KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 51 http://www.naenara.com.kp Order of the Republic 1st Class

President Kim Il Sung received the Order of the Republic 1st Class, Indonesia, from President Sukarno of the Republic of Indonesia in April 1965.

52 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 KOREA TODAY Monthly Journal (709) Printed in English, Russian and Chinese

C O N T E N T S

Everlasting Banner ·············································································································3

By Creating Original Tactics ································································································ 6

The First Distinguished Military Service Medal ······································································ 7

To a Decisive Battle············································································································· 8

Tradition of Victory Continues ·····························································································10

Dear to the People··············································································································12

Really Impressive ··············································································································13

I Knew Admiration of the Koreans Better··············································································13

For the liberation of the country

Confronted by Hundreds of Thousands of “Punitive” Troops ·····················································14

On the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea

Motherly Party ··················································································································16

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 1

National Tree of the DPRK·······················································17

Guaranteeing the Beauty ·························································18

High Sense of Responsibility·····················································20

Pioneers·················································································21

Mushroom Researchers····························································22

Teacher with Many Nicknames ·················································23

Improving Quality of Education ················································24 Front Cover: Paying homage at the Fatherland “Let Us Learn for Korea!” ·························································26 Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery Far From Dream·····································································28

Photo by Ra Phyong Ryol Doctors Pressed for Time··························································29

Sweeping Enthusiasm for Exercises···········································30

School Famed for Basketball·····················································31

Keeper of National Tradition ····················································32

The Benevolent System ···························································34

The Changed View of Lake Yonphung ········································35

Traditional Dishes of Korea (1)··················································36

I Can Give Even a Little Help to My Country ······························38

Short Story

After Many Years ···································································39

Korean Industrial Arts (3) ························································41

Cliffs of Fantastic Shapes in Mt. Paektu ····································42

Back Cover: A scene from the An Jung Sik and Association of Painters military parade and the Py- ongyang citizens’ demonstra- and Calligraphers ···································································44 tion held in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the victori- Why Are They Denying Facts? ··················································45 ous Fatherland Liberation War

Photo by Ra Chung Ryol Abuses of Children and the Aged in South Korea ·························46 Debtor to International Law ·····················································48 13502 ㄱ-58216

© The Foreign Language Address: Sochon-dong, Sosong District, Magazines 2015 Pyongyang, DPRK E-mail: [email protected]

2 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Everlasting Banner

Raising cheers for the victorious war.

T IS 62 YEARS SINCE moment quite a few people were that victory for his people was I fireworks were set off in the at a loss to know how the war had certain, and that he was confident sky over Pyongyang in celebration broken out and what it was aimed that their just struggle for the of the victory in the Fatherland at. There were even people who country and the people would Liberation War. You cannot find were fooled by the imperialist triumph. wounds of the war any more in aggressors and their stooges who (As a matter of fact, the Ko- the land where everything was were making propaganda that it rean war was an aggressive war reduced to ashes. There have been was a “war the north started to that had been prepared by the US changes in the mountains and make south Korea communistic.” imperialists for a long time in a rivers and the population, but one When a variety of opinions planned way. The American jour- thing remains as it was. That is and unsound waves began to nal Life for July 1950 revealed the admiration of the nation for sweep the world, Kim Il Sung, that as far as war was concerned, President Kim Il Sung who led leader of the Democratic People’s no war had ever been prepared so the Fatherland Liberation War to Republic of Korea, made a historic completely as the ongoing Korean victory. radio speech entitled Go All out war since the beginning of the Following is a paragraph from for Victory in the War to the en- American history.) an article carried by Rodong tire Korean nation on June 26, The radio address of the Sinmun, organ of the Central 1950. In the address he said that national leader implanted confi- Committee of the Workers’ Party on June 25 the army of the puppet dence in victory in the minds of of Korea, immediately after the government of the traitor Syng- the Korean service personnel and end of the war: “The august man Rhee launched an all-out other people and aroused their name of the great leader Comrade offensive along the 38th parallel readiness to turn out in the sacred Kim Il Sung is the most glorious (The parallel meant the demarca- war for national defence. For the and valuable to the Korean peo- tion line between the north and previous five years since their ple. It is closely associated with the south of Korea after the coun- country was liberated from the all the victories, honours and try was divided by the US imperi- military occupation of the Japa- struggles that were decisive of the alists) against the DPRK, that the nese imperialists in August 1945, destiny of the Korean people.” Government of the DPRK, having the Korean people had enjoyed discussed the situation, had or- their life under the people’s gov- Sacred war to defend the dered the People’s Army to start ernment established and led by Korean nation decisive counteroffensive action Kim Il Sung. The government and wipe out the enemy’s armed had given the people genuine On the early morning of June forces, that the history of man- democratic right and freedom and 25, 1950 when it was drizzling, kind shows that a people that provided them with a new life. It the US imperialists and their defies death and rises in the gave land and rights to work, south Korean puppets started a struggle for freedom and inde- learn to their heart’s content and war against the Democratic Peo- pendence is always victorious, have medical care. Whether they ple’s Republic of Korea. At the that theirs was a just struggle, were workers, peasants, women, ►

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 3 KPA soldiers fight valiant defence battles based in tunnelled positions.

► youths or students, they were all overflowing with dreams and hopes for the future, their life filled with songs. In a word, the north of the Korean peninsula was a land where they could enjoy a genuine life worth a human being, relishing optimistic and hopeful life; it was a wonderful country that realized their centu- ries-old desire. That was why the Korean people turned out as one in the struggle to defend their beneficial social system that en- abled them to live a proud and worthwhile life, their country that had fulfilled their hope and brought true life. Members of an aircraft A KPA sniper. Wilfred Burchett, an Austra- hunters’ team. lian writer who used to be a war correspondent during the Korean way he won the strong rival. alone ready to go to war at the war, wrote in his pamphlet that in C o n c l u d i n g t h e t a l e, Korean front. It hurled into the the first six weeks after the be- Kim Il Sung said that physical small area of the Korean front its ginning of the war 1.2 million strength is not almighty and that modernly equipped forces— one young people joined the volun- it was essential to grasp the weak third of its ground force, one fifth teers’ units of the Korean People’s points of the enemy correctly and of its air force and most of its Army or guerrilla units. Four apply a proper tactical method. Pacific Fleet—and forces of 15 of hundred thousand of them came Over the whole years of the its vassal nations, the south Ko- from the south. war the leader, seeing it as a rean puppet army and the Japa- matter of crucial importance for a nese militarists, which totaled Strategic and tactical victorious war to maintain strate- more than two million in superiority decides gic and tactical superiority to the strength. Squandering a huge the winner of war enemy, turned the unfavourable amount of money and materiel situation into the favourable by the invaders employed the most During the Fatherland Lib- applying precise and clever bestial means of warfare and eration War Kim Il Sung told strategies and tactical stratagems methods unprecedented in the KPA commanding officers a story so as to shatter the enemy’s nu- history of war around the world. about two warriors. It goes: Once merical and technical superiority. Kim Il Sung initiated Ko- upon a time there were two brave It was an established formula rean-style fighting methods to warriors, who styled themselves of war that attacking needs three vanquish the aggression forces as the best fighters. One of them times greater strength than the that were numerically and techni- was powerful but not intelligent, defensive side. In terms of techni- cally superior, thus leading the when the other was intelligent cal power, the DPRK was no Fatherland Liberation War to though less powerful. One day match to the US. It was a young victory. Some examples are: im- they had a contest of sending a independent state founded a few mediate counteroffensive against chicken down across a fence. years before, and the Korean Peo- the enemy’s surprise invasion, First, the strong warrior took the ple’s Army was also very young as successive strikes, formation of a down and flung it forcefully over a regular force. On the contrast, second front behind the enemy to the other side of the fence. But the US was the leader of the im- line, large-scale encirclement the down would not pass over the perialist forces since the end of through cooperation between the fence but flew about his hand. the Second World War. It had main front and the second front, Then it was the turn of the intel- expanded its territory more than combination of fightings using ligent warrior. He put the down ten times by means of over 110 large and small units, combina- on the palm of his hand and blew wars of aggression. When it tion of the regular warfare with it over the fence to the other side started the Korean war, it had got the guerrilla one, mountain-based of the fence successfully. In this 12 divisions of the ground force battles, night assaults, proactive ►

4 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► position warfare based in tunnels, set to the project of digging strong circlement warfare; and crossed activities by aircraft hunters and tunnel positions. The American the Kum River breaking what the tank hunters. All these were aggressors launched the so-called enemy had declared as the “line of original tactics that Kim Il Sung “summer offensive” from mid- no retreat” through a combination developed saying that they should August 1951. They made desper- of ingenious tactics such as fron- adopt Korean methods in the war ate attacks for a month by mobi- tal and flank attacks, and sur- in conformity with the topog- lizing 100 000 troops, more than prise assaults and interception of raphical features of the country. 1 000 aircraft and a huge number the enemy retreat. The proactive position warfare of tanks. But their offensive All the adventurous offensives was put forward by the leader in ended in their loss of tens of and attempts of the US imperial- consideration of the condition thousands of lives without taking ists including the “summer when he decided in the middle of even a step into the defence posi- offensive,” “autumn offensive,” 1951 that the massive arms tions of the Korean army. “Kimhwa offensive,” “strangula- buildup of the US imperialists In the autumn that year the tion operations,” “scorched earth would prolong the Fatherland enemy set out to carry out an- operations,” “new offensive,” and Liberation War. At the time the other round of operations called criminal germ warfare were imperialists, by reinforcing their “autumn offensive.” They made smashed to smithereens con- strength, air force and artillery “wave-style” attacks clamouring fronted with the smart tactics of force massively, turned the point for “maximum bombardment” and the DPRK leader and the heroic of their attacks to the eastern and “maximum bombing” but they fighting of the KPA soldiers. central sectors of the front while suffered defeat after defeat The fierce three-year-long attempting to launch landing thanks to the original tactics and Fatherland Liberation War ended operations on the west and east art of command of the DPRK in the great victory of the Korean coasts of Korea. leader. people. The historic victory in To cope with the prevailing There are many other exem- the Fatherland Liberation War situation Kim Il Sung made sure plary operations carried out by meant the brilliant fruition of the that position warfare was persis- the KPA during the war: the KPA Songun idea, military idea and tently maintained in order to keep successfully liberated Seoul three stratagem and art of command of hold of the already occupied line days after the war began; com- President Kim Il Sung who neu- and ceaselessly attack and anni- pletely destroyed Smith Special tralized the US imperialists’ nu- hilate the enemy forces while Unit, the advance party of the US merical and technical superiority taking time to further build up 24th Division, in the Osan battle, by politico-ideological, strategic the fighting capacity of the KPA which was the first engagement and tactical superiority. and strengthen the home front so with the US forces; wrought a Kim Il Sung remains the as to create all possible conditions wonder of sinking a US’s heavy symbol of eternal victory, encour- for a final victory in the war. cruiser with torpedo boats off aging the Korean people strongly In compliance with Jumunjin; liberated Taejon to win victory after victory. Kim Il Sung’s policy of tunnel- through operations that was re- based warfare, the entire army corded as a model of modern en- An Chol Ho

The ceremony of signing the Armistice Agreement (July 1953).

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 5

By Creating Original Tactics

Making Design of Tunnel Position mobilization of hundreds of tanks and many other combat and technical equipment and materials as NE SUMMER DAY IN 1951 AN OFFICIAL well as huge armed forces. O came to a stop suddenly, while approaching Understanding the prevailing situation at the Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army front, Kim Il Sung issued an order in August Kim Il Sung who was doing his routine duties at 1951 on organizing tank hunters’ teams. He in- the table. structed combined and other military units to form After deep meditation the leader resumed his tank hunters’ teams and successfully conduct work of making a design. Seen on the paper was a training in accordance with relevant plans and structure that looked like a long air-raid shelter disseminate fighting experience extensively. that ran across the middle of a height. To the Based on his order, numerous tank hunters’ official who could hardly turn his eyes away from teams were organized in military units including the design, the Supreme Commander told that he combined ones. They destroyed the enemy tanks was going to have tunnels dug all along the front and blew up near-by fuel depots and piles of shell line. boxes. By the time the front became mostly fixed. A tank hunters’ team belonging to a combined However, the US imperialist aggressors showered military unit and active in the eastern sector of the a huge amount of bombs and shells on the front front accomplished a feat of destroying 29 enemy and the rear of the DPRK with a view to recovering tanks with anti-tank grenades and anti-tank from their crushing defeat in the whole front line mines in a little over a month. In 1952 alone these and unhesitatingly committed such nefarious teams scored good results of destroying more than atrocities as using chemical and germ weapons as 200 enemy tanks on all fronts. well. Among such excellent results was a great event Having racked his brains about the specific in which one of them captured an enemy tank. features pertaining to the enemy’s action, the to- pographic feature of Korea abounding with moun- Korean-style Artillery Tactics tains, the state of military equipment of the Korean People’s Army, etc, Kim Il Sung decided In September 1951 Kim Il Sung visited the to dig solid tunnels to be used in battles at impor- line of Height 1 211 where a fierce battle was at its tant points for defence by making use of favourable height. He stated that it was absolutely necessary topographic conditions of Korea and, in combina- to deploy various kinds of guns close to the front tion with the construction of trenches and other line and place more of direct-firing guns on the field structures, form defensive positions with the height by pulling them up there, saying that that main stress on the building of tunnels. Now he was was the way suited to the actual conditions of the intent on making a design when the aforesaid country where there exist many mountains and a official was stepping up to him. small area of plain land. Then he added that it was The leader gave instruction in detail as to di- necessary to bring the guns of the enemy under rection of the designing and ways to obtain neces- their control and give active assistance to the sary materials, saying that the combatants should combat action of the infantrymen with artillery be provided with quarters in the tunnels so that firepower by pulling guns up to the height and they could fight at the front without any incon- deploying them there and fixing a proper density venience in living. of firepower. As a result, tunnel positions were built every- A team of direct-firing gunners active on where at the front, and even when they were short Height 1 211 fixed a fake firing position at a place of strength the People’s Army beat off the numeri- slightly lower than their real position on the east- cally and technically superior enemy in the for- ern ridge of the height and lured the enemy’s fire- ward areas of the defence line as well as at sea and power. By so doing they smashed their target in a in the coastal areas. twinkle with concentrical fire at the best moment while keeping watch on it from the main firing Training Good Soldiers position on the height. for Tank Hunting As they poured shells directly over the enemy troops and combat and technical equipment and Driven into a tight corner owing to continuous materials, the hitting rate left nothing to regret, attacks delivered by the People’s Army, the US bringing an ecstasy of cheers. imperialist aggressors offered resistance with the Kang Hye Ok

