Kim Jong Un Attends Photo Op with Participants in Light Industry Workers’ National Meeting

Cover of the 20 March 2013 edition of the Korean Workers’ Party daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun

 

Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un and members of the central leadership with participants in an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers at the People’s Theater in central Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 19 March (Tuesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended a commemorative photo session with participants in a national meeting of industrial workers held in Pyongyang on 18 March (Monday).  KJU’s last reported public appearance was at the national meeting of light industry workers.  Attending the photo-op with Kim Jong Un were Choe Yong Rim (DPRK Cabinet Premier), Kim Kyong Hui (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Department Director and KJU’s aunt), Kim Ki Nam (KWP Secretary and Director of Propaganda and Agitation [publicity and information]), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ro Tu Chol (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman), Pak Pong Ju (Director of the KWP Light Industry Department), Ri Mu Yong (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier) and the chief secretaries of KWP Provincial Committees and chairmen of Provincial People’s Committees.

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph on 19 March 2013 with other members of the central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers pose for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un and other members of the central leadership in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said, “the meeting loudly sounded the drive on the front of the light industry for improving the people’s living standard and made the torchlight for innovations kindled in the light industry furiously flare up for a fresh leap forward in agriculture and all economic sectors” and “warmly congratulated the participants on having successfully carried out their work with high enthusiasm and active participation and had a photo taken with them.”  KJU also “expressed belief that working people, officials, scientists and technicians in the field of light industry and related fields playing important roles in improving the people’s living standard would perform their duties for developing the light industry as required by the building of a thriving socialist nation.”

Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un, members of the DPRK central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK Premier Visits Sports Village and Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute

DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim (4th L) tours the Basketball Gymnasium at the Chongchun Sports Village in Mangyongdae, Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 11 March (Monday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim visited the Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute and the reconstruction of the Chongchun Street Sports Village.  Choe’s first visit was a tour of the Water Culture Greenhouse at the Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute where learned about vegetable farming during the winter and “underscored the need to put the cultivation of vegetables on a scientific basis.”  Choe convened a meeting with officials and according to KCNA “discussed there were measures for relevant units to positively supply raw materials needed for normal operation of the institute and to raise the performance of geotherm pumps and rationalize manpower management.”

Choe Yong Rim also toured the reconstruction work at the Chongchun Sports Village in Mangyo’ngdae, Pyongyang, a project recently initiated by Kim Jong Un.  He visited the Basketball Gymnasium, Table Tennis Gymnasium.  According to KCNA Choe “underscored the need to successfully remodel the village as required by the new century” and “stressed that to successfully remodel the village into a comprehensive sports and cultural center is an important work to carry out the behests of the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and instruction of Kim Jong Un and discussed the measures for relevant sectors to rise up in this work.”

 

Kim Jong Un Watches Archery Competition and Tours the Youth Street Sport Village in Pyongyang

Kim Jong Un (4th L, seated) watches a woman’s archery competition between archers of the 25 April Sports Team and the Amnokgang Sports Team. Also in attendance are Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (L), Jang Song Taek (2nd L), VMar Choe Ryong Hae (3rd L) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 8 March (Friday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) watched an archery competition and toured the Chongchun (Youth) Street sports village in Mangyo’ngdae in western Pyongyang.  KJU’s last reported public appearance was his field inspection of two island defense units in the West (Yellow) Sea.  Kim Jong Un’s first visit was to watch the archery competition between the 25 April Sports Team [Group] (of the Korean People’s Army [KPA]) and the Amnokgang Sports Team [Group] (of the Ministry of People’s Security).  At this visit he was joined by VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the KPA General Political Department), Jang Song Taek (Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC]), Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Ri Yong Su (Director of the KWP Workers’ Organizations Department), Kim Yong Hun (Deputy [Vice] KWP Department Director) and Ri Jong Mu (Minister of Physical Culture and Sports).

Kim Jong Un first inspected the archery equipment used by the archers during the competition.  KCNA reported that he “to come close to him and examined their bows and arrows with deep attention” and “asked them which is good and bad in using them and about their impact on the results of matches in detail.”  According to KCNA he said “success largely hinges on what apparatus one uses in archery as the case is the same with all other sporting games, underscoring the need to provide best apparatuses to players” and “told officials to pay deep attention to archery events and take measures for the sufficient provision of such apparatuses as bow and arrow.”  KJU watched men and women’s team competitions and “praised the players whenever they hit bull’s eyes in the targets, saying ‘Excellent.’”  The 25 April Sports Team won the team competition.  He watched men and women’s individual competitions and “was very satisfied whenever players got high marks.”  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said “An archery game is an interesting and amusing one, adding that one feels exceptional pleasure when seeing a player hit the bull’s eye in the target.   Archery is just the same as shooting event.”

