opinion

As time passes, people get old and the elderly hold an increasing proportion of the population day by day.

Therefore, how to look after the aged people who get more dependent on the family, social and state care and benefits have become an important social issue.

In the DPRK it is a legal requirement and moral duty to respect and take warm care of the old people as revolutionary seniors and elders.

The Socialist Constitution and the law on public health of the DPRK adopted already several decades ago stipulate that the state shall take responsible care of the life and health of the aged people. The DPRK law on the protection of the aged was instituted to provide a legal guarantee for fully ensuring the rights and interests of the elderly and providing them with better living conditions.

The role of the Central Committee of the Korea Federation for the Care of the Aged has also been enhanced with the passage of time.

Under the great care of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, old people’s homes have been built in different parts of the country including Pyongyang and facilities for the aged increase in number like sanatorium for war veterans and health complex for the elderly.

A social habit of respecting the elderly has been established.

The national conference of war veterans is held in splendour as a major national event every year and government organs pay close attention to the protection of the elderly to ensure commercial, public service and transport institutions give preferential treatment to the elderly.

Institutions and enterprises invite old people who worked at them for a long time to have significant meetings and spend a pleasant time with them on the occasion of national holidays and their founding anniversaries.

With living environment being improved day by day and social benefits increasing for the aged over 90, more and more old people become vigorous and voluntarily do good things for the country and society, and the number of centenarians grows in the country.