Secy. Kim Jong Il receives floral baskets and congratulatory letters

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) - Secretary Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), received a floral basket and a letter from the military attaches corps here in congratulation of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the heroic Korean People's Army. The floral basket and letter were handed on April 23 to KPA Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok, Director of the General Political Department of KPA, by Arnaldo Fernandez Rodriguez, military attache of the Cuban embassy and doyen of the corps. Military attaches of Vietnamese, Egyptian, Iranian and Peruvian embassies here asked officials concerned on April 23 to convey their letters and gifts to Secretary Kim Jong Il. The economic and commercial counsellors corps presented a floral basket and a congratulatory letter to Secretary Kim Jong Il on the same occasion. Russian trade representative Evgeni Bilim, doyen of the corps, handed them to an official concerned on April 23.

Foreigners lay floral basket before Presidential Kim Il Sung's Statue

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- The economic and commercial counsellors corps here laid a floral basket and made a bow before the Statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang on April 23 on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the heroic Korean People's Army. Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters "The great leader comrade Kim Il Sung is immortal."

Message to Secy. Kim Jong Il from Cambodian King

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Secretary Kim Jong Il received a message from Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk on April 15, the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The message said that the Generalissimo Kim Il Sung always gave the courageous Korean people the greatest happiness and infinite prosperity and led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to achieve a great and endless development in all fields of the Juche socialist construction. It noted that the third world and all other people loving freedom, peace, progress and justice and the Cambodian people in particular will always be happy and proud that they respect Generalissimo Kim Il Sung as the greatest hero and creator in the thousands of years of Korea, and a distinguished hero symbolic of the ideas of complete independence, justice, peace and progress that conform with the five principles of peaceful coexistence and the 10 Principles of the Bandung Meeting. The message said the Cambodian King and people will always support the DPRK's foreign policy which accords with the principle of peaceful coexistence adopted at the Bandung Meeting held in 1955 and its just cause for independent and peaceful reunification.

Letter to Secy. Kim Jong Il adopted in Russia

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- A letter to Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting of leaders of progressive parties in different countries held in Moscow on the occasion of the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The letter was adopted on April 15 in joint name of 30 political parties including the union of communist parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Communist Party of Ukraine, the Communist Party of Cuba and the People's Party of Cambodia. The letter said that President Kim Il Sung led the revolution to meet the interests of the working people and the demand of the complex situation on the Korean Peninsula. After World War II he exerted the most positive influence on important international matters and composition and distribution of political forces in international arena, it said, and noted: The Korean people laid a firm foundation to advance along the road chosen by themselves under his leadership. It hoped that the Korean people will achieve fresh victory in socialist construction, vigorously overcoming temporary difficulties caused by natural disaster.

National exhibitions open

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- A national artistic photo exhibition opened here on April 23 to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the heroic Korean People's Army (KPA). On display at the exhibition were some 100 photos including those on the army building exploits and noble virtues of President Kim Il Sung, the founder of the KPA, and Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il, who have strengthened and developed the KPA into an invincible army. They also show the noble spirit of soldiers of the people's army, who spend their youth on the posts for defence of the fatherland, ready to defend the General Kim Jong Il at the risk of life. There are photos on the traditional traits of the army-people unity and landscape. A national art exhibition was opened on the same day. Seen at the exhibition were over 100 Korean and oil paintings and posters, including pictures of President Kim Il Sung and Secretary Kim Jong Il. They also show the 65 years of the Korean People's Army including anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and the Fatherland Liberation War, their heroic struggle to defend the socialist fatherland and the efforts for national reunification.

Book "The greatness of President Kim Il Sung" published in Nepal

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Book "The greatness of President Kim Il Sung" was published by the Nepal Worker-Peasant Party on the occasion of the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Chairman of the Party, and political, public and press figures were present at a ceremony for publishing the book held on April 12. Printed in the book is a portrait of President Kim Il Sung and photos showing his popular traits. It consists of the preface and five chapters, "Respect to the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung," "the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung", "the people's country built by President Kim Il Sung", "All people visit Mangyongdae" and "All his life for the people". It deals with the President's boundless devotion to the country's prosperity and people's happiness, his outstanding leadership for victory of the revolution and construction, the foundation of the Juche idea, ever-victorious strategy and tactics, the construction and development of Korean socialism based on self-reliance and other exploits for the revolution.

