Secy. Kim Jong Il's portrait seen at Mongolian company

Pressure prompted by its hostile policy towards the DPRK. Korean socialism, which regards the Juche idea as its political philosophy, centred on the masses of the people, is the best social system in the world which perfectly guarantees their human rights. If the U.S. continues impertinently poking its nose into the situation of human rights in other nations, it will get nothing but dishonor, isolation and protest.

Botswanan Ambassador presents credentials to Vice-President

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Alfred Majaye Dube, new Botswanan Ambassador E. P. to the DPRK, presented his credentials to Vice President Ri Jong Ok of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there was Pak Kil Yon, Vice-Minister of Foregin Affairs. The Vice-President received credentials and had a talk Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- a portrait of Secretary Kim Jong Il was hung on a wall of Mongolia's Tabilga Company on January 30 with due ceremony with the approach of his 55th birthday. Addressing the ceremony, the general manager of the company, on behalf of the company's employees, extended greetings to the supreme leader of the Korean people on his birthday, wishing him good health and a long life.

Bill revering Secy. Kim Jong Il appears in Seoul

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- A bill revering Secretary Kim Jong Il was pasted on a fence of a garment company in Seoul on the night of January 10, according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoting information of the Seoul City Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea. The bill, undersigned by the "society for workers' welfare", said, "the north under Secretary Kim Jong Il's administration is society for the workers. Let us follow the leader Kim Jong Il." The bill was seen by many citizens including workers on strikes against the retrogressive revision of the "labor law".

IIJI Secretary General on planted international seminar

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The Secretary General of the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI), Kenichi Ogami, released a statement as regards the International Seminar on the 21st Century and Position of Human beings scheduled to be held in Tokyo to celebrate the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il, said the Joson Sinbo newspaper. He said it would be of great importance to discuss in the capitalist country of Japan the position and role of humankind ushering in the 21st century, in line with the Juche idea of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is advanced in an ideological aspect. The followers of the Juche idea continue striving to build an ideal society of humankind with a firm faith in socialism, he said. The significance of the seminar is great in letting the whole world know what they have done. The seminar will play a big role not only in intensifying academic exchange but in strengthening solidarity among those who aspire after socialism, he added.

Congratulations to Secy. Kim Jong Il on his 55th birthday

Moscow, February 4 (KCNA) -- The Fifth Soviet Congress of Workers, Peasants, Experts and Office Workers of Russia held in Moscow warmly congratulated Secretary Kim Jong Il on his 55th birthday. Vladimir Kusev, Secretary of the Moscow Committee of the Communist Workers' Party of Russia and Chairman of the "laboring capital" movement, said in his speech at the Congress that Feb. 16 this year is the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. The Korean people as well as all the revolutionary people of the world are greeting in the auspicious day significantly as a holiday common to humankind, he noted and continued to say: "Comrade Kim Jong Il, great successor to the revolutionary cause of comrade Kim Il Sung, is now leading socialism, aspiration of humankind, along the most right way in the van of the Workers' Party and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to give great hope and courage to all the people of the world." "Let us all extend sincere congratulations to the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il on his 55th birthday." A congratulatory letter to Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at the congress.

Press review

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Papers here today carry a congratulatory message sent by Secretary Kim Jong Il to the participants in the meeting of winners of "July 15 Honor Student Prize" from senior middle schools across the country. Rodong Sinmun reports that Secretary Kim Jong Il expressed thanks to officials and working people for their sincere assistance to the People's Army. Seen in the press is news that Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a wreath to the bier of the late Thae Pyong Ryol, member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Papers give an account of symposiums held by men of culture and art and officials and members of the Korean Democratic Women's Union in Pyongyang to celebrate the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. Minju Joson carries a picture of Secretary Kim Jong Il giving on-the-spot guidance to the project for expanding Kim Il Sung Stadium and an article noting that he visited the construction site even on his birthday to delight the President Kim Il Sung. Rodong Sinmun comes out with an article entitled "to defend the great general at the risk of life is the faith and pledge of the Korean people, which says that the Korean people, determined to become rifles and bombs to defend the headquarters of revolution with their lives, are firmly united around Secretary Kim Jong Il who leads the Korean revolution. Papers give an account of a meeting of winners of "July 15 Honor Student Prize" from senior middle schools across the country. Papers devote articles to the 50th anniversary of the Korean Film Studio. Rodong Sinmun introduces the youth song and dance ensemble which is displaying the spirit of the heroic Korean young people. Foreign political parties and organizations expressed full solidarity with the struggle of the South Korean workers, says the paper. A commentary of the paper denounces the Kim Young Sam group for scheming to shift the responsibility for Hanbo incident on to another and cover up its truth. Minju Joson runs an article on Hanbo incident and struggle against the evil laws in South Korea. "Sinister design of Japanese reactionaries for extensive overseas aggression" is the title of an article of Rodong Sinmun.

