Secy. Kim Jong Il's works published in Italy and Romania

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Famous works of Secretary Kim Jong Il were published in booklet in Italy on Feb. 13 and Romania on Feb. 11 on the occasion of his 55th birthday. "The Workers' Party of Korea is the Party of the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung" was published by the Arti Publishing House of Italy and "respecting the forerunners of the revolution is a noble moral obligation of revolutionaries" by the Datina Publishing House of Romania.

Message and floral basket from Norodom Sihanouk

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk sent an autographic message and a large floral basket to the Korean embassy in Phnom Penh on Feb. 14 to mark the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il The message says: "Long live his excellency Marshal Kim Jong Il, the great leader of the glorious Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Norodom Sihanouk, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia."

Rodong Sinmun urges Japan to make clear its position

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today urges Japan to make clear its position concerning the resumption of DPRK-Japan talks for the normalization of bilateral ties. In a commentary the daily accuses the Japanese authorities of raising "four-way talks" and "inter-Korean dialogue" as preconditions for the resumption of the talks. The fact indicates that they have no intention to restart the talks, the daily says, and continues: By raising such preconditions, Japan intends to help the South Korean puppets emerge from the crisis and to have a say in the Korean issue. But such a political drama of Japan cannot work. We hope for the normalization of DPRK-Japan relations. But we will neither beg for it nor allow Japan to hurt our dignity over the resumption of the talks. We will as ever deal with the issue in the interests of our people and on the principle of independence. If Japan continues acting, with no view of its own, at other's request, the talks cannot be resumed and even though the talks were held, no good results would be scored.

Japan can never evade government compensation

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Japan can never flee from the obligation to make a government compensation for the crime concerning "Comfort Women for the Army", says Rodong Sinmun today. Intentions to negate the crime and evade the government responsibility and compensation for it have become undisguised in Japan, the daily says in an article. It further says: They cannot be viewed only as individuals' or some organizations'. They just mirror the position of the Japanese government authorities. They are a mockery of the victims and the international community's justice and conscience. All of them were apparently motivated by the scheme to evade the government responsibility and compensation. The crime concerning the "comfort women" is one committed by the state of Japan. So, it can never be settled without a government compensation. Such a compensation is the Japanese government's unavoidable legal and moral obligation. With some "money", not government compensation, can Japan never settle the past. The Korean people will continue urging Japan to honestly apologize for the crime and other past wrongdoings and compensate for them from government coffers.

Political terrorism of South Korean puppets in Los Angeles denounced

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Foreign public circles bitterly denounce the South Korean puppets for raiding the photo exhibition which was held in Los Angeles to celebrate the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. A meeting to condemn the wirepullers of the incident was held on Feb. 11 under the co-sponsorship of the Russian organizing committee for celebrating the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il And the Russian public committee for liaison with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. A joint statement adopted at the meeting said that the violent incident was obviously aimed at spoiling the atmosphere of the auspicious February holiday, but nothing could spoil the atmosphere of the holiday that is widely celebrated by the true friends of the Korean people in many countries of the world. A statement denouncing the South Korean puppets' raid was adopted at a meeting for celebrating the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il sponsored by the Moscow Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation on Feb. 11. The statement noted that the brutal incident was made by the "Agency for National Security Planning" of South Korea directed by Kim Young Sam. "The U.S. authorities should not remain an onlooker to this criminal act committed by South Korean puppets in broad daylight in the U.S. territory."

Bellicose acts of those driven into tight corner

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Anti-air units of the South Korean puppet army, navy and air force staged a "joint anti-air exercise" in Kyonggi Province including Seoul on Monday under the cloak of providing against "aerial infiltration from the north", according to a report. At the same time, the puppet army have launched a large-scale tactical training in the west coastal area including Inchon and Kyonggi Province. Participating in the drill that will last till February 22 are tens of thousands of puppet army troops as well as tanks and armoured cars. The South Korean puppets have staged from February 1 "civilian defence corps members emergency call exercises" in different areas of south korea, which, they said, would last till march 10. The bellicose acts of the South Korean puppets are worsening north-south confrontation and leading the situation of the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. The war exercises against the north, placing the whole area of South Korea in powder smoke almost every day, show well that the Kim Young Sam war-thirsty elements are running amuck to realise their desire for unification by prevailing over communism by force of arms, not for peace and peaceful reunification of the country. The Kim Young Sam group are loudly advertising about their war exercises against someone's "infiltration" in a bid to justify their war moves against the north. As known, we declared this as a year for realising national independence and defending peace and are now working hard to materialise it. But the Kim Young Sam group are rushing headlong to war and confrontation, not for peace, while clinging to the coattails of the U.S. and Japanese masters, far from national independence. Their frantic war exercises against the aspirations of the fellow countrymen are related to their serious ruling crisis. They have become the target of overthrow by revising the "Labour Law" and the "Law on the Agency for National Security Planning". On top of this, they have been driven into a tight corner by Hanbo incident. To find a wayout, they are furiously resorting to war exercises against fictitious "infiltration" of someone. If they dare to ignite a war, our people and people's army will mete out punishment to them a hundred, a thousand fold.

