A Commemorative Medal for the 70Th Anniversary of the Victorious Great Patriotic War

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 51 http://www.naenara.com.kp A Commemorative Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Victorious Great Patriotic War

The national leader Kim Jong Un received a commemorative medal for the 70th anniversary of the victorious Great Patriotic War from Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation, in May 2015.

52 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 KOREA TODAY Monthly Journal (710) Printed in English, Russian and Chinese

C O N T E N T S

August 15 Tells ·················································································································· 3

For the liberation of the country

The Triumphal Return········································································································· 5

Stable Cornerstone of the Korean Revolution ·········································································· 8

Legends Go down in History with Mt. Paektu·········································································10

The Blizzards in Mt. Paektu ································································································13

In the Days of the Anti-Japanese Warfare ·············································································14

For Global Independence·····································································································15

Succession ························································································································16

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 1

On the occasion of the 70 th founding anniversary

of the Workers’ Party of Korea

The WPK and Building of Thriving Nation································· 18

The Sun Shines for Ever and Ever ············································ 20

Vanguard in the General Forward March ·································· 22

Heroic Spirit Inherited···························································· 24

Front Cover: A party on a By Relying on Their Own Efforts ·············································· 26 study tour of the revolutionary battle sites in the Forty Years in Teaching ·························································· 27 Mt. Paektu area visit the Monument to the Victorious Strenuous Efforts into Education·············································· 28 Battle of the Musan Area

Atlas of Meridians and Acupoints ············································· 30 Photo by courtesy of the KCNA After Eight Years ··································································· 32

Taedonggang District Juvenile Sports School ····························· 33

Faithful Servants of the People ················································ 34

When Flowers Are in Bloom····················································· 35

Disabled Koreans Perform in UK and France ····························· 36

Traditional Dishes of Korea (2)················································· 38

Founder of Koguryo ································································ 39

Korean Industrial Arts (4) ······················································· 40

Precedence to Common Interest of the Nation ···························· 42

“Fifty-first State” of the US······················································ 44 Back Cover: The Arch of Triumph Obama’s Mistake ··································································· 45

Photo by Ra Phyong Ryol No to Japan’s Adventure ························································· 46

Liberation Tower···································································· 48 13502 ㄱ-58221

2 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 August 15 Tells

N THE FIRST HALF OF LAST CENTURY I Kim Il Sung organized and led an armed struggle to liberate his country from the Japanese imperialists’ military occupation (1905–1945). The method of struggle he set forth to launch an armed struggle in the early 1930s was to combine guerrilla warfare-based activities of the standing revolutionary forces with those of all-people resistance. At the time the guerrilla warfare meant almost a bare-handed struggle, as the Korean people were deprived of their sovereignty, territory and natural resources. In such a difficult situation the popular masses were the only reliance of the guerrilla army, and the anti-Japanese resistance would emerge victorious only when all of them were organized in the fight—this was Kim Il Sung’s steadfast conviction. He formulated the policy of laying guerrilla bases, strongholds of the anti-Japanese resistance, and using them to give revolutionary training to the masses and rally them in organizations. In many guerrilla bases and semi-guerrilla zones established along the Tuman River, people were awakened to revolutionary senses and the anti-Japanese resistance forces came to be strengthened with formation and expansion of mass organizations like peasant association, anti-Japanese association and women’s association. Flurried at the intensifying military activities Commander Kim Il Sung’s note on his and increasing revolutionary influence of the Korean instructions on the operations for the final People’s Revolutionary Army relying on the guerrilla assault to liberate the country. bases, the Japanese imperialists committed large- scale “punitive” campaigns against the guerrilla bases. For instance, they mobilized their army over nation under the banner of the Ten-point Pro- 5 000 strong and even airplanes in November 1933 to gramme of the ARF. The programme set the imme- make wave-style attacks on the Xiaowangqing base diate tasks and the ultimate goal for the Korean that was guarded by only two companies of the guer- people to carry out in the struggle for national lib- rilla army at the time. All the army and people eration, including the establishment of an independ- turned out as one to defend their base—women car- ent political power to represent the interests of the ried ammunitions and meals to the fighters on broad sections of the people including workers and heights, elderly folks climbed the hills to give show- peasants, industrial revolution, land reform, army ers of rocks to the enemy. And even members of the building and elimination of feudal relations. The Children's Corps fired self-made pistols and blew programme was a declaration of pan-national anti- bugle calls to make the enemy fall into confusion. Japanese resistance to regain the nation’s sover- The Japanese laid siege on the base for nearly 90 eignty and win victory in the resistance through days and made desperate efforts, but failed. general mobilization of all patriotic-minded people In addition, the people in other guerrilla bases in who were against the Japanese, transcending the Yanji, Helong and Hunchun areas dealt heavy blows difference in rank, wealth, faction and religion. to the Japanese imperialists and successfully de- Soon after its establishment, the ARF formed a fended their bases. wide network of organizations and set up subsidiary On the basis of the experience in all-people de- bodies under various names such as the anti- fence, the work of preparation of national resistance Japanese association, national salvation association forces spread to wider areas with the formation of the and national liberation association. Along with this, Association for the Restoration of the Fatherland by an Independence Army unit active in southern Man- Kim Il Sung in May 1936. The ARF was the first churia joined the Korean People’s Revolutionary anti-Japanese national united front body in Korea Army and many religionists became members of the engaged in the struggle to achieve the country’s lib- ARF. Thus the ARF developed into a pan-national eration through general mobilization of the Korean organization with hundreds of thousands of mem- ►

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 3 whose total membership amounted to 500 000. Similar organizations were formed even in the Japanese aggression forces. In the 30th division of the Japanese army stationed in Pyongyang young Kore- ans formed an anti-Japanese armed corps of student- soldiers and planned to join the KPRA en masse. In those days there were built various forms and sizes of provisional secret camps in not only alpine areas in northern Korea including the Hamgyong Mountains, Puryong Mountains and Rangnim Mountains, but also subalpine regions in central Korea including the Puktaebong Mountains, Aho- biryong Mountains and Thaebaek Mountains. They developed into politico-military strongholds for national resistance, helping improve unified guidance An official Japanese document on preparations to the national resistance forces. Based on such a full by patriotic young people in Seoul for an armed preparation, Commander Kim Il Sung of the KPRA revolt and a confidential document of the ordered all the KPRA units on August 9, 1945 to Japanese police department on the activities of start the general offensive to liberate the country. The units which were stationed in the Kanbaeksan the Kim Il Sung Corps. Secret Camp for the final campaign launched operations to take different provinces in collaboration with ► bers. The ARF pushed ahead with the preparations small units and groups of the KPRA and national for national resistance by relying on many secret resistance organizations that had been active in the bases established deep inside the country with the homeland. In response the KPRA small units, Paektusan Secret Camp as the centre and by orga- groups and underground political activists who had nizing para-military organizations like workers’ already been sent into the homeland mobilized the shock brigades and production guerrilla units. people’s armed units, armed-revolt organizations The Japanese imperialists unleashed the Sino- and broad sections of the people for national resis- Japanese war in July 1937 and mobilized a huge tance. They attacked the Japanese forces and police amount of human and material resources of Korea stations, thus harassing the enemy in the rear, and for the war while bringing harsher pressure upon the gave active support to the KPRA units advancing Korean people than ever before. In such a situation, into the country. The Rajin People’s Armed Corps Kim Il Sung appealed to the Korean people to turn and other people’s armed corps formed in the out as one in the anti-Japanese struggle for national Kyonghung and Unggi areas in North Hamgyong salvation confidently, no matter what the situation Province put up fighting against the Japanese ag- might be. Small units, groups and underground po- gressors to facilitate the KPRA units’ actions from litical activists of the KPRA were sent not only inside the beginning of the final campaign; the Kkachibong the country but also to Manchuria and even Japan to Armed Corps destroyed the remnants of the enemy restore and maintain the ARF organizations, ac- in their retreat and liberated Hoeryong with their tively publicize among the people the line and strat- own efforts. The resistance organizations in the egy and tactics of the Korean revolution and the Ten- Sinuiju area occupied the provincial police head- point Programme of the ARF, make people know the quarters and government office by themselves and inevitability of the Japanese imperialists’ ruin and disarmed the remnant enemy troops in a local air- join the final campaign against the enemy. Many port. Many other organizations in South Phyongan resistance organizations were formed the country Province, the Pyongyang area, Cholwon and Poptong over, and various kinds of anti-Japanese and anti- areas in Kangwon Province, Yomju and Sakju areas war struggles were launched in parallel with active in North Phyongan Province and North and South harassment operations of the KPRA units behind the Hwanghae provinces gained control over the local enemy. enemy forces. In the first half of the 1940s, there were a lot of Unable to sustain the KPRA’s ferocious attacks resistance organizations including the Kim Il Sung and widespread revolts of the nation, the Japanese Corps which was organized in Kyongsong (Seoul at imperialists surrendered unconditionally on August present) and extended its influence as far as to Jeju 15, 1945 a week after the start of the final campaign. Island and other parts of homeland and Japan, the With this, Korea was freed from the Japanese mili- Paektusan Association which was organized in tary occupation. Songjin (Kim Chaek City at present), North Ham- The national resistance movement that brought gyong Province, the National Liberation Corps which national liberation under the wise leadership of was organized in the Pyongyang area, the secret Kim Il Sung was securely based on the idea of great association in the Nihon Iron Works and the asso- national unity, which the Korean people consistently ciation for armed revolt formed in the Kyongsong maintain in their vigorous effort to achieve inde- area. The Japanese imperialists claimed that they pendent, peaceful reunification of their country. had ferreted out more than 180 anti-Japanese underground organizations within Korea in 1942, Jo Song I

4 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 For the liberation of the country

The Triumphal Return

HE KOREA TODAY EDITORIAL BOARD feated, the reactionaries did not give up their offen- T introduces excerpts from President sive against the revolution. Kim Il Sung’s reminiscences With the The stationing of the Soviet and US armies might Century (Continuing edition) on the occasion of turn our country into an arena of confrontation be- the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from the tween socialism and capitalism, and our national Japanese military occupation. force was liable to be split into left and right, patriots and traitors to the nation. If factional strife prevailed With Japan’s surrender, the Second World War, and factions conspired with foreign forces it would which had thrown mankind into immeasurable mis- end up in the ruin of the country. eries and agony, resulted in the victory of the anti- In these circumstances, we had to strengthen the fascist forces. motive force of our revolution in every way in order When our sworn enemy Umez signed the instru- to defend the independence of our nation and speed ment of surrender and drank the bitter cup of defeat, up the building of a new country. we were preparing to return home as the heroes who By the motive force of our revolution I mean the had triumphed in the anti-Japanese revolution and force of our own people. made a new history of national liberation. Since the first day we set out on the road of revo- Our people’s enthusiasm for national salvation, lution, we made every effort to educate, organize and which had been displayed in national resistance, was mobilize the people who were to undertake the anti- converted into enthusiasm for nation-building with Japanese revolution. Millions of people in the ranks the liberation. From the viewpoint of both the imme- of resistance who took part in the final battle for diate task of the Korean revolution and its ultimate national liberation were not people who turned objective, the situation was very optimistic. out spontaneously to the battlefield but the organ- However, we could not relax in the least. ized masses whose forces we had built up for many Though the Japanese imperialists had been de- years. Just as our people had carried out the anti- Japanese revolution by their own struggle, so they had to build a new country by their own efforts. We resolved to build the Party, state and armed forces, and also the national economy, education and culture, and develop science and technology by relying on our people’s strength. In order to rouse the people to build a new country, we needed the staff of the revolution and state power which would educate, ►

The soldiers of the KPRA and the Soviet army cheer their victory.

Japanese soldiers lay down their arms.

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 5 ► organize and mobilize them, as well as an army life, I would reply that it was that moment. It was which could protect the building of a new society happiness emanating from the pride that I had with arms. fought for the people as a son of the people, from the With this in mind, I convened a meeting of mili- feeling that the people loved and trusted me and tary and political cadres of the KPRA at the training from the fact that I was in the embrace of the people. base on August 20, 1945 and set forth the three ma- I have regarded the love and support of the people jor tasks of building the Party, the state and the as the absolute standard that measures the value of armed forces—new strategic tasks for strengthening existence of a revolutionary and the happiness he the motive force of our revolution. can enjoy. Apart from the love and support of the We discussed the specific ways and methods for people, a revolutionary has nothing. carrying out these tasks, and made necessary ar- Bourgeois politicians try to lure the people with rangements. We formed small teams for implement- money, but we obtained trust from the people at the ing these tasks and designated the places where they cost of our blood and sweat. I was moved by the peo- would be sent. ple’s trust in me and I considered it the greatest When returning home, the KPRA units took dif- pleasure I could enjoy in my life. ferent routes. The gist of my speech that day was great national It is still fresh in my memory that my heart unity. I appealed to the whole nation to build a pros- throbbed strangely when I gazed at the boundless perous independent state in Korea, united as one– ocean over the side of the ship. I remembered the day when I was crossing the Amnok River at the age of 13. It seemed to me that the Amnok and innumer- able other rivers of the homeland frozen by the sorrow of the ruined nation were being melted by the hot wind of liberation into this vast expanse of water. As I was returning home after 20 years, leaving my blood relations, friends and comrades buried in a foreign land, I was overcome with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, which were beyond words. In the homeland, too, I worked mainly among the people, among the masses. While visiting factories, rural communities and streets to meet people on the one hand, on the other I met various visitors from home and abroad in my office and lodgings, sharing bed and board with my comrades as I had done on Mt. Paektu. After visiting the Kangson Steel Works on Octo- ber 9 and founding the Communist Party of North Korea, I gave my first address to the people in the homeland at the Pyongyang City mass rally to welcome me. those with strength dedicating strength, those with When I mounted the platform the shout “Long knowledge devoting knowledge and those with live the independence of Korea!” and the cheers of money offering money. the crowd reached a climax. The crowd expressed their support with thunder- As I listened to their cheers, I felt the fatigue that ous applause and cheers. had accumulated for 20 years melting away. The We can say that the mass rally was the start of a cheers of the people became a hot wind and warmed great march of our people towards building a new my body and mind. country. Standing on the platform amidst the enthusiastic The 40 years it took to win back the lost country cheers of more than 100,000 people, I felt happiness and the 20 years it took me to regain my native home that defied description by any flowery language. If seemed too long. anyone asked me about the happiest moment in my That the sovereignty of a nation lost in a moment ►

6 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 Kim Il Sung makes a speech at the mass rally held in Pyongyang to welcome his triumphant return in October 1945.

prosperous and collect even one more piece of rubble to build the defences higher. That night I slept in my home for the first time in 20 years. At that time the under-floor heating was under repair and the door was not yet fitted. We covered the half-dry floor with wheat and rice straw and spread a straw-mat over it to sleep on. Looking back upon our traces on Mt. Paektu and the snow-covered plains of Manchuria, I imagined the faces of my comrades-in-arms who were not able to come back with me. I thought about the people to whom I owed much, recalled my childhood and ► could only be recovered in a thousand years was an planned the future of the country. important lesson I had learned during the 20 years of That night at Mangyongdae, which I spent in the the revolution against the Japanese. I mean that it is liberated homeland after 20 years’ absence, was a easy to lose a country, but difficult to win it back. It is peaceful night indeed. Two months after the end of a grim reality of the world that it takes decades or the Second World War and the liberation of the even centuries to restore a country which was lost in country, the 30 million Korean people were still in- an instant. toxicated with the joy of liberation. That is why I frequently tell the young people None of these people, however, imagined that a ruined nation is as good as dead, that if they that the liberation of the country would end in do not want to be a stateless people, they must go all a territorial division and national split, resulting out to defend the country, and that in order not to in a great national disaster lasting over half a end up as slaves they must make the country more century.

