Victorious Great Patriotic War Commemorative Medal

Home , Chongchon River, Mount Kumgang, Munsu Water Park, Naenara

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 51 http://www.naenara.com.kp Victorious Great Patriotic War Commemorative Medal

Chairman Kim Jong Il received the Victorious Great Patriotic War Commemorative Medal from a military delegation of the former Soviet Union in August 1985.

52 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 KOREA TODAY Monthly Journal (705) Printed in English, Russian and Chinese

C O N T E N T S

Fresh Image of Korea ·········································································································· 3

His Cares ·························································································································· 6

For Effective Use of Water Resources ···················································································· 7

For Fresh Environment ······································································································· 8

Preservation and Propagation of Rare Bird Goshawk ······························································· 9

Visit to Ogasan Nature Reserve ···························································································10

Korea’s Wealth—Revolutionary Spirit of Paektu ····································································13

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

Society for Rallying Comrades and October 10········································································14

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 1

For the liberation of the country

The Korean People’s Revolutionary Army ··································15

Mother’s Life ·········································································17

Research Institute for Women ··················································19

Strength of the Masses ···························································20

Ambitious Female Workers ·····················································22

Kindergarten Full of Dreams ···················································24 Front Cover: Happy to plant trees Everybody Learns ··································································26

Photo by Ri Chung Ryol Our Doctors ···········································································27

Comprehensive Sports Facility ·················································28

Rising to Fame ······································································30

Inventive Worker ···································································31

Visit to Yonphung Scientists Holiday Camp ································32

Female Tram Drivers ·····························································35

Short Story

After Many Years ···································································36

Mt. Paektu (1) ·······································································38

Korean Folklore Museum ························································40

Kim Hong Do and Kyehoe on Site of Manwoldae ·························42

Folk Musical Instruments of Korea ···········································43 Back Cover: Unjong Falls in Mt. Kuwol Reading in Jiphyonjon ····························································44

Lifeline of Reunification Movement ···········································45 Photo by Kim Jin Ho Truth: Japan’s Past Crimes ·····················································46

13502 ㄱ-58203 US Should Be Brought to Human Rights Court ··························47

2 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Fresh Image of Korea

The picturesque Pothong riverside adds to the landscape of Pyongyang.

OW THE CAMPAIGN FOR Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile improved, adding beauty to the N land development and envi- Mill, apartment houses for teach- landscape of the city. ronment protection is in full swing ing staff of Kim Il Sung Univer- On the Sepho Plain in Kang- across the Democratic People’s sity, Rungna People’s Pleasure won Province, which had over- Republic of Korea. In recent years Ground, Ryugyong Health Com- grown with shrubs and grasses modern structures were built in plex and Okryu Children’s Hospi- for a long time, the construction succession in Pyongyang including tal. Parks and pleasure grounds of a large-sized stockbreeding Changjon Street, Unha Scientists were facelifted while the Pothong base is near completion, and the Street, workers’ hostel of the River and the Hapjang River were tideland reclamation projects are ►

The Wisong Scientists Residential District.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 3 The stockbreeding base project in the Sepho area is accelerated.

► making headway. Roads are newly constructed or repaired, and rivers are improved to be harmonious with the surrounding scenery. In North Hamgyong Province hundreds of kilometres of roads were laid and technically repaired, and scores of kilometres of streams and rivers went through improvement. In South Phyongan Province the construction of a road spanning dozens of kilometres between Sinyang County and Hoechang County has nearly finished, and the em- bankment projects are making rapid progress. Green areas are steadily increasing in the streets, villages, The newly-built Pagyon-Ryongthong Temple sightseeing road. State organs and industrial establishments. Recently tens of day camp. It has a green land- industrial establishments which millions of trees were planted in scape with a huge number of trees used to emit volumes of harmful 13 000 hectares of land in North in the compound. It looks like a gas and dust. Thus the working Hamgyong Province, and scores of park. Equipped with a computer- conditions are improving re- hectares of pine-nut forest were assisted integrated production markably. And the modernization laid in South Phyongan Province system the factory has up-to-date of dust collectors, and air-tight and Haeju City in South Hwang- facilities and the geothermal cool- and ventilation facilities is going hae Province. In spring and au- ing and heating system, so it is on on steadily. The February 20 Fac- tumn good species of trees are IT and energy-saving basis. tory of the Korean People’s Army, planted intensively in the streets, Meanwhile, significant pro- a foodstuff producer, has become mountains and residential quar- gresses are made in nature and germ- and dust-free to ensure ters. Tree-planting ceremonies environment conservation. Ad- high hygienic quality of the work- are held regularly at all the or- vanced technologies have been ing environment and products. gans on commemorative days. applied at iron and steel plants, Species of plants and animals and Last year the October 8 Factory smelteries, thermal power plants, their habitats are surveyed on a was newly built, just like a holi- chemical factories and other normal basis while positive meas- ►

4 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► ures are taken to protect rare was held in Pyongyang. Scores of Nursery in November last and animals and plants and those on papers were made public regard- ardently called upon the whole the verge of extinction and secure ing the campaign of turning the Party, the entire army and all the biodiversity. On the other hand, whole country into a land of for- people to turn out in the struggle nature reserves are on the in- ests, greenery and fruit trees, to restore the mountains of the crease. land protection and afforestation, country, like they had carried out Along with this, active meas- road construction and river im- postwar rehabilitation, consider- ures are taken to stoke up the provement on a scientific and ing the restoration of the moun- flames of land development and modern basis, and prevention of tains a war against natural dis- environment protection. In No- air and water pollution. aster. vember last year, a national sci- The supreme national leader The Korean Party and govern- tech presentation in the sector of Kim Jong Un gave a field guid- ment have attached great impor- land and environment protection ance to the refurbished Central tance to the work of land development and nature protection from Good species of trees are planted. the outset of the building of a new society and registered remarkable successes. It is Kim Jong Un’s determination and will to turn the country into a better land to live in by bringing about a radical change in land and environment protection sector in keeping with the reality where great strides are made in all fields of the national economy, construction and sport towards the building of a civilized socialist nation. The land of Korea is renewing its appearance day by day thanks to the wise leadership of the supreme leader and the devoted efforts of the Korean people. Sim Chol Yong

The Honggondo tideland reclamation project goes full steam ahead.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 5 His Cares

Clean Chemical Factory and the factory changed its looks like a factory in a park with clean and fresh air. N JULY 26, 1965, CHAIRMAN O Kim Jong Il visited the then Chongsu Flowing Water and Patriotism Chemical Factory. After a round of inspection, he talked with the management staff of the factory On August 1, 2007, Kim Jong Il inspected a about how production was going. Outside, the Korean People’s Army unit. He stopped at the vege- scorching sun of midsummer was beating down. table greenhouse of the unit. It was wide and many Then after sitting silent for a while, the Chairman kinds of growing vegetables including cucumber asked a member of the management staff what they presented a good sight. As he was looking round the were supplying to the workers engaged in carbide greenhouse with a pleased air, the commander of the production. Hearing the answer that they were sup- unit told him that the greenhouse was heated by the plied with labour protection goods, nutrients and hot spring water. The Chairman asked him ques- even soda water, he said seriously that the workers tions about the water’s temperature, ingredients of directly producing carbide should be provided with the hot spring, the quality test of the water, and the plenty of meat and edible oil and that primary at- volume of water flowing into the greenhouse. Pleased tention should be paid to the workers’ life so as to with the commander’s concrete explanation, he increase production. Looking out of the window, he praised the officers of the unit for their efforts to use asked, addressing no one in particular, if the air was efficiently the hot spring. The hot spring water was not foul. His eyes were fixed on the smoke sent out used in the heating of the unit’s nine places: green- from the chimney of a carbide kiln. The management house, bath house, laundry, barber’s shop, hot spring staff only now realized why the Chairman kept gaz- treatment room, indoor swimming pool, horticultural ing out of the window. They could hardly answer greenhouse and mushroom culture and bean sprout him. At the time, all attention was focused on pro- rooms. duction in disregard of antismoke device. Looking He praised them again for full use of the hot round at them, he gravely said that if the carbide spring, adding that in other places hot spring water dust coming out from the chimney was not collected, was used only for medical purpose. The Chairman the environment would be polluted and the workers’ said meaningfully, “Patriotism is expressed in spar- health damaged. He went on to say that the man- ing and efficiently using the flowing water.” agement officials did not take any measure to solve In fact, the unit’s commanding officers did noth- the technically-simple dust collecting problem. ing more than using the hot spring water for the After a while, he continued: The factory has the soldiers’ material and cultural welfare in compliance Amnok River flowing in front and a mountain at its with the intentions of the Chairman who had desig- back. So, it is a scenic spot. When they make air nated the unit’s base near the hot spring water. clean and the forest thick by planting many trees, After his visit, the officers of the unit resolved the factory can be a clean chemical factory. The firmly to spare and take better care of every tree and Chongsu Chemical Factory should be built up like a every blade of grass and even a drop of water of the park. country. Later, his instructions were carried into effect Kim Un Jong

6 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 For Effective Use of Water Resources

the building of an economic giant Recently the water problem is and the improving of the living getting more serious. I want to standard. Our country enacted know what kind of measures are the DPRK law on streams long taken for the solution of the water ago for the protection and effec- problem in the DPRK. tive use of water, and made and As you know, the water prob- distributed the rules and regula- lem is getting serious day by day tions for the implementation of for some reasons such as the the law. In addition, the govern- drain on water resources due to ment pushes the protection of climate change, rapidly increas- OT LONG AGO KOREA water resources as a nation-wide ing population, colossal consump- N Today had a talk with Pang campaign and encourages all the tion of the industrial and agricul- Song Gun, a deputy department people to join the campaign. Mi- tural water and water pollution. director of Ministry of Land and nor hydropower stations went up The water problem is leading to Environment Protection, about all across the country and a large disputes between countries, and the matter of protecting and using number of reservoirs of various this emphasizes the importance of the water resources effectively in sizes came into being. Kaechon- the protection and effective use of the Democratic People’s Republic Lake Thaesong gravitational wa- water. Last year our country suf- of Korea. Excerpts: terway was laid as the first model fered a severe drought. According For the effective use of water of large-sized gravitational irriga- to the weather survey last year we you have got special rules and tion system. It was followed by had the least precipitation in the regulations to protect the water the Paengma-Cholsan and Miru past hundred years. As a result resources, I think. Plain Waterways. Thus we have a electricity production fell at hy- That’s right. Water is the es- better guarantee for effective use droelectric power stations. This sential resource of the nation for of water. year’s agricultural water is abso- ►

Power stations go up along the Chongchon River.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 7 For Fresh Environment

HE RESEARCHERS OF THE GAS T purification laboratory of the environmental engineering research institute of the State Academy of Sciences have rendered great services for purification and recycling of the poisonous gases from light industry factories and coal and other mines and from gasoline, naphtha and other solvents, thus saving plenty of raw materials and money for the sake of the national economy. A particular success of theirs is the development of the technology of purifying poisonous gas coming from burning anthracite. They also succeeded in the research project to purify the carbonic acid gas by-produced in the ammonia-soda job to purify the gas in low temperature. They first cyanide process at chemical plants. The successful laid a theoretical basis for the solution by pooling technology was introduced into production processes. their efforts and wisdom after setting proper targets Recently they developed a carbon monoxide puri- in each stage. Then, they buckled down to the fier and applied it to relevant units, giving great help manufacture of the equipment to be set up in the to the effort to ensure the people’s safety. Earlier, field of production. Even a small piece of the equip- several measures had been taken to purify the car- ment cost them repeated experiments. In this way bon monoxide, but they turned out to be ineffective. they finally succeeded in making a light and ideal Kim Hye Rim, head of the laboratory, and other purifier whose manufacture costs quite low. scientists who had been deeply concerned in similar The new device can ensure 99% of purification problems set a goal of solving the carbon monoxide rate, so it is favourably commented upon by users. purification problem as early as possible and pushed ahead with the research work. But it was not an easy Sim Hyon Jin

► lutely insufficient due to the drying up of many sary materials for its earlier completion. reservoirs without any filling. To cope with this A sweeping campaign is under way to save and situation my country calls upon the whole Party, the effectively use water. To save water industrial en- entire army and all the people to turn out to secure terprises recycle waste water and use water in water resources. The construction of a number of stages from the one that needs high-quality water power stations along the Chongchon River is making down to the one that can do with low-quality water. headway and in the countryside reservoirs and dams In order to economize on industrial water, the air is are built while pools are made and paddy fields are used for the cooling purpose, the equipment and filled with water. The work to dig water holes and methods of washing goods and raw materials are wells and new waterways is progressing in high gear. improved and a technology of treating sewage and In all back-flow pumping stations all equipment are waste water is applied to recycle used water on repaired and maintained to meet technical norms the site. and are in full operation to fill the reservoirs. Elec- In the country they clear channels and harden tricity, cement, oil and other materials needed to run them by stamping clay to avoid waste of water. The pumps and accelerate water-related projects includ- hydroelectric power stations are working hard to ing the building of reservoirs are supplied in time. increase generation by making the most of water. In The waterway project going ahead in South Hwang- the future, too, we will make efforts to protect water hae Province is preferentially supplied with neces- resources and use them effectively.

