April 15 commemorated in Moscow
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- A meeting took place in Moscow on April 3 to commemorate the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The meeting was addressed by former USSR Defense Minister Marshal Dmitri Yazov and general Nikolai Ryashenko as well as Tatsiyana Habarova, leader of the Bolshevik Platform of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
They referred to the idea, will and virtues of President Kim Il Sung as befitting a brilliant commander and prayed for his eternal life.
On the occasion of his birth anniversary a letter to Secretary. Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting.
Preparations for 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung in Yemen
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Yemeni preparatory committee was inaugurated on April 1 to commemorate the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
Abdul Wahav Mahmud Abdul Hamed, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and Secretary of the Yemeni regional leadership of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, was elected chairman of the committee.
The committee decided to propagandize the greatness of the President and hold colorful events including a lecture meeting, a film-show and printing of bulletin.
Kim Young Sam group's war hysterics
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The Kim Young Sam group of south Korea on April 4 sponsored "ceremonies for commemorating the homeland defence reserve forces (hdrf)" throughout south Korea at which an "inspiring address" of the puppet defence Minister, Kim Tong Jin, was read, according to a news report.
The "address" praised the "hdrf" as a "pillar in defending the liberty of all the people" and the "final fortress for state security" and called for all efforts to "promptly smash any provocation by the enemy", inciting war fever.
It is well known a fact that the "hdrf", organized by the Yusin dictator Park Chung Hee for the purpose of intensifying the fascist dictatorship and provoking a war, is an appendage to the anti-people military rule which hampers the democratization of south Korean society and the reunification of the country and it is no more than cheap cannon fodder.
The Kim Young Sam group is now inciting a war against the north, speaking highly of the "hdrf", a legacy of the defunct fascist dictator. It shows well how desperate the group is in war preparations.
Kim Tong Jin and other military brasshats are now getting frenzied in whipping up a war fever on the order of Kim Young Sam.
They have visited puppet army units and military academies to foster confrontation with the north.
All the facts indicate that the Kim Young Sam group, finding itself in a very serious crisis over the Hanbo loan scandal, is seeking a way out of the crisis in war preparations and resorting to the military in attaining the criminal purpose.
Enlarged plenary meeting of Korean Buddhist Federation held
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- An enlarged plenary meeting of the Central
Committee of the Korean Buddhist Federation took place in Pyongyang on Monday.
The meeting reviewed the work of the federation and discussed the future tasks on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the publication of "10-Point Programme of the Great Unity of the Whole Nation for the Reunification of the Country."
At the meeting, the federation expressed the will to promote unity and solidarity with Buddhists in the south and overseas under the banner of the 10-point program.
It appealed to the Buddhists in the north, south and overseas to make tangible contributions to creating a new phase for national reunification by vigorously waging the struggle for a joint conference of representatives of political parties and organizations at home and abroad this year.
The meeting was attended by most venerable Pak Thae Ho, Chairman of the Korean Buddhist Federation Central Committee, and members of the C.C., Chairmen of the provincial, municipal and county committees and the resident priests of the temples, heads of the believers' groups and priests and believers in the capital.
Foreign and overseas Korean artistes arrive
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Foreign and overseas Korean artistes arrived here one after another to participate in the 15th April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
Among them were a Norwegian vocal soloist, a German acrobatic group, a Romanian art troupe, the "Berioska" dance troupe of Russia, a Malaysian instrumental soloist, a Mongolian art troupe, a U.S. art troupe, a Syrian vocal soloist, a Swiss musical troupe, a Swedish acrobat, a Slovak acrobatic troupe, a French juggler, Cuban art and acrobatic troupes, a Cyprian musician, an Australian musician, an Austrian vocal soloist, an Italian musical troupe, an art troupe of the Japan-Korea Musical and Art Interchange Association, a vocal soloist and acrobatic troupe of Viet Nam, and an art troupe of Korean residents in the United States.
Press review
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Papers here today report that Secretary. Kim Jong Il sent thanks to industrial establishments and public health organs for setting examples in carrying out revolutionary tasks.
Seen in papers is news that Secretary. Kim Jong Il received a gift from the judicial delegation of Kazakhstan on a visit to Korea.
Papers give an account of a meeting held in Moscow to commemorate the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
Today marks the 33rd month of the death of President Kim Il Sung.
In this connection, papers highlight articles dealing with the ardent desire of the Korean people to hold the President in high esteem for all ages.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the publication of "Let Us Improve the Supply of Goods", a celebrated work of President Kim Il Sung, Rodong Sinmun runs an article stressing that socialist commerce is a supply service for the people.