6 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 The First Distinguished Military Service Medal

HEN THE FATHERLAND master sergeant who was firing ing himself, “I’m a soldier of the W Liberation War started close by fell down. The company People’s Army. Be brave, and I on June 25, 1950, Ri Ki Wan commander dashed to his rescue won’t fear anything. Be brave, joined the army at the age of 14. and dressed the wound by tearing and I won’t be daunted.” His childhood before liberation off his underwear. He ordered, “Ki He forced his way through the (August 15, 1945) had been spent Wan, evacuate the master ser- rough mountain trail, sinking in the sorrow of a ruined nation. geant with the medical orderly!” down and rising up countless But in the five years after libera- He was then running off along the times. Now, he was too exhausted tion, he experienced a happy life. trench, when suddenly he stopped to open his eyes, his body wet with This determined him to join the and shouted back to Ki Wan, “Be sweat, and hunger and thirst army with the thought, “America quick!” tormented him. He reached for a is my enemy. I’ll enlist in the The stretcher was too heavy tree branch with his blistered People’s Army to chastise the for him. So, he made a makeshift hand, when unexpectedly a stone Yankees.” He called at the mili- rope with a few rice sacks and hit his face. Instantly, the thought tary mobilization department fastened its ends to the handles of that he came upon an enemy over and over again and importu- the stretcher and hung it on his flashed across his mind. The little nately asked them to enroll him, neck. He came out to the open boy soldier who had crossed the telling them he was 16, and fi- area after crossing the pass drip- deadlines that tested his will as nally joined the army. ping with sweat, when unexpect- soldier several times in several He started his military service edly an enemy plane appeared hours, instinctively lay on his face as the orderly of a company com- over his head and strafed. He had ready to pull the trigger. He as- mander in the Andong 12th Infan- never met with such a situation sumed the combat posture, star- try Division. In 1951 the company and so he looked across at the ing ahead fiercely to shoot down was sent into action on a stony medical orderly. The latter all the enemy. The opponents, too, hill in the Rinje area. The hill was shouted resolutely, “Forward!” remained still, watching his on the right of the road leading to They rushed ahead at the risk of movement. Strained seconds Rinje along the River Soyang. The death. Running and lying down passed with each second feeling hill was rugged and full of rocks, repeatedly, they went forward like an hour, when they shouted, hence the name of stony hill, until sunset and the enemy plane drawing the lock, “Hands up! Stir, which was given by the soldiers. disappeared. Feeling relieved, Ri and you’re a dead man! Pass- Fierce battles were fought many Ki Wan took the handles of the word!” At this moment the master times on the hill every day. One stretcher again, but the medic sergeant muttered, “Friend, day the enemy, in an attempt to remained still, lying prone over friend!” Coming round to himself, take back the hill, subjected it to the master sergeant. Covering the he got the bearings of the situa- severe artillery pounding from master sergeant with his own tion with a veteran soldier’s early morning under the cover of body, he had been hit by a ma- sense. Ri Ki Wan cried, “We’re airplanes. Then they began to chine-gun bullet, and now was friends, we’re People’s Army.” come up in swarms. The KPA breathing his last. Now the little They were signalmen of the regi- soldiers massed fire upon them. boy soldier was left alone in the ment. The boy soldier was so The company commander shot deserted mountain recess with an tense, surprised and delighted down the enemy officer and the unconscious wounded soldier. that he fell senseless on the spot. machine-gunner of the first squad Tears welled up. As he cast a When Ri Ki Wan returned mowed off the horde of enemy worried look at the master ser- from his errand, the company troops. Ki Wan calmly pressed the geant who had always been ex- commander was delighted more trigger as the company com- ceptionally kind to him, he than anyone else. Rapping Ki mander had taught him. The en- seemed to hear the company com- Wan’s chest with his fist, he said, emy fell one by one. “Oh, my bul- mander crying “Be quick!” and the “I think I’ve to recommend you for let hits too!” He shouted for joy. It medical orderly’s last urging a great decoration later.” The was the first time he shot down “Forward!” He stood up. He battle became fierce again. Bul- the enemy. At that moment the dragged the stretcher along, tell- lets rained and splinters of shells ►

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 7 To a Decisive Battle

KPA soldiers fight death-defyingly in defence of Height 1 211.

HE SONG TO A DECISIVE poets and musicians of the Ko- Army. On the occasion he saw T Battle was written by Sok rean People’s Army Song and Kim Chang Gol, a platoon leader, Kwang Hui and composed by Kim Dance Ensemble also went to the open the way for his unit to make Ok Song in 1951, when the Fa- front for artistic creation. One day a charge up the height by blocking therland Liberation War was at in late December 1950 Kim Ok the opening of the enemy pillbox its height (June 25, 1950–July 27, Song took part in a battle to take with his own chest. He knew what 1953). Height 662.6 along with the sol- a great feat it was. A squad leader Soon after the war started, diers of the Korean People’s took the fallen platoon leader in ►

► flew off all over the place. jerk. The boy who held the blood- the hill saw him off, pressing his Soldiers fell one by one. The stained company commander in hand. On February 8 the next heavy machine-gun stopped his arms, seemed to hear his voice year, he was awarded a Distin- emitting fire. The company com- “Forward, after me!” in battle. guished Military Service Medal mander who had his leg shot The boy soldier threw hand for the first time. He thought the rushed to the heavy machine-gun grenades and rolled down stones medal was the prize to his senior position and his orderly followed. on the enemy when they came up comrades like the company com- The two filled the positions of the as near as their faces were dis- mander who had reared him, a gunner and assistant gunner and tinguishable. Now the orderly of a mere child, into a full-fledged showered fire on the enemy. Sud- vice squad leader who was acting soldier, rather than a commenda- denly the company commander as the company commander, Ki tion for his military merit. After who was pressing the trigger with Wan ran about the battlefield, that, he was sent to the Man- set teeth fell prone over the ma- but was wounded and sent back gyongdae Revolutionary School at chine-gun. Ki Wan called him to the field hospital on a the height of the war. bitterly in dismay, but the com- stretcher. His tough nine com- mander’s head dropped with a rades-in-arms who remained on Rim Ok

8 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► his arms and wailed furiously. comrades. the KPA soldiers swore to take Then he said to Kim earnestly, Charge forward shouting revenge for the artiste and “Mr. Composer, why don’t you hurrahs rushed to the battlefield singing give us a song of charge with And blow up the enemy the song. which we’ll go to smash the en- pillbox, The song displayed its vitality emy? Give us a song of revenge, Blow up the enemy pillbox. on Height 351 where one of the eh?” This made the young com- fiercest battles in the war took poser’s heart burn with hatred for As soon as the song came out, place. One June night in 1953 a the enemy. Seeing the indomita- it got on all lips. It was first sung KPA unit started an attack and ble fighters charging forward by the defenders of Height 1 211, snatched the height in no more while shouting hurrahs and mow- and then spread to both the front than 15 minutes. Then the enemy ing down the enemy in revenge for and the rear, encouraging the made desperate attempts to re- their fallen comrades, and the soldiers and the civilians to fight gain it. They showered bombs and soldiers pledging their revenge in valiantly for a victorious war. Ri shells on the height, reducing it front of their fallen platoon Su Bok, 18, wrote a poem in his almost bare, before hurling huge leader, the composer was strongly handbook which expressed his forces wave after wave. inspired. readiness to give up his life for his The KPA soldiers sang the Days later he was writing a one and only country just before a song To a Decisive Battle to strike melody on the score, which he had battle to recapture a nameless terror in the enemy, and defended pondered seriously. At the mo- height to the left of Height 1 211. the height with credit by display- ment he was visited by Sok Then, in the battle he blocked an ing matchless self-sacrificing Kwang Hui who was a profes- enemy pillbox with his own chest spirit and mass heroism. The sional writer. The composer told to open a route for his unit’s battle produced as many as 14 of what he had experienced and charge. Heroes of the DPRK. continued to write his music. One day in mid-1952 the Ko- Feeling quite moved, the rean People’s Army Song and We’re making our way writer came outside and remem- Dance Ensemble was singing the with blood bered things he had witnessed song To a Decisive Battle on a To return to our dear home. himself, particularly the images makeshift stage at the front, With the red loyalty to of the many soldiers who had when an enemy aircraft took the our national leader blocked the enemy pillbox with place unawares and showered Let’s charge forward to their own body to open a route of bullets. An artiste fell down to annihilate the enemy. charge for their units. Having death, but the singing did not found a creative inspiration, he come to a stop. The artistes took The song gave infinite courage took up a pen and completed a the fallen comrade in their arms to the KPA soldiers and horror piece of poem some time later and sang the song more loudly and defeat to the enemy. It was a while fighting on Height 1 211 and vehemently. strong means of encouragement together with comrades. His lyric to both the military and the civil- goes: Don’t waste the death of ians. our comrade The typical representative of Remember our fallen Who blocked the enemy the idea that the road of decisive comrades pillbox with his breast. battle leads to the home and vic- In the fierce battle on the hill We’ve got the order to make tory in the war is still a great over there. a charge. public favourite, presented in Let’s charge forward to Let’s charge forward to different forms of music arrange- annihilate the enemy annihilate the enemy. ments including instrumentals. In revenge for our comrades. Let’s go to a decisive battle, When the performance ended, Kim Son Ae

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 9 Tradition of Victory Continues

An evening entertainment for firework display “We Will Win Victory After Victory” in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the victorious Fatherland Liberation War.

ORE THAN 60 YEARS HAVE PASSED Deliberately giving rise to the US armed spy ship M since the Korean people emerged victorious in Pueblo incident in January 1968, the large-sized the Korean war unleashed by the US imperialists. In reconnaissance plane EC-121 incident in April 1969, order to realize their avaricious desire for swallowing the Panmunjom incident in August 1976, etc., the US up at a stretch the Democratic People’s Republic of imperialists drove the situation in the Korean pen- Korea which was less than two years old in full and insula to the brink of war while kicking up a frenzied for taking the whole territory of Korea, the US im- military row on this pretext. They went on a wild perialists launched a surprise attack all along the rampage to bring the DPRK into submission by re- 38th parallel on June 25, 1950. However, the wise inforcing their force of arms and up-to-date military leadership of Supreme Commander of the Korean equipment including nuclear-powered aircraft carri- People’s Army Kim Il Sung, and the heroic struggle ers and deploying them in south Korea and its vi- of the officers and men of the gallant KPA and other cinities on a large scale. citizens of the country compelled the United States But whenever they did so, they were beaten se- to sign the armistice agreement on July 27, 1953 verely. In the 1990s they strengthened their political admitting its defeat in the war. pressure on and economic sanction and military Korea subdued the US imperialists who had offensive against the DPRK as never before. But at boasted of their “being the strongest” in the world that time, too, their arrogant machinations came to a and won victory of historic significance. This became close with the then US President sending the DPRK a tradition invariably handed down in the following a letter of assurance to implement the “DPRK-US showdown without reports of gunfire. Agreed Framework.” Though they suffered a crushing defeat in the Having drawn the world into the vortex of the Korean war, the US imperialists did not give up their “war on terrorism” with the 9/11 incident in the cur- avaricious desire to dominate the whole Korean pen- rent century as a momentum, the US imperialists insula but viciously worked to harm the DPRK in the stretched out their tentacles of aggression on and postwar days, while indulging themselves in ma- interference in the internal affairs of Korea more noeuvres for provocation of another war. furiously, ruthlessly trampling on the aspiration of The US’s attempts to invade the country, mankind. however, were frustrated at every step by the At the time when grey clouds of war were scud- Korean people who were under the Songun-based ding over to Korea, Chairman Kim Jong Il of the leadership of the national leaders Kim Il Sung and National Defence Commission of the DPRK admin- Kim Jong Il. istered the Songun revolutionary leadership in an ►

10 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► all-round way, thwarting the new war provocation This year the United States is clinging to more manoeuvres of the US imperialists and their vicious high-handed and arbitrary policies against the machinations to apply sanctions against the socialist DPRK. Since January it has conducted north- Korea. The cause of Songun is now going ahead targeted nuclear war exercises every month in securely and the annals of victory is continuing collusion with the south Korean puppet clique. After thanks to the national leader Kim Jong Un. the staging of combined maritime drills and an In the DPRK, on the 60th anniversary of victory in exercise for operation of extended means of deter- the Fatherland Liberation War, a decoration was rence it frantically conducted Key Resolve and Foal instituted in commemoration of the V-Day. Eagle joint military exercises, and so on. As a result, Songs dedicated to the 60th anniversary of victory the situation in the Korean peninsula is now next to in the Fatherland Liberation War, such as July 27 the outbreak of a nuclear war. March, Tell, Firework Display for the War Victory, During the Fatherland Liberation War, Korean Honour to Victors of the Great Years and Festival of revolutionary poet Jo Ki Chon said: “Honest people the Great War Victory were created, thereby greatly the world over, spread out the world map and find inspiring the officers and men of the People’s Army fighting Korea. But don’t try to find streets and vil- and the people. On the occasion of the 60th anniver- lages in this land reduced to heaps of ashes.” If an sary of victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, anti-US war breaks out now, Korean poets will say: martyrs cemeteries of the People’s Army were rebuilt “World people, spread out the map, find the United or built splendidly in various parts of the country in States, a breeding place of evil. But don’t try to find memory of the fallen soldiers who had defended the the criminal White House and Pentagon any longer freedom and independence of the country. The works in the land that is reduced to ashes due to punish- of art, songs and poems that were created during the ment meted out by justice.” And people all over the war and contributed to the war victory implanted the world will render their gratitude to Songun Korea wartime spirit in service personnel and the civilians. that will have translated into reality such a golden War veterans were invited to the celebrations of the saying that “the discovery of the Americas was good, 60th anniversary of victory in the Fatherland Libera- but the failure would have been better.” tion War, which consisted of colourful functions in- The V-Day of July 27 will come round forever and cluding a military parade followed by a Pyongyang the US will finally meet its ruin in its own land. citizens’ mass demonstration and an evening enter- tainment for firework display titled “We Will Win Sim Yong Jin Victory After Victory.” Through all these functions, the Korean people demonstrated at home and abroad their adamant will to win victory after victory in the confrontation with the US imperialists by continuing the cause of victorious war to the last.

