Secy. Kim Jong Il enjoys art performance

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) - Secretary Kim Jong Il, together with public security officers, enjoyed an art performance "We will defend our general with our lives" at the Ponghwa Art Theatre on Sunday. the performance was given to mark the 50th anniversary of The song and dance ensemble of the ministry of public Security. The program included a small chorus, a female folk solo and Pangchang, dance, men's chorus and other numbers. The performance represented the strength of the Public Security Forces and their honor and happiness as revolutionary soldiers of Secretary Kim Jong Il. Secretary Kim Jong Il expressed great satisfaction and thanked the artistes of the ensemble for giving a wonderful performance full of militant stamina and enthusiasm. He highly praised the creating staff and artistes of the ensemble for having greatly contributed to the strengthening of the Public Security Forces, a political defender of the Workers' Party of Korea, with revolutionary and militant art activities over the past five decades. The socialist motherland is an impregnable fortress as the invincible and heroic Korean people's army reliably defends the nation and the public security officers and the people's security forces safeguard the security of the country and the people with intense loyalty to the party and the leader, the country and the people, he said, adding that the ensemble plays a very important role in further strengthening the Public Security Forces, a powerful weapon of the people's democratic dictatorship, politically and ideologically. The ensemble should keep its unique features in the content and form of art pieces and the mode of performance because it is an art organisation that serves for the ideological education of the public security officers and the people's security forces, who devotedly work to safeguard the gains of the revolution and the lives and property of the people, he noted, and gave the ensemble important tasks that would serve as the guidelines in the creative activities and performance of the ensemble. The audience included Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army Paek Hak Rim, Minister of Public Security= and Kye Ung Thae, Kim Kuk Thae, Choe Thae Bok, Kim Ki Nam and Kim Yong Sun, secretaries of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee.

Pres. Kim Il Sung, the greatest in the world

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- Sophon Phetsawang, First Deputy-Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, said that he was deeply impressed by the developing realities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He made the remark in an interview with KCNA before returning to his country. He told KCNA: "Korea owes this success to the wise leadership of President Kim Il Sung. "He is the greatest man in Asia and the rest of the world. "The Korean people boundlessly respect and trust his excellency Kim Jong Il, the great leader, and are closely rallied around him. "I wish them great success in their struggle for national reunification."

April 15 commemorated in different countries

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- Functions in commemoration of the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung were held in different countries from march 21 To 24. A meeting was held in the Kilambe branch of the Uganda-DPRK Friendship Association, a lecture meeting titled "In a Train for People All His Life" at the Kim Jong Il reflexion circle of Zaire and a Korean film show and photo exhibition in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and at the building of the Socialist People's Party of Mexico. The birth of President Kim Il Sung was the greatest national event that marked the origin of socialist Korea and historic event in the 20th century, it was said at the functions. It was also pointed out that the DPRK has fully demonstrated its might and set an example for the revolutionary people of the world under the wise leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il. A letter to Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting which was held in Uganda.

Birth anniversary of Pres. Kim Il Sung to be commemorated in India and Peru

Ppyongyang, Mmarch 31 (KCNA) -- National preparatory committees for commemorating the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung were inaugurated in India and Peru. Former Foreign Minister P. Shiv Shankar was elected Chairman of the Indian national preparatory committee at its inaugural meeting held in New Delhi on Mar. 22. The information published at the meeting said that the life and immortal exploits of the President, the greatest leader in the 20th century, will always encourage all the people who love justice and peace and aspire after socialism. It was decided to set a period (from March 22 to late April) of learning from the brilliant life of President Kim Il Sung and have various functions in the period. At the inaugural meeting held in lima on Mar. 17, the Chairman of the Peruvian Front for National Liberation and Chairman of the Peru-Korea Institute of Culture and Friendship, Angel Castro Lavarello, became the Chairman of the Peruvian national preparatory committee.

