September and October Are the Medicinal Herb Cultivation Months

The medicinal herb cultivation months of September and October have commenced.

The medicinal herb cultivation month project, conducted annually, is a primary task for producing more and higher-quality Koryo medicine necessary for the treatment of illnesses and the promotion of the people's health, and is simultaneously a patriotic undertaking to bequeath abundant medicinal herb resources to future generations.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said as follows:

"All officials, party members, and working people must cherish Kim Jong Il's patriotism in their hearts and rise up in the struggle for the prosperity of my country, my homeland."

The focus of this medicinal herb cultivation month project is to harvest in a timely manner, without losing a single plant, the medicinal herbs diligently cultivated throughout spring and summer, and send them to the reconstructed and modernized Koryo medicine factories.

To this end, first, officials at all people's committees and Koryo medicine production units must responsibly conduct production command according to farming processes and schedules for the medicinal herb harvest, strongly pushing forward the work of gathering at the right time.

Relevant institutions must formulate specific work plans suited to the actual situation and raise the demand that medicinal herb production units and mass medicinal herb purchasing units carry out the harvest, storage, and seed acquisition of medicinal herbs in accordance with technical regulations.

The Koryo medicine production sector must dispatch specialized personnel to medicinal herb production units to correctly determine the harvest time according to the characteristics of the medicinal herbs, and properly select medicinal herb seeds and roots to ensure no hindrance to next year's medicinal herb cultivation. By reviewing the seed production bases and seedling nursery management patterns of city and county medicinal herb management offices, the production of medicinal herb seeds and medicinal tree saplings must be increased to satisfactorily secure the seeds required for medicinal herb production.

Medicinal herb production units must actively introduce nutritional activators, including "Phytocin," a physiological active substance, according to the ripening period of the herbs to decisively increase the per hectare medicinal herb yield, and establish an orderly work system where medicinal herb purchase and distribution are carried out in a unified manner through medicinal herb management agencies.

Cities and counties must establish realistic medicinal herb collection plans to gather more herbs during the period when their active ingredients are at their peak. When collecting medicinal herbs, the principles of collection must be thoroughly observed to avoid hindering the preservation and propagation of resources, while simultaneously pushing forward with work to properly protect precious wild medicinal herbs growing in the mountains.

Alongside this, the Agricultural Commission, the City Management Department, and related units must responsibly advance support work from a master's standpoint to ensure no impediments to medicinal herb production.

Next, as the project to create 300 hectares of medicinal herb mountains nationwide is being promoted in its final stage, the relevant regions must unfailingly execute their plans for establishing medicinal herbs and medicinal trees.

There is no separation between those who plant and cultivate medicinal herbs and those who use them. As medicinal herb cultivation work is also conducted alongside collection during these medicinal herb cultivation months, everyone must participate in this work as masters.

Cities and counties must unfailingly fulfill their assigned establishment plans by each target indicator for the creation of medicinal herb mountains, and responsibly carry out management work to guarantee a survival rate of over 90% for the medicinal herbs and medicinal trees.

Officials in all regions must deeply appreciate the importance of the medicinal herb cultivation month project and vigorously conduct mobilization and support work to ensure this project unfolds dynamically, while strictly summarizing the state of medicinal herb cultivation and harvest by each indicator and quantity.

Let us all rise up as one in the medicinal herb cultivation month project to actively increase the country's precious medicinal herb resources.

Correspondent Kim Ok Byol

The Garden of Sincerity in Full Bloom

Based on letters sent by readers from various places

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said as follows:

"For our Party, the life of each and every person is more precious than anything else, and only when all the people are strong and healthy can the Party exist, the country exist, and everything on this land exist."

People who have been reborn in the embrace of the grateful socialist system, which values the people's lives and health above all, are sending letters to the editorial office of this newspaper.

An elderly woman named Jong Kyong Hui living in Mangyongdae-dong, Mangyongdae District, said she picked up her pen because the emotion she felt while hospitalized at the Breast Tumor Research Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital was so overwhelming, and conveyed the following.

She was admitted to the Breast Tumor Research Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital for treatment in November last year.

During her hospital stay, the elderly woman could not contain her heart's warmth at the extreme sincerity of the healthcare workers, felt meticulously every day and every moment.

The medical staff held multiple consultations to discuss surgical methods suitable for the elderly patient's condition, and after the surgery, they became like family, devoting all their sincerity to quickly cure the illness.

