Long Live The Workers' Party of Korea!

[216changun]

Durability and Indestructibility of the DPRK’s Socialism

Today in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea socialism is gaining greater dignity and might under the wise leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Chairman Kim Jong Il of the DPRK National Defence Commission wrote in his immortal classic work Our Socialism Centred on the Masses Shall Not Perish in May 1991 that the secret of durability and indestructibility of the DPRK’s socialism is that it is centred upon the popular masses, that it has made the masses the genuine masters of society and that it has devoted everything to the service of the masses.

Socialism in the DPRK is the application of the Juche idea and is centred upon the popular masses.

President Kim Il Sung founded the Juche idea, a new guiding idea of the revolution, early last century, on the basis of full understanding of the demands of the era when the oppressed and exploited masses of the people emerged as masters of the world and were carving out their destiny and writing history in an independent and creative way. The Juche idea means that man is the master of his own destiny and is powerful enough to carve it out. This serves as the ideological and theoretical foundation of the DPRK’s socialism. The history of the socialist construction in Korea is just the one of comprehensively applying the Juche idea, and all valuable gains in those days are the fruition of the Juche idea.

In particular, it is totally thanks to the Songun idea, which is the embodiment of the Juche idea, that the Korean people survived the hard time, called Arduous March and forced march, in the 1990s. At that time the imperialists and reactionaries were talking much about the “imminent end of socialism” and dead set on suffocating the DPRK. Chairman Kim Jong Il, believing firmly that Songun is the sure guarantee for national defence, made a new accurate analysis of the correlation between the army, the Party, the state and the people.

In the socialism of the DPRK the Party, the state, the people and the army are closely related with one another to share life and death. In the current realities in which the construction of socialism was going on against the unceasing military threat from the imperialists, the socialist state, the Party and the people can never exist without the protection by the army. In the Korean society the revolutionary army and the popular masses share the same fundamental interests, intentions and desires, so attaching importance to the army means giving importance to the socialist state and people.

From this view and stand the Chairman established the principle of Songun and made it clear that he would overcome harsh trials of the revolution and lead the Korean people’s patriotic struggle to victory by setting up the People’s Army as the mainstay of the revolution. On his way of Songun leadership, he saw to it that all the people learned from the revolutionary soldier spirit that is an integration of the spirit of guarding the leader with one’s very life, the one of implementing the Party’s policies at the risk of one’s life and the one of sacrificing oneself heroically. And he also wisely led the Korean people to rise as one for the building of a prosperous socialist country by turning misfortune into a blessing. Thanks to his Songun politics, the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the socialist gains remained secure and a new page of prosperity was written.

The indestructibility of the DPRK’s socialism rests on the single-hearted unity of the leader, the Party and the masses. Kim Jong Il stated that although the popular masses are the driving force of socialism, they can play their role as the independent driving force of the revolution and successfully carry out the socialist construction only when they are rallied around the Party and the leader.

The single-hearted unity was Kim Jong Il’s revolutionary philosophy. Believing that the unity of the entire nation is strong enough to outdo even atomic bombs in power, he gave a full explanation of the single-hearted unity of the revolutionary ranks in many of his works including Let Us Advance Under the Unfurled Banner of Single-hearted Unity. By single-hearted unity he meant the unity based on a great guiding idea with a great leader at the centre, and the moral and obligatory unity based on revolutionary comradeship and sense of obligation. With the single-hearted unity prepared by the leader with all his devotion, the Korean people could change the Arduous March and the forced march into the march to paradise and bring about epoch-making changes in the building of a prosperous country.

The single-hearted unity in the DPRK is reaching the highest ever phase. The Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army keeps genuine revolutionary comradeship with his soldiers, the leader and the people share the same purpose and feelings, and all the people are carrying out the leader’s policies and intentions faithfully. The Korean single-hearted unity also has brought about the trend of upswing across the country, miraculous successes in all parts of the country and victories in the anti-imperialist and anti-US struggle. The Korean people are convinced that the people-centred socialism has a bright future because it has the single-hearted unity of the leader, the Party, the army and the people.

The popular masses’ absolute support and trust are the sure guarantee of the durability and indestructibility of the Korean socialism. The Korean people regard socialism that puts everything in the service of the popular masses as the home of their life and happiness and entrust their all to it. As masters of the state and society, the Korean people fully enjoy their political, economic, ideological and cultural activities corresponding to the intrinsic need of an independent human being, in the people-centred socialist system. They, as masters of the government, take part in exercising state power and administering the state, and enjoy their political freedom and exercise their rights by taking part in the political and organizational life as members of certain political organizations including the Party and working people’s organizations. In addition, they, as masters of the economic management and masters of the means of production, enjoy a creative working life, provided with proper right to work. Thanks to the people-oriented policies of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the government, they are provided with equal and sufficient material life.

The Korean people, as masters of ideology and culture, enjoy a wholesome and sufficient ideological and cultural life. As masters of all ideological and cultural organs and means they manage them to realize their politico-ideological and cultural and emotional needs. The Party and the government provide the people with all kinds of ideological and cultural conditions for life. As a result, the Korean people both create and enjoy spiritual and cultural wealth.

