Koreatoday-2018-04-OCR-Sm.Pdf

Woodcarving A Chariot of the King

President Kim Il Sung received the gift from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand in August 2005. Monthly Journal (742)

C O N T E N T S

3 Arsenals in the Thick Forests

From President Kim Il Sung’s Reminiscences

With the Century

5 History and Tradition of Self-reliance 10 Sunchon Catfish Farm 12 New Appearance of Pommaji 14 Quality Sonamu Schoolbags

14 Music and Health

16 Son of the People

18 Juche Idea, Revolutionary Doctrine of Independence (4)

19 Solid Foundation of Juche-oriented Education

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

1 20 Natural Monuments 21 There Is No End 22 No Satisfaction 23 New Guide to Tonguibogam 24 Home of Child Prodigies 26 Kim Song Ju Primary School 28 Miraculous Vaccine

Front Cover: Captivated 29 Unusual Pleasure by the immortal fl ower 29 Pine Nuts Good for Treatment of Heart Diseases Kimilsungia 30 Reliable Women Footballers Photo by Ra Phyong Ryol 32 Secret of Sixth Consecutive Victory 33 World of Service Workers 34 Idea of Flower 35 Asset of Family 36 Short Story Mangbuam 38 Munsu Water Park in Spring 40 Thought about Light 41 National Intangible Cultural Heritage (17) Manual Woodcut 42 Mt. Chilbo (3) 44 Severe Counterattack against the US Back Cover: The Arch of Triumph in spring 45 King Kwanggaetho and Monument to Mausoleum

Photo by Ra Jin Hyok of King Kwanggaetho 46 Seventy Years of Patriotic Desire for Reunifi cation

13502 ㄱ – 88207 47 The Spirit of April 19 Popular Uprising Is Still Alive 48 Disaster Japan Is Incurring Edited by Ri Mu Hyon Address: Sochon-dong, Sosong District, Pyongyang, DPRK E-mail: fl [email protected]

© The Foreign Language Magazines 2018

2 Arsenals in the Thick Forests

HE KOREA TODAY EDITORIAL BOARD manufacture and everything relating to it. In Tintroduces excerpts from President Kim Il Sung’s the course of this study, I came to the conclusion reminiscences With the Century. that nitre, the basic raw material of gunpowder, … could be made manually. The naive people of Jiandao once planned Nitre could be made in any place inhabited to build a hand-grenade factory in the guerrilla by people, and we could see it every day. zone with the help of the Soviet Union. This was … the time when communists all over the world Our fi rst experiments were not successful, looked to the Soviet Union in humble reverence but we were not dispirited by failure; we repeat- as a beacon of hope for the emancipation of hu- ed the experiments and at last discovered the manity. The thought of getting assistance from ideal proportions for compounding the powder. the country which had carried out a revolution … before any other gave rise among the people to a The development of gunpowder production spirit of dependence on others. While the idea of brought about a great change in the production depending on others and the aspiration to make of munitions. As powder became available, the a revolution with the support of others engen- production of bombs increased quickly. A bomb dered the idea of adulation of capitalist pow- consisted of a fuse and a tin. Tins were sent by ers among the nationalists, it was also the root the underground organizations in the enemy- cause within the communist mentality of reli- controlled areas and semi-guerrilla zones, and ance on the Soviet Union. At that time we con- into them was inserted something like an oil bot- sidered it a natural internationalist duty for the tle charged with powder, the gap between the communists of the Soviet Union, the fi rst coun- tin and oil vessel being fi lled with broken pieces try to have succeeded in a revolution, to support of damaged ploughs and other steel splinters for the communists of the less developed countries. shrapnel, and then the fuse was connected. This But the Soviet Union sent no reply to our re- made a simple bomb. quest, neither a promise to comply with it, nor … notifi cation that she could not do it or was not Once gunpowder became available, we were in a position to assist us. It was at this time that able to make wooden guns. we resolved fi rmly to rely only on ourselves. The … silence from the Soviet Union confi rmed us in The revolutionary zeal, indefatigable spirit our belief that self-reliance was the only way to and creative initiative displayed by the workers live, that the decisive factor in promoting the of the arsenals in making and repairing weap- revolution was to enlist our own forces to the ons should indeed inspire admiration in the maximum and assistance from others was an people’s hearts. At that time the arsenals of the auxiliary factor. guerrilla army had hardly any modern machines We therefore paid special attention to the or tools…. Apart from the boring machine and work of the arsenal and concentrated our ef- hand-operated drilling machine, fi les were the forts on it. best tools they had. The workers of the arsenals … used their fi les to repair everything. They re- We decided to produce our own powder. paired the cartridge extractor and fi ring pin of Some people said this was like building a cas- a rifl e by fi ling, grinding, hammering and tem- tle on sand, but I thought that if a man was de- pering them in fi re, water and clay. Soon they termined enough he could do anything, and we were even able to repair machineguns without could surely succeed, just as our ancestors had any diffi culty…. succeeded before us. With this thought I began … studying in earnest the history of gunpowder The secret of all these miracles was quite ►

KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 3 ► simply the spirit of self-reliance. If the Kore- dustry in the guerrilla bases in the fi rst half of an communists, from the early days, had not the 1930s was applied and developed in the arse- History and Tradition thought solely of relying on themselves, but re- nals built in the bases on Mt. Paektu during the mained captive to an illusion of help from com- latter half of the 1930s. of Self-reliance munists in other countries, and if they had not We organized a sewing unit in each of the cherished the unshakable belief that relying on guerrilla bases and thus solved the problem of themselves was the only way to survive and to military uniform by our own efforts. revive Korea, the arsenals would never have … HEN LOOKING BACK UPON THE PAST 70 building a new Korea. At that time they had a back- sprung into being in the guerrilla zones, and We built hospitals in each of the guerrilla Wyears, the Korean people have a question to ward economy with colonial lopsidedness and deform- such powerful weapons as wooden guns and zones to treat the wounded and ill. All the medi- ask themselves—what has enabled them to march ity, which was totally broken down by the Japanese Yongil bombs would never have been produced. cal appliances used in the treatment, such as forward and win victories in every decade of the revo- imperialists before their defeat, and an empty safe. We could have appealed to the people for war scalpels and tweezers, were made by the techni- lution and construction since they founded the Demo- In such circumstances as good as below zero with eve- funds as the Independence Army did, or gone to cians in the arsenals and most of the herb medi- cratic People’s Republic of Korea. The answer is just rything in short supply, including funds, materials other countries begging and entreating for help. cines were obtained and produced by the medi- self-reliance. They believed in their own strength and and intellectuals, the Korean people had to build and Once you begin to beg, you begin to fawn on oth- cal workers, with the help of the masses. There solved all problems with their own effort. This led to create all things anew one by one. The question was ers, sinking to the despicable depths of licking were only a few modern medicines. their victory and bright future. Self-reliance—this where to begin, how to construct and which way they the soles of the others’ feet or plucking the mu- There was nowhere we could turn for doc- is a mode and tradition of struggle, and it has been should go ahead. cus from their eyes if they tell you to. tors and nurses, so we had to train them for maintained throughout the DPRK’s whole history of Almost all of those countries liberated from the The slogan of self-reliance that we raised in ourselves. A few pioneers who had been doctors socialist construction. colonial yoke of imperialism after World War II the early days of the anti-Japanese war, and the of Koryo medicine trained a great number of as- found their way out in depending on “aid” from big strenuous efforts we had made to implement it sistants. Historic Option— and developed countries or imitating their economy. ever since were also in accord with the prevail- … Self-supporting Economy This was because those liberated countries were in a ing revolutionary situation. The Japanese impe- We also solved the problem of food grains by situation that they had to build the state economy, rialists’ invasion of Manchuria had aggravated relying on our own resources. On August 15, 1945 the Korean people put an without having their own theory on the economic con- the contradictions between Korea and Japan … end to their history of colonial slavery spanning over struction, experience and asset, and thus there was and between China and Japan, and these con- Self-reliance was thus essential to the sur- four decades, and accomplished the historic cause of no scope left them for choosing their own way. tradictions inevitably presented the Korean vival of the revolutionary army in the long- national liberation from the Japanese imperialists’ Kim Il Sung, however, did not follow the way communists with a task of high level combat— drawn-out war against the Japanese. The re- military occupation. they did. On the important matter of economic con- an armed struggle. If we had clung to mendicant alization that one could survive only by relying And they were faced with the enormous task of struction decisive of the destiny of the country and diplomacy, begging other countries to help us, on oneself became a part of the thinking of all the people he penetrated two issues of principle. The instead of relying on ourselves, we would not the guerrillas; self-reliance became their motto. fi rst was that if one fails to create one’s own asset but have started the war against Japan immediately Those who made this motto their very lifeblood relies on aid from others, one cannot escape the fate after Japan’s invasion of Manchuria, nor would upheld their honour even on an isolated island, of a slave encumbered with debts, and that so one we have developed our guerrilla army into a and those who did not surrendered to the enemy should build one’s economy with one’s own effort. The powerful force within a few short years. or left their ranks, abandoning their principles second was that as long as the Korean people were … halfway. determined to live independently, it was unavoidable Self-reliance and fortitude was the basic The seed of self-reliance nurtured by the that they should be faced with the dominationists’ ► spirit underlying not only munitions manufac- anti-Japanese forerunners in the snowstorms ture and repair but every aspect of the anti-Jap- of Paektu was implanted in the minds of the anese revolution; it was the criterion by which people of the whole country after liberation, to measure one’s loyalty to the revolution. We serving as the motive power that kindled the did not regard any man who was not self-reliant fl ames of the effort to build a new Korea and and did not strive hard as a true revolutionary, gave birth in this eastern corner of the world to no matter how ardent his patriotism, or how the legendary Chollima. When we began a pro- committed he might be to communist ideology, ject to manufacture an electric locomotive at a because self-reliance was the key to success in small factory which had been a repair shop, a the revolution. foreign ambassador to our country said that he ... would pass through the eye of a needle if the Ko- … Self-reliance opened a new era in the his- reans made electric locomotives by themselves. tory of the national liberation struggle in our The pleasant whistle of the electric locomotive country, the era in which everything was cre- Pulgungi-1, which our workers and technicians ated from nothing. These vital phases may be made by relying on their own ability, shattered regarded as living proof of the correctness and the ambassador’s complacent prediction. power of the communist method of solving all The spirit of self-reliance that rang out in the problems by allowing full scope to the people’s hammering of the arsenals in the guerrilla zones Korea made locomotives and strength and wisdom. drove the pulse of the era of the Workers’ Party tractors with its own effort. … and provided the powerful force that propelled The experience gained in the munitions in- this era forward. ‰

4 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 5 ► pressure and blockade, and that they should ► Self-reliance—Powerful Weapon have their powerful material and economic of Korean-style Creation strength to break through the diffi culties in any case. One day in August 2007, Chairman Trying to build a prosperous nation with- Kim Jong Il said that the spirit of self-reli- out economic self-suffi ciency is as good as try- ance President Kim Il Sung handed over as ing to build a house on the sand, and it is no a mental asset was the motive force for the more than a dream in the long run—this was building of a self-supporting national econo- a creed President Kim Il Sung invariably my and the invariable mode of struggle in the adhered to in the economic construction. He socialist economic construction. knew well that the path to construction of a The Chairman held fast to self-reliance self-supporting national economy was an ar- as a precious sword in the whole period of duous one that would cost them as dear as a his leadership to the revolution and con- war should do. The President, however, held struction. He put forward the slogan “Let fast to the political creed that if one believes Us Live Our Own Way!” and so on, and in one’s own strength and advances forward aroused the entire people to the endeav- with one’s own effort, one can win everything, our to implement them. All of such gigan- but if one does not believe in one’s strength tic creations as the West Sea Barrage re- and looks up at the sky, one cannot make a ferred to as a miracle of the 20th century, a revolution or keep on living, and thus chose 10 000-ton press and a large oxygen plant are the path to construction of a self-supporting the fruit of his leadership. national economy. In particular, the period after the mid- He mapped out and led two times of reha- 1990s was the signifi cant one in which the bilitation, and the building of an independent Chairman led the Korean revolution fi rmly national economy amidst the US and other im- adhering to self-reliance as the strongest pre- perialists’ constant schemes to provoke a new cious sword. During the period Korea’s neigh- war. The West Sea Barrage. bouring countries, which had been building In diffi cult conditions after Korea’s libera- socialism together with it, were dragged into tion he put forward a line of building a new A 10 000-ton press equipped with CNC technology. A UHP electric arc furnace. the turmoil of “liberalization” at the same Korea, that is, founding the Party, state and time, so Korea had to keep the Red Flag fl ying army. And he advanced a basic line of the so- single-handed in the face of the imperialists’ cialist economic construction on the ruins of relentless schemes to isolate and stifl e the the Korean war when the hostile forces vocif- country. And it suffered an unforeseen great erated that Korea was not able to rise even loss (demise of President Kim Il Sung), and in 100 years’ time. He also laid down a line had to tide over consecutive severe natural of building up the economy and defences si- calamities. At this juncture, the Chairman multaneously when the country was still in a diffi cult situation. Like this, the President un- turned misfortunes into blessings, and adver- folded grand blueprints for the country to rise sity into prosperity in the spirit of self-reli- by itself in every period and each stage of the ance and fortitude. building of the state. To ease the strain on electric power he en- According to his grand plan, the DPRK couraged the working class of Jagang Prov- accomplished the historic cause of socialist ince to set an example in settling the issue industrialization in a short span of 14 years. out of trust in them. And the workers of the It perfected an economic structure compre- province solved the problem of electric power hensively developed, equipped with modern by actively exploring and mobilizing the lo- technology and based on domestic resources, cal industrial potentialities and internal ranging from the machine-building industry reserves, and put production on a normal that can produce whatever it wants, including basis by securing raw and other materials trucks, tractors, locomotives and vessels, to with their own efforts. Then the Chairman fi shing industry and light industry. referred to it as self-reliance, and saw to it The wise leadership of Kim Il Sung ena- that the entire country positively learned bled the entire Korean people to regard it as from them. their mode of existence and struggle to rely on Thus the revolutionary spirit of self-reli- their own strength and break through all dif- ance and fortitude began to sweep the whole fi culties, and lay the permanent foundation for country unprecedentedly. The workers of the prosperity on this land. ► Chollima Steel Complex successfully made ►

6 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 7 ► a UHP electric arc furnace, the cream of the modern metallurgical industry, with their own effort and tech- nique, and those in Kangwon, North Hwanghae and other provinces built large-size hydro-power stations by themselves. The spirit of self-reliance also enabled the country to make metal and chemical industries and other sec- tors of the national economy more Juche-oriented and develop its CNC technology on an advanced level.