8 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Preservation and Propagation of Rare Bird Goshawk

HE RESEARCHERS OF Kangwon provinces. They pushed habit widely in the northern areas T the zoology research insti- ahead untiringly with the investi- of Korea including the alpine tute under the State Academy of gation crossing rugged mountains regions and that the goshawk is a Sciences achieved successes in the everyday in spite of foul weathers habitual resident of Korea. study of the distribution and in- with a desire to prove scientifi- This success in research work habitation of goshawks in Korea. cally the national bird’s ecological is of great significance for the For a long time the goshawk was characteristics. preservation and proliferation of considered a rare bird in Korea. With the assistance and coop- the goshawk which is a rare bird The book Korean Birds (published eration of the local people, they in the world. And the discovery of in 1963) wrote as follow, “In our discovered many goshawks and the breeding grounds of the gos- country the bird was caught once their nests built long before or hawk makes it possible to estab- in August, but its breeding is not quite recently in Ryanggang, Ja- lish its reserves in Korea. The proved.” In the internationally gang, South and North Hamgyong establishment of reserves means recognized distribution chart of provinces. In the area of Sangdol- preserving the feed animals for the goshawk, there is no mention ri, Toksong County, the group goshawks, which will in its turn about its inhabitation in Korea. headed by section chief Kim bring about the conservation of The researchers were doubtful Kyong Jun discovered three gos- the biological diversity of the re- about this and set about making hawk nests built in 2011, 2012 serves. Section chief Kim Kyong investigations. The aim of the and 2013 and a mother goshawk Jun says, “The entire people are investigation was to prove that and its young in 2014, and took pleased with the research success the goshawk is a habitual resident their pictures and motion pic- that contributed to the preserva- of Korea. Scores of researchers tures. This was a great success tion and propagation of the gos- including experienced section conducive to ascertaining the hawk, the national bird and a chiefs took part in the investiga- goshawk’s mode of life in Korea. pride of the country. I think that tion. Last year the research insti- Through the investigation they our research success is not only a tute dispatched them divided into also gained valuable data relating fruit of our efforts, but also a various investigation groups twice to the building of nests that is an natural result of the correct envi- to the forest areas of Ryanggang, important part of the breeding of ronmental protection policy.” Jagang, South and North Ham- the goshawk. As a result, it was gyong, North Phyongan and testified that the goshawks in- Chae Kwang Myong

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 9 Visit to Ogasan Nature Reserve

N A CLEAR AUTUMN his early teens on the way of his Province. From there we could O day last year, we went to 250-mile journey for national command a sweeping view of the the Ogasan Nature Reserve. liberation. Hence, the name Oga vast sea of mixed forests. As we Ogasan (Mt. Oga) consists of five (Five Houses) sounds dear to the were feasting our eyes on the peaks higher than 1 000 metres hearts of the Korean people. unbroken mountain range above sea level. There were five Our car reached a peak stretching far away, we felt as if houses at the foot of the mountain of Mt. Oga on the boundary the virgin forest of Ogasan with when President Kim Il Sung between Janggang County and its special flora were beckoning to went over the mountain alone in Hwaphyong County, Jagang us. We went down the mountain road to go to the Ogasan Nature Spring. Reserve Management Office. The office was by a clear stream, and we met its head Kim Kwang Chol. First he guided us to the virgin forest. We went along a ridge over the ankle-deep fallen leaves into the virgin forest, where a rare sight caught our eyes. There were roots of many trees tangled together presenting a grand, strange spectacle. Among them were Eurya japonica trees that twined round pine-nut trees and Mongolian oaks that stretched their branches over pine-nut trees as if to stifle them. The cute appearance of squirrels moving ► Summer.

10 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► about on the stems and branches over 1 200 species of plants of the mountain, Kim went on to of great trees was very attractive such as useful trees, shrubs and explain. The dense forest is in- adding a zest to the atmosphere of edible herbs. So, Mt. Oga can be habited by large numbers of leop- the virgin forest. We went over called a huge natural botanical ards, bears, wild boards, foxes, countless fallen trees admiring garden. What is surprising is the and other mammals, birds, am- the queer forms of big trees spans fact that Rhododendron rufescens phibians, fishes and insects, and of arms round and came to the known to grow in the northern the mountain abounds in peren- strange linden trees. They were alpine region, Sasamorpha pur- nial herbs of the Botrychium lu- growing on something like a pureascens known to grow in the naria family known to be growing swollen rock. But a closer look areas south of North Phyongan in the areas south of the middle showed it was not a rock, but a Province, and some other plants part of Korea, and other rare ani- mass of tangled roots. We could of the subarctic and temperate mals and plants.

hardly believe our eyes, and so we zones are found among the flora Listening to him, we were ► rubbed our fingers over its mossy Autumn. surface with curiosity, when the head of the office said boastfully, “The old poets praised the scenery of Mt. Kumgang for its wonderful sights with all strange forms of rocks and singular scenes of rushing streams, plus beautiful forests. But even in Mt. Kumgang you won’t be able to find big trees as strange as these.” As we went further into the forest, we found it was bristling with pine-nut trees, firs, Abies nephrolepis, yews, lindens, Mon- golian oaks and Aceraceae meno, all hundreds of years old. We were told that Mt. Oga is the home of Winter.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 11 ► coming out of the virgin forest we should hand over the reserve country, and registered. We were when we ran across the research- to the coming generation by pre- told that the workers of the re- ers of the National Spore Preser- serving the rare fauna and flora serve had gone up and down the vation Research Institute. They and the virgin forest with great peaks and ridges of the mountain said that they had been engaged care.” many times to make each one of in soil analysis in the virgin for- Deeply moved, we descended the specimens. est for several years, which they the mountain and came to the It was too late now and we explained was their voluntary Ogasan flora exhibition hall. We could not visit the comprehensive work to carry out the last injunc- were told that the exhibition hall arboretum planted with thou- tions of Chairman Kim Jong Il. had been built only in a few sands of trees from different Following them, the head of the months by the officials and heights of the reserve to give a office said with deep emotion, working people of Hwaphyong bird’s-eye view of the flora of the “The Chairman visited this place County with earnest yearning mountain, and also could not see in July seven years ago in a hot and feelings of eternal loyalty to the various tree nurseries. But and stuffy weather. That day he Chairman Kim Jong Il. leaving the place, we seemed to said that the Ogasan Nature We went into the hall full of see with our minds’ eye the future Reserve that had about 1 330 curiosity and saw a panorama of appearance of the Ogasan Nature species of fauna and flora was the nature reserve. It was flanked Reserve that would be brought to important in scientific research on both sides by 800 specimens of shine as a treasure of our country and scientific knowledge dissemi- leaves, tree trunks and seeds. and a rare natural arboretum nation work because of its abun- Among them were specimens of unique in the world by the patri- dance of fauna and flora re- three plants discovered by Ryom otic zeal of the people. sources and peculiar distribution Chol Hun, a researcher of the of them. And he instructed that reserve, for the first time in the Ri Song Chol

12 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Korea’s Wealth— Revolutionary Spirit of Paektu

HE SUPREME LEADER monumental structures including matter how often one may fall and T Kim Jong Un of the De- the Wisong Scientists Residential fighting it out. This spirit, created mocratic People’s Republic of District, apartment houses for by the first generation of the Ko- Korea (DPRK) put forward the teachers of Kim Chaek University rean revolutionaries, has been slogan, “Let us all turn out in the of Technology, Yonphung Scien- alive in the heart of the Korean general offensive to hasten final tists Holiday Camp and October 8 people in their struggle to defeat victory in the revolutionary spirit Factory, thereby actually demon- the aggressive manoeuvres of the of Paektu!” in his New Year Ad- strating the looks of the DPRK imperialists and build a people- dress for 2015. The slogan carries that is realizing its beautiful centred socialism, begetting the the intention of the Workers’ ideals. revolutionary spirit of Chollima, Party of Korea (WPK) to celebrate The spiritual exertion of the the revolutionary spirit of speed the 70th anniversaries of national masses is an almighty means to campaign and the revolutionary liberation and the founding of the break through any difficulties and soldier spirit. Party as revolutionary, auspicious trials and create a miracle—this The ideological offensive is events by determinedly thwarting is the WPK’s consistent policy of now made in all parts of Korea to the challenges and manoeuvres of attaching foremost importance to encourage the people to join the hostile forces and scoring a signal ideology. This year the WPK is all-out effort to exalt the dignity success in the struggle to defend giving priority to the ideological of their country and promote its socialism and on all fronts of work definitely so as to make sure prosperity with the confidence in building a thriving nation in the that the hearts of all the service victory and indomitable spirit revolutionary spirit and mettle of personnel and the people pulsate cherished by the anti-Japanese Paektu. with the spirit and mettle of revolutionary forerunners. Thus Recently, owing to the United Paektu, and that they all turn out fierce flames of patriotic loyalty, States’ extremely hostile policy in the general offensive to defend creation and innovation are towards the DPRK, the vicious socialism and build a thriving sweeping all defence posts and all cycle of tension never ceases and nation. In this way the Party fields of the building of a thriving the danger of war is growing fur- seeks to demonstrate the ideologi- nation. ther in the Korean peninsula. The cal power. As they keep the revolutionary United States and its vassal The revolutionary spirit of spirit of Paektu as the most valu- forces are resorting to the despi- Paektu, created in the unprece- able mental wealth, the Korean cable “human rights” racket as dentedly arduous anti-Japanese people are convinced that they they were foiled in their attempt armed struggle, is an unyielding will be able to break through any to destroy the DPRK’s self- offensive spirit of braving obsta- difficulties and trials and win the defensive nuclear deterrent and cles and difficulties and a staunch final victory. stifle the country by force. The fighting spirit of rising up no Kim Won Sik aggressive nature of their unin- terrupted large-scale games of Pyongyangites have a mass rally pledging to carry war aimed at the DPRK is getting out the tasks set by the supreme national leader more pronounced. Kim Jong Un in his 2015 New Year Address. The WPK, which always gives priority to the ideological work, launched an ideological offensive to enhance the spiritual exertions of the army and people following the Eighth Conference of Ideo- logical Workers of the WPK held in February last year, thus increasing the fighting efficiency of the People’s Army remarkably and bolstering the national defence capability. A great progress was made in different sectors of the national economy including agricultural, fisheries, chemical and coal-mining industries. The construction sector kin- dled the fierce flames for creating the Korean Speed to build many

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 13 On the occasion of the 70 th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea Society for Rallying Comrades and October 10

N IMPORTANT PAGE OF THE 70-YEAR party of a new type. A history of the Workers’ Party of Korea that has Building on the organizational basis for party led the revolution and construction victoriously by building laid with the preparation of the leadership believing in the people and by relying on them is and the mass foundation, Kim Il Sung formed the dedicated to the first organization of the Party called first party organization with young communists of a the Society for Rallying Comrades (SRC). The SRC new generation, named Society for Rallying was the origin of the Party formed by young commu- Comrades, on July 3, 1930. The name of the organi- nists of a new generation engaged in the struggle in zation carried the aspiration of Kim Il Sung who the 1920s to down with the Japanese imperialists commenced his revolutionary career by making com- who were militarily occupying their country of Ko- rades with a determination to develop the revolution rea. in depth and win the ultimate victory by getting and After the Korean Communist Party was dis- rallying more and more comrades who were prepared missed from the membership of the Comintern in to cast their lot with him. 1928, the Korean communists of a new generation It was thought almost impossible to form a revo- felt the need to found a party of a new type and rely lutionary party organization by enlisting a dozen on its coordinated guidance in forcefully conducting patriotic youths who had just engaged themselves in the anti-Japanese national liberation struggle. They the struggle when flunkeyism and dogmatism to- began to grope for a new way. wards established theories, dependence on and sub- At the time the factionalists still remaining in the servience to the party of a certain big country, and communist movement were continuing with their scrambles for hegemony were rampant. scramble for hegemony while working for the resto- With the founding of the first party organization, ration of the Korean Communist Party. Korea came to have a true revolutionary party or- Kim Il Sung put forth the policy of founding a ganization guided by Kim Il Sung, and the revolu- party of a new type with the communists of a new tionaries of a new generation became able to have a generation—who had nothing to do with factional genuine vanguard of the revolution and use its uni- strife—as the backbone and strengthening it by way fied leadership to press on with the preparation for of forming grass-roots organizations and expanding the building of a revolutionary party of Juche type. them before declaring the party centre. Then he The SRC was the embryo or seed of the Workers’ pushed forward the effort to implement the policy. Party of Korea. The formation of the first party or- A conference that was later named as the Kalun ganization meant the beginning of a full-scale effort Meeting was held in Jiajiatun, Kalun, Changchun to build a revolutionary party of Juche type. County, Jilin Province, China, on June 30–July 2, A magazine named Bolshevik was inaugurated 1930, participated in by leading personnel and rep- as the ideological advocate of the first party organi- resentatives of the Young Communist League and zation. the Anti-Japanese Youth League from different re- Some time later a homeland party organization gions. The meeting made a profound analysis of the was formed involving core members of the revolu- prevailing situation and the lesson from the Korean tionary organizations active in the Onsong area in people’s anti-Japanese mass-based struggles, before Korea, and it was soon followed by a lot of primary expounding the fundamental standpoint to be main- party organizations in the east Manchurian region tained by the young communists in the revolutionary along the Tuman River and the northern borderline struggle. Kim Il Sung stated in his speech: area of Korea. “Drawing on this lesson we regard it as most Later the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army important to take the firm standpoint that the Party Committee was organized to control and guide masters of the Korean revolution are the Korean party organizations within the army and those in people and that the Korean revolution should by all different regions, establishing a well-regulated sys- means be carried out by the Korean people them- tem of Kim Il Sung’s leadership of the Korean selves in a way suited to the actual conditions of revolution. their country. Only when we adopt this standpoint Thanks to this precious achievement and experi- towards the revolution can we map out a correct line ence gained during the years of the arduous anti- and policy and achieve the sacred cause of national Japanese warfare, a revolutionary party of Juche liberation.” type was founded on October 10, 1945, less than two The Juche idea expounded at the Kalun Meeting months after the country was liberated from the served as the guiding idea of the Korean revolution Japanese imperialists’ military occupation. and the ideological basis in the struggle to build a Guided by the Workers’ Party of Korea that ►

14 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 For the liberation of the country

