Handbills praising Secy. Kim Jong Il scattered in s. Korea

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Handbills praising the General Kim Jong Il were seen scattered in different areas of south Korea, said Kuguk Jonson, newspaper of the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea. Handbills scattered in Seoul, Namyangju and Uijongbu had the words of the song "image of the general" printed in obverse and letters "Long live General Kim Jong Il, a great man faithfully serving the people " and his anecdote in upper part. Printed in lower part were letters "people let us turn out in the struggle for national reunification to live a happy life, holding General Kim Jong Il in high esteem".

Institution of Juche Era and Sun's Day welcomed

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Marwan Sudah, Deputy Secretary General of the Arab Defenders' Party of Jordan, published a statement on August 9 in support of the resolution on instituting the Juche Era and Sun's Day. The statement said that the resolution is a significant measure to exalt the ideas and leadership of President Kim Il Sung and the historic exploits he performed for the Korean people and the world people. It has guaranteed the prospect of the Juche cause and further consolidated the foundation for widely disseminating the Juche idea as demanded by the era of independence, the statement said. The resolution reflects our will to strengthen activities for the dissemination of the Juche idea in the Arab world and the noble desire of all the progressive humankind who regard the idea of Juche as guidelines.

Jordan guest arrives

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Marwan Sudah, Deputy Secretary General of the Arab Defenders' Party of Jordan, arrived here on August 16. He was greeted at the airport by Rim Sun Phil, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Overseas Koreans visit Pomminryon north headquarters

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Delegates of the overseas headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) to the 8th Pan-National Rally visited the north headquarters of Pomminryon on Saturday. The visitors were welcomed by Chairman Paek In Jun, presidium memebrs, central members and other officials of the headquarters. They vowed to take the van in the efforts for reunifying the country under the leadership of General Kim Jong Il, the sun of the nation and lodestar of national reunification, and moving up the day when he would be acclaimed at the square hailing the reunification. They accused the Kim Young Sam regime for suppressing the Pomminryon south headquarters and the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils and called for extending full support and solidarity of Pomminryon to the pro-reunification forces of south Korea. They also called for strengthening three-way solidarity of the north, south and overseas organizations of Pomminryon, tightening relations of regional headquarters and invigorating the national reunification movement on a nationwide scale.

Indian Independence Day marked

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Indian Ambassador to Korea Jagjit Singh Sapra gave a reception at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel on Saturday in celebration of the 50th anniversary of India's Independence. Invited to the reception were Vice-President Pak Song Chol, Vice-Premier Jang Chol and officials concerned. Foreign diplomatic envoys here were also invited. The Indian Ambassador, in his speech, spoke of national independence the Indian people won through the anti-imperialist struggle, its significance, their economic, technical and social development since the independence and India's foreign policies. Highly appreciating developing relations of friendship between India and the DPRK, he said the recent signing of a plan of cultural exchange between the two governments has marked an important occasion in further developing cooperation between the two peoples. Recollecting the feats performed by President Kim Il Sung, the eternal great leader, for the development of bilateral friendly relations, he said the relations have continued developing under the wise leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Il. Next speaking at the reception, Ju Song Il, chairman of the central committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea and also chairman of the Korea-India Friendship Association, said that the industrious Indian people have made tremendous achievements in the efforts for liquidating the aftermaths of the imperialists' colonial rule, consolidating the country's independence, developing national economy and promoting the wellbeing of the people. He said the Korean people know well that the Indian Government and people have made efforts to achieve national unity and harmony and build an independent and prosperous new society under the leadership of respected Prime Minister I.K. Gujral. He highly appreciated the efforts of the Indian Government to further develop the non-aligned movement, realise the total elimination of nuclear weapons and disarmament, establish a new international economic order and ensure regional security. "We value friendly relations with the Indian people and believe that the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation will continue developing favorably in the interests of the two peoples and in accordance with their desire," he said.

Papers observe anniversary of Indonesian Independence

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Papers here today observe the 52nd anniversary of the Independence of Indonesia. Indonesian people have continued to work for eradicating the consequences of the colonial rule and building a new Indonesia over the past 52 years since Independence, a signed article of Rodong Sinmun says, and goes on: Pursuing an independent foreign policy, Indonesia, a non-aligned state, has developed the friendly and cooperative relations with many countries. Especially, the Asean member nation has made efforts to achieve peace and security in the region and in the Asia-Pacific region. The Korean people are sincerely rejoiced over all the success made by the Indonesian people in building a new society. Friendship between Korea and Indonesia has a long history. It has developed day by day on good terms. Developing bilateral friendship is conducive to creating a new life in the two countries and to strengthening the might of the non-aligned movement. A signed article of Minju Joson says that the Korean people sincerely wish the Indonesian people greater success in their future work for building a free, peaceful and prosperous new society.

