Greetings to chairman of Chongruon Han Tok Su

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il today sent a message of greetings to Han Tok Su, chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), on his 90th birthday. Comrade chairman, the message noted, is a noble veteran of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Korean revolution who has brilliantly embodied the great leader President Kim Il Sung's idea and leadership of the Juche-based overseas compatriot movement to build the organisation of Chongryon and devoted all his life to the development and prosperity of the socialist homeland, the reunification of the country and the strengthening and development of the movement of Koreans in Japan, as well as a famous activist of the overseas compatriot movement and a true patriotic　loyalist. The shining course of Chongryon and the movement of Koreans in Japan which has proudly carved out a new history of patriotism under the banner of the Juche idea is associated with the great feats and exploits of comrade chairman consistent with unlimited loyalty and devoted services to his leader, his homeland and his nation, said the message. Secretary Kim Jong Il in the message wished him good health　and happiness, hoping that he would energetically lead the patriotic cause of Chongryon true to the behests of President Kim Il Sung.

Announcement of CILRECO

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The International Liaison Committee for the Reunification and Peace in Korea (CILRECO) made public an announcement on January 25 that functions celebrating the 20th anniversary of its formation and an enlarged meeting of its executive committee would be held in Paris on February 1, 1997. The participants will be officials of the leading body of the CILRECO and delegations of parties, governments, parliaments and public organisations of many countries and international organisations. The enlarged meeting will review last year's activities of the CILRECO to ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula and accelerate the reunification of Korea. It will also discuss measures to intensify the international solidarity movement supporting the struggle of the Korean people to realize the independence of the nation and defend the peace of the country.

Title of honorary academician awarded to Han Tok Su

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The title of honorary academician was awarded to Han Tok Su, chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Han Tok Su, true to the leadership and the idea of the great leader President Kim Il Sung on the overseas Koreans' movement, has strengthened and developed Chongryon into a Juche-type overseas Koreans' organisation and armed its officials and the Korean residents firmly with the Juche idea. And he has made great contributions to the patriotic work of Chongryon for the development of democratic national education, the prosperity and development of the socialist homeland and national reunification.

Party officials pay respects to Pres. Kim Il Sung

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The participants in the national meeting of party officials visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay their respects to the great leader President Kim Il Sung. After making bows to his statue, they entered the hall in which he is preserved in state. And they went round the train used by him during his on-the-spot guidance and foreign trips and the car used by him in the last period of his life.

Secy. Kim Jong Il sends gift to Han Tok Su

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a gift to Han Tok Su, chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), on his 90th birthday. The gift represents secretary Kim Jong Il's deep loving care for and trust in the first generation of Chongryon.

Egyptian President visits Korean wing

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak visited the DPRK wing of the 29th Cairo International Book Fair on January 18. On display in the wing were Korean books and picture albums including "With the Century", Reminiscences of the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung, "Kim Il Sung's Works" and "Selected Works of Kim Jong Il" and "the People's Leader". The Egyptian President saw with keen interest "brilliant life", a picture album on the revolutionary activities of President Kim Il Sung. 79 countries including the DPRK are taking part in the fair which will last till January 31.

Literature expressing reverence for Secy. Kim Jong Il appears in Seoul

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Copies of literature expressing reverence for secretary Kim Jong Il were scattered in the Kuro Industrial Zone on the morning of January 1, the Seoul-based radio voice of national salvation quoted the information of the Seoul city committee of the national democratic front of south Korea as saying. Printed on the front of the literature in the name of the workers' fellowship society for the realisation of justice were words "General Kim Jong Il is the great sun of the nation and the destiny of the seventy million fellow countrymen. Let us go to the bosom of the respected general Kim Jong Il !" and a picture of workers advancing toward the sun shoulder to shoulder. Seen in the reverse of the literature is a display of fireworks of reunification with the slogan "the one million workers should take the lead in the struggle to open the door of reunification and usher in an epoch of national revival, upholding the guidance of the leader Kim Jong Il, the son of Mt. Paektu."

Foreign Ministry spokesman on postponement of hearing "joint briefing" in New York

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) answered a question put by KCNA today concerning the postponement of hearing a "joint briefing" on the proposed "four-way talks." He told KCNA: Under an agreement at the DPRK-U.S. talks in December last year, it was planned that the United States and south Korea would give a "joint briefing" on the "four-way talks" in New York on Jan. 29 before the DPRK and the United States would hold high-level talks. And the United States was to supply food to the DPRK in the form of barter trade before the "joint briefing." In the course of simultaneous action pursuant to this agreement, it happened that the DPRK and the united states had to coordinate their positions. As a result, we could not but postpone hearing the "joint briefing." In line with comprehensive implementation of the New York agreement of December last year, we will reset the time for hearing the "joint briefing" through consultation with the u.s. side in that context.