Press review

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today frontpages a report that Secretary Kim Jong Il sent thanks to many units, officials, working people and students for setting examples in afforestation around the Kumsusan Memorial Palace. The paper conveys news that the King of Cambodia sent a personal congratulatory card and a large floral basket to the DPRK embassy in his country on the occasion of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il and gave a party at the royal palace to celebrate February 16. Printed in papers are messages of greetings sent by heads of state and party leaders of different countries to Secretary Kim Jong Il on the occasion of his birthday. Papers report that letters came to him from foreign countries and give an account of colorful events held in different countries on this occasion.

Measures for realisation of joint meeting's proposal discussed

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- A plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party was held on February 17 to discuss measures to support and realise the proposal of the January 30 joint meeting of political parties and organisations in the northern half of Korea. The agenda item was "on immediate tasks of the party for national independence and peace". The plenary meeting set it as the most important task to defend national independence and peace, a task that should be carried out this year by the Korean Social Democratic Party, the political idea and basic policy of which are to achieve national independence and the reunification of the country, and highlighted the need to stage a powerful struggle for its materialisation. It also called for close relationship with the socialist international and social democratic parties in different countries so as to inform them of the grave situation on the Korean Peninsula and the proposal of the joint meeting and to arouse international attention and support. It called upon the political parties of South Korea to support the proposal out of the patriotic stand and join in the efforts for solidarity among the Koreans in the north, south and abroad for independence and peace. It had discussions on measures for contacts and dialogue with the "New Korea Party," "National Congress for New Politics," "United Democratic Party" and "United Liberal Democrats" in South Korea for a nationwide struggle for national independence and peace in the country, and adopted a decision in this regard.

Papers on anti-DPRK moves in S. Korea

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang-based newspapers today come out with signed commentaries denouncing the Kim Young Sam group of warmongers for frantically staging anti-DPRK confrontation moves under the pretext of "threat from the north". The analyst of Rodong Sinmun says: some time ago, the South Korean puppets flew "imaginary enemy planes" above Seoul, Inchon and other cities of South Korea and staged a large-scale war game in densely-populated areas. What they sought in this frantic row was to give people impressions that "southward invasion" was imminent, divert elsewhere the attention of the people and thus get out of the ruling crisis. The Kim Young Sam group would be well advised to stop such reckless war games at once, clearly mindful that the more frantically they stage war exercises against the north, the earlier they will bring the day of their ruin. The analyst of Minju Joson warns that if the Kim Young Sam group refuse to stop the provocative war exercises against the north at once, they will be made to pay dearly for it.

Pakistani Ambassador gives reception on birthday of Secy. Kim Jong Il

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Rehmdil Bhatti, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the DPRK, gave a reception on Feb. 19 to mark the birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. The Ambassador said in his speech that the birth of Secretary Kim Jong Il was a historic event and that he has performed great exploits leading the revolution and construction for a long time. Noting that the leader and people are completely united in Korea unlike other countries, he wholeheartedly hoped that Marshal Kim Jong Il would live long in good health and wisely lead the socialist cause started by the respected leader President Kim Il Sung. Kim Yong Nam, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, said in his speech that the Pakistani people achieved great successes in the work for national unity and development of the national economy under the leadership of the respected President Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Legari. He sincerely wished the Pakistani people greater success in the efforts to build a new society in Pakistan under the correct leadership of Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.

Cambodian King gives party to celebrate holiday

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, gave a party at his palace on Feb. 13 on the occasion of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. In his speech, the King sincerely wished Marshal Kim Jong Ol, the most respected supreme leader of the Korean people, a long life in good health and happiness. He hoped that General Kim Jong Il, who wisely leads the just struggle of the Korean people, will win brilliant victory and extended unconditional and everlasting support to all his justest politics. The DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia also made a speech. Artistes of Cambodia sang Korean songs including "Song of General Kim Il Sung" at the party.