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KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 11 Dear to the People

HE KOREAN PEOPLE ERECTED A STATUE Later whenever they successfully made changes T of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill in all across the country while opening a new way for Pyongyang in appreciation of his exploits for the the building of a thriving socialist nation, the Kore- country and revolution in 1972 when they celebrated ans visited the statue on Mansu Hill to tell their the 60th anniversary of his birth. The hill has since leader about their honourable achievements. been the symbol of all the victories, honour, happi- Overseas and south Koreans came to visit the hill ness and prosperity of the nation. Happy or sad, they with a longing for the national leader. Leaders of visit the place to speak their mind to him. organizations of overseas Koreans and individual On July 8, 1994 the great heart of the leader Korean nationals overseas, looking up to the statue stopped beating. On hearing the sad news, which of Kim Il Sung who had given them the pride in was a bolt from the blue, the Koreans rushed to the being overseas citizens of the prestigious DPRK, hill despite heavy rainfall and shed tears of blood. renewed their determination to make positive In the hard period of time that was called Ardu- contribution to the effort for prosperity of the social- ous March and forced march, the people often ist country under the leadership of Chairman climbed the hill to see the statue and pledge their Kim Jong Il. loyalty to the Songun-based revolutionary leadership Foreigners, including prominent political and of their national leader Kim Jong Il and climbed social figures of many countries, also visited the down the hill with confidence in victory in the revo- statue to pay high tribute to Kim Il Sung for his lution and optimism. Among them were women sol- immortal service for the cause of global peace and diers from the “Wild Flower Company” who used to independence. The number of foreign visitors has send beautiful flowers to the hill on important occa- reached as many as hundreds of thousands. sions like the Day of the Sun, and demobbed soldiers For the past 21 years a total of hundreds of mil- who volunteered to work at important places as was lions of people, including service personnel, working asked by the Workers’ Party of Korea with a deter- people of all strata, students, schoolchildren, over- mination to work in the same spirit that they had seas Koreans, and foreign friends climbed the hill to had during their service. express their high respect and lay hundreds of ►

12 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► thousands of floral baskets as a sign of their wish for his eternal glory. Really Impressive Once the Thai newspaper Sing Siam Yit Pao carried an article headlined “President RD Kim Il Sung Will Always Be with the People.” ODAY IS THE 103 T anniversary of the Although much water has flowed under the bridge birth of President since the President passed away the world sees the Kim Il Sung, and I find the time of Kim Il Sung still go ahead without inter- number of people here [at the Kimilsungia festival] ruption in Korea, the article said and mentioned overwhelming and really its propellants: impressive. It’s great to “It is, first of all, because the idea of President come here. I haven’t really been to many flower places in my life, so this is one of the first times. Kim Il Sung is the eternal guiding idea of Korea. Kimilsungia is very beautiful. Lots of young The President is father of the famous Juche idea, people, very excited, are taking lots of photos. the guiding idea of Korea, which is followed by a My father is very interested in flowers. When I large number of adherents around the world. The saw a man buy a flower seedling here, I thought my father would be interested in reading to culti- idea has had mammoth and critical influence on the vate Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia and grow the course of the Korean people’s hewing out of their flowers back in Scotland. I’ll tell my father about this flower festival. destiny, for its revolutionary character, scientific accuracy and perfect content. Ewan Macrae, English teacher “Secondly, it is because his exploits are great from the British Council enough to last for ever and ever. Kim Il Sung is the founder of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the strongest and most prestigious party in the world, the Korean People’s Army and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He defeated two formi- I Knew Admiration of dable imperialist forces and led the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal democratic revolution and the the Koreans Better socialist revolution to victory. For this reason, the Korean people amended their Constitution follow- HIS IS MY FIRST T visit to the Kimilsungia ing his demise to hold him in esteem as their Festival, but I have seen eternal President while praising him as the father this flower a lot and I know of the socialist Korea. its history well. Here I have “Thirdly, it is because the President was the found Kimilsungia very beautiful and, I know it’s incarnation of great and noble virtues. He was more meaningful. I feel like to than a saint. Regarding the people as his God all his study more about this life, he always shared weal and woe with them and flower. Looking round this show I knew a large num- dedicated his all to the welfare of the people. It is in ber of organizations had made preparations for no way fortuitous that they say that he was always the show in good faith. This is quite an exciting on the ‘people-bound train.’” event. I hear 50 000 people have come here for two In April 2012 there were erected statues of days since the opening and in one hour this morn- ing there were 10 000. President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il Here I have got a good understanding of the side by side on Mansu Hill on the occasion of the admiration of the Koreans for their leader 100th anniversary of the birth of the President. Kim Il Sung. I feel that the Koreans ardently follow and re- When they stand on the hill, the people make up spect him. their mind to be true to the leadership of their Federico Mozzicato, special representative national leader Kim Jong Un to accomplish the for development and cooperation, Foreign Ministry of Italy revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered by the President and led by the Chairman.

Chae Kwang Myong

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 13 For the liberation of the country

Confronted by Hundreds of Thousands of “Punitive” Troops

HE KOREA TODAY EDITORIAL BOARD The Japanese had provoked a number of aggres- T introduces excerpts from President sive wars but they had never declared actual war, Kim Il Sung’s reminiscences With the Century nor had they described their activities as a war. It (Continuing edition) on the occasion of the 70th had been their habit to rationalize and validate their anniversary of Korea’s liberation from the Japanese acts of war by describing them as “events” or military occupation. “incidents.” Their designation of the new “special clean-up From the autumn of 1939 to the spring of 1941 the campaign” as a “sacred war” and “sacred punish- Japanese imperialists conducted unprecedentedly large- ment” was therefore quite meaningful. It showed scale “punitive” operations in the three provinces in that the Japanese military authorities had aban- southeastern Manchuria against the Korean People’s doned their previous view of their confrontation with Revolutionary Army. They called this procedure a the People’s Revolutionary Army as a one-sided “special clean-up campaign for maintaining public “punitive” campaign or a “clean-up of bandits” and peace.” After reading the accounts of Nozoe, the mas- began to see it as agenuine bilateral conflict. termind of the campaign, and those of his subordinate commanders of the “punitive” forces, about their defeat The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung also ex- in this campaign, the great leader Comrade plained why the Japanese imperialists had been forced Kim Il Sung told his officials, “Considering the fact to launch a total war at that time and what objectives that the Japanese officers, who loved to talk big, they had planned to reach through the war. spoke dejectedly like this, they must have had a tough time of it. Not to mention the hardships I and Owing to the successive failures of the Japanese my men went through. The battles were decisive.” He in the Sino-Japanese War and in the Battle of then recollected the confrontation with the enemy in Khalkhin-Gol, the Japanese military was suffering detail. from inner turmoil. This scheme of a “special clean-up campaign” was Certain sections of the Japanese military as- quite extraordinary. cribed their failure in China’s mainland and in In the first place, it involved all the Japanese and Khalkhin-Gol to the factional strife among them- puppet Manchukuo army and police in an unprece- selves, or to the backwardness of their military and dented “punitive” offensive. technical equipment; at the same time, quite a few It was, in fact, a large-scale war that was to mo- military bureaucrats and experts pointed the finger bilize as many as 200,000 army and police troops at the harassment of the People’s Revolutionary from Japan and Manchukuo, including even para- Army in the rear, which brought about instability of military organizations of all types, under the direct their rear, disconnection of supply routes and con- supervision and command of Umez, chief of the fused war psychology. It is true that the enemy suf- Kwantung Army, and the Public Security Minister fered great losses because of repeated attacks by the for the puppet state of Manchukuo. People’s Revolutionary Army in the rear. The top hierarchy of the Japanese and Manchu- Apparently this made the Japanese come to their kuo army and police did not confine their campaign senses. They realized that they could carry out nei- to military operations alone, but combined it with ther the war against China nor operations against their “surrender-hunting operation,” “ideological the Soviet Union with the People’s Revolutionary operation” and “operation to eradicate the basic Army constantly plaguing them from behind. They roots.” As a result, the campaign surpassed by far all had to change their view of the anti-Japanese guer- previous campaigns of this sort in scope and depth rilla army. and in the elaborateness of the means and methods Nozoe’s orders took the form of the boast that he used. would annihilate our army. Launching the “punitive” campaign, the Japa- I knew that the showdown with Nozoe would be a nese imperialists described it as a “sacred war” and fierce fight, and that if we wanted to emerge victori- “sacred punishment.” We thought it quite ludicrous ous in this fight, we ourselves would have to work that they should “beautify” their campaign in that out and employ new tactics we had never used be- manner. fore. ►

14 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► In order to frustrate the offensive of hundreds of enemy in action. thousands of enemy troops and ensure the continu- As day broke, enemy planes appeared over the ous upsurge of the revolution, we had to invent in- secret camp and dropped bombs on the heads of their genious tactics that would render our operations own soldiers, who were waving joyfully up at them. more elaborate and energetic than ever before. We The others who were in the barracks rushed out at adopted large-unit circling operations for this pur- the sound of explosions. At that moment our machine pose. In brief, this meant long-term mobile opera- -guns opened fire. tions by large forces moving around in a vast area The simultaneous air-ground attack the enemy over a number of secret routes. These operations had planned turned out to be a joint operation by the would not be mere manoeuvres, but mobile actions People’s Revolutionary Army and the Japanese air combined with attacks on the enemy by various force, together annihilating the Japanese and Man- methods. Without such mobile operations it would be chukuo infantry. impossible to emerge victorious in the fight against a Having received the report that the enemy was 200,000-strong enemy force. strengthening its border watch, I moved the unit to a It was my opinion that these circling operations forest south of Hualazi after fighting for a few days should be conducted by a large force. The aim of the with the enemy troops at our heels. After this we operations was not to avoid the enemy, but to attack fought a big battle with Maeda’s unit at Hongqihe, him at points favourable to us. When attacking the and thus concluded the large-unit circling opera- enemy, we had to annihilate him so that he could tions. have no chance to recover, and for this we had to In the long run it was we who emerged as the perform our circling operation with a large force. victors in this war. We called the first stage of our operations the expedition to Dunhua. Nozoe lived out the rest of his life in retirement in a On the first leg of our expedition to Dunhua we rural village of Kyushu following the defeat of Japan. did not fight large battles. We struck the enemy only He wrote an article about the events of those days, when it was necessary to keep our routes secret. which reads in part: “Kim Il Sung’s army operated in several detach- Nevertheless, the enemy suffered heavy casualties. ments, each claiming itself to be Kim Il Sung’s army. Its The more difficult our work and the graver our tactics were to give the impression that this army was situation, the more efficiently must we conduct everywhere. There must have been one man named ideological work. I insist on the importance of ideol- Kim Il Sung, but several people went under the name of ogy. I maintain that ideology must come first and I Kim Il Sung, so it was difficult to pinpoint just who the value ideology far more than any wealth. When we real Kim Il Sung was.” had to fight do-or-die battles with a 200,000-strong From the recollections of Nagashima, who took part enemy force, we drew up a great plan for large-unit in the special operations of the Nozoe “punitive” force circling operations and carried it out forcefully. after winning the trust of his superior for suppressing What did we have to rely on at that time? We relied the Jiandao revolt, we can see that he also had to swal- on the perfect unity of all the guerrillas and their low a bitter pill because of the elusive tactics of the steadfast conviction of the revolutionary idea. Did Korean People’s Revolutionary Army. He remembered it we have planes or tanks? We had people, soldiers, this way: light weapons, and that was all. So we fought our “When I was placed in charge of special operations battles after ideological mobilization, and this in the Nozoe unit, I was told about the existence of proved highly effective. Kim Il Sung’s army. I discovered that the tactics em- While we were giving military and political ployed by this army were very curious. When it was training at Baishitan, the secret camp was suddenly reported that this army had appeared in a certain place, exposed to the enemy. we would rush there, but almost immediately there On receiving information that the enemy, having would be a report that it had appeared in yet another discovered the whereabouts of the secret camp, was place. This army seemed to appear and disappear with preternatural swiftness, but in fact the same unit making preparations for a full-scale surrounding and did not appear here and there simultaneously; attacking operation, we planned a move that would Kim Il Sung divided his army into several detachments cope with the situation. and then had them appear in different places at once In order to lure the enemy into the trap, we had and claim to be Kim Il Sung’s army.” to feign to be staying in the secret camp. Recollecting the hard battles fought with the Ko- As soon as we evacuated the camp, the enemy rean People’s Revolutionary Army, Nagashima contin- surrounded it. Seeing a quiet camp that offered no ued, “All the high-ranking cadres of the Anti-Japanese resistance, they thought that the place was as Allied Army were either killed, captured or surren- good as occupied. They charged the camp at a rush. dered, but only Kim Il Sung managed to... survive and For all that, the sharpshooters in our Guard return to north Korea at the end of the war. He is now Company did not fire a shot; they only watched the Premier.” ‰

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 15 On the occasion of the 70 th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea

Motherly Party

N THE DEMOCRATIC PEO- of work because they were work- of the leaders are carried on by I ple’s Republic of Korea the ing just for the people, that when- the supreme national leader Workers’ Party of Korea is fondly ever they fell in the snow field of Kim Jong Un. The Korean peo- called motherly Party. When the Manchuria during the period of ple remember the remarks he DPRK athletes returned home the anti-Japanese armed strug- made in his speech at the Fourth triumphantly from the 17th Asian gle, they had risen up again at the Conference of Cell Secretaries of Games last year, the mother of thought of their miserable fellow the Workers’ Party of Korea in football star Ho Un Byol who countrymen whom they decided January 2013. He said: “The em- scored many goals at the games not to leave as they were, and that brace that cares more for sick and said, “I did nothing but give birth they should avoid adopting such a wounded children, gives them to her. It is our motherly Party careless manner of work as to love and affection, cures their sore that has brought her up as a fa- neglect the trouble of the people wounds, helps them up and puts mous footballer known across the whom they had fought for them. them forward again, instead country.” The people found the image of abandoning them—this is the The Korean people can hardly of the President— who loved embrace of our motherly Party… think of their life apart from the them so dearly and regarded No matter what serious mistakes Party that takes responsible care them as his God—in Chairman or crimes he may make, and even of them and their future. So, they Kim Jong Il many years later. though we find in him 99 per cent respectfully regard President In October 1984 an official of demerits and only one per cent Kim Il Sung and Chairman was dismissed from his post for of merit or conscience, we should Kim Jong Il—who founded and his unacceptable blunder. And value his conscience, boldly trust led the Party—as the Workers’ the Chairman was grieved more him and lead him to start with a Party of Korea and the Party as sorely than anyone else. He saw clean slate.” their mother. to it that bitter comradely criti- From the words the Korean One day soon after Korea’s cism was given to him to let him people keenly felt the great mag- liberation from the Japanese understand the root cause of his nanimity of their national leader. military occupation an official told error, and that he worked among There is a stanza of a poem which the President that he had just the workers to transform himself they chant from the bottom of seen a woman transplanting rice in a revolutionary manner. The their heart. seedlings tenaciously with her official, while working on the baby on her back. Then, the shop floor, keenly learned the Ah, I see my life’s alpha President immediately stopped workers’ loyalty to the Party and and omega doing his routine work and left for the national leader and their In your bosom, Workers’ Party the spot. There he sternly re- revolutionary fighting spirit, ex- of Korea! proached the local officials for periencing their dedicated strug- I would return to your arms. their negligence as they had left gle in one mind. After correcting If I was scattered over the women doing rice transplant- his erroneous manner of work the universe or ing with babies on the back. He sincerely for several months he buried in the earth, said that they were hardly genu- was appointed to a new post, and, I would return as your son. ine parents and kith and kin of a few years later, he was pro- And, caressed by your gentle the people. Returning to his office moted to a more important posi- glance and warm hands, early in the morning after taking tion, and worked in a revolution- I shall call you mother relevant measures the President ary manner. In high appreciation in a childish voice. seriously said to the official, who of his merits the country con- I would be nothing had mentioned the woman with ferred the title of the Hero of the without you. the baby, that they shouldn’t as- DPRK upon him. sume such an unwelcome manner The affection and tender care Sim Chol Yong