The Korean People’s Revolutionary Army

HE KOREA TODAY EDITORIAL BOARD as well as those in the army, because the local party T introduces excerpts from President organizations could not protect or maintain them- Kim Il Sung’s reminiscences With the selves if they were not supported by force of arms. Century. The work of reorganizing the AJPGA into the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army was carried out in a very short space of time—from March to May After repulsing the enemy’s winter “punitive” 1934. operations, we realized very keenly the need to reor- The reorganization of the AJPGA into the KPRA ganize the Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army opened up a broad highway towards the development into a people’s revolutionary army and we discussed of large-force operations in a wider area. Had we not this matter seriously with the commanding officers reorganized the AJPGA into the KPRA, or had we of the guerrilla units in other regions. not created in good time the large units of regiments Reorganizing the AJPGA into the Korean Peo- and divisions, we could not have lit the torch in Po- ple’s Revolutionary Army was a revolutionary meas- chonbo, which illuminated the darkness of the ure which would improve its combat efficiency and motherland, nor won victory after victory in the bat- counter the large-scale offensive of the Japanese tles fought in Fusong, Jiansanfeng, Hongtoushan, imperialists more effectively by providing a unified Limingshui, Taehongdan, Hongqihe and in other command for the enlarged guerrilla forces. places in the homeland and in Manchuria, when we In the latter half of 1933, the merger of the guer- annihilated the enemy’s crack troops. Nor could we rilla forces in Jiandao into a unified command be- have smashed the notorious siege imposed by the came a major topic of discussion as a result of the enemy upon the guerrilla zones after his “punitive” lessons of Operation Macun for repulsing the en- operations. emy’s winter “punitive” operations and the heroic Through this reorganization we clearly demon- battle fought in defence of tens of thousands of strated at home and abroad the will of the Korean square miles of territory. nation to liberate their motherland by an armed In a nutshell, the guerrilla movement required a resistance, no matter what the cost. new form of armed force corresponding to the content The KPRA developed into the most powerful and scope of the movement. It was necessary for us to armed force in Jiandao, the eastern frontier region of take radical measures to bring the armed units dis- Manchuria, and the region of the Korean peninsula persed in the counties and districts under a single centring on Mt. Paektu. system. The quickest way of meeting this require- The principled stand and prudent political mag- ment was to merge the anti-Japanese people’s guer- nanimity the Korean communists had shown in the rilla forces into a large revolutionary army. course of reorganizing the AJPGA into the KPRA Pan, the inspector from the Comintern, gave full contributed greatly in subsequent years to the de- support to our idea, saying that it was a correct pol- velopment of the joint anti-Japanese struggle of the icy in keeping with the line of the Comintern. Korean and Chinese peoples, and particularly to the In March 1934, we formally proposed the policy of development of the armed struggle against the reorganizing the AJPGA into the Korean People’s Japanese in northeast China. Revolutionary Army, in full accord with our objec- The reorganization of the AJPGA into the KPRA tives and the character of the political force which did not mean a mere change of name or a technical would struggle for them. restructuring. It meant a new stage of army- In the course of this reorganization, the party building, of improving the command system of the committee of the Korean People’s Revolutionary guerrilla army and strengthening its ranks both in Army was established as a new party guidance body. quantity and quality by following up on its successes The party committee was entrusted with the onerous and drawing on its experiences after reviewing the task of giving guidance to local party organizations path of militant advance traversed by the AJPGA. ►

► originated as the Society for Rallying Comrades, honour as an ideologically pure and organizationally Korea successfully accomplished two stages of seri- integrated body that is equipped with Kimilsungism- ous social revolution in a short span of time, shat- Kimjongilism and moves as one under the leadership tered the imperialist challenges flatly and has won of the supreme national leader Kim Jong Un. victory after victory, working miracles of history. Today the Workers’ Party of Korea is exalting its Jong Kyong Bok

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 15 ► After reorganizing the AJPGA into the KPRA, we guerrilla zones. launched unceasing military actions to frustrate the The greatest obstacle in the battle at Luozigou enemy’s siege. was a fort on a west hill just as in the battle in the The headquarters of the Kwantung Army and the Dongning county town. The battle went on for three military authorities in Tokyo, who had suffered de- days because of the enemy’s desperate resistance feat in the winter “punitive” operations which they from the fort. As we were holding a meeting at the had flaunted as the final “mopping-up,” made a great headquarters of the Chinese units on the third day, a fuss over determining the cause of their failure and mortar shell from the fort caused wounds, some of deciding who would be answerable for it; then in the them serious, to some of the commanders of the Chi- spring of 1934, they re-examined their previous nese units, including Zhou Bao-zhong. scorched-earth tactics and proposed a plan which To the KPRA soldiers who were pinned down so they called a siege, an even more notorious, new plan that they could not approach the fort but only grind for “clean-up.” It was an atrocious operation intended their teeth in vexation, I shouted, “Comrades, we to wipe out the guerrilla zones for good by combining must seize the fort at any cost. Let us fight for the military siege and attack, political suppression and revolution to the last drop of our blood!” economic blockade. We regarded this new invention Then, mowing the enemy down with Mauser fire, of the Japanese as a replica of the blockade policy I charged forward. The rain of machine-gun bullets Jiang Jie-shi had pursued when attacking the Soviet from the fort grazed my ears. A bullet pierced zones in China. through my cap. But I dashed forward without pause While Jiang Jie-shi’s blockade policy had been for breath. The men sprang to their feet and followed aimed at denying the communist army clothing and me. The fort which was boasted to be impregnable food “by producing a subhuman world filled with fell into our hands in 30 minutes and a red flag was political terror and economic crisis,” the Japanese hoisted on top of it. siege was aimed at killing all the people and soldiers The soldiers of the Chinese units who saw that in the guerrilla zones by shooting and burning and flag turned round and launched an all-out charge in imposing on them death from hunger and cold. To high spirits. this end, they tried to separate the army and people The battle ended in victory for us. by building concentration villages and to detect and Wen, the battalion commander of the puppet eliminate all the forces of resistance through the Manchukuo army, and the Japanese instructor, who introduction of such medieval collective security were defending Luozigou, said in the last despairing systems as the ten-household joint responsibility message they sent to the commander of the Kwan- system and the five-household joint surveillance tung Army that they had been surrounded and under system. attack by 2 000 troops of the combined forces of In his preparations for the siege from the spring Kim Il Sung’s army and other units for six days and of 1934, the enemy moved a greater number of crack five nights and that they were on the brink of being troops of the Kwantung Army and his occupation annihilated. They wailed, “Our ammunition has run army in Korea to the areas around the guerrilla out and our fate will be decided in a moment. But we bases and reinforced them with puppet Manchukuo are proud of having done our best for the sake of army troops. Japan and the building of Manchukuo. Mr. Com- To cope with a threatening situation in which the mander, please understand this and forgive us.” enemy was deploying his forces for the purpose of Our victory at Luozigou and Dadianzi was the siege, we ensured that the KPRA forces forestalled greatest of all the victories the KPRA won in the his attempt by assaulting his military and political early days of the anti-Japanese war. The KPRA’s strongholds one after another from behind in large- attack on Luozigou dealt a heavy blow at the enemy scale operations, while fighting in defence of the in his attempt to besiege us and struck mortal terror guerrilla zones and, at the same time, expanding the into his heart. After this battle the enemy’s large and guerrilla zones to more favourable areas. This en- small “punitive” forces deployed in the vicinity of the abled us to manage the difficult situation on the guerrilla bases were paralyzed with fear. basis of our initiative, consolidate the victories won Indeed, the battle at Luozigou reduced the en- at the cost of our blood, and maintain the people’s emy’s power in the northeastern region of the high revolutionary spirit. Wangqing guerrilla zone, creating a situation fa- The KPRA launched a spring offensive. We vourable for expanding the guerrilla zones and mak- raided the areas in Wangqing where the enemy ing a great contribution to the further consolidation forces were concentrated and the constructing sites of the allied front with the Chinese nationalist armed of the concentration villages at Xiaobaicaogou, forces. After the battle we continued brisk political Daduchuan, Shitouhezi and Zhuanjiaolou. and military activities to thwart the enemy’s at- Luozigou was a strategic area for the enemy, for tempts at siege. When the guerrilla zones were it connected Baicaogou in Wangqing County and the evacuated many of the revolutionary people in east Dongning county town. Manchuria were able to settle down in the areas Occupying the Luozigou area by means of a pre- around Antu and Luozigou because we had turned emptive attack was the fundamental link in the this region into an invisible revolutionary base overall chain of our efforts to create the conditions through intense military and political activities from for lifting a corner of the siege and expanding new the early days.

16 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Mother’s Life

(Continued from the last been looking for me, and when he looking for me, I felt a rush of issue) came to Sakju in October 1946, he impulse to go and meet him at asked him about me, my brother once. But I had a heavy heart Back to the Embrace of said. At that time, the President with pricks of conscience that I the Motherland took the trouble to visit my home- failed to remain faithful to the town, Sakju, though busy with wishes of the pioneers of the in- N THE WINTER OF 1971, field guidance in North Phyongan dependence movement to the last I three officials of the Korean Province. He told its people that and fell away from the movement embassy in China visited my there once lived in Sakju a woman halfway. So I gave up the thought home unexpectedly with an offi- called Ri Kwan Rin or Ri Jang of going to the motherland. Nev- cial of the Foreign Affairs Depart- Chong who was engaged in the ertheless, I could hardly repress ment of Shaanxi Province who anti-Japanese independence my desire to go to my dear moth- was my old acquaintance. They movement, and asked them if erland and my old home. An old said they came to see me on behalf they knew where the woman and saying goes that young people of President Kim Il Sung and her relatives were living now. live on the hopes for the future that the President had asked After that, officials of the county and the aged live on the memo- them to convey his best regards to searched for people acquainted ries of the past. me. Then they offered me valu- with me and found out that my One day in February 1972 I able gifts from him. brother Kwan Sik was living in received a letter from an office Hearing them, I felt as if in Sakju. They reported the fact to concerned in Korea telling me a dream. At the thought that the President. At this, the that President Kim Il Sung was the President, the eldest son President was very pleased and inviting me to come to the moth- of Kim Hyong Jik and met my brother. My brother’s erland. The unexpected letter Kang Pan Sok, had been looking answer to his question that he did moved me to hot tears. I over- for me and that my motherland not know where I was living after flowed with gratitude for his kind Korea under his leadership had I moved away from my old place consideration for me. At the not forgotten me, her daughter, I of residence disappointed the thought that the President, never could not contain myself and President very much. He told my forgetting this old woman for my melted into tears. A few days brother to let him know when he affiliation with the independence later, my children and I called got in touch with me, and contin- movement in the past, searched on the Korean officials at a guest ued on his journey of field inspec- for me for scores of years and now house and saw them off. tion. was inviting me to Korea, words Bidding them farewell, I remem- I did not visit my hometown failed me to express my gratitude. bered the recent letter from my again after I went across the After passing several wakeful younger brother Ri Kwan Sik Amnok River with the joy of na- nights, I wrote a letter to the living in Sakju County, Korea. So, tional liberation and met my President. In the letter I ex- I heard from him after 26 years’ stepmother, younger brother and pressed my thanks for his re- silence. sister and home folks in mid- membering and calling to his In the letter my younger September of 1945. Knowing presence such a worthless woman brother wrote that he had gone to from my brother’s letter that the like me and wrote the whole story Kuandian to meet me early in President with the childhood of my life since our last meeting in 1971, only to find that I had name of Song Ju who was hand- Jilin. I enclosed a picture of me. I moved away from there a long some and warmhearted with was told later that after reading time before. The President had extraordinary personality, was my letter the President said to the ►

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 17 ► officials concerned that the con- went on to say that though time gress of the General Federation of tents of the letter coincided with had passed, he could recognize the Korean Youth in South Man- what he knew about me and that some marks of my youthful fea- churia, but couldn’t find you. We the woman in the photo was un- tures. His words moved me to strove greatly to find you after the mistakably me. tears. “But Mother, where have liberation of the country. You In April that year I received you been? Why is it that you come actively supported my father in an invitation to visit the mother- home now? I’ve sought for you. his revolutionary struggle. After land from the Korean embassy in I’ve looked for you for a long setting forth the line of armed Beijing. With the letter of invita- time.” As he said this, his eyes struggle, my father travelled tion in my hand, my heart beat shone with ineffable joy and emo- widely at home and all over east high and I was in raptures at the tion. Manchuria and even to Shanghai thought that I would soon be in Looking up to the President, I to make preparations for its im- my dear motherland after half a was overwhelmed with the sor- plementation. In those days you century’s vagrant life in an alien rows of the bygone days of ordeals often had discussions with my land. On April 17, I had the when I had wandered about father on the method of struggle, honour of meeting President helplessly. Restraining myself, I and successfully fulfilled the task Kim Il Sung. Going to see the wanted to express my thanks to he assigned to you. My father President in a car, I, calming the President for calling me to the passed away too young. down my excited feelings, thought motherland I had been longing for “Now you say you are a lot of things: What has become so ardently, but feeling a lump in ashamed of yourself because you of the grave of Kim Hyong Jik my throat, I only wept. “Mother, failed to carry on the revolution in Yangdicun, Fusong County, don’t cry. Why are you crying on to the last. Though you did not China, and the grave of this happy occasion of reunion? hold out to the last, you had your Kang Pan Sok in Xiaoshahe, Antu Now stop crying,” said the hands clean doing nothing wrong County, China, and of their two President, and he led me into a and didn’t betray your mother- other sons? I was deep in thought room. That day he treated me land and your people. In that in the running car: What hap- warmly with the affection of kin- period many soldiers of the Inde- pened to O Tong Jin, Jang Chol ship although I had done nothing pendence Army fell in battle Ho and Ryang Se Bong who took particular for the country, and against the punitive forces of the an oath to remain faithful to recalled the bygone days. He told Japanese imperialists or surren- the cause of national independ- me in detail about his father’s dered to them and turned trai- ence before the grave of comrades-in-arms and other tors. Yet, you didn’t surrender to Kim Hyong Jik? fighters of the national independ- the enemy but held on to the idea Before long the car arrived at ence movement whose fate I of Korea’s independence to the the quarters of the President. The wanted to know. Tightly holding last. It was very hard for a President was awaiting me in the my hands, the President looked woman to continue with the garden. Getting off the car, I rec- into my wrinkled face and said struggle in the difficult situation ognized him at once and walked a with deep emotion: of the time. In those days you few steps towards him, when sud- “I’m very glad to meet you like could hardly get in touch with us denly, under an impulse of excite- this today, Mother. I ought to even if you tried to because we ment, I stopped short on the spot. have found you out long ago. I’m were operating in the deep Only when I heard him calling really sorry for the delay in seek- mountains of Changbai, and it me politely “Mother! Mother Ri ing you out. I think this is our was impossible for you to contact Kwan Rin!” did I gather myself up first meeting since we met last at the organization of the Chinese and approached him. Grasping the house of the Rev. Son of the Communist Party. So, you my hands the President said, church in Jilin. I looked for you couldn’t carry on the revolution “Mother, it’s really a long time when I went to Wangqingmen, single-handed.” since I saw you last.” Then he Xingjing County, to attend a con- (To be continued)