The elderly woman opened her heart, saying that in the figures of the medical staff, including Comrade Hwang Chung Ryon, who devoted such tender affection not only to her but to all inpatients, restoring health and the joy of life, she saw the true image of the healthcare workers of our era.

Among the medical staff, who possess a spirit of devoted service to the people and dedicate their entire hearts to patient treatment, are also the respiratory medicine medical staff, including Comrade Jo Yong Suk, section chief of the South Pyongan Provincial General Hospital.

A letter from a woman named Han Kyong Ran from Ryongdok-ri, Sukchon County, recounting their deeds, was truly moving.

Woman Han Kyong Ran was diagnosed with an incurable disease last year and was admitted to the provincial general hospital. Section Chief Jo Yong Suk devoted selfless sincerity to restore her health.

Woman Han Kyong Ran, overflowing with emotion, expressed that thanks to the grateful hands that encouraged her with strength and courage to overcome the difficult treatment process and provided and gave her necessary health foods, her life, which had reached critical indicators, is miraculously continuing.

Comrade Jo Yong Suk, whom Woman Han Kyong Ran so unforgettably remembers, is a socialist patriotic meritorious person highly honored by the Party.

Among the letters sent by readers from various places is one from student Kim Yun Hyang living in Hari Workers' District, Kangdong County.

She says that during the days she received treatment at the Dental General Hospital under the Ministry of Public Health, she came to better understand how good the socialist motherland is.

The medical staff, including the section chief of the maxillofacial surgery department, became her parents, warmly caring for her throughout her entire hospital stay.

She says she will never forget the figures of the medical staff who, with the feelings of parents, provided utmost care for even the slightest inconvenience, not to mention treatment, and firmly resolved to do many more good things for the grateful motherland in the future.

Kim Byol Hae

Conducting Consultative Meetings to Improve Treatment Methods

-At the North Hamgyong Provincial General Hospital-

Photo by correspondent Kim Jin Myong

Vigorously Developing On-Site Treatment Activities

Medical staff of the dental clinic of the Usi County Hospital, possessing high medical qualifications, are vigorously conducting on-site medical service activities.

The medical staff of the dental clinic are ensuring that the on-site treatment work becomes a propaganda process to instill our Party's health policy among the county people.

They are thoroughly conducting examination and diagnosis of patients, establishing necessary treatment measures to minimize the incidence of disease, and substantively carrying out sanitation propaganda work according to the characteristics of the target groups.

Meanwhile, all medical staff are deeply integrating technical study with on-site treatment activities, continuously enhancing their expert qualifications.

They have invented and manufactured a device capable of producing dental materials based on their own technical capacity, yielding tangible benefits in the treatment work.

Their on-site treatment activities serve as an occasion to inspire the revolutionary and fighting zeal of the county people who are actively striving to greet the 80th anniversary of the Party founding with shining labor achievements.

Worker-Peasant Correspondent Kim Jong Jun

Rejection of the West's "Security Guarantee" Concept for Ukraine

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, rejected the "security guarantee" concept for Ukraine being put forward by the West during a recent press conference.

She argued that future security guarantees for Ukraine should be the result of a peaceful settlement considering the roots of the conflict, not a condition for talks.

She stated that the "security guarantee" proposals for Ukraine being raised in the West are aimed at Russia and can only lead to instability of the situation, condemning that the "security guarantee" being discussed in Europe is essentially based on the remnants of colonialist thinking and is weakening regional and global strategic stability.

[Korean Central News Agency]

Statement of Position in Response to US Threat and Blackmail Moves

The Venezuelan Defense Minister issued a statement on August 31, expressing a position in response to US threat and blackmail moves.

He exposed that the US encirclement of Venezuela aims to cause internal chaos and weaken the political leadership.

He emphasized that his country is prepared to counter any US attack, stating, "If you dare set foot on our land, we will fight."

He claimed that the Venezuelan military is constantly monitoring the country's maritime borders and airspace.

Concerning Collusion in the Defense Industry Sector

Japan is heating up its defense industry collusion with Australia.

Recently, the Japanese government held a meeting of a public-private joint promotion committee involving relevant ministries, agencies, and companies regarding the issue of exporting combat ships to Australia. The meeting discussed speeding up price negotiations aiming to formally sign the relevant contract with the Australian side early next year.