Conspicuous in papers are an account of the 15th April Spring Friendship Art Festival which has opened in Pyongyang with a large attendance and a congratulatory speech made by Vice-President Pak Song Chol at the opening ceremony.
Appearing in papers is the white paper published by the National Reunification Institute indicting the Kim Young Sam puppet clique for their anti-social labour policy and brutal suppression of labour movement.
Rodong Sinmun in a commentary accuses the Kim Young Sam group of frantically staging war exercises against the north with the mobilisation of "reserve forces".
Papers inform the readers that students under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils declared they would struggle for the resignation of the present regime and for the August 15 Pan-National Rally.
Minju Joson observes the World Health Day.
Farce of war servants
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The south Korean puppet Defence Minister, in an "inspiring address" at a "ceremony for commemorating the founding anniversary of the "homeland defence reserve forces", described the "hdrf" as a "pillar in defending liberty" and called for "establishing a joint defence system of civil government and the army" to smash any "provocation" from the north.
Rodong Sinmun today brands this as a farce of war servants.
Such utterances can be made only by warmaniacs and war servants of outsiders, who are overheated with anti-DPRK confrontation campaign and war fever against north Korea, the analyst says, and goes on:
The south Korean people have neither land nor "liberty" to defend. It is the height of impudence and shameless misrepresentation of the fact to describe the "reserve forces" as a "pillar in defending liberty".
The puppets cried for "establishment of a joint defence system of civil, government and the army", in the final analysis, with their criminal intention to make the south Korean people and puppet army cannon fodder in a nuclear war for the sake of outsiders.
Party for art festival participants
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The organizing committee for the 15th April Spring
Friendship Art Festival gave a party for the festival participants at the People's Palace of Culture on Monday.
Invited to the party were the Chinese government cultural delegation led by Vice Minister of Culture Pan Zhenzhou and foreign and overseas Korean artistes.
A speech was made at the party by Jang Chol, Vice-Premier, Minister of Culture and Art and also chairman of the festival organizing committee.
113,000 technical innovation proposals introduced
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The massive technical innovation movement is being condcuted by the "April 15 technical innovation shock-brigades" across Korea.
According to data available, over 113,000 technical innovation proposals were put into practice last year.
The shock brigades were formed at factories and enterprizes throughout the country in January 1980.
Sskilful workers and technicians are in these sShock brigades.
Tthey introduce some 100,000 technical innovation pProposals on an annual average into production and construction.
Bangladeshi political party leaders commemorate President Kim Il Sung's birthday
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- General Secretary rashed Khan Menon of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Bangladesh, General Secretary Hasanul Huq Inu of the Central Executive Committee of the Bangladesh National Socialist Party, convenor A.F.M. Mahbubul Huq of the C. C., the Socialist Party of Bangladesh and leaders of other political Parties and public organizations of the country visited the Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Dhaka on April 2 on the occasion of the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
They laid floral baskets and paid respects before the portrait of President Kim Il Sung.
Rashed Khan Menon stressed that President Kim Il Sung will always be alive in the hearts of the world people as well as the Korean people for his immortal exploits for the Korean and the world revolution.
A.F.M. Mahbubul Huq said that the Korean people today are successfully carrying forward the revolutionary cause started by President Kim Il Sung under the wise leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
He expressed the belief that Korea will surely be reunified under the guidance of Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Kwangmyong trading group of Korea
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The Kwangmyong Trading Group of Korea has many export goods production bases.
The president of the group, Choe Jong Hun, said that 100 odd production bases have been built across the country this year.
Especially, the Songchongang Trading Company in south Hamgyong Province newly made 19 production units of nonferrous metals and agricultural produce and the Namsan Trading Company in Nampho, 15 units of electronic articles, handicraft articles and garment.
Trading companies in north Hamgyong, Kangwon and other provinces built many production units of export goods.
The Kwangmyong Trading Group of Korea has 10 odd companies under it.
The companies have over 500 production bases in provinces of the country.
The trading group mainly exports agricultural produce, aquatic products, garment and nonferrous metals by tapping local resources.
Anti-social labour policy and suppression of labour movement in south Korea indicted
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The National Reunification Institute on Monday published a white paper indicting the puppet Kim Young Sam clique for their anti-social labour policy and brutal suppression of labour movement.
