New platform for reunification

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- "Let Us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification", a famous work of Secretary Kim Jong Il published on August 4, 1997, is evoking widespread repercussions among the Korean people from all walks of life. Rim Su Man, Chief Secretary of the Kaesong Municipal Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, said that the work of Secretary Kim Jong Il is a new platform and immortal encyclopedia which makes it possible for the Korean people to accelerate the independent and peaceful reunification of the country by the united efforts of the whole nation in conformity with the noble intention and instructions of President Kim Il Sung. Choe Hui Jong, Chairman of the State Commission of Science and Technology, had this to say: "With the great platform for national reunification published by the respected general, the seventy million fellow countrymen in the north, the south and overseas can turn out more valiantly in the nationwide struggle for national reunification with unshakable faith and clear targets". An Hi Chol, Vice-Director of the First Secretariat of the Administration Council, said: "All the officials of the Secretariat of the Administration Council will more vigorously work for the reunification of the country under the guidance of the general, always bearing deep in mind this work which serves as an inspiring banner in the struggle to implement the President's instructions for national reunification." Won Tong Yon, Vice-Director of the National Reunification Institute, said: "We will deeply study the general's idea, line and policy of national reunification laid down in the work, make them our unbreakable faith and devote ourselves to the work to implement them".

False report of Itar-Tass correspondent

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Valiyev, an Itar-Tass correspondent in Pyongyang, broadcast distorted reports about an outrageous act by the boatswain of the Russian ship "Arkadi Dudenkov" anchoring at Songrim Port of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on August 15 and 19. Investigation by competent organs of the DPRK shows that the Itar-Tass report about the case of violence is nothing but a forgery intended to conceal and justify the rude act of the Russian crewman. On the evening of August 4, the boatswain of the Russian ship drank wine at a cafeteria of the seamen's club with other crewmen. After this, he went to the counter of the club and high-handedly asked a salesman to sell a set of ten cassettes worthy of 15 dollars for 12 dollars. As the salesman refused, the Russian beat him without reason. To make matters worse, he beat another salesman who tried to stop the violent act, thus breaking one of his cheek teeth. The captain of the Russian ship admitted the violence of his crewman and sent a letter of apology to the Songrim Port side. This notwithstanding, the Itar-Tass correspondent broadcast false reports about the violence. He tried to conceal the fact by alleging that the boatswain gave 50 dollars to the salesman and salesmen insulted him by crumpling the money and throwing it to him. Our side has not yet officially presented any document on damages to the captain of the Russian ship. However, Valiyev spread a false report that our side presented a bill of 40,000 dollars before lowering the amount to 15,000 dollars. The case of violence will be handled by a relevant law, not by an impetuous judgement of the Itar-Tass correspondent based on conjecture and forgery. In this connection, Valiyev brought disgrace upon himself and Itar-Tass as well. He had better bear it in mind that his rude act may have a negative effect on the DPRK-Russian relations and stop an imprudent coverage. We urge Valiyev to apologize for his distortion of the fact lest he should be branded as a "persona non grata" again.

Friendly gathering with Indian Embassy officials

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- A friendly gathering with officials of the Indian Embassy was held at the Korea-India Friendship Pyongyang Wasan Senior Middle School on August 21 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of India. Present there were Chon Yon Ok, Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and Vice-Chairwoman of the Korea-India Friendship Association, officials concerned and teachers and students of the school. Invited there were Indian Ambassador to Korea Jagjit Singh Sapra and his Embassy officials. The participants went round classrooms, laboratories and practice rooms of the school and saw an art performance of students.

Friendly gathering with Jordanian figure

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The Korea-Jordan Friendship Association on August 21 held a friendly gathering with Marwan Sudah, under Secretary General of the Al Ansar Jordan Arab Party and Chairman of the Arab Committee for solidarity with the Korean people and for support to the reunification of Korea, on a visit to Korea. Present there were Ri Jin Su, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea and Chairman of the Korea-Jordan Friendship Association, and officials of the association. The participants saw a Korean documentary film. Then, they had a friendly conversation.

