The Reality of Life in People’s Korea Seen Through A Visit -speech of Dr Dermot Hudson to meeting in Ipswich 13.02.2026

One of the most consistently demonised countries in the world is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK ) or People’s Korea . The propaganda against the DPRK is on an industrial scale ,almost 24/7. The wall of misinformation and lies around the DPRK incorporates the most blatant McCarthyite anti-communism with orientalist racism .DPRKphobia and anti-DPRK hate  are racism for middle class liberals.

The anti-DPRK propaganda machine encompasses the tabloids , internet ,social media and so-called special ‘independent ‘ websites such as “NKNews “ (which in reality is run by the CIA and the south Korean National Intelligence Service ) . Recently some media outlets carried a story about ‘public executions’ in the DPRK  that were so public that no one ever saw them or heard of them. The reports quoted Amnesty International who in turn quoted third hand reports from south Korean puppet sources.  It has been known for a long time that Amnesty International is directed by the CIA and is a tool  of US and Western foreign policy . Curiously Amnesty International advocate the ‘legalisation of sex work ‘  ! Were they getting money from Epstein as well  ?A question  I would like to pose to this meeting is why are trade unions affiliated to Amnesty and why do some lefties support it ?

The   Western imperialist mainstream media likes to portray the DPRK as a poor and backward country  full of “starving “people run by a “totalitarian dictatorship “ . However this is not the reality of the country I have seen with my own eyes by visiting 20 times , the first time being in 1992. Tonight I will talk about my last two visits to the DPRK in April 2024 and October 2025.

In  April 2024  I visited the DPRK after  a gap of 5 years   and was actually the first British citizen to visit the DPRK since 2020 . 

I arrived at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on the afternoon of the 11th of April and was met by my guide Mr O Su Jin of the Korean Association of Social Scientists . We travelled by coach to the excellent Pyongyang Koryo Hotel .  Sometimes it seemed hard to believe that I was really back in the DPRK , it seemed like everything was in a dream.

During the visit I witnessed that the situation in the DPRK is calm and stable .The DPRK had closed its borders for 4 years but survived ,a truly amazing feat when you consider that some countries would only last weeks or even days with their borders closed . However the DPRK is based firmly on self-reliance and the independent national economy .

  Despite the sanctions imposed by the US and its lackeys on the UN Security Council and the COVID 19 pandemic the DPRK is carrying out massive construction work ,it is going through another great Chollima upsurge( Chollima was a flying horse of legend in Korea and gave its name to the mass movement for increased productivity in the DPRK in the late 1950s)  .A new street, Hwasong Street which is the size of a small city has appeared in Pyongyang.On the day of our arrival our coach to the hotel passed through and later in the visit we drove through Hwasong Street both during the day and at night . Hwasong Street looks very modern and of good quality .It would cost billions to build in a Western country but the DPRK gives homes to people free of charge . Whilst we were staying in the DPRK the second stage of Hwasong Street  was opened on the evening of the 16th of April in the presence of the supreme leader of the DPRK , respected Marshal KIM JONG UN . Also a new street is under construction in the Sopho district and was visible when we were going back to Pyongyang Airport on the 18th of April .

                                        

In fact, construction was going on all over Pyongyang . Opposite the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel there was a new block of flats under construction and several other blocks of flats under construction were visible in the near distance as well as in other parts of Pyongyang . I think that I can truly say  that although it was my 19th visit to the DPRK I had  never previously seen construction work on such a scale before . What is significant is that all this is being achieved without the so-called ‘aid ‘ of imperialism or the south Korean puppets . During the emergency situation that arose in the spring of 2022 when the south Korean puppets deliberately spread Covid 19 into the DPRK , the DPRK rejected ‘aid’ from the south Korean puppets , the UN and the US . The daily newspaper of the Workers Party of Korea later described the ‘aid’ of imperialism as a ‘poisoned candy ‘. The rapid development of People’s Korea by relying on its own resources and labour is destroying the myth that outside assistance ,particularly from US and other imperialists, is somehow essential for a country ‘s development .