The Japanese Defense Minister emphasized at the meeting that this export item has "great significance" in terms of contributing to the enhancement of its own ships' capabilities and for security保障. Related defense companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., also chimed in, pledging to make utmost efforts for the success of the plan.

These are busy movements following Australia's recent decision to introduce Japanese combat ships.

Exporting combat ships to Australia is an important item persistently pursued by the Japanese authorities.

In September last year, at a military and diplomatic officials' consultation with Australia, they proposed their combat ships for joint development bidding, and in March and June this year, successively dispatched combat ships of the relevant class to showcase the actual vessels. In July, they even held an explanatory meeting, elaborating at length on their "advantages."

Japan has aims in exporting combat ships to Australia.

It is to invigorate the defense industry and further strengthen the military-technological foundation as a war-waging nation.

As a war criminal state, Japan's military buildup and weapons exports were strictly blocked and regulated by international and domestic laws. This is because it could embark on the path of re-invasion. However, due to the persistent rearmament maneuvers of the ultra-rightist reactionary ruling class, those prohibition barriers have gradually been dismantled or become nominal. The principle of prohibiting weapons exports was changed to the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment" after decades.

This "principle" ostensibly limits weapons exports to non-lethal weapons only, but makes an exception for international joint development and production. That is, even for offensive or lethal weapons, if clothed with the pretext of "joint," they can be developed, produced, and sold without limit.

The combat ships to be exported to Australia this time were also capped with the label of "joint development" in this manner. According to the "adjustment" of the contents of the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment" and its operational guidelines, the Japanese authorities have already completed the procedure approving the joint development and export of the relevant combat ships last November.

The defense industry is having its heyday.

They have already received orders for building 22 ships of the relevant combat class for their Maritime "Self-Defense Force," and now, acquiring an additional joint development project with Australia amounting to 11 ships will bring enormous profits.

Japan is continuously accelerating military cooperation with Australia. It has concluded an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), a Military Information Protection Agreement, a Defense Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement, and a Facilitated Access Agreement for mutual dispatch of armed forces with this country. The relationship between the two countries is evaluated as a "quasi-alliance." If defense industry collusion is added, the scope of military cooperation will widen further.

The Japanese reactionary authorities are constantly scheming to enhance war capability and accelerate overseas expansion through various weapons exports and joint development of combat ships.

Japan's dangerous behavior, which only adds elements of instability to the regional situation, is arousing vigilance and concern in the international community.

Correspondent Jang Chol

Natural Disasters in Various Countries

Casualties continue to increase from the magnitude 6 earthquake that occurred on August 31 in the eastern region of Afghanistan.

According to local authorities on September 1, the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 812, and the number of injured to 2,817.

In Kunar Province, the worst affected, 800 deaths and 2,500 injuries have been confirmed.

Rescue teams have been deployed to the affected areas to carry out emergency rescue operations.

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Casualties from monsoon heavy rains continue to increase in Pakistan.

According to the country's disaster management agency on the 1st, 31 people lost their lives and 26 were injured across Pakistan during the period from August 31 to September 1.

Particularly in Panjab Province, 25 people died, including 8 children and 2 women.

It is forecast that rain will continue for the next few days.

> -From Pakistan-

Measures to Prevent Illegal Mining

The Ghanaian government is devising measures to prevent illegal mining. In this country, recent illegal mining has severely polluted water and soil, caused massive destruction of forests, and led to a decline in state revenue due to smuggling of mineral resources, resulting in serious damage.

In this connection, the government has repealed a state law permitting mining in forest protection zones and taken measures to dispatch surveillance personnel to expel illegal miners and dismantle mining equipment.

Declining Birth Rate

The birth rate continues to fall in Japan.

According to data released by the country's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on August 29, the number of children born in the first half of this year decreased by 3.1% compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths increased by 3.1%.

The country's media expressed concern that although the authorities are promoting a "countermeasure against the declining birth rate," there is no sign of the declining birth rate trend improving.

[Korean Central News Agency]

Worsening Spread of Various Infectious Diseases

Recently, the World Health Organization stated that the cholera spread situation is worsening further in many countries, revealing that this constitutes a serious challenge facing the global health sector.

According to the latest report on the disease situation, from January 1 to August 17 this year, 409,000 cholera patients and 4,738 deaths occurred in 31 countries. The Eastern Mediterranean region recorded the highest number of patients, and the African region recorded the highest number of deaths.

