Kim Jong Un Visits Ch’angso’ng County

Kim Jong Un (R) tours the Ch’angso’ng Revolutionary Site in Ch’angso’ng County, North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

DPRK state media reported on 13 June (Thursday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) toured different locales in Ch’angso’ng County, North P’yo’ngan Province and toured Taegwan Glass Factory.  Attending the visits were VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), Choe Hwi (Senior Deputy [1st vice] Director of the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Propaganda and Agitation Department), Pak Tae Song (Deputy KWP Department Director) and Ri Man Gon (Chief Secretary of the North P’yo’ngan KWP Provincial Committee).  Kim Jong Un’s last reported public appearance was his visit to the Pyongyang International Football (soccer) School, the Rungna Sports Park and the offices of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Committee.

Kim Jong Un reviews a product display at Ch’angso’ng Foodstuffs Factory (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un grins whilst touring a section of the Ch’angso’ng Foodstuffs Factory (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s first stop in Ch’angso’ng County was to the Ch’angso’ng Foodstuffs Factory.  He toured the factory’s historical exhibition followed by “the milling work-team, liquor production work-team, confectionary production work-team, wild fruit processing work-team and the products show room and other various places of the factory.”  According to KCNA he “praised the employees of the factory and officials in the field concerned not only for building it well as befitting a base specializing in processing wild fruits but achieving a lot of successes in carrying out the instructions given by Kim Jong Il to take the lead in wild fruit processing” and “underscored the need for the factory to more energetically push forward technological updating, not resting content with the successes already achieved, and steadily raise the level of technical skills of the employees and meticulously organize the factory and business management.”  Kim Jong Un also “expressed expectation and belief that the employees of the factory would intensify the drive for increased production, bearing deep in mind the profound loving care shown by the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il for the people.”   He ended his visit by posing for commemorative photographs with factory managers and employees.

View of Ch’angso’ng-u’p, North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Google image)

Kim Jong Un (2nd R) is briefed about products of the Ch’angso’ng Foodstuffs Factory (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un inspects a product of the Ch’angso’ng Foodstuffs Factory (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un smokes a cigarettes and reads a menu at the Ch’angso’ng Restaurant (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un holds a cigarette while touring a kitchen in Ch’angso’ng County, North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un also visited the Ch’angso’ng Restaurant and Ch’angso’ng Noodle House where he “asked about their accommodation capacity and measures to keep them provided with adequate quantities of foodstuff” and “underlined the need to promote culinary festival in order to further develop cooking culture as required by the new century.”  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un “expressed expectation and belief that the employees of the restaurant and the noodle house would improve their service in the spirit of dedication to the people” and posed for commemorative photographs with the restaurants’ employees.  He then visited Undok Health Complex where he “called for more splendidly remodeling it, noting there can be no satisfaction in doing anything for the people.”

He later visited Ch’angso’ng-u’p, the county seat.  He “praised the builders for successfully constructing the town to suit the characteristics of the mountainous county” and “noting that the county is playing the role of a base for carrying out the three revolutions, ideological, technical and cultural, and vanguard in the struggle for defending the socialist system” Kim Jong Un “called on it to increase its role as required by the Military-First (So’ngun) era.”  Kim Jong Un toured the Ch’angso’ng Revolutionary Museum and was “briefed on it before the monument to the immortal revolutionary activities conducted by the great Generalissimos and Kim Hyong Jik, an outstanding leader of the anti-Japanese national liberation movement in Korea, in the land of Ch’angso’ng.”

