KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 51 Crystal Liquor Bottles and Glasses on a Silver Tray

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 51 Crystal liquor bottles and glasses on a silver tray

A gift presented to President Kim Il Sung by the K. Arwei Insurance Brokers Ltd., U.K., in May 1982.

52 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 KOREA TODAY Monthly Journal (682) Printed in English, Russian and Chinese

C O N T E N T S

DPRK’s Miracles and President Kim Il Sung·········································································· 3

Names With People in Them ································································································· 7

Songun and Korea················································································································9

Juche Idea Studied and Disseminated Worldwide····································································11

Wealth of Comrades and Comrades-in-arms ···········································································12

Be the Eldest Brother and Sister···························································································12

Kim Il Sung Is the Eternal Sun of Mankind (1) ·····································································13

Tales of a Century Ago·········································································································14

DPRK’s Answer ·················································································································15

Mettle of Korea··················································································································16

Korea Makes No Empty Talk! ······························································································17

We Will Hasten Our Final Victory ························································································17

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 1

Conscious of Being the Master····················································18

Pyongyang Rayon Yarn Mill·······················································20

Key to Increase in Production·····················································22

Really a Wise Investment ··························································23

Basis of Success ·······································································24

Nursery of Talent ·····································································25

Front Cover: Foreigners visit Country That Affords Learning to Everybody ·······························26 the venue of the Kimilsungia Where Ice Does Not Melt ···························································28 Festival A Look Back on Korean Stamp Development ································30 Photo by Ra Phyong Ryol Fragrance of Flowers ································································32

Five Red Stars ·········································································33

Short Novel

Room No. 5 of the Holiday Village ··············································34

Kind-hearted Prosthetic Dentists················································36

Far From Mandate of Heaven ····················································37

Sosong District Juvenile Sports School ········································38

Invigorating Mass Sports Activities ············································39

Ri Se Gwang, Twice Asian Champion ··········································40

Saint Sosan ·············································································41

Nam Gate of Taesongsan Fort ····················································42 Back Cover: Mangyongdae in spring Pyongyang Folk Park (4) ···························································43

DPRK’s Consistent Foreign Policy ··············································46 Photo by Kim Jin Ho Hazard of the US-Japan Security Treaty ·····································47

Real Nuclear Culprit·································································48 13502 ㄱ-38206

2 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 DPRK’s Miracles and President Kim Il Sung

PRIL 15 IS THE BIRTHDAY OF revolution should not be conducted in that way. I A Kim Il Sung, eternal President of the believed that the revolution in our country would Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The nation emerge victorious only when it was undertaken on celebrates the day as the Day of the Sun in a mean- our own responsibility and by the efforts of our own ingful way year after year, looking back on the revo- people, and that all the problems arising in the revolutionary exploits of their great leader who is the lution must be solved independently and creatively. top incarnation of all that is valuable, lofty, sacred This was the starting-point of the Juche idea, as it is and glorious in socialist Korea. known nowadays.” Kim Il Sung expounded the principle of the Juche Idea, Banner of the Nation Juche idea at the meeting of leading personnel of the Young Communist League and the Anti-Imperialist Kim Il Sung is the founder of the Juche idea, a Youth League held at Kalun, China, in 1930. Later new guiding idea which maintains that one is the he steadily developed the Juche idea in depth in the master of one’s own destiny and that one has the course of giving new solutions to problems arising in power to hew out one’s own destiny in oneself. In his the revolutionary practice while leading the revolu- reminiscences With the Century he wrote: “I ana- tionary struggle and the construction work. By ap- lysed the situations of the nationalist and communist plying the idea in the revolution and construction in movements in our country and decided that the an all-round way, he changed Korea into a socialist power which is independent in politics, self-sufficient The Tower of the Juche Idea stands in in the economy and self-reliant in national defence. Pyongyang witnessed a world conference on the honour of the exploits of President Juche idea in April last year. Vishwanath, chief of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the idea. the Board of Directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, and concurrently chief secretary of the International Kim Il Sung Prize Council, made a report to the meeting, when he said, “President Kim Il Sung is a genius thinker and theoretician and a great leader who founded the immortal Juche idea which stands at the top glorious place in the history of human thinking and pioneered the independent era. Thanks to him, the popular masses greeted a new historic era when they are working to achieve the ultimate aim of freedom and liberty against imperialism and colonialism… The Juche idea will continue to cast bright light on the world along with the august names of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il.”

Great Victory in Two Revolutionary Wars

The modern Korean history was the one whereby the Korean people carved out their destiny and de- fended their national dignity and honour in the warfare against formidable enemies of the world. The first revolutionary war the Koreans fought was the one against the Japanese imperialists. Earlier in 1905 the Japanese imperialists occupied Korea militarily with an ambition to conquer the whole of Asia. At the time they were armed to the teeth with latest military hardware and technology. Starting from the firm Juche-oriented stand that even a small nation will successfully vanquish formidable imperialist aggression forces when it fights it out with a stout confidence in its own strength, ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 3 ► Kim Il Sung put forth the policy of fighting with the and those with money give money in order to build a Japanese with arms in hand, and then organized and democratic, independent and sovereign state. All the led the struggle wisely. He formed the Anti-Japanese people rose up to put into effect his plan of building a People’s Guerrilla Army, the first Juche-oriented democratic Korea. A new history of creation and con- revolutionary armed force in Korea, on April 25, struction began to be written in the country. The Pot- 1932, and declared a war against the Japanese. But hong River Improvement Project, which had been the enemy demeaned the Korean people’s revolu- done only a bit by the Japanese imperialists even in tionary army as “a grain in the vast blue sea.” nearly ten years, was finished in only 55 days—no less Maintaining that they should overpower the than a miracle—and, likewise, a campaign was force- Japanese imperialists’ military and technical supe- fully conducted to lay a foundation for an independent riority with their politico-ideological superiority and national economy by removing the colonial one- strategic and tactical superiority, Kim Il Sung built sidedness of the economy, which was the aftermath of up the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army while the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists, carrying encouraging broad masses of the people to turn out out technical renovation of industry and agriculture in the struggle against the Japanese. In this way he and creating a high tempo of growth in production. defeated the Japanese aggressors by means of a The reconstruction campaign after the Korean guerrilla warfare, thus making a breakthrough in war was a struggle in which the Koreans demon- the imperialists’ colonial system for the first time. strated their national mettle again and wrought The second enemy of the Korean people was the another miracle. During the war the bestial outrages US imperialists who were vaunting themselves as the of the US imperialists reduced all the Korean facto- world’s “mightiest.” Having long sought to occupy the ries, enterprises and farms to sheer destruction and whole of Korea and then get control of the whole towns and villages to ashes. There was not a single world by expanding aggression war to Asia, the US whole brick to be seen. The Americans gloated that imperialists launched a sudden armed attack against Korea would not rise again even in 100 years. the DPRK on June 25, 1950. It was only five years But Kim Il Sung had a confident belief that the since Korea was liberated and only two years since nation would be able to rise again however difficult the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was the conditions might be as long as there were the founded, so the nation had meager economic potenti- Workers’ Party of Korea, the political power, the alities. Nevertheless, the Korean people, led by people and the territory. Having indicated the cor- Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army rect way of rehabilitation and construction, he forced his way across the war debris to visit factories, en- Kim Il Sung, brought the US imperialists to their terprises and rural communities and arouse the knees, the enemy who had talked their victory in the people to heroic struggle. Miraculous events took war was a matter of time, thus concluding the three- place. The workers of the then Kangson Steel Works year-long Fatherland Liberation War to their great rebuilt a furnace in no more than 40 days and pro- victory. duced the first charge of molten steel, while the Marian Bellitski, a Polish writer, wrote in his workers of the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex set work, “When the Korean people were putting up the up a mammoth open-hearth furnace at a site—where heroic Fatherland Liberation War, I, as a war corre- there had been a half smaller furnace—in only ten spondent, sang of Korea and of the truth that there months and produced the first charge of iron. was no force to reduce to submission the courageous The Koreans wrought one miracle after another Koreans who were fighting unyieldingly and heroi- by developing dreams into reality, firmly united cally to defend their dear country… I spent much behind their national leader with a single mind and time enjoying accompaniment of officers and men of for the same purpose. Grand Chollima march was the Korean People’s Army. I saw them fighting val- carried out, resulting in the manufacture of the na- iantly in trenches in showers of bullets and shells tion’s first tractor from scratch in 35 days, the exploding and making charges to enemy positions manufacture of the nation’s first truck in 40 days, shouting, ‘For the country!’ and ‘For General and the production of 13 000 machine tools in addi- Kim Il Sung!’ I saw a heroic Korea.” tion to the annual state plan. The “Pyongyang Speed” was created, a speed of building a flat in 14 A Rich, Independent and minutes. The Koreans accomplished the socialist Sovereign State Built industrialization in a short span of 14 years.

Meeting Pyongyang citizens for the first time in Popular Masses-centric Socialist October 1945 after the country was liberated from System Established the military occupation of the Japanese imperialists, Kim Il Sung said that the time had come for the In his work Ten-point Programme of the Associa- Korean people to join efforts to build a new democratic tion for the Restoration of the Fatherland published Korea and appealed to them to let those with strength in 1936 when the anti-Japanese armed struggle was give strength, those with knowledge give knowledge at its height, Kim Il Sung proposed to establish a ►

4 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 5 ► genuine revolutionary government of the The Arch of Triumph. Korean people after defeating Japanese imperialism and suggested a number of democratic policies for nationalization of major industries, land reform, 8-hour workday, sex equality, free and compulsory education and other issues. This was a manifestation of his far-reaching plan of building a socialist society where there would be no exploitation or oppression and the people with equal rights are put forward as the master. After national liberation Kim Il Sung put his plan into practice successfully. The land reform was carried out in less than one month putting an end to the feudal land ownership that had been in existence for ages. Nationalization of major industries and other democratic reforms were effected to abolish the remnants of the He made sure that the people’s government, or the Japanese imperialists’ colonial rule. Thus the anti- socialist government, was faithful to its mission as imperialist, anti-feudal democratic revolution was representative of the independent rights of the accomplished, paving a road to switch over to the popular masses, organizer of their creative ability socialist revolution. and activity, caretaker of their life, and guard of Having laid a foundation for the nation’s free their interest. He ensured that the socialist economy development by carrying out the land reform and was managed and controlled by the masses of the other democratic reforms, Kim Il Sung advanced people and that an independent socialist national the idea of switching over to the socialist revolution economy was built up even in the imperialists’ following the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal democratic blockade so that everyone was equally well-off with- revolution and the policy of reorganizing the eco- out any worry about food, clothing and housing. In nomic form along socialist lines before technical this way he saw to it that the people’s desire for in- transformation of agriculture. According to the policy dependent and creative life was satisfied. the socialist transformation of the relations of pro- As the socialist system centred on the people duction was done in a matter of 4-5 years and the looks after their life in a responsible manner, the cause of exploitation and oppression was removed. Koreans regard it as the home of their happy life. As a result a socialist system settled in Korea. The It is the greatest glory, happiness and pride of the system struck its root deep into the life of the people Korean people to have acclaimed Kim Il Sung as as it was chosen and built up by the Korean people their great leader for the first time in their history themselves. spanning thousands of years. Kim Il Sung put forward the people as masters President Kim Il Sung will be alive in the hearts of politics, the economy and cultural development. of the Korean people for ever and ever.

6 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Names With People in Them

N THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC I of Korea there are a lot of names with the word people in them. The names of the state and the power organs and the regular armed forces are ex- amples. The persons who render great service to the country and the people are awarded honorary titles like People’s Scientist, People’s Designer, People’s Teacher, People’s Journalist, People’s Artist, Peo- ple’s Artiste and People’s Athlete. President Kim Il Sung provided the present status to the Korean people, who had long suffered from exploitation and suppression, shackled by colonial slavery in the past. After the Japanese imperialists occupied Korea militarily, he in April 1932 organized a revolutionary armed force for national liberation and named it the Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army to make its character clear as a people’s army. In 1934 he reorganized the expanded and strengthened AJPGA and renamed it the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army. After national liberation in August 1945, the President strengthened and The People’s Theatre. developed the KPRA as a regular army and named it the Korean People’s Army. He saw to it that the KPA people from the name. He saw to it that the character inherited the traditions of the anti-Japanese revolu- of the people’s state was made clear by putting peo- tionary struggle. Under his wise leadership, the KPA ple in the name of the power organs. So the govern- regarded it as its mission to defend the people’s free- ment organs are now called the people’s government dom and happiness and won victory after victory in general and play their function and role as the enjoying the people’s trust and support. representative of the people’s independent rights, When deciding the name of the state to be the organizer of the people’s creative ability, the founded soon in 1948, he proposed the name master responsible for the livelihood of the people “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” and flatly and the protector of the popular masses’ independent rejected some officials’ opinion to remove the word and creative life. The power organs, too, are called the Supreme People’s Assembly The People’s Palace of Culture. and provincial, city and county (district) people’s assemblies, and formulate state policies by enact- ing, revising and supplementing laws in accordance with the people’s demand and interests. There are many names related with people in all spheres of social life. Since Kim Il Sung named the hospital which had been built for the first time after national liberation Pyongyang Municipal People’s ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 7 ► Hospital No. 1 in October 1945, most of the hospitals reminiscences With the Century that his God is none in the capital city, provinces, cities, counties and other than the people, that the popular masses are rural communities came to be called “people’s hospi- the almighty God and that so he regarded “The peo- tal.” ple are my God” as his motto. His life was rather a The Grand People’s Study House, a palace for life of a son and a faithful servant of the working education of all people which was built in the centre people than the one of a national leader. of Pyongyang, was named by the President. The The people-centred socialist system was further place was the best one he had spared for long. One consolidated and developed by Chairman day some officials asked the President to build the Kim Jong Il. Regarding the people’s demand and central government building at the site. However, he aspiration as absolute, he lived a life of patriotic proposed to build a large-scale library there and gave devotion to fully realize them. The People’s Theatre detailed instructions to erect a building of the Ko- built last year was named by Kim Jong Il. He pro- rean style. After the completion of construction, offi- posed to build a modern People’s Theatre in the cials suggested naming it either Kim Il Sung Mansudae area in central Pyongyang, saying that Library or Kim Il Sung Study House, but the President Kim Il Sung had made sure that many President maintained that the library should be buildings were erected with people in their names named Grand People’s Study House in the meaning and that they should build a good theatre with the that it is the place where all the people have access to word people in its name and hand it down to younger study. He declared that nobody was allowed to name generations. it otherwise. The national leader Kim Jong Un who inherits The People’s Palace of Culture with a hip-saddle Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s noble view toward roof (Korean style), located in central Pyongyang was the people gave meticulous guidance so that the also named by the President in the meaning that it is always open to the people. His plan was to establish a best people-centred socialist society in the country. To him, the people meant the heaven, the teacher and the most powerful being. That was why the President wrote in his

The Rungna People’s Pleasure Ground.

People’s Theatre was built on the highest level. The Breast Tumor Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, the Rungna People’s Pleasure Ground and the People’s Open-air Ice Rink—which were all built last year—are fruits of Kim Jong Un’s iron will to carry out Kim Jong Il’s behests without fail. In the DPRK where “The people are my God” is invariably the state line names with people in them are increasing day by day.

