Greetings to CILRECO

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on January 31 sent a message of greetings to the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea (CILRECO) on the occasion of its 20th founding anniversary. It pointed out that over the past 20 years, the committee has conducted a powerful international solidarity movement supporting the Korean people's struggle for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the independent and peaceful reunification of their country. The righteous activities of the committee, it said, have aroused deep sympathy from people worldwide and given a great encouragement to all the Korean people in the north, the south and overseas in the struggle for the reunification of their country. "We highly estimate all the efforts and activities made by the Committee for the Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula," it noted. It expressed the belief that the committee would more dynamically conduct the international solidarity movement supporting the just cause of the Korean people for the independent and peaceful reunification of their country and make a great contribution to ensuring a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

S. Korean workers supported abroad

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The struggle of south Korean workers and other people for the repeal of fascist laws and for the democratic and vital rights was supported in different countries. The Central Committee of the Left Radical Party of Poland in a statement January 24 said that the "Labour Law" and the "Law on the Agency for National Security Planning" revised by the South Korean authorities are fascist ones to repress and exploit the workers and other people, deprive them of their rights and impose poverty on them. It expressed support and solidarity for the just cause of South Korean trade unions and people from various social standings in their struggle against the laws. The British General Federation of Trade Unions staged a demonstration in front of the South Korean embassy in London in protest against the brutal crackdown by the South Korean authorities. In a letter of protest to the South Korean authorities, it urged them to solve the issue by means of negotiation, not by suppression, and ensure that workers could enjoy their rights and trade unions conduct their activities freely. The Pakistan Labour Federation in a letter of protest adopted at a meeting on January 23 urged the South Korean authorities to repeal the evil laws railroaded through the "National Assembly" and stop the crackdown upon the workers at once. A demonstration was held in front of the South Korean "consulate-general" in New York on January 16 according to the appeal of the U.S. Get Out of Korea Committee. At the end of the demo, its participants sent a letter of protest to Kim Young Sam. It pointed out that the "Labour Laws" illegally passed at the "National Assembly" in South Korea are facist laws which give employers powers to dismiss workers without restraint. It accused the South Korean authorities of ruthlessly cracking down upon the labour movement leaders and workers. The U.S. government is to blame for the suppression of the South Korean workers, the letter said. It called for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops and nuclear weapons from South Korea.

150 cases of aerial espionage by U.S. imperialists

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The U.S. warmaniacs committed aerial espionage on more than 150 occasions against North Korea in January with the mobilisation of U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance planes, E-3 early warning planes, RC-135 and other strategical and tactical reconnaissance planes, according to a military sources. Cases of espionage by U-2s numbered more than 30 and those by RC-135s and E-3s over 10 each.

FKTU warns general strike

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The "Federation of Korea Trade Unions" (FKTU) in South Korea in a statement on Jan. 31 declared that it will go on a full-scale general strike in case the retrogressively revised "Labour Law" is not reamended, a Seoul-based radio report said. The statement urged the reamendment of the "Labour Law" before March 1, adding that the "law on political fund" and the "law on joint elections" should be revised Simultaneously for practical political activities of labour unions and that the political camp should discuss this matter by the end of June. It also stressed that efforts will be concentrated on collective negotiation for wage hike and a full-scale general strike will be launched from May 1 in case their demand is not met.

Press review

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Press here today frontpages colorful events taking place in foreign countries with the approach of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il under the headlines of "'General Kim Jong Il built invincible army', 'the great man of the world'" and "General Kim Jong Il is peerless great man enjoying worldwide reverence". Rodong Sinmun reports that Secretary Kim Jong Il sent books to the Grand People's Study House. The paper carries articles including a political essay "Optimism of Korea" under the banner headline "Let us exalt honor and dignity of the nation that has the great comrade Kim Jong Il as the sun of the revolutionary cause of Juche". Appearing in Minju Joson is an article under the title of "February in Korea under the red flag", illustrated by a picture of comrade Kim Jong Il. Printed in papers is a congratulatory message the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent to the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea on the 20th anniversary of its foundation. Papers give accounts of fulfilment of the January plans in different domains of the national economy. Carried in the press is news that the "Federation of Korea Trade Unions" in South Korea declared that in case its demand fails to be met, it will stage a full-scale general strike.in a semi-monthly review of the South Korean situation Rodong Sinmun says that workers, students and other people of South Korea are resolved to continue fighting until their just demand is met. The paper in a commentary denounces the Japanese Prime Minister's remarks about "cooperation system" to harm the DPRK at Kim Young Sam's request.