This is why the Korean people are deeply attached to their socialist land of Juche and cherish great love for their socialist country in which their ideals come true.

http://naenara.com.kp

[216changun]

Mysterious Water Colour of Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu

Mt. Paektu is standing in Samjiyon County, Ryanggang Province, in the northern part of Korea. It is 2,750 metres above the sea level.  The crater Lake Chon is on the top of Mt. Paektu. The area of the lake is 9.16 square kilometres and the maximum depth of water is 384 metres. There are many mountain lakes in the world but none of them is as beautiful as Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu with mysterious colours. Everybody admires the magnificent and wonderful view of Lake Chon at first glance. The main colour of water of Lake Chon is greenish blue. It is colourless to a certain depth from the shore. The water is so clear and transparent that all kinds of stones in it seems to be spreading on the bed. Going further, the colour of water turns light green little by little. As the lake gets deeper, it gradually changes from light green, green and greenish blue to complete blue, which is the main colour of the water of Lake Chon. The blue colour turns dark blue as the lake gets deeper and it is the colour peculiar to Lake Chon that cannot be found elsewhere.

    The colour of water of Lake Chon mysteriously changes into multifarious colours according to the watching position and distance, seasons and weather, and natural phenomena. When the sun rises spreading golden beams, it looks like a gilt plate on the red background. When the beautiful evening glow appears and full moon rises, the silvery and golden waves of the lake are very spectacular. The original colour of water of Lake Chon is peculiar and beautiful and mysteriously harmonizes with various colours, adding to the marvellous and distinctive looks and character of Mt. Paektu.

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

Moranbong Band

[216changun]

Mirae Scientists Street Wonderfully Built

The Mirae Scientists Street, a monumental creation of the Songun era, has been built magnificently on the bank of the picturesque River Taedong in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea. Skyscraping and bundle-shaped apartment houses have been harmoniously built along the bank of the River Taedong. The apartment houses in the street have been built with architectural formative effects. Each flat consists of a living room, old parents´ room, father and mother´s room, children´s room, kitchen and others fully equipped with high-quality furniture and fixtures. Resting places and sports parks have been built around the apartment houses so that the inhabitants can fully relax themselves and do exercises and the residential quarters have unique greenbelts. Ordinary educators and scientists are living in the palatial houses without paying a penny.

The Mirae Scientists Street is a product of the warm love of respected Kim Jong Un who gives top priority to and absolutizes the promotion of people´s well-being, regards the educators and scientists as genuine patriots and revolutionaries and always pays deep attention to the development of science and technology of the country. He gave a task to build dwelling houses and service establishments wonderfully on the highest level along the highway on the bank of the River Taedong with the apartment houses for educators of Kim Chaek University of Technology and form a full street and named it "Mirae Scientists Street". And he took measures to dispatch powerful builders to the spot for the construction of the street and gave specific tasks and ways to accelerate the project.

In February Juche 104 or 2015 hecommanded a bird´s-eye view of the construction site aboard a plane. Then he came to the construction site for guidance of the construction. That day he said the officials and builders should complete the street to be handed down to the posterity with the stand to create highest civilization and highest speed. He also instructed that all the structures should be built with unique characteristics to symbolize scientists street and stressed the need to build good commercial service network and cultural facilities as well. Under his meticulous guidance, the street with thousands of flats and more than 150 service establishments has been built only in one year.

Respected Kim Jong Un visited the completed street in October last and feasted his eyes on its panoramic view time and again and expressed great satisfaction, saying a beautiful street has been built. He said it is really wonderful that a symbolic tower has been built on a 53-storey skyscraping apartment house coiling up in the shape of electron track so that one can know it is the Mirae Scientists Street at a glance even in the distance. Saying all buildings are highly artistic, he repeatedly appreciated the feats of the builders.

The Mirae Scientists Street will be handed down to the posterity as a monumental creation of the Songun era.

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

Why Socialism is not Totalitarianism

We now bring an extract from the newly published book: History of Revolutionary Activities of Chairman Kim Jong Il (2015)

Chapter 6. Organizing and Leading the Struggle to Defend People-Centred Socialism of The Korean Style (January 1990 - July 1994)

1. Ideological and Theoretical Activities To Defend And Advance The Socialist Cause

Kim Jong Il conducted energetic ideological and theoretical activities to defend and advance the socialist cause in the first half of the 1990s. He said:

“In order to defend and develop socialism in its fierce struggle against enemies of all hues, we must further develop the revolutionary ideology and theory of the working class and make them perfect as required by the times and the developing revolution.”

In the period between the late 1980s and the early 1990s the people’s cause of independence, the socialist cause, encountered vicious challenges by the imperialists and reactionaries. The wind of reform blew hard in some socialist countries, rapidly degenerating socialism and reviving capitalism. Consequently, socialism collapsed and capitalism revived in the Soviet Union and some East European countries. Taking advantage of this, the imperialists and reactionaries made a fuss about the end of socialism and slandered the ideal of socialism. As rapid progress was made in socialist construction, the limitations of the preceding revolutionary ideas and theories of the working class, those on socialist construction in particular, became more apparent.

With a keen insight into the prevailing situation Kim Jong Il elucidated the essential characteristics and advantages of the Korean-style socialism and the source of its invincible might in several works including the speeches titled, On Some Problems of the Ideological Foundation of Socialism and Socialism of Our Country Is a Socialism of Our Style as the Embodiment of the Juche Idea delivered to senior officials of the WPK Central Committee on May 30 and December 27, 1990, respectively and in a talk titled, Our Socialism Centred on the Masses Shall Not Perish given to senior officials of the WPK Central Committee on May 5, 1991.

