Precursor to suppression of labour movement

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- The "Ministers of home affairs, justice and labour" of South Korea released a "Joint statement to people" with regard to the revised "labour laws" on January 8, according to a radio report from Seoul. In the statement, they justified their revision of "Labour laws" and blared that the strike of South Korean workers and people from other walks of life for the abrogation of the laws could not be "legitimized under any circumstances" and that they would "Take a determined measure to curb the illegal strikes". This is a precursor indicating that the Kim Young Sam fascist clique, extremely upset by the daring struggle of South Korean workers which is daily growing in scope, will bring the whirlwind of frantic suppression. Accordingly, it cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. South Korean people are waging a powerful massive struggle for the abrogation of the evil laws in all parts of South Korea. Their struggle is very just and cannot be branded as "Illegal" in any case. The freedom and vital rights of people are what should not be violated by anyone. Moreover, the controversial "labour laws" secretly passed by the puppets some time ago are evil ones aimed at depriving workers of all their elementary democratic freedom and rights including the three rights to labour. So, they are now targets of bitter protests from the world public. This is why the South Korean workers are stubbornly opposing the illegal and outrageous scheme of the Kim Young Sam group to ruthlessly deprive them of their elementary rights to existence and the opposition parties join in their struggle. Since the revision of the "labour laws" was very illegal and outrageous, the international confederation of free trade unions lodged a lawsuit with the secretariat of the international labour organisation against the laws and the world press highlights articles criticising the outrageous act of the South Korean puppets. The fascist suppression will only lead to a more massive struggle. If the Kim Young Sam group crack down upon the just struggle of South Korean people at the point of the bayonet, it will result in precipitating the collapse of the "civilian government" of south Korea.

Syria recognozes DPRK only

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- There will be no change in the position of Syria recognizing only the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the Korean peninsula. Syrian president Hafez al Assad declared this on Jan. 5 when he received credentials from the newly-appointed DPRK ambassador to his country, Jong Chun Gun. The president said he hopes that the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il will enjoy a long life in good health and happiness and courageously brave all hardships. The firm relations of friendship between Syria and Korea will remain unchanged, he stressed.

UNDP provides help to DPRK

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- The United Nations Development Program provided 600,000 dollars worth of machines to the DPRK in December last year, pursuant to an agreement between the DPRK government and the UNDP on agricultural rehabilitation projects. The excavators and bulldozers that arrived in the first batch will be used in readjusting the flood-damaged land and restoring agricultural infrastructure in unpha county, North Hwanghae province, and other areas. The UNDP has already established a trust fund to raise 38 million dollars to help restore the flood-damaged arable land in the DPRK and is working to draw additional donation from the international community.

3rd meeting of J-K joint investigation comm

Tokyo, January 8 (kns-KCNA) -- The Japan-Korea Joint Investigation Committee had its 3rd meeting on Dec. 27 last year in connection with the fact that the Japanese police read the "Files on foreigners registration". An agreement was reached at the meeting upon continuing to urge the Japanese police authorities to investigate into the case, admit its injustice and make an apology.

S. Korean fascists' tough, appeasement policy

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today says the "Joint statement to the people" the Kim Young Sam group of South Korea published recently, totally rejecting public demand, boils down to appeasement, deception and blackmail. In a commentary the daily says: In the "statement" the puppets said the amended "labor law" is aimed at "Ensuring the coexistence and coprosperity of labor and management" and "Promoting the interests of all the people". Under the labor system in which the workers' vital rights are trampled down and they are ground down, however, it is nonsense and "labor-management cooperation" is unimaginable. Upset by massive protests, they are appeasing the people with a promise to take a "measure for replenishment and completion of the law" and "enact a special law". This indicates that they admit the amended "labor law" is not in the interests of the workers and people. What cannot be overlooked in the "statement" is that they openly revealed their intention to harshly crack down on the just protests of workers and other people, calling them "Illegal action". But the South Korean workers and people will continue fighting to have their demand met, undaunted by the fascist clique's threat, suppression and appeasement.