Signature campaign for support to Korea's peace proposal

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government proposed to conclude a tentative agreement with the United States in order to establish a new peace-keeping mechanism on the Korean peninsula. In support of this proposal a signature campaign has been staged briskly on a worldwide scale. The campaign, which started in April last year, has been so far participated in by several hundred million peoples from political parties, organizations and public circles in 60 odd countries of the five continents and from international and regional organizations. This international signature campaign was initiated by the Asian Regional Committee for Support to Korea's Reunification and the Indian Committee for Supporting the Reunification of Korea. The Secretariat of the International Liaison Committee For Reunification and Peace in Korea appreciated the initiative, which was then joined by West European, African, Latin American and Caribbean Regional Committees and national committees under its affiliation. Party and organization leaders and senior officials of organs and army units in different countries and chiefs of international and regional bodies signed the paper on behalf of their organization members. Among them were communist parties of India, Nepal and Jordan and the Algerian national liberation front. A large number of parliamentarians joined in the campaign. The participants in the signature campaign accused the United States and the south Korean authorities of turning down the DPRK's reasonable peace proposal and ceaselessly staging war games and military provocations against it, leading the situation to the brink of war.

Review of Rodong Sinmun

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today reports that Secretary Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, together with public security officers, enjoyed an art performance "We will Defend Our General with Our Lives" on Sunday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the song and dance ensemble of the Ministry of Public Security. Today is the 15th anniversary of the publication of the famous work of Secretary Kim Jong Il "On the Juche Idea" (March 31, 1982). The paper runs an article titled "our people's will to fight along the road indicated by the Juche idea". The paper introduces the achievements in production following the fulfilment of the quarterly plans in various domains of the national economy and gives an account of sowing on cooperative farms. Appearing in the paper is news that many parties, public organisations, organs and personages from all walks of life, hundreds of millions all told, in over 60 countries have participated in an international signature campaign supporting the DPRK's new peace proposal over the last year. The U.S. imperialist warmaniacs staged air war exercises against the north on some 180 occasions in the sky above south Korea in March, says the paper. A commentary of the daily denounces the south Korean puppets for groundlessly accusing the north of "introduction of nuclear waste". Under the title "outlook of the west on human rights is unacceptable", the paper carries an article about the 53rd meeting of the UN Commission on human rights.

S. Korean puppets urged to mind their own business

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- Of late the south Korean puppets groundlessly slandered the northern half of Korea, clamouring about "introduction of nuclear waste." Rodong Sinmun today, commenting on this, says it is south Korea where disposal of nuclear waste is a serious problem. The analyst further says: It is not once or twice that the south Korean puppets were criticised for dumping nuclear waste from nuclear power plants at nearby hills or villages. Still worse, in recent years they tried to build nuclear waste dumping grounds in Anmyon and Kulop islets and other places, but they have not chosen the sites, bitterly condemned by the residents. Nevertheless, they are finding faults with north Korea, trying to conceal their crimes. Such an act can be done only by those who have a propensity for reversing black and white. North Korea has no problem as regards nuclear waste. The south Korean puppets should be mindful that curses like chickens come home to roost.

Medical inventions and new technologies exhbn.

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- An exhibition of medical inventions and new technologies is under way at the Korean Koryo Medicine Technical Centre, drawing great attention from medical workers. On display there are more than 4,000 spiecies of efficacious medicines and over 500 kinds of medical appliances, presented by medical service organs and educational and scientific institutions across the country. Noteworthy exhibits are medicines specially effective in curing hepatitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, colitis, gastritis and diabetes and appliances for laser dentistry and the fallopian tubes diagnosis and treatment. Drawing the eye of visitors are also easy-to-take pills and faggot-fruit tea, syrup and ferment drinks, which contain several hundred times as much vitamin PP as other medicines. And put on at the exhibition are 45 kinds of medicines village people's hospitals have made from local resources. The exhibited medicines and appliances are now used at medical service organs for the promotion of working people's health.

