There is a woman who strives to ease the strains on electric power supply in the country. She is Hyon Ok Ju, manager of the thermal insulation building materials branch factory of the Pyongyang Thermal Power Station.
Earlier, she worked as director of the analysis station in a sector.
Though insulating brick was not her major, she set foot on the area under the influence of her father.
“My father had long researched insulating brick. He would say that if insulating brick consisting of thermal insulating materials is applied to the boiler, combustion efficiency would be enhanced and environmental pollution prevented,” recalled Hyon Ok Ju.
She succeeded to her father’s research project.
During her study she drew a conclusion that insulating brick could be made from white soot from a thermal power station and locally-abundant clay with no additive.
At the beginning, some technicians regarded it as a fancy. Though many research findings on insulating brick were issued, its mass production based on domestic materials had not been realized.
After painstaking quest and efforts, she established an insulating brick production process based on white soot, before making trial products and going to the Pyongyang Thermal Power Station so as to introduce it.
“Every sci-tech research finding would be impractical and empty talk, if it is not introduced into reality no matter how valuable it may be. I wanted to prove my research success in reality,” said Hyon Ok Ju.
The old insulation walls of a boiler were pulled down and the walls were built with newly-made insulating bricks, then the combustion efficiency of the boiler began to rise.
“I was very happy to see electricity production increase. At the thought that I did something helpful to relieving power shortage in the country, the pains I had taken so far seemed to turn into a happy memory. And I felt an urge to dedicate my all to this place,” she added.
Therefore, Ok Ju became an employee of the power plant and afterwards an insulating brick workteam was set up there before being expanded into a branch factory.
She went to other thermal power stations to render substantial help in establishing the insulating brick production process.
Hyon Ok Ju is continuing her research to improve the technical specifications of the insulating brick.
More From Pyongyang Times
A delegation of the Hydro-Meteorological and Environmental Monitoring Bureau of the Russian Federation led by Director Igor
May 08, 2026
A delegation of the Hydro-Meteorological and Environmental Monitoring Bureau of the Russian Federation led by Director Igor
May 8 is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. The ideal of the Red Cross and Red Crescent does not assume any governmental,
May 08, 2026
May 8 is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. The ideal of the Red Cross and Red Crescent does not assume any governmental,
Tens of young people in North Phyongan Province have volunteered to work at major worksites for socialist construction. An
May 08, 2026
Tens of young people in North Phyongan Province have volunteered to work at major worksites for socialist construction. An
Many people from all walks of life in the DPRK are visiting the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military
May 08, 2026
Many people from all walks of life in the DPRK are visiting the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military
A spring aesthetic symposium in the field of land and environment protection-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang
May 08, 2026
A spring aesthetic symposium in the field of land and environment protection-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang
The congratulatory group of the Association of Young Korean Nationals in China led by Chairwoman Kim Song Mi visited Mangyongdae,
May 08, 2026
The congratulatory group of the Association of Young Korean Nationals in China led by Chairwoman Kim Song Mi visited Mangyongdae,
The Pyongyang Municipal Finishing Materials Exhibition for Rural Construction-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex. Present
May 07, 2026
The Pyongyang Municipal Finishing Materials Exhibition for Rural Construction-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex. Present
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
May 07, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
The congratulatory group of the Korean Youth League in Japan led by Ri Kwang Il, chairman of its Central Standing Committee,
May 07, 2026
The congratulatory group of the Korean Youth League in Japan led by Ri Kwang Il, chairman of its Central Standing Committee,
A meeting was held at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on May 5 in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the publication of
May 07, 2026
A meeting was held at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on May 5 in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the publication of
Diploma and medals of the February 16 Science and Technology Prize, the top prize in the sci-tech field of the country, were
May 07, 2026
Diploma and medals of the February 16 Science and Technology Prize, the top prize in the sci-tech field of the country, were
The physical constitution institute of the Koryo Medicine General Hospital has further completed a physical constitution
May 07, 2026
The physical constitution institute of the Koryo Medicine General Hospital has further completed a physical constitution
Russian Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev called for bolstering up the naval forces in a diplomatic meeting on April 28. At
May 06, 2026
Russian Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev called for bolstering up the naval forces in a diplomatic meeting on April 28. At
The charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang hosted a friendship gathering at Hwasong Kumgang Restaurant
May 06, 2026
The charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang hosted a friendship gathering at Hwasong Kumgang Restaurant
The 24th Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair opened. Presented to the fair on the theme of "For the common development and
May 06, 2026
The 24th Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair opened. Presented to the fair on the theme of "For the common development and
As a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation is being ushered in, the foodstuff industry is also undergoing marked development and
May 06, 2026
As a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation is being ushered in, the foodstuff industry is also undergoing marked development and
Ponghak spring water, Rungnado ginkgo tree and Paektusan Rhodiola elongata have been registered as new natural monuments in the
May 06, 2026
Ponghak spring water, Rungnado ginkgo tree and Paektusan Rhodiola elongata have been registered as new natural monuments in the
Certificates of best scientist and technician of the DPRK in 2025 were awarded to seven scientists and technicians, who made
May 06, 2026
Certificates of best scientist and technician of the DPRK in 2025 were awarded to seven scientists and technicians, who made
The Ministry of Metallurgical Industry is striving to further refine the Korean-style iron- and steel-making methods. The ministry
May 06, 2026
The Ministry of Metallurgical Industry is striving to further refine the Korean-style iron- and steel-making methods. The ministry
The participants in the Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League visited the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at
May 05, 2026
The participants in the Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League visited the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at
More Articles