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No. 197 August 2008
Most Students of Kyongsung Medical School Went Back Home Before the Vacation
Jogoonsil College, School Schedule Normalization since Last July
Wheat Distribution to Sinuiju Colleges
Hyesan City, College Student as a LecturerThe Government Seizes Teacher’s LicenseA Train Carrying Glass Got DerailedA Freight Train Bounding for Sariwon to Pyongsan County OverturnedRobber Disguise as Peoples Army Men
Jogoonsil College, School Schedule Normalization since Last July
Wheat Distribution to Sinuiju Colleges
Hyesan City, College Student as a LecturerThe Government Seizes Teacher’s LicenseA Train Carrying Glass Got DerailedA Freight Train Bounding for Sariwon to Pyongsan County OverturnedRobber Disguise as Peoples Army Men
Most Students of Kyongsung Medical School Went Back Home Before the Vacation
Many of medical school students at Kyongsung County of North Hamgyong Province had gone back home before vacation. The students said they could not study anymore because food supply in the school cafeteria was not enough to fill their hunger.The students had ground corncob meal (묵지가루밥) for breakfast, noodles and five pieces of potato for lunch and dinner. Many of them left school for home without permission saying that going back home and making money would be better. Kim Min-chan (19 years old) said, “I have lived with money sent by my parents but my family also had a financial problem this year. I cannot be burden on my parents anymore. It is a season for small octopus. So at least I can make money from catching octopuses. I should make and save money so that I can continue my studies.” Kim left school for catching octopus before vacation started. On August 7th, a student who was a second grade of the school went on a fishing boat to catch squid and died. The Organization and Guidance Department of County Party is considering how to criticize the school principle and the teacher in charge.
Jogoonsil College, School Schedule Normalization since Last July
It usually costs 50,000-60,000 won for a month for students to attend to Jogoonsil College (조군실대학) at Kangwon Province. However, for last May and June, the students could not concentrate on studies because they could not have meals from the school even though they had money for that. Except for those who could afford to buy meals outside of the school, many students gave up to pursue their degrees at school and went back home. There were only about ten students left per class, therefore it was hard for professors to manage their curriculum. The school reported to the government about the situation and received 28 MT of whole corn on last July 4th. On July 8th, the school asked all the students to gather for memorial event for Kim Il-Song. After the event, the students were able to attend classes from July 10th.
Wheat Distribution to Sinuiju Colleges
From August 1, all the universities, hospitals, and school teachers in Sinuiju, North Pyongyang Province received wheat provided by the United States. Generally, deans and professors got 26kg of wheat and school teachers received minimum of 15kg per person.
Hyesan City, College Student as a LecturerA Publicity Department and Police Station at Hyesan City of Ryanggang Province gave lectures to the residents on “Limit television channels to North Korean broadcasting, Do not watch illegal video tapes.” Senior students of the medical school were sent to give lectures in Hyesan City. The students emphasized, “If you watch South Korean movies and CD, you will be caught and punished severely.” at the city hall and Neighborhood Unit. These kinds of lectures are also provided in other areas including National Border Area and censorship has been tightened.
The Government Seizes Teacher’s License
Choi Myong-ae, a music teacher at the Ontan elementary school in Onsung County, North Hamgyong Province got her license deprived due to giving illegal private lessons. Choi earns ten thousand won per month for musical instrument lessons. She was criticized for violating socialistic ideology and her diploma of Chungjin teacher's college was confiscated.
A Train Carrying Glass Got Derailed
On August 7th, a train was derailed at Ryonggang Station (룡강역). It was carrying glass made from Daean Chinsun glass factory (대안친선유리공장) in Nampo City, South Pyongan Province to Wonsan City, Kangwon province. Due to this accident, five out of six cabins were overturned. The person in charge of taking over the glass and four deliverymen were killed on the scene. The glasses over 12,000 square feet were damaged. The crowds of the scene were busy finding and carrying glasses that fit to their windows instead of restoring the damage.
A Freight Train Bounding for Sariwon to Pyongsan County Overturned
On the afternoon of last August 9, a freight train bounding for Sariwon to Pyongsan County overturned due to the collapse of a railroad tie. This accident caused heavy casualties nine passengers were killed at the scene of the accident, eight injured seriously and seven cars overturned. The victims were all women who left home to do business to make a living.