Overseas Koreans support DPRK appeal

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- The Chairmen of Korean Organisations in the Commonwealth of Independent States issued statements in support of an appeal to the political parties, organizations and people of south Korea and overseas which was adopted at a joint meeting of the political parties and organizations of the DPRK. Sok Myong Son, Chairman of the international united confederation of Koreans, said in a statement that this is "a year of solidarity among the Koreans in the north, south and overseas for national independence and peace". National independence and peace are the most urgent tasks to achieve national reunification, he noted. He said he will exert all efforts to make 1997 the most significant year in accelerating the cause of reunification, true to the three principles of national reunification, the proposal for founding the Democratic Confederal Repulbic of Koryo and the ten-point programme of the great unity of the whole nation, which constitute the three mainstays for reunification put forward by the respected President Kim Il Sung. Kang Sun Ho, Chairman of the united confederation of Koreans in Kazakhstan, noted that he will invigorate the work for the reunification of the country by various methods in response to the appeal of the joint meeting.

Korean people's will to fight as indicated by Juche idea

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today says it is the Korean people's will to fight as indicated by the Juche idea founded by President Kim Il Sung. They believe that they can neither live nor make revolution without the Juche idea, the daily says in an article, and notes: The Juche idea, the philosophy of the people's leader, is a great revolutionary idea closely linked with the august names of the fatherly leader President Kim Il Sung and the Secretary Kim Jong Il for their successfully guiding the efforts for shaping the people's destiny. Only those who fight as indicated by the Juche idea and seek a worthwhile life in doing so can be called genuine Juche-type revolutionaries equipped with a correct outlook on the leader. The revolutionaries can enjoy a valuable life and great pride in keeping the Juche idea pure. Ideological degeneration means death. Those who deviate from the Juche idea are mental beggars without soul. So, our people hates those with no ideological faith and uncompromisingly fight against such fellows. The Juche idea, for the first time in history, established the view and stand that make it possible to have everything serving the masses of the people, the masters and transformers of the world and their own destiny, and solve all the problems with their creativity and wisdom. It is the ideological basis of our socialism and the philosophy guaranteeing the victory of socialism.

Traditional Pyongyang Art Festival

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang is stirring with preparations for the 15th April Spring Friendship Art 0estival. Many foreign artistes from five continents of the world and overseas Korean artistes arrive here to participate in the festival that will open on Apr. 7. The April spring friendship art festival reflects the unanimous desire of the world progressive people and artistes to highly praise and hand down the immortal exploits of President Kim Il Sung for the Korean revolution and the human cause of independence. The festival, which began in 1982 marking the 70th birthday of the President, has been an annual international event. It makes a great contribution to developing friendship and solidarity, cultural exchanges and ties among men of culture and art of many countries in the noble idea of independence, peace and friendship. Nearly a thousand art troupes, dancing troupes and circus teams and tens of thousands of artistes have so far participated in the festival that has been held 14 times. Every year China, Cuba, Russia and Mongolia sent large art troupes to add to the atmosphere of the festival. A number of famous artistes and international and national contest winners became familiar to the Korean people through their repeated participation in the festival. Colorful programs including vocal and instrumental music, dance and circus have been put on stage at the festival. They reflect folk customs of Korea and different nations. Hundreds of songs composed by participants such as "happy birthday to the great leader", "All the world admires you", "Happiness of humankind", "Kim Jong Il, lodestar of the world rising in the east" and "eternal sun" represent ardent reverence of people over the world for President Kim Il Sung, who founded the immortal Juche idea and glorified the Korean-style socialism, and his succesor, Secretary Kim Jong Il. Prizes of the festival were awarded to some 50 teams, over 300 artistes and creators and 320 odd pieces in the past. The 15th festival in the significant year marking the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung will be successfully held amid great expectation and interest of the world progressive people and artistes.

Military parade commemorative medal instituted

Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- The DPRK Central People's Committee instituted a medal to commemorate the military parades of the heroic Korean People's Army, which harden the unshakable determination for devotedly defending the headquarters of the revolution and powerfully demonstrate the militant spirit of safeguarding the Juche revolutionary cause with arms. According to its decree on the institution dated march 26, the Committee approved a rule on awarding the medal and the design of the medal.