Numerals are becoming symbols with unique meanings in North Korea. Architectural structures along streets, symbolic monuments commemorating specific dates, the names of plants and business installations, and even various construction projects have numerals with unique meanings.

Launching the rezoning in North Pyongan province of 50,143 chongbo (1 chongbo equals 2.4 acres) of rice paddies and 5,643 chongbo of upland fields, totaling 55,786 chongbo in July 1999, North Korea announced that the project, if successfully carried out, would result in an increase of 4,221.6 chongbo of land under cultivation. The figure, apt to be passed over unnoticed, coincides with Kim Jong Il's birthday - February 16, 1942. In February 1987 North Korea dedicated a house at the foot of Mount Paekdu in Sa,jiyon county, Jagang province, where Kim Jong Il was allegedly born. Jangsu Peak behind the house was re-christened ‘Jong Il Peak’ in August 1988. The altitude of the peak is 216m higher than that of the house - allegedly a complete replica of the house in which Kim was born, it was claimed. Believe it or not, the figure 216 coincides with Kim's birthday - February 16. During the 10th-term general elections of deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly, held in July 1998, Kim Jong Il stood candidacy in electoral district No. 666. Some argue that the figure represented Kim's birthday by cubing the figure of 3.

The Unification Monument with Kim Il Sung’s own calligraphy engraved on it was constructed in August 1995 in front of the Unification Pavilion in the northern sector of the joint security area of the Panmunjom armistice village. Inscribed on the monument are nine characters he is said to have written with a brush for the last time in his life with regard to the nation's unification. The height and width of the monument are 9.4m and 7.7m, respectively, the former representing 1994 and the latter July 7, on which date he wrote them. The width from left to right of the "Three Unification Principle Memorial Tower," which was dedicated on August 15 this year, attendance to which by some members of the South Korean delegation gave rise to a controversy, is 61.5m, which is claimed to represent June 15, on which the landmark inter-Korean summit talks took place.

The Eternity Tower built at the entrance of Pyongyang's Kumjong Street in July 1997 on the occasion of the third anniversary of Kim Il Sung's death is 82 meters high and has 82 azaleas carved on the body, both figures representing the number of years he lived. The Juche (self-reliance) Ideology Tower in Pyongyang dedicated in April 1982 has 70 stairs and consists of 25,500 pieces of granite, the former figure representing Kim Il Sung's age at the time and the latter one the number of days covered in 70 years. The same applies to 70 azaleas carved on the walls of the Tower of Triumph dedicated around the same time. The Unification Front Tower commemorating the inter-Korean joint conference held in April 1948 that stands on Ssuksom Isle in Pyongyang has been built with 56 pieces of granite, the figure representing the number of political parties and social organizations that attended the occasion. The Dangun (Korea's legendary founder) Tomb in Kangdong county near Pyongyang has 1,994 stairs, indicating 1994, the year in which it was dedicated.

North Korea has innumerable other designations incorporating numerals. Among them are the February 8 Integrated Vinylon Business Establishment, July 11 Red Flag People's Unit (neighborhood administrative unit) Movement, April 25 Culture Hall, August 28 Youth Cup Athletic Tournaments, July 15 Top Prize, January 25 Exemplary Kindergarten, May Day Stadium, April 3 Factory, June 13 Mine, April 15 Literature Production, February 17 Shock Troops of Scientists and Engineers and 5.18 Punctual Traction Movement. Most of the dates denote the time when pertinent entities were founded or dedicated, or when Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il visited them on their instructional tours. The figure of 5.18 in the mass punctuality campaign in railroad transportation, rather exceptionally denotes the party headquarters' 18th general meeting in the fifth-term in which the drive was initiated.

(Kim Kwang-in, kki@chosun.com )