18 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Research Institute for Women

HAIRMAN KIM JONG IL’S LAST of construction and giving concrete instructions. C instruction to the sector of public health was In early November that year Kim Jong Un vis- to build a modern institute in the Pyongyang Mater- ited the research institute again. Entering the cen- nity Hospital for medical research of breast tumour. tral hall, he said satisfactorily he felt as if he were in The national leader Kim Jong Un stated that it was a palace. Looking round all rooms from those on the not merely a technical matter to build the institute ground floor, he expressed his satisfaction repeat- well, and took charge of the construction project. edly, saying that the building operation was very On June 30, 2012, he inspected the institute un- good and that there were all sorts of expensive top- der construction. Saying that the Chairman had notch medical facilities in the institute. He asked to initiated the construction project of the breast centre place refrigerators in the in-patients’ rooms, hang and even examined the design, Kim Jong Un re- LCD TVs—which he was going to send—on the wall named it the Breast Tumour Research Institute of instead of putting them on the table, set monitors by the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital. Making the each of beds in the intensive treatment room so as to rounds of several places of the institute including an make them comprehensively controllable by the X-ray room, an operation theatre and an in-patient computer at the observation post, and lay tables and ward, he said he keenly felt again that the Chairman chairs in the visitors’ hall so that they can have foods had worked hard to build the institute until the last together with the patients. He went on, “As we are days of his life. Then he declared he made up his building the Breast Tumour Research Institute for mind to build the institute to the world standard. He women with a full determination, we must make all went round all the floors of the four-storeyed build- the things comply with the world standard. We are to ing for a long time acquainting himself with the state spare nothing for the sake of our women.” Later, when he visited the institute on its completion, he expressed great satisfaction for the construction of the excellent institute. He said, “Some time ago I saw a video report on the completed Breast Tumour Research Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital. I thought it was a nice building. Now that I see it on the spot I find it quite admirable. In this central hall I feel as if I were in a palace. The Breast Tumour Research Institute is rather a palace than a research institute.”

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 19 Strength of the Masses

N RECENT YEARS THE larger than the amount we pro- finish the technical reconstruction I Osoksan Granite Quarry un- duced in the past. However, we of the equipment in a short time. der the Pyongyang Stone Quarry- should accomplish this year’s plan For its realization we should de- ing Company has supplied proc- unconditionally so as to help com- pend on the initiatives and crea- essed stones smoothly to many plete the construction projects as tive abilities of all the workers of construction sites. Last year it soon as possible. In increasing the quarry. This was the consen- was assigned the task of supply- production, we must work with an sus reached at the conference. ing a vast amount of processed eye to using our granite resources Immediately the technicians and stones such as dressed and cut most effectively and profitably.” workers of the quarry were en- stones to various construction At the conference suggestions couraged to advance more than sites including the reconstruction were made that on the basis of one technical innovation idea. All sites of the May Day Stadium giving definite priority to the pro- the producers were afire with the and the Mangyongdae Schoolchil- duction of rough stones, all the technical innovation drive. dren's Palace. machines should be brought into Chief Engineer Pak Kwang At the conference held in the full operation. Son decided that reserves for pro- quarry for accomplishing the The present machines are not duction growth were in the reduc- task, General Manager Chang able to increase production capac- tion of production time and made Jae Ryong said, “The processed ity. So, the machines should be deep studies for its realization. stones we have to produce this modernized. Yet, it is beyond the Mingling with the workers, ask- year are a vast quantity much technical force of the quarry to ing them about their experiences ►

20 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► and opinions, and studying the use of equipment and formed a called “a master of contrivance.” technical documents, he hit upon plan of remodelling the small Based on the successes a good idea that the cutting ma- cutting machine through deep achieved so far such as the reno- chine’s no-load running time studies. The remodelled cutting vation of the lathe jig, stone proc- should be done away with while machine was also highly appreci- essing bases were established in its loading time increased. With ated by people for increasing the the quarry that can guarantee the its simple mechanism and great cutting speed and enhancing the production of any kind of proc- utility, his idea increased the quality of products. One day, in essed stones and the formative efficiency of cutting rough stones the heat of the technical remodel- and artistic beauties of the prod- 1.5 times. Good technical innova- ling campaign, the quarry re- ucts. Last year, over ten technical tion ideas were presented by Kim ceived a new design of processed innovation plans were introduced Sang Gun and other workers. He stones from a construction site. to ensure a smooth supply of all remodelled the automatic stone Determined to make machines sizes of high-quality stone prod- grader by his own effort based on that could process any kind of ucts to construction sites. General the experiences and knowledge he stones to meet the increasing Manager Chang Jae Ryong says, had gained in the ten years of demands for processed stones, the “Last year’s experiences tell us stone processing work. The re- employees of the quarry got down how great the strength of the modelled machine could not only to the work of tackling the design. masses is. In the future we will increase the speed of production At that time Kang Jong Sam also produce more processed stones by of large cut stones markedly but presented an original idea and the introducing CNC technology in also reduce the consumption of technicians and workers built a our machines depending on the materials by half. Kang Jong new machine by their concerted strength of the masses.” Sam, a workteam head, made efforts. Kang who played a great strenuous efforts to master the part in making the machine was Kim Kwang Chon

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 21 Ambitious Female Workers

HE UNHA TAESONG He gave instructions that the oping reality and pushed ahead T Foodstuff Factory is well- ratio of home products should be with construction work and known to the whole country al- raised in the sale of goods. It was preparations for production si- though it is less than a year an important task he set out that multaneously. So in June last since its inauguration. It is heart- day. His instructions given on the year when the construction was warming to know how this factory day were his last injunctions. On completed, the factory took the came into existence. On December December 17, 2011, he passed first step with the production 15, 2011, Chairman Kim Jong Il away due to a sudden illness. This of 80 items of foodstuff. In visited the Kwangbok Area Su- factory was built as a part of the retrospect, General Manageress permarket before its opening. implementation of his last wishes. Choe Jin Suk says, “It was our Going round the counters, he True to his instructions, the constant preoccupation that we inquired in detail into the variety management staff and workers of should produce more high-quality of goods, how they were displayed, this factory set a goal of in- and the plan of their sale, and set creasing foodstuff production to forth the tasks of service activity. meet the demands of the devel-

foodstuff as soon as possible so that the loving care of President Kim Il Sung, Chairman Kim Jong Il and the supreme leader Kim Jong Un could reach the people like a large river. So after a serious discussion, we decided to name the trademark of our goods Taeha (Large River). Taeha! This represents our work- ►

22 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► ers’ unanimous ambition.” interested in pop-rice and other Pae Ok Gyong, a member of The workers of this factory are kinds of cakes and felt sure she the cake workteam, is one of the mostly women. Among them are could increase their production. innovators loved by everyone in graduates of universities such as As a result, the factory is now the factory. Some time ago she the Pyongyang Han Tok Su Uni- producing several kinds of pop brought up a new cake-shaping versity of Light Industry, many cakes such as milk, strawberry- design and won applause. She women experienced in light in- aroma, banana and red-bean jelly explained the secret of her success dustry operations, and beginners cakes. The pop cakes from the in the innovation drive, “Seeing in social life. All heads of the factory are highly praised by the all members of my workteam workteams such as cake, bread consumers for their unique tastes, making strenuous efforts for and toffee workteams are univer- aromas and nutrition. technical innovation, I, a moulder, sity graduates, and they are General Manageress Choe Jin also thought to do something. So I proud of their work. Laboratory Suk is vigorously arousing the thought about the shapes of cake head Kim Hae Ok in charge of the employees to the campaign for that would please all people from factory’s technical development is improving the quality of their children to adults and never ex- also one of them. She had worked products. Visiting groceries as technology section chief in in various places of the city is

another foodstuff factory and has her daily routine. Tasting and pected that I would win a high a high sense of responsibility for analyzing the foodstuffs brought honour at a joint-review meeting production. She is racking her from the groceries, she is keen to in the factory. I have been con- brains to find out ways of produc- find ways of outstripping other gratulated warmly by my friends. ing dainty foodstuffs to meet the foodstuff factories in the quality of So, now I am confident to contrib- rapidly developing trend of the their products. This stimulates ute something to the factory and

food processing industry and the the workers to produce more and desire to create more designs.” tastes of the people. better. Actually in the factory All female workers of the fac- The production of pop-rice and a mass-based technical innova- tory are making strenuous efforts other cakes is a fruit of her tireless tion drive is vigorously conducted to produce more high-quality study and sincere efforts. Crisp and all the employees including foodstuffs, with an ardent desire and highly nutritive, it is a tradi- dough-making workers, moulders to contribute actually to the im- tional sweetmeat of the Korean and cooling workers are eager to provement of the peoples’ liveli- people. Going through various bring on more than one technical hood. technical documents, she became innovation idea. An Nam Hui

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 23 Kindergarten Full of Dreams

OME TIME AGO I VISITED up to my kindergarten. They were She pointed to the wave-style S the newly-built Wisong loaded with toys and sporting decoration belt on both sides of Kindergarten in Unjong District, apparatuses for the children. the corridor. Above the decoration Pyongyang. Words failed to express my feel- belt several kinds of sea and When I arrived at the kinder- ings.” Then she led me to the en- freshwater fishes were painted garten, the children were doing trance hall. and above them were pictures morning exercise to the music of In the hall there was a picture of animals from animations such the animation The Boy General. of President Kim Il Sung and as The Hedgehog Defeats the Rubber sheets were laid on the Chairman Kim Jong Il among Tiger. ground lest the children would get the children. The beaming images Now the morning exercise was hurt if they fall down during play. of the President and the over and the children went into Headmistress of the kindergarten Chairman reminded me of their their education rooms. Following Ri Son Ok, who was with the warm care for the children they them we dropped in at Senior children, greeted me. She said, put forward as the king of the Class B on the ground floor. It “When we see the bright faces of country. was a drawing lesson, and the the children laughing and singing Guiding me to the corridor of teacher asked the children draw loudly at this palatial kindergar- the ground floor Ri said that the pictures to show their wishes. ten, we recollect how it was built. ground floor shows the sea, while Then the children began to draw When the construction was nearly the first and second floors depict with crayons and pencils. I ap- completed, several vehicles rolled the land and the sky respectively. proached a child with curiosity, ►

24 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► who was drawing a microscope. I was a housekeeping play section came sounds of the song We Are asked him what it was, and he involving toys like a refrigerator, the Happiest in the World to the answered it was a toy in the kin- an electric rice cooker, spoons, accompaniment of accordion in dergarten and that his teacher chopsticks, and bowls. In the doc- the amusement room. The exer- said it was a tool used by the sci- tor-acting play section there was a cise room was packed with differ- entists. He said, “When I grow up, stethoscope, a microscope, a white ent sporting apparatuses includ- I’d like to use it like my father. He overall, a sanitary cap and a first- ing mini-backstops, toy horses is a scientist.” Another child was aid bag and the like. I also saw and bicycles. The children of Sen- quietly drawing a saw, a hammer, the paduk board in the playroom ior Class C were doing exercises nails and other carpenter’s tools. which was one of the children’s using those apparatuses. Teacher To my question he answered that favourite games. Song Yong Sim said, “It is just he wished to grow up quickly to Coming out of the playroom I like a dream. Thinking of the fact erect a huge house to delight the walked along the corridor. On the that I am now working at this dear leader Kim Jong Un who wall there were pictures of a cock, wonderful kindergarten I brace had built such a wonderful kin- a rabbit, a bear and a pig under myself up to bring up the children dergarten for them. the question of What did you lose? well.” In her words I read other I came out of the room and I It was a puzzle to find out the teachers’ mind as well to be faith- found shoe chests in the ante- things the animals lose in camp- ful to their task as the educators room pasted with pictures of tank, ing. I climbed up to the second of rising generation. plane, gun, apple, cucumber, to- floor. I also made the rounds of the mato, peach and others on each From the ceiling were hung wading pool, dining room and shelf. Ri said that the pictures numerous big and small red stars kitchen. Keenly feeling the State help the children find their as if resembling the stars in the benefits for the children I shelves. sky. Ri said that there were wrapped up my visit to the kin- Then I went up to the general amusement and exercise rooms. dergarten. playroom on the first floor. There As if proving her words there Sim Yong Jin

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 25 Everybody Learns

HESE DAYS MANY T people enrol in the Distance Learning College of Kim Chaek University of Technology. Among them are blue- and white-collar workers of various ages and occupations. Distance learning is an ideal mode of education to meet the demand of the present reality, says Kim Il Nam, rector of the college. Situated in the central part of Pyongyang, the college was established in February 2010 and now has thousands of students across the country. In a little over two The Distance Learning College of Kim Chaek University years since the first room was of Technology put emphasis on the development of an established for distance learning, educational management system. more than 150 rooms appeared in the country for the purpose. In of the problems, lectures are given better curriculum, make better Pyongyang alone, there are many every evening according to the materials for lecture and make a at different establishments in- relevant timetable. The instruc- better educational condition. cluding Pyongyang Electric tion is not limited to the lecture. Based on real-time report on the Cable Factory 326, Pyongyang Teachers give tasks to the stu- students’ attendance, the college Kim Jong Suk Silk Mill and dents so that they have fuller un- sees to it that the study website is Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile derstanding of the materials they an arena of competition involving Mill. learn in the lecture. The examina- the students, departments, facto- The teaching contents of tions are directed to learning how ries and enterprises. It also pro- college are so wide-ranging that much the students understand the vides enough materials for refer- the students can get sci-tech lecture and help them improve ence to suit their high enthusi- knowledge of various engineering their capacity. To successfully asm. fields like mechanics, metallurgy, carry out all these, the college Distance learning helps train- materials and electronics, light developed an efficient education ing necessary personnel on the industry, food and consumer management program by itself. spot and is a suitable mode of goods industry, business manage- The students can attend or re- education which can satisfy the ment, information technology and attend lectures as they want at demand of the time of the knowl- foreign languages. any time in their factories and edge-based economy, so it is The important thing of the enterprises. Though far away greatly favoured. distance learning is the guidance geographically, they can get lec- The college takes part in lecture and data reading. In par- tures of able teachers of Kim international distance learning ticular, the lecture is focused on Chaek University of Technology, courses to have exchange with its helping the students fully under- have questions and answers by counterparts of other countries. stand the contents of the subject audio and video means, share The teachers and researchers treated. their experience with other stu- of the Distance Learning College There are also an inquiry room dents on the distance learning of Kim Chaek University of Tech- and a question-and-answer room. courses across the country, and nology hold their position securely The students raise questions diffi- solve problems arising in the in the Korean people’s struggle to cult to understand in the lecture to practical production. build a thriving nation, and do the inquiry room, and sci-tech The college is now giving a their best to train able sci-tech problems arising in the practice great effort to the development of talents in greater numbers. are put to the question-and- a rational instruction manage- answer room. After the collection ment system in order to draw up a Rim Hye Gyong

