The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was filled with exultation after DPRK athletes grabbed two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, local media reported Monday.
The two gold medals, won by Pak Hyon Suk in the women's 63 kg weightlifting and Hong Un Jong in women's gymnastics vault, were lauded as the "best gifts to the 60th birthday of the country" this year.
The athletes' excellent performance at the Olympics "inspired greatly the spirits of the people and army" and "brought great joy to the whole nation," the official Rodong Sinmun commented.
Many Pyongyang citizens cheered and shouted when they got the news Tuesday that Pak won the first gold medal for the DPRK, reported Choson Sinbo, a newspaper run by ethnic Koreans in Japan.
It was the DPRK's first Olympic gold medal in almost 12 years. Citizens vied to buy copies of the newspaper carrying the story of the victory on the second day, Choson Sinbo said.
"The victory inflated me with tremendous inspiration and power. We expected more triumphs," Choson Sinbo quoted a Pyongyang citizen as saying.
The DPRK athletes wouldn't let them wait long. Hong won another gold medal for the DPRK Sunday. She brought glory to the fatherland and presented the country a substantial gift before the 60th birthday of the DPRK, the Central Television said.
Her victory increased the confidence of the DPRK people to build a powerful and prosperous nation, it added.
Hong's merits were hard-earned, her teammates told a local newspaper, vowing to learn from Hong and train even harder to win glory for the country in international arenas.
(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2008)