The Party Founding Museum Monthly Journal (772)

C O N T E N T S

3 Political Ideal of WPK

The dignity of socialist Korea is on the rise with

its people enjoying a worthwhile life thanks to the

people-fi rst policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

4 Edifi ces Built on Best Places

7 Matter of Utmost Concern

8 From Ill to Good

10 Self-development First–Strategic Line

12 Far-sighted Leader

13 My Dear Party, You’re My Mother

14 President Kim Il Sung’s Reminiscences With the Century

Homeland Party Working Committee

Monthly journal Korea Today is available on the Internet site www.korean-books.com.kp in English, Russian and Chinese.

1 17 Immortal Juche Idea (6) Popular Masses Are Subject of Social History 18 By Dint of Love and Trust 19 Fruit of Research 20 Gravity-fed Waterways Stretch 21 Secret of Increased Production 22 New Types of Shoes Manufactured

Front Cover: The Workers’ 24 New Observation Devices Developed Party of Korea celebrates 26 Young Doctor of Medicine the 75th anniversary of its founding in October this 27 A Day of Amateur Marathoner year Photo by Ra Jin Hyok 28 Triple World Taekwon-Do Champion 30 “I Want to Book a Room Here” 32 World of Magicians 33 National Intangible Cultural Heritage (47) Sumbakkokjil 34 Blind Singer 35 Quality Certifi cation Develops 36 True story Life and Promise 38 Ostrich Dishes and Goods Grow Popular 42 Traditional Condiments Get Tastier 44 Family of Tailors

Back Cover: In the festive 45 Mt Myohyang (5) evening 46 Hwadam So Kyong Dok Photo taken by Ri Yong Myong in October 2017 47 Koguryo Mural Tombs and Relics Unearthed

13502 48 Mausoleum of King Tangun

Edited by Ri Ryon Song Address: Sochon-dong, Sosong District, Pyongyang, DPRK E-mail: fl [email protected]

© The Foreign Language Magazines 2020

2 Political Ideal of WPK

HE PEOPLE-FIRST POL- and everything by relying on with a noble outlook that he has Ticy is the political ideal of them!” and has made sure that nothing more to wish for even the Workers’ Party of Korea. the slogan has been the funda- though his body may be scat- It means regarding the mass- mental principle and mode of tered like grains of sand for the es of the people as masters of the activities of the Party and the people, and a will that he will revolution and construction, re- State to the letter. not hesitate to undergo all sorts lying on them and making self- The Supreme Leader admin- of hardships for the good of less, devoted efforts for their in- isters the politics of love for the them. On the journey he unhes- terests. people by which to take full re- itatingly inspected frontlines Kim Jong Un puts the posi- sponsibility for and care of their when the dignity of the country tion of the people on the highest destiny and life. and the destiny of the people possible level, and administers During the past eight years were at stake, and tried and got the politics of attaching impor- the Korean people once stood at on a new underground train, tance to them by which he solves the crossroads of war or peace, cable car, and amusement facil- all problems arising in political and broke through countless tri- ity to be used by the people. The practice by relying on them. als, and in the course of this they journey has also produced such The being he respects and grew stronger and developed to anecdotes as those of his forced worships above all is the peo- a higher position. march in the midnight and his ple. He defi ned the essence of All the thinking and practice forced march in the scorching Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, of the Supreme Leader are di- heat. The harder the time is, the guiding ideology of the Party rected to resolutely safeguarding the more selfl ess, devoted ef- and the State, as the people- the life and safety of the people. forts he makes for the good of fi rst principle, and set forth It is his will that there is nothing the people. the idea of applying President more important than defending It was a bold decision only he Kim Il Sung’s and Chairman the safety of the people, and that could make to set forth the idea Kim Jong Il’s outlook on the all potentialities of the country, of making a frontal attack for a people thoroughly. human, material and technical, breakthrough run through with In his work Making Self- should be concentrated on the selfl ess, devoted efforts for the less, Devoted Efforts for the effort to relieve them of misfor- people, and propose to build the Good of the People Is the Mode tunes as soon as possible. Pyongyang General Hospital on of Existence and Source of In- In the early days of the the best spot in the capital city vincible Might of the Workers’ world-sweeping pandemic which of Pyongyang for the promotion Party of Korea published on threatens the existence of man- of the people’s health. October 10, Juche 104 (2015) he kind gravely, Kim Jong Un, The term of politics has said that the history of the Party with his far-sighted acumen and been long used as the con- is just the path travelled by the resolute determination, took cept of ruling over the people. Korean people, that its might is strong preemptive and block- But the politics of the Korean their might, that its greatness is ade-style measures to check the Supreme Leader means his love their greatness, and that its vic- inroads and spread of the infec- for and devotion to the people: tory is the victory achieved by tion. He shares sweets and bitters them; he clarifi ed that the great He is devoting his all to the with them and dedicates his all Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism is, sake of the people. Making self- to them. in essence, the people-fi rst prin- less, devoted efforts for the peo- Thanks to the people-fi rst ciple, and that the mode of exist- ple is a phrase representing the policy the dignity of socialist Ko- ence of the Party is serving the current era in the country. rea has risen even in grim trials, people. The Supreme Leader con- and the people have become able He put forward the slogan tinues his journey of selfl ess, to enjoy a worthwhile life. “Everything for the people devoted efforts for the people Kim Kum Hui

No. 10, 2020 3 Edifi ces Built on Best Places

LACES WITH ALL NECES- Hill, which has long been called Earlier, designers wanted to set Psary conditions are regarded garden of Pyongyang as it consti- up a government building on the as best places. tutes the heart of the city’s scen- hill. But Kim Il Sung rejected Korea was seething with en- ery, and the Taedong River that their plan at once, saying: I do thusiasm for the building of a is called chongnyu and okryu as not think it is a good idea to put new country after its liberation its water is clear. The top of the up a government building at from the Japanese military oc- hill commands not only splen- such a nice place. In the centre of cupation on August 15, 1945. At did views of Moran Hill and the the city there should be a public the time lots of things had to be Taedong River but also a general building to be used a lot by the built in Pyongyang. view of the city. On the very top people instead of a government Kim Il Sung, leader of the of the hill was built the univer- building. new Korea, showed primary con- sity, the fi rst of its kind for the In mid-December Juche 62 cern for the building of a univer- people in the country. (1973) Kim Il Sung went up sity to educate sons and daugh- The centre of the city was the hill and suggested building a ters of the people. also developed for the sake of the large library there since the city Mentioning that the posi- people. A crucial index in defi n- already had a palace of culture tion of the university was most ing the character and nature of a and a schoolchildren’s palace. A view of Munsu Water Park important, the national leader country’s social system is how to Then children would study in (August 2019). ► built on the hill. Thus the Grand air theatre on the spot, saying: himself made a fi eld survey and form a city, especially, its centre, the schoolchildren’s palace and People’s Study House, a grand Then working people could come fi xed the top of Ryongnam Hill and what building is built in the adults would do in the library, he palace of learning for all people, to Songdowon together with as the site of the university. centre. The central axis of down- mentioned, adding that the peo- rose on the hill, a spot the leader their children on Sundays to go The hill rises near Moran town Pyongyang is Namsan Hill. ple would like it if a library was ► A panorama of Kim Il Sung had valued for 20 years. swimming in the sea, have lunch University. The Grand People’s Study under pine trees, look round the House situated in the centre of botanical garden and the zoo the capital city is surrounded by during the daytime and enjoy an such buildings for the people as art performance or fi lm in the the Mansudae Art Theatre, the open-air theatre on the way back Pyongyang Students and Chil- home in the evening. dren’s Palace and Pyongyang Now the Songdowon pleas- Department Store No. 1. ure ground with the open-air Like in Pyongyang, struc- theatre built in it serves as the tures for the promotion of the most ideal resort. people’s well-being appeared at In the Democratic People’s all scenic spots easy of access Republic of Korea masters of the across the country. best places are the people, and One year, during his inspec- the criterion of evaluating such tion of Wonsan, Kangwon Prov- places is the requirements and ince, Chairman Kim Jong Il interests of the people. A place stopped his car while passing by good and convenient for the peo- a workers’ holiday camp along ple is just a best place, and the the road to Songdowon. The spot absolute criterion is that all best fronted the blue sea and backed places should serve the people. onto Mt Jangdok. The Chairman The story of the Jungphyong suggested building an open- Vegetable Greenhouse Farm ►

4 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 5 ► is very impressive. From of old created there it would be mar- selected. All citizens are pleased vegetables were something dif- vellous, the Supreme Leader that the hospital is situated on Matter of Utmost Concern fi cult to get in North Hamgyong said he was most pleased to fi nd the picturesque Taedong river- Province because of its situation and do one worthwhile thing af- side and easy of access. in the cold northern region of the ter another for the sake of the Earlier the Koryo Medicine Gold Cushion He said with a beaming newly coated. country. people like that. General Hospital, the Kim Man smile that he was very pleased The Supreme Leader added In July 2018 the Supreme It is regarded as natural in Yu Hospital and the Pyongyang N JANUARY 16, JUCHE and happy while looking round that the slogans to be set up Leader looked round Jung- the country to vacate an airfi eld Maternity Hospital were built O107 (2018) Supreme Leader a multifunctional gym and a li- at children’s camps should be phyong-ri, Kyongsong County, or even a more important thing in the Munsu area. Later the Kim Jong Un inspected Pyong- brary which looked like a min- those appropriate for children in the province with a plan to if it is for the interests of the Breast Tumour Institute of the yang Teachers Training College iature of the Sci-Tech Complex, and that the slogan “Let’s go create a large-size vegetable people. Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, despite the intense cold of mid- and seeing advanced education- the thorny path cheerfully!” he greenhouse farm there. At that When the site for the Pyong- the Ryugyong General Oph- winter. al equipment, modern teaching saw while driving along the road time the local area was used as yang General Hospital was to thalmic Hospital, the Ryugyong The Supreme Leader highly aids and furnishings and facili- to the aforesaid camp was not an airfi eld. Mentioning that if a be selected, a spot in the Munsu Dental Hospital and the Okryu praised it for having written a ties for management and opera- proper for children. vegetable greenhouse farm was area, the best in the city, was Children’s Hospital were built lot of textbooks to carry out the tion of the college. He continued to say: It is in the area. Thus the area has programme of universal 12-year He went on to say that he advisable to set up slogans like turned into a hospital village. If compulsory education and for felt as if he had plucked a star “Children go camping when the the Pyongyang General Hospital its scientifi c achievements such from the sky or laid a gold cush- General goes to the front” and is built in the area, it will be fur- as the introduction of an edu- ion for the sake of the teachers “We are the happiest in the ther perfected as a modern and cational predicting technique responsible for the future of world” at children’s camps. The general medical service area. which helps put lectures on a the country and that he could slogans are very nice. We should Best places in the country do scientifi c basis with the empha- picture the bright future of the be proud of these slogans and ex- not simply mean physiographi- sis put on students’ independ- country. alt their true meanings. cal positions but bases of happi- ent thinking. Stressing the need to facelift ness for the people. Learning that all its educa- On a Far-sighted Basis the camp admirably and im- Rim Ok tional administration work was prove its operation, he suggested directed to raising students’ Kim Jong Un visited that camping be organized even enthusiasm for learning and the Songdowon International in winter. He said that winter their performance, he spoke Children’s Camp on May 30, camping would also be possible Views of the Jungphyong Vegeta- ble Greenhouse Farm. highly of the idea. And seeing Juche 102 (2013). President if only a proper heating system a simulation lesson given in Kim Il Sung and Chairman was provided, that winter camp- both virtual and practical situ- Kim Jong Il had inspected the ing would also make it possible ations, he praised the college camp several times. to keep the buildings in good for having invented the novel He said: We ought to im- condition, and that winter camp- method of teaching. He was prove children’s camps as ex- ing at the Songdowon Interna- also satisfi ed with a method of cellently as possible thinking of tional Children’s Camp would estimating whether students the lofty intention of the great be a signal of the establishment have reached the level of the leaders (the President and the of another camping model in the teacher, and different methods Chairman) who loved children country. of giving lessons in a classroom so much. This camp is still The Supreme Leader went arranged to combine school ed- fl awless in terms of structure on to say that he realized more ucation and family education. though 20 years have passed keenly the need to carry out all They were superior teaching since its renovation, and the construction projects on a far- methods, he said. layout and structure of its sighted basis, and that buildings Quite satisfi ed with the ad- buildings are also nice. The had to be designed to represent mirable educational conditions remodelling project should be contemporary features and to and environment of the college, done in such a way that the in- meet the prospective needs of he stayed there for long hours. ner and outer walls would be 100 or 500 years to come. ‰

