The event dealt with the issue of tobacco tax, the theme of this year set by the World Health Organization, as well as the significance of the work for tightening the control over smoking.

Participants in the event reached a consensus of opinions that raising the tobacco price is the most effective way to decrease the tobacco consumption and put smokers off smoking.

Ju Min Nyo, an inspector of the State Sanitary Inspection Board of the Ministry of Public Health in the DPRK, told KCNA:

The control over smoking is getting momentum in the country with the help of people's self-consciousness and their high law-abiding spirit.

The state has exercised strict control over such issues as selling cigarette at low prices, and steadily raised the price per a packet.

It has raised a high tariff wall against imported cigarettes and raised their selling price, thus reducing the volumes of import and sale of tobacco as well as the number of smokers.

It has also levied high import duties on raw and other materials necessary for the production of cigarette in order to raise the cost of production.

We would conduct positive activities of agitation against the harmful effects of smoking on the health and life of people.