Papers on Kim Young Sam's "New Year press conference"

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang-based newspapers today come out with signed commentaries on the "New year press conference" called by Kim Young Sam of South Korea. At the conference, Kim Young Sam groundlessly maligned and insulted the north, boasted of non-existent "Achievements in administration" in a bid to conceal his criminal nature and revealed his ulterior intention to strengthen his treacherous government, a news analyst of Rodong sinmun says, and continues: What Kim Young Sam has done in four years of his office is that he has converted South Korea into a more dependent colony, a more fascist theatre and a more serious graveyard of democracy and human rights than in the period of military dictatorship and a veritable hell in which the rich get richer and the poor poorer. It is none other than the traitor Kim Young Sam who has blocked the national reconciliation and reunification by setting up a political barrier between the north and the south and brought the situation of the country to the brink of war by incessantly staging war exercises against the north. At the press conference, Kim Young Sam cried that he would "Direct efforts to the improvement of economic system and to the liquidation of irregularities and corruption" for "This year's target of state policy aimed at change and reform, globalisation and economic recovery". Howerver, no one will believe him. Despite his advertisement about "economic recovery" and "Liquidation of irregularities and corruption", the South Korean economy will go to bankruptcy and irregularities and corruption will be prevalent in South Korea. We cannot but take a serious view of the fact that at the press conference, Kim Young Sam incited confrontation with the DPRK, maliciously hurling slanders at it. This proves that the traitor intends to escape from the crisis of rule and unleash a fratricidal war with the help of outsiders after bringing the situation to the brink of war by extremely aggravating the inter-Korean relations and coiling up the tension. It is only too natural that South Korean people brand the "New year press conference" of the traitor Kim Young Sam as a dirge of the master of "Chongwadae" on the verge of ruin. A signed commentary of Minju Joson says that the "New Year press conference" clearly showed that with the traitor kim Young Sam left in power, inter-Korean relations will not be improved nor can the sufferings and misfortunes of the South Korean people be dispelled.

"Funeral of democracy" in S. Korea

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- Rodong sinmun today says that the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il sent thanks to officials and working people who had fully displayed loyalty to the party and the leader. It is reported in the paper that preparatory committees were formed in pakistan and benin and a photo show was opened in uganda, to celebrate comrade Kim Jong Il's 55th birthday. A message of thanks of the Workers' Party of Korea central committee was conveyed to the workers and officials of hwadae mine who had made signal achievements in the non- ferrous metal ore output, says the paper. The press says mass rallies were held in provinces one after another to carry out the tasks set forth in the joint new year editorial, holding aloft the red flag. Scientists and technicians have also turned out in the efforts to carry out the tasks. Rodong sinmun gives accounts of their efforts under the headline "Scientists and technicians should make a great contribution to prosperity and development of the country". Papers deal with strikes of South Korean people demanding a total nullification of the retrogressive amendment to "labour laws". A commentary of Rodong Sinmun criticizes the traitor Kim Young Sam for seeking a carrot and stick policy, frightened at the people's struggle against the amended "labour laws". Given in the press is an account of a press conference called here thursday by South Korean defectors Paek Hung Ryong and his wife. Rodong Sinmun carries an article titled "Three mainstays, three charters that reflect the nation's will for reunification". Papers run commentaries branding the traitor Kim Young Sam's address at "The New Year press conference" as a funeral march of "Chongwadae" on the wane and as remarks full of falsity and deception. Minju Joson observes the 5th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and turkmenistan.

Floral baskets laid before portraits

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- Robert Williams, general secretary of the Good Green Guyana and chairman of the Guyanese National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea of comrade Kim Il Sung, visited the DPRK embassy in Georgetown on New Year's Eve. He laid floral baskets and made respects before the portraits of the great leaders president Kim Il Sung and comrade Kim Jong Il in the name of the good green guyana and the guyanese national committee for the study of the juche idea of comrade Kim Il Sung.

U.S.-S. Korea joint exercise

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- The U.S. warmaniacs and the South Korean puppet clique held a joint intercepting exercise for air control in the sky above the central sector of the front on Thursday allegedly to cope with "Infiltration" from the north, according to a radio report from Seoul. Latest-type fighters were involved in this exercise. They decided to strengthen the quality of the exercise and hold it more than once in a month in a regular way. These days they talk a great deal about the "Provocation of the north", stage various war drills one after another and lead the situation to an adventurous stage.

