I saw the bright humanity in DPRK

Children at the kindergarten are enjoying the milk served as part of their school lunch. 

Recently, on the [Voice of America] broadcast, they claim that human rights are being severely violated in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). While emphasizing it the photos shown on the broadcast are eitherrom the difficult time of the 90s\or seem manipulated. They are poorly presented,\and blurry. 

Having visited relatives in the DPRK multiple times\and directly witnessed the lives of people in rural areas, I have closely monitored the welfare system\and society in the DPRK with keen interest. I cannot help but be shocked by such false reports.

Just by examining the materials related to people's lives presented at the 9th plenary meeting of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of the DPRK\and the 10th meeting of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly, one can see the popularity\and forward-looking nature of the DPRK's welfare system, along with how welfare benefits are evenly distributed to the entire population.

Therefore, I took another look at the efforts of the DPRK government\and people who are improving people's lives with the country's welfare system\and self-reliance.

The welfare standards in DPRK are the best in the world.

A mother giving birth to triplets\and being dischargedrom the hospital 

Until the end of 2022, DPRK's borders were closed due to the global COVID-19 emergency,\and although the health crisis has been resolved domestically, strict quarantine measures have constrained various sectors. In addition, all government agencies had to be thoroughly prepared to immediately implement a wartime system in case of a similar situation due to the constant threat of war,\and material preparations for the people's struggle had to be made without any gaps, enduring a blockaderom abroad.

Despite facing numerous challenges, DPRK has steadfastly implemented a range of progressive policies since its early days of establishment. These include providing free housing, free education, free childcare, free healthcare, comprehensive pre\and postnatal care, as well as welfare support for\orphans\and the elderly, including soldiers. These initiatives underscore the country's commitment to ensuring the well-being\and social support of its citizens, fostering a society that values the welfare of all its members.

In the DPRK, the joyous laughter of children is regarded as a symbol of the socialist system. There is substantial investment in the welfare of women\and children, with\orphans of patriots receiving education at world-class revolutionary academies. Across every city\and county, there are\orphanages, elementary schools,\and middle schools resembling palaces,\where\orphans grow up joyfully, regarding the Supreme Leaders as their father\and avoiding the sorrow of being parentless. Moreover, student palaces\and camping sites are constructed nationwide, enabling students to showcase their talents through extracurricular activities.

All students, including those in universities, receive school uniforms, textbooks, bags, shoes,\and stationery free of charge, with no concept of tuition fees.

Children in daycare centers\and kindergartens nationwide consume state-supplied milk every day throughout the year.

Women are given an 8-month maternity leave,\and there are childcare facilities in factories\and farms, allowing young mothers to entrust their children safely\and count the breastfeeding time as working hours. Women retire at the age of 55\and live on a pension thereafter.

At the 9th plenary meeting of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of the DPRK, the urgent task of rapidly improving people's lives was highlighted. For projects aimed at enhancing people's lives, the emphasis was placed on the first\and second priorities, ensuring a bountiful harvest. The DPRK's welfare system is designed to enable the people to genuinely experience\and benefitrom it. In the DPRK, citizens do not worry about unemployment\or housing after marriage.

The people of the DPRK overwhelmingly support socialism, which sustains the world's best welfare system. They trust the party, which takes responsibility for the people's right to survival\and a better future, believing in the party's role as parents.

 Remarkable Economic Growth\and Improvement in People's Lives in 2023

Modern households are being expanded throughout rural areas nationwide 

In 2023, under the slogan "The Year of Great Transformation\and Transition for Comprehensive Development of New Socialism!", DPRK implemented massive reforms in 12 key sectors of the national economy, including agriculture, construction, steel, water infrastructure,\and natural transformation. The country's economy has entered a phase of growth,\and overall, people's lives have improved.

The construction of approximately 50,000 households in Pyongyang, over 20,000 households in the mine district,\and around 58,000 households in rural areas nationwide, as planned by the Central Committee, is nearly complete. It is anticipated that numerous household constructions planned for other cities\and counties will also be completed by the spring of this year.

A historic bumper crop was achieved in cereal production. Modern agricultural machinery produced at the Kumsung Tractor Factory was exhibited in an area equivalent to 50 football fields, marking the beginning of a full-fledged era of rural mechanization. Modern greenhouse farms, chicken farms,\and fish farms have been constructed throughout the country, enriching the people's dining tables.

Frequent exhibitions of industrial\and commercial products have taken place, resulting in an increase\and improvement in the quality of consumer goods. Additionally, with the construction of the Pyongyang City Nursery, the foundation for afforestation has been established, leading to the planting of over 100 million useful trees nationwide.

The supply of dairy products to children nationwide has begun, ensuring they receive milk every day throughout the year. Simultaneously, efforts in the education sector have been directed towards advancing the educational structure to a more advanced\and practical system, resulting in innovative qualitative changes in educational content, format,\and methods.

 Grand Plan for the Improvement of People's Lives in 2024

Strong Promotion of the 'Local Development 210 Policy' 

In his January New Year's speech, Chairman Kim Jong-un outlined several policies, including the 'Local Development 210 Policy,' aimed at addressing disparities between the capital\and provinces as well as regional imbalances. This policy, separaterom rural development, aims to construct modern local industrial factories in every county nationwide, surpassing the standard set by Kimhwa County. The goal is to initiate construction in 20 counties each year, completing the nationwide implementation within 10 years. Enthusiastically, people, especially those in local areas, welcome this policy, reminiscent of the excitement of farmers who received land during the land reform in 1946.