Pledge on Ryongnam Hill

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Many youth and students and other working people and foreigners visit Ryongnam Hill on the occasion of the February holiday. Ryongnam hill is a time-honored place where just before his activities at Kim Il Sung University, Secretary Kim Jong Il made a historic pledge to glorify Korea. His poem "Korea, I will glorify you" carries his firm conviction and will to be responsible for the Korean revolution and lead korea to the future, true to the high intention of President Kim Il Sung. It also contains his far-reaching plan and grit to continue the cause of the sun and lead the era to communism under the banner of Juche. When Secretary Kim Jong Il made revolutionary activities at Kim Il Sung University (Sep. 1960 - Mar. 1964), he made sure that Juche was established in education. He propounded a new theory to replace the established theories and corrected the distorted theoretical problems in the history. He set a noble example in labor, production practice and socio-political activities. Especially, he made public a work "Position and Role of the County in Socialist Construction" and perfectly solved the complex problems in the settlement of the rural question in a unique way from a Juche-oriented stand. During his university days, he performed valuable ideological and theoretical exploits by studying and solving the theoretical and practical problems in combination with the revolution and construction with energetic thinking and quest and extensive knowledge of different fields of sciences including political economy, philosophy, history, linguistics and international relations.

Highly important guideline for peace and reunification of Korea

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Five years have passed since the publication of "Let the North and the South Open the Way to Peace and the Reunification of the Country in a United Effort", a talk of President Kim Il Sung with the delegates of the two sides to the inter-Korean high-level talks. In a signed article dedicated to this anniversary, Rodong Sinmun today says that the talk of President Kim Il Sung is a highly important guideline which the north and the south must adhere to in the implementation of the three principles of national reunification -- independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity -- in keeping with the new reality in which a north-south agreement and a joint declaration on denuclearisation were adopted and effectuated between the north and the south. In the talk, President Kim Il Sung indicated the principles which must be maintained by the north and the south in opening the way to peace and the reunification of the country in a united effort. He said that the north and the south must thoroughly maintain the independent stand, direct primary attention to achieving peace and promote the great unity of the nation. The author of the article further says: Over the past five years, the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government have made every possible effort to honestly implement agreements between the north and the south and accelerate the independent and peaceful reunification of the country. However, all their efforts have failed to bear fruits owing to the perfidious acts of the South Korean authorities. Particularly, the inter-Korean relations have been driven back to the acute phase of confrontation before the adoption of the north-south agreement and greater obstacles and difficulties have been created in the way of peace and the peaceful reunification of the country since the Kim Young Sam group, who are more anti-national, anti-reunification and bellicose than the former military dictators, took office. With the Kim Young Sam group left intact, neither national independence nor peace nor the peaceful reunification of the country can be achieved nor can the fellow countrymen evade being victims to a nuclear war of outside forces. All the fellow countrymen should turn out as one man in the struggle to overthrow the Kim Young Sam group opposed to national independence, peace and peaceful reunification.

Secy. Kim Jong Il sends message of condolence to Gen-Secy. Jiang Zemin

Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a message of condolence to comrade Jiang Zemin, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, on February 20 in connection with the death of comrade Deng Xiaoping. The message says: Upon hearing the sad news that comrade Deng Xiaoping died from long illness, I, in the name of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Central Military Commission of the WPK, the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the entire Korean people and in my own, extend deep condolences to you and, through you, to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the government of the People's Republic of China, the fraternal Chinese people and the bereaved family of the deceased. Comrade Deng Xiaoping had made historic contributions to the Communist Party of China and the Chinese revolution up to the last moment of his life since he embarked upon the road of the revolution in his early years. In the course of the protracted revolutionary activities, he had devoted his all solely to the strengthening and development of the communist party of china and the People's Republic of China and to the happiness of the Chinese people and had made every possible effort to build socialism with Chinese characteristics. He was an intimate friend and comrade-in-arms of the Korean people. He forged particular intimacy with the great leader of our people comrade Kim Il Sung long ago, made strenuous efforts to strengthen and develop the traditional Korea-China friendship and sincerely supported and encouraged the Korean people in their struggle for socialist construction and the independent and peaceful reunification of their country. The exploits performed by him for the Korea-China friendship will remain forever in the hearts of the Korean people. His death is a great loss not only to the Chinese party and people but also to the Korean people. Though he passed away, his exploits will shine forever.