Catching up with: North Korea!

From the Korean Central News Agency (all sic, of course):

Kim Jong Il Enjoys Performance Given by Art Squad of KPA Unit 757. The performers put on the stage colorful numbers of various genres including agitating story "General Inspects Drill Ground," female trio "Soldiers Sing of Our Supreme Commander," drama agitation "Sharp Eyes," male quartet "Whole Country Knows," male vocal solo "The Country I Am Defending" and choral recitation of poem "Let's Sharpen Our Bayonets to Annihilate Enemy." . . .

A music and dance performance was given by artistes of the Ryanggang Provincial Art Troupe at the Taehongdan County Cultural Hall on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the publication of leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "On Bringing about a Signal Turn in Potato Farming". . . .

A torchlight soiree of youth and students "The Homeland of Songun" was held at Kim Il Sung Square Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK. . . .

When the participants formed letters "Glory to General!" and a floral basket in reflection of the firm determination of the hot-blooded young people to hold leader Kim Jong Il in high esteem, deeply trusting and following him, fireworks were displayed to beautifully decorate the nocturnal sky of the square on the auspicious day of September. . . .

The Forest Management Office of Riwon County, South Hamgyong Province, on the eastern coast of Korea has transformed pine tree forests into pine-nut tree forests, from which it is gathering a large amount of pine nuts.

Pine trees in the county with lean land all crooked to look ugly and be of little use. . . .

New books have been published recently by the Literature and Art Publishing House of the DPRK.

The book "Bosom of Great Teacher," divided into six chapters, deals with the immortal exploits performed and noble virtues shown by General Secretary Kim Jong Il while guiding the Mansudae Art Troupe. . . .

The Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House and the Mansudae Art Studio produced posters "Let us all turn out to push ahead with farming preparations for new year!" and "Let's apply much more manure of quality!" . . .

The 7th Basketball Tournament of Officials of National Institutions took place at the gymnasium of Kim Il Sung University.

The tournament was held on league and knockout match basis by officials of ministries and national institutions. Winners in the men's event divided into four groups were teams of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Extractive Industries, the Grand People's Study House and the Rakwon Guidance Bureau. . . .

The youth shock brigade activities have been briskly conducted to make a breakthrough of advance in building an economic power this year. . . .

Members of the Cha Kwang Su Youth Shock Brigade at the Pyongyang Thermal-Power Complex voluntarily carried out the difficult tasks in overhauling generators and boilers and ensuring their normal operation. Those of the Kim Hyok youth shock brigades at the Chonsong and Sinchang youth coal mines overfulfilled their coal production assignments every month by carrying on continuous drilling and blasting. . . .

There are in Kwangbok and Yongung Streets of Pyongyang Tourism Souvenir Showrooms where one can see the creative wisdom and sentiments of the Korean nation. . . .

According to Jong Sin, manager of the showrooms, lots of foreigners have visited the showrooms this year and said as one that they were happy to visit the showrooms deep in the odor of the Korean nation. . . .

Update: "Artistes."

Update II: Wm. T. Sherman links to this vid of American war crimes in Iraq from the sadly moribund Songun Blog:



Update III: "Youth coal mines"?