota 4x4 of the army and the tourist coaches, so you will be able to contemplate the landscape easily. It is compulsory to take the traditional photo where each participant of the group holds hands to form a chain that crosses the highway in its width.