Rodong Sinmun urges cancellation of projected "Ulji Focus Lens"

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- If the United States and the south Korean puppets are interested in peace of the Korean Peninsula, they should promptly cancel the projected "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military manoeuvres, another round of the "Team Spirit" joint exercises, urges Rodong Sinmun today. In a commentary the daily says the plan of the manoeuvres they announced just before four-way preliminary talks for peace in the peninsula is an insult to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a party to the talks. The daily says: Dialouge and war preparations are incompatible with each other. There are many examples illustrating that due to war preparations against the DPRK, progress of inter-Korean dialogue was impeded and bilateral relations driven back to the phase of confrontation. Their plan to stage the manoeuvres has apparently spoiled the prospect of "four-way talks". We value the country's peace and peaceful reunification, but never beg for them. If they carry out the war gamble in defiance of our warning, we will take a strong self-defensive countermeasure.

Repression of Hanchongryon condemned

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea urged the Kim Young Sam regime to immediately set free students of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) arrested on unreasonable charges and stop the repression of Hanchongryon at once. In a statement Monday the spokesman said: The civilian-veiled Kim Young Sam regime is making desperate efforts to obliterate Hanchongryon. It shows that its rulers are more fascist than the military dictators and that the present "civilian" system is more fascist dictatorial system than the military dictatorial system and a system of violating human rights. Withdrawal from Hanchongryon, relapsed into the welter of the intrigues of the "Agency for National Security Planning", is betrayal to the seniors and fellow students who devoted their lives to the altar of independence, democracy and reunification, the statement said, adding: Students should bring about a new upsurge in the campus movement, unyieldingly fighting against the Kim Young Sam regime's fascist suppression. The statement called upon the patriotic people from all walks of life to positively support and protect Hanchongryon.

Struggle of s. Korean students supported

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Students in North Hwanghae Province held a rally on August 7 and denounced the south Korean puppets for cracking down upon the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon). The speakers at the rally bitterly condemned the Kim Young Sam fascist clique for brutally suppressing Hanchongryon to destroy it in a coercive way, branding it as a "pro-north organisation" and a "violent organisation". This crackdown is a fascist outrage violating south Korean students' elementary right to autonomy, the speakers noted. They further said: No matter how frantically the "civilian"-veiled fascist clique of south Korea may crack down upon Hanchongryon, they cannot disorganise and destroy the organisation which has been tempered in struggle nor break the faith of south Korean students who are determined to fight for justice and patriotism. All the students in the province will extend full support and encouragement to Hanchongryon in its just cause of independence, democracy and reunification with the feelings that they are always with the south Korean students who are unyieldingly fighting in the teeth of the brutal suppression by the fascist clique, the speakers stressed.

Just cause of Korean people and students favoured

Havana, August 6 (KCNA) -- A meeting of delegates of foreign youth and students was held at the Korean National Club on August 5 to support the just cause of the Korean people and youth and students. First Secretary Choe Ryong Hae of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League in his speech said that the meeting gives a strong impetus to the Korean people and youth and students in their powerful struggle to foil the imperialists in their anti-socialist, anti-DPRK campaign, defend the cause of socialism and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country. The Korean youth and students will certainly implement the behests of President Kim Il Sung on reunification in firm unity with the south Korean youth and students who are stubbornly fighting for independence, democracy and reunification, he stressed. The Secretary General of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, on behalf of the WFDY, the organising committees of different countries and all the delegates to the festival, expressed firm solidarity with the Korean people and youth in their struggle. The WFDY always holds that Korea is one and should be reunified without fail, he said. The meeting adopted a joint resolution supporting the struggle of the Korean people and youth for socialist cause and national reunification. The resolution bitterly condemns all sorts of anti-DPRK moves and new war provocation manoeuvrings of the United States and its followers and extends full support and solidarity to the Korean people and youth in their struggle for preserving peace of the country and reunifying the divided country independently and in a peaceful way. It scathingly denounces the south Korean authorities for their dependence on outside forces and treacheries, and fully supports the just struggle of the south Korean youth and students for independence, democracy and reunification.

Institution of Juche Era and the Day of Sun welcomed in s. Korea

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Members of the April 15 Fellowship Society in south Korea met in the city of Anyang on July 15 to hail the institution of the Juche Era and the Day of Sun , said the Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoting information of the Kyonggi Provincial Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea. At the meeting, a member of the society, Ri Myong Son said that with the institution of the Juche Era and the Day of Sun the history of the country and the nation would be followed by the great history of President Kim Il Sung which will shine in the august name of the sun for ever. Another member, Kim Mi Gyong, said President Kim Il Sung remains alive in the hearts of the Korean nation and humankind with the Juche Era and the Day of Sun thanks to Secretary Kim Jong Il, who is the supreme incarnation of loyalty and filial piety and moral obligation. The participants hardened their will to remain singleheartedly loyal and devoted to the general and continue the vigorous struggle to carry out the behests of the President on reunification, the radio said.