First of all, he proved that Korean-style socialism is a unique one, the ideological foundation of which is the great Juche idea. Socialism is a society based on the revolutionary ideas of the working class and its development is guaranteed by the scientific accuracy, revolutionary character and a practicability of the ideas and theories on which it is based. Korean-style socialism is a unique one based on the Juche idea, the most scientific and revolutionary idea of the working class. As it is based on the Juche idea it is marching along the road of victory without vacillation in the face of all manner of pressure and slander by the imperialists and reactionaries.

Next, he clarified the advantage of Korean-style socialism. He said:

“The basic advantage of our form of socialism is that it is a man-centred society, a society which considers everything with man at the centre and makes everything serve him. This advantage is defined by the Juche idea, a man-centred idea.”

He noted that Korean-style socialism is advantageous in that it embodies the intrinsic requirements of man on the highest level. Independence, creativity and consciousness are the essential attributes of a social being and collectivism is an intrinsic requirement of man who can carve out his own destiny only in the social collective. Korean-style socialism is the advantageous socialism which splendidly embodies this intrinsic requirement of a social being as clarified by the Juche idea.

Kim Jong Il elucidated that Korean-style socialism is the most advantageous social system which provides the masses of the people with a genuine independent and creative life. Political life, economic life and ideological and cultural life are major fields of social life. How the working people enjoy their independent rights and creative abilities in every field of social life is the key factor in determining the progressive nature and advantage of society.

The advantage of the Korean-style socialism which is based on the Juche idea lies not merely in that the master of the state power and means of production is the masses of the people but in that it substantially provides them with an independent and creative life in all fields of political life, economic life and ideological and cultural life. Herein lies the advantage of the socialist life over the capitalist life and the greatest advantage of the Korean-style socialism over the one in other countries which was established on the basis of the materialistic world outlook.

Next, Kim Jong Il elucidated the invincibility of the Korean-style socialism and its eternal viability. The driving force of socialist society is the masses of the people. However, only when they are united behind the party and the leader as one can they perform the role of the independent motive force of the revolution and carry out socialist construction successfully. Even after the establishment of socialist system the single-hearted unity of the whole society can not be achieved of its own accord. The work of advancing a correct guiding ideology and scientific strategy and tactics for the masses’ struggle and of awakening and organizing them is carried out only by the outstanding leader and the party of the working class. As they are guided by the outstanding leader and the seasoned leadership of the party the single-hearted unity of the masses around the party and the leader can be achieved, and this unity serves as the source of invincibility of socialism and its eternal viability.

In a talk titled, The Historical Lesson in Building Socialism and the General Line of Our Party delivered to senior officials of the WPK Central Committee on January 3, 1992, Kim Jong Il elucidated the reasons for the frustration of socialism in some countries and the lessons drawn from it and the general line to which the WPK was adhering in socialist construction. Above all else, he specified the reasons for the collapse of socialism in some countries and the lessons drawn from it. He said:

“In short, the basic reason for the frustration of socialism in some countries is that they did not put the main emphasis on strengthening the motive force for building socialism and on enhancing its role; they failed to understand the essence of socialism, of centring on the masses of the people, the makers of history.”

Socialist society is one in which the masses are the masters and that is developed by dint of the creativity of the masses who are united as one. The essence of socialist society which makes it different from all exploitative societies and the driving force which promotes the progress of the socialist society lie in the fact that the masses work in comradely unity and with a high degree of consciousness of being masters and displaying their ability as such. Therefore, the basic way to promote the building of socialism successfully is to strengthen the motive force of the revolution by giving priority to the remoulding of the people, as well as to enhance the role of the driving force by giving the fullest play to the revolutionary enthusiasm and creativity of the masses. Because they did not understand this, the parties in some countries which were building socialism failed to strengthen the motive force of the revolution and enhance its role. Herein lies the basic reason for the collapse of socialism.

Kim Jong Il clarified that another reason is that they failed to recognize the qualitative difference between socialism and capitalism and adhere consistently to the fundamental principles of socialism. Defending the masses’ desire for independence and their interests and embodying them is the fundamental principle that should be consistently adhered to in socialist construction. In order to build socialism to meet the masses’ desire for independence and their fundamental interests it is imperative to strengthen the working-class party organizationally and ideologically, ensure its leadership of the revolution and construction, steadily enhance the functions and role of the socialist government, safeguard and develop socialist ownership and resolutely combat imperialism. In the past the people of some countries that were building socialism wavered in the face of transient difficulties that arose in the course of building socialism and went so far as to yield to the pressure of the imperialists, gradually conceding and abandoning their revolutionary principles. This resulted in the frustration of socialism and revival of capitalism.

Kim Jong Il pointed out that the frustration of socialism in some countries is also due to the fact that the parties of those countries had not strengthened international solidarity based on independence in their relations. To unite and cooperate with one another on the basis of independence and maintain their independence while strengthening international solidarity is a basic principle that the parties of socialist countries must hold up in their relations.

On the basis of the comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the frustration of socialism in some countries Kim Jong Il concluded that historical experience shows that when people steadily strengthen the motive force of the revolution, with a strong conviction in socialism and a correct guideline, hold fast to socialist principles in all circumstances and strengthen comradely unity and cooperation on the basis of independence, the socialist cause will advance along the road of victory; otherwise it will suffer setback and frustration. He added that this is a serious lesson mankind has learned on its path to socialism.