By Dint of Self-supporting Economy

The building of a powerful socialist nation is un- ► der way successfully. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un gave the Korean people a powerful weapon to build a socialist power by themselves—the spirit of self- reliance and self-development and the scientifi c and technological strength. Last year the Supreme Leader visited a factory. Looking at a heavy-duty vehicle on the stage of com- pletion he said that it was very spectacular and that he felt very encouraged to see the full operation of its power transmission gears. He went on to say that a fresh turning point should be made in raising the country’s automotive industry to world standards, and The Ryuwon Footwear Factory. New-type tractors and trucks are launched in December 2017. called on the workers to push ahead with the moderni- zation of the factory so as to prove that their resolve at ► ► the time was correct for the building of a prosperous and powerful nation. Under his wise leadership a vigorous struggle to build a socialist economic power was under way across the country. The construction of the majestic dwelling districts such as Mirae Scientists Street and Ryomyong Street in spring. Ryomyong Street; and the growth of production at in- dustrial bases including Ryuwon Footwear Factory, Wonsan Leather Shoes Factory, Pyongyang Cosmet- ics Factory and Mindulle Notebook Factory demon- strated the might of the country’s self-supporting economy. Over 50 000 hectares of grassland on the Sepho Plateau is a large-sized stockbreeding base built un- der the slogan of self-suffi ciency, for the purpose of developing the animal husbandry and improving the people’s living standards. The country’s own strength, technology and resources also resulted in the produc- tion of new-style fi ve-ton truck at the Sungni Motor Complex, 80hp Chollima 804 tractors of new type at the Kumsong Tractor Factory, varieties of quality cosmetics at the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory and different kinds of bags at the Pyongyang Bag Fac- tory. Besides, all the commodities presented at the 28th National Consumer Goods Exhibition held in Oc- tober last year were all made by their producers’ own strength, technique and raw and other materials. A gigantic tree which takes deep root in the ground does not fall down. Korea’s economy sup- ported by a fi rm pillar of self-reliance is successfully developing day after day. Pae Kwang Hui

8 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 9 ► of the farm covering a total fl oor Sunchon Catfi sh Farm space of over 24 120 square me- tres. But his words enabled me to understand the effort of the machine producers to make by OME TIME AGO I VISITED merely taking care of the fry, she chines from the feed processing themselves hundreds of machines Sthe newly built Sunchon Cat- said and added that they could workshop seemed to be the only of over a hundred kinds needed fi sh Farm. not readily leave their workplace sound breaking the silence of the for operation of the farm, saying, even in the early morning or late farm. What spread before my I was told, that they should make At Hatchery at night with the thought that the eyes in the workshop were differ- their life happy with their own fi rst step in improving the people’s ent kinds of machines needed for hands. The fi rst building past the diet started there, and that it was processing feed for the fi sh, in- front gate of the farm was the the unanimous mind of her fellow cluding a fl our grinder and equip- At Outdoor Vinyl hatchery. In the building I saw a workers. ment to produce fl oating feed. All Sheet-covered Ponds girl worker, Cha Ho Jong by name, Girl Communicating with the machines were in normal op- looking attentively at catfi sh eggs Catfi sh—the words seemed to re- eration. Outdoor vinyl sheet-covered The interior of the feed processing workshop. as tiny as a grain of sesame. I also verberate in my ears as I left the There I met the senior engi- ponds spread in line, and laugh- saw a headline on the noticeboard hatchery. neer, who said, “Feed is important ter from one of the ponds induced times of feeding and its amount, catfi sh.” which read “Girl Communicating as the catfi sh grow and fatten as me to drop in it. It was the one the grain fi neness of the feed and She also said one of them put with Catfi sh.” And Cha was the At Feed Processing much as they eat. So machines in Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un its content of nutrients needed forward a method of raising the heroine of that noticeboard. Workshop this workshop should be provided visited in 2017. The sights of wa- for providing oxygen and pH for protein content in the feed while I approached her, and I could with enough raw materials. Now ter tanks teeming with catfi sh and growth of the fi sh. the other invented a process to see eggs hatching in succession. The buzzing sound of ma- they are in good operation.” The breeders spraying feed over the At my admiration for her pro- produce assorted feed for the fi sh engineer continued to say that ponds while having a friendly talk found knowledge she said, “The in every stage of growth. Her voice Breeders take care of the fry. machines for producing fl oat- evoked unique feelings. day the Supreme Leader visited was full of pride as being one of ing feed were made by the ma- When I asked them if the my farm he sat unreservedly on members of the farm developing chine-building factories in South amount of feed was insuffi cient the rim of the water tank, eluci- on the strength of science. Phyongan Province, and that as as compared to the schools of cat- dating all the tasks and ways to they were manufactured in the fi sh, To Un Byol, one of the breed- make the catfi sh production sci- When I told the general man- province, the farm could easily ers, said that the fi sh were put in entifi c and intensive. Rich knowl- ager of the farm that I had learned get the accessories for repairs and the water tanks on an intensive edge can enable us to support his a lot from the farm just looking servicing of them from those fac- basis to the maximum per cubic noble intention of providing the like a quiet place in appearance, tories within easy reach of it. metre of water, so too much feed people with much more fi sh. So, he said, “We take pride of our The buzzing sound of the ma- could cause shortage of oxygen. we all learned hard at the sci-tech work in the people’s happy laugh- chines was not loud enough to re- Then she explained me in plain learning space, and now all of us ter.” verberate through the compound ► language about the number of have become masters at breeding Ri Kum Chol

An outdoor vinyl sheet-covered pond.

Cha murmured something repeat- edly as if she were in conversation with the fry, and recorded on her diary temperature of the water and pH and its amount of oxygen. When I asked her why she did it for I thought the general control room provided the most reason- able condition, she said, “A baby in a modern incubator also needs a helping hand of a doctor.” She went on to say that she still did not have a deep knowledge of the fi sh as it was a new sort and that though there was a standard con- dition indicated when the fi sh had been brought, it was more impor- tant to fi nd out more appropriate numerical values from practice. They did not regard their job as

10 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 11 New Appearance of Pommaji

RODUCTS FROM THE products said that there was no except for traditional ways, and PPyongyang Condiments Fac- particular change in them except launched a campaign to create tory are very popular with not for their brand name. This made things new. At the time a worker only Pyonyangites but also all a great impact on the workers suggested that they produce soy- provincial residents. The factory of the factory. In fact, they were bean paste containing lecithin has been recognized as a superior only content with the increase in good for health. It was accepted one since the fi rst Pyongyang De- production after the factory was as a good idea. But it seemed un- partment Store No. 1 Goods Exhi- reconstructed on a modern basis feasible because the amount of bition was held, and awarded cer- in 2013. The reality, however, de- lecithin extracted from strained A soybean paste production tifi cates of the best or excellence manded that they further improve lees of beans was very small, not process. at almost all rounds of the na- the tastes and quality of condi- enough to produce such bean tional consumer goods exhibition. ments including soy and bean paste as much as possible. And ► relevant experience. The chief The factory also has won fame at paste important in Koreans’ diet. as the factory’s products were in engineer concluded the consulta- the 15th national invention and Looking at the tion, saying, “The ultimate object of production is to contribute to A fermented soy sauce production process. improvement of the people’s diet. We and production are just for the purpose. When we keep it in mind we can do anything, I think.” rhosis, retarding aging and im- hard-fi nned sandfi sh boiled in soy- Thus, the factory’s techni- proving health, soybean sauce, oil, bean sauce, iodic soybean paste, cal forces began to strive to com- sodium glutamate and other work- ginger soybean sauce, spice mix, plete the method of reprocessing shops had already been pushing beef powder-based yeast sodium strained lees of beans to increase ahead with a lot of technical inno- glutamate and vitamin E oil. the amount of extracted lecithin vation campaigns along with pro- Last year a national industrial by their own efforts. At last they duction. Thus they produced high- art exhibition was held in celebra- completed the method, making ly digestible fermented soybeans tion of the Day of the Sun at which it possible to drastically increase that function as strong activator the factory’s designs and types of the production of lecithin. When it of thromboclastic enzyme and an- packing were awarded a certifi - became possible to mass-produce tioxidation and dozens of condi- cate of excellence for their peculi- lecithin soybean paste obviously ments like hot pepper paste mixed arity and kindness. effective in preventing liver cir- with ground hard-fi nned sandfi sh, Ri Song Chol

A vitamin E oil production process.

new technology exhibition and brand name Pommaji, decorated great demand, there was a great other sci-tech achievements exhi- with patterns of new sprouts and strain on production at that time. bitions. fl ower buds, Son fell into deep But the idea was recognized “We value buds,” said the fac- thought. New sprouts and fl ower as a valuable new one at a tech- tory’s chief engineer Son Hyon buds literally mean something nical consultation of the factory. Chol when he was asked about the new. Right. There should be some- It was not an easy job. But if it secret of their success. thing new, he thought. was translated into practice, it In 2014 the brand name of From then on the factory did would make it possible to pioneer its products changed from Paek- away with the idea that there was a new fi eld of production of func- song to Pommaji. But users of the nothing to develop in condiments tional condiments and acquire ►

12 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 13 ► wanted to meet all of them. Then they asked for the teachers made and added to the textile Quality Sonamu Schoolbags As proposed by the techni- and pupils’ opinions. And they printing process, helping improve cians, the factory often organized met parents of the pupils to ask the quality of the prints, and the a mass prize design competition. for their opinions. All the opinions operators of laser cutters mas- The factory’s sci-tech learning were put down on the “Note of Our tered their job so as to ensure fast space was always crowded with Bags.” cutting. The test on the quality of its workers who were trying to But good designs did not mean fi nished products was done strict- know about world trends in the good bags. It was in February last ly in consideration of children’s development of bags and acquire year when they were producing strong activity. knowledge of fi nd arts. As a result schoolbags for primary school chil- After a lot of discussion, the they created over 110 new designs dren. As bags of different forms technicians and workers gave the of bags last year alone. and colours were produced at the bags the brand name of Sonamu When samples were produced same time, the products some- (pine tree), and the bags became according to the designs, the tech- times included those not as good very popular with schoolchildren nicians took them to the schools as the designs. and their parents. and had the pupils try shouldering So the factory launched a mass “I really like this bag printed the bags to check whether straps technical innovation campaign to with a picture of cartoon fi lm.” were loose, whether the bags were have the workers master the op- “This bag fi ts me exactly, and leaned backward, whether their eration of their equipment and it never gets wet in the rain in the Certifi cates of the December 15 sizes were right and whether improve their skills. During the summer.” Medal of Quality and the medals. their forms and colours fi t them. campaign, a new prints dryer was “Luminous decorations on the straps practically help protect the children from traffi c accidents at NE YEAR AGO, SUPREME night.” Leader Kim Jong Un visited O Kim Un Jong, general man- the newly built Pyongyang Bag ager of the factory, says, “The Factory and was very pleased to name of Sonamu refl ects our sin- see the schoolbags. He even tried cere hope that children will grow shouldering one of the bags. vigorously even in winter like pine You must devote yourselves to trees so as to develop into future making even a single schoolbag as the standard for production of fi ne of the city and had talks with the pillars of the country.” mothers should do for their chil- bags. pupils to know about the colours, Sonamu schoolbags were dren—this is what he said that Staff members of the technical pictures and forms of schoolbags awarded the top prize in a na- day. Technicians and workers of preparation section and design- they liked. Their liking and tastes tional knapsack-style schoolbags the factory regard his words as ing one visited different schools were different, but the technicians ► and school things exhibition held last year, and highly appreciated at the 28th National Consumer Goods Exhibition. Five of their Music and Health kinds won December 15 Medal of Quality which is awarded to the goods most popular at home and USIC IS A WONDERFUL Besides, music that brings which strengthens the immune of worldwide competitive power. Mstimulus to development of man the feeling of satisfaction system, improves metabolism human intelligence. It elevates helps to increase the contractile and activates the recuperative Rim Ok the memory through its action power of the heart and ensure and antibiotic processes. This of controlling circulation of the normal blood pressure. There- is how music helps patients re- blood and excitement of the fore, music is employed for recu- cover quickly. nervous cells. peration, and clear and cheerful When you enjoy your favour- When playing the musical in- melodies are used for the pur- ite, beautiful music at home af- strument, you have to use your pose. The sounds of the violin ter work, you will recover from left hand a lot, which gives full and piano stabilize the nervous the fatigue of the day and feel play to the function of the right system, and those of the fl ute relaxed—without suffering from part of the brain. And this ele- ease the strain while those of the the day’s unpleasant things, vates the balance of intelligence cello protect the heart. if any. This is related with the between the left and right parts The sounds used for mu- rhythm of the cells. of the brain. For this reason sic are harmoniously combined Regular appreciation of mu- music is regarded as key like with the nervous system of the sic improves your feeling, appe- mathematics and physics which body and drive the organism tite, relaxation and good sleep— develop the treasure of human into the state of vibration. This all quite helpful for health. Workers endeavour to increase pro- intelligence. is called effect of sympathy, Choe Sol Mi duction of children’s favourite bags.

14 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 15 ► son and grandson of the common people; I was example, the People’s Palace of Culture, the Grand Son of the People born into a nameless peasant family.” People’s Study House and the People’s Hospital, and His words refl ected his true intention to live as an such titles as People’s Scientist, People’s Athlete and ordinary member in the rank of the people and his People’s Artiste. fi rm view of life whereby he took pride in doing so. He When the construction of the Grand People’s embarked on the path of revolution with the deter- Study House was under way President Kim Il Sung mination to dedicate himself to the country and his said that he had had the study house for the peo- fellow people, and ever since his love for the people ple set at the head of Kim Il Sung Square, and the had all times been uppermost in his mind. Even in al- building of the (then) Administration Council by the most helpless situations in which he had to eat in the house to make sure that the council serves the people wind and slept in the open during the grim days of and does a lot of things for them. the bloody anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, he He always valued his comrades, who had shared strengthened his fi ghting spirit at the thought of his their fate with him, and the people, rather than him- suffering nation under the rule of the Japanese impe- self. When visiting factories, he unreservedly held rialists, and when he had to endure cold and hunger grease-stained hands of workers and discussed state by a campfi re, he screwed up his courage by picturing affairs with them, and when visiting cooperative in his mind the Korean people who would live happily farms he sat knee to knee with farm workers to dis- in the liberated country. cuss farming with them. So, when people extended their gratitude to the Therefore the President never permitted things General, who returned to the motherland after re- going against the dignity and the interests of the peo- storing it, he said: You said I took much trouble to ple. During both the anti-Japanese armed struggle fi ght a protracted war against the Japanese imperial- and the Fatherland Liberation War he did not toler- ists for the liberation of Korea, but I had no particu- ate violation of the people’s lives and property, and lar trouble. Fighting against the Japanese imperial- organized even a single battle in such a way as not to ists with arms in hand was a thing I ought to do as a damage their lives and property. son of the people. You fellow compatriots, who were Saying that anything should be done if the people under the tyranny of the Japanese imperialists, must wished it, the President steadily formulated plans for have had more trouble than me. the sake of the people, and saw to it that it was im- He never thought of him apart from the people. plemented through relevant policies of the State and There was a moment he regarded as the happiest in the Party. his whole life. It was on October 14, 1945 when he Happiness of the people was the President’s stood on the platform of a rally held in Pyongyang to greatest pleasure. He lived as a genuine son of the welcome him as a peerless hero, a benevolent libera- people all his life, respecting them. So, in his speech tor who took back the country from the Japanese im- at a banquet given by the government of the Demo- perialists. The people’s endless applause and cheers cratic People’s Republic of Korea on the occasion of fi lled the venue of the rally, but what he felt at that his 80th birth anniversary, he said, “As I look back President Kim Il Sung visits a farm worker’s family in Hyangha-ri, time, he said, was not the people’s admiration for Janggang County to learn about their living conditions in July 1969. on my past I can say, in short, that the 80 years him but happiness emanating from the pride that he of my life as a son of the people have been years N HIS LIFETIME PRESIDENT KIM IL SUNG peoples’ such boundless admiration for him and his had fought for the people as a son of the people, from of struggle devoted for the people.” He also said Ireceived over 70 000 fi gures from a hundred and worldwide reputation the President often said that the feeling that the people loved and trusted him that it is the noblest of moral obligations and duties tens of countries. Among them were heads of state, he was just a son of the people. and from the fact that he was in the embrace of the for a revolutionary to serve the people, that nothing political party, government and fi gures of political, Once he suffered from a serious cold fi t dur- people. was worthier and more glorious for him than to de- social and cultural circles, and those from the coun- ing the anti-Japanese armed struggle. An old man As he regarded himself as a son of the people, all vote his whole life to the welfare of the people, and tries which were in hostile relations or had no diplo- and his family cured him of the disease. When he the things he formulated and achieved were for the that he wished to dedicate the rest of his life to the matic relations with Korea. recovered, the old man said, “God gave birth to you people. He founded the people-centred Juche idea, people’s cause, being loved and trusted by them. After being received by the President, all of them General Kim, and you have been saved in this log- opening up the era of independence for the masses As he loved the people so much and lived as a son unanimously admired him as great man in the 20th cabin by God’s will, not by my family.” Feeling great- to become the master of all things, and the state, the of the people all his life, the President is always alive century, model of genuine internationalism, political ly obliged the General said to the old man with mod- government and the army he founded through an ar- in the mind of not only the Korean people but also leader of the international community, veteran and esty, “Grandfather, I don’t think I’m worthy of duous struggle were the People’s Republic, the peo- other peoples across the world. authoritative outstanding leader and brilliant mili- your compliment. It is too much to compare me ple’s government and the People’s Army. In Korea the tary strategist. Despite the Korean people and other with a general born of the Divine will. I am the ► word people is put in the names of lots of places, for Kim Kum Hui

