DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF

KOREA Juche 91 (2002)

(No.545) 2

“For his leadership ability and

character and for his loyalty, devo-

tion and achievements, Comrade

Kim Jong Il has earned the people’s

respect and love as well as high

prestige as their leader.”

Kim Il Sung

CONTENTS ☆Birthplace at the Secret Camp on Mt. Paektu ………………1 ☆Great Leadership, Immortal Achievements

☆Brilliant Victory, 53 Goals ……………………………………28 ☆The Land of South Hwanghae Province Changes ……………30

Brilliant Inheritance………………………………………4 ☆February Is Spring …………………………………………6 ☆People’s Father ……………………………………………8 ☆Precious Treasures …………………………………………12 ☆Reverence Reflected in Kimjongilia ………………………16 ☆New Year Performance ……………………………………18 ☆The Leader and the People

• The Loyal Ranks ……………………………………22 • For More Success in Research ………………………24 • Higher and Faster ……………………………………24 • The People of Huichon ………………………………26

☆Realizing the Plan for Building a Powerful Nation ......27

☆Following the Torch of Ranam Technical Modernization and Production …………………32 ☆The 300th Set of Triplets …………………………………34 ☆Cooperation Strengthened …………………………………35 ☆Friendly Ties Grow Stronger …………………………………35 ☆Introduction of Information Technology in Land and Environment Protection …………………………………36 ☆Sincere Devotion to Patients …………………………………37 ☆Flower of Talent ………………………………………… 38 ☆Come to Pyongyang! ………………………………………… 39 ☆Swan Geese of the Mundok Migratory Bird Reserve ……… 40

FRONT COVER:Leader Kim Jong Il acknowledges the enthusiastic cheers of the People.

Pictorial KOREA is published in Korean,English, Chinese, French and Russian.

Leader Kim Jong Il’s birthplace at the secret camp on Mt. Paektu.

The interior and kitchen of the log cabin and wellspring.

The leader’s birthplace is visited by many people from Korea and abroad.

Mt. Paektu (2,750 m) is the highest and most majestic mountain in Korea.From ancient times, it has been known asthe ancestral and celebrated mountain ofKorea.

A log cabin lies close to Jong Il Peak, awonderful outcrop of cliffs amidst thethick forest. Leader Kim Jong Il was bornin the log cabin, and spent the early part ofhis childhood there.

In the latter half of the 1930s and thefirst half of the 1940s several secret campsstood around the secret camp on Mt.Paektu, where the headquarters of theKorean revolution was situated. Locatedin the forest of the mountain, theheadquarters was the nerve centre of theKorean revolution as a whole.

In those days, Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese heroine, came to the secret camp

Commander Kim Il Sung of the KoreanPeople's Revolutionary Army and carriedout energetic military and political activi-ties from it.

The log cabin was built near the head-quarters by the small unit members.

Staying in the log cabin for a long time,Kim Jong Suk familiarized herself withthe state of the revolutionary organizationsand went to those in the northern part ofKorea, and in the northeastern andsouthwestern areas of Mt. Paektu, givingguidance to the work of expanding andstrengthening the Association for theRestoration of the Fatherland, the work offounding the party and the work of all-people struggle for the country's libera-tion.

In those historic days, the secret campgreeted an event bringing unprecedentedhappiness to the nation.

On February 16, Juche 31 (1942),Kim Jong Il was born in the log cabinunder the blessing of the whole nation.

His birth was a bright sunrise promisingthe completion of the revolutionary causeof Juche started by President Kim Il Sung.It was the glory of Korea and a source ofgreatest joy to the Korean people.

Inheriting the blood of a patriotic andrevolutionary family and receiving thesoul of Mt. Paektu, Kim Jong Il grew upto the sound of gunfire in the flames of theanti-Japanese war and the blizzards of Mt.Paektu as his lullabies.

At his birthplace in the secret camp,relics from that period are preserved,including a desk, binoculars, a woodenpistol, a lamp and a wellspring providingcrystal-clear water in all four seasons.

A lot of people from both Korea andabroad visit the log cabin at the home ofthe revolution and the Korean people, theplace from which Korea of today grew.

Article: Jo Kyong Chol A dazzling display of fireworks spreads in the sky over Jong Il Peak in celebration of the leader’s birthday in February.

Kim Jong II, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman ofthe National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic ofKorea and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, on the tribuneof honour at the military and civilian parade to celebrate the 55th anniversaryof the Workers' Party of Korea.

Great Leadership, Immortal Achievements

Brilliant Inheritance The Korean people have travelled the road toward

the completion of the revolutionary cause of Juche.

Following the President, who continuously made on-site guidance tours throughout the country from his youth,Kim Jong Il has energetically advanced the work of the

idea, the Juche idea, was firmly defended as the guiding idea of theKorean revolution.

Kim Jong Il published On the Juche Idea and many otherworks to enrich the Juche idea with new principles and content, inkeeping with the demands of the times and the development of therevolution, deepening it in an all-round way.

The leader ensured that the President's policies were thoroughlyembodied in all aspects of the revolution and construction.

He exalted Korean-style socialism, centred on the popularmasses, wisely leading all fields of socialist construction, such aspolitics, the economy, culture and military affairs.

Kim Jong Il advanced the revolutionary slogans that inspiredthe nation, including “Meet the requirements of Juche in ideology,technology and culture!” and “Let us live our own way!”, andestablished mass movements such as the Three-Revolution RedFlag Movement, thus defending and developing the socialist causeof Juche.

In the 1990s, President Kim Il Sung passed away unexpectedlyand the imperialists viciously attempted to stifle the DPRK. In thegrim days when the Korean people had to carry out the “ArduousMarch” and forced march, Kim Jong Il led the whole Party, theentire army and all the people towards the completion of therevolutionary cause of Juche.

He put forward the slogans “The great leader ComradeKim Il Sung will always be with us” and “Arm ourselves morefirmly with the revolutionary ideas of the great leader ComradeKim Il Sung!”, and ensured that Kim Il Sung was revered as theeternal leader of our Party and people, inspiring the masses toimplement the President's instructions.

He put forward the army-centred revolutionary line andtravelled the road of army leadership to bring the Korean People’sArmy into an invincible army, thus firmly safeguarding thesocialist country, an estate left by the President.

He also opened the way of becoming a powerful nation,breaking the deadlock in socialist economic construction, andmade socialism the eternal life and soul of the Korean people.