Next, Kim Jong Il elucidated the general line the WPK pursues in socialist construction and its validity. He formulated that to carry out the ideological, technological and cultural revolutions thoroughly while strengthening the people’s government and steadily enhancing its functions and role is the general line for building socialism put forward by Kim Il Sung. He clarified that the general line is a scientific and revolutionary line indicating the road for accomplishing the socialist cause and fully realizing the independence of the masses of the people by embodying the Juche idea. He stressed that this line is applied in the building of the Korean-style socialism and its validity and viability have been substantiated through practice. He advanced principles to be maintained in laying bare the absurd nature of the sophistry by the enemies who are slandering socialism and in shattering it to accomplish the cause of socialism.

Kim Jong Il published a discourse titled, Abuses of Socialism Are Intolerable on March 1, 1993 in Kulloja, the official magazine of the WPK Central Committee. He said:

“It is sophistry to call socialism ‘totalitarian,’ ‘barracks-like’ and ‘administrative and commanding.’ ”

He laid bare the impropriety of the sophistry of the enemies who call socialism “totalitarian.”

Totalitarianism served as the political idea of fascist dictators. The fascist dictators like Hitler and Mussolini stamped out even the most elementary democratic freedom and rights of the masses of the working people and enforced unprecedentedly tyrannical policies, behind the misleading name of “national socialism,” claiming that for the sake of the whole nation and the whole state no working-class movement and no class struggle could be permitted. The reactionary nature of totalitarianism is that the interests of the working people are sacrificed for the sake of the rapacious interests of the reactionary ruling class under the pretence that the individual should be subordinated to the whole. 

The two fascist dictators Hitler and Mussolini who tyrannized Europe in the first half of the 20th century.

What is meant by the whole in totalitarianism is not the whole of the masses of the people but a tiny handful of the privileged circles. Calling socialism, under which the masses of the people are the masters of everything, “totalitarianism” is, ultimately, a preposterous lie which identifies the most progressive idea that reflects the demands of the masses of the people with the reactionary idea of fascist rulers. Kim Jong Il laid bare the impropriety of the preposterous lie of the enemies who are calling socialism barracks-like. Socialism is the most progressive of ideas that reflects the intrinsic demands of people, and the socialist system is the most advanced of systems under which the masses of the people enjoy an independent and creative life to the full. The restraint of their independence and creativity occurs not under the socialist system but under the capitalist system in which the working class are the slaves of capital. Claiming that socialism is “barracks-like” is pernicious propaganda that attempts to turn black into white.

Kim Jong Il also clarified the impropriety of the sophistry of the enemies who claim that socialism is barracks-like. In general, the administrative and commanding method of management is an old method of rule that serves the demands of the privileged classes by invoking legal authority in an exploiter society. In socialist society the masses of the people, who have become the masters of the state and society, hold the position of masters and play the role of masters in the administration. The administrative and commanding method of management which was manifested in socialist practices in the past did not emanate from the essential nature of socialist society but was a legacy of the exploiter society. Therefore, accusing socialism of being “administrative and commanding” is also unreasonable.

Kim Jong Il also presented important principles to be maintained in defending and accomplishing the socialist cause. He said that if the socialist cause is to be defended and completed, the socialist idea should be developed and perfected constantly and the masses of the people should be equipped with it, so that they accept socialism as their unshakeable conviction. He clarified that in order to defend socialism and add eternal brilliance to it, people should regard it as their moral duty to defend it. He noted that the party and the state of the working class should concentrate their efforts on giving full play to the advantage of socialism by carrying on the construction of socialism properly in order to defend the socialist cause and bring it to completion. He put forth concrete ways of giving full play to the essential advantage of the socialist society. He underlined that the principle of collectivism should be thoroughly applied in every field of social life to safeguard and defend socialism.

The pernicious propaganda of dubbing socialism “totalitarian,” “barracks-like” and “administrative and commanding” is aimed at undermining socialist collectivism and eulogizing bourgeois individualism. So opposing individualism and applying the principle of collectivism to the letter in all fields of social life is crucial to defending and accomplishing the socialist cause. Kim Jong Il’s ideological and theoretical activities in the several years of the first half of the 1990s rendered a great contribution to revitalizing on a new ideological basis the socialist movement that was undergoing temporary setback.

History of Revolutionary Activities of Chairman Kim Jong Il, Foreign Languages Publishing House Pyongyang, Korea Juche 104 (2015)

[216changun]

Treasure from Waste

Pyongyang maple trees are widely planted in town and the country across Korea as they are well shaped and make up a beautiful scenery in autumn. In the past, however, their fruits were little used in sugar production, and their utility was seldom identified.

Recently, a research team of Kim Po Hyon University has changed maple fruits into treasure. Around May every year ripe fruits fall to be waste material, and their annual amount across the country is enormous. Considering the amount of fruits Prof. Ri Yong Su and his team thought of developing it as a useful source of protein feed. In the course of analysing its components the team focused on the fact that the protein content is over 30%, and it has plenty of different kinds of vitamins, amino acids and other essential microelements. The researchers thought that they could make animal feed of the fruits, and buckled down to the study.