16 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 National Tree of the DPRK

HE PINE IS A TALL, tury, painted an old pine tree on occupation of Korea (1905–1945) T needle-leaved tree which the wall of the Hwangryong Tem- he devoted all his life to the makes a moderate demand on ple so wonderfully that it was struggle to win back the country’s soil. The species grows in the vast enough to make birds fall down independence and sovereignty. He areas of Korea under 800 m above from the wall when they tried to put forth the idea of “Jiwon” (Aim sea level—except the alpine re- alight on it. Many masterpieces High), which maintained that it gions in the northern part of the by the Korean artists like Kim was necessary to cultivate na- country. From olden times the Hong Do, Ri In Mun and Kim tional strength if they were to Koreans used it for building ma- Jong Hui show pine trees. And repulse the Japanese imperialists terials, and its seeds, leaves, many of the names of mountains and achieve independence of the barks, resin, sap, sprouts and and places in the country are country, and that, if so, it was pollen to make foods and medi- associated with the pine. Wang essential to keep an aim high. In cines. Kon, founder king of Koryo (918– the autumn of 1918 he made a The Koreans’ special attach- 1392), saw to it that pine trees poem entitled Green Pine on Nam ment to the tree does not come were planted all about Kaesong to Hill, which reflected his faith and from its utility alone. They have make it the befitting capital city determination. regarded it as symbol of their of the dynasty, and named a Now the Korean people love to national spirit and mettle, be- mountain in it Mt. Songak mean- sing pine-themed songs to show cause it stands staunchly despite ing mountain of pine trees. their spirit, while vigorously ad- all rigours of nature while pre- The poem Green Pine on Nam vancing forward along the road of serving its green foliage in all Hill composed by Kim Hyong Jik, independence, Songun and so- seasons. Many poets and painters outstanding leader of the anti- cialism and resolutely frustrating of Korea chose the tree for the Japanese national liberation the imperialists’ moves of isola- subject of their poems, songs, movement of Korea, became a tion and suffocation. The song I murals and other works of arts. famous song widely chanted by Think, Looking at You produced According to old records, Solgo, a the Korean people. During the in 1994 gives an emotional and renowned painter in the 8th cen- Japanese imperialists’ military profound depiction of the spirit of Korea by the description of the staunch appear- ance of the pine tree which sways invariably with green foliage even in the stormy winter or leaf-fallen autumn. The pine is the national tree of the DPRK. The custom of plant- ing the pine on holidays, at wed- ding ceremonies and on other significant occa- sions is carried on continuously.

An Song Duk

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 17 Guaranteeing the Beauty

HESE DAYS THE ample, has no side effect and is T cosmetics bearing the suited to all ages, sexes and vari- brand Mirae are popular in the ous kinds of skins. The consumers Democratic People’s Republic of of the lotion say that they find it Korea. They are produced by the effective several days after they Myohyang Cosmetics Factory begin to use it. The factory’s cos- located in Sadong District, Py- metics enjoy increasing favour ongyang. The factory started with the customers at different operation three years ago. stores, including Pyongyang All production processes are Department Store No. 1 and on a high level of modernization, Kwangbok Area Supermarket. and the hygienic assurance and Not only women but also men the quality of goods have reached delightfully say they feel younger the international standard. A and more beautiful while using dozen kinds of products in 60-odd the cosmetics. varieties such as cream, lotion, This popularity is the result of shampoo and rinse are turned the maintenance of an important

The refining process. The finishing process. out, and many of them have got principle the factory has got since and the effort to improve the functional effects. In particular, its inauguration. The principle is quality of cosmetics and increase the materials extracted from to produce cosmetics to suit the the variety, by relying on its own various kinds of natural things Korean people’s skin types and technical personnel. such as the Kaesong Koryo Insam the local climate based on the In this process the factory won which is a special Korean product, supply of mostly locally available a diploma of merit at a consumer honey, pine and ginkgo are added materials. In consonance with the goods exhibition in September to the cosmetics, elevating the principle, the factory has steadily 2013 and a certificate of regis- function of retarding the aging pushed the research work of ex- tered state quality approval in and wrinkling processes and im- tracting necessary substances June 2014. What is more, 15 proving the whitening effect. The from domestic natural resources kinds of the factory’s cosmetics lotion for whitening skin, for ex- and mixing them proportionately, were highly rated at the 8th ►

18 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 The laboratory.

► Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 Goods Show in June 2014. Now the shower gel newly developed by the factory is popular. General Manageress Jong Kum Ok says, “We will make strenuous efforts to improve the quality of the cos- metics and increase its variety in order to make our people younger, beautiful and happy.”

Jo Song I

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 19 High Sense of Responsibility

HE RANGNANG TAE- essing work were very effective. machine which helps save a lot T song Clothing Factory, in- Technical lessons based on dem- of labour, and the finishing work- augurated eight years ago, pro- onstration-combined theory were team expanded its capacity and duces goods to suit the needs of also frequently organized for the developed an automatic embroi- the developing reality and the workers, contributing to enhanc- dering machine to make original people’s tastes. Now more and ing their technical knowledge patterns. A brandprinting ma- more people buy goods the factory and skills. chine was introduced in the last makes. In addition, all workteams process, saving labour and im- Over the past years it has paid including the cutting and finish- proving the packing quality. primary attention to the technical ing ones set a high goal to ensure The factory has a special sys- preparation work to improve the more than 98% of passed goods tem of quality examination and quality, increase the variety of while guaranteeing high quality rating as well. After examination goods and normalize the produc- of presentable goods. Taking of products in each process and re- tion on a high level. The technical measures in advance not to lower examination in the coming proc- affairs section of the factory im- the quality, they introduced flow esses, the final checkup is done in proved technical guidance to pro- lines, supplemented new facilities the finishing process. Only when duction processes to produce and refashioned one irrational the sewing is done well enough to goods as required by technical process after another. Skilled meet the technical demand and tables and standard regulations of hands taught their apprentices the clothes are made to proper operation on the basis of designs how to choose processing methods sizes, can the goods have a pass. drawn up under technical regula- and ensure delicacy, making it Having undergone such proc- tions. Technical consultations to possible to make a remarkable esses, the products are favourably grasp specifications of goods and success of production. In this commented upon among the technical norms for operation of course, the cutting workteam users. relevant equipment, and field newly manufactured an automatic The factory makes good instruction and guidance to proc- cloth winding and unwinding clothes using auxiliary materials in a proper way to comply with the aesthetic norms of people of different ages and sexes and com- bine colours in a well-matched way. It offers service on order from customers as well. Mentioning that the factory’s workers are always in a clean environment, chief engineer Ju Tong Chol says, “Our success is a result of the workers’ high sense of responsibility, who devote heart and soul to their workplace, machines and goods.”

Kim Kwang Myong

20 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Pioneers

ODAY THE RESEARCH- T ers of the Agricultural Nanotechnology Research Insti- tute of the Academy of Agricul- tural Science are called pioneers in the research of nanotechnology. The institute which had started as a small-sized laboratory about ten years ago, was raised to the present status three years ago. But its research successes have always ranked top in the field of nano sphere. In 2013, a year after it was raised to the status of a research institute, it developed over ten nano-intellectual products includ- ing nano-organic growth promoter and nano sterilizer for agricul- Efforts are put in developing a new variety.

other places at agement of the institute, Song the cost of a Ryong would put forward various large quantity of new ideas and go out to the fields fuel. Every time to conduct experiments, regarding sterilizing work it as his duty to lead the way in was done, a the project. Years passed, and huge amount of they became more assured that sterilizer was their endeavours would bring joy needed, and so of rich harvest to the farming farm workers population. At last, in 2013 they took great trou- developed nano sterilizer for farm ble. Choe con- use in a unique way which had ceived the idea several times higher disinfecting tural use. For their scientific and of applying nanotechnology to power with much less amount practical values they were highly this job. However, this was a to- of use. commented at the tenth national tally unexplored field because When people asked about the sci-tech presentation and exhibi- nano itself was a more untrodden secret of success, Song Ryong tion in the sector of nanotechnol- area than trodden and it lacked said, “Though we were busy and ogy. Consequently, winners of the even fragmentary data about the our work was trying, we never February 16 Sci-tech Prize, the process of its application in cases lost sight of our responsibility for top sci-tech prize in the country, like this. Moreover, the effects of leading the work of developing came forth from the institute. experiments will show up when nanotechnology in the sector of When Choe Song Ryong, head the year comes near its end, as agriculture. The consciousness of the institute, went out to a farm their targets are crops. Therefore, that we are pioneers in the fron- a few years ago, he learned that a it was impossible to foresee tiers of science closely linked up large amount of coal and expen- when the whole thing would bear with the food problem of the peo- sive raw materials had to be con- fruit. ple will always make us all re- sumed to make sterilizer for dis- However, Song Ryong and plete with new ideas and rising infecting seeds. Sometimes, it was other researchers of the institute passion.” necessary to carry the sterilizer thought it worthwhile to have a produced in this way to some try. Though busy with the man- Kim Chol Ung

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 21 Mushroom Researchers

OW IN KOREA A high anti-oxidant activity, a rich based on the raw materials rich in N nationwide campaign is in stock of useful minerals and a the country. The advantage of full swing to cultivate mush- certain degree of ammonia ab- their success is that the method of rooms, which is conducive to the sorbing power. fermenting and sterilizing is sim- improvement of the living stan- At last they succeeded in de- pler than the previous ones and dard of the people. The Central veloping an additive from the that there is no infection in the Mushroom Research Institute of Kumgang medicinal stone which fungi-planted substrate. The ad- the State Academy of Sciences is helps fungi directly absorb the ditive production consumes less conducting a dynamic work to nitrogen in fertilizers. Immedi- power and it can be introduced at develop quality substrates, fungi ately, they applied it into practice. any units. The process of sub- and additives. The result showed that it has the strate treatment is simple, and In February last the institute same effect as the rice bran in the mushrooms can be harvested a developed a new kind of additive growth rate of fungi per day, pe- month after fungi planting. After to be applied to mushroom sub- riod of fungi cultivation, amount the two rounds of harvest the strate. Earlier, corn cobs and rice of fungi per ton of substrate and substrate can be used for highly bran had been used for substrate. harvest of mushroom. As the ad- effective manure. Rice bran is widely used in many ditive also has the ability of far- Today the researchers of the fields such as stockbreeding, and infrared heat radiation it has institute are putting spurs to the its source is so limited that they good sterility and inhibitory effect work of developing a better decided it was unfit for the mush- on major bad germs while largely method of substrate production by room production based on indus- reducing the cost of substrate making the most of the advantage trial methods. Head of the insti- production. of the additive. tute Ri Son Hui and other re- The new additive is now win- Ri Sun Nyo searchers buckled down to the ning public favour from the research to substitute the sub- mushroom producers for its strate with straw richly available economic profit as it is in the country. The point was made from cheap materials. what kind of additive should be With this a good prospect used. They found out that the was opened for mass- Kumgang medicinal stone has production of mushroom

A new species of mushroom is developed.

22 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Teacher with Many Nicknames

TH HE 15 NATIONAL composed of T Program Exhibition in the entertaining Educational Sector held at the and interesting end of last year had on show explanation and more than 1 700 programs pre- visual aids sented by over 400 educational which help have institutions. Of all the displays a a summary of teaching support program devel- complicated oped by a social science teacher historical won the top prize. The figure of events. They striking fame was Ri Yong Hun, were always teacher at the University of Sci- popular with ences. the students. Ri Yong Hun (right). His lectures Some time after he began his were naturally awaited eagerly way to and from work. Even at a teaching career, Ri began to be and his ability materialized in break of ten minutes between called many nicknames. An in- the students’ attainments. Over lectures he examined the compo- quisitive man, inventor, book- the days he got some certificates sition of his program. The princi- worm and master of program- of registered new teaching ple he observed in making the ming are some of them, which all method and diplomas of new con- program was to develop creativity reasonably pertain to his passion. ception. He also wrote a dozen of the students so that they could Ri has been making great efforts essays. guess ten things from a single to develop proper teaching meth- He, however, was not satis- hint. In addition, he made the ods for improvement of cognitive fied. One day soon after the new program three-dimensional to faculty since he began to teach. term began last year, he, on his make sure that the students In spite of busy days of instruc- way from lecture, happened to learn the contents of instruction tion he set it his daily routine to hear new students say, “The his- in a unified and theoretical way spend his spare time finding new torical period and contents are in close relation with the relevant materials and implanting them too much for a lecture.” “You can historical period at large. As a in the teaching plan in good time. say that again. Is there any result of his energetic effort, the He often sat up all night, making method to summarize them like program was successfully com- new teaching aids to help the solving mathematic problems pleted in no more than one year. students clearly remember the with formulas?” Now he began to After applying that program, the dates of many historical events consider how to increase the vol- result of the examination upon by developing the students’ abil- ume of students’ attainments and the students showed considerable ity of consideration and judgment improve their cognitive faculty in improvement of their cognitive in history lectures. Once he read lectures. Finally he decided to faculty. scores of books in a month in or- work out a teaching support pro- Some time ago the title of der to improve his teaching using gram for his subject with his own October 8 Model Teacher was his great stock of knowledge of effort despite his busy days. He awarded to him. history, literature, political econ- was often seen reading the books omy and so on. His lectures were on the computer—even on his Ri Kum Chol

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 23 Improving Quality of Education