As they have Kim Jong Il as the head of the revolution, theKorean people are filled with the confidence that the revolutionarycause of Juche will be surely achieved.

Article: Kim Hyon Thae

President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il.

Paraders give enthusiastic cheers as they look up at leader Kim Jong Il.

The road, full of victory and glory despite the unprecedentedly arduous Korean revolution, is marked by the immortal achievements of leader Kim Jong Il, who defends firmly the revolutionary cause of Juche and carries it forward brilliantly.

The revolutionary cause of Juche is the cause of national independence, the cause of Korean socialism, started and led by President Kim Il Sung.

Kim Jong Il, together with the President, has led the Korean revolution with a far-reaching will to carry for-ward and complete the cause through the generations.

Party, military affairs and socialist construction. The leader and the President were always together

over dozens of years of thinking, planning, creation andbuilding, travelling the harsh road of the revolution handin hand. In the course of this journey, Kim Jong Il set as themost important task the adherence to and development ofthe previous leader’s ideas in carrying forward therevolutionary cause of Juche. He conducted his ideologi-cal and theoretical activities with unusual research andvigour, and ensured that the President’s revolutionary

Spring in the hometown evokes deep emotion and

memories in everybody. Many people recite their favouritepoems about spring in their hometown, full ofunforgettable memories.

day on which Kim Jong Il was born, filling listeners with deepemotion.

The Korean people had writhed shedding tears of sorrow overthe loss of their country to the Japanese imperialists.

February Is, Spring

Scenes from the artistic performance and mass gymnastics to celebrate the February holiday.

Now the Korean people regard the birthplace of leaderKirn Jong Il at the secret camp on Mt. Paektu as their dearhome, the place where the spring of Korea began and abright future opened. They sing a song telling thatFebruary, when Kim Jong Il was born, is spring time.

The frost glitters in the forest of larch trees. But warm spring sunrays streak through the window. We greet spring in the garden of the native home

At the secret camp on Mt. Paektu in February.

The above is part of the song February Is Spring(written by Cha Myong Suk and composed by Jon Kwon). Every paragraph of the song refers to the historic February

Though spring came every year, the ice remained in theirhearts.

The birth of President Kim Il Sung, the sun of Korea, atMangyongdae, Pyongyang, and the birth of Kim Jong Il in Mt.Paektu, the ancestral mountain, ushered in the spring of Korea,melting the frozen hearts with warm sunlight.

That spring is forever part of their history as the spring ofKorea and the spring of people.

Kim Jong Il is the spring sun shining over all the people, asource of affection and happiness for them.

Therefore, the Korean people regard Kim Jong Il’s love asspring sunlight, and themselves as flowers under it. And so theysing that February is spring.

Article & photos: Jo Un Song

Leader Kim Jong Il is warmly welcomed by the people.

Houses for workers andfarmers have been builtacross the country.

The Korean people unanimously call leaderKim Jong Il their father, such is their respect forhim.

It is a manifestation of their ardent reverencefor Kim Jong Il, who has devoted all his effortsto the Korean revolution for nearly 40 years, aperiod characterised by the great love and trusthe has for the people.

Kim Jong Il regards “The people are my God”as his maxim. Whenever he puts forward a new

A baby is born in discharged soldiers’ village in Taehongdan County.

tions. He even granted a discharged soldier's wife'srequest to name her future baby.

On his on-the-spot guidance tours to rough mountainpasses in Jagang Province, Kim Jong Il made his carstop and spent many hours on the road with a roadmaintenance worker, posing for a photograph with herfamily.

He visited newly-built houses in Poman-ri, SohungCounty, and asked masters to write a letter to him whenrice was boiled by electricity, saying that it wasexcellent to be able to cook and heat the home usingelectricity.

When a rural woman in Kangwon Province deliveredtriplets, Kim Jong Il took a measure to send a helicopterin order to allow the babies and their mother to be caredfor at the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital.

Kim Jong Il’s paternal love for the People’s Armysoldiers who defend the motherland is limitless.

Saying that he should go anywhere the soldiersare stationed, he visited the hills at the front,

Part of the Youth Goat Farm in Hamhung City.

policy, he always considers the demands andaspirations of the people. Wherever he goes, beit towns or villages, factories or farms, his firstconcern is for the people's interests and well-being.

All his thoughts and activities focus on thewelfare of the Korean people.

The policies set by the Workers' Party ofKorea and the state over the decades arepermeated with Kim Jong Il’s strong sense ofmorality, for he has devoted himself toproviding genuine rights and bountiful lives tothe people.

Kim Jong Il himself put forward the present-day slogan of the WPK, “We serve the people!”

Saying that he should call on every placewhere the people are, Kim Jong Il crossedmountain passes without hesitation and called onoily workshops without reserve, sharing joy andsorrow with the people.

When the country endured harsh ordeals inthe period of the "Arduous March" and forcedmarch in recent years, Kim Jong Il’s primaryconcern was for the people.

In that difficult period, he guarded themotherland by destroying the imperialists'vicious moves to stifle the DPRK with army-centred policy, and became the people's leaderand supreme commander, always willing toshare life and death with them. During the personal guidance tour of Taehong-dan County in the northern area of the country,he visited discharged soldiers and their families,showing sincere concern for their living condi-

Modern chicken farm and instant noodle factorymaintain high levels of production.

crossing dangerous passes and sailed across raging seasto give his warm love to them.

However difficult the country's circumstances mighthave been, he made sure that the Party and the state paidclose attention to the people's lives and insisted thatpopular policies such as free medical care and freeeducation were constantly maintained.

It was Kim Jong Il who proposed the grand plan forland realignment and the building of basic foodstufffactories in every province.

The measures taken to build new chicken farms andcatfish and other fish farms were the result of hisinstructions. No one was more delighted than the leaderto hear that their products were being provided to thepeople.

Kim Jong Il is truly a benevolent father who takes thegreatest pride from devoting all his efforts to the peopleand finds his greatest pleasure in their well-being.

Article: Kim Thae HyonCatfish are raised according to scientific standards.

A fish farm in Poman-ri, Sohung County.

Large quantities of basic foodstuffs are turned out for the population.

Gifts Presented to Leader Kim Jong Il

Precious Treasures Visitors to the International Friendship Exhibition.

Silver kettle, cups and tray presented by presidentVladimir Putin of the Russian Federation.