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 7 Stable Cornerstone of the Korean Revolution

T WAS NOT UNTIL ing experience, and the revolu- logical system, which constitutes I Kim Il Sung, eternal tionary work method and popular the core of the glorious revolu- President of the Democratic work style; these are the con- tionary traditions of the Workers’ People’s Republic of Korea, chose stituents of the brilliant tradi- Party of Korea. to take a new path of the Korean tions of the Workers’ Party of Regarding the establishment revolution that the working class Korea. of the Juche principle as the mat- and other people of the country ter of critical importance in the had any revolutionary tradition. Juche-oriented revolution, he held fast to the Although they waged a vigorous Ideological System and independent and creative stands struggle for national independ- Revolutionary Spirit throughout the anti-Japanese ence and social emancipation revolutionary struggle, solving all from before the Japanese imperi- By way of founding the problems concerning the struggle alists’ occupation of their country, immortal Juche idea and organiz- in an original way with the mobi- they suffered bitter failures and ing and leading the anti- lization of the internal forces. He twists and turns alone with no Japanese revolutionary struggle, put firm trust in the resourceful- unity of their ranks, because all Kim Il Sung established the ness of the masses of the people the social movements in those Juche-oriented ideological sys- and emphasis on the work of ele- times were seldom guided by tem. The revolutionary idea he vating their role when he put proper strategy or tactics and fathered constitutes the kernel of forth revolutionary lines and poli- were devoid of the guiding intel- the revolutionary traditions, and cies. Meanwhile, he steadfastly lect for their unity, which are is the ideological and theoretical followed the line of independence provided by a wise leader. There- source of the traditions. Soon in the Korean revolution and re- fore, the movements had no tradi- after he set out on the road of jected big-power chauvinism, tion worth mentioning as the revolution in his early years, he flunkeyism and dogmatism. In historic roots or valuable wealth created the Juche idea which the course of the bloody struggle of the revolution. maintains that man is the master against the Japanese imperial- The Korean working people of everything and decides every- ists, the Juche-oriented ideologi- were provided with the brilliant thing. He expounded the principle cal system came into being in traditions of revolution only after of the idea at the Kalun Meeting which the Korean revolution was Kim Il Sung came to the fore of held on June 30–July 2, 1930. The carried on with Kim Il Sung’s the revolution and founded the foundation of the Juche idea ush- Juche idea as the sure guideline, guiding idea of the revolution and ered in the era of Juche, a new one the unity of the revolutionary successfully applied it in the un- in history, and the idea became a ranks was achieved with precedentedly arduous and com- true guiding idea in the Korean Kim Il Sung as the centre, and plicated anti-Japanese warfare revolution. the revolutionary struggle as a for as many as 20 years, thus On the strength of the idea, whole was organized and waged bringing the war to victory. Kim Il Sung achieved the unity only under his leadership. In the course of the struggle and cohesion of the revolutionary Kim Il Sung made a valuable against the Japanese aggressors, ranks and made sure that the model of the noble revolutionary there were created the Juche- Korean revolution as a whole spirit that the revolutionaries of oriented ideological system and went ahead under the banner of Juche type should acquire, as well revolutionary spirit, the immortal the idea. In this way he estab- as the Juche-oriented ideological revolutionary exploits and fight- lished the Juche-oriented ideo- system. The revolutionary spirit ►

8 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► consists in infinite loyalty to the cause of national liberation, bold and big way, and developed Party and the national leader, Kim Il Sung performed tremen- an accurate, Juche-oriented confidence in victory, revolution- dous exploits and gained rich method of mass guidance by ary optimism, indefatigable spirit, experience which are of great which to concentrate on the main self-reliance, revolutionary com- importance in accomplishing the link in a chain of work and closely radeship and sense of obligation, cause of national liberation, class combine general and specific socialist patriotism, proletarian emancipation and human free- guidance. internationalism, and so on. The dom to provide independent and Kim Il Sung was always revolutionary spirit epitomized by creative life to the masses of the humble and modest towards his the leader was the source of inde- people. The revolutionary exploits revolutionary comrades and the structible force that brought performed and experience gained masses of the people, set models about the anti-Japanese revolu- by Kim Il Sung are of rich con- of human generosity and cultural tionary struggle to victory along tents and universal significance training, and bore the brunt of the with the Juche-oriented ideologi- as they are not only reflective of arduous and difficult jobs. In this cal system; it is also great revolu- the specific features of the Korean way he set up the most innovative tionary wealth that guarantees revolution but also fully consis- and popular method and style of ultimate victory of the cause of tent with the needs of the chang- work that demand taking re- Juche. ing times. spectful, loving care of the broad sections of the people and relying Immortal Revolutionary Revolutionary Work on them in pushing ahead with Exploits and Fighting Method and Popular the revolution. Experience Work Style As seen above, President Kim Il Sung opened a new Underlying Kim Il Sung’s Kim Il Sung established the era of making a revolution for revolutionary work method and Juche-oriented revolutionary national liberation under the popular work style are the revo- traditions, thus laying a sure banner of independence and lutionary mass viewpoint and guarantee for accomplishing the brought the anti-Japanese na- mass line. Believing that the basic revolutionary cause of Juche tional liberation struggle to vic- method of making a revolution aimed at freeing the working tory, thereby winning the nation’s should be to champion the inter- masses from all manner of fetters independence and laying solid est of the masses of the people and of society and nature once and foundations on which to make mobilize their creative ability for all. steady progress in all fields of the and inexhaustible strength, Thanks to the revolutionary revolution and construction. Kim Il Sung, during the anti- traditions of Juche the Korean What is important of the solid Japanese revolutionary struggle, people could build their Party, foundations of the revolution and always put trust in them and State and armed forces in good construction laid by the leader is: relied on their efforts in the revo- time soon after their August 1945 experience and achievements in lutionary struggle, and encour- liberation despite the complicated building a party and conducting aged them to turn out in the sa- and difficult situation and win party activities, building the peo- cred warfare against the Japa- the fierce Fatherland Liberation ple’s government, building the nese imperialists. War in the 1950s against the revolutionary armed forces, orga- Whatever he did, he gave pri- armed invasion of the US imperi- nizing mass-based organizations, ority to political work by which to alists, and are now moving ahead launching a united front move- persuade and educate the masses forcefully to achieve the ultimate ment and developing culture. of the people to enlist their exer- victory of the revolutionary cause While spearheading the revo- tions, and shared the weal and of Juche. lutionary cause of Juche and woe with them. Also, he con- fighting to achieve the historic ducted all things in a creative, Jong Kyong Bok

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 9 Legends Go down in History with Mt. Paektu

INCE HE RAISED THE the rear patrol of the company should lose the traces. The Guard S banner of the anti-Japanese that a company strong enemy Company slowly marched about revolution, Kim Il Sung was force was pursuing the unit. After 12 kilometres and camped by respectfully seen as the sun of the finding the footprints of the flaring campfires, but the enemy Korean nation and the lodestar of Guard Company the enemy was spent a cold night making no bon- national liberation among the closely following up the rear of it. fires and staying far away from Korean people. After declaring At that time Zhou who was trek- the guerrillas. It was repeated the the anti-Japanese revolutionary king with the Commander, made next day. war the Commander of the Ko- forceful steps forward, expecting On the fourth day before sun- rean People’s Revolutionary Army that the Commander would give rise the Commander ordered to set Mt. Paektu as a strategic base an order to destroy the enemy at get on with the march soon after of armed struggle and annihilated any moment. After a meditation breakfast. The unit covered 20 the vicious Japanese imperialists the Commander said, “Comrade kilometres at a breath and am- in a protracted war, thus achiev- Zhou, why don’t we wipe out an bushed stealthily on the spot fa- ing the liberation of the country. enemy battalion?” Zhou was be- vourable for attacking the enemy. Now Mt. Paektu distinguishes wildered, and replied, “I hope so After they were fully prepared for itself as witness to history telling but how…” He couldn’t make out the battle and had some rest, the the immortal revolutionary idea, what it was all about. “Well, then, enemy troops appeared along the exploits and noble traits of the let’s fix it that way,” the trails of the KPRA, and they Commander who led the anti- Commander said in a resonant looked miserable: some were Japanese revolutionary struggle voice and unexpectedly ordered staggering out of breath while to victory; it is a sacred mountain the unit to stop a night. others were carelessly shoulder- of the revolution having many Zhou was confused. Obviously, ing their rifles as a piece of fire- legends about him. it was a company of the enemy wood. In a word, they seemed to that was following up the KPRA, be out of mind. To Zhou’s sur- Mystery Footprints and he had no idea how the prise, the enemy was a reinforced Commander could sweep the en- battalion. When the enemy got One day there was a lecture at emy’s battalion. Still more sur- into the ambush range, a unit of the Anti-Japanese Allied prising was the Commander had Commander Kim Il Sung or- Army in northern Manchuria. ordered camping. The company dered fire. The powerful gunshots The commander of the unit Zhou bivouacked as was ordered, and of the Guard Company rent the Baozhong stood on the rostrum. resumed marching the next day. air. It came like a bolt from the He told what he had personally From the morning, however, the blue. In an instant all the enemy experienced before: enemy who had been doggedly toppled down to death, along the Commander Kim Il Sung was chasing on the heels of the Guard footprints of the guerrillas. Company, seemed depressed and leading a march with only his The Commander had made hesitating to come up—God Guard Company of the Korean sure that the trails of the guer- knows why. They cautiously fol- People’s Revolutionary Army, rilla company increased to the lowed at some distance lest they when there came a report from scale of a battalion when the unit ►

10 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► first camped. Frightened, the up for their failure in their to take full advantage of the en- enemy called in troops of a battal- “winter punitive operations.” At- emy’s weakness.” ion size. This time the footprints taching much significance to the When the Commander spoke of of the KPRA decreased down to imminent battle, the enemy mo- his decision, the guerrilla officers the scale of a company again. bilized huge armed troops. More- looked up at him in astonishment. Seeing those footprints the enemy over, it invited a group of journal- It was beyond their expectation to was elated to think that they out- ists and diplomats from several move to an inhabited area and numbered the KPRA unit. In an countries, because they were cer- march along the road at a time attempt to “destroy” the guerrillas tain that they would win the bat- when a large enemy force was all by overtaking the KPRA at a run tle, and wanted to give wide pub- around them. The marching col- the reinforcements hurried a long licity to their “brilliant results.” umn glided noiselessly towards way and rushed 20 kilometres The battle went all day long. the high road avoiding the camp- again without having a break. When the night came, the valley fires of the enemy. The road was Now Zhou understood the of Xiaotanghe spanning a dozen completely deserted. The KPRA Commander’s words, and was kilometres was a sea of campfires ranks quickened their steps. All of struck with admiration. surrounding the KPRA unit them were high-spirited. They manifoldly. At the sight of the moved as swiftly as an express Marching Hundreds of Miles campfires the KPRA officers and train through several villages at One Go men made a grim resolve to meet toward Donggang. In this way the their end on the heights of Xiao- main unit of the KPRA disap- In the days of the anti- tanghe. peared nowhere. Japanese revolutionary struggle Looking down across the val- the Japanese “punitive forces” ley, which was ablaze with camp- The Darkest Place Is under lamented that “the tactics of the fires, the Commander racked the Candlestick guerrilla army is ingenious his brains to think of a way to enough to make even the God break through the encirclement. When the dawn of Korea’s wail.” Those words were ru- Assessing the enemy strength liberation was breaking, an moured abroad as one of the pub- Kim Il Sung learned that the episode got around in the north- lic topics. And it was associated enemy’s rear would be almost eastern area of Mt. Paektu. with the legend-like true story. evacuated and that the enemy’s “Commander Kim Il Sung In the spring of 1937 encirclement on the side of high marched through Laotougou in Commander Kim Il Sung ar- road was relatively loose. So he broad daylight with his Korean rived at the forest in Xiaotanghe chose to move down to a popu- soldiers. When the Japanese on his expedition to Fusong, lated area and march along a chased, the guerrillas vanished which he made, leading the main high road. Recollecting those days like smoke into the forest in unit of the Korean People’s Revo- Kim Il Sung later said: “I was Sifangtai.” This legend originated lutionary Army, to facilitate the confident of success because the from the real story of the advance of the army into the risk was accompanied by our un- Commander marching 250 miles motherland [Korea]. At that time breakable offensive spirit, which from Antu County to Wangqing the command of the Japanese was quite capable of changing County. “punitive forces” was determined adversity into a victory by switch- One day in the summer of 1941 to drive the KPRA main unit into ing from defensive to offensive. I Commander Kim Il Sung ar- the valley of Xiaotanghe and de- also had faith in our ability to rived at the vicinity of Laotougou stroy it completely so as to make calculate scientifically just when in Yanji County along with some

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 11 ► of his soldiers. As it was one of when the Commander asked them the strongholds of the Japanese to lie down and have a rest. And “punitive troops,” it was danger- he himself leaned against the ous to pass through it. But with- wall. out passing it, they could neither It was past the lunch time, reach the mountain that led to the when the door was flung open, forest in Sifangtai nor go to the revealing the head of the Concor- destination as early as possible. dia Association and his stooges So, the Commander boldly de- with their pistols in hand. They cided to try to pass through it. The had been ransacking the village to Commander-led unit made haste catch the KPRA men. Caught in along the road throughout the such a critical crisis the guerrillas night. They were in the Japanese were at a loss what to do. At this military uniforms. But to their juncture a thunderous voice misfortune, the day broke before roared in the house. “Who are the unit could pass Laotougou. As you?” A young, tall man [the the enemy patrolled at any time, Commander] glared fiercely at the guerrillas couldn’t continue to the intruders. The enemies were march, and the surrounding hill- crestfallen instantly, saying, ocks were almost bare, providing “We have come to this village no place to hide. The guerrillas on receiving a report that were only anxiously gazing at Kim Il Sung’s unit is around their Commander. here. We have made a mistake. The Commander, in a calm and Please forgive us.” composed manner, looked around, “We are the KPRA,” the and said to his soldiers that they Commander declared striking should have a rest there in the terror into the enemy. daytime and continue to march The dusk fell at last, and the again at night. Then he slowly Commander told the enemy to go approached a cottage that stood back to their headquarters after facing the road. “Comrade the guerrilla unit left the village, Commander, isn’t it dangerous?” and report that they had met the soldiers asked. “We should Kim Il Sung’s Unit. Then, he stay in that house as it is danger- ordered march. That night a large ous,” he replied. He said that the number of the enemy troops darkest place is under the candle- came and went along the road stick, and that they should act all but none of them knew the small the more bravely as the enemy unit in the Japanese military was under their nose. The soldiers uniforms was the KPRA led by entered the house with him. Kim Il Sung. The next morning When the day broke, the road was the enemy knew it, but too fright- swept by waves of Japanese ened at the Commander’s courage troops. The guerrillas looked wor- and unusual wisdom, they dared ried, peeing out of the window, not chase the guerrillas.

12 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 The Blizzards in Mt. Paektu

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 13 In the Days of the Anti-Japanese Warfare

Overcoat Given ther. Then the Commander took people, and that it could hardly be to Old Man off his own overcoat and put it said that they were the army for on the old man. Feeling embar- the sake of the people and revolu- NE DAY IN EARLY rassed in the unexpected situation if they took any of the peo- O January 1936 a Korean Peo- tion, the old man argued that it ple’s things simply because they ple’s Revolutionary Army unit on would be unworthy of him, a were in need of food. Then he the second expedition to North member of the nation led by asked them to go to find the owner Manchuria during the anti- General Kim Il Sung, to take his of the potato pit and pay profusely Japanese armed struggle was only overcoat. for the potatoes after making having a rest after giving a deadly The Commander, however, apology. blow to an enemy “punitive unit.” was so kind as to put the overcoat In this way the two guerrillas The fighters made bonfires and on the old man after all. met the owner of the potatoes, invited those who they had res- sincerely apologized for their mis- cued from the enemy’s hands to The Pay for Potatoes take and produced the money for the fire for warmth. The 20-odd the potatoes. Then, the peasant young people had been forcibly One day during the warfare flatly declined the offer of the drafted by the enemy to carry Kim Il Sung was told that two money, saying it would be absurd their supplies. guerrillas who had been to a com- to take the pay from the guerrilla Around the midnight there munity under the enemy control army instead of helping them. Now the guerrillas said, pushing came an old man in haste to the for the purchase of food had the peasant to receive the money, camping site, looking for someone brought some potatoes from a plot “This is the discipline of the guer- there. He explained that his son that belonged to ordinary people. rilla army set by Commander had been forcibly mobilized for The story went: The two guer- the transport of materials of the rillas who had been sent to obtain Kim Il Sung.” Japanese troops, that he had food failed to get it because of the heard volleys of gun reports soon strict cordon of the enemy. Find- Money Left with the after his son had gone into the ing it hard to go back empty- Innkeeper forests, that he was there to find handed to their company com- even the body of his son if he had rades who they knew were await- Advancing into the homeland been killed, and that he had seen ing them anxious to get food, the in March 1933, Kim Il Sung had the fire while roaming in the wil- guerrillas decided to go to a potato noodles in a pub together with derness. At the moment a young plot where the peasants had har- some people. Leaving the place he man by a fire sprang up and ran vested the crops and glean pota- thanked the innkeeper again and up to him to hug him hard in his toes if any. There they happened again, when a girl stepped into arms. Having found his son alive, to find a potato pit, and looked for the room. She was a daughter of the old man felt tearfully happy. the owner of the plot. Now decid- the keeper, and she was almost in Then, supporting his son’s resolu- ing it futile to try to find the rags, her elbow-worn jacket and tion to join the KPRA, the old man peasant, they took a bag of pota- patched black cotton skirt too put off his padded winter clothes toes each and returned. small for her probably because and offered it to his son. But as he Having learned the story, the she had worn them for years. knew well that it was the only Commander called in the guerril- When the Commander asked padded winter clothes for his fa- las and said that he certainly her to his side she made a bow ther, the young man refused to understood them when they had politely, and would not come up to accept it. brought the potatoes without any him chewing her lips. It seemed Kim Il Sung, Commander of pay for them because they knew she felt ashamed of her clothes the KPRA, happened to see it by they had to help their starving though she was a little girl. the side. Now he approached the comrades and, particularly be- Learning that the keeper was young man and said to him that cause they could not find the assisting the revolutionaries sin- although it was worn out the owner of the plot, and that there cerely although he was unable to overcoat was associated with the was, however, a strict discipline clothe his dear children properly, deep parental care and that he for the guerrilla army to observe Kim Il Sung offered him a sum would not be able to become a in whatever the difficulty, that it of money, asking to buy some good revolutionary fighter if he was the revolutionary discipline clothes for his children. forgot the kindly care of his fa- over treatment of masses of the When the keeper refused to ►

14 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 For Global Independence

ASED ON THE JUCHE Let the World’s People Advocat- to the DPRK and discussed with B idea that man is the master ing Independence Unite! the them on the matter of global in- and the shaper of his own destiny President encouraged the people dependence till the last period of President Kim Il Sung rendered around the world aspiring to in- his life (July 1994). He vigorously great service to the work of build- dependence to get united and conducted external activities vis- ing a new, independent world. develop friendly and cooperative iting socialist nations and differ- The independence of the ex- relations. ent countries in Asia and Africa. ploited and oppressed working In the beginning of the 1990s In his lifetime he met a total of masses should be realized if they the moves of the US imperialists over 70 000 foreign guests includ- are to be the master of the world to split the world revolutionary ing heads of state and govern- and their destiny to the true forces were getting ever more ment of 136 countries and more sense, freed from all forms of vicious. At this juncture, than 400 party leaders, and paid fetters of nature and society. And Kim Il Sung published his works visits to 16 countries on 106 occa- the only road to this end is to entitled Enhancing the Role of the sions, travelling 522 000 kilome- liquidate imperialism which Popular Masses Is the Guarantee tres. tramples and violates the inde- for Victory in the Cause of Inde- When socialism was frus- pendent rights of the working pendence and Non-aligned Infor- trated in East Europe in the masses and the oppressed peoples mation Services Must Contribute 1990s, President Kim Il Sung in their colonies. to the People’s Cause of Inde- put his heart and soul in rebuild- In the early 20th century the pendence to resolutely frustrate ing the socialist movement and President made public his classic the US’s attempts. From the lat- pushing ahead with it, holding works Let Us Overthrow Imperi- ter half of the 1920s to the first high the banner of Juche. To this alism and Young People Must half of the 1990s he put much end he made strenuous efforts to Follow the Road Indicated by the emphasis on firmly maintaining bring about a turning point in Advanced Idea. Then in the 1950s the revolutionary principle of rebuilding socialism. On April 20, he published his works entitled independence against imperial- 1992 the Pyongyang Declaration Proletarian Internationalism and ism under whatever circum- titled Let Us Defend and Advance the Struggle of the Korean People stances and achieving unity of the the Cause of Socialism was and Our Righteous Joint Struggle world people championing inde- adopted. The charter for rebuild- Is Victorious, while fighting to pendence. ing socialism was signed by dele- repulse the armed invasion of the The President remained truly gates of 70 parties from across the US imperialists. In his works faithful to the noble comradely world including 48 party leaders released in the 1970s and 1980s friendship with and obligation to who were staying in Pyongyang in such as The Revolutionary Peo- the revolutionary peoples of the April 1992 to congratulate ples of Asia Will Win in Their world and gave both material and President Kim Il Sung on his Common Struggle Against US moral assistance to the peoples in 80th birthday. The number of sig- Imperialism and Let Us Shatter socialist countries, imperialist natories to the Pyongyang Decla- Imperialist Moves Towards Ag- colonies and newly-independent ration reached 215 in July 1994 gression and War and Safeguard states. and over 260 in 2003, and it is Peace and Independence, he Since Korea was liberated steadily growing. called to fight to the last against from the military occupation of The invincibility and might of the US imperialists, the ring- the Japanese imperialists in Au- socialism as science are becoming leader of world reactionary camp gust 1945 he had met a large more evident as the days go by. and the chieftain of aggression number of foreign delegations and and war. By putting up the slogan figures of all strata on their visit Kim Chong Sop

► accept the offer, Kim Il Sung that although they could not when a good world came in the apologetically asked him to un- clothe or feed their children prop- future. He appealed to all those derstand his situation when he erly at the moment, they would be present on the occasion to rise up could do no more than offering able to send their children to in the struggle to hasten the day such a small pay. Then, he said school and give them nice clothes of happy life.

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 15 Succession

RESIDENT KIM IL SUNG leading the anti-Japanese (1950–1953), and defended their P is credited with the origin armed struggle to victory national sovereignty with credit. of the Songun-based revolution Kim Il Sung accomplished the In the 1960s the Korean peo- in the Democratic People’s Re- historic cause of Korea’s libera- ple turned out as one in the work public of Korea. In October 1926 tion in August 1945. to establish an all-people, nation- he organized the Down-with- After liberation the President, wide defence system under the Imperialism Union (DIU), pro- regarding the gun as the essential slogan of “Rifle in one hand and claiming a death-defying struggle means to safeguard the country hammer or sickle in the other!” to overthrow the Japanese and the people and protect the true to the President’s strategic imperialists. At the historic cause of building a thriving na- line of simultaneously carrying on Kalun Meeting in 1930 he clari- tion, paid primary attention to the building up of the economy fied the principles of the Juche the military affairs to ceaselessly and the defence industry, solidly idea and the Songun idea, and in strengthen the revolutionary consolidating the defence capa- December 1931 set forth the armed forces and the independent bilities of the country. Thanks to slogan “Weapons are our life and defence industry so as to ensure the wise leadership of the Presi- soul! Arms for arms!” On April 25, the victorious advance of the dent the Korean People’s Army 1932 he, after full preparations revolution and construction all and the Korean people could re- for an armed struggle, declared the time. Consequently, the Ko- liably defend their socialist coun- the founding of the Korean rean people repulsed the armed try and the gains of the revolution People’s Revolutionary Army (the invasion of the US-led allied when black clouds of nuclear war then Anti-Japanese People’s forces of imperialism in the hung over the Korean peninsula Guerrilla Army) to the world. By Fatherland Liberation War due to all sorts of joint military ►

In Mt. Osong: KPA soldiers pledge to defend their national leader with their very lives.

16 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► exercises of the US imperialists in tion between the DPRK and the University and many other KPA collusion with south Korea in the US over the nuclear issue he units one after another, asking 1970s–the 1990s. manifested the independent them to study harder the strate- Chairman Kim Jong Il took stand of the nation by taking a gies and tactics of the President over the revolutionary idea of decisive measure of quitting from and the Chairman and thus per- Songun and the exploits of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation fect the modern art of war and President Kim Il Sung. The Treaty. Later, he led the anti- operational and tactical plans unexpected demise of the imperialist, anti-US confronta- based on their studies. Whenever President in July 1994 was the tion to victory through the he visited KPA units he ac- greatest loss to the Korean DPRK’s withdrawal from the quainted himself with the state of nation. When the people saw International Atomic Energy their ideological work, and made out 1994 in tears of blood and Agency (IAEA) and its complete sure they adhered to the key greeted in the new year, the withdrawal from the NPT which point of the Party work of prepar- Chairman visited the Dwarf Pine had been temporarily frozen to ing the service personnel strong Post of the Korean People’s Army take effect. in idea and faith while ensuring on the New Year’s Day. That day, On December 30, 2011 the better conditions and environ- he said that he would be the national leader Kim Jong Un ments for the ideological education of the soldiers. Giving field Supreme Commander sharing was appointed Supreme guidance to KPA units’ tactical the sweet and the bitter of life Commander of the Korean Peo- attack drills combined with firing with the rank and file in combat ple’s Army. In 2012 the Supreme practice, flight exercises, landing units. His words meant an impor- Commander visited the KPA drills of paratroopers and shelling tant declaration that he would Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th drills of the artillery, he in- complete the revolutionary cause Tank Division as the first of his structed that more efforts should of Juche following the road of field inspection of the year. Since be put in updating the military Songun invariably. then he has continued the equipment while steadily perfect- The Chairman visited lots of Songun-based revolutionary lead- KPA companies and posts, sug- ing tactics to suit modern war- ership without letup, securely gesting specific tasks and meth- fare. defending the country, revolution ods to increase their combat effi- Kim Jong Un, regarding the and socialism. He made public the ciency, and paid close attention to KPA service personnel as revolu- immortal classic work Let Us Add their economic and recreational tionary comrades with whom he Eternal Brilliance to Comrade conditions. He assigned the KPA is determined to carry through Kim Jong Il’s Great Idea of and tasks of both national defence and the revolution, leads them by dint Achievements in the Songun socialist construction and led of absolute trust in and love for them wisely so that they could Revolution, confidently express- them. When he visits KPA units perform great feats in such diffi- ing his will to invariably maintain and subunits, he earnestly asks cult projects as construction of the exploits of the President and the officers to take care of the mammoth power plants, large- the Chairman in the Songun rank and file like their older scale land realignment and wa- revolutionary leadership. He in- brothers and sisters would do, terway construction. tegrated Kim Jong Il’s revolu- befitting their true comrades-in- From the viewpoint that it tionary idea and Songun idea and arms. Now the Korean people are was impossible to build a power- put forward a new line of simul- full of conviction that victory and ful nation and defend the country taneously carrying on the eco- glory are in store for Songun Ko- without a strong defence indus- nomic construction and the up- rea as they have Kim Jong Un try, the Chairman gave priority to building of the nuclear forces. as their supreme leader. the development of the defence The Supreme Commander industry. In the 1993 confronta- visited Kim Il Sung Military An Song Duk

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 17 On the occasion of the 70 th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea

The WPK and Building of Thriving Nation

HE STRATEGIC GOAL OF THE WORKERS’ country and the people Chairman Kim Jong Il T Party of Korea is to build a great, prosperous opened up a new road of Songun-guided advance for and powerful socialist nation whose national power the building of a powerful nation by carrying forward is enormous and where everything thrives and all and developing the President’s idea of state building the people live as happily as any one in the world. and his exploits in the respect. This was a noble policy and desire of President The mid-1990s was the most critical period in the Kim Il Sung who founded and led the WPK, and Korean revolution. When socialism collapsed in sev- Chairman Kim Jong Il, eternal General Secretary eral countries one after another in East Europe, the of the WPK. US-led imperialists and reactionaries advertised the From his early years Kim Il Sung kept the idea termination of the Cold War and the “end of social- of “The people are my God” as his motto. He set forth ism,” gleefully arguing for the “advent of a new era of the building of a state as the main objective of the peace.” The then US President George Bush overtly revolution when he embarked on the road of revolu- asserted the need to establish a “unipolar world” tion, and accumulated valuable experience in build- under the control of the US, claiming that a “long- ing the people’s power in the flames of the struggle cherished opportunity” came to establish a new against the Japanese imperialists who occupied world order. In an attempt to attain its aim the US Korea militarily early in the 20th century. After the mobilized its reactionary lackeys to persistently im- country’s liberation on August 15, 1945 he pioneered pose vicious political and military pressure upon the an untrodden path spanning half a century since DPRK, applying economic blockade and making Korea entered into the building of a new society; he ideological and cultural infiltration for disintegra- built the socialist Korea independent, self-sufficient tion. Earlier it simply tried to put the DPRK under and self-reliant in defence, thus laying the eternal its control by military means, but now it began to groundwork for a thriving socialist nation. pursue moves to permanently eliminate it in all Inheriting the President’s idea of devotion to the terms—political, military, economic, ideological and ►

The Chonji Lubricant Factory.

18 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 thus laying the firm material and economic foundation for the building of a thriving nation. When the US imperialists were making ceaseless moves to stifle and suffo- cate the DPRK, laying manifold hardships in the way of the DPRK, the Chairman energetically organized and led the work to develop all fields of cultural development including science, education, arts and literature, public health and sport, so as to bring about a new efflores- cence of the revolutionary culture in the Songun era. First Secretary of the WPK Kim Jong Un, faithful successor to the ideas and cause of the A construction campaign is making headway President and the Chairman, is for the facelift of the country. now devoting his all to the realiza- ► cultural—by completely isolating and suffocating it. tion of their instructions. He believes that the Party, The WPK and the Korean people were faced with power and army are all needed just for the people, the task of safeguarding their socialist country from and that he should pluck stars from the sky or grow the moves of the imperialists and bringing the ad- flowers even on the rock if the people want them. vantages of socialism into full play. At this juncture With this view on the people the supreme leader Chairman Kim Jong Il conceived the plan for maps out lines and policies on the principle of giving building a powerful socialist country that would absolute precedence to the people’s interests and ► constantly make development and achieve prosperity in all fields of politics, defence, the economy and Catfish production goes up. culture. He clarified that the country whose national power is enormous and where everything thrives and the people live as happily as anyone else in the world is none other than the thriving socialist nation, and illuminated the inevitable course and method to be adhered to this end. He saw to it that the People’s Army played the leading role in socialist construction on the strength of its political and ideological merits, and that the defence industry was developed in a big way so as to secure the military guarantee for the building of a thriving socialist nation. The Chairman ushered in a new heyday in building a political and ideological power. He saw to it that an independent stand was thoroughly main- tained in all aspects of politics, the economy, defence and culture and that everything was done in the Korean way in keeping with the specific condition. He also brought about a great revolutionary upsurge in socialist construction by believing in and relying on the people. He set forth the economic strategy suited to the requirement of the developing reality, which comprises the economic construction line in the Songun era whereby to give priority to development of the defence industry while simultaneously developing light industry and agriculture, and vigorously encouraged the entire nation to this end,

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 19 ► convenience and leads the revolution and construction in the spirit of loyal service for the people. At the historic starting point of the new cen- The Sun tury of the Juche era he presented a classic preposition that single-hearted unity and invinci- ble military might plus the industrial revolution in the new century constitute full qualities of a HE KOREA TODAY EDITORIAL BOARD introduces excerpts from a note written by thriving socialist country. T Jiancarlo Elia Valori, chairman of the board of He also put forward the permanent strategy directors of the Mediterranean Development Bank of going straight along the road of independence, and concurrently chairman of the board of directors Songun politics and socialism, the line of eco- of the General Investment Group, Italy. nomic construction whereby to build up the economy and the nuclear forces simultaneously and 1 the line of hastening final victory through a revolutionary ideological offensive, encouraging I’m in the twilight of my life now, and yet I feel the entire nation to turn out as one in the build- my heart thrilling whenever I hear the song O My ing of a powerful nation, firmly united around the Sun, a world-famous folk song of Italy, which sings of WPK. The Speed of Masikryong, the new Korean the feeling of affection for the lover. Listen to it, and speed, the Pyongyang Spirit and the Pyongyang you’ll be able to sense the fervent worship of us Ital- Speed were created amazingly, and eye-openers ians for the sun. Since the sun gives light and heat to were made in all sectors and at all units thanks to all things in the universe, you’d be nothing without the wise leadership of the national leader. The the sun. People all worship the sun, and sing of their work to put the national economy on a Juche- priceless love by referring to it as the sun. After all, oriented, modern, scientific and IT basis has to man the sun means the object of absolute worship. made progress, and many factories and modern The sun I hold in admiration, however, is production bases were built as models and President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, archetypes of industrial facilities in the new leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, century. who are highly praised by all the peoples for their foundation and development of the first ever man- In the drive to boost the fishery a new Korean centric idea and their establishment of an ideal speed was created, and tangible successes were society of mankind by means of politics of devoted made in the campaign to bring about a decisive care for the people on this planet which has existed turn in solving the food problem of the people since time immemorial. including the construction of stockbreeding bases Once my mother was honoured to meet President in the Sepho area. The science and technology of Kim Il Sung, and then she made a meaningful the country as a whole have risen onto a higher remark. Overwhelmed with gratitude for the stage by virtue of the wise leadership of the President’s deep care for her—both during her stay national leader who puts forward sci-tech as one in Pyongyang and in later years—she said that he of the three mainstays in the building of a thriv- was the Saviour and the sun that all believers in the ing nation. Cutting-edge sci-tech successes are world ought to put their faith in and follow. She said made profusely, consolidating the country’s abil- Korea was a true land of the sun and a wonderland ity to manufacture and launch artificial earth she had dreamed of. satellites, and retain nuclear weapons. The all- My mother was an honest and upright woman people campaign to learn science and technology who loved to help her neighbours and other people. A is making wonderful successes in sci-tech re- devout believer in Catholicism, she had kept an illu- searches at factories and enterprises. The monu- sion about Christianity and the “land of God” where mental edifices in the Songun era including the she believed she would be enshrined after her death. Mirae Scientists Street are going up in the cam- It was quite remarkable such a serious devotee paign to make a facelift of the country. openly declared that President Kim Il Sung was the The Korean people are now advancing dy- Saviour and the sun of this world. This was probably namically towards the final victory in the building because she had found her spiritual mainstay in this of the thriving socialist nation, which they are world, instead of that world. sure will come under the guidance of the supreme Anyone who is interested in literature knows the national leader Kim Jong Un. romantic fiction The City of the Sun, authored by our Italian writer Tommaso Campanella in 1602. The An Chol Ho book carries the desire of the contemporary people ►

20 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015

Shines for Ever and Ever

► for an ideal community in which everyone works Once a philosopher and lives happily. It enjoyed great popularity when famously said that a it was released, like Utopia written by the British great idea can fill up writer More in 1516. It is far more than 400 years the immense universe. and nearly 500 years respectively since the issues Today the Juche idea of the two famous fictions. The ideal world mankind is a bright beacon has wished to get over the years has taken shape in in the struggle and reality now. It is the Democratic People’s Republic march of the progressive people, and the word Juche of Korea. is a universal word in the era of independence which By the early last century the country used to be a needs no translation in foreign languages. miserable colony of the Japanese imperialists. It Indeed, Kim Il Sung is a great man of the began to rise from the ruins when it had as its 20th century, who lived a life of the sun befitting his leader Kim Il Sung, son of the nation and legen- own name. dary hero of the anti-Japanese warfare. I still vividly remember the day in 1975 when I Many of the readers of this note may be unaware visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea how the august name of Kim Il Sung came, which for the first time in my life and met the President. arouses infinite reverence among the people. While Wearing a bright smile, he hugged me warmly, reading a number of full and short biographies of saying that he felt familiar to me when it was our the President and other books that describe his first meeting. His image felt like that of the sun. He immortal life and revolutionary activities, including was all the attraction itself. On the occasion he told Kim Il Sung Biography issued by the Calendario me that this is the time when independence is del Poplo Publishers, Italy, I came to know that his needed, and that man could hardly live a life befit- name just meant the sun. It was made so by the ting man without independence. Then he gave an Korean people hoping that he would be the sun to explicit explanation about important points of the save them from the rule of the Japanese imperial- times, the intrinsic needs of the human being and ists. the way to meet the needs. Listening to him, I Bearing the name of the sun, President thought I learned the rules by which to distinguish Kim Il Sung engaged himself in politics for half a right and wrong about anything in the world. century. His career as statesman simply means the I was completely captivated by him at the first years after he liberated his country by waging the meeting—I don’t mind how the readers might think anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle he started in of it. I was born and grew up in Italy that is proud of his teens. He is praised as veteran statesman the its time-honoured culture and tradition, so I had world over for his miraculous achievements. been unusually proud and convinced of my view, All things in the universe follow the sun because and they might call me a European chauvinist. it gives light, and people worship a great leader When I had been busy travelling all over the world and talking to quite a few high-ranking figures of because his idea is great. President Kim Il Sung, many countries and regions for the sake of society early in his teens, got the idea of independence, or and justice, I had never yielded or given up my self- the idea of Juche, which specifies the motive force of respect. Nevertheless, the moment I saw President the Korean revolution lies in the Korean people and demands that the Korean revolution should be, in Kim Il Sung, I strongly felt as if I were meeting the all respects, made with the Koreans’ own efforts to Heavenly saint my mother had often told me. The suit the country’s specific condition. He originated appearance of a Heaven-sent man bearing the spirit the Jcuhe idea, a genuine man-centred idea ap- of Mt. Paektu that is the ancestral mountain of proved by the entire mankind, which clarified for Korea, the roaring voice of an impregnable military the first time in the world that the popular masses commander, the fascinating smile—all those quali- are the master of everything. His lifelong struggle ties of his convinced me that he was really the sun. was under the banner of the idea. For scores of years He is rightfully No. 1 of the heroes and the greatest th thereafter, he followed the line of the Juche idea, of the great personages of the 20 century for his thus establishing the impregnable socialist country idea, leadership, personality and achievement. He is to be likened to the sun alone in the universe. which is independent in politics and self-reliant in the economy and national defence. (To be continued)

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 21 Vanguard in the General Forward March

N HIS CONGRATULATORY to build a prosperous country. bed after all obstacles by carrying I message to the participants in In 1998 when the country was 95 000 m ³ of earth mostly on the the national celebrations of having a hard time dubbed as the back of the young people. Youth Day last year and all other Arduous March and the forced Kim Jong Il was proud of young people in the country, the march, Kim Jong Il, Chairman their work. He said that the national leader Kim Jong Un of the DPRK National Defence young builders had turned out as expressed his trust in them, call- Commission, initiated the project one in response to the appeal of ing them vanguard in the general of laying a road from Pyongyang the Party and laid the road bed forward march that dynamically to Nampho. Young people the successfully although they had advance straight forward after country over turned out in the been short of machines and other the Workers’ Party of Korea. His construction. equipment and suffered all sorts message serves the Korean young But laying the road bed was of difficulties as the country was people as guideline in their life far from a pleasant thing. In a in the hardest economic situation and struggle. Upholding the slo- section the bed collapsed as many in its history. He remarked that gan “Go through the thick and as six times which they had piled anyone could see what kind of thin in response to the call of the and hardened through the win- idea and spirit the young people Party!” they not only securely ter. But the young people did not had at the site of the Pyongyang- defend their country but also play yield to the baffling difficulty; Nampho road construction if they a great role in the nation’s effort they were determined to see it visited there. Then, he suggested through even by the Presidium of the DPRK Su- piling the bed a preme People’s Assembly issue a hundred times decree on naming the road again, if neces- “Youth Hero Road” which was sary. Such a completed on the occasion of the resolute spirit 55th anniversary of the founding brought about of the Party. the laying of the The young people’s vanguard ►

Young people press on with the Paektusan Songun Youth Power Station project.

22 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► role is also associated with the Kim Jong Il praised that the 18th World Taekwon-Do Champi- railway that spans 100 km from State Academy of Sciences had onships. (The achievements the famous port city of Wonsan to got many able young scientists. placed their country at the top the scenic spot of Mt. Kumgang, They produce a good deal of valu- of the total national rankings at and with the Kwangmyongsong able results in their researches the championships.) Salt Works which was the first which contribute to the sci-tech The young service personnel to be set up in the east coast of development of the country. are keeping their posts secure Korea. Many of the awards at the na- and doing good things a lot for A lot of young people went tional exhibition of young peo- the civilians under the slogan voluntarily to work at collieries, ple’s sci-tech achievements find “Let us take upon ourselves mines, farms, forestry stations, their way to the young scientists both national defence and social- fishing stations, power station at the academy. ist construction!” When the US construction sites, iron and steel The students at Kim Il Sung imperialists and the traitorous plants and other difficult work- University, Kim Chaek Univer- south Korean regime committed places. A huge number of young sity of Technology, the University extra-villainous acts of smearing people, including those in mining, of Sciences and many other col- the supreme dignity of the DPRK farming and scientific research leges are also making a lot of suc- young people of both sexes got so sectors have performed laudable cesses in their researches which infuriated that they volunteered exploits at their jobs. Regarding are of great academic value, with to join or rejoin the Korean Peo- their workplaces as their battle an ambition to become a Doctor ple’s Army to take revenge. site, they have made charges for in their 20s or 30s. The number The young people are over- production displaying the merit of winners of the Student’s Scien- coming ordeals and difficulties and spirit befitting the Korean tific Research Prize is growing. bravely, singing songs like March young people who love to engage In recent years the nation has of the Korean Youth, For the themselves in innovative and grasped the control of the CNC Revolution, We Are Successors to enthusiastic efforts. Their role technology and won noteworthy Revolution, I’ll Exalt Thee, My has been prominent in all fields achievements in all technological Country and Flare up, Bonfire, of the national economy. Many of spheres including the nuclear, which sounded vehemently in the the new railways, fishing farms, space development, information, decades of the arduous revolu- stockbreeding farms and monu- nano and bioengineering ones. tion, including the age of mental edifices that the Party This is partly attributable to the Chollima and the time of resolute proposed to build for the sake of endeavours of young scientists defence of socialism. the people have all been the epit- and technicians. On a visit to the DPRK, the ome of the young people’s leading Many of the young sports- leader of an Indonesian youth role. Some of the typical monu- people have contributed to the delegation expressed himself, ments are the Grand People’s accomplishment of the Party’s “Now the young people in some Study House, the People’s Palace policy of building a sports power. countries pursue their own com- of Culture, Kim Il Sung Sta- At the 30th Olympic Games An fort, without any regard to the dium, May Day Stadium, Kum Ae, Kim Un Guk, Om Yun interest of society and the collec- Changgwang Health Complex, Chol and Rim Jong Sim won gold tive. But in Korea they have a Pyongyang Department Store No. medals in judo and weightlifting. noble trait of sacrificing them- 1, Changjon Street, Kanggye At the 6th International Gymnas- selves for the sake of society and Youth Power Station, Youth Hero tic Federation Challenger Cup the collective and socialist con- Road, Open-air Theatre of the tournament of heavy gymnastics struction. What has moved me Youth Park, Pleasure Ground of Ri Se Gwang won the gold medal most is their indomitable revolu- the Kaeson Youth Park, and the in the long horse event by per- tionary spirit. The Korean young Paektusan Songun Youth Power forming a smart movement people regard it as their sacred Station. again—which the IGF named Ri duty and honour to carry forward Nor is that all. Young people Se Gwang Movement—to the generation after generation the successfully launched artificial wonder of all the spectators. Kim revolutionary cuase pioneered by earth satellites into space with Hyok Bong and Kim Jong de- their national leaders.” their youthful vigour and wis- feated all their rivals in the mixed The Korean young people dom, and initiated the enthusi- doubles at the 52nd World Table are faithful to their mission as asm for breaking through the sci- Tennis Championships of the In- vanguard in the general forward tech frontier by succeeding in ternational Table Tennis Federa- march, with a conviction that CNC projects in the machine tion in France. The Taekwon- they will be able to build a building industry. Wherever they Doists exalted the honour of their socialist civilized nation work, they play the core role, country, motherland of Taekwon- without fail as they are wisely engaged in war of brainpower or Do, by winning four trophies, 21 led by their national leader war of technology. gold medals, four silver medals Kim Jong Un. The other day Chairman and three bronze medals at the Kim Kwang Myong

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 23 Heroic Spirit Inherited

HE KALMA LOCOMOTIVE eran drivers, whose sons are also ten trails and about 60 buildings T Corps of the Wonsan Rail- working with them, and many had to be constructed. So the way Bureau went online soon faithful skilled workers who have amount of goods for the project after Korea was liberated from been devoting themselves to the was enormous. Kang Yun Chol, the Japanese military occupation repair of the locomotives for Rim Tok Mo and other managers (August 1945). It fulfilled impor- scores of years. of the corps appealed to all engine tant tasks of transport for all A good maintenance shop is drivers to turn out in the cam- sectors of the national economy in laid to raise the speed and quality paign of transport, saying, “We the periods of the Fatherland of repair and maintenance. As a are keeping the arteries of the Liberation War, the postwar re- result the number of locomotives country, and if we shrink back habilitation and great Chollima in operation is increasing. In ad- before obstacles, our country will upsurge and other stages of so- dition, meticulous arrangements develop so much slowly.” In ► cialist construction. Particularly, are made in mar- it produced three wartime Heroes shalling yards so including Choe Ki Ryong and as to cut down An Song Guk who carried out the round-trip their tasks with a sense of re- time and reduce sponsibility during the war, and the stopping two Labour Heroes after the time. war. What is more, the corps In 2013 the played a leading role in the reali- country launched zation of the universal electrifica- the Masikryong tion of railway transport in the Ski Resort pro- country. ject. It was of a The corps is proud of its vet- gigantic scale;

24 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► hearty response to their call all were actively introduced. As a contributed to the speedy con- the drivers volunteered to take result of the normal operation of struction of the station by trans- charge of the task. In consonance the locomotives the corps success- porting huge amounts of goods in with their enthusiasm the corps fully ensured the transporting of hearty response to the policy of managers made sure that a goods. Today people of all walks of the Workers’ Party of Korea to proper repair and maintenance life from across the country enjoy bring the dream of the children system was first established and themselves in the Masikryong Ski into reality. that spare parts were prepared in Resort, and this is associated with The managers and drivers are time for normal operation of the the sincere efforts of the engi- going steadily along the railway locomotives while fixing the traf- neers of the Kalma Locomotive as ever to advance an animated fic control system boldly. In addi- Corps. When a railway station and vibrant future of civilized life tion mass technical innovation was laid exclusively for the camp- as early as possible. was properly planned and new ers of the Songdowon Interna- conceptions and technologies tional Children’s Camp, the corps Sim Yong Jin

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 25 By Relying on Their Own Efforts

MONG THOSE WHO ARE information science and technol- you think that it would be easy to A leading the development of ogy are making breakthroughs, make a cutting-edge? A dozen science and technology of the we cannot ensure speedy eco- years ago when we were estab- country are the researchers at the nomic development simply by lishing a parallel system, we were information science and technol- introducing techniques from other lack of knowledge and technical ogy research institute of the State countries. We have to break data, but we succeeded in devel- Academy of Sciences. through the cutting-edge of IT by oping all programs necessary for They were once given the task our own efforts and wisdom—this different fields with our own ef- to make lots of mechanical calcu- was just their opinion and deter- forts. I think nothing is impossi- lations in a short period of time, mination. ble if we have confidence in our including the one of efficiency of a Now the institute set a plan to own efforts and technique.” Jong hydroelectric turbine, needed in develop and study new manage- encouraged them to display their many sectors of the national ment and application systems of indomitable spirit. Section chief Ho Won Ju and his team soon started to make new configurations and the whole research institute was bubbling over with enthusiasm for the work to install a better rational system. Their devoted efforts brought the setup of a new parallel system which is of high technical and economic efficiency in computing capacity, calculating density, ex- tention potentiality and so on. In this course a number of programs and systems they developed won the top place over ten times at the national program contest and exhibition, the national exhibition of inventions and new technolo- economy. It was almost impossi- the parallel computer while car- gies and other events, and in Feb- ble to fulfil the task in time if they rying out other tasks, and gave ruary last over ten researchers adopted conventional methods. specific assignment to each of the including Jong Kwang Ryong Jong Kwang Ryong, chief of researchers. Jong volunteered to received diplomas of February 16 the institute, and other research- design a system. Sci-tech Prize. ers had a discussion to solve this All researchers had to bear Jong says, “The successes that problem. Some had the opinion of double or treble heavy burdens, we have achieved have convinced buying new equipment and a but they were convinced they us that we can do anything if we computer system from other could do it. They devoted their are determined. In the future, we countries, but most of them ar- zeal and efforts to assignments. will further improve our parallel gued that they should develop Finally, they completed prepara- application system based on our programs and systems of their tions to introduce new systems, own operating system which will own. Needless to say, it is impor- and made a calculation for test. contribute to the development of tant to introduce advanced sci- But the result was far from their the national economy.” ence and technology. Considering expectation. the situation, however, when the At the time Jong said, “Did Jo Yong Il

26 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 Forty Years in Teaching

EOPLE SAY KIM OK HUI HAS GOT A P successful career. Now she is rector of the postgraduate school of Pyongyang Jang Chol Gu Univer- sity of Commerce, and concurrently chairwoman of the academic thesis deliberation committee of clothing engineering. Her husband also teaches at Man- gyongdae Revolutionary School and her children are playing a big role in their special sectors after learning at university. She is really a blessed woman both in the public and in her family. A few days ago I had a talk with her.

Mother Kim Ok Hui (second right). Kim, a woman of small stature, looked intelli- gent. She said, “I became an orphan when I was Now she delved into the clothes-making field. two. My parents and two sisters were all at once After finishing the postgraduate course, she killed in the US imperialists’ bombing raid during went to many clothing factories in Pyongyang and the Korean war (June 25, 1950–July 27, 1953) other local areas like Hamhung and Sinuiju and started by the US aggressors.” Ok Hui and only one conducted a research work, thus achieving lots of of her sisters survived. She often heard from her successes that rendered a benefit to the State. sister how much her mother had loved her. And yet In this course, she got tens of certificates for pat- it sounded like a legend. However hard she tried, ents, technical introductions, sci-tech achievements, she couldn’t remember the image of her mother. inventions and programs, and wrote over twenty Though orphaned, Kim went to school without reference books and textbooks in maths and clothing worry. She was distinguished in mathematics and subjects. Having explored the fields of maths and enrolled in the maths faculty of Wonsan University clothes making alike, she has become an authority of Education as she had wished. in both fields; she is Professor and Doctor. On the first day of the university, she was pro- Kim has been working as chief of the university’s vided with new uniform from the State. She couldn’t postgraduate school for 20 years since 1995. More get to sleep. So she wrote a diary, “No parents I than 150 people with academic degrees and titles have, but I am studying without any worry—in new trained by her are now working hard as faithful ser- school uniform. My sister tells that my sisters had a vants of the people in the sectors of light industry single skirt for them so they had to put it on by and commerce. Jang Jong Hui, head of clothes de- turns before national liberation (August 15, 1945). signing department of the clothing faculty, and Even if my mother had been alive, she couldn’t have many other teachers of the university are her provided me with new uniform. The uniform is quite disciples. to my liking. The State provides such uniforms to all Kim says, “I am entrusted with an important the students, not only me. What a beneficent coun- task to train talents in the fields of clothes industry, try it is! It is our mother, indeed.” public catering, service and logistics. The responsi- Kim struggled to learn as much as possible and bility for education of the rising generation makes finished university summa cum laude. me an enthusiast.” Her words are to be proved by the fact that she has mastered four foreign lan- Source of Enthusiasm guages. Especially, she began to learn the Chinese at the age of 64. Now her command of the Chinese is After university she had many good choices for as well as the experts. work. But having keenly realized the necessity of She says, “This year, too, the State provided va- maths, the basis of all natural sciences, in the cloth- rieties of newly designed uniforms for all seasons, ing field, she volunteered to go to Pyongyang Jang bags and shoes to all the students across the coun- Chol Gu University of Commerce to teach maths. try. The children must be of the same mind as me. And while teaching, she went through the post- They are pupils and students now, but they will be graduate course of the university. national talents in the future and live happily. I will Attending the postgraduate course, she under- devote myself to their bright future.” stood that she had to get well-informed about cloth- Whenever her children ask her to retire, she ing engineering to put the clothes designing on a says, “I feel at ease with the students,” and gets on scientific basis and produce lots of clothes to suit the the way to work with his husband. people’s types by applying mathematical principles. Rim Ok

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 27 Strenuous Efforts into Education

OW THE PYONGYANG AGRICULTURAL were well cooperative. However, when Jong asked N College of Kim Il Sung University is acknowl- the students some varying questions based on what edged as one of the leading colleges in training agro- they had in the lecture, few students answered. Jong technicians in the country. Many conceptions and also remembered students had been perplexed about inventions of the students and graduates of the col- what to do in the field for practice, though they were lege were highly appreciated at several sci-tech ex- well versed in characteristics of growth of certain hibitions held in recent years for their practical val- crops and the index of their manuring and cultiva- ues. Those successes are attributable to the strenu- tion. The teaching content should be rid of the ous efforts of the teachers. stereotyped formula—he decided. One day five years ago Jong Ho Song, deputy Immediately, a campaign to solve the problem head of the college for general affairs, fell into deep was launched. First of all, emphasis was put on thought after attending a lecture given by a depart- revolutionizing teaching plans in keeping with the ment as an observer. The lecture itself was perfect— global trend of development and the specific condi- the whole process of it passed interestingly by way of tion of the country. In this process, the teaching question and answer and the teacher and students plans of most of the subjects went through innovation. Some of them were amended several times A breeding experiment. when there were difficult problems the students had encountered in the experimental plot. Meanwhile, the college frequently organized discussions where the teachers can freely express their ►

28 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► experience and assertions regard- less of their career. As a result, many ingenious ideas were presented which are conducive to improvement of cognitive capacity and application ability of the students. The most important idea was to build an intranet in the college so as to give visual instruc- tion while reducing unnecessary explanations of the teachers on one hand, and to reflect practical con- tents in the teaching plans on the precondition of the wide-ranging knowledge of the teachers while cutting the introduction and sum- mary on the other. To this end, the college equipped nearly all the classrooms with IT facilities with A new teaching method is discussed. its own effort. It also organized contests of the teachers on a large scale several times The teachers of the college made the latest ex- a year, giving rise to a dynamic emulation of im- perimental apparatuses for the students’ experi- proving attainments. This resulted in the increasing ments and practical training. Last year a PCR de- number of teachers who were awarded the certificate veloped by Ri Yong Rok at lower expense took first of the Model Teacher and the certificate of New Reg- place at the national educational experimental ap- istered Teaching Method in recent three years. paratuses and teaching aids exhibition, where the college was awarded a certificate which is conferred on those which register good successes. And a graduate of the Agrobiology Faculty developed a new photorespiration regulator which can raise the crop and vegetable harvests by 7-8% and 15-20% respectively. Ri Hyon Il, head of the faculty, says, “We’ve still got a lot of things to do. We know our strenuous efforts will bear due results.”

Ri Kum Chol

Students observe grafted fruit trees.

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 29 Atlas of Meridians and Acupoints

boils in the Stone Age, and that science of acupuncture and method spread to neighbouring moxibustion, is one of the valu- countries. The rapid development able old books about Koryo medi- of metallurgy in Korea had cine which presents basic theory considerable influence on the on the science of acupuncture and development of acupuncture and moxibustion and the relevant moxibustion. Medical men went treating experience. The book abroad to propagate Korean reme- shows an aspect of the early de- dies and even exported needles. velopment of the science of acu- In the first part of Hyangyak- puncture and moxibustion in the jipsongbang compiled in 1433 it country, and rendered great ser- gives the position of the meridians vice to its development later. Prof. Kim Sok Gyong. and acupoints and explains meth- The study of the theory of ods of acupuncture and moxibus- meridians and acupoints which is HE SCIENCE OF tion according to the diseases, and the basis of the clinical applica- T acupuncture and moxibus- Uibangryuchwi in 1445 and tion of acupuncture and moxibustion appeared in Korea thousands Tonguibogam in 1610 introduced tion has been conducted since of years ago as a simple means of the methods of acupuncture and long ago. Tongindo, a chart made medical treatment. In the course moxibustion treatments. And in 1027 which depicted physical of steady development, it has be- The Book of Experience of meridians and acupoints, was come a branch of systematic stud- Acupuncture and Moxibustion widely introduced. Later, when- ies. The Korean people first made (Hoimchimgugyonghombang) in ever new theories on meridian stone noodles for treatment of 1644, which specializes in the points were published, the chart ►

The atlas of meridians and acupoints.

30 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► of acupuncture and moxibustion in lines along with meridian anatomical model. points was also revised. The 1415 points. The meridian points on On the basis they made the version of Tongindo was printed those charts could not show the atlas of meridians and acupoints with wood block and lithograph, correlation between certain for- which shows 361 points on 14 and the chart of acupuncture and mations of the human body, so meridian channels and 28 other moxibustion points published by the physicians and researchers points that are used very fre- Ho Jun in 1610 showed acupoints needed a better chart for treat- quently in clinical treatment. The and meridian lines little different ment. chart explains the relations be- from modern ones. Prof. Kim Sok Gyong, head of tween given acupoints and mus- As the study of acupoints got the Department of Koryo Medi- cles, motor point, artery, vein, intensified from the anatomical cine of Pyongyang Medical Col- peripheral nerves and bone. The point of view in the 1970s, the lege of Kim Il Sung University, chart helps doctors, teachers and chart of 14 meridian channels keenly felt the need while teach- students learn where to pierce the which reflects skeleton, viscera, ing for long years. So he buckled needle to cure certain diseases. blood vessels and nerves was down to the research with several And it is conducive to other re- made, and this was followed by medical scientists. First of all, search works. At present the the publication of the chart of they made an anatomical model of Academy of Koryo Medicine and meridian muscles which depicts the standard Korean body and hospitals specializing in Koryo muscles in the anatomical model then marked on it scientifically medicine in Pyongyang and other of human body and 361 acupoints. the contours, positions, travelling, provinces give scientific treat- In the 1980s the chart of meridian distribution, contiguity relation ment using the chart, thus win- nerves was made on the principle and skeletal relation to ensure ning public favour. of innervation of the segments of substantial utility and three- The atlas of meridians and spinal cords and the peripheral dimensional effect. It was a labo- acupoints won a DPRK certificate nerve distribution of human body. rious work to describe them from of registered sci-tech achieve- Most of those charts were based skin to internal organs according ment, and a DPRK patent. on pieces of paper where the to the muscular system. Finally, model of human body was shown they successfully made a 3-D Yom Song Hui

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 31 After Eight Years

at the hospital. “Will you please tusion. She also built on her ex- look after him?” she asked ear- perience in treating aftereffects of nestly. cerebral contusion, cerebral apo- Ri’s loss of sight was due to his plexy, brain fever and similar diseased central nerve system. cases, and her papers concerning Kim knew it was a critical those diseases. On the basis, she case. The CT-based examination launched a period of full-scale showed that even a long stay in treatment by applying cerebral hospital might not bring sight metabolic activators and anti- back to him. Some people had oxidants to suit the case’s physical voiced their apprehension that condition. As Song Chol had been IS NAME IS RI SONG the possible failure in his treat- in coma for more than 20 days H Chol, aged 34. He returned ment at the hospital would have a after he got the contusion, he had a disabled man from military negative effect on his psychologi- a bad memory and thinking abil- service nine years ago. A serious cal condition. ity. Considering it, Kim turned to cerebral contusion took his sight. Kim Jong thought hard, and diversified rehab remedies to im- But now he walks freely with a decided that she should see the prove his functions. bright sight which he regained at matter in light of conscience of a Kyong Hui also worked sin- Kim Man Yu Hospital. doctor who is responsible for the cerely as the “nurse” in charge of care of people, instead of the sense Kim’s nourishment. Though it Hands Clasped Firmly of duty of a doctor in a certain was a long way from her home to social position. the hospital, she prepared and One day in September 2014 Hearing Kim, Han was more brought good nourishments to the Kim Jong, a neurological physi- than pleased. Holding her by the patient in hospital almost every- cian at Kim Man Yu Hospital, was hands, she vowed that she would day. Thanks to her sincere efforts, in deep meditation. Her ears were do her share for the treatment. Song Chol began to recover. still ringing with what Han (She had already been doing Days later the physician Kyong Hui, who used to be an whatever she could to help Song awoke from her fitful doze all of a official in Haksan-dong, Hyongje- Chol get up from his bed, regard- sudden to hear Song Chol cry out san District, Pyongyang, had said ing him as her own flesh and beside her, “I can see light, doctor. to her during the day: “I’m wor- blood.) That’s the light from the window, ried about one thing I’ve failed to isn’t it?” Then Song Chol hugged finish before I resigned from pub- His Wish her in his arms. Tears were flow- lic service for an illness. That’s my ing down his cheeks, which Kim promise to Song Chol. I had When she left the hospital in wiped, shedding tears herself. promised that I would help him the evening, Kim Jong seldom Later when Song Chol read regain his sight at all cost.” Then went home. She habitually visited out newspaper, all the hospital she said that she still remem- the e-library of Kim Il Sung staff were rejoiced. bered how she had felt at his University, the Grand People’s Remembering the story, Song home one day: “Sitting lonely in Study House, local libraries, book- Chol says, “I had a dear wish—to his yard with a walking stick in stores— wherever she thought see the image of our respected his hand, he said he wished to see she could get documents and pa- leader Kim Jong Un even once. even the shape of things.” Han pers on cerebral contusion. Without the sincere help of the went on to say that she had often Through such a work, she found many doctors and friends, I could heard inhabitants in her dong out the common point in the not have accomplished my wish.” speak highly of Kim Jong when- causes of the pathological symp- ever she paid a sick call on them toms that come from cerebral con- Kang Hye Ok

32 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 Taedonggang District Juvenile Sports School

Hub of Training cious nature. Kim and Ho were contests of the national juvenile Football Aces belonged to the 10 best coaches sports schools. and 10 best athletes of the DPRK Ascribing his successful career HE TAEDONGGANG DIS- for the year 2014. Senior coach to his zeal and love of students, T trict Juvenile Sports School is Yun Jong Su is also a graduate of which comes from his attachment situated in a wonderful place the juvenile sports school. He led to football, Pak says, “Living my skirted by the Taedong River, his team to second place in the life in this ground from my child- where you have clean air and pine men’s football event at the 17th hood I have devoted my sweat, woods all around. In the past the Asian Games. wisdom and zeal to it. When I left school has made marvellous re- Principal of the school O Hae the sports team of Korea Univer- cords in the events of football, Su says, “The days in the juvenile sity of Physical Education I felt track and field, weightlifting and sports school is the time of ac- sorry to leave the ground. But field hockey and brought up many quiring the ABC of football. So my that feeling receded when I be- athletes who were admitted into instructors are trying to be well came an instructor of this juvenile different sports teams. versed in the football develop- school after graduating from the The most noteworthy event for ment around the world so as to university. When my students the school is football. Twelve of introduce more effective training distinguish themselves at inter- the 14 People’s Athletes and Mer- methods and means in keeping national games I feel as if I were ited Athletes who came from the with the age and mental qualities running with them. I was sorry to school are soccer players. The of the students. And my school bid farewell when they moved to sports teams, because I saw them typical examples are Kim Kwang frequently takes the students to as my own flesh and blood. But I Min, renowned senior coach of a football matches, and organizes am more than glad when they women’s football team, and Ho Un discussions on experience and come to see me and tell their win.” tactics, and class reviews. Those Byol, woman football star. Peo- Pak is the teacher of Merited ple’s Athlete and the DPRK La- occasions become good chances to Athlete Jong Chol Min and his bour Hero Kim Kwang Min has enable the instructors to improve two sons are also footballers. led the national women’s football their practical ability.” Woman instructor Hong Hwa team to be a powerful team in Hyon learned football at this Asia. Thanks to him they won Efforts Dedicated to school, and is now Merited Ath- first place in the women’s football Young Footballers lete. She played for the April 25 event at the 2013 East Asian Cup Sports Team and then learned at and the 17th Asian Games held I found the students and the the abovementioned university. last year. Those successes were instructors engrossed in training After graduation she has taught partly attributable to Ho Un Byol. in the ground of the school. An at the juvenile sports school with She was the top scorer prize re- instructor was passing balls to the Kim Yang Su, who later voluntar- cipient at the 2013 East Asian students, and his skill hinted that ily moved to the Chongnyu Junior Cup. She often scores decisive he must have been a football ce- Middle School as a football goals for her team’s win. During lebrity when he was active as teacher when he knew the school her days at the juvenile sports player. It was Pak Yong Chol who badly needed a football teacher. school she was in the spotlight as has taught at the school for over Saying that she found the genuine a promising star for her extraor- 20 years. The experienced veteran profile of educator in him Hong dinary sense of football and tena- helped snatch four trophies at expresses herself, “Teaching is ►

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 33 Faithful Servants of the People

O ALONG THE BANK OF made based on their experience refreshing drinks on the bank of G the picturesque Pothong and suggestions for better cook- the Pothong River, a place of River in Moranbong District, ing. Gradually the variety, colour scenic beauty. and you can see the Mansugyo and taste of the foods improved. The stand is an attraction to Soft-drink Stand. There people They made a dozen new kinds of foreigners as well. After having are lost in admiration for neat delicious bread. These foods were foods such as hamburger, hotdog and tidy appearance of the stand prized at the 20th Cuisine Festival and sandwich, they made an en- outside and inside and various held in celebration of the Day of try in the visitor’s book. The head kinds of bread suited to their the Sun this year. of consular department of the palate. Visitors there give thumbs up Russian Embassy wrote, “I like your drinking water, scenic beauty and hospitality. Thank you very much.” The military attaché of the Vietnamese Em- bassy also wrote in Korean, “I was deeply impressed here in the Mansugyo Soft-drink Stand. The waitresses are kind enough. The beer tastes good. I had a good time. Thank you very much. I have a great mind to come again.” Seeing people praise the building and all kinds of food offered with the kindness and sincerity Pang Ok Hwa always says, “Our customers are all full

Three years ago Pang Ok Hwa, for the quality newly appointed manageress, was of soft drinks deep in thought. The title of true served there. War servant of the people is conferred veterans and by the people. Only practice will honoured dis- bring the honour. At the begin- abled soldiers, ning of her work she found only a enjoying special few kinds of food were offered. She service, said that the set up a high aim. It was to in- Monument to the Vic- crease the variety of food to meet torious Fatherland Lib- the developing demand of the eration War and the US armed people and improve their quality. spy ship Pueblo on Pothong River She made sure that the workers seen from the stand made them of joy here, and we know we are worked with stress on this aim. In look back upon the time when the not allowed to feel satisfied with keeping with the task of providing US offered the instrument of sur- our work for the people.” people with bread and tea they render. They went on to say that frequently had shows of foods they they felt like younger after having Ri Chung Ho

► more difficult than playing. I was the days of the juvenile sports edge. She says, “Here in this disappointed more than once school.” ground my students are dreaming while teaching basic techniques to Hong keeps in touch with par- to be world-famous stars. And I students. At that time I thought ents and teachers of her students know my role is very important my old instructor, too, must have to learn about their study, and in translating their dream into had much trouble to teach me. put much effort in making them reality.” The more I think of it, the more possessed of admirable moral keenly I feel the importance of traits and wide-ranging knowl- Rim Sang Jun

34 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 When Flowers Are in Bloom

LOWERS AROUSE DIF- planted outdoors in early spring, people when they were far from F ferent feelings in people. See- while pushing ahead with the professional builders or research- ing flowers, some people feel cultivation of those that are ers, the university teachers were hopeful, some reminiscent of their adapted to average temperature. moved and offered selfless assis- past, some enthusiastic and some There were some who disagreed, tance. immensely safe and secure. There saying that they had not enough In this way they successfully is another kind of people, who period of time to build a green- set up a non-heating greenhouse think of the coming season when house for low-temperature flow- whose temperature was higher they see flowers in bloom. Typical ers and grow them. But eventu- than 7°C even though a spell of of them are the workers of the ally they all shared the same in- severe cold lasted for seven days Taedonggang District Floricul- tention to grow fragrant flowers that winter. Moreover, they man- tural Company in Pyongyang. for the sake of the people. aged to establish a system in Their collective intellect pro- which to grow white cockscomb One winter day several years duced a good deal of innovative even in winter that demands high ago the company moved to a new ideas. A worker suggested a very temperature. Their experience is place. As its material and techni- effective method to build the now learned from by floricultural cal foundation was insufficient greenhouse at a low cost. Another companies across the country. many of the workers were afraid produced a noble conception for Their flowers have won they could not produce enough cutting the period of growth by awards at each of the national flowers for the decoration of the controlling the rate and aspect of floricultural exhibitions held an- streets in the district in the com- sunshine. To realize the ideas the nually since 2012. Asked of the ing spring. workers visited Pyongyang Uni- secret, Ko says, “We’ve got noth- One day General Manager Ko versity of Architecture and Py- ing special to talk. We have sim- Yong Hun, while going round ongyang Agricultural College of ply worked hard to help people some important places to work Kim Il Sung University, obtain- enjoy themselves while seeing the out a plan of flower stands, ing a scientific guarantee. Seeing flowers we tend.” stopped near the Munsu Water them working hard to advance the Park, when he heard a couple of season and bring pleasure to the Chae Kwang Myong young people talk. The boy said, “It’ll be great if this place is filled with flowers in spring.” The girl re- sponded, “Sure. Then, we’ll have a photograph taken here.” Their hopeful dialogue left an impact on the general manager. He thought, “The aesthetic and senti- mental needs are growing day by day. They expect their future even in empty flower stands, and we should not let them disappointed.” On returning to the company, he suggested that they simultaneously grow low-temperature flowers whose growth continues even when they are trans-

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 35 Disabled

TEAM OF DISABLED and accordion and violin concert seemed impossible to give rhyth- A people from Pyongyang gave Czardas. mic training to people without the performances in the UK and The venues of performance hearing to jointly perform quick France between February 20 and were always filled to the capacity. dance movements, that it would March 2 last. Earlier, similar The performance was opened by a be possible for them to do a simple events had taken place in China, student with locomotive disabil- dance or sporting activity indi- Nepal and other Asian countries ity, and the kayagum and accor- vidually but not to dance jointly but not in Europe. dion solos by sight-impaired play- according to a rhythm, and that Their performances were ers deeply impressed the audi- she could hardly imagine a mem- given at the Sheldonian Theatre ence. In particular, the group ber of her family with a hearing in Oxford, the theatre of the Royal dance by the speech-impaired problem could dance to the College of Music, the halls of captivated the spectators. Some of rhythm of music. Cambridge University and the audience could hardly believe Edward George, CEO of the France’s State College of the the dancers could not hear, so Phoenix Travel, said that he had Speech-impaired Youth. The per- they even mounted the stage after visited the DPRK several times, formers staged a variety of Ko- the performance to know if they that he knew well about it, that rean pieces including vocal solo were really persons of disabilities. he, however, had not expected the Spring of Home Village, accordion Referring to his impression team would give such a fascinat- solo Ballad of the Eight Scenic Oxford University professor ing and professional artistic per- Spots of Korea, kayagum solo Stephan Price said that it was formance in France, and that he Song of the Sea, kayagum duets incredible that the disabled could would visit the Korean Federation Pyongyang Nalpharam and We play musical instruments and for the Protection of the Disabled Sing of New Spring, instrumental dance so wonderfully, and that when he was in Korea again. chorus of piano, kayagum, accor- the fact they attained such a high Choe Jin Bom, 13, who has dion and violin Arirang and Ko- level of attainment even normal locomotive disabilities, sang the rean folk dance Dance with Fans; people find it difficult to reach Korean song Spring of Home Vil- and the foreign pieces such as testified to the fairly high stan- lage and the foreign song Danny dance Snow White and the Seven dard of the DPRK’s education of Boy. Now he learns at the Munsin Dwarfs, accordion duet Polka, trio the disabled people. Another Ox- Junior Middle School, and his of accordion, piano and violin The ford professor Kamila Renya met father is a workshop leader of the Music of the Night from The the hearing-impaired dancers and Pyongyang Municipal Construc- Phantom of the Opera, solo of the said that it was alarming that tion Company. He was admitted British song You Raise Me up, they could do group dance, that it to the Korean Association of the ►

36 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 Koreans Perform in UK and France

► Disabled Artists at the age of 11, Dwarfs, lives in Okryu-dong No. college course of the then Kum- and a year later he attained a 1, Taedonggang District, Pyongy- song Secondary School No. 1. high skill of vocal presentation. ang. His father is a worker at a Building on their high attain- Kang Un Hyok, a 20-year-old construction company. From his ments they can share their feel- man with sight impairment, childhood he was attached to ings with the disabled very well. played the accordion solo Ballad dancing, and now he has im- Thanks to the devoted efforts of of the Eight Scenic Spots of Korea. proved his skill of dancing thanks the instructors the artistic ability He lives in Anhak-dong, Taesong to the association. Most of the of the members of the association District, Pyongyang, and his fa- disabled performers come from improves with each passing day. ther works at the Pyongyang Folk blue- and white-collar workers’ Now the members of the artis- Park. He learned accordion at a families. tic circle of the association are school for the blind to some extent Jon Kyong Sim and Jo Kum working enthusiastically to pro- before being admitted to the asso- Ran who are working for the as- duce more wonderful pieces to ciation when his talents devel- sociation in charge of artistic encourage the working people in oped remarkably. training learned at the then Py- their vigorous struggle for the Ju Su Yang, 18, who can’t ongyang University of Music and prosperity of the socialist country. speak or hear, was the heroine of Dance, and the vocal music in- the dances Dance with Fans and structor Ri Son Yong finished the Sim Chol Yong Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Her mother is a re- searcher at the Academy of Koryo Medicine. Ju was fond of dancing from her childhood, but she hesi- tated to go out as she has the hearing impairment. Thanks to the system of free compulsory education she learned at primary and middle schools and had a training in dancing at the Py- ongyang Students and Children’s Palace after school. She became a member of the association at the age of 13. Ryu Jin Hyok, 19, who played the role of the prince in the dance Snow White and the Seven

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 37 Traditional Dishes of Korea (2)

Dishes of Hamgyong Province

AMGYONG PROVINCE USED TO simple, pungent and fresh, reflecting the characters H comprise today’s North and South Hamgyong of the local people who are sparing as well as active provinces and some areas of Ryanggang, Jagang and open-hearted. The typical dishes are Hamhung and Kangwon provinces. The region is mostly rice in rib soup, frozen potato pancake, noodles with mountainous and bound with the East Sea of Ko- seasoned slices of raw fish, potato starch noodles, rea. Accordingly, foods made from dry field grains yongchae (leaf mustard) kimchi, pollack sausage, and fish have long history. They are professionally pickled pollack roes and fermented flatfish.

Hamhung rice in rib soup spring sunshine or wind and Yongchae (leaf mustard) Rice in beef-rib soup of Ham- powdered so as to give the origi- kimchi gyong Province was well-known, nal taste of the pancake. It is said Yongchae kimchi is a speciality of which particularly the one in that the pancake should be taken of the region. Yongchae which is Hamhung. It is made of rice in warm before it cools down, be- also known by the name of sangat, fat-strained beef broth garnished cause the cooled pancake loses saenggat and sanggat in Korean with boiled and seasoned beef the taste. The noodles were also has been largely cultivated in the slices, boiled beef blood and bean made from frozen potatoes. The mountainous area of northern curd over it, and served with sea- pancake and the noodles were Korea. Trim yongchae clean be- sonings. As the dish is made of often put on the feast or memorial fore drying in a warm, well- beef it is tastier than other simi- service tables in the province. ventilated room until it becomes lar kinds. It is also widely known yellow. Then it is pickled and for its high nutritive value. The Noodles with seasoned mixed with ginger juice, garlic, soup made with calf and cow meat slices of raw fish onion, unsliced chilli, pear and were counted as best. The people This is a typical dish of the turnip. The pickles are soaked in in Hamgyong Province loved to region along with the potato brine in a pot until they become eat it mainly in spring and winter starch noodles. The noodles are seasoned. The kimchi tastes hot for recruiting vitality. made of potato starch. The coil of in the leaves and stalk and gives noodles is garnished with sea- very peculiar taste and flavour. Frozen potato pancake soned slices of raw pollack and The local residents served it on This is an indigenous dish of finally topped with strips of fried the table when they had guests of the present Ryanggang Province eggs and chillis, giving a fresh honour. which is widely known as a pecu- and savoury taste. Flatfish, cod liar food. Frozen potatoes were and squid are often used instead Pollack sausage peeled and soaked long before of pollack. Better known are the As there is a large catch of being dried and powdered. Then noodles of Hamhung for the fresh pollack in the Hamgyong Province the powder was kneaded with and pungent tastes of sliced raw region, it has an unusual custom salt water, and made into thin fish. In North Hamgyong Prov- of making sausage with pollack. flat pieces. Finally they were ince they used cool soup water for The method of making pollack steamed, and dressed with red the noodles, so the dish was little sausage is to roast flesh and guts bean. Frozen potatoes, which pungent. The soup water was of pollack with pork, bean curd, were buried in field or kept in pit, served separately. outer leaves of kimchi, garlic, are taken out to be dried in the onion and chilli powder to be ►

Noodles with seasoned Rice in rib soup. slices of raw fish. Pollack sausage.