Kim Jong Un tours Undok Health Complex in Ch’angso’ng County, North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un grins during a tour of the Ch’angso’ng Revolutionary Museum (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

According to KCNA, he “called for sprucing up Changsong County as a people’s paradise and making hurrah for socialism ring out louder from the county” then attended a photo-op with museum employees.  Kim Jong Un then visited the Ch’angso’ng Revolutionary Historical Site and the the county’s cultural hall.  Of the revolutionary site he called for “preserving it on a permanent basis to educate party members and other people, soldiers and school youth and children in the immortal revolutionary exploits performed by Kim Il Sung in leading the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) to victory and his noble personality” and “proposed a task for creating art pieces depicting Kim Il Sung working at the revolutionary site.”  At the cultural hall, he watched a performance by Ch’angso’ng County’s art propaganda squad.  According to KCNA he “highly praised the members of the art group for giving a successful performance with great cognitional and instructive value by truthfully representing their life” then posed for commemorative photographs with the art squad’s members.

Kim Jong Un (C) poses for a commemorative photograph in front of a revolutionary historical marker at Ch’angso’ng Revolutionary Site (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un (R) smokes a cigarette and talks with a subordinate during a performance by the Ch’angso’ng County art propaganda squad at the county’s cultural hall (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

In August 1962, the late DPRK President and founder Kim Il Sung (paternal grandfather of Kim Jong Un) led the Joint Conference of Local Party and Economic Officials, which convened in Ch’angso’ng County.  The meeting resulted in the publication, under Kim Il Sung’s name, of “Theses on the Socialist Rural Question in Our Country.”  Kim Jong Il conducted multiple visits to sites Ch’angso’ng County and the county was established as a model for developing local economies in the DPRK.  According to one official DPRK text, “experience of Ch’angso’ng County, North P’yo’ngan Province, a county which after Comrade Kim Il Sung’s field guidance there, made good use of its mountains, comprising 90 per cent of its whole territory, and turned itself into a rich and modern county by developing livestock farming and local industry.”  The 50th anniversary of the Ch’angso’ng joint conference was held on 8 August 2012 at which a third generation of Kim treatises on the county, ”Let Us Build All Counties into People’s Paradise Good to Live in by Embodying Historic Spirit of Changsong Joint Conference” by Kim Jong Un, was read.  Ch’angso’ng County is also the location of a residential compound used by members of the Kim Family and other DPRK elites, which sits on the DPRK-China border.

View of the Kanam-ri residential complex of the Kim Family and other DPRK elites (Photo: Google image).

Kim Jong Un tours an assembling shop with CNC machines during a tour of Taegwan Glass Factory in North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

DPRK state media reported on 14 June (Friday) that Kim Jong Un visited the Taegwan Glass Factory in Taegwan County, North P’yo’ngan Province.  He inspected “the performance of the optical measuring instruments” and said that “it further improved the performance of the instruments than last year and ensured their safety. . .in order to make the instruments produced at the factory prove effective in reality, it is necessary to further raise their precision.  The inquiry into the performance of the instruments today proved that it is quite possible to succeed if endeavors are made, based on scientific researches and technological updating.”  Kim Jong Un also inspected other assembly and production sectors in the factory.  According to KCNA, he said “the optical measuring instruments being produced at the factory require high technology, stressing that in order to keep the production going at a high rate and improve their quality it is necessary to give full play to the mental power of the producers, intensify scientific researches and steadily raise the level of technical skills of the workers” and “underlined the need to focus efforts on the independent technological development capable of surpassing the world level, put the production processes on a modern and automatic basis and wage a more dynamic drive to raise the rate of locally available equipment and materials.”

Kim Jong Un “underscored the need to raise high demands to the units producing items of cooperative production and successfully conduct cooperative operations” then he inspected computer numerical control machines.  According to KCNA, he “set forth tasks which would serve as guidelines for the management and operation of the factory and production.”  After touring the factory, Kim Jong Un posed for commemorative photographs with factory employees, managers and officials “expressing expectation and belief that they would boost the production of quality and modern glass products and optical instruments by conducting a widespread mass technological innovation movement, true to the WPK’s idea of pushing back the frontiers of the latest science and technology.”