N RECENT YEARS THE TEACHERS OF found to be used in teaching while being introduced I the Pyongyang Jang Chol Gu University of to the public on several occasions so as to render Commerce has put much emphasis on improvement service to the development of national dishes. of quality of education in keeping with its mission to In the course of this, the university wrote several train experts in the field of the public welfare exclu- books such as the Korean Dishes and Potato Cuisine, sively. drawing the concern of the students and culinary The university established some new depart- experts, and established an IT-based system for ments like those of hotel management and dietary business management of public catering establish- control as required by the developing reality, and ments in Hoeryong City. The improvement of the newly drawn up or revised curriculums and teaching quality of practical education helps the students plans scores of times to enrich the content of lecture. consolidate the knowledge they learn. The contents Along with this, it set up several subjects including of the subjects related to hotel management and Korean gastrology and intensified multimedia-based service are enriched to be of practical use. education, making successes to this end. Meanwhile, The campaign to improve the quality of education it put the allocation of the per-term time of practice is going ahead dynamically in the departments of on a scientific footing and directed great efforts to clothing and management. The contents of subjects increasing the variety of cooking practice. It also are getting better while up-to-date technology is waged the work to strengthen the instruction on introduced. The department of clothing gives lec- specialities of Pyongyang and other localities. As a tures on four- and five-dimensional designing while result, over 1 000 kinds of local specialities were the department of management develops subjects on ►

24 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► e-commerce, supermarketing technology and CAD books and reference books. for shopping chain. Research sections and post- Many have become professors, associate profes- graduate school deepen studies of theoretical and sors and Doctors. It received 98 certificates of inven- practical problems. The teachers and researchers tion of experimental apparatuses and teaching aids. have written and compiled over 430 kinds of text- Eighty-four of the teachers won the honour of Octo- ber 8 Model Teacher while 118 got the certificate of registered new teaching method. The teachers ob- tained good results at the contest of application of heuristic method and the second national presenta- tion of teaching experience, thus exalting the ability of university. The work to improve educational con- ditions and environment is also progressing in par- allel with the improvement of the quality of educa- tion, making a contribution to bringing up the stu- dents into technical talent. An 8-storeyed building furnished with a comprehensive cooking facility and a practice room for service skills went up, and thus the theoretical education is combined closely with practical education. Consequently, the attainments of the students rose remarkably. They have registered good records at national contests; some of them won special awards at the 2013 national cooking contest of uni- versity students and a national fast-reading contest of university students. They came first at the first national foreign language contest of technical col- leges. The effort of the teachers to improve the qual- ity of education is going on without let-up.

Kim Hyong Ju

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 25 “Let Us Learn for Korea!”

HE SLOGAN “LET US tainous, lies halfway up Chodae T Learn for Korea!” was put Peak that is 28 km away from the f o r w a r d b y C h a i r m a n Unsan county town. This place Kim Jong Il in 1953 when the is surrounded by Ahomi Pass Democratic People’s Republic of (878m), Mt. Songgol (1 023m), Korea was at war against the US Nujol Pass (469m) and Mt. Ojung imperialist aggressors. It carries (940m) which make up the the profound idea that they Phinandok (1 317m) Range. Some teach. But I was well aware of my should acquire more knowledge of twenty years ago the branch duty to train the children, who practical use in the Korean revo- school newly went up there for are part of the future of our coun- lution. All the Korean students the sake of the children who had try, as faithful citizens. I would and pupils cherish the slogan in to trek a long way across moun- not give up my career. Now I can their hearts as an aphorism gen- tains to go to school. With the hardly think of my life apart from eration after generation. erection of the branch school the my dear branch school and pu- Throughout the country there way to school shortened to one pils.” are schools wherever there are fifth. Time flied like an arrow, and children of school age. The most Ri Yong Ok has been teaching a daughter of Kim Yong Bok, who striking things about the schools at the branch since 1996. As a 21- was one of Yong Ok’s first disci- are the slogans reading “Thank year-old girl, who finished the ples, entered the branch school in You, Respected National Leader then Sinuiju Teacher Training April last. Taking his daughter to Kim Jong Un!” and “Let Us College, she took the first step in school on her first school day Learn for Korea!”. her social life at the branch Yong Bok went to see his old Some time ago we visited school in deep mountains. A teacher and said, “I am glad to the Kumgang Branch of the Pu- small trunk was her only posses- see my daughter go to school in hung Senior Middle School in sion. She gave her first lesson in the uniform and with the school- Unsan County, North Phyongan a small classroom with no more bag given by the country. It Province. The county, a moun- than four desks. Looking back seems as if I learned here only a tainous region, has got scores of upon the time she says, “I wished few days ago. The school building primary and middle schools. The to be a teacher since childhood. has changed beyond recognition. branch school in Puhung-ri, 93 However, I never expected that I I learned under the beneficial percent of whose area is moun- would have so few children to free education system, and, ►

26 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► thankfully, my daughter is now worked hard simply because I literary works. under the system again. I will wanted to be a good student who When they leave the branch work hard for the sake of our is knowledgeable, moral and school and go on to middle benevolent country so that I will healthy. Attending the celebra- school, they usually plant trees be honourable father to my chil- tion, I felt as if I were in a around the branch school. dren.” dream. This honour—I cannot Jon Pok Hui, who has been The branch school that forget it all my life—is not mine working as head of the branch stands on a mountainside is visi- alone; it belongs to all our school for seven years, says, ble from afar. In the one-storey branch school pupils. I will “Actually our branch school is school building with blue roof surely become a pillar of our too small to be recorded on a and white walls four teachers socialist state by studying map. However, my school is kept who finished the special course harder and harder.” His compo- in my pupils’ mind as a valuable of teacher training give lessons sition is regarded as pride part of the country. Many of the to the local children. The univer- among pupils, who are all work- graduates can’t forget the sound sal 12-year compulsory educa- ing hard hoping to become a sci- of the bell that still echoes from tion is in force there like other entist, an athlete, an artist, etc. the small branch school and schools, and the same educa- Some are in the computer club, come here whenever opportuni- tional programme is applied. The some in the football team and ties present themselves. The school building and the play- some in the accordion club. Ri sound of the bell will be ringing ground are rather small but the Chol Ryong wrote a poem about forever promising a bright future pupils have great hopes like the beauty of his village and the of socialist Korea.” those in urban areas. attachment to the school, and In 2012 a splendid celebra- other pupils also wrote similar An Nam Hui tion of the 66th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean Children’s Union took place in the presence of the national leader Kim Jong Un. Two of the pupils of the branch school were honoured to take part in the event. Ri Yu Bom, now a junior middle school student, wrote a composition after return- ing from the celebration, which reads: “I never expected that I, a boy born of an ordinary worker’s family in a mountain village far away from Pyongyang, would be a representative of the provincial Children’s Union organization. I

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 27 Far From Dream

mystery, but as he delved into them, he located a huge amount of sources of inquiry of Koryo medicine. He was almost crazy about the traditional Korean medicine. He learned he had to solve quite a few problems regarding diagnosis. Even when they had the same kind of illness, the patients had different symptoms according to their types of constitution. Om made deep-going studies of the theory on classi- fication of the four types of constitution which had long been handed down, while making painstaking efforts to know the properties of medicinal herbs found throughout the country. In the course of this he confirmed that even the same kind of herbs have a little different effects according to their locality, which have influence on the manufacture of the medicines. He made scientific proof of this fact in his postgraduate course following his graduation by presenting a research paper on contrastive study of astragalus and Radix astragalus membranaceus T WAS TRULY WONDERFUL. I HAD A Bunge cv. Vir Mun et Ham. “I dropsy for the third time last January due to a Well aware that theoretical lectures should be liver trouble, so I took pills of the Compound Milk- given on the basis of practical research achievements, weed Pill for Treatment of Hepatitis two times a day. Om paid close attention to obtaining experience in Then I had a flat belly two days later. I had never treatment and relevant achievements in the field of expected I would have such a benefit from Koryo internal Koryo medicine. He often took his students to medicines. Earlier I had resorted to Western medi- the Academy of Koryo Medicine for practice, and in cations in many cases, and now I’m sure Koryo those days knew that a good ratio of the in-patients medicines are superior. And Doctor Om Song Chol is were cases of liver diseases. There were many causes a great physician who applies scientific remedies to of the diseases, and the most critical one was the suit the constitution of the patients and the symp- after-effects of chemically-compounded medications. toms of diseases.” This is what I heard from Sonu Om set the settlement of the problem as his own Jong Suk, 44, resident in Chilgol-dong No. 3, Man- research task, and buckled down. The result of the gyongdae District, Pyongyang, when I met her at the research was the complete development of the Com- teaching hospital of the Pyongyang Medical College pound Milkweed Pill for Treatment of Hepatitis of Kim Il Sung University. Her words aroused my which is made up of scores of kinds of natural Koryo interest in the physician, so I went to the Faculty of medicinal materials with the milkweed as the main Koryo Medicine of the college to see Om. element. It is effective in treatment of pancreatitis, The noted doctor I met was an ordinary teacher in hyperlipemia and digestive troubles due to different his 50s who was not so tall and yet looked quite in- causes including cirrhosis and dropsy of the liver and telligent. Impressive was the first remark he made fatty liver. with a shy smile, “My patients usually say they get He continued to develop medicines of practical well entirely thanks to my art. But that’s not the importance including the Brain Nourishing Pill truth. If there’s any I’ve done, it’s that I’ve worked which is effective in nourishing the brain and treat- hard to introduce the excellent principles of Koryo ing the elderly’s loss of memory. medicine that has long been handed down from gen- Om travelled a number of foreign countries, in- eration to generation.” cluding China and Bulgaria, to disseminate Koryo Om was once a soldier. During his military ser- medicine. He has trained a good many pupils who are vice he happened to see a patient of leucopenia fall now playing important role in the sector of Koryo into a critical condition accidentally from the use of medicine. paracetamol. The patient had taken it simply to cure He is always busy with instruction, scientific what he had thought was a flu, but the result was research and clinical treatment, but he never slack- almost lethal. This awakened an idea in him about ens his pace in his research as he is filled with the how to develop as good a medication from local me- sense of obligation that he is duty-bound to carry on dicinal herbs as the Western ones. The idea settled with the inherent Korean experience and tradition firmer in his mind when he entered the college after associated with the Korean nation’s soul. It is not service. long before he will realize his hope of becoming a true Choosing to major in internal Koryo medicine, he master physician in the realm of Koryo medicine who spent time unsparingly reading hereditary Korean can satisfy the need of the developing realities. medical documents. At first, Om felt they were all Yom Song Hui

28 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Doctors Pressed for Time

EOPLE SOMETIMES GET arrived at the hospital, the two 40℃. The doctors stayed close to P hurt at home or job site, or men were at the crossroads of life their bedsides day and night, on the street. Then, they send for and death—70% of their body was doing their best in treatment and doctors of the external wound burnt, their blood pressure and observation. In one week the two surgery of the Pyongyang Munici- pulse drastically fell and they cases recovered their senses, and pal Emergency Hospital. When I were in coma. In a word, it was the doctors and nurses were be- met Kim Hyon, head of the hospi- feared whether they could be side themselves with joy, even tal, for news coverage, he told me brought back to life. tears came to their eyes. the following story: At the critical moment the But treatment of the burnt One day in August 2014 the surgeons held an emergency con- areas continued and skin grafting doctors of the surgery were on ference. “We must save them,” operations took place four times, their way home, thinking about said the department head. His which were all as hard as a real the patients under their charge, words were short and definite as battle. Each dressing made the when they got an emergency call. ever. Immediately, an emergency doctors and nurses dripping So, they hastily turned back to treatment team was formed. A with sweat, but they tirelessly the hospital, where they saw large volume of blood was trans- worked to cure the patients. It fused, and many took two months to restore them kinds of medici- completely to health and the day nal and nutri- came for them to leave the hospi- tive solutions tal. Seeing them loath to part, were injected. Kim Myong Nam said, “People Tens of hours usually call us doctors pressed passed, but they for time. And we don’t hear did not come them casually. Because their round from words express our conscience of coma, and their bearing responsibility for the life temperature of people.” hovered around Kim Un Chol department head Kim Myong Nam getting into the ambulance. They guessed it was an urgent case. The car rushed to Sungho County, North Hwanghae Prov- ince. There were two patients, Pak Song Chol and Jo Wi Song, who had got burnt in their faces, chests, arms and backs in an accident. First aid was adminis- tered to them and the car re- turned. Even in the running car treatment continued. When they

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 29 Sweeping Enthusiasm for Exercises

HE STATE PLANNING tween departments, which were last match they had. It would T Commission took first place classified into different modes of decide their total rank in the in total in its category at the 20th league, rank and age. I could also games. Unexpectedly the captain Paektusan Prize Games of Offi- identify the chief coordinators of of their team could not partici- cials of National Agencies held in sporting events who were mostly pate in the match. Alternatively, January-February this year. One heads of departments. The book a spare was sent in, and the of these days I went to the com- showed the targets of different team’s performance was a miser- mission to know the secret. departments for athletic attain- able failure. So they lost 3-1, ment in each event, regulations leaving the commission in the File of the chairman of on the time of physical culture, second place in total at the the trade union and measures to supply sports games. facilities and necessary condi- The officials had a meeting to I met Pak Jong Won, vice tions. make an analysis of the failure. chairman of the State Planning I closed the file, when a man Now they learned that of all the Commission, and Hyon Jong In, rushed up to Pak and told him to factors of the failure including the chairman of the trade union at referee their match. Pak excused poor skills, the most important the commission. Hearing why I himself, saying that he had to act one was that sporting activities was there, Pak wore a mild smile as referee for a basketball match were conducted with the partici- and said, pointing to what Hyon between the Pyongyang City pation of a number of highly was holding in his hand, “You Planning Bureau and the Public skilled people alone. This was a may find the secret there in his Welfare Planning Bureau. lesson both to the officials and the file.” staff members. I took the file, whose title was Story of the chairman of Now the commission made “Programme of Mass Sports Ac- the trade union arrangements to make all the tivities.” I leafed through the members acquire sporting skills document, and found detailed Hyon told me a story. for more than one event. The Py- plans of this year’s sports activi- Several years ago when the ongyang City Planning Bureau ties including athletic games, folk games of officials of national was set as an example first. Di- games, the period of maritime agencies were nearly finished, the rector of the bureau Pak Song sports and that of public fitness officials of the State Planning Chol himself used spare time to examination. The file also con- Commission were sure they would learn skills of different events, tained weekly, monthly and quar- be the winner in total as they had taught them to his members and terly schedules of mass sports ranked high in many of the organized competitions with other activities and sporting events, events. bureaus frequently in spare and tables of competitions be- The volleyball final was the times. As the competitions with other units were deci- sive to the honour of the bureau, they presented good occasions for im- proving the members’ sense of collective unity and competitiveness as well as boosting the courage of the players in actual contests. Pak himself learned skills and techniques of bas- ketball, volleyball, table tennis and other events, and his members also became able to play more than one events. This bureau’s enthu- ►

