In October 1992, the 47 th  session of the UN General Assembly designated December 3 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with a view to enhancing public awareness about the persons with disabilities and ensuring their rights and interests to the full.

Thanks to the government policy on protecting such persons, they are realizing their dreams and hopes without gloom or despair in the DPRK.

The promulgation of the labour law on workers and civil servants as early as in June 1946 – soon after the liberation of the country – can be considered to be the initiation of undertaking to protect the persons with disabilities in the DPRK, for the above law stipulated that living conditions were provided to people who were unable to work anymore either from work-related disability or illness.

Since the foundation of the DPRK in 1948, series of measures have been taken and several laws adopted by the State with a view to protecting and providing privileges to the persons with disabilities. With the adoption of such laws as the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities and the Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the relevant legal framework has been upgraded and perfected so that the socio-political and economic and cultural rights of the persons with disabilities are fully guaranteed as befitting their status as masters of the State and society.

The Korean Association for Supporting the Disabled that was founded in 1998 was restructured in 2005 into the Central Committee of the Korean Federation for Protection of the Disabled, putting in place a well-organized system to provide persons with disabilities with excellent living conditions and environment.

In addition, under the nationwide system for treatment and rehabilitation of the persons with disabilities, they receive therapies to regain their physical functions at recuperation centres. People with different impairments including children are learning practical skills according to their aptitudes and interests at special schools, universities and vocational schools built across the country.

Dignity, rights and interests of the persons with disabilities are fully ensured by the State policy and public attention and they actively engage in public activities much like the persons with no impairment. Among them are a poet with disability, a violin manufacturer with hearing impairment and even an honoree of the title of Labor Hero - the highest honour for a DPRK citizen - for having made a great contribution to the country through decades of patriotic deeds and creative efforts despite his impairment.

There may be persons with physical disabilities but not a single person with mental suffering for his inability to realize his dreams and hopes - this is the motto of our socialist country. Under the warm care of the Party and government, persons with disabilities rose above their impairments to make their dreams come true, singing out the song "We are the Happiest in the World".