Pyongyang, January 4 (KCNA) -- Kaesong Chomsongdae is a stone structure built in 919 as the central astronomical observatory of Koryo (918-1392).

It is situated in the western part of Manwoldae in Manwol-dong, Kaesong Municipality, the DPRK.

There remains now only an embankment built of granite. Originally, astronomical observation instruments were installed on the embankment.

The embankment is 2.8 meters high and each of its sides is 2.6 meters long.

The four sides of the embankment lie to the north, the south, the east and the west and its construction was precisely done.

The embankment shows that the structure is solid and the stone processing technique was high at that time.

From the outset of its founding, Koryo had astronomical and meteorological observation organs like Thaebokgam and Thaesaguk and made observation at Ryongdae (Astronomical Observatory) to record the results in detail.

There are more than 50 records of the sunspots observed from 1105 to the end of Koryo.

Besides, detailed records of solar eclipse, a planet occulted by moon, comet, meteor, and special astronomical phenomena are also available.

Kaesong Chomsongdae is a valuable relic showing the state of astronomical observation in the country at that time and the high architectural skills of the Middle Ages. -0-