The State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

The State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, based in Pyongyang, is North Korea's only Western-style symphony orchestra. It was North Korea's first ensemble of any kind devoted to Western classical music. Known by Korean terms meaning "Pyongyang National Symphony Orchestra" in North Korea itself, the State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was founded in 1946 under the name Central Symphony Orchestra. By 1948 it had come under the umbrella of the National Theater of Korea, accompanying stage productions such as Kore...