Secy. Kim Jong Il's birthday to be celebrated abroad

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- A Nepali Preparatory Committee was inaugurated to celebrate the 55th birthday of the great leader Secy. Kim Jong Il. The inaugural meeting took place at Himalaya Hotel in Nepal on Jan. 15. Beri Bahadur Karki, Chairman of the National Council and member of the Central Committee of the Nepali Congress Party, was elected Chairman of the Preparatory Committee at the meeting. The meeting heard a manifesto which tells the Nepali people and the people around the world that the Jan. 16-Feb. 16 period will be a celebration month. The manifesto calls for the people around the world to celebrate secy. Kim Jong Il's 55th birthday as the greatest holiday in the world because it gives great pleasure and happiness to the Korean people as well as other people around the world who love freedom and peace. A letter to Secy. Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting. Preparatory Committees to mark his birthday were also formed in Mexico and Malta on Jan. 13 and 15 respectively. At the inaugural meeting held in Mexico, Alejandro Rosales Sanchez, Secy. General of the Mexican Committee for Support to Peaceful Reunification of Korea, was elected Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, and it was decided to hold various events in the period between Jan. 16 and Feb. 16. A letter to Secy. Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting. At the inaugural meeting held in Malta, former President Agatha Barbara was elected Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee, and it was decided to organise a meeting, a lecture, a film show and other events to mark the February Holiday.

Letter relay continues

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Groups for the Relay of Letters Pledging Loyalty to the great leader Secy. Kim Jong Il started from different parts of the country to celebrate his 55th birthday. Relay groups representing officials of the commissions and ministries of the administration council and central state organs, railroad workers and people of Ryanggang and south Hwanghae provinces left Mangyongdae, Chongjin, the Secret Camp on Mt. Paektu and Paechon on January 20, 21 and 23. At the ceremonies held before their departure, the groups were assigned to convey letters carrying the best wishes of people from all walks of life for Secy. Kim Jong Il's long life and good health and their firm pledge to accomplish the socialist cause and the revolutionary cause of Juche generation after generation under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea. The relay groups are running towards Pyongyang amid the warm welcome and farewell of working people, youth and schoolchildren in different places.

Reception marks National Day of India

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Narayana Bahadevan, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Indian embassy here, gave a reception on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the National Day of India on Friday. Invited to the reception were Yang Hyong Sop, Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Ju Song Il, Chairman of the DPRK-India Friendship Association and Chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and other officials concerned. Diplomatic envoys here and chief Ri Jong Sang of the Pyongyang Mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea were also present on invitation.

Russian delegation presents gift to secy. Kim Jong Il

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- The great leader Secy. Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the visiting delegation of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday. Vice-Minister Grigori Karasin, who was heading the delegation, asked Kim Yong Nam, Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister of the DPRK, to convey the gift to Secy. Kim Jong Il.

Press review

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Papers here today report that Secy. Kim Jong Il sent a gift to Jong Kwang Son, soldier of the Korean People's Security Forces, who returned home triumphantly after bravely fighting in the enemy- controlled area. Seen in the press is news that the great leader Secy. Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation. Highlighted in papers is news that more loyal letter- carrying relay groups left different parts of the country to celebrate the 55th birthday of Secy. Kim Jong Il and preparatory committees for celebrating his birthday were formed in various countries. Rodong Sinmun comes out with an article on the undying exploits performed by the great leaders President Kim Il Sung and Secy. Kim Jong Il for the times and the revolution, the country and the people and for humankind, pioneering and leading the revolutionary cause of Juche. Appearing in the press is a decree of the Central People's Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Instituting Day of Foreign Trade. Papers carry news that the "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" declared it would hold the fourth-stage general strike as scheduled, students under the Seoul District Federation of University Student Councils staged a rally and solidarity with the labour movement in south Korea was expressed in various countries. Rodong Sinmun informs the readers that an agreement on mutual visit of citizens was signed in Pyongyang between the Governments of the DPRK and Russia. The Committee of the Ryongsong associated Machinery Bureau of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea sent a letter to the Trade Union and Workers of the Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., ltd. Supporting their struggle for the nullification of the amended "labour law" and the "law on the agency for national security planning", say papers. Rodong Sinmun dedicates an article entitled "let us more powerfully wage nationwide reunification movement" to the 6th anniversary of the formation of the North Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon). Rodong Sinmun in a commentary flails the attempts of the Japanese authorities to negate the crimes related to the "comfort women for the army". A commentary of Minju Joson lays bare the massacre of Korean residents by the Japanese imperialists during the Great Kanto Earthquake in September 1923. Rodong Sinmun runs an article contributed by prof. And dr. Son Jong Chol, which says that the south Korean economy is faced with total bankruptcy.

