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
A high-ranking official of the European Union warned on January 12 that the US’ military invasion of Greenland would cause the
January 17, 2026
A high-ranking official of the European Union warned on January 12 that the US’ military invasion of Greenland would cause the
The Croatian prime minister emphasized again the stand not to dispatch soldiers of his country to Ukraine at a joint press
January 17, 2026
The Croatian prime minister emphasized again the stand not to dispatch soldiers of his country to Ukraine at a joint press
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the New
January 17, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the New
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League visited the statues
January 17, 2026
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League visited the statues
At a time when a new life of socialist cultural efflorescence blooms all over the DPRK every day, modern dwelling houses were
January 17, 2026
At a time when a new life of socialist cultural efflorescence blooms all over the DPRK every day, modern dwelling houses were
One of the abiding memories of 2025 of the Korean people is of the wonderful art performances which make them feel the great
January 17, 2026
One of the abiding memories of 2025 of the Korean people is of the wonderful art performances which make them feel the great
Colourful events will be held in Pyongyang to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League.
January 17, 2026
Colourful events will be held in Pyongyang to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League.
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, warned European countries and NATO member nations against their
January 16, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, warned European countries and NATO member nations against their
New socialist ideal farm villages have been built successively in Kangwon Province, giving pleasure to the people. Dwelling houses
January 16, 2026
New socialist ideal farm villages have been built successively in Kangwon Province, giving pleasure to the people. Dwelling houses
The speaker of the Iranian parliament decried and rejected the US’ military threat in his speech to the parliament on January 11.H
January 16, 2026
The speaker of the Iranian parliament decried and rejected the US’ military threat in his speech to the parliament on January 11.H
Young people across the DPRK were gripped by great emotion on the occasion of the New Year 2026. They were impressed by the fact
January 16, 2026
Young people across the DPRK were gripped by great emotion on the occasion of the New Year 2026. They were impressed by the fact
The young Korean people embroidered heroic epic stories of miracles and innovations in the annals of the country’s prosperity.
January 16, 2026
The young Korean people embroidered heroic epic stories of miracles and innovations in the annals of the country’s prosperity.
The French president criticized the US’ foreign policy on January 8. As regards the fact that the US decided to break from 66
January 15, 2026
The French president criticized the US’ foreign policy on January 8. As regards the fact that the US decided to break from 66
The Tokyo Shimbun on January 9 carried an article titled “US threat and blackmail out of common sense” denouncing the reckless mov
January 15, 2026
The Tokyo Shimbun on January 9 carried an article titled “US threat and blackmail out of common sense” denouncing the reckless mov
New houses have appeared at the Sugye Farm in Unsan County and the Mungok Stockbreeding Farm in Nyongwon County, South Phyongan
January 15, 2026
New houses have appeared at the Sugye Farm in Unsan County and the Mungok Stockbreeding Farm in Nyongwon County, South Phyongan
The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan led by Ri Chol Su, principal of Toshun Korean Primary School, left Pyongyang on
January 15, 2026
The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan led by Ri Chol Su, principal of Toshun Korean Primary School, left Pyongyang on
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent birthday spreads to Kim Sang Chun living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 16, Aedo-dong, Jongju
January 15, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent birthday spreads to Kim Sang Chun living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 16, Aedo-dong, Jongju
Science and technology are being diffused widely in the DPRK with the Sci-Tech Complex as the hub. Modern regional-industry
January 15, 2026
Science and technology are being diffused widely in the DPRK with the Sci-Tech Complex as the hub. Modern regional-industry
The respected Marshal Kim Jong Un received on January 13 a letter from the members of the 35th Art Troupe of Korean Schoolchildren
January 15, 2026
The respected Marshal Kim Jong Un received on January 13 a letter from the members of the 35th Art Troupe of Korean Schoolchildren
Haemoglobin cosmetic is now popular among many women. Developed by the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory, this product is applicable to
January 15, 2026
Haemoglobin cosmetic is now popular among many women. Developed by the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory, this product is applicable to
More Articles
