-Greetings to Secy. Kim Jong Il from Pres. Fidel Castro Ruz
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il received a message of greetings from President Fidel Castro Ruz of Cuba on the occasion of his birthday.
The message noted that he extends warm congratulations of the Cuban people to Secretary Kim Jong Il on the significant day that the fraternal Korean people are greeting with great pleasure.
Gift to Secy. Kim Jong Il from CPC
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) - Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the threshold of his birthday.
The gift was conveyed to an official concerned by Chinese Ambassador to Korea Qiao Zonghuai Friday.
The Chinese Ambassador noted that Secretary Kim Jong Il has performed great exploits wisely leading the Workers' Party and people of Korea with Secretary Kim Il Sung for a long time.
Press review
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Papers today frontpage reports that Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and floral baskets from Moammer El Gaddafi, leader of the Great September First Revolution of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, and from Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana, on the occasion of his birthday.
Papers report that Secretary Kim Jong Il received a floral basket and a congratulatory letter from the economic and commercial counsellors corps in Pyongyang and floral baskets from organisations and individual figure of Japan, that he was awarded the title of an honorary citizenship of Santiago De Cali, Colombia, and that he was elected honorary academician of the state academy of management named after S. Ordzyonikidze of Russia.
Under the titles "country full of best wishes" and "warm congratulations to the great comrade Kim Jong Il on his 55th birthday" Rodong Sinmun runs articles including an article headlined "peerless great man looked up to by the people" and accounts of events held in many countries to celebrate his birthday.
In a political essay captioned "we believe in comrade Kim Jong Il as heaven" the paper stresses that comrade Kim Jong Il is the eternal heaven.
It runs an article titled "son of guerrillas" by Prof. Choe Tok Jun, a member of a South Korean Committee for the Study of the 21st Century", praising the greatness of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Minju Joson comes out with "blizzard of the general", a poem written by a poet Kim Man Yong on the 55 years of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Papers inform the readers that on the occasion of the February holiday "the immortal exploits of the great brilliant commander will shine long in history", a monument to Secretary Kim Jong Il's on-the-spot guidance, was erected and that school youths and children had a symposium and a meeting on the noble virtues of Secretary Kim Jong Il and officials and unionists of the Korean Democratic Women's Union had a meeting to celebrate his birthday.
The Sixth International Figure Staking Tournament for Paektusan Prize opened here and the Korean educational and cultural television begins on February 16, says the press.
Rodong Sinmun runs a commentary denouncing the Kim Young Sam group for refusing to send back to the northern half of Korea Kim In So, an unconverted long-term prisoner in South Korea, and Minju Joson a commentary condemning the group for their reckless arms buildup.
Rodong Sinmun on S. Korea's inhuman act
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today accuses South Korea of turning down the north's demand for the repatriation of Kim In So, a prisoner of war who suffered behind bars in South Korea for many years, refusing to be converted.
The daily says in a commentary:
Some time ago, the acting chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society sent a letter again to the South Korean Red cross for his repatriation and first-aid treatment.
However, South Korea has neither positively responded to the north's demand nor taken necessary steps. Such an act is an anti-national crime which can be committed only by fascists with no shred of national conscience and no sense of morality.
The South Korean rulers have kept the sick man under surveillance and persecution and prevented other people from nursing him, calling them "seditious elements".
Their maltreatment is not a matter related to the old man only but a challenge and provocation against the north, which has made all sincere efforts for the improvement of inter-KOREAN relations and for the peace and peaceful reunification of the country.
South Korea should ponder over what his possible misfortune may affect inter-Korean relations, give him first-aid treatment and repatriate him before too late, as demanded by the north.
We will closely watch South Korea's attitude.
Sixth "Paektusan Prize" international figure skating tourney opens
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- The sixth "Paektusan Prize" international figure skating tournament opened in Pyongyang amid the deep concern of the Korean people, the world revolutionary people and sports amateurs on the threshold of the birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The tourney, which is held traditionally every year on the occasion of the auspicious holiday of February, has rendered services to the promotion of friendship and exchange of sports culture among peoples and sportsmen and sportswomen of many countries in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.
Participating in the current tourney are figure skaters from Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Hungary, China, the Czech Republic and Poland as well as the DPRK.
The tourney, divided into adult and juvenile groups, includes ice dancing events (compulsory, original and free programs), pairs (technical and free programs) and men's and women's singles (technical and free programs).
An opening ceremony of the tourney was held at the ice rink on February 14.
