S. Korean students asked to join in workers' struggle
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang Municipal
and North Phyongan Provincial Student Committees
respectively sent letters to students under the Seoul
regional federation and the Kwangju-south Jolla Provincial
Federation of Uinversity Student Councils.
The letters came at a time when south Korean workers and
other people were holding massive struggles for the repeal
of the "labor law" and the "law on the agency for national
security planning" which had been secretly enacted by the
kim Young Sam group.
The letters praised the students' solidarity with workers
and other people and their demand for the repeal of the
"laws" as an eruption of justice for the interests of all
south Koreans and a patriotic action for reunification, the
nation's cherished desire, through national reconciliation
and unity.
At this critical moment, the students are fighting in the
van shoulder to shoulder with the workers, the letters
noted, describing it as an example of the south Korean
students undauntedly fighting for justice.
When the south Korean workers and all other people firmly
unite and fight, the Kim Young Sam group's suppression
cannot check their struggle and the day of victory will
come, the letters said, calling for the students to fight a
joint struggle with the south Korean workers in high
spirits.
S. Korean workers struggle favored worldwide
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Many countries and
international organisations have expressed full support for
the strikes of the south Korean workers.
Secretary for Asia-pacific region of the World Federation
of Trade Unions, Debkumar Ganguli, on January 16 released an
appeal calling upon its national trade unions to express
solidarity with the south Korean workers in their strikes.
The document says that the new "labor laws" are aimed at
violating the rights of trade unions and workers and urges
the south Korean authorities to withdraw them.
The Madagascan trade union front and six other
progressive trade unions issued a joint statement on Janualy
16, bitterly denouncing the south Korean authorities and the
"New Korea Party" for their vicious, base railroading of the
"law on the agency for national security planning" and the
"labor laws" as well as for their acts against the people
and workers.
The General Confederation of Workers of Peru and the Lima
Metropolitan, Urban and Suburban Inhabitant Villages
Federation of Peru released appeals on January 15 and 16.
The documents demand that south Korean "President"
kim Young Sam immediately withdraw the "laws", restore the
working people's right to labor at once and release the
unreasonably arrested trade union leaders.
The Swedish union of office workers in an appeal dated
January 14 said that the new "labor laws" are contradictory
to the convention of international trade unions and the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
and suggested that Sweden should lodge a protest against
them.
A demonstration took place in front of the south Korean
puppet embassy in rome on January 15 under the co-
sponsorship of the Italian committee for Reunification and
Peace of Korea, the Rome Committee of the Communist Re-Establishment Party of Italy, the communist youths, a youth
organisation under the influence of the party, and the
Italian proletarian movement against imperialism denouncing
the traitor Kim Young Sam for the brutal suppression of the
strikes of the south Korean workers.
Members of the Berlin branch of the German metallurgical
workers union staged a protest demonstration in front of the
south Korean "consulate general" in Berlin and the Malaysian
union of bank clerks in front of the south Korean puppet
embassy in the country.
The Secretary General of the British Trade Union Council,
the nationwide centre of the British labor movement, visited
the south Korean "embassy" in London on January 10 to
deliver a document calling for repeal of the recently-
revised "labor laws" and "law on the ANSP", and delegates of
the Amnesty International and the council held a protest
demonstration in front of the south Korean "embassy" in
London on January 15.
Samizuda, chairman of the Christian Arab Democratic
Party of Jordan, made public a press statement on January 14
in support of the strikes of the south Korean workers.
S. Korea berated for impeding improvement of DPRK-U.S. ties
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The south Korean puppets
are trying to block the improvement of relations between the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States
in the hope of strengthening the cooperation system against
the DPRK, says Rodong Sinmun today.
In a commentary the daily says:
They, with no boldness to criticize their master, the
U.S., are picking a quarrel with the DPRK and, at the same
time, trying to get out of the wood and attain their
sinister purpose with the help of Japan.
They intend to block the improvement of the DPRK-U.S.
ties by inveigling Japan into the issue. Japan is dancing to
their tune in a bid to further deepen the tieup with the
puppets and use them as the guide of its comeback to Korea.