                                   

We visited the newly built Kangdong Greenhouse Vegetable Farm which was some 34 kilometres outside Pyongyang  .It  had only gone into operation in March this year .It was opened on the 15th of March in the presence of respected Marshal KIM JONG UN . The farm had been built on the site of the former Mirim Airbase of the Korean People’s Army  . One myth about People’s Korea created by the mainstream media of the imperialists is that resources are diverted away from civilians to the military but the construction of the Kangdong Greenhouse Vegetable Farm shows that in fact this is simply not true. The farm has an area of 100 square hectares with 8 types of greenhouses . The farm has 1,800 workers. We were able to taste cucumbers produced by the farm .Significantly the Kangdong Greenhouse Vegetable Farm is not a co-operative farm but actually a state farm which means that it is owned by the whole people . The aim is to create a similar farm in each county or province of the DPRK .Vegetables from the farm were supplied free of charge to Pyongyang citizens . Also dwellings for the workers of the farm were given free of charge to the farm’s workers . It can be truly said that the DPRK is actually advancing towards the higher stage of socialism ,communism . 

In recent years a false narrative about the DPRK has been created by some sections of the mainstream media and by so-called ‘academic experts ‘ on the DPRK who in reality know nothing at all about the DPRK .  The false narrative is that the DPRK is adopting ‘ market reforms ‘ and abandoning Juche-based socialism , this aimed at confusing and disillusioning supporters of People’s Korea . The fact that the DPRK is developing a network of state owned farms to supply vegetables to the population shows that the DPRK is actually strengthening the planned economy and system of state ownership.

Although there have been massive changes in the DPRK since the last time I visited, what remained unchanged was the DPRK ‘s consistent anti-imperialism and adherence to socialist principles. Red flags were flying on street corners and there were many revolutionary slogans in large Korean characters . Postcards of anti-US posters could be found in the bookshop of the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel and Korean Stamp Museum. A friend of mine who had been with me in the DPRK in 2017 and 2018 remarked that he had been worried about what he might find in the DPRK after an absence of 6 years but was quite relieved as well as positive when he saw that there had been no ‘reform’ and ‘opening up ‘ in the DPRK and there was a complete absence of Western influence .

Prices in the hotel shop were the same as in 2019.Needless to say the NK News " 250 dollar banana" could not be found and my guide just laughed and said " ridiculous" when I told him the story .There were no homeless people and I saw no one begging.As to tales of " human rights violations " , the DPRK actually has a fairly minimal police presence compared to many other countries . The police only direct traffic. The situation seemed quite normal

 In October I visited the DPRK for the 20th time to attend the celebrations for the 80th anniversary  of the foundation  of the Workers Party of Korea Even before we landed in Pyongyang we got a flavour of the rapid development of People’s Korea namely Air Koryo (the national airline of the DPRK ) in flight catering has been upgraded and improved . The pretty stewardess handed out boxes which contained not only the famous Air Koryo burger but biscuits and other confectionery including chocolate bars . On the way from the airport we saw whole new streets that were not there in 2019 and 2024 . A block of flats near to the Koryo Hotel that was under construction in April 2024 had been completed ..

During our visit we visited the following ;the Korean Revolution Museum , the Museum of Party Foundation , the Pyongyang Central Zoo and Natural History Museum , the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers Party of Korea ,the Great Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum , Hwasong Street at night , the Taekwondo Hall , the Juche Idea Tower and KIM IL SUNG University . We were honoured guests at the National Meeting and Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance on the 9th of October , at the Military Parade on the 10th of October and the Public Procession and Torchlight Gala Take Place in DPRK  on the Juche Idea on the theme of the  immortal banner of building a just and peaceful world.

We attended the national meeting for the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK and the Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance "Long Live the Workers' Party of Korea" in the May Day stadium on Rungna Island . The May Day stadium is actually the biggest stadium in the world with a seating capacity of over 150,000 . It is not rotting and rusting as falsely asserted by the reptile bourgeois media but in good condition . First we heard the speech of respected comrade KIM JONG UN, the general secretary of the Workers Party of Korea . He rounded off his speech with the following words “ Availing myself of this opportunity, I will always cherish love for the people and not neglect my obligation of requital. I affirm my commitment to working harder to live up to their trust.

