National Intangible Cultural Heritage: Samgyetang As one of the Korean traditional foods popular for good health, longevity and recuperation, samgyetang (stewed chicken with insam) is part of the heritage showing the excellent national food culture and various cooking techniques. Historical documents show the fact that Korean people had raised many chickens since ancient times and used them a lot for their diets. They read that eggs and chicken dishes were indispensable daily foods, especially on birthdays, weddings, memorial services and holidays. Chicken was a popular food that was served to those in sickbed and with debility or to honored guests. Samgyetang is a stewed chicken with insam and chestnuts, dates, gingko nuts and garlic, etc. As one of the nutritious foods in the heat of midsummer, samgyetang made with Kaesong Koryo-insam was also famous. Insam picked 5 to 6 days before is the best as an ingredient for samgyetang. And it has a custom of using young black chicken weighing about 500g. Samgyetang is the best tonic with a delicate flavor and high nutrition just like thick broth of chicken. As it contains the peculiar flavor of a traditional dish and delicacy of various diets, its excellent custom and tradition are being maintained and developed.

DPRK’s Founding Anniversary Celebrated All the people across the DPRK meaningfully celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea-their beloved motherland-with full pride and confidence. A large stream of people visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il lie in state, and paid their respects to them. Officials, working people, service personnel and youth and students visited mosaics depicting the images of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il as well as their statues across the country including Mansu Hill, laid floral baskets, bouquets and flowers. Many working people visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong, the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Sinmi-ri, the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery, cemeteries and graves of martyrs and the memorial towers for the fallen fighters of the Korean People’s Army across the country associated with the noble soul of the revolutionary forerunners who created excellent traditions and examples to be followed by the coming generations in the struggles for founding and developing our state as well as for the victorious advance of the socialist cause. Enhancing the joys of the feast, colorful art performances were given in Pyongyang and other parts of the country, giving optimism and pleasure to the populace. The festive mood was uplifted with the merry dancing parties of young people and Women’s Union members held in all parts of the country. Public catering establishments across the country were thriving with many guests. The Central Zoo, the Nature Museum, the Munsu Water Park and other splendid recreation grounds in Pyongyang which were built under the great care of our Party, were also filled with endless laughter of working people and schoolchildren enjoying the holiday.

Munsu Water Park Overflows with Happy Laughter A world of joy and optimism unfolded at the Munsu Water Park on the bank of Taedong River in the capital city. The wading pool, which is situated on a wide area of extensive vista, is crowded with people in jolly mood. The sight of people jumping into the water and splashing, laughing happily and loudly seems to be a relief from the mid-summer heat. It's a lot of fun to look all around with all the exotic and exciting looks. The appearance of people diving into the water from a diving board with a professional-like gesture is also admirable, but the faces of those who have risen to the heights of a diving tower with an impulse but hesitate to jump, make you hardly refrain from laughing. It is also spectacular to see the people who are sliding and cheering down the dizzying water slide. It's a joyous sight to see people cheering at the waves in the wave pool as if they were buoyant in mood and body, but there's nothing better to see than the cheerful look of children enjoying in the children's park equipped with various entertainment facilities. Those who cleave through watercourse on water-playing equipment and young people who lost the count of time playing heated sports games are also eye-catching. The taste of soft drinks from rest areas and service stalls all over the campus at leisure time also adds to the customers’ enjoyment. As summer intensifies and heat continues, the attraction of the Munsu Water Park is increasing.

National Liberation Day Celebrated in DPRK The whole country brimmed with the joy of the significant National Liberation Day. Officials, working people, service personnel and youth and students visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il and mosaics depicting the images of peerless great men across the country including Mansu Hill to lay flower baskets, bouquets and flowers and paid tribute to them. The masses visiting the revolutionary martyrs cemetery including Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong, paid homage to the noble soul of the first generation of revolutionaries who pioneered and advanced the revolution in the face of unprecedented trials of history, braving the snowstorm of Mt. Paektu, with will of self-sustenance and the firm faith that they would surely win if they were led by the great leader. Colorful art performances took place in Pyongyang and other parts of the country on the occasion of National Liberation Day. Outdoor performances were given in various parts of the capital city under the fluttering national flags to add glamour to the festive mood. All parts of the country, decorated with a festive colour and with beautiful dancing waves, were filled with joy and optimism of the youth and students and working people who were celebrating the day of liberation, the significant day in the history of our country. Public catering facilities in the capital and provinces were crowded with holiday visitors.

July 27 of Victory It has been 73 years since the ceasefire of war on this land. During the Fatherland Liberation War, the U.S. imperialists committed brutal atrocities, the worst-ever in the world history. According to international law, in time of war, the Parties to the conflict should not conduct any hostile acts or offensive operations against non-military targets such as cultural and religious heritage of the country including historical relics, art works, ceremonial venues, as well as buildings and hospitals with Red Cross logo. However, throughout the war the U.S. imperialists totally ignored the international law and indiscriminately dropped nearly 600,000 tons of bombs and napalm bombs on all parts of the DPRK turning everything into rubble. The weight of the bombs was 3.7 times heavier than the ones they dropped on the Japan mainland during the Pacific War. They also massacred countless people en masse using internationally banned chemical and bacteriological weapons. The 18th International Conference of the Red Cross held in Toronto, Canada, in 1952 disclosed in detail the facts related to the massive employment of bacteriological weapons by the U.S. imperialists for the purpose of massacring Korean people and together with the damages they caused. The atrocities waged by the U.S. imperialists were unethical crimes which can neither be obscured nor justified. However, such unethical criminal acts of the U.S. imperialists cannot dispirit the steadfast revolutionary spirit and strong will of our people to defend their dignity and sovereignty. In this war, as our people defeated the U.S. imperialists and the U.S.-led world imperialist allied forces and defended the land of fatherland and their sovereignty with their blood, they impressed heroic myth upon history of the our fatherland and the revolution world. July 27 of victory, our people celebrate this day with a full of enjoyment as a great victory day every year, on which they won the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War.

On Taedonggang Taedonggang is a full-service ship where many people have a good time onboard. It’s so amazing to view the changes of Pyongyang on this cruise ship along the river Taedong. The two-storeyed vessel can accommodate 300 persons at a time and has cozy dining rooms and a banquet hall laid out in a characteristic way. What attracts people is not only the wonderful environment but also various kinds of traditional and world dish. As the ship starts sailing, people onboard can enjoy the view of the historical sites of Taedong Gate and Ryongwang Pavilion, Okryu Restaurant famous for Pyongyang Raengmyon (cold noodle), Chongryu Health Complex, Chongryu People’s Open-air Ice Rink, Changjon Street and the Tower of the Juche Idea and other edifices. Opened in 2013, the ship has invited and served exemplary workers from different fields, also. The manager of the restaurant said, “We hope our good food will bring more happiness to guests as they enjoy the picturesque scenery of Pyongyang.”