Kim Mun Uk, 65, room chief of the Central Meteorological Research Institute of the Hydro-Meteorological Service, said in this connection:

The maximum temperature at noon was 4.9 degrees below zero and the lowest temperature in the morning 15.6 degrees below zero from December 24 last year to January 19 this year, 3.2 degrees lower than the usual year respectively.

The lowest temperature on Jan. 16 registered 18.2 degrees below zero in the area of Pyongyang except for the northern coastal areas. The temperature in the greater part of the DPRK was 5-10 degrees lower than the usual year.

It is the first time since 1945 that the highest temperature at noon fell below 0 degree for nearly one month.

This protracted cold is attributable to the strong influence of cold continental high atmospheric pressure plus the worsening arctic vibration.

Cold is expected to persist till the end of January.

It adversely affects the people's living and preparations for spring farming in no small measure.