Attending it were Vice-President Pak Song Chol and Vice-Premier of the Administration Council and Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam, who are members of the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The opening ceremony was followed by a collective performance of ice dancers and the first-day competitions.
The tourney will continue till February 18.
Banquet for diplomatic corps in Korea
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea arranged a banquet on February 14 for the diplomatic corps in Korea on the threshold of the birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Present on invitation were diplomatic envoys, embassy officials and Ri Jong Sang, Chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea.
Kim Yong Nam, member of the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Vice-Premier of the Administration Council and Foreign Minister, said in his speech that all the Korean people, who are greeting the auspicious holiday of February, are hardening their unshakable faith that they will certainly win as they are guided by Secretary Kim Jong Il, looking up to him as the defender of the country and the saviour of the nation.
He declared that the Korean people would step up the forced march of socialism under the wise guidance of Secretary Kim Jong Il, holding President Kim Il Sung, the founder of socialist Korea, in high esteem forever, and adorn their "Arduous March" with victory and thus bring about a decisive phase for the development of the country and the revolution.
They will certainly achieve the reunification of the country in defiance of the challenges by separatist forces at home and abroad under the tested guidance of Secretary Kim Jong Il, true to the three pillars of national reunification, advanced by President Kim Il Sung, Kim Yong Nam added.
He further said:
No matter what complicated situations and circumstances may be created, the Workers' Party and people of Korea will as ever invariably adhere to the anti-imperialist and independent stand and defend the banner of socialism to the end. And they will consistently carry out the external policy of independence, peace and friendship and thereby strengthen the unity and solidarity with the progressives of the world and greatly contribute to the common cause of humankind to build a new independent world.
Bulgarian Ambassador to Korea Yordan Mutafciev spoke on behalf of the diplomatic corps.
He said that the party, the people and Army of Korea are firmly keeping their faith in the bright future of the younger generation even under the difficult conditions, closely united around Secretary Kim Jong Il.
"We support constructive initiatives for easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea," the Bulgarian Ambassador said.
He expressed the belief that Secretary Kim Jong Il would register greater success in his work for the prosperity of the country.
Korean educational and cultural TV broadcasting to be started
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- The Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of korea will begin to broadcast Korean educational and cultural television from February 16, the greatest national holiday.
It will be broadcast from 7 p.m. To 10 p.m. every day and from 12 noon to 10 p.m. On red-letter days.
Program includes education, scientific and technical knowledge, common sense, social culture, sports, movie and art as well as news reports (9 p.m.).
Floral basket and congratulatory letter to Secy. Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il received a floral basket and a congratulatory letter from the economic and commercial councillors corps of foreign embassies here on the occasion of his birthday.
The floral basket and congratulatory letter were handed to an official concerned by Evgeny bilim, trade representative of the Russian Federation here and doyen of the economic and commercial councillors corps on Friday.
"Brief biography of comrade Kim Jong Il" published
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- The Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House brought out "brief biography of comrade Kim Jong Il" to mark his birthday, February 16.
The book consists of five chapters, 37 sections and 73 sub-sections on his revolutionary activities and greatness.
Secretary Kim Jong Il was born at the secret camp on Mt. Paektu, a holy mountain of revolution, on February 16, 1942 and grew to be a great revolutionary, his lullaby being gun reports of the anti-Japanese war.
In the first half of the 1960s, he prepared himself to lead the Korean revolution at Kim Il Sung University. He deepened his studies of political economy, philosophy, history, literature and various sciences and gave unique answers to many theoretical and practical problems in politics, the economy, culture, military affairs, international relations and other spheres of the revolution and construction with his ideo-theoretical activities.
He began to work at the Party Central Committee in June 1964. This marked a milestone of radical progress in the building and activity of the Workers' Party of Korea and opened a bright vista for the Juche revolution.
The party and the people unanimously elected him their leader in February 1974.
He called for creating the "speed of the '80s" in the spirit of great Chollima upswing and wisely guided the campaign to create this speed so that many industrial establishments were reconstructed and expanded on a new technical basis and the west sea barrage, Kwangbok Street and many other grand monumental edifices were erected.
Having made immortal contributions to the Juche cause of army building, he was elected Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army at the 19th plenary session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party in December 1991 and Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission at the fifth session of the Ninth Supreme People's Sssembly in April 1993.
When a touch-and-go situation was created in march 1993, he placed the whole country, all the people and the entire army in a semi-war state so as to demonstrate the Korean people's heroic stamina and overpower the enemies.
His resolute self-determined measure against the unreasonable "special inspection" of the international atomic energy agency displayed his courage and wisdom as a great general.