I will surely turn this country into a more affluent and beautiful land and into the best socialist paradise in the world, with belief in the people supporting our Party and by always becoming one in mind and body with them.”

At the end of the meeting there was a rousing rendition of the “Internationale “ by a military band and a choir . After the national meeting the mass game “ Long live the Workers Party of Korea “ was held . This was a dazzling array of colour , gymnastics and songs . The famous DPRK singer Kim Ok Ju sang many of the songs. In my opinion it surpassed other DPRK mass games such as “Airiang “ and “ Glorious Country “ .

The set piece of any  big DPRK celebration is the military parade . It was my first time to attend a DPRK military parade at night , previously I had only attended parades during the daytime . This parade was not held under easy or ideal conditions but in the rain and wind . Other countries would not have been able to do this but People’s Korea was able to do this . The parade included the Korean People’s Army fighters who had fought for the liberation of Kursk  and also new ICBMs . A friend from Italy said to me as the new ICBM rumbled past , “That is for Washington “. At the end of the parade respected comrade KIM JONG UN came and waved at the crowd , to my astonishment I found myself within 5 metres of him . I could not believe it .

No less impressive was the Public Procession and Torchlight Gala on the 11th of October on KIM IL SUNG square . The sky was lit up by lasers and later fireworks. The procession was led by a float which depicted the history of the Workers Party of Korea starting with the Down With Imperialism Union .I was delighted to see modern DPRK farm tractors in the procession .

We were among the first foreigners to visit the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers Party of Korea which is situated on the outskirts of Pyongyang . It is the size of a university . Displayed at the school are the portraits of Marx and Lenin . There is also a red flag displayed in every lecture room on the instructions of respected comrade KIM JONG UN who said that they must uphold the Red flag of communism . Seeing the portraits of Marx and Lenin made me deeply realise the falsity of the ultra leftist slanderers who asserted that the DPRK “had abandoned Marxism -Leninism “ and “communism “ . Revisionists and ultra leftists both criticise the DPRK from different ends of the spectrum but at the end of the day it is just finding excuses not to support the most demonised and most advanced and revolutionary socialist country , it is also doing the dirty work of the CIA for them .

Now the construction of the 4th stage of Hwasong (‘Mars Cannon’)Street is under way , I saw  it with my own eyes . This rapid development is being carried out under conditions of intense sanctions by the imperialists as well as natural disasters and the DPRK’s border being closed for 4 years due to the global health crisis . This development is being achieved without outside help, ‘aid’ or foreign capital . It is a miracle of self-reliance, and shows what a socialist country can do when it relies on its own resources and believes in itself . The US led imperialists have tried to destabilise and crush the DPRK through massive sanctions but have failed.

We saw that Pyongyang was a blaze of light and colour at night . The imperialists are lying when they say that there is no electricity in the DPRK . Rather than “everyone starving “ , we saw no homeless or beggars on the streets  and the guide for another delegation said that people not only get  free housing but food only costs 0.3 dollars per month , just compare that to the UK  !!! No comment “! . I can remember one of my guides in 2019 telling me how she got married so she and her husband applied for a new flat so they could start a family . Within a year they got a new flat , no mortgage , no deposits and no waiting years and years on the council housing list ! In the DPRK the family is valued and is recognised as the basic cell of society in the Constitution , this contrasts with the destruction of the family by consumerism and materialism in Western societies . In the DPRK motherhood is valued and working class women are not vilified or demonised for having children . Indeed extra benefits are given to families with many children.

It can be added that there is a wholesome moral atmosphere in the DPRK . There is no prostitution , no pornography  and no sex industry .

That is the reality of People’s Korea , an advanced socialist society with free housing ,free health care and free education. We must redouble our efforts to defend People’s Korea with No Ifs or Buts .  We urge you to join the Korean Friendship Association  ,basic membership is free of charge . We have set up an Essex branch  and hope to set up an East Anglia branch.