16 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 17 Juche Idea, Revolutionary Solid Foundation of Doctrine of Independence (4) Juche-oriented Education

Man Is the Master of enables man to become the master Kim Il Sung gave a classic for- N THE DEMOCRATIC to be found everywhere, which The fi rst item His Own Destiny of the world and his own destiny. mulation of independence which IPeople’s Republic of Korea closely combine schooling and on the agenda From his childhood he had earlier defi ned as one part universal 12-year compulsory social education. HE QUESTION OF HUMAN Kim Il Sung shared joys and sor- of man’s nature. He said, “Man education is well under way The Grand People’s Study In September 2012 Korea held Tdestiny is the one relating to rows with people. In the course of wishes to live freely without towards the goal of building a House, a house for all-people the 6th Session of the 12th Supreme the life and death through the this, he came to have an unusual being restrained by anything. prosperous nation and making learning, has conducted a lot of People’s Assembly. After a report past, present and future of peo- viewpoint and outlook of man in The quality of man to live free- all people well versed in science various educational activities— and debate on the fi rst item on ple. By creating the Juche idea his early days. What he strongly ly as the master of the world is and technology. This effort is services for reading, scientifi c the agenda “On Enforcing the Kim Il Sung broke down the fa- felt at that time was the ques- termed independence.” associated with the immortal and theoretical lectures, sci-tech Universal 12-year Compulsory talism, which had been cemented tion of man’s freedom and right. Kim Il Sung saw that inde- exploits of the country’s great lectures, lectures for information Education,” the ordinance of the like a fossil in the history of ideol- While witnessing the reality of pendence, which is expressed by leaders whose intention is to train on new technology, and requested Supreme People’s Assembly of ogy and philosophy of humankind Korea under the military occupa- man’s demand for and aspiration lots of scientifi c and technological lectures—for the last dozens of the Democratic People’s Republic tion of the Japanese imperialists and the spiritual realm of man for to his genuine freedom, is a basic talent and make steady economic years. of Korea on introducing the he confi rmed the truth that people thousands of years, and clarifi ed attribute of man who is desirous development by improving Like this, the system for new education programme was the absolute truth that man is the deprived of their country are more of living and developing as master the Juche-oriented education all people to learn has been in adopted with the unanimous master of his own destiny and has miserable than the dog of a family of the world and his own destiny uninterruptedly. regular operation for scores of approval. This was greeted by the strength to carve it out. having a funeral, and keenly felt without being restrained or fet- years, as stipulated by Theses on jubilation across the country. He raised the question of man’s the philosophical principle that tered by anything. On the basis of Immortal education Socialist Education. The new system of education position and role in the world as what is indispensable to man even his fi rm viewpoint that it is only programme In 2016 the Sci-Tech Complex, the fundamental question of phi- if he dies is just freedom and sov- man who transforms nature and is permeated with the noble losophy and made it clear as a ereign right. society and develops science and home of everybody’s learning intention of Supreme Leader truth of history that man is the And through the do-or-die technology, he defi ned creativity President Kim Il Sung which is furnished on the highest Kim Jong Un to develop his master of his own destiny by illu- struggle of workers and peasants as a second basic attribute of man. published Theses on Socialist level, was opened, thus the country, the land of learning, minating the philosophical princi- across the country against the co- And he defi ned consciousness as Education in September 1977, Korean people have another into an educational power and a ple that man is the master of eve- lonial rule of the Japanese impe- an attribute of man which deter- providing a guideline of the palace of learning appropriate to civilized socialist nation as soon rything and decides everything. rialists, he keenly understood the mines all his endeavours to under- Juche-oriented and popular the qualities of a civilized socialist as possible. That man is the master of every- common aspiration of the people stand and reshape the world and socialist education. In his theses, nation. Regarding the younger thing means that he is the master fi ghting for man’s freedom and himself, and as another basic at- he produced the unique idea Chairman Kim Jong Il generation as the treasure of of the world and of his own des- liberty of the country and nation. tribute of man like independence on the fullest and sustainable consistently adhered to President the country, he makes sure tiny; that man decides everything And during the anti-Japanese and creativity. education of all people for the Kim Il Sung’s ideology and line that schoolchildren’s palaces, means that he plays the decisive armed struggle, he witnessed the In particular, he explained fi rst time in history, and set of giving importance to education halls and camps are facelifted role in transforming the world and spirit of revolutionaries fi ght- that independence, creativity and the coordination of preschool, and directed a great effort to the on the highest possible level, in shaping his destiny. And the ing to achieve the independence consciousness are social attrib- school and adult education as the education work even in the most and he stresses the need to Juche idea newly explained man’s of the country and the liberty of utes from A to Z, not the devel- formula of socialist education. diffi cult period of the revolution. develop education whenever an position and role as the ruler and the people, and more keenly felt opment and perfection of biologi- This was a perfect answer to the He gave energetic guidance to the opportunity presents itself. When that to live freely is man’s most transformer of the world, and thus cal attributes, so man himself is pending question. Through a work of glorifying the national a new school year began he saw elementary and vital requirement man became the master and pio- a social being. He made it clear well-organized higher education dignity on the highest stage on the that modern educational facilities neer of his own destiny. and that the requirement pushes that man’s nature is not a native system that gives instruction strength of the latest science and and sporting goods were sent Kim Il Sung elucidated the man to give play to the mental and biological quality at all but to people on their job—as is technology. to educational institutions in basic reason why man occupies strength and will inherent to him a social quality formed and con- given by colleges established at Speaking to the seminar on Pyongyang. the position and plays the role to the maximum. Later, the whole solidated socially and historically factories, farms, fi shing stations the national action programme Under his trust and benevolent as the master in connection with course of the Korean revolution through steady social education and other establishments—and for all-people learning held in man’s nature. He illuminated actually proved the invariable and social practical activities, so care, a bright prospect was opened that man can become the master truth right. man becomes the only social being the refresher-course system the Pyongyang over a decade ago, up to develop general secondary of the world and his own destiny During his revolutionary in the world. Korean people can study all the UNESCO representative said education onto a higher level. and play the role as the master activities Kim Il Sung estab- The elucidation of man’s social their life without suspension and that Korea with the universal The education system has been because he is a social being with lished a new viewpoint of man’s quality made it possible to clear- are developing their talent to 11-year compulsory education had rearranged, and old-fashioned independence, creativity and con- nature with his fundamental re- ly explain the scientifi c ground spearhead the era of knowledge- realized UNESCO’s goal by 2015 styles have been broken in the sciousness. Independence, crea- quirement for liberty as its core. for why man is the master of the based economy. Libraries, public for giving education to all people educational sectors to be replaced tivity and consciousness consti- At a talk with a foreign politi- world and his own destiny. halls and social educational and long time before, and that the by the heuristic teaching method; tute the fundamental factor which cal activist on his visit to Korea Ri Jong Nam edifi cation institutions are also country is a land of learning. this has brought about a new ►

18 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 19 ► turn in education in conformity this, teachers assimilate teaching A vigorous drive is going with the requirements of the methods from the view of students, ahead to lay modern conditions There Is No End developing revolution and the not from their subjective point of and environment for education. trend of education worldwide. view, which naturally leads them Schools are establishing to give better instruction. multifunctional classrooms. ECENTLY RESEARCHERS Let’s bravely do away with the production. Their further efforts Campaign for radical Universities regard fi eld All classrooms are becoming of a waste-water purifi cation existing formula and rely on our ensured 99 percent of disinfecting improvement in education research activities as an connected with the intranet. R laboratory of the Environmental own technology and raw materi- rate, made the disinfecting sys- important lever for their teachers The supporters’ organizations Engineering Institute of the State als—this determination made tem Juche-oriented and made it Following the enforcement of and researchers to improve their and parents of students give Academy of Sciences established a the researchers unite into one. possible to increase production of the universal 12-year compulsory abilities and qualifi cations. positive assistance. Outdoor system of disinfecting the sericul- They made a concerted effort to cocoons. education, great public enthusi- Reality, which is developing by study grounds and solar-heated asm has been aroused to provide leaps and bounds, requires them greenhouses are newly laid and tural process by means of sodium make a sodium hypochlorite gen- Last year the sector of sericul- better conditions and environ- to have deep knowledge not only good species of trees, particularly hypochlorite. erator and then automated the ture surpassed its peak-year level ment for education and give of their special fi eld but also other fruit trees, and new kinds of grass In the past cocoon production production process. Not satisfi ed on the basis of the researchers’ support to the education work. fi elds and combine their research as well as fl owers are planted in companies of the sericultural sec- with this, they developed the gen- achievements. The researchers The teachers are working hard with production. the compound to create green tor had to use imported antisep- erator into a more convenient one also laid a solid foundation for to create new teaching methods at Many teachers and landscape. tic materials including bleaching capable of producing the antisep- increased production of catfi sh schools. Importance is attached researchers went to the Pyong- Seeing the country laying powder and formalin. It badly tic solution with ease. Users of the at the Samchon Catfi sh Farm by to simulation lessons. Schools yang Corn Processing Factory, a solid foundation for Juche- affected cocoon production in no machine say that the generator establishing a water recirculation organize several simulation Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile oriented education and mak- small measure. Researchers of the consumes less raw materials and process there. lessons a week, which are to Mill, Pyongyang Children’s ing leaps forward with youthful sector made efforts to solve the electricity than the previous ones, They are now engrossed in oth- be debated by the teachers, Foodstuff Factory, Kumkhop vigour, the experts say unani- problem but in vain. that it is easy to operate as it is er researches for the sake of the exchanging their opinions at General Foodstuff Factory for mously that the day is not far off On an offi cial tour, Pak Se simple in structure and that the people. reviews. At the meeting, they Sportspersons and many other when lots of young people will Chol, head of the laboratory, came solution helps improve their work- Pak says, “We’ll expand our analyse the activities of the places to solve a lot of problems in grow up into talented scientists to know about the problem while ing environment, compared with endeavour to develop and intro- teacher who gave the simulation cooperation with the local workers and technicians of worldwide talking with an offi cer of a cocoon the previous imported ones. duce processes and devices of dif- lesson, and point out his merits and technicians. This contributed fame. production company. He looked The researchers also estab- ferent kinds for different sectors and demerits. In the course of a lot to their education work. Sim Yong Jin back on his past when he had been lished a system of disinfecting dif- including sericulture and stock- proud that he had been solving ferent objects including cocooner- breeding. We think there is no urgent sci-tech problems arising ies and sericultural machines and end to scientifi c researches for the from the reality. tools and thus laid a material and sake of the people.” Back at the institute he said technical foundation for cocoon Kim Hyon Ju Natural Monuments to his researchers, “Even though we did a lot of Developers of an antiseptic solution generator. researches in the past, Masikryong of calcium, kalium and other its good quality. Its temperature the sericultural sector Spring Water mineral matters and its degree is 9.5 degrees Celsius and still depends on imported of association is low. Especially, its yield per hour 3-3.2 cubic antiseptic materials. We HE MASIKRYONG the spring water is effi cacious metres. There is little difference must solve the problem T Spring Water gushes out in relieving the heart burden in the temperature and the without fail.” from the bottom of a mountain and indigestion, and restoring volume of water as it is a stream Thus, the laboratory standing opposite the skiing stamina. driven by structural pressure. started the research to courses of the Masikryong It is also mildly alkaline water, solve the problem while Taehwabong Ski Resort in the Masikryong 7.2 in pH value. This water continuing with that Spring Water Mountain Range. It was contains kalium, sodium, to purify waste water. discovered several years ago. It The Taehwabong Spring calcium, magnesium and other Some countries had re- came through a granite crevice Water discovered in 1974 mineral matters. It is good lied on chemical process of Tanchon complex, being gushes out halfway up a valley for improvement of digestion and graphite electrodes purifi ed by natural rocks. This 200 m west of a ridge of the and retardation of aging. in producing sodium hy- mildly alkaline water is 8.5 Masikryong Mountain Range Those people who regularly pochlorite, but it caused degrees Celsius in temperature in Thap-dong, Wonsan City, drink the spring water say much consumption of and 7.2 in pH value. It is good Kangwon Province. According to that its medicinal effi cacy in electricity and raw mate- for health and longevity as the local inhabitants the water health improvement is really rials. So the researchers it has a harmonious content was well known from of old for remarkable. ‰ sought to fi nd a different method.