KCNA reported that “when Kang Un Ju of the April 25 Defense Sports Team gained 30 points by releasing three arrows, he [KJU] appreciated her good archery” and Kim Jong Un remarked that “She can give a good account of herself in an international game, too, with such skill.”  The 25 April Sports Team won the individual competition.  According to KCNA Kim Jong Un said “that watching the matches, I came to have confidence that archers of the DPRK can surely emerge winners in international games including Olympics in the future” and he “stressed the need to round off the archery technique and tactical system of Korean style and scientific training methods to intensify the training and, at the same time, provide archers with archery apparatuses suited to their physical constitution.”  KJU “expressed expectation and belief that archers, coaches and officials of the April 25 Defense Sports Team and the Amnokgang Defense Sports Team would develop archery event and achieve good successes in international games” and posed for commemorative photos with the archery competitors of both teams.

Kim Jong Un (foreground, R) inspects the Basketball Gymnasium in the Chonsgchun Street Sports Village in the Mangyo’ndae District in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un’s next visit was tour around the Chongchun Street Sports Village.  In attendance were VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Song Taek, Gen. Hyon Yong Chol, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik, Ri Yong Su, Kim Yong Hun, Ri Jong Mu and KWP Deputy (vice) Department Directors (with design and construction portfolios) Ryang Chong Song and Ma Won Chun.  KCNA reported that KJU toured the sports village, first constructed in 1985 and finished in 1988, with the intention to renovate it “as required by the new era because it has positively contributed to the country’s development of sports and sports exchange with different countries.”  His first stop was to the basketball gym.  He inspected the basketball courts and locker room and “stressed the need to take proper measures for improving sound-arresting and heating devices and remodel all the facilities to meet the need of gymnasium.”  His next visit was to the Table Tennis (ping pong) hall where he learned about the tables and other facilities.  KCNA reported “saying that the luminous intensity is low, he stressed the need to reinforce lighting to suit games and watching” and “said that the gymnasium should have sufficient facilities for indoor broadcasting.”

A view of sites visited by Kim Jong Un during his tour of the Chongchun Street Sports Village (Photo: Google image)

Kim Jong Un also toured the weight lifting hall where he “he stressed the need to remodel well the gymnasium so as to make weightlifting one of the successful events in the future, too.”  According to KCNA Kim Jong Un said “It is important to make a good design for updating the gymnasium” and “the need to consult a lot of worldwide data on sports facilities before working it out.”  He also toured a commissary and learned “in detail about what kind of service players receive there, what kind of food they like best and the issues to be settled to improve the service at the restaurant.”  KJU said “there is nothing to spare for sports persons as they glorify the honor of the country at international games and bring national pride and self-confidence to the people.”  Kim Jong Un’s final stop was a tour of the Sosan Hotel.  He toured its restaurant and examined several guest rooms.  According to KCNA,  KJU “underscored the need to remodel the hotel as a modern one capable of providing good service to sports persons and spectators” and “specified tasks to officials concerned.”  Kim Jong Un said “it is an important work for bringing about a radical change in sports of the country to successfully remodel the sports village as required by Military-First (So’ngun) Era.  Everything should be calculated carefully to update the village” and he “ he listened to views of sports officials.”

KJU also “specified one by one issues arising in establishing a good system for managing sports facilities after remodeling the sports village and in ensuring the regular operation and management of the gymnasiums and their regular repair.”  According to KCNA Kim Jong Un said “It is the firm resolution of the WPK to turn the country into a sports power and it is a sacred work for realizing the noble desire of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il” and expressed his “belief that the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports and the relevant fields would successfully remodel the sports village into a comprehensive sports and cultural centre impeccable in any aspect in a short period.”

Choe Ryong Hae Inspects Construction of Wading Pool in Pyongyang

VMar Choe Ryong Hae (L) tours the construction of the Munsu Wading Pool in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 9 February (Friday) that VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department, visited the construction of the Munsu Wading Pool in Pyongyang.  The construction of the wading pool was initiated during a ceremony (attended by Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Kim Kyong Sik), KPA officers and service members on 8 February (Thursday) after “Kim Jong Un gave a series of earnest instructions on building the Munsu Wading Pool at the behest of leader Kim Jong Il and called on the army to undertake the project and demonstrate its might as the army of the party and the people once again.”  During his visit Choe “encouraged soldier-builders who are making innovations in the construction of the wading pool true to the behest of leader Kim Jong Il and the order of the dear respected Kim Jong Un.”  He toured the construction site and “acquainted himself in detail with issues arising in the construction and took measures.”  According to KCNA Choe Ryong Hae  ”stressed that it is the mission of the army of the party and the revolutionary army to implement the order of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un to the letter,” “told commanding officers to take good care of their living” and “called on all soldier-builders to give full play to the spirit and stamina of the revolutionary army in the project to bring Kim Jong Un’s love for the people into full bloom.”