Such a gesture of the south Korean puppets is a token of
their complaints against the U.S. seeking the improvement of
relations with the DPRK. Apparently, the puppets are making
all efforts to hamper progress in the DPRK-U.S. Ties.
They must stop going against the trend of the time.
Rodong Sinmun supports s. Korean workers' strikes
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today says
the massive struggle of south Korean workers and people
against Kim Young Sam and fascist laws is an expression of
their unanimous desire and strong will to reject suppression
and subjugation and envoy a democratic, independent life.
Accusing the traitor Kim Young Sam of suppression and
appeasing south Korean workers to put an end to their
strikes, the daily says:
What he intends is to arrest their protests with the
stick and the carrot, save the crisis of the regime and
ensure his "security" by law after his term expires. With
such a two-faced game, however, can he never contain the
workers in their death-defying resistance.
The south Korean workers and people have taken a right
choice by launching massive protests against Kim Young Sam
and the fascist laws. The target of their struggle is also
correct.
We will as ever fully support the righteous syruggle of
the fellow countrymen in the south.
"KCTU" vows to strengthen international solidarity struggle
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The "Korean Confederation
of Trade Unions" (KCTU) called a press conference
at the Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul on Jan. 19 and declared
that they will strengthen the struggle for international
solidarity for the withdrawal of the revised labour
laws, according to a radio report from Seoul.
KCTU decided to dispatch a delegation to a
meeting of the council of the organisation from economic
cooperation and development to be held in paris on Jan. 22
to expose the reactionary nature of the revised labour laws
and call for solidarity with the struggle for their repeal.
It said that an international protest group and a fact-
finding group including the Director of the Secretariat of
the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and
ten others will arrive in south Korea on January 20.
Meanwhile, the south Korean Federation of University
Student Councils (Hanchongryon) called a press conference at
Hanyang University on January 20 and vowed to wage a general
struggle of one million students for the withdrawal of the
evil laws.
"hanchongryon" said that it will wage the struggle for
the repeal of the evil laws together with KCTU. To this end,
it noted, it will wage a general struggle of students for
the nullification of the reactionary "labour laws and law on
the agency for national security planning" at the end of
february with february 6 when the "New Korea Party" was
organised, and the day when the traitor Kim Young Sam
grabbed the cap of the "President", as occasions.
Press review
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today
frontpages a report that the great leader comrade
Kim Jong Il sent thanks to officials and working people for
giving full play to the communist traits.
Rounded up in the press are words of south Korean workers
and foreigners highly praising comrade Kim Jong Il.
Papers devote nearly one whole page to an article
headlined "deeply recalling noble obligation" written by a
widow of Ya. T. Novichenko, an internationalist soldier, on
the loving care shown by the great leaders President
Kim Il Sung and comrade Kim Jong Il for him and his family.
Papers report that the "Korean Confederation of Trade
Unions" resolved to strengthen the struggle for
international solidarity and the south Korean Federation of
University Student Councils renewed its determination to
wage a general struggle of one million students. Also given
in the press is an account of brisk international solidarity
campaign for the struggle of south Korean workers.
Rodong Sinmun introduces public health workers who have
turned out in the drive to implement the tasks set forth in
the joint new year editorial.
It is reported in the paper that the Pyongyang Municipal
and North Phyongan Provincial Student Committees sent
letters to the south Korean students in support of the
struggle of the south Korean people.
A commentary of the paper says it is a very correct
choice that the south Korean workers and people have been
out in the struggle for the overthrow of Kim Young Sam and
the withdrawal of the fascist laws.
The paper in an article says the "law on the agency for
national security planning and labour laws" revised by
the Kim Young Sam group are anti-national, anti-democratic
and anti-social, fascist laws.
In a commentary titled "is it expression of complaints
about U.S.?" The paper denounces the south Korean puppets
for hampering the improvement of the DPRK-U.S. relations,
disliking their movement.
Minju Joson carries a commentary condemning the Kim Young
Sam group's moves to link the struggle of the south Korean
workers with the north in a far-fetched manner.