The glass mosaic “Woman” presented by Fidel Castro Ruz, president of the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba.

The large double-faced piece of embroidery presented by JiangZemin, general secretary of the Central Committee of the CommunistPart of China and president of the People’s Republic of China.

A silver container presented by King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.

The ivory sculpture “The Sunshine of theGuide” was presented by an African president. Heensured that the best ivory in his country was cho-sen to make the work, which represents the desireof the people to follow the leader.

The work “Mt. Paektu at Sunrise”, made ofshells of various colours collected from 16 coun-tries over one year period, the stone sculpture“Five Horses”, symbolizing the five continents,elaborately-made portraits, congratulatorybanners, wall hangings reflect the feeling ofrespect for Kim Jong Il.

The gifts also illustrate the tremendousadmiration that exists for the leader'sdistinguished ideas, leadership skills andvirtue.

A prominent Italian presented the goldenportrait “The Dear Leader ComradeKim Jong Il”, depicting the great man whodefined the Juche idea as the guiding idea ofthe times. It was given in praise of his exploitsas a prominent thinker and theoretician.

The adherents of the Juche idea inNicaragua presented a marble sculptureinscribed with a quotation from thesecond part of Kim Jong Il’s work

The International Friendship Exhibition onMt. Myohyang, a celebrated mountain of Korea,preserves gifts presented to PresidentKim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il by the headsof state, party leaders, renowned figures ofpolitical and public circles of various countries,fellow countrymen in south Korea and abroad.

On display at the exhibition are tens of thou-sands of gifts presented to leader Kim Jong Il.

The gifts reflect the great reverence for theleader as the sun of the nation and the lodestar inthe era of independence.

Precious Treasures

On the Juche Idea, saying that hisachievements in synthesizing andsystematizing the principles of the Juche ideawill shine forever in the history of humankind. A carving from an indigenous colour persim-

mon tree called "The Sun of Juche Shines All overthe World" was presented by the head of the CentralAfrican Republic. The sun symbolizes the leaderwho develops and enriches the Juche idea and itsrays symbolize his leadership of the era ofindependence.

Many gifts, including "Saddle" from the head ofstate of Libya, "Spear" from the former head of stateof Rwanda, the large-sized wall hanging "Steed on

Mt. Paektu", the wooden engraving "A LionTamer", the book "On Sun Zi's Art of War", longswords, guns and other gifts have been offered inrecognition of Kim Jong Il as the illustriouscommander. The copper handiwork "Three-horse Sledge"sent by a delegation from the former Soviet Unionin admiration of the achievements of Kim Jong Ilwho leads the Korean revolution to victory,

Visitors see the gifts presented to leader Kim Jong Il.

A gold ring, desk lamps and porcelain vasespresented by Umberto Ortiz Flores, manager of theVoluntad Publishing House of Ecuador. A metal engraving presented by Vishwanath,

director general of the International Institute ofthe Juche Idea.

A leather document support and albumpresented by the Rev. Billy Graham, areligious leader of the United States, and hisfamily.

A long sword presented by the United Confederation ofKoreans in Sakhalin, Russia.

Horn craftwork “Peafowls” presented by the General Association of Korean Residents in China.

A precious sword presented by So Yong Ja, advisor andgeneral director of the Shenyang Jixing ExternalEconomic Trading Company in China.

Oil painting and picturealbum presented by ChoeHong Hui, president of theInternational Taekwon-DoFederation.

Gold and silver spoonsand chopsticks presentedby Jong Ju Yong,honorary president of thesouth Korean HyundaiBusiness Group.

upholding the banner of the three revolutions-ideological, technological and cultural, thesculpture "A Man Weathering through a Storm"and the stonework "Eight Spirits" reflect thefeelings of admiration for Kim Jong Il, a greatmaster in the art of leadership.

A pair of shoes made of horsehair, presentedby the Cambodian King to Kim Jong Il, who

makes continuous on-the-spot guidance trips forthe people; the double-faced piece of embroideryand the book "The People's Son" from a formersenior official of the Central Committee of theCommunist Party of China to Kim Jong Il on hisfirst visit to China; the craftwork "Pine Tree" fromthe former head of state of Mozambique; the high-quality massage chair and an automatic control

bed from a Japanese corporation; and other giftsreflect the presenters' wish for Kim Jong Il’s goodhealth in praise of his personality as a great man.

The display of these rare and valuable giftsincreases the feeling of reverence for Kim Jong Ilof Korean and foreign visitors to the exhibition.

Article: Kim Jong Sam

Quartz cup presented by a delegation fromthe Unified Communist Party of Italy.

A silver tea set presented by a Syrian soloist.

Desk craftworks and picture frame presented by adelegation from the Righteous Force Party of Thailand.

Kimjongilia is a flower of rare beauty. Itbelongs to the begonia family, producing aglossy and crimson flower.

It made its first appearance in February Juche77(1988) on the occasion of leaderKim Jong Il’s birthday.

Kimjongilia was a new variety of flowerraised by Kamo Mototeru, master of the KamoNursery in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture,Japan. Kamo devoted heart and soul to thecreation of the flower for over 20 years, with thedesire to hand down to posterity the name of agreat man revered by people of the world.

He studied the biographies of the great menof the world in search of a name for the flowerthat had taken over 20 years to create.

In the course of his research, he read theimmortal classic works of Kim Jong Il andbooks commenting on his greatness, and hecame to have a respect and reverence for him.

This was how the flower came to be namedKimjongilia.

More than ten years have passed since then,and Kimjongilia has spread throughout theworld.

Kimjongilia hothouses have been opened inChina, Mongolia and Madagascar, and the JapanKimjongilia Appreciation Society, theMongolian Kimjongilia Association and theNorth European Kimjongilia Associationformed.

Kimjongilia gained further fame at the 1999Kunming International Floricultural Expositionin China. The exposition was participated in by69 countries and 26 international organizations,and Kimjongilia was awarded the Grand Prize,the highest award possible and a diploma.

Visitors to the exposition were quoted as say-ing, "It is the first time for us to see such abeautiful and large flower. It can be said that itrepresents a revolution in the area of floweringplants being introduced in the world." They didnot leave the place by taking photographs andvideotaping.

At the 12th International Flower Show heldin the then Czechoslovakia, Kimjongiliareceived high praise from visitors, who said itwas "the most beautiful flower in the world" and"a symbol of loyalty and ardour". It won thegold medal and special prize. The flower was also commended at the North

People from all strata of society look round the Kimjongilia Show.