8 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Songun and Korea

HE KOREAN PEOPLE In the early 20th century the revolutionary armed force at the T celebrate April 15, the birth- Korean people were deprived of Kalun Meeting in June 1930. In their country by the Japanese July of the same year, he organ- day of President Kim Il Sung, founder of the socialist Korea, as imperialists leaving a disgraceful ized the Korean Revolutionary their greatest national holiday. trace in the 5 000-year-long his- Army. At the Mingyuegou Meet- The atmosphere of the day last tory of Korea. In order to wipe off ing held in December 1931 he put year, in particular, was unprece- the disgrace the Korean people forth the strategic line of organiz- dentedly heated as it was the put up bloody resistance against ing and waging anti-Japanese 100th anniversary of the birth of the aggressors. Patriotic martyr armed struggle with guerrilla the President. Kim Jong Un, Ri Jun disemboweled himself in warfare as its basic form and supreme commander of the Ko- the venue of the 2nd International pushed ahead with the relevant rean People’s Army, made his Peace Conference held in The preparation. It was his rock-firm first public speech at the military Hague in 1907 to express his re- faith that the armed enemy parade held at Kim Il Sung sistance to the imperialist powers should be beaten with arms, and that backed the Japanese imperi- that when the Korean nation Square to celebrate the anniver- alists’ policy of invasion of Korea. made united efforts, it would sary to the great delight of the In 1919 they started the nation- successfully achieve independ- people. In the speech he said, wide March First Popular Upris- ence and establish a thriving, “The weak country [Korea] of ing against the oppressive rule of independent and sovereign state. yesterday which was trodden the Japanese imperialists. But At the inauguration ceremony underfoot as a theatre of wran- the Japanese imperialists merci- of the AJPGA said gling among big powers to expand Kim Il Sung lessly cracked down on it with the sphere of their influence, has that the mission of the AJPGA bayonets. The Korean people were was to overthrow the colonial rule now been turned into a proud full of rancour against the ag- of Japanese imperialism in Korea political and military power and gressors, but nobody could ap- and bring national independence our people are demonstrating pease the rancour, and they had and social emancipation to the their dignity as an independent nowhere to complain of it to. Korean people. And the guerrillas’ people whom no one dares to pro- Then, on April 25, 1932 the cheers shook the hill. Warm tears voke.” And he solemnly stated, Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla welled up in their eyes. It re- “The military and technological Army, a Juche-based revolution- flected the outburst of emotion of edge is no longer the monopoly of ary armed force of Korea, was the Korean people who had ear- imperialists, and the era is gone founded on a hill at Tuqidian, nestly wished for the birth of a forever when the enemy would Xiaoshahe (at that time), Antu powerful armed force which threaten us with atomic bombs.” County, China. It was an event would restore and demonstrate to When he finished his speech announcing to the whole world the world the dignity of the coun- the square reverberated with that the Korean people would try and the nation trodden by the loud cheers of KPA soldiers and never accept the status of colonial aggressors. civilians. It was the expression of slavery but carve out the destiny From then on the Korean peo- the army and the people’s of the country and the nation by ple created a new history of Korea greatest respect for President force of arms. by relying on the revolutionary Kim Il Sung and Chairman It was Kim Il Sung who gave armed force of their own. The Kim Jong Il who had saved the strength to the Korean people AJPGA (it later developed into destiny of the declining nation wandering here and there with the Korean People’s Revolution- and exalted its dignity under sorrow of the weak nation and ary Army) defeated the Japanese the banner of Songun, and the encouraged them to turn out in imperialists through the bloody demonstration of their firm will to the anti-Japanese armed strug- struggle and accomplished the follow Kim Jong Un’s Songun gle. He founded the Songun idea, historic cause of national libera- revolutionary leadership to the the idea of beating off the imperi- tion in August 1945. The Korean end. alist aggression forces with a People’s Army, the successor to ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 9

The military parade held in celebration of the 100th birthday of President Kim Il Sung.

► the KPRA, won a decisive victory dous sufferings to the Korean where the Songun idea had been in the three-year-long Korean war people. The progressive people adhered to. Thanks to his unleashed by the US imperialists around the world worried about Songun-based leadership the in the 1950s, thus honourably the Korean people in political, combat strength of the KPA and safeguarding the freedom and diplomatic and economic hard- the defence capabilities of the independence of their country. ships, while the imperialists nation improved in every way, After the war, they kept putting made foolish remarks that the and the DPRK has developed into great efforts in strengthening the collapse of Korea was a matter of a military giant with a nuclear People’s Army, thus supporting time. deterrent. The KPA has become the socialist construction with However, the country won the main force of the revolution arms while resolutely frustrating victory after victory in the politi- that plays a pivotal role while the US imperialists’ ceaseless cal and military confrontation making a breakthrough in diffi- aggressive manoeuvres. Some against the imperialists, holding cult sectors of the socialist con- typical events were the seizure fast to the banner of socialism, struction. Undergoing rigours of the US armed spy ship Pueblo and laid a solid foundation for and ordeals which might affect in 1968, shooting down of the building a prosperous and power- the destiny of the country the US spy plane EC-121 in 1969 ful nation. This is thanks to the Korean people were further con- and the Panmunjom incident in faith and will the Korean people vinced of the validity and vitality 1976. kept never to see repetition of of the Songun idea and Songun The Korean people got the history of sufferings whereby politics. through the unprecedentedly they fell into slavery because Today the might of the hard time in the 1990s by putting their national power was weak. People’s Army is further forward the People’s Army as the Kim Jong Il, chairman of the strengthening and the people’s main force. At the time socialism DPRK National Defence Commis- living standards are improving collapsed in the former Soviet sion and supreme commander of day after day thanks to the Union and east European coun- the Korean People’s Army, ad- Songun-based revolutionary lead- tries. Taking advantage of this ministered the unique Songun ership of Kim Jong Un, first opportunity the imperialists politics in an all-round way chairman of the DPRK National headed by the US pointed their thereby brilliantly realizing the Defence Commission and attack at socialist Korea. To make unanimous will of the Korean supreme commander of the KPA. matters worse, consecutive natu- people and working another ral calamities brought tremen- miracle in the history of Korea Sim Chol Yong

10 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Juche Idea Studied and Disseminated Worldwide

UMANITY HAS EN- “H tered a new century now… The present world is the one of fierce rivalry among ideologies and ideals, I dare say. This rivalry is a ground of test for the different ideologies’ competitiveness. Eve- ryone wants to know which one of them could be honoured with the capacity of suggesting a timetable of the 21st century. The idea of liberal democracy or that of social democracy is exhausted, but the idea called Juche is racing forward dynamically. History is a fair and strict judge. The victory of the Juche idea is objective, and there is no doubt about the fact that it is the ideology and ideal humanity ought to choose in the Participants in the World Congress on the Juche Idea new century.” This is part of a held in Pyongyang in April 2012. confession of a researcher at a West European institute of future independence. pedic cycle that has developed the studies. Chairman Kim Jong Il for- Juche idea in a profound man- The Juche idea came into ex- mulated Kim Il Sung’s revolu- ner,” and a “historic document istence to represent the demand tionary idea as an integrated sys- that illuminates a true road of and aspiration of the independent tem of Juche-oriented idea, theory carving out human destiny.” The era, a new historical time when and methodology, and developed publication of the work gave a the popular masses emerged as and enriched its content uninter- strong impetus to organized ac- masters of their own destiny. ruptedly, thus exalting it as the tivities of studying the Juche idea President Kim Il Sung guiding idea in the era of inde- throughout the world. founded the Juche idea with a pendence. In March 1982 when The first Juche idea study clear understanding of the de- the aspiration of the peoples group was formed in Mali in April mand of the independent era, and around the world for independ- 1969, and the International Insti- thus developed the struggle for ence, sovereignty and building of tute of the Juche Idea was estab- independence and socialism onto a new society was growing in- lished in April 1978. Juche idea a higher level and hewed out the study groups grew sharply in tense, Kim Jong Il published his era of independence, which is a number in all the continents with classic work titled On the Juche new time in history. From the the publication of On the Juche Idea. The treatise evoked a great beginning of his revolutionary Idea as a momentum. In 1982 career until the end of his life response as soon as it came out, alone over 50 organizations were he conducted energetic ideo- because it expounds a new man- formed; in 1985 the African Re- theoretical activities, writing a centric philosophical principle, gional Committee for the Study of great number of immortal classic fundamental principles of the the Juche Idea and the European works that provide perfect solu- popular masses’ social movement Regional Association for the tions to theoretical and practical or the revolutionary movement, Study of the Juche Idea were problems arising in all stages of and other important principles to established. Year after year simi- revolution including the revolu- be observed in the effort to make a lar organizations came into exis- tion for national liberation in success of revolution and con- tence in a large number of coun- colonial countries, the revolution struction. The broad political and tries and regions. They involved for popular democracy and the public circles of the world gave an distinguished figures and people socialist revolution, and the prob- unstinted praise of the work, ex- of all social standings, including lems concerning the socialist tolling it as a “new Communist former heads of Party and state, cause and the cause of global Manifesto,” an “immortal encyclo- who acknowledged the justice and ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 11

Wealth of Comrades and Be the Eldest Brother and Comrades-in-arms Sister NE JANUARY DAY IN one’s comrade. This is to be 2012 the supreme heard only in our country O ARSHAL KIM JONG UN whose leader, Party and national leader Kim Jong Un M visited the Seoul Ryu Kyong said to officials: “We have masses of the people are sin- Su 105th Guard Tank Division on the revolutionary army and gle-heartedly united.” the occasion of the New Year’s Day the good people Chairman On January 16, 2012 of 2012. Going round several places Kim Jong Il had trained with Kim Jong Un made similar of the unit, he paid close attention to all his loving care and devo- remarks, saying: “Today our the soldiers’ life. Inside the barracks tion. The army and the people army and people are rallied he personally measured the temperature and said that he would be as well as the officials who around the Party single- there again later without prior have long worked under the mindedly on the basis of notice to know the temperature of comradely relations with the personal guidance of the the room. In the mess hall, seeing leader. Though we are short of Chairman are all my comrades various kinds of dishes piled on a and comrades-in-arms. In this provisions and do not live cooking table, he asked warmly to sense we are blessed with a comfortably, we are blessed provide feasts to soldiers as it wealth of comrades and com- with a large number of com- was a holiday. “Then, General rades-in-arms. This statement rades and comrades-in-arms Kim Jong Il would feel satisfied. means that the national thanks to the single-hearted We should provide a sufficient sup- leader, the Party, the army unity provided by the Chair- ply of food to our soldiers whom the and the people are strongly man. We must accomplish on General loved all his life.” united on the strength of com- the strength of comradeship Then he stressed that the officers’ radeship with which to share the Juche revolutionary cause duty was to take good care of the soldiers and that the officers should life and death in the same and Songun revolutionary be not only the soldiers’ eldest cause that started and won trench and on the basis of brother and sister but also their victory after victory on the warm comradely care with true revolutionary comrades-in-arms which to devote one’s all to strength of comradeship.” sharing joys and sorrows.

► truthfulness of the Juche idea than 2 900 times. World confer- part, “It is our adamant decision transcending the difference in ences on the cause of independ- and will to fight it out to win social system, political view and ence in the 21st century held in Sri global victory of the Juche idea. religious belief. Lanka and Venezuela in 2002 The election of Kim Jong Un as Thanks to positive activities of and 2005 respectively adopted the first secretary of the Workers’ the Juche idea study organiza- Colombo Declaration and Caracas Party of Korea is a historic event tions, the study and dissemina- Declaration on building a new that convinced us of the bright tion of the Juche idea and the independent world of justice un- future of the cause of Juche. We Songun idea got activated and der the banner of Juche and the will be loyal to the idea and lead- went on purposefully. In the banner of Songun. This is a mani- ership of Kim Jong Un who is a 1980s international and continen- festation of the inexhaustible great heir to the cause of Juche.” tal seminars took place nearly 20 vitality of the Juche idea. The Juche idea has struck its times while national symposia A world conference on the root deep in the mind of the pro- were held in 36 Asian countries Juche idea was held in Pyongyang gressive peoples around the world on more than 100 occasions. In in April last year amidst great and is acknowledged as an estab- the 1990s there was an upsurge in expectation and concern of the lished guiding idea which repre- the activity to study and distrib- Juche idea adherents and pro- sents the present time and the ute the Juche idea, when interna- gressive peoples around the world. whole history of mankind. tional and national symposia on The meeting adopted Pyongyang the Juche idea took place more Declaration, which points out in Sim Chol Ok

12 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Kim Il Sung Is the Eternal Sun of Mankind (1)

bottom of my heart as a person Through the biography I came to who was honoured to meet him on know about a brilliant revolution- many occasions and who is ary history of a great leader who personally witnessing worldwide established a new society of the activities for the study and dis- people for the first time in the semination of the Juche idea. It is world, and I was infinitely at- that President Kim Il Sung is tracted to the profound truthful- the eternal sun of mankind who ness of the Juche idea. So I de- always lives in the mind of the cided to dedicate my life to the Korean people and the progres- study and dissemination of the sive peoples the world over and Juche idea. I did so despite the leads them along the road of in- dissuasion of my teacher who felt dependence. pity that I should give up my medical talent before graduation Rays of Juche illumine the from the university I had at- road ahead of mankind tended so enthusiastically for six years. It was because the Juche The Juche idea founded by idea gripped my heart and soul. AST YEAR SECRETARY Kim Il Sung indicates the way of The Juche idea clarifies every- L General Ogami Kenichi of hewing out the destiny of man. thing. The sunlight, though the International Institute of That is why people say that when bright, leaves shadows, but the the Juche Idea wrote an article getting to know the Juche idea rays of the Juche idea brightly titled “Kim Il Sung Is the everyone feels relieved at heart illumine the road ahead of man- Eternal Sun of Mankind” and comes to have a desire for kind. The idea means a compass on the 100th anniversary of living. So did I when I got to know all human beings should have, the birth of President this idea for the first time. I was and a nutriment of genuine life Kim Il Sung. The Korea born of a poor fisherman’s family for everybody. As soon as it was Today editorial board intro- in a small island village. Growing spread the Juche idea touched the duces the article in a serial up, I gradually came to think of hearts of people. With the number form. how to relieve my parents of their of young people studying the idea hardships and how to save people on the increase I was filled with People call the sun mother of from misfortunes. And I fre- admiration at the great attraction all living things. This is perhaps quented bookstores and libraries of the idea that was calling forth because they come to life and devouring classics, and joined an enthusiastic response in the grow up thanks to the bright and student movements but failed to hearts of people. warm rays of the sun. But the find the correct way to that end. In the closing days of the rays cannot illumine the road Only when I got to know the 1970s it became a trend of the ahead for the carving out of hu- Juche idea could I finally find the times to study the Juche idea. man destiny and the sun is not as motto of life I had long tried to do. Almost every day there was news powerful as to move round the I still remember myself shouting that organizations for the study of human world along an orbit de- “This is it!” in spite of myself. I the Juche idea were formed across sired by mankind. felt as if I had come to my senses. the world. Relevant international There is a person who gave It was in the autumn of 1971. One symposia took place in succession, mankind what the sun of nature day I read Kim Il Sung’s Biogra- and students of the Juche idea cannot afford. He is none other phy published and in circulation rapidly increased in number. than President Kim Il Sung. in Japan at the time. Fascinated Then, in September 1977, April 15 this year marks the with it, I read and read the biog- there was held an international 100th anniversary of his birth. I raphy without sparing myself and symposium on the Juche idea in have something to say from the even without going to school. Pyongyang, participated in by lots ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 13 Tales of a Century Ago

