The Year 2011 and Prospect of Korea's Building of a Thriving Nation

The Year 2011 and Prospect of Korea's Building of a Thriving Nation

Naenara

"Bring about a decisive turn in the improvement of the people's standard of living and the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country by accelerating the development of light industry once again this year!"-this is the slogan of the Korean people published in the New Year's joint editorial of Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi, leading newspapers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The joint editorial of the year 2011 is run through with a stronger faith and higher confidence than ever before. It is clearly evidenced by such expressions as "a year of new prosperity," "a year of general offensive, when a radical turn should be brought about in the building of a thriving nation," "Korea does what it is determined to do," and "The gates of final victory are in sight."

Noteworthy in the joint editorial is that it has set forth a task of raising the people's standard of living to the level appropriate to a great, prosperous and powerful country and appealed to the whole country to give top priority and concentrate everything to the sector of light industry.

The year 2011, the DPRK's joint editorial notes, is a year of light industry.

In recent years the country has built modern light-industry factories, splendid producers of consumer goods serving as models in the new century at great cost. Last year alone there have been newly built or reconstructed in Pyongyang, capital of the DPRK, such factories as the women's hosiery workshop at the Pyongyang Hosiery Factory, Pyongyang Flour Processing Factory, Pyongyang Cornstarch Factory and Sonhung Foodstuff Factory. This year they will keep their production running at a high level and turn out in large amounts goods competitive on the world market.

This country also plans to direct continuous efforts to putting the production of consumer goods on a modem, scientific basis, while pressing ahead with the upgrading of light industry, not partially but in an all-round way, not on an ordinary standard but on a standard of cutting edge, and with a sight set far ahead into the future. The upgrading of light industry will be carried on effectively by employing the finish-one-by-one method upholding the torch of a revolution in local industry General Kim Jong Il kindled while visiting Changsong in a mountainous, northwestern area in November last year, a nation-wide campaign will be launched to put the local-industry factories on a modern basis and run them at full capacity by tapping all the locally available raw materials. Under prevailing circumstances in which shortage of raw materials is impeding the global economic development, the DPRK's efforts to bolster up their local industry by filly relying on domestic materials and resources are catching particular attention of the international community.

It is also evident in this country that public and nation-wide concern for light industry designated as a major front in this year's general offensive is being heightened. It is expected that eye-opening successes will be brought about in the sector of light industry this year.

The joint editorial of the DPRK is linking the matter of conducting a lull-scale offensive in the overall economic front directly with that of improving the people's standard of living.

The Workers' Party of Korea calls upon the officials and working class in the vanguard sectors of the national economy, the sectors of basic industry, to become the starting fire in making the flames of the great upsurge flare up more fiercely in improving the people's standard of living.

The leading sectors of the economy, such as coal-mining, electric-power, metal and chemical industries and railway transport, will concentrate their efforts to consolidate their material foundations and boost production, thus lending powerful stimulus to the improvement of the people's standard of living.

The agricultural sector will drastically boost unit-area grain yield by thoroughly implementing the Party's policies of seed revolution, double cropping, revolution in potato farming and soybean farming, and actively introducing advanced farming methods and techniques including organic farming. State investment in this sector will also be increased radically..

The joint editorial put forward the task of accelerating to the maximum the construction of the Huichon Power Station, the coal gasification project in Hungnam. the construction of 100,000 flats in Pyongyang and other major construction projects which are being set up as monumental structures for people's happiness.

Lt was set as an important way to hasten the speed of the development of the overall economic construction that all sectors should surpass in the shortest time the scientific and technical standards the world has reached and stand in the van of the age of knowledge economy on the basis of experience of having secured supremacy in the CNC technology. It was also stressed that the principle of self-reliance should be applied thoroughly and economic management be undertaken in a scientific and profitable way and in line with the socialist principles.

Besides, this year will witness greater efforts being made to spruce up the overall looks of the country as appropriate to a thriving nation in the sectors of education, art and literature, public health, the sports, land development and city management.
In general, the DPRK has demonstrated its will through the joint editorial to hold fast to the improvement of the people's standard of living as the most important issue, the highest goal of its struggle.

