Homage to President Kim Il Sung

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Executive Director of the World Food Programme Catherine Bertini and her party Sunday visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where the great leader President Kim Il Sung is preserved in state and made a bow to him. The guests saw round the relics he used. The Director wrote in a visitors' book on behalf of the programme and her party that she expressed her deep condolence to his excellency Kim Jong Il and the Korean people over the death of the President.


Destroyer of peace in Mideast

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Papers here Sunday said that the United States exercised veto on a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations censuring the Israeli settlement plan for Jews in East Kuds jointly presented by the European Union member states, and this shows who really blocks the Mid-East, peace process. The news analyst of Rodong Sinmun said: The U.S. veto enraged Palestine and other Arab nations and provoked derison among european and other countries. The U.S. Is now attempting to justify its veto but it is failing to calm down the resentment of Arab nations and the world criticism with any excuse and appeasement. The Arab people are disillusioned at the act of the U.S. styling itself a "fair and honest mediator" and are no longer believing it to be a "mediator" of Mideast peace, a "friend" of Arab. Minju Joson in a signed commentary said that the complications and skiding of peace process are caused by the aggressive and dominationist policy of Israel and the U.S. The U.S. should give up its ulterior intention to catch fish in troubled waters, backing one side of dispute to render the situation strained, stressed the paper.


Kim Young Sam group dig their own grave

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun in a commentary today denounces the Kim Young Sam group for cracking down upon pro-democracy forces on the pretext of the "prevention of crimes". The fascist clique decided to raise a whirlwind of suppression such as arrest of those on the want list every day with the mobilization of more than 60,000 policemen in one month from march 14 to April 12 and, to this end, build more police stations in Seoul, Inchon and other areas and set up some 3,000 check points across South Korea. The daily brands this as part of premeditated repressive offensive to mercilessly trample down the people's struggle for the withdrawal of the fascist laws and the probe into the truth behind the hanbo scandal on the pretext of the "prevention of crimes". It continues: This reminds one of a thief crying "stop thief". It is the Kim Young Sam who should be removed before anyone else for prevention of crimes. Shelving the thrice-cursed crimes he committed against the country and the nation, Kim Young Sam is criminalizing and cracking down upon the guiltless forces calling for independence, democracy and reunification. Can there be a more brigandish act in the world? The south Korean people will never tolerate the traitor who is making desperate efforts to prolong his remaining days with sword-brandishing.


Review of Rodong Sinmun

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today reports that Secretarye Kim Jong Il sent thanks to officials and working people who had distinguished themselves in carrying out their revolutionary duties. National seminars were held in Ghana and Mali to celebrate the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il, says the paper. The paper dedicates an article to the 30th anniversary of the publication of President Kim Il Sung's work "On Improving Party Work and Implementing the Decisions of the Party Conference". It also carries a political essay entitled "pine tree on Nam Hill will remain green for ever" to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the formation of the Korean National Association by Kim Hyong jik, an indomitable revolutionary fighter. Econews of the paper deals with achievements made in various fields of the national economy. A commentary of the paper denounces the Kim Young Sam group for intensifying the crackdown upon the democratic forces under the pretext of "preventing crimes". It is reported in the paper that different circles of South Korea called for a probe into the Hanbo loan scandal and for the abrogation of the railroaded evil laws. The paper analyses contradictions and disputes growing among NATO member nations over the issue of its expansion.


Friendly relations between DPRK and Guinea to be developed

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- A joint communique on the Guinea visit of the DPRK government delegation led by Kim Yong Nam, Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, was issued in Conakry on Mar. 13. Both sides expressed determination to boost the good friendly and cooperative relations. The communique said that at the talks between the two government delegations the two sides expressed great satisfaction over the fact that friendly and cooperative relations based on the deep intimacy forged by the great leader President Kim Il Sung in his lifetime with the respected President Lansana Conte are developing on good terms even under the present complicated international situation. The Korean side highly praised the Guinean people for their great achievements in strengthening national unity and promoting political stability of the country under the correct leadership of the respected President Lansana Conte and wished the Guinean people a big stride forward in their work to implement the national redressment program. The Guinean side said that the Korean people under the correct guidance of Secretary Kim Jong Il are firmly defending the cause of socialism pioneered by the respected President Kim Il Sung. It expressed support to the just cause of the Korean people, convinced that they would make great success in the grand onward movement for the prosperity and development of the country and reunify the divided country in an independent and peaceful way on the basis of the three principles of national reunification, the proposal for founding the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo and the 10-point program for the great unity of the whole nation.


