Almost all mountains in Hoechang County of South Phyongan Province are rocky with low soil depth.
Patches of land were seen in disarray here and there in the bald, barren mountains in the past. It took years, decades in fact, for the county population to reap benefit from the mountains.
Forests planted in large acreage
The county newly planted over 16 200 hectares of forests in the past 10-odd years.
In recent years alone, it has planted more than six million trees in the mountains every year, which is several times more than the number six years ago.
“Our county has not only produced this much tree seedlings at the parent tree nursery. All the county population have turned out in producing saplings,” said Han Pyong Ik, vice-chairman of the county people’s committee.
The factories and enterprises in the county have set up small tree nurseries of their own to suit their specific conditions and are planting and growing seedlings they cultivated in the forests in charge.
The county recently applied a new tree planting method which enabled it to raise the rooting rate of trees even in severe drought.
In the past the locals stored Changsong larch seedlings grown in seedling beds in underground cellars in winter to plant them in the tree nursery in spring the following year. But now they are transplanting the one-year-old seedlings from the seedling beds to the furrows newly made in the nursery on the spot in autumn without storing them after soaking them in water mixed with the powder of elm tree roots and covering them with humus powder.
After growing them for one more year, they planted the healthy seedlings in the mountains in the third year, with the rate of rooting reaching over 90 percent.
Now the county is introducing an advanced tree sapling production method to increase the rooting rate of trees planted in summer.
It has also taken appropriate measures to prevent forest fire.
In the past it ensured that all the population strictly observe the rule on entering the mountains, while setting up additional forest fire observation posts and sending more personnel for observation.
Hundreds of water pools were built and water tanks recently buried in the dangerous places to mitigate the damage to be caused by forest fire.
In the special forest reserve, cameras were fixed to establish a forest fire monitoring system along with the nationwide forest fire monitoring information service system. And a stone barrier was built along the several-kilometre firebreak and a biological fire prevention forest was planted with Alnus glutinosa and gingko trees which do not catch fire easily.
‘Gold, treasure mountains’ pay off
“With forests growing thicker, factories run at full capacity, consumer goods production increases and they all bring benefits to us,” said Jong Jae Sop, an old man living in Yangchun-ri.
A characteristic feature of afforestation in the county is that timber, oil-bearing tree, wild fruit, pulp and paper raw materials and firewood forests have been planted as mixed ones.
Every year it produces thousands of cubic metres of timber and provides the people with similar amount of firewood.
The county foodstuff factory is making foodstuffs from acorns, wild grapes, fruits of tara vine and others.
It has recently added a production line to increase the production of wild fruit juice.
The county furniture factory produces chests of quilts, cupboards, desks, chairs and other furniture and school fixtures with trees grown in the county.
Laundry soap widely used by the county population is also made from the fruits of Evodia daniellii. The county gathers in dozens of tons of these fruits every year in the Evodia daniellii forests it planted in the mountains.
It also makes dozens of kinds of medicines from wild fruits and medicinal herbs and produces paper by itself.
More From Pyongyang Times
When the whole country is pulsating with great transformation and fresh hope, an inauguration ceremony of the regional-industry
December 25, 2025
When the whole country is pulsating with great transformation and fresh hope, an inauguration ceremony of the regional-industry
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
December 25, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
December 25, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an enlarged meeting of the council of the defence ministry on December 17 that the
December 25, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an enlarged meeting of the council of the defence ministry on December 17 that the
On November 30 ten years ago, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the renovated Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace.That day
December 25, 2025
On November 30 ten years ago, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the renovated Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace.That day
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from V.
December 25, 2025
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from V.
As the people across the country enjoy a highly civilized new life under socialism, new houses have been built at Wonum and
December 25, 2025
As the people across the country enjoy a highly civilized new life under socialism, new houses have been built at Wonum and
The residents of Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, greeted an auspicious day to be specially recorded in the history of the
December 25, 2025
The residents of Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, greeted an auspicious day to be specially recorded in the history of the
An online joint seminar and a photo exhibition of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on December 16 on the
December 24, 2025
An online joint seminar and a photo exhibition of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on December 16 on the
The US is intensifying pressure on Venezuela by rallying its large forces in the Caribbean Sea.Insisting that the Venezuelan gover
December 24, 2025
The US is intensifying pressure on Venezuela by rallying its large forces in the Caribbean Sea.Insisting that the Venezuelan gover
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the reckless remarks of the Japanese defense minister who found fault with
December 24, 2025
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the reckless remarks of the Japanese defense minister who found fault with
Different kinds of vehicles run in all parts of the DPRK. They carry dairy products to children everywhere—cities and
December 24, 2025
Different kinds of vehicles run in all parts of the DPRK. They carry dairy products to children everywhere—cities and
The workers of the Sunchon Cement Complex attained its goal of increased production set higher than last year by bringing about a
December 24, 2025
The workers of the Sunchon Cement Complex attained its goal of increased production set higher than last year by bringing about a
New houses have appeared at the Wonjon Stockbreeding Farm under the South Hamgyong Provincial Rural Economy Committee and Sangok
December 24, 2025
New houses have appeared at the Wonjon Stockbreeding Farm under the South Hamgyong Provincial Rural Economy Committee and Sangok
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japanese militarism, which was hell-bent on aggression in Asia along with
December 23, 2025
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japanese militarism, which was hell-bent on aggression in Asia along with
New appearances of rural civilization of the Korean style are spreading over the vast fields in South Hwanghae Province. Modern
December 23, 2025
New appearances of rural civilization of the Korean style are spreading over the vast fields in South Hwanghae Province. Modern
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryavkov said at a press conference with a US media organization on December 16 that Russia
December 23, 2025
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryavkov said at a press conference with a US media organization on December 16 that Russia
On the direct initiative and under the energetic leadership of the great Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, modern hotels
December 23, 2025
On the direct initiative and under the energetic leadership of the great Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, modern hotels
Memorial meetings, film shows and book and photo exhibitions took place in Pakistan, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland,
December 23, 2025
Memorial meetings, film shows and book and photo exhibitions took place in Pakistan, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland,
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense demanded the US observe the one China principle at a press conference on December
December 22, 2025
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense demanded the US observe the one China principle at a press conference on December
More Articles