On July 8, 1994, President Kim Il Sung unexpectedly passed away to the great sorrow of the Korean People and progressives around the world.
Secretary Kim Jong Il put up the slogans "the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung will always be with us" and "let us arm ourselves more firmly with the revolutionary ideas of the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung" and effectively mobilized the party, the army and the people to carry out the last instructions of the President.
The book is a revolutionary biography of a great man of the century who performed immortal exploits for the country, people, times and humankind for half a century and exalted the second half of the 20th century as an era of creation, prosperity, independence and struggle.
Korean jewel picture
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- A national fine art show is going on at the Korean Art Gallery to mark February 16.
Among the exhibits, the Korean jewel picture "patriotism is based on knowledge of one's own country" draws particular attention from visitors.
The 2.5 m x 1.9 m picture represents Secretary Kim Jong Il inspecting Ryongmun cavern.
Standing on a wide rock in the mysterious-looking cavern, he says one can have patriotism only when one knows well of one's own country, with a broad smile on his face.
On his right side, a scholar listens to him and tourists look up to him.
The scenic beauty of the cavern, including stalagmites, stalactites and lava pillars that are so impressive to tourists, is also depicted in the picture.
The picture is worthy of national treasure for its high ideological and artistic value and unique method of art.
It was created by Ri Kyong Sop, Kim Hak and Jo Jun Ho of the Korean jewel picture production group of the Mansudae Art Atudio.
The jewel picture is Korea's unique form of painting drawn with natural stone powder and jewels, which ensure fast colors and vivid impression.
Since its formation, the production group has created many jewel pictures such as "Tiger on Mt. Paektu," "Pine and Cranes" and "pheasant."
The Korean jewel pictures have won great popularity.
Monument to Secy. Kim Jong Il's guidance erected
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- "The immortal exploits of the great brilliant commander will shine long in history", a monument to the on-site guidance of Secretary Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, was erected at the Kim Yong Ryong Unit of the KPA, which he inspected many a time.
At the unit,Secretary Kim Jong Il expressed great trust in soldiers, increased their class consciousness and taught them how to establish military discipline and do supply service well.
The soldiers of the unit, true to his leadership, erected the monument to hand down his undying exploits forever.
A ceremony for unveiling the monument was held at the unit on Friday.
Present there were politburo member and Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee Kye Ung Thae and officials concerned.
It was stressed at the ceremony that all should vigorously fight for final victory of the Juche revolutionary cause under the red flag as the Korean revolution is sure to win under the tested leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Story-telling sessions of youth and students held
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Youths, students and school children held story-telling sessions on the virtues of Secretary Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang on Friday on the occasion of his 55th birthday.
Participants in the sessions told stories of their experience that Secretary Kim Jong Il is a great father who looks after the destiny and future of all the youth league officials, youth and students.
Speakers said that their destiny, future and youth are shining under the leadership of the respected general.
They stressed that all youth and students should firmly prepare themselves to be young vanguard of the party, the successors to the revolution, who will shoulder the revolutionary cause of Juche.
Minju Joson raps at Kim Young Sam group for war preparation
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today berates the Kim Young Sam group of South Korea for staging military drills of various kinds and updating the puppet army under the pretext of "threat from the north".
The daily describes their reckless war preparation as an act intentionally aggravating north-south confrontation and deteriorating the situation of the country and as a challenge to the north, which has made every possible effort for the nation's peace and reunification.
It says in a commentary:
If the South Korean authorities are interested in the peace of the country and the security of the nation even a little bit, they must refrain from going against the north's proposal for defusing tension and preserving peace on the Korean Peninsula and seeking north-south confrontation and invasion of the north.
We will keep a close eye on their reckless military buildup and war preparation and will never tolerate them.
Servicemen's art festival under way
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- The 26th Art Festival of Soldiers of the Korean People's Army (art propaganda teams) is going on here to celebrate the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim jong il.
Participating in the festival are those teams which proved successful at preliminaries.
their music, dance and story-telling pieces reflect the servicemen's strong will to continue exalting the achievements made in army building under the leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il, who has developed the KPA into an invincible army, and defending the prosperous socialist country with arms.
They also show the noble mental and moral traits and optimistic life of the servicemen, who value and love revolutionary comrades, society and collective.
Floral baskets to Secy. Kim Jong Il from Libyan and Ghanaian heads of state
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) - Secretary Kim Jong Il received floral baskets from leader of the Great September First Revolution of Libya Moammer El Gaddafi and President of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings on the threshold of his birthday.