20 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 21 No Satisfaction New Guide to Tonguibogam HE RYUWON FOOTWEAR FACTORY to use laser beams for human life. operates a shop visited by many people. It sells Kim came to think of shoes while researching la- T AVE YOU EVER READ THE A medical encyclopaedia com- 25 volumes of the original classic shoes produced to order to the pleasure of the cus- ser beams. At the time a lot of people wanted shoes Korean medical book Tongui- piled in the former Soviet Union and the letters of the translation tomers. fi tting their feet, but it was hardly possible to meet H bogam? referred to Tonguibogam as one of and had it actively introduced in “I’m so glad to wear shoes fi tting my feet. My son, their demand. Once, on a business trip to Kangwon Tonguibogam was published the three major encyclopaedias of the Koryo medical education and too, had diffi culty buying shoes as his feet are unu- Province, he visited the Wonsan Leather Shoes Fac- in 1613 for the fi rst time, reprint- Oriental medicine. research and clinical practice sual in shape. Now, however, he benefi ts from a laser tory. There he saw a lot of people ordering shoes after ed several times in 1814 and 1874 As the crystallization of the through information exchange 3D foot measuring device,” said a customer. measuring their feet by means of a foot measuring in Korea and published in China successes achieved by the 16th based on it. The college also made “I feel proud of my job whenever I see customers device developed by technicians of the factory. But and Japan as well. century in the development of sure that the e-book can be read After reading the book, a Koryo medicine, Tonguibogam through mobile phones and other leave the shop happily with shoes to their liking,” the device could measure only the soles of their feet of Chinese medical man said, “Ton- and the two similar books Uiban- similar means. said a saleswoman. different shapes, and the shoes thus produced to or- guibogam fi lls the gaps of other gryuchwi and Hyangyakjipsong- The e-book of Tonguibogam Their words are inconceivable apart from the la- der were not as comfortable as the customers wished. medical books that have been bang are well known worldwide as helps the readers not only read ser 3D foot measuring device invented by Kim Kum Then he decided to develop the laser 3D foot published and has helped every- the three major classics of Koryo with ease the contents of the Chol, a researcher of the laser institute of the State measuring device. He visited libraries, the Sci-Tech body improve their health. So to medicine. original and translation on Ton- Academy of Sciences. The device is highly appreci- Complex and the Grand People’s Study House to print and spread widely this book Unlike other classics of medi- guibogam section and kinds and ated, for it costs low and is high in effi ciency. The search for relevant data. While studying the data, he is as good as to share the treasure cine, Tonguibogam is character- conditions of diseases but also following shows how the device came into being. pushed ahead with his own research to make such a of the world with all the people ized by systematic description of understand the contents instantly around the world.” the physiological functions of the and comprehensively by means The research started long ago to make it possible foot measuring device. In the course of this he became A Chinese historian said that fi ve viscera and six entrails, symp- of a Chinese character dictionary confi dent that it was possible to make the device if he Kim Kum Chol (second right) explains as the only encyclopaedia of Ori- toms and treatments of different and a dictionary of Koryo medical set up an optical system whereby three-dimensional the technical specifi cation of the laser ental medical science, Tongui- external and internal diseases, terms. As they wish, the readers 3D foot measuring device. laser beams would be focused on one side with high bogam held the predominant causes of the diseases and the rel- can see the original of the classic accuracy. place among Oriental medical evant prescriptions. kept in eternal preservation as It was also diffi cult to make the device, but he books. It is recorded in the Study The book shows that cultivat- image fi les. managed to do the job. In order to make shoes fi t of the Clinical Chart of the Royal ing your body and mind and regu- Choe Hyok, the main develop- Palace in Ching Dynasty, a book larizing your life is the fi rst and er of the relevant program, says, feet of different shapes, he had to give satisfactory published recently in China, treatment the second in maintain- “To make the e-book of Tongui- answers to different indices like height of foot and and the Chronicles of the Feudal ing your health for long. bogam fully play its role as a guide instep, length of instep and width of foot. So he had Joson Dynasty that Koryo in- In Korea, Tonguibogam writ- for the readers, we ensured one- talks with workers of footwear factories and made sam, a special medicinal plant in ten in Chinese characters was to-one correspondences between shoes himself. Korea, and bezoar cordials, a sort translated and published in Ko- the paragraphs of the original and At last he introduced the device at the Ryuwon of Koryo medicine, were used for rean in 1962. In 1982 it was re- the translations for the fi rst time Footwear Factory, and it was highly appreciated. the treatment of diseases in the translated and published in fi ve in digitizing Koryo medical books Based on his success in inventing the device, he de- royal palace of Qing Dynasty volumes with notes along with and newly established a system (1616–1911), China. copies of the original. Then it was of grouping, searching and sta- veloped a laser cutting machine. The Pyongyang Bag It was recorded in a histori- widely used for the improvement tistical analysis according to the Factory equipped with the laser cutting machine is cal document that China sent for of the people’s health. scientifi c system. In particular, producing quality bags. the book nine times between the Recently, the Pyongyang we made sure that through the Not content with his achievements, he is continu- 17th century and the 19th century Medical College of Kim Il Sung searching program of the e-book, ing with the research to preferen- alone. In Japan it was also re- University newly digitized the the readers can read about the tially solve sci-tech problems aris- printed in Kyoto in 1724 and in already translated and published cause of their diseases and the ing in making production processes Osaka in 1799 and 1991. On the classic. In other countries, medi- usage of the relevant Koryo medi- and facilities Juche-oriented so as basis of the book, Japan compiled cal classics are digitized only by cines. On the basis of the achieve- several medical books, and one of using the mode of image input ment, we will digitize much more to perfect the structure of the in- them was very popular with not with an emphasis placed on pre- medical classics and conduct brisk dependent economy. People are only Japanese medical men but serving the original. exchanges of information technol- calling a researcher like him our also ordinary families as it was But the college made a com- ogy through them.” researcher. recognized as a textbook for lon- puter database for about a million Rim Hye Gyong gevity. Chinese characters of the total Kim Ye Ryong

22 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 23 ► So she taught her the knack of draw- Home of Child Prodigies ing. Several months after she began to learn drawing Su Yong distinguished her- self by presenting a good picture at a na- INUIJU MUNICIPAL PONBU KINDERGAR- practising in drawing pictures. They were using col- tional kindergarten children’s talent con- Sten is situated in the centre of the border city of our pencils to draw pictures refl ecting their hopes test to the amazement of the participants Sinuiju on the lower Amnok River. and dreams. Their teacher Choe Chun Hui said, “It and experts. It is not so large a kindergarten with a three-sto- is not an easy job to have an understanding of the The teacher told me that it was more diffi cult to fi nd out a bud of success than rey building, but it has produced lots of child prodi- child’s mind and develop their aptitudes and intel- to succeed. gies. ligence.” And she told me the following story about Appreciating her words, I went up- Not long ago I visited the kindergarten for news Kim Su Yong, a little “artist.” stairs. On the fl oor I heard sight reading, coverage. In her infancy Su Yong was unusually clever and sound detection and sounds of national It was surrounded by a row of armful-thick wil- good at singing and sight reading. So her parents in- musical instruments. I also saw the photos low trees whose budding branches were swinging in tended to have her learn how to play the kayagum or of child master fl utist Ri Jin U, Kye Thae a warm spring wind. Spectacular were its sunfl ow- xylophone. But the teacher judged that drawing was Hun who won a special prize by playing Teachers discuss how to improve children’s intelligence. er-patterned fence, a roller-skating rink in the com- more appropriate for the child who had good powers jangsaenap (a Korean trumpet) and a bass pound and the style of the building similar to a baby’s of observation and imagination. ► drum well on the stage for a kindergarten Chol and Nam Se Yong. That’s why people affection- rattle. I found myself becoming a child again at the children’s general performance held in Pyongyang ately refer to ours as kindergarten of talent, and it is fi rst sight of the kindergarten. in September last year and those who had remark- visited by not only our people but also foreign delega- Merited Teacher Kang Sun Hui, director of the ably performed the folk play Rope Jumping at the tions and inspection groups. They number as many kindergarten, welcomed me. Kang had been intro- aforesaid mass gymnastics and artistic performance, as hundreds of thousands. All foreign visitors to the duced across the country through TV for her hav- deeply impressing the Korean people and foreigners kindergarten say they have seen the future of Korea ing trained many little prodigies. Among the prodi- from across the world. in the children playing and singing happily.” gies was Ku Tae Hong who was introduced by Korea While looking round the kindergarten I could not They are right. It was one of ordinary kindergar- Today as a little calligrapher for his having written help but be struck with admiration at the children’s tens, and I could fairly see the future of the country in well the title of the mass gymnastics and artistic per- talent and the teachers’ faithful efforts dedicated to the children of talent. When I left the kindergarten, formance Arirang, a Kim Il Sung Prize winner. the development of their talent. The director said, what Merited Teacher Pak Myon Suk said patting When I told her I was there to collect news mate- “Every year our kindergarten produces many chil- Thae Hun on the lovely cheeks—“You smile brightly rials on the pride of the kindergarten in producing a dren of talent. We trained such children as little poet- and bloom into a good man!” lot of child prodigies, the director said with an awk- ess Kim Il Sin and master hourglass drummers Kim Kim Son Myong ward smile, “Your words sound excessive. We have done what we have to do. Our duty is to cultivate the future of our country. We’ve always kept it in mind while working.” She then explained about the prin- ciple for their work as follows: They fully grasp and study the characters, mentalities and tastes of chil- dren when they are in the junior class, and give them early artistic education in the senior class. I was guided to the room of senior class No. 3 fi rst, where the children were practising in writing with a brush. Though at a young age when they would oth- erwise play on their mothers’ affections, the children were writing letters admirably maintaining the bal- ance between strokes and dots and between blanks and margins on the basis of formative analysis of the structure. I also saw calligraphic works We Are the Happiest in the World and Flower Buds Bloom Only Red by Jon Chol Jin and Hyon Tae Ung. The works enabled me to read their laudable determination to develop into noted calligraphers of the country. On the fi rst fl oor the director guided me to the room of senior class No. 4 where the children were

24 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 25 ► organizational life of the Chil- psychological peculiarities, and tional fl ower of magnolia. The hall dren’s Union, he added, showing was introduced across the coun- enabled me to know once again his trust in the teachers. try. The school also won fi rst place how hard the teachers strove to The President’s words were at the 23rd national discussions implant love of their country in still touching their hearts, the about teaching methods and the their pupils and help them ac- headmaster said and added that national educational multimedia quire practical knowledge. all teachers of the school were en- contest, distinguishing itself as Showing me a thick record of grossed in the educational work an excellent unit among primary visitors’ impressions, Ri said that to turn theirs into a model for the schools. the school was often visited by whole country. Then I noticed that The school also made achieve- many foreigners. On the last page the teachers took unusual pride in ments in creating teaching aids. was what Zhang Jin Quan, Zhang working at the school associated Many of its teachers created new Wei Hua’s son, wrote after look- with the immortal exploits of the teaching methods one after an- ing round the school during his President. other, including the one of using visit to the country last year. It Recently the school put a great a jigsaw puzzle for Korean map read, “Under the care of respected effort in improving the teachers’ to help pupils have a vivid idea of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, qualifi cations while improving the mountains and fi elds in Korea, an Kim Song Ju Primary School is content of education and the edu- animation to improve pupils’ in- changing splendidly day after day. cational environment as required tellectual powers and a method of I hope the school will train much by the education programme of making and testing a kite to help more pillars of the country. April the new century. They constantly them easily make kites, thus be- 26, 2017” created new teaching methods ing awarded certifi cates of regis- Ri said, “Many graduates of my and regularly organize a meeting tered new teaching method. school have become a Hero of the for presentation of experience, an Most of the inventions were Republic, a Labour Hero, a Peo- inspection of a class at work and introduced across the country, Ri ple’s Artiste, a People’s Athlete so on by week, month and quarter. said, guiding me onto the second and holders of academic degrees Therefore, a lesson given by a fl oor, where there was a nature or titles. So the State awarded it Kim Song Ju Primary School teacher at the event for primary study hall designed in such a way Order of Kim Il Sung and Order school teachers of the social sub- as to make it possible to observe of National Flag 1st Class. In the jects teaching sector of the nation- at a look the sky, land, sea, moun- future, too, we’ll strive to train OME TIME AGO I VISITED time), 1972. After having a talk edifying the pupils well. It was al teaching contest held last year tains and fi elds, animals and fi ne pupils, as befi ts teachers of Kim Song Ju Primary School with some pupils and hearing thanks to the teachers’ good edu- S on the 40th anniversary of publica- birds. There I could see models the school associated with the situated in Taedongmun-dong, about the teachers’ experience, cation and edifi cation that the tion of the Theses on Socialist Central District, Pyongyang. he said that the teachers’ qualifi - pupils understood well what they of the national bird of goshawk, great leader’s immortal exploits.” Education, won special prize for On the right side of the school cations were on a high level and were taught, were lively and dis- the national dog of Phungsan, the its being the one suited to pupils’ compound stands a statue of young that they were educating and ciplined and were active in the ► national tree of pine and the na- Sim Chol Yong Kim Il Sung in school uniform with a book in his hand. There I met Ri Yong Ryol, headmaster of the school, who said, “The statue depicts the great leader [President Kim Il Sung] determining in his childhood to study hard for Korea following his father Kim Hyong Jik’s instruction that a man born in Korea should know well about it. In order to follow the example of the great leader in his childhood, all pupils of my school study hard every day under the slogan ‘Let’s learn for Korea!’.” Then the headmaster said as follows: The President visited the school on September 1 (the fi rst day of the school year at that

26 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 27 Miraculous Vaccine Unusual Pleasure

