Coree

The 1961 North Korean Yearbook.

1963réf. 180349Springfield.: Clearinghouse. 1963. 572pp. Photographically reproduced technical report distributed by the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information for research library circulation. Text very clean and sound original paper upper cover with a handwritten title on cover and spine and contractor code written in ink worn and a little torn at the staples lacks lower cover but otherwise complete. Clearinghouse card with the name and address of the University of Sydney employee who originally ordered it together with other details loosely inserted. A firm copy. Originally issued by the US Department of Commerce/ National Bureau of Standards. A US translation produced for America's Joint Publications Research Service of the "Korea Central Yearbook" Choson Chungang Nyongnam the official North Korean Yearbook for 1961. One of a series of yearbooks published annually since 1949 by the North Korean Central News Agency this volume covers policy developments North Korea's geography and population weather economic developments trade economic cooperation particularly with the USSR transport and commmunications education health sports the arts publications and broadcasting major events of the year and North Korea's engagement with international organizations. There are also extensive negative assessmentss of economic and social developments in South Korea. The yearbook's 570 pages are filled with the North Korean government's upbeat assessments of the wonders of its own nation's achievements but the volume is nonetheless a fascinating window into North Korean at a crucial point in its history. In 1961 North Korea was in the midst of the "Chollima Movement" - a plan which aimed to fast-track industrialisation - and the country had just completed its first five-year economic plan. It had also recently begun a program of encouraging the large-scale "repatriation" of ethnic Koreans from Japan and the report includes a section entitled "The Problem of Koreans Residing in Japan" which details North Korean support for Korean schools in Japan negotiations over the extension of the "repatriation" movement and efforts to remedy the "materialistic pholosophy" of Koreans who had relocated from Japan to North Korea. Despite the government's emphasis on economic autarchy North Korea was also cautiously expanding links to the outside world and the yearbook mentions the signing of trade agreements with non-governmental agencies in Japan India Australia and other countries. The section on the arts provides rich detail on North Korea's promotion of socialist realism and works depicting the "fervent patriotism and indominitable spirit of the revolutionary fighters". The yearbook details the successful songs plays musical dramas and films of the year and the expansion of artistic circles in workplaces schools etc. One element of the five year plan had been the promotion of athletics contests and the outcomes of this promotion program are discussed in the yearbook but it is interesting to note that the mass games which were later to become a cantral feature of North Korean perfomance art were only in their infancy and just receive a brief mention. The volume is an exceptionally rich and valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of often impenetrable North Korean state. . Clearinghouse. unknown

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