Halfway in the research, a knotty problem cropped up—digestion inhibitors were found in the fruit, which prevent absorption of nourishment. Without removing them it was impossible to increase its utility as animal feed. The method of extracting inhibitors needed much cost, and it would hurt the value of the feed which needs to be in quantity. The researchers made deep-going studies, groping for a proper method of removing the inhibitors. A particular effort was directed to the finding of a method of neutralizing the inhibitors in a unique way at a less cost. Finally, a successful method was developed to process the maple fruits by denaturation and microorganic fermentation. The test application proved successful at several stockbreeding and fish farms.

The nutritive components of the animal feed made from the maple fruits are much better than those of grain fodders, enhancing the appetite of domestic animals including poultry and fish as well as their digestive and absorptive functions. Not long ago, at an academic symposium on animal husbandry and veterinary science, many scientists said that the new feed may ensure a stable production with no or little soybean when 20–30% of the feed is mixed in assorted feeds. They approved that it opened up a bright prospect in solving the problem of protein feed. Collecting the fruits costs less and the per-hectare yield of the maple fruits is two to four times larger than soybean. It also has much economic profitability as the sources of protein feed come from uncultivated land.

Ri Yong Su says,

“Pyongyang maple trees are planted in the Sepho Tableland which is now being developed into a leading stockbreeding base. I think we still have a long way to go.”

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

Song of Genuine Human Life

The song "They Will Remain in the Motherland" (어머니조국에 남아있으리) written by Ri Hyok Su and composed by People´s Artist So Jong Gon in Juche 77 or 1988 is the theme song of the Korean feature film "Ask Yourself" (자신에게 물어보라), one of the Korean people´s favourite films. The film gives a deep explanation about where a man has to find his genuine ideal and happiness. The thematic and ideological content of the film gives a great impression, expressing itself through the emotional theme song. The words of the song read:

  Look back upon the bygone days   What have you left on this land?   Have you devoted unchangeable purity   To the motherland?

  Look back upon the bygone days   What have you shed sweat for?   Did you devote burning enthusiasm of youth   To the motherland?

  Look back upon the bygone days   Didn´t you live for yourself?   The traces printed in cold wind, snow and rain   They will remain in my motherland

  Kim San Dong, conductor of the Pyongyang Film Music Recording Studio, says:

  "I think the song sings well of the mentality of the heroes of the film who devoted their pure conscience to the motherland. The emotional melody of the song ´They Will Remain in the Motherland´ represents the genuine looks of people in our era always living and working with the invariable and pure minds and with the enthusiasm of youth shedding sweat for the motherland and the spirit of the people sincerely working for the motherland which warmly embraces them."

  The song emotionally represents the ideological content of the film that when a man leaves traces of genuine life with the spirit of devoted service for the motherland and people, his life will be worthwhile and happy. The song "They Will Remain in the Motherland" is loved and widely sung by the Korean people as it gave philosophical explanation about the human conscience devoted to the motherland and its value.   Now you will appreciate the song in female solo of People´s Artiste Kim Kwang Suk.

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

The Motto of a Woman Doctor

Ryong Son Il, a pharmacist in the Kim Man Yu Hospital in Pyongyang for 35 years after graduation from the pharmacy department of the Pyongyang Medical College of Kim Il Sung University, has studied and developed many kinds of medicines. Her first invention in this hospital was an efficient medicine for anemia from iron poverty.

In the past, medicines for this illness were foul-smelling and inefficacious, and often produced side effects. But her invention overcame all weaknesses of the past remedies, and the time required for its use is 40 days, much shorter than before. Its clinical effect is notable. Ryong Son Il said to the people who were surprised at her success in research work shortly after starting work in the hospital, “I only have a close acquaintance with books.”

Even when working as a pharmacist in the hospital, she was fond of reading books always like a college student, making a deep study of pharmacology. After work, she would go to the Grand People’s Study House to hunt for books, her range of reading extending over a wide area even beyond her field of specialization. Her knowledge accumulated from her reading, which brought original ideas to her mind and led to new discoveries. Reading classic medical books and modern literature of science and technology, she hit upon an idea that a new medicine good for anemia from iron poverty could be compounded of ingredients of domestic animals’ blood, sulphate of iron and various microelements. After that, she got married and had two children, but her zeal for reading and spirit of inquiry never cooled down. She found time for reading on her way to work and back and even while cooking. Kim Yun Ho, her husband, a graduate of the University of Sciences with a major in mathematics and chemistry, would collect and offer a great deal of scientific materials to her, considering it the best help he could afford for her.

Her spirit of inquiry rose higher after her participation in the National Meeting of Intellectuals in 2007. Hearing many speakers at the meeting talk about their scientific and technical achievements proudly, she regretted her own self-conceit at the trifling success she had achieved. Back from the meeting, she set about a new study and finally succeeded in making gel for use in ultrasonic diagnosis with domestic raw materials, dispensing with its import from abroad. Then, she invented over 30 kinds of medicines including gly-amino acid injection good for treatment of liver trouble and promotion of nutrition and a medicine for revitalizing cerebral metabolism, attracting the attention of the medical circles. Recently she obtained a doctor’s degree by inventing sclero injection including tannic acid which works wonders in treatment of hemorrhoids by one injection, making operations unnecessary.

