Songdowon International Children’s Camp in 2014.

The after-school education centres which have undergone a facelift over the past 10 years provide schoolchildren and students in the DPRK with full conditions and environment for giving full play to their talents.

A typical example is the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace which was spruced up in its architectural composition and interior design six years before.

The palace representing the bosom of the Workers’ Party of Korea embracing all children is the largest of all palaces for schoolchildren in the DPRK, covering an area of over 214 000 square metres.

The palace whose interior reminds visitors of fairy-tale places has more than 150 rooms for hobby groups and training grounds which can accommodate some 5 000 schoolchildren a day at the same time for extracurricular activities.

The schoolchildren learn to their heart’s content according to their liking and aptitudes in the hobby group rooms in science section in which they learn mathematics, physics, chemistry and other subjects and arts section for teaching vocal music, Korean dance, percussion instruments and accordion and others.

Many schoolchildren train various sports techniques in the indoor swimming pool equipped with a 10m high diving tower and hobby group rooms for volleyball, boxing, rhythmic gymnastics and Taekwon-Do, Korean orthodox martial art.

There are also a cinema, video games room and library housing 100 000 books, as well as a 2 000-seat theatre and dormitory which can provide accommodation for some 1 000.

“The palace has so far produced many talented personnel. Among them are over 180 students who won international competitions, picture festivals, art contests, exhibitions and sports events,” says Kim Song Hyon, president of the palace.

Schoolchildren also spent a good time at the Songdowon International Children’s Camp which was wonderfully reconstructed in May 2014.

Standing in a scenic spot on the east coast, the children’s camp is provided with every condition for their camping life including a theatre, amusement facilities, a gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, outdoor playground, outdoor wading pool, outdoor stage, aquarium, aviary and others.

Schoolchildren acquire ample knowledge, cultivate noble moral traits and build physical fitness here through pleasant camping life.

Children’s camps like the Songdowon International Children’s Camp are seen in beauty spots across the country, providing schoolchildren with camping life free of charge.

Schoolchildren’s palaces, schoolchildren’s halls and children’s camps throughout the country have been upgraded as required by the times under the care of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the DPRK government over the past 10 years.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace, the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace and the Myohyangsan Children’s Camp for Mountaineering and wished schoolchildren happy future.

The theme song the Korean schoolchildren sing while cultivating their talents and enjoying pleasant camping life at schoolchildren’s palaces and children’s camps is always We Are the Happiest in the World.