The national children's science-fiction models and inventions exhibition-2024 was held in June drawing the attention of schoolchildren across the country.

The event brought together sci-fi models and inventions on various themes, such as "Underground Urban Landscape in Future", "Weeding Robot" and "Artificial Intelligence Robot", which showcased the ideal, ambition and inquiry of schoolchildren.

Ri Jong Won, a student at Ryukgyo Primary School in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, presented "Moving Picture".

His invention drew the attention of many visitors.

"What does a moving picture mean?" a visitor asked.

“Isn’t it probably a device showing pictures in a row?” another visitor wondered.

Jong Won put his picture of a bird into his device and operated it.

Then the bird in the picture came into life, flying in the sky. Voices of admiration burst out among the viewers.

Not so mechanical, his device is easy to manufacture and scientifically designed to produce a relatively vivid animation from a still image. With it Jong Won took the first place and won the children’s scientific prize for inquiry.

When he went to kindergarten, Jong Won liked to play with building blocks and often made things patterning on what he saw around himself.

His mother said he was fond of making moving toys such as automobiles and tanks.

After entering primary school, he developed a passion for inquiry delving into what he was taught in classroom until he comprehended them, and sometimes built various models by applying his knowledge.

This fermented his active imagination.

Once he was drawing a cock chasing a butterfly during a class. Suddenly he thought of how he could show his picture like an animation.

Back home after school, he told his idea to his parents.

His idea was supported by his parents and class teacher.

His class teacher explained to him how still images produce a moving picture. From then on, after he returned home from the school, he set out to make a device. Great help came from his father who had received several certificates of invention.

While repeating assembling and disassembling, he began to give finishing touches to his invention with the help of his teacher and parents.

At last, his invention "Moving Picture" came into completion.

When asked about his impression after he won the children’s scientific prize for inquiry, Jong Won said: “Through the exhibition, I have realized that you can make anything when you know scientific principles. I will study harder and become an excellent inventor.”

Kim Ye Ryong