December 31, 2025Dec 31, 2025
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

Putin calls for fighting against history distortion

Putin calls for fighting against history distortion

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting

December 30, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting

Iranian FM criticizes hypocritical act of West

Iranian FM criticizes hypocritical act of West

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The

December 30, 2025

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North

December 30, 2025

New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North

Lots of rural youth workteams and sub-workteams reap good harvest

Lots of rural youth workteams and sub-workteams reap good harvest

The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams

December 30, 2025

The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams

New Year greeting cards issued

New Year greeting cards issued

Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of

December 30, 2025

Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of

Unsan Paper Mill inaugurated in South Phyongan Province

Unsan Paper Mill inaugurated in South Phyongan Province

At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are

December 29, 2025

At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are

Children’s rights and future of humankind

Children’s rights and future of humankind

To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h

December 29, 2025

To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h

New houses built at farms in South Phyongan Province

New houses built at farms in South Phyongan Province

New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in

December 29, 2025

New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in

Chinese FM rejects Japan’s ‘theory of nuclear possession’

Chinese FM rejects Japan’s ‘theory of nuclear possession’

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D

December 29, 2025

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D

Yearly economic plan fulfilled at Sangwon Cement Complex

Yearly economic plan fulfilled at Sangwon Cement Complex

The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and

December 29, 2025

The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and

Title of model law-observance unit conferred

Title of model law-observance unit conferred

A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the

December 29, 2025

A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the

New houses built in rural areas of Nampho

New houses built in rural areas of Nampho

Modern houses have been built at farms in Nampho Municipality, manifesting the change of the socialist modern villages that are

December 28, 2025

Modern houses have been built at farms in Nampho Municipality, manifesting the change of the socialist modern villages that are

New houses built in South Hamgyong Province

New houses built in South Hamgyong Province

Fashionable dwelling houses have appeared at the Pumin and Songhung farms and the Toksong Apple Farm in Hamhung City of South

December 28, 2025

Fashionable dwelling houses have appeared at the Pumin and Songhung farms and the Toksong Apple Farm in Hamhung City of South

More Articles