An art troupe of disabled persons gave a performance at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang in October. The performers fully displayed the talents they have cultivated to their heart’s content under the policy of the socialist system for the protection of the disabled, winning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Enjoying colourful numbers such as poem recitation, instrumental ensemble, sign language dance and magic, the audience witnessed the happy life of the disabled and keenly felt the advantages of the socialist system.

The persons with disabilities in the DPRK are fully provided with legal, institutional and social conditions and environment.

An article of the Law of the DPRK on the Protection of the Person with Disabilities stipulates that the State respects the personality of the person with disability and shall provide the same socio-political right, freedom and interest to the person with disability as the healthy citizen.

The persons with disabilities are provided with all sorts of rights by law and enjoy a genuine life as befits a full-fledged member of society.

The Central Committee of the Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled (KFPD) was established in 1998 as the one and only non-governmental institution of persons with disabilities, which embraces all their organizations in the country.

The KFPD sets it as its mission to represent and champion all the rights and interests of the persons with disabilities in the country and encourage them to take part in social life in an independent and creative way. Its basic task is to ensure their mental and physical rehabilitation and create barrier-free environments for them through various assistance and support activities, publications and information activities, so as to help them play their role as the true masters of society and the collective.

The State has established special schools to provide the disabled children with the same education as the normal ones and ensured that teachers improve their qualifications and educate students with warm affection for them to be the social beings with independent ideological consciousness and creative ability.

Various public health establishments such as a rehabilitation centre and clinic for disabled children and adults are rendering services to protecting and promoting their health.

The disabled persons are developing talents to their heart’s content in the art and sports associations for them according to the conditions of impediments and hobbies.

They have given art performances, creating a great sensation not only at home but abroad, and proved successful in international sports competitions. Credit to such achievements must go to the DPRK’s policy for the protection of the persons with disabilities.

The table-tennis players of the DRPK won the team event of the ITTF Asian Para Championships held in Chinese Taipei in July 2019, stealing the limelight of many fans.

All the people in the country take good care of the disabled persons with warm love for them, regarding it as their duty.

Many touching stories about many people who have helped the disabled can be found in the country: A teacher carried a disabled pupil on her back to school for several years. A medical worker treated an orphan suffering from paraplegia to get to his feet.

The employees of the Rangnang Disabled Soldiers’ Essential Plastic Goods Factory have turned their workplace into a leading plastic goods producer in the country. This fact showcases the happy life of the persons with disabilities in the DPRK, devoting their talents for the sake of the country.

December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.