European Flower Show held in Sweden in March Juche84 (1995).

Saying that Kimjongilia could not be compared withother flowers, the vice-president of the MongolianUniversity of Oriental Philosophy declared that it is theflower of great man, only named after His ExcellencyKim Jong Il.

The general secretary of the World Federation ofDemocratic Youth said that though many countries andnations exist in the world, only the Korean people havesuch a precious flower bearing the name of a great man.

The magnificent Kimjongilia Show is held inPyongyang every year on the occasion of Kim Jong Il’sbirthday.

The show is visited by many foreigners and overseasKoreans, and they pay unstinting praise, as well asshowing ardent reverence, for Kim Jong Il.

Kimjongilias are now raised with great care by manypeople, both in Korea and abroad.

Several thousand Kimjongilias have been taken homeby people of all walks of life from more than 100countries during the last ten-odd years.

Kimjongilias are now in full bloom, sending forththeir fragrance around the world.

Article: Kim Jong Ho

Kimjongilia blooming in the compound of the Kirov Plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, raised by its employees with great care.

Foreigners look round the Kimjongilia Show.

d to how.

The DPRK exhibition hall at the 1999 Kunming International Floricultural Exposition in China.

The prize for excellence awarded to Kimjongilia at the Jilin Provincial Flower Exposition in China.

The Grand Prize and a diploma awarded toKimjongilia at the 1999 Kunming InternationalFloricultural Exposition in China.

Kamo Mototeru of Japan, who created Kimjongilia.

The prize, gold medal and certificate awardeKimjongilia at the 12th International Flower S

New Year Performance

A new year performance, "Prides of the TwelveMonths", was given at the MangyongdaeSchoolchildren's Palace in Pyongyang on January1, Juche 91 (2002).

Schoolchildren performed colourful art pieceson the stage, full of happiness and joy at learningto their heart's content and growing up stoutlyunder the care of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The performance began with song and dance"Happy new year". In it, the schoolchildrensincerely offered their new year greetings to leaderKim Jong Il who is firmly defending socialistKorea and brilliantly accomplishing the cause ofbuilding a powerful nation with his army-centredleadership, the trusty sword ensuring vic-

tory, fully reflecting their best wishes. They warmly congratulated fathers and mothers

across the country upon their great success inbuilding a powerful socialist country, firmlyrallied behind Kim Jong Il, adding brilliance to thearmy-centred era. The repertoire included solo accompanied byoungum ensemble "We will add brilliance toJong Il Peak through ages", national musicinstrument ensemble and song "April holiday, theDay of the Sun", duet and chorus "Greetings to theGeneral who returned after a long journey", folksolo "Greater happiness awaits", dance tale givenby Korean kids in Japan titled "The greatest housein the world", male chorus "The torch of Ranam

lights the whole country", and gymnastic dance"Our hearts are with Mt. Paektu".

The performers showed in their beautiful songsand graceful dances the unshakeable belief of theKorean people that this year will be a year full ofvictory and glory, just as the last year was, thanksto Kim Jong Il’s guidance and Korea will becomea powerful nation in the new century.

They demonstrated with their optimistic outlookthat they are preparing themselves to be ablefuture workers, learning to the full under the careof Kim Jong Il.

A new year performance of workers took placeon December 31 last year. Dance tale given by Korean kids in Japan titled “The greatest house in the world”. Folk solo “Greater happiness awaits”.

Doll dance “My intimate friends”. Dance “Playing with balsams”. Dance “Joy of reunification, our joy”.

National music instrument ensemble and song “April holiday, the Day of the Sun”.

Duet and chorus “Greetings to the General who returned after a long journey”.

Mt. Paektu’s Hyangdo Peak at sunrise. Photo: Kim Yong Nam

The Leader and the People

The Loyal Ranks “Let us undertake both the defence of the countryand the building of socialism!” This is the unanimouswill of the soldiers of the Korean People's Army whofirmly defend the socialist motherland.

The revolutionary spirit, filling the whole armyfrom white-haired generals to young soldiers, reflectstheir firm determination to take the lead in supportingleader Kim Jong Il's army-centred leadership.

In recent years the Korean people have under-gone trying ordeals due to the imperialists' moves toisolate and choke their country.

In the days when the very existence of socialismwas threatened, Kim Jong Il put forward the uniquearmy-centred revolutionary line, based on therevolutionary philosophy that the army is the Party,state and people. He labelled the KPA the pillar andmain force of the revolution.

Thanks to the leader's great trust, the soldiers ofthe KPA grew into a-match-for-a-hundred com-batants and the whole army became full of intenseloyalty to him.

With the pledge "Defend the supreme headquar-ters of the revolution headed by the great ComradeKim Jong Il at the cost of our lives!" all the soldiersbecame human bullets and bombs to guard theleader. They implemented the leader's orders at any

Soldiers are full of resolve to safeguard the headquarters of revolution with their lives.

People's Army soldiers reliably defend the country's security and dignity.

cost and firmly defended the sky, land and seas of the motherland against the manoeuvres of the imperialists without the slightest vacillation.

The KPA soldiers were the first to embark on the task of implementing Kim Jong I1's plan to build a powerful nation.

Full of the determination to build a strong and prosperous nation at any cost, they built the Anbyon Youth Power Station, Rimjingang Power Station No. 1, the second stage of the Chongryu Bridge, Kumnung Tunnel No. 2 and many other power stations, as well as factories, enterprises, and fish and chicken farms.

As the standard-bearers in supporting Kim Jong I1's army-centred revolutionary leadership, they continue to undertake both the defence of the country and the building of socialism.

Article & photos: Kim Hyon Song

People help the army as they would be their own flesh and blood.

Soldier-builders play an active role in socialist construction.

Pyongyang citizens warmly welcome soldiers in training.

The Leader and the People

Researchers at the Mathematics Institute of the Academy of Sciences discuss their work.

Higher and Faster

Young people play the role of vanguardand shock brigade in building theDemocratic People's Republic of Korea intoa powerful nation.

Labour Hero Ri Se Il, head of the FourthBrigade of the Speed Campaign YouthShock Brigade of the Kim Il Sung SocialistYouth League, burns with youthful ardour.

The Mathematics Institute of the Academy of Sciences has long focussed on the studyof basic theories, mathematical models and calculus, the tasks set for it at the time of itsestablishment. But it is now broadening its research into areas such as basic mathematics,applied mathematics, dynamics and program technology, in line with the present globaldevelopments.