The south Korean puppet clique's labour policy is the most anti-social in the world because it serves the colonial economy, puts the interests of the businessmen above anything else and forces working people into slavish submission, the white paper said.
According to the document, right after Kim Young Sam took office, he brought forward a "new labour policy", the keynote of which is "sharing of pains". The "sharing of pains" means in essence enduring low wages, hard labour, no political right and hardships in life in order to restore the economy from crisis. South Korean publications said that "the policy gives big profits to haves and pains to have-nots".
The "labour law" which was retrogressively revised and railroaded through the "national assembly" in December last year reveals the anti-social labour policy more graphically.
It carries articles on the postponement of permission for multiple trade unions, ban on the right of teachers and civil servants to organise, ban on payment of wages to professional union leaders, prohibition of strike at worksites, hiring of replacement workers during strike, no pay during strike, introduction of the system of laying off workers, introduction of flexible working hours and deprivation of dismissed workers of union membership.
The businessmen can gain as much profit as above 29,150 billion won, 15.9 percent of the total wages of south Korean workers in a year through the introduction of these articles.
The south Korean workers denounce the revised "labour law" as the one of bleeding the workers white and negating their human rights.
The south Korean workers' life is worsening. Their wages do not reach 60 percent of the minimum living cost. They each are saddled with debt of 13,700,000 won on an average.
The majority of families can hardly eke out a living.
Industrial accidents leave seven workers dead and 400 crippled daily. The casualties by large industrial accidents, including those who should receive medical treatment for over six months, in south Korea are 2-3 times heavier than in Singapore and Hong Kong, 15 times than in Japan and 26 times than in Britain.
The unemployment rate in south Korea reaches 6-7 percent and the completely unemployed are is 600,000.
The suppression of the struggle of the south Korean workers became harsher after the appearance of the Kim Young Sam regime.
The Kim Young Sam regime set in motion more than 30,000 riot police to disperse the general strike of 150,000 members of 35 trade unions under the Hyundai Group in 1993.
It also drove 11,000 policemen to crack down upon the general strike of railway workers in June 1994.
The fascist clique have mobilized tens of thousands of policemen of hundreds of companies and repressive equipment to suppress the struggle of the workers and other people who were calling for the annulment of the retrogressively revised "labour law" and "law on the Agency for National Security Planning", probe into the truth behind the Hanbo financial scandal and the punishment of those involved in it since late December last year.
It is the trite method of the Kim Young Sam clique to crack down upon the labour movement, branding it as "leftist, pro-communist and benefiting the enemy".
All the fact shows that south Korea is a "heaven" for the rich and bureaucrats but a hell for the working people, the white paper said.
Day of World Health observed
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today dedicates a signed article to the Day of World Health.
The world health organisation has worked out a strategic programme for the health of all people that will be carried out till the year 2000 and worked hard for its materialisation, the paper says, and goes on:
Today Korea is pursuing a policy for the health of the people under the wise guidance of Secretary Kim Jong Il. A meticulous work is now under way for the promotion of the health of the people. With the excellent medical service system established throughout the country the life expectancy at birth has been increased systematically. The Koreans enjoy a longevity in good health under the free medical service system.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a member state of the who, has made contributions to the development of international health services on good terms with the organisation. It will, in the future, too, strive for the promotion of the health of the people, true to the idea and principle of the organisation.
Mankind will remember President Kim Il Sung forever
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- K.C. Tyagi, General Secretary of the All-India Socialist Party, in an interview with the KCNA correspondent in New Delhi with the approach of the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung said that mankind would remember him forever as a symbol of the struggle for peace, justice and aocialism.
The President was a tested leader who confidently led the revolution and built successful socialism without the slightest vacillation even under the continuous threats and blackmail of the imperialists after one half of the country was occupied by the U.S. troops, he said, and went on:
Socialist Korea has its say in the international arena, not reading other's face. It emerged victorious in the hard confrontation with the U.S. over the nuclear issue.
The revolutionary cause of President Kim Il Sung is being brilliantly carried forward by Secretary Kim Jong Il.
President Kim Il Sung's life devoted to people
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung (SAril 15, 1912) is drawing near.
With the approach of his birthday, a special event in the 5,000-year-long history of the nation, the Korean people are recollecting in humble reverence his life devoted to the country and the people.
Since he started revolutionary activities in his teens, he had never kept himself apart from the people.
Guided by the great idea of believing in the people as in heaven, he triumphantly led the hard-fought anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle in reliance on broad masses of the people, considering that the guerrillas could not live separated from the people any more than the fish could without water.
