Dr. and Associate Prof. Ri Tong Jo is Merited Scientist and a teacher of thremmatology in the agrobiology faculty of Pyongyang University of Agriculture. He is usually nicknamed “master of stevia.”
He has devoted nearly 40 years of his career to the research on breeding a new kind of high-yielding stevia suitable to the climatic and soil conditions in the country and the cultivation, seed-gathering and processing of the plant. Thus he has rendered a tangible service to solving the sugar problem.
He was born of a peasant in December 1938 when his country was under the Japanese imperialists’ military occupation. In the 1960s he learned biology at Kim Il Sung University and then finished the postgraduate course summa cum laude before starting his career as a teacher in the university.
Working as the dean of a faculty at Pyongyang University of Agriculture since 1982, he buckled down to the research into stevia which would be of great importance in solving the sugar problem in the country.
Harvested usually in August, it is a natural sweetening plant which belongs to a stevia kind of the aster family.
Stevia had long been under research in the country, but it failed to win the public favour owing to its aftertaste of bitterness and plant smell.
In the days of breeding a new variety, Ri, while giving lectures, pushed ahead with his breeding project in an experimental farm dozens of kilometres away from the university.
His nearly-20-year-long painstaking efforts bore fruit. He succeeded in cultivating a new kind of stevia which is better in leaf yields, content of sugar and sweet taste.
In the course of this, he presented scores of papers including those on studies of hereditary polymorphism of stevia and on the farming of a good kind of stevia. He also wrote a lot of books and reference books while training dozens of stevia scholars.
Later, he intensified the research on cultivation and processing techniques of stevia and promoted the work for introducing the plant across the country.
A scientist should set the problem the country wants to solve as his research project and carry it through to the end. And only when it produces good economic results can it be said to be a success. This is Ri’s belief.
This belief has served as the motive force for him to travel across the country to solve sci-tech problems arising in the cultivation, introduction and processing of stevia even when he is well over 80.
Today the stevia sugar powder and solution are in wide use in foodstuff, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and other industries.
More From Naenara (En)
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
March 12, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
The sub-constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK made public voter
March 12, 2026
The sub-constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK made public voter
A meeting of young people took place at the Pyongyang Municipal Youth Park Open-air Theatre on March 10. The participants vowed to
March 12, 2026
A meeting of young people took place at the Pyongyang Municipal Youth Park Open-air Theatre on March 10. The participants vowed to
Preparations for the election of deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly are being pushed forward in the DPRK. After the
March 12, 2026
Preparations for the election of deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly are being pushed forward in the DPRK. After the
Meetings took place at the Sangwon Cement Complex, the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex, the
March 12, 2026
Meetings took place at the Sangwon Cement Complex, the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex, the
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams will play league matches, and win
March 11, 2026
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams will play league matches, and win
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the
March 11, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the
The Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League will be held in Pyongyang in late April 2026. The 16th plenary
March 11, 2026
The Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League will be held in Pyongyang in late April 2026. The 16th plenary
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Tenth Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League took place on March 9.
March 11, 2026
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Tenth Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League took place on March 9.
Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, issued the following press statement
March 11, 2026
Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, issued the following press statement
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK is folk song Broad Bellflower .The folk song depicts by means of
March 11, 2026
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK is folk song Broad Bellflower .The folk song depicts by means of
The DPRK is making strenuous efforts to protect its national heritage items. Efforts are devoted to preserving the historical
March 11, 2026
The DPRK is making strenuous efforts to protect its national heritage items. Efforts are devoted to preserving the historical
There is a three-storey pagoda at the Jongyang Temple in Mt Kumgang, a celebrated mountain of the DPRK.The pagoda built in the 9th
March 11, 2026
There is a three-storey pagoda at the Jongyang Temple in Mt Kumgang, a celebrated mountain of the DPRK.The pagoda built in the 9th
A dance party of women’s union officials and members took place at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on March 8, marking the 116th
March 10, 2026
A dance party of women’s union officials and members took place at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on March 8, marking the 116th
The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, to
March 10, 2026
The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, to
An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there were official
March 10, 2026
An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there were official
Saeppyol Street in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang is a monumental architectural group which was built to convey
March 10, 2026
Saeppyol Street in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang is a monumental architectural group which was built to convey
A national meeting took place at the People’s Palace of Culture on March 8, marking the 116th anniversary of March 8 International
March 10, 2026
A national meeting took place at the People’s Palace of Culture on March 8, marking the 116th anniversary of March 8 International
In recent years the DPRK has built many monumental edifices such as Hwasong Street, Pothong Riverside Terraced Houses District,
March 10, 2026
In recent years the DPRK has built many monumental edifices such as Hwasong Street, Pothong Riverside Terraced Houses District,
Kumgang Peak is situated south of Chonbul Peak (659 m) of Mt Chilbo in Pochon-ri, Myongchon County, North Hamgyong Province.The ro
March 10, 2026
Kumgang Peak is situated south of Chonbul Peak (659 m) of Mt Chilbo in Pochon-ri, Myongchon County, North Hamgyong Province.The ro
More Articles