26 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Our Doctors

EVERAL DAYS AGO A The clinic gained the detailed when they found anything unde- S game of Korean chess played information about the dental sirable about their condition. by old folks was at its height in a state of the ex-servicemen by or- When a veteran fell seriously park near Neighbourhood Unit ganizing an intensive medical ill with bronchial asthma several No. 25, Phyongchon-dong No. 1, checkup for them with the mobili- years ago, Ri Son Bok waited on Phyongchon District, Pyongyang. zation of Choe Yong Chol and the patient for more than 20 days, Both the players and cheering other dentists. And then it scru- while treating him in his home. spectators were war veterans in pulously organized the work of All doctors often dropped in at their 80s. At the time some doc- making new artificial teeth for the homes of the veterans so as to tors approached them, greeting, them. The doctors called at the inquire of them about their “How are you these days?” homes of the ex-servicemen who health, whenever they paid a sick Old folks received them with felt uneasy in moving around so call or went out for inoculation open arms. as to treat their teeth, while look- and even when they came to and ing after those who were making from work. Lots of medicaments Eleven years ago Phyongchon visits to the clinic. As a result, all and tonics including Schizandra Polyclinic No. 1 came into being in the ex-servicemen were given chinensis syrup, rowan remedy Phyongchon District. Head of the good services in a short space of for cough, Tractylis ovata taffy clinic Rim Son Ryol started her time. In addition, checkups took with dates or nuts in it, and so on work with the carrying out of place on a regular basis to know were prepared and supplied to the health checkup of all the resi- whether the new false teeth were veterans regularly. dents in the area in the direct fixed fast and whether there was In July two years ago all the charge of her clinic. In the course something wrong about the gums. war veterans in the clinic’s charge of this she got to know the fact Necessary measures were taken took part in the celebrations of the that there were dozens of war promptly. 60th anniversary of the victory in veterans among the residents. In parallel with this the clinic the Fatherland Liberation War in She assigned all the section simultaneously pushed ahead good health, and they are still doctors the task of acquainting with preventive and curative care spending their time full of joy. themselves in detail with the for finding out diseases of ex- Veteran Yun Pyong Chol says, health conditions of the war vet- servicemen in time by checking “Thanks to the popular public erans in their charge. up their health in a regular way. health policy of our country and As the result of the physical Kim Kum Sil and other doctors the whole-hearted sincerity of our checkup it was ascertained that called at the homes of the ex- doctors we veterans are living the elderly ex-servicemen had servicemen in the neighbourhood youthful life even in the old motor disturbance and diseases units in their charge every week years.” caused by aging and their tooth and took a curative measure Jo Yong Il conditions, too, were not so good. At a consultative meeting of doctors held in this connection, Rim Son Ryol said: “Taking good care of the health of our war veterans with a sense of responsibility, the people who had a bloody struggle in defence of our country during the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950–July 1953) is the duty of their younger generation, we doctors, in particular. It is said from olden times that one of the keys to longevity lies in teeth. Only when one has a good set of teeth can one enjoy good health free from illness. That is why we in this clinic are going to take a curative measure for the elderly people who are in poor health and, along with this, to give all of them concentrated dental treatment.”

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 27 Comprehensive Sports Facility

N OCTOBER LAST YEAR THE MAY DAY birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the I Stadium was wonderfully renovated to go well 70th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s with the spectacular scenery of the picturesque Army in 2002. Since then Arirang, a Kim Il Sung Rungna Islet in Pyongyang. Prize winner, took place there annually until 2013. The stadium was built in 1989. Since inaugura- Recently the Democratic People’s Republic of tion, it has been the venue of countless international Korea set the target of developing the country into a games and public functions, including the 13th World sports power and has made unsparing investment. Festival of Youth and Students in 1989, the mass Sports facilities are newly built or renovated across gymnastics and artistic performance The Ever- the country while amusement and sports appara- victorious Workers’ Party of Korea held in celebra- tuses are arranged in parks and residential dis- tion of the 55th founding anniversary of the WPK in tricts. The May Day Stadium, too, has recently been October 2000, and the mass gymnastics and artistic completely refurbished in a short span of ten months performance Arirang held in celebration of the 90th as a comprehensive and modern sports facility for ►

28 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► sportspersons and the general public. The recon- 17th Asian Games days earlier—in presence of the structed 150 000-seater stadium has a football field, supreme national leader Kim Jong Un, says, “When running track, a warm-up room, bedrooms for play- I got to the stadium for the match in October last ers and rooms for coaches, referees, screening and year, I only thought it fascinating. But when I re- registering, which are consistent with international ceived all kinds of service in the facilities in the sta- standards. It is also furnished with a swimming dium, I was in deep thought. I felt the state directs a pool, table-tennis rooms, miniature golf courses, huge sum of money for sports development, but we recovery rooms and other sporting, cultural and haven’t achieved nothing special. I’ll work hard to welfare facilities and a service network. The warm- leave an indelible trace in my career and help build a up room, for example, is arranged well for the sports power.” convenience of the players in such a way as to help Except athletes, many ordinary people frequent them prepare themselves fully before entering the the stadium. Especially, it is crowded on holidays game. And the recovery rooms and bedrooms for and in weekend. players are also laid well enough to alleviate their Today the stadium serves as an important centre fatigues satisfactorily. contributing to the recreation of the people along Pak Min Gu, one of the coaches of the Wolmido with the adjacent Rungna People’s Pleasure Ground. Sports Team’s women’s football team who had a match with the national team—they had won the Choe Chol Nam

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 29 Rising to Fame

while doing 180-degree spin with nastics circle of the Mangyongdae

his body straightened. That kind Schoolchildren’s Palace. Now he of movement was a high-grade learned basic movements of gym- one they had never seen in earlier nastics. His natural talent in the competitions. days of learning at the palace and Ri’s second run was more sur- training at a sports team at- prising. The second run is usually tracted the attention of experts a repetition of the movement of and coaches, and he was ac- the first run. Ri, however, per- knowledged as a promising gym- formed a movement much more nast. difficult than the first one. A roar- With an amazing ability for ing applause erupted. His original his age he soon won domestic movement was a backward championships. Later, he regis- 360-degree somersault. Following tered good records at some inter- N OCTOBER 2014 A his vaulting horse performance he national competitions. By virtue I gymnast attracted attention won another gold medal in the of those successes he was hon- in the men’s vaulting horse at the rings by beating a Chinese, the oured with the title of Merited 45th World Gymnastics Champi- title favourite. The world gymnas- Athlete, and decorated for his onships. He was Ri Se Gwang tics circle named Ri’s second service. Despite his laurels he from the DPRK, who won the gold movement after his name. was stuck to the training ground medal by defeating the Ukrainian with a determination to add glory and US rivals with the mark of To attain a high aim to his nation by winning more 15.416. gold medals. He perfected his Can he fully demonstrate his movements while studying recent The Ri Se Gwang ability in the coming interna- data on the global trend of gym- Movement tional games? This is the public nastics. He often sat up all night interest. The world sports circle to complete a new technical Ri Se Gwang, winner of the 4th has seen a number of sports- movement of his own style Asian Gymnastics Champion- persons fail to defend their cham- through computer simulation. ships, bagged another gold medal pionships after their successful His painstaking efforts bore fruit. in the men’s vaulting horse at the records. But people say Ri is an He has ranked among the Asian next championships. At that time unusual talent of gymnastics for and world champions, flying the the experts and the spectators his physical fitness and faithful national flag in the international were struck with wonder seeing way of training. arena. his movements. Running at a In his childhood Ri was fond of He is still engrossed in intense high speed from the starting line exercising on the horizontal bar. training hoping to encourage his Ri jumped from the springboard His teachers and neighbours used compatriots who have turned out to the vaulting horse, bending his to say he would be a gymnastic as one in the building of a sports body square in the air, and then ace. Sometimes Ri did exercise on power by winning more gold med- doing somersault forward three the horizontal bar all day long. So als. times, and landed on the mat his teacher took him to the gym- Rim Hye Gyong

30 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Inventive Worker

AST EVENING I SAW tion. Slightly over a year his was that he was lacking in “L him come out of the experi- technical skill improved beyond knowledge and that he had to mental station. He said he was recognition and he is now inferior learn if he was to do more things. studying how to increase the per- to none of the old hands in the He, having enrolled in one of the minute number of rotations of a prompt assembling of equipment. study-while-you-work courses, loom. Now he seems to have got a One day his factory was given exerted himself to acquire knowl- clever idea.” a task of assembling a large num- edge of all spheres of mechanical “It’s certain that our inventive ber of facilities in a short span of engineering, to say nothing of his worker will see it through.” time. When taking the capacity of major field of study. Afterwards These are what some workers the factory into consideration, it he put forward a lot of creative entering their factory said to see a was rather a difficult task. En- proposals and made many techni- worker heading straight for the gaged in the assembling for sev- cal discoveries. Among them is a station to make experiments on eral days, he racked his brains device that he newly invented by the specification of a loom. over the matter of how to save refashioning a deposited tool jig. The inventive worker was labour and reduce the time as It is capable of considerably Yom Yong Gil who was working at much as possible. In spare times economizing on raw materials. In the tool shop of the Pyongyang he made a study of documentary the current century he has made Textile Machine Factory. records on the mechanical engi- efforts to keep in step with the neering. And as for the matters developing reality by acquiring It was more than 20 years ago difficult to understand, he, with more knowledge. When remodel- that Yom started to work in the the help from experts, tried to ling existing machinery and factory after finishing his military work out even a design for auto- equipment into CNC-based ones, service. Seeing the workers of his mation of the assembling jobs he learned from technicians while shop do the processing of various that required manual labour a working together with them and tools and the assembling of vari- good deal. hit on a novel idea, thus making a ous machines skilfully, he won- After examining his design contribution to modernizing many dered at first when he would be so technicians were unsparing in machines and pieces of equipment much skilful. He acquired tech- their praise of his novel idea and in a brief space of time. When his niques and skills from old hands actively helped him with the factory was assigned to a task of and continued with technical manufacture of an automatic assembling a socks packing ma- studies on his own, thus making a assembling apparatus. chine to be sent to the Pyongyang great deal of efforts to elevate his The device made a great con- Hosiery Factory, he helped the skill. He always carried books in tribution to advancing the termi- researchers in their work of re- his hand studying whenever he nal date of the assembling. modelling a sock-pushing device, had time to spare. Sometimes he However, Yong Gil was not thus making it possible to ensure forgot his meal, lost in specula- satisfied with this. What he felt 100 percent success in packing. Besides, a lawn-mower he had Yom Yong Gil (first left). refashioned after his own idea was favourably commented upon by its users as it is quite easy to handle everywhere. It was awarded a state certificate of contrivance. Whenever he is complimented by people as “a man of talent” and “our inventor,” he says, “The developing reality demands that everybody study hard. An ill- informed person cannot do anything even if he wants to, nor can he be conducive to the prosperity and development of the country. I have only made an endeavour to keep in step with the demand of our times. I am going to work hard for the modernization of textile and other machines by strenuous studies.” Jo Song I

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 31 Visit to Yonphung Scientists Holiday Camp

On the way there we enjoyed the views of the holiday buildings which were decorated with mild- coloured tiles and roofing materials to be harmonious with the surrounding scenery and suit the usages of the buildings for holidayers. Their appearance produced a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Arriving at the Fifth Block we found a yut game at its height. The fierce competitiveness NE DAY IN NOVEMBER great treasure for the scientists between the couples was giving O last we paid a visit to the provided by our national leader fuel to the merriment of the spec- Yonphung Scientists Holiday Kim Jong Un. He initiated the tators in the hall. Ka Chang Ju, Camp located in Kaechon City, construction project and person- vice-director of the Hamhung South Phyongan Province. When ally designated the site on the Branch of the State Academy of we passed the gate with the sign- shore of the picturesque Lake Sciences, said, “My couple have board of “Yonphung Scientists Yonphung. He inspected the con- had little time to enjoy the pleas- Holiday Camp” overhead, a com- struction site several times to ure of a sweet home. But we’ve plete view of the camp unfolded make sure it went up to meet the been unusually proud that we before my eyes. The camp with world standard.” And she said dedicate the family’s happiness to a distinctive corridor expanding that the camp consists of nine the development of our country’s like an open wing looked quite blocks and some other buildings science. Now our pride is coupled pleasing— like a swan on the with the general service centre in with the happiness of the family.” shore of the lake. Ri Yong Ok, the heart. Feeling happy to have met a head of the camp, said, “I’m sure Hearing her we headed for the sweet family we came out only you’ll agree with me—when you Fifth Block, where the scientist to have a view of the corridor look round—that my camp is a couples were said to be staying. stretching hundreds of metres to ►

