"Kim Jong Il Class" named in Ghana

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- The third year graduating class of the faculty of fine arts of Winneba Education University in Ghana was named "Kim Jong Il class" on the occasion of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. At a naming ceremony held on February 14 a portrait of Secretary Kim Jong Il was hung and the signboard of "Kim Jong Il Class" was put up in the class room. The deputy president of the university in his speech said that proclamation of the honorable "Kim Jong Il Class" is a big event in the history of the Ghanaian people and the university and a clear evidence that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples are developing on better terms. A letter to Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at the ceremony. His celebrated works donated to the "Kim Jong Il Class" were conveyed by the Korean Ambassador to Ghana.

Japan cannot be permanent member of U.N. Security Council, says Korean Ambassador to Russia

Moscow, February 19 (KCNA) -- Korean Ambassador to Russia Son Song Phil called a press conference on February 14 as regards the more undisguised moves of Japan to obtain a permanent seat in the united nations security council. Japan cannot become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council unless it liquidates the past, he said, and went on: Japan has not yet liquidated its past crimes against the Korean people though a half century has passed since world war two but avoided its state responsibility for such a deadly sin as the crime against "Comfort Women for the Army". To allow Japan to take a permanent seat, would mean not only to tolerate its past crimes but also to encourage it to repeat such crimes. Accordingly, Japan's liquidation of the past is a cardinal problem related to world peace and security, not merely a question of relationship between Korea and Japan. In case the permanent membership is expanded, it should be preferentially alloted to non-aligned and other developing countries so that the independent right of all member nations may be ensured on an equal footing.

Vietnamese Ambassador gives party to mark birthday of Secy. Kim Jong Il

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Le Xuan Vinh Thursday gave a party on the occasion of the birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il. Invited to the party were Vice-President Pak Song Chol and Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam, who are also politburo members of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, and officials concerned. Addressing the party Le Xuan Vinh sincerely hoped that under the leadership of the WPK led by Secretary Kim Jong Il the Korean people would exalt the man-centered Korean socialism founded by President Kim Il Sung and accomplish the Juche socialist cause. The Vietnamese people always value the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with the Korean people and will further develop these relations for the interests of people of every country and peace and security in the Asian-Pacific region and the world, he noted. Kim Yong Nam said that the friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of Korea and Viet Nam are based on the close intimacy forged by President Kim Il Sung and President Ho Chi Minh and that the relations have strengthened and developed through the joint struggle for independence and socialism against imperialism. He said that the Vietnamese people are invariably advancing along the road of socialism chosen by themselves, true to the behests of the respected comrade Ho Chi Minh and wished them greater success in their work to implement the task of modernizing and industrializing the country, which was set forth at the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

Secy. Kim Jong Il sends wreath to bier of comrade Deng Xiaoping

Beijing, February 20 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a wreath to the bier of comrade Deng Xiaoping as an expression of deep condolences over his death. Written on the ribbon hanging from the wreath were letters "In Memory of comrade Deng Xiaoping. Kim Jong Il." His wreath was conveyed by the Korean Ambassador to China to Chinese assistant minister of foreign affairs Yang Wenchang Thursday.

Rodong Sinmun slams Kim Young Sam for distancing himself from Hanbo incident

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today describes the "initial investigation results on the Hanbo incident" made public by Kim Young Sam of South Korea on Feb. 19 through prosecution as a childish drama aimed at pinning the blame on others. In a commentary the daily says the "investigation results" boil down to detaining and prosecuting the general chairman of the Hanbo group, Chung Tae Soo, and eight other persons. It further says: The incident is, in the final analysis, the largest-ever power-backed fund scandal involving Kim Young Sam. Nevertheless, prosecution excluded Kim and his close associates in the list of those to be investigated and hastily wound up the investigation. It is apparent that the investigation was planned and carried out as wished by the traitor, who intends to shove off the responsibility for the Hanbo steelworks' insolvency to some petty persons, gloss over the incident and alleviate the political, economic and social confusion caused by it. After becoming "President" in 1992 with the help of a trillion won he got by aiding and abetting Roh Tae Woo in the slush fund scandal, he appeared as the seventh richest man in south korea in a year and topped the list of the millionaires in three years. The Hanbo incident should be thoroughly probed and, to this end, Kim Young Sam, the kingpin of irregularities, should be prosecuted first of all.