6 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 7 ► felt, the window sill you sat on relieved of all worry, thanks to your benevolence. From Ill to Good the ceiling and the kitchen range whose heights you “Almost every day we see on television the mis- estimated, and the pot you opened. erable people who are left homeless in fl oods in oth- “A farm worker, who used to say until several er countries. Far from being provided with housing, the whole ri seat of the debris and build a social- months ago that she wanted to go and stay with they have no party or government to worry about ist village beautiful enough to be envied even by her daughter in a different locality, has settled in their life. urban people in a mere several months. a new house you provided. Another farm worker, “On the contrary, we are tearfully happy and “Now even those who have lived in the local- who had been so eager to have a house with sever- grateful for the care of our State which regards it ity for ages say that they could hardly identify al rooms because his son, an ex-serviceman, is old as the most important of its affairs to take care of the sites of their old houses. enough to get married, was provided with a large those who have undergone calamities and builds “We are greatly obliged to you for your hav- house with three rooms, so now he is busy trying houses for ordinary farm workers free of charge, ing provided new palatial houses to us who had to choose his likely daughter-in-law among all the and for the benevolent care you show us while spar- been left homeless overnight. And we did not ex- local girls. ing nothing for the people. pect at all that you would traverse such a long “The most pleased are the children. They are “We really appreciate your care, dear respected Marshal. “We will keep the palatial houses neat and tidy, handing them down from generation to generation, N SEPTEMBER LAST RESIDENTS OF KANG- and thus we will maintain our village as a model so- buk-ri, Kumchon County, North Hwanghae Prov- I cialist rural village to be envied by the whole world. ince, moved into new houses. As they were built like “We will take good care of the fi elds where you a miracle in the village a few months after it was even counted the grains of rice ears so as to gather affl icted by a natural calamity, the villagers were a good harvest from the fi elds every year. unusually excited. They wrote to Supreme Leader “Your good health is our great desire and hap- Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers’ Party of piness as you are our dear father. We respectfully Korea, a letter that refl ected their boundless grati- wish you, dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, tude for the benevolent care of the Workers’ Party savior and great benefactor of us Kangbuk-ri peo- of Korea that strove to save them from their misfor- ple, will be in good health. tune. The letter reads as follows: “Concluding the letter, we chant from the bot- “It is our great honour to write to you, our tom of our heart: respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, benevolent “Long live respected Marshal Kim Jong Un! father of us Kangbuk-ri people. “Long live the Workers’ Party of Korea! “Even in a dream we wish to go to see you and “Long live our socialist country! make a deep bow of gratitude. “September 18, 2020 “You heartily wished us a happy life with at- “All the residents of Kangbuk-ri, Kumchon tachment to our new village and houses and our County, who have moved into new houses” locality eternal good luck. Today we are happy to Yom Song Hui write this letter to thank you with the joy of having moved into new houses. “All of us were so excited that we turned out to dance full of happiness deep into the night. We of- way to our village to see if the new houses would be looking forward to the day when their school ten felt a lump in the throat at the thought of your to our liking. starts, counting the days on their fi ngers to see great efforts to relieve us of the aftereffects of the “Asking repeatedly if we liked the houses, you when they will be able to study in the school you calamity. looked round houses, opening the lid of a pot and looked round. “Owing to the unexpected heavy rain and fi erce estimating the height of the ceiling. Seeing you on “Dear respected Marshal, gale, the houses and public buildings collapsed and television, we all became tearful at the thought of “Our village was called Kangbuk-ri because the paddies and wheat and barley fi elds turned into whether there would be anyone else as benevolent it is situated north of the lower Ryesong River a mess. We lost heart and gave up at the sights. Not as you who was so kind as to read the mind of us that caused calamities alone, but now it has a single proper building was left in the ri seat. farm workers in detail. earned the name of Kangbok-ri meaning a new “Then you sent the Korean People’s Army sol- “Dear respected Marshal, land of happiness known to the whole world, diers, defenders of the country, to our farm to clear “We are quite pleased with the room fl oor you ► which is overfl owing with blessings like a river

8 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 9 ► His call upon the Korean people to rise up resiliently by Self-development First--Strategic Line relying on their own strength encouraged the builders greatly. They fi nished the framework of ELF-RELIANCE IS THE ing of a powerful socialist nation tiny of the Korean revolution. a 70-storey high-rise apartment Srevolutionary spirit the Kore- he set forth an idea on the spirit Then he reaffi rmed that it is the building in a little over 70 days, an people have maintained over of self-development fi rst and WPK’s steadfast political line and tiled its exterior in a dozen the history of their country, the saw to it that they embodied to build a socialist power under days. Meanwhile, frameworks Democratic People’s Republic of self-reliance as an invariable the uplifted banner of self-reli- of scores of apartment build- Korea, while pioneering and ad- mode of revolution and strug- ance. And at the Fifth Plenary ings rose up in a little over four vancing along the road of pros- gle. At the Seventh Congress of Meeting of the Seventh Central months after declaration of the perity with their own strength. the WPK held in May Juche 105 Committee of the WPK held in construction. In April 2017 the It is a spirit of an independent (2016) he said that the general December 2019 he stressed the inauguration of the street was being who carves his or her own line of socialist construction need to smash straight through held, which had been built into destiny out with his or her own and the spirit of self-develop- all the barriers in the way of the model and standard of mod- strength. So it is not merely re- ment fi rst should be held fast their advance. ern architecture by the country’s A new-type tramcar runs along a street in Pyongyang. lated to a matter of how to live to as the permanent strategic He proved the validity and own strength, technology and but the important one of whether line for achieving great victory vitality of self-reliance with his materials. Self-reliance is the only way and other meetings he elucidat- to live as independent people or in the building of a powerful so- revolutionary practice. One January day a few out! This slogan is to be heard ed the tasks and ways to raise slaves. The Korean people chose cialist country. In March 2016 the Supreme years ago the Supreme in all his fi eld-guidance trips, the sci-tech potentiality and the the way of living independently, At important meetings held Leader declared the beginning Leader inspected the Pyong- and it throbs as the pulse of the educational level in the coun- that is, the one of self-reliance later and in his New Year ad- of construction of Ryomyong yang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mi- times. Things of Korean make try. And he saw that universal by which they hew out their own dresses he stressed the idea that Street on the spot. He said that ll. While looking round different preferred by the people are on 12-year compulsory education destiny by relying on their coun- the only road they should take is the project was not simply the places of the mill, he stopped at the increase thanks to the fi rm was enforced, and took practi- try and their own strength. the one of achieving prosperity formation of a street, but a po- a barotor machine. The machine will of the Supreme Leader who cal measures for enhancing the What we can depend on at by dint of self-development. litical occasion for demonstrat- consumed less dye and energy, holds that their own things State concern and guidance for present is our own strength; At the Fourth Plenary Meet- ing the stamina of the DPRK and helped save much cloth. And should be made more and bet- scientifi c research. nobody is willing to help us or ing of the Seventh Central Com- that, standing up more stead- it made it possible to further in- ter no matter how hard it may Today in the DPRK more hopes we will prosper and get mittee of the WPK held in April fastly in the face of all forms of crease productivity as its change be. The Korean people, with and more model units are tak- stronger—this is the philosophi- 2019 the Supreme Leader said sanctions and pressure from the of colours was faster. Learning their own efforts and technol- ing the lead in making the na- cal principle Supreme Leader that self-reliance and self-sup- hostile forces, is dashing to beat about such performance of the ogy, made artifi cial satellites, tional economy Juche-oriented, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the porting national economy are the world, its advance to realize machine, he said: How good it subway trains, lorries, tractors, modern, IT-based and scien- Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), the bedrock of the existence of the supreme ideal of the people is to make things by ourselves! trolley buses, tramcars and light tifi c. And a lot of working peo- implants in the heart of the peo- the Korean-style socialism, the and the fact that it can do what Self-reliance is the only way out. aircraft. Things of Korean make ple are training themselves as ple fi rmly. motive power of its advance it is determined to and become In August 2018 when he was also include Kumkhop-, Son- well-informed workers and per- In his fi rst days of leading and development and the eter- as well-off as anyone else in the guiding the test run of a new- hung- and Kyonghung-brand forming their due role as intel- the Korean people in the build- nal lifeline essential to the des- world in its own way. ► type tramcar, he said that it was foodstuffs; Maebongsan- and ligent developers of science and really wonderful, that the new- Ryuwon-brand shoes; Choljjuk- technology under the slogan type tramcar was the fruit of self- brand socks; Arirang-brand of making all the people well- A panorama of Ryomyong Street. reliance, and that he liked the electronic appliances; Sonamu- versed in science and technol- Korean workers’ way of creation. brand satchels; Mindulle note- ogy. A dynamic campaign is go- Once he visited the Won- books; and Unhasu-, Pomhyang- ing on to get rid of dependence san Army-People Power Station gi- and Mirae-brand cosmetics. on foreign factors and procliv- built by the people of Kangwon Kim Jong Un saw to it ity to import while making the Province. Pointing to the large that science, technology and national economy Juche-orient- Korean writing Self-reliance in- education were adhered to as ed and modern. scribed on the dam of the power the engine for a grand onward The whole country is fi lled station, he said that it really in- march of self-reliance. At the with enthusiasm for self-reli- vigorated him, and that the pow- Seventh Congress of the WPK ance in work amidst the vigor- er station was the one which had he put forward the building of ous campaign to secure a sure proved again that self-reliance a sci-tech power as the primary guarantee for putting the na- was the only way out and that goal for the country to attain tional economy on a new phase there was nothing impossible to in building a powerful socialist of growth by expanding and re- do when they held fast to self- country. And at the Third Ple- inforcing the foundation of the reliance and self-development as nary Meeting of the Seventh self-supporting economy. a driving force. Central Committee of the WPK Yom Song Hui

10 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 11 Far-sighted Leader My Dear Party, You’re My Mother

HAT IS CHARACTERIS- guidance of the Supreme Leader plete such gigantic construc- CALL YOU FIRST WHETHER I’M IN BED OR During his entire career since he started to Wtic of DPRK Supreme prove the truth of self-reliance. tion projects simultaneously in I on a long journey work at the Central Committee of the WPK in 1964, Leader Kim Jong Un’s activi- His spirit of self-reliance is the the worst diffi culties. Supreme As you’re the fi rst to care for me. Kim Jong Il, the eternal General Secretary of the ties in leading the development keynote of the Juche philoso- Leader Kim Jong Un, howev- My dear Party, you’re my mother. Party, led a life of great devotion with the noble of the State is foresight. A good phy that one is the master of er, confi dent of the might of the Whoever but you would look after me so dearly? intention of becoming the foundation to make the example is the line of self-reli- one’s own destiny and has the single-hearted unity and the I will never barter my happiness in your embrace people happy and make the country of the people ance he is stressing more strong- strength to carve one’s destiny strength of the people, pushed for the entire world. rich and powerful. ly. out. With the belief that the de- ahead with those projects si- So the Korean people trusted and followed the The line is based on his sci- fending of the country’s sover- multaneously, thus developing It is a verse of My Dear Party, You’re My Mother, Party, entrusting their destiny entirely to it while entifi c analysis and judgment of eignty and security depends only an ideal land of socialism. In one of the Korean people’s favourite songs. singing the song We Are the Happiest in the World on the strengthening of its self- the present world and the real- the face of any obstacles on the From the day of its founding (October 10, 1945) that refl ects their happy life under the care of the ity of his country. The present defence capacity, he has devel- road ahead, he is mapping out the Workers’ Party of Korea impressed the Korean Party. situation of the world where the oped a powerful war deterrent. the future while foreseeing fi nal people as a mother as kind-hearted and meticulous high-handedness and arbitrari- As a result the country is focus- victory. as their own they called fi rst whether they were in I cannot make a success of my long journey of life ness of imperialism are rampant ing all its effort on the economic With clear insights into the clearly indicates that capital construction, undaunted by any position and role of his country of bed or on a long journey. without your care. import-oriented dependence on change in situation. strategic importance as the gate- One day after Korea’s liberation (August 15, I would lose all of my life if I were out of your foreign countries fraught with Even in unprecedented ma- way to and bridgehead of Asia, 1945) from the Japanese imperialists’ military oc- embrace. economic subjugation and up- nifold trials and diffi culties the he is opening up a broad avenue cupation Kim Il Sung, the leader of the new Korea, My dear Party, you’re my mother. heavals cannot ensure stable Supreme Leader, optimistic to prosperity of the nation. De- heard from an offi cial that he had seen a woman Whoever but you would strive to make me and reliable independent devel- about fi nal victory, is making a spite the sanctions against the with a child on her back assiduously transplanting renowned? opment. Furthermore, for the breakthrough for victory by dint country he is planning its more rice seedlings in a locality he had been to. I will follow you alone to the end of the world. DPRK which is under extreme of correct policies. By making wonderful future. Kim Il Sung stopped work and left for the sanctions and blockade aimed at sure that the national economy The Fifth Plenary Meeting of place immediately. Having arrived at the farm he The people’s faith in the WPK is invariable. isolating and suffocating it, it is is being made Juche-oriented, the Seventh Central Committee rebuked the local offi cials for letting women trans- The more trials and ordeals they face, the great- an acute issue to adopt a correct modern, IT-based and scientifi c, of the Workers’ Party of Korea plant rice seedlings with their babies on their back, er their trust in and expectations of the Party are line of its development. The hos- that materials are recycled in clarifi ed the line of smashing asking them if they regarded them as their own becoming. tile forces’ sanctions will grow the sector of light industry, that straight through the barriers parents and relatives. Chairman Kim Jong Un of the WPK regards more and more serious as long as domestic raw materials, fuel and in the way of socialist construc- Back to his offi ce at dawn he said earnestly to the mind of the people who are sincere in trusting the country follows its independ- other materials are used to revi- tion by dint of self-reliance. the abovementioned offi cial: We’re here to work for and following the Party as the greatest wealth of ent line. In the circumstances talize economic sectors, and that This also proves the foresighted the good of the people. We should not treat them in the revolution, and is carrying on the policy of good Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un there take place a campaign to leadership of Kim Jong Un, such a way, you know. During the anti-Japanese care for the people constantly. has foreseen that self-reliance maximize production and econo- Chairman of the DPRK State armed struggle in Manchuria we would fall in the One sultry July day in Juche 101 (2012) the is the only banner his country my and a campaign for creation, Affairs Commission, who is re- snowstorm but rise again because we knew we were Supreme Leader visited the Ryugyong Health should adhere to. he is leading the country’s head- nowned as a powerful leader not allowed to die leaving our miserable people be- Complex near completion. Looking round different His line of self-reliance is not on confrontation with sanctions breaking through any diffi cul- hind. How could we neglect the people we recovered places of the complex, he carefully examined eve- just a stopgap step to cope with of the hostile forces, thus giving ties undauntedly. that way? rything lest there should be any slight defect that the sanctions and blockade. In full play to the strength of self- In order to gain victory in In the whole period of his leadership of the revo- might cause the people inconvenience. He said his fi rst open address in April reliance. the agricultural front set as the lution Kim Il Sung, the founder of the Workers’ there were still some parts that needed fi nishing 2012 he summed up the 100- At the end of last year the major thrust area in the frontal year history of his nation full of country witnessed the moderni- breakthrough he gave his fi rst Party of Korea (WPK), always thought of the peo- touches, and earnestly asked the offi cials to bear changes from a miserable colo- zation of Samjiyon City and the fi eld guidance of this year to the ple, and devoted his all to translating their aspira- in mind that there can be no satisfaction in doing nial country to the world power, completion of the Yangdok Hot Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer tions into practice and meeting their requirements. things if they are for the good of the people, and and affi rmed that the perma- Spring Resort, the Jungphyong Factory that was under con- He visited not only factories, farms and moun- work hard until the completion of the complex. nent strategy of the Korean rev- Vegetable Greenhouse Farm, struction by dint of self-reliance. tain villages but also solitary islands for on-the- As the saying goes, “A drop of water refl ects the olution and its fi nal victory lie the North Hamgyong Provincial His beaming face at the time spot guidance. He took parental care of the people’s universe,” the aforesaid simple episode fully shows in marching straight along the Tree Nursery, and the Phalhy- convinces me of the country’s life in detail, such as the problem of food, clothing the Supreme Leader’s view of the people. road of independence and the ang Dam of the Orangchon Pow- bright future. and housing. The people’s wealth keeps increasing day after road of socialism. er Station. All these can be re- His boundless benevolent care for the people day as he continues with his journey of devotion The whole course the coun- ferred to as miracles, and they Yahia Zakaria Khiralla, made them realize the world of his infi nite affec- day and night, saying he is most pleased when he try has travelled and the things are the fruit of self-reliance. chairman of the Arab Regional tion surpassing the parental one, and they trusted does things one by one for the good of the people. it has created in the course over Nobody had thought that the Committee for Friendship and and followed him as their own father as well as the past eight years under the country would conduct and com- Solidarity with the Korean People their leader. Yom Song Hui