Now her hair has turned frosty, but she never stops reading, always absorbed in books as she did when she was young. She is wont to tell young people, “Love books! And then, you’ll be equal to creation of whatever you want.” This is saying a great deal as her motto.

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

Gun Report in Phabal-ri Still Echoes

 November the 4th this year marks the 110th birth anniversary of the indomitable revolutionary fighter Kim Hyong Gwon, uncle of the great President Kim Il Sung.  Kim Hyong Gwon was born into a revolutionary family in Mangyongdae, Pyongyang, on November the 4th, 1905 and devoted his all to the revolution. What is distinguished in his revolutionary activities was that he positively struggled in the homeland in support of the policy of the anti-Japanese armed struggle advanced by Kim Il Sung.  The great leader Kim Il Sung presented the line on organizing and waging an armed struggle against the Japanese imperialists in the historic Kalun meeting held between June the 30th and July the 2nd, Juche 19 or 1930. Kim Hyong Gwon led an armed group of the Korean Revolutonary Army into the homeland in August Juche 19 or 1930 in order to carry out the Juche-oriented revolutionary line advanced by Kim Il Sung. Kim Hyong Gwon led positive activities of armed group in different parts of the homeland including Phabal-ri of the then Phungsan County. At that time in Phabal-ri there was a vicioius police sergeant of the Japanese imperialists´ police substation who had committed all crimes against the Korean people. In order to satisfy the people´s grudge Kim Hyong Gwon attacked the substation and shot the police sergeant to death. The gun report made in Phabal-ri was an echo which gave the truth to the Korean people groaning under the rule of the Japanese imperialists that the struggle is the only way out and the armed enemy must be defeated with arms. Frightened by the gun report made in Phabal-ri, the Japanese imperialists mobilized huge police force for strict cordon. Even in the worst situation Kim Hyong Gwon conducted remarkable military and political activities in different areas.

  Kim Hyong Gwon was unexpectedly arrested by the betrayal of a renegade. He never lost his faith but bravely fought in prison. He made a speech opposing the ideologial conversion forced by the enemy before the prisoners and fiercely fought for the improved conditions of prisoners. He also led the strike of prisoners against the murderous forced labor. In an attempt to prevent his activities and influence the enemy locked him up in a dark isolation cell and put irons on his wrists and ankles so that the irons cut into his flesh whenever he made the slightest movement. But they could not break his faith and will. It was the faith of such a man who was ready to be starved, frozen and beaten to death for Kim Il Sung and the revolution. Kim Hyong Gwon struggled without abandoning the principles of a revolutionary before passing away in prison.  The gun report made by Kim Hyong Gwon in Phabal-ri is kept deep in the minds of the Korean people still today decade after decade.

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

Changjon Street

The street was completed in June Juche 101 (2012).

Situated in the central part of Pyongyang, the street boasts of modern high-rise apartment houses, the People’s Theatre with perfect architectural formative and aesthetic value, service facilities that sustain the utility of both the surface and underground, light- and cozy-looking Children’s Department Store, schools, nursery and kindergarten, all at the foot of Mansu Hill where  the  statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il stand.

[216changun]

Happy Conjugal Doctors

 Apartment houses for educators of Kim Chaek University of Technology are standing on the bank of the River Taedong in the capital city Pyongyang. Enviable conjugal doctors are living in Flat 1 on the sixth floor of Porch 2. Husband Professor and Doctor Jang Ui Jun is the head of a department of Kim Chaek University of Technology and his wife Doctor Kim Hye Won is teaching at the same university. They have been teaching at the university for over 30 years. In those years, they have devoted all their wisdom and enthusiasm to training a lot of competent scientists and technicians who could contribute to the development of science and technology of the country. They also played a pivotal role in solving scientific and technical problems waiting for immediate solution at important projects. The state awarded honourable orders to them in high appreciation of their merits.  They were given a flat in the modern apartment houses for educators to enjoy a happy life. Under the grateful socialist system Mr. Jang and his wife are living a happy life and a happier tomorrow is waiting for them. Under the benefits of the free education, their son, daughter and daughter-in-law graduated from Kim Chaek University of Technology and are now discharging their responsibility in different fields of the society. It is their unanimous resolve to devote themselves to the prosperity of the country like the generation of their father and mother.

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

Spokesman for DPRK FM on Japan-S. Korea Summit

A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry Thursday gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA as regards the decision of Japan and south Korea to make efforts to seek an early solution to the issue of "comfort women for the Imperial Japanese Army."

It was reported that the Japan-south Korea summit held in Seoul early in November decided to accelerate the discussion on seeking an early solution to the said issue.

As the whole world knows, the sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army committed by the state of Japan in an organized manner in the period of the Japanese imperialists' occupation of Korea and during World War II is one of the crimes which Japan should redress without fail as it is the most hideous human rights abuses to which no statute of limitations is applicable because it savagely violated the dignity, virginity and physical bodies of women.

In the period of Japan's occupation of Korea for over 40 years in the last century Japan forcibly drafted at least 8.4 million Koreans, massacred more than one million, forced 200 000 Korean women into sexual slaves, forced Koreans to change their names into Japanese ones and committed such unheard-of monstrous crimes as conducting tests on living bodies. It, however, shunned redemption of those crimes though seven decades have passed since its defeat in the war.

The most cruel and despicable crimes are not such things that allow the assailant to deal with them with one victimized party only out of the victims to gloss over them.