Rodong Sinmun reports that a spokesman for the DPRK
Foreign Ministry declared that the signing of the agreement
on the withdrawal of the Israeli troops from Hebron is a
positive contribution to promoting the Middle East peace
process.
Minju Joson dedicates an article to the fifth anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the
DPRK and Kyrgyzstan.
Preparations for celebrating Secy. Kim Jong Il's birthday in Mongolia
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee
for celebrating the 55th birthday of the great leader
comrade Kim Jong Il was inaugurated in Mongolia.
At an inaugural meeting held at the meeting hall of the
Federation of Peace and Friendship Organisations of Mongolia
on Jan. 14, Ch. Surenjav, chairman of the Mongolia-Korea
Friendship Society, was elected chairman of the preparatory
committee.
The meeting set a month of celebration from Jan.
16 to feb.16 and decided to organise colorful functions
including a celebration meeting, a performance of Korean
songs, a celebration concert, the day of Korean films, a
symposium, a lecture and a photo exhibition in the
capital and local areas.
South Korean workers' struggle supported
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Chae Jong Man, chairman
of the Central Association of Korean Citizens in Russia,
made public a press statement on January 14 in support of
the just struggle of south Korean workers against the
reactionary evil law.
In the statement he denounced the Kim Young Sam fascist
clique's moves to stamp out the labor movement.
If the Kim Young Sam group do not give ear to the demand
of the people against the revised "labor laws" and
effectuate them, the group will go to ruin by their
stronger protest and denunciation, he said, adding:
"We will strengthen a solidarity campaign supporting the
struggle of south Korean workers to win the genuine rights
of labor in the future, too, and always stand on their
side."
Memorial service for Korean victims of violent earthquake
Tokyo, January 19 (KNS-KCNA) -- A memorial service for
the Korean victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Japan,
two years ago was held at the Hyogo Prefectural Headquarters
of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan
(Chongryon) on Jan. 16.
The Chongryon Central Standing Committee in a memorial
message expressed the expectation that prefectural
organisations will make a bigger success in their work to
completely remove the damage from the earthquake and
stabilize life in response to the historical letter of the
respected Marshal Kim Jong Il.
A memorial address and speeches were made at the meeting.
"Compensation payment" farce
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The Japanese authorities
are making despicable acts concerning postwar settlement.
A typical example is their recent "payment of
compensation" to seven former "comfort women" in south
Korea.
The "comfort women" issue is one of the crimes committed
by Japan in the past. So, direct apology and state
compensation from the Japanese government authorities are
needed for a proper settlement of this issue.
This is a matter of fulfilling the internationally
recognised political and legal responsibility and moral
obligation.
The Japanese authorities have insisted on "compensation
through a private fund." This time, they staged a despicable
farce of "compensation payment" to some south Korean women,
taking advantage of their difficult life.
By this, the Japanese authorities mean to justify their
past crimes and avoid atoning for them. This only shows
their political and moral inferiority, however.
This farce insulting justice and human conscience could
be staged overtly mainly because of the south Korean
puppets' pro-Japanese flunkeyism and treachery.
As Japanese press reported, the Kim Young Sam group never
asked for compensation when the "comfort women" issue was
raised. Even after the U.N. Commission on human rights
adopted a resolution calling for Japan's state reparation
last year, they did not demand "state reparation" in
explicit terms.
They failed to make a strong protest to the "compensation
payment" staged by the Japanese authorities through a
"private fund" in a "flexible form." on the contrary, they
suppressed the south Korean women who were holding protests
in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul.
Minju Joson hits Kim Young Sam group for linking workers' strikes with north
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The Kim Young Sam group
of south Korea are groundlessly connecting the workers'
strikes with the north in a far-fetched way for the purpose
of intensifying the suppression of the strikers, says Minju
Joson today. The daily says in a commentary:
The south Korean puppets are now alleging that copies of
literature calling on workers to overthrow the capitalist
government, which is the same with the north's call, were
found scattered and that the north has been encouraging the
workers to topple the government. The allegation is part of
their sinister trick to do harm to the north and foster
confrontation with the north among the people.