N PHYONGCHON DISTRICT, 15 more years since then, he says, months passed since his disease IPyongyang, there is the Tu- “Frankly speaking, nobody be- was pronounced incurable, but he HE MORNING SUN RISES, AND IT SHINES mour Institute of the Academy of lieved me to be alive for more than was still alive and getting better Tthrough rows of high-rise apartment blocks. The Medical Science. It is a scientifi c one year after the operation. They and better. This is why he wrote streets of the downtown are crowded with people on research institute whose mission thought that the cancer would re- the letter of thanks. the way to work. Among them is Choe Chung Hyok, is to research, prevent and treat cur and metastasize in my body in Having witnessed his recov- a doctor of the Koryo acupuncture and moxibustion cancer diseases. a few months, and that even if I ery, Zhao Xi Fu, former director of department of Sinuiju Municipal People’s Hospital Staffed with many able re- was treated with anticancer medi- the Bureau of Justice in Tonghua, No. 2. Always early at offi ce before anyone else every searchers the institute has in- cines or radiation, it would not Jilin, China, had an injection day, he cleans the room and makes preparations for vented lots of cancer medicines be successful with serious side- of the vaccine after undergoing treatment. Then he takes out from a drawer of his including cancer vaccine. effects as I was so weak. I chose an operation on his gastric can- desk letters from his patients. He reads each of the The cancer vaccine is a biologi- to be treated with the vaccine. It cer, and thus he was restored to letters with a happy smile. cal substance capable of killing was my feeling at the time that I health. His wife, too, was cured of cancerous cells by raising the im- would never regret even if treat- gastric cancer through the same Dear Mr. Choe, munity of the human body, with ment ended in a failure. My choice treatment. Zhao, now a lawyer in I cannot forget you visiting my house three no side-effects, and thus it at- was really right.” Tonghua, is convinced that his and months ago with a fi rst-aid bag on your shoulder. tracts the attention of many other The cancer vaccine gained his wife’s life indexes are normal. When I refused to get treatment, you said, “There is countries. public favour at home and abroad. Recently, the developers of the a phrase ‘Combination of spirit and medicine treats The institute started the rel- In 2013, the researchers of the in- vaccine have completed a method diseases.’ What is important is to have confi dence.” ing pleasanter than holding in my arms as much as I evant research in the 1990s, and stitute received a letter of thanks of treating cancer relapse and And you took pulse of my paralysed hand and foot, wish the child who follows me, calling out, “Grandpa, there was formed a powerful na- from Chinese writer Lu Ming Hui. metastasis by combining the vac- and applied acupuncture to several acupoints. It was grandpa.” tional research team for the re- He had had an operation on cancer cine with anticancer medicines really marvellous. For the previous seven years I had Ri Jin Hyok, worker of the search. This led to development of in one of his kidneys, but it soon in small quantities, thus further taken different kinds of medicines and treatment to Sinuiju Epidemic Control Centre the cancer vaccine in a short span metastasized to the other kidney. meeting the patients’ expectation. cure my disease but in vain. But a week after I had of time. The vaccine was highly His condition was so poor that he Now the demand for the vac- begun to get the treatment from you, I began to feel Dear Mr. Choe, appreciated at the 1st Internation- could not receive a kidney trans- cine is increasing day by day at strength and pains in the hand and foot. A month lat- Today I bought a new hand mirror at a shop. I al School on Molecular Oncology plant. Then he was diagnosed as home and abroad, and more and er I began to be gradually relieved of paralysis. Then went shopping for the fi rst time since I had been and the Russian Conference with having only three months left to more people are benefi ting from I was free from indigestion, and my blood pressure stricken with facial paralysis at the young age of 16. International Participation on live. the vaccine. became normal. To be frank with you, I broke all mirrors in my home Molecular Oncology held in 2008. After much agony, he decided Ri Il Hun, main developer of Now I have completely recovered from the afteref- as I hated to see my crooked lips and imperfectly Those, who had been diag- to be treated with the vaccine de- the vaccine and head of a labora- fect of cerebral hemorrhage, and regained my health. closed ugly eyes. Anything else that mirrored my face nosed as having but few days left veloped by the institute. The re- tory, says, “We still have a lot of I sincerely thank you for helping me lead a new life. disappeared. Others probably won’t imagine my sor- to live, recovered miraculously sult was good beyond imagination. things to do to put an end to the O Jong Gun, workshop manager row. I could not help but wrap my dream, hope and after being injected with the vac- Three months and another several origin of cancer. We’ll further ex- of the Sinuiju Footwear Factory smile in a thick kerchief for a dozen years. But today cine. The vaccine helped treat pand our success in developing I shed tears again and again looking at the mirror I liver, gastric, lung, breast, rectal, the vaccine.” There is a saying that grandchildren are more bought, tears of happiness, not sorrow. colorectal, laryngeal, bile duct and Kim Chol Hyon lovely. As anybody does, I care for my grandson very Mr. Choe, I’ll keep this mirror with much care all many other cancers. much. And it was my wish to walk with him tak- my life. And whenever I look at it, I’ll always think of Some time ago, the institute Ri Il Hun. ing him by the hand as others do. But it was only a you as you have made my life full of hope again. made public the result of 17-year- dream to me until half a year ago as I had not been Kim Un Jong, worker of the long clinical examinations, which able to move about for the previous several years ow- Sinuiju Disabled Soldiers’ School showed that the cases who were ing to thoracic slipped disk. I suffered from a serious treated with the vaccine after hav- lumbar pain caused by the deformation of the waist, Reading such letters is an unusual happiness to ing operations had 22 to 45% high- and from intercostal neuralgia, neuromuscular pres- Chung Hyok. He still receives letters from those peo- er rate of additional ten-year-long sure, and urination and defecation disorders. But to- ple who have become able to go to work again after life than those who were treated day I walked around the children’s park fi ve times getting treatment from him. with anticancer medicines. with the grandson on my shoulder. I can fi nd noth- Choe Sol Mi In particular, the vaccine was most effi cacious in treating liver cancer. Kim Yun Bong, a resident Pine Nuts Good for Treatment of Heart Diseases of Sosong District, Pyongyang, was diagnosed with liver cancer F YOU EAT PINE NUTS, IT IS SAID, YOU CAN terol from forming in your veins. as well as liver cirrhosis in 2003, Iprevent an ischemic heart disease, hypertension Unsaturated fatty acid quickly dissolves fat to and the size of the cancer was and atheromatous arteriosclerosis. The pine nuts be absorbed into the human body. Vitamins of the 8×7cm. After having an operation are good for health as they are rich in unsaturated pine nuts make the hair and skin beautiful and he was injected with the vaccine, fatty acid. bone tissue strong. and the result showed no relapse If you eat pine nuts it will help improve the Pine nuts also have a positive effect on improv- and metastasis. Having lived for function of your heart and prevent blocks of choles- ing the function of the digestive system. ‰

28 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 29 ► her fl exible movement, and about when observing her inner world, secret after the championship, she her prospects as a footballer. His you can understand that she is answered that she thought the goal sincerity touched the hearts of her an internally-minded girl of mild she defended was a gate her moth- parents. Under the warm care of temper who likes thinking. erland allocated her to defend. the State valuing the bud of her Her characteristic disposition She grew up while receiving talent even her parents had not fi nds expression in her dribbling education from her father who was known the girl learned the ABC skill. As she was fond of solving the headmaster of the then Sok- of football at primary school and mathematical problems in her da Secondary School in Jungsan juvenile sports school. Later she childhood, she always pictures the County, South Phyongan Province. systematically improved her skill position of the ball in her mind It was when Myong Sun was at a sports club. The teacher’s pre- while dribbling: she quickly cal- a fi ve-year student of the second- diction proved right. culates inwardly the position to ary school. One day her father saw At the Women’s East Asian which the ball will come and the her frequently missing balls dur- Cup 2013, the 17th Asian Games position from which she will pass ing training. Then the father said, and the EAFF Women’s East the ball to other player. When peo- “Myong Sun, the goal you stand Asian Cup 2015 she made a deci- ple asked her about the secret, she before is not merely an ordinary sive contribution to her team’s vic- said, “You can do anything when goal. It is like a gate to defend the tory by fully displaying her ability you are conscious of taking re- honour of the country. If you miss to run fast, high mental spirit and sponsibility for it before the moth- one goal today and two tomorrow, fi ght. She was also awarded the erland.” She often tells her col- then what will become of it? With Top Scorer prize and the MVP leagues that sport is also science. what will you defend the honour prize by scoring four goals at She won the prize of Best of the country? If you don’t under- Winners of EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2017. EAFF E-1 Football Championship Defender at EAFF E-1 Football stand it, you’d better give up.” 2017. Championship 2017 by making a His words touched her heart- conspicuous contribution to her strings and left an indelible im- Reliable Women Footballers Sport Is Also Science team’s win. pression on her. From then on she managed to make not even a tri- Kim Nam Hui is a back and Not Even a Goal fl e mistake in training. Thus she N JANUARY LAST, PYONG- meeting of the school. Unexpect- ed attention of the school’s physi- captain of the Korean women’s developed into a goalkeeper of the Iyang selected the best football- edly, she was chosen as a relay cal education teacher. The teacher team, and her colleagues call her Kim Myong Sun is the goal- national team. She is still training ers 2017 of the DPRK. Among racer. As the last runner of her visited Kim’s family several times, cholbyok (iron wall). But those keeper who never missed the ball hard to defend the honour of the them were Kim Yun Mi, Kim Nam team, she overtook her rival to cut telling her parents about her nat- who know well about her say: She at the aforesaid championship. country. Hui and Kim Myong Sun who the fi nish tape. The scene attract- ural aptitude for running fast and ► runs doggedly in a match, but When people asked her about the Sim Yong Jin had won prizes of Top Scorer and MVP, the prize of Best Defender and the prize of Best Goalkeeper respectively in the women’s foot- ball of EAFF E-1 Football Cham- pionship 2017.

Correct Prediction

Kim Yun Mi runs very fast and is fl exible in dribbling, so her colleagues call her lightning. In her childhood she was interested in rhythmic gymnastics, but she chose to play football for the fol- lowing reason. It was when she was in the third grade at a primary school. One day there took place a sports Kim Yun Mi. Kim Nam Hui. Kim Myong Sun.

30 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 31 Secret of Sixth Consecutive Victory World of Service Workers

AY ×, 2017 FINE at the 43rd National School- They thus had a volleyball HE PEOPLE’S OPEN-AIR long while highly appreciating “M“Today our team won the children’s Sports Contest for match with a team of the juvenile TIce Rink, situated on the pic- their skating skills. And accept- fi nal match by defeating the op- Jongilbong Prize and she was sports school in the district. But it turesque bank of the Taedong ing their impertinent request, he posite team from Sinam Senior awarded the Best Player Prize at ended in their defeat. When the River, resounds with people’s had a souvenir photo taken with Middle School in Chongjin, North the contest. players returned to the school in a laughter all the year round. Some them. Hamgyong Province, and thus we It was when a volleyball circle low spirit, Mun let them go home time ago, I visited the place and That day U determined that achieved the sixth consecutive vic- was organized for the fi rst time at without saying a word. had a chance of meeting its service she would work on the ice rink all tory. As soon as the match was the school. Members of the circle At night, however, Mun re- workers. her life. Later, after graduating over, we rushed to our instruc- all felt so tired as hard training ceived successive calls from their from Korea University of Physi- tor and threw ourselves into each continued, and they had no expe- parents telling that they hadn’t Invariable Daily Work cal Education, she volunteered to other’s arms, weeping and laugh- rience in the sport. Some of them come home yet. As she expected, work as an instructor of the ice ing with joy. When we received often wept with pains in their they were running round the Ri Hyang Mi, service worker of rink. People affectionately call the trophy and gold medals on the wrists and knees. Still Mun Kyong schoolyard with sandbags tied the ice rink, begins her daily work Ri Hyang Mi. her white swallow as she always honour platform, tears blurred Hui, physical education teacher in around their legs. She told them with lending people with skates. wears white sportswear while in- our eyes. They were the tears of charge of the circle, further in- to stop running and return home, She often has trouble picking up friends to skate. But, she never structing people in skating. She pleasure and pride in that we had tensifi ed the training, saying, “A but they said that they came to proper skates out of hundreds of thought that she would see there takes pride of her life in her nick- displayed the honour of our school, real player should understand the understand what tears they had them according to their liking. But Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un name rather than pursuing beau- our team and ourselves and that value of tears correctly. Your tears to shed after losing. she always wears an affectionate she had wanted to see even in a tiful illumination and applause of we had lived up to the expectation only express your weakness. Try It happened when they were in dream. After looking round the spectators. Now she is translating of our parents and classmates. again.” a match with a team before an im- smile on her face, carefully advis- ice rink, the Supreme Leader said into reality her hopes and dreams Full of the pleasure and pride, we With their teeth set, they man- portant elimination match. With a ing them to put on skates fi tting that the ice rink, as a mass sports for the future on the ice rink. had a souvenir photograph taken aged to master basic movements draw of 1:1, the third round was their feet and tie well the laces of facility, should be used by ama- The ice rink invariably rever- with the instructor.” of volleyball one by one. When started. If they had the last ball, the skates lest their feet should This is part of a diary writ- they became able to do the basic teur ice skaters, working people, berates with happy laughter of they would win. be injured. This made the people ten by Yu Jong, captain of the movements fairly well, they sug- youths and schoolchildren. Pres- Suddenly the situation was feel friendly to her. Certainly, she people thanks to the effort of such volleyball team of Haeun Sen- gested having a match with a ri- ently, he observed Jong Hyang changed. The opposite team built seems to possess her own vocabu- service workers. ior Middle School, Phyongchon val instead of continuous training up points by means of consecutive lary to attract people. When asked and other children skating for a Kim So Yong District, Pyongyang. Her team alone. After a lot of discussion, the sudden smashes and light tap- about it, she said, “I treat my visi- won fi rst place at the wom- school administration agreed with U Jong Hyang. ping. Finally, Mun’s team was de- tors the way I should do my own en’s volleyball competition them. feated, because her players were brothers and sisters.” Her answer In a tactical discussion. not alert enough and lost psycho- was very simple, but it gives the logical stability whenever they al- impression that she works, always lowed the opponent a point. bearing in mind that she should After that they trained hard treat her visitors as kindly as she to attain a higher goal of possess- should do her kinsfolk in order to ing the high psychological ability make them benefi t better from and collectivism by which to con- the benevolence of the State that trol any circumstances in a match provided the ice rink operated in without being conceited or con- every season. After work she clas- fused as well as being prepared sifi es skates by type, size and col- physically and technically. our, and repairs and keeps them In this course, they developed in good condition. She really takes into a competent hitter, a skilled pride in her job. organizer and a stiff defender, who became one in mind and in- White Swallow tention. A player was injured dur- ing training, but she took part in One day in November 2012, a match to the end, helping the U Jong Hyang went to the above- team win. mentioned ice rink with her Kim Ye Ryong