Preparatory committees for Secy. Kim Jong Il's 55th birthday formed abroad
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Preparatory committees for celebrating the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il were inaugurated in Poland, Ethiopia and Sao Tome and principe. Chairmen of the committees were elected at the inaugural meetings. The committees are planning to organize colourful events for his 55th birthday.
Poem "Blizzard of the General" published
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- "Blizzard of the General", a congratulatory poem dedicated by Kim Man Yong to the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il, was carried by Pyongyang-based papers.
The poem describes Secretary Kim Jong Il as a general who was born into a family of guerrillas on Feb. 16, 1942.
The poem says in part:
The vast snow-covered Mt. Paektu plain was the home of three generals. The Mt. Paektu family lived in the open air.
The snowstorm blustered from the home was the air the three generals breathed, taking the nation's destiny upon themselves, as well as the breath of revolution that came from the hearts of the three generals, which was the fighting spirit.
Secretary Kim Jong Il made a big start in the revolution.
He has courage of Mt. Paektu, spirit of guerrillas, heart of a general and character of a hero.
During the 55 years Secretary Kim Jong Il always found himself on the blizzard-blustering road of revolution in materializing the cause of President Kim Il Sung and the desire of the respected mother Kim Jong Suk, and victoriously led the Korean revolution without deviation together with President Kim Il Sung.
Secretary Kim Jong Il's birthday, February 16, is the day of fortune when the second sun appeared in the sky of the fatherland and above the nation and this planet.
Thanks to our three generals who underwent all sorts of trials, Kim Il Sung's nation is immortal and the history of Korea is full of glory.
Secretary Kim Jong Il started the revolution for the people and followed the road even in rain and wind for a long time, but never sought his own interest.
Secretary Kim Jong Il was born for the sake of the people valued by President Kim Il Sung and has been devoting his all to them. He pushes through untrodden paths of knee-deep snow and walks along slippy hills for improving people's living.
Although there have been many military generals in the world, the world knows no such benevolent general as Secretary Kim Jong Il, who regards the people as the heaven. The revolution and the people led by the greatest general are ever-victorious.
Secy. Kim Jong Il elected honorary academician
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- The state academy of management named after S. Ordzyonikidze of Russia decided to elect Secretary Kim Jong Il its honorary academician on the occasion of his 55th birthday.
A ceremony for conveying the decision was held at the DPRK Embassy in Moscow on Feb. 12.
Academician Anatoly Porshnev, rector of the academy, said that it is the great honor of all of them to elect Secrtary Kim Jong Il honoray academician on the occasion of the auspicious February 16, the common holiday of humankind.
Secy. Kim Jong Il's works published in booklet in Austria
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous works "the Workers' Party of Korea is the Party of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung" and "Respecting the Forerunners of the Revolution is a Noble Moral Obligation of Revolutionaries" were brought out in booklet by the Anton Tusch Publishing House of Austria on February 5 to mark his 55th birthday.
As regards the publication of the works, Anton Tusch, President of the Publishing house, said:
"February 16 this year is a very significant day, the 55th birthday of the supreme leader of the Korean people, his excellency Kim Jong Il."
"In order to greet the day most significantly, our publishing house publishes his works of weighty importance."
"In the past period our publishing house published the brief biography of the revolutionary activities and a lot of works of the great leader President Kim Il Sung."
"While studying the works of the respected President and his excellency Kim Jong Il, I was struck with admiration at the greatness of the Juche idea and fascinated by their leadership traits."
"I firmly believe that his excellency Kim Jong Il will creditably accomplish the cause of President Kim Il Sung."
"The Korean people under the wise guidance of his excellency Kim Jong Il will overcome difficulties and win a greater victory."
Committee to support Korea's reunification formed in Romania
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- A Romanian committee to support Korea's reunification was inaugurated in bucharest on February 5 on the threshold of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Prof. Alexander Mika, Councillor of the Ministry of Culture, who was elected chairman of the committee, said Secretary is the great leader of the Korean people, who has energetically led the party and the state for over 30 years.
He stressed the three pillars of Korea's reunification are the guidelines for realizing the peaceful reunification of Korea.
Literature Lauding Secy. Kim Jong Il appears in Seoul
Pyongyang, February 15 (KCNA) -- Some 1,000 copies of literature lauding Secretary Kim Jong Il were scattered in Seoul on Feb. 13, according to a radio report from Seoul.
The literature congratulated Secretary Kim Jong Il on his 55th birthday and lauded him.
The report said that people read the literature with unbounded respect for him.