30 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 School Famed for Basketball

HE MINHUNG SENIOR T Middle School in Moranbong District, Pyongyang is well known for many honours. It was the first to produce a winner of the July 15 Honour Student Prize after the country instituted it in February 1982, and the first Model Teacher of the nation. It took first place at a National Schoolchildren’s Men- tal Arithmetic Contest. The com- positions entitled You Cannot Calculate and A Little Grandpa written by the school’s students brought high ranking at a Na- tional Students’ Composition Contest. The school is also famous for basketball. One day 20 years ago, a slen- der and good-looking girl walked devote yourself to the students.” training method. Jong Suk de- into the headmaster’s office at the Encouraged, she made redoubled cided that high skills of basket- school. She was Ko Jong Suk who efforts to develop a training ball come only when importance was appointed as teacher of method suitable to psychological is attached to the basic technical physical culture at the school af- qualities of the students. Gradu- training. She worked hard to find ter graduation from Kim Chol Ju ally the interest in basketball out a scientific training method University of Education. She said grew among the students and to suit the ages, physical develop- proudly, “I’ll surely make our their skills improved step by step. ment and heights of the players. school famed for basketball.” To As a result the school made a Finally she succeeded in estab- hear her all teachers including debut at a schoolchildren’s bas- lishing a proper method to keep the headmaster were surprised. ketball tournament held in cele- in step with the developing real- But it was a long way from bration of the Day of the Sun in ity. Then she applied it to all the saying to doing. One day Jo Tuk April 1999 when it took first players. In this way the school Hwa, headteacher, came to her place. Later it won many basket- won the games that year. and said, “I know it is a difficult ball games year after year. It also won the women’s bas- task for you. Making a good start In 2003 the 29th Jongilbong ketball qualifier of Pyongyang for is important in any work. Ambi- Prize National Schoolchildren’s the last 41st Jongilbong Prize tion is not the only thing needed Games took place. Ko Jong Suk National Schoolchildren’s Games. to bring up our students as pil- knew they would hardly win the lars of the country. You’d better games unless she applied a new Sim Hyon Jin

► siasm for sport spread to scores of sporting grounds for basketball, ree. I found their game as inter- other departments of the commis- volleyball, table tennis and other esting and cheerful as the profes- sion. Officials of advanced ages events while obtaining much sional players’ one for their and women in particular who had more equipment. There came a skilled technical movements, been content with cheering at unanimous opinion that they smart sending of the ball and long games took an active part in felt very spirited when they re- shooting. sporting activities, and grew self- turned home and that they were The match convinced me that confident of their ability to join more enthusiastic about their the commission would make a competition. work. greater success in the field of In order to further the en- Hearing his words, I headed mass-based sporting activities. thusiasm of the masses for exer- for the basketball court where cise, the commission laid more Pak Jong Won was acting as refe- Kim Yong Sun

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 31 Keeper of National Tradition

INCE ITS DEBUT IN 1947, against foreign invaders, and The Performances by the haegum, S the National Folk Art Tale of Chun Hyang that is a love tanso, okryugum and jangsaenap Troupe’s performances rich in story about Mong Ryong of noble are quite attractive and the kay- national emotion and tone have birth and singing girl Chun Hy- agum ensemble leaves greater been favourite with the public. ang of low birth making seals of impression on the audience. In Whenever people give a great matrimony despite difference in the kayagum ensemble several applause to the successful per- the social status. women sing together while play- formance, Ri Song, chief director, It presented many folk songs ing the kayagum. This ensemble says, “As the art always goes with and folk dances. Whenever such life, so the national art can never folk songs as Moran Hill, The develop without national fea- Nodul Riverside, Ryonggang Ki- tures.” nari, Kanggangsuwollae and The troupe started its work Hungtharyong were sung by with adaptation of national clas- making the best use of the trill sics for operas, including The Tale and vibrato peculiar to the Ko- of Simchong which shows filial rean folk songs, they were always devotion of Simchong—who lost encored and the excited audience her mother in her early years and got up to dance to the tune of the grew up under care of her blind songs. When folk dances Yang- father—to her elderly father to sando and Janggu Dance were bring sight back to him, The Tale put on the stage, people danced of Ondal which tells how Ondal pleasantly with their shoulders who became a general of Koguryo moving up and down. by training hard for martial arts The rendition of national in- shows marvellous performing arts performs a great feat in a war struments is also impressive. ennobling the subject message of the melody, and a delicate and elegant combination of singers’ clear voice and the kayagum’s rhythmic sound, thus drawing a ►

32 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► great attention of the audience. The music and dance drama Under the Bright Sun produced by the troupe was performed 350 times, and the national opera Sunshine 1 132 times. In recent years, good works were created successfully. The folk dance suite People in Walled City of Pyongyang reflects the patriotism of the people in Py- ongyang in the olden times who loved their country eagerly and fought bravely to defend their

Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Con- servatory she won a gold medal at the February 16 Art Prize Indi- vidual Contest. She is now a tal- ented entertainer who can com- pose and play the haegum solos herself. The troupe has many artistes’ couples. O Yong Sik, head of the troupe, says, “We are very proud that we implant the soul of our country, and the noble manners celebrated stars. The laudable nation in our people through per- and customs of the Korean people. tradition of the troupe is carried formances. We’ll devote our all to Song and dance pieces Sweet on by new generations. Hwang the effort to develop our national Brier and Cuckoo were newly Ryon A, 27, plays the yanggum art on the basis of national char- created to enjoy popularity. with four sticks (when it is usu- acteristics, modernity and con- The troupe took performances ally played with only two sticks), ventionality to each of our pro- to foreign countries as well. fascinating the audience. Merited grammes.” In the course of this, many of Actress Nam Un Ha, 28, is a the artistes were known well as haegum soloist. While learning at Rim Ok

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 33 The Benevolent System

work and laundry for pay. Tears her home when she was healthy, and sorrow were daily occur- they replied that they were citi- rences to her. zens who were duty-bound to After liberation of the country observe the law on public health (August 15, 1945) her family en- which stipulates that they should joyed a happy life. She and her make a regular checkup of the husband became legitimate mas- elderly folks. My benevolent sys- ter of the country. She was put in tem ensured that I recovered from charge of the supply service for illness I had got before liberation, the coal miners, and did her work and the doctors still come to look sincerely. Whenever she was after me, she thought. She was asked to take care of herself she reminded of her siblings who had OME TIME AGO I WENT said that she hadn’t been able to died under the Japanese rule. S to see Jang Yong Suk, 100, at go to see a doctor for want of Afterwards, the doctor in charge her home in Neighbourhood Unit money before liberation, and that visited her often to bring tonics No. 36, Jonjin-dong, Rangnang now she was healthy as she while a local official brought her District, Pyongyang. Guided by worked comfortably thanks to the state grants and service workers her son Kim Yong Chun who was benefit of the country. Under the daily necessities. over 70, I entered her room. The health care system, she got treat- In February last Jang cele- old woman was at needlework ment at sanatoriums and was brated her 100th birthday, and the without wearing glasses at all. pensioned off for intensive treat- state sent her a birthday spread She greeted me kindly. ment. When she became better, in celebration of it. Receiving the Born the fourth daughter of a she began to breed pigs as she spread she said in delights, “I’m tenant in Kowon County, South could not sit idle while receiving grateful to the state for this care Hamgyong Province, on February benefits from the state. She for me. Though I am old, I enjoy a 13, 1915, she used to be a nurse- worked hard to supply meat to happy life thanks to my benevo- maid in her childhood and was coal miners. She was called “our lent system.” In a rapture of de- subjected to contempt and mal- grandma” for her many years of light she sang Let the Time Go treatment. Living a hard life she sincere work for the colliers. and danced before her 52 descen- experienced the sorrow of a state- She did not stop working even dants. less people. She got married and after she settled in Pyongyang to had children, but fortune never live with one of her children. She I remember the willow wood smiled on her, who was struggling prepared aid materials to send where we whispered against poverty and hunger. them to major construction pro- our love first. Though she had postpartum ail- jects. The willow leaves are still ment and peritonitis, she could One day after she moved to green in our wrinkled faces. not go to see a doctor as she had Pyongyang some doctors visited Songun gives me prime of life no money. Bearing the pains she her at her house. They said they in my 90s. went out before sunrise to dig out were there because she had not Let the time go, and we always coal in a pit like a badger’s burrow visited the local clinic for regular have a youthful mind. which was likely to cave in at any checkup. When the old woman moment. At night she did needle said they took the trouble to come Kim Yong Un

34 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 The Changed View of Lake Yonphung

AKE YONPHUNG LO- The respected leader rooms, a banquet hall, public L cated between Anju and Kim Jong Un proposed the con- service facilities, an indoor swim- Kaechon is one of the big man- struction of a home for scientists ming pool, an e-library, a video- made lakes in Korea. This lake and named it Yonphung Scien- projection room and a council waters 100 000 hectares of tists Holiday Camp. He had des- room for discussions on the re- cropland in Anju, Mundok, ignated its construction site on sults of and experience in re- Sukchon and Phyongwon coun- the shore of the lake, and in search work. The blocks are ties. Its construction started in January 2014, after finishing the linked with hundreds-of-metres- 1947 and finished in 1956. When field guidance to the State Acad- long corridors. The buildings look it was completed, President emy of Sciences, came to the lake like swans that come down on the Kim Il Sung came to the place to finally fix the site for the camp. shore of the lake. The corridors and named it “Lake Yonphung,” He was pleased with the fine and paths in the premises are saying that now the Yoltusam- winter view of the lake while its paved with slates to match well cholli Plain would be visited by a summer scene was wonderful with the nature around so that good harvest every year. There is with its beautiful waters sur- people feel as if they were walk- a monument to the history of rounded by thick foliage. He took ing in the forests. The playground irrigation work in South Phyon- all necessary measures to build is fit for volleyball, tennis and gan Province on the bank of the the camp in fine style on the best- badminton, which can be changed lake. suited location. After that, in over to a skating rink in winter. The lake is surrounded by May and August, he inspected Turfs, trees and grapevines have hills heavily wooded with pines, the construction site and said been planted around the camp, Korea larches, chestnut trees, that he hoped for nothing more adding to the scenic beauty of pine-nut trees, oaks and poplars, than a good camp provided with Lake Yonphung. The camp offering good habitats for birds all fine conditions and circum- emerging in the woods has such as cuckoos, wild ducks and stances for the scientists to re- changed the scenery of the lake rollers. In spring the air is fra- lieve their fatigue of long scien- beyond recognition. grant with full-blown azaleas, tific research work. In October The camp is called a house of Androsace saxifragaefolia and that year, the camp was com- comfort for the scientists. Happy apricot blossoms, and in autumn pleted in a little over four laughters from the completely the view is superb with scarlet months, adding to the scenic changed shore of Lake Yonphung autumnal tints reflected on the beauty of the lake. are wafting endlessly over its blue water. The lake teeming with fish It consists of nine blocks and waters. like silver carps, roaches and accessory buildings. The general carps is busy with excursion ships service building houses dining Rim Sang Jun coming and going on the blue water, reminding people of a picture scroll. The hill on the north of the lake is topped by the Yonphung Pavilion that commands the pano- ramic view of the lake and the surrounding scenery, and on the shores of the lake are a sanatorium, a rest home and a recreation park for the working people plus a Children’s Union Camp.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 35 Traditional Dishes of Korea (1)

Dishes of Pyongyang and Phyongan Province

YONGYANG AND THE PHYONGAN foods are big-sliced, appetizing and plentiful, P Province area have a wide variety of reflecting the character and the taste of the materials for food because they have mountains local people who are progressive and broad- and fields, and rivers and sea uniformly. Their minded.

Pyongyang onban. Pyongyang pibimbap.

Pyongyang Onban (warm rice) Pyongyang pibimbap, one of the special foods peculiar to Pyongyang, is rice garnished with roast Pyongyang onban, one of the typical dishes of beef, mung-bean sprouts, parsley, bracken, songi Pyongyang, is a dish of rice in chicken soup gar- mushroom, roots of broad bellflower and laver which nished with fried mung-bean pancake and mush- is roasted and crumbed over it. Then it is served with room. It was originated from the eating habits of the hot soup, kimchi made of sliced radish and red pep- Korean people taking rice served in different soups. per paste. The Pyongyangites love to have the dish as When the rice in chicken soup became popular a seasonal food in the heat of midsummer. They often from the late 19th century to the early 20th century use pork and spinach and crown daisy instead of beef and spread widely across the country, it was known and parsley. by the name of onban. Long ago there was a man called Hyong Dal, a runner at the Pyongyang Nochi yamen, and a maiden by the name of Ui Gyong, and they loved each other. In cold winter Hyong Dal was Nochi is a well-known food of Phyongan Province imprisoned on a false charge. Ui Gyong doused the along with mung-bean pancake. It is made by rice in hot soup and put a mung-bean pancake, and mixing fermented glutinous rice flour and malt pow- took it to the jail for him. The name “onban” came to der and frying it with lard before being soaked in stay from it. corn syrup or honey. Another kind of nochi is made The soup is seasoned with salt instead of pungent by mixing glutinous rich flour with millet and kaoli- spices and garnished with mung-bean pancake. ang powder, sprinkling malty powder over it, steam- ing and sprinkling malty powder over it again before Pyongyang Pibimbap frying. The people of Phyongan Province used to (rice with assorted mixture) make it largely as chusok (the lunar August 15th) ►

36 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► cheer. It was also used as a snack in the harvest time and for the children. As it keeps long, people would take it on a journey for meal and make a large amount of it to eat for months.