As it has already secured the position as a politico-ideological and military power, it will be called in name and reality a great, prosperous and powerful nation if it becomes an economic giant and improves its people's standard of living. The Korean people have already declared that they will open the gates of a thriving nation within 2012, the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung, founding-father of socialist Korea.

Their building of a thriving nation has entered a decisive stage. It is reflected in the Koreans' slogan in the joint editorial, "Bring about a decisive turn in the improvement of the people's standard of living and the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country by accelerating the development of light industry once again this year"

***

Characteristics of the DPRK's Economic Development

Naenara

The economic development of the DPRK which set the target of building a great, prosperous and powerful country by 2012 attracts the world's attention. The successive events of epochal significance witnessed in the country over the recent years provide a glimpse of the characteristics of its economic development.

The country turns its economy into a knowledge-intensive economy relying on cutting-edge technologies it has developed by its own effort.

Turnover to a knowledge-intensive economy by way of labour-intensive and resource-intensive economies is a formula of economic development recognized worldwide. However, the country is building a knowledge-intensive economy skipping the economic steps under the slogan "Break through the cutting-edge."

Its scientists and technicians developed CNC technology, a once exclusive property of a few countries, by their own efforts and perfected its own CNC system. Based on this success, they developed the integrated production system by means of computer and 9-axle machining centre in a short span of a few years. The CNC machine tools factories of the country turn out many standard and high-performance CNC machine tools which are well-reputed on domestic and international markets.

Successes have been registered in software industry. The country's scientists demonstrated its great potential in software industry by developing a Korean version of computer operation system. The software developed in the country is highly popular among its users for its original conception and profitability.

Bioengineering, nano engineering, nuclear and space technologies have made rapid progress.

Also worthy of note is the fact that the country's economy goes low-carbonic and green. A typical example is the Huichon Ryonha General Machine Factory updated last year. It is a factory of green architecture type which is rare in the world. The factory occupying an area of tens of thousands of square metres is designed to adjust the temperature of its shop floor of hundreds of thousands of cubic metres by means of natural energy. Its ceilings, walls and skylights are made with adiabatic materials. It is air-conditioned by means of underground water; in winter the underground water of 10-15¨℃ is heated up to 40-50℃ through heat compression and in summer it is used to cool off the place. The energy consumed to keep the temperature suited to working conditions and ensure assembly precision is said to be one-twenties less than in the past.

The Tanchon Magnesia Plant located in the eastern part of the country produces a wide variety of building materials including refractory and roofing materials which absorb carbon dioxide and thus help to prevent global warming.

The DPRK perfected a new iron production system in conformity with the era of the low-carbon and green economy. As it does not need some production Lines of the previous method, the system made it possible to reduce the amount of the emission of carbon dioxide to a considerable extent and save a large amount of coal and electricity.

The agricultural sector, too, is developing in line with the requirements of the era of the low-carbon and green economy. The government encourages organic farming and directs close attention to establishing food production cycle between the agricultural and stockbreeding sectors and fruit-farming and stockbreeding sectors. The sewage disposal method independent of external electric power, an ecological method, was developed and is being introduced in rural villages. This method is advantageous in that heat, methane gas, protein feed and organic fertilizer are produced in the course of sewage treatment. Over the recent years the country laid three large-scale gravitational waterways that can be called non-carbonic and environment-friendly projects eclipsing the low-carbon policies of the developed countries. The construction of the waterways made it possible to provide sufficient water to fields, stockbreeding-farms and fish farms while saving a large amount of electricity.

Another important thing in the economic development of the DPRK is that it develops its economy in the direction of further consolidating the independent nature of the economic foundations based on its own raw and other materials.

The steel industry established in an all-round way a new production system which is free from the use of coke and scrap iron. The chemical industry changed its structure into that relying on limestone and coal which are abundant in the country. The system of producing fertilizers by means of coal gasification was created in place of oil-fed production system. A new vinalon production line by using limestone and anthracite was established. February 8 Vinalon Complex is now producing 420 kinds of chemical goods including carbide, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and plasticizer, basic materials of the chemical and light industries, as well as vinalon.