32 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 33 Idea of Flower Asset of Family

explain to my mother and its playground, taking a beautiful OME TIME AGO, I WENT ary school. What follows below is his wife. Thanks to his effort, Yu other members women’s position bouquet, on different occasions Sto the apartment houses for an anecdote he heard from his fa- distinguished herself at national and role in the building of a new including April 15, the birthday teachers of Kim Chaek University ther. One day, during his visit to educational experimental appara- of the General, August 15, the country. But my mother never im- of Technology in Mirae Scientists the school, the President found the tuses and teaching aids shows. agined that he was the peerless day of Korea’s liberation, and Oc- patriot General Kim Il Sung all tober 14, the anniversary of his Street to meet Kim Min U, de- school’s barber feeling ashamed of Their eldest daughter Kim Jin the Korean people were eagerly making a historic speech after partment head of the power sci- his job. Then the President en- Hyang is also a teacher with the waiting for. his triumphant return home. The ence faculty, Kim Chaek Univer- couraged the barber, saying, “I shortest term in the career among On the evening of October 13, playground has now turned into sity of Technology. Kim’s family cannot pat all the schoolchil- the family. But she is regarded as an offi cial gave my mother the Kim Il Sung Stadium, at which lives in fl at No. 1 on the 32nd fl oor dren on the head. But you’re a promising teacher. She took les- task of preparing a bunch of fl ow- there stand a large-sized memori- of block No. 1. The fl at consists of cutting hair of the lovely pre- sons from her mother in her school ers and unexpectedly told her that al mosaic mural depicting a scene a cosy living room, a room for the cious children, stroking their days and from her father in her there would be held a citizens’ of Kim Il Sung making a historic rally in Pyongyang to welcome the triumphal speech at the aforesaid Kims and that for their children, heads. What a good thing it is!” university days. General on his triumphant return Pyongyang citizens’ rally, and a a study and so on. A bookcase in At that time, Min U’s father made Her father and mother were home. My mother could not con- monument inscribed with his au- the living room contained many up his mind to do a lot of things popular with their students and tain her excitement and made a tographic instructions. Regarding certifi cates of registered sci-tech for the pupils whom the President pupils for their good lectures, bunch of fl owers all night. my mother’s honour as my fam- achievements and of applied sci- held so dear. Since then he always and they were very glad to get Early in the next morning she ily’s, I have invariably followed tech achievements and those of shared bitters and sweets with his the news that their disciples had hurried to the then Pyongyang the road all my life like my mother invention Kim had received. All pupils and took his great pleasure become heroes and doctors. This public playground (Kim Il Sung had done. And I think it was the EOPLE USUALLY REGARD Stadium at present) to fi nd the common will of the world’s pro- his family members are graduates in teaching them. made her determined to work like Pit as the best virtue to pre- place already crowded with lots of gressive peoples to present beauti- from the aforesaid university and When Min U was to give a fi rst her parents. And, it is said, the sent the most beautiful and rar- people with bunches of fl owers in ful fl owers to the leader. The very teachers. lecture, his father told him in de- images of her parents were the est fl owers to those they deeply their hands. At 1 o’clock p.m., the will gave birth to the rare and pre- It was under the infl uence of tail about how to behave before fi rst to rise in her mind when she respect and admire. Whenever I General appeared on the platform cious fl ower Kimilsungia, a refl ec- see the fl owers blooming in streets his father that Min U chose his students and how to teach them. stood before pupils at class for the smiling all over his face. Suddenly tion of boundless respect and ad- present career after graduating Min U’s wife Yu Kwi Ok also gave fi rst time. and villages in spring, I always the cheers of “hurrah” swept the miration for the leader. from the university. her “fi rst lesson” in front of her Jin Hyang’s younger sister Un think of my mother. playground rocking heaven and The State highly appreciated From her early days, my moth- earth. her long service in nursing and His father had worked as father-in-law before beginning to Hyang began to work as a librar- er actively took part in the anti- “That’s him, the General,” upbringing of children and award- a teacher at the Mangyongdae work as a teacher at a junior mid- ian at the information service of- Japanese underground struggle my mother exclaimed herself. ed her National Flag Order 1st Revolutionary School for over ten dle school. Yu is held in respect as fi ce of the Sci-Tech Complex after at home to win back the country Only then did she recognize the Class of the Democratic People’s years. As a child, Min U often an able teacher. She and her hus- graduating from the electrical from the Japanese imperialists. General who had often visited Republic of Korea, and invited her heard his father talking about band were classmates studying engineering faculty, Kim Chaek At that time she often heard leg- her offi ce to teach what and how as a representative to the celebra- President Kim Il Sung who had at the same desk in their univer- University of Technology. She endary stories about General women should do in the building tion of the 50th anniversary of the frequently visited the revolution- sity days. Min U positively helped takes pride in providing informa- Kim Il Sung, the brilliant of a new country. He had been founding of the Workers’ Party of commander born of Heaven, but so modest and informal that she Korea. tion to all parts of the country. she had never seen him before. failed to recognize the General Many years have passed since On New Year’s Day and other On August 15, 1945, at last, who had won fame as Tiger of Mt. then. I’m now over 70. I’m wont to holidays, the house is visited by Korea was liberated from the mili- Paektu while making one-million- tell my descendants, “You never lots of people including disciples tary occupation of the Japanese strong Japanese Kwantung Army forget the care and benevolence of Min U, his wife and Jin Hy- imperialists. Cheers of joy for tremble for fear, appearing now of the great leaders of our na- ang and readers frequenting Un national liberation reverberated in the east and now in the west in tion (President Kim Il Sung Hyang’s offi ce. Min U said that across the whole country. Because a fl ash. With a throbbing heart, and Chairman Kim Jong Il). of her past underground strug- she presented the bouquet to the Our respected Supreme Leader his family took greatest pride gle my mother, at the age of 20, General who had returned home Kim Jong Un is leading the in dedicating themselves to the was allowed to work at the then in triumph after defeating the implementation of their plan of education of the country’s future women’s affairs department of the Japanese aggressors, on behalf of building a socialist power, and pillars. South Phyongan Provincial Com- the Korean people. you should faithfully support him Thinking that the family’s mittee of the Communist Party of She said that it was the most from generation to generation.” . pride in their career was the great North Korea. unforgettable moment in her life. asset of not only the family but all At the end of September, a And when I was born the next Mun Hae Bang, resident of young man, always with a bright year, she named me Hae Bang Neighbourhood Unit No. 25, other similar families across the smile on his face, used to visit [liberation]. From then on she, Kaeson-dong, Moranbong country, I left the house. the department to scrupulously together with us, would visit the District, Pyongyang Sim Chol Yong

34 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 35 Short Story ► fl ushed forehead and temples. When he asked her about her hus- ily. She thought she’d better do Ye Rim looked him in the face, band’s health and the develop- something in the kitchen. But as her heart burning with the wish to ment of his research, she showed time advanced she could not help support the collapsing pillar with the telegram to him driven by a but strain her ears to catch what Mangbuam her delicate shoulder. strange and indescribable feeling the two men were talking about in “Should you surely select Man- of pride. Choe Il looked very glad the room. gbuam?” she asked. to read it. And he jokingly told her “What? Is that true? You mean By Ri Myong Her unexpected question took to treat him to a feast. She read- this is a cup of agony from the fail- Ri by surprise. And he breathed ily invited him to her house in re- ure?” Choe Il asked in surprise. out a sigh of agony, looking into sponse to his request. Then Ri said slowly, “In all ages her sorrowful face. Neatly dressed in a deep grey and countries of the world there “You know it well,” Ri said. woolen overcoat, Choe Il stepped have been similar episodes related “What sort of land is Mangbuam? into the house with a bright smile. to scientifi c research. A scientist, The wind and cold is severe in the “This is Pyongyang Beer and for example, made lifelong efforts area. Otherwise our people would fruit. It seems that I already to produce gems in a laboratory not have woven a story of a cou- learned the happy event of your but in vain. Then his disciple, who ple’s sad separation around it in family,” he joked cheerfully, put- had been helping him in his work, (Continued from the last issue) his eyeball areas that seemed lowering his head down onto the the past when they were deprived ting down the heavy plastic bag he felt pity for him, so one day he faded in the sun. Ye Rim said no paper. Suddenly his lips trem- of their country. We cannot ne- had brought. put a real gem in the test tube. I U JIN LEFT HOME more, thinking he was now cu- bled. And his cheeks with whisk- glect it.” Ye Rim was bewildered and The sight of the gem in the tube Rwithout sharing much conju- rious to know what she meant. ers unusually tightened and the “I know it. But if you give up restless. Luckily Ri, who had fol- touched the scientist to the heart. gal affection early in his newly- Then their son, who had been space between his eyebrows nar- the saplings again…” Ye Rim lowed her to the door, showed him Of course I don’t think my insti- married life. Having his wife live reading his parents’ faces, took rowed as he was stubbornly look- could not complete her sentence. into a room. What she had said to tute feels similar pity for me. For- in the home in the city for the part in their conversation. ing at the paper with a searching “You’re right. This is the third him became a lie against her will, give me. My wife misunderstood convenience of her in going to and “Dad, mom said today is the gaze. Then a strange premonition time,” Ri groaned with diffi culty, so she walked up and down uneas- the telegram and hastily told from work, he always stayed for birthday of our home.” fl ashed through Ye Rim’s mind. interrupting her. Suddenly Ye ily. And she wished her husband you.” his research in the Mangbuam “Ah! Your mother seems out of “Let me read it,” she said Rim was struck with dismay. The would say nothing. Then it fl ashed Dear me! Ye Rim said inward- area over 40 kilometres away her mind today,” Ri said, with an snatching the paper from his fact that he thrice failed to breed into her mind that she should do ly. Why did he say it? Doesn’t he from the city. It was only once or absurd smile on his lips. hands. “Congratulations to you on the saplings, not annual plants, something to keep up the prestige have something else to say? twice a month that he came home. “Perhaps I might be,” she pre- your success. And then some num- meant that he had wasted half his of her family without hurting the “Do you remember the Korean Ye Rim had to tacitly put up with tended to agree. bers are written here.” life. The many years of his efforts guest’s feelings. What offended poplar trees I had planted for the such a boring life for the sake of Now she did not want to hide “That’s what I want. Read came to nothing. The amount of the eye most was the fl oor of the fi rst time in the Mangbuam area his unusual ideal and the future the fact any longer. Looking affec- them!” Ri urged water turning a water wheel for entrance. It was scattered with and you saw on your visit to the of her family. tionately at her husband’s moist “The base is 0.5, the humidity the same period might have made shoes disorderly—Choe Il’s shiny place in your university days? The Why is he late like this? Ye whiskers, she sat forward to her 15, the extent of cold resistance 20 a hole in a rock. Ye Rim told her- black fur shoes and Ri’s shape- attempt, too, failed owing to wind Rim wondered. Having prepared husband. His broad shoulders and degrees below zero…” self: Who said that enthusiasm less padded winter shoes wet with and salt water. Those I planted the supper, she was worrying that body smelled of cold slime. “What? The extent of cold re- and sincerity make it possible to muddy water. She knew her hus- later several times also failed,” Ri he might not come. Right at the “It seems,” she said, “that the sistance is 20 degrees below zero?” do anything? He lives without band was the kind of man denying added. moment Ri walked into the house. tree saplings you sent to the acad- “Oh my! What’s the matter?” knowing the pleasures of a happy himself luxury and ostentation. He is being so talkative today. His cap, shoulders and padded emy for analysis for the purpose of Ye Rim demanded. home. Are the beads of sweat he But somehow she now felt sorry Is he proud of the failure? Ye Rim winter shoes were covered with planting them in early spring are “The number means the lowest has shed on the land not enough for him. She quickly put the shoes felt angry. snow. Beside herself with joy, Ye successful. Today I received a tel- temperature the saplings can en- yet? Doesn’t the profound world into the shoe chest. Then she took Her displeasure grew stronger Rim shook snow from his back and egram from the laboratory of the dure. And they thought it success. of science presuppose something the table she had prepared with when Ri asked where his winter helped him take off his knapsack. main institute.” No, it’s not a success at all!” different from sincerity? A good sincerity into the room along with shoes were as he followed Choe Ri’s face with thick whiskers was Ri raised his doubtful eyes, “Why is that?” singer has a natural voice. Then the beer Choe Il had brought. to the door to see him off. She expressionless. Wondering what which looked a little tense and “They considered the saplings doesn’t he lack natural wisdom “Help yourselves. You’re here couldn’t open her colourless lips. countenance he would put on at then shined in the bluish electric only in terms of the average cli- and talent? after a long time,” Ye Rim offered She did not want his provincial- the unexpected news, Ye Rim light. mate and natural features of our At the moment rang the door- kindly. ism to be shown to the guest, but managed to stifl e laughter, but “Is that true?” he asked calm- provincial coast,” Ri explained in- bell. To her surprise it was Choe “Oh, you’re a great hostess,” things did not go as she wished. grew mischievous. ly. His tone, however, revealed furiated. “It should be based upon Il. She had completely forgotten Choe Il exclaimed with laugh- Now she wished to sink into the “Darling, didn’t you have a inward joy. His wife produced the the characteristics of the Mang- that she had invited him to her ter. “You must have done a lot of ground with shame. That night good dream last night?” she asked. telegram related to his destiny, buam area that might be more un- home. She did not imagined that things. It is a happy event to the she could not help but give vent to There was no response. and watched her excited husband favourable, that is, the worst con- he would come at the time when country, and you’ve got a spread her indignation when she and her “The snow lady showed you a concentrating all his attention on dition in which damage by wind, they were at an unsettled atmos- at home like this. Mr. Ri, you are husband were left alone. harbinger of spring, didn’t she?” the small sheet of paper. cold and salt water is severe.” phere. In the daytime she met really happy.” “Why don’t you try to under- she asked again. “Oh, darling, what numbers Ri’s face stamped with disap- Choe Il who had arrived at the The expression of his friendly stand how I feel?” she asked. Thick wrinkles appeared on are written here on this? Bring me pointment was twisted with pain, theatre for giving the provincial feelings made Ye Rim feel so un- Ri’s reddish forehead, enlarging my glasses, please,” Ri entreated, and perspiration stood upon his ► art troupe guidance in its affairs. easy that she left the room hast- (To be continued)

36 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 37 rather than a game.” Then the foods for health in spring. A lot loser said, “I was his coach. But he of people who had just fi nished has now surpassed me as he prac- swimming asked for cool radish tised hard in swimming all win- pickles with wild garlic or steam- ter long,” and laughed a hearty ing bean paste soup of pickpurse. laugh. Introducing themselves as Ri Un Hyang, a staff mem- workers of Pyongyang Cornstarch ber of the water park, said, “Ko- Factory, they expressed their de- reans have long used wild garlic termination to keep practising so as health tonic as it contains va- as to distinguish themselves in a rieties of vitamins, proteins and swimming contest of the factory minerals. With sweet and hot to be held during the swimming tastes and a peculiar smell, wild months—July and August. garlic is effective in the treatment After seeing them diving back of vitamin defi ciency diseases lia- into the water, we turned our eyes ble to occur in early spring, wom- to a seawater pool crowded with a en’s diseases and gastric cancer. lot of people. And pickpurse is effective in get- “I used to develop symptoms ting rid of lassitude and fatigue in ► though the temperature rose a lot, of skin allergy when the temper- spring, and is good for different the weather was still cold, that ature went up in spring. Then I constitutions, so anybody can eat Munsu Water Park in Spring the number of the visitors never heard that seawater is good for it.” decreased even in winter and that skin protection. So I come here Many people said in admira- the State saw to it that the park every spring. Wading in the wav- tion that foods served there in T WAS ONE DAY IN EARLY SPRING WHEN was equipped with expensive, ing pool makes me feel a peculiar the water park were especially Ithe land and trees were still fresh from wintering. modern geothermal facilities so sensation like in a sea, and it is tasty and that they had felt the While crossing Chongnyu Bridge, we saw a lot of peo- as to constantly ensure the prop- also sensational to be in the sea- fi rst aroma of spring there. Com- ple crowding at the entrance to Munsu Water Park. er temperature of the water for water pool,” said Han Jong Ju ing out of the pool area, they were Their liveliness motivated us to visit again the place swimming. from Munhung-dong No. 2, Tae- enthusiastically talking about to which we had been for coverage several times. Now two young men in a pool donggang District. their happiness and impressions. Inside an indoor swimming pool area we encoun- drew our attention. It seemed Now we went upstairs. On This made us feel warm in spring tered familiar sights—water slides circling around that they were in a race. When the fl oor there were catering fa- even though it was still cold, and white pillars up to the tops, varieties of natural we asked them if they had a com- cilities from famous restaurants the water park looked like a large rocks and palm trees, and the visitors were enjoying petition, one of them, who had in Pyongyang including Haemaji fl ower that bloomed fi rst in spring. swimming amid a light folk melody. Then we came reached the fi nish line fi rst, said, Restaurant and Mujigae Res- across the general manager of the water park. When “It’s a test of a disciple’s ability taurant. They were serving good Chae Kwang Myong we asked him if the pool was crowded every day like that, he replied, “Yes. On average it is visited by hundreds of people a day.” He went on to say that ►

