A few days ago, I visited the house of Pak Un Jong (43) resident in Rimgyong Workers’ District in Kangdong County, Pyongyang.

She received me with a smile.

In July, she gave birth to her 10th child at the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, thus becoming the mother with five sons and five daughters.

I asked her how she gave birth to many children. She said she intended to render services to the country by bringing up many pillars who would shoulder the future of the country.

Her children welcomed me home.

Among them were seven boys and girls, ranging from a baby to a senior middle school student. The three elder children serve the army for national defence.

Her husband Ri Kwang Chol is an officer of the Korean People’s Army.

The state made sure that she was honoured to take part in the Fourth National Meeting of Mothers and provided with various foodstuffs and necessities on the occasion of national holidays and anniversaries. It also takes all measures lest her family members should feel any inconvenience--the problems of food and clothing, a treatment card for a prolific mother and medical service by a doctor in charge of her.

Noting that her neighbours and officials of the neighbourhood unit and the district are taking parental care of her children, she boasted about her children.

Her eldest daughter, 21, had been fond of writing and the eldest son, of playing football, and the second daughter was renowned for gymnastic dance from her childhood. The fourth child receives vocal and narration lessons at a senior middle school and the fifth and seventh children study in mathematics groups respectively at a junior middle school and a primary school and the sixth, in a brush-writing group at a primary school. The eighth learns using an abacus at a kindergarten. The ninth child Yong Ryong with an extraordinary memory can imitate singing any song once he has listened to the music.

The fifth child Tae Yong, 13, her second son, is very clever and fond of mathematics and writing. At the age of seven, he wrote a collection of writings “Story about Our Family”, arousing the admiration of the public. He said that he would become a scientist in the future.

All of them cultivate their talents and desires at a nursery, kindergarten and primary and secondary schools according to their tastes and aptitudes.

Pak Un Jong said they enjoy all the benefits of the country’s free medical care and free compulsory education systems.

In September, she was awarded the title of Labour Hero of the DPRK and a high official commendation.

Leaving her house, I was convinced that the happy laughter would be brought to all families across the country as the motherland takes care of all people.

Ham Kwang Hyok