RESIDENT KIM IL SUNG Heaven-sent man. village (Kim Il Sung’s mother’s P was born at Mangyongdae, This was a dream parents were living there) dis- Pyongyang, on April 15, 1912. Kim Po Hyon had one day in April cussed for days what to prepare Some of the tales of his birth are 1912, making a happy atmos- for his birthday. Some argued introduced below. phere in a humble straw-thatched they should prepare nice school house at Mangyongdae. things, while others suggested Grandfather’s dream making a sword for him. There Great-grandmother’s were also opinions of preparing Early in the morning before Admiration select foods, silk clothes, and the dawn broke, Kim Po Hyon, making a significant folding screen. Kim Il Sung’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung’s birth was a climbed Mangyong Hill behind his After all discussions, they great, happy event for his agreed to prepare a brass bowl in house to fetch bundles of firewood family. Embracing her great- he had made before. It was still the meaning that they wished grandson who was smiling dark, but he walked up along the him good health for the sake of brightly with dimples on his path without difficulty as it was a the nation’s future. Now they cheeks, Kim Il Sung’s great- familiar way to him. When he began to make a design. Hoping almost reached the ridge, it sud- grandmother exclaimed in admi- that Kim Il Sung would grow up denly got bright before him, and ration, “He’s just like the sun!” to be a great man who was en- he could see a bright beam emit- After her, the family members dowed with a straightforward and ted from the top of the hill. The and the neighbours began to call indomitable spirit they engraved grandfather went up in haste. him “Sun.” three letters meaning congratula- When he got to the open space on tions on his birthday, along with a the top of the hill, he saw a Brass bowl, birthday gift couple of butterflies and two dignified figure of a new-born chrysanthemums. baby sitting on a cushion and Regarding Kim Il Sung’s first The brass bowl was placed overlooking the neighbourhood of birthday as their own auspicious on the table prepared for Mangyongdae. It must be a event, the people in the Chilgol Kim Il Sung’s first birthday.

► of students of the idea from tears welling up in my eyes be- one for students of the idea. I was around the world. At the sympo- cause I seemed to see humankind elected as secretary general of the sium I, with deep emotion, wit- advance under the banner of the institute. While working at the nessed the global tendency to Juche idea holding President post I experienced the fact that study the Juche idea and the Kim Il Sung in high esteem. the Juche idea is just an idea relevant enthusiasm of people, The symposium adopted a everyone sympathizes with and and felt the necessity to form an resolution to form the Interna- studies if they want to lead a life international organization for the tional Institute of the Juche Idea worthy of human being and the study of the idea as soon as possi- to be based in Tokyo, Japan, in one to be studied by all statesmen ble. I keenly felt such a necessity response to the unanimous desire who really value national sover- especially on the day when I, to- and requirement of all students of eignty and dignity and want to gether with delegates from many the Juche idea. build a genuine society for the other countries, had the honour of On April 9, 1978, the year that people. And I came to hold it as meeting President Kim Il Sung. marked the 66th anniversary of part of my own conviction. Overwhelmed with excitement the birth of the President, the Now I must say that the worth and delight, the delegates with founding of the IIJI was pro- and happiness of an independent tears in their eyes, loudly claimed in Tokyo. The founding of life lie in studying the Juche idea shouted, “Juche!” “Kim Il Sung,” the IIJI was an epoch-making and that the Juche idea is the and “Long live President event in studying and dissemi- eternal ray of the sun of human- Kim Il Sung!” raising their nating the Juche idea on a world- kind. hands. Hearing the cheers I felt wide scale, and a great auspicious (To be continued)

14 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013

DPRK’s Answer

HE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH rity Council, it cooked up a new tional law. Then, why are the US- T of the artificial earth satellite “resolution on sanctions” against led imperialists making much ado Kwangmyongsong 3-2 in the the DPRK on January 22. about the DPRK’s satellite launch, Democratic People’s Republic of Coping with the situation, the labelling it as a “problem”? Korea was a great national event DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a In April 2006, the American that marked an implementation statement on January 23, saying newspaper Washington Post car- of Chairman Kim Jong Il’s in- that the present reality clearly ried an article, in which it argued struction to put a sci-tech satellite shows that the DPRK should that what remains unchanged into orbit. It also meant a pleas- counter the US’s hostile policy even when the modern situation ant victory of the nation’s plan of with strength, not with words, in the Korean peninsula is in space development for peaceful and that the road of independence drastic change is the geographical purposes. The progressive people and Songun chosen by it is en- location and that the peninsula is who champion justice and value tirely just. It declared that the situated in the heart of Northeast conscience were all pleased with DPRK will continue to exercise its Asia which is one of the most the success won by the DPRK, a independent and legitimate right important and active regions in small oriental country, with its to launch satellites for peaceful the strategic point of view. own efforts, and expressed posi- purposes pursuant to the univer- This article seems to indicate tive support and solidarity. Even sally recognized international law the point. The Korean peninsula special institutions of those coun- on the use of space for peaceful is regarded as bridgehead of con- tries that are in hostile relations purposes. tinental intrusion by maritime with the DPRK succinctly ac- Then, on February 12 the na- nations and as launching point by knowledged the country’s success tion successfully carried out an continental nations. Considering in satellite launch for peaceful underground nuclear test, the that the American world strategy purposes. third of its kind in the country, as in the 21st century is to put the Nevertheless, the US vilified one of its physical countermea- Northeast Asian region under the the launch as a “firing of a long- sures against the US’s policy of sphere of its influence and use it range missile,” a “grave violation sanction and oppression that were to realize its political and eco- of a UN ‘resolution’” and a becoming conspicuous on a daily nomic domination of the world, “serious challenge” against global basis. the peninsula means an advanced peace and security, moulding Launching satellites is an ex- strategic point of critical impor- public opinion in its favour. At ercise of a legitimate right that is tance on the part of the Ameri- last, by mobilizing the UN Secu- universally recognized by interna- cans. Herein lies one of the main ►

Service personnel and citizens of Pyongyang meet to celebrate the success in the third underground nuclear test.

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 15 ► reasons why the US is trying to wolf’s logic that the DPRK should strong-willed people who have present the Korean issue as an remain a victim of their scramble experienced to the marrow that international matter while driv- for greater interest and influence, independence is the life and soul of ing the situation in the peninsula they have stood themselves again the nation and that their unity as into tension. in our way of vigorous advance one is stronger than any formida- Rodong Sinmun, organ of the towards a powerful country.” ble armed force or any colossal Central Committee of the Work- Koreans were a kind-hearted wealth. They are well aware of the ers’ Party of Korea, dated Febru- and righteous-minded nation truth that force is the only resort ary 14, 2013, carried an article, from olden times. Over the 5 000- in the fighting against the imperi- which reads in part: “They are year-long history our nation has alists who regard force as almighty fighting for the existence of the never made an inroad into other and that it is essential to develop empire and their rule against the countries, to say nothing of cast- one’s own force to the end. True to sovereignty of a nation, instead of ing an aggressive glance at other the truth they have directed great fighting against our nuclear pos- nations. It has been a peace- efforts to the building-up of mili- session and satellite. What the loving nation that is only attached tary capabilities and thus achieved US imperialists are pursuing to its land, and engrossed in de- a proud status of a nuclear state underhand is to make our country velopment of its culture and ma- and a satellite manufacturing and an unstable region neither in terial wealth. But, for its geopo- launching nation. peace nor at war by raising a ‘new litical position, it used to be vic- Now Koreans are afraid of question’ about us—whenever we tims of imperialist aggression nothing. They know they are not work out a plan for national pros- and plunder and underwent the to make even a step back in the perity—to bar our advance and by time of national ruin. And now centuries-old anti-US struggle arguing for ‘dialogue’ with US, it has been suffering from na- and the overall confrontation thereby gaining a political and tional division for more than half against the imperialists. They are military edge in Northeast Asia a century. burning with a determination to on one hand and attaining its aim The Korean people are no win ultimate victory in the fight. of bloodless conquest of our coun- longer a naive nation. While wag- “There’s no stepping back in try at a time when we are ex- ing a strenuous struggle to defend the struggle for the dignity of a hausted in a protracted confron- the country and build socialism sovereign nation and justice. The tation on the other hand. The under the condition of uninter- righteous cause of the Korean hostile forces do not wish to see rupted sanctions and attempts of people will emerge victorious our country become strong, rich the imperialists for aggression and without fail.” This is the invariable and reunified. According to a plunder, they have grown up as answer of the Korean people.

Mettle of Korea

merciless blow of justice against same spirit and stamina as were the US’s gangster-like hostile displayed in conquering outer acts, and a just and fair practical space. Gone are the days when countermeasure to protect na- the enemy could use atomic tional security and sovereignty of bombs to threaten and blackmail our country. The success in the us. It is our stand that vicious underground nuclear test demon- hostile forces should be met only strated the strength of our coun- with arms. try as a sci-tech and military We will produce more and power which can make any strik- better knitwear in the same spirit ing means in numbers as it and stamina as our country dis- N DECEMBER LAST YEAR wishes, inspiring our army and played in conquering outer space I our country successfully people with confidence in victory and supply them to the people. By launched a satellite for peaceful and bringing them to the realiza- doing so we will help frustrate the purposes. Finding fault with it, the tion that there is nothing to be hostile forces’ sanctions and con- UN Security Council cooked up a afraid of any more. solidate the success in the third “resolution of sanctions” against Neither the enemy’s insolent underground nuclear test. our country. This roused the in- sanctions nor their military supe- dignation of our army and people. riority can frighten our country Choe Yong Chol, The successful third nuclear that is further strengthening its general manager of the test was our army and people’s might as a nuclear state in the Songyo Knitwear Factory

16 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013

Korea Makes No Empty Talk!

actually does what it decides to strongest faith and will and do. matchless grit, and we have the Provocation ought to be met might of single-hearted unity with a retaliatory blow. It is natu- whereby all our soldiers and ral for our country to take a dras- people are firmly rallied behind tic overall countermeasure, that him. And we have on hand multi- is, a physical blow instead of a stage carrier rockets, smaller and rebuke, to cope with the US’s vi- lighter atomic bombs with a high cious hostile act of having grossly explosive power and a multifari- violated our legitimate right to ous nuclear deterrent, so we are launch satellites for peaceful pur- not afraid of any strong enemy HE THIRD NUCLEAR poses. Confrontation between our and we will surely win. The US T test done last February was country and the US is the one and its followers are asked not to a just and fair practical counter- between justice and injustice and misjudge or act rashly any longer. measure to protect national secu- between truth and untruth. It is If they foolishly continue to resort rity and sovereignty of our coun- an immutable law and one of the to sanctions against our country, try, and an extremely pleasant inevitabilities of history that jus- they will come in for death alone. event that demonstrated the tice and truth emerge victorious in matchless courage and grit and the confrontation. Dr. and Assoc. Prof. great strength of Songun Korea We are led by Marshal Ju Chang Il, dean of that makes no empty talk and Kim Jong Un, man of the Kim Il Sung University

We Will Hasten Our Final Victory

a smaller and lighter atomic bomb sanctions the hostile forces take with a high explosive power dis- against us the greater our played the potentialities of our strength will become to counter- country which is unyielding and act them. If they intensify sanc- invariable in ideology and highly tions and pressure against us developed in science and technol- finding fault with the nuclear test ogy, and the exertions of our peo- once again we will take stronger, ple who are struggling for justice second and third countermea- HE THIRD UNDER- and truth. The success of the nu- sures continuously and hasten T ground nuclear test done clear test makes it possible for us our final victory in that way. recently was a great event that to acquire higher-level powerful We film workers will produce demonstrated to the whole world physical means to deal a merci- successful films in greater num- the might of Juche-oriented sci- less blow at whoever attempts to bers helping promote the building ence and technology developed stifle our country through sanc- of an advanced civilized power so onto a new high level, and a dec- tions wherever they are on the as to encourage the people to work laration of our army and people’s earth, and to firmly defend its hard in the final offensive for the strong will to resolutely fight security and sovereignty. building of a thriving nation. against the US and its followers’ The US and its followers will vicious sanctions and pressure. commit a serious blunder if they Ri Hae Song, deputy director The nuclear test done safely, per- try to stifle us by means of sanc- of the General Bureau of Film, fectly and on a high level by using tions and pressure. The heavier the Ministry of Culture

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 17 Conscious of Being the Master

N THE DPRK ALL THE tions, and wrought a miracle by His appeal moved all the I sectors and units of the na- finishing the construction of a hearts. The workers of the Steel tional economy are now making a power plant much earlier than Casting Workshop were the first great upsurge in production. schedule. to respond and produce castings Among them is the Taean Heavy A generator was to be manu- necessary for the generating fa- Machine Complex. Officials of the factured at the Taean complex. cility. Meanwhile, Generating complex are on the shop floor to They were pressed for time. The Facility Processing Workshop No. work with ordinary workers and managers and workers in charge 1 buckled down to process the technicians, solve problems at of the production were at a loss generator’s axis as soon as they once and bring their creative ini- what to do. received materials. The workers tiatives into full play, thus mak- At the moment a senior and technicians of Processing ing mass innovations in produc- official of the complex said: “Now Workshop No. 2, too, finished the tion of ordered equipment. the whole country has risen as turbine processing in only two In early December last year, one to implement Chairman months with their concerted ef- the complex was assigned an ur- Kim Jong Il’s instructions. forts. The workers of the Gover- nor Workshop processed in time medium- and small-sized acces- sories necessary for the assembly of the generating facility, and thus helped to finish the task earlier. In this way the complex carried out the urgent task in a short span of three months. In addition, the workers of the complex, conscious of their being in charge of production of generating facilities, produced and sent necessary facilities to many power plant construction gent task to produce a generating Keeping step with the high en- sites including the Orangchon facility to be sent to a local place. thusiasm of the power plant Power Station and the Wonsan Earlier the local people had risen builders, we should send them the Army-People Power Station. They as one to carry out Chairman generating facility in time. We are are manufacturing in time the Kim Jong Il’s instruction to build responsible for production our- equipment needed in overhauling large and small power plants selves. You know there’s always a generating facilities of thermal extensively to suit local condi- way to a willing heart.” power stations.

