Travelling to North Korea is always an amazing experience, but visiting North Korea during one of the numerous national holidays unique to the country tends to be even more of an experience. One of our favourite holidays is National Day, which celebrates the founding of the country.

When was North Korea founded?

Following the conclusion of World War II, the Korean peninsula found itself in a similar situation to Germany – liberated by the Allies on one side and the Soviets on the other. Though there were talks of unifying the country, the globes’ two new superpowers found that it was much more strategically advantageous to maintain de facto control of their pieces of the Korean pie, and two separate countries were created. Following a three-year period with an interim government headed by Kim Il Sung, The DPRK itself came into official being on September 9^th, 1948.

When was South Korea founded?

The Republic of Korea – more informally known as South Korea – was founded on August 15^th 1948, more or less a month before the DPRK was founded. As with the North, an interim government ran the country with the assistance of the US.

How do North Koreans celebrate National Day?

National Day is, without a doubt, one of the most important days in the North Korean year. The levels of pomp and ceremony depend, however, on the precise year: in 2018 it was the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the Republic, and so there was a commensurately impressive military parade.

Every year, regardless of the significance of the anniversary, National Day is still an impressive sight, with mass dances and fireworks in the capital city of Pyongyang. You’ll also see locals making the most of things by feasting, drinking and dancing in Mansu Park.

YPT takes full advantage of the grandiosity of National Day every year; sign up for one of our tours today!