12 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 13 ► intern as unreasonable from the groundwork for founding a party When I expressed my inten- start. However, we had not made in the homeland and discussed, tion to set up organizations of the any desperate attempts, strain- as a measure to this end, the mat- ARF and also communist party ing our every nerve, such as act- ter of organizing the Homeland organizations in the homeland, ing against it or abandoning the Party Working Committee and Pak Tal asked me with great movement itself. We had accept- expanding vanguard party or- surprise what kind of commu- ed the measure of the Comintern ganizations, comprising the hard nist party organizations I had Excerpts from President Kim Il Sung’s Reminiscences With the Century as a temporary step and steadily core of the revolutionary strug- in mind. I took his question as a worked to found a new type of gle. The meeting emphasized on matter of course. It appeared to party by our own positive efforts. the whole that the building of have sounded rather strange to Homeland Party Working Above all, we had sought party organizations should not Pak Tal, when I had told him of ceaselessly for ways suited to the be confi ned to the guerrilla army my intention to build communist specifi c reality of our revolution or be conducted only in the areas party organizations in the coun- Committee within the framework permitted of northeast China, and that the try, where no communist party by the principles put forward by organizational and ideological existed, where all attempts to re- the Comintern, while stepping foundation for founding a party build a party had come to naught HE CREATION OF OUR armed struggle, formed the main the subjective conduct of the up preparations to found an in- should be laid down even in the and the pathetic efforts and pas- Town communist party was the stream of the communist move- Comintern, had continued their dependent party. The founding depths of the homeland. Noting sion of the fi ghters consumed to unanimous desire of the Korean ment in our country and repre- activities as before for some time of the Society for Rallying Com- that up until then basic party or- that end had remained only as revolutionaries and one of the sented its fully orthodox nature. against this decision, without rades, which consisted of van- ganizations had only been formed sad memories behind bars, and most important strategic tasks, Our founding of the party transferring their party member- guard fi ghters of the DIU, can be in some border areas along River where the freedom of association which the young communists had progressed with diffi culty, owing ship to the party of the country of regarded as a starting-point in Tuman, the meeting also stressed had been banned by law long ago. set themselves, when they had to complicated processes from its their residence; as they had been this undertaking. that from now on party organiza- When I replied that I meant started the anti-Japanese revolu- outset, due to the peculiar situ- engaged in sporadic activities Until the fi rst half of the 1930s, tions should be built in wide ar- organizations of our communist tionary struggle. ation of our revolution and the out of their habit, they could not, when the main force of the KPRA eas of the homeland and that in party, the communist party of Throughout the armed strug- various attendant problems. however, keep up their existence was active in eastern and north- order to provide unifi ed guidance Korea, he asked once more. gle against Japanese imperialism, The Korean communists had for long and had all given up. ern Manchuria, our efforts to to preparations in the homeland “What is the opinion of the we carried out an independent to undergo great pains and un- It is probable that commu- found a party had hardly reached for founding a party, the Home- Comintern about your intention line of founding a party by ex- dertake long roundabout course, nists join a foreign party for a the depth of the homeland. land Party Working Committee to form communist party organi- panding and consolidating its a direct way for others, paying short time, if need be. As the com- Admittedly, during those should be established. zations in Korea? I mean, has the basic organizations with the fi ne extremely dearly on their way to munist movement is a national years we had already formed sev- In order to intensify party Comintern approved this move?” vanguards, who had been trained founding their own party. Owing movement, as well as an interna- eral basic party organizations in guidance over the anti-Japanese “It is our own business. Why in the practical revolutionary to our peculiar situation of liv- tional movement presupposing various places of the homeland, national united front movement, do we need the Comintern’s ap- struggle. ing in an alien country, we were class solidarity, it is not strange such as Onsong and Jongsong which was expected to develop proval in this matter? We do not The Korean People’s Revolu- forced to undergo trials and ag- for communists, the performers along the River Tuman. But the throughout the country, a Home- need to obtain the approval of the tionary Army, the main force of ony, which were not experienced of the movement, to join a foreign main theatre of activities of new- land Party Working Committee Comintern, with regards to the the anti-Japanese revolution, be- by the communists of other coun- party organization for a time and generation communists to form urgently needed to be estab- formation of our party organiza- came the leading force in founding tries, in addition to the hardships transcend their nationality. party organizations, had still lished. tions in the homeland, do we?” the party, charged with its organi- common to the resistance fi ghters When the headquarters of the been eastern Manchuria. We had To make sure that this com- Pak Tal tilted his head dubi- zational and ideological prepara- of colonies in the course of found- Comintern were situated in Mos- expanded our party organiza- mittee, entrusted with such an im- ously. tions. The work of founding the ing parties. cow, quite a few leading fi gures of tions in close relations with the portant mission, met with reality, “The communist party of party had been organized and As mentioned before, the communist parties and political party organizations of all coun- we had to ensure an open-minded each country, as a branch of the carried out on a full scale, with the Comintern had withdrawn its exiles from other countries, who ties in Jiandao, concentrating our exchange of opinions with com- Comintern, is duty bound to be KPRA Party Committee gaining recognition of the Korean Com- had been staying there, regis- efforts on consolidating the Party munists active in the homeland, guided and regulated by it; con- momentum in its leadership func- munist Party in 1928, authorized tered themselves temporarily at Committee of the KPRA, and who were familiar with the situ- sequently, how can we dare form tion and role; it became a power- that it should be reorganized and organizations of the Communist trained hardcore elements, who ation of Korea. our party organizations without ful motive force, which offered called on the Korean communists Party of the Soviet Union and led would be needed to form party Pak Tal’s visit to our secret the Comintern’s approval? Do strong political backing to the active in Manchuria and Japan their party life there, while main- organizations in the homeland on camp offered us a good chance you think that the Comintern will armed struggle and, at the same to join the party of the country of taining membership of their own an extensive scale in future. to exchange our opinions on this permit our own way of handling time, strengthened party leader- their residence on the principle of parties. It was at the Donggang meet- issue. The building of party or- this matter?” ship over it and its mass founda- one party for one country. The point at issue was that ing held in May 1936 that we de- ganizations constituted one of the Pak Tal was certainly imped- tion and effected a great upswing Some of them had regarded it the Comintern had deprived liberated the policy on the party’s main topics of our conversation. ed by a dogmatic way of thinking. in the overall Korean revolution, as an inevitable fate that the Ko- the Korean communists of their founding in all particulars and After deliberations on the “Revolution is naturally an centred on the armed struggle. rean communists could only ac- parent organization and thereby debated measures for its realiza- matter of the Association for the undertaking, to be done of one’s In the second half of the 1930s, cept and adopted the passive at- forced them into the disgraceful tion, guided by the spirit of the Restoration of the Fatherland, own free will, not at anyone’s dic- the building of party organiza- titude of joining a foreign party, state of having to live in a rented Nanhutou meeting. The meet- I held a serious discussion with tate or someone else’s approval. tions, promoted by the commu- obedient to the trend of the times, room. ing raised for debate the task of Pak Tal for several hours on the Tell me, Comrade Pak Tal, did nist vanguards, who were directly looking forward to a favourable For this reason we had re- laying down, on a full scale, the formation of party organizations you start the revolution at the re- engaged in the anti-Japanese phase. Others, displeased with garded the conduct of the Com- ► organizational and ideological in the homeland. quest of somebody else? And did ►

14 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 15 Immortal Juche Idea (6) ► you form the organization in the fi rmly protected by armed force. December Theses of the Comin- name of Kapsan Working Com- The barbarous rule of the Japa- tern. The original title of the theses mittee, with someone’s approval?” nese imperialists, via their gendar- was Theses on the Tasks of the Ko- “No.” merie and police, has removed all rean Peasants and Workers. In this Popular Masses Are Subject of “Did Marx ask for anyone’s possibilities to rebuild the party document, the Comintern urged approval when he organized the in Korea. Most fi ghters, who had the Korean communists to engage League of Communists? What been on the run for rebuilding in positive work among worker Social History about Lenin when he organized the party, have been incarcerated and peasant organizations, make the Bolshevik Party?” now. Only the Party Committee every effort to acquire fi ghters Dumbfounded, Pak Tal made of the KPRA, secured by force of within the new and old national T IS ESSENTIAL FIRST TO peasants’ movement against society. Nature and society are no reply. arms, is staying clear of the en- liberation organizations, including Iknow what is the subject of feudal rule, the working-class ceaselessly refashioned and de- “Marx and Lenin founded emy’s claw. This is the reason why Singan Association, concentrate history in order to gain a sci- movement against exploitation veloped and history moves for- parties without anyone’s approv- it acts as leader over the Korean every concern on making much entifi c understanding of how and oppression by capital and ward through the medium of al; it does not stand to reason that revolution as a whole. account of the ideological unity of society develops and how his- national-liberation movement the masses’ creative role. This we cannot do so. The Comintern “The role of the Party Com- the party and try every possible tory advances. In other words, in colonies against imperialist means the enhancement of the already set a task for the Korean mittee of the KPRA as General way to rebuild the Korean Com- the cause and motive force of colonial rule. Such movements masses’ position and role. communists to rebuild their party Staff of the Korean revolution is munist Party at the earliest date, the socio-historical movement are inconceivable apart from the However, the popular masses in its theses, adopted in December the natural outcome of the devel- strengthen and develop it. Some 1928. We are going to form our opment of the communist move- communists, however, were con- should be explained correctly. demand of the masses to live and do not naturally become masters party organizations in the home- ment in our country. History re- fused, as they thought of the theses This is prerequisite for the cor- develop as masters of nature and of nature and society to make land as stated in the theses; who quired us to take up this mission. as suggesting simultaneously the rect explanation of all questions society free from all restraints. history intentionally. They can will dare dispute this fact? The The Homeland Party Working construction of a party and mass arising in understanding the law Secondly, it is that the mass- hold the position and perform Comintern cannot criticize it, ei- Committee to be organized in fu- organizations. of development of social history es of the people alone are blessed the role of the main agency of ther. In this matter, approval or ture will be protected by arms by “In my opinion,” I said, “this such as the nature, change and with the power and wisdom to history only when guidance and ratifi cation is out of the question. the KPRA.” question cannot stir up a contro- development of the movement transform nature and society. the masses are combined with- The matter is related to the sover- “I have nothing more to ask versy. Priority should be decided and its driving force. Nature and society are re- out fail. In a nutshell, the popu- eignty of the Korean communists. now.” by specifi c conditions and situa- Starting from the new philo- modelled precisely by the crea- lar masses can hold the position We can deal with our own affairs Pak Tal beamed with a smile. tion. The December Theses matter sophical principle that man is tive power of the popular masses. and perform the role of the main among ourselves; there is no need We immediately turned to dis- little to this question. It will be all the master of everything and The maintenance and devel- agency of the socio-history only to ask outsiders how we should cuss practical matters, related to right to form either a party or- decides everything, the Juche opment of society requires, be- when they are led by a wise par- handle our own affairs, is there? the formation of the Homeland ganization or a mass organization idea elucidated, for the fi rst time fore anything else, the unceasing ty and leader. Surely we are the masters of the Party Working Committee. fi rst, depending on regional condi- in history, a new Juche-oriented production of material wealth, This can be proved by the re- Korean revolution?” This discussion also began tions. Even if only three people are socio-historical principle with and the masses of the people are ality in the Democratic People’s Only then did Pak Tal agree with questions from Pak Tal. He qualifi ed for party membership, the popular masses as the cen- immediately the producers of Republic of Korea. Despite the that his thought had been quite seemed to put questions fi rst, be- they can organize a communist tral factor. The most fundamen- such material wealth. With the hostile forces’ lasting savage superfi cial, and expressed his full fore thrusting himself into an ar- party circle. But if no one is eligi- tal and elementary principle in invention of steam engine man- sanctions against it, the Korean support for our stand and sugges- gument. ble for party membership, a mass this regard is that the popular kind entered the era of the in- people are continuously work- tion. “The homeland is now abuzz organization may be formed fi rst, masses are the main agency of dustrial revolution, and then the ing world-startling miracles in “I’ve been the victim of really with controversy about the mat- where communists can be trained social history. era of information industry and all fi elds of social life including foolish notions. I hadn’t thought ter as to which of the two should to form a party organization later. What, then, is the reason digital economy by developing economic construction, cultural that we ourselves are the mas- be organized fi rst, a party or mass As a matter of course, since both for the popular masses being advanced machines and equip- construction and defence up- ters of the Korean revolution and organizations. The Hamhung gro- party and mass organizations are the main agency of social move- ment including computer and building. They facelifted Sam- considered that the Comintern up insists that the construction related to each other, you must not ment? artifi cial satellite. jiyon City, constructed Mirae decides on the revolution in each of a party should be given prior- artifi cially separate one from the First, it is that all social And it is indisputable that Scientists Street, Ryomyong country. By the way, General, if ity, while the Tanchon group and other. You must not forget, howev- movements result from the aspi- the popular masses are the crea- Street, Yonphung Scientists party organizations are formed in Hongwon group stick to the opin- er, that no matter which one is giv- ration and demand of the mass- tors of not only science and tech- Holiday Camp, Yangdok Hot the homeland, who will they be- ion that mass organizations should en priority, the communists must long to? Where should they expect be formed fi rst and that a party direct all their energies to train- es to live independently. nology but also literature and Spring Resort and Jungphyong guidance from?” can be founded next only through ing the reserve force of the party Human history has devel- the art, and that they are a re- Vegetable Greenhouse Farm, “The party organizations in practical struggle.” among the popular masses. As oped to socialist society via fl ection of the people’s social ac- and launched earth observation the homeland will be affi liated to “What do you think, Comrade long as there are vanguard fi ght- primitive, slaveholding, feudal tivity for remodelling nature and satellite Kwangmyongsong 4. and guided by the Party Com- Pak Tal?” ers, who are qualifi ed for party and capitalist societies. Various society. The masses are directly Like this the popular masses mittee of the KPRA. Under the “Unfortunately I don’t have membership, a party organization social movements which gave in charge of production and are are creators of history, but they present peculiar situation, where my own opinion. By common can be formed at any time.” cause for such processes of his- creators of science and the art. can make history independently there is no communist party in knowledge, a party seems to be the Pak Tal asked me what would torical development were all Not only that, they constitute and creatively as its independ- Korea, the Party Committee plays fi rst to be founded. But I am not be the function of the Home- brought about by the independ- the decisive forces in transform- ent agency only when they are the role of General Staff, assum- sure.” land Party Working Committee I ent requirements of the mass- ing society. It is by their struggle guided by a party and a leader. ing leadership over the whole Ko- Pak Tal was thinking that the planned to organize. es. This applies to the struggle that the old society is remodelled rean revolution. Its activities are source of this controversy was the (To be continued) of slaves against slavery, the constantly into a new, advanced Kim Son Myong