Grand Performance Given to Commemorate March 8 International Women's Day

Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- Now that the whole country is brimming with love, respect and warm congratulations to the women who are building the bright future, ensuring the continuity of the bloodline of patriotism generation after generation, a grand performance was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on March 8, International Women's Day.

The venue for the performance was full of joy and excitement of the women commemorating March 8 as the happiest holiday in the presence of the tender-hearted father whom they longed to see even in their dreams.

When Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, appeared in the auditorium, with his wife Ri Sol Ju and beloved daughter, the excitement of the participants keenly awaiting the moment of glory erupted into their stormy cheers of "Hurrah!"

Among the audience were leading cadres of the Party and the government, officials of the Central Committee of the women's union, exemplary women officials, labor innovators, meritorious women and women workers of institutions and enterprises in Pyongyang.

Present there on invitation were diplomatic envoys and members of foreign missions in the DPRK.

Kim Jong Un made a meaningful speech of congratulations to the women across the country.

He told about his impression of the women's holiday being greeted shortly after the Ninth Congress of the WPK. He expressed his special thanks to all the Korean women for their unusual and unknown efforts, saying they are the strong pillars of the revolution who have added the pages of their most beautiful and greatest life to the annals of the revolution and history, still bringing love, laugh, strength, courage and victory to the country.

Saying when our women continue to carry forward the traditions of patriotism by fulfilling their irreplaceable responsibility and role, our society will get stronger and more prosperous, he warmly wished all the Korean women happiness, good health and eternal beauty for the country, revolution and future.

The audience raised fervent cheers, overwhelmed with great excitement at the warm blessings by the great fatherly leader who places the women in the van of the most precious people in the world, crowning their life with the laurels of all the victories achieved by the country and the revolution.

The national anthem of the DPRK was played.

Amid the playing of the prelude "May Your Future Be Always in Springtime," members of the children's union presented bouquets to women in reflection of all the people's congratulations and respect.

Put on the stage of the performance were the odes to the Workers' Party sung heartily by the women, famous songs on patriotism and folk songs.

Singing the odes loved by all the people, the performers represented the deepest reverence of all the women in the country for the motherly Party which greatly values the pure conscience and selfless efforts they have dedicated to the prosperity of the country and gives them the highest honor and respect.

The performance reached its climax with female group singing and chorus "Long Live Our Korea" and mixed group singing and chorus "Oh, Korea, My Mother" that aroused their strong enthusiasm to add luster to the glory of Korean women by making patriotic devotion for the boundlessly benevolent Party and social system and the victory of the socialist cause.

The performance was loudly applauded by the audience as it represented the firm faith and will of the Korean women to invariably glorify their honorable title - women revolutionaries and communist mothers - on the road of single-mindedly following the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un only for the eternal harmony and prosperity of a large socialist family and the country which will be prosperous generation after generation. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.03.09.)

Comrade Kim Jong Un's Speech in Congratulation of Women across Country on Occasion of March 8 International Women's Day

Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech in congratulation of the women across the country on the occasion of the March 8 International Women's Day.

The full text of his speech is as follows:

Greeting March 8, I, with my warmest feelings, extend congratulations to all our Korean women, for whom I have affection and respect all the time.

My hearty congratulations also go to all the overseas Korean women.

As they have always done, our women add harmony, beauty, warmth and affection to our society.

Today it is a joyful holiday, when the whole country brims over with the tender feelings of gratitude, blessing and respect for our women.

As we were to greet the women’s day some days after the Ninth Congress of our Party, in which we reviewed the precious successes achieved for the good of the country, I was reminded of all the exceptional and unknown efforts the women of this country had made for those successes. And I wanted to express my special thanks to them for what they had done, so I have decided to make a brief remark today, on the occasion of this opportunity.

I make a deep bow as an expression of my thanks to our women for the unknown efforts and sincerity they have devoted for the country and men.

However, I think that thanks is too simple a word and it would not be enough to encourage and repay them even a little for the extraordinary troubles and difficulties our women have experienced.

I can picture in my mind’s eye the looks of the women in this country, who would wear a gentle smile, as if they had gained all the reward for their silent efforts, after receiving a simple congratulatory remark, a greetings card or a flower from their dear husbands, children, boyfriends, relatives, acquaintances and disciples.