In a certain province in eastern Chad, over 900 cholera cases have been registered since July, with 75 deaths.

In Sudan, 2,300 people were infected with cholera and 40 lost their lives in one week in August. The cumulative number of cholera patients recorded in 132 regions across the country reached nearly 100,000, with over 2,400 deaths.

A medical group active in this country stated in a declaration, "Amid civil war, the Sudanese people are now experiencing the worst cholera outbreak in years."

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the cholera spread situation is at a critical stage. Nationally, the average mortality rate is 3%, particularly reaching 9% in the capital, Kinshasa. 80% of the deceased lost their lives before reaching the hospital.

In Africa, cholera is commonly known as the "number one infectious disease" that takes lives.

Last year, 204,115 people were infected with cholera and 3,747 died on the African continent.

The World Health Organization pointed out that the main factors for the increasingly worsening cholera spread lie in armed conflict, refugee situations, natural disasters, etc., and that the cholera spread situation is serious in rural areas with weak infrastructure and limited health facilities, as well as in flood-affected areas.

The spread of dengue fever and chikungunya fever remains serious.

In Bangladesh, from the beginning of this year to August 21, 27,782 dengue fever patients and 110 deaths occurred. In July alone, over 10,000 people contracted dengue fever.

In Cambodia, about 7,000 people were registered as dengue fever patients in the first half of this year, and in Myanmar, over 5,060 people were registered as dengue fever patients from the beginning of this year to July 19.

Recently, two more chikungunya fever patients occurred in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China. Currently, this virus has spread to 119 countries and regions worldwide. In Guangdong Province, nearly 5,000 chikungunya fever patients have occurred in 12 cities.

Experts argue that water pollution and lack of sanitation facilities are promoting the spread of infectious diseases, and that only by urgently establishing measures to strengthen health facilities and provide safe water can the current emergency of various infectious disease spread be ended and future outbreaks prevented.

Correspondent

Condemnation of Israel Expanding Military Operations in Gaza Strip,

Denunciation of Israel's Annexation Attempt of West Bank

- The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 1st, strongly condemning Israel for continuing to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The statement exposed that the reality of the Gaza Strip shows that the Israeli authorities have no will to end the war, ease regional tension, and restore peace and stability.

It condemned that the blockade policy of the Israeli Zionist reactionaries, perpetrated against defenseless Palestinian civilians, is doubling the humanitarian disaster in this region, and that Israel's atrocities constitute a violation of international law and run counter to international efforts to halt the war.

- The Palestinian Presidency issued a statement on the 1st, recognizing and denouncing Israel's attempt to annex the West Bank as a gross violation of international law and UN resolutions.

The statement emphasized that Israel cannot exercise sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Al-Quds, and that the occupation and Jewish settlements are illegal and must be stopped.

The statement appealed to the international community to support the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Al-Quds as its capital, and to take practical measures to thwart Israel's plans.

[Korean Central News Agency]

Common Sense

Some Methods Beneficial to Health

Laughter relieves stress and boosts immunity. Laughing by oneself can also be effective.

Also, moderate walking, slow running, swimming, etc., increase serotonin secretion, helping to relieve stress.

Changing the commute route to use a different one or walking for about one bus stop section is effective.

Furthermore, changing the surrounding environment, such as rearranging room furniture or changing the desk position at the workplace, can shift one's mood and help relieve stress.

* *

Exercise is one good method to strengthen the body and protect health.

There should be an order to exercise. Specifically, there should be a purpose, a plan, and an order.

The exercise order should start from easy, simple things and gradually progress from slow movements to fast ones.

It is good to exercise with many people; once started, do not give up midway, but encourage and compete with each other to reach a high level.

When the weather is hot, attention should be paid to the following points.

People often play volleyball, tennis, table tennis, etc., during lunchtime, but when it's hot, it is good to exercise moderately.

Exercise and rest should be well combined.

Exercise should be done scientifically, and strenuous exercise should not be done from the beginning. Excessive exercise is rather harmful, and exercising pleasantly according to one's own body prevents feeling fatigue.

Exercise items and time should be chosen individually.

Depending on one's health condition, one can do suspension exercises, slow running, walking in place, lying down and getting up, etc., and can also train using sports equipment.

Correspondent