32 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► different blocks and the com- the dense forest. “We feel as if we building was sparkling with mer- pound roads paved with blue were ten years younger,” they riments. All service facilities such stone. Ri said that for the conven- exclaimed. as the banquet hall, dinning ience and health of the staying On the shore the fishing was rooms, bathrooms, barbershop scientists the camp was linked in full swing. Ri said that and beauty salon on the ground by the corridor between blocks the shore was a monopolized floor and the billiards hall on the and the roads were covered with “territory” of the holidayers who first floor were arranged so exqui- the blue stone so that they could were unusually interested in fish- sitely as to meet the holidayers’ have a pleasant feeling while at ing. It was surprising that they needs to the full. We were told walk. had learned fishing when they that an electronic library was set Walking to the shore of the were busy with their studies. up there to suit the occupational lake along the corridor we met They were catching fishes such as character of the scientists whose Han Chol Hun from the global crucians and carps so skilfully inveterate habit is studying. We environmental information re- that they reminded us of the pro- happily visited a conference room search institute under the State fessional anglers. Ryang Hyong where they can swap experience Academy of Sciences and his wife Chan, a researcher of the coal and achievements in research Kim Hye Rim working at the en- science branch of the academy, work, before heading for an indoor vironmental engineering research said with a broad smile on his wading pool, one of the most fa- institute of the same academy. wrinkled face that fishing re- vourite places of the holidayers. Overwhelmed with happiness, lieved him of his fatigues and The sight of the holidayers relax- they said that they were having a helped him to get a clue to the ing pleasantly in the clear water walk to their heart’s content en- solution of his research project. was quite pleasing. Kim Kwang joying the beautiful scenery of the Leaving the continuous hur- Ung, a researcher of the State breaking blue water of Lake Yon- rays of the anglers we entered the Academy of Sciences, told us glee- phung and the natural beauty of service complex. The inside of the fully, “The Munsu Water Park in ►

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 33 ► Pyongyang is excellent, and yet this wading pool has great merits of its own.” Inside the building billiards and table-tennis matches were at their height, and in the multi-purpose outdoor play- ground a volleyball game was going on between Blocks Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 amidst roaring cheers. They were all united in each of their teams though they were different in position and research field. The spirit of both sides’ players who were making a score by marvellous teamwork amidst the cheering of the spectators was well

worth seeing. Presently, the sun set and the windows began to be switched on. The singing voices and the sound of laughter were ringing out from every window continuously. We left the holiday camp, looking back at the bright appearance, and we were deeply convinced that the camp was just the home of happiness for the scientists.

Kim Chol Ung

34 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Female Tram Drivers

MONG THE TRAM pened thanks to the driver in first women’s team. The distance A drivers working with a charge who was watching her. of her accident-free run up to date bright face in blue uniforms are Later she became a driver true to is as long as to go round the earth Jang Yong Hui, Ri Kum Ryon and her desire. And she married the several times. Kim Jong Ae, women drivers of driver who had prevented an ac- The mother of a child has the Songsan Tram Service Com- cident for her. The couple are in spared no effort to provide pas- pany. They are called “flowers” by charge of different trams but they senger service in Pyongyang for a the company workers and “our work together to solve any prob- dozen years. People wonder what drivers” by passengers using lem relating to their cars written makes the woman of a small stat- the tram on Mangyongdae- with the slogan “We serve the ure so strong and energetic. She Pyongyang Railway Station line. people!” Today they are working says, “There should be somebody honestly for the service of the to do this work if not me. I don’t Man-and-wife drivers passengers regarding the slogan feel tired because I know I carry as their motto. the people to their important Kim Jong Ae is working in the workplaces like research centres company with her husband. When Choice to be a driver and construction sites. I know I she began to work as a conduc- contribute to the hastening of the tress she admired the women Jang Yong Hui has been work- final victory in the effort to build a drivers. But when she imagined ing in the company for twenty-odd civilized socialist country.” herself driving the tram with years. She is a little shorter than Today her team of women heavy metal wheels along the ordinary women and looks weak drivers enjoys great admiration— avenue, she felt scared. Never- at a cursory glance. But she is a even from the male drivers. theless, she couldn’t delete the proud tram driver and a work- idea completely. team leader. She has been work- Changed vocation One day after finishing her ing in the company since she fin- duty she left for the resting room, ished secondary school in 1992. Ri Kum Ryon used to be a but unable to resist the curiosity Working as a conductress first she needle worker at the Pyongyang she returned and went into the experienced the shortage of tram Children’s Garment Factory. She driver’s cab. In the middle of her drivers personally and made up was a good singer, so she often acting like the driver—pressing her mind to become a driver and participated in artistic perform- some control buttons—the tram enrolled in the driver training ances arranged by the factory. started to move ahead, for she school. After school she proposed She left the factory, however, to must have touched something. to form a team of women drivers. be a tram driver. Why? Fortunately, no accident hap- Then she became the leader of the One early morning in winter ►

Kim Jong Ae. Jang Yong Hui. Ri Kum Ryon.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 35 Short Story After Many Years

By Ri Hui Nam

(Continued from the last at once. driver,” said the leader of Jong issue) “Thank you,” Kyong Hun ap- Gu’s division of the company ha- preciated, returning the kerchief. bitually, whose voice was husky S HE LEARNED LATER, “You’re welcome,” the girl and resonant and whose face A the volleyball team of the answered pleasantly, putting on a looked rough like iron ore rocks. mine had had no players who happy smile, her lips parted inno- Of course, those comments were capable of making a good cently, showing the attractive sounded pleasing to Jong Gu. To toss for the strikers. That had white teeth. be an innovative worker was been the most vulnerable point of This was the first occasion for something worth doing anyway, the team. So, Kyong Hun who was Jong Gu to see Ri Kyong Hun and he thought. very good at striking had receded Jong Ok Gum share close rela- One day Jong Gu set another from the offensive position to be a tionship. But he didn’t notice it at record in the transport of iron support of attack. Without any all at the time. He thought it only ores in his shift. Without putting idea of the situation, Jong Gu had an expression of the enthusiastic the truck in good repair, he been so absurd as to advise him to readiness to do whatever was passed the truck to Kyong Hun, stop playing volleyball if he knew needed to congratulate Kyong saying, “I’m sorry, Kyong Hun. I he would not distinguish himself. Hun for his decisive service for wanted to overfufil my task, so I When they were out of the the team’s win. haven’t…” volleyball court, Jong Gu ap- Kyong Hun was an admiration “I understand,” Kyong Hun proached Kyong Hun boldly and itself to everyone that day. Some- said calmy. “You’ve done a great tapped him on the shoulder. one praised him, saying, “I took thing, and I’ve got no regret for “That’s great of you, Kyong Hun,” him for a poor volleyball player. you. Don’t worry, and I’ll do the he said. His voice rang with a note I’m sorry I was mistaken.” repair work myself. You have only of apology for his absurd advice as “He has something surpris- to run and run. You’re the for- well as praise. ingly admirable about him,” an- ward of our truck and I’m the Kyong Hun wore a smile other commented. back. If everyone tries to stand in shyly, making no remark. “I wish he’d distinguish him- the forward position, then the At the moment Jong Ok Gum, self in ore transport, too,” one of team will be defeated. The same is a statistics clerk of the heavy- the crowd lamented. with the truck.” duty truck company, ran up to They had a good reason to say With these words, Kyong Hun Kyong Hun pleasantly and thrust such words about Kyong Hun. began to check up the truck. a white handkerchief to him, say- Jong Gu always drove the truck Jong Gu felt obliged to him for ing, “Congratulations. Wipe the rashly and won the reputation of the understanding of his weak sweat, please.” a grand model worker, but Kyong points. “It’s all right with the The snow-white handkerchief Hun had never got in the list of truck,” he said, seeing Kyong Hun was dazzling in the sun and her model workers. The amount of cleaning the hood of the truck two cheeks were flushing. She iron ores he transported was far assiduously. “The truck is in nor- looked quite excited. behind that of Jong Gu and other mal operation. Make a dash like Kyong Hun took the handker- colleagues. “Truck No. 87 is al- me. If you indulge the truck, you chief silently and dashed it across ways leading the company since it will get a trouble with it.” his face. The kerchief turned dirty is driven by Jong Gu, the model Kyong Hun grinned at him, ►

► in the first of the years of the Kum Ryon fell into deep thought. country was having a hard time.” forced march after the “Arduous If I became a tram driver, then? This was how she became a March” in Korea, she got on her After thinking it over for several tram driver. She has not only en- way to work. But the tram would days she finally made up her sured accident-free run for a dozen not come to her anxiety. One of mind to become a tram driver. years, but also set an outstanding the passengers waiting at the stop Her parents dissuaded her from model in the passenger service. said, “These days the tram service such determination, saying, “You They say the driver of Tram No. is in a poor condition because can’t move the large vehicle as a 1 108 is praiseworthy. She is a there aren’t enough drivers in woman.” But she fulfilled her mother of a ten-year-old boy. addition to the shortage of elec- words. She says, “As a citizen I tricity, I hear.” Hearing the words couldn’t avoid this job when my Sim Chol Yong

36 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► taking his joke. “You know the said, and he didn’t want to go Jong Gu’s notice— there was dog and the cat love being looked ahead, for he thought he had something unwelcome between after. The same is with the truck.” given a satisfactory comment on them. This kind of happening re- his friend by the statement. “Listen, Jong Gu,” Kyong Hun peated—almost every day. Jong The girl didn’t ask any more. said, “I think I have to tell you Gu’s achievements were high She walked ahead with her lips this. You ought to clean the truck while Kyong Hun’s were low. closed firmly, her footsteps at least if you couldn’t check it up There were many people wonder- sounding heavily. It was a fortu- before passing it. Look at this. It’s ing how it could be when Kyong nate silence. The twilight slipped all dirty with the mud. It takes Hun was lagging behind while away before they could notice it. more than 30 minutes to clean it, driving the same truck. Jong Ok The next day, passing the you know, and it will cut so much Gum was one of those people. truck to Kyong Hun without any of the time of maintenance.” One summer evening at twi- maintenance at all after his It was an unexpected counter- light, Jong Gu was walking slowly shift—as he had done before— attack, so Jong Gu stood embar- down a hillside road on his way Jong Gu said to Kyong Hun, rassed. Only after a while did he home. He was in a happy frame of “You’re a deep fellow, indeed. I’ve regain himself and said, “All mind for his fulfillment of the had no idea you’ve picked up Ok right. I haven’t paid attention to day’s work. The layers of the iron Gum.” the cleaning because you said you ore mining grounds standing like “Stop being absurd. I don’t understood it. From now on I’ll do a fold of walls were glistening in know what you mean,” Kyong my bit before passing it to you.” the twilight. The mining grounds Hun responded, his innocent eyes Jong Gu assumed he was ad- aglow with the setting sun blinking doubtfully. mitting the friend’s advice, but were magnificent and beautiful “She is quite worried about felt unpleasant inwardly. It’s a enough. your work on the decrease. She is time of great upsurge, and it is no “Hi, Jong Gu,” someone called even feeling low.” use talking about cleaning, out from behind and there came “I think it’s only a passing thought Jong Gu. sounds of hurrying up to him. remark. As a matter of fact, I’m After the happening, he Jong Gu looked back to see Ok lagging far behind.” seemed to be changing for several Gum. When she caught him up, “You’re happy, anyway, for days, but soon returned to his old she was almost out of breath. you’re worth a girl’s care.” practice. He wanted to retain the Calming down with difficulty, she Even such words couldn’t stir leading position by making even a asked, “Why is Kyong Hun lag- Kyong Hun. On the contrary, he more run instead of spending time ging behind you?” She was look- gave a slight sigh, his eyes falling. cleaning the truck. ing towards the western sky “You’ve got to save the girl’s Kyong Hun felt like making a tinged in red. worry, and don’t trouble yourself sharper criticism to him, but Jong Gu glanced at her round too much about the truck, Kyong pocketed the idea. The achieve- face. He could read some earnest Hun, but go ahead forcefully,” ment of my truck is growing day wish in her pretty face about Jong Gu advised. “You’d better by day, so it would be of no use to Kyong Hun. If it had simply been not be nervous about petty prob- accuse my friend for a trifling worry or anxiety Jong Gu would lems. Life can hardly go ahead if matter, Kyong Hun thought. It not have been so surprised. it is to be combed through. It is would be all right if I do more Suddenly Jong Gu remem- something like the stream of wa- work. In this way Kyong Hun got bered the white handkerchief the ter that flows down whether there accustomed to passing the ball to girl had given to Kyong Hun at is a hole, a stone, sand or rubbish Jong Gu. the volleyball ground. Now he in its course.” Days later the shift changed. understood it had been something Kyong Hun didn’t make any The first day Kyong Hun passed unusual. The girl must have kept remark but gave a cursory glance the truck to Jong Gu, he asked to something sincere in her heart for at Jong Gu over his shoulder wait a minute as there was still Kyong Hun all the time. It was while scrutinizing the truck as something to repair. Then he surprising the two had developed closely as he had done before. rushed to the maintenance shop as ripe as the fruit in the autumn. Jong Gu felt Kyong Hun was in haste. “You must be worrying about intolerably unwise. If all people At the moment Jong Ok Gum Kyong Hun? I wonder you’re such had the same way of life as Kyong appeared. Her round face wore a a kind-hearted girl. Ha-ha-ha- Hun, the life would be quite dull cold expression instead of her ha…” Jong Gu joked. and uninteresting, Jong Gu told usually pretty image. “I’ve found “Don’t be absurd. I’m not jok- himself. He would prefer a dash- out why Kyong Hun’s achieve- ing but serious,” Ok Gum said. ing current to a tranquil sea. ment is lagging behind,” she said “Then, I’ll give you my word. After a careful check of the angrily, and stared Jong Gu in his He seems to be too much attached truck, Kyong Hun straightened eyes with her mouth shut. to the truck. Of course, he is re- himself up and looked at Jong Gu. sponsible and honest,” Jong Gu His changed countenance came to (To be continued)

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 37 Mt. Paektu (1)