For these women, I cannot find any other better expression than really beautiful.

This expression does not simply imply the beautiful looks of Korean women.

Though physically weak, they are obviously strong-willed, their plain faces assuming courage and the wrinkles on them denoting their strenuous exertion and thus arousing much greater respect. So, they look incomparably beautiful, and I think this is a charm unique to our Korean women.

In the images of our grandmothers’ and mothers’ generations we can see the signs of the severe hardship which they have undergone, the tenacity with which they have gone against all the odds, and the strength of genuine love and benevolent affection which they have cherished while working hard to develop this country.

Also, when seeing the faces of our contemporary women of a new generation, we can feel the fresh vigor with which they are working to advance this country towards a bright future, and the optimism and self-confidence they show in overcoming trials cheerfully.

I want to say proudly that all the Korean women who are dear to us -- mothers, wives, daughters and girlfriends -- are really beautiful and great, as compared with women in other countries.

Korean women, who have remained honest in times of difficulties, stout-hearted in moments of sorrow and courageous even in the face of death, have recorded remarkable exploits in the annals of the revolution and in the pages of history. These exploits still remain in our memory, serving as our strong spiritual mainstay.

Korean women are by nature pure-hearted, upright and strong-willed, and these qualities have been purely inherited for generations. Our contemporary women, too, have become a solid buttress of the revolution bringing affection and delight to all the other people in this country and inspiring them with strength, courage and victory.

In all the positions of our revolution, be they posts for national defence, sites of socialist construction, factories or farms, wherever we go in the country, we can see our women, strong-willed, tenacious, pure-hearted and honest, who are unwilling to show their physical weakness and lag behind men.

The distinguished services rendered by our countless heroes, both known and unknown, as well as the meritorious persons and innovators in this country, are associated with the immeasurable pains that our women, who are their mothers or wives, have taken without expecting any reward.

Our women devote themselves without seeking self-interest or reward, and they find the worth of their life in doing so. Such a fine mind constitutes the basis of a spiritual strength that engenders boundless love and encourages others to defy death unhesitatingly in defence of the love.

Our soldiers are so brave in the life-and-death battles, because they are determined to bring not an iota of shame on their dear mothers, wives, girlfriends or daughters, whom they associate with the sacred appellation motherland.

Women have such incredible strength.

With the passage of time, wrinkles will appear on their beautiful faces. However, the genuine beauty of our Korean women will not fade forever, as they are so honest and upright to endure everything while concerning themselves more about the country and revolution than about their families.

Encouraged by the warm care of such excellent women, their husbands and children achieve innovations at their workplaces, and our revolution is progressing much faster thanks to their peculiar strength, talent and most ennobling self-sacrificing devotion.

In the future, too, our women will play a significant role in making this country more harmonious and prosperous.

So important and irreplaceable are their responsibility and role in developing the socialist society of our own style and finding proper solutions to many big and small social problems.

When they always behave as a role model for their children, encourage their husbands and become a source of happiness and pride for their parents, and when they carry forward the tradition of patriotism as faithfully as ever, our society will become more beautiful, more powerful and more prosperous.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to extend my special thanks and greetings to all the mothers across the country.

Indeed, the sacred appellation mother is a source of great spiritual strength for everyone.

Woman is weak but mother is strong, as the saying goes. Our mothers cherish genuine maternal affection as they make unassuming efforts to bring up their children to be excellent persons, so this country has so many patriots. As such strong-willed mothers constitute the solid foundations, our rosy future is fully guaranteed.

I am hardening my resolve to make unsparing and strenuous efforts to do much more for the sake of these admirable mothers, for the wellbeing of our women.

I earnestly request all our women to fulfil the sacred mission and duty they have assumed before the times, history and the motherland in achieving the prosperity and development of our country and promoting the harmony and unity of our society.

Hoping that all the Korean women will be happy and healthy and remain beautiful for the good of our country, the revolution and the future, I once again extend my warm affection and best wishes to them. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.03.09.)