Nepali PM favors Korean reunification

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Prime Minister of Nepal Lokendra Bahadur Chand stressed that they would consistently support the Korean people in the struggle for independent and peaceful reunification. He made the remark in a meeting with a delegation of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on a visit to Nepal on Mar. 14. He said "the Nepali government and people are glad that his excellency the respected Kim Jong Il is leading Korea and hope that Korea will prosper." He said that his country could learn a great deal from Korea because Korea made great progress in the living standard of the people, the heavy industry and all other fields.


Precious heritage for progressive mankind

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Reminiscences "With the Century" of President Kim Il Sung is a precious heritage for progressive mankind. He is a great revolutionary of the 20th century who devoted all his life to the struggle for freedom and happiness of the people, reunification of the country and progress of mankind as well as victory of socialism. E. Balanandan, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and member of parliament, made the remark in an interview with KCNA in New Delhi on Mar. 10 on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the publication of "With the Century." He told KCNA: "We could know through the reminiscences that the arduous history of the Korean revolution is, namely, the revolutionary history of President Kim Il Sung. "He teaches the motto of the revolutionaries and truth of love and struggle on the basis of historical facts he experienced during the protracted revolution. "The book will encourage the people in the struggle for justice, peace and socialism forever."


Famous mountains of Korea

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Korea is renowned from olden times as a country of scenic beauties. More than 80 percent of the land area, the average elevation of which is 440 metres above sea level, is mountainous. Mountains such as Paektu, Kumgang, Myohyang, Chilbo and Kuwol are widely known to the world for their superb scenery. Mt. Paektu in the inland area of the northern tip of the country is 2,750 metres above sea level. The highest mountain in Korea has Janggun, Hyangdo and many other peaks of curious rocks. On the top of it is Lake Chon, which is scores of Ri around and more than 380 metres deep. Around the mountain is a primitive forest. Mts. Kumgang and Chilbo are on the east coast of Korea, Mt. Myohyang in the inland area and Mt. Kuwol on the west coast. Mt. Kumgang, the highest peak of which is Piro Peak (1,639 metres above sea level), has 12,000 picturesque peaks. The water flowing through the valleys is crystal- clear and blue ponds and waterfalls are fantastic. Mt. Chilbo, the highest peak of which is 659 metres above sea level, has inner-Chilbo, outer-Chilbo and sea-Chilbo. The mountain is a celebrated one for its rocks in fantastic shapes, a cliff like a folding screen and multi- fariousness. The high and steep peaks, crystal-clear water and deep valleys of Mt. Kuwol and the peaks like sculptures and various kinds of waterfalls of Mt. Myohyang add lustre to the landscape of Korea. The Mt. Paektu area has turned into a large open-air revolutionary museum, Mts. Kumgang and Myohyang into world- famous tourist resorts and wonderful recreation grounds. Tens of thousands of working people, school youths and children and tourists from many countries visit them year after year. Mts. Chilbo and Kuwol are being built into better recreation grounds and tourist resorts for the people.