18 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Article by Sim Yong Jin Photos by Ri Song Ik

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 19 Pyongyang Rayon Yarn Mill

20 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013

tion be done well. Hearing the smooth buzzing sound of ma- chines, we saw the workers pleasantly moving thimbles. We met Paek Kum Hwa, chief of the process. She explained to us the processes of crispation machine No. 2. She added, “We produce threads of various intensities to make many kinds of cloth for the people. We are pleased with our job.” Her words were expressive of the thankfulness for the socialist system that ensures the supply of more and better clothes to meet the people’s increasing demand and the workers’ enthusiasm to repay for the benefit. We dropped in at the labora- A laboratory. tory where efforts were made to improve the quality of products by OT LONG AGO WE rials were put into the storage the fine thread examination, the N visited the Pyongyang Rayon tank. An operator observing the cutting and tightening examina- Yarn Mill in the suburbs of Py- process said that the inputs are tion of the thread, the melting ongyang. It was housed in large carried to the next production examination of materials and so multi-storeyed buildings. process through the selector—it on. Meeting us at the gate of the removes impurities— and the We found all the production factory, chief engineer Yun drying tower. At the spinning and processes equipped with dust Kwang Sop said, “My factory was cop-winding processes we saw the collectors, ventilators and auto- inaugurated in December last molten material being jetted from matic temperature and humidity year, and it turns out high-quality nozzles through a screw extruder regulators. materials necessary for produc- and pipes, and the cop being The chief engineer told us that tion of various kinds of cloth wound by a machine. Moving to various kinds of threads produced and socks.” Hearing his prideful the crispation process, the last by the factory are sent to textile words, we began to go round production process, with us, the mills, knitwear mills and hosiery production processes of the fac- chief engineer told us that only factories. Believing that the tory. when the state of the molten ma- workers and officials of the fac- In the transport and drying terial is as good as to meet the tory would work harder to make a process, the first process of the standard in the spinning process greater success in production, we rayon yarn production, raw mate- can the cop-winding and crispa- left the factory.

ATING HABIT HAS LONG the Koreans prepared and ate E been the concern of the Crockery of Korea various foodstuffs and drinks Koreans, and they created and such as rice, flour food, meat and improved their own food culture. fish dishes, and thakbaegi Their crockery can be cited. It ri and Masan-ri sites in Pongsan (coarse liquor). They designed was in the Neolithic era that County, North Hwanghae Prov- the vessels to be convenient as crockery came into being for the ince, and other sites from the daily necessities and graceful as first time. At the time the Neolithic era include crockery in craftwork. A bowl, for example, Korean ancestors used vessels of numbers. was designed to be straight or certain shapes made by baking The crockery was of various slightly sloping in the mouth clay. Most of them were those kinds. Typical of them are pari and the body, and flat or round used as crockery. The Namgyong (a brass rice bowl), taejob (a soup in the bottom, and its surface and Phyodae sites in Honam-ri, bowl), konggibosigi (a small was polished and decorated with Samsok District, Pyongyang, the bowl) and cups, which are quite patterns of a dotted line, a fir Kumthan-ri site in Sadong Dis- similar to those used today. The leaf or a coil. trict of the same city, the Jithap- variety of crockery shows that Han Un Suk

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 21 Key to Increase in Production

MONG THE FACTORIES CONDU- A cive greatly to the curative and preven- tive medical care for the people is the Sinuiju Streptomycin Factory in North Phyongan Province. In recent years this factory has modernized production processes in keeping with the requirements of the developing situation where the national economy is being pushed forward in a quick tempo, thereby normalizing the production of streptomycin on a high level. To those who inquire of him about the key to the growth of production, General Manager Choe Si Ung usually replies, “In promoting the health of the people the role of the curative workers is important, and I think that the duty of the medicine manufac- turers is as important as their role. We’ve The streptomycin refining process. made efforts only to discharge our full duty.” It happened one evening several years ago. At ing found the way for a new system of production that time the officials of the factory were groping for processes, they buckled down immediately to the ways and means related to the activation of medi- production of modern equipment needed in the cine manufacture while summing up the day’s work. streptomycin workshop. Before anything else, the They knew their failure in the supply of a sufficient technicians of the factory exerted themselves to amount of streptomycin to every hospital was solve scientific and technological problems, enlisting weighing heavily upon their minds. How can we the aid of the researchers of the department of auto- manufacture efficacious streptomycin much more mation technology of Kim Chaek University of Tech- and supply it to all hospitals across the country? nology and pooling their efforts. The technicians of Raising the quality of this medicine and increasing the workshop, in cooperation with researchers of the its output necessitated the modernization of produc- university, saw to it that the temperature, the num- tion processes decisively. ber of rotations, etc. were automatically regulated The following day the technical group including by computer and the depickling and neutralizing the general manager went to Kim Chaek University processes were newly improved in refining processes of Technology and research institutes of the medical as well. As a result, even when using one and the sector, for they had a mind to find a way out by keep- same kind of raw material, the fermentation rate of ing in contact with reality. streptomycin could be raised by ten percent and After sitting face to face and repeating discus- actual crystal extraction rate by two percent or more sion with them, the technical group concluded that than before, 200 tons of methanol could be saved it would be well within the power of the group. Hav- annually, the number of manufacturing processes be raised by five percent or more and the time of manu- Vials are filled with streptomycin. facture, electric power, steam, etc. be saved by half or more. In the glass workshop, too, an automatic control system was set up that measures and ob- serves the voltage of the electrode of the glass- treating furnace, the temperature of glass-metal, etc., thus improving the quality of glass-metal and increasing the glass bottle production capacity. In addition, the factory made a breakthrough in the production of steam by bringing to completion the method of automatically regulating the water level of boilers and creditably settling the matters arising in their operation. Besides, it solved lots of scientific and technological problems, thereby providing material and technical foundations for normalizing the manufacture of streptomycin on a high level. The Sinuiju Streptomycin Factory is now called a model factory for all other factories throughout the country to follow. Song Yong Sok

22 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Really a Wise Investment

ECENTLY THE FERMEN- the materials for the production is pound say unanimously that R tation Research Institute of inexhaustible. Making deep stud- they get to sleep with ease, have the Light Industry Branch of the ies of the problem, they found out good digestion and feel healthy. State Academy of Sciences devel- in nature a microbe whose activ- When weak ducks were given the oped a new technology which ity is as strong as to dissolve pro- amino acid-peptide compound for makes it possible to earn a great tein in feathers. This was a 13 days, the fattening rate was economic profit by a small invest- breakthrough in developing a 130.3 % as compared with those ment. It is one of the biggest in- technology of manufacturing com- that were fed with ordinary fod- terests of businessmen at the pound amino acid. der and the viability was 98.2 % moment. What is characteristic of the on average. technology is that it can mass- The technology of compound How wastes are recycled produce compound amino acid in amino acid production is applied an industrial process at a consid- to ever wider areas. Amino acid and peptide which erably low cost of production, come from dissolution of poultry without using acid or alkali which Big profit is made feathers by hydrochloric acid and is root materials of poisonous gas caustic soda are in wide use in emission. Until recently production of crop growing, animal husbandry, The compound amino acid alcoholic drinks in food industry horticulture, food processing and they developed proved effective. was mostly dependent on the use pharmaceutical industry. Until When administered to people who of hat-style rectifying tower. But some time ago feathers of chicken, have just recovered from illness or the style was costly and needed a ducks, and other kinds of fowls surgical operation or weak people, great space for its building, so were usually thrown away as it it was as efficacious as conven- minor foodstuff factories found it hard to introduce the tower. Researchers of the Fermenta- tion Research Institute conducted a research into rectification and successfully developed a charger- style rectifying tower which makes it possible to produce quality drinks at lower costs. Unlike the old charger-style rectifying tower which is no longer in use for its low opera- tional safety, the new charger- style rectifying tower is filled with new material. Noteworthy of the successful research is that the cost of manufacture is one-third lower than the hat-style tower and that the building space is much smaller— costed a lot to dissolve the feath- tional intravenous nutrition in- the tower’s height dwindled from ers and, even if dissolved, some of jections. The effect was clear and 9~12 m down to 2~2.5 m. Also, amino acid is destroyed in the immediate in patients with diges- the filling material of the new process of dissolution, emitting tive troubles like liver disorders, tower is easily obtainable at low poisonous gas which harms the and those with tuberculosis— cost, the energy consumption is environment. diagnosed with the X ray—got much lower and productivity is Researchers of the Fermenta- well after using their preparation higher. tion Research Institute knew that for two and half months. All the Chonghyang Liquor produced amino acid and peptide are in patients who are treated with with the use of the new rectifying wide use and that the source of their amino acid-peptide com- tower won the first prize straight ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 23 Basis of Success

material which is of low cost, not a reagent. With an attitude of learning all over again, he engrossed himself in searching data on the study of existing additives. His intensive study of a new additive began in real earnest in mid-August 2010. While accel- erating the search of literature, he sometimes walked dozens of kilometres to get minerals for additive materials and sometimes sat up all night studying an easier process of preparation before a hot heating furnace. Even when he got a good result of experiment in 2011, he buckled down to the experiment for practical introduction to confirm the additive’s practical usage, not the writing of a thesis to prove his scientific success. His experiments in Pyongyang, Jagang Province, North Hamgyong AN PEOPLE BENEFIT? THIS IS WHAT Province and other places of the country showed fully “C I always think, when selecting a task of my that the new coal burning additive was of low cost study and in every process of the scientific research based on a simple manufacturing method and con- and even when I know a scientific ground,” says venient to use. “A ton of low-calory coal mixed with Pak Yun Sam, head of the basic chemistry research only a bottle of the liquid additive becomes a valu- section, the Department of Chemistry, the Univer- able treasure.” “In the past we consumed ten bri- sity of Sciences. Awarded ten state patents in the quets a day, but now only three briquets.” In every past, he developed a new coal burning additive in place he went, he heard voices of appreciation. He recent years and was widely known to the people. felt happy to see a bright smile on women’s faces. As an expert of analytic chemistry, he began to Informed of the fact on his way of field guidance pay attention to the technique of coal burning addi- to Jagang Province in October 2011, Chairman tive in 2007. On his business trip to a place in Janu- Kim Jong Il spoke highly of him, saying that Pak ary that year he came to know a fact that though the had done a good thing and deserved the title of Doc- area was rich in coal deposits the local people bought tor. His title was proposed by people who are bene- high-calory coal from other places as it is low-calory fiting in reality, not by him, he added, and then had a coal. For the effective use of the local coal, some ad- photo taken with him who was in the province at ditives had been developed to improve the combus- that time for local introduction of the additive. tion rate. But they were not widely used because of Pak says, “That glorious day I felt keenly in my high cost and some defects in using. Even after he heart what is the scientist’s supreme glory. My col- came back Pak could not forget the local people’s leagues and people ask me why I choose projects that words that they had useless coal. need great endeavours. I say to them I want to make So he decided to put off the reading of his thesis people benefit from them actually.” and solve that problem first. He thought that the additive should be liquid made from natural mineral Ri Kum Chol

► three times. The introduction of the new technology great profit. led to the solution of the two problems of cost and Chief engineer Yu Nam Su of the Sakju Foodstuff quality in production of alcoholic drinks. Factory in North Phyongan Province says, “By intro- Foodstuff factories in the country are enthusias- ducing the charger-style rectifying tower this time tic about introduction of the new rectifying tower. we’ve got unexpectedly huge profit. Now I believe we The researchers believe unanimously that the have a bright prospect for making as good products introduction of the technology into chemical and oil as those manufactured by central industries, and at industries with a little transformation will make it lower cost.” possible to save a large sum of money and make a Jang Yong Suk

24 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Nursery of Talent

TUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENTS ARE THE Steel Complex. They were fourth-year students of “S standard of the teachers’ achievements.” This the industrial furnace engineering department of the is one of the mottos kept by the teachers and metal engineering faculty of Kim Chaek University researchers of the faculty of metal engineering of of Technology. During winter and summer vacations Kim Chaek University of Technology. they used to form a research group and go to factories in the field of metal industry. There they often Teacher’s bouquets helped to solve problems in cooperation with local technicians while confirming in reality what they One of these days there took place a meeting to had learned at lesson. congratulate Kim Un Hyang, a fourth-year student That day, while assisting the workers on the job, of the university’s faculty of metal engineering on they, aided by their teacher, were acquainting them- her winning a national exhibition of students’ selves with the actual conditions, hoping to get a new achievements in information science and technology. idea for increased steel production. She had developed a new method of finding out the Finally they found an undesirable point in the correct content of alloy elements and wastes in steel. fireproof material drying furnace. It was that there Everybody present there gave her heart-felt con- was no scientific means installed in the furnace with gratulations. With an armful of bouquets, she looked which to ascertain the temperature in the furnace. shy, when she said to the audience in a low voice, “I The students decided to introduce an automatic highly appreciate your congratulations on my small temperature control system in the furnace. They measure of success. By the way, I would like to say made a deep study of relevant documents about fur- that the man who deserves such congratulations is naces of the kind, concentrating on having a compre- Mr. Ri Hyon Mo, who gave me an idea and guided me hensive understanding of the furnace. On the basis for its realization. I would like to offer these flowers to him.” She approached him and handed him beautiful flowers, when another big applause roared. That day Un Hyang called back on what had happened one year earlier with deep emotion. A girl of unusual inquiry, she happened to get a novel idea of increased steel production while reading reference books at the university’s e-library. But she knew she was incapable of making it a success. At the moment her teacher Ri Hyon Mo turned out to give her a good helping hand. He gave her kind- hearted lessons about problems arising in steel production, relevant sci-tech knowledge and worldwide trends. Also, he told her what were important tasks in developing the nation’s steel industry and what were the key points in the respect. He led her step by they carried out computer-based simulations and step, helping her to set a correct research task and calculations in detail and conducted a number of carry it out at each stage of the research. tests. Meanwhile they assembled the necessary fa- As a result Un Hyang’s project was successful, cilities for the control system. Many difficulties and was presented to the aforementioned exhibition cropped up in the process, but they worked pertina- to be highly appreciated for its possible merit in ciously until they succeeded in establishing an auto- developing the nation’s steel industry. matic control system. Their innovative idea won a The faculty of metal engineering often arranges state patent of invention, and all the students of a meetings of congratulations. In the course of this the class were honoured with the scientific research number of students who receive patents, diplomas award. Their achievement was attributable to the and sci-tech research awards is steadily growing. unknown efforts of their teachers to help them suc- ceed in their project. The students of the university Academic knowledge confirmed in practice are now developing themselves into talented scientists who will make tangible contributions to the One summer day a few years ago some students improvement of the nation’s metallurgical industry. were working with workers for the construction of a fireproof material drying furnace at the Chollima Song Yong Sok

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 25 Country That Affords Learning to Everybody

N THE CAPITAL CITY OF percent of the Koreans were illit- all the people. In this way the I Pyongyang there stands the erate as a result of the policy of illiteracy was completely abol- Grand People’s Study House on keeping the Korean people in ished in March 1949. Namsan Hill. It is a correspon- ignorance and the policy of oblit- Korea has been exerting itself dence university that is open to erating national culture enforced to develop education of children all people, and is a base for dis- by the Japanese imperialists for training of national cadres and semination of scientific, technical after their military occupation of upbringing of talents. A typical and cultural knowledge. Korea. example of the government’s ef- In the past century, President While putting emphasis on the forts for education of younger Kim Il Sung saw to it that a large-scale library was built on Namsan Hill—the site had been spared for a long time—so as to help people possess high-level cultural and technical knowledge as required by the revolutionary development. And he named the new building Grand People’s Study House—in the sense that it is a house where anybody can