38 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 39 Thought about Light National Intangible Cultural Heritage (17) Manual Woodcut LOST MY EYESIGHT A YEAR hearing power came for me at that get of learning a foreign language. I after I was born. But I have time. It is so diffi cult that I sometimes REATED BEFORE THE 8TH lived for 40 years without any I sometimes recollect the feel like to give up, but when I re- century in Korea the manual care about the reality that I am day when I made my debut at a member the impressive applause C woodcut has been handed down blind. When I was born, I caught concert held on the occasion of which gave me strength and cour- until today, making a contribution the degeneracy of retinal pigment the founding anniversary of the age, I feel refreshed. owing to the optic atrophy, which school. I was afraid I might be a After graduation I decided to to the development of the nation’s was known as an incurable dis- laughing stock for my mistake. I give performances at some major fi ne arts. It is a form of woodcut ease. My parents did their best for was so nervous that I put too much construction sites so as to dedi- by which pictures are manually Pyongyang in Spring, a coloured woodblock print. my cure but it was useless. I only stress on the bow. One string was cate all my abilities I developed at made from woodblocks. Based on listened to the sound of other chil- broken. There was a moment of school to my country. the principle of depiction of the yang in Spring, the fi rst coloured plied to create its unique forma- dren’s playing but it was impossi- embarrassment, which was soon One day I visited a construc- Korean painting manual wood- woodcut, was created, and many tive depiction. ble for me to imagine them. followed by a loud applause from tion site to give my premiere. I block prints are clear and mild other similar works were created. The woodcuts with a long his- Later, I heard that I could go the audience. Thanks to the ap- was excited to hear the sounds in colour, and feel clean and Typical of them are Outing (1956), tory inspire people with diversi- to school. When I was taken to plause, I returned to my senses like the whistle and the buzzing fresh. Haircut (1962), The Revolutionary fi ed and delicate aesthetic feelings the Taedong School for the Blind and I continued to play the violin crane. My heart swelled at the it seemed to be a light to me. I with the remaining three strings performance when the audience Korea’s manual black ink- Army Has Come (1971) and The and national sentiments and help repeatedly asked a teacher in tapping all my abilities. The au- cried encore twice and thrice for based woodcuts, the earliest in the Vanguard of Reunifi cation (1989). them improve their cultural at- charge of my class if I could study. dience clapped their hands until my song. I could not see their world, were created in the period Like other prints, you can tainments. She said embracing me, “Sure is. my performance fi nished. Then, I faces, but their sincerity made me of the Three Kingdoms, and a lot make a manual woodcut through In Korea education in the You can achieve everything when recited a poem impromptu. Now confi dent that I could achieve any- of similar works were produced in such processes as drawing an technique of manual woodcut and you exert great efforts.” whenever I remember it, I fi nd it thing I hoped for. the period of both the Koryo dy- original picture, engraving it on creation of the woodcuts are be- One day I headed for a room surprising, and I don’t think I’m Later I learned the accordion, nasty (918–1392) and the feudal a woodblock and impressing the coming active, and the technique attracted by clear and fi ne sounds such a kind of person. I chanted guitar, cello and even computer Joson dynasty (1392–1910). block on paper. In the course of is developing. of a musical instrument. A teach- that I felt happiness on the stage thanks to the true-hearted assis- In the 19th century Pyong- this, the relevant technique is ap- Rim Sang Jun er led me into the room and told that my parents could not provide tance of those who were impressed me that it was a violin. When me with, and I declared I would by my intention not to idle my life she asked me if I wanted to be a be a great character admired by away. At that time I was some- ► and happiness. However, it would of my benevolent country, rather pride of being a dignifi ed citizen of violinist, I said, “Yes, I’m eager to people around the world. Now I times seized by the self-confi dence have been hardly possible if I had than feeling the happiness of be- the country. learn.” am working to attain a new tar- that I was born to enjoy success ► had nobody to look after me. ing a mother. I am still blind. However, I I was full of confi dence and Ri Chun Hyang (second right). I cannot forget the year 2004 In 2016 a lot of people in the readily declare that I’ve enjoyed hope of learning to play the vio- when I was miraculously saved northern area of my country be- my life under the warm care of lin. At that time there were sen- from the jaws of death. In Septem- came homeless in a great fl ood. It the country, which never discrimi- ior pupils from some circles who ber that year I was rushed to the seemed they were just the kind- nates against any people. It sheds were learning to play instruments including accordion. As I knew it, Pyongyang Maternity Hospital hearted people who saved me by fresh light on me so as to help me I became courageous. Teachers due to an acute pain—just before giving their blood. I knew I had go ahead without any frustration. taught me everything about the childbirth. When I was delivered to do something for them. I began It is more than my eyes. I am see- violin including its shape, charac- of a child it was all right, but I was to make a quilt with the help of ing the prosperous tomorrow of teristics of each string and how to almost dead as a result of haemor- my daughter and prepared some the socialist Korea, a great garden use the bow. I was often confused rhage. Learning the fact, a lot of food as well. Now I entrusted the of human love. about the strings and sounds, but people donated their blood to me. Mangyongdae District People’s teaching voices were always full of Doctors had consultative meetings Committee to send them to the Ri Chun Hyang, tenderness in earnest. During the day and night, and I was adminis- northern area. To my surprise, resident at period I cultivated the sense of my tered priceless medicines. When I this brought me a state citation— Neighbourhood Unit No. 10, fi nger tips, and I became as sensi- cuddled my pretty baby after I got I had never imagined it. When I Tangsang-dong No.1, ble as if I played the violin using full well, I was full of determina- was called for the fi rst time at the Mangyongdae District, my own eyes. An incomparable tion to exert myself for the sake relevant ceremony I was full of Pyongyang

40 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 41 ► gate, as it is shaped like the moon. Mt. Chilbo (3) As a rock cave situated at the southeast end of the mountain, the spot is backed by a high cliff and fronts a scores-of-metres-deep Sea Chilbo rising from the surface of the sea Originally the islet adjoined water area. go well with the waving sea. the land. Later, it is said, the spot Legend has it that the moon, EA CHILBO CAN BE SAID The most scenic spot in the was separated from the land as which had risen from the East Sea Sto have both feminine and area is Sol (pine) Islet. About the middle part was washed away of Korea, stayed all night over a masculine beauties as it some- 80 metres off shore, the islet is with the passage of time. rock in the spot, fascinated by its times looks beautiful and grace- named so as its top is scattered The north, east and west sides nocturnal scene and that in the ful, sometimes formidable and with clusters of dwarf pine trees. of the islet have dangerous rock daytime the moon took a rest in dauntless. The scenery of the islet, whose walls, and in the breast of the is- the spot, seeing its scenery. The area of Sea Chilbo boasts cliffs, rocks and pine groves blend let there is a deep cave. Created Looking at Talmun that stands picturesque coastal scenery: cliffs in with the vast expanse of the by seawater washes, the cave’s like the gateway to Sea Chilbo, and rocks of fantastic shapes on sea, makes it widely known as a bottom is connected with the sea. the beholders appreciate nature’s the coastline and singular islets scenic spot. In the cave you can hear subtle sculpture. sounds when the waves ripple. Among scenic spots of Sea But when violent waves sweep Chilbo is Mujigae (rainbow) Rock. Sol (pine) Islet. into the cave you can hear very The rock has long been known as loud sounds like thunderclaps. widely as Sol Islet and Talmun. The islet is designated as nat- One end of the rock is fi xed on a ural monument for its beautiful hillside, and the other end on the and fantastic scenery. bottom of the sea. In the shape The area of Sea Chilbo also of a crescent, the rock seems to Talmun (moon gate). has a spot called Talmun, or moon ► hang on clouds when waves sweep through its opening, tossing up angling site where it is said one seen before. Then he named the silvery sprays. The rock is about 8 can catch a fi sh as big as forearm fi sh myongthae after the fi rst syl- metres in height, and the opening as soon as one drops the line, and lable myong of the locality’s name is 4.5 metres in height and 3 to 4 Jikdong Falls named so in the and his surname Thae. metres in top width. meaning that the falls faces ex- And the legends are all in- Sea Chilbo also has lots of oth- actly east. teresting including those of Put er scenic spots including Khokkiri The area is also famous for lots (brush) Rock, Yonjok (ink-water (elephant) Rock that looks like an of stories of origins and legends bottle) Rock, Mok (ink) Rock and elephant with its trunk immersed associated with it. Among the Pyoru (inkstone) Rock. in the seawater, rocks of fantas- stories is the one of the origin of The sea off Sea Chilbo is so tic shapes such as Choksok Rock myongthae, a sort of pollack. The rich in fi sh as to be recognized as that resembles a group of scores of story is as follows. a good fi shing ground. And miyok thousands of candle lights, Unson Once upon a time a fi sher- (a kind of seaweed) and kelp from Cave in which a legend says fair- man, surnamed Thae, lived in the seashore are widely known as ies would hide themselves when Myongchon, Korea. One day the specialties of Korea. sensing people approaching while fi sherman caught in the sea off seeing the scenery of the area, an the locality a fi sh he had never Yun Sin Yong

Mujigae (rainbow) Rock.

42 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 43 Severe Counterattack King Kwanggaetho and Monument to against the US Mausoleum of King Kwanggaetho

HEN THE PRESENT In July 2015 a nuclear agree- uation, the Iranian government is ING KWANGGAETHO IS In 410 he attacked east Puyo ing the prestige of the country and Wruler of the US insulted ment was reached between Iran further accelerating the strength- Kthe 17th descendant of King northeast of his country, occupy- expanding its territory, and the Iran at a session of the Unit- and the world powers through ening of its defence capability. It Tongmyong, founder of Koguryo ing and subjugating 64 fortresses fact that on the south, he dealt ed Nations General Assembly negotiation. Later the US made is positively promoting the mis- (277 BC–AD 668). His name was and 1 400 villages. a decisive blow to Paekje, Kaya (UNGA) describing the country as an issue of Iran’s efforts for mis- sile programme while striving Tamdok, and he reigned for 22 As a result, Koguryo, during and Japan, occupying many of “dictatorial state” and “murder- sile development and has been ab- to make military hardware and years from 391 to 412. He became the period of his reign, became the Paekje’s fortresses, and helped a crown prince in 386, and ascend- strongest country in the Orient. and put Silla under its stronger ous regime,” the commander-in- sorbed in intensifying pressure on systems with its own efforts and ed the throne in 391 and actively As to domestic affairs, he vig- control, demonstrating the might chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolution the country. In early 2017, when materials. Recently it unveiled its pushed ahead with the policy of orously pushed ahead with the of his country and expanding its Guards Corps (IIRGC) said that Iran succeeded in test-fi ring a newly developed stealth fi ghter, southward advance that had been construction of the Walled City of territory. the American ruler’s infl amma- mid-range ballistic missile, the US and it is just about to start mass- pursued by Koguryo. Pyongyang, including the build- The third describes the forma- tory, reckless words were suitable launched another anti-Iran sanc- producing indigenous tanks good In 391, in order to check the in- ing of nine temples in the city in tion of a grave keepers’ group to for the US and his corrupt rogue tion campaign. Moreover, Wash- enough to be compared with those vasion by Japan that was in league 393. manage and protect the mausole- government. The US is eager to ington unhesitatingly threatened of Western countries in fi repower, with Paekje and Kaya, Kwangga- As the king of feudal state he um and the provisions of an act to attack Iran to make up its heavy to call public attention to Iran and precision and mobility. The IIRGC etho attacked and defeated Paekje pursued anti-popular policies to permanently maintain the group. defeats, he said, and declared that strongly cope with the matter. successfully test-fi red marine bal- by sea. From 392 to 395 he waged intensify repression and exploita- Therefore the monument can be his country would launch a severe In July 2017 Iran success- listic missile Hormuz-2 of Iranian several battles and occupied over tion of the people. He, however, said to be the one to the king’s counterattack against the US. fully launched a satellite-carrying make and unveiled a multi-pur- ten fortresses of Paekje, including made a contribution to strength- achievements and the one to the Recently, Iran is further striv- space rocket of its own make. pose helicopter that can be used Sokhyon Fortress, the country’s ening the might of the country in act on the principles for keeping ing to strengthen its self-defence Frightened by this, the US de- for transport of cargo and people, northern bulwark, and Kwanmi no small measure by expanding the mausoleum. capability against threats from nounced it as a violation of the relief work and aerial photogra- Fortress. its territory and making great The epitaph contains details of In 396 he attacked Paekje by progress in unifying the three many facts never found in histori- hostile forces. The Iranian Navy nuclear agreement and added six phy and reconnaissance. dint of land and sea forces, dash- states—Koguryo, Paekje and cal records at home and abroad. waged large-scale military exer- companies of the country to the This year, too, the Iranian gov- ing into its capital and accept- Silla. Thus it serves as indispensable cises in the vicinity of the Strait sanctions list. The US Secretary ernment is making more vigorous ing its king’s surrender. And he His personal history and fundamental data for having a of Hormuz. During the exercises of the Treasury said that the addi- efforts to safeguard its sovereign- turned Silla into his country’s achievements are inscribed in de- correct understanding of and sys- they test-fi red a laser guided anti- tional sanctions refl ected the US’s ty and dignity of the country and inferior ally in 392. In 400, at the tail on the Monument to the Mau- tematizing the history of Koguryo submarine missile and a latest- deep concern about Iran’s missile nation and achieve peaceful devel- request of Silla, he dispatched soleum of King Kwanggaetho in and that of the Orient. type cruise missile they newly test and other activities and that opment with the active support 500-strong infantry and cavalry Jian, Jilin Province, China. The epitaph consists of excel- developed. The IIRGC frightened it would continuously cope with of the Iranian army and people, forces to assault troops of Paekje The epitaph on the monument lent compositions engraved on the the hostile forces out of wits by Iran’s ballistic missile programme against the US and the Western and Kaya and their subordinate is divided mainly into three para- basis of outstanding calligraphy, launching modifi ed advanced mis- including its “provocative satellite countries’ growing sanctions and ally Japan, dealing a severe blow graphs. and the monument is a magnifi - siles in a desert area. Mention- launch.” pressure. to the states. The fi rst paragraph, as pref- cent natural rock trimmed enough ing that the effi ciency of their In August 2017 the Ameri- The Korean people are active- In 404 he won a great victory ace, describes how King Tong- to be inscribed with characters. It long-range ballistic missiles was can ruler signed a bill for the US ly supporting and encouraging by annihilating innumerable Jap- myong founded Koguryo, succes- shows the extent to which Kogu- improved, Iran’s Minister of De- to cope with hostile countries by the Iranian people who are strug- anese troops, and in 407 defeated sion of the following kings to the ryo people’s aesthetic taste devel- fence and Armed Forces Logistics means of sanctions. This resulted gling against the US like they do. Paekje once again. From 391 to throne, a general review of King oped. 395 he punished and subdued Pi- Kwanggaetho’s feats and why the As one of the oldest inscribed declared that the range of the mis- in adoption of a formal act of the It is 45 years since the DPRK and ryo tribe of the Khitai who had mausoleum and the monument monuments in Korea, the monu- siles was extended and that their US’s additional sanctions against Iran established diplomatic rela- been menacing the northwest bor- were erected. ment is regarded as the nation’s higher accuracy could be ensured. the Democratic People’s Republic tions at ambassadorial level on der of Koguryo, and attacked Yan The second describes King precious cultural heritage for its The foreign press commented that of Korea, Russia and Iran. The April 15, 1973, and the leaders dynasty (Later Yan), which had Kwanggaetho’s feats by year and valuable historical data with rich it was an answer to the sanctions US’s sanctions against Iran are and people of the two countries invaded the country several times, event. The description includes content, its imposing appearance the US was imposing on Iran us- mainly aimed at checking its eco- are further deepening their mu- to frustrate its attempt of aggres- the fact that the king punished and the liberal style of the char- ing the latter’s ballistic missile nomic and missile development. tual relations. sion. In 407 he improved relations Piryo tribe, Siksin tribe and east acters. launch as a pretext. To cope with the prevailing sit- Kim Hyon Ju with north Yan. Puyo on the north, demonstrat- Kim Un Jong

