Pyongyang, September 26 (KCNA) -- The Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun Tuesday carried a travelogue of Pyongyang written by its reporter who visited Pyongyang from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 as a member of the delegation of Kyodo News and its affiliated agencies.

A nationwide effort for building a thriving nation is under way in the DPRK, the travelogue says, and goes on:

The construction project for face-lifting Pyongyang is progressing apace in the city.

On the morning of August 31 I went up to the top of Tower of the Juche Idea and enjoyed a view of the People's Theatre and skyscrapers now under construction in the Changjon area of Central District on the other side of the Taedong River.

Many people were busy with their work on the roofs of the buildings.

Motor traffic was suspended in the area and the Okryu Restaurant, famous for cold noodle peculiar to Pyongyang, closed temporarily. According to our tourist guide, the project is slated to be completed by April next year.

April 15, 2012 is the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung, founder of the DPRK.

Changes have taken place not only in the construction but in the citizens' livelihood in Pyongyang. One of the examples is a rapid spread of cellphones. The number of cellphone users has already exceeded 600 000 nationwide.

There is a factory producing popular Taedonggang beer in eastern Pyongyang.

Seen in the compound of the factory were three monuments with letters "Being blessed with great leader", "Being blessed with brilliant commander" and "Being blessed with illustrious general".

The leader means President Kim Il Sung, the commander means General Secretary Kim Jong Il and the general means Kim Jong Un.

When visiting the Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm in Pyongyang, we were told that Kim Jong Il was accompanied by Kim Jong Un in inspecting the fruit farm on July 21. Choe Yong Nam, 49, manager of the farm, said that unfortunately, he missed a chance to meet with them because he was on a business trip.

Enjoying the grand gymnastic and art performance "Arirang" on the evening of the 31st, I felt that the DPRK-China friendship was one of its main themes.

The two countries have invigorated summit diplomacy and comings and goings of people. I could see increasing Chinese language service in tourist resorts of Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, no clue was seen for the improvement of the relations between Japan and the DPRK. North Korean officials interviewed by us said unanimously, "The Japan-DPRK relations are in the worst state."

Kim Jong Suk, chairwoman of the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, said, "Japan has still remained a hostile state, but we do not hate the Japanese people. This was also the will of President Kim Il Sung".