“It is raining ceaselessly on the Pothong Plain. Today is the day of the final charge of the patriotic project for the Pothong River improvement, an undertaking of historic significance. The 10-day heavy rainfall has turned the construction site into muck and mire. Nevertheless, the final charge was launched solemnly. ...”
This is an excerpt from an article carried on Jongno (what is now Rodong Sinmun ) one July day in Juche 35 (1946).
The Pothong River improvement project was the first large-scale nature-harnessing work in Korea after its liberation from the Japanese military rule on August 15, 1945.
For decades the river had inflicted great disasters and misfortunes on the Korean people, who called it a river of tears and grudge. In 1923 alone, the river flooded the houses that amounted to half of the total households in Pyongyang.
President Kim Il Sung proposed improving the river and led the efforts to this end in a bid to put an early end to the bitter history of the river.
The project was an uphill task that required clearing over 700 000 cubic metres of earth and building banks in the sections running a total length of 5 000 metres before the rainy season.
On May 21, Juche 35 (1946), Kim Il Sung attended its ground-breaking ceremony to pick up the first spadeful of earth.
Addressing the event, he said that we should accomplish such project one by one by our own efforts, even though we have to tighten our belts, and that we should not hope somebody else would do this work but do it by ourselves and overcome all hardships arising in the project by our own efforts.
In hearty response to his call, Pyongyang citizens turned out as one to dig water channels and build up embankments in high spirits.
They built a makeshift suspension bridge to cut the time of getting to and from the workplace for dining. Not content with this, they worked overtime after their shifts. Farmers carried earth diligently by using A-frame carriers, with some transporting seven cubic metres of earth a day by an ox-cart. Merchants used their bicycles to raise the carrying efficiency.
Thanks to their patriotic zeal, the project was completed in a matter of 55 days, and it marked a prelude to the Korean people’s heroic struggle to transform nature in all parts of the country.
Ham Kwang Hyok
More From Naenara (En)
The constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK have concluded the
March 13, 2026
The constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK have concluded the
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took place at the Chollima Steel
March 13, 2026
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took place at the Chollima Steel
There was a solemn ceremony at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the supreme General Staff of the revolution,
March 13, 2026
There was a solemn ceremony at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the supreme General Staff of the revolution,
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Socialist Women's Union of Korea (SWUK) took place on
March 13, 2026
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Socialist Women's Union of Korea (SWUK) took place on
The 39th Pyongyang Municipal Festival of Science and Technology opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on March 11 under
March 13, 2026
The 39th Pyongyang Municipal Festival of Science and Technology opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on March 11 under
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
March 12, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
The sub-constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK made public voter
March 12, 2026
The sub-constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK made public voter
A meeting of young people took place at the Pyongyang Municipal Youth Park Open-air Theatre on March 10. The participants vowed to
March 12, 2026
A meeting of young people took place at the Pyongyang Municipal Youth Park Open-air Theatre on March 10. The participants vowed to
Preparations for the election of deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly are being pushed forward in the DPRK. After the
March 12, 2026
Preparations for the election of deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly are being pushed forward in the DPRK. After the
Meetings took place at the Sangwon Cement Complex, the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex, the
March 12, 2026
Meetings took place at the Sangwon Cement Complex, the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex, the
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams will play league matches, and win
March 11, 2026
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams will play league matches, and win
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the
March 11, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the
The Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League will be held in Pyongyang in late April 2026. The 16th plenary
March 11, 2026
The Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League will be held in Pyongyang in late April 2026. The 16th plenary
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Tenth Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League took place on March 9.
March 11, 2026
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Tenth Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League took place on March 9.
Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, issued the following press statement
March 11, 2026
Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, issued the following press statement
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK is folk song Broad Bellflower .The folk song depicts by means of
March 11, 2026
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK is folk song Broad Bellflower .The folk song depicts by means of
The DPRK is making strenuous efforts to protect its national heritage items. Efforts are devoted to preserving the historical
March 11, 2026
The DPRK is making strenuous efforts to protect its national heritage items. Efforts are devoted to preserving the historical
There is a three-storey pagoda at the Jongyang Temple in Mt Kumgang, a celebrated mountain of the DPRK.The pagoda built in the 9th
March 11, 2026
There is a three-storey pagoda at the Jongyang Temple in Mt Kumgang, a celebrated mountain of the DPRK.The pagoda built in the 9th
A dance party of women’s union officials and members took place at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on March 8, marking the 116th
March 10, 2026
A dance party of women’s union officials and members took place at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on March 8, marking the 116th
The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, to
March 10, 2026
The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, to
More Articles