Commemorative Photo Watch

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph with managers, officials and employees of Ch’angso’ng Foodstuffs Factory (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph with employees of a restaurant in Ch’angso’ng County, North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph with restaurant employees in Ch’angso’ng County, North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph with employees and officials of the Ch’angso’ng Revolutionary Museum (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un (C) poses for a commemorative photograph with museum employees in front of a revolutionary historical marker at Ch’angso’ng Revolutionary Site (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph with members of the Ch’angso’ng County art propaganda squad in front of the county cultural hall (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em” Watch

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun)

Army-People Meeting Supporting Masikryo’ng Speed Battle Held at Grazing Land Reclamation

Army-People meeting held at Sep’o Tableland Project on 13 June 2013 in support of the Masikryo’ng Speed Battle (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported that Korean People’s Army [KPA] and civilian construction personnel contributing to the Sep’o grazing land reclamation project in Kangwo’n Province held an army-people solidarity meeting in support of the Masikryo’ng Speed Battle on 13 June (Thursday).  Attending the meeting were DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju, Jang Jong Nam (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department Kim Ki Nam,  KWP Secretary and Director of the Finance and Planning Department Kwak Pom Gi, DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Ro Tu Chol, Korean People’s Internal Security Forces Political Bureau Director Col. Gen. Ri Pyong Sam along with “officials of ministries and national institutions, service personnel of the Korean People’s Army and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces, members of shock brigade and officials and other people in Sep’o County.”

At the start of the meeting, Kim Jong Un’s letter of appeal on the Masikryo’ng Speed battle was read.  The meeting’s speakers said that “they would make a breakthrough for the ranks with daring and bold operation and skillful command just like the KPA officers who are taking part in the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground, and make positive contribution to implementing the grand plan of Kim Jong Un ahead of schedule,” according to KCNA.  A letter of appeal from personnel involved in the Sep’o tableland project was also read at the meeting.  The letter was addressed to “working people across the country” and said that “they would turn the tableland not only into the world-wide stockbreeding base but also into a famous tourist resort by building skiing and sliding grounds, race course, ecological park, lodging houses and other facilities for tourists” and it “called for making the army-people grand advance of Songun Korea in the spirit of the “Masikryong Speed” and ushering in a great heyday of Kim Jong Un’s era.”

Kim Yong Nam Visits Se’po Grazing Land Reclamation Project

SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam is briefed about the development of the Sep’o Tableland in Kangwo’n Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

DPRK state media reported on 10 June (Monday) that Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium President and nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam (Kim Yo’ng-nam) toured the Sep’o Tableland project, which is attempting to reclaim grassland for livestock grazing lands in Kangwo’n Province.  Kim’s visit was tied to internal publicity efforts in support of the “Masiknyo’ng Speed” battle, proposed in a written appeal by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) on 4 June.   Kim visited with the Korean People’s Army [KPA] service members and officers contributing to the project.  Kim “inspired the service personnel and shock brigade members who perform feats day after day in the same spirit as displayed in winding up the sowing of grass seeds in the reclaimed tableland covering thousands of hectares in the right time of spring.”  Kim “met officials concerned to learn about the reclamation of the tableland. He said that the achievements made at the projects are the shining product of patriotism and loyalty displayed by service personnel and people of the DPRK inheriting the fighting spirit of the preceding generations who performed heroic feats in the history of the country in hearty response to the call of the party and the leader.”  According to KCNA, Kim Yong Nam “told officials that nothing is impossible if everybody works hard in the spirit of devotedly carrying out the party’s policies and the spirit of ‘at a go’, bearing deep in mind the noble intention of the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un” and he “expressed belief that all the builders of the tableland would bring about a leap forward and innovations in every construction site like the soldier-builders who created the ‘Masiknyo’ng Speed’ and thus live up to the deep trust and expectation of Kim Jong Un.

The Songsan area of Sep’o County, Kangwo’n Province(Photo: Google image).

Ceremony Held to Place KJU Autograph Monument on Taeso’ngsan General Hosptial

View of the entrance to Taeso’ngsan General Hospital containing tablet bearing Kim Jong Un’s autograph (Photo: KCTV screengrab).

VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the KPA General Political Department, delivers a speech dedicating a tablet bear the autograph of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un during a ceremony in Pyongyang on 10 June 2013 (Photo: KCTV screengrab).

DPRK state media reported that a tablet bearing the autograph of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) was placed at Taeso’ngsan General Hospital during a ceremony held on 10 June (Monday).  KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un sent the tablet “after wisely leading the work to complete its construction at the best level and open it as early as possible as instructed by leader Kim Jong Il.”  According to KCNA “right after the liberation of Korea, Generalissimo Kim Il Sung had a hospital for soldiers built and clearly indicated the way to be followed by it” and that   “true to his noble intention, Kim Jong Il initiated the building of the Taesongsan General Hospital and worked heart and soul for its completion.”  The ceremony placing the tablet at the hospital was presided over by VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department.  According to KCNA Choe said “that the medical officers and nurses of the hospital should devotedly save lives of service personnel, bearing deep in mind the autograph of Kim Jong Un.”  After the speeches, ceremony participants examined the tablet and were received briefings about its installation and significance.

Detailed view of a an autograph tablet over the entrance to Taeso’ngsan General Hospital (Photo: KCTV screengrab).

View of KPA service members and officers attending a 10 June 2013 ceremony to dedicate an autograph tablet sent by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

View of a ceremony held to dedicate an autograph stone at Taeso’ngsan General Hospital in Pyongyang on 10 June 2013 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs).

Kim Yong Nam Visits Masik Pass Ski Park Construction

Kim Yong Nam (4th L), the DPRK’s official head of state as President of the Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium, tours the construction of the Masik Pass Ski Ground on 9 June 2013 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

DPRK state media reported that the country’s titular head of state, President of the Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium Kim Yong Nam, visited the ongoing construction of the Masik Pass (Masiknyo’ng) Ski Park on 7 June (Friday).  Kim toured the ski park’s construction and saw the ski trails under development.  According to KCNA, Kim Yong Nam said that “it is the steadfast resolution and fixed will of the Workers’ Party of Korea to build a world-class skiing ground in the Masik Pass area and provide the people and school youth and children with highly civilized and happy living conditions” and that “the skiing ground is a project to which the WPK attaches great importance.”  Kim called “upon the People’s Army to always take the lead in ushering in a great heyday of construction in the new era of the Military-First (So’ngun) revolution, true to the grand plan of the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un for building a highly civilized socialist nation.”  He noted that “the project to be undertaken in the future is very vast and there are not a few difficulties and obstacles” and expressed “confidence that all soldier-builders would unconditionally wind up the construction of the skiing ground within this year by giving full play to Kim Jong Il’s patriotism and waging an all-out charge and death-defying drive as intended by the WPK.”

DPRK head of state Kim Yong Nam (2nd R) is briefed about the construction of a ski slope at the construction of Masik Pass Ski Park on 9 June 2013

Kim Yong Nam’s visit to the Masik Pass Ski Park occurred two days after KPA service members and officers gathered at the park’s construction in support of Kim Jong Un’s “Masiknyo’ng” Speed Battle appeal.  Kim Yong Nam has previously made his own public appearances at factories, schools and historical exhibitions outside Pyongyang, usually on national holidays and on many occasions at the head of a group of other senior DPRK officials.  This was one of the first observed occasions upon which Kim Yong Nam conducted a solo on-site visit.  Kim’s appearance was intended to promote the “Masiknyo’ng Speed Battle.”  While the speed battle specifically focuses on the completion of the Masik Pak Ski Park by personnel of the Korean People’s Army [KPA], the speed battle is intended to affect all sectors of the DPRK economy.  On 4 June Kim Jong Un wrote in Rodong Sinmun:

The key to completing the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground ahead of schedule lies in giving the fullest play to the spiritual strength of the masses of soldiers, and Kim Jong Il patriotism is the fundamental core of the spiritual strength to be cherished by the soldier-builders.

