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DPRK gold Olympic medallists awarded Hero of Labour title

North Korean athletes who won gold medals at the Olympic Games in London have been awarded the DPRK Hero of Labour title

PYONGYANG, October 12 (Itar-Tass) — North Korean athletes who won gold medals at the Olympic Games in London have been awarded the DPRK Hero of Labour title, the Hammer and Sickle Gold Medal, as well as the Order of the National Flag of the First Degree.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that the same honorary title in accordance with the decree of the country’s Supreme People’s Assembly (Parliament) was awarded to Ryu Ju Song - judo coach of the North Korean April 25 leading sports club.

The DPRK team performed worthily at the Olympic Games in London, winning four gold and two bronze medals. This opinion was expressed by most international sports commentators who noted that the North Korean national team was well trained. The People’s Republic repeated its achievement at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 as regards the gold medals.

The first gold medal was awarded to by An Kum Ae who won judo competitions in the weight category 52 kg. The triumph in London was the highest achievement in the sports career of the talented judo woman.

Weightlifter Kim Un Guk, who set a new Olympic record, as well as An Kum Ae belong to the April 25 club that is supervised by the Korean army. Another gold medal for his country won weightlifter Om Yun Chol. He is the fifth weightlifter in history who has lifted a barbell exceeding his own weight three times. DPRK woman weightlifter Jong Sim Rim is the Olympic Champion in London in the weight category 69 kg.

The main slogan of the DPRK Olympic team that competed in London, was “Forward to the Final Victory.” This phrase that immediately became a popular quotation in the People’s Republic, belongs to DPRK leader Kim Jong Un who said it in April this year ending his speech at a parade on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the nation’s founder Kim Il Sung.

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