From Voice of Korea -One of the Two Wheels of the Revolution

 From Voice of Korea .

http://vok.rep.kp/index.php/detail_com/comde/iee260209012/69/en

One of the Two Wheels of the Revolution

  One of the two wheels of the revolution--this is the position and role of the Korean women.

  As the cart cannot move with one wheel, so the society cannot develop only by the role of men.

  Under the special concern of the leader and benefits of the socialist system, the Korean women are making an active contribution to the prosperity of the country and demonstrating the honour of the country and nation, shoulder to shoulder with men.

Railway Station Run by Women

  The West Pyongyang Passenger Station is run by only women. The stationmaster, operation commander, shunter and freight agent are all women.

  The station has been run since March 8, 1963.

  The stationmaster, a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly, has been working at the station for nearly 40 years since her girlhood.

  As a matter of fact, it is not easy for women to neglect their household affairs and work as railway staff which is difficult even for men.

  Pak Sun Sil has been working as a passenger instructor at the station for 37 years. She said she missed the harmonious family life at times and continued:

  "We are in charge of only one kilometre of railways. However, we are devoting all our conscience because our station is part of the country."

  They take care of the railways all the year round for prosperity of the country and happiness of the people rather than well-being of their families.

  Like this, Korean women take their position in the railway sector as well, which was dominated by men in the past, and are running a station to ensure the passenger transport of the country.

  Freight agent Kim Sun Hwa said they have run the station for 63 years, i.e. more than 20,000 days, and continued:

  "We have run the railway station for over 60 years not because the male labour force is lacking. It represents the trust of the state that regards women as socialist workers taking charge of all affairs of the country, not the family affairs alone, and as a powerful force turning one of the two wheels of the revolution. Thanks to the trust, only green light will be on all the time on the railways in our charge."

As a Factory Leading the Development of the Cosmetics Industry of the Country

  My friends at the factory tell me with smile

  I am a girl on a steed.

  As I am not satisfied with overfulfilling a day's assignment,

  They praise my working manner as lightning.    

  ...

  This is the song "The Girl on a Steed" loved by the girl innovators.

  It was written by a girl working at the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory in 1999. There are many women employees at the factory. So it is natural that a song of a girl innovator was written there.

  The history of the cosmetics industry of the country started at the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory.

  The "Pomhyanggi"-trademarked cosmetics produced by the factory are well-known at home and abroad.

  The factory was awarded the Order of Kim Jong Il, the supreme order of the country.

  It has overfulfilled its assignment under the national economic plan every year and was selected as one of the ten best enterprises in 2023.

  The course of development of the factory spanning nearly 80 years is associated with strenuous efforts of its women workers.

 

  The manager of the factory is also a woman. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un kindly called her "Pomhyanggi" manageress. She is a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly, Doctor and Meritorious Person of Socialist Patriotism.

  Three employees of the factory were awarded the WIPO inventor medal and certificate and two of them are women including the manageress.

  The worker-poetess who wrote the song "The Girl on a Steed" was awarded the watch inscribed with the name of the great leader Kim Il Sung for her hard work.

  Many other women workers are praised as innovators at the factory.

  Their strength is pushing forward the factory leading the development of the cosmetics industry of the country.

Looking Back upon 2025

  The Korean sportspeople won more than 20 trophies and over 270 medals including at least 150 gold medals at international games in 2025.

  Ten best players and ten best coaches of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 2025 were selected from those who brought about victories. Eight of the ten best players and two of the ten best coaches are women.

  The Korean acrobats won three top prizes at international festivals.

  They received the Idol Gold Prize at the "Idol--2025" World Acrobatics Festival, the Grand Prix at the 4th Bez Granitz International Acrobatics Festival and the Gold Lion Prize at the 20th China Wuqiao International Acrobatics Festival.

  Women acrobats played a big role in winning top prizes by wonderfully performing three backward somersaults from swing, three somersaults and other movements difficult for women.

  Women are also found among the winners of the WIPO National Awards in 2025.

  Except for the winner of the WIPO National Award for Children, two of three winners are women.

  The president of a company which was awarded the WIPO National Award for Business is also a woman doctor.