Honor students meet

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Winners of the "July 15 Honor Student Prize" from senior middle schools across the country met in Pyongyang on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed the achievements made and experience gained in the movement for the prize over the last decade and discussed the tasks to expand the movement. A congratulatory message from Secretary Kim Jong Il was conveyed to the participants in the meeting. The reporter and speakers at the meeting said the prize movement is rooted in the noble example shown by Secretary Kim Jong Il in studies during his school days. Over the last decade, a large number of students have won the prize and they have become talented scientists, technicians and specialists and now contribute to the development of the nation's science and technology and the building of socialism, it was noted at the meeting. The meeting described study as the main revolutionary task of students and urged them to study hard, following the brilliant example of Secretary Kim Jong Il. During senior middle school days, the students must have a basic knowledge of modern science and technology and learn what they can use in practice for the Korean revolution, it was stressed at the meeting. The meeting was attended by Vice-President Pak Song Chol, Secretaries of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee Choe Thae Bok and Kim Jung Rin, Vice-Premier of the Administration Council Jang Chol and officials concerned.

Soldiers interviewed

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Soldiers who triumphantly returned from the enemy area were interviewed by KCNA. Kim Chol Jin, Kim Kyong Chol, Kim Yong Gil and Jong Kwang Son told KCNA that firm faith and strong will enable people to win any battle, afraid of nothing, even if they may fight alone. Those who have a firm faith keep their principles and resolutely fight with confidence in the revolutionary ideology and cause, they said. They added they could win in the enemy area mainly because they kept firm faith in the leader of the revolution. When they were detained by the enemy, they remembered they were soldiers of Secretary Kim Jong Il and imagined that the brilliant general was watching their behavior, and then they feared of nothing and felt fresh strength spreading all Over the body, they said. Through their fight in the enemy area, they continued, they felt that when the faith is unshakable, the will becomes strong. They did not feel lonely in the enemy area because they thought about the tender embrace of Secretary Kim Jong Il, they added. The soldiers said their respected supreme commander showed them parental affection. They vowed to become model human bombs and defend him at the risk of their lives with trust in him on the road of revolution.

Paper on trick of S. Korean regime

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today accuses the Kim Young Sam group of resorting to a trick to conceal their crime, far from meeting the just demand of the South Korean people for a thorough probe into the retrogressive revision of fascist laws and the Hanbo incident and for their immediate resignation. The analyst says: The Hanbo incident is the largest-ever power-backed scandal in which the Kim Young Sam regime is involved, as is branded by political and business circles in South Korea. Kim Young Sam and "Chongwadae" officials now blatantly call for "probe into the truth" and "stern punishment of those involved", implying other people. This is a third-rate drama to escape from the blame for the Hanbo incident. The South Korean people will never cease to fight until their demand for the resignation of Kim Young Sam and the repeal of fascist laws is met.

