January 16, 2026Jan 16, 2026
KCNA KCNA.kp (En)

DPRK's History of Self-reliance (4)

Date: 08/04/2021 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source

Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The Korean people's revolutionary spirit of self-reliance, created in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, had been fully displayed during the building of a new country after Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule (August 15, 1945).

Before the liberation, the Pothong River in Pyongyang had been known a disastrous one taking a large number of lives while flooding villages and fields in rainy season.

Taking to his heart the sufferings of people living alongside the river, President Kim Il Sung determined to start the grand nature-transformation for building a prosperous, independent and sovereign state with the Pothong River improvement project as the first, and aroused the people to the project.

He attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the river improvement project on May 21, Juche 35 (1946) and made an encouraging speech. In his speech, he said that success or failure in building a new democratic Korea totally hinges on the people's own efforts and they should complete such projects as the Pothong River improvement project one after another by their own efforts though they have to tighten their belts. And he added that the river improvement project should be done by the Korean people themselves without any help from others and they should overcome all difficulties on their own efforts.

Cherishing deep in their minds the spirit of self-reliance the President implanted in them while breaking ground first to signal the start of the river improvement project, the people turned out as one in this patriotic nature-remaking project. They removed 420 000 cubic meters of earth and built five kilometer-long embankment, thus finishing in 55 days the project which the Japanese imperialists failed to do for ten years even though they had mobilized three millions of people by force.

With the completion of the project, the river came to flow into the Taedong River through a new waterway and the banks of the Pothong River be free from flood damage forever.

The completion of the Pothong River improvement project was the first achievement the Korean people made in building the democratic capital city by their own efforts under the leadership of Kim Il Sung after the liberation of Korea. -0-

More From KCNA.kp (En)

Pyongyang Teachers Training College

Pyongyang Teachers Training College

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang Teachers Training College is leading the Korean-style educational revolution while

January 16, 2026

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang Teachers Training College is leading the Korean-style educational revolution while

New Houses Built in North Hwanghae Province of DPRK

New Houses Built in North Hwanghae Province of DPRK

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- At a time when a new life of socialist cultural efflorescence blooms all over the DPRK every day,

January 16, 2026

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- At a time when a new life of socialist cultural efflorescence blooms all over the DPRK every day,

Pleasure on Ice Rinks

Pleasure on Ice Rinks

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Open-air ice rinks in the DPRK are now full of people. The outdoor ice rink near to the Ice Rink

January 16, 2026

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Open-air ice rinks in the DPRK are now full of people. The outdoor ice rink near to the Ice Rink

Young People Pay Floral Tribute to Statues of Great Leaders

Young People Pay Floral Tribute to Statues of Great Leaders

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The participants in the commemorations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic

January 16, 2026

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The participants in the commemorations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic

Press Review

Press Review

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Friday: - An

January 16, 2026

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Friday: - An

Winter Sports Activities Brisk at Schools in Pyongyang

Winter Sports Activities Brisk at Schools in Pyongyang

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Schools at all levels in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, are conducting brisk winter

January 16, 2026

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Schools at all levels in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, are conducting brisk winter

Koryo Paper, Precious Cultural Heritage of Korean Nation

Koryo Paper, Precious Cultural Heritage of Korean Nation

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Among the valuable cultural heritages created by the resourceful and intelligent Korean people is

January 16, 2026

Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Among the valuable cultural heritages created by the resourceful and intelligent Korean people is

Socialist Emulation among Regional-industry Factories in DPRK

Socialist Emulation among Regional-industry Factories in DPRK

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The regional-industry factories built in 20 cities and counties across the DPRK are conducting a

January 15, 2026

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The regional-industry factories built in 20 cities and counties across the DPRK are conducting a

Exhibition of Sci-tech Achievements Goes on in DPRK

Exhibition of Sci-tech Achievements Goes on in DPRK

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The exhibition of sci-tech achievements in different sectors of the national economy-2025 is

January 15, 2026

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The exhibition of sci-tech achievements in different sectors of the national economy-2025 is

Newspaper Saenal (New Day)

Newspaper Saenal (New Day)

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Today marks the 98th anniversary of the founding of the newspaper Saenal (New Day), the first

January 15, 2026

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Today marks the 98th anniversary of the founding of the newspaper Saenal (New Day), the first

Press Review

Press Review

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Thursday: - The

January 15, 2026

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Thursday: - The

Pyongyang Raengmyon

Pyongyang Raengmyon

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- It is winter now. But Okryu Restaurant in the capital city of the DPRK is crowded with people

January 15, 2026

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- It is winter now. But Okryu Restaurant in the capital city of the DPRK is crowded with people

Trolley Buses, Bus Stops and Roads Remodeled in Hamhung City of DPRK

Trolley Buses, Bus Stops and Roads Remodeled in Hamhung City of DPRK

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- South Hamgyong Province of the DPRK has modernized trolley buses, bus stops and roads in Hamhung

January 15, 2026

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- South Hamgyong Province of the DPRK has modernized trolley buses, bus stops and roads in Hamhung

New Houses Built at Farms in Kangwon Province

New Houses Built at Farms in Kangwon Province

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- New socialist ideal farm villages have been built in Kangwon Province of the DPRK, adding pleasure

January 15, 2026

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- New socialist ideal farm villages have been built in Kangwon Province of the DPRK, adding pleasure

Worker-Peasant Red Guards Marks Its Founding Anniversary

Worker-Peasant Red Guards Marks Its Founding Anniversary

Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Today marks the 67th anniversary of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, the Juche-oriented militia

January 14, 2026

Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Today marks the 67th anniversary of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, the Juche-oriented militia

Juche-oriented Civilian Defence Forces

Juche-oriented Civilian Defence Forces

Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- President Kim Il Sung developed the plan to found the Juche-oriented civilian defence forces on

January 14, 2026

Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- President Kim Il Sung developed the plan to found the Juche-oriented civilian defence forces on

Press Review

Press Review

Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Wednesday: - The

January 14, 2026

Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Wednesday: - The

More Articles