Party organizations and political functionaries should dynamically carry out the political work aggressively and in the frontline style to carry the flavor of the fighting army at every construction site and skillfully organize the socialist competition so that all soldier-builders make their blood boil with Kim Jong Il patriotism and fully display the revolutionary soldier merits and one-a-match-for-100 soldier temperament in the Masik Pass Skiing Ground construction battle.

The commanding officers and general staff members of the units mobilized for the construction of the skiing ground should establish the revolutionary traits and strong discipline of unconditionally carrying out the construction tasks for each object and stage through daring and bold operations and skillful command.

The great army-people unity serves as a powerful driving force for the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground.

Every time the people’s army was performing a difficult and important duty, our people assisted it both materially and spiritually and fought with it in the same trench.

It is necessary to dynamically push ahead with the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground by dint of the great army-people unity, which is the greatest foundation of the military- first revolution and the basis of our society.

The soldier-builders participating in the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground are full of high morale and redoubled courage.

Do not worry about the construction, just supply the facilities and materials — this is the unanimous voice of the valiant soldier-builders ringing out everywhere in the construction site.

Keeping in mind that the construction speed depends on the supply of facilities and materials, the cabinet, ministries, and central organs should militantly plan and coordinate the organization and command in the production and transport of steel materials, cement, and other materials, with the same feelings as if they were making and transporting shells and bullets to the front.

The factories and enterprises in charge of producing the building materials and facilities for the Masik Pass Skiing Ground should highly display the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and perform the tasks assigned to them on time without fail, thereby making an active contribution to moving up the completion date.

By unconditionally buildi ng a world-class skiing ground within this year, we should make the sounds of socialist laughter and the sounds of hurrah for the Workers of Party of Korea  echo throughout the Masik Pass area.

It is our party’s intention and determination to raise a hot wind of great innovations and great leaps throughout the country by following and learning from the indomitable fighting spirit and fighting traits displayed by the soldiers in the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground.

We should achieve a new turnabout in the reinforcement of the people’s army, which is the pillar and main force of the military-first revolution.

Kim Jong Un Attends 7th Korean Children’s Union Congress and Photo-op with Participants

Kim Jong Un (2nd L) applauds during the Korean Children’s Union’s 7th Congress held in Pyongyang on 6 June 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended the 7th Congress of the Korean Children’s Union [KCU] and a commemorative photo session with participants in the KCU Congress on 6 June (Thursday).  Attending the KCU congress and photo session with him were VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department, Ri Yong Su, Director of the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Workers’ Organizations Department, Kim Sung Du, Chairman of the DPRK Education Commission, Jon Yong Nam, Chairman of the Kim Il Sung (Socialist) Youth League, along with KISYL, KWP, KPA and DPRK Government officials.  Kim Jong Un’s last observed public appearance was a visit to the newly constructed Posong Mushroom Farm.

The Korean Children’s Union’s 7th Congress was held at the 25 April House of Culture.  The purpose of the KCU’s 7th Congress was “strengthening the KCU developed under the care of the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il into the Military-First (so’ngun) children’s revolutionary organization of the Workers’ Party of Korea.”  Attending the congress, according to KCNA, were “delegates selected from KCU organizations across the country, officials in charge of children’s life and other officials concerned,” and “as observers were children of servicepersons on Jangjae, Mu and Wolnae islets and other frontline posts and schoolchildren in Pyongyang.”  Kim Jong Un, described as “the benevolent father of the Korean schoolchildren,”  made his way to a VIP seating area and had the KCU’s red neckerchief tied around his neck.  He “congratulated the delegates on their enthusiastic cheers and warmly acknowledged all the participants in the congress.”

