Standing Together at the Podium

Jong Song Hwa, principal of Huksu Senior Middle School in Taehung County, who had just returned to school after participating in a teaching competition held at the provincial level, hurriedly picked up the phone as soon as he entered his room, its ringing piercing his ears.

An eager voice was heard in an instant.

It was a call from the County Grain Management Office, informing him that the manager had just left with materials needed for school preparations.

Jong Song Hwa felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

Who would have thought that the matter he had been pondering over would be resolved so easily...

As he stepped out onto the school playground to greet the car, the image of a grateful worker, always rolling up his sleeves for school affairs, came to his mind.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said as follows:

"Officials must properly solve the problems arising in the work and lives of teachers so that they can devote themselves to the educational work with a sense of pride in their work."

Principal Jong Song Hwa's deep connection with Ri Chun Ung, manager of the Taehung County Grain Management Office, began on a bus returning to the county from the provincial seat last April.

At that time, many graduates from teachers' colleges and normal universities across the country were voluntarily moving to schools in remote areas, and several graduates from Pyongsong Normal University had also applied to become teachers at Huksu Senior Middle School in Taehung County.

Among them, Ryang Chung Hyok, Kim Yong Chol, and Kil Yong Hwa were graduates of Pyongsong Secondary College.

As the new school year began, Jong Song Hwa thought that these newcomers, taking their first steps into social life, should at least have new clothes to wear when stepping onto the podium.

This led him to make the trip to the provincial seat.

It was when he had boarded the bus to Taehung County, carrying a heavy load containing spring and autumn clothes for the new teachers.

Someone was looking for him. Turning his head, he saw it was the manager of the Taehung County Grain Management Office.

Manager Ri Chun Ung, taking his luggage, asked:

What brings the principal to carry luggage like this?

After hearing the story, the manager said, as if deeply moved:

"The principal is acting as a parent."

When Jong Song Hwa said it was only natural, Ri Chun Ung continued:

"From now on, I will also actively help with school affairs."...

Who could have known that the promise made on that journey would truly be kept?

A few days later, the manager visited, having procured various materials needed for the school. He had prepared them using funds saved at home after discussing it with his wife.

From then on, the manager was zealous about school affairs. On holidays, he never failed to visit, thinking of the teachers living in dormitories, and never forgot their birthdays, showing utmost sincerity. He provided materials needed for the teachers' dormitory and school preparations, and on one occasion, even personally solved the need for teaching plan paper and writing instruments for the teachers.

Each time, he would entrust him with these words:

"If you need anything, come find me anytime. Let's raise the children of our hometown well together."

But he himself would often come to the school first.

In early March last year, as spring was setting in, there was a celebration at the school. Teacher Ryang Chung Hyok was starting a family.

Everyone was delighted, as if it were their own affair, that this exemplary ex-serviceman was settling down to build a nest of life here.

Officials from the County Party Committee and other county-level institutions came down to the village with cars loaded with necessities for the newlyweds' life to congratulate them.

Ri Chun Ung also brought a considerable number of household goods.

Principal Jong Song Hwa was so grateful he was at a loss for words.

"You always help us like this... I feel like we are imposing too much on you, Comrade Manager."

At this, the manager jumped up. And then he said: "It is I who is grateful to you, Principal."

"What?!..."

To the astonished principal, he said:

"It is you, Principal, who made me realize that a true official is one who not only does his own job well but also knows how to think about the future of the homeland. That is why I am grateful."

Sincerity was embedded in the manager's voice....

Jong Song Hwa was jolted from his thoughts by the sound of a car horn.

The car was entering the school playground.

Sweat was streaming down the forehead of the manager getting out of the cab. But a satisfied smile was etched on his face.

"Knowing that the Principal must be anxious about the school preparations, I've only come now. I'm sorry."

This was the same manager who, upon hearing that the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex had recently delivered sports equipment, had been restless, saying, "We are a step late." Even then, he had only turned back after finding out what was needed.

His sincere desire to take on even one school matter was unchanged, both yesterday and today.

Once, when Jong Song Hwa reproached himself, saying he was unqualified to be principal, the manager told him not to weaken and fervently said this:

The principal has a great treasure to cherish for a lifetime; if you do not forget that, what could you possibly not overcome?

More than ten years ago, ahead of his graduation from Pyongsong Normal University, Jong Song Hwa reverently sent a letter to the respected Comrade General Secretary expressing his determination to apply to a school in a remote mountain village.

The respected Comrade General Secretary, despite being so busy with state affairs, found his deed admirable and, beyond measure, sent a loving handwritten reply.

Cherishing the glory of that day in his heart and living with a vow to guard the podium of the mountain village school for life, he had such grateful officials by his side. The officials of the County Party Committee and others in the county, who always encouraged him and even built a new school for him to fulfill the sacred task entrusted by the Party...