DPRK hero title awarded to Ri In Mo

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The Title of DPRK Hero was awarded for the second time to Ri In Mo, incarnation of faith and will, to mark his 80th birthday. He was arrested by the enemy during the last Korean War while acting as a war correspondent of the Korean People's Army (KPA) and fought unyieldingly, true to his revolutionary conscience and obligation before he returned to his socialist homeland in march 1993. Back home, he has written many revolutionary articles as he did when he was a war correspondent and has thus greatly contributed to the education of the party members and working people and to the consolidation of the unity of the revolutionary ranks. The awarding ceremony was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Thursday. Present there were Ri Jong Ok, politburo member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Vice-President of the DPRK, and officials concerned, Ri In Mo and his family.

Press review

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today reports that Secretary Kim Jong Il sent thanks to officials and employees of the Pyongyang Locomotive Corps and the Towel Export Factory in Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province, for accomplishing their assignments. Papers edit words of people about the work of Secretary Kim Jong Il "Let Us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification," which they said is an immortal encyclopedia that indicates the road to reunification. Rodong Sinmun carries an article "National Destiny and 1,096 Days" contributed by Jo Yong Jin, a researcher of the independence movement history of south Korea, in praise of Secretary Kim Jong Il, who devotes himself to the immortality of President Kim Il Sung and to eternal prosperity of the nation. Seen in the press are a decree of the Central People's Committee on awarding the title of hero of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Ri In Mo, a former war correspondent of the Korean Poeple's Army, and an account of the ceremony of awarding the title. Printed in Rodong Sinmun is an article titled "our socialism with strong Juche character and national character". Papers carry commentaries on the Kim Young Sam group's criminal suppression of the patriotic pro-reunification activities of the south Korean students. Rodong Sinmun runs an article titled "fighting will of Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils) is unbreakable." The paper comments on the dangerous fact that the United States relocated depleted uranium bullets to south Korea. The paper runs an article on the imperialist policy of obliterating nations under the pretext of the trend toward a "monolithic" world. Minju Joson carries an article on the various and cunning ways of the ideological and cultural infiltration of imperialists into other countries.

Heinous act of anti-reunification elements

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The Kim Young Sam fascist clique arrested 13 students on charges of violation of the notorious "National Security Law" for the mere reason that they called for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea, studied the Juche idea and supported the proposal for reunification through confederacy. Commenting on this fact, Rodong Sinmun today brands it as a rude act which can be committed only by the heinous enemies of reunification who are finding a way out in the division of the nation. The daily says: The puppets labelled the students who called for withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea as "elements benefitting the enemy". This is nonsensical. The students' study of the Juche idea and their call for the reunification in the form of confederation are very righteous. The puppets incriminated the righteous pro-reunification patriotic activities of the students, fully revealing once again that they are a herd of hideous traitors going against the reunification. Minju Joson in a signed commentary says that the Kim Young Sam group are resorting to the base political suppression to block the ever mounting nation-wide reunification movement but this will precipitate their own destruction.

Rodong Sinmun on U.S. dangerous war preparation

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Some time ago, the United States brought depleted uranium bullets to a south Korean area near the Military Demarcation Line from Japan. Commenting on the fact, Rodong Sinmun today says: On August 13, the spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department said in an interview with the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun that depleted uranium bullets were brought to south Korea, a potential battle field, from the U.S. Military Base in Okinawa to cope with "emergency" in the Korean Peninsula. This indicates that the United States' war preparation has reached a very grave stage. The deployment and use of depleted uranium bullets have given rise to public criticism for their poison and radioactivity. We take a serious view of the relocation of the depleted uranium bullets. The situation of the Korean Peninsula is ever being aggravated due to the war preparation of the United States and the south Korean puppets. If the U.S. hawks persistently seek confrontation, we will respond to it. They should take the blame for grave consequences of their adventure.

DPRK document on "comfort women" distributed at U.N.

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- "DPRK's view on Japan's unethical crimes including the 'comfort women' issue" was distributed as a formal document of the 49th session of the U.N. sub-commission on prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities on August 15.

Air war exercises in s. Korea

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppets on August 20 staged a joint air war drill against the north as part of the "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military exercises, according to military sources. Involved in it were overseas-based pursuit-assault planes, electronic jamming planes, fighter bombers, assault planes, observation planes and helicopters of the U.S. Air Force in south Korea and the south Korean Air Force, more than 500 in all. The war drill which had been staged for many hours under the command of the "E-3" early warning plane based in Okinawa of Japan was aimed at a surprise preemptive strike at the northern half of Korea. On the same day, formations of overseas-based pursuit-assault planes staged a long-distance non-stop flight and bombing training in the sky of south Korea.

