True to President Kim Il Sung's plan for turning Pyongyang into a grandiose city, Kim Jong Il began opening the heydays of Pyongyang with construction of the Mansudae Art Theatre and Rakwon Street.

He saw to it that downtown Pyongyang was wonderfully built with Kim Il Sung's statue on Mansu Hill as centre. He ensured that the Changgwang Street was modernly built in the heart of the city, followed by Munsu Street on the bank of the River Taedong and Taehak (university) and An Sang Thaek streets.

His energetic guidance led to the construction of the Tower of the Juche Idea, Arch of Triumph, Grand People's Study House, Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, Changgwang Health Complex, Ice Rink, Chongryu Restaurant, Pyongyang Metro and other edifices

Later, Pyongyang took on more grandiose looks with appearance of Kwangbok, Chongchun and Thongil streets, Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, Pyongyang Circus Theater, May Day Stadium, etc.

In May Juche 80 (1991), Kim Jong Il made public a work "Theory of Architectural Art", which deals with guidelines to be maintained in developing the nation's architecture on a higher level.

Even in the period of the Arduous March, the forced march, when the country was hard pressed for anything, he gave an instruction on building the Chongryu Bridge (2nd stage) and Kumrung Tunnel No. 2, thus making the construction in the city go nonstop. In coincidence with their construction, there appeared in Pyongyang September 9 and Mansudae streets, April 25 Hotel and Monument to Party Foundation.

Such edifices as Mansudae Street and the National Theatre took their shapes one after another in the city in the new century.

The present-day looks of Pyongyang are a result of the devoted efforts made by Kim Jong Il, a great master of architectural art.