DPRK Premier Visits Steel Production Site and War Memorial Museum

Choe Yong Rim (2nd L) tours renovation construction work at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War ) Museum in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 24 January (Thursday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim visited a steel production unit at Ch’o'llima Steel Complex and toured the renovation work at Victorious Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) Museum.  Choe first visit was a tour of Steel Shop #1 at Posan Steel Works, a unit of the Ch’o'llima Steel Complex located between Pyongyang and Namp’o.  According to KCNA during a meeting with the factory officials “it was underscored. . .to ensure materials needed for repairing furnaces of the Works in order to increase the steel production, and to transport raw materials.”  Choe later toured construction work renovating the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in central Pyongyang.  The renovation was initiated by Kim Jong Un during the summer of 2012 and is scheduled to be completed for the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War’s active hostilities which falls in July 2013.  Choe “ learned in detail about building operation in various construction sites including open-air exhibition” and “encouraged the soldier-builders who were making innovations in the construction of interior after finishing the frame of the museum true to the noble intention of the dear respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un.”  Choe convened a meeting with management and Korean People’s Army [KPA] personnel involved in the renovation.  According to KCNA “at the meeting organization work of relevant units to satisfactorily produced and supply building materials was made.”

Choe’s visit to the museum construction, after the country’s supreme power organization the DPRK National Defense Commission  issued a statement that the country has initiated an “upcoming all-out action” involving a  ”a variety of satellites and long-range rockets which will be launched by the DPRK one after another and a nuclear test of higher level” is no accident.  It is buttressed by recent state media rhetoric found in a 17 January 2013 Rodong Sinmun editorial:

Some countries, due to their weak national defense capabilities even though they enjoy an affluent material life, become scared when imperialists come up with unjust demands and conditions and raise their voices. This shows that if countries do not reinforce their gun barrel, they will be politically and militarily overwhelmed by imperialists and fall into a slavish position, no matter how affluent and rich their material living conditions may be. Historical experience shows that countries with weak military power will not be able to even defend their political independence, let alone building their economy.

Choe’s visit serves as a gentle reminder to all countries in the northeast Asia neighborhood that the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) concluded with an armistice, and has yet to see its formal conclusion.  Choe Yong Rim, a veteran of the Korean War, has served on policy working groups linked to crisis management (the phrase “all-out action” implies that the DPRK has been put into national crisis mode, or what some would describe as a war-time posture) and preparations for experimental nuclear detonations (in 2006, and 2009).  That he toured the war museum, in a brutally chilly climate for an octogenarian, reiterates one reason the DPRK, at significant expense to its entire population, earmarks precious national resources to the development of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.  The last reported leadership visit to the war museum was in late December 2012 when Director of the KPA General Political Department, Gen. Choe Ryong Hae toured the construction site.  Choe Yong Rim last visited the museum renovation in late October 2012.  Interestingly, Choe’s last reported to the museum renovation was also paired with a tour of iron and steel complexes, including the Ch’o'llima Steel Complex, which carries with it the symbolism of post-Korean War construction.

Choe Ryong Hae Visits the State Academy of Sciences Turf Institute Reconstruction Project

DPRK state media reported on 9 January (Wednesday) that Gen. Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department visited the reconstruction work at the State Academy of Sciences Turf Institute.  According to KCNA, Choe “encouraged the soldier-builders making innovations in the reconstruction project, true to the high intention of the dear respected Supreme Commander Marshal Kim Jong Un.”  Choe toured and was briefed about the construction project.  He spoke about the “the need to introduce rational construction methods suitable for the winter season so as to speed up the project in a qualitative way” and “told the commanding officers and soldier-builders to properly direct the project and display again the soldier spirit and stamina, bearing in mind the deep trust of the Supreme Commander in them.”  Choe also “discussed completing the project ahead of the schedule.”

