Secy. Kim Jong Il praised by south Koreans

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Members of the February 16 Fellowship Society Active in Pusan city saw a video show of a military parade held in Pyongyang in April and expressed reverence for Secretary Kim Jong Il, according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoting information of the Pusan City Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea. A member of the society, Sonu Chol, said that the parade was a great political festival, which demonstrated the invincible might of the Korean People's Army, and no army in the world can match the army which has close ties of kinship with its Supreme Command. This is why the united states, which styles itself the only superpower in the world, is bewildered before the north. It is the great honour of the Tangun Nation to hold Secretary Kim Jong Il, an extraordinary brilliant commander and a peerless hero, at the head of the nation, said members of the society. They hardened their resolution to hold the general in higher esteem and carry out his intention at the risk of their lives with a view to bringing earlier the historical day when they will welcome him in the square of reunification.

President Kim Il Sung is greatest saint

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Members of the April 15 Fellowship Society saw a video show of documentary film "The respected President Kim Il Sung lives for all ages" on July 3 on the occasion of the third death anniversary of President Kim Il Sung, according to the Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoting information of the Kwangju City Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea. Chairman of the Society Pae Chol Won said that the death of President Kim Il Sung was a biggest loss of the Korean nation as well as the world and his life was a great epic devoted to the independence and reunification of the nation, the happiness and prosperity of the fellow countrymen and the independence of the world. The President was the prominent great leader, whom the Korean nation held in high esteem for the first time in history and the greatest saint, who lives forever in the hearts of humankind, he noted. The members of the society confirmed their determination to turn out in the vigorous struggle to reunify the country under the leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il so as to carry out the behests of the President on reunification without fail.

Letters to U.S. President, Congress leaders

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Family members of Kim In So, Ham Se Hwan and Kim Yong Thae, prisoners of war and unconverted long-term prisoners who are still kept in south Korea, sent letters to the U.S. President, Congress leaders and others. Kim Hwa Sim and Kim Jong Sim, daughters of Kim In So, sent letters to Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, commander of the U.S. Armed Forces in south Korea John Tilelli, speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and President of the Senate Albert Gore. Ham Suk Nyo, sister of Ham Se Hwan, and Kim Ryong Je, son of Kim Yong Thae, sent letters to Jimmy Carter, former President. The letters said the United States, a Party to the Korean War, is responsible for the repatritation of the pows. The daughters of Kim In So earnestly requested the Clintons to pay deep concern to the repatriation of their father. They expressed the hope that the President and the First Lady will help their old father, who is now disabled after being kept in prison for more than 30 years, be sent back to the north so that he may live a happy life in his remaining years together with his daughters. They also expressed the belief that Hillary Clinton, who enjoys high reputation for her activities for justice and the defense of human rights, will pay deep concern to his father's repatriation. In letters to the congress leaders, they hoped that they will direct deep attention to the wanton violation of human rights of their father and other pows in south Korea. They also wanted them to bring up the issue for discussion among congressmen so that they may take a step for their father's repatriation as early as possible and honestly implement the U.S. obligation under the Korean armistice agreement. In a letter to John Tilelli they said that as the man who signed the Korean Armistice Agreement was the then commander of the U.S. 8th army, he, from the historical point of view, is obliged to pay deep interest in the repatriation of the pows, which the 8th army commander left unsettled. They hoped for his help, believing that if he make efforts for the repatriation of the pows, their father would be sent back to the north immediately without difficulties. Ham Suk Nyo, in a letter to Jimmy Carter, said she hoped that the DPRK and the United States would discuss not only the repatriation of U.S. servicemen's remains but the repatriation of his father, a pow, to his hometown. Kim Ryong Je hoped for Carter's assistance, convinced that he, who values humanitarianism and is active for world peace and security, will work hard for the repatriation of the pows, victims of the Cold War.

SPA Chairman meets Iranian Ambassador

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Chairman Yang Hyong Sop of the Supreme People's Assembly met and had a talk with Iranian Ambassador to Korea Seyed Morteza Mirheidari, who paid a farewell call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on July 12.

Months of maritime physical culture begin

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- July and August are months of maritime physical culture in Korea. Youth and students in Pyongyang met at the Rungnado Swimming Pool on the River Taedong on July 12 to hold a ceremony for beginning the months. In the period, youth and students throughout the country will build up their body and mind in all swimming pools. There are many swimming halls, swimming pools and wading pools in Korea, which is seabound on three sides and has many rivers and streams. They provide good conditions for maritime physical culture of youth and students.

Floral baskets from foreign countries

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Didier Ratsiraka, President of the Republic of Madagascar, sent a floral basket to the Korean Embassy in Antananarivo on the third death anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. It was handed to the Korean Ambassador on July 8 by the Secretary General of the Presidency and the Director of the State Bureau of Ceremonies upon authorisation. On the same day a 20-member memorial delegation led by deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol, including directors and deputy Directors of the Royal General Bureau, visited the Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh and laid a floral basket before the portrait of President Kim Il Sung and paid silent tribute to him. Youth delegates of Cuba, Portugal, Algeria, Viet Nam, Namibia and Brazil and a delegate of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, who are members of the standing group of the International Coordination Committee for the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, visited the Korean Embassy in Havana to lay bouquets before the portrait of the President and pay homage to him.

Minju Joson supports "Hanchongryon"

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- The Kim Young Sam group cannot destroy the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) under any circumstances, says Minju Joson in a signed commentary today. In its recent "emergency struggle guideline" to its affiliated organisations, "Hanchongryon" declared that it would hold a general meeting urging the dissolution of the "New Korea Party", the conclusion of a peace agreement, the permission to participate in the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students and the resignation of the "civilian"veiled regime. The author of the commentary says: The Kim Young Sam group are trying these days to brand "Hanchongryon" as a "violent organisation" and "enemy-benefiting organisation" through the mouth of venal pressmen and other underlings, while fabricating false cases against it. They infiltrated their agents into the ranks of student movement, bribed some members of university student councils with money and forced them to secede from "Hanchongryon." However, they cannot dissolve "Hanchongryon", which has prepared for a great counterattack, frustrating their fascist offensives. The "emergency struggle guideline" is an official declaration that "Hanchongryon" has survived the heinous fascist offensives of the puppets and that it would continue its struggle for independence, democracy and reunification in the future, too. The Kim Young Sam group would be well advised to stop the futile moves against "Hanchongryon" and release the arrested students without delay.