All children in the DPRK get free compulsory education until they are old enough to work. generations is the fact that the pencil problem was put on the agenda at the first session of the North Korean Provisional People's Committee held in Feb- ruary 1946. In October 1946 Kim Il Sung University, the first university of the Democratic Peo- ple’s Republic of Korea, was established. In 1949, three years later, there were fifteen colleges. The state enforced compulsory education systems—the universal compulsory primary education in 1956, the universal compulsory study. This is how the Grand education of the younger genera- secondary education in 1958, the People’s Study House was built tion, the country directed great universal nine-year technical that affords education to the efforts into the adult education. compulsory education in 1967 and working people of all strata. Thus a campaign against illiter- the universal 11-year compulsory Immediately after national acy developed into a public and education in 1972. As a result, liberation in August 1945, 80 nationwide movement involving there were arranged all condi- ►

26 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Republic of Korea, when a law on enforcing universal 12-year compulsory education was adopted. The enforcement of a new education system is a significant and historical step to improve the quality of education as required by the developing reality and bring up younger generations into well- qualified talents of the future. The new education system is the most reasonable and superior one that makes it possible to improve the quality of education as required by Working people learn in a study-while-working course. the developing reality in the age of knowledge-based economy and the ► tions for everyone in Korea to going to university. world-wide trend and develop the learn and study. Wherever there The successful universal 11- younger generation as revolution- are children of school age there year compulsory education sys- ary talents of a Juche type pos- are schools. There is a branch tem led to production of numerous sessed of perfect secondary gen- school and a teacher for a few reserve talented scientists and eral knowledge, advanced basic children even on a small light- technicians, promoting the devel- technical knowledge and creativ- house islet in the West Sea of opment of science and technology ity. The enforcement of the new Korea. There is a school jeep run- of the country. There was not a education is based on the valuable ning for a few children in a remote single university in the country successes of the 11-year compul- mountain village in Ryanggang before national liberation, but sory education system that had Province, and a school bus and a now it is a socialist state with lots been in force and on the firm school train for some children of of universities and colleges, a foundation of the independent mountain villages far from the land of education with millions of national economy. intellectuals. At present Korea is developing In September the education in keeping with the last year there requirement of the age of knowl- was held the edge-based economy and hasten- sixth session of ing the building of a prosperous the 12th Supreme nation on the strength of the ad- People’s Assem- mirable education. bly of the Democ- ratic People’s Sim Chol Yong

The Grand People’s Study House.

school. At all places of the country are small- and large-sized libraries, and a network of education is in force on the basis of a distance learning system based on commu- nication, providing everybody with a condition to learn, without

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 27 Where Ice Does Not Melt

NE OF THESE DAYS WE our acts, the chief engineer ex- because they don’t know the O went to the People’s Open- plained, “I think you journalists knack of skating. Without learn- air Ice Rink which was newly are afraid that the ice might melt ing it your movement is awkward erected on the bank of the Tae- in spring and summer as the in- and slow even if you can skate. dong River for news coverage. The side is open to the outside and the You know the proverb, ‘As the large roof trusses of a waving sunlight comes in directly boy, so the man.’ It’s really diffi- form and walls finished with through the window. The tem- cult to get rid of a bad habit.” green glass and silver-grey build- perature in the rink is about 10℃ At the moment there was an ing materials seemed to be in- at the moment. The temperature announcement from the speaker dicative of a building related with outside goes up to over 30℃ in that there would be a break while water. Connected with Ryugyong sultry summer, but the ice in here the ice was maintained. When Health Complex, which is a com- does not melt. That thing you see there was no person on the floor, a prehensive centre of health ser- outside the building is a freezing machine entered the floor and cut vice, the ice rink was crowded facility which was manufactured the surface while sprinkling wa- with people at the entrance. A on the basis of latest technology. ter over it. Fifteen minutes later man approached us, introducing It is capable of making a floor of the ice maintenance was finished. himself. “I’m Pak Jong Man, chief quality ice however high the tem- We studied the quality of the ice. engineer of this ice rink. I’ve been perature is outside.” The chief engineer said, “This expecting you since I got your Hearing him, we could under- ice is of high quality. Last year phone call.” He added that he stand how it was that the skaters when our respected leader knew we were the journalists he were all wearing light clothes Kim Jong Un was here to look had been waiting for, seeing a befitting the spring. What drew round our ice rink, some officials camera and a tripod we were car- my attention particularly was a told him that the ice was of such a rying. He smiled at us welcom- young man who was skating with high quality that even profes- ingly. the help of a young girl—probably sional skaters wanted to train “Do you have many people his girlfriend—with a flushed face themselves here. The leader said every day like this?” I asked. as if for shame of being unskilled the People’s Open-air Ice Rink “Of course,” he answered in skating. I went up to him and should be open only to ordinary readily, “I think there are 600-700 said hello. The man said, “This is working people.” visitors a day on average.” the first time of my skating. When Hearing him we looked Now Pak led us to the inside of I entered the ice floor with the around the rink again. True to his the rink. Walking in, we found an skate on, I was ashamed and words, there were to be seen no expansive space of ice crowded worried if I could ever learn skat- professional skaters there. A with people skating to the tune of ing. But now I can skate, as you young boy was learning skating, pleasant Korean melody. There see, because I have a nice skate guided by an instructor, a young were people of all ages, ranging and the ice floor is good enough. man fell on his back trying to from primary schoolchildren to I’ve learned it in an hour thanks make a turnaround while speed- elderly folks. In the rink we felt to my instructor here. (He pointed ing up, girls were laughing at him warm probably because the room to the girl beside him.) She’s given pleasantly. They all looked happy temperature was the same as in me a good lesson about how to about their life as well as thank- the outside when spring came handle feet and what kind of pos- ful to their country that had built around. Stepping onto the ice, we ture to have.” Now I knew the girl such a great ice rink for their rubbed our feet on the spot where helping him was an instructor at sake. beams of sunlight fell from be- the ice rink. A girl of open man- Leaving the place, we envis- tween the wall and roof and ners, she said to us, “Those who aged a more cultured life of the through the window. Watching begin to skate find it difficult people in the rink in the future.

28 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Article by O Sol Hyang Photos by Ri Song Bom

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 29 A Look Back on Korean Stamp Development

OT LONG AGO, I N visited the Korean Stamp Museum inaugurated to mark the centenary (April 15, 2012) of the birth of President Kim Il Sung. It was a two-storeyed building situated beside the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel. When I arrived at the entrance of the museum my eyes were caught by a sculpture depicting a dove, with new ►

30 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 30 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 ► Korea’s first stamp Samsonam in leader and the anti-Japanese war on over 410 occasions in total from its mouth, flying over rows of heroine Kim Jong Suk suspended 1976 to 2011. Now I came to postcards winding round the their lunch and saw the stamp realize how earnestly he had earth. design with satisfaction. striven to develop stamps of the Our guide Jo Hyang led us After hearing the guide’s ex- country. Most impressive were into the museum. What caught planation, we saw a stamp that the thick stamp albums carrying my eyes first in the entrance was had been the first to bear the stamps he had collected in his the commemorative stamp bear- portrait of Kim Il Sung, stamps childhood and youth. ing the portraits of President symbolic of new Korea as a sov- The last leg of my visit to the Kim Il Sung and Chairman ereign state, those of the Father- museum was the room where Kim Jong Il which was issued on land Liberation War, the post- there were on display trophies, the occasion of the 20th anniver- war rehabilitation, the socialist diplomas and medals Korean sary of the naming of Kimjongilia. construction and the Chollima stamps had won at world stamp “On the first floor of our mu- Movement. Then we listened to shows. seum there are preserved the the guide’s explanation about the Halley’s Comet (issued on exhibits of the Stamp Exhibition stamps showing how energetic August 25, 1985) from the DPRK held in April last year. Among Chairman Kim Jong Il had been won the balloting for the world’s them are the stamps showing the carrying on the revolutionary monthly popular stamps held in long stamp history of our country cause of Juche and transforming Japan, and souvenir sheets and the relevant materials by the whole society on the Juche Jipson Peak in Mt. Kumgang and year of their issue,” the guide said idea. Wisteria Blossoms and Puppy showing us round the data on the Then we went to the next ex- won special prizes at the interna- modern philatelic system of feu- hibition boards dedicated to the tional stamp market Riccione 90 dal Joson dynasty, the relevant stamps reflecting the Korean and the international stamp exhi- bourgeois reform in the closing people’s efforts to develop their bition Riccione 91 held in Italy. days of the feudal dynasty, the socialist national culture, their Varieties of Korean stamps Japanese imperialists’ oblitera- folk custom, Juche art and Juche including the one depicting Ant- tion of Korean stamps and the sports, in the course of building a arctic expedition won champion- anti-Japanese armed struggle. great, prosperous and powerful ships at the 92 Stamp World Cup We now reached the exhibition nation; to reunify the nation un- competition held in France in board on which were displayed der the ideal of “by our nation 1992. Korean stamps also earned the materials on the birth of the itself,” to promote the movement special trophies and top prizes at first stamps in new Korea. Most of the Korean residents in Japan, the balloting for the world’s best impressive was Samsonam, one of and to accomplish the cause of stamps and the tryout for the best the first stamps Kim Il Sung global independence. foreign stamps annually held in appreciated in March 1946. The The other exhibition board, China. guide said that it was when he under the title of “The Great Confirming that Korean was having lunch that the official Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il stamps will further develop responsible for the design of the Will Always Be with Us!” thanks to the tireless efforts of stamp completed the design. As introduced stamp designs officials and employees of the he wanted to show him the first Kim Jong Il had appreciated in State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK, stamp of new Korea as soon as the last days of his life and the I left the museum. possible, the official rushed to the data on the fact that he ratified national leader’s house. The more than 40 000 stamp designs Song Yong Sok

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 31 Fragrance of Flowers

LOWER SHOPS AND for flowers were increasing day The shop’s saleswomen are F stands in Pyongyang are after day, and that on the occa- also commendable. When visitors now drawing more and more cus- sions of the Mother’s Day told them about the age and taste tomers. (Novemeber 16) last year and the of those for whom they were to Some time ago I visited the International Women’s Day this buy flowers, the saleswomen Pyongyang Maternity Hospital year, thousands of flowers in the quickly chose suitable flowers Flower Shop. In the shop I could shop were sold out in a few hours, taking into consideration the see Tagetes erecta, chrysanthe- so they had to order more flowers meaning of the flowers and the mum, dahlia, rose, calla, gladio- again to their producers. Listen- occasion for congratulation to the lus, zinnia, gerbera, tulip, carna- ing to the saleswoman I saw visi- great satisfaction of the buyers, tion and other species of flowers, tors buying bunches of flowers, for example, a bunch of red tulips all giving out fragrance. Among baskets of flowers or flowers. A for a university teacher who was them is manbokhwa, a flower man bought rose for a woman going to congratulate his wife on newly bred by the Pyongyang delivered of a child, another her birthday, that of sunflowers Floriculture Institute. It is a bought carnation for his mother for a mother who intended to congratulate her little son for getting full marks at school, and a basket of red roses with a souvenir in it for a young man who wanted to present it to his girlfriend. Jong Ae Yong, one of the saleswomen, says, “People’s increasing demand for flowers means that our life is becoming more beautiful, pleasant and op- timistic. So, we are trying to make varieties of flower products in such a way as to meet the people’s aesthetic and emotional requirement and their different uses and occasions.” Ri Chun Ae, a female acrobat of the State Circus, said, “I love really beautiful flower. Its long receiving hospital treatment and flowers very much. Nothing can leaves seem to wish you manbok the other bought gerbera and give me greater pleasure than to (every happiness), and its petals tulip for doctors and nurses who receive flowers from audience are pink and lip-shaped patterned were sincerely treating his family after performance. So whenever I with purple spots among their member in the hospital. And see the people carrying flowers in edges. Besides, there were cloth there were people who were buy- their hands on a street, I feel flowers representing camellia, ing flowers to congratulate their myself pleasant at the thought peony, tulip and so on, and flower teacher on his or her birthday, a that those flowers will give pleas- baskets and vases of various newly-married couple and their ure to some people.” sizes. old schoolmate for being awarded In the shop I could smell the Kim Myong Hui, saleswoman a degree for having finished a fragrance of a cultured, emotional of the shop, said that the number scientific research project with life. of visitors to it and their demand success. Rim Ok

32 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Five Red Stars

O JUN HYOK GOES H to Pyongyang Kinmaul Kindergarten No. 1. He is one of the ordinary children you can see at any kindergarten in Korea, yet he has now become known all across the country for his five red stars.

Stars he saw with his mother

Jun Hyok began to go to kin- Ho Jun Hyok is the first to answer the teacher’s question. dergarten on April 1 last year. From one year earlier he had been Star seen everywhere future. So the stars are put to looking forward to the day, count- where you can see them with ing the days on his fingers. Such Later the boy was bereaved of ease.” being the case he was particularly his mother unexpectedly. Now he Hearing the words Jun Hyok attached to the life at kindergar- behaved like a grown-up even at thought the soldiers were the best ten. He received more red stars the time of playing. He wouldn’t people his mother used to talk than other children for good join hands with his friends but about. He said that he would be- things he did, both at lesson and was lost in meditation. In spare come a People’s Army soldier in everyday life. time he often wrote something. when he grew up. One evening when he was His teachers and friends thought What the boy had kept practicing counting—he had just he was yearning for his mother. writing was letters to People’s begun to learn it—with the help of But the reason was quite differ- Army soldiers. In every letter he his mother looking up at the noc- ent. One day some People’s Army put down his resolution without turnal sky through the window, soldiers came to the kindergarten fail that he would become a sol- he blurted out, “Can’t I attach the to improve the playground. Jun dier in future, along with stories stars I’ve got to the sky, mom? I Hyok, scrutinizing stars on the of his happy life at the kindergar- want to make my stars seen eve- shoulder strap of an officer, asked ten. rywhere.” him innocently, “What kind of One day in August when the Mom said that though he good things have you done for kindergarten was on vacation Jun couldn’t put his red stars to the these stars?” Hyok went to his kindergarten sky he would be able to make The officer with the most stars teacher. He produced 150 letters the stars seen everywhere on the strap told him, “These of his, saying, “I want to hand when he became a good man in stars are not appreciation of any- these letters to soldiers of the future. thing good we’ve done. They are Hero Company who performed Hearing her, the child felt what our country gave us in high brilliant feats in the Yonphyong quite hopeful. expectation for our good things in Islet Shelling.” ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 33 Short Novel