Thirty laboratories, including an analytics laboratory, serve as bases for research. Academicians, professors and doctors make up nearly 50 percent of the research

group. The institute has made a great contribution to the solution of scientific and techno-logical problems arising in different fields of the national economy, upholding theWorkers' Party of Korea's policy of attaching importance to science for the past 50 yearssince its foundation.

Despite the severe shortages during the period of the "Arduous March" at the end oflast century, the researchers achieved great success in the studies into techniques forexamining mechanical vibrations, establishing observation and control systems forcomputerized production processes, mathematical models of industrial furnaces, and thequality and logic of partial differentia equations, displaying the spirit of self-reliance andfortitude.

Last year, they developed computer programs for continuous sound-recognition andnumerical sound-recognition by applying the technology of sound-recognition programand developed the technique of document information processing to make manyprograms.

The achievements they have made in this area are being introduced into productionprocesses through trials.

Kim Tae Gon, deputy head of the institute, said that over 40 research discoveries madelast year proved beneficial to more than 30 key factories and enterprises.

The practical application of their work provides evidence of the fact that researchers at the institute dedicate all their efforts and wisdom to the building of a powerful nation.

Article & photos: Choe Won Chol

Academician, Professor and Dr. Ri Jae Gon.

He has always been a standard-bearer in thecountry's key development projects.

During the period of the "Arduous March"and forced march, his brigade madeextraordinary achievements in building theYouth Hero Motorway.

Conditions were very difficult, withmachinery, equipment and tools in short supply.

On top of that, most of the young builderswere new to road construction, and the managerslacked experience.

They had to construct three bridges, layseveral thousand metres of road and buildnumerous underground structures.

Ri called upon the young builders towork with the conviction, "As the Partydecides, so we do!"

His careful organization and practicalexamples in all jobs inspired the workersto carry out the project ahead of schedule.

They carried earth with jute bags,knapsacks and carts to build the roadbed.

The most difficult project the brigadefaced was the building of a bridge in win-ter. Ri was the first to throw himself intothe icy water, giving great encouragementto the young workers. He also took the

lead in gathering sand and gravel. When the railway project between Wonsan

and Mt. Kumgang and major industrialprojects in Pyongyang were being pushedforward, Ri ensured that the young peopledemonstrated the honour of being thevanguard and shock brigade in building astrong and prosperous nation.

Ri has continued to take the lead in anumber of recent industrial projects in order topush the country's development, upholding thetorch of Ranam lit by leader Kim Jong Il.

Article & photos: Choe Ju Gang

Ri Se Il maps out a plan of operation and directs the construction effort in a big way.

The imformation processing laboratory.

Labour Hero Ri Se Il, head of the Fourth Brigade of the SpeedCampaign Youth Shock Brigade, who made greatachievements during construction of the Youth HeroMotorway.

ing

Realizing the Plan for Building a Powerful Nation

Ri Yong Thae is the chief secretary of theHamhung City Committee of the Workers'Party of Korea.

In the period of the "Arduous March",factories and enterprises in Hamhung, anindustrial city, lacked electric power, fuel andmaterials. The citizens suffered from foodshortages.

During that time leader Kim Jong Il wasdevoting his all to defending the sovereigntyof the socialist motherland and building apowerful nation, maintaining army-centredleadership.

Ri Yong Thae was fully aware that hisduty was to inspire the people of the city toovercome the difficulties they faced and con-tribute to the building of a powerful nation.

A stubborn man of practical ability, RiYong Thae is someone who can fully embodythe leader's ideas and intentions.

The terraced power stations on the RiverSongchon, a raw material base and the YouthGoat Farm in Hamhung City, conceived andbuilt in those difficult days, are now provingtheir worth in the new century. Ri Yong Thae has always accomplished theleader's goals, mapping out plans in a bigway. While looking round the factorieswhich had been forced to suspend pro-duction, he realized that electricity had to

be generated before anything else. He immediatelyproposed to build power stations on the RiverSongchon.

Ri Yong Thae also advanced plans to reclaimwild land along the seashore for agricultural use,something nobody had dared to do in the past, andsuggested turning the deep and rugged uninhabitedvalley in the Sangchang area into a goat farm.After several consultations he pushed ahead withthe projects.

He told the people of the city about thesignificance, ways and order of priority forconstruction, instilling in them confidence andcourage. Sharing board and lodging with thebuilders, he took warm care of them. When anembankment collapsed, he was the first to throwhimself into the river to block the hole with hischest. He also took the lead in breaking the rockson mountains and opening a route to the valley,instigating young people to the work through thenight.

Live not merely for today but for tomorrow!This is Kim Jong I1's outlook on the future.

Ri Yong Thae supports the leader's philosophywith an enterprising attitude toward work. Hemade strong demands upon the builders to ensurethe quality of all the structures, and also insistedon the most modern methods and designs, pro-ducing results that will be considered absolutelyperfect even in the 21st century.

Thanks to his tireless efforts, power stations,embankments, pens and processing bases at stock-farms, houses and welfare service facilities werebuilt faultlessly.

Many people, including Ri Yong Thae, carriedout the leader's plans with revolutionary faith andclear conscience during the toughest of times.Thanks to them, an unprecedented upsurge wasbrought about in production and construction inHamhung. The people of the city are now workingharder than ever to contribute to the creation of apowerful nation, following the example of theworkers of the Ranam Coal-mining MachineComplex.

Article & photos: Kim Kum Jin

Ri Yong Thae, chief secretary of the Hamhung CityCommittee of the Workers' Party of Korea, is realizingthe Party's plan with stubborn determination andpractical ability.

brought food shortages and electricity cuts,causing untold trouble to the people of thecity.

The population were forced to choosebetween defending the red flag of socialismor surrendering to a life of colonial slaveryagain. They chose to fight it out at the riskof their lives, and managed the factories,workplaces and villages while surviving ongrass and tree roots as substitute food.

Leader Kim Jong Il's on-the-spot guid-ance at Huichon City in June and OctoberJuche 87 (1998) provided great strength andencouragement to the people.

He praised them highly for having con-tinued production and construction

despite the difficult conditions, upholding the slogan "Push ahead through the thorny path in high spirits!", and illuminated the road ahead for Huichon.