16 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 17 By Dint of Love and Trust Fruit of Research

RASPING PUBLIC SENTI- spired the whole country to fol- residents who will be evacuated Gment and moving their heart low the spirit. from the area to be submerged. HE METAL POWDER INJECTION-MOULDING with love and trust was the main Later, the Chairman recalled This is merely one of the epi- Ttechnology helps mass-produce products of complex feature of the art of leadership that what had encouraged him sodes associated with his politics shapes with metal or non-metal powder, so it is recog- of Chairman Kim Jong Il, the most greatly during the Arduous of love for the people. nized as an advanced technology of the 21st century. Dr eternal General Secretary of the March was the Kanggye spirit, When he went to see soldiers Kim Jong Gon, associate professor of Kim Chaek Uni- Workers’ Party of Korea. When- that the spirit invigorated him in charge of coastal defence, he versity of Technology materials science and technology ever he formulated lines and pol- and became a support to him, took a measure to protect their faculty, says, “If you use the metal powder injection- icies, guided the building of the and that it enabled the Korean faces against the sea wind lest moulding technology you can mass-produce small-sized Party and the State, and solved people to make the Arduous they should be chapped. When products of complex shapes at a less cost. In a word, you problems arising in the revolu- March and forced march suc- he visited industrial establish- can get maximum profi t from small investment. This is tion and construction, he always cessfully. ments, he would look around the greatest advantage of this technology.” their hostels to see if bedding made sure that everything re- Today the people of the prov- A dozen years ago a research group headed by Kim fl ected his love for and trust in ince still say unanimously that was thick enough and if rooms was conducting a research project to produce a rare- the people. the Chairman’s trust in them were warm enough. And looking The Chairman solved all enabled them to become creators round canteens, he counted the earth permanent magnet by dint of powder metallurgy problems arising in the revolu- of the spirit at that time. kind of dishes to be served for technology. In the course of accumulating experience in tion and construction by moving His methods of leadership to workers’ meals, and requested powder metallurgy and studying the relevant data they the heart of people with his love move the heart of people with his earnestly that workers be taken came to know that most of advanced materials in the for and trust in them. love for and trust in them found good care of. During his inspec- world were developed by dint of the powder metallurgy In the mid-1990s the impe- clear expression in his deep con- tion of those establishments technology. And they also found out that the essence of rialists intensifi ed despicable cern for their living, the supplies where supplies were provided the technology was the metal powder injection-moulding economic sanctions against the for them. well for their wor-kers, he would technology which was referred to as a revolution in the Democratic People’s Republic of In March 2006 the Chairman express great satisfaction, in- fi eld of moulding processing. This made the group know Research gets intensifi ed. Korea and the moves to isolate inspected the construction site of spiring offi cials to pay close at- about the metal powder injection-moulding technology, and stifl e the country. Moreover, the Samsu Power Station. Cast- tention to the life of workers. and since then they set about the research into the tech- consecutive natural calamities ing a glance over the whole con- One winter day Kim Jong Il nology in earnest. In June Juche 109 (2020) all the eight hit the country, causing mani- struction site from the dam he visited the Chollima Steel Com- They had neither relevant experience nor basic tech- scientists of the research group, who had fold diffi culties. gave detailed instructions on the plex. While inquiring about the nical data. They, however, continued the research. Dur- established a production technology based At this juncture the problems arising in the project. supply service for its workers, he ing the days they developed core techniques of powder on metal powder injection-moulding, were Chairman trusted workers of Then he asked offi cials about the had a shadow pass over his face awarded the February 16 Science and Tech- Jagang Province to rely on their matter of evacuating the local at the fact that the temperature injection moulding one after another such as the one of own strength and set an exam- residents from the area which of the canteen for smelters was making agglomerant, that of removing agglomerant and nology Prize. And the main developer Kim ple for the whole country in would be submerged in water in not so high. He said that even that of sintering. Six years later they fi nally succeeded in Jong Gon was selected as one of the nation- making a breakthrough in solv- the future. high-nutritious meals were use- making a dozen kinds of metal powder injection-moulded al top scientists and technicians 2019. ing the electricity problem. True Hearing that they were go- less if the workers took them in products, and introduced the achievements in a factory Today they are striving to ensure the to his trust the workers built ing to evacuate the residents by a cold place, and instructed the on trial. integration of education, scientifi c research dams and several medium and letting them live together in oth- senior offi cials of the complex to Afterwards, they developed a fi xed lever of the as- and production related to the aforesaid small size power stations, and ers’ houses, he said that he came call the workers together and sembling tool of a CNC lathe, a hemispheric drill bit, an technology, and intensifying joint research made generator parts though to the construction site to learn apologize to them, and raise injection nozzle and different sizes of small gears con- with different research institutes and fac- they were suffering from severe about the matter as the evacua- the temperature in the canteen secutively, and introduced them in several industrial tories. food shortage. tion of the residents had not been without fail. establishments like the Pyongyang Children’s Foodstuff Meanwhile, they are producing various In January Juche 87 (1998) mentioned in the many relevant In May 2009 he went down Factory. kinds of powder injection-moulded items. Kim Jong Il visited the prov- documents he had read. He con- into an underground pit of the Those sci-tech achievements were highly appreciated Their effort to get maximum profi t from ince in the bitter cold of around tinued to say that the residents Ryongyang Mine where water as they had pioneered a new phase of the material pro- minimum investment is going on. 30℃ below zero, inspecting should be evacuated after con- was dripping from the ceiling, cessing technology. Choe Sol Mi nearly 20 units there. What he structing better dwelling houses and stood by a digger to see min- keenly felt while looking round for them than their previous ers work. them was the confi dence that ones. He also added: The foun- A writer wrote as follows on there would be nothing impossi- dation of socialism is the people. the fact: ► climbs up to the peak of the farthest mountain on with this great man?” ble to do when the people turned We can defend socialism only “Though the world does this land and goes down into an underground pit The countless anecdotes of love for and trust in out in high spirits like the work- when we rely on them and get not know, the people do. Our unhesitatingly to see his people. the people that happened during the Chairman’s ers of the province had done. He support from them. In this sense Comrade Kim Jong Il, as an “No doubt the Heaven would bow to him. The revolutionary leadership are still told and retold named the fi ghting spirit of the you should never make light of ordinary man, cares about the people would be purely loyal to him. What could today. workers Kanggye spirit, and in- construction of houses for the country without ceremony, ► check the advance of the people who march forward Yom Song Hui

18 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 19 Gravity-fed Waterways Stretch Secret of Increased Production

project. that water fl ows down to a lower ARIOUS HEALTH FOODS Knowledge Is Power The factory also organizes The history of irrigation place the project was completed Vfrom the Amnokgang Gener- technical lectures for workers in the country started after in 28 months. This made it pos- al Foodstuff Factory in Sinuiju, Last year the factory carried every week, giving them a good North Phyongan Province are out over 40 technical innova- opportunity to improve their it was liberated from the sible to fully irrigate over 100 gaining public favour. Not long tions and developed over 20 va- technical knowledge and skills. Japanese imperialists’ mili- 000 hectares of paddy and non- ago I visited the factory to know rieties of products of seven kinds Its monthly products show has tary occupation on August paddy fi elds in 15 cities, coun- the secret of its success. including fermented vinegar- become an important work to 15, 1945, I think. ties and districts, and prevent based drinks, fermented soybean improve the quality of products It is the Korean peasantry’s the damage by stagnant water Pacesetter for Sci-tech foodstuffs and fried grain chips. and see how the public rates new centuries-old desire to do farm- in the West Sea Barrage basin Learning And a dozen production process- products. This encouraged the ing on their own land. To this by controlling the fl ood capacity es were awarded certifi cates of workers’ zeal for production. end, the Party made sure that of the Taedong River. Besides, it I met Kim Chun Sil, general food safety management system, Meanwhile, not a few young manager of the factory, at its including the biscuit, noodle and workers of the factory have dis- they became the owners of land made it possible to save power of sci-tech learning space. Every drink production ones. This is tinguished themselves as mas- through the agrarian reform, Ri Yong Guk. tens of thousands of kW, develop day she spends a lot of time on inconceivable apart from the ters of invention. Paek Kum Ju, and saw to it that irrigation sys- fi sh farming, and improve the the shop fl oor and at the sci-tech reliable scientifi c and technical 24, is one of them. She developed tems were established so that surrounding landscape. learning space. Her manner of personnel of the factory. a method of producing functional OME TIME AGO A KOREA they could do farming to their The completion of the Kae- work has continued invariably It trained necessary techni- drink which not only helps re- SToday reporter had an inter- heart’s content without worry- chon-Lake Thaesong Waterway since she was appointed to her cal personnel and expanded the cover from fatigue and treat hy- view with Ri Yong Guk, deputy ing about water. in 2002 was followed by that of present post three years ago. sci-tech learning space several pertension but also is good for the times compared to the previous beauty of women. The method director of a bureau of the Min- In April Juche 36 (1947) the Paengma-Cholsan Water- This enables her to learn ad- vanced technology and conceive one. Then it created a huge da- won a DPRK certifi cate of patent. istry of Agriculture. Kim Il Sung, leader of the new way in 2005, and the Miru Plain novel ideas. Last year she in- tabase on different fi elds such She says, “Some people make Irrigation is a matter of Korea, inspected the Mathan ir- Waterway in 2009. vented a method of making nu- as foodstuff industry, and con- light of science and technol- crucial importance related rigation project on the spot and The fi rst-stage project of the tritious drops with buckwheat ducted a mass-based technical ogy in producing foodstuff, and to the characteristic condi- opened up a new chapter of ir- South Hwanghae Provincial and lecithin, and it was award- innovation campaign vigorously. think they need no more than tions of agricultural produc- rigation. The completion of the Waterway was completed in the ed a certifi cate of patent of the Many workers enrolled at the high skills. It’s true with their tion and climate in this coun- project led to the expansion of year when the Seventh WPK Democratic People’s Republic of study-while-you-work system, past, but today they can do more try, I think. paddy fi elds from eight hectares Congress was held. This year Korea. and got professional education things only when they know sci- at the learning space and in an ence and technology. Knowledge You are right. Farming has to 150-odd hectares in the local- the second-stage project of the With profound knowledge online education room. At pre- is power.” long been regarded as the basis ity, turning the area into fertile waterway was fi nished. she is guiding the production scientifi cally and technically. sent a lot of workers are getting The factory is striving to of everything. It is a general idea land. Later, the State pushed In South Hamgyong Prov- She knows well what is the main online education. Among them produce popular products faster ahead with the establishment of that farming is impossible with- ince a gravity-fed waterway was factor in enhancing the safety of are a married woman or a man and more. out water. the Jaeryong area irrigation sys- completed in Kumya County, the products, and increasing the aged around sixty. Pak Yong Il My country has a climatic tem, the Phyongnam irrigation and another similar project is production. However busy she is, feature that drought and fl ood system and the Amnok River ir- going on. she meets researchers and tech- repeat periodically. Moreover, rigation system. This translated What is notable is that na- nicians regularly to discuss with it has a limited area under cul- the centuries-old desire of the tionwide forces have been mo- them about how to solve techni- tivation, and rice cultivation in peasantry for water into reality bilized for irrigation projects cal problems arising in the pro- duction. And she stays all night paddy fi elds takes a lion’s share and enabled them to do farming under the care of the State. Ac- at the sci-tech learning space to in farming. As there is a saying more safely. cordingly, the irrigation and wa- hit on new solutions. that rice farming is water farm- The construction of grav- ter conservancy sector is paying Last year products from the ing, only the completion of ag- ity-fed waterways has been deep attention to maintaining factory ranked within the top ricultural irrigation can ensure done vigorously, I think. and reinforcing the irrigation three at a provincial sci-tech stable farming and high yield of The fi rst gravity-fed water- facilities, equipment and struc- festival and the National Sci- crops. way in the country is the Kae- tures in a planned way, and con- Tech Festival. This was associ- So the Workers’ Party of Ko- chon-Lake Thaesong Waterway. trolling water scientifi cally and ated with the effort of the gen- rea set it as an urgent task to It was constructed according technically. eral manager. She says that only when she takes the lead in the accelerate irrigation in the work to the grand nature-remaking The nature-harnessing pro- campaign of ability, will she be policy of the WPK to transform to put agricultural production jects will go on in the future, too, able to turn the production and on a fi rm material and techni- water pumping-based irriga- to perfect agricultural irrigation business management into the cal basis, and has paid close at- tion systems into gravitational on a higher level as required by course of direct application of tention to the completion of the ones. By using the natural law the developing reality. ‰ science and technology.