Discreditable propaganda about "malaria"

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- "MBC" of South Korea march 14 reported that cases of malaria were found in northern Kyonggi Province of South Korea last year. Such a rumour was spread in January. At that time, the south Korean puppets quoted their overseas correspondent as reporting that the number of those who were infected with malaria was increasing among the U.S. servicemen stationed in the Demilitarized Zone and this disease was caused by a "biological weapons test" by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Instantly, we fully laid bare the falsity of this report and disclosed that what they sought in spreading the preposterous rumour about "propagation of malaria mosquitoes" and "biological weapon tests" was to impair our peaceful stand and conceal their criminal colors as the very ones who are engaged in biological weapon tests. Nevertheless, the puppets cited an incredible estimation of a local government official that malaria cases among people in the demilitarized zone were caused by mosquitoes infected in the north. They are spreading such a rumour in a bid to find a pretext to escape from their worst ruling crisis. The Hanbo incident, the largest-ever financial scandal in South Korea, has driven the south Korean puppets into a bottomless mire. On top of it, evidences that the clan of the Kim Young Sam are the main criminals of the Hanbo scandal and are responsible for the total crisis seizing South Korea are being disclosed one after another. To get out of this crisis, Kim Young Sam made a "cabinet and party reshuffle" and is vociferating about "crisis of security" while staging military exercises throughout South Korea so as to incite feelings of confrontation with the north. The propaganda about "malaria cases" is a poor trick.


WFP Executive Director inspects flood-hit areas of Korea

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Executive Director of the World Food Programme Catherine Bertini and her party inspected flood-hit areas of north Hwanghae Province, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on March 16. They were accompanied by Vice-chairwoman Kim Yong Suk of the State Agricultural Commission and officials concerned and Birgitta Karlgren, representative of the WFP to Korea. While going round some cooperative farms in Rinsan and Phyongsan counties of the province, they acquainted themselves with the rehabilitation of the flood-hit farm land which is progressing with the support from the WFP and congratulated the farmers upon their successes in the rehabilitation. They also visited a nursery, a kindergarten and houses and had an open-hearted talk with the children and farmers. Catherine Bertini expressed satisfaction with the fact that the support from the WFP is successfully used in conformity with its mission, and said that the inspection made her keenly feel the catastrophic consequence of the two year long flood damage and the seriousness of the food shortage caused by it. She was deeply moved to see the Korean people turning out as one in the rehabilitation under the very difficult conditions and working full of confidence and optimism to do away with the flood damage at an early date, she said. She went on to say that it is awfully necessary to immediately supply 100,000 tons of food as the WFP appealed on Feb. 12. To overcome the food shortage it is important for the international community to commit itself to additional food delivery at an early date, she added.


Gift to Secy. Kim Jong Il from Lao delegation

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of the Propaganda and Education Ideological Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. The gift was handed to an official concerned by its deputy head Khammy Sayavong, who is leading the delegation.


Secretary Kim Ki Nam meets Lao delegation

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Ki nam, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, today had a cordial talk with the visiting delegation of the Propaganda and Education Ideological Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party led by its deputy head Khammy Sayavong at the Mansudae Assembly Hall. The head of the delegation said at the talk that during their stay they learned well achievements and experience of the WPK in ideological education and that its form, method and contents were very good. He emphasized that the successes of the Korean people in socialist construction are a result of the wise leadership of the respected comrade Kim Il Sung and Secretary Kim Jong Il.


Vice-President Ri Jong Ok meets WFP officials

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Vice-President Ri Jong Ok of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea met and had a friendly talk with Catherine Bertini, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and her party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present at the meeting were Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su Hon and Birgitta Karigren, representative of the WFP here.


Press conference at Russian Embassy

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- A press conference was held at the Russian Embassy here today to inform reporters of an annual message the Russian President recently sent to the Federation Council. Present there were reporters from news media in Pyongyang and press officials of foreign embassies here. Russian Ambassador Valeri Denisov referred to the contents of the message at the press conference. According to it, in Russia production is on the decrease, social tension is increasing due to nonpayment of wages, pension and subsidy, crimes are rampant and the supply of basic items for the army is difficult. The message sets as a solution the government reform, strengthening of legislative and judicial system and eradication of bribery in different organs of the government and so on. It also indicates the main points of foreign policy including eastward expansion of NATO and other problems.


Press conference at Russian Embassy

Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- A letter of understanding between the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United Nations World Food Programme for emergency food assistance following floods was signed in Pyongyang today. It was signed by Choe Su Hon, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Catherine Bertini, Executive Director of the WFP.



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