It was once a barren, windswept land, locals say. Now thanks to employees of the Sunchon City Department Store, it has turned into a forest of fruit trees full of scents of flowers and fruits from spring to fall.
The department store is well-known for efficient commodity supply service for local people.
The store staffed mostly with women started reclaiming the stony land in 2011.
It set the goal of planting over 10 000 fruit trees in 10 hectares of land by 2017 which marked the 50th anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il’s visit to it and mapped out a phased plan.
“With the thought that the more we exert ourselves, the more people will benefit, we carried out the uphill tasks as we pulled out rocks and stumps, dug pits and carried manures on our backs,” said Kim Jong Ae, manageress of the store.
They managed to achieve the first-stage target in three years and harvested 700 kilograms of fruits from dwarf apple trees in the fall of 2013.
As they found pride of their labour in the happy faces of citizens and children who were supplied with the apples, they planted more fruit trees every year to finish the plan by 2017 as scheduled. So far, they have planted more than 15 000 fruit trees in 12 hectares.
They have introduced different methods to make an effective use of land under cultivation and manure and cultivate trees in a scientific way.
They plant such crops as bean and sweet potato between fruit trees and feed their by-products to domestic animals in winter. They also trim and prune trees and thin out flowers and fruits according to their characteristics. Especially, they prevent plant diseases with the lime-sulphur mixture they make.
They have also planted thousands of Changsong larch and other trees of good species and created a herb garden in two hectares of land. And they produce a large number of saplings and herb seedlings every year at their nursery covering an area of hundreds of square metres.
More From Pyongyang Times
The 27th Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the
February 08, 2026
The 27th Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on February 2 censured the US for oppressing Chinese citizens.C
February 08, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on February 2 censured the US for oppressing Chinese citizens.C
The residents of Ragwon County, which is widely known throughout the DPRK along with Ragwonpho associated with the legends of
February 07, 2026
The residents of Ragwon County, which is widely known throughout the DPRK along with Ragwonpho associated with the legends of
New standards and new records were set one after another at many units of the national economy, the national economic plans for
February 07, 2026
New standards and new records were set one after another at many units of the national economy, the national economic plans for
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, expressed his stand to counter the US’ hostile act in a large-scale mass
February 07, 2026
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, expressed his stand to counter the US’ hostile act in a large-scale mass
Ten years have passed since the earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 was successfully launched in the DPRK.When Kwangmyong
February 07, 2026
Ten years have passed since the earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 was successfully launched in the DPRK.When Kwangmyong
Over ten years have passed since the distance education system was launched in the DPRK. This system which is being actively
February 06, 2026
Over ten years have passed since the distance education system was launched in the DPRK. This system which is being actively
A department director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the German ambassador to Iran on January 29 to denounce and reject
February 06, 2026
A department director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the German ambassador to Iran on January 29 to denounce and reject
The 2026 National Winter Games opened with due ceremony at the ice hockey gymnasium of the Mt Paektu area sports village in
February 06, 2026
The 2026 National Winter Games opened with due ceremony at the ice hockey gymnasium of the Mt Paektu area sports village in
The prime minister of Qatar visited Iran on January 31 to discuss the issue of regional peace and stability at the time when the
February 06, 2026
The prime minister of Qatar visited Iran on January 31 to discuss the issue of regional peace and stability at the time when the
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2026 International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament "Ivan Yarygin Cup" held in
February 06, 2026
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2026 International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament "Ivan Yarygin Cup" held in
New public and production buildings have appeared at the Taechong Farm in Unpha County of North Hwanghae Province, giving a
February 06, 2026
New public and production buildings have appeared at the Taechong Farm in Unpha County of North Hwanghae Province, giving a
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea worked out a yearly plan for building 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year
February 06, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea worked out a yearly plan for building 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year
The vice-minister of the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified the stand to resolutely cope with the US’ military threat on January 2
February 05, 2026
The vice-minister of the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified the stand to resolutely cope with the US’ military threat on January 2
Protest actions were staged simultaneously in different parts of the US against the murderous immigration policy of the
February 05, 2026
Protest actions were staged simultaneously in different parts of the US against the murderous immigration policy of the
Natural disasters have brought misfortunes and sufferings to people in any era and any country. But the reality in the DPRK is
February 05, 2026
Natural disasters have brought misfortunes and sufferings to people in any era and any country. But the reality in the DPRK is
The construction for the regional development policy in 2026 began with due ceremonies in the area of the Sinuiju Combined
February 05, 2026
The construction for the regional development policy in 2026 began with due ceremonies in the area of the Sinuiju Combined
Schoolchildren in South Hwanghae Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art theatre on February 2. Present there were
February 05, 2026
Schoolchildren in South Hwanghae Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art theatre on February 2. Present there were
A national photo exhibition, "Under the uplifted banner of self-reliance", was opened in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary
February 04, 2026
A national photo exhibition, "Under the uplifted banner of self-reliance", was opened in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Nampho Municipality met with heroes at the Nampho Municipal Art Theatre
February 04, 2026
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Nampho Municipality met with heroes at the Nampho Municipal Art Theatre
More Articles