Rodong Sinmun on crimes of socialist renegades

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today deals with crimes of the socialist renegades who danced to the tune of the imperialists, falling into their strategy of "peaceful transition". The strategy, the basic method of the imperialists in their anti-socialist campaign, is aimed at disintegrating socialist countries from within through ideological and cultural infiltration and economic "aid". The reappearance of capitalism in former socialist countries is mainly attributable to the fact that the renegades were trapped by the strategy, the daily says in an article, and continues: The modern revisionists who usurped power by means of plot in the mid-1950s, cried for "material concern" and "economic profits", pursued a material-first policy and fostered extreme individualism, bewitched by capitalist "material prosperity". Availing themselves of that opportunity, the imperialists intensified a reactionary ideological offensive, while bringing a wave of bourgeois "liberalization" to the countries. As a result, illusion about capitalism grew stronger and confidence in socialism thinner among the people. The modern revisionists and renegades, bowing to the imperialists' nuclear threat, totally wrecked socialism in collusion with them. The renegades, reduced to servants of the imperialists, introduced bourgeois democracy in the political mode under the motto of "glasnosti" and "pluralism", and legalized anti-socialist political parties and organizations. They, enchanted by the imperialists' "aid" and "cooperation", got overheated in "reforms" and "perestroika" and fully introduced capitalist economic system, causing economic stagnation and confusion.

Party at Iranian embassy on KPA birthday

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Iranian Ambassador to the DPRK Seyed Morteza Mirheidari and military attache Mohammad Hassan Dabir gave a party at the embassy on Wednesday on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the heroic Korean People's Army. Invited to the party were Ri Yong Su, Yice-Minister of the People's Armed Forces, and generals and officers of the KPA. Speeches were exchanged at the party.

Trick over food problem

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Some American right-wing conservatives, Japanese reactionaries and south Korean puppets are reportedly making ill-intentioned remarks, seriously getting on the nerves of the DPRK over the issue of food assistance. They say, "Unless north Korea stops military action, it may not receive large-scale food assistance" and "north Korea should adopt massive disarmament in order to overcome food shortage." This reveals their ulterior intention to put a brake on humanitarian assistance and abuse the food problem for their sinister political purposes. We regard independence as our lifeblood and we can never allow the dishonest forces to interfere in our internal affairs. Disarmament is our party's consistent call. We already proposed drastic cutback of troops in the north and south of Korea, to which the United States and south Korean puppets objected. They now call for "disarmament" of north Korea. Jurking behind this is a sinister intention to use the humanitarian issue of food assistance for their political purposes, disarm the DPRK and overthrow our socialist system. This is, however, a foolish attempt.

Press review

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Papers here today report that Secretary Kim Jong Il sent thanks to officers and employees of public security organs for highly displaying communist traits and to officials and working people for doing good things for society and the collective. It is reported in the press that Secretary Kim Jong Il received floral baskets and congratulatory letters from the military attaches corps and economic and commercial councillors corps here on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army. Rodong Sinmun conveys news that the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung was commemorated in different countries. According to the press, a monument to on-the-spot guidance by President Kim Il Sung and Secretary Kim Jong Il was unveiled with due ceremony at a unit of the KPA. Minju Joson runs an article stressing that the KPA is an invincible force with Secretary Kim Jong Il as the Supreme Commander. Under the banner title "The corrupt rule of 'Chongwadae' should be terminated" Rodong Sinmun conveys south Korean news reports. The paper carries a statement issued by the director of Youth and Student Department of the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea and information no. 734 of the Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland on the Kim Young Sam group's suppression of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils. Printed in the paper is an article saying that south Korea is "a politically-underdeveloped area" in the world, hit hard by the Hanbo incident. Seen in the press is an interview of the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK with KCNA on the south Korean authorities' import of latest-type weapons from Russia. Rodong Sinmun carries an article titled "crimes of betrayers manipulated by imperialists".

Invincible KPA

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- It is the highest glory and fortune of the Korean People's Army to have the Supreme Commander in the person Secretary Kim Jong Il, a great brilliant commander. It is the great pride and happiness of the Korean people to have such heroic armed forces as the KPA which has grown to be an invincible army under the brilliant commander. led by him, The KPA is an invincible army possessed of military and technical power enough to cope with any war. This is the topic of a signed article of Minju Joson today dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the founding of the heroic KPA. The author of the article says: The KPA has developed into an invincible army which can easily defeat any formidable enemy, thanks to the tireless efforts of Secretary Kim Jong Il, who is creditably carrying forward President Kim Il Sung's cause of army building generation after generation. It is a strong army which has an unshakable political and ideological determination to decisively safeguard the party and the leader. Only the Juche idea, the idea of the Workers' Party of Korea and the leader, is prevalent in the KPA, which is armed with the revolutionary spirit of unconditionally carrying out the order and directive of its Supreme Commander without the slightest deviation. All the KPA soldiers are ready to dedicate themselves to the safety of General Kim Jong Il. All its soldiers are firmly armed with the original military idea, theory and tactics of their Supreme Commander. It is thanks to the energetic guidance of the General That the DPRK has a solid material and technical foundation of an independent defence industry which can manufacture any sophisticated weapons as it wishes and that all its positions have been turned into an impregnable fortress. The traditional trait of army-people unity which is being more fully displayed in the course of upholding the General with loyalty is the source of the might of the KPA and the Korean people, which Korea is proud of.

