Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between DPRK and Pakistan

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave a party on Nov. 5 on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Pakistan. Pakistani Ambassador to Korea Rehmdil Bhatti and Embassy officials were invited. Present were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Chon Jae Hong and other officials concerned. Speeches were made at the party.

Warhawks visit Seoul

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The Director of Defense and Intelligence and other warhawks of the U.S. arrived in Seoul on Nov. 2, according to a radio report from Seoul. The visit is very ill-boding as it is timed to coincide with the large-scale joint military exercises of the U.S. and south Korean puppet army for aggression on the north, the "Foal Eagle" and "Ssangryong", and the Japan-U.S. joint game against the DPRK on the East Sea of Korea. This shows that the U.S. are more desperately trying to support the dying "civil regime" and egg the puppets onto war provocation against the north.

Foal Eagle game in full swing

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The U.S. warmongers and the south Korean puppets are conducting the aggressive war game Foal Eagle in full swing, according to military sources. They have frantically staged aerial exercises against the north with 600-700 fighter planes of various types every day since the foal eagle started. Fighter planes belonging to the first marine flying corps, the 35th fighter regiment and the 18th flying regiment of the U.S. air force, which are based in Japan proper and Okinawa, held a large-scale joint aerial war exercise in cooperation with the planes of the U.S. air force in south Korea and the south Korean puppet air force in the skies above Phyongchang, Thaebaek, Anmyon island and Tokjok island on Nov. 4. They conducted a long distance non-stop flight bombing exercise, concentric bombing exercise on ground targets and air support exercise on Nov. 2-4. The aircraft carrier "independence", guided missile cruisers and guided missile destroyers staged a marine operation exercise against the north on the East Sea of Korea and a nuclear-powered submarine participated in submarines' operation exercise near the south Korean coast. The U.S. and the south Korean puppets conducted a large-scale landing operation exercise in the Phohang area simulating landing on Wonsan in the north, a firing practice on the waters off Inchon and a ship bombardment, flying corps strike, coastal infiltration and marine attack exercises on the east and west coast similar to the coast of the north. On the land the south Korean puppets got on the north's nerves with an exercise of operation for attack with the support of flying corps, artillery, tanks and armoured vehicles, espionage and attack exercise, deployment of groups of heavy tanks and artillery and firing of shells.

D.H.L. Pyongyang office opens

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The D.H.L. office was opened in Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, under an agreement between the Korean External Transport Company and the D.H.L. Worldwide Express. The Pyongyang office will contribute to activating economic links with foreign countries by delivering and distributing through the fastest transport means and channels urgent commercial documents, samples, packets and others for external economic activities. The opening ceremony took place at the Yanggakdo Hotel on Nov. 5. Present there were Choe Pong Su, Vice-Chairman of the State External Economic Affairs Commission, officials concerned, a delegation of the D.H.L. Worldwide Express led by Kerr John Alexander, General Director of the Fareast Regional Office, and foreign diplomatic, economