Secretary Kim Jong Il inspects military unit

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) - Secretary Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), inspected an island-defending unit of KPA unit No. 287 on Monday. On the forward observation post, he learned about the topographical conditions and the deployment of military forces and heard a report from the unit's commander on the situation. He said the unit has a very important duty to defend a frontline post of the country. He gave the unit important tasks to fortify the unit's defence theatre. He then learned about the soldiers' performance of duty and saw their gun-handling training. He described the soldiers as valuable revolutionary comrades and true patriots who spend a worthwhile youth in a remote island. He acquainted himself with the soldiers' work and life, supply service, entertainment, family life and education of children. He gave the unit's soldiers a pair of field glasses, a machine gun and an automatic rifle as gifts and had a picture taken with soldiers and families. He was accompanied by Director of the KPA General Political Department Jo Myong Rok, Chief of the KPA General staff Kim Yong Chun and staff members of the KPA Supreme Command.

Secretary Kim Jong Il inspects KPA unit

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) - Secretary Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), inspected an island-defending unit of KPA unit No. 287 on Monday. He was accompanied by Director of the KPA General Political Department Jo Myong Rok, Chief of the KPA General staff Kim Yong Chun and staff members of the KPA Supreme Command. At 9:30 a.m. he arrived at the island-defending unit. After acknowledging the warm cheers of soldiers and families, he climbed a steep hill up to the forward observation post. Looking around the unit's defence theatre, he learned about the topographical conditions and the deployment of military forces and heard a report from the unit's commander on the situation. Greatly satisfied, he noted with high appreciation that the commanding officers and soldiers of the unit had converted the island into an impregnable fortress in hearty response to the military line of the Party and were dependably defending the gate of the socialist motherland with burning hatred for the enemies. The soldiers of the unit can reliably defend their posts as an impregnable fortress because they have firm faith and will to share their destiny with the Party, the leader and the beloved socialist motherland forever, he said, adding that the Party and the people will always remember their praise-worthy feats. He said the unit has a very important duty to defend a frontline post of the country. He gave the unit important tasks to increase the unit's combat capacity in every way and fortify the defence theatre. He then went to soldiers' posts to learn about their performance of duty and saw their gun-handling training. He warmly encouraged the soldiers, noting with great satisfaction that they had grown to be invincible combatants able to defeat any formidable enemies at one stroke. He said Korean socialism is invincible and the Juche revolution will be completed successfully because of the powerful armed forces the core of which is the heroic KPA, whose soldiers are ready to dedicate their youth and life to the sake of the Party and the leader, the country and the people. He took parental care of the life of the unit's soldiers, describing them as valuable revolutionary comrades and true patriots who spend a worthwhile youth with the great pride and honor of defending the security of the country and the people. He also acquainted himself with the supply service for the soldiers, their entertainment, family life and education of children and did great favors for the soldiers. He gave the unit's soldiers a pair of field glasses, a machine gun and an automatic rifle as gifts and had a picture taken with soldiers and families.

Canada rejects position of United States

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Canada is resolutely rejecting the wrong stand of the U.S. concerning a treaty to ban antipersonnel land mines, according to a report. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in a telephone conversation with U.S. President Clinton on September 11 urged the United States to take a more flexible stand in signing the treaty. He held that the United States proposal for taking the Korean Peninsula as an exception in this treaty should be withdrawn. On September 9 the Canadian Foreign Minister ruled out any compromise related to the United States proposal.

Press Review

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Papers here today frontpage a report that Secretary Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, inspected an island-defending unit of KPA unit No.287. Rodong Sinmun devotes the first and second pages to pictures of Secretary Kim Jong Il learning about the topographical conditions and the deployment of military forces on the forward observation post and inspecting the island-defending unit and he posed for together with the servicemen. Papers carry a report about the Sojourn in Pyongyang of the Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and his entourage and a Nepalese Government delegation and news that the UNDP announced that it would offer assistance to Korea for the rehabilitation of agriculture in disaster areas. Papers inform the readers that the fourth meeting of the 17th Central Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) was held in Tokyo. In a semi-monthly review of situation Rodong Sinmun denounces Kim Young Sam for brutal suppression of champions of reunification and democracy and frantic war preparations against the northern half of Korea. Minju Joson in an article says the three principles of national reunification constitute guidelines that should be maintained in accomplishing the cause of national reunification. Rodong Sinmun runs a commentary denouncing the bellicose elements of the United States for continued arms buildup and modernisation of the U.S. Forces present in south Korea.

U.S. Arms buildup in s. Korea

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the reinforcement and modernisation of U.S. Forces in south Korea. The news analyst says: The United States plans to replace the tanks deployed in Waegwan area of south Korea with 116 new-type tanks withdrawn from Europe in two months' time. About 500 units of mobile combat equipment including 24 self-propelled mortars and armored combat vehicles withdrawn from Europe have already been transferred to U.S. Forces in south Korea. This move is motivated by the aggressive U.S. strategy toward Korea. This eloquently shows the U.S. attaches primary importance to Korea in its world strategy after the end of the Cold War and seeks to unleash war to implement it. The U.S. schemes to intensify anti-socialist campaign mainly in northeast Asia where the bulwark of socialism is situated, now that the anti-socialist strategy has been carried out in Europe, which was the main front of the reactionary world strategy in the Cold War era. The U.S. warhawks seek to stifle the DPRK by military strength. This is, however, a foolish dream. Their reckless arms buildup will only aggravate military confrontation and belligerency between the DPRK and the U.S.

FAO Director-General gives reception

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Director-General Jacques Diouf of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation gave a reception at the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel on September 15 upon the conclusion of his visit to Korea. Invited there were Vice-Premier Kong Jin Thae, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon, who is Chairman of the Korean Committee of the FAO, Vice-Chairwoman of the State Agricultural Commission Kim Yong Suk and other officials concerned. Present were the entourage of the FAO Director-General, UUND representative to Korea Christian Lemaire, UNDP officials, special representative of the UNICEF Omawale Omawale. Speeches were exchanged at the reception.

Koreans in Russia to commemorate the Day of Sun

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Moscow under the co-sponsorship of the United Confederation of Koreans in Russia, the United Confederation of Koreans in Moscow and the Committee of Korean veterans in Moscow to support the resolution on exalting President Kim Il Sung's revolutionary life and great achievements for all ages. Speeches were made by Chairman of the United Confederation of Koreans in Russia Ri Tong Chol, Secretary of the United Confederation of Koreans in Moscow an Hyang Jin and other Koreans from all walks of life. Speakers said the resolution mirrors the minds of all the Koreans at home and abroad, who desire the eternal life of President Kim Il Sung, the father of socialist Korea, great master of leadership and incarnation of noble moral obligation, and that the president is a great man unprecedented in the history of humankind. Koreans in Russia will uphold the President generation after generation, commemorate the Day of Sun and devote everything to reunifying the country, they stressed. A letter to Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting.

Wreaths laid at cemeteries

Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Senior Party and Government officials, working people, servicemen, young people and students laid wreaths at the Mt. Taesong Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery and the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery this morning to mark the mid-autumn festival. Wreaths from Secretary Kim Jong Il were standing at the cemeteries. Ri Jong Ok and Kim Yong Nam were among the Senior Party and state officials present at the ceremonies. Wreaths were laid in the name of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and the DPRK Central People's Committee and Administration Council and in the name of commissions and ministries of the administration council, national institutions, units of the Korean People's Army, educational institutions, press organs and Party and Government bodies, administrative and economic organs and cooperative farms in Pyongyang. Working people, students and pupils laid bouquets and blossoms.