Symposiums on 55th birthday of Secy. Kim Jong Il

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Symposiums were held to celebrate the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. At a symposium held by men of culture and art on February 5 speakers said that golden days were brought by the Juche-oriented cultural and art idea and energetic leadership of the respected Secretary Kim Jong Il in all fields of culture and art including film, music and fine arts in the past. They pointed out that today Korean culture and art is serving as a powerful ideological weapon of revolution and construction and a mental pabulum of life and struggle conducive to the cause of modelling the whole society on the Juche idea. They stressed that all creators and artists should equip themselves firmly with the Juche-oriented cultural and art idea of the Workers' Party of Korea, comprehensively embody it in creative and art activities and decorate this year, a significant year in opening a turning phase of the Korean revolution, with a great flower garden of culture and art.at a symposium of officials and members of the Democratic Women's Union of Korea speakers said that the respected General gives a political life to the Korean people and women, leads them to make it shine forever and shows them loving care. Noting that to uphold the idea and leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il with loyalty and filial piety is a decisive guarantee for developing the women's union, they called upon officials and members of the women's union to remain loyal and filial to the respected general and make the women's union a loyal union replete with the idea of the red flag of the WPK.

Foreigners visit Revolutionary Museum

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Diplomatic envoys and officials of the Vietnamese, Indian and Pakistani embassies, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme, the representative of the World Food Programme, and the acting representative of the United Nations Children's Fund and officials of their missions here visited the Revolutionary Museum of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces in Pyongyang on the occasion of the birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. After the visit, the Vietnamese Ambassador, Le Xuan Vinh, said that Secretary Kim Jong Il has wisely led the Armed Forces of Korea, solved in his own way all the problems arising in army building and showed great loving care for the People's Army soldiers. In Korea the Supreme Commander and his soldiers make a harmonious whole in the true sense of the word, he added. A. G. Sarma, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Indian Embassy here, said that the Korean People's Army with a wonderful combat power is an army that enjoys the greatest privilege in the world because it has Secretary Kim Jong Il as its Supreme Commander. The Pakistani Ambassador, Rehmdil Bhatti, said that the visit made him keenly feel the high sense of loyalty of the People's Army soldiers to Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Natural wonders on Mt. Paektu

Hyesan, February 6 (KCNA) -- Mysterious phenomena were monitored on Mt. Paektu in Korea. When the bell tolled in Pyongyang to mark the new year, the sky above Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu was covered with thick clouds and acorn-big hails mixed with rain and 1.8 cm wide snow flakes began to fall. As the dawn was breaking, fist-big snowflakes replaced the hails and rain. The snow that covered the frozen water of Lake Chon and the shore was more than two metres deep. In the afternoon, a windstorm began to blow and several thousand cubic metres of snow flew up into the sky from around the crater of Mt. Paektu. It was accompanied by thunder without lightning. On Jan. 2 the temperature at Lake Chon was as low as 51 degrees centigrade below zero, the lowest since the mountain came into being. The temperature on Mt. Paektu is getting warm on the threshold of the February holiday.

Book "the Great Kim Jong Il" published in Pakistan

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The book "the Great Kim Jong Il" authored by S.B. Malik, Secretary General of the Pakistan-Korea Friendship Association was Published by the Afzal Publishing House of Pakistan on the occasion of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. Printed in the book are a portrait of Secretary Kim Jong Il and photographs of his revolutionary activities. The author in an article wrote that Secretary Kim Jong Il was born into a patriotic and revolutionary family and has grown up as a true leader of the people who is possessed of iron will, distinguished strategy, brilliant ideology and noble virtues. He has led the Korean people, performing dazzling feats from more than 30 years ago, the author said, stressing that victory is in store for the Korean people who are advancing for the complete victory of socialism, united close around him.

Secy. Kim Jong Il's work published in Russia

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "Let Us Exalt the Brilliance of President Kim Il Sung's Idea on the Youth Movement and the Achievements Made Under His Leadership" was brought out in booklet by the Paleya Publishing House of Russia on January 31 on the occasion of his 55th birthday.