Rodong Sinmun calls for reunification by concerted efforts of whole nation

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries an editorial on the successful holding of the 8th Pan-National Rally (PNR) for peace and reunification of the country. The Rally fully demonstrated the ardent desire and will of the fellow countrymen to smash the anti-reunification war manoeuvres of the separatists and belligerent forces at home and abroad and bring earlier the reunification of the country, united close around Secretary Kim Jong Il, the lodestar of national reunification, true to the wish of President Kim Il Sung, the eternal sun of the nation and the father, the editorial says. It has been brilliantly recorded as a historic meeting of national unity and reunification that made the whole country replete with the desire for national reunification. It goes on: The 8th PNR held successfully amid great expectation and interest of the entire fellow countrymen has marked a historic occasion for all the Koreans at home and abroad in further expanding and developing the reunification movement in a new turning period, rallied close around Secretary Kim Jong Il. The movement for the reunification of the country is at the threshold of a new era of historic turn. This era requires all the pro-reunification forces in the north, the south and abroad to more vigorously struggle to bring earlier the independent and peaceful reunification of the country. The editorial calls upon all the Koreans in the north, the south and abroad to turn out as one in the patriotic struggle to achieve the reunification of the country at an early date, confident of victory, upholding Secretary Kim Jong Il as the lodestar of national reunification.

Institution of Juche Era and Sun's Day is just step

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- The resolution on instituting the Juche Era with 1912, when President Kim Il Sung was born as the sun of Juche, as the first year and his birthday April 15, the supreme holiday of the nation, as sun's day marked the greatest event ever in the five-thousand-year long history of the Korean nation. Minju Joson says this in an article today. The daily notes: The institution of the Juche Era and Sun's Day reflects the desire of the Korean nation to make the revolutionary history of the respected President Kim Il Sung continue forever and their will to carry to completion the revolutionary cause of Juche generation after generation, holding him in high esteem for all ages. The Juche Era and Sun's Day make clear the idea that the new era of history, the era of Juche, when the popular masses shape their destiny with their own efforts, has been opened up since the president was born as the sun of Juche. They also make the Korean people and the world revolutionary people live and struggle under the banner of Juche, always upholding him as the great pioneer and leader of the Juche cause. The institution of the Juche Era and Sun's Day has met the desire of the Korean people, guided by Secretary Kim Jong Il. Secretary Kim Jong Il, who is identical to the President in ideology, leadership and trait, is wisely leading the Workers' Party and people of Korea, regarding it as his lifelong mission to accomplish the revolutionary casue, the Juche cause started by the President, generation after generation. Their institution fully proves that the President is always with us under the care of General Kim Jong Il, who is successfully carrying forward the revolutionary cause of the President, and that we will as ever emerge victorious as the General is leading the Korean revolution.

Papers denounce Kim Young Sam's "August 15 address"

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- Papers here today comment on the remarks made by Kim Young Sam in his "address" celebrating August 15. Kim Young Sam prattled that he has "led" something and "made achievements" in the issues of national reunification and inter-Korean relations, a Rodong Sinmun analyst says, and goes on: What he has led after he took office is only the manoeuvres to perpetuate the division and what he has made is arrest and kill of many pro-reunification, pro-democracy people. The same applies to his talk about the peace issue of the country. He is not entitled to talk about the issue because no sooner had he taken power than he resumed the "Team Spirit" nuclear war exercises against the north, froze all the multi-channelled inter-Korean dialogue which had been held during the former military dictatorial regimes and brought the situation to the brink of war. It cannot be overlooked that he said the "assistance" to the north should "be discussed and promoted through inter-Korean dialogue". He is the only one of the successive puppet rulers who made no record in dialogue with the north. His talk about "assistance" to the north is ridiculous. Traitors' days are numbered. Without peace and reunification, the Korean nation cannot live. They will certainly punish Kim Young Sam, who has laid greater obstacles to the reunification as the days go by. Minju Joson in a commentary says that Kim Young Sam's "address", full of hypocrisy and lies, is a product of his last-ditch effort to get out of the crisis.