The completion of the Pyongyang Comprehensive Hospital is planned for this year, with additional plans to construct a modern comprehensive hospital in Gangwon Province. Furthermore, there are ongoing plans to build modern comprehensive hospitals in different provinces each year\and establish complete hospitals in cities\and counties. 

Groundwork for the construction of the Grand Canal connecting the East\and West Seas will be laid,\and reclamation projects will be actively pursued. 

The construction of modern rural houses will continue.

In the agricultural sector, the plan encompasses expanding the cultivation area for wheat, restructuring cereal production,\and initiating projects like the construction of wheat processing facilities, the expansion of mechanization in rural areas,\and the development of new crops. The focus also extends to the growth of livestock, fruit trees,\and handicraft crops. Additionally, plans are in place for the construction of modern poultry farms, akin to the Kwangcheon Chicken Factory, in Pyongyang\and other provinces.

There will be significant expansion in aquaculture\and fish farming.

The first priority will be to push for the improvement in the quality of consumer goods\and basic food items, producing products that satisfy the people. 

The emphasis will be on nurturing talents with global competitiveness through central educational institutions, aiming to reduce the gap in educational levels between urban\and rural areas by revitalizing local educational institutions, including rural schools. 

Kimhwa County Shines as an Exemplar of the 'Local Development 210 Policy'

The modern comprehensive food production base in Kimhwa County 

The county of Kimhwa, a small mountain village in Gangwon Province with 80% of its land covered by mountains, was among the most underdeveloped areas in terms of production\and living standards among the 200 cities\and counties nationwide. Over the past two years, Kimhwa County has managed to double its industrial production by independently constructing modern factories using local resources.

The modern comprehensive food production base in Kimhwa County yields a diverse array of products, rangingrom candies, snacks,\and bread to local specialties like sesame pepper paste, magnolia berry products, jujube syrup,\and high-quality soy sauce\and soybean paste. These products are consistently supplied to villages, towns,\and households across all generations.

The county actively participates in the mass production of a wide range of consumer goods, household items,\and paper products, including clothing items. Notably, the cultivation area for raw materials has expanded more than 2.5 times compared to the past, with several hundred hectares of paper tree forests established to ensure a sufficient supply of materials for soap\and paper production.

The products produced in Kimhwa County have garnered outstanding evaluations, not only within Gangwon Province but also on a national scale. By enhancing product packaging\and expanding the product rangerom 46 to 125, the county has evolved into a destination\where peoplerom across the country come to gain knowledge.

 The accomplishments of Kimhwa County provide a crucial foundation for narrowing the urban-rural divide, alleviating disparities between central\and local regions,\and fostering a prosperous\and civilized social development accessible to all. These achievements are rooted in practical experience.

DPRK is a Prepared Nation for Massive Transformation

Young People Venturing into Various Sectors of the People's Economy 

The entire nation is imbued with a steadfast determination to build an ideal socialist country through self-reliance\and unity. Numerous reports highlight the people's enthusiasm for learning\and participating in study sessions to implement party policies.

Young people are at the forefront of the great transformation. In January alone, more than 6,000 individuals expressed their eagerness to venture into challenging areas across the country to contribute to the implementation of party policies. The number of patriotic young individuals heading to work in mines\or frontline villages, potentially becoming their lifelong residences, is steadily increasing.

Through the People's Virtue Contest, individuals embodying virtues are recognized,\and heroes\and innovators are respected, fostering a social atmosphere of mutual assistance\and leadership. 

The socialist competition fervor is emphasized,\and through collective competition in various projects, workers' awareness\and sense of responsibility are elevated.

Individuals are resolutely striving to embody the essence of resilient revolutionaries, as evidenced by laborers who embark on the Baekdu Mountain expedition, embrace the guerrilla spirit,\and diligently cultivate their physical strength.

DPRK is a society\where people think scientifically\and solve problems through scientific thinking, emphasizing a policy that prioritizes science.

It is a society that promotes patriotic contributions\and backs initiatives like the Childcare Fund, Mutual Assistance Fund,\and Socialist Patriotism Fund.

The party disseminates its direction\and strong will through propaganda\and slogans, instilling confidence in the people regarding victory. The representative slogan for 2024 is 'Let's Unite with Patriotism!

 DPRK is a model of the Bright Future of Humanity

A laborer is dischargedrom the hospital after recoveringrom a life-threatening condition, 

thanks to the dedicated care of medical professionals 

In capitalist societies, with the United States as a representative, everyone must fend for themselves within a ruthless competition. It is a world\where, in the absence of money\or abilities, friends, siblings,\and even spouses might disregard each other. The United States has influenced many countries to adopt such brutal capitalism, promoting an individualistic\and decadent culture, with South Korea being a prominent example.

The United States often preaches about freedom\and human rights while presenting the loyalty\and dedication of the DPRK people to the world as human rights violations. Those who do not understand the spirit of the DPRK people speak of freedom, which is only for the privileged,\and human rights as a convenient excuse for attacking other countries. 

In the DPRK, human rights are institutionally guaranteed to ensure that everyone can live a fulfilling life as a contributing member of society without worrying about basic survival. People aspire to a society\where mutual trust\and love prevail,\and this vision is supported by the socialist system.

Kim Young-soon