Pyongyang had completely been reduced to ashes by the indiscriminate U.S. air raids during the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950-July 1953).

Convinced of victory in the war, President Kim Il Sung personally guided the work to design the master plan for the postwar reconstruction of Pyongyang.

Taking upon himself the post of the chairman of the Pyongyang City Reconstruction Committee in the postwar period, he saw to it that the reconstruction was carried out on the basis of putting the citizens' interests above anything. And he frequently visited construction sites and indicated detailed ways for construction.

Encouraged by his energetic guidance, builders wrought a miracle of assembling a housing flat in only 14 minutes.

The U.S. imperialists vouched that the city could not rise up even in 100 years, but it took on more splendid looks than the pre-war time in some years.

In the city, there appeared one after another Chongnyon and Chollima streets, Pyongyang Students and Children's Palace, Pyongyang Grand Theatre, Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, People's Palace of Culture and other edifices.

It was one day in December Juche 62 (1973) when the President mounted Namsan Hill. Noting that the hill had been left intact from long ago on his instruction, he called for building on the site a big public library.

Later, he examined layouts for the library several times, stressing the need to build it in the Korean style to meet the demand and will of the people. After all, the Grand People's Study House came into being in the heart of the city.

Kim Il Sung's far-sighted plan on building Pyongyang into a world-level city was brought into reality by leader Kim Jong Il.