44 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 45 Seventy Years of Patriotic The Spirit of April 19 Desire for Reunifi cation Popular Uprising Is Still Alive

O UNITE TRANSCENDING DIFFERENCES IN confrontation infected with distrust and hostility by N APRIL 19, 1960 THE oust from power the minions of struggle against the US which has ideology, ideal and social system is the consist- pulling down the barrier of division—built by foreign T south Korean people turned the colonialists who are desperate shipped THAAD into south Korea, ent principle of the Democratic People’s Republic of forces—with the nation’s concerted efforts. Though O out in an anti-US, anti-fascist up- to keep power while being given thus turning it into the fi rst target Korea (DPRK) in the movement for national reuni- the days go by, it still remains an eternal programme rising to oppose the US’s military to sycophancy, tyranny and frat- of preemptive strike and counter- fi cation. for reunifi cation common to the nation. Now over seventy years have passed since Korea The present situation urgently demands that a occupation of the southern half of ricidal confrontation. In late Oc- strike in case of emergency, and is was divided into the north and the south by the US vigorous struggle be waged to frustrate the war prov- Korea for new government, new tober 2016, an unheard-of scandal bringing dark clouds of a nuclear imperialists. The DPRK has struggled to achieve na- ocation manoeuvres of the anti-reunifi cation forces at system and new life. of Park Geun Hye and her clique war over this land. tional reunifi cation by dint of great national unity. It home and abroad, safeguard peace and security on Students and citizens of caused an all-people resistance. Over 70 women’s organiza- is one of the typical examples that the Joint Confer- the Korean peninsula, improve the deadlocked inter- Masan started a struggle against At the beginning of 2017, it de- tions formed the world women’s ence of Representatives of Political Parties and Pub- Korean relations without delay and make a turning the fraudulent March 15, 1960 veloped into the struggle to put peace movement against THAAD lic Organizations in North and South Korea was held point in achieving independent reunifi cation. “election” of the pro-US stooge an end to the rule of the pro-US and war and have engaged in an in April 1948. Now is the time for the entire Korean nation to Syngman Rhee who was seeking a conservative forces. The popular urgent action, and other 43 or- After Korea’s liberation on August 15, 1945, the unite and resolutely smash all the challenges and ob- prolonged seizure of power (fourth resistance waged under the slogan ganizations including the soli- country was faced with a risk of national division structive manoeuvres of the anti-reunifi cation forces term), and fl ames of the struggle of “Let’s impeach Park Geun Hye darity for participation in public owing to the US’s plot to partition its territory and at home and abroad, and improve the inter-Korean spread rapidly across south Ko- by the strength of candlelight!” affairs and the meeting of law- scheme to rig up a puppet regime in south Korea un- relations so as to make this year noteworthy in the rea. Students and other uprisers resulted in her dismissal from yers for the democratic society der the American occupation. national history. of Seoul fought against the puppet “presidency” on March 10 that have joined it. And uninterrupted At this juncture, Kim Il Sung, leader of new President Kim Il Sung and Chairman army and police under the slogans year. The mass candlelight strug- struggles against THAAD are in Korea, suggested having political negotiations and Kim Jong Il’s ideas of great national unity and their of “Out the corrupt government!” gle spanning over 130 days was an full swing in Songju and Kimchon strove to that end. From April 19 to 23, 1948, there relevant exploits are just being carried on by Supreme and “Down with the Syngman all-people resistance to overturn and in front of the bases of the GIs was held in Pyongyang the north-south joint confer- Leader Kim Jong Un. He is pursuing a programme Rhee regime!” Rushing to the the corrupt politics in south Korea in south Korea. Meanwhile, the ence, a broad national meeting, with the attendance of noble patriotism by which to embrace anyone who “Capitol Building,” they burned which was governed by the con- mass organizations such as the of 695 representatives from 56 political parties and sincerely wishes for national reunifi cation and peace down the “Anti-Communist Hall,” servative forces, and achieve the anti-US reunifi cation vanguard public organizations in the north and the south. and prosperity of the nation and achieve great na- the building of the Seoul Sinmun social justice and progress. and the People’s Democratic Par- The conference solemnly declared within and tional unity, the great foundation of national reuni- offi ce and the “Headquarters of In the spirit they had displayed ty’s special committee against without that the Korean people resolutely opposed fi cation, by overcoming misunderstanding, distrust, the Liberal Party.” in toppling the Park’s regime, the Trump, the US, and war are or- the US and its puppets’ manoeuvres to split the na- antagonism and confl ict. And they broke down with south Korean people turned out ganized one after another amidst tion and that they would surely set up a genuine uni- All political parties and organizations in the north stones the US economy coordinat- in a new struggle to frustrate the the ever-growing zeal of struggle fi ed government by their own efforts. and the south should promote dialogue, contact and ing offi ce and the offi ce of the US conservative forces’ scheme to re- for peace against the US, Trump It was a historic meeting which united the travel on a broad scale to remove mutual misunder- economy cooperation agency, the turn to power. The declaration of and war, and they turned out in whole Korean nation under the banner of patri- standing and distrust, and fulfi l their responsibility colonial predatory organs of the the candlelight rights 2017, made the struggle for peaceful reunifi ca- otism for reunifi cation and a brilliant result of and role as the motive force of national reunifi cation, US imperialists, in south Korea. public by the 20th nation-wide tion against war. Kim Il Sung’s independent line of national reunifi - thus creating a favourable climate for national recon- The news of the struggle quickly movement on the subject of the As the US persists with its cation and idea of great national unity. ciliation and unity. spread over south Korea, and the “Day of Victory” on March 11, has military occupation of south Ko- Later the July 4 North-South Joint Statement It is an invariable stand of the Workers’ Party people in Pusan, Kwangju, In- served as a guideline for the mass- rea and the policy of hegemony, was adopted in July 1972, the one whose main con- of Korea and the DPRK that on the patriotic road chon, Taegu, Taejon and all other es of all strata in the struggle. and its pro-US treacherous forces tent is the three principles for national reunifi cation of reunifi cation they will not hesitate to join hands cities turned out in the uprising. Though a new “government” keep resorting to the revival of put forward by the leader; the plan of founding the and share their ideals with anyone who cherishes a This led to the ousting of the syco- has appeared in south Korea, peo- the Yushin dictatorship and the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo was published national conscience, even if he or she pursued fratri- phantic traitor Syngman Rhee ple of all walks of life put it for- moves to provoke a nuclear war in 1980, the original one of reunifying the nation by cidal confrontation in the past. from power. The widely unfolded ward as a fi ghting task to elimi- against the DPRK, misfortunes establishing a unifi ed state in the form of a federal The Korean nation has the programmes and tra- system on the basis of the three principles of national ditions of great national unity and patriotism that April 19 Popular Uprising was an nate conservatism and evil legacy, and sufferings of the south Kore- reunifi cation; and the Ten-Point Programme of the have been created through the protracted struggle to outburst of the south Korean peo- shouting, “The establishment of a an people can never be removed, Great Unity of the Whole Nation for the Reunifi ca- achieve reunifi cation of the country. ple’s strong will to liquidate with- new government does not mean and reunifi cation of the country, tion of the Country in April 1993. The north-south joint conference of seventy years out fail the pro-US stooge who had the completion of the candlelight the long-cherished aspiration of In June 2000, thanks to the wise leadership ago still inspires all the fellow countrymen with con- turned south Korea into a colony revolution,” and “The resistance the nation, cannot be achieved. of Chairman Kim Jong Il, the heads of the north fi dence that there will be realized a pan-national, of the US and a living hell devoid continues!” and are struggling to The fl ames of April 19 Popular and the south had a historic meeting in Pyongyang, grand meeting for reunifi cation involving all the of independence and democracy. this end. At the same time, they Uprising for democracy against which was the fi rst of its kind since the division of political parties and organizations including the au- The precious fruit of the bloody are conducting vigorously the an- the US and dictatorship 58 years the country, and adopted the June 15 North-South thorities of the north and the south, and Koreans of uprising, however, was trampled ti-US, anti-war struggle for peace ago are now fl aring up as the can- Joint Declaration. The declaration was born thanks all strata at home and abroad. mercilessly by the US and pro- which condemns Washington’s dlelight of struggle across south to the noble intention of bringing about reconcilia- American forces. moves for war against Pyong- Korea. tion and unity, peace and prosperity on the land of Kim Hyon Ju Still alive is the struggle to yang. They are intensifying their Kim Il Ryong

46 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018 47 Disaster Japan Is Incurring Ryangchon Temple

APAN IS LOCATED NEXT MD system Aegis Ashore. It is With this the range of the SDF HE RYANGCHON TEMPLE IS SITUATED streams. The space between the lintel and brackets Jto the Democratic People’s said that the range of the cruise overseas military operations has Tin Rakchon-ri, Kowon County, South Hamgyong in front is decorated with paintings of a Buddha, Republic of Korea geographically, missile is over 5 times longer extended in all directions. Province. It was built in 753 and later rebuilt several dragons, a phoenix, lotus fl owers, waterlily fl owers, but she is a distant country for Ko- than that of the fi ghter missile In September 2015 he had the times. It is famous for its invaluable paintings and cranes, tigers and clouds. Quite vivid are blue and rea because of her government’s possessed by the Japanese Self- “national security law” adopted, other historical relics preserved intact. yellow dragons playing with beads. Now there remain Taeung Hall, Muryangsu Hall The walls between the brackets in the hall are all hostile policy. Defense Forces, and that the sur- a combination of 11 security acts and Manse Pavilion at the temple. Taeung Hall is a decorated with pictures of many colours and designs. The policy fi nds expression in face MD system can be used as capable of legally backing the gabled building supported by tapering pillars, with From the pictures you can see the then degeneration the issue of Japan’s liquidation of a weapon of attack if it is loaded US-Japan defence cooperation three bays in front and three on each side, and the of the Buddhist world and a dissipated life of monks its past. During their 40-odd-year- with a cruise missile. guideline. And on March 29, 2016 tops of the pillars are decorated with pot-bellied engrossed in double-dealing. And the hall has a long military occupation of Korea At present many people of the the law formally went into effect. brackets. The present building of the hall is the one painting of 13 men and 9 women dancing while play- in last century the Japanese im- world are very worried about the Accordingly, the SDF was grant- reconstructed in 1636. ing music of peasants with a fl ute, a horn, a Korean perialists took by force over 8.4 fact that the SDF is putting off ed the right to fulfi l a mission of The hall is decorated with colourful paintings of bamboo fl ute, kayagum, a Korean mandolin, large million Koreans, murdered more its mask of defence while develop- military operations in any place various geometric patterns such as circles, triangles and small gongs, a drum and an hourglass drum, and or hexagons, all linked with one another in succes- another of a woman holding fruits on a tray in her than 1 million Koreans and mer- ing into offensive forces, and the in the world under the cloak of sion. hands and two women dancing in robes of feathers. cilessly killed 200 000 Korean voices are rising even in Japan exercise of the “right to collective The wall between the right brackets is decorated Manse Pavilion, rebuilt in 1729, is a building with women after abusing them as sex- that the increase of war expendi- defence.” with six gorgeously painted pictures. The fi rst shows fi ve bays in front and three on each side. Its gable ual slaves for the Japanese army. ture by the authorities is further Korea is the fi rst target of their a young man playing the Korean lute under a big roof is supported by tapering pillars. Instead of making apology and aggravating the already unstable attack. Like in the past the insu- pine tree and a crane fl ying in the sky on the right The pavilion, too, boasts a lot of gorgeous pictures. reparation for the crimes, howev- situation of the region. lar country intends to occupy Ko- of the man; the second one is of a man looking at a The temple is well preserved as national cultural er, the Japanese authorities are After his assumption to power rea and use it as a stepping stone falls similar to Kuryong Falls in Outer Kumgang of heritage showing the high architectural standard of refusing to recognize the past and Abe set a goal of freeing his coun- to invade other Asian countries so Mt. Kumgang; in the third one are seen several per- Korean ancestors. sons listening to what a grey-haired elderly man is Ri Song Chol embellishing it on the contrary. try from the restrictive postwar as to realize the old dream of the saying; in the fourth one you can see three persons And the new generations of Japan system and making his country “Greater East Asia Co-prosperity enjoying the sight of a rocky cliff; and the fi fth and are given new textbooks which into a “country capable of waging Sphere.” To that end she, together sixth pictures show several persons following a grey- describe its past war of aggres- a war.” In 2013 he had a “national with the US, actively joins nuclear haired elderly man seeing the sight of mountains and sion as a “righteous war,” and its security strategy” adopted for the war rehearsals based on a simu- colonial rule of other nations as fi rst time in his country’s history lated nuclear attack on Korea, The Taeung Hall and its interior “cooperation” and “contribution” of politics, and, insisting that she and is arming the SDF with ad- at the Ryangchon Temple. for the nations’ development and should “more actively contribute vanced lethal weapons, spreading prosperity. to peace and stabilization of the the theory on Korea’s “threat.” Meanwhile, Japan is putting international community than Japan’s scheme for reinvasion spurs to its militarization, talking before on the basis of active paci- is seriously jeopardizing peace about Korea’s “threat.” Recently fi sm,” he created a legal frame- and security of Northeast Asia, she earmarked about a record ¥ work that can support the exercise and Korea and Japan are becom- 5 190 billion of the budget for the of the right to collective defence ing more distant neighbours. fi scal year 2018 for the military. theoretically. Politicians of Japan would be This is aimed at purchasing ad- In April 2015 he newly revised well advised to behave well with vanced lethal weapons to be used the 18-year-old US-Japan defence a good understanding of what sort for realizing its ambition. cooperation guideline, which spec- of tragedy they will have if the Making a propaganda of Ko- ifi es cooperation between the GIs Korean people give vent to their rea’s “missile threat” Japan de- and the SDF and their separate pent-up grudge against it. cided to introduce a long-range roles in operations, information cruise missile and the surface and logistics in case of emergency. Kim Kwang Chol

48 KOREA TODAY No. 4, 2018