Inspired by the leader's instructions, the whole city came alive. The Huichon Machine-tool Factory man-ufactured several hundred machine tools in only two or three months, thus making a great contribution to the development of the machine industry in the DPRK. The Huichon Silk Mill produced dozens of tons of good-quality silk thread every year. Other factories and enterprises raised production standard with the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and fortitude.

Public service facilities, including theHuichon Hotel, took responsibility for producingmeat and eggs and rendered assistance to theindustrial workers and technicians.

Under the guidance of the city committee ofthe Workers' Party of Korea, the citizens builtseveral hundred houses at locations across thecity, including the Songji Cooperative Farm,carried out dozens of kilometres of road andriver improvements and planted hundreds ofthousands of trees over 4,800 hectares, thuschanging the appearance of the area. They alsobuilt minor power stations and vigorouslyadvanced the construction of goat, rabbit

and fish farms. Within two or three years, the city hadbeen transformed.

The spirit of people of Huichon drew the admirationof people throughout the country, leading them in theheroic struggle.

Despite their success, the people of Huichon are notresting on their laurels.

A new upsurge in production is currently takingplace.

Workplaces are filled with the spirit of guarding theleader with one's life and the revolutionary spirit ofimplementing the Party's policy at any cost, followingthe example set by the workers of the Ranam Coal-mining Machine Complex. Article & photos: Jo Kyong Chol

The Leader and the People

The People of Huichon

Workers processing rotary equipment.

A city stands at the confluence of theRiver Chongchon and the River Huichon.The place is Huichon City, Jagang Province,surrounded by beautiful mountains.

It is a centre of the machine industry andan industrial city. The area was one of themost seriously affected during the period ofthe "Arduous March".

The imperialists' moves against theDPRK and consecutive natural disasters

At the Huichon Machine-tool Factory.

Good-quality silk thread is producedat the Huichon Silk Mill.

Staff at the Huichon Hotel serve working people ussupplies the themselves produced.

Brilliant Victory, 53 Goals

DPRK team wins the 13th Asian Women’s Football Championships. Chief Coach Ri Song Gun.

Captain Jo Song Ok, the winner of the MVP Prize.

Ri Kum Suk, the "scoring queen"

Jin Pyol Hui, labelled a "star" of the women's football world.

The DPRK won the 13th Asian Women's FootballChampionships, held in Chinese Taipei fromDecember 4 to 16 last year.

The Korean women notched a string of victories inthe championships, which involved 14 countries andregions. Over the course of the competition theyscored a total of 53 goals, an all-time high in 24-yearhistory of the Asian Women's FootballChampionships.

They overpowered opponents from Guam 19-0,Vietnam 4-0 and Singapore 24-0 at the group stage.

No team had ever scored 24 goals in a single matchin the past championships.

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Ri Kum Suk got the first in the 67th minute, withRi Un Gyong sealing victory with a deflected free-kick from 22 yards. The Japanese were unable toreply, and the 2-0 win gave the trophy to the Kore-ans.

Jo Song Ok, the Korean captain, was awarded theAsian MVP Prize and Ri Kum Suk, who scored

15 goals, was crowned "scoring queen" of thechampionships.

The Korean people gave a warm welcometo the champions on their return home afterbringing honour to the motherland.

Article & photos: Ra Phyong Ryol

The Korean team then edged Japan 1-0 in thfinal group match to enter the semifinals as winnersthe group.

A 3-1 victory over China, which had won the Aschampionships many times, took them into the finThere they faced a rematch with Japan.

The Korean women had trained hard, overcomall sorts of difficulties with revolutionary faith and win the grim period when the country was on "Arduous March" and forced march due to imperialists' attempts to isolate and suffocate country.

Full of confidence in victory, they took the initiatfrom the kick-off. The Japanese were desperate to gain revenge for thedefeat in the group match between the two, but theywere unable to break the Korean women's strong hoon the game. Two second-half goals were the rewardfor the DPRK's determination and skill.

The Land of South Hwanghae Province Changes

The land realignment project continues tomake brisk headway in the Democratic People'sRepublic of Korea.

As a gigantic nature-harnessing project tomake a countryside befitting socialism, it offersthe prospect of an increase in grain output,despite the limited area of arable land in thecountry.

Small plots of land have already beenrearranged into large standardized fields inKangwon and North Phyongan provinces,changing the face of rural areas.

The second stage of the giant project is nowunderway after the successful completion of thefirst stage in South Hwanghae Province. Trac tors and bul ldozers a re in fu l l

operation in Yonbaek, Orori, Jonjin, Nae-dong and other plains in South Hwang-haeProvince, the breadbasket of the country.

The target of realigning 100,000 hectaresof land in South Hwanghae Province hasnearly been reached allowing theconstruction part of the project tocommence. Shock brigade members from nationalbodies, provinces, cities and counties andPeople's Army soldiers take part in theproject. Among them are Labour Heroes andinnovators who performed brilliant feats inthe land realignment projects in Kangwonand North Phyongan provinces, gaininggreat experience in the process.

The builders cherish a deep respect forand loyalty to leader Kim Jong Il, who hasinspected the land realignment sites onseveral occasions to give instructions,showing great concern for the workers andgiving them belief.

Recalling the leader's efforts to makeSouth Hwanghae Province a paradise for thepeople, shock brigade members fromPyongyang and the provinces are hard atwork, full of confidence and vigour,upholding the torch of Ranam, a fresh torchof the 21st century.

South Hwanghae Province will take on anew appearance in spring this year.

Article & photos: Jin Yong Ho

The work to carry out the tasks set in the joint editorial published by Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingunand Chongnyonjonwi is pushed forward to achieve constant success in the land realignment project.

Kim Kwang Son’s family at the site of the land realignment project.

During a break.

Following the Torch of Ranam

Technical Modernization and Production The Rahung Concrete Sleeper Factory, a key

factory in the development of the country'srailway transportation, is pushing forward withthe modernization of equipment in order toincrease the production of sleepers. Leading officials are bravely carrying outthe upgrading work at the sleeper,

repair and maintenance, railway and otherworkshops. Workers and technicians at the factory builta rolling mill in a short period of time by theirown efforts, allowing the production ofdifferent materials and round steel of varioussizes in great quantity and of high quality.

They improved existing equipment to enablethe integration of operations at the factory.They increased output by 70 percent through atechnical reconstruction program. The sleeperworkshop has also achieved great success, andall workshops have made strenuous effortsto modernize equipment according to the

factory's long-term plan. A control machine was installed in the

streamlined sleeper production process to enable amajor enhancement in quality. The ongoingtechnical reconstruction continues to bring about agreat change in production at the factory.