20 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 21 ► the relevant material and technical New Types of Shoes Manufactured process. What is important in making trainers is to make them light and con- venient for exercise. So the new prod- uct development laboratory has nearly HE TRAINERS ARE JUST completed a 3D designing program “Tfi t for my feet as they are which makes it possible to ensure the designed by a 3D foot measuring aesthetic features of shoes and satisfy device, and the colour is to my lik- technical requirements. ing.” “The shoes are so light and Technical innovations have been comfortable.” These are people’s brought about in the production pro- comments on shoes from the Ryu- cesses as well. Rational methods of won Footwear Factory. cutting and those of processing outer The factory is producing dif- rims of shoes are invented to meet the ferent kinds of trainers and pro- technical requirements for trainers of fessional sports shoes as much new types. A pneumatic shoetree re- as it wants. This can be known moving machine has been made and through the fact that its shoes introduced into the production pro- won fi rst place at a footwear show cess, thus making the process auto- where those from different facto- matic. ries were rated according to their And the domestic production of the popularity. The factory owes the screen printing ink has been realized. success to designing of good shoe The factory also has made achieve- patterns fi rst. ments in recycling the waste such as The designers make even a artifi cial leather scraps that come from simple pattern with great care. the insole production. They regularly study the global Such efforts bore fruit: Men’s and trend in the development of train- children’s trainers for spring and au- ers and the domestic demand for tumn from the factory won the De- them, and they habitually ob- cember 15 Medal of Quality which is serve the shoes of the passers-by conferred on the best products in the while walking along the road. In country. the course of this they create pat- Diversifying trainers in terms of terns that appeal to the tastes kind, shape and colour is an invariable and aesthetic senses of men and business strategy of the factory. women of different ages in dif- Article by Rim Ok ferent seasons. A typical exam- Photos by Ri Song Ik ple is the creation of patterns of laminate printing-based trainers, knitted trainers and injection- moulded trainers. The workers of the factory also create unique patterns. Nov- el patterns are selected through a mass prize contest, and those which enjoy great popularity are introduced into production. In June this year the factory cre- ated over 40 patterns of chil- dren’s shoes along with those of hundreds of kinds of trainers for adults. Designing in accordance with the patterns follows up quickly. In case of the similar patterns the quality of shoes depends on ►

22 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 23 New Observation Devices Developed

N THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC and different fi elds of the national economy. Iof Korea meteorological observation has long One of them is an automatic meteorological ob- been an important undertaking. Today, with rapid servation device capable of observing temperature, progress in science and technology, different kinds humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind velocity of high-performance devices have been developed and direction and precipitation automatically and and in use to attain success in observing and pre- transferring the relevant data in real time. When it dicting the weather. was applied to meteorological observation stations The developers of the devices are researchers of across the country, it was favourably commented the Hydro-meteorological Forecast Device Institute, upon as it made it possible to save labour and time, the Hydro-meteorological Academy. In particular, conduct meteorological observation in real time, Research is under way for meteorological observation devices. the observation devices developed by the research- and ensure its accuracy. ers of the meteorological observation device labora- Later, the researchers intensifi ed the research ► and have a scientifi c understanding of the meteoro- tion to good harvest of vegetables. tory are in effective use to offer basic weather and to develop another automatic device to observe logical and climatic change in the mountain. The researchers also developed an automatic climate data badly needed for weather forecasting many more meteorological elements. Soon they de- Besides, the researchers pushed ahead with the marine meteorological observation device, a port- veloped and introduced into practice a development of other kinds of meteorological ob- able digital gauge for measuring atmospheric pres- device which can observe twice as many servation devices needed for different fi elds of the sure, and a soil analysis meter for measuring soil meteorological elements as before. It national economy. They thus made a device to col- fertility. was much more improved in capacity for lect the meteorological data needed for agricultural Now they are conducting extensively and in storing and transmitting data and net- production, the one that can measure soil humidity, depth the research to develop more advanced de- work communication, and it could work evaporation, temperature of soil and pH of soil. Its vices such as an unmanned one. by solar energy as well. The collection usefulness is getting clear in practice. It was intro- of extensive and accurate basic data on duced in the Jungphyong Vegetable Greenhouse Article by Rim Ok weather and climate by the device has Farm newly built in 2019, making a great contribu- Photos by Ri Song Hak enhanced the promptness, correctness and scientifi c accuracy of weather fore- casting. The researchers also made progress in grasping the meteorological conditions of those regions with unfavourable natu- ral conditions, and explaining the fea- tures of their climatic change. Mt Paektu can be cited. It is the highest mountain in Korea, and the area is the coldest one with the most changeable weather. In the area the wind blows very hard and changes suddenly, and the sky is covered with thick clouds frequently compared to other areas, and thus it often witnesses relevant electrical phenomena. Besides, there often happens a tornado around Lake Chon. So the climate in the Mt Paektu area is unpredictable. The researchers developed an auto- matic meteorological observation device and installed them on the Janggun Peak, the highest peak in the mountain, and on the shore of Lake Chon to observe the meteorological and climatic features of the mountain area. This helped reduce the observers’ trouble in the severe cold and ever-changing weather conditions, ►

24 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 25 Young Doctor of Medicine A Day of Amateur Marathoner

HE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF OW IS HE SO ENERGETIC AND HEALTHY? sic”—this is what he never fails to tell. As TPyongyang University of Medical Sciences boasts a HAnyone has this question after hearing about Pak he likens alcohol and tobacco to narcotics young teacher, Jo Kye Ryong, who received a PhD in medi- Jong Gil, a 78-year-old man who has participated in eight damaging the body and mind, he has not cine in his twenties for his successful introduction of a bio- marathons including the 2019 Autumn Amateur Mara- taken up drinking and smoking. This ena- resonance therapy into clinical practice. As child Jo used to surprise his parents and kindergar- thoners Race. bles him to maintain power of locomotion ten teachers by memorizing different pictures he had seen When they visit his house in the Wau Workers’ Dis- and lung capacity good enough to be ad- once—it was since he was four years old. In his kindergar- trict, Taedong County, South Phyongan Province, for an mired by young people. ten days he worked out answers to mathematical problems answer to the question, the elderly man is wont to say The old man’s view of music is remark- of several-digit numbers by means of mental arithmetic. about fi ve habits he has been keeping to all his life. able. He always says that man should live His unusual inborn memory and enthusiasm for study greatly helped him broaden his knowledge in his primary It is his unbreakable routine to go for a jog every optimistically, and love music in particular. and junior middle school days and in his days at Pyongyang morning, breathing fresh air in the mountain district. He spares no effort and time for appreciat- Middle School No. 1. So he always led others in study. He took up the habit decades ago when he started work. ing music or buying CDs of new songs. Looking back upon his days at Pyongyang Middle School At that time the distance between his home and work- He is full of vigour for his advanced age, No. 1, Jong Un Hui, the teacher in charge of his class at him a master’s degree. place was about four kilometres, and he used to run the and he often ends his talk with people as the time, recalls: “One year there was held a multi-subject When the human body is exposed to academic contest of middle school students across the coun- electromagnetic waves for a certain pe- distance. Even after he retired, he kept to the habit in- follows: try. Jo participated in the contest with some students of the riod of time, the waves cause resonance variably, running at least fi ve to ten kilometres every “The secret is nothing special. If you school. Then I was surprised to see the problems presented with natural frequency of the body to pro- morning. keep to these fi ve habits, you may live long on the computer display because they were diffi cult enough duce a therapeutic effect. This is the bio- In April Juche 93 (2004) he, in preparation for an am- in good health.” to baffl e us teachers. Jo, however, worked out the answers resonance therapy. ateur marathoners race, ran over 80 kilometres to and Kim In Son to all the problems by dint of his own novel and original Ri Jong Gon says, “Afterwards, Jo from Phyongsong, South Phyongan Province, in a dozen ideas. The jury, too, commented that he was a promising proved the advantages of the therapy one student.” after another through clinical practice. hours to the surprise of people. He has got experience in While attending Pyongyang University of Medical Sci- At that time all the patients who got the several races, and is now making thoroughgoing prepara- ences, he received a lecture on interferon. Interferon is a treatment expressed their satisfaction as tions for the coming competition. He has already mapped protein or a glycoprotein which has an antiviral action. it was unique and its effi cacy was good.” out weekly and monthly training plans. This action happens when a virus or a germ enters the Two years after the publication of the The old man’s another habit is cold-water rubbing. body of a vertebrate animal or a cultured cell. Interferon paper he received a doctorate of medi- had long been used for the prevention and treatment of cine for his making a lot of achievements Even in cold winter days he does not skip doing it. To cancer as well as viral diseases. However, the process for in introducing the therapy into clinical him the time of rubbing himself with a cold wet towel is a making an antiviral medicine with interferon was not con- practice. Meanwhile, he wrote and made special time for training himself physically and mentally. fi rmed yet, so the university was intensifying the research public some valuable reference books con- Ri Chan Jin, section doctor in charge of the old man, on it. ducive to the development of medical sci- calls on him at his home at 4 pm every day. He says, “Pak At that time Jo decided to delve into the unknown world, ence, including Bio-resonance Technology is very healthy perhaps because he does the morning jog and buckled down to the research. Ri Jong Gon, the teacher and Its Application and Electric Field of of the university who guided Jo in the research, says, “After Mobile Phone and Health. and the cold-water rubbing every day. All his health in- school he would sit up deep into the night for the research. Kang Ri Hye, deputy director of the dexes are normal, including blood pressure, temperature I was deeply moved by the way the young student was mak- Scientifi c Research Department, says, “It and pulse.” ing such strenuous efforts.” is only a year since he began to work with Diligence is the standard by which Pak judges person- When he was a third-grader, Jo made public the paper us. Over the period, however, he has writ- ality. Handsome is that handsome does—this is his motto Study on Synthesis of Interferon Gamma, which is condu- ten a lot of books—it would have taken cive to making an antiviral medicine that enhances the years for other teachers to do it. He is of life. He cultivates the kitchen garden alone, and asks immunity of the human body as a whole. And then he de- young, and no one can match him in en- his children to live assiduously. veloped the program System for Judging Cases of Internal thusiasm for scientifi c research.” Also notable is his eating habit. He hates overeating Treatment of Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers which helps Whenever Jo’s colleagues congratu- and unbalanced diet, and prefers vegetables. decide cases of pharmaceutical or surgical treatment, and late him on his successful research, he Usually, he loves to eat vegetables and soybean food, thus he received a DPRK certifi cate of invention. says that he has a long way to go to live especially, potato, garlic and spring onion. This may have While attending the postgraduate course of the univer- up to the expectations of his teachers and sity he made public the paper Experimental Study on Bio- other people who helped him. helped him to maintain his sturdy and nimble body with resonance Therapy. It was rated as one of value which can a height of 163 cm and a weight of 52 kg, the old man tangibly help promote the health of the people. This earned Sim Chol Yong says. “Keep away from alcohol and tobacco, and love mu-

26 KOREA TODAY ► less she was determined to add catch up with the leading prac- new recruit, engaged in more Triple World Taekwon-Do lustre to her country.” titioners; she was the fi rst to fervent drills, while her chief That evening Mi Hyang begin the morning exercise and coach Jang Kyong Ok made stayed in the hall deep into the was the last to leave the train- stricter demand. As a result, Champion night until she got to perform ing hall. Sunday or holiday, her Pak regained her championship the necessary movement fl aw- clothes were wet with her per- in two rounds of the Taekwon- lessly. spiration. Her untiring endeav- Do World Championships. Thanks to her tireless effort, our resulted in rapid improve- Over the past dozen years her technical level improved ment of her ability, which led she has won dozens of gold med- steadily and now she became to her win at a number of na- als and two technical prizes at No. 1 in her group. She made tional and international com- international contests. By last her debut at the 9th Sobaeksu petitions. year she had been put on the Prize National Schoolchildren’s But intoxicated with the annual list of the best ten Taek- Taekwon-Do Championships, wins in her early age, she failed won-Doists of the DPRK several when she won the women’s 40kg to come within the top three times. individual sparring by defeat- places at the 19th Taekwon-Do Pak says, “I have fulfi lled my ing all her rivals. Watching her World Championships—due to hope I nurtured as a child, and fi ght, the spectators commented her slip. She felt terrible, recall- I know I owe my success to my that she had a unique kicking ing the images of her parents, instructors and other good peo- technique. instructors and fellow practi- ple who have given me selfl ess Later she was admitted to tioners who had wished her to guidance and help in my career. the national team. Though she bring glory to her school and And I am sure I will be able to was the youngest in the team, club. Now she sorely felt that translate my dream into reality she had the strongest desire to there had to be no satisfaction as I am under their care.” be a Taekwon-Do star. at all in training. She redoubled her effort to Pak, regarding herself as a Sim Yong Jin

Pak wins the women’s individual sparring event of the 21st Taekwon-Do World Championships.

Pak Mi Hyang breaks boards at the 20th Taekwon-Do World Championships.

AK MI HYANG FROM was ushered into the world of learn was to jump-kick a higher Pthe Pyongyang Taekwon- Taekwon-Do by Kim Yong Suk part of the human body and to Do Club is a triple world Tae- who used to be an instructor of kick in a 180 degrees swing. Kim kwon-Do champion. She won the Pyongyang Students and Yong Suk still remembers what the women’s individual sparring Children’s Palace. Kim, an in- had happened one of those days, event at the 18th, 20th and 21st structor of the Pyongyang Tae- saying, “After the routine exer- Taekwon-Do World Champion- kwon-Do School at the moment, cise one day I asked Mi Hyang ships, thus securing a fi rm posi- recalls, “I found Mi Hyang en- to remain while others were dis- tion as a strong Taekwon-Doist dowed with proper senses and missed to return home. I took and elevating the honour of her build for an athlete.” her to an apparatus for kicking country which is the home of the The day she stepped into the exercise. There I showed her martial art. Taekwon-Do training hall of the some demonstration movements Pak began to learn Tae- palace Mi Hyang made up her and then told her to follow my kwon-Do during her primary mind to become an admirable example. But she was afraid to school days. She was learning martial art practitioner. try it. Now I told her she was calisthenics in the Thongilgori She spared no pains to bring too feeble to bring her hope into Primary School, Rangnang her determination into reality. reality. And I asked her not to District, Pyongyang, when she What she found most diffi cult to walk into the training hall un- ►

28 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 29 “I Want to Book a Room Here”