Famous Peaks pot lid. 900 metres away from Hyangdo More than 20 peaks around the Peak, and several peaks such as T. PAEKTU (2 750 M), crater rise 2 500 metres or higher Jebi Peak rise to the southwest of M the highest mountain in above sea level. Janggun Peak, Janggun Peak. In the middle of Korea, is situated in the north the summit of the mountain, tow- the western ridge of the outer of Korea, that is, in Samjiyon ers in the middle of the north- verge of the crater stand Chong- County, Ryanggang Province, on eastern ridge of the outer verge of sok Peak (2 662 m) and cloud- the border with China. The pecu- the crater, and in the north about veiled Paegun Peak (2 691 m), liar natural features of the moun- 1.1 kilometres away from it soars and Chail Peak (2 596 m) rises on tain are largely associated with Hyangdo Peak (2 712 m). Ssang- Tal Gate. Paegam Peak rises in the physiographical factors in- mujigae Peak (2 626 m) stands the middle of the northern ridge ► cluding the local climatic conditions and its volcanic activity. Janggun Peak, the highest peak of Mt. Paektu. Over 2 000-metre-high peaks with a 60-degree inclination sur- round Lake Chon like a screen. Peaks of different shapes and heights adjoin each other that the mountain looks gently sloping and smooth when seen from afar, but it is rugged and precipitous when you look round from the shores of Lake Chon. Some of its peaks soar high like Janggun Peak (2 750 m) and others are low. They are either sharp- pointed or round-topped like a

38 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 ► of the outer verge of the crater with different shapes of rocks dotting it in tiers while rows of high and low rocks and peaks stand on southern ridge. The difference in height of the major peaks in the outer verge of Lake Chon is about 150 metres. So, excepting Janggun Peak and the peak (2 717 m) to its south, all the peaks of the ridge of the outer margin of the crater are of the similar height and therefore look like a screen. The area of Piru Peak on the east of the crater is a range of steep rocky cliffs. Piru Peak standing like a guard of Janggun Peak constitutes a unique block with a conspicuous form repre- Chairman Kim Jong Il’s birthplace in the senting the alpine beauty of the Paektusan Secret Camp and Jong Il Peak. crater of Mt. Paektu. The rocky ridge stretching out both ways The scenery of the peaks of Mt. the north the peak is linked with from Piru Peak is about one kilo- Paektu is so marvellous that it is Saja Peak by a gently inclined metre long, and the 600-metre- regarded as a sum total of moun- ridge. The ridge has monoclinal long ridge between it and Jang- tain-scapes and natural beauties. structure, and the eastern slope is gun Peak is sheer with its top Jong Il Peak, 1 798 m above steeper than the western one. The jagged. So, it is steep and craggy, sea level, rises on Mt. Paektu. soil is podzol. Over 300 species of forbidding anyone to climb up or With its imposing, superb ap- plants including 16 species of walk over it. On the peak there pearance, it stands there like a trees and 40 species of shrubs are strange-shaped rocks includ- guard protecting the birthplace of grow on the peak. The peculiar ing Bear Rock resembling a bear Chairman Kim Jong Il. The bed- natural environment and flora of guarding Lake Chon, Candlestick rock of the peak consists of the peak set off its appearance Rock, Lion Rock, and Rainbow trachyte, rhyolite and basalt. On and scenery. There are slogan- Rock, all weathered into the fan- its southern side is a 100-metre- bearing trees from the period of tastic forms over a long, long time. high cliff with thick taluses at its the anti-Japanese revolutionary This part of the mountain is base inclining 30°–35°. The ta- struggle around the peak. called Paektu Manmulsang (Ten- luses are connected with the allu- The sunrise on Mt. Paektu is thousand Images of Mt. Paektu). vion of the Sobaeksu valley. To a glorious view.

Hyangdo Peak in glow. Piru Peak.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 39 Korean Folklore Museum

(Continued from the last issue) women played mainly on lunar January 15. They liked it because they believed that playing at seesaw Folk play in lunar January would protect their feet from a thorn. N DISPLAY IN THE HALL WE ENTERED We saw the old documentary data on subakhui (a O were data and relics of the folk plays created kind of martial arts) and the book Muyedobothongji and developed by the Korean people in ancient times. of the feudal Joson dynasty showing the basic move- The guide told us, “There are hundreds of kinds of ments of thaekgyon and boxing while listening to the folk plays in our country. They can be largely divided explanation about the martial-art plays. Subakhui into physical plays, martial-art plays, brain contests, is a boxing play to strike the opponent and fend off music and dance plays and children’s folk games. his attacks with bare hands. This contest was in the Ssirum (Korean wrestling) is typical of the physical fashion during the Koryo dynasty (918–1392), and it plays.” With this, she pointed to a photo of ssirum is said that when one struck a wall, his fist pierced match. It was a duplicate of the mural painting (late the wall and when he hit a pillar of the house, the 4th century) of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668). The photo rafters shook. In combination with kicking, it was showed two wrestlers grappling with each other and developed as thaekgyon and Pyongyang’s famous a judge standing by them in a ssirum contest. The nalpharam in the latter half of the feudal Joson dy- guide said that ssirum has come down since the nasty. Koguryo period, that the winner in the contest is The picture showing the nationwide hunting awarded an ox, and that it is the Korean people’s games of Koguryo helps to know better about the most favourite folk game now. martial-art games. Regarding the martial-art train- The physical plays include a tug of war, jumping ing as men’s obligation, the Koguryo people under- seesawing, swinging and rope-walking. In the past went training in horse-riding, running, archery and the tug of war used to be played mainly between swordsmanship from their childhood and had folk villages on January 15 of the lunar calendar. This plays and games based on martial arts. Across the was an important occasion for people to demonstrate country young and middle-aged men got training in their team spirit and develop their physical strength martial arts and martial-art games would be organ- and stamina. ized on holidays. Every spring a national hunting On display was a photograph of women playing game was held in the Rangnang field on a grand jumping seesaw. This was a favourite game of scale. The winner in the game was awarded a prize ►

A tug of war.

40 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Thaekgyon.

► and appointed a military officer, and martial arts game of shaping the images of man, animal, plant, served as a measure for selecting men of talent. The house and various other things with seven pieces of pictures and relics on show acquainted us with vari- wood according to the book. If one succeeds in shap- ous martial-art games which cultivated bravery, ing one thing in the set time, he will gain one mark, capacity of unity, and indomitable fighting spirit in but if he fails, he is out, and his opponent comes in. people. The games included equestrian tilt, swords- The game helps to develop the wisdom and thinking manship, stone missile fight, torchlight fight, and faculty of people, the guide said. bullfight. Pointing to the relief model of children’s folk In front of the showcase of intellectual contests, games, the guide said that the children’s folk games the guide said, “In Korea, the intellectual contest is can be divided into indoor, field, lawn and ice plays, regarded as a good game to improve people’s intelli- which can be classified into two categories—physical gence. It includes yut (four-stick) game, Korean training game and intellectual contest. The chil- chess and paduk (go).” The name of yut game origi- dren’s games include jackstone, shuttlecock, hide- nated from the name of a governmental post of Puyo, and-seek, slap-match game, ball game and rope an ancient state of Korea that existed thousands of jumping. years ago. Pictures and visual aids show that Korean The guide said that the children’s folk games chess and paduk have been popular among the Ko- have been handed down through ages availing them rean people from olden times. On display are a book in physical and intellectual development. of chilgyo play and its tools. The chilgyo play is a Rim Ok Swinging. Ssirum.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 41 Kim Hong Do and Kyehoe on Site of Manwoldae

IM HONG DO IS A PAINTER WITH A He showed extraordinary talents from his child- K realistic tendency who represented the 18th and hood. He left behind many masterpieces in all kinds 19th centuries in Korea. He belonged to Tohwaso (a of fine arts ranging from figure and genre paintings government office that was in charge of the work to portrait and landscape paintings, paintings of related to painting during the feudal Joson dynasty). flowers and birds, and woodblock prints. In particu- He was in government service as yonphung hyongam. lar, he did away with the outdated style of painting of those days and opened up the way of creating realistic genre paintings. In genre paintings he made the labouring people appear as the master, affirmed their creative labour and optimistic life and the beauty of their simple and sound mental world and unartificially ridiculed and sneered at the depraved and degenerated feudal bureaucrats and sections of those who were loafing their time away by making use of a variety of painting techniques, thus showing the social feature of that time. Among the representative paintings reflecting the creative labour and the daily life of the labouring commoners are Smithy, House-building, Cloth Weaving, Wrestling, Fishing, Archery, Well Side, etc. and among the paintings dedicated to the exposure and derision of the corruptness and degradation of feudal aristocrats and bureaucrats is Gamble of Aristocrats. Kim created landscape paintings as well. All his paintings of this kind are filled with love for mountains and streams of the country, national flavour, and the deep love for his beautiful native village and are consistent with attractive scenes that make one have an urge to be nestled in the bosom of the beautiful nature, lost in deep meditation and filled with poetic sentiment. Picture of the Four Main Scenic Spots in Mt. Kumgang, Kuryong Falls, Hongryu- dong, Ferryboat, etc. can be enumerated as his representative paintings. Also to be found among his paintings is Kyehoe on Site of Manwoldae. This depicts a scene of picnic enjoyed by old folks aged over 70 who enjoy themselves on the site of old Manwoldae at the foot of Mt. Songak with the help of their descendants. With a large tent put up, old folks sitting within it pass wine cups back and forth when there goes merry dancing in the yard, adding to the enjoyment of those present. The feast is given on the site of the Hoegyong Hall, the royal audience cham- ber of Manwoldae, the King’s palace of Koryo (918– 1392) and seen behind it are peaks in the west side of Mt. Songak. Masters of that day are 64 old people aged more than 70, but there are many people standing in front of them while watching them with interest. So the number of people seen in the painting exceeds 200. Depicted in the painting in detail are different postures and acts of all people present. Some of Kim Hong Do’s famous works are The Ban- quet at the Ryongwang Pavilion, The Welcome Ac- corded to the Pyongyang Governor and The Banquet Given at the Pubyok Pavilion.

42 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Folk Musical Instruments of Korea

HE KOREAN PEOPLE T have developed folk musical instruments suited to their senti- ments and feelings over a long historical period. The traditional musical instruments of Korea have elegant and soft tones. They woodwind, stringed and percus- are diversified and are fully capa- sion instruments. The woodwind ble of expressing folk tunes and instrument is made of bamboo or rhythms. There are hundreds of timber. It typically represents the kinds of instruments, and some of characteristics of the Korean peo- ments. With its diversified play- them have two or three varieties, ple. It includes tanso, jodae, ing methods and rich representa- and even ten. thungso, saenap and piri. Tanso tion, okryugum is used as a solo In Korea folk musical instru- and jodae are not only used as instrument and in instrumental ments existed long before the solo instruments, but also play ensemble. Konghu went out of use Christian era, and orchestral important roles in folk orchestras in musical practice after the ap- music with wind, stringed and and mixed orchestras. Thungso is pearance of okryugum, but it re- percussion instruments and ko- used as a solo instrument for mains as a cultural heritage. chiak (a kind of military music) playing traditional music. Saenap Yanggum is a kind of percus- were developed in the period of and piri are used in traditional sion-string instruments. The per- Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668). After music, and jangsaenap, taepiri cussion instrument is classified Korea’s liberation from the mili- and jopiri, derivatives of saenap into leather, wood and metal in- tary occupation of the Japanese and piri, are widely used in solo struments according to the mate- imperialists (August 15, 1945), and ensemble. rials of the resonance chambers. the folk musical instruments of The folk stringed instruments Janggu and puk (drum) are typi- Korea got rid of their defects are classified into chal, pal and ta cal leather instruments. Accord- while many new instruments instruments according to their ing to the size, the drum is di- were developed. The improved playing method. The chal instru- vided into large, medium and folk instruments have a much ment includes ajaeng which is small drums. In addition, there is greater compass and volume of divided into soajaeng, jungajaeng the hand drum and pangulbuk (a sound, and their clear, soft and and taeajaeng according to the kind of tambourine). Moktak and elegant tones became still richer. range of sound. Ajaeng is used in abak belong to the wood percus- Now they are also fit to freely play playing folk music at odd times. sion instrument. The metal per- 12 chromatic scales and their There are kayagum, konghu and cussion instrument is divided into expressive capability has in- okryugum in the pal stringed melodic and non-melodic instru- creased further and their shapes instrument. Kayagum with a long ments. The melodic metal percus- have been improved better and history is used not only as a solo sion instrument covers phyon- more conveniently. This makes it instrument, but in folk orchestra, jong, panghyang and unra, and possible to wonderfully play all ensemble, solo-ensemble and the non-melodic instrument in- musical pieces of varied feelings mixed orchestra. Okryugum was cludes kkwaenggwari, jing, pan- including march. newly created in the 1970s by gul and jong. The melodic stone The traditional instruments of making the most of the advan- percussion instrument includes Korea can be largely divided into tages of the pal stringed instru- phyongyong.

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 43 Reading in Jiphyonjon

NE EVENING SO KO see the book once.” once.” O Jong was on night duty in His words reminded So of “Then you can do it in the next Jiphyonjon (a central organ of the what Song Im had said boastfully room,” said So, and brought him feudal Joson government) which with a smile on his face: Song the book. After a while, he looked was staffed with famous scholars Kan, since he fell in love with into the next room quietly before writing books necessary for the reading, had been so engrossed in going to bed. Song Kan in a seated upkeep of the royal authority. reading that he had devoured all posture was engrossed in reading. There came a dry cough from the many books in his house and When So looked in again at mid- the quiet garden of Jiphyonjon. then, whenever he heard that a night, Song was still in the same Turning his eyes from the book he friend or a scholar had a good position, reading avidly. It was was reading by the lamplight to book, he would pester them like a marvellous enthusiasm and great the door, So asked, “Who is leech until he got it. That was how reading ability. there?” he had been more informed than Returning the book to So at A voice answered from outside his brother Song Im. dawn, Song said, “Thank you very the room, “I’m a classical scholar Now it seemed the “leech” much. I appreciate your help last and I’m here to ask a favour of stuck to So. As it was said that a night.” you.” book thief is not a thief in the “I don’t want to hear such So opened the door and saw a true sense and that the greed for words,” So said. “You should tell handsome young man standing. the book is not a mean selfish me the contents of the book.” He looked rather unhealthy. “Who desire, So was far from feeling “Now I’ll try to tell about the are you?” So asked. antipathy against the “leech.” book, regarding it as a test before “I’m Song Kan, brother of Song “You’ve got a good nose,” So my teacher,” Song said and talked Im.” jeered, “and you could smell a rare about the topic and contents of Surprised, So scrutinized the book in Jiphyonjon.” the book without a hitch. So was young man. Song Im and So were Then he said as if he had been struck with admiration for his the same age and both of them in an awkward situation, “By the ability and enthusiasm to read successfully passed the state ex- way, I’m at a loss. The rules of in different respects and his aminations for civil service in Jiphyonjon forbid lending books unusual memory. So advised him 1438. Moreover, they once worked to anyone. What can I do?” sincerely, “Of course, it is good to together in Jiphyonjon during the “I only want to read the rare study hard, even throughout the reign of King Sejong. Now So book right here, not borrow it. If night. But I’m worried about your remembered that Song had said you allow me, I’ll read it all health. I wish you to look after he had a frivolous, book-greedy through the night just in this yourself.” young brother. He asked again, garden and return it.” “Thank you for your care. But “What’s brought you here this “Really? Can you understand I’d rather have a worthwhile evening?” the whole complicated contents of short life rather than a useless “I recently heard that a rare the thick book by looking it long life,” Song replied shyly, and book has come to be newly placed through overnight?” went back home. in the custody of Jiphyonjon. So “It depends on me to under- Some time later, he became a I’m here to ask a favour to let me stand or not. Please let me read it member of Jiphyonjon.