Press review

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Papers here today report Secretary Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), sent thanks to soldiers of the KPA and working people for fully displaying the traditional trait of army-people unity. Rodong Sinmun rounds up words of members of the April 15 Fellowship Society in south Korea stressing that President Kim Il Sung will be immortal with the Juche Era and the Day of Sun under the leadership of Secretary Kim Jong Il. The paper edits articles on Secretary Kim Jong Il's teachings "Our party made the national character a major basis of national unity". Today is the 35th anniversary of the publication of the President Kim Il Sung's famous work "Let Us Radically Improve the People's Living Standards By Strengthening the Role of the County and Further Developing Local Industry and Agriculture". Minju Joson carries an editorial calling for developing local industry and articles introducing those counties which are developing local industry and agriculture. A plan for cultural exchange between the governments of the DPRK and India was signed in Pyongyang, says the press. Papers give accounts of a closing ceremony of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students and of a solidarity meeting to support the just cause of the Korean people and youth and students held in Havana. Papers carry news that the south Korean fascist clique's suppression of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils is under fire at home and abroad. Rodong Sinmun runs a commentary denouncing the "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military manoeuvres to be staged by the U.S. and the south Korean puppets. The daily in a commentary says that the U.S. is violating the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework, abusing the "four-way talks" as a pretext of economic sanctions. Minju Joson carries a commentary condemning the Kim Young Sam regime for scheming to stamp out the reunification movement planned by the south Korean youth and students on the occasion of August 15. Papers dedicate articles to the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Asean.

Papers mark Asean anniversary

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Papers here today congratulate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on its 30th anniversary. Rodong Sinmun in an article says: The foundation of the Asean reflected the common desire of the regional people to boost unity and cooperation under the banner of independence. It also marked an epoch-making event which opened a new vista in the development of the regional countries. The Asean has made achievements in the efforts for common prosperity and development through many-sided cooperation of its member nations. The Korean people sincerely rejoice over the achievements, and friendly ties between Korea and Asean nations have developed on good terms. It is our consistent policy to strengthen friendship and cooperation with them. Minju Joson notes that the Korean people will steadily strengthen solidarity and cooperation with the peoples of Asean nations in order to make Asia independent, peaceful and prosperous in accordance with idea of independence, peace and friendship.

U.S. sanction may hamper implementation of DPRK-U.S. Agreement

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA)-- Some people of the United States are saying that the DPRK's participation in preliminary talks for "four-way talks" is not enough for the United States to lift economic sanctions. In this regard Rodong Sinmun today says the United States is apparently seeking a sinister intention by using the "quad talks" as a pretext for escalating sanctions against the DPRK. The daily says in a commentary: The U.S. intends to secure concessions from the DPRK by means of sanction and turn the "quad talks" favorable to it. The U.S. position concerning the economic sanctions is a wanton violation of the DPRK-U.S. framework agreement. It is stipulated in the agreement article 2, paragraph 1 that both sides shall ease the barrier of trade and investment, lifting restrictions on communication service and financial settlement. It means U.S. lifting of economic sanctions against the DPRK. But the U.S. Has dared transgress the agreement, a legal document. We are not frightened by the sanctions the U.S. refuses to lift. What matters, however, is that the escalating sanctions may hamper the implementation of the agreement. We do not want to entreat the U.S. to implement the agreement. The implementation of the agreement is of course fabvorable to the DPRK. But even though the agreement failed to be carried out, it would do the DPRK no harm. We cannot sit on the fence now that the U.S. has unhesitatingly violated the agreement and abused "four-way talks" as means of pressure. The U.S. had better behave itself, deeply thinking of grave consequences which may be caused by its unreasonable acts.

Hanchongryon on significance of participation in Havana Festival

Havana, August 6 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) which represents the south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) published a statement on August 5 as regards the dispatch and arrival in Havana of its delegate to the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. The statement said in part: Hanchongryon participation in the festival is significant of serving the strengthening of the rapidly intensified international anti-imperialist front. It is also significant of demonstrating to the whole world the proud name of Hanchongryon, the saviour of the nation, the hope of the people and the vangurad on the anti-imperialist struggle front. Hanchongryon is waging an active struggle to realize the aspirations of the 70 million fellow countrymen to oppose the U.S. imperialists' domination and win the independence of the nation, and the 14th Havana Festival will mark an occasion in heralding such struggle of Hanchongryon to the progressive youth and students all over the world. During the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, Korean youths and students in the south, the north and overseas met to sincerely discuss their role for national reunification and demonstrated the might of unity.