T DEPENDS ON HOW THE ELDERLY ARE surrounded by a stone fence with pierced openwork ► “At this home we are fully supplied with all nec- and “Excellent.” They were coming from upstairs “Ilooked after to rate a country as good or bad. of cranes. essaries, and we receive various health tonics on where there was going a game of yut (a folk game This old people’s home is an excellent example.” In the yard of the home Choe Chong Sim, the national holidays,” Jong said, and added that on of Korea) between the chong (blue) team and the This is what Wolfgang Nowak, former general bu- director of the home, welcomed me. As a nearly their birthdays many college students and young hong (red) team. The chong team’s leader Kim Sun reau director of the German Chancellor’s Offi ce, 50-year-old woman, she said with a smile, “At the people visit them to congratulate them. Ok, a 75-year-old woman who had worked at the wrote in the visitors’ book in the Pyongyang Old moment we look after the people who have no one Then I went to a fi tness room equipped with a Sangwon Cement Complex, drew all the attention People’s Home after looking it round in November to rely upon. They’re provided with food, clothes, multifunctional comprehensive massage chair and by displaying her skill of throwing yut sticks. Juche 106 (2017). underwear, footwear and other daily necessities at exercise equipment such as exercise cycle. Impressive Looking at the bright and pleasant faces of the Not long ago I visited the home. state expense.” were the elderly engrossed in exercise in the room. elderly, I remembered the words of a foreigner who As I drove some distance along the Taedong riv- Guided by the director I looked round different “When I sweat here with some exercise, I feel said, “I want to book a room here” after looking erside past Kumnung Tunnel No. 2 and across the places. refreshed and feel as if I were young again,” said round the old people’s home. Chongnyu Bridge, there came into sight the home I fi rst dropped in at room No. 125 where I met Hwang Sam Nyo, a 76-year-old woman who had I left the home hoping the elderly would lead a amid various fruit and fl owering trees. The two-sto- two old women, Kim Chi Ok, 93, and Jong Chun Sil, been a worker of the Janggyo Cooperative Farm in happier life. rey building was distinctively characterized by the 89. They were veterans of the Fatherland Libera- Kangnam County, Pyongyang. Article by Kim Hyon Ju national fl avour, covered with a red gable roof and tion War (June 1950–July 1953). ► Then I heard excited cheers of “Kol!” “Ssyung!” Photos by Ri Song Chol

30 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 31 ► troupe after graduating from National Intangible Cultural Heritage (47) World of Magicians the Pyongyang University of Computer Technology he strove to introduce science and tech- Sumbakkokjil nology into his magic tricks. Thus he created large-scale years old. Later he kept produc- functional programmes such as ing other programmes, and thus On the Water and With a Bus. won the technical prize at the UMBAKKOKJIL (HIDE- when a hider reaches the posi- He also produced various com- Monte Carlo International Mag- municative and fantastic ones Sand-seek) is a Korean folk tion successfully unseen by the ic Festival held in March 1996. including the one in which he game with a long history. seeker, he remains “alive.” He became a Kim Il Sung guessed at the fi gures of cards The translated version of Both those found out by the Prize winner and People’s Ar- while covering his eyes. Pakthongsa compiled in the pe- seeker and those remaining tiste for the success. Now his performance enjoys riod of Koryo (918–1392) and alive stand around the position Following in his father’s public favour as it is always other books compiled later have and cheer for the remaining footsteps he is still devoting his new and unique. records of the game. hiders, singing the following all to production of magic art refl ecting the life of the Korean Pakthongsa was a textbook verse. New Generation people. for foreign language education at that time. This tells that it Hide yourselves well lest you Jong Na Ri and Kim Un Sok Leading World with was a children’s game played should betray hair. represent a new generation of Science widely enough to be recorded in Hide well, the seeker’s the troupe’s magicians. Though they are young with short ca- such a linguistic textbook dur- approaching you. Kim Ju Song, a magician of reer and little experience they ing the Koryo dynasty. the troupe, says, “This is the era produced the programmes Flo- In modern times following The game comes to an end of science and technology. So we wer and Butterfl y and Amusing the period of the feudal Joson when all the hiders come out. should introduce modern sci- Yut Game last year, getting un- dynasty (1392–1910) the game Then the “dead” children ence and technology into magic Kim Kwang Chol (right) and Kim Ju Song are engrossed in stinted applause. They have the was played in a more diversifi ed play scissors-stone-cloth and production in keeping with the creating a new programme. knack of producing magic tricks manner. decide the seeker, and the game requirement of the developing suited to the aesthetic sense of era so as to lead the world in the The game used to go by vari- is repeated. the times and full of national aspect.” ous names in different regions. It is a good game for children qualities and emotion, thus HE MAGIC ART OF THE than artistic skills. In the course In essence, magic is a kind of The Korean word sumbak- to foster their observation and drawing the attention of ex- Democratic People’s Repub- of this he produced a lot of magic deception, and if modern equip- kokjil was derived from the way circumstantial judgment and T perts as promising magicians. lic of Korea is enjoying popular- programmes refl ecting the Kore- ment and advanced techniques the game is played. In the game agility. They are pooling their wis- ity for its unique tricks, novel an people’s life and sentiments. are applied to magic production, a child set as a seeker tries to While thinking how and dom to create a new item pecu- ideas and strong national colour. Cards Trick and Umbrella Trick it will result in tricks and curi- liar to the Korean nation. spot the other children. where they should hide or The following is about some ma- he performed won the Grand ous representations beyond im- Generally the game was watching where and how they th gicians of the National Acrobatic Prix at the 20 International agination, thus arousing greater played a lot in a yard around a hide, children develop their in- Troupe. Modern Magic Festival held in interest in the audience, Kim as- Article by Kim So Yong house or in a wide open space of telligence. the then Czechoslovakia in July serts. Photos by Hwang Jong Hyok a village on a full-moon night in Whenever children play the In His Father’s Footsteps 1985. At that time he was 19 From his fi rst days at the ► summer. game in a village, their singing Kim Kwang Chol, direc- The seeker, who is on the and pleasant laughs resound tor and magician of the troupe, last of turns counted or loses in throughout the village. is a son of the world-famous the scissors-stone-cloth, leans While playing the game chil- magician Kim Thaek Song, a against a tree or rock set as dren deepen their friendship Kim Il Sung Prize winner, La- the position and, with his eyes and promote harmony. bour Hero and People’s Artiste. closed, counts numbers, while The tradition of the game is The father won special prizes Jong Na Ri and other children disperse and hide carried on. Kindergartens and and fi rst place at different in- Kim Un Sok are themselves. primary schools teach children ternational magic festivals. He in training. After counting, the seeker how to play the game during was awarded the title of “Magic looks for the hiders. When he extracurricular activities or th King” at the 16 International fi nds out a child, the seeker re- the playing time. And the game Modern Magic Festival held in turns to his position and touch- is introduced through Korean July Juche 70 (1981). es it with his hands or feet, Central Radio or television or Kwang Chol grew up under the strict instruction of his fa- naming the child loudly. Then other kinds of mass media. ther. He made efforts to apply the identifi ed child “dies.” The The pleasant and interest- into the production of magic child, who is found out by the ing folk game of children was tricks his father’s opinion that seeker, does not “die” if he runs put on the list of national intan- the magic art should show a gen- and touches the seeker’s posi- gible cultural heritage. uine beautiful life of man rather tion before the seeker can. And Rim Ok

32 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 33 Blind Singer Quality Certifi cation Develops

aspiration, so she went to see ophthalmologists. OME TIME AGO A KOREA TODAY REPORTER In 2010 Ok Rim got a keratoplasty operation, but it Shad an interview with Jin Yong Sok, head of the Cen- failed to bring about a due result. Hope disappeared from tral Quality Certifi cation Offi ce of the Quality Manage- the girl. Her mother, disappointed at her futile effort ment Administration. I think quality certifi cation is important in for her hopeless daughter, shed tears of sorrow alone. further developing the national economy and im- Grasping her mother’s hands the girl said inwardly, “I proving the people’s living standards. wish I would bring happiness to you. I wish I would be a Absolutely. The main content of quality manage- pride of you, dear Mum.” ment is to manage active development and production of excellent goods suited to the trend of developing Beam of Light times, and integration of the quality and standard of all products. As the quality management is sort of an internation- In 2014 offi cials of the Korean Federation for the al affair, the guarantee of quality based on inspection Protection of the Disabled visited Ok Rim. While asking of quality in the past has changed into quality certifi - AE OK RIM IS A MEMBER OF THE about her life they advised her to join the artistic circle cation (product certifi cation and management system Partistic circle of the Korean Art Associa- of the Korean Art Association of the Disabled. This lit a certifi cation). Accordingly, quality-certifi ed products Let me give you an example. The lead- tion of the Disabled. She is well-known as a spark of hope in the girl’s mind. In the circle she got sys- have favourable conditions for sale and export, but ing units in the undertaking are attaching blind singer among the people. tematic education in vocal music and playing the electric those without similar certifi cation cannot be sold and importance to science and technology, and guitar from the experts who had learned at Pyongyang exported properly. In particular, quality certifi cation is paying primary attention to the strength- mandatory for the marketing and exporting of products ening of their own scientifi c and technical I Wish I Would Be Pride of Kim Won Gyun University of Music. which are likely to directly affect the health and safety forces, and their close cooperation with My Mother As she could not see she had to learn all notations by of people and environment. scientifi c research institutes. In order to heart, and make much more effort than ordinary people In my country those production units with quality churn out quality and safe products which Pae lost her sight when she was two. would to possess artistic skills. Her effort to learn vo- certifi cation are on the increase continuously. In the can enjoy confi dence of the customers all One night she had high fever suddenly, and cal music and to play the electric guitar was unusual, fi rst half of this year over 40 units in different sectors the time they are fi rmly holding fast to sci- slipped into a critical condition. She got and the selfl ess guidance of the offi cials of the associa- including light industry, the electronics industry and ence and technology, raising the level of out of a crucial state at a hospital but she tion touched the heartstrings of people. During the days public health received the quality management system modernization of production processes and certifi cation, food safety management system certifi - equipment, and meeting hygienic require- was diagnosed as becoming blind because she managed to solve the knottiest problem of rhythmic cation, quality certifi cation and GMP certifi cation for ments thoroughly. of keratomalacia. Baffl ed with the reality representation, and that of keeping ensemble with other nearly 100 production processes. Meanwhile, a hun- Another factor is that a campaign to that the child, who had enjoyed watching musical instruments of the artistic circle, thus develop- dred and dozens of products from some 30 units have overtake, model after and share experience an animation the day before, lost her sight, ing into a skilful player and singer. been registered as February 2 Products. This shows with others has been waged vigorously. The her mother could not help but weep bitterly. At last her dream came true. In 2016 she took part that there has been a remarkable progress in improv- effort to improve the quality of products is Later she strove desperately to bring eye- in an artistic performance of the disabled and sang a ing the quality of products as compared to that of the not aimed at development of given units at sight back to her but in vain. song on the stage for the fi rst time. Her clear and beau- same period last year. all. The development of individual units in Recently the introduction of the quality certi- my country presupposes collectivism, and When Ok Rim reached the age of discre- tiful voice and delicate and truthful artistic representa- fi cation system has been further developed, and is related to that of the State. Achieving tion, she changed into a quiet and gloomy tion evoked admiration from the audience. Renowned could you tell me what the factors are? collective development while helping and girl. Whenever she heard the laughter of theatres in the country invited her to perform on their Quality certifi cation is a job that will keep taking leading one another—herein lies the supe- children playing outside, she was so envi- stage. Gradually, her stage expanded to the theatre of place in the future, too. The factor of the progress in the riority of our socialism. ous of them that she would turn up music so the Royal College of Music in London, the Sheldonian job is, fi rst of all, the change of offi cials and working peo- A clear example is that some local indus- as to keep away from their laughter. Only Theatre in Oxford, and a Chinese theatre. Inspired by ple’s viewpoint and way of work. trial factories which are small in scale and music gave her consolation. While listening the successes she learned to play johaegum, a Korean In the recent three years dozens of establishments relatively weak in production foundation including the Wonsan Leather Shoes Factory and the to music, she was pleased, imagining the musical instrument, this year. have actively introduced advanced technol- Pyongyang Cornstarch Factory have made much head- ogy and excellent experience, and are now beautiful world that she could not see with Today she is not only the treasure of her mother but way in improving the quality of products. These units producing quality-certifi ed goods. her eyes. also that of the country. She says, “Though I am blind, set up a management offi ce or appointed an offi cial for The reality shows that close mutual co- She has an excellent instinctive taste for I can see the bright light in my mind. This light will al- dealing with the quality management, and applied sci- operation guarantees rapid development at music. When she heard a new song she would ways illuminate my life.” entifi c methods of quality management in all processes all units. sing it fl awlessly. And she learned from her Now she is 27 years old, and she is devoting her heart like purchase of raw materials, designing of products When all sectors and units steadily push mother how to play the guitar. Sometimes she and soul to artistic activities full of vigour. There are and processes, management of production processes, the work of expanding and introducing the wrote and composed her own song. She also young men proposing to her, attracted by her untiring examination and testing of products, and investigating quality certifi cation system and seeking the demand after sale. for scientifi c methods, there will be great- had her dream like other children. If I had zeal for and optimism about life. The second factor is that quality certifi cation has er successes in the economic development eyes, I could sing on the stage, she thought. been conducted thoroughly on the basis of science and and the improvement of the people’s living Her mother could not neglect her daughter’s Rim Ok technology. standards. ‰