44 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Lifeline of Reunification Movement

OR THE KOREAN PEOPLE the Korean people could be united efforts of the Korean people who F the reunification of their in the struggle for the common are responsible for the matter of country is the supreme national cause of the nation and that they reunification was a clear-cut task, the solution of which brooks could achieve reunification when demonstration of the truth that no further delay. The national they wage a nationwide struggle the Korean nation is the motive division that has lasted for 70 for national salvation by the force of reunification and that the years is preventing the general united efforts. practical power for reunification development of the Korean nation Then in 1960 the DPRK pro- lies in the Korean people. and inflicting innumerable mis- posed to adopt a north-south fed- Last year, too, the DPRK fortunes and pains on all the eration in which to organize a made strenuous efforts to realize members. supreme national committee con- the desire of the Korean people to The DPRK government at- sisting of representatives of each improve inter-Korean relations taches importance to achieving government and mainly control and promote common prosperity the reunification not by relying on coordinated development of the of the nation not by recourse to outside forces, but by the con- economy and culture while leav- confrontation and war, but certed efforts of the Korean na- ing the two governments to work through negotiation and coopera- tion. National independence is not as they were and leaving the tion on the principle of national only the key to the reunification different political systems intact. independence. problem but also the lifeline of the And in 1972 the July 4 Joint As is recognized at home and reunification movement. Statement was adopted in which abroad the DPRK declared its In retrospect, the DPRK gov- the two sides reaffirmed their principled stand on many occa- ernment consistently maintained agreement on a number of issues sions to save the inter-Korean the policy of national independ- to accelerate independent and relations from the catastrophic ence and made strenuous efforts peaceful reunification of the situation and achieve national to prevent national division. After country based on the three prin- reconciliation and unity. It pro- liberation of Korea from the ciples of independence, peaceful posed to stop all kinds of hostile Japanese imperialists’ military reunification and great national military moves such as south Ko- occupation (August 15, 1945) the unity. These events were indica- rea-US joint military exercises and US intruded into south Korea tive of the DPRK’s intention to showed its tolerance by first taking under the cloak of “liberator” and achieve reunification on the prin- some well-intentioned measures sought to carry a separate elec- ciple of national independence. unilaterally. The head of the Gen- tion and establish a separate gov- In 1980 the north suggested eral Political Bureau of the KPA ernment in the south under the the idea of establishing the De- and his party visited Inchon, south signboard of the UN. To cope with mocratic Federal Republic of Korea. This was an expression of the US and its vassal force’s at- Koryo, the most reasonable and the consciousness of national inde- tempt to conduct a separate elec- realistic proposal to suit the spe- pendence based on the sense of tion on May 10, 1948 in the south cific situation in which different duty they assume before the na- for the formation of a pro- ideas and systems exist in the tion to safeguard the nation’s des- American regime in pursuance of north and south. As a suggestion tiny and usher in a new phase of the policy of perpetuating the acceptable to any of the Korean peaceful reunification despite the national division and putting people who love their country and ever worsening situation. south Korea under colonial con- wish the reunification, it is also The DPRK’s stand to achieve trol, the then People’s Committee based on the principle of national reunification on the principle of of North Korea proposed to hold independence. national independence is invari- the first ever historic joint confer- In 2000 a north-south summit able. In the future, too, the DPRK ence of the representatives of the meeting was held for the first government will steadily follow north and south political parties time in the history of national the road of national independence and social organizations to dis- division and the June 15 North- as they have consistently main- cuss the reunification problem, South Joint Declaration, a mile- tained the principle of independ- and did the best for its realiza- stone of reunification in the new ence regarding the matters of the tion. The joint conference held in century, was adopted. The adop- nation and the reunification since Pyongyang in April 1948 showed tion of the joint declaration that the first day of the national divi- that despite the difference in ide- carries the will to solve the reuni- sion. ology, ideal and religious belief fication problem by the concerted Kim Il Ryong

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 45 Truth: Japan’s Past Crimes

ECENTLY NEW MATERIALS ABOUT R Japan’s past crimes have come to light, at- tracting the attention of the international community. Typical of them is what was exposed in a Ko- rean’s diary made public in 2013, who had once worked at a comfort centre of the Japanese army. It testifies to the fact that the atrocious sexual slavery of the Japanese imperialists belongs to the national crime of Japan. According to it, the then Japanese imperialists’ southern expeditionary force headquarters made a request to the Korean occupation forces headquarters in May 1942 for helping the collection of sexual slaves. Accordingly, a lot of Korean women were taken away to battle sites of Japan’s aggression war via Pusan Port and forced to live as sexual slaves. The diary also reveals that the comfort centres were totally under the control of the Japanese military. The comfort centres of the Japanese army in many countries sent income reports, daily reports on management and the like to the army units they belonged to, and the military supplied them with the money for management. Their moves were strictly subjected to the control of the Japanese military. There are many other materials related to Ja- pan’s past crimes. The KBS of south Korea reported that in 1945 Korean women forcibly drafted as “comfort MacArthur, the then general commander of the Al- women” for the former Japanese army and lied forces in the Pacific, had a confidential document the inside of a room in a “comfort house” on the truth of the Japanese imperialists’ forcible used by the Japanese brutes. draft of sexual slaves drawn up. The document titled “The comfort facility of the Japanese army” worked sataka of Senshu University revealed in a public out by the general headquarters of the Allied forces lecture that the massacre of Koreans had spread in the name of MacArthur on November 15, 1945, from Tokyo to Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Gunma and says that the Japanese command mobilized the Ko- many other regions of Japan and that, in particular, rea-resident Japanese agents to take away Korean the groundless rumour, which had served as the fuse women to Myanmar and other countries. of the massacre, had been widely disseminated by Nevertheless, Japan denies such an extra- the radio systems of the Japanese police, prefectural villainous crime of sexual slavery and refuses to governments and navy. Nevertheless, the Japanese make any apology and compensation for it. Worse government has not yet given the correct number of still, it justifies the criminal acts, arguing that they victims, the least thing they could as a sign of the were “needed to improve the fighting efficiency in the admission of their responsibility and apology, Ta- then situation.” Naturally Japan’s argument arouses naka condemned. great indignation of the Koreans and other Asian Also, there is a stream of data coming to light, people. accusing the Japanese imperialists of their atrocious There were released data on the Japanese impe- attempts to erase the Korean history and culture and rialists’ massacre of Koreans in the days following enslave the Koreans. The KBS disclosed that the the Kanto Great Earthquake. Professor Tanaka Ma- Japanese imperialists had distorted Arirang, the ►

46 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 US Should Be Brought to Human Rights Court

O WE LIVE IN PEACE IN THE WORLD of the Afghan war. And the drone attack operations D of freedom and equality while enjoying the on the “suspected terrorists” are still going. There modern civilization amidst the progress of the cut- are frequent occurrences of the US troops maltreat- ting-edge science and technology and the social de- ing the people, shooting pregnant women and chil- velopment? When asked of this question you would dren to death, maiming civilians and chopping answer no. Now the acts of oppression and domina- corpses into several pieces. The GIs are put to crimi- tion, and murders worse than those in slave-owning nal trials only when they are serious cases. The re- and feudal societies are rampant in some countries, port also mentioned that the international organiza- abusing the elementary human dignity and rights. tions strongly denounce the US’s indiscriminate use This is because the United States is infringing on the of forces in the armed conflict areas. human rights mercilessly wherever it reaches, The crimes committed by the US troops occupy- bringing the current times back to the Dark Ages. ing south Korea are beyond description. From the According to a report on the human rights situa- day they set foot in south Korea in the cloak of tion of the US, which was posted on the website of “liberator” in September 1945 they killed innocent the Russian Foreign Ministry, the conflicts in Iraq Koreans. During the period of the Korean war (June took 117 000 civilian lives until August 2012 and 14 1950-July 1953) millions of Koreans were massacred 700 of them were killed by the international allied by GIs. forces led by the US. Meanwhile, 14 400–17 200 The Russian Internet news agency Inosmi Ru innocent Afghans lost their lives and 9 000 were reported that the existence of one million sex slaves murdered by the US-led allied forces since the start in south Korea is a result of the 60-odd-year-long ►

► typical Korean song. It revealed that they had sys- tempted to devastate the Korean people. Japan’s tematically distorted the words of the song to make it past crimes are unprecedented; they put other noto- useful for creating a favourable circumstance for rious atrocities recorded in history to shame in terms their annexation of Korea since before they cooked of the scale of the national involvement and ar- up the “Ulsa Five-point Treaty,” which was an ille- rangement, and brutality in content and method. gal, false agreement fabricated by Japan to establish Such being the case, the UN committee working its right to colonial control over Korea in 1905. The against racial discrimination demanded Japan’s words of Arirang carried in a photo album published apology and compensation for its past crimes by by an organ of Japan in 1905 were completely dis- making public a follow-up concluding written opinion torted, into the content that the Koreans had better in August last year after deliberation of a report on admit the annexation considering such a power as Japan’s fulfillment of the anti-racial discrimination Russia had been defeated by Japan in the war. Ear- convention. lier, a book written by Okita Kenzo, a Japanese, had Nevertheless, Japan is overwhelmed with a made wry comments on the song. It described indif- Samurai-style view of history that “there is no need ference to national affairs, dry humanity, hermitic to feel guilty for the past” and that “the truth of his- life and indolence as the spirit of Arirang, asserting tory can be clear at least a century later.” Some Arirang was a powerful piece of music to deprave the Japanese are so arrogant that they assert their colo- Koreans’ soul. The KBS denounced that such acts of nial military fascist rule of Korea was legal. Japan were intended to give the defeatism and infe- Without liquidation, the past will be repeated, riority complex to the Korean people and stamp out and the result will be catastrophic. The history will the spirit of resistance. continuously accuse the Japanese imperialists of The historical facts clearly show how persistently their crimes until they are punished. and desperately the Japanese imperialists at- Kim Hyon Ju

KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 47 In the US: People protest the authorities’ racial discrimination policy, and the police crack down on them .

Missouri judicial authorities decided not to indict the white policeman on the ridiculous ground of “self- defence” against the black and from the fantastic notion that he is white. This clearly shows that the US community is no more than a theatre of human rights infringement and the worst human rights tundra in the world. A huge number of people turned out into the streets in more than 100 cities across the US including Washington and New York, sternly denouncing the unfair stand of the authorities that backed the criminal. When the situation developed ► presence of GIs there. It disclosed that the GIs who that way, the authorities mobilized heavily-armed occupied south Korea in 1945 made 350 000 of the policemen and even military force to crack down on south Korean women their sexual slaves till 1953. the protests. Their filthy crimes are still unabated. One of every The Russian Foreign Ministry plenipotentiary for 25 south Korean women fell victim to them and one human rights affairs issued a statement asserting million women suffered grave infringement on their that the incident in Ferguson City proves once again dignity and human rights. This is, indeed, a thrice- that the US has the serious institutional problems cursed crime that can be perpetrated only by the US, concerning human rights protection and the stan- the chieftain of human massacre and the worst hu- dard of democracy. The Los Angeles Times and other man rights abuser, and an unheard-of unethical media in the US commented that the standard of the crime that can never go unpunished. In south Korea US’s human rights is taken up for discussion by the they say that they may see the sun set without crows international press circle owing to the incident. The crying, but that they can never pass a day without great irony is that the US dares brand those coun- hearing of an occurrence of GI crimes. tries preserving systems and political modes peculiar Then, what about the human rights situation of to them as “human rights abusers” to put collective the US that brings up such human rights abusers? pressure on them for the only reason that they are Violent demonstrations that erupted when a young not an ally or companion of the US. The American black man was shot to death by a white policeman in pursuance is the infringement on national sover- Ferguson City, Missouri, swept the whole United eignty and the interference in internal affairs of States. The brutality committed by the white police- other nations from A to Z. man who is obsessed with racial discrimination and It is a unanimous voice of many countries in the hatred for human beings ignited the anger of the world that the US should be brought to the human blacks who are treated as second-class citizens in the rights court for its violations of the human rights US and subjected to contempt and maltreatment of inside and outside the country. all hues on the absurd “guilt” of different colour. Kim Il Ryong

48 KOREA TODAY No. 3, 2015 Locust Tree in Chongnyu Cliff

HIS LOCUST T tree is found in the precipitous Chongnyu Cliff in Kyongsang-dong, Cen- tral District, Pyongyang. As it looks pretty and strangely interesting, it makes the scenery around the cliff more beautiful. So, it was designated as State Natural Monument No. 3 and is now well protected. It is a tall deciduous tree standing ten metres high. Shaped like a wedge with its roots struck in a niche of the cliff, the tree has grown up to five metres before several thick boughs come out. It has grown for nearly 200 years while spreading its crown like the ribs of a fan towards the Taedong River. The soil of the cliff where the tree has its roots is brown and fertile forest soil.

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