► Stars known across the country Room No. 5 of the In the course of writing a lot of letters to People’s Army sol- Holiday Village

diers with sincerity, Jun Hyok By Sin Yong Son improved his writing skill beyond recognition. It was not his writing skill alone that improved. His (Continued from the last is- smelting bar, but there was mind also enlarged. What was sue) always an empty hook to be seen. He found it hard to learn most interesting to him about the HE WORRIED LOOK OF the knack of fishing. Hero Company was that the re- T the old smelter got much The incontrollable desire and spected leader Kim Jong Un darker when some young holi- nervousness for fish resulted in personally proposed to award the dayers called him. “How much the bitter failure. To snatch at title of Hero to the company. have you caught?” They asked the line without any considera- Jun Hyok felt quite envious of him from afar, walking towards tion simply because the bell was the soldiers. When he received a the angling place boisterously. ringing— it was far from the The old man drew hard on knack of catching fish. big hand at the TV talent show the cigarette with a frigid face. The youngsters exchanged held on the occasion of the found- “Well, you’ve caught only a serious looks among them for a ing anniversary of the DPRK few small fish,” they murmured while before leaving the place (September 9) he made up his under their breath, seeing a few silently. mind to write a letter to fish, as small as a finger, lying in The old man frowned at the Kim Jong Un about his doings the bag. receding images of the young- and good writing skill. With the “Hmm,” the old smelter sters, probably because he was help of his teacher he wrote a groaned, casting an empty sorry he couldn’t offer the deli- glance at the opposite shore of cacy of sliced raw fish by himself. letter with sincerity. Yet he could the lake. He felt angry and wor- The youngsters’ footsteps died not imagine that the national ried. Realizing that fishing is away, when there came sounds leader would be pleased with his hardly what you can do as you of another person’s footsteps. humble letter. want, he felt irritated, as if The smelter gave a deep sigh, a Having read the letter squatting on a needle cushion. thick column of cigarette smoke Kim Jong Un wrote in reply, That seemed to be the reason fuming out of his mouth and “You’ve done a good thing, Jun why the veteran smelter who nostrils. They were the familiar was able to control the gigantic steps of the truck driver who Hyok. I’m proud of you. I hope you and ferocious furnace and molten must be coming in haste to get will grow up to be a good man. I steel at will could hardly settle the fish for preparing sliced raw would like to offer five red stars to his disturbed frame of mind at fish. you, my dear Jun Hyok. October the angling site. “Chief Smelter,” the driver 10, 2012 Kim Jong Un.” Then he Of course there were sounds called in haste, and his voice drew five red stars and sent them of the old man’s bell ringing sounded rather pleasant, which to the boy. The five stars the from time to time. But he could- was something unexpected about n’t bring fish onto the beach him. The driver was never soft in leader drew with gel pens of dif- when the Administration Coun- speech. His voice was always ferent colours meant the highest cil official did it skillfully. high-pitched. Perhaps it was a commendation in the world to the Whenever the bell rang, he “gift” from his job whereby he child. snatched the fishing line as had to have a talk amidst the Kim Chol Ung strongly as he had wielded the noise of engine all the time. ►

34 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 ► Now the chief smelter turned should have his fill of delicious bean paste and vinegar have his face around and gave a glance sliced raw fish during the holiday given a special relish to the dish, at the curly-haired driver, who by catching a lot of fish while you know.” was all smiles. enjoying the fresh air on the lake. The smelter was silent. His “Is the girl named Song Sil But there were no such sentences lips were locked hard. beautiful?” he blurted. in the letter that the old man’s The table on the wide, flat rock “Eh?” the old man was aghast pleasant holiday was the joy and was astir with the feast of sliced at the question that was quite out recreation of all his workteam, raw fish. To say nothing of the of the context. which was to be read in the letter anglers in the neighbourhood, “Don’t be so surprised,” the to the driver, the chief of the even passers-by were called in to driver said. “The keeper of our room. Perhaps it was because the the table. room has just come to deliver a old man had admonished not to The smelter was giving an letter from a Song Sil to me, the make such languages before he empty look to a far-away moun- chief of our room No. 5.” The cor- left for holiday. tain, puffing cigarette smoke into ner of the driver’s mouth reached Having read the letter the old the air. He found it hard to in- the ear for joy. man asked, rubbing his dark chin volve himself into the merry envi- “Do you mean our dear Song with his chapped hand. “Ha, ha. ronment. “How could they be so Sil has sent me a letter? Let me That’s a good girl. What did she happy when I’m anxious? They see it,” the smelter asked. His say in your letter?” think they are at a banquet,” he tanned face, featuring deep- “She asked our room, particu- told himself, clearing his throat seated perspiration pores, was larly me, to look after your holi- for no reason and casting dis- filled with gentle humanity and day,” the curly-haired boy replied pleased looks at the merry people. something earnest. He was being in a serious look. Yet there was a “pile of fish slices” hectic about the letter, unlike his “I’m your charge? Ha, ha…” before him. Unable to refuse re- usually serious and dignified The old man’s laughter stopped peated offers, he had a few slices poise, and just like a father who sharply. The empty bag on the in his mouth. Fresh and sweet receives a letter from his child beach had just disrupted his fish slices tasted quite good in after several years’ absence. happy frame of mind. Even the harmony with the seasonings of “You can’t read my letter from driver became dumbfounded to hot pepper and vinegar. The her,” the driver answered, “read see him, for he had expected to tempting taste made the wrinkles your own.” He handed a closed have a special conversation with on his face rather deeper. He letter to the smelter. the old man about the girl who he could hardly swallow the fish Reading the letter, the veteran thought might be beautiful in because he was reminded of his smelter wore a bright smile. countenance as well. When there colleagues who must be working Sometimes he nodded, his face settled deep wrinkles of worry on with perspiration at the furnace. brimming with a smile. Happi- the old man’s face, the driver He reluctantly made a few thrusts ness also settled on the eyes of the receded listlessly. at the dish of fish slices before driver who was stealing glances The chief of the room, how- standing with his arms propping at the old man’s letter over his ever, did not forget later to call up his heavy body. The driver, the shoulder, for every line of the the “Great Angler” to the “seat of painter, the department chief of letter was filled with the girl’s honour” of the table on the flat the Administration Council and kind-heartedness. The letter con- rock. He hastened to the old man the people around the table held veyed the story that the old man’s and helped him to erect his heavy him by the arms. But none of workteam took first place at the body and walk to the table. Pass- them could make him sit down at monthly review of production ing dishes of thick and soft slices the table again. done by the enterprise the previ- of flesh of carp and mandarin fish, “Help yourselves, friends,” the ous evening, and asked him to the driver talked volubly, “Help old smelter said smilingly, but he relieve himself of the concern yourself, dear smelter. The deli- sounded rather lonely. about the furnace. Also, the girl cacy of sliced raw fish is entirely wrote her kind “bluff” that he thanks to you. Your peppered (To be continued)

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 35 Kind-hearted Prosthetic Dentists

HEN I GOT ON A W bus that goes to the Minis- try of Public Health General Den- tal Hospital in front of the Py- ongyang Grand Theatre, a girl among the passengers caught my eye. She was holding a bouquet in her hand. I guessed that she was going to see a patient in the hospital. When I asked her if she was going to see a patient, she replied, “No. I’m going to see a doctor.” Then she told me a story. She was Kim Song Mi by name, a student of the Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory. One day she fell over something and had two of her front teeth broken. It was fatal to her, a vocal music student. Just at the time she saw on TV a programme dedicated to the introduction of the aforesaid hospital. She went to prosthetic dentistry depart- dent, I went to the department. the minds of patients first while ment No. 2 of the hospital to get Jon Yong Ho was having a rest improving their practical qualifi- treatment. Later she became able after treating patients. At a cations. Among their patients was to make stage appearance again. glance he looked humorous and Kim Il Chan, a researcher of the At a meeting of skill presentation broad-minded . Ferrous Metal Research Institute she was highly appreciated and He told me that it was only of the State Academy of Sciences presented with a bouquet. So she two years after his graduation who had been engrossed in a re- was now going to see Jon Yong from university. As I was doubt- search project at the Sunchon Ho, a prosthetic dentist, who had ingly looking at him, he said, Vinalon Complex. The depart- treated her with sincerity, taking “We’ve benefited from our head’s ment head and Ri Yong Ho them- the very bouquet with her. efforts. We learn much from him.” selves went down to the complex Listening to our conversation, With over 30 years of experi- to fetch the researcher to the hos- an old man said, “I’m also going to ence in dental treatment, the de- pital. And they put a full denture the same department. I heard partment head Ri Jong Ho con- to his upper gum so that he was that the head of the department is currently works as a teacher of the delightfully engrossed in his work good at dental prosthesis.” Pyongyang In-service Doctors again. “My next-door neighbour told Training School. “Good exchange Among the patients were also me that she had been treated for of feelings between a doctor and a Pang Kyong Hwan, a resident of dental diseases in the Ministry of patient,” Ri said, “is a primary Kusong City; Kim Hak Min, a Public Health General Dental condition for good treatment. Pa- worker of the Chollima Steel Hospital and that the dentists’ tients usually observe the doctor’s Complex; So Kyong Dok, a resi- sincerity is marvellous. So I’m look and gesture and heed to their dent of Wonsan City, Kangwon going to the hospital to get treat- tones. Only when doctors receive Province; Kim Suk Gyong, a resi- ment for a dental disease. And patients as kind-heartedly as they dent of Sungni-dong No. 1, Rang- this time I think I am going to should their own kinsfolk can the nang District, Pyongyang; and Ri have a false tooth put in the place latter feel at ease and actively Yong U, a teacher of the Hyesan of a back tooth,” another woman cooperate with doctors in treating College of Arts in Hyesan City, said. She was Jong Chung Sim, a their diseases.” Ri Yong Ho, Kim Ryanggang Province—all differ- resident of Somun-dong, Central Jin Hyok, Yu Jong Min, Pang ent in age and occupation. The District, Pyongyang. Yong Ho, Han Kwang Ho, Sin dentists, however, treated them Before we knew it, the bus Chol Jin and other staff members with great sincerity. arrived in the compound of the were of the same opinion. Meanwhile, the dentists regu- hospital. I wanted to meet mem- Holding that no medicine is larly went out to give on-site ser- bers of the aforesaid department. better than sincerity, the dentists vice to disabled persons, builders So, together with the music stu- strove to find a method of reading on construction sites, writers, ►

36 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Far From Mandate of Heaven

N JUNE LAST YEAR THERE it was impossible because he had reasonable remedy. In an effort to I was a man leaving the Pyongy- various complications. diagnose and treat his symptoms ang Medical College Hospital of When the doctors of the resus- in an all-round way, more than Kim Il Sung University for his citation department were racking ten consultative meetings were factory amidst well wishes of the their brains to find a way, heads held in the hospital, and over 30 doctors. He was Choe Kwang of many departments including meetings in the department. Chon, a worker of a provincial those of psychiatry and respira- Medical workers stayed by his factory. tory organs entered the room. bed day and night. The patient In mid-March last year he was Thus, the consultation meeting recovered consciousness in some rushed to the resuscitation de- enlarged to involve the hospital as 50 days. However, to the doctors’ partment of the hospital by an a whole. Many of them produced astonishment, he did not remem- ambulance. At that time he was good ideas. Now, in order to pro- ber even his name owing to the unconscious and his life was in vide an intensive treatment, a traumatic mental disorder. danger owing to the air and blood team was organized with head of The resuscitation department gathering in his lungs following the resuscitation department Cha had to make efforts again to re- overall bruise, fracture of ribs and Sang Gyun as leader and Yang move his disorder. They intro- rupture of a lung. Myong Il as chief doctor in charge duced a scientific treatment to Doctors looked nervous. A of the patient, and involving revive his brain and fixed a spe- medical consultation took place many doctors and nurses. They cial pharmacist for the case. Also soon in the resuscitation depart- first took measures to prevent the the medical staff paid deep atten- ment. They had treated a great air and blood from getting into the tion to his general condition. number of patients, but the case lungs due to the rupture of lungs, Cooks made dishes to suit his in hand was really embarrassing while carrying out procedures to appetite, doctors of the depart- to them. There were no novel make the patient breathe nor- ments of curative nutrition and measures suggested at the meet- mally. recovering treatment paid deep ing. They knew they had to put Meanwhile the team studied a attention to the management of him to emergency treatment but lot of literature to choose the most his nutrition, and the doctors of the department of cardiovascular surgery devoted their all to the recovery of his health. Such devo- tions made him recover completely in a little over 80 days and leave the hospital. When he left the hospital, some people said that he was preordained by Providence. But he said to them: “Never. How could I be born once again? It is entirely thanks to the public health system of our country and the medical staff of the hospital who are taking care of the patients as their own kinsmen. I know they devoted their all to my treatment. I’ve made up my mind to work harder for the sake of my beloved socialist system and my country’s prosperity.”

Sim Yong Jin

► teachers and researchers. The restoring their looks to those in people by improving our clinical department members often re- their youth or inform laudable qualifications and sincerity,” said ceive letters in which the writers innovations they make in their the department head. express their thanks to them for work. “We’ll fulfil our duty to the Rim Ok

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 37 Sosong District Juvenile Sports School

HE SOSONG DISTRICT T Juvenile Sports School is well known for its successful training of young athletes in the country. Many of the graduates of the school became winners of domestic and international games. People’s Athlete Kim Il, gold medalist at the 25th and 26th Olympics in 48 kg category of men’s freestyle wrestling event, can be cited. Now a number of graduates of the school are active in the national team and other sports teams of all levels. The school trains children in also has made successes in foot- in domestic and international football, basketball, volleyball, ball, basketball and volleyball. contests. Kim Sung Nam, wres- table tennis, wrestling, short- In recent years junior and tling instructor, and Merited Ath- track speed-skating, field hockey senior students of the school won lete An Nam Hui, volleyball in- and so on. In particular, it has national contests, attracting ex- structor, and Merited Athlete brought up promising wrestling perts. The school snatched over Kim Hye Yong, football instruc- aces for dozens of years, and ob- 100 medals including 35 gold tor, are in the van of training tained a good result recently as medals by winning men’s basket- aces. By training their students well. Ji In Hyon, 14, has cut a ball, women’s field hockey and on a scientific footing they make dashing figure. He won first place other events at the 49th national them attain precise basic skills in men’s 46 kg category of the juvenile sports schools’ contest and develop their physical ability wrestling event at the Pyongyang held last year. It is attributable to continuously. technical innovation contest, thus the high practical ability and zeal Kim Jong Ho, section chief of drawing the attention of experts of the instructors. Two thirds of the school, says, “The duty of the and fans. In addition, the school the instructors used to participate juvenile sports school is very important. Only when it teaches basic skills to the students prop- erly, will they develop into fine sportspersons. It takes much effort to find out those who have a taste and talent for sports, and train them into promising athletes by adopting suitable meth- ods. To meet the growing social interest in and expectation for sports we, instructors, are devot- ing all our energy to training young athletes.” As there are such training bases in all corners of the country like the Sosong District Juvenile Sports School, young aces are produced year after year.