Robber Disguise as Peoples Army Men
On the evening around 7:00 of August 13, two robbers disguised as People's Army had appeared at a ridge of Poongsan (풍산고갯마루) in Hoeryong city. They beat up a man on a bicycle without saying anything, they left the injured along the street and hurried off with robbed bicycle. The mugged victims reported the incident to a local police station, but tracking a criminal does not seem to be simple because the victims' witness was uncertain whether they were real Peoples' Army or disguised as robber.
Many of medical school students at Kyongsung County of North Hamgyong Province had gone back home before vacation. The students said they could not study anymore because food supply in the school cafeteria was not enough to fill their hunger.The students had ground corncob meal (묵지가루밥) for breakfast, noodles and five pieces of potato for lunch and dinner. Many of them left school for home without permission saying that going back home and making money would be better. Kim Min-chan (19 years old) said, “I have lived with money sent by my parents but my family also had a financial problem this year. I cannot be burden on my parents anymore. It is a season for small octopus. So at least I can make money from catching octopuses. I should make and save money so that I can continue my studies.” Kim left school for catching octopus before vacation started. On August 7th, a student who was a second grade of the school went on a fishing boat to catch squid and died. The Organization and Guidance Department of County Party is considering how to criticize the school principle and the teacher in charge.
Jogoonsil College, School Schedule Normalization since Last July
It usually costs 50,000-60,000 won for a month for students to attend to Jogoonsil College (조군실대학) at Kangwon Province. However, for last May and June, the students could not concentrate on studies because they could not have meals from the school even though they had money for that. Except for those who could afford to buy meals outside of the school, many students gave up to pursue their degrees at school and went back home. There were only about ten students left per class, therefore it was hard for professors to manage their curriculum. The school reported to the government about the situation and received 28 MT of whole corn on last July 4th. On July 8th, the school asked all the students to gather for memorial event for Kim Il-Song. After the event, the students were able to attend classes from July 10th.
Wheat Distribution to Sinuiju Colleges
From August 1, all the universities, hospitals, and school teachers in Sinuiju, North Pyongyang Province received wheat provided by the United States. Generally, deans and professors got 26kg of wheat and school teachers received minimum of 15kg per person.
Hyesan City, College Student as a LecturerA Publicity Department and Police Station at Hyesan City of Ryanggang Province gave lectures to the residents on “Limit television channels to North Korean broadcasting, Do not watch illegal video tapes.” Senior students of the medical school were sent to give lectures in Hyesan City. The students emphasized, “If you watch South Korean movies and CD, you will be caught and punished severely.” at the city hall and Neighborhood Unit. These kinds of lectures are also provided in other areas including National Border Area and censorship has been tightened.
The Government Seizes Teacher’s License
Choi Myong-ae, a music teacher at the Ontan elementary school in Onsung County, North Hamgyong Province got her license deprived due to giving illegal private lessons. Choi earns ten thousand won per month for musical instrument lessons. She was criticized for violating socialistic ideology and her diploma of Chungjin teacher's college was confiscated.
A Train Carrying Glass Got Derailed
On August 7th, a train was derailed at Ryonggang Station (룡강역). It was carrying glass made from Daean Chinsun glass factory (대안친선유리공장) in Nampo City, South Pyongan Province to Wonsan City, Kangwon province. Due to this accident, five out of six cabins were overturned. The person in charge of taking over the glass and four deliverymen were killed on the scene. The glasses over 12,000 square feet were damaged. The crowds of the scene were busy finding and carrying glasses that fit to their windows instead of restoring the damage.
A Freight Train Bounding for Sariwon to Pyongsan County Overturned
On the afternoon of last August 9, a freight train bounding for Sariwon to Pyongsan County overturned due to the collapse of a railroad tie. This accident caused heavy casualties nine passengers were killed at the scene of the accident, eight injured seriously and seven cars overturned. The victims were all women who left home to do business to make a living.
Robber Disguise as Peoples Army Men
On the evening around 7:00 of August 13, two robbers disguised as People's Army had appeared at a ridge of Poongsan (풍산고갯마루) in Hoeryong city. They beat up a man on a bicycle without saying anything, they left the injured along the street and hurried off with robbed bicycle. The mugged victims reported the incident to a local police station, but tracking a criminal does not seem to be simple because the victims' witness was uncertain whether they were real Peoples' Army or disguised as robber.
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