Among the triplets of the DPRK there are those studying at Thongilgori Primary School in Rangnang District, Pyongyang.

They are Pang Paek Ho, Pang Tu Ho and Pang San Ho. When the middle characters of their names are put together, it signifies Paektusan, or Mt Paektu. It is the ancestral mountain of the Korean nation and the sacred mountain of the revolution which is associated with the spirit of the Koreans and where the Korean revolution was started.

Their father Pang Song Jin is an ordinary worker and their mother Choe Jong Sun is a housewife.

“Our children have been growing up enjoying state benefits since before their birth. I came to keenly realize what the state benefits for pregnant women and nursing mothers are only after giving birth to my children. So, we named them in hope that they would grow up to return the favour bestowed by the state,” said Choe.

In the DPRK the birth of triplets is regarded as a good omen for national prosperity and the state takes special care of them.

As soon as she was diagnosed with triplets, Choe was hospitalized at the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital to enjoy all benefits related to the healthcare for the babies and pregnant women. Even after delivery, she stayed in the hospital enjoying additional state benefits under the full care and attention of its medical workers until her babies weighed four kilograms each. In addition, an ornamental silver knife was presented to each of the triplets and their father as gifts and a gold ring to their mother.

Triplets and quadruplets are brought up at state expense until they get four years old. Thanks to such favour, the triplet brothers moved their abode from the hospital directly to the Pyongyang Baby Home, instead of their home.

On his visit to the baby home in February 2014, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un embraced the triplet brothers. Holding Paek Ho in his arms, he said they were all handsome and have the same eyes, before having a photograph taken with them and other babies.

Afterwards, on his initiative, new Pyongyang Baby Home and Pyongyang Orphanage were wonderfully built on the banks of the picturesque Taedong River.

And soon after delivering the New Year Address on January 1 2015, he visited the newly-built baby home to show warm love to the triplets and other babies and posed for a photograph with them again.

After leaving the baby home, the triplets began to learn Korean language and music at Changgwang Kindergarten and are now studying at the primary school under the meticulous guidance and care of teachers.

According to their teacher Jang Song Ae, Paek Ho studies painting in the hope of becoming an artist, Tu Ho practises Taekwon-Do, the orthodox martial art of the Korean nation, and San Ho learns composition and calligraphy respectively at relevant extracurricular hobby groups.

“Although we are their parents, the state takes full care of them. So, they seem to be more attached to the nurses, doctors and teachers of the baby home, kindergarten and school. Ours are indeed blessed children,” said Pang Song Jin.