Article & photos: Kim Jong Ung

Workers at the Rahung Concrete Sleeper Factory bring about an innovationin production, emulating the manner of work shown by the workers of theRanam Coal-mining Machine Complex.

ssion to the DPRK.

f Korea entered thend has strengthenedyears since. as opened in Novem- a new phase in theO. in the treatment ofrld. PRK, the WHO hascent years. rea of immunization,e paralysis, and in the prevention and

instruments and lab-ns and demand, and technical data in line

WHO has been the providing training inr fields. Short coursesbroad is now beingelds. its assistance to thesmallest units. quipment, and techni-

cal short courses have been given to medical workers. Eigil Sorensen, representative of the WHO mission to the DPRK, said: "I'm

pleased with the fact that a good public health system has been established in anorderly manner in the DPRK to make the specialists be immersed in their work.Please give my thanks to the Korean people. We will continue to pay the closestattention to the treatment of worldwide diseases and focus everything on thatwork. We will manage the regional mission well, in close contact with the DPRKgovernment, and through it, will strive to positively carry out all WHO plans effi-ciently."

Article: Kim Tong Sik Photos: Kim Chol

A library at the mission.

Cooperation Strengthened

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the birthplace of President Kim Il Sung at Mangyongdae.

They held talks with officials of thePyongyang City People's Committee onmatters of mutual interest.

While taking a sightseeing trip aboard the"Pyongyang" No. 1 pleasure boat on the RiverTaedong they were given an introduction tothe significant buildings and residential areasbuilt on the banks of the river.

Commenting on his visit, Muzykantskisaid: "This i s the f i r s t t ime for a l l o fus to come to Pyongyang. To be

honest, I was very impressed by the harmonybetween the buildings and the areas thatsurround them. Everything we see is an eye-popping novelty, such as Kim Il Sung Squarewith the Grand People's Study House at theback, the sky-high Tower of the Juche Ideaand the mammoth residential complexes ofunique architectural designs, like Kwangbokand Thongil streets."

The guests later enjoyed a performancegiven by schoolchildren of Moranbong SeniorMiddle School No. 1 in Pyongyang. Theskillful singing of Korean as well as Russiansongs held the audience spellbound.

ng City People's from Moscow.

Posing for a photograph with pupils of Moranbong Senior MiddleSchool, a sister school of Moscow 1127 Middle School.

provided with the best possible medical care. They were provided with all sorts of tonics and

nutritious food and all four recovered their healthunder the care of an able medical team.

The first triplets are now cared for at the provincialnursery school.

When Sin gave birth to the second set of triplets,the state again arranged for her to be taken to thePyongyang Maternity Hospital before four months andthen gave special treatment to her and her babies fortheir health.

Sin now receives support from many people underthe socialist system that values people above all else.

Article & photos: Kwon Hyok CholSin Yong Ok receives the devoted care of a medical worker at Pyongyang Maternity Hospital

Committee and members of a delegation

Sin Yong Ok’s new triplets-two sons and one daughter. They averag

The Pyongyang Maternity Hospital witnessed the

birth of its 300th set of triplets on December 10 lastyear, the first year of the new century. Making the event all the more pleasing was the factthat the mother, Sin Yong Ok (35), had given birth toanother set of triplets just eighteen months previously.

Sin, who lives in Tonghung-ri, Kim Hyong GwonCounty, Ryanggang Province, gave birth to twodaughters and one son in June Juche 89 (2000). InDecember last year, she gave birth to two sons and onedaughter. The mother's health is very good and the

triplets Sin s

bouquetWhen tof recenable to g

Sin iHer husthe sam

Leadin a moDespiteexperienforced mthe babPyongy

Sin Yong Ok, a farmer at the Tonghung Cooperative Farm in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province.

e 2.28kg in weight.

are doing well. aid to the many visitors bearing congratulatorys: "I feel like I am living in a dream right now.he country was experiencing the harsh ordealst years, I could not imagine that I would beive birth to triplets."

s a farmer at the Tonghung Cooperative Farm.band, Hwang Chang Un, is a tractor driver ate farm. er Kim Jong Il was informed of the first birthst out-of-the-way village in an alpine region.

the tremendous difficulties the countryced in the period of the "Arduous March" andarch, the leader took measures to ensure thaties and their mother were taken to the

ang Maternity Hospital by helicopter and

Eigil Sorensen, representative of the WHO mi

The Democratic People's Republic oWorld Health Organization in 1973 acooperation with the organization over the

The mission of the WHO to the DPRK wber last year. It marked the beginning ofrelationship between the DPRK and the WH

The WHO has a wealth of experienceinfectious and other diseases around the wo

Maintaining close relations with the Drendered assistance in various fields over re

It has been actively involved in the aincluding a campaign against infantilsupplying necessary medicines for bothtreatment of illness.

The organization also provides medicaloratory equipment according to conditiosupplies the latest medical equipment andwith developments in modern medicine.

Another area of great concern to thedevelopment of medical workers' skills bymodern medical practice in their particulaare organized for them and training aprovided for key workers in core medical fi

The WHO has recently strengthened community medical service, especially the Many have been supplied with basic e

Friendly Ties GroAmid the strengthening of ties betwee

the people of the DPRK and Russia in receyears, a delegation from Moscow headed bAlexander Muzykantski, minister oInformation and Social Policy of the CiGovernment, visited the DPRK November last year.

During its stay in Pyongyang, thdelegation visited the Kumsusan MemoriPalace to pay homage to PresideKim Il Sung, who lies in state at the palace.

The guests also looked round severother places in the capital, including

Talks between officials of the Pyongya

,

Medical workers at the orthopedic laboratory of the Kim Man Yu Hospitaldevote themselves to treating a patient.

Letters frequently come to the orthopedic

laboratory of the Kim Man Yu Hospital. A while ago Ri Kwan Mo, a farmer from

Sadong District, Pyongyang, and Ri JaeHyok at Han Tok Su Pyongyang Universityof Light Industry sent letters of thanks to thelaboratory. They had recovered aftersuffering seriously broken arms withoutoperations.