Disgraceful act

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto at "talks" with Kim Young Sam some time ago agreed to maintain a "cooperation system" to do harm to the DPRK at the request of the South Korean puppets, according to a report. If the Japanese authorities have a sincere intention to normalize relations with the DPRK, they must neither read another's face nor dance to another's tune but boldly rectify the hostile policy toward the DPRK and make a decisive resolution to liquidate the past, says Rodong Sinmun in a commentary today. The daily goes on: Kim Young Sam's trip to Japan was aimed at keeping Japan from normalizing relations with the DPRK in step with the active movements for the improvement of DPRK-U.S. relations. The Japanese authorities' agreement to this request of the South Korean puppets shows what their intention to "Normalize relations with the DPRK" is like. By the maintenance of the "cooperation system" the Japanese authorities mean to intensify the manoeuvres against the DPRK, aboard the same boat with the South Korean puppets. Japan dreams of becoming a political power and advocates "independent diplomacy". It is disgraceful for this country to dance to the tune of the south Korean puppets. By doing so, Japan is trying to win them over and use them as henchmen for its reinvasion of Korea. If Japan continues to pursue a hostile policy to the DPRK, dancing to the tune of the South Korean puppets, it will get nothing but scorn and criticism from people around the world. The Japanese authorities would be well-advised to behave themselves, deeply mindful of this.

Work of Secy. Kim Jong Il published in Pakistan

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Nairog Publishing House of Pakistan brought out the famous work of General Kim Jong Il "respecting the forerunners of the revolution is a noble moral obligation of revolutionaries" in pamphlet on January 23 on the occasion of his 55th birthday. The pamphlet in its preface said: Secretary Kim Jong Il made public his historic work on December 25, 1995. He in his work says that the history of the world socialist movement provides the serious lesson that a revolution advances victoriously when revolutionary forefathers are respected and their accomplishments are preserved and developed, and that a revolution is abandoned and frustrated when revolutionary predecessors are betrayed and their accomplishments are negated. He further says: Our people respect the revolutionaries of the previous generations as their revolutionary seniors, set great store by their spirit and achievements in the struggle, and are carrying faithfully forward and developing the revolutionary cause pioneered by them. This is a basic factor that ensures the steady, triumphant development of our revolution even in the most complex situations.

Preparatory committee for celebrating birthday of Secy. Kim Jong Il in Ghana

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The preparatory committee for celebrating the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il was formed in Ghana. At a special meeting sponsored by the Ghana-DPRK Friendship Association on Jan. 24 Minister of Profession and Social Welfare of Ghana David Boateng was elected Chairman of the committee.

Five-Star Hotel construction begins

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- A ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a five star hotel took place in the Rajin-Sonbong Free Economic and Trade Zone today. This hotel will cost 180 million U.S. dollars. The Hong Kong emperor group is the exclusive investor. The group has already founded the bigstart profits (Rajin-Sonbong) co., ltd. In the zone for the construction and management of the hotel. The hotel will cover an area of 120 thousand square metres on the seashore in Kwangok-dong, Rajin-Sonbong city. According to the project, the "Emperor Hotel" will consist of several buildings and will be completed through three stages. In the first stage a building with a total floor space of 35 thousand square metres and 100 rooms for 200 people will be completed and open within this year with the investment of dlrs 50 million. The hotel will be equipped with casino and other quality facilities for recreation, catering and wellfare service. When completed, it will make businessmen and tourists feel more comfortable during their stay in the zone.

Greetings to G.S. of CPVN Central Committee

Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea today sent a telegram of greetings to Do Muoi, General Secretary of the C.C., the Communist Party of Viet nam, on his 80th birthday. The message wished the General Secretary health and big success in his responsible work for the strengthening and development of the party.