In the whole period of the building of a new country and socialist construction, he always mixed himself with the people, turning this land into a socialist earthly paradise.
He found himself among the people, giving on-site guidance to factories and rural villages in Pyongyang, south Phyongan and north Hwanghae provinces, Nampho municipality and other areas of the country in September and October 1945 Just after the liberation of the country, in July 1953 when the war was won by the Korean people, on his birthday next year, on September 9, 1972, the anniversary of the Republic, and even on June 19 and 21, 1994.
He made guidance tour endlessly for the happiness of the people, saying love for the people had always dominated his mind since he set on the road of revolution. Resolved to devote himself to the country and the people, and his teacher had been the people. The units blessed with his on-the-spot guidance totalled some 18,000. He devoted to the guidance some 2,530 redletter days, as many days as seven years.
The Korean people have deeply venerated the President, their father, who shared life and death, bitters and sweets with the people, seeking happiness in the pleasure of ordinary workers and peasants. Their absolute worship for and trust in him is ever growing.
The President always lives in the hearts of the people.
Five years of ship "Mangyongbong-92"
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The large-sized ship "Mangyongbong-92" has sailed over 160,000 miles in some 140 voyages over the five years since it was launched.
The ship, with peculiar shape and high speed, was built by the Korean workers and technicians with the patriotic help of officials of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and Korean businessmen in Japan.
The ship has exalted the external prestige of the DPRK and fully contributed to the convenient travel of overseas compatriots to the socialist fatherland.
The ship has carried a total of 50,000 passengers and several hundred thousand tons of cargo.
Earlier this month the ship carried many delegations and visiting groups of Chongryon and a Korean art group in Japan to participate in the 15th April Spring Friendship Art Festival on the occasion of the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The ship set sail again on April 6, 5 years since Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected the ship.
S. Korean people's struggle supported
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The Nepali solidarity forum for supporting the south Korean people's movement was inaugurated in Nepal on March 31 with due ceremony.
Ex-Prime Minister man Mohan Adhikari, President of the Nepal Communist Party (UML), was elected chairman of the forum at the meeting.
A declaration adopted there said that the forum will conduct an energetic action in support of the National Democratic Front and people of south Korea and activate the solidarity movement on a worldwide scale to put a period to human rights violations and suppression in south Korea.
It demanded that the united states honestly implement the DPRK-U.S. framework agreement and replace the armistice agreement with a peace accord and that the U.S. and the south Korean authorities discontinue at once various military exercises, provocative moves and arms buildup Which render the situation strained.
The south Korean authorities should set free unconverted long-term prisoners and all other prisoners of conscience and send them back to their families and relatives, it held.
The declaration strongly urged an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea as well as all their mass-destruction weapons and military equipment.
Smear campaign for sinister purpose
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Some dishonest forces of Japan are continuously conducting an anti-DPRK smear campaign on the script of the puppet Agency for National Security Planning of south Korea.
We have warned more than once that "suspected kidnapping of a Japanese girl" on their lips is a dastardly political drama intended to hurt the DPRK.
Whenever international assistance to and solidarity for our republic were increased, the south Korean puppets faked up one trick after another, motivated by a sinister intention to impair its international image. In recent years, they have tenaciously resorted to more vicious and dastardly smear campaigns as regards flood damage in the DPRk. The "suspected kidnapping of a Japanese girl" is part of such tricks. Responding to this, some ill-minded forces and venal press media of Japan are applying themselves to a vicious anti-DPRK smear campaign to attain their own ulterior purpose.
Japan is a country which has refused to atone for the indelible crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against the Korean people although more than half a century has passed. Nowadays, Japan is advertising that it is interested in establishing diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Japan. However, as Japan fails to liquidate its unsavory past wrongdoings, its advertisement is nothing but an empty talk.
Some ill-intentioned forces of Japan do not want problems of the two countries to be solved on a fair basis. So, they are resorting to a smear campaign against the DPRK hand in glove with the south Korean puppets.
This cannot be construed otherwise than a move to conceal and hush up the crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists including the issue of the "Comfort Women for the Japanese Army".
U.S. Congressman ends Korea visit
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Toni Hol, member of the House of Representatives of the United States, and his party left here on Monday by air after winding up a four-day visit to Korea.
During the visit they discussed the issues in the relations between the DPRK and the United States with Kim Kye Gwan, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned and inspected Sinuiju and other flood-hit areas.