This issue can hardly find a final solution unless the damage suffered by all Koreans is redressed throughout Korea because there are victims of the sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army not only in the south of Korea but also in the north.

Japan should admit the state responsibility for all hideous crimes committed against the Korean people including the sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army and the damage done by them and make reparation for them in such a manner as to be understandable to all Koreans.

Rodong News Team

[216changun]

Sunrise over Mt. Paektu

The brilliant sunrise over Mt. Paektu is the best of the spectacular scenes of Korea. It is exciting and heartwarming to watch the sunrise on the crest of Mt. Paektu, the ancestral mountain and sacred mountain of revolution.  Respected Kim Jong Un climbed up Mt. Paektu several times and watched the sunrise. On April 18, Juche 104 or 2015 he climbed up Mt. Paektu early in the morning. He stood on the top of Mt. Paektu where strong wind blew 25 metres per second and looked over the far eastern sky. Soon, the sun began to rise. The sun was rising over Mt. Paektu revealing its grandeur in beautiful glow.  Looking at the scene, respected Marshal Kim Jong Un said:

“Really beautiful. The sunrise over Mt. Paektu is a fascinating and beautiful view which cannot be seen elsewhere. New day of Korea, a land of morning calm, breaks from Mt. Paektu. Mt. Paektu is the ancestral mountain and sacred mountain of revolution representing the soul of our nation and the spirit of Songun Korea. It is the cradle of the Korean revolution, symbol of victory and eternal beacon of the Songun revolution.“

  The sunrise over Mt Paektu, where blizzard blows, is the spirit of Kim Jong Un, another inborn brilliant commander produced by the sacred mountain of revolution. He is the defender of justice who opens up broad avenue of march for final victory, wiping out the veil of injustice like the bright sun lighting up the universe.  Respected Kim Jong Un is a man of ardour passionate like the sun and kind-hearted like morning sunrays. It is the great fortune and honour of the Kim Il Sung nation and Kim Jong Il Korea to uphold so courageous and so ardent great man of Mt. Paektu type. The spectacular sunrise over Mt. Paektu dyes the hearts of the Korean people redder, adding national pride to this land overflowing with the ecstasy of the grand celebration of the 70th anniversary of the WPK. The sunrise over Mt. Paektu, the sacred mountain of revolution, will continue forever, blessing the Korean people with a brighter future, who uphold and follow the peerlessly great man as the sun of the nation.

Voice of Korea

[216changun]

Jong Song Ok wins gold in Sevilla 1999

Korean Movie from 2000

[216changun]

Please let me go home to my family

Dear Mr.& Mrs related to International Federation of Red Cross,

I was born in North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). And I grew up and was educated in the North. Until 5 years ago that I had been living a happy life, married. But now I live in South Korea separated from my family as one of North Korean defectors in the capitalistic South Korea, completely different from North Korea. I am Kim, Lyunhee (Kim Ryon Hui) and my life here is harsh and miserable.

Against my will, I was separated with my children, parents and sisters. I have lived in South Korea for 4 long years in this unfamiliar place, hoping to see my family again. But I can't stay here any longer and I can’t stand the excruciating suffering any more. I am writing this to tell the International Federation of Red Cross under UN, that my wish is to come back to my family. I hope my earnest plea will be answered.

In June 2011, I had left my hometown of Pyeongyang to China, with my DPRK passport, to get a treatment for my chronic illness, and one of my cousins lived in China. During my stay at my cousin’s place, I was told that South Korea is a rich nation, and a few months of work in the South would get me a fortune. Believing what I was told I decided to come to South Korea hoping to earn my medical expenses. However, I was fooled by brokers. They gave me wrong and deceiving information.    

Arriving in South Korea, from the very first day of the education programs for North Korean defectors, I told over and over the National Intelligence Service that I was fooled by brokers and I had no intention to defect. I consistently and strongly raised my demand to be sent back to my hometown telling that I was not meant to become a defector and just a victim of greedy brokers. I argued, pleaded, begged, and even went on a hunger strike. However, the South Korea government has rejected my plea of going back to North Korea. Even more, they have refused to issue a passport to me over 4 years up until now, saying that I might flee. This is a sheer violation of basic human rights and universal rights.

I even made several attempts to stow away and get a fake passport to go to North Korea and reunite with my parents and daughter. But each time my dreams of going back home was shattered in pieces. I admit that I was wrong to violate law and order of the South, but I did that because I had to  be back to my family.

Ignorant of South Korean laws, I came up with a very bad and foolish idea that if I become a spy, I might be deported to North by the international law, so I enlisted 17 North Korean defectors and their name and address in my mobile phone and reported to the police that I collected secret information for North Korea. In the end, I was convicted of being a North Korean spy and had to serve a jail term, which won’t help me meet my family again in the North.

My family was separated by wrong national policy and my life has been gradually demolishing to complete ruins. Why do I have to live in such misery and pain, not being able to see my parents and daughter again. My heart is tearing apart.  

I believe it’s more than natural and a basic human right that a person wishes to live with his/her family, and anything that prevents it is inhumane, anti-human rights, and anti-democratic. To me, freedom and prosperity, no matter how tempting, is always less than my family and home.

If you believe in human rights and if justice and democracy do exist, please help me go back to my family. I implore wholeheartedly the International Red Cross to hear my plea.      