Day of Foreign Trade instituted in Korea

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- January 28 has been set as Day of Foreign Trade in Korea, according to a Jan. 23 decree of the DPRK Central People's Committee. The decree notes that the great leader Pres. Kim Il Sung published the celebrated work "on tempering the Party Spirit of Foreign Trade Workers and Strictly Adhering to Independence in Foreign Trade" on Jan. 28, 1965 when he presided over a general meeting of the party organization of the Ministry of Foreign Trade. In the work he clearly indicated the principles and ways of foreign trade so that a radical change could be brought about in its development, it adds. In order to add lustre to his undying feats of leadership over foreign trade for all ages and commemorate this significant day when he opened a new phase in its development, every January 28 will be marked as Day of Foreign Trade, the decree says.

Fourth-stage general strike declared

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Kwon Yong Gil, Chairman of the "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions", told a press conference on January 24 that the fourth-stage general strike as well as Wednesday strike for repeal of the revised "labor laws" will be called, according to a radio report from Seoul. He said that the headquarters of strikes will be moved to the office room of the "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" from Myongdong Cathedral, which he noted is a step designed not to abate the intensity of struggle but to wage a powerful and active one. He urged the puppet authorities to rewrite the "labor laws" overall before March 1 and put an immediate halt to the suppression of unionists. On January 23, the organisation held a press conference and called for nullifying the unilateral "labor laws" and rewriting them overall, adding that labor circles should participate in a debate on the rewriting of the "labor laws". On January 23 and 24, hundreds of unionists under the "Federation of Korean Trade Unions" held rallies, urging the traitor Kim Young Sam to nullify the retrogressively revised "labor laws" and to rewrite them. And they called for the participation of labor circles in the work of rewriting the laws. On January 23, the "Korean Presbyterian Church" held a prayer meeting on the emergency situation with the attendance of some 500 christians at Hyangrin Church in Seoul for the nullification of the "law on the agency for national security planning" and "labor laws". On the same day more than 100 members of the office clerks union staged a demonstration in the street and a signature campaign, calling for the nullification of the revised "laws". Upwards of 300 students under the "Seoul District Federation of University Student Councils" held a rally on January 24 in demand of repeal of the "laws". At the end of the rally they marched through streets, shouting loud and clear anti-"government" slogans.

Unheard-of massacre

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today denounces the massacre of more than 6,000 Koreans by the Japanese imperialists at the time of the Great Kanto Earthquake in September 1923. According to documents found in the Tokyo Metropolitan archives recently, when the complaints of the Japanese people grew for lack of relief measures for the victims after the earthquake, the Japanese reactionary government concocted intrigues to kill Koreans in order to calm down the people's anti-government sentiments and divert their attention elsewhere. The news analyst says: The Japanese imperialists' massacre of Koreans at the time of the Great Kanto Earthquake goes beyond human imagination. Japanese imperialism mercilessly killed more than one million Koreans by all means and methods during the colonial rule over Korea. Nevertheless, the Japanese government authorities are unwilling to admit and compensate for the past crimes and resorting to every conceivable means to conceal them, adding to the crimes. The Korean people still remember all the crimes committed by Japanese imperialism in the past and will settle accounts without fail. The Japanese government must renounce its wrong stand toward the past crimes as soon as possible and make a sincere apology and compensation to the DPRK.

Responsibility lies with Japanese government

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- A forum on the subject "comfort women and textbook problem" reportedly took place in Tokyo metropolis a few days ago. In a nutshell, it was said at the forum that there was no forcible drafting of "comfort women" but they were paid high and had freedom of activities. Rodong Sinmun today, commenting on this, says that what was said at the forum was ridiculous utterances aimed at reversing black and white and that it does not deserve even a passing note. The analyst goes on: The crime concerning the "comfort women" is one of the most vicious unethical crimes the Japanese imperialists committed in the past. To deny the crime is a shameless distortion of historical facts, an ill-intentioned refusal to admit the past crimes. The Japanese authorities try to gloss over the crime at any cost, bury the historical fact in oblivion and avoid making compensation for it. Such things as a "resolution" adopted at a prefectural meeting, a meeting of the executive members of the Liberal Democratic Party and an open forum were, in the final analysis, a product of the behind-the-scene moves of the Japanese authorities to deny the criminal "comfort women" case. In other words, the Japanese government authorities manipulated the rightwing reactionaries to make such utterances denying the criminal case which they wanted to say but could not for fear of condemnation from the people at home and abroad. The Japanese government is to blame for the above- mentioned developments. If the Japanese authorities are concerned about the interests of their country and people, they should not try to relapse into misconduct, but honestly admit the past crimes, including the "comfort women" issue and make an apology and compensation for them.