Book "cradle of immortal life" (2) published

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- The book "Cradle of Immortal Life" was brought out by the Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House. The book says that Secretary Kim Jong Il deeply trusted and put forward anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters and officials of different domains, and after their deaths he did them great favors for their immortality. It consists of nine titles "Anti-Japanese Writer Rim Chun Chu", "Bodyguard P Paek Ryong", "Son of Vagrant Ho Tam", "Energetic Political Worker of the Party Ri Tong Chun", "Party's Propagandist Ri Chan Son", "Peasant-Writer Chon Se Bong", "Man of Merit in Capital City Construction Kim Pyong Sik", "Diplomat Jon In Chol" and "Film Director Pak Hak". The first volume describes comrade kim jong il's love And benevolence for veteran revolutionary Kim Il, anti-Japanese and anti-U.S. brave General Choe Hyon, the first female Minister Ho Jong Suk, surgeon Pak Myong Bin, musical conductor Ho Jae Bok and other officials.

Pyongyangites welcome S. Korean defectors

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- A meeting of Pyongyangites was held Thursday to welcome Kuk Chol Jung and his family, who had come over to North Korea from South Korea. DPRK orders and rewards were awarded and souvenirs given to Kuk Chol Jung and his wife Ryu Kyong Ok at the meeting. The vice-chairman of the Pyongyang municipal administrative and economic committee, sin an bang, said in his welcome address that the defection of Kuk's family is indicative of their protest against the Kim Young Sam group and the unpopular South Korean social system, which are bringing immeasurable distress and misery to the South Korean people, while it is an extremely righteous behaviour of aspiring after an independent and creative life. He expressed the hope that they will work hard for prosperity of the socialist fatherland and the cause of independent and peaceful reunification of the country, cherishing the honour and happiness of being members of the family of the respected General Kim Jong Il. In their reply addresses, the defectors said in North Korea they are deeply feeling the effect of benevolent and man-centred politics of General Kim Jong Il at all times, noting the north under the leadership of the General, who earnestly values and loves the popular masses, is the genuine fatherland of the Korean nation. Saying that led by him, the north is standing high as the genuine fatherland of 70 million Koreans, they vowed to be loyal and devoted to him.

Medal of Marshal Zhukov awarded to Secy. Kim Jong Il

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- The permanent standing committee of the Soviet Congress of People's dDputies on Feb. 13 decided to award the medal of Marshal Zhukov to Secretary Kim Jong Il on his 55th birthday. The committee decided to confer the medal on Secretary Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, on the occasion of his 55th birthday in praise of the feats performed by him in the liberation movement and the struggle against international imperialism and his contributions to socialist construction in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Sazhi Umalatova, chairperson of the committee and chairperson of the party for peace and unity, conveying the text of the decision to the DPRK Ambassador to Russia on Feb. 18, said it was a great honor to award medal of Marshal Zhukov No. one to Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Secy. Kim Jong Il sends wreath to Chinese embassy

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il today sent a wreath to the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to express deep condolences over the death of comrade Deng Xiaoping. The wreath was laid before his picture. Written on the ribbon hanging from the wreath were letters "In Memory of Comrade Deng Xiaoping. Kim Jong Il."

Deng Xiaoping's death mourned in Korea

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Central Military Commission of the WPK, and the Central People's Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea today sent wreaths to the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang in memory of comrade Deng Xiaoping. Wreaths were also sent by the ministry of the People's Armed forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wreaths in the name of the DPRK cadres were laid before his picture. Vice-presidents Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol and Kim Pyong Sik, Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam and other officials visited the Chinese embassy here and observed a moment's silence in memory of him.

DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman interviewed

Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave answers to questions put by KCNA on Feb. 21 as regards a "joint briefing" on the "four-way talks" and the DPRK-U.S. high-level talks which are to be held after postponement. He told KCNA: As reported already, the "joint briefing" and the high-level talks could not but be postponed because it happened that the DPRK and the United States had to coordinate their stands in the course of taking steps for simultaneous action including food supply as was agreed at the DPRK-U.S. negotiation in December last year. Diplomatic contacts to coordinate pending issues were held between the DPRK and the United States recently. As a result, the "joint briefing" on the "four-way talks" will be made in New York on March 5, followed by the DPRK-U.S. high-level talks.