Pyongyang Raengmyon (cold noodle)

Pyongyang raengmyon, one of national dishes, is typical of Korean noodles for its taste and nutritive value. From of old, noodles were made mainly of buckwheat in Korea, and the cold noodle of Pyongy- ang was best known of them. The old records say that the cold noodles of the northwestern part of Korea (Phyongan Province) were well-known, of which Pyongyang raengmyon prepared with radish or cel- ery-cabbage kimchi and pork had the greatest name in the country. It is made from pure buckwheat flour, Pyongyang raengmyon. soaked in broth prepared with a mixture of meat juice and radish pickle to give a fresh and savoury thought they were well treated in the city if they tastes, and garnished and spiced in a peculiar way. were entertained with mullet soup. So, “Have you Restaurants specializing in Pyongyang raeng- enjoyed the taste of mullet soup?” was the usual myon are everywhere in the country. In particular, greeting to those who had been to Pyongyang. the modern Okryu Restaurant on the Taedong river- side serves cold noodles of special ingredients with Mung-bean Pancake high nutritive value and an appealing taste. The cold noodle of this restaurant is widely known at home Mung-bean pancake is so tasty and good for and abroad. health that it was a favourite food in different re- gions of the country. In particular, the mung-bean Taedonggang Mullet Soup pancake of Phyongan Province has vegetable and pork fat in it. The people of Phyongan Province, The soup is one of the specialities of Pyongyang. known for their open-minded and warm-hearted Sliced flesh of mullet is boiled in a pot with black nature, would make it three times larger and twofold pepper wrapped in cloth in it. The old records say thicker than those made in other provinces. They set that the taste of mullet and its roe is excellent. it on the feast, wedding and memorial service tables. In the area of Pyongyang, therefore, the feast People used to have it as a special food in ordinary table was regarded as up to standard only when time. Today it is widely known as one of health foods there was steamed mullet among the delicacies and, internationally, it is highly appraised abroad as served. one of three representative foods of Korea together Taedonggang mullet soup was famed across the with kimchi and grilled meat. country for its peculiar taste and high nutrition. Accordingly, the people who visited Pyongyang Jo Yong Il

Taedonggang mullet soup. Mung-bean pancake.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 37 I Can Give Even a Little Help to My Country

peared a little, but it became tedious days later. One of those days a swimming coach, Kang Ho Jin by name, working for the Korean Sports Associa- tion of the Disabled came to see me at home. He said to me, “In our country the disabled persons like you are duly respected and ensured the same social and political right, freedom and benefits as the normal people. I think you are in a condition good enough to go swimming, aren’t you?” I readily agreed without any idea. But my mother would not give a consent, saying I, a crippled boy, could not go swimming. At that time Ho Jin persuasively spoke to my mother, “I know this is not an easy task, but I’m AST OCTOBER I TOOK PART IN THE sure Sung Hyok should find any work at least for L swimming event of the 2014 Asian Paralympics the sake of his own. Then he will regain a hopeful and I took third place. and cheerful life.” I am an amputee of both femurs, and my win can Finally I arrived at a training centre of the asso- hardly be thought without the great effort of my ciation on the back of my coach. My daily schedule swimming coach Kang Ho Jin, who had worked hard of training began with getting on my coach’s back to help me, a disabled boy, make a career. and ended with getting off. At first I trained with When I was a child, I was often scolded by my tiny appliances and gradually learned the barbell neighbours, because I used to be a mischievous boy. lifting and the movements in water. The days of Sometimes I played on a tree, and I was always fond exercise gave me pride in my life and then a hope to of doing dangerously mischievous things playing go for a competition. with my friends. Finally it broke my life. Seven In that situation I put more effort in developing years ago I lost my legs in an accident. Although I my arms and waist considering my condition. I suc- got well under the beneficial socialist medical sys- cessfully learned swimming for four months by tem, I could not recover my legs. It was all the past working with resolution. Finally I took part in the things that I played with my friends and frolicked swimming event of the 2014 Asian Paralympics and home after I received school uniform. won a bronze medal. I was often gripped with the fear that I could When I returned home, my mother, neighbours never walk in this land, and tears welled up in my and my friends heartily congratulated me giving the eyes though I was a child. My mother got tearful in bouquets. At that time I felt proud of myself, think- her own way more often than not. I was helpless ing that in the past I was ashamed to see people, and hopeless. always trying to avoid meeting them, but that now I My friends came to see me on holidays and Sun- could see them with sort of self-satisfaction. I felt days, but I felt it a nuisance. Sometimes I felt like like giving my thanks to my country. taking my own life. And I told myself, “I know I can do something for But as the days went by my neighbours and my country! This time I brought a little pleasure to villagers’ care became deeper and deeper. I was my countrymen. In the future I will win a gold ashamed to see them. Gradually I felt like to do any- medal and give greater happiness to my people. In thing to be worthy of their care. So, I finally decided this way I’m going to add to the glory of my coun- to learn to repair simple electronic appliances at try.” This is how I have regained an enjoyable life. home. I started to learn from a next-door man bit by bit. Sim Sung Hyok, member of the As I spent time repairing, the loneliness disap- Korean Sports Association of the Disabled

38 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Short Story After Many Years

By Ri Hui Nam

(Continued from the last into the earth. What’s the reason? “There are really a lot of kinds issue) Jong Gu lapsed into a deep of human beings,” the chief engi- thought, with his eyes fixed at the neer resumed his story. “Some FTER YOU LEFT window pane looking like a mir- people live quite a flamboyant “A here,” the chief engineer ror. The words that had driven life, and others let themselves explained, stroking his face with him into a corner were in no way known after a lapse of time—like his hand, “we had to discard an expression of any indignation Kyong Hun who is indeed a con- nearly all our trucks, which had but an earnest appeal for con- scientious and welcome kind of lived their lifetime for ten years. science. person who has sealed both the But the one driven by Kyong Hun The noise from the street initial and last days of his life remained as good as a new one. It turned much soft. Silence began securely by means of the heavy- was a great surprise, and now to fall. It seemed as if he could duty truck.” people realized that as Truck No. hear the earth breathing in and After leaving the chief engi- 87 had been driven by Kyong Hun out deeply and pleasantly. neer’s house that evening, Jong it had given birth to Pak Jong Gu, “That’s not all,” the chief engi- Gu strolled the night street of an innovative worker, and stood neer resumed his narration. “You Musan for many hours. The in the van.” He seemed to be re- can see the worth of a person in bright windows looked like the calling the time when he had said, hard times. As the time of the eyes of the night that were work- “Truck No. 87 is always leading Arduous March set in, his exis- ing untiringly. A sweet sound of the company since it is driven by tence became distinguished. the guitar rang and reverberated, Jong Gu, the model driver,” the Many drivers stopped the opera- playing the tune of the Song of truth of which he was now deny- tion of their trucks for the short Friendship. What a wonderful ing—after many years. supply of spare parts, but Kyong image his old friend wore! It Suddenly Jong Gu remem- Hun kept working his truck car- seemed as if a good deal of jewel bered Jong Ok Gum’s stinging rying ores as steadily as ever by buried deep for so many years had words: “To tell the truth, you have obtaining spare parts by himself come into sight at last. been the leader of the innovation despite such hardships. Thanks to Jong Gu walked and walked, thanks to Kyong Hun. But why such a kind of people, the mine for he wanted to walk throughout didn’t you tell the meeting that kept making progress. So, Kyong the night giving vent to the words the really innovative worker is Hun had a lot of sufferings and of his heart after the shock. The Kyong Hun?” Then came the vivid troubles, which steeled him old memory came to life, like a memory of a monthly review of harder— like the tree becomes periscope rising from under the production when Kyong Hun strong while weathering the wind. sea to have an open eye at the stood up indignantly to protest I’m sure the branch Party secre- surface. The days of his own inno- Jong Gu’s complimentary re- tary would be very happy to see vative work were flickering marks for his saving the face of Kyong Hun, because he had been dimly—like a distant light. It was the workshop by transporting the carefully looking after him in the light of his own pride, that of record high amount of ores, say- every corner of his life. To our styling himself as a rapid current ing, “Just shut up, will you? I’m great sorrow he died of an illness of the times. A scrutiny of the rather embarrassed to hear such five years ago. I can’t forget the light would disclose some sooty a compliment. I insist on making image of Kyong Hun who sat in corners of shadow which could not innovations on a regular basis front of the grave for a good while be washed off at all. The flow of instead of trying to achieve lop- at the funeral.” the time removed the veil of the sided innovations.” It had been It was the first sad news Jong light which was far from truth quite an unacceptable advice at Gu heard on the visit to the mine. and conscience. With the passage the time, but now they dwelt deep A short, heavy silence reigned in of time, however, those ordinary in his mind like the water seeps memory of the dead. and unassuming people who ►

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 39 ► chose a conscientious way of life just finished college would be the from the bottom of my heart,” without any trial for all kinds of chief of the truck management Jong Gu said. fame and glory turned out to be section. I felt as if something were “Don’t mention it,” Kyong Hun the rapid current of the times. collapsing heavily in my heart. said calmly. Something seemed to My husband told me what had be filling Jong Gu’s heart to the The train began to run again. happened: the general manager of full, like the water saturating the The soft and monotonous sound of the company asked him to look earth in the dry season of spring. the wheels and the magnificent after the truck management sec- It was the warm and lofty feelings dash through the darkness re- tion, but he refused and recom- toward his friend. turned again. The life moves mended a young man for the posi- ahead and leaves behind foot- tion, saying he was now old and “My dear,” the woman in the steps. The genuine traces of life that a man who could afford a opposite side called in sleep. Even are to be found only after the life scientific and technical manage- in sleep, she must be wishing has passed. If not the work of the ment of the trucks should be put their love would remain invaria- train maintenance workers, the in the position. I felt quite sorry. bly true and genuine for all ages. train could not run smoothly Why on earth should he refuse to The silent girl next to Jong Gu ahead. accept the position? I couldn’t was dabbing her eyes, while read- Now Jong Gu was reminded of contain my temper. Then, my ing. She must have come across a what Jong Ok Gum had said husband wore an awkward smile moving scene at last. proudly of his husband when he on his face, asking not to be so The soft and monotonous met her in the guesthouse. At the sorry about it. He blinked his mild sound of the wheels and the mag- time he had had no idea why she eyes and forced a smile again. I nificent dash through the dark- had been so proud of his husband couldn’t but understand him, and ness were going on. Was the in- for his lifelong work as a heavy- changed my mind.” Jong Ok Gum variably smooth sound like that of duty truck driver. He had got to murmured her words. a galloping horse coming from know what she had meant only Jong Gu looked up at the ceil- afar, or that of a lullaby soothing when he had gone to see Ri Kyong ing, blinking his eyes himself. The the passengers into sleep? No. It Hun at his house. sight of Cholsan HiIl in the rosy was the whisper of advice regard- twilight returned to his mind’s ing what man should leave to be Kyong Hun was not yet at eye, the sight of grandiose, firm memorized. home when Jong Gu went to his and wonderful image associated house to see him. with beautiful affection and lot. Days later, Jong Gu, while “Here’s another story,” Jong Jong Gu had spent the many immersed in his work, heard the Ok Gum said in a sentimental years without understanding it, news that the DPRK Supreme voice, like the flow of a country thus leaving behind a disgraceful People’s Assembly Presidium had stream. “Once there was estab- blank in his life, the blank of issued a decree on awarding the lished a new position called chief truth and conscience. That was title of Labour Hero on Ri Kyong of the truck management section the cause of Jong Gu’s anxiety. Hun, heavy-duty truck driver of at the ore transport company. The Probably it might be an eternal the Musan Mining Complex. At general manager of the company cause of anxiety. A painful mem- the time he stood solemnly at the called my husband one day. ory remains heartbreaking, any- window of his office. Labour Hero Thinking that things were going way. Ri Kyong Hun was now known as I had expected, I prepared a For the last bidding of fare- across the country. Something good table that evening, and well, the two friends stood side by significant began to whirl in Jong waited for him to return. After a side in the platform of the railway Gu’s heart. While he was oblivi- while he came back. With a smile station. ous of his friend, Kyong Hun had I asked him hastily, ‘How are “Please pardon me,” Jong Gu proved himself as a true character things with you?’ Kyong Hun said cordially, taking Kyong Hun to the full. As he demonstrated answered, ‘It’s OK.’ I cried gladly, warmly by the hand. his skill of strike at a volleyball ‘Then, you’re the chief of the truck Kyong Hun became wide-eyed match in his youth, Kyong Hun management section now?’ I was at once, when Jong Gu noticed his made a successful career of his quite happy. But at the moment grey earlock for the first time. life. he said that a young man who had “I’d like to pay you my tribute (The End)

40 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Korean Industrial Arts (3)

Metalwork

HE KOREAN PEOPLE HAVE LONG MADE T various kinds of beautiful metal craftworks by accurate and delicate toreutic methods. In the Bronze Age in the late primitive times they began to make metal craftworks such as buttons, bells, rings and bracelets which were dull and simple and founded by using molds. Pipha-shaped daggers. Metalwork was rapidly developed in the ancient times. Metal craftworks were based on good combi- nation of utility with artistic value; typical of them are a pipha-shaped dagger and spear, a narrow- bladed brass dagger and spear, a mirror with a fine- lined pattern, horse-band buttons, a bell and a A fretwork-patterned ornament bracelet. In particular, the pipha-shaped dagger and with a gilt-bronze band. the mirror with a fine-lined pattern are representa- and cups, trinkets like bracelets and rod-like hair- tive of the metalwork in the Ancient Joson period, for pins, and everyday necessities such as needle cases, they are credited with extraordinary shapes and charcoal braziers and mirrors. Most famous was the decorative patterns. mirror making. Though the manufacture of Korean In the period of the Three Kingdoms (early 3rd metal mirrors began with the mirror with a fine- century B.C.–A.D. late 7th century) the metalwork lined pattern in ancient times, its heyday came in the came to be more exquisite and delicate and developed period of the Koryo dynasty. The Koryo mirror was in a multifarious way. The precious metal craftworks original and various in its shape and was carved in alone included in its kind gold crowns, earrings, relief, intaglio and line incision after the patterns of necklaces, bracelets, rings, rod-like hairpins, buttons plant, scenery, letter and architectural geometrical and shoes—these all had ingenious shapes, luxuri- forms. ous and beautiful decorations and smart treatment. In the period of the Feudal Joson Dynasty Decorative patterns were based on dragon, phoenix, (1392–1910), the metalwork further developed based Four Guardians, lotus flower and vines, and the on existing achievements. Unlike the smart and decoration methods included filigree, openwork, gorgeous Koryo craftworks, the metal craftworks cloisonne and jade wing. made in these years were simple and plain with bold These traditions and successes in metalwork arts and devoid of affectation and exaggeration in were further developed in the time of Palhae and shape and decoration. Their kinds were varied— Later Silla (late 7th century–early 10th century). The tableware, wedding fittings, memorial fixtures, lamp craftworks included such trinkets as rings, earrings, stands, heating facilities, stationery and decorations. rod-like hairpins and bracelets, such tableware as These things were made of silver, copper, iron, lead, small bowls, large bowls, cups and spoons, and such tin and different alloys by the methods of casting, everyday necessities as buttons, scissors, bells, char- forging, chasing and gilding. coal braziers, candlesticks and mirrors. Various pat- The tradition and various techniques are devel- terns like lotus flower, vines, water waves, chrysan- oping as required by the times in the Democratic themum, cloud, line and oblique line were introduced People’s Republic of Korea. in them with different techniques. Typical metalwork pieces of the Koryo dynasty Kim Kwang Jo, (918–1392) are such kitchen utensils and tableware researcher of the Folklore Institute, as large bowls, bottles, pots, jars, brass bowls, kettles the Academy of Social Sciences

