November is a month for the protection of national heritage in the DPRK.

In the period this year, elements of national cultural heritage underwent checking and repair on a nationwide scale.

“The outward appearance of disappeared national legacies may be restored, but the full restoration of their historical value is impossible. Therefore, to preserve them in their original state is a very responsible and important undertaking which stretches over a long period of time. By setting every April and November as months for the protection of national heritage, we carry out the undertaking as a task involving the whole country and all the people,” said Kim Hak Ryong, department chief of the National Authority for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.

Pyongyang Municipality carried out the area rearrangement, roof tile re-covering and repainting at the Chilsong Pavilion of the Pobun Hermitage and around the outer wall of the walled city of Pyongyang.

Kaesong City blessed with many historical sites qualitatively completed the preparation and input of more than 500 documents identifying remains, the repair of the Mausoleum of King Kyonghyo and dozens of other ancient tombs, tending of lawns, mending of roads, stone laying at ditches and repair of retaining walls, while working to preserve Sonjuk Bridge, the Monument to Fidelity and other relics in their original state.

Besides, South Hwanghae, Kangwon and South Hamgyong provinces, Nampho City and other areas across the country took proactive measures for protecting historical relics while repairing them.

Yonthan County in North Hwanghae Province repaired five historical buildings including the Pogwang Hall and Chongphung Pavilion at the Simwon Temple, while Anak County mended an embankment and fence of the Samsong Temple in the area of the Mt Kuwol scenic spot.

Kosan County in Kangwon Province gave a facelift to the Kwangmyong scenic spot through repainting, repair of tourist roads, erection of retaining walls and renovation of three buildings near a spring site.

For the proper preservation and management of the Anbul Temple, Kumya County of South Hamgyong Province mended a 200m-long section of a tourist road, built retaining walls and refurbished well the resting, shower bath and other places in the historical relic reserve.

Ryonggang County of Nampho City maintained the Ryonggang old tomb with the murals of four guardians representing imaginary animals as befits a historical site.

The National Authority for the Protection of Cultural Heritage conducted an overall survey of relics in history museums of each province and, on that basis, put the preservation and management of the relics on a scientific footing.

In particular, Myohyangsan, Sariwon and Hamhung history museums and the Koryo Museum concentrated on exhibiting relics on the principle of fidelity to historical truth and scientifically preserving and managing them.

Activities were conducted to plant good species of trees in the reserves of historical relics throughout the country and steps were taken to preserve and manage scenic attractions and natural monuments and protect them from harmful insects, floods and forest fires.

“The cultural heritage protection, which was conducted as an all-people movement, also became an occasion for implanting the fine qualities and traditions of the nation into the mind of people,” said Kim Hak Ryong.