                                           Sep. 2015.

                Wishing to reunite with my family in North Korea                                  by Kim, Lyeunhee 김련희

Kim Ryon Hui looking into her homeland at the DMZ

Kim Ryon Hui‘s husband Ri Gum Ryong and her 21-year-old daughter Ri Gyon Gum in the north

"Why? Why can't she come back, why do we have to go through such suffering? Why do they drag her like this, despite how she says she wants to go back, why not let her go? She has her family, husband and daughter in her country, a daughter who misses her mother, a husband who misses his wife. Do they not have heart and blood?"

Says daughter Ri Gyon Gum when interviewed.

"To my wife in South Korea, don't forget here you have parents, a husband and daughter, and a socialist nation.

Keep on fighting until the end.

My wife is fighting until the end right now, my whole family, my whole nation. We will all get together so that she can come back. Never stop the fighting."

Says husband Ri Gum Ryong when interviewed by the CNN

Facebook

[216changun]

The Heroine of the Nation

Towards the end of August 1999, Jong Song Ok finished first in the women’s marathon in the 7th World Track and Field Championships held in Seville. Chairman Kim Jong Il called officials to his office. When they came wondering what could be the matter, he asked them abruptly about the news of the women’s marathon. Beaming with joy, he said our runner won the race in the championships and that he had had a wakeful night at the news. With this, he paced the room. After a while, he said,

“It’s grand, really grand! The marathon race is the most significant of all sports events. Still now, there has been no Korean who won a marathon race in the world track and field championships. Before liberation the Korean runner Son Ki Jong came off first in a marathon of the Olympics, but he had to run in the name of an alien country because he was a member of a ruined nation. But this time our runner has won the world marathon championship for the first time as a Korean. How splendid!”

The press made a feature of her spectacular success and the whole country was in a festive mood singing a song about her.

Later, the Chairman said that she was a heroine of our nation who won the title in the women’s marathon in the World Track and Field Championships, the arena of competition with the best athletes from the world.

Naenara.com.kp

[216changun]

Meeting of Military Education Officers of KPA Held in Presence of Kim Jong Un

The 7th Meeting of Military Education Officers of the Korean People's Army (KPA) was held at the April 25 House of Culture on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Supreme Commander of the KPA Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, was present at the meeting.

Also present there were Hwang Pyong So, Pak Yong Sik, Ri Yong Gil and other commanding officers of the KPA and exemplary military education officers, teachers and employees of military education institutions and officials of merit in the relevant field.

KPA Vice Marshal Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, made a report at the meeting.

The reporter said:

“The great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il hewed the arduous path at the outset of the Songun revolution and in this course founded the Juche-oriented idea and theory of military education and wisely led the struggle for embodying them, thus performing immortal feats which would go down in the history of the development of revolutionary armed forces.

Their idea of the Juche-based military education and educational tradition are being successfully carried forward and developed on a new high stage under the wise leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un.”

The reporter called for bringing about a radical turn in military education true to the noble intention of the Supreme Commander who provided a big assembly of military education officers to be specially recorded in the history of army building and thus usher in a new heyday in bolstering up military muscle.

The report was followed by speeches of KPA generals and officers.

Kim Jong Un made an important speech at the meeting.

In his speech he highly appreciated once again the achievements the military education officers have made in the military education in the past and indicated tasks and ways for improving and strengthening the military education as required by the developing reality by thoroughly implementing the Party's policy of making a revolution in military education.

He noted that military education is a very important and responsible work for training core and backbone elements of the KPA and patriotic one of lasting significance for the development of the revolutionary armed forces and the prosperity of the country.

The great leaders always paid deep attention to strengthening military education in the whole period of founding and leading our revolutionary armed forces and energetically led the work for consolidating the core base of the KPA by channeling great efforts into military education even in the period of the most rigorous trials, he added.

He stressed that if the KPA is to creditably discharge the noble mission and duty it assumed before the era and history, it should bolster up the military capability in every way by thoroughly carrying out the Party's policy of making a revolution in military education.

Pointing out that the aim of the said revolution is to usher in the greatest heyday in boosting the military capability by decisively raising the qualitative level of military education as required by modeling the whole army on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, he said that the Party hopes at present to see the KPA duly become a model and a pace-setter in the society in the education and the work of training talents.

It is the duty of military education for the military schools at all levels to train all cadets as the strongest in thinking and the sense of moral obligation who absolutely trust and follow and devotedly defend our Party and field commanding officers and persons of ability capable of skillfully organizing and commanding modern operations and combats, he emphasized.

The seed of the revolution in military education is to build up well the ranks of teachers of military schools at all levels, decisively raise their responsibility and role and the said revolution is, in essence, the work for bringing about a radical change among teachers, he said, and went on:

The main link in the chain efforts for making the said revolution is to arouse great enthusiasm for learning among cadets and they are main players in the said revolution.

The main thrust of the said revolution is to effect steady innovation in the contents and methods of education. It is necessary to focus efforts on improving educational contents and methods as required by the era and developing revolution.

In order to thoroughly implement the Party's policy of making a revolution in military education it is necessary to improve the educational administration and regularize and standardize the management and operation of schools.

He underscored the need to properly establish the system of guidance over military education, raise the responsibility and role of guiding officers and improve the Party's guidance over the military education.

A letter of pledge to him was adopted at the meeting.

Political News Team