Joy from the Meari Shooting Gallery in Pyongyang can be felt in the indoor 30-metre archery range on the first floor of the building.

In the place you can try to hit 10- and 30-metre targets and balloons as well.

Guides and spectators there are struck with admiration as experienced “archers” hit targets with arrows as skilfully as an expert and sometimes cannot help but burst into laughter as inexperienced “archers” fail to hit targets by shooting arrows in the wrong directions.

Such novices, with the kindly help of a guide, pick up bows that suit them and learn the movements and acquire the knack of shooting arrows in a short time to become able to shoot arrows, and those who once found pleasure in archery are reluctant to leave the archery range.

"I had terribly disgraced myself by trying to shoot arrows without practising even the basic movements as I had thought archery is not special. Only after being taught the ABC of the sport could I become able to shoot arrows," said Kim Un Song, a resident of Pothonggang District, Pyongyang.

Now that he has found archery interesting, he often goes to the place on rest days as well as holidays, he said.

According to Rim Son Hwa, one of the guides, it is commonplace for those who were hesitant to try archery considering the sport difficult to find it more interesting than pistol or rifle shooting once they shoot a bow.

Archery is very beneficial to health because it has positive effects on muscle development and the cervical vertebrae and thus helps maintain a upright posture, she said.

"Archery enables me to guess the extent to which the intelligence and physical strength of the Koguryo people. They accurately hit targets with arrows even on horseback," said Im Sung Il, a resident of Tangsang-dong No. 1 of Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang.

"Archery has long been practised in Korea. The Koguryo people made hunting important part of their life work and bravely fought against foreign aggressors who invaded their country incessantly. They worshipped martial arts and regarded it as a man’s duty to learn martial arts. From childhood, they regularly did running and learned riding, archery, swordsmanship and other martial arts," said Rim Son Hwa.

She went on to say that in those days people shot arrows on horseback to hunt animals or as competition to shoot down targets hanging on tops of posts. Such traditions still continue as national games loved by the people.

At the archery range, men take photos of themselves drawing a bow in uniform of Koguryo warrior.

Now, parks in the DPRK have archery grounds to encourage the sport.