Song Yong Sok

38 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Invigorating Mass Sports Activities

NE SUNDAY IN BALMY striking a hard blow and another officials saw to it that everybody O spring we were walking to woman neutralizing the blow—as took part in games. From that the Pyongyang Grand Theatre in if they were “pros.” Their game time on, all the employees came to central Pyongyang, when we was a close one, too, and what was have interest in sports as their heard enthusiastic cheers from more admirable was their enthu- enthusiasm was growing. That somewhere by the road. We siasm to demonstrate their team’s was not the only merit. In the turned to find the Korean April 26 unity. past, many of the producers suf- Children’s Film Studio in the “There’s another spectacular fered from occupational diseases middle of activities on its employ- game,” said Kwang Il, leading us and felt languid. At present their ees’ day of physical training. to a wide table tennis hall. There enthusiasm for sports activities Gratifying our professional were several tables where mixed has removed undesirable things curiosity we stepped into the teams were playing hot games. and their production is steadily studio ground where a volleyball We found some people familiar. going up. game was at its height. Ri Kwang They were producers of the an- As if testifying to Kim Jun Il, chairman of the trade union of imations “The Boy General” and Ok’s words the people were all the studio, welcomed us and in- “A Squirrel and a Hedgehog” filled with pleasure of life, pride troduced the players one by one, which are loved by grown-ups as in their jobs and attachment to saying that senior officials of the well as children. We saw them their studio. studio were playing the first playing as smartly as pros. Kwang Il said: A growing round. Among them were the Kim Jun Ok, producer of “A number of the studio’s employees president of the studio, vice- Squirrel and a Hedgehog,” who take part in the annual artists’ president and most of the heads of a dozen production units. The chairman explained about the day’s programme of volleyball games. According to him the first round was played by a team of leading officials of the studio against a team of heads of production units, and the second round between teams of women employees, and the third round between teams of the rank and file. Amid the spectators’ cheer- ing, the first round was over in favour of the senior officials. It was a close game. The players of the second round were all women, as had been told by the chairman. We were seeing their was on a waiting seat, told us, “In games. Last year alone, players interesting game, when the the past only those who were in- from the studio participated in chairman said, “In the past, terested in table tennis used to football, basketball, volleyball women were reluctant to take play games in pairs. But now and table tennis games, making a part in sports activities. So, even everybody wants to participate in great contribution to film sector’s when some of them participated games. So, table tennis games are winning first place in total. in the game, they found them- organized on a schedule. The high We realized that regular and selves unable to serve at all to competitive enthusiasm improves lively mass sports activities are their great shame. But regular the unity of each group.” He went an important factor of the studio’s sports activities have developed on to say: At first games were achievements. Hoping they would them as competitive players, as mainly played by those with high attain greater success in their you see now.” skills. So the participants were work, we left the studio. We saw the game a good while. fixed, and others lost interest in Among the women was a woman table tennis gradually. The studio Song Ryo Myong

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 39 Ri Se Gwang, Twice Asian Champion

PRK GYMNAST RI SE struments. When Jo asked him if D Gwang won two gold medals he wanted to do gymnastics, the in the rings and vaulting horse in boy spiritedly replied at once, the 5th Asian Gymnastics Cham- “Yes. That I can do.” pionships held last year in Fujian Se Gwang thus became a Province, China, thus becoming a member of the gymnastics circle twice Asian champion in vaulting at the palace the state had es- horse. tablished as an extra-curricular The gist of what he replied at a instruction base for the purpose press interview held after the end of developing schoolchildren’s of his competition is “My gold aptitudes. From then on relevant medal is my country’s.” instructors did all they could to develop the boy’s aptitude. They Ri Se Gwang was born in Tan- would often remain in the train- chon City, South Hamgyong ing hall till late at night to help Province. When he was four he him master even a single move- followed his parents to Pyongyang ment. When he was ill they to settle there as his father Ri would stay at his bedside with Jong Ho was transferred to a new his parents. Thanks to their ef- post in the city. In his childhood forts the boy, three years later, Se Gwang was wont to ask unex- was recognized as the most pected questions and was praised promising among the relevant by his teachers for being good at trainees. reality, however, was quite harsh school. His parents expected him His talent further improved to him. Then he remembered to develop into a scientist like his after he was admitted into the what his coach had said to him father. Growing up, however, Se April 25 Sports Team. Officials of when he found it difficult to Gwang would spend more time the sports team made sure that manage hard training before an exercising on the horizontal bar. he, though at the age of merely international competition he was At home he would jump to hang ten, was put under the guidance to participate in for the first on window sills, shelves and the of an able coach so that he could time. “You really have the apti- like, all higher than his stature. master high techniques as soon tude. But you should bear it in Regarding it as merely a frolic- as possible, and the whole sports mind that such an aptitude can some child’s play, his parents team showed concern for him. never earn you fame unless you planned to send him to a college Soon his skills went beyond jun- are determined to exalt the hon- in the future. ior class, and enabled him to hold our of your country.” Now Se One day, when he was at the supremacy in senior-class gym- Gwang rose again with clenched age of seven, Jo Hun, an instruc- nastics. When he was 18 he par- teeth and finally managed to tor of the Mangyongdae School- ticipated in an international complete his own technical children’s Palace, visited his pri- competition as a member of the movement, thus developing into mary school, and saw him hang- national team. In those days he a twice Asian champion. ing on the horizontal bar. Though keenly realized that without he was exhausted to some extent, technical movements of his own Back home he said to Song the boy persistently strove to keep he cannot distinguish himself in Sun Bok, the coach who had hanging on the bar while carrying gymnastics of the new century. helped him win the international out movements of his own for his So he decided to pioneer and competition he had participated young age. Jo could understand complete new technical move- in for the first time, “When the his enthusiasm for exercise, his ments of Korean style in gym- scores concerning my new techni- cleverness and his balanced motor nastics with a view to leading the cal movement were announced I sensation. Then the instructor gymnastic world. But it was not found your image coming across took the boy to the Mangyongdae an easy job. One day, while my mind. Yet it was not a happy Schoolchildren’s Palace, where training, he was wounded unex- look. You were wearing a look the boy, full of curiosity, saw boys pectedly and diagnosed as unable that you used to have when you and girls senior to him carrying to do exercise any longer. Gym- were quite demanding on me.” out skilful gymnastic movements nastics meant his life and re- on horizontal bars and other in- flected all his hope and ideal. The Chae Kwang Myong

40 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Saint Sosan

AINT SOSAN (1520–1604) studied Buddhism hard. As a Japanese aggressors, the arch- S is one of the renowned Bud- result, he became generally villain of killing, it will be con- dhist priests in the period of the known already in his thirties as a trary to the precepts of Buddhism last feudal state of Korea (1392– priest of deep moral culture and of and is an act committing a crime 1910). In particular, he was fa- high character. against our fellow countrymen. mous as the chief of monk soldiers It happened when he was liv- You must not forget that the who, in spite of his advanced age ing in Mt. Myohyang. One day he, priests are also people of this of 73, turned out to lead all the taking a stroll in the front yard of country.” Buddhists across the country in the Pohyon Temple together with In response to his fiery call the struggle to repulse Japanese several priests, saw a hawk cir- and notification, Buddhists in samurais during the Imjin Patri- cling round in the sky in quest of various parts of the country rose otic War (1592–1598). its prey. He told a young monk to as one in the righteous volunteers’ His original name was Choe fetch a bow and an arrow and shot struggle. As a result the number Hyon Ung, but he was widely the arrow at the hawk even before of Buddhist volunteers amounted known as Saint Sosan. This is the other priests kept him back. to tens of thousands throughout because he lived in Mt. Myohy- As he had excelled others in mar- the country. ang, namely Sosan (West Moun- tial arts from his childhood, the He, leading the monk soldiers, tain), as Buddhist Taesa (Great arrow hit the hawk right, which made a march to Pyongyang and Teacher) for a long period of time. fell headlong to the ground like a took part in the battle to win back (Taesa is a title a feudal state stone. “How is it that you have the walled city as well. He fixed conferred on a high-ranking killed a life, Great Teacher? May his commanding post in a moun- priest of the Sonjong denomina- the hawk rest in peace!” There tain and dealt a telling blow at tion of Buddhism.) was a general stir among the the enemies who were intent on Saint Sosan was born into the priests standing around. They felt the plunder of provisions and family of a poor ryangban as if they had witnessed some- people’s property east of the (aristocrat) in Anju at the time thing forbidden. However, Saint Walled City of Pyongyang in co- when owing to the corrupt feudal Sosan, laughing roaringly, said to operation with General Kim Ung government factional strives be- them. “Removing the source of So. On the other hand, he reor- came excessive and the people destruction of life accords with ganized units of the monk soldiers were suffering in great misery. the precepts of Buddhism. If we in a way convenient to waging Unfortunately, he was be- had kept that hawk alive, it would battles. reaved of his parents when he was prey on several birds day after As soon as the battle to win 9 and grew up, undergoing hard- day.” back Pyongyang started in Janu- ships in wandering life. There- No sooner had the Imjin Pa- ary 1593, he, taking the command fore, he keenly experienced the triotic War broken out than he, of the monk soldiers, dashed into class contradiction of society in staying in Mt. Myohyang, called a section of Moran Hill and di- those days. upon the Buddhists all over the vided the enemy’s position into As he was valiant and clever, country to turn out in the right- two parts, thus rendering distin- he comprehended what he eous volunteers’ struggle. As soon guished service for the opening up learned through books and mar- as a large number of monks across of the path of onrush of the Ko- tial arts on a level higher than the country turned out in the rean army and ensuring its vic- anybody else at a private tutorial struggle in response to his appeal, tory in the battle. school. However, he gave up an he formed a righteous volunteers’ In January 1604 he passed idea of getting employment in unit of 1 500 troops and he be- away in Mt. Myohyang at the age disorderly bureaucratic circles came its general commander. of 85. and became a monk at a temple in At that time some priests were The name and brilliant ex- Mt. Jiri of Jolla Province at the reluctant to embark on the road of ploits of Saint Sosan who made a age of 18. struggle, saying that killing was great contribution to driving out Since then, he, travelling contrary to the precepts of Bud- the Japanese invaders in spite of about scenic spots of Korea, sang dhism. his great age, saying that “Priests the praises of the beautiful land- He led them to the road of are also people of this country” scape of the country by composing wiping out the Japanese invaders, are still handed down among the poems and, calling on renowned saying, “If you do not come out in Korean people. scholarly priests in big temples, the struggle to annihilate the Kim Un Jong

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 41 Nam Gate of Taesongsan Fort

AM GATE OF THE originally been built before beautifully decorated with N Taesongsan Fort is the Koguryo moved its capital to Koguryo’s patterned tiles and southern gate built along with the Pyongyang in 427. The present carved ornaments formed after Taesongsan Fort. Serving the aim gate was restored to its original eagle plumes on both tops of the of defending the Anhak Royal state in September 1978. It is ridge and on the upper part of the Palace of Koguryo, the Taesong- 19.5 metres high and has a hip. The inside and outside of the san Fort was one of the biggest of strongly-erected embankment gatehouse were finished with the kind in Koguryo. It was built under a gatehouse. The embank- gorgeous paintings called tan- by linking the six peaks of Ulji, ment was erected with square chong. Nam Gate represents the Somun, Jangsu, Pukjang, Kuksa granite blocks. A gateway is in characteristics of Koguryo in and Jujak with a wall. There were the middle of the embankment its all details, and also fully discovered 20 sites of gates in the with battlements. The two- demonstrates architectural tech- fort, and Nam Gate is the only one storeyed gatehouse has five kans niques of Koguryo and the that still stands. (a kan equals about six feet) in mettle of the Koguryo people. It Nam Gate is located in a big front and two kans in side. The is well preserved as a national valley between Jujak and Somun gatehouse’s roof with the four treasure. peaks toward Mt. Taesong. It had solemnly-shaped slope-sides was Rim Ok

42 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Pyongyang Folk Park (4)

Traditional folklore and beautiful manners and customs handed down from generation to generation

AST THE MODERN DISTRICT, WE ENTERED P the district of folklore in the Pyongyang Folk Park, feeling as if we were reliving the ancient time our ancestors lived. Our guide explained, “This is the Koguryo wall of the Koguryo neighbourhood that makes up a section of the folklore district covering dozens of hec- tares.” The Koguryo wall was made of stone, showing the form of wall construction and structure at the time. The features of the wall were the additional wall in front of the gate of the wall, the side post that was used ► The Palhae Royal Palace.

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 43 A government office.

► for defending the corner of the Koguryo, which was a thousand- the guide said, leading us to wall and for a subsidiary com- year-long power in the East. Kyongdang, a Koguryo private manding post, the battlement set The folklore district was dis- school that was engaged in teach- around the top of the wall. They tinctive in that there were to be ing martial arts as well as letters. were showing the spirit of found no miniatures of buildings, The guide explained Kyongdang had played a big role in nurturing a militaristic spirit in the mind of the people in Koguryo. We looked round different forms of dwellings, temples and military barracks which were real -like restorations, before heading for a Koguryo government office. The government office of Koguryo was second largest after the royal palace. It consisted of the main building where government affairs were dealt with, buildings ►

A military camp.

44 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 ► where lower-level officials Like the Koguryo village and wall but all with four or six slid- worked, various kinds of houses the Palhae Royal Palace, the ing doors or without any door at including the lodgings of the offi- Koryo village we now entered had all, to suit the warm weather in cials, storerooms, a number of a number of marvellous buildings the southern region. gates and gardens—which were that were indicative of the con- In the section were also to be all representative of high archi- temporary architecture and cus- seen a watermill, a blacksmith’s tectural techniques during the toms and manners. In the district shop, a house used as a store, a time of Koguryo. In the govern- were seen an exhibition of Koryo’s Tangun’s Shrine where memorial ment office were on display mate- historical relics, the Koryo Tong- services were held in honour of rials belonging to rooms No. 8, 9 myong House which was a re- the nation’s father Tangun, a and 10 of the Korean Folklore nowned hotel where foreign mis- private educational institution Museum. The materials showed sions stayed or state banquets called Sodang, which were all life- the housing customs, furniture, were held, a magnificent resi- like restorations conveying the habits relating to folk games and dence of a high-ranking official of customs and habits of the con- folk arts and illustrations. the feudal government, and a temporary people. It seemed as if Now we went over to the Pal- pottery where Koryo celadon was I could meet an ancient person at hae Royal Palace, which was an manufactured whose forms, col- any door if I knocked at it. imaginary restoration of a num- ours and patterns were of unique In different houses there they ber of buildings of the Royal Pal- nature and of high artistic value. I were offering different folk foods ace in Sanggyong Ryongchonbu, was pleased to see the cultural like Pyongyang raengmyon (cold capital of Palhae, based on ar- tradition and customs of the Ko- noodle), a peculiar feeling to our chaeological findings. Palhae ap- rean ancestors as in real life, and emotion. peared as the successor to what was more attractive was the Looking round the Pyongyang Koguryo and left a distinguished natural beauties modelled on Mt. Folk Park we learned it was a chapter of our nation’s history Kumgang. grand museum that is a good spanning 5 000 years, by making In the folklore district was blending of historical and modern great progress in politics, the also the village of the feudal Joson arrangements and a good school economy, national defence and dynasty, which is a comprehen- of great information. The con- culture. sive show of typical houses, eating struction of the park laid a fa- One of the characteristics of habits, manners of labour in dif- vourable condition for the public the Palhae Royal Palace was that ferent areas— northern, central to have good knowledge of the the main gates were set on both and southern—of Korea. Helped nation’s time-honoured cultural sides of the gate pavilion, instead by the guide we had deep under- tradition and good manners and of under the pavilion. The gable standing of the dwellings that customs through vivid represen- roof of the gate pavilion was suited to physiographical condi- tations. shaped after Koguryo’s architec- tions of each region. The northern We saw groups of visitors tural style, and there were some house was a house with no wall singing and dancing merrily here other architectural similarities to between the kitchen and the liv- and there. We were convinced Koguryo’s buildings. Along the ing room so that the heat from the that the Korean tradition and galleries of the palace were ar- cooking range was directly used to laudable customs would be ranged seven halls of the Korean warm the living room in consid- handed down generation after Folklore Museum which are dedi- eration of the cold weather in the generation thanks to our re- cated to the show of time-honoured northern area. spected leader Kim Jong Un traditions and customs of the na- The central house had a spa- who loves our country and tion. Some typical materials were cious floor before the door of the people most and brings President those showing Korean ancestors’ room, called Pongdang, which was Kim Il Sung and Chairman habits of labour, costume, food, used as a place for different kinds Kim Jong Il’s lifetime instruc- table arrangement, table manners, of work in the central area of Ko- tions into reality. learning, family courtesies, ceram- rea where they had much rain in Leaving the folk park we felt ics and the like. There we met the summer and much snow in winter proud of the fact that the complex section chief Kim Myong Sim who and strong wind. of the 5 000-year-long history of told us that the Korean Folklore The southern house was laid the nation was really a great Museum had been moved to the with the vestibule, called treasure of Korea. Pyongyang Folk Park and added Taechong, at the centre, whose with several halls. southern side was without any Rim Ok