Rodong Sinmun observes anniversary of north headquarters of Pomminryon

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates an article to the sixth anniversary of the formation of the North Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon). Pomminryon is a nationwide reunification movement organisation whose mission is to achieve the reunification of the country on the three principles of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity, the author of the article says, and notes: The North Headquarters of Pomminryon has successfully discharged its mission and duty to realise the ardent desire and hope of the Korean people for reunification over the past six years since its formation. It has persistently waged pan-national rallies and many other joint campaigns for national reconciliation, unity and reunification together with its south Korean and overseas counterparts, and actively struggled to strengthen the driving force of national reunification and achieve peace of the country and its peaceful reunification through great national unity. It will in the future continue to persistently conduct various events and joint campaigns for national unity and reunification, solidarizing with south and overseas Koreans. The Korean people are convinced that the north headquarters of Pomminryon will as ever successfully discharge its mission and duty, true to the expectation of the nation.

Solidarity with s. Korean workers' struggle

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- The European Regional Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon), the "Union of Korean Workers in Germany" and the Society of Overseas Korean Christians for the Unification of the Country sent a joint appeal to German citizens on January 14, calling on them to continue expressing solidarity with the just struggle of south Korean workers. The appeal said that the dictatorial acts of the south Korean regime are violation of principles in view of the International Labor Law. It called for strengthening the solidarity struggle demanding the immediate withdrawal of the revised "labor law" and "law on the agency for national security planning". The European regional headquarters of Pomminryon in an appeal to the German people on January 15 expressed the expectation that the German people will continue supporting the just struggle demanding immediate resignation of the Kim Young Sam regime.

S. Korean workers encouraged by northern workers

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- The Trade Union Committee of the Ryongsong Associated Machinery Bureau sent a letter to the trade union and workers of the Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., ltd. In south Korea, in support of the massive struggle of south Korean workers and other people for nullifying the Kim Young Sam group's retrogressive revision of the "labour law" and "law on the agency for national security planning." The letter noted that their struggle for the repeal of the fascist laws is not one for power or wealth but a righteous struggle for the elementary right to live, democratic freedom and worthwhile life. To struggle to the last for nullifying the revised "labour law" is the only way for the workers to defend their dignity and to achieve democracy and the right to live, the letter said, and emphasized that the trade union committee and its members of the Ryongsong Associated Machinery Bureau would continue to actively support the righteous struggle of the trade union and workers of the Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., ltd.

Korean in Japan on s. Korean workers' struggle

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Ri Jong Hwal, Vice- President of the Association of Koreans in Japan for Peaceful Reunification, issued a statement on January 23 in support of the struggle of the south Korean workers and other people against the traitor Kim Young sam's retrogressive revision of laws. He denounced the "labour laws" and the "law on the agency for national security planning" as anti-national, anti- reunification and fascist laws. He fully supported the just struggle of the south Korean workers and people for democracy and the right to existence. He stressed that the traitor Kim Young Sam should repeal the revised laws and step down, as required by the south Korean people.

Three principles of Reunification

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are characterized by staunch effort to realise their desires under any trials. Reunification of the country is their greatest desire. Today even under difficult conditions, they are stepping up the grand onward movement for reunification, determined to reunify the country at any cost. The three principles of national reunification are a great ideological support that hardens their will for reunification in the new year. The great leader President Kim Il Sung defined independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity as the three principles of national reunification on May 3, 1972. The principles were the main idea of the north- south joint statement published in July that year. The reunification of Korea is an issue of linking the blood vessels of the nation artificially bisected by foreign forces and achieving national harmony and an issue of establishing national independence throughout the country. The three principles indicate the starting point and spiritual support of the reunification movement of the Korean nation and the most realistic method and way of reunification. That is why the principles became a guide to the settlement of the question of Korean reunification and the south Korean authorities could not but accept them. That is also why the joint new year editorial of the newspapers of the Party, the Army and the Youth League of Korea described the three principles, the proposal for a Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo and the ten-point programme of the great unity of the whole nation as three charters for national reunification.

Greetings to co-premiers of Bosnia-Herzegovina

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Kang Song San, Premier of the Administration Council of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent messages of greetings to Haris Silajdzic and Boro Bocic upon their appointment as co- chairmen of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The message wished them success in their responsible work for stability of the country and its rehabilitation. Foreign Minister Kim Young Nam sent a message to Jadranko Prlic upon his appointment as Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Greetings to Prime Minister of Slovenia

Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Kang Song San, Premier of the Administration Council of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Janez Drnovsek on his appointment as Prime Minister of Slovenia. The message wished him great success in his work.