KPA General Political Department Director Gen. Choe Ryong Hae (2nd L) inspects construction work at the Turf Institute of the State Academy of Sciences (Photo: KCNA)

 

 

 

 

DPRK Premier Visits Pyongyang Maternity Hospital

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (2nd R) conducts an inspection of Pyongyang Maternity Hospital (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 30 December (Sunday) that Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim visited the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital.  Choe toured patient rooms and the hospital’s service and specialist departments and “encouraged medical workers who are taking deep care of babies.”  After he inspected the hospital, Choe convened a meeting with medical staff and hospital managers.  According to KCNA the meeting “discussed facelifting the maternity hospital which was built under the deep care of Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il” and “different measures were taken to provide ample conditions for hospitalization and treatment as required by the season and improve medical services.”  Choe Yong Rim “underscored the need for officials to pay deep attention to the management of the hospital, bearing deep in mind the noble outlook of the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un on the people and posterity.”

 

 

 

Choe Ryong Hae Inspects Construction Work at War Museum Renovation

Choe Ryong Hae (2nd L) is briefed about renovation work at the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) Museum in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 28 December (Friday) that Gen. Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department, inspected ongoing construction work at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) Museum  in Pyongyang.  In July 2012 Kim Jong Un initiated a renovation of the war museum to commemorate the 60th anniversary (in July 2013) of the end of the war’s active hostilities.  According to KCNA “soldier-builders finished the frame project of the museum in the spirit of ‘at a go’ in a matter of two months.”  During his visit Choe “underscored the need to accelerate the project according to the set processes despite winter season by arousing the mental power of the soldiers to the maximum and positively introducing the rational construction methods” and “discussed measures for to minutely organizing the supply of materials, giving precedence to gardening design in conformity with the specific features of the area and formative art of structures and finishing the project of main building qualitatively.”  According to KCNA, Choe “asked the commanding officers to take good care of the soldier-builders as their real brothers and sisters would do as intended by Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un.”

Opening of Ryugyong Health Complex, Ice Rink and Skate Park Held

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Ryugyong Health Complex, ice rink and skate park in east Pyongyang on 9 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA/KCTV screengrab)

Participants at a 9 November 2012 opening ceremony for the Ryugyong Health Complex, People’s Open Air Ice Rink and a skate park assemble on Chuch’esasangtap Street in east Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 9 November (Friday) that the Ryugyong Health Complex, People’s Open-air Ice Rink and the Pyongyang Skate Park was formally opened.  The ceremony was attended by DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim, Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary Choe Tae Bok, Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City (municipal) KWP Committee Mun Kyong Dok, DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol, senior officials of the DPRK Government and other institutions, the facilities’ employees, citizens of Pyongyang and Korean People’s Army [KPA] service members and officers who took part in constructing the facilities.  On 3 November, DPRK state media reported that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) toured the facilities, prior to opening.  The ceremony and tour of the facilities was covered by BBC World.

Members of the central leadership attending the 9 November 2012 opening ceremony of the Ryugyong Health Complex, an ice rink and skate park. Among those seen in attendance are: Mun Kyong Dok (3rd L) Kim Ki Nam (4th L), Choe Tae Bok (2nd R) and Ro Tu Chol (R) (Photo: KCNA/KCTV screengrab)

Korean People’s Army service members attend the opening ceremony of the Ryugyong Health Complex, an ice rink and skate park in east Pyongyang on 9 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA/KCTV screengrab)

View of the opening ceremony of the Ryugyong Health Complex in east Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Participants applaud during a 9 November 2012 opening ceremony for the Ryugyong Health Complex, People’s Open Air Ice Rink and skate park (Photo: KCNA)

A view of a skate park in east Pyongyang formally opened on 9 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

A view of the People’s Open Air Ice Rink in east Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

A view of bathing facilities in the Ryugyong Health Complex in east Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

A sauna at the Ryugyong Health Complex in east Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

According to KCNA the Ryugyong Health Complex (see an aerial image here) has a “a total floor space of 18 379 square meters has modern facilities for bathing, hairdressing, beauty and massage treatment and fitness exercises” and it can serve “7,200 people a day.”  The People’s Open Air Ice Rink “has a total floor space of 6 469 square meters” and the Skate Park “has a total floor space of more than 1 3300 square meters.”  Both the ice rink and skate park are constructed to serve skaters “all year round.”

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (2nd R) is briefed about the skate park on the Taedong River on 9 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim delivered the ceremony’s keynote speech in which he said “that the facilities are a product of the wise leadership and devoted efforts of leader Kim Jong Il and the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un and that they were built by service personnel and people through their patriotic efforts to devotedly carry out the plans and intentions of the party and the leader.”  KCNA reported that Choe “called upon all the officials and employees to take good care of the service facilities and equipment and minutely organize their service and operation in the spirit of rendering devoted service to the people and thus ensure that the WPK’s loving care reaches all of them.”