By Kim Ki-tae
Staff Reporter
PUSAN _ Pyongyang, one of the most reclusive regimes in the world, is in favor of cooperating with other nations to make films, said director Park Jun-hee, who just completed the film ``The Secret of Rikidozan,’’ the first co-production by China and North Korea.

``It was not us but the North which first suggested the co-production,’’ Park said on Monday during a press conference at the Paradise Hotel in Pusan. He was visiting on the occasion of the 10th Pusan International Film Festival. ``They even sent a script of the late Korean wrestler Rikidozan, which I think was quite well written.’’

Director Park, whose Chinese name is Piao Zunxi, is an ethnic Korean working at Changchun Film Studio in China.

He said the joint production was first initiated last May and began shooting last October. Most of the scenes were shot in North Korea.

``While shooting, the North’s authority even helped us mobilize more than 5,000 extras in a gymnasium around 13 hours a day for some 10 days. Without complaint, everyone moved like a single person,’’ Park said.

``I could feel that Pyongyang is very enthusiastic about making films. The people seem to be working and hard to raise their level to the world class,’’ he said.

Park also lauded North Korean actresses he filmed. ``Working with them, I found they are a notch above Chinese actresses. And I learned that they have been specially trained from around the age of 13, when they were found to have talent,’’ he said.

kkt@koreatimes.co.kr