Crackdown upon Hanchongryon condemned

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Public organisations of different countries released statements denouncing the south Korean puppet clique's suppression of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon). The all India Indo-Korean Friendship Association, the Indian Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification and the Asian Regional Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification in a joint statement dated August 14 strongly flailed the puppet Agency for National Security Planning of south Korea for bestially cracking down upon Hanchongryon and threatening to bring legal actions against students and universities that refuse to withdraw from the organisation. They expressed full support to the struggle of Hanchongryon. They demanded that all the detained students be released at once and democratic rights of Hanchongryon be guaranteed. They called upon the students and people of India to strongly condemn the south Korean authorities for cracking down upon the patriotic organisation. The Romanian National Committee for solidarity with the Korean people's struggle for the peaceful reunification of the country in a statement resolutely castigated the Seoul rulers for laying hurdles in the way of reunifying Korea and extended firm solidarity with the south Korean students in their struggle for independence, democracy and reunification. The Guyana-Korea Friendship Association in a statement urged the Kim Young Sam regime to stop the suppression of Hanchongryon at once and resign of its own accord as demanded by the south Korean people and unbiased world opinion.

Rodong Sinmun on imperialists' obliteration of other nations

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today accuses the imperialists of obliterating other nations under the pretext of the world "integration". The imperialists' reactionary policy of curbing the Juche character of other countries and obliterating their national character has been embellished by the brigandish sophism of the world "integration", the daily says, and continues: They are persistently trying to reshape politics, economy and culture of other countries and nations in the western style under the motto of the world "integration". They force other countries and nations to introduce their political mode. They intend to subordinate and assimilate all other nations to them through the western-style political system of the world. They also force their economic system on other countries and nations. They urge other countries and nations to introduce market economy and private ownership for the purpose of economic domination and profit. Their cultural infiltration should not be overlooked. The imperialists are now spreading corrupt western culture, yankee culture by all means in a bid to deprive other nations of their soul and reduce them to slaves complying with their arrogant demand. The brigandish sophism of the world "integration" poses a grave challenge to the progressive trend of the international community, which is at the threshold of new development.

Korean-style socialism with strong Juche character and national character

Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) - Secretary Kim Jong Il in his work "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction" says that Korean-style socialism is the socialism of independnece, self-sufficiency and self-reliant defence, which has strengthened the Juche character and fully displayed the national character= the socialism dedicated to love for the country and nation. Herein lie its essential characteristics and its superiority, he added. Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article notes that the invincible might and vitality of the Korean-style socialism lies in the fact that it is the socialism which has strengthened the Juche character and fully displayed the national character. The daily goes on: Socialism which strengthens the Juche character means that it is the socialism in which the popular masses shape independently and creatively the destiny of their country and nation and their own in a responsible manner. Socialism which fully displays the national character means that it is the socialism which preserves and develops the peculiar and excellent characteristics of their nation and fully applies them to all spheres of social life. To build the socialism which strengthens the Juche character and fully displays the national character is the natural demand of the socialist cause and the principled requirement to accomplish it in keeping with the historic and realistic condition. The Korean-style socialism is the invincible socialism which has strengthened the Juche character. The Juche character of our socialism is clearly expressed in taking the Juche idea as the unshakable guideline and consistently adhering to the line of independence, self-sufficiency and self-reliant defence. The revolutionary and popular mode of politics of the Workers' Party of Korea unites all the people close around the party and the leader in one mind. The line of building an independent national economy has laid the solid foundations for us to live with our own efforts under any difficult circumstances. The line of building the self-reliant defence turned the whole country into an impregnable fortress. The Korean-style socialism is also the socialism which has fully displayed the national character. The superior national character of the Korean people has been brought into full play in all domains of social life of Korea. The spirit of national independence and the tradition of national culture have been fully applied in the political, economic and cultural sectors and the slightest element contrary to the national character of the Korean people is being rejected strictly. It is a true picture of our society that all the Korean people are struggling to exalt the soul and spirit of the nation in the Korean-nation-first spirit, full of pride and self-confidence based on the greatness of the Korean nation.