January 18, 2026Jan 18, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Burning life like candle for decades

Date: 12/08/2024 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

Pak Ho Chol, head of the West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps, is one of those honest people who shoulder the heavy burden of the country by themselves and faithfully follow the road of patriotism.

He was appointed head of the West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps in early spring over 20 years ago.

Though he was diagnosed with a fatal disease by which others might have fallen long ago, Pak got up and burnt his body like a candle for over 20 years with a strong will, turning the locomotive corps into a group of innovators in the rail transport sector.

For man, it is easier said than done to rush at life without rest and stop.

But as he regarded patriotism as his lifetime motto and was determined not to fall before fulfilling his responsibility and duty, Pak worked hard to revitalize his unit  step by step, while combating the severe disease that tormented him so much.

He started his social life at the West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps. After graduating from then Pyongyang University of Railways, he performed several jobs in the railways sector and then was promoted to head of the West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps.

But his old workplace, to which he returned after 10 years, lagged far behind the developing reality.

He remodelled equipment together with technicians and skilled workers to upgrade the backward factory and worked without rest to give the corps a facelift. He exchanged opinions open-mindedly with employees, willingly went on the trips of freight transport together with engine drivers and repaired locomotives in the field with workers to find the ways to revitalize the unit.

“The word ‘human bomb’ is not only used in battlegrounds where hails of bullets fall. We cannot but compare the life he has lived for over 20 years, rushing at life with determination not to be afraid of death if it were for the prosperity of the country, to the word ‘human bomb’,” said an official of the West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps.

Thanks to his painstaking efforts, creative thinking and great zeal, the locomotive corps began to breathe life into revitalization, equipping itself with facilities needed for repair and maintenance of locomotives and replacing old single-storey buildings with new several-storey ones.

It also built a base in which it can make middle repair and overhaul of locomotives properly and became a group of persons of ability in the rail transport sector.

Today, the West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps undertakes the repair of locomotives of other units though it is not its duty, while overfulfilling its own national economic plan, the number of locomotives accounting for nearly half of the annual work done by it. It is just a group of patriots who always think of national interests first beyond the small fence of their unit and take the lead in relieving the burden of the country and Pak Ho Chol always stands in the van.

More From Pyongyang Times

EU warns US against military invasion of Greenland

EU warns US against military invasion of Greenland

A high-ranking official of the European Union warned on January 12 that the US’ military invasion of Greenland would cause the

January 17, 2026

A high-ranking official of the European Union warned on January 12 that the US’ military invasion of Greenland would cause the

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un receives New Year greetings from abroad

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un receives New Year greetings from abroad

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the New

January 17, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the New

Young people pay floral tribute at statues of great leaders

Young people pay floral tribute at statues of great leaders

The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League visited the statues

January 17, 2026

The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League visited the statues

New houses built in North Hwanghae Province

New houses built in North Hwanghae Province

At a time when a new life of socialist cultural efflorescence blooms all over the DPRK every day, modern dwelling houses were

January 17, 2026

At a time when a new life of socialist cultural efflorescence blooms all over the DPRK every day, modern dwelling houses were

Performances strike a chord with people in 2025

Performances strike a chord with people in 2025

One of the abiding memories of 2025 of the Korean people is of the wonderful art performances which make them feel the great

January 17, 2026

One of the abiding memories of 2025 of the Korean people is of the wonderful art performances which make them feel the great

New houses built at farms in Kangwon Province

New houses built at farms in Kangwon Province

New socialist ideal farm villages have been built successively in Kangwon Province, giving pleasure to the people. Dwelling houses

January 16, 2026

New socialist ideal farm villages have been built successively in Kangwon Province, giving pleasure to the people. Dwelling houses

Iranian speaker rejects US’ military threat

Iranian speaker rejects US’ military threat

The speaker of the Iranian parliament decried and rejected the US’ military threat in his speech to the parliament on January 11.H

January 16, 2026

The speaker of the Iranian parliament decried and rejected the US’ military threat in his speech to the parliament on January 11.H

Young people grow more ebullient

Young people grow more ebullient

Young people across the DPRK were gripped by great emotion on the occasion of the New Year 2026. They were impressed by the fact

January 16, 2026

Young people across the DPRK were gripped by great emotion on the occasion of the New Year 2026. They were impressed by the fact

France and UN censure US

France and UN censure US

The French president criticized the US’ foreign policy on January 8. As regards the fact that the US decided to break from 66

January 15, 2026

The French president criticized the US’ foreign policy on January 8. As regards the fact that the US decided to break from 66

Japanese newspaper decries US’ recklessness

Japanese newspaper decries US’ recklessness

The Tokyo Shimbun on January 9 carried an article titled “US threat and blackmail out of common sense” denouncing the reckless mov

January 15, 2026

The Tokyo Shimbun on January 9 carried an article titled “US threat and blackmail out of common sense” denouncing the reckless mov

Art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan leaves Pyongyang

Art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan leaves Pyongyang

The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan led by Ri Chol Su, principal of Toshun Korean Primary School, left Pyongyang on

January 15, 2026

The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan led by Ri Chol Su, principal of Toshun Korean Primary School, left Pyongyang on

National sci-tech diffusion system in full operation

National sci-tech diffusion system in full operation

Science and technology are being diffused widely in the DPRK with the Sci-Tech Complex as the hub. Modern regional-industry

January 15, 2026

Science and technology are being diffused widely in the DPRK with the Sci-Tech Complex as the hub. Modern regional-industry

Natural functional cosmetic beautifies skin

Natural functional cosmetic beautifies skin

Haemoglobin cosmetic is now popular among many women. Developed by the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory, this product is applicable to

January 15, 2026

Haemoglobin cosmetic is now popular among many women. Developed by the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory, this product is applicable to

More Articles