Thinking that he was guarding the sacred podium entrusted by the Party together with such true patriots, Jong Song Hwa felt strength surging through his entire body.

Is it not because there are such passionate and ardent citizens, whose hearts are filled with patriotism like a cornerstone, even in the humble schoolyards of deep mountains, that the school is transforming daily to meet the demands of the times and the future of the homeland is growing robustly?

Kong Ro Hyok

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The New Appearance of Tonggong Village

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said as follows:

"It is the firm will of our Party to ensure that our agricultural workers, who have suffered more than anyone else in the arduous march to defend and advance our-style socialism, enjoy a happy life to the full in a prosperous and civilized socialist rural community."

Tonggong-ri in Manpho City is a remote mountain village. However, the new appearance of the mountain village, transformed beyond recognition, evokes admiration from visitors.

"We know no envy of the city."

This is a phrase one can hear from anyone in Tonggong-ri. A tour of the village makes it clear that this is not just deep affection for one's hometown.

The Tonggong Hospital in Manpho City is the first thing that catches the eye in the ri seat. This hospital, unusual even in its external appearance, is fully equipped with various medical devices such as a comprehensive ENT treatment device, dental treatment device, delivery table, and examination beds.

With the supply of modern medical devices developed and produced by the Myohyangsan Medical Apparatus Factory under the love of our Party, which prioritizes protecting and promoting the people's life and health, this hospital can now provide medical services more satisfactorily.

Today, the local people are deeply appreciating the love of the Party and the blessings of the socialist system, facing the reality of receiving medical services unrivaled by the city, right in a mountain village, not to mention a bustling area.

Not long ago, an elderly person in the village told us who visited there:

"The medical devices are so wonderful that just seeing them seems to make illnesses vanish. Even an ordinary old person like me, who has farmed all my life, can now receive treatment in a hospital no less than those in the city and enjoy a long life free from disease. Isn't this all thanks to the Workers' Party of Korea?"

The lives of the villagers have changed beyond recognition. This can also be well seen through the high level of popularization of mass cultural work.

Not long ago, an evaluation was held for art squad performances conducted nationwide to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Party, and the people of Tonggong-ri took to the stage representing the agricultural workers of Jagang Province. Dozens participated, from ri officials to ordinary farm workers. The performance items alone included various forms such as farmers' music dance and chorus poetry.

Every evening after the day's work, the joyous songs of the local people resonate endlessly in the ri culture hall.

"In recent years, we have done well in farming and received the title of overall circulation winner every year. With romance always overflowing in labor and life, how can one not be enthusiastic in one's work?"

In the unadorned words of the ri official lay the elevated enthusiasm of the people of Tonggong-ri, blossoming beautiful lives in the new era of rural revitalization.

What about the life unfolding at Tonggongwon, a convenience service facility?

The two-story Tonggongwon is equipped as modernly as any urban service facility. After finishing the day's work, the villagers come here to get haircuts, bathe, and even enjoy cool drink services, relieving their accumulated fatigue to their heart's content. Young men and women starting new families now receive haircuts and beauty services not at the city seat dozens of ri away, but right at Tonggongwon.

A story born around this time tells of a woman from Kanggye City who, while visiting relatives, had her hair done here and could not help but marvel at her greatly changed appearance.

Through the new appearance of Tonggong Village, we can well see how much our rural areas are changing beyond recognition along with the new era of local transformation.

Correspondent Sin Chol

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Personages from Various Countries Visit Our Missions to Congratulate on the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Homeland

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the homeland, personages from various strata of different countries visited our missions in their respective countries on the 14th and 15th to congratulate.

Personages from the Laos-Korea Friendship Association, Trade Union Federation, Women's Union, Veterans' Federation, People's Revolutionary Youth League, and the Germany Branch of the Friendship Association with Korea sincerely offered flower baskets and bouquets and paid respects before the portraits of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung and the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il, and the visual art piece depicting the great leader and the great general together.

On the occasion of August 15th, the Vice-Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party also visited our mission on the 18th to congratulate.

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What Is the Purpose of the U.S.-ROK Marine Corps Joint Training?

U.S. and ROK warmongers conducted marine corps joint training on the eve of the notorious "Ulchi Freedom Shield" combined military exercise.

U.S. Marine Corps forces stationed in Okinawa, ROK Marine Corps units, aviation unit forces, etc., participated and simultaneously conducted river-crossing exercises, parachute drop exercises, urban warfare exercises, live-fire exercises, etc., in various regions of the ROK from last July. Particularly, from July 31st, they frenziedly conducted landing exercises in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, mobilizing armored vehicles and various helicopters. The warmongers boasted, "This training symbolizes the strong U.S.-ROK alliance."

