The importantcities of North Korea have self-governing status equivalent to that of provinces.Pyongyang, the largest city and capital, is classified as achikhalsi (capital city), while three cities (see the list below) are classified ast'ŭkpyŏlsi (special city). Other cities are classified assi (city) and are under provincial jurisdiction, at the same level as counties (seeAdministrative divisions of North Korea).
(Note: foundation dates are the dates the cities were legally founded as their current status by the North Korean government. They all existed as prior settlements before these dates.)