34 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 35 True story ► little while before. Chun Ok had to go in the op- what Kil Sun thought of at the moment, how she posite direction to go to her home and she was on acted in the fl ames and how she did later in the her way back from work, Kil Sun explained, but she face of her misfortune. Because she was a soldier, kept accompanying her. and so was I. Life and “Would you please take Chun Ok to her home, “What was she diagnosed with?” I asked. Ki Chon? Let me take a walk home slowly by my- “Acute myelitis, I was told. For six years since Promise self,” Kil Sun asked. her discharge she has been taken to all hospitals I was disappointed to hear her say so. Frankly I across the country, but her illness is not yet cured,” wanted to have a talk with her as our meeting was Chun Ok explained. opportune. But she was pressing me so eagerly that Then, to change the atmosphere becoming lead- Tokko Hyon I could not help but walk with Chun Ok, a stranger en again, I, with a sign of laughing, said, “Still, Kil to me, instead of Kil Sun. Chun Ok looked rather Sun is cheerful. Her voice is sonorous, and she loves unhappy. smiling.” Strange to each other, we both felt awkward. “From her childhood she was good at singing disabled soldier.” I was thinking of how to change the atmosphere, songs and reciting poems. Her hope and ambition “What?” I cried in surprise. when she fi rst addressed me. were unusually fantastic…,” Chun Ok explained. I was dumbfounded. I could not believe it. And I “Do you know Kil Sun well?” she asked me. “In our Children’s Union days we waged a campaign quite hated myself for making such absurd remarks “Only a little,” I replied, explaining what had to raise rabbits, and Kil Sun said rabbits were too about the girl when I knew nothing about her per- happened in Kil Sun’s home days before. small and that she wanted to raise a big pig like sonal misfortune. I felt like going back to her home Then Chun Ok only smiled an indifferent smile. adults did. Actually she raised a pig, and managed immediately to apologize to her, but I didn’t. “I hear you were at the same middle school with to assist it in giving birth to a litter of piglets.” This is how she and I came to know each other. Kil Sun?” I asked. “Is that true?” I exclaimed in surprise. Chun Ok Strangely enough, her face occasionally rose “Of course. And we grew up together from our then smiled as if she were looking back upon those before my mind’s eye from then on. Then I found days in the kindergarten,” she explained, “we know days. myself wanting to think of something further and each other so well.” “That’s not all,” she went on to say. “Kil Sun deeper. “How long is it since she was discharged from was the best runner at our school. She always won One day, several days later, I was hurrying to military service?” I asked again. whether it was a 100-metre or two-curve lap race.” (Continued from the last issue) my eldest sister’s home on the way back from work “It is already six years as it was three years af- And with a thin sigh Chun Ok suddenly bit her because of a certain family affair when I came ter her joining the army that she was discharged,” lip before saying, “What’s the use of talking about UT WHENEVER I GLANCED BACK AT THE across the girl on the road in front of Chongjin Rail- she said with a short sigh as if it were diffi cult for it now? Her hopes are all blighted…. Whenever I Bgirl, I found her engrossed in knitting alone as way Station. her to talk. meet Kil Sun I’m really at a loss what to do. I quite if she had no interest in the television programme. A gentle autumn rain was falling with dusk After a while of hesitation, I asked Chun Ok regret having married and become a mother of a Oh, that’s the woman, I thought. At the moment I spreading in the sky, and I recognized the famil- again if she knew how the girl had been wounded. baby because it seems that I display my happiness banged on the room fl oor with my fi st when I saw iar face of the girl in her wheel chair slowly coming “Yes, I know. Having heard that Kil Sun was to the miserable friend of mine. I even wish that I an unmistakably likely goal fail as the ball the left near in the rain. She was in a light green shirt with returning home discharged, I followed her parents were a man.” wing of the April 25 team had kicked rushing up a white-edged collar and sleeves, with no umbrella to the station to meet her. But I never imagined Chun Ok’s words were shocking to me. to the goalmouth rebounded after hitting the goal at all—I didn’t know why. She was accompanied by she would be in such a plight. I was so taken aback I thought of Kil Sun knitting alone in the room. post. a young woman with a baby on her back. that I burst into tears throwing my arms around Was she a brave soldier rushing into the roaring “Oh, my!” the girl screamed in surprise at the “Hello, Kil Sun. Nice to meet you,” I said ap- her. Then the offi cer who had taken her with him fl ames? I wondered. same time. proaching her. For a moment she wore an inquir- scolded me, shouting, ‘What are you crying for? Kil I could not help but take my hat off to the girl “I’m sorry,” I apologized to her. ing look before recognizing me. Then she looked Sun is an honourable soldier. She saved two chil- who, without any pessimism, smiled brightly as if it She laughed softly and said, “That’s all right, pleased to see me. dren from fi erce fl ames at the risk of her life. If you were her nature even after sacrifi cing her beautiful but I’m afraid you might break the fl oor.” She said she was there for an evening outing. want to greet her in tears, get off at once!’ But I saw youth unhesitatingly. Then I felt like helping her The football match ended in victory for the April When I asked her why she did not hold an umbrel- tears stand in his eyes as well. as a man. I still didn’t know what and how to do to 25 team as I expected. Quite pleasantly I stood up la, she said she wanted to be exposed to such a rain. “Later I heard the details of what had happened help her. But I decided often to ask Un Sik or Kil and expressed my gratitude to the girl, saying, She had impressed me as a quiet girl, but now I to her. Sun directly about her life and do my best to help “That’s very kind of you to let me watch the TV pro- found her out-going with a sonorous voice. “One day, while going on a mission, she was her. It was my duty, I thought. gramme.” When I told her I was going to see my sister at passing by a village when she saw a house on fi re. One day, a fortnight later, I returned home from “You’re welcome. See you again,” she said with her home in Songphyong District, she clapped her There were no grown-ups there as they were not in- work to fi nd my father and uncle sitting at a supper a gentle smile, but she would not stand up to say hands abruptly. formed of the accident yet. There were only elderly table. Uncle is the general manager of the Phohang good-bye. “Is that true?” she asked and with a giggle, people and children in the village. Kil Sun, hearing Motor Transport Company. I felt hurt at once. Outside, I, with a bitter smile, said to the accompanying woman, “Now, Chun Ok, that there were two children in the burning house, I was very glad to see him because I knew I could said to Un Sik, “I see your next-door neighbour is a here’s your companion. Hurry up. If you keep late threw herself into the fi re. While coming out with meet him only on the New Year’s Day as he was ‘young madam.’ How impudent she is to keep sit- for home this way, you might be rejected by your the children in her arms, she fell badly wounded on very busy with his work. So he went by the name ting when I say good-afternoon and good-bye!” family, I’m afraid.” the waist by a falling beam,” Chun Ok did not fi nish of “New Year’s Day uncle” among my relatives…. Surprised, Un Sik looked at me, and said, “Kil Introducing to me the woman as an alumnus of her words in anguish. Sun can’t stand up, Ki Chon. She’s an honoured her middle school, Kil Sun said she had met her a ► I, however, came to know and feel everything— (To be continued)

36 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 37 ► Korea, is the Pyongyang Ostrich Farm. birds which used to romp in the desert could live Ostrich Dishes and Goods Mun Chol, general manager of the farm, told me, in an enclosure, and worried that the large birds “We began to raise ostriches in September 1989. We might jump over the fence. Grow Popular acclimatized them to the climatic conditions of our Their concern turned out futile. country so that they could survive any season. Now Through the study of ostrich they came to know farming of the birds has been normalized.” that the bird is strong in resistance to both heat S A HIGHLY PROFITABLE BIRD, THE OS- African Bird Acclimatized in DPRK According to him, they worried much when they and cold and that it never jumps over a fence unless Atrich is regarded as an ideal object in poultry began to raise the birds. Because they doubted if it is excited. farming of the 21st century, and the realm of its use Situated on the outskirts of Pyongyang, the the birds could ever acclimatize to the climatic But because of their changed environment the is increasing with the passage of time. capital city of the Democratic People’s Republic of ► conditions of the country. They also doubted if the birds laid few eggs and did not eat well in appre- ►

38 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 39 ► hension. Only after beginning to acclimatize them- footwear and bags are quite popular with people as selves they increased in weight and the hens laid 40 the hide is more durable than cowhide or alligator to 60 eggs each a year. hide and unique in pattern, he added. Ri Song Su, a worker of the farm, said with a Ostrich bone pipes are also popular, Pak Kwang smile, “It is said that the ostrich is a predatory Chol, a member of the farm’s artefact studio, said bird. But the bird is quite tame, and likes to eat and went on to say, “Ostrich bone is strong in ad- and romp in the playground day and night. It, sorptive power, so it prevents nicotine, tar and oth- however, should not be surprised. Its kicking is as er evil substances of tobacco from being absorbed strong as heel kicking by a horse, so you should be into the human body, and is effective in helping careful.” remove foul breath and phlegm and relieve cough- ing. Ostrich bone pipes won a gold medal at the 16th Highly Productive and Profi table Bird national invention exhibition.” The aforesaid factory uses ostrich meat and by- “With high effectiveness of investment, ostrich products to produce 24 varieties of ostrich meat hen’s prolifi cacy is nearly 50 times greater than products of 12 kinds including sausages and dump- Ostrich meat and its processed goods are supplied to service establishments. beef cow’s, and the bird’s feed unit is merely 10 lings, and sends over 100 tons of ostrich meat and percent of beef cattle’s. And the output of meat and by-products to public catering establishments in hide by the bird is 10 and 20 times greater than Pyongyang every year. ► trich meat dishes. Now we serve 20-odd varieties of ostrich meat that by beef cattle,” said Han Kyong Yong, manager Kim Chol Min, a regular customer of the restau- dishes including spicy ostrich meat soup, steamed of the farm’s ostrich meat processing factory. Growing Popularity of rant who lives in Pulgungori-dong No. 1, Pothong- ostrich neck meat and pan-broiled ostrich giblets. Mentioning that an ostrich gives over 20 kilo- Ostrich Meat Dishes gang District, Pyongyang, said, “The best of ostrich Ostrich meat is soft, tasty and highly nutritious. grams of meat and 1.4 square metres of quality hide, meat dishes is steak. Other kinds of meat become The meat is health food just as good as beef because the manager said ostrich eggshells and plumes are In Central District, Pyongyang is situated the hard if heated. But ostrich meat remains soft and it is rich in lysine and other nutrients.” used to make artefacts and fans or dusters and that Yaksan Restaurant, part of the Changgwang Res- retains its own taste along with an aroma like that According to her, ostrich meat is good for growth ostrich hide is used to make footwear and bags. The taurant Chain. The restaurant is famous for its os- ► of alcohol even if long heated.” of children, prevention and treatment of adult dis- Han Song I, head of the restaurant, said, “My eases and recuperation of elderly people and pa- restaurant started service with ostrich meat steak. tients. Ostrich goods are favourably commented upon by people. Head cook Choe Ok Nim is the pride of the res- taurant as she is excellent at cooking various os- trich meat dishes to customers’ liking. She said, “There is nothing to throw away about the ostrich. All its meat and by-products are nice foodstuff ma- terials good for health. In the course of serving os- trich meat dishes, we came to know that ostrich oil is good for beauty and the treatment of arthritis. Then we began to serve the ostrich meat steak with the oil.” Not long ago the restaurant developed a method of cooking ostrich foot jelly good for nourishment and health, winning a DPRK certifi cate of inven- tion. Ostrich, the bird of great utility, is getting closer to people’s life. Article by Pak Un Yong Photos by Ri Song Ik

40 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 41 ► was fermented spontaneously dustrial method by introducing the factory has developed kinds Traditional Condiments for several months, they crushed advanced techniques into the of functional jang one after an- the dried balls, put the powder traditional process of making it other, which retain their own in a sterilized jar, poured salt while making it retain its own tastes along with the aroma of Get Tastier water in the jar and left the jar tastes. the greens. The condiments with open to clean air and sunlight. The taste of jang depends on the additional content of lance Two or three months later there the state of its fermentation. So asiabell, broad bellfl ower roots, came black liquid in the jar. the factory has applied a tech- shepherd’s purse, water garlic, They poured it in a saucepan nique of using bacillus subtillus ginger, garlic and sesame seeds and boiled it to make soy sauce. to ferment microorganism, thus are very effective in the preven- And they fermented the leftover ensuring enough time for fer- tion and treatment of different in the jar to make paste. They mentation and ripening of the diseases such as cardiovascular mixed the paste with red pepper condiments. At fi rst the factory diseases and functional disorder powder and other seasonings had produced the Pyongyang of liver. This is because the anti- and fermented to make pep- Meju Soybean Paste, the Pyong- oxidants in soya beans including pered paste. yang Meju Peppered Paste, the saponin and isofl avonoid match The Koreans season food Pyongyang Peppered Rice Paste well with ingredients of the vari- with soy sauce, eat bean paste and a fermented soy sauce. Now ous Koryo medicinal materials. as it is or use it to cook a soup, it is actively developing new Nine products from the facto- and use peppered paste as a side products to satisfy the growing ry have been registered as Feb- dish to stimulate appetite. Jang demand for similar condiments. ruary 2 Products, including the performs two functions as side It has developed the Pyongyang Pyongyang Meju Peppered Soy- Traditional methods and techniques of making jang are carried on with to retain the original tastes. dish and seasonings, so it is put Soybean Paste for Wrapped Rice bean Paste, the Pyongyang Meju on table for every meal of the Ko- suited to the Korean people’s Soybean Paste and the Pyong- reans. It produces a unique sa- habit of eating wrapped rice like yang Garlic & Peppered Soybean ANG IS A UNIQUE CONDI- the Koryo dynasty (918–1392), health food as it contains vari- vory taste which is known as the lettuce-wrapped rice, the Pyong- Paste. The jang production pro- Jment of the Korean nation, a speciality of Palhae (the late ous nutritional ingredients such sixth taste adding to the original yang Vinegared & Peppered cess received a certifi cate of ISO representative of the country’s 7th century–the early 10th cen- as protein, sugar, minerals and fi ve tastes—salty, sweet, bitter, Paste suited for slices of raw fi sh 22000 food safety management food culture. The meaning of tury) was the soybean malt of vitamins harmoniously. In the sour and hot. and the Pyongyang Plain Bean system. The custom of making the word jang covers soy sauce, Chaeksong, and people of Silla past each family used to make Paste. jang including the factory’s tech- plain paste and peppered paste (the early mid-fi rst century–935) jang in Korea, so the prepara- Genuine Taste of Jang The development of function- nique of making the condiment altogether. chose jang for wedding presents tion methods and the tastes al jang is going on dynamically. was registered as Item No. 4 on to be sent to the bride’s family. were varied. And the nobility of The Taedonggang Foodstuff Jon Ho Chol, manager of the the list of national intangible Indispensable Condiment Beans, which have long been a family depended on the taste Factory is situated on the bank factory who is a bioengineering cultural heritage in 2018. referred to as “meat” from the of its jang. of the picturesque Taedong expert, suggested the idea that It is the factory’s business In Korea jang is one of the fi eld, contain more protein than Generally around Riptong River. It produces jang, pickled jang containing Koryo medicinal strategy to carry on the tradi- condiments indispensable to the any other kinds of grain. Boiled (early November), the Koreans fi sh, pickled vegetables and oth- materials in it would be better tional method and technique of people’s eating habit. According beans digest at only 70 percent, boiled beans fully and pounded ers. Among the products jang is for human health. By defi ning making jang and make the con- to the historical book Samguksa- and bean-curd does at 90 per- it in a mortar. Then they made it a typical product of the factory. the combination ratio of the con- diments retain their own taste. gi (Chronicles of the Three King- cent. But jang digests at almost into balls which are called meju It produces jang using an in- diment and wild edible greens Rim Ok doms) written in the period of 100 percent. It is counted as (malt) in Korean. After the malt ► The products are packed. Some of the products. Sustained Effort to Conserve Plants