This is a grave threat to our country's sovereignty and security interests and an extremely reckless and deliberate military provocation that exacerbates tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in surrounding areas.

As the warmongers bragged, "The Marine Corps is developing towards maximizing the mobility, lethality, and responsiveness of a specialized amphibious mobile unit equipped with a manned-unmanned combined combat system," it can be said to be the main force in landing operations and the vanguard in war execution.

The fundamental purpose of the U.S. conducting joint training with the ROK Marine Corps is to rapidly deploy U.S. Marine Corps forces stationed in Okinawa to the Korean Peninsula to realize surprise landings on key coastal areas of our country. The U.S. Marine Corps forces mobilized for the training are the III Marine Expeditionary Force, tasked with being the first to be投入 (deployed) to the Korean Peninsula in case of emergency to carry out preemptive operations.

The content of the training is also consistently focused on surprise attacks and unexpected strikes against important targets in our country. From any perspective—unit composition, training purpose and content, or nature—it is as clear as day that this reckless mischief is squarely aimed at our country.

The fact that such extremely provocative military actions themselves were frenziedly carried out on the eve of the commencement of "Ulji Freedom Shield," which assumes a full-scale nuclear war, further highlights the seriousness of the situation. Currently, on the Korean Peninsula and in surrounding areas, massive forces have gathered, including U.S. and ROK forces participating in the "Ulji Freedom Shield" combined military exercise, as well as the forces of U.S. follower countries wearing the hat of "UN Command" member states.

Moreover, unlike in the past, this "Ulji Freedom Shield" combined military exercise targets not only our country but also countries in the region.

At a time when this multinational nuclear war force is about to embark on threatening military actions against our country under the guise of an exercise, the frenzy of the Marine Corps force, known as the vanguard of aggression, in combat training can only be seen as an intentional and planned provocation.

Recently, the U.S., clinging more desperately to the realization of a policy of strength against major countries in Northeast Asia, including our country, is driving the regional situation to an extreme. This year alone, the three major U.S. nuclear strategic assets, including the nuclear submarine USS Alexandria, the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson strike group, and strategic bombers, have been continuously deployed to the Korean Peninsula, massive war forces have been forward-deployed in Guam and various regions of Japan, and various war exercises under various names have been continuously conducted from the beginning of the year to the present. The Northeast Asian region surrounding the Korean Peninsula is precisely the world's largest hotspot with the highest risk of nuclear war outbreak.

In such a place, the U.S. mobilizing its allies to engage in military provocations is nothing short of a reckless act of throwing a firebrand into a powder keg.

Reality clearly confirms that the prime culprit driving the security environment of the Korean Peninsula and the region into a dangerous situation is none other than the U.S. and its follower forces.

Un Jong Chol

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Venezuela Announces Countermeasures Against U.S. Aggression Threat

The President of Venezuela stated at a meeting with governors and mayors on the 18th that in response to the increasing U.S. aggression threat, 4.5 million civilian forces would be mobilized nationwide.

He emphasized that this is a measure to guarantee the peace and security of the country, stating that not only would civilian forces in cities and rural areas be strengthened, but combat forces would also be organized in all factories.

Previously, the Venezuelan Minister of National Defense condemned and rejected the U.S. attempt to carry out aggressive military actions in the Caribbean under the pretext of "counter-narcotics operations."

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Rejection of U.S. Military Action Plan in the Caribbean

The President of Mexico stated at a press conference on the 19th that he opposes and rejects the U.S. military action plan in the Caribbean.

In relation to recent U.S. scheming to carry out aggressive military actions in the Caribbean under the name of "counter-narcotics operations," he emphasized that the Mexican government adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and will defend the people's right to self-determination.

He also denied reports that his country had agreed to jointly conduct counter-narcotics operations with U.S. drug control agencies, stating that the Mexican government has not reached any agreement with this U.S. agency.

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Anti-Crime Struggle

Egyptian police carried out an assault operation on hideouts of drug and weapons traffickers in the northern region of the country on the 19th.

During the operation, 8 traffickers were eliminated and 125 kg of drugs and weapons were seized.

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Continued Increase in Novel Coronavirus Infections

The number of novel coronavirus infections occurring in the ROK during the one-week period up to the 9th increased by 23.6% compared to the previous week.

It is said that the number of infections has been increasing for 6 consecutive weeks recently.

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Call to Stop Israel's Territorial Expansion Moves

A spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for stopping Israel's territorial expansion moves at a press conference on the 18th.

He said that today, the arrogant expansionist nature of the Zionist regime is being revealed in more detail, and that the Israeli Prime Minister's mention of the "Greater Israel Construction Concept," which encompasses many areas, amounts to an admission that their expansionism knows no bounds.

