Hong Sun Gwang, a vice-director of the State Hygienic Control Board, had an interview with KCNA on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day (May 31).

Question: The number of non-smokers is increasing in the country as days go by, I think.

Answer: Yes, it is. Our country signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control presented by the WHO in June Juche 92 (2003) and has launched an anti-smoking campaign consistently. As a result, the smoking rate decreased to 54.7 percent among the smokers.

Q: Would you tell me about the reason?

A: It is thanks to the efforts of the DPRK government that set a goal of decreasing the smoking rate to 30 percent by 2010 and has directed greater attention to the campaign.

The government, above all, provided the legal environment for lowering the smoking rate. On this basis, it has consistently conducted the anti-smoking campaign such as establishing smoking order, controlling the disorderly smokers by the method of education and strictly banning all kinds of advertisement of and support to the tobacco goods.

In order to convert the campaign into a state hygienic activity, the government organized a committee to control smoking and took positive measures to raise its role.

A tobacco-quitting goods exhibition has been set up. It provides tobacco-quitting goods, tonics and consultation to those who intend to give up smoking, thus paying off profusely.

Anti-smoking propaganda activities have been vigorously conducted in various forms and methods, with the result that smokers are abstaining from smoking on their own accord, boys in their minority do not start smoking and a social control atmosphere has been created.

Q: What is the theme for the World No Tobacco Day this year?

A: We are going to organize functions on the day in accordance with the theme "Tobacco Health Warnings".

On the occasion of the day, anti-smoking propaganda activities on the theme are vigorously conducted at the provincial hygienic propaganda halls and non-smoking signs are put up in public health and educational institutions and public places.