  Doctor and Associate Professor Choe Ryon, Teacher of Kim Il Sung University, was awarded the WIPO National Award for Creativity for the first time in the DPRK. She talked about the woman's happiness as follows:

  "What is happiness of woman? I say woman is happy when she is loved by her husband and raises her children wonderfully while devoting herself and contributing to the society."

*                 *                 *

  The Korean women are powerfully pushing forward one of the two wheels of the revolution, finding their greatest happiness in taking an active part in public life to devote their sincere and patriotic efforts and make innovations, going beyond the bounds of their homes.

From Voice of Korea-Under the Benefits of the Socialist System

http://vok.rep.kp/index.php/detail_com/comde/iee260214015/69/en

  The international holiday of the world working women came into being according to the desire of the women to defend their dignity and rights, free from all sorts of inequality and fetters.

  Of course, many countries are striving to solve the women's problem. But the desire has not come true up to date.

  On the contrary, the women are loved and respected as flowers of the family, the life and the country in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

  Manageress Jo Son Nyo at the Mangyongdae District Fuel Supply Station in the capital city of Pyongyang is enjoying a genuine life under the benefits of the socialist system. She said:

  "Frankly speaking, I've never thought of the social rights of women and the betterment of their station in life because I've taken it for granted that I was born in the socialist system and live under its benefits.

  I am a woman but I haven't felt any family or social constraints. I have a happy family and work as an official of a unit and a deputy to the district people's assembly.

  I always think of how to do more things for this grateful social system."

  Thanks to the Law on Sex Equality adopted in July 1946, the dignity and rights of the women are thoroughly ensured and institutional measures for their realization have been taken in the DPRK.

  A typical example is that the children are growing at the nurseries and kindergartens at the state expense and the industrial establishments with a lot of women have their nurseries and kindergartens.

  Under the state benefits, Manageress Jo Son Nyo brought up her two sons without any worry, who finished their university courses with success.

  Her two sons graduated from Kim Il Sung University and Kim Chaek University of Technology and wore military uniforms like their father.

  Jo Son Nyo is proud of her family of servicepersons.

  She was also born into a family of servicemen and underwent military service.

  While working in the field of commerce after demobilization, she undertook the work of the working people's organization and was enrolled in the study-while-you-work system for university education.

  While working as a Party official for over ten years, she was elected a deputy to the Mangyongdae District People's Assembly and participated in the Second Conference of Secretaries of Primary Committees of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

  She has the Order of the National Flag 1st Class and other decorations and medals.

  Like this, the benefits of the socialist system reach all fields of the women's life such as political life, working life, education, cultural life and family life.

Ordinary women in this country grow to be labour innovators, officials, heroines and deputies, leaving clear traces in the course of development of the DPRK.

From Voice of Korea -Korean Women Enjoying a Worthwhile Life

http://vok.rep.kp/ind.../detail_com/comde/iee260206005/57/en

  The Democratic People's Republic of Korea regards women as a powerful force for the development of the state and society.

  The society develops and the times advance when the women accounting for a half of the country's population fulfil their responsibility and duty in their families and society.

Honour of a Woman Scientist

  Jo Su Gyong working as the director of an institute of the Pyongyang University of Mechanical Engineering has an unusual honour.

  She is a competent scientist who made a lot of machinery and equipment badly needed for the people's living in Korean style.

  When she was making scientific researches at the Pyongyang Hosiery Factory to make an automatic sock packing machine, a monopoly of some developed countries, she had the honour of meeting the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un at the production site on July 2, 2012.

  That day, Kim Jong Un said the performance of the packing machine was good and spoke highly of her efforts for its development.

  He added that only when scientists go into reality, can they achieve successes in their researches and stressed the need to actively encourage such practice.

  He visited the factory again on August 6, 2014 and saw different kinds of sock packing machines she had invented one after another.

  He recognized her standing before a machine and said with a bright smile on his face that he had met her previously.

  Leaving the factory, he wished her greater success in the future.

  Merited Scientist, Doctor and Associate Professor Jo Su Gyong is devoting her all to scientific researches today, too.

Precious Memory

  The Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Silk Mill, which produces silk thread, is well-known to the Korean people as a pivotal factory of the light industry sector.