The laboratory was only recently estab-lished, but its staff have already achievedsuccess in their research, always keeping inmind leader Kim Jong I1's instruction thatthe work of improving the health of thepeople is the most important task of medicalworkers. The introduction of lever-style bone-setting equipment and external bone-set-ting apparatus has proved very effective

in treatment. The medical workers healed dozens of

patients who had missed the period of naturalbone-joining by using new, efficient methodsof treatment.

They laid down a criterion for the indi-cations of operation and found how to readjusta broken bone in different conditions by usingmodern functional diagnostic equipment. Afunnel-style setting technique was introducedto treat previously incurable breakages ofcervical vertebra, a development highlyappreciated by patients.

Master Ko Jae Ryun, the head of thelaboratory, who has been a medical worker forover 20 years, said that devotion to peopleresulted in such success.

Article & photos: Pyon Chan U

Careful examination is performed.

Measures are taken to prevent forest fires and flood damage using satellite photographs.

Officials at the Ministry of Land and Environment Protection discussenvironmental protection.

Computers are being actively introduced in the survey of land resources.

Environmental protection is the primeconcern of all humankind.

A policy of preserving the nation's richresources and clean environment is earnestlycarried out in the Democratic People's Republic ofKorea.

In the difficult period when the country was onthe "Arduous March" and forced marchenvironmental protection remained a key statepolicy, and scientific methods and new technologywere introduced in the work.

The information service system has beenfurther expanded, with information databasesincreased at the Ministry of Land andEnvironment Protection and its affiliated units.

The nationwide computer network and localnetworks in several affiliated units have beenlinked.

Managers have acquired a high level of skill ininformation technology.

Land management and environmentalprotection have become further modernized.

The Hydro-Meteorological Service was linkedwith the computer networks to establish anmonitoring system to prevent forest fires and flooddamage using satellite photographs.

Computers have also been introduced in thesurvey of land resources.

The forestry information service system hasbeen used in the drawing-up of afforestation plansto push forward the planting of suitable species oftrees.

The improvements have opened up brightprospects for the protection and effective use offorest resources.

Article & photos: Jin Ju Song

Introduction of Information Technology in Land and Environment Protection

rgy and talent totive instruction

from Hye Ryon. with her to noteal times. grew, the richer

olos in a year. a letter to Kime for a momenteing.

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ractise hard to masterusic, while arranging

cle: Kim Hye Hui tos: Choe Song Uk

The mass gymnastics and artistic performance & Arirangwill be performed by some 100,000 people. The display ofwonderful, kaleidoscopic scenes and ever-changing,spectacular backdrops, extra-large screens and laserilluminations are combined artistically to create anunforgettable show. Once you see it, you'll have a strongurge to see it again. The monumental masterpiece will bestaged from the end of April to the end of June at the MayDay Stadium in Pyongyang. Don't miss it!

A girl hurried home holding her guitar to her chestafter finishing an afterschool lesson at the music circle. At first glance she appeared quiet yet energetic. Thegirl was Song Hye Ryon, a fifth grade pupil at Pyong-

Under the guidance of a teacher at the school.

yang Taehung Senior Middle School. She is famous for having a distinguished musical

talent. She receives musical training from ardentteacher Im Hwa Ok at the school and from SongKuk Hwan, her strict father, at home. Her father isan artist at the Tourist Souvenir Exhibition.

She sometimes did her homework and musicalpractice under her father's guidance. Now she isexamined by her father in playing a piece of musicwhich she has newly arranged, as required by thecreative teaching of Im Hwa Ok.

She has played the guitar since her primaryschooldays when she acted as a sub-branchchairperson of the Children's Union organization.Her hard work and perseverance proved fruitful.

She took part in the annual nationalschoolchildren's recital contest in Juche 89 (2000).

Appearing on the stage with self-confidence andcomposure, she immediately attracted the attention of theaudience and judges.

When she began to play the guitar, you could haveheard a pin drop in the theatre. The sound was perfect,with richness, clear tones, and a graceful resonance.

The judges ranked her the best performer, declaringthat she was equal to a professional guitarist.

Despite receiving thunderous applause and congratula-tory bouquets, she told herself that she was still far from alevel high enough to give pleasure to leader Kim Jong Il.

Song Hye Ryon, a pupil at Pyongyang Taehung Senior Middle School, is a talented guitarist.

Hye Ryon is bent on studying.

The teacher developed her burning enea new stage. She introduced new, creamethods which demanded strenuous effort

Hye Ryon always carried music paper down her inspirations on the street or at me

The more her desire to meet the leaderher fruits of creation became.

She arranged as many as 50 guitar sSelecting five of them, she sent a tape andJong II so that he could relieve his fatiguduring his hard work for the people's well-b

The leader greatly appreciated the girlher famous across the country.

Cherishing the honour, Hye Ryon tookagain at the national schoolchildren's re

Hye Ryon is coached by her te

last year. Hye Ryon continues to p

instrumental and vocal mmany more guitar solos.

Arti Pho

With her friends.

Swan Geese of the Mundok Migratory Bird Reserve

The Mundok Migratory Bird Reserve

lies on the lower reaches of the River Chongchon (Tongrim-ri and

Ryongo- ri in Mundok County), next tothe west coast of Korea.

The area is one of the major restingpoints for migratory birds in northeastAsia.

It is used by white cranes with redchests, white-naped cranes, bustards, swangeese and other birds.

A total of 169 different kinds of birdhave been observed in the area.

According to a survey conducted from

February 20 to April 10,more than 18,000migratory birds were observed in theperiod.

The reserve covers an area of 3,000hectares. The annual average temperatureis about 9°C and annual average pre-cipitation is about 1,100 mm.

The reserve is noted for the large num-bers of swan geese that use it.

The birds are similar to geese and areconsidered a rare species in the world.During one year's movement over 5,000 ofthe birds were spotted. Their wings are 462 mm wide on aver

age, the tails 150 mm long and the beaks93 mm.

They reach the reserve in late Octoberand hunt for food in the tideland, lakesand rice-fields. When spring comes theystart to move once again.

Thanks to the state's policy on preserv-ing nature, special attention is paid toprotecting the swan geese. As part of afar-sighted plan to increase their numbers,the authorities have worked to create anideal habitat for the birds.

Article & photos: Kim Jong Chol

BACK COVER:Thaw of the Sobaek Stream. Photo:Ri Chun

Published by KOREA PICTORIAL Editoin Board. Address: Sochon-dong, Sosong District , Pyongyang Printed at the printing plan of the Foreign Languages Publishing House.