OLD KOREA

           The ancestors of the Korean race, in the year -1.000 founded the first slave states : Kochoson, Buyo and Zinguk. Kochoson (also called Choson or Old Korea) was the oldest state . The capital was Wangomsong, situated near the river Liaohe.

           Since the year -600, Kochoson was called Choson by the neighbourhood countries, and the meaning of this word is 'The country of the morning calm'

           The inhabitants of the Old Korea had an original culture with a high level of development. They had their own iron-working methods that made them to produce iron objects since the year -400. Iron axes and short swords were discovered during the prospections.

           During the Middle Age the slave states of Korea became feudalists. Kogurio, Bekze and Sinla, the most powerful states, absorbed the other forces stablishing the age that was called 'The Three Kingdoms' period that continued until the 7th century.

           Koguryo was the first and most powerful among the Kingdoms, the capital was Cholbon (today called Huanren) and Kuknesong (today called jian War the river Amrok). Later, when the Kingdom expanded its territory, the capital was moved to Pyongyang.

           Pyongyang still keeps the old monuments that shows how was the capital of the Kogurio Kingdom more than 1,500 years ago: the ruins of the wall in the Desong hill with 7,706 kms. of lenght, The Royal Palace Anjak with more than 380,000 square meters, and the wall of the Pyongyang citadel with more than 23,000 meters.

           Around the 10th. century and during 500 years, Korea became a very powerful unified state called 'Koryo'. From this word Koryo cames the actual name of the country 'Korea'.

           At the end of the 14th. century, Koryo was substituted by the Richo (that is a word composed by the words Choson and Ri dinasty). So the last feudalist state of Korea under the Ri dinasty existed during 500 years more.