Three charters of national reunification

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- The three principles of national reunification, the proposal for founding the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo and the 10-point programme of the great unity of the whole nation, which were advanced by the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung, are three pillars and charters of national reunification that must be invariably adhered to by the Korean nation under any circumstances, declares Rodong sinmun in a signed article today. The three pillars and charters of national reunification are consistent with the idea of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity, the author of the article says, and continues: The principle of independence is the starting point and spiritual foundation of the reunification movement of the Korean nation. Anyone who aspires after the reunification of the country should harbour no illusion about dependence upon the outside forces, the ringleader of national division, but rely upon the independent forces of the nation and oppose the interference by outsiders and take a stance and stand to achieve the reunification by the Korean people themselves. Peaceful reunification is impossible without peace. The confederacy formula is the only way of achieving the reunification by means of neither side conquering the other side or being conquered under the present conditions of the country in which different ideas and systems exist in the north and the south. If the country is to be reunified independently and peacefully, it is imperative to achieve the great unity of the whole nation. Our country can be reunified only when the proposal for founding the democratic confederal republic of koryo and the 10-point programme of the great unity of the whole nation are realised on the basis of the three principles of national reunification -- independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity, no matter how the situation may change in the future. The entire Korean nation is responsible for implementing the three pillars and charters of national reunification. All the fellow countrymen in the north, the south and overseas should make tangible contributions to promoting the great national unity and accelerating the country's reunification in a responsible manner.

Meeting to carry out New Year tasks

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- Working people in all provinces of Korea held meetings from January 6 to 9 and decided to fully carry out tasks set out in the joint new year editorial under the red flag. Reporters and speakers at the meetings called for pushing ahead with the forced march of socialism under the slogan "Let us all become victors in this year's arduous march !" put up in the editorial and making contribution to consolidating the political, economic and military positions of the revolution as impregnable fortresses. It is very important to model the whole society on the idea of the red flag of the Workers' Party of Korea and promote economic construction, they noted, calling for increasing production by tapping the economic potentials in the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance. They also stressed the need to uphold the leadership of the respected general Kim Jong Il with loyalty and filial piety and fully carry out the behests of the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung so as to make the country and fatherland more prosperous and demonstrate the might of Korean socialism all over the world this year marking the third anniversary of the death of comrade Kim Il Sung.

Protocols on sites and service signed between DPRK and KEDO

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- Delegations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the U.S.- led Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO) signed protocols on sites and service needed for the implementation of the agreement on the provision of light- water reactors in New York on January 8. Full conditions for starting the light-water reactors project have been created with the signing of the last two protocols following the conclusion of protocols on consular affairs, communications and traffic on July 11 last year. As already reported, the united states is obliged to undertake the construction of two 1-million-kw light-water reactors in Korea till the year 2003 according to the DPRK- U.S. Agreed framework.

Japan urged to came to talks

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued a statement today urging the Japanese authorities to come out to the talks for postwar settlement without delay. The statement says: Liquidation of the abnormal past and improvement of ties between the DPRK and Japan are what the peoples of the two countries wish and, at the same time, what the DPRK government has consistently called for. We have so far made sincere efforts to improve bilateral ties. Last year, the Japanese authorities did not sincerely approach the issue of improving bilateral ties by raising some "Preconditions." We have made it clear that we do not mind whether our relations with Japan are normalised or not. Our position remains unchanged. The point at issue, however, is that although it is more than 50 years since the end of the war, Japan has yet to atone for its military occupation of Korea and colonial enslavement it imposed on the Korean people during the first half of the century. For the offender to honestly apologize to the victim and atone for his wrongdoing is a matter of fulfilling the internationally recognised political and legal responsibility and moral obligation. It is by no means a matter of choice. With Japan failing to atone for its past, the protest of the fair world opinion and the anti-Japanese sentiment of the Korean people are on a steady increase and the hostile relations between the two countries go from bad to worse. This will, in the long run, leave indelible scars. While whitewashing and defending its past, Japan is trying to avoid atonement. This indicates that Japan is politically and morally vulgar and is willing to repeat the crime if time comes. With the desire to revive militarism becoming undisguised in Japan, the Japanese ruling party recently adopted a decision calling on Japan visitors to call at the Yasukuni Shrine. It is indicative of why Japan has avoided the settlement of the past. It is only too clear that such a country is not eligible to become a permanent member of the united nations security council. Japan should fully discharge its legal and moral obligation, mindful that it cannot delay to the 21st century the atonement of the crimes it committed in the first half of the 20th century. It is also necessary for the improvement of relations with the DPRK. We make it clear that the normalization of bilateral relations is impossible without Japan's settlement of the past. The Japanese authorities would be well advised to stop acting impudently, thinking that the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries is one side's "Offering" to the other. They must renounce the foolish thought that the passage of time will bury its past crimes into oblivion and come out to negotiations for the settlement of the past without delay, deeply aware that if they continue avoiding it, their responsibility will be heavier.