38 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► stuffed in the pollack, and then steam it. Sometimes, milt and liver of pollack mixed with rice are also stuffed in the head to be Founder of Koguryo steamed. They usually ate it as it was, but sometimes dried it for roast later. The dried pollack sausage used to be an important O JUMONG IS joined his ranks. provision in the region, and it K known as the founder He settled down in a north- was served as a specially- prepared dish. The local people king of Koguryo (277 BC–AD ern part of Kuryo and laid his loved to eat sliced frozen or dried 668), the first feudal state of politico-military foundation sausage with soy sauce mixed Korea. It is said that he was under the patronage of the with vinegar. born a conspicuous and singu- local squire. He won the hearts Fermented flatfish lar figure. At the age of seven, of the local people by defeating The region is renowned for he made a bow and arrows by a neighbouring tribe who had fermented flatfish. The record of the fermented fish is to be found himself and never missed the been harassing the locality, in documents that were prepared targets, even tiny insects you and thus grasped the local in the middle of the period of the could hardly see. He was power. Attracted by Jumong’s Feudal Joson Dynasty (1392– 1910), but probably it goes back a named Jumong because they fame, the King of Kuryo who long time. The method of cooking usually called a marvellous was in the crisis in the then the fermented flatfish is to pickle the trimmed flatfish, keep it for archer jumong in Korean. complicated situation decided about one day, chop it and mix Originally, he came from to cast his lot to him and made with boiled millet, garlic, pow- the aristocratic class, so lived Jumong his son-in-law. Some dered chilli, ginger juice, sugar and powdered malt. Then it is in the royal palace of Puyo time later the king died leaving kept in a pot. A few days later (mid-15th century BC–late 3rd no son behind, and Jumong slices of radish are added in it. century BC). Gradually the became the new king. The fermented flatfish tastes rather hot, sweet, and refreshing. prince and bureaucrats were so In the throne he began to Boiled millet is mainly used in jealous of his outstanding ap- realize his ambition. With the making the fermented fish unlike they do in other provinces, be- pearance and talents that they intention to develop Kuryo, a cause rice grains become soft trapped him to reduce him to slave-owning state, into a pow- which spoils taste and appear- be a horse-keeper in the royal erful feudal state, he changed ance. The fermented flatfish of the Pukchong area was well palace. In the course of con- the name of the country into known in the Province. The cui- tacting the wretched people, he Koguryo by adding “ko”—it sine of the Hamgyong Province understood the social contra- means great in English—to the region is further improving in keeping with the developing real- diction to some extent and was original name Kuryo. He re- ity and widely spreads to other determined to establish more modelled the system and order provinces. reasonable social order. of the country as required by Jo Yong Il Subjected to persecution the feudal society in collabora- and finally falling into danger tion with the newly emerging Fermented flatfish. of assassination, he escaped forces, and fixed his surname from Puyo and went south to as “ko” like the name of the Kuryo (mid-15th century BC– new country. early 3rd century BC), one of Later, Koguryo merged the ancient countries of Korea, with neighbouring minor coun- to carry out his ambition. On tries of the homogeneous his way to the south with nation and emerged as a power friends, some more people in the East.

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 39 Korean Industrial Arts (4)

Ceramic Workmanship developed as well, inheriting the traditions. In particular, there is HE KOREAN CERAMIC a record that foreigners admired a T workmanship was originated purple earthenware tub which by ancient Koreans in the Neo- was an inch in thickness and light lithic era. In those days they in weight though it could contain made large and small jars, pots, half a som (a som is equivalent to big and small bowls, cups, plates, 5.12 US bushels). kettles, etc., with clay. Such In the Koryo dynasty (918– earthen vessels were of varying 1392) the ceramic workmanship A vessel patterned with dotted shapes including those with developed onto a higher level. lines in the Neolithic era. round, tapering or flat bottoms Based on the already-achieved and with or without shoulders, porcelain making techniques, the and were engraved in many pat- Koryo people created with their terns including those of fir leaves, skills wonderful porcelains of spots, dotted lines, raindrops, high artistic qualities like beauti- pupae, waves of dotted lines, ful shapes, mellow and graceful hank and lightning. colours, delicate sculpture and In ancient times there were cosy patterns. Jade green was produced pattern-free earthen the best among various colours vessels, instead of those with en- of the Koryo porcelains. It is graved patterns, with different a gentle and beautiful colour usages for meal and storage. What representing the Korean nation’s was noteworthy in the develop- emotion that feels like clear au- ment of the ceramic workmanship tumnal sky of Korea. The colour was the making of chinaware was counted as the most beautiful A pot made in Koguryo. which was used for storage or one in the world. of the kitchen utensils. In the early days of Koryo, as ► In the time of the Three King- Ceramics of the Koryo dynasty. doms (early 3rd century BC–AD late 7th century), the ceramists made porcelains by further developing the techniques of earthenware and chinaware making. The ceramic workmanship of those days can be seen in the articles un- earthed in Kiln Site No. 1 in Wonsan-ri, Paechon County, South Hwanghae Province, Tomb No. 7 dating back to the early years of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668) in Yonsang-ri, Manpho City, Ja- gang Province, the Maitreya Temple site, and other sites related to the time of the Three Kingdoms. The ceramic art in the time of Palhae and Later Silla (late 7th century–early 10th century) was

40 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► efforts were mainly given to the presentation of beautiful colour, jade green celadons were sweep- ing with no patterns on the sur- face. After succeeding in development of the jade green, efforts were made to put various patterns suitable for the colours and shapes in order to heighten the artistic quality of their porcelain. In this course, they made a new phase in patterning by developing the inlaying method. Some examples of the application of the method are the work with a picture showing mandarin ducks and wild ducks playing in the river with drooping branches A white porcelain with a of a willow tree, the one with cobalt-blue drawing made in clouds and cranes, the one with the Feudal Joson Dynasty. flowers and butterflies, and the one with bamboos and pine trees. Originated in the late 10th cen- try for the main theme of pat- ours, their background colour is tury, the inlaid celadon reached terning, attaching symbolic still white, which, unlike the or- the peak of development in the meanings to them. For example, dinary shade, has the soft, com- 11th–12th century. tortoises, peaches and cranes fortable and warm tints. Koryo ceramicware is not only represented long life in good Decoration patterns were also beautiful in shape but different in health; pines, bamboos, roses, applied in a creative and free way pattern. The kinds of pattern chrysanthemums, reeds and wil- by individual painters or ceram- ranged from figures, animals, low trees meant strong will and ists without caring for any rules plants and nature, to symbols and fidelity; and mandarin ducks, or formulas. The decoration de- letters. The Koryo people applied parrots, butterflies and ducks signs were symbolic in content. the beautiful scenery of the coun- symbolized love, friendship, hap- Typical patterns were those of piness and harmony. sipjangsaeng (ten creatures rep- The ceramic workmanship resenting longevity) and sagunja was further developed in the time (orchid, Prunus mume, bamboo of the Feudal Joson Dynasty and chrysanthemum). (1392–1910). In those days the In this period porcelain was ceramicware came to have shapes regarded as one of people’s neces- suited to everyday use and clear sities and increased in its kind. colours. There were few special Following Koryo celadon, formations fixed to the body of the white porcelain won fame in the ceramicware and only practical world. Even now, the white por- usage was emphasized, so things celain of the Feudal Joson Dy- of the time show dignity and nasty is regarded as the best of its truthfulness. This was a good kind in the world, and the ideal contrast to the Koryo celadon that beauty. has slender curves and beautiful Ceramics is further develop- senses. ing in depth and width in the Porcelain articles of the Feu- DPRK. dal Joson Dynasty are mostly of white colour, so they feel clear, Kim Kwang Jo, soft and warm. In cases of articles the folklore research institute, of cobalt blue and crimson col- the Academy of Social Sciences

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 41 Precedence to Common Interest of the Nation

North and south Korean athletes jointly enter the venue of the opening ceremony of the 14th Asian Games.

EVENTY YEARS HAVE situation, the DPRK government adopted for the purpose was to set S passed since Korea was liber- maintains that if the nation is to up a “separate government” in the ated from the Japanese imperial- be united and the country reuni- south. ists’ military occupation, but the fied, it is necessary to avoid re- Now that the country was in Korean people are still in distress garding the ideology and social danger of division, the central this time due to the national divi- system of one side as absolute and committee of the Democratic Na- sion. The tragedy of the split forcing the other side to accept it, tional United Front of North Ko- country is the last thing for the and achieve the unity of the na- rea proposed to hold a joint con- nation to stand and tolerate, so tion by putting the common inter- ference of representatives of po- the Democratic People’s Republic est of the nation in the first con- litical parties and social organiza- of Korea appealed to the entire sideration. There is a history of tions in the north and the south in nation this year to make an ave- the maintenance. April 1948. As it was aimed at nue for independent reunification The United States, occupying saving the country from possible of the country by pooling the ef- the southern half of Korea on division and maintaining one forts of all the members of the September 8, 1945 soon after the Korea, it enjoyed unanimous sup- nation. liberation of the country on Au- port from the patriotic parties and The national division caused gust 15, 1945, knew that it could social organizations and all other by foreign forces gave rise to the hardly keep its colonial rule of the sections of people in the south, to birth of different social systems in south by fascist means alone, and say nothing of their counterparts the north and the south, which attempted to make a local puppet in the north. The conference have become fixed over the regime and thus establish its showed that they could be united seventy years. Considering the control securely. The policy it without difficulty in the struggle ►

42 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 ► for the common cause of the na- lication of the joint declaration idea and system could hardly be tion even if they had different and the following atmosphere of the cause of discord and hatred is ideas, ideals and religious beliefs, north-south reconciliation, na- the truth vindicated by the June and that they would be able to tional unity and reunification 15 era of reunification.” make one Korea if they waged a were evident signs of the truth The south Korean puppet re- pan-national struggle on the that they would be able to make gime argues that it is “willing to strength of great unity of the one Korea in an independent and improve inter-Korean relations,” whole nation. peaceful way by the concerted but their acts are contradictory. Later in 1960 the north side efforts of the nation once they Obviously, it is necessary to re- made a proposal for a north-south maintain the stand of national frain from finding fault with the federation. In 1972 the two sides independence and patriotism, social system of the other side if of Korea agreed on a number of even if there are differences in dialogue is to be held and the matters related to the effort to idea and social system between north-south relations are to be push forward independent and the north and the south. improved; moreover, it is essen- peaceful reunification on the basis Here goes a happy story about tial to discontinue dangerous war of the three principles of national the 14th Asian Games during the rehearsals that push the Korean reunification— independence, June 15 era of reunification. The peninsula to war. Nevertheless, peaceful reunification and great north and south athletes joined the south Korean authorities ab- national unity— and issued the hands and the south Koreans surdly stated that they “don’t July 4 North-South Joint State- shared compatriotism with the think the north means it” when it ment to ascertain their agree- north’s cheering team. This senti- proposed to make a great change ment. These were indicative of the ment surpassed the difference in in the north-south relations. They north’s intention to achieve reuni- idea and ideal. Referring to the went so far as to openly declare fication of the country by giving event, one of the south Korean their military drills together with precedence to the common interest mass media reported, “The great the GIs would continue as long as of the nation. favour for the north’s cheering there exists the south Korea-US In 1980 the proposal of found- team comes from the anxiety combined system. The Korean ing the Democratic Federal Re- about the split nation and the people are angry at the south public of Koryo was suggested, a fervent desire for one Korea, Korean puppets who are clinging most reasonable and realistic one rather than from the beauty of the to the policy of confrontation and which suits the specific condition cheering team. Through the war regarding their compatriots of Korea where different ideas games they learned that the scar as their enemy. and systems exist in the north and grudge caused by the era of The history of the 70-year-long and the south. It is acceptable to confrontation are in no way a national division stresses the anyone who loves the nation and match for the love of the nation, need to give precedence to wants national reunification since and that the two regions can the common interest of the it regards the common interest of easily become one if they keep nation in the endeavour for the nation as the matter of top national feelings and generosity reunification. importance. whatever the differences between The year 2000 saw a great them. That the differences in Kim Il Bong landmark since the nation was divided: the north and south top The US imperialists and south Korean warmaniacs leaders met and the June 15 run amuck with anti-DPRK war moves. North-South Joint Declaration was adopted, which specifies both sides’ commitment to the effort to solve the matter of reunification of the country in an independent way by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation. This clearly showed that reunification of Ko- rea is the very task of the Korean people and that the substantial force for the accomplishment of the national cause lies in the Ko- rean people themselves. The pub-

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 43 “Fifty-first State” of the US