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 45 DPRK’s Consistent Foreign Policy

NDEPENDENCE, PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP the world to thwart the imperialists’ offensive of I make up the consistent principle of the Democ- oppression upon the DPRK, achieve peace and stabil- ratic People’s Republic of Korea’s foreign policy ity in the Korean peninsula and defend peace and which President Kim Il Sung and Chairman security in Asia and the rest of the world. Kim Jong Il put forward and wisely maintained. In It is a consistent stand of the DPRK government his New Year Address in 2013, the supreme national to develop friendly relations with all peoples of the leader Kim Jong Un reiterated the consistent stand world who champion independence. To live and make of the DPRK government to implement the foreign progress in a friendly environment is a unanimous policy of independence, peace and friendship. desire and aspiration of humanity. Only when coun- To build an independent and peaceful new world tries and nations develop friendly and cooperative all countries should defeat the imperialists’ aggres- relations among them, will they be able to build an sion and war manoeuvres and safeguard peace and independent and prosperous new society or such a security of the world and develop relations of friend- world successfully. At the moment the imperialists ship among the countries. and international reactionary forces are working First of all, the DPRK firmly maintains the hand in glove to overturn progressive nations one principle of independence in foreign relations. Inde- after another. In this condition it is necessary for all pendence is the life and soul and the criterion of an countries and peoples of the world who aspire after independent sovereign state. It is the DPRK’s main independence to have stronger relations of friendship principle of activity to take an independent view to and solidarity. and draw an independent inference of all problems, The DPRK government is making positive efforts act in its own faith and solve problems in its own to establish and improve friendly relations with way. The country never allows outsiders to infringe those nations that treat the DPRK in a friendly upon its sovereignty, meddle in its internal affairs or manner, on the principle of independence and inter- get control of it. A legitimate nuclear state and an national justice. It is a consistent stand of the DPRK internationally acknowledged nation that is capable to improve and normalize relationship even with of making and launching artificial earth satellites, it those countries that have been hostile towards the is fairly exercising its independent rights as a dig- DPRK, once they renounce their hostile DPRK policy nified nation. It respects the sovereignty of other and respect the DPRK. countries and supports righteous causes of the pro- In developing friendly and cooperative relations gressive peoples of all countries against the imperi- with foreign countries, the DPRK government ad- alists’ domination and subordination. The foreign heres to the principles of mutual respect of sover- policy of the DPRK reflects the desire of the people eignty, non-interference in internal affairs of other to live in a peaceful world free from aggression and countries, equality and mutual reciprocity, which are war. universal principles to be observed in development of To prevent war and safeguard peace is a common inter-state relations. The DPRK will make every task of humanity and an essential task in building possible effort to establish fair international rela- an independent new world. The desire of humanity tionship and orders as a member of the international for peace will come true only when the progressive, community. The DPRK government and people peace-loving peoples conduct a forceful campaign for will struggle to implement the idea of independence, peace against war in close unity. The DPRK is doing peace and friendship under the Songun revolution- all in its power to secure peace, regarding the main- ary leadership of their supreme leader tenance of peace and security in the Korean penin- Kim Jong Un, and thus further expand and im- sula as an important task in defending independence. prove relations with a large number of countries The DPRK is determined to make positive efforts in around the world and make contribution to the cause good solidarity with the peace-loving peoples around of global independence.

46 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Hazard of the US-Japan Security Treaty

ECENTLY THE TOP-LEVEL STATESMEN Japan. This is to be seen clearly from the fact that R of the US and Japan are rattling on about the US has reached an agreement with Japan on the “security” in the Asia-Pacific region more than ever issue of redeployment of the US troops present in before. In a press conference last year, the US Japan for building up armed forces and strengthen- President said that the US-Japan alliance is the ing military activities in the Asia-Pacific region ac- cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific cording to the new defence strategy made public by region. And the US Secretary of Defense remarked the US administration early last year. Today the that the US-Japan alliance has been the foundation Japanese territory is covered up by the meshes of US of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region for army, naval and air bases. The US warships and decades. About the same time, the Japanese prime planes loaded with nukes have free access to Japan. minister and other high-ranking officials also ut- Japan is turning farther into a dangerous base of tered that the US-Japan security treaty should be nuclear attack. kept up to maintain security in the said region. But, Japan is in great haste to become a big military in fact, the treaty is a means of invasion and war power. It has revised its military strategy from “total upon other countries. defence” to preemptive attack. According to it, the The treaty concluded in the year following the plan for modernization of the Self-Defense Forces is start of the Korean war by the US and revised in pushed on to develop their capabilities for protracted June 1960, stipulates military tie-up between the US war, long-distance combats and preemptive strikes. and Japan, the former aiming to turn the Japanese Worse still, Japan is getting more feverish over joint territory into its military base and revive and rearm military rehearsals with the US than ever before. Japanese militarists to make them the shock force in Early last year alone, the SDF participated in the its invasion of Asia, and the latter intent on resusci- command post exercises twice with the US forces tating as a military giant as early as possible to em- stationed in Japan. Involved in the exercises were an bark on the road of overseas aggression. The treaty expeditionary brigade of the US Marine Corps, a provides that the US forces shall stay in Japan striker unit of the US army, and task forces of without time limit turning it into a forward base, Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force. Moreover, Ja- carrying out joint military exercises with Japan’s pan’s Air Self-Defense Force took part in the joint Self-Defense Forces and strengthening bilateral aerial exercises—together with the US and Austra- military cooperation. This aggressive treaty legalized lia—held in Guam, fanning up war fever. Japan’s the US’s military control over Japan and instituted a participation in every joint military rehearsal with US-Japan military alliance. the US on the pretext of security proves its secret Under this treaty, US military bases and facili- intention of invading the neighbouring countries ties have been built extensively in Japan and Japan’s again under the US patronage. Self-Defense Forces beefed up without let-up, jointly Now Japan is emerging as the most dangerous stepping up preparations for aggressive war. After aggressive force in Asia. This gives rise to the unsta- the conclusion of the treaty, the relations between ble situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan would the US and Japan developed into “relations of alli- not behave in this way if it really seeks after secu- ance” from the “relations of companionship,” and rity. But Japan is heading for reinvasion, not secu- then into “a community bound up by common fate.” rity. That’s way Japan is sticking to the US-Japan The implication was the materialization of a com- security treaty. Therefore, the US-Japan security plete political-military integration, with Japan treaty is the chief factor fomenting war danger and deeply involved in the US war strategy system. To- threatening peace and security in the Asia-Pacific wards the end of 1984, the US and Japan completed region. Its main target is the Korean peninsula. The the US-Japan joint operations plan in case of Japan’s sustained tension on the Korean peninsula and the emergency and then the US-Japan joint study aimed ugly situation in the Asia-Pacific region are entirely at the defence of sea lanes by the end of 1986. In due to the US and Japan following the road of 2010, they reexamined and revised the US-Japan strengthening their political-military conspiracy. guidelines for defence cooperation adopted in 1997 Peace and security in this region requires the with- and the US-Japan joint operations plan 5055 in case drawal of the aggressive US forces and dismantling of emergency which was made public in 2004. Fur- of their military bases. Also the aggressive US-Japan ther, they established an integrated US-Japan op- security treaty should be scrapped. This is what the erational command system through the reorganiza- people of Asia and other parts of the world are de- tion and redeployment of the US forces stationed in manding.

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 47 Real Nuclear Culprit

VER FIFTY YEARS HAVE vres to turn south Korea into a occurrence.” In January 1968 O passed since it was made nuclear base and the demand for when the US armed spy ship public that the US aggressor denuclearization of the Korean Pueblo was captured while ille- troops in south Korea would be peninsula was becoming more gally intruding into the territorial armed with nuclear weapons. pronounced in the international waters of the DPRK, the US ad- After pronouncing in July 1957 community, the US played on the ministration tried to pose a fear- that it would begin to arm its world public opinion by putting ful nuclear blackmail to the coun- troops in south Korea with nu- forward an NCND policy whereby try by mobilizing aircraft carriers clear weapons, the US made it a it neither confirmed nor denied its and destroyers only to ignomini- fait accompli to start a nuclear shipment of nuclear weapons. ously apologize to the country. war in the Korean peninsula and It is the course of nature that The US manoeuvres to start a shipped strategic and tactical truth comes to light. A “chart of nuclear war to invade the DPRK nuclear weapons into the south in the existing state of the nuclear became more undisguised with numbers, and the GIs were heav- transport and deployment of GIs the beginning of the Team Spirit ily engaged in all manner of nu- stationed in south Korea” pre- joint military exercises it staged clear war rehearsals for the pur- sented to south Korean puppet together with the south Korean pose of verifying the efficiency of National Assembly on October 9, puppets annually from 1976. The their north-targeted pre-emptive 2005 reveals that 11 sorts of nu- military exercises involved F-16 nuclear strike. In mid-October clear weapons are stored in major fighter-bombers and B-1B long- 1957 the US began to arm the GIs bases such as Chunchon of south range strategic bombers capable with nuclear weapons by moving Kangwon Province, Osan of of carrying nuclear weapons and a an armoured division from Japan Kyonggi Province, Seoul, Taejon, submarine with nuclear missiles to south Korea and merging it Pusan, Taegu, and Kwangju in on board. Meanwhile, they often with its 24th Division there to be south Korea. The northern half of conducted atomic gun firing drills reorganized into an “atomic divi- the Korean peninsula today is a on the pretext of neutralizing the sion.” region selected by the US as a combat efficiency of the north’s It made a formal announce- target of nuclear strike. The US field guns. The GIs and the south ment in January 1958 that Hon- designated the DPRK as a top- Korean puppet army have so far est John tactical nuclear missiles priority target of nuclear strike drawn up many nuclear war plans had been deployed in south Korea in the 2002 report of the “nuclear such as “wholesale retaliation before opening a 280-mm atomic posture review,” and later the plan,” “OPLAN 5026,” “OPLAN gun to the public in a US military Obama administration re- 5027,” and “OPLAN 5029” and airfield in Uijongbu in south Ko- designated the country as a target improved them through Team rea in February of that year. of pre-emptive nuclear strike. At Spirit, Foal Eagle, Key Resolve, Later B-61 nuclear bombs to be the 41st annual security confer- Ulji Freedom Guardian and other carried by bombers and nuclear ence held in October 2009 the US nuclear war rehearsals. mines were shipped into the south and the south Korean puppets These historical facts prove in numbers. made a concrete agreement on that the US is the author of the The US’s shipment of nuclear “offering an expansive nuclear nuclear issue in the Korean pen- weapons into south Korea further deterrent” by which to counteract insula and that nuclear threats increased even after the conclu- in the same way as when the US come from the south to the north. sion of an international treaty proper is attacked in an effort to It is most shameless of the US that nuclear weapons cannot be put south Korea under the pro- and the south Korean puppets to shipped into a nonnuclear country tection of the American “nuclear try to conceal their nuclear crimes or region. Such weapons shipped umbrella.” This meant to provide and talk about “nuclear threats” into the south numbered over a legal guarantee for unleashing a from the north, the victim of the 1 000 in the 1970s and amounted nuclear war to invade the north at crimes. Nothing can cover up the to over 1 720 in the 1990s so that any moment. true colours of the US as the real the density of nuclear weapons Besides, the US, together with nuclear culprit that has intensi- there was the highest in the the south Korean puppets, stages fied the nuclear crisis in the pen- world. As the anti-US struggle all sorts of nuclear war rehears- insula and the rest of the North- was growing stronger revealing als—to invade the north—under east Asian region century after and denouncing the US manoeu- the cloak of “defence” or “annual century.

48 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2013 Piro Peak

IRO PEAK, 1 909 METRES HIGH ABOVE and 36-metre-long Chilsong Bridge, adding to the P sea level, is the highest peak in Mt. Myohyang. scenery of the valley. Past this bridge and the From olden times, the Koreans usually called the Kumgangtho Bridge, there can be seen in the forest highest peak as Piro Peak. The one in Mt. Myohyang the Turtle Rock associated with a legend that a is an example. nearly-300-year-old turtle from an undersea world of There are many famous sites with magnificent the West Sea visited the world-famous Mt. Myohy- views in and around Piro Peak, including Chonthae- ang and changed itself into a rock, reluctant to leave. dong and Chilsongdong valleys famous for water- Piro Peak is connected with Jingwi Peak to the falls, the Piromun resting place known as the first west and Chilsong Peak to the southeast, and on top place on the way of climbing Piro Peak, Chonthae of Piro Peak are found rocks and a grassland. In the Falls of Chonthaedong, Isonnam Falls, Paegundae grassland various kinds of flowers are in bloom in with a famous view, Wonman Peak, and Solyongdae July and August. Between Piro Peak and Chilsong associated with legends. Peak, Pinus Pumilas are spread in a wide area. The Piromun resting place has a magnificent The highest lookout of Mt. Myohyang, Piro Peak, view of alpine scenery. Streams flowing down from has an exquisite view. Below the peak are seen Chonthaedong and Chilsongdong join here, present- ranges of peaks high and low, and the thickly- ing a beautiful scenery of valley. Kolgae Stream wooded ravines are washed by clear water which flowing down over and around stones and rocks of makes pools and waterfalls. various shapes and sizes, and the thickly-wooded When looking around on the peak, there can forest seem to be a beautiful landscape picture com- be seen a picture of high and low mountains and pleted by a celebrated painter. fields. And you can see the West Sea of Korea far Between fantastic cliffs is laid the 1.5-metre-wide away.

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