Defence of Hanchongryon called for

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) - The Youth and Student Department of the C.C., the National Democratic Front of South Korea published an article titled "present situation and immediate tasks of campus movement" on August 2 as regards the Kim Young Sam regime's intensified repressive moves against the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), said the Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation. The article said: The Kim Young Sam regime has defined Hanchongryon as an "organization benefiting the enemy" and set the deadline for withdrawal of student councils from it. It is now launching a wholesale reactionary offensive to physically destroy those student councils which have not yet withdrawn and take legal actions against students. Students should decisively smash the destructive moves against Hanchongryon under the slogan "smash the new security-oriented suppression and dissolve the Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP)", it stressed. It further said: With the firm belief that if they fight, they will win, the students should never surrender to nor be taken in by "ANSP's" vicious tricks and bribing operation against Hanchongryon, but destroy "ANSP" through their valiant struggle. They should rally themselves under the banner of Hanchongryon, the umbrella organization of one million students, pulling down the fence between activist and inactive students and transcending the difference in isms, views and groupings, and strengthen the regimentation of the organization in every way and realize the unity of the movement. They should conduct positive activities for solidarity with mass movements of people, the article said.

Solidarity with Korean people expressed abroad

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Solidarity meetings, photo exhibitions, lecture meetings and film shows were held in Romania, Guinea and Mali on July 25 and 27 to mark the month of international solidarity with the Korean people and the 44th anniversary of the Korean People's victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War. On display at the venues were Korean books and photos showing the feats performed by Secretary Kim Jong Il in his guidance over the army and the invincible might of the Korean People's Army. Speakers at ceremonies said the Korean people's historic victory in the Fatherland Liberation War demonstrated the wise guidance of President Kim Il Sung as well as the matchless courage and mass heroism of the Korean people and People's Army. They stressed that President Kim Il Sung had worked heart and soul until the last moment of his life to remove the nation's misfortune and sufferings caused by the division of the country and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and that his cause of Juche is being carried forward by Secretary Kim Jong Il. They denounced the military provocations of the south Korean authorities laying an obstacle to the reunification of Korea and expressed full support to and solidarity with the Korean people's cause of national reunification.

Family basketball team

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Nowadays a family "basketball team" has become the object of public attention in Korea, where mass sports are brisk. It is Yun Hang Gu's family in Yangdongri, Unpha county, North Hwanghae Province. The team consists of Yun Hang Gu, his two sons and three daughters. There was a demonstration game between a certain men's team and the family team at the Sariwon Stadium some time ago. The game ended with 52 to 43 in favor of the family team. Earlier, the family team defeated the team of a certain enterprise with a wide gap in scores. Yun Hang Gu, father of the family and the captain of the team, is a worker of the Lake Sohung area irrigation office. He has had a special taste for basketball, volleyball and other sports from his youth and guided the physical training of his children as everyday concern in response to the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the state on promoting the health of the people by making sports popular and regular. In the course of this, his three daughters became basketball players of a sports group and his sons, a teacher and a student of a sports school. The family team is an example which proves the validity of the Korean policy of popular and regular sports.

Stop to repression of Hanchongryon urged

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Koreans residing in Beijing reportedly sent a letter of protest to the south Korean Embassy in China on August 2 as regards the Kim Young Sam regime's moves to disorganize and obliterate the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon). The letter said: To define Hanchongryon as an "organization benefiting the enemy" for a mere reason that it calls for U.S. troops' pullout, the abrogation of the "National Security Law" and peaceful reunification based on confederacy formula is a wilful act of the stupid dictators bereft of reason and common sense. It is the present regime that should be dissolved in practice, and the criminial to be punished is the Kim Young Sam clique, the kingpin of irregularities and corruption who is cracking down upon independence and democracy, depending on outside forces. The Kim Young Sam regime should stop the repression of Hanchongryon at once.

Senior Korean officials meet outgoing Bangladeshi Ambassador

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Vice-President Ri Jong Ok of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had a talk with Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladeshi Ambassador to korxhuz23, 53 latter paid a farewell call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on August 7. On the same day Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam had a conversation with the Ambassador.

Foreign Minister meets with Swiss delegation

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam today had a conversation with the visiting Swiss Foreign Ministry delegation led by Walter Fust, Director General of the Development, Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid of the Swiss Foreign Ministry.

Personal letter and gift to Secy. Kim Jong Il from Nigerian State leader

Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- A personal letter and a gift came to Secretary Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, from General Sani Abacha, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The personal letter and gift were conveyed to KPA Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun, Chief of the General staff of the KPA, by Abdulsalam Alhaji Abubakar, Chief of staff of defence, who is leading a Nigerian military delegation on a visit to Korea. A gift to Secretar Kim Jong Il from the head of the delegation was also conveyed to Kim Yong Chun.