The successes achieved over the recent years in the DPRK which has built up the foundations of its independent economy for scores of years constitute a great asset for the country to develop the economy in a stable and sustainable way in spite of any worldwide resources crises or economic upheavals. Herein lies the reason why the tenacious economic sanctions and blockade of the US-led imperialist allied forces against the country cut no ice with it.

***

Sturgeons to the Sea, Korea toward the Global Standards

Naenara

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has recently reported that it has achieved a complete success in freshwater and seawater farming of sturgeon, the peak of the fish culture, thus being thrust into the limelight of the world.

The Ryonjong Fish Farm was newly built for breeding sturgeons around the Ryongjong Spring on the western coast of the country. Hundreds of litres of quality water gush otit from the spring: The farm affords a fine view of more than 160 fish ponds, indoor hatcheries and frying ponds, water filtering beds, shops for producing assorted feed and protein feed, a general supervision room and others. Fish ponds outside are supplied with fresh water of 13-14¨¡C through water recycling system, and they are teeming with tens of thousands of delicious fishes of ten-odd species, such as sturgeon, rainbow trout, and char, some of them weighing over a hundred kg. It has established computer-controlled automatic monitoring system for the major production lines, the farm compound and inside ponds, and the real-time survey of water quality, thus ensuring the supply of oxygen and feed on a scientific basis.

The Ryongyon Seashore Fish Farm in this country has succeeded in acclimatizing to seawater sturgeon and rainbow trout artificially bred in freshwater. It is now known in the world that sturgeon farming in seawater is possible only in low-saline water. However, Korean technicians have succeeded in the fish farming in the seawater of more than 30%salinity, thus raising sturgeon farming to the highest level. Based on the acclimatization of sturgeon to seawater, they have set up net-like ponds in order to meet the actual conditions Thanks to this new method, farming of sturgeon, rainbow trout and other species of fish has become possible in any areas along coastline, the wonderful reality of sturgeon farming in seawater clearly testifies to the spirit and mettle of Korea that is leaping toward the status of a great, prosperous and powerful country, pushing back the frontiers of science and technology. Now the Korean people have achieved the world-class successes in the field of space, nuclear, nano, bio-engineering, CNC and other technologies, bringing about one eye-opening success after another in the building of a thriving nation and improving of the people's standard of living.

Leader Kim Jong Il of the DPRK has set it as one of major features of a great, prosperous and powerful socialist nation to make the people live well with nothing to envy in the world. To this end, he advanced the plan of supplying his people with rare, delicious fishes such as sturgeon, and also the ways and means for its realization. He saw to it that modern fish farms were built in Sinchang, Kujang, Ryongyon and various other areas in the country, and a delicacy house newly established under the Okryu Restaurant, a famous public service base in downtown Pyongyang. so as to serve delicacies from around the world including sturgeon dishes.

Some time ago he gave field guidance at the Ryongjong Fish Farm and the Ryongyon Seashore Fish Farm. He was greatly satisfied that a valuable base was established for improving the people's standard of living, and set forth new tasks for developing the country's fish farming as required by the building of a thriving nation.
Sturgeon goes to the sea and Korea catches up with the global standards epitomizes present reality of Korea and its future.

The day is not distant when the Korean people will achieve the status of a thriving socialist country which has strong national power, and in which everything prospers and the people live well with nothing to envy in the world.

***

Architecture of Korea

Naenara

In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea many architectural structures, including the 100,000 flats in Pyongyang, are under construction, drawing greater international interest in the Korean architecture.

In this country architecture thoroughly serves the people, and all the architectural structures are built for the benefit of the masses of the working people
It is the consistent policy of the DPRK government to build every structure it an industrial one, like a power plant and factory, or public catering one, like a theatre, cinema and hospital --- by giving top priority to meeting the convenience of the people at the highest level.

Based on this policy, many public buildings, including the North Hamgyong Provincial People's Hospital, Okru Restaurant, Pyongyang Grand Theatre and North Hwanghae Provincial People's Study House have been newly constructed or undergone renovation. And now 100,000 flats are under construction in Pyongyang to be completed within 2012, the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994). The newly built apartment houses in Mansudae Street and at the foot of Haebang Hill in Pyongyang serve as a model of housing construction in this country, as they are furnished at the highest standard and compatible with the sentiments and customs of the Korean nation and with the requirements of the new century.