Kim Young Sam cannot flee from responsibility for Hanbo scandal

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Kim Dae Jung, President of the South Korean opposition "National Congress for New Politics," told a press conference on February 4 that Kim Young Sam cannot flee from the political, administrative and moral responsibility for the Hanbo scandal and urged him to make clear his stand in this regard, a Seoul-based radio said. If a bank grants more than 10 billion won of loan to a company, it should inform the authority of "Chongwadae" of this and so "Chongwadae" must have known the loan to the tune of 5,000 billion won granted to the Hanbo steelworks, he said. Earlier, on February 3 Kim Dae Jung told a meeting held in Inchon that in connection with the Hanbo incident, slush funds amounting to more than 100 billion won were put in the hands of a bank related with political powers and then of a high-ranking official of the Kim Young Sam "Government". He demanded that Kim Young Sam make public his involvement in the scandal. Jong Thae Su, Chairman of the Hanbo business group, will not tell the truth, as long as the official prosecution is in charge of investigation, Kim Dae Jung said, and urged the ruling party to meet the opposition's demands including the introduction of a special prosecutor system, if the ruling camp has nothing to do with the scandal.

Stories about brilliant General

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- February 16 this year marks the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. With the approach of this greatest national holiday, the Korean people feel admiration again at the great personalities of the brilliant General Kim Jong Il and feel proud that they are led by him. Last year he visited many places including units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) and even outposts in the eastern, western and central sectors of the front as well as in Panmunjom. Revolutionary legends about his inspection of the unit that defends Cho Island and the Panmunjom mission of the KPA fill the Korean people with redoubled courage and deal a telling blow at the enemies. The sea route to Cho Island was very rough in late autumn with cold wind, rain and high waves. That was why officials tried to dissuade General Kim Jong Il from setting sail to the island. However, he got aboard a small speed boat, asking them if there had ever been smooth sailing on the inspection trip. The boat fought its way through high waves and windstorm. Meanwhile, he was standing on the deck, saying with a smile on his face that the west sea was very impressive. He looked determined to weather any windstorm and rough waves. He also inspected the Panmunjom mission at the risk of his life. Panmunjom on the Military Demarcation Line that divides Korea into north and south is well known worldwide as the hottest spot of fighting between peace and war, between reunification and division. Hostile armed forces stand confronted with each other in this small area, where an accident may develop into conflict any moment. However, General Kim Jong Il visited this place, inspected many units for a long time and learned about the activities of the mission and the living conditions of soldiers. Looking up to his self-possessed attitude, people felt his matchless courage, iron will and warm affection for his soldiers and people. Korea's destiny is under the patronage of his great courage and unshakable resolution. The imperialists threatened to unleash nuclear war against the DPRK with their huge uptodate weapons on the waters off its eastern and western coasts at the time of the "pueblo" incident and the ec-121 incident in the 1960s= they made an ultimatum at the time of the Panmunjom incident in The 1970s= they staged joint military maneuvers codenamed team spirit 93 with armed forces huge enough to wage a war= and they have left no stone unturned to blockade and stifle the DPRK. All their machinations, however, proved impotent before General Kim Jong Il's great personalities. He brings any adversity under control even without a gun report. He is a symbol of victory and glory. Led by General Kim Jong il possessed of firm faith, iron will and great courage, the Korean people see the day of National reunification breaking and confidently advance toward the final victory of Juche socialism.

Trade deficit of S. Korea up

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The Nihon Keizai Shimbun of Japan quoted the South Korean Trade and Industry Ministry as saying South Korea's trade deficit in January ran into a record high of 3,484 million dollars, or 1,352 million dollars more than the January 1996 figure. The deficit is mainly attributable to the drop of prices of export goods and the decrease of market opportunities. The Kim Young Sam regime's "export-oriented economy" goes from bad to worse with the passage of time.

Rodong Sinmun on Korean People's conviction and pledge

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- An article of Rodong Sinmun today says that it is the faith and pledge of the Korean people to defend General Kim Jong Il at the risk of their life. Their spirit of defending the leader at the risk of life is a noble idea based on their boundless pride and honor of having General Kim Jong Il, the hero of the century, at the head of revolution, the author of the article says, and goes on: The Korean people have made progress in the cause of Juche and emerged victorious in the arduous struggle to smash the anti-DPRK moves of the imperialists, displaying The spirit of socialist Korea for many years under the leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il. In the course of this, they have come to believe that he represents the destiny of the country and the sun for their life and that they have nothing to be afraid of and nothing impossible when they are under his leadership. That is why they are ready to defend him at the risk of life. They renew their pledge to absolutely worship him and remain loyal to him to the end. The Korean revolutionaries and people regard his idea and leadership as a life-giving water in their life and struggle, his exploits and authority as their greatest honour and dignity and his well-being and health as their greatest happiness. And the Korean people are ready to become human bombs in accomplishing his cause, because they regard it as their mission and revolutionary obligation. No force on earth can overpower the high spirit of the Korean people.