Kim Young Sam's anti-peasant policy denounced

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- The anti-social policy and corruptness of the Kim Young Sam group of south Korea are threatening the existence of guiltless workers and farmers. Choe Song Suk, Chairperson of the C.C., The Union of Agricultural Working People of Korea, published a statement on Wednesday in this connection. She noted that in south Korea the people's life is now in the worst situation due to the total bankruptcy of the economy. The Kim Young Sam puppet regime's policy of opening the agro-stock market has brought debts of 27 trillion won in south Korean currency to the farmers, while leading hundreds of thousands of farm houses to bankruptcy, she added. "On behalf of the entire peasants in the northern half of the country, I scathingly condemn the Kim Young Sam group for having driven farmers and other people in the south to misery," The statement said. The statement expressed the belief that the south Korean peasants, in close unity with workers and students, will staunchly struggle to overthrow the Kim Young Sam regime.

S. Korea, politically-underdeveloped area

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- With Kim Young Sam, a source of corruption and irregularities and kingpin of thieves, staying in power, south Korea cannot remove the disgrace of a "politically-underdeveloped area" in the world. Nor can the south Korean people get rid of all manner of sufferings and misfortune. Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed article today. South Korea is in the grip of a serious crisis caused by the "largest power-backed loan scandal ever known in history", the article says, and goes on: Korea first bank and other banks granted 5,700 billion won of loan to the Hanbo business group, an amount which goes beyond the total value of currency issued by south Korea in 1988 as well as the total amount of "income tax" collected from the working people in 1995, that is, 5,078,300 million won. This eloquently proves how decadent the political and economic aspects of south Korean society are. the catastrophic disorder and crisis of south Korean society are a product of corrupt policies pursued by Kim Young Sam and of his misrule against the people. The money Kim Young Sam received from the Hanbo business group in bribery amounts to more than 1,000 billion won, or above 1.2 billion U.S. dollars. The traitor Kim has committed all sorts of crimes which deserve imprisonment of 1.6 million years under the "laws" of south Korea. There is no such hell and politically-underdeveloped area as south Korea in the world. Kim Young Sam, the thief, is its "President" and exercises one-man dictatorship and the political, economic and social life as a whole is corrupt under the rule of Kim Young Sam and his son. To overthrow the traitor Kim at an early date is the best way for justice in south Korean society.

Increased production of coal

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- April 24 is the day of colliers. They are significantly commemorating their holiday with increased production. According to Hwang Se Byong, Director of the Production Guidance Department of the Ministry of Coal Industry, they are now producing about 20,000 more tons of coal everyday than at the beginning of the month. The Sunchon, Kaechon, Tokchon and Pukchang area coal complexes have secured more than 20 big coal cutting faces to turn out much more coal. The state has systematically increased investment in coal industry, attaching importance to its development. Big coal mines in Phyongnam, northern and other areas with a large amount of deposits have been expanded. And many new coal mines have been built in the areas with good prospect. In the past 10 years Soho coal mine and tens of other big coal mines were commissioned. The annual production capacity of the Anju area coal complex has reached 15 million tons with Ripsok, Ryongrim, Thaehyang and other coal mines being built. Large, modern and high-speed mining equipment has been introduced in coal mines. Meanwhile, coal prospecting has been pushed ahead to find new coal fields. Billions of tons of coal deposits were recently found in Saebyol area of north Hamgyong Province,Paekam area of Ryanggang Province and other areas.

Head of DPRK delegation on "four-way talks"

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Kye Gwan made clear the attitude of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on April 22, concerning a briefing which took place in New York from April 16 to 21 in reply to the "joint briefing" on the proposal for "four-way talks." Kim Kye Gwan, who is also the head of the DPRK delegation, said: It is our stand to hold "four-way talks" for peace and security of the Korean Peninsula. We, therefore, put forward a way of realising the talks in our reply briefing. In order to make the talks more effective and productive, we proposed to have more rounds of negotiations among the DPRK, the United States and south Korea before beginning the "four-way talks". Confidence needed for "four-way talks" has not yet been built between the DPRK and the U.S. And, still worse, our equal footing at the talks has not been guaranteed. In particular, the problems, arising in the course of our hearing the "joint briefing" and making a reply, call for narrowing the differences in views before holding the "four-way talks." From this point of view, our proposal is realistic, reasonable and constructive. We are ready to have further contacts to this end.

"Phibada" Opera Troupe leaves for China

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- The "Phibada" Opera Troupe of Korea led by Vice-Minister of Culture and Art Kim Yong Sin left here for China today. The troupe was seen off by vice-minister of culture and art Song Sok Hwan and Chinese Ambassador to Korea Wan Yongxiang.

Congratulatory message to Indian Prime Minister

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, acting Premier of the Administration Council of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a congratulatory message April 23 to I. K. Gujral on his assumption of office as Indian Prime Minister. The message expressed belief that the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms in the interests of the two peoples, and wished the prime minister success in his new work.

CNN group arrives

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- A group of the CNN International, USA, led by executive vice-president Eason Jordan arrived here today to cover the celebrations of the 65th birthday of the heroic Korean People's Army. The group was met at the airport by Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee.