March 25, 2026Mar 25, 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

Scheme to ease arms export ban opposed in Japan

Scheme to ease arms export ban opposed in Japan

Objections to the authorities' scheme to relax the ban on arms export are being voiced in Japan. An opinion poll was recently

March 24, 2026

Objections to the authorities' scheme to relax the ban on arms export are being voiced in Japan. An opinion poll was recently

Mt Paektu area abounds in tourism resources

Mt Paektu area abounds in tourism resources

The Mt Paektu area, which was registered as a global geopark in April 2025, is rich in natural resources for tourism including

March 24, 2026

The Mt Paektu area, which was registered as a global geopark in April 2025, is rich in natural resources for tourism including

Belarus warns NATO and Ukraine against slighting it

Belarus warns NATO and Ukraine against slighting it

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warned NATO and Ukraine against covetously looking over his country at a recent press

March 23, 2026

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warned NATO and Ukraine against covetously looking over his country at a recent press

Winter Paralympics close

Winter Paralympics close

The 25th Winter Paralympics which opened on March 6 in Italy was closed on March 15. The president of the International Paralympic

March 23, 2026

The 25th Winter Paralympics which opened on March 6 in Italy was closed on March 15. The president of the International Paralympic

Forests and economy

Forests and economy

March 21 is International Day of Forests. The UN General Assembly held in 2012 designated March 21 as International Day of Forests

March 22, 2026

March 21 is International Day of Forests. The UN General Assembly held in 2012 designated March 21 as International Day of Forests

Commemorative events held in Russia

Commemorative events held in Russia

Such commemorative events as seminar, book exhibition and film show were held at the Khabarovsk Territorial Branch of the United

March 22, 2026

Such commemorative events as seminar, book exhibition and film show were held at the Khabarovsk Territorial Branch of the United

Serious water crisis on ‘planet of water’

Serious water crisis on ‘planet of water’

May 22 is World Water Day.According to the decision made at the 47th session of the UN General Assembly in 1992, the day has been

March 22, 2026

May 22 is World Water Day.According to the decision made at the 47th session of the UN General Assembly in 1992, the day has been

Young people volunteer for labour-consuming sectors

Young people volunteer for labour-consuming sectors

Young people in Kangwon and Ryanggang provinces have volunteered for difficult and labour-consuming sectors of socialist

March 22, 2026

Young people in Kangwon and Ryanggang provinces have volunteered for difficult and labour-consuming sectors of socialist

Human rights situation seen through contempt for women

Human rights situation seen through contempt for women

The strike and demonstration staged by women workers in Chicago, the US, on March 8 117 years ago were an eruption of their wrath

March 21, 2026

The strike and demonstration staged by women workers in Chicago, the US, on March 8 117 years ago were an eruption of their wrath

Modern agriculture widely encouraged

Modern agriculture widely encouraged

In recent years a dramatic change has taken place in the agricultural production in the country. The Workers’ Party of Korea has

March 20, 2026

In recent years a dramatic change has taken place in the agricultural production in the country. The Workers’ Party of Korea has

South Africa criticizes US ambassador for reckless remarks

South Africa criticizes US ambassador for reckless remarks

The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to

March 20, 2026

The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to

More Articles