The Taedongmun Cinema renovated and opened to public in June 2008 is a typical example of the policy of giving priority to the people-oriented nature in architecture. Located in the central part of the capital city, the cinema is a perfect art work. The pillars in and out of the structure, wails with relief decorations, sculptures and even the formation of the entrances are in perfect harmony, presenting an excellent formative and artistic representation; its spacious and splendid foyer, floors and stairs are all covered with elaborately cut granite slabs it is also provided with all the highest-standard conditions for enjoying film screen, and visual. One moviemaker from a Western country looked round the cinema and said, "Even my country with developed economy and high cultural standard has no such a grand cinema as this, What is more incomprehensible to me is that this excellent cinema is a service facility for ordinary people".

All the architectural structures in this country are being constructed at a fast speed, the speed beyond imagination of the people of other countries.

Rational structures are being designed, and advanced building methods introduced in order to ensure their solidity and high speed in building work. The builders, scientists and technicians engaged in the construction of the Huichon Power Station, one of major projects in the building of a thriving nation in the DPRK, have introduced a series of new construction methods by pooling their wisdom and efforts, thus making it possible to finish within three years the gigantic project, which would take more than ten years in former days. The soldier-builders have recently completed in less than four months the construction of the State Theatre in Pyongyang.

By adhering to the principle that highest quality as well as fast speed should be ensured in construction, architectural structures in this country are being built to be of lasting significance.

Achievements in modern science and technology are widely applied in all spheres of construction work, leaving nothing to be desired even in the distant future. Efforts are steadily made in architectural and construction fields to apply multi-functional, up-to-date and ecological features to structures. Majon and Hyangsan hotels built in scenic resorts in this country boast of their magnificent appearances, evoking admiration of everyone and offering a glimpse into a part of the development achieved by the Korean architecture.

In Korea every architectural structure assumes monumental character, representing the contemporary period.

The Party Founding Memorial Tower built in Pyongyang in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (October 10, 1945) portrays the emblem of the WPK in an architectural way through the vertically standing hammer, sickle and writing brush in the fists of a worker, a farmer and an intellectual, providing a symbolic meaning of the mettle of the WPK in steady progress, while the girdle around them gives a visual presentation of the single- hearted unity unique in the Korean society.

The Taegyedo Tideland reclaimed in the summer of 2010 is another exemplary project of lasting value. The project was designed and carried out to reclaim 8,800 hectares of tideland for comprehensive and rational use in farming, fish-breeding and salt production, unaffected by any tsunami or wave. The blueprint for the project was awarded Kim Il Sung Prize, and the enterprise in charge of the project Order of Kim Il Sung, top prize and order in the DPRK.

The formative and artistic features are now being applied in an all-round way in architecture.

Architectural forms and spaces are selected in conformity to the requirements of the 21^st century and aspirations and ideological sentiments of the people and at the same time sculpture, fine and technical arts, decoration, colouring, illumination and other artistic devices are under wide application. Applied in the recently built structures, including the e-library and swimming gymnasium at Kim Il Sung University are unique architectural styles and various artistic means, and they are built at a high level, thus becoming typical of well-blended formative and artistic features. The delicacy house under the famous Okryu Restaurant in the DPRK was constructed in 2010. It adopts the Korean-style appearance, roofed with Korean blue tiles, to match in external views to the neighboring ones; however, the interior is decorated in a splendid and modern way befitting its character of serving rare, Korean and world-famous delicacies such as those cooked with sturgeon and terrapin.

As for the construction of the 100,000 housing flats under construction, designers and builders are giving special attention to ensuring formative and artistic beauty in building formations, layout of parks and pleasure grounds, and landscaping.
While looking round the newly built apartment houses at the foot of Haebang Hill and the renovated Pyongyang University of Dance in November 2010, Kim Jong Il stressed that the policy of the WPK to make architecture formative and artistic should be consistently carried out.

Related Topics: Special Supplement receive the latest by email: subscribe to weekly blitz's free mailing list