International solidarity for S. Korean workers' struggle

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The Lumumba Democratic Party of Zaire in a recent statement demanded that the South Korean "Government" repeal the retrogressively revised labor laws which violates human rights and dignity and enact new "labor laws" which conform to the basic interests of the workers. The Nordic Joint Committee of labor movement in a statement dated January 30 denounced the South Korean authorities for stamping out human rights and freedom of the labor movement. The committee demands that the South Korean authorities discontinue the suppression of the labor movement, the statement said.

General Secretary of SPB visits DPRK Embassy

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- A. S. M. Abudur Rov, General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, visited the DPRK Embassy in Dhaka on January 31 one the occasion of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. He laid a floral basket before the portrait of Secretary Kim Jong Il. He said that the Juche idea founded by the President Kim Il Sung is a great idea recognized by the world. Today Secretary Kim Jong Il has achieved great victories by embodying the Juche idea in Korea, he noted. He expressed the belief that his party will advance in firm unity with the Workers' Party of Korea on the same front against imperialism.

Secy. Kim Jong Il praised as leader of 21st century

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- C. Babyjohn, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of India, had an interview with the KCNA correspondent in India on January 27 on the occasion of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. He said it is of weighty significance in the development of the Korean and world revolution that the heroic Korean people have held Secretary Kim Jong Il, a great statesman and great revolutionary, in high esteem as the successor to the revolutionary cause of President Kim Il Sung,the father of socialist Korea. It is under the tested leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il That the Korean revolution is confidently advancing along the road already chosen even under the condition that the country still remains divided and the challenge of the imperialists has become vicious, he said, and went on: The unique ideological and theoretical activities of Secretary Kim Jong Il are well known to the world. The 21st century will be a century of great turning in which socialist forces will emerge victorious on a world wide scale. Only Secretary Kim Jong Il, who has boundless love for and the spirit of devoted service to the people and the art of outstanding leadership, will firmly lead the 21st century, the century of revolutionary changes.

Fourth stage general strike to be ahead of schedule in S. Korea

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" (Minju Rochong) called a press conference on Wednesday and said that the crackdown on the strikers is intensified, according to a Seoul-based radio report. Minju Rochong warned that if the suppression continues, the fourth stage general strike would be held earlier than Feb. 18 appointed. Six companies brought a suit against trade unions, claiming damages of 3.6 billion won. It should be cancelled immediately, Minju Rochong said. Recalling that a cosmetic company in Puchon, Kyonggi Province, took rude acts against women unionists, the organization stressed that it is preparing itself against the repression. The "National Teachers Trade Union" at a press conference on the same day declared that it would form a promotion headquarters for securing the basic right of teachers and office workers to labour in 16 cities and provinces of South Korea and convene a general meeting of all unionists on Feb. 11.

U.S. has most serious human rights problem in world, says Foreign Ministry spokesman

Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea responded to a question raised by KCNA today concerning the U.S. slander against the DPRK in the recently published "annual report on human rights". The spokesman told KCNA: The U.S. State Department reportedly made public an "annual report on human rights" on January 30 dealing with the situation of human rights in 193 nations including the DPRK. Admittedly, it is the United States that has the most serious human rights problem in the world. The fact is admitted by American people themselves. Nevertheless, the U.S. has willfully talked about the situation of human rights in other nations, revealing that it has abused the human rights problem as means of political pressure on other nations and interference in their internal affairs. It is strikingly clear that their charging other nations with the "human rights problem" is only a word-juggling ignoring the U.S. situation of human rights and a political plot seeking double standards in the issue of human rights. This is why many countries have ridiculed and rejected the "report on human rights" the U.S. has made public every year, accusing other nations of the "human rights problem". The U.S. slander against the DPRK is part of its reckless with the Ambassador.