North Korea Editorial Vows More Basic Science Research In 2012 To ‘Beat The World’

AsianScientist (Jan. 3, 2012) – Following the death of its supreme leader Kim Jong-il on December 17, 2011, three leading newspapers of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have published a joint editorial celebrating the New Year Juche 101 (2012 based on the DPRK calendar).

2012 is an important year as it marks the 100th anniversary of DPRK’s founder, Kim Il-sung.

Titled “Glorify this year 2012 as a year of proud victory, a year when an era of prosperity is unfolding, true to the instructions of the great General Kim Jong Il,” the editorial was published in the Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi on New Year’s Day.

According to the editorial, North Korea aims to resolve its power shortages “at all costs and on a priority basis” using hydropower and coal-based sources.

As before, the official media reiterated that “Juche fiber, Juche fertilizer, and Juche iron” would remain the three pillars of the Juche economy.

Juche, which refers to “mainstream” in the Korean language, is often referred to as part of the “Juche Idea” that North Koreans are the masters of their country’s development.

Production of Vinalon, a synthetic fiber based on polyvinyl alcohol that was invented by North Korean chemist Yi Sung-gi, was also to remain a priority.

The editorial praised the “pioneering spirit and creative spirit” of the Huichon Ryonha General Machine Plant with its advances in computer numerical control (CNC) machining processes.

Basic sciences were also encouraged, especially in the latest fields of nanotechnology and bioengineering.

“Scientific research institutes should make greater efforts to develop the fields of core, basic technologies, including information and nano technologies and bioengineering, and promote technical engineering in major fields and produce more research findings that would beat the world,” the editorial said.

The editorial contrasts previous reports from June 2011, in which Pyongyang ordered all universities to cancel classes for ten months until April 2012 after a typhoon struck the country.

A report released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) in November 2011 also revealed widespread malnutrition across the DPRK, particularly among young children. The UN expects nearly three million North Koreans to continue to require food assistance in 2012.

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Source: Korean Central News Agency.
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