Stories about laudable deeds are told one after another in the DPRK, where it has become a social habit to live harmoniously while helping one another forward.

Like family members

Kim Un Yong, worker of the direct sales store under the South Hamgyong provincial local industry management bureau, has been taking care of a disabled solider living in Hamhung City.

A few years ago, the disabled soldier dropped in at her store. She had had many customers to serve every day, but the image of the disabled soldier was deeply kept in her mind.

With a determination to become an elder sister of him, who had sacrificed himself to the defence of the country, she would often visit his home not only on holidays and his birthday but also on ordinary days.

When he got married and had his baby, she showed them all sincerity taking them as her own family members.

Ri Pok Hui, section chief of the Wonsan Chemical Factory, and her family members have long devoted their sincerity to a disabled soldier in the same city.

Once Ri happened to hear about him as she had a chat with her son-in-law and suggested her family members look after him, saying that it is a civic duty to take good care of disabled soldiers concerned by the state.

They frequently visited the disabled soldier’s house to learn about his health and living.

When he was hospitalized, Ri discussed treatment measures with doctors of the hospital and brought him valuable tonics and nutritious foods. The disabled soldier said that she is really overcautious like his own family member.

‘Paternal affection’

Last May, there was a wedding ceremony of Ri Il Hyok, a special-class disabled soldier, in a house of Hyongjesan District, Pyongyang.

Il Hyok’s heart was inflamed with gratitude to many well-wishers who spared no efforts for his wedding.

What was the most deplorable for him at that time was that he could not see bride Kim Song Hui, who decided to get married to him, and others who had taken good care of him like his own family members and prepared his wedding table.

A few years ago, he lost his eyes in the line of duty.

Many people including neighbours and strangers came to him almost every day, giving him strength and courage lest he would lose strength on bed.

Among the regular visitors, there are Ju Hak Chol and his wife Kim Yong Mi living in Ryonmot-dong, Sosong District, Pyongyang. They visited him whenever they had some special food materials and travelled different parts of the country to seek medicinal materials good for his health recovery. Their sincerity was very warm and affectionate.

When a young woman was resolved to tie the knot with Il Hyok, Ju volunteered to take charge of all the preparations for his wedding, which reminded the disabled soldier of his father who had died at his post.