He warned that this makes it clear that the Israeli regime poses a practical threat to the security and stability of the West Asian region, and if this is not stopped, the region will inevitably be plunged into endless war.

[Korean Central News Agency]

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Serious Survival Crisis for Gaza Strip Residents

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Wildfire Damage in Various Countries

European countries are suffering severe damage from wildfires.

According to the European Commission, as of August 19th this year, approximately 895,000 hectares of area have burned due to wildfires in member states of the Union.

This is said to be more than 4 times the figure for the same period last year.

Carbon dioxide emissions during this period increased by almost three times compared to a year ago.

[Korean Central News Agency]

Wildfire Damage in the U.S.

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Fast and Eco-Friendly Cement Clinker Burning Method

Russian experts have developed an innovative method for burning Portland cement clinker. This method not only accelerates production but also makes it more environmentally friendly.

Portland cement remains one of the most in-demand building materials used in the production of concrete and various mixtures. However, its production consumes a lot of energy. This is especially true at the clinker burning stage, the main component of cement.

Experts have found a way to optimize this process. The essence of the innovative method lies in improving the slurry used in cement production by the wet method.

Experts added spent potlining, a waste product from aluminum production containing carbon and cryolite, to the slurry composition.

Carbon releases additional heat during combustion, and mineral components react with the raw materials, accelerating the burning process. This lowers the temperature of the waste gases and reduces heat loss. Ultimately, fuel consumption per ton of clinker is reduced by 6 kg.

This method, which allows for the reuse of waste and reduction of costs, has attracted the interest of cement and aluminum production companies.

[Korean Central News Agency]

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Russia Strengthening Socio-Economic Security Guarantees

Russia is striving to stabilize the lives and economy of residents in various regions.

Not long ago, President Putin met with the head of the Donetsk People's Republic to understand the socio-economic development situation of the region and discuss the issue of restoring destroyed facilities. The focus of the discussion was on the status of restoration of educational, sports, cultural facilities, and housing, future plans, and ways to implement them.

Accordingly, this year, 109 educational institution buildings, 22 sports facility buildings, and 57 cultural facility buildings in the region will be restored. Many residential buildings and other social facilities are also included in the restoration plan. Plans related to this have already been drawn up and implementation has begun.

Over the past two and a half years, 1,500 km of roads have been completed, and it is planned to build over 800 km of new roads by the end of this year.

Since not long ago, the Kalinin-named Vascular Center in Donetsk has begun operation, and active measures are being established to supplement lacking professionals in specialized fields.

One difficult problem currently arising in the lives of Donetsk residents is the water shortage created by the Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces.

In Donetsk, a mobile headquarters for water supply has been organized pursuant to President Putin's instructions. Various measures are being devised to lay water pipes and supply water normally.

Russia is paying great attention not only to Donetsk but also to the economic development and lives of residents in various regions, including Kursk Oblast.

As is known, Ukraine, which has acted as a shock troop for imperialist forces trying to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, in a desperate attempt to escape the困境 (predicament) of being driven into a corner last August, mobilized forces equipped with Western-made weapons and combat technical equipment, launched a sudden attack, occupied the territory of Kursk Oblast, which is Russian territory, turned residential areas into ruins, and brutally massacred peaceful residents.

Even after being driven out of the Kursk Oblast region, the Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces, targeting peaceful facilities for shelling and engaging in terrorist acts, went mad with malice.

Russia is focusing all efforts on protecting the local residents by forming a security zone along the border with Ukraine, while simultaneously restoring the damaged areas and stabilizing the lives of the residents.

Many experts are being mobilized to clear mines laid by Ukrainian neo-Nazi elements to ensure the safety of residents returning to their hometowns.

The Russian government, recognizing the need for additional support for the residents of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk Oblasts, is allocating significant funds for this. Special attention is being paid to the restoration of housing, social and transport facilities, and support for residents who have had to leave their hometowns and are living in temporary shelters.

Russian Prime Minister Mishustin mentioned this at a meeting with government members.

He emphasized that the support work being carried out on the instructions of President Putin is systematic and comprehensive in nature, and providing assistance to residents is a very important task.

He stated that it was decided to allocate an additional 40 billion rubles to Kursk Oblast, and that over 100 billion rubles had already been spent in this region.

Russia is also focusing on stabilizing the situation of enterprises operating in these regions to ensure the socio-economic security of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk Oblasts. 2 billion rubles have already been invested.

The government is taking various measures to ensure that the allocated funds reach the residents, organizations, and enterprises in a timely manner.

The active efforts of the Russian government to strengthen the economic foundation of various regions, achieve long-term development, and provide stable living conditions for the residents are receiving the support and sympathy of the entire Russian people.

Correspondent Ri Hak Nam