January 19, 2026Jan 19, 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

Russian permanent representative to UN warns Ukrainian authorities

Russian permanent representative to UN warns Ukrainian authorities

Vasili Nebenja, permanent representative of Russia to the UN, referred to the Ukrainian issue at a UN Security Council meeting on

January 18, 2026

Vasili Nebenja, permanent representative of Russia to the UN, referred to the Ukrainian issue at a UN Security Council meeting on

School in the lead in informatizing education

School in the lead in informatizing education

East Pyongyang Middle School No. 1 is an advanced unit in the informatization of education. The school was selected as one of top

January 18, 2026

East Pyongyang Middle School No. 1 is an advanced unit in the informatization of education. The school was selected as one of top

New farm houses built in South Hwanghae Province

New farm houses built in South Hwanghae Province

A happy event of moving into new houses took place at the Kwangchon Farm of Kangnyong County and the Sowon Farm of Pyoksong County

January 18, 2026

A happy event of moving into new houses took place at the Kwangchon Farm of Kangnyong County and the Sowon Farm of Pyoksong County

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

Exhibition of sci-tech achievements goes on

Exhibition of sci-tech achievements goes on

The exhibition of sci-tech achievements in different sectors of the national economy-2025 is taking place at the Information

January 16, 2026

The exhibition of sci-tech achievements in different sectors of the national economy-2025 is taking place at the Information

Economic sectors make innovations from outset of new year

Economic sectors make innovations from outset of new year

Great successes are being achieved in production in different sectors of the national economy from the beginning of the new year.

January 16, 2026

Great successes are being achieved in production in different sectors of the national economy from the beginning of the new year.

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

More Articles