  Women workers hold a large proportion in the mill.

  Kim Jong Hyang, a workteam head of the silk reeling workshop, has a precious memory of having met Kim Jong Un in her girlhood.

  Kim Jong Un visited the mill on June 20, 2016. He said he had come to see its workers and watched her reeling silk thread for a long while.

  An accompanying official of the mill told him that she had fulfilled her first half-yearly quotas under the national economic plan before others and acceded to the Workers' Party of Korea. Kim Jong Un lauded her, pressing her wet hand.

  That day, he said it is important for a revolutionary to become a Party member, but what is more honourable is to add eternal brilliance to the precious political integrity of the Party member until the last moment of his or her life.

  Kim Jong Hyang told him that she would work harder in the future. Saying she had a high goal, Kim Jong Un encouraged her to attain it without fail.

  True to her pledge of the day, Kim Jong Hyang carried out her assignment under the national economic plan before others every year and had the honour of taking part in a banquet arranged by Kim Jong Un for labour innovators and meritorious persons.

  The unforgettable, precious memory still encourages her to effect innovations.

Dea Appellation--"Pomhyanggi" Manageress

  Kim Jong Un was concerned to provide the people with the best cosmetics.

  "Pomhyanggi (vernal fragrance)" is the trademark of the cosmetics popular among the Korean people. The "Pomhyanggi"-trademarked cosmetics are produced at the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory.

  One day in June 2018, Kim Jong Un visited the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory and said it is his determination to produce world-class cosmetics for the people.

  Later, the factory succeeded in producing various kinds of quality cosmetics. Among them, anti-aging cosmetics were recognized as an invention of great value by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

  One day in September 2021, the manageress of the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory participated in the banquet given by Kim Jong Un at the headquarters building of the Party Central Committee.

  Kim Jong Un recognized her courteously offering greetings to him and kindly called her "Pomhyanggi" manageress.

  And he poured wine into her glass and listened with pleasure to her story about the successes achieved by the factory.

  He said it is good that the factory is working hard to ensure home production of raw materials for cosmetics.

  The appellation of "Pomhyanggi" manageress represented his earnest request and belief that she would become a true servant of the people.

  The position and role of the women are further enhanced along with the social development and civilization in the DPRK and the Korean women are enjoying a worthwhile life under the loving care of Kim Jong Un

 

Country for Women

 2026.3.7.

http://www.mfa.gov.kp/view/article/23905

More than 110 years have passed since March 8 was designated the International Women’s Day, the holiday of female workers around the world.

For a long period of time, numerous countries have made strenuous efforts for equal rights of women and improvement of their living conditions.

Yet, the issue of women remains to be one of serious concerns as the appropriate policy fails to be formulated nor is implemented.

Western capitalist countries including the U.S. outwardly advocate politics for women but the reality is completely different from what it is said to be.

In these countries, all sorts of criminal acts including violence, maltreatment, sexual assault and harassment, homicide and human trafficking seldom disappear but rather get worse day by day.

Women are fading away hopelessly in the capitalist countries, where the people are reduced to the slaves of money.

But in the socialist system of our country where the people are valued as the most precious beings, women are regarded as the flowers of family, society and country.

Having invariably carried on the brilliant history and traditions of Juche-oriented women’s movement of Korea, respected Comrade Kim Jong Un is providing our women with the genuine and civilized life, saying that women are the powerful driving force in the development of the state and society, and that a family, society and the future of the country are unthinkable apart from their role.

Thanks to his loving care, various policies and regulations on women have been adopted, enacted, amended and supplemented over the last 5 years, thus resulting in the radical and continued improvement of our women’s quality of life.

Numerous women have now won precious titles and honor conferred by the Party and the motherland such as women doctors, women deputies, women innovators, and heroines, to name but a few. And countless is also the number of women, both known and unknown, who are displaying patriotic zeal to repay the love and benefits of our grateful Party and state.

Indeed, there is no such country as our own in the world that loves and respects women most and protects and adds luster to their life and rights. That is why our women are endlessly singing about their pride of being born as the Korean women.