HERE ARE OVER 200 The manipulation of the pup- south Korean puppet army by T countries in the world, but pet regimes has continued up forcing subjective and unequal there is no colony of the United until now. In particular, the US treaties on south Korea, such as States just like south Korea. The overtly poked its nose into the the “military agreement” in 1948, south Korean people have been “presidential” election in south the “Taejon agreement” in 1950 devoid of their sovereignty for Korea in 2007. According to and the “mutual defence treaty” 70 years, groaning under the co- watchdog WikiLeaks it ferreted in 1953. Moreover, the US organ- lonial rule of the US. out private data and political ized the US-south Korea “military Soon after the defeat of the inclinations of the candidates, commission” and the “combined Japanese imperialists on August election strategies of the ruling forces command” so as to 15, 1945 the US illegally occupied and opposition parties and the strengthen its military control of the southern half of Korea in Sep- flow of the public opinion, and the puppet army. Though it re- tember 1945. Then it proclaimed dispatched dozens of experts to turned the peacetime command the enforcement of the “military Seoul to mastermind Lee Myung control to south Korea in 1994, it government,” and forcibly dis- Bak’s election on the spot. During still holds the main power to com- solved the People’s Committees, the 2012 campaign the US re- mand the puppet army even in setting up a puppet regime with placed its ambassador to south peacetime. Syngman Rhee, an American Korea with a “pro-south Korea” In the 2000s the June 15 stooge, as its chief executive. figure and sent relevant experts North-South Joint Declaration When the regime collapsed as a and plotters to put Park Geun was adopted and the anti-US result of the April 19 Popular Hye in “presidency.” By such ethos for independence grew Uprising in 1960, the US insti- methods the US helps its stooges sharply in south Korea. Now the gated Park Chung Hee to carry take power, and pulls the wire US unwillingly agreed to return out the May 16 Military Coup. In behind the curtain, thus the wartime command control to 1979 when the Yushin dictator- strengthening its colonial rule the south Korean puppet army in ship was faced with a crisis, the over south Korea. April 2012. No sooner had the Lee US mercilessly removed its stooge The US imposes White House Myung Bak conservative regime Park who had been in power for instructions on south Korea took power in 2008 than the US 18 years and made a new military through its local instruments like prolonged the time of the return regime headed by Chun Doo the US embassy, the command of to 2015. Recently it made the Hwan. In June 1987 when a the US occupation forces in south Park Geun Hye regime postpone popular uprising broke out, it Korea and the south Korean it indefinitely. Indeed, south Ko- staged a farce of announcing the branch of the CIA, and directs, rea is a colony of the US in all “June 29 special declaration,” supervises and controls their im- fields of politics, defence and so- replacing Chun with Roh Tae plementation. The structure of cial life from A to Z, and the south Woo’s junta. the US embassy in south Korea is Korean regime is nothing but an All those changes of regime so finely shaped as to be called an American tool and puppet serving were designed by the US. Evi- epitome of the US Administra- the latter for upkeep of the colo- dence: The former CIA Director tion. It takes a thorough hold of nial rule. Therefore, the media at Dulles confessed that the most south Korea. Therefore, even home and abroad comment ironi- successful of the CIA’s overseas south Korean officials concerned cally that south Korea is the “US’s operations during his tenure readily say that the real colony No. 1” or the “51st state” of was the May 16 coup. A sugges- ‘residence of the chief executive’ is the US. tion was presented in a US not the Blue House, but the Jong- Seventy years have passed Congressional hearing in June dong residence of the US ambas- since Korea’s liberation from the 1987 to confer the Nobel Peace sador. military occupation of the Japa- Prize on the then Assistant The US, after wresting the nese imperialists, but the south Secretary of State for the east military control from south Korea, Korean people are still shackled Asian and Pacific affairs for his has turned it to the victim of its by the colonial rule of the US. scenario of the “June 29 special policy of aggression and war. It declaration.” seized the command control of the Jong Chi Gon

44 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 Obama’s Mistake

OW THE SUPPORT RATE In its “quadrennial defence policy of stifling the DPRK has N of the US President Obama strategy review report” the helped the DPRK strengthen its is falling down day by day and he Obama Administration pin- own defence capabilities, while is getting loudly censured. Be- pointed the DPRK as its “worst endangering the US ludicrously. cause his election pledges were foe” and declared its plan to For this, it is severely denounced hypocritical ones aimed at throw- “achieve decisive victory” over the even in the US as “completely ing dust in the eyes of the masses, latter by force of arms. failed policy”, “the height of folly” and the foreign policies of the Meanwhile, the US and its and “policy of inviting disaster Obama Administration have met vassals, refusing to face the real- alone.” This is the due result from with many a setback so that the ity of the socialist system of the the Obama’s overconfidence in the influence of the US is weakening DPRK where all the people enjoy US and misjudgment of the with each passing day. genuine freedom and exercise DPRK. The DPRK policy of the true right as masters of the State As history shows, there are Obama Administration is a typi- and society, are clinging to not a few US presidents who had cal example. “human rights” plots against the their reputation stained for their In 2007 Obama said that when DPRK. reckless approach to the DPRK: he was elected President, he It is the US’s strategic plan to The 33rd US President Truman would visit the DPRK within a stifle the DPRK and completely triggered off the Korean war in year. Nevertheless, he has not take hold of the Korean peninsula June 1950, which brought him no only rejected all channels of dia- where great powers’ interests are more than his ruin; the US Presi- logue with the DPRK since he intertwined, and based on it, dent Eisenhower earned the igno- took office, but also applied sanc- seize the hegemony of the Asia- miny as the first US President to tions to it in all fields—political, Pacific region. But the actual lose war, although he had de- economic, military and what reality is not what the US wants clared he would bring the Korean else—and has brought ceaseless to see. war to a happy end. In the war, military pressure to bear. The DPRK declared that it the US was incomparably supe- At the beginning of this year, would bring earlier the final ruin rior to the DPRK in terms of force Obama announced new of the US imperialists by conven- and military and technical poten- “additional sanctions” against tional war of Korean style if they tialities, but inferior in political the DPRK through a unleash a conventional war and moral, strategic and tactical “presidential executive order,” against it, through powerful nu- point of view. and on January 22 slandered it clear strikes of Korean style if Now the DPRK has made an as “the most isolated, severed they ignite a nuclear war against amazing progress in all fields, but and cruel dictatorial state” cry- it and by preeminent cyber war Obama is not realizing that the ing for “toppling” the DPRK as of Korean style if they attempt confrontation with the DPRK is early as possible. To attack the to “bring down” the country by the way to its self-destruction. DPRK unawares the US has cyber war, and that it would have What a pity! conducted nuclear war exercises the final showdown on the US Obama is advised to reason every year by mobilizing hun- mainland, not in the Korean what a lethal result the US will dreds of thousands of troops and peninsula, in the 21st century. get and what a disgraceful tag he means of nuclear strike. This The Korean people are all will earn if he continues to cling to year, too, it has done large-scale afire with the urge to win the final the hopeless hostile policy against joint military exercises with victory in the DPRK-US confron- the DPRK in the rest of his south Korea ceaselessly in and tation which has lasted for centu- tenure. around the southern half of the ries. Korean peninsula. In the final analysis, Obama’s Kim Il Bong

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 45 No to Japan’s Adventure

HE JAPANESE IMPERI- fascist rule over the colony of was lambasted as an illegal and T alists were more than Korea. During the 40-year-long politically motivated act against brigandish. Just 105 years ago occupation thereafter they killed Chongryon which assumes the they fabricated a treaty aimed at over one million of innocent Kore- role of a diplomatic mission of the legalizing its occupation of Korea ans and forcibly drafted over 8.4 DPRK as there are no diplomatic and making it springboard for million of young and middle-aged relations between the two coun- aggression of the Asian continent. men for slave labour. Besides, tries. In 1905 they occupied Korea they established a sex slavery Earlier, on February 22, a by means of the forged “Ulsa Five- system of supplying Korean farce was held in Shimane Pre- point Treaty.” On August 22, 1910 women to their soldiers just like fecture, Japan to mark the “Day they concocted the “Treaty on war materials according to the of Takeshima (Tok Islets),” which Annexation of Korea by Japan” by perverted military logic of was overtly attended by a vice mobilizing military threat and “keeping up the troops’ fighting minister-level official of the Japa- blackmail in order to legalize efficiency,” and took upward of nese government. Such a desper- Japan’s occupation of Korea. On 200 000 Korean women for the ate attempt to distort history is the very day they deployed a large purpose by forcible drafting, kid- now getting more pronounced in number of troops in the venue of napping and abduction, and vio- its scheme to expand the terri- talks and showed a “bluff” by lated them as sexual playthings, tory. After the event Japan has warships, claiming that it was only to kill most of them cruelly distributed a video asserting its “necessary to demonstrate the after all. “dominium” over Tok Islets in 11 power to win annexation.” Mean- An armed struggle of the Ko- languages. The public opinion while, they threatened and black- rean people defeated the fascist comments that it was made on the mailed the Korean ministers, Japan and brought about their basis of a report on Tok Islets thus forcibly railroading the country’s liberation on August 15, drawn up by experts of historical eight-articled treaty. In the treaty 1945. The Koreans’ scars are still and territorial affairs. The reports the Japanese stipulated that the unhealed, though. The Korean contain ten items of which the right to rule Korea “shall be people and the international com- first one “advises” the Japanese transferred” to the “Emperor” of munity have demanded that Ja- authority to concentrate on the Japan completely and perma- pan sincerely admit its extravil- propaganda of Japan’s claim for nently, and that Korea “shall be lainous crimes and make an apol- the islets to convince the peoples annexed” to Japan. By making up ogy and reparation for it this year and experts in third countries. the treaty Japan eliminated the on the 70th anniversary of Japan’s Meanwhile, a rightwing media Feudal Joson Dynasty to the let- defeat. However, the fearful at- organ of Japan claimed to observe ter. But it did not make public the mosphere prevailing in Japan the “Day of Takeshima” as a na- treaty in fear of the Korean peo- reminds the Korean people of the tional event, instead of a local ple’s fierce struggle against Ja- bloody history 105 years ago. one. Amidst this ambience the pan. The treaty was proclaimed On March 26 last the Japa- Ministry of Foreign Affairs on by way of a “decree” of Japan’s nese police ransacked the houses April 7 issued a Blue Book claim- “Emperor” on August 29 that of officials of the General Associa- ing Tok Islets as its own territory. year. tion of Korean Residents in Japan Over the past 70 years Japan The “treaty” is illegal and (Chongryon), including the chair- has craftily avoided the demand invalid from A to Z. The Japanese man and vice-chairman of its of the Korean people and human- used it to further strengthen their Central Standing Committee. It kind to repent and make repara- ►

46 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 Japanese people turn out against the decision on approval of the exercise of “the right to collective self-defence” and the adop- tion of the injust bill.

► tion for its sinful past of illegal occupation of Korea and unpar- donable crimes. In the Korean war inflicted by the United States in the 1950s Japan dispatched its militaristic forces, asking the US to make a colony of Korea again. Moreover, it made a fortune at a stroke by turning its land as a whole into a logistic base of the US, and, after the end of the war, it has nourished an ambition of reinvasion of Korea in concert with the US. Under the cloak of “laws,” which “ban” resurgence of arms export, trickily perverted their old dream of “Greater East militarism and ambition of rein- the interpretation of the constitu- Asia Co-prosperity Sphere.” The vasion, typically the “pacifist con- tion to permit the exercise of “the Koreans and other Asian peoples stitution” and the “three non- right to collective self-defence” do not forget the brutal atrocities nuclear principles,” Japan has put and drastically increased the de- of the Japanese militarists who spurs to preparations for realiza- fence budget. The Japanese au- brought indescribable disasters tion of its “Greater East Asia thorities allotted a record high of to them. Co-prosperity Sphere.” nearly ￥5 000 billion for defence Japan, the only and the last The main obstacles in the way expenditure in the 2015 budget. war criminal state which has not are the DPRK and Chongryon. So, With this huge amount of fund it liquidated its sinful past yet in Japan is scheming to deteriorate is rearming its Self-Defense the world, is now obsessed with its relations with the DPRK by Forces with the up-to-date mili- strong surges of the old breaking Chongryon on one hand tary equipment. “nostalgia” for war of aggression and to carry out its ambition of Instead of acknowledging and and suppression of other nations. reinvasion of Korea with the help seriously reflecting on their It, however, should know that of the US on the other. The target bloodstained history of aggression it will fall into the abyss of ruin, is Chongryon, which represents and plunder and making repara- not defeat this time, if it embarks the DPRK in Japan, and the aim tion for it, the Japanese authori- on the road of territorial expan- is to hasten its moves to revitalize ties are embellishing their past sion again. militarism. Simultaneously, Ja- crimes and fooling the interna- pan has lifted an embargo on tional law so as to accomplish Choe Kwang Guk

KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 47 Liberation Tower

N THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC ing body stands in a set of 18 monoliths incised with I of Korea there are a total of 12 towers, monu- various formative elements, retaining high architec- ments and cemeteries dedicated to the memory of the tural representation. The tower is also characteristic Soviet soldiers to hand down through generations of bright and dignified modern architecture as it has the feats they performed in the war against the got a contrast between bronze and red colours in each Japanese imperialists for Korea’s liberation in 1945. stage on the bright and clear white background. The One of them is the Liberation Tower. It is 30 balcony-shaped wings of the tower offer a good view, metres high and covers a total area of 128 000 square thus ensuring the appreciative merit and substantial metres at the foot of the picturesque Moran Hill. It utility of architecture. was first built on August 15, 1946 and rebuilt on The thematic and ideological message of the August 15, 1985 on the 40th anniversary of Korea’s tower is more clearly expressed in various group liberation. sculptures that comply with the needs of architec- It consists of a wide stylobate, a three-storeyed tural monument. In particular, the bronze group body and a five-point-star-shaped head. On the sculptures of “The battle” (4.5m×3.1m) and “The stylobate shaped like wide-spread wings, the taper- meeting” (4.6m×2.2m) in the central stylobate, in- tensively carry the message of the tower. “The battle” represents the Red Army marching forward to defeat the Japanese imperialists. There can be seen in the centre an officer holding up a sub- machine gun and shouting to make a charge, and a soldier. On both sides of them are to be seen soldiers of different services fighting and dashing forward in lines. “The meeting” shows several figures symbolizing the DPRK-Soviet friendship on both sides of the images of a Soviet soldier and a Korean worker who are shoulder to shoulder in ecstasy of joy over Ko- rea’s liberation. The tower area is well landscaped with all kinds of trees and flowers. In front of the tower spread a yard, 25 metres long and 50 metres wide. In addition, patterns of laurel leaves and azalea blossoms carved on the pillar of the wings, the five-point star at the top of the tower, the Soviet flag in the façade, the five-point star and the DPRK and Soviet flags carved in relief in the 3rd stage of the tower and other sculptures add to the improvement of the formative and artistic qualities of the monument. Moran Hill is a great recreation ground and the public interest in the Liberation Tower is great, says a keeper named Ri Myong Hwa. The visitors are further growing in number on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation.

Kim Hyon Ju

48 KOREA TODAY No. 8, 2015 Nyongbyon Chorong Walls

HE NYONGBYON CHORONG WALLS ARE cliffs. In the rugged terrains roughly cut stone pieces T a stone fortification centring on the Nyongbyon were used to make the wall, and in some sections town, Nyonbyon County, North Phyongan Province. steep cliff faces were used as the wall itself. On the As a fort erected by carrying over the wall-building walls were set battlements, and one gate was made in each of the four directions. (There were other techniques of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668), it was an openings in the walls.) important bulwark in the struggle against foreign The Nam (south) Gate was the most magnificent invaders since the time of Koryo dynasty of them, which was shaped like an arch and had a (918–1392). two-storied attic on the top. The Puk (north) Gate The walls are divided into the Pon (main) wall was set in a northwestern valley of the wall, and, (some 14 km in circumference), the Yaksan wall connected with it, three sugu gates used to stand (nearly 1 km), Sin wall (about 3 km) and Puk wall across the valley in a rainbow form. An attic shaped (around 2 km) which were all erected by taking ad- like the Puk Gate was built in the opposite side of the vantages of the natural formations in the town. The valley, and a long attic was built over the sugu gates Yaksan and Pon walls were built during the time of connecting the two buildings. The Puk Gate and the Koguryo while the Sin wall was built southwest of Puk Sugu Gates are no longer in existence. the main wall in 1683 during the Feudal Joson Dy- In the walls were also set up bastions, com- nasty (1392–1910), and the Puk wall was set up mander’s terrace and other defence facilities. The northwest of the main wall in 1684. walls are in comparatively good condition. The Yaksan wall is a Sanbong-style wall sur- Nyongbyon was the hub of the military traffic rounding a plain piece of land on the summit of Mt. leading to the northwestern border area of the coun- Yak which has precipitous cliffs on all sides. The Pon try, so the Koryo dynasty stationed a garrison there wall is a Korobong-style wall which stretches from and the Feudal Joson Dynasty regarded it as a point the joining with the eastern section of the Yaksan of strategic importance. As the walls were strong wall and connects the peaks and ridges around the they never collapsed in the siege of foreign invaders. Nyongbyon town. There are many springs and The walls offer valuable materials in the study of streams inside the walls, which are ample sources of the walls in the middle ages of Korea for their merits water supply. in using terrains, building walls, installing defence The walls usually stand in double lines along the structures and in other aspects.

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