HE RESEARCHERS OF THE BOTANI- They are also taking a measure to conserve Tcal Institute, the State Academy of Sci- Korea’s indigenous rare species of plants like ences, have surveyed the preservation of pro- Pentactina rupicola, a natural monument. genitors of pine and magnolia, the national And they have succeeded in establishing tree and fl ower of the DPRK, the propagation a method of growing such trees as Sangwon of the plants and their distribution, and are poplar, red oak and black alder which are of striving to solve scientifi c and technical prob- great economic and ornamental values. In ad- lems arising in spreading the plants across dition, they are pushing ahead with the work the country. to introduce other research fi ndings which In particular, based on their scientifi c proved profi table, including a method of using study on how to plant the pine in all seasons a choice species of Rana ornativentris to exter- and how to artifi cially multiply the species, minate forest pests. they are intensifying the work to spread it. Sim Chol Yong

42 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 43 Family of Tailors Mt Myohyang (5)

Historical Relics the history of the temples and Buddhist monks. Typical of them is that in the Pohyon Temple. T MYOHYANG IS FAMOUS FOR NOT Octagonal 13-storeyed and square 9-storeyed Monly its scenic beauty but also its many relics pagodas are famous ones: They show Korea’s stone showing the time-honoured history and culture of architecture in the Middle Ages. The octagonal the Korean nation. 13-storeyed pagoda built with delicately dressed Among the relics are buildings, sculptures, pa- granite blocks has wind bells at the ends of angle godas, stone monuments, paintings, craftworks, rafters of each roof. The 104 bells ring even in a printed materials and the like. light wind, evoking a peculiar emotion and testify- Typical of them are temples built from around ing to high architectural skills. the 7th century. According to the records inscribed Mt Myohyang has relics showing the develop- on old stone monuments, the mountain had over ment of printing technology in Korea. Typical of 360 temples including Ansim and Pohyon temples, them are the 80 000 Blocks of the Complete Col- over 150 of which are recorded in history. It was lection of Buddhist Scriptures, and wood blocks of Kim Yun Hui. Jong Hyon Sim. also said that the temples kept many relics such as Buddhist scriptures from the days of Koryo and the Buddhist images and paintings, wood blocks of the feudal Joson dynasty. Buddhist scriptures and utensils used for Buddhist Pak Thae Ho IM YUN HUI AND JONG making Korean clothes for her pink and other soft, bright and rituals and life, all from the periods of Koryo (918– Hyon Sim are both tailors doll. Later as she hoped, she light colours, patterned after K 1392) and the feudal Joson dynasty (1392–1910). working at the Yogap Korean learned at the then Sinuiju Spe- natural things like fl owers, espe- Many of the temples were burnt to ashes several Costume Shop in Phyongsong, cialized School of Light Industry, cially, azalea, royal azalea and An octagonal 13-storeyed pagoda. times. Especially they were washed away by a fl ood South Phyongan Province. They majoring in the clothing course. rose, which present gentle and in 1915 or destroyed by the Japanese imperialists’ are mother and daughter. And in 1973 she got a tailor’s job simple tints. The experts and Kim, Merited Tailor, has at a Korean costume shop. visitors to the show gave her a policy of destruction of Korean culture pursued dur- dedicated 47 years of her life to The 20-year-old bob-haired big hand. ing their military occupation of Korea. the tailoring of Korean costume. girl built up her ability thinking Kim was awarded the title More than 20 buildings and thousands of items When asked of the reason, she up ingenious ideas and display- of Merited Tailor in Juche 93 of relics in Mt Myohyang were burnt or destroyed says, “I still remember what my ing unbounded creativity. (2004). She has trained over 200 during the Korean war (June 1950–July 1953). mother asked me to do.” Her capacity turned out to tailors, one of whom is her own Thanks to the policies of the Workers’ Party of Her mother was also engaged be wonderful at a national gar- daughter, Jong Hyon Sim. Korea and the government of the Democratic Peo- in making traditional Korean ment processing contest one Jong is often asked why she ple’s Republic of Korea on preserving cultural rel- clothes. Her daughter’s memory year. Drawing tailors and needle chose the job of tailoring, when ics, the old buildings including the main building of of her everyday life is that she workers from across the coun- she says, “My grandmother and the Pohyon Temple have been restored to the origi- was always busy. To say nothing try, the contest demanded they mother were tailors of Korean nal state and many relics are in good preservation. of at her workshop, she worked make clothes for a random type costume. Since I was a child I At present there are many wooden buildings, in- over the tailoring at home as of person within certain hours. have seen my mother enjoy pub- cluding hermitages belonging to the Pohyon Tem- well. Neighbours often came to Kim did not only tailoring lic respect for her good Korean ple district, in Mt Myohyang. see her asking to do some nee- but also needling to make a piece clothes. My childhood dream The Pohyon Temple, which was built in 1042, dlework. of clothing of suitable colour and was to become a tailor like is typical of Korean architecture in the early 11th One day, back home from style for a given man. She was mother.” century and is of great artistic value. school, Kim asked her mother highly praised by the jury and Working with her mother for As the largest one in North and South Phyongan if she was tired. The reply was, experts. 20 years she has also developed “You feel seldom tired of what She has presented everyday into a respectable worker. provinces, the temple served as the centre of Bud- you like to do. I wish I would clothes, holiday attires and wed- The mother and daughter dhism in the area north of the Chongchon River. be able to make more beautiful ding costumes to a number of tailors are making sincere ef- The buildings in the temple form an architectural Korean clothes. I hope you will national Korean clothes shows forts for traditional Korean cos- group. be a Korean costume tailor like since 2002, winning diplomas. tume art regarding the public re- Pagodas and stone monuments can also be me.” Her wedding costumes and holi- spect as their greatest treasure. found in the mountain. Kim nurtured her dream day attires were of light green, Pak Un Yong Most of the stone monuments are inscribed with

44 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 45 Koguryo Mural Tombs and Relics Unearthed

Hwadam ECENTLY RESEARCHERS The second tomb, too, is of tombs were built in the fi rst half Rof the Archaeology Institute, the same style as the fi rst one. of the sixth century. So Kyong Dok the Academy of Social Sciences, Unearthed in the tomb were a Considering historical records unearthed and ascertained two picture depicting the sun and which say only offi cials of above Koguryo mural tombs with gold many other pieces of murals. the third rank were entitled to use ornaments in Wolji-ri, Anak Excavated in the tombs are tombs with murals in the period County, South Hwanghae Prov- nine pieces of gold ornaments of Koguryo, the newly unearthed ince. such as an elaborately crafted relics explain the fact that the O KYONG DOK (1489–1546) The fi rst tomb is of a tradi- gold earring and a fl ower petal- area was one of the important ad- Swas clever from his childhood, tional Koguryo style with a stone shaped ornament. ministrative hubs of Koguryo. but he began to go to school only chamber and an earth mound The constellations and fan- The discovery of the Koguryo when he was 14 because his fam- with its ceiling boarded with par- tastic pictures drawn on the mu- tombs with murals of four guard- ily was very poor. Growing in a time when so- allel triangular props. Discovered rals of the tombs and the gold ians in Anak County makes it cial contradictions of the feudal on the four walls and the ceiling earring and other relics show possible to have a more accu- Joson dynasty began to loom, he that the great combination of the and taught her day and night as of the chamber were the pictures the level of development of as- rate and correct understanding got displeased with the feudal material substances constitutes she wanted. Several days passed of four guardians, patterns of lo- tronomy of Koreans in those of the history and culture of the rulers’ scramble for hegemony, the sky and the earth, while the like this. Pretending to be on in- tus fl ower and leaf, cloud, pipal days, their view on religious be- one-thousand-year-old powerful arbitrariness and oppression. So minor combination, different timate terms with him, Hwang tree and tortoise shell, and those liefs and the developed level of country of Koguryo and verify he gave up government service things. And he judged that all would sit up at table until late of constellations which could not their metalwork. the oneness and commonness of and lived in seclusion in Hw- sorts of things and phenomena at night before spreading her be seen in other Koguryo mural The DPRK Archaeology So- the national culture once again. adam while pursuing academic as types of existence of material bed beside him for the purpose tombs unearthed before. ciety confi rmed that the mural Kim Myong Hak studies and striving to educate elements are related to and de- of sounding him. Pretending to the rising generation. So people pendent on one another, and are toss about in sleep, she some- called him “Mr Hwadam” in gen- in steady motion. times put her white arm on his eral. Like this So tried to consider chest and sometimes stretched When he was 25, he estab- the essence of the natural world her white leg across his belly. lished a materialistic outlook on and the law of its development “Ha! She must be very tired,” the universe on the basis of his from a materialistic and dialec- So would say, quietly putting unique study, practical experi- tic viewpoint, albeit naively. her arms and legs right. ence and special observation of The following is an episode Many nights passed that phenomena. about So Kyong Dok. way, but he never fi ngered her Touring Mts Kumgang and In Kaesong there lived a fa- body. Jiri and other scenic spots, he mous kisaeng (a kind of beauty He only taught her to be en- composed lots of poems singing entertainer) Hwang Jin I. grossed in her study. of the beauty of the country, and One day, during a chat with At last Hwang returned put forward a materialistic out- aristocrats over wine at the foot without any success in her at- look on the universe sympathiz- of Mt Songak, Hwang heard the tempt to tempt him, and told the ing with the people who were aristocrats referring to So Kyong aforesaid aristocrats about the suffering from exploitation and Dok as the only aristocrat who fact. He was the only man not oppression. had a good moral sense and was given up to amours, she added. In his late years he made noble-minded. She also said, “I think So is public some papers including his At that time So had given up noble-minded because he is a treatises “Record of Principles” government service and was en- peerless scholar rather than an and “Theory of the Basic Princi- grossed in academic pursuits in aristocrat.” ples and the Atmospheric Force Kaesong. While reviewing his whole of Nature” that describe the phi- Thinking that even an aristo- life, So said, “Now that I have losophy he had studied all his crat who was said not to be given come to have no doubt about life. up to amours would yield to her, anything through learning, I’m He held in his treatises that Hwang decided to visit him. really in high spirits, and I’m the motive power for the evo- Afraid that she might be re- satisfi ed that I’ve lived a worth- lution and development of all jected if she approached So as a while life.” things in the world as well as kisaeng, she put on a student’s So left behind a collection of changes in their motion lies in attire and went over to him. She his works titled Hwadamjip of not God or something spiritual said she wanted to learn from three volumes. but in material substances, and him. The man welcomed her, Rim Ok

46 KOREA TODAY No. 10, 2020 47 ► represents the traditional tomb Mausoleum of King Tangun style of the nation. It is divided into sections of the monument to reconstruction, stone fi gures and the tomb. ANGUN IS THE FOUNDER KING OF ANCI- earthed in the tomb. Several ceramic pieces and six The section of the monu- Tent Joson, the fi rst state of the Korean nation. coffi n nails were found in the burial vault. ment to reconstruction has the He was born in the present Pyongyang area. He Ancient literature records that Tangun was the Monument to Reconstructed had been known as a mythical being in the past. In founder of Ancient Joson and that the Korean an- Mausoleum of King Tangun, the 1993 his remains were unearthed and ascertained cestors had memorials at his tomb in Kangdong in Monument to Improvement of in his tomb in Kangdong County, Pyongyang, and the remote past. Samgukyusa (History of the Three the Mausoleum of King Tangun thus he was recognized as a real person. Kingdoms), written in the period of the Koryo dy- and gateposts of the mausoleum. The tomb had been robbed by the Japanese im- nasty (918–1392), regarding Tangun as the founder The Monument to Reconstruct- perialists in the pre-liberation days of Korea, so the of Ancient Joson, introduces the legend of Tangun ed Mausoleum of King Tangun later excavation yielded little relics. What is most and an account of him under the title of Ancient Jo- stands to the west of the sec- noteworthy, though, was the discovery of bones for son. And Jewangungi (Rhymed Chronicles of Kings) tion. Engraved on the front side two skeletons. tells about his founding “Korea (Ancient Joson).” of the monument are the letters Eighty-six pieces of bones were found in the Koryosa (History of Koryo) compiled in 1451 “Monument to Reconstructed tomb, most of them being arm, leg and pelvic bones. and Tonggukthonggam (Handbook of the Eastern Mausoleum of King Tangun” They constituted the skeletons of a man and a wom- State) compiled in 1484 deal with Tangun’s Ko- and on its back side is a poem an. The male one was confi rmed to be that of Tan- rea. Sinjungdonggukyojisungnam (Revised Hand- to praise and convey to all gen- The Monument to Reconstructed The Monument to Improvement of gun and the female one his wife, who was buried book of Korean Geography) compiled in 1530 and erations to come the leadership Mausoleum of King Tangun. the Mausoleum of King Tangun. with him. Tangun was considered to be a man of the Chronicles of Feudal Joson Dynasty tell that exploits performed by President rather tall stature and strong physique who lived the Tomb of Tangun was in the west of Kangdong Kim Il Sung and Chairman a long life in those years, while his wife was of a County, and was called Grave of Tangun among the Kim Jong Il who identifi ed the menhir of Ancient Joson. The al- Tangun and those of his eight relatively young age. people. founder of the nation and wise- ready-existing Monument to Im- loyal subjects. According to a measurement by the electron The Mausoleum of King Tangun was rebuilt in ly led the reconstruction of the provement of the Mausoleum of In the section of tomb there spin resonance dating method those bones proved October Juche 83 (1994). It constitutes a cultural mausoleum. King Tangun was moved to the are a tomb and a higher platform to date back to 5011 years (as of 1993). property with deep national character as it keeps Five gateposts, which are 1.5 east of the section of the monu- on which stand a stone table and Besides the bones, a piece of an ornamental the remains of Tangun, has rich historical contents to 10 metres high, stand on each ment to reconstruction. a stone incense burner, stone frontal upright of a gilded crown and a fragment showing the developed culture and the political, side of the tomb in order of their The section of stone fi gures lanterns on the left and right of of its circlet plus a scale of a gilded belt were un- economic and military might of Tangun’s Korea and ► height. They are in the style of has fi gures of four sons of King the incense burner, a stone ti- ger on each corner of the square tomb, stone posts and dagger- shaped towers around the tomb. The tomb is 22m high and each side of it is 50m long. It is a tiered pyramid with nine stages. It was constructed with 1994 pieces of stones, which weigh more than two tons each. The gate to the burial vault is in the northern centre of the tomb. Hung on the northern wall of the burial vault is a portrait of King Tangun. Two coffi n stands are laid in parallel from north to south. On the stands the bones of King Tangun and his wife, restored to the whole skeletons, are enshrined in the lacquer- painted wooden coffi ns covered with glass in the west and the east respectively. The mausoleum is well pre- A portrait of King Tangun. served as a relic that implants national pride and self-confi - dence in the present generation and will do all those to come. Pak Thae Ho

48 KOREA TODAY