Chairman
"True to the intention of the great Comrade
Mt. Ryongak which has wonderfully been built into a pleasure resort for the people carries the warm love of Chairman, who devoted himself to providing our people with the excellent conditions for the cultured and emotional life.
The name of Mt. Ryongak in Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, owes its origin to the fact that it just looks like a dragon just flying into the sky. It is also called Mt. Kumgang in Pyongyang with its mysterious rocks and peaks towering high into the sky blending well with all kinds of flowers, thick woods and red maple in autumn.
In addition, Mt. Ryongak is a time-honored historic place associated with the activities of the greatest men.
President
Even on the day of his field guidance to the newly-built pleasure resort on Mt. Jongbang, Chairman earnestly instructed Pyongyang city should build Mt. Ryongak into a pleasure resort, and took concrete measures, on many occasions, for the smooth supply of building materials for the project.
Thanks to his guidance, Mt. Ryongak has wonderfully been built into a pleasure resort for people.
On January 17, Juche 98 (2009), Chairman visited the Ryongaksan pleasure resort yet again in the intense cold of midwinter to give precious instructions for refurbishing it as a valuable treasure for our nation and a cultural recreation area for people.
When he arrived at the entrance to the Ryongaksan pleasure resort, the guide official told him that a new path from near Sunhwa river bridge to the spot just under Songdok pavilion on Tae Peak and a circular mountaineering path had newly been laid, as he had taught, in addition to resting places for cookouts, amusement and art performances, soft drink stands, toilets and parking lots.
Chairman, highly appreciating their work, looked around the Ryong (dragon) pond and was very pleased to see its beautiful sight furnished with a look-out and a resting place around.
Hearing that from olden times the mountain has been called Ryongak for the fact that the peak of the mountain looks just like a dragon flying up into the sky, and nearby areas are called Ryongsan-dong, Ryongbong-ri, and it was for this reason that the newly-built pond was named Ryong (dragon) pond with three dragons sculptured around, he said that dragon sculptures, somehow, reminded him of exotic things, and went on to say that whatever new we build in scenic spots, we should keep to the traditional custom and national character while being watchful against any trivial thing alien.
He heard a monk praying to Amitabha in Popun Hermitage and said that the white candles burning before the Buddhist statue should be replaced by yellow ones as yellow candles were used in the long past. He said that the area around Popun Hermitage was well-looked after and it was good that the face-lifted hermitage was furnished with new fences of classical beauty. He highly appreciated the fact that it became a hermitage completely different from when he visited last, its colorful painting in particular.
Chairman repeatedly appreciated the colorful painting of Popun Hermitage, saying that if painted too bright or colorful, it would look less valuable and less aged. He also told them to leave the colorful painting of Popun Hermitage as it was so as to see how long it might last, never painting it over and over. He said that the experts in that field should see the colorful painting of the hermitage to learn how to paint other historical remains in the future.
His teachings on maintaining the value and appearance of the historical remains by preserving the ancient-looking colours, have come to serve as important guidelines which focus on keeping to the historical principle in inheriting and developing the long-standing tradition of the Korean nation and in managing the historical relics and remains.
Then, in the raging wind, Chairman climbed up Tae Peak, the highest peak of Mt. Ryongak and looked down at the picturesque panoramic view of magnificent Pyongyang city and the land stretching as far as to the Mt. Taesong and the west coast.
And he happily said that as there were the resting places around Songdok pavilion, too, it would be good for people to come up there in summer to see the beautiful mountainscape while enjoying picnic food.
Then he looked back on his childhood, with deep emotions, when he came to Mt. Ryongak with his parents, picking up aster which was rich in the mountain, and said we should make the mountain into a wonderful resort for people.
He said that it was great that they built not only the good road but also all other facilities such as resting places in good harmony with the surrounding natural beauty, and he highly appreciated the builders for their achievements, satisfied to see the large-scale construction work successfully completed in a short span of time.
Saying that if Mt. Ryongak was to be called a celebrated mountain, it should have both scenic beauty and streams, so groundwater resource should be found at any cost, and that the officials should be always well aware of the Party's intention to provide the people with an affluent and civilized life and should pay deep attention to improving the pleasure resort and its management.
The instructions on Mt. Ryongak that day serve as an important guideline clarifying the principles and ways to be followed in building pleasure resorts for people.
Thanks to the devoted efforts made by Chairman