It is their favourite game that each time they find
themselves in a serious ruling crisis, they fake up a
shocking incident against the north and, under its pretext,
launch a wholesale offensive against the patriotic forces
for reunification and democracy.
WFTU urges Ilo to denounce s. Korean authorities' suppression
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Secretary General of the
World Federation of Trade Unions Alexandr Jarikov sent a
letter to director of the secretariat of the International
Labour Organisation Hansenne on January 13, urging the Ilo
to denounce the south Korean authorities' suppression.
The letter said that despite the unanimous protest and
opposition of the south Korean labour unions and all the
international and regional labour unions the south Korean
"government" is persistently scheming to press the illegal
and arbitrary measures for depriving the workers and unions
of basic rights.
The Seoul authorities have arrested many union leaders
and activists and are intensifying police suppression of
workers on strike, it noted.
The WFTU, regarding all the measures as a frantic
violation of international labour standards and basic human
rights, urges the Ilo to actively intervene to make the
Seoul "government" withdraw the "revised labour laws",
release all the arrested people and stop legal action
against the labour leaders, said the letter.
WFTU stands for s. Korean workers
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The World Federation of
Trade Unions (WFTU) sent a letter to the traitor Kim Young
Sam on Jan. 7 in protest against the harsh suppression of
south Korean workers fighting for the repeal of the "labor
law."
on behalf of the 135 million members in 127 countries,
the WFTU expresses strong protest against the south Korean
authorities' arrest of union leaders and suppression of the
legitimate struggle of workers for unions and human rights,
says the letter.
Considering this suppression as a wanton violation of the
international labor standards and human rights charter, the
WFTU demands the south Korean authorities stop suppression,
release all the union officials and repeal the revised
"labor law" and "law on the agency for national security
planning," the letter stresses.
Korean people's achievements in production
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- "Let us all become
victors in this year's 'arduous march' " is the
revolutionary slogan the Korean people are putting up this
year.
The factor of Korean socialism's victorious advance in
any adversity is the red flag idea of the heroic Korean
people with unshakable faith.
This idea, prevalent in society, is an indomitable
revolutionary spirit of absolutely believing in and
devotedly defending the leader and implementing his ideas
and intentions at any cost.
The new year joint editorial of the Party, army and youth
newspapers described last year as a year of rigorous trials,
worthwhile efforts and successes when the whole Party, the
entire army and all the people courageously made an "arduous
march" closely rallied behind the Party and the leader. And
it outlined tasks to make this a year of new prosperity and
a hopeful year of victory which brings about a radical turn
in the Korean revolution with conviction of sure victory, an
indomitable fighting spirit and redoubled vigor.
Now all the Korean people are striving to carry out the
general tasks to speed up the forced march of socialism,
consolidate the political, economic and military positions
of the Korean revolution into impregnable ones and improve
the people's standard of living as much as possible.
The Nampho United Smeltery, the Munphyong, Phyongbuk and
other smelteries have been topping their daily assignments
of nonferrous metal production by 5-10 percent from the
beginning of the year.
The Kangdong Area Coal Mining Complex, the North Hwanghae
Area United Sapropelic Coal Mine and other coal producers
throughout the country have been overfulfilling their daily
quotas by 10-20 percent from the first days of this month.
The technicians and workers of the Jangjagang Power
Station have reconditioned the generators and increased
their capacity 20 percent from early this month to maintain
a high and steady rate of production.
The associated bureau for foresty industry in Jagang
Province has been successfully fulfilling the daily quotas
of timber production, 30 percent higher than in the same
period last year.
The youth speed-campaign shock brigade, the rail
construction brigade and others who are taking part in the
Wonsan-Kumgangsan line project have already erected
structures of railway bridges and finished a tunnel project
by and large and are now concentrating efforts on laying
rails, building electric power substations, etc.
U.S. religious delegation here
Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United
States of America led by its President Melvin Talbert
arrived here today.
The delegation was greeted at the airport by chairman
kang Yong Sop of the central committee of the Korean
christian federation.