Kim Jong Un attends greets a member of the Korean Children’s Union (KCU) during the KCU’s 7th Congress held at 25 April House of Culture in Pyongyang on 6 June 2013 (Photo: KCTV-Yonhap)

Participants in the 7th Congress of the Korean Children’s Union, held at the 25 April House of Culture in Pyongyang on 6 June 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

A member of the Korean Children’s Union ties a red neckerchief around Kim Jong Un’s neck prior to the 7th Congress of the Korean Children’s Union in Pyongyang on 6 June 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un (3rd L) applauds during the Korean Children’s Union’s 7th Congress on 6 June 2013. Also in attendance is Jon Yong Nam (L), Chairman of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

View of the Korean Children’s Union 7th Congress held at the 25 April House of Culture in Pyongyang on 6 June 2013 (Photos: Rodong Sinmun)

The KCU’s 7th Congress had two agenda items: 1.) “On the tasks of the KCU to bring up its members to be young revolutionaries and vanguard of the Military-First (so’ngun) Era always following the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un in firm conviction,” and 2.) revising the KCU’s bylaws.  Jon Yong Nam delivers a report on the first item on the agenda. According to KCNA, in his report Jon said “the glorious course of the KCU has been associated with the deep loving care of the Generalissimos who provided deep and firm roots for the Juche-oriented children’s movement and led the KCU step by step in line with the requirements of the developing revolution” and Jon “referred to the great successes of the KCU after the 6th congress under the sagacious leadership and meticulous care of Generalissimo Kim Jong Il and Marshal Kim Jong Un.”  The report “called upon the KCU members to cherish honor and pride of being members of glorious Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s KCU and firmly prepare themselves to be reliable successors of the military-first (so’ngun) revolution faithful to Kim Jong Un, true to their pledges before the KCU flags.”

After the meeting report, a series of KCU and KISYL speakers “talked about their honor of taking part in the congress in the presence of Marshal Kim Jong Un and their pride of acquiring ample knowledge, good moral character and good health under the deep care of the peerlessly great persons” and “vowed to carry forward the traditions of Mt. Paektu under the leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea.”  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un “heard with keen interest the speeches of delegates, warmly applauding them.”  KCNA reported that the first agenda item was adopted and that the second was “discussed and decided upon.”

Kim Jong Un and senior Kim Il Sung Youth League officials pose for commemorative photographs with participants of the 7th Congress of the Korean Children Union in front of the Mangyo’ngdae Schoolchildren’s Palace in Pyongyang on 6 June 2013 (Photos: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un later attended a commemorative photo session with congress participants.  KCU members presented him with floral bouquets prior to the photo-op.  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said that “the congress marked an important occasion in eternally glorifying the undying feats of the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who dedicated their all to developing the Chuch’e-oriented movement of the Korean children” and  ”congratulated the participants in the congress who demonstrated before the world through the congress the spirit of the KCU members firmly preparing themselves to be dependable builders of the thriving nation.”  He also “expressed expectation and belief that the delegates to the 7th Congress of the KCU would always take the lead in consolidating the KCU organizations to be stronger ranks of the pillars responsible for the future of the great Mt. Paektu (Paektusan) nation.”

DPRK Premier Tours Renovation at Mirim Riding Club and Migok Cooperative Farm

DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju (2nd L) is briefed about the renovation and construction work at Mirim Riding Club in east Pyongyang. Also seen in attendance is DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol (3rd L)(Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

DPRK state media reported on 6 June (Thursday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the Migok Cooperative Farm  and toured the renovation work at Mirim Riding Club.  Pak’s first visit was to the Migok Cooperative Farm in Sariwo’n, the provincial capital of North Hwanghae Province.  He toured part of the cooperative farm and held a meeting with farm managers and employees.  According to KCNA, the meeting “discussed issues of conducting agricultural production and business activities on the principle of arousing enthusiasm of farmers to the maximum.”