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 41 Cliffs of Fantastic Shapes in Mt. Paektu

42 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 43 An Jung Sik and Association of Painters and Calligraphers

HE JAPANESE IMPERIAL- Along with the work of in- T ists committed the unprece- struction the association set up dented brutal atrocities against fine arts and calligraphy exhibi- the Koreans to enforce the policy tion halls in Pyongyang and of obliterating the national char- Kyongsong (Seoul) which were acter of Korea during their worth mentioning as art gallery military occupation of Korea for the first time in Korea and put (1905–1945). In the field of fine on display collected artefects in arts, too, they not only restrained numbers to advertise the superi- fine arts development of the ority of the national fine arts. Korean people but also made Since the opening of the first fine vicious attempts to obliterate the arts exhibition in 1921, it organ- Korean tradition of fine arts. ized 19 rounds of exhibitions up to The patriotic-minded artists of the late 1930s, contributing to the Korea organized the Association of effort to carry forward the tradi- Painters and Calligraphers, a tional calligraphic and painting national fine arts organization, in arts of the nation and boosting the order to maintain and develop the national pride and honour among tradition of their national arts. the Koreans. In 1927 the associa- The association set the training of tion began to issue the Magazine reserves of national artists as its of the Association of Painters and main objective and established a Calligraphers, which was condu- fine arts exhibition hall to push cive to the development of ahead with the work to widely national fine arts and its dissemi- disseminate both the Korean nation. painting and calligraphy. It gave a The first president of the asso- three-year course— divided into ciation was An Jung Sik. He the men’s class and the women’s— studied in depth the earlier to teach the Korean painting and achievements of the Korean calligraphy. When there were painting and made efforts to many applicants evening classes maintain them. Meanwhile, he were also arranged. There were worked hard to train young art- Mt. Paegak. textbooks concerning methods of ists and create art pieces. In this painting mountains, rivers, sea, way he became one of the promi- vice to the effort to keep up the rocks, birds and flowers, and nent figures in the arts circle at lifeline of the Korean painting. making decorative handwritings. that time. He also rendered ser- He was good at writing and painting, and his forte was that Reed and Wild Geese. he made marvellous pictures of mountains and waters, figures, flowers and birds. His landscape was well known in particular. Some of the masterpieces are Folding Screen with Landscape Paintings, Autumn and Green Mountain. Over 50 pieces of his work are now kept in the Korean Art Gallery and history museums in provinces, including the eight- fold screen Reed and Wild Geese, the six-fold screen Scenery, Hawk, Night and Peony, Figure Painting and Apricot-Bloomed Winter Scenery.

Jo Yong Il

44 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Why Are They Denying Facts?

HE US IMPERIALISTS half of Korea. atrocities committed by Ameri- T committed the crime of using Their atrocities of germ and cans, they would have been as- germ and chemical weapons in chemical warfare committed tounded. Nevertheless, denying the Korean war (June 1950–July against the Korean people in the their inhuman crimes, the US 1953) in violation of the interna- war were recorded in world his- imperialists are making fuss tional laws and rules. They tory as most barbarous and inhu- about someone’s development of dropped lots of infectious viruses man crimes. The investigation biochemical weapons and human like smallpox in insidious ways in teams of the International Asso- rights issue. Then why are they many areas including Pyongyang. ciation of Democratic Women, picking on Korea, denying their Colonel Frank H. Schewable of International Association of De- own war crimes? the US Marine Corps who was mocratic Lawyers and progressive According to the international captured in the act of germ war- scientists of the world visited laws and rules of war, using the fare said, “The general plan for Korea in 1951 and 1952 to exam- germ and chemical weapons and bacteriological warfare in Korea ine the details of the US imperi- other weapons of mass destruc- was directed by the US Joint alists’ crimes and exposed their tion must be forbidden and the Chiefs of Staff. The bacteriological evil deeds to the world by sending users should be defined as grave warfare was further expanded in to many mass media of the world criminals and called to account for May 1952 under the orders of the articles, reports, communiqués, their crimes under the criminal US 5th Air Force.” appeals and protest letters accus- law. Korea and the US are now in The US aggressors used ing the Yankees of their unprece- the state of armistice. So, if the openly the internationally forbid- dented crimes. A member of the US acknowledges their crimes, den chemical weapons as well. investigation team of the Interna- they must be called to account Having suffered crushing defeats tional Association of Democratic under the criminal law as a war repeatedly they fired suffocating Lawyers strongly denounced the criminal. Therefore, denying their and tear shells 41 times on the US imperialist brutes who he said exposed criminal acts, the US is trenches of the Korean People’s would outshine even the demons spreading false reports about Army and killed innocent people appearing in the hell of Dante’s threats from the DPRK and its by dropping gas bombs 33 times The Divine Comedy and that if human rights issue, like a thief in different areas of the northern Hitler and Mussolini had seen the crying “Stop thief!” In case of an- other Korean war, the US imperi- Captives of the US Air Force testify to their atrocities of germ warfare. alists have made meticulous preparations for using not only nukes but biochemical weapons. In 1998, they carried out a war exercise for simulated chemical attacks on the DPRK at Seymour Johnson air base in the west of ►

Various cartridges of germ bombs.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 45 Abuses of Children and the Aged in South Korea

Rampant Maltreatment of Children children to the bottom. The world public was as- tounded at the south Korean regime’s behaviour of ECENTLY IN SOUTH KOREA ILL- leaving the children to go down with the ship when R treatment of children at Children’s Homes and they could be rescued on all accounts. When the kindergartens happens one after another, evoking families of the victims were wailing, demanding that tremendous public criticism. their children be saved, it was reported, Park Geun According to a south Korean radio, it is an eve- Hye invited those who were rich and powerful and ryday occurrence in a kindergarten in Inchon that held an emergency meeting on public welfare meas- the kindergarten teachers throw children to the ures, and discussed with them how to divert the floor, snatch off the chairs from under the children Sewol disaster from doing harm to their administra- to make them fall backward, drag them along the tion and business affairs. At the meeting Park went floor, slap them hard across the face and kick them. so far as to label the people enraged at the disaster as Moreover, they even deny the little ones meals obstructive and rebellious forces detrimental to the without scruples for the reason that they are dis- economy. obedient. Owing to the anti-popular policy of the south The children at the most mischievous age are Korean authority that is incapable of protecting the holding their breath in fear of outrages committed lives of children, their destiny faces a crisis. The against them incessantly in the kindergarten. Nev- south Korean puppet regime, overlooking their own ertheless, the south Korean “National Assembly” atrocious human rights violations and anxious to rejected the bill on infant protection aimed at pre- maintain power, is bent on revising the “National venting child abuse. Such a move of the south Ko- Security Law” and enacting the “Law on Human rean puppet regime is reminiscent of the shocking Rights in the North” and the “Law on Preventing

Sewol disaster of last year which sent hundreds of Terrorism.” ►

► America and included a plan of chemical war exer- Korea in April 2013, and played the pivotal role in cise in Operations Plan 9518 of the south Korea-US the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exer- combined forces command. Accordingly, under the cises last year. pretext of coping with the threats from the DPRK’s In the final analysis, the US is out to commit biochemical weapons, Americans newly organized another war crime in Korea. This year marks the 70th four US army chemical units in south Korea. At the anniversary of Korea’s liberation and the 70th year of same time, they got GIs in south Korea vaccinated US occupation of south Korea. It is also the 70th an- against anthrax and provided the families of the US niversary of fascism’s defeat. Many countries take embassy staff with gas masks. Then, they conducted this opportunity to hold commemorations and also dangerous biochemical war exercises with their some functions to prevent the repetition of the bitter south Korean stooges in succession. past. During the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint On such a historic occasion, the US must ac- military exercises in 2011, they mobilized all sorts of knowledge their grave germ and chemical war biochemical war equipment. From that time on, they crimes which took a heavy toll of Korean lives and hold combined biological exercises for biochemical contaminated the Korean soil and make reparation war with their stooges every year. Further, the US to the Korean people for the stupendous injuries army’s 23rd chemical battalion which had been with- done to them. drawn to America proper in 2004 came back to south Kim Il Bong

46 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 ► “Please Take My Body After My Death” But after she took office, Park Geun Hye betrayed without any regrets her election pledge “to promote It is said that today the old people in south Korea the old people’s well-being” on the pretext of insuffi- are ceaselessly ringing up hospitals, asking them to ciency of funds. This is driving those who are groan- take their bodies after their death. This is the tearful ing in the dead end of their life into an abyss of de- appeal of the aged before their death who are living spair. Moreover, the south Korean regime is trying to alone forsaken by their children. According to the cut the trifling sum of the old-age pension. report of the south Korean Labour Research Insti- Referring to the south Korean regime which ex- tute, the rate of poverty of the solitary old people ploits the old people as means of maintaining its reached 74% as of 2013, which stood first among the power, instead of giving them social protection, the member states of the Organization for Economic south Korean branch of Amnesty International is- Cooperation and Development. sued a report that the status of human rights in As the number of old people who die after living south Korea has deteriorated in all aspects during alone, deserted by their children, increases, a new the two years of rule by the Park Geun Hye regime.

word kodoksa (lonely death) has been coined in south Kim Hyon Ju Korea. The cases of cruelty and violence against the old people continue to happen, and their number reached 3 520 in 2013, 32% higher than in 2009. There are 1.75 million vagrant old people who are begging on the streets and rummaging dustbins. Murders, rapes and robberies against the aged take place ceaselessly; some of them are killed by their own children for reasons of money, and even those aged 80 are sexually violated. Helpless old people kill themselves, and daily cases of their suicide reach 11 on an average. The Asian Human Rights Committee has expressed concern that the rate of suicide at the age of 65 and over has increased four times recently.

South Korean people turn out in the struggle against the Park Geun Hye regime.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 47 Debtor to International Law

FTER IT GOT ON THE ROAD OF CAPITAL- extra-villainous crimes against the Korean nation. A ist development following its bourgeois revolu- The international community enacted a law, stipu- tion called Meiji Restoration 1868, Japan launched lating Japan as criminal nation and restraining the aggression of the Asian continent in full scale in the country from committing such crimes any more. The late 19th century. basis was laid when there came the Potsdam Decla- An important task in establishing the domina- ration. tion of Korea which would serve as the springboard The Japanese government is bound to an inter- for aggression of the Asian continent was how to deal national obligation to refrain from use of armed force with the neighbouring nations and the Western and military actions against foreign countries and to powers. Looking through the ambition of Japan, the maintain the legal status as a pacifist nation. There- US chose to conceal its own ambition for aggression fore, the country enacted the constitution in Novem- of Korea and instigate Japan’s occupation of the ber 1946 which has some important articles includ- country considering that its position was insecure in ing Article 9 that stipulates that the nation shall the Far East. eternally renounce the right to use of armed force as The two wars Japan fought against China and a means of settlement of international dispute and Russia respectively to occupy Korea were the result that the nation’s right to belligerency shall not be of the Americans’ sinister policy. When the UK and recognized. The constitution went into force in May other European powers, scared at a rash of Japan’s 1947. moves, seemed to make intervention in the 1894 Japan, however, has fooled the international Sino-Japanese war the US tried to deter the inter- community under the cloak of “peace.” Ascribing its vention arguing for “non-intervention” while encour- defeat in the Second World War to its insufficient aging the insular nation saying, “It is inadvisable to power, it has built up its “Self-Defense Forces” by stop advance before taking Beijing… If you occupy making a reverse use of the relevant international Beijing, you will be able to create the condition for laws. Whether ground, maritime, or air force, the peace as you want.” “Self-Defense Forces” have boosted their mobile In January 1904 when the contradiction between striking power and operational abilities enormously, Russia and Japan reached the extreme over the and the equipment has been rapidly modernized and matter of the Korean peninsula, the American Presi- renovated along offensive lines. Japan has already dent Roosevelt threateningly warned Germany and acquired almost all the components of modern, large- France that it would aid Japan and make interven- scale armed forces sufficient enough to carry out tion in the war in case the two countries sided with overseas military operations. It now has got the sec- Russia. This enabled Japan to head for provocation ond largest maritime force in the Pacific region after of the war without any worry about making an en- the US; and the ground “Self-Defense Force” is emy of any other countries than Russia. When Japan greater in strength than the British ground force and was gaining success in the war the Americans sup- marines put together. plied Japan with a huge amount of loan and strategic In the Japanese society the militaristic trend is materials. Even before the war came to an end, they gaining momentum; the war criminals who were notified Germany of their policy that “Korea should given death penalty for their crimes of inflicting be placed under Japan’s occupation,” thus wresting misery and pains on the Asian peoples in the ag- Germany’s silent agreement. Meanwhile they ac- gression war in last century are eulogized, while quired positive support from the UK. government officials often visit the Yasukuni Shrine, Japan had a secret negotiation with the US on which is the symbol of militarism. The public atmos- July 29, 1905 and cooked up the so-called “Taft- phere of beautifying the past crimes is feeding the Katsura” agreement, which guaranteed the US’s frenzy for amendment of the constitution. legal backing for Japan’s occupation of Korea. After Japan that caused immeasurable disasters to the occupying Korea illegally backed by the US, Japan Korean and other Asian nations is strongly advised started another aggressive war in an attempt to set to remember that it is just a debtor to international up the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere, law, a war criminal in the Second World War that which would establish its leadership in Asia. has much more obligations to observe than right to Scores of years have passed since Japan was enjoy. defeated on August 15, 1945 in the war it had started with an ambition to conquer Asia while committing Choe Kwang Guk

48 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2015 Changsong Confucian School

MONG THE KOREAN ARCHITECTURAL metres long and has a hip-saddle roof with double A heritage is the Changsong Confucian School in eaves. Changsong County, North Phyongan Province. Situ- Behind the shrine there are two gabled houses ated in the southern face of a thickly-wooded moun- called Tongmu and Somu with a high staircase be- tain about 300 metres northeast of the Nae Stream tween them. A great shrine is seen behind them. It is flowing across Changsong town, the school was first also a gabled house with double brackets on tapering established as an educational institution in the early pillars. It is 11.15 metres wide and 7.1 metres long. period of the Feudal Joson Dynasty. There are slender-ribbed windows that open side- The foremost building of the school is Myongryun ways. Shrine which stands on an elevated embankment The Changsong Confucian School is valuable piled with natural stones. As a comparatively big heritage showing the Korean people’s architecture. building with no walls, it is 15.4 metres wide and 5.6 Ri Sun Nyo

Tongmu. Somu.

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