Pak Pong Ju also toured the renovation and construction work at the Mirim Riding Club (formerly known as the equestrian company of Korean People’s Army [KPA] Unit #534) in east Pyongyang.  The equestrian grounds are under renovation by KPA construction personnel.  Pak “learned in detail about its construction and supply of raw materials” and held a meeting with construction and design personnel which “underlined the need to rapidly finish frame structure to suit seasonable conditions” and “took measures to supply necessary materials and fuel as scheduled and increase production to the maximum at material producing units.”

Migok Cooperative Farm, on the outskirts of Sariwo’n, the provincial capital of North Hwanghae Province (Photo: Google image)

The Mirim Riding Club in east Pyongyang. Formerly the equestrian company of KPA Unit #534, DPRK leader ordered the ownership of the equestrian facility to be transferred from the KPA to the DPRK Cabinet and State Physical Culture and Sports Commission in November 2012. Kim Jong Un later visited the equestrian club’s renovation work in May 2013 and expressed his displeasure with the new design of the place (Photo: Google image)

KPA Meeting Begins “Masikryong” Speed Campaign

Meeting of KPA personnel at Masik Pass ski park in Kangwo’n Province on 5 June 2013 in support of an economic construction speed campaign proposed by leader Kim Jong Un (Photo: KCNA screengrab)

DPRK state media reported that Korean People’s Army [KPA] officers and service members assembled at the construction site of the Masik Pas Skiing Grounds in Kangwo’n Province on 5 June (Wednesday) in support of the “Masikryong Speed” a development and construction speed campaign initiated by Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n).  Attending the rally were VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the KPA General Political Department, and Col. Gen. Jang Jong Nam, Minister of the People’s Armed forces, along with officials of the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces and KPA Personnel.

VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the KPA General Political Department, speaks at a meeting in support of the “Masikryong Speed” battle in Kangwo’n Province on 5 June 2013

Senior officials attend and speak at a KPA meeting in support of the “Masikryong Speed” battle for economic construction on 5 June 2013, including Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Jang Jong Nam (middle image) (Photos: KCNA screengrabs)

Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Jong Nam and KPA construction personnel spoke at the meeting.  According to KCNA, the meeting speakers said “the appeal serves as inspiring banner instilling redoubled energy and courage into the service personnel.  In response to the historic appeal the service personnel will creditably fulfill their responsibility and role they have assumed before the era and history in the on-going sacred struggle to live up to the Supreme Commander’s trust and expectation” and that they “will wind up the construction of the skiing ground in the shortest possible span of time as the first-line unit in creating the “Masikryong Speed” with the same vim and vigor with which they created the Hu’ich’o'n speed. They will fully prove once again before the whole world that the resolution of the Supreme Commander precisely means practice.”

KPA officers and servicemembers attend a 5 June 2013 meeting in Kangwo’n Province in support of the “Masikryong Speed” battle initiated by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (Photos: KCNA screengrabs).

On 5 June DPRK state media reported that Kim Jong Un issues an “urgent appeal” under the title “Let Us Create the ‘Masikryong Speed’ and Usher in New Heyday on All Fronts for Socialist Construction.”  While Kim Jong Un’s appeal focused on completing construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Grounds before the end of 2013, the “Masikryong Speed” is model for economic construction throughout the DPRK, a byproduct of the simultaneous line “pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force” adopted at the March 2013 meeting of the Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee.  Speed campaigns and economic battles and publicity campaigns focused on model workers or model complexes.  Modeled on the “Ch’o'llima Speed” in post-Korean War construction, the most recent speed campaign was “Hu’ich’o'n Speed” (2009) which referred to the construction of the  Hu’ich’o'n Power Station and recent model complex/worker campaigns have been “Chuch’e Steel” (2009-2010) and the “torch of Hamnam (South Hamgyo’ng Province)” (2011-present).  According to KCNA Kim Jong Un’s appeal, in part said:

Kim Jong Un said the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground is a gigantic patriotic work initiated by the Workers’ Party of Korea to provide the people with better cultural conditions by translating into reality President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il’s noble idea of loving the people.

The soldier-builders have achieved remarkable successes by cutting off natural rocks and steep mountain ranges and building skiing courses covering hundreds of thousands of square meters with more than a hundred thousand meters in a total length in a matter of less than one year since they had a ground-breaking ceremony, he said, and continued:

The construction of the skiing ground is such a huge project that it is hard for others to complete the project even in ten years. But the WPK remains unchanged in its resolution to build a world-class skiing ground within this year and provide the people and school youth and children with a highly civilized and happy living conditions to enable them enjoy all blessings.

He expressed belief that the soldier-builders would wind up the construction of the skiing ground within this year by creating the “Masikryong Speed” by dint of indomitable mental power and persevering charge and that all the service personnel and people across the country would bring about a great leap forward and signal innovations on all fronts for socialist construction in that spirit.

The secret to completing the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground ahead of schedule lies in giving fullest play to the mental power of the service personnel, he noted, adding Kim Jong Il’s patriotism is the core of the mental power to be cherished by the soldier-builders.

He underscored the need to dynamically push ahead with the construction of the skiing ground by dint of great army-people unity, the mainstay of the Songun revolution and groundwork of society.

It is the intention and resolution of the WPK to raise a hot-wind of great innovations and upswing throughout the country by letting all people learn from the indomitable fighting spirit and work style being displayed by the soldiers in the construction of the skiing ground, he stressed.

He also underlined the need for the People’s Army to make thorough-going preparations for combat and bring about uninterrupted innovations in all major construction projects and in the work for sprucing up the provinces, cities and counties.

He called on all the people including workers, farmers and intellectuals to further reenergize all the economic sectors of the country and positively contribute to implementing national economy plan by fully implementing the WPK’s line on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force.

Children’s Union Donates MLRS in Hamhu’ng Ceremony

Sonyonho multiple-launch rocket systems [MLRS] are paraded by the Hamhu’ng Grand Theater for delivery to KPA units, after a 1 June 2013 ceremony at which Korean Children’s Union members donated the MLRS to the KPA (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

DPRK state media reported that the Korean Children’s Union [KCU] donated Sonyonho (children) multiple launch rocket systems [MLRS] during a ceremony held in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province on 1 June (Saturday).  The ceremony was attended by KCU members, Kim Il Sung (Socialist) Youth League Chairman Jon Yong Nam, officials of the KISYL and the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Workers’ Organizations Department and Korean People’s Army [KPA] officers and service members.   The ceremony and delivery of the MLRS was scheduled to occur before the KCU’s Seventh Congress, which will convene in Pyongyang on 6 June (Thursday).

Kim Il Sung Youth League Chairman Jon Yong Nam delivers a speech at a ceremony held to donate MLRS to KPA units in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province on 1 June 2013 (Photo: KCTV screengrab)

The plaza in front of the Hamhu’ng Grand Theater in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province, was the venue for the 1 June KCU ceremony donating MLRS to KPA units (Photo: Google image).

Members of the Korean Children’s Union and the Korean People’s Army attend a ceremony donating multiple-launch rocket systems [MLRS] in Hamhu’ng on 1 June 2013 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

KPA officers on the platform (dais) for a ceremony donating MLRS to KPA units on 1 June 2013 (Photo: KCTV screengrab)

Before the formal delivery of the Sonyonho MRLS, Jon Yong Nam delivered the ceremony’s keynote speech.  Jon and other speakers at the ceremony said “that they would actively conduct Our School-Our Post movement and diverse do-good-thing campaign and send more combat and technical equipment named Sonyonho to the KPA” and “noted that servicepersons would sweep away the strongholds of the U.S. imperialists and South Korean group of traitors who work hard to stifle socialism in the DPRK by fully charging the multiple launch rocket systems in the spirit of annihilating the enemy.”  After the speaking program, the MLRS paraded through Hamhu’ng’s city centre.

Sonyonho (children) multiple launch rocket systems [MLRS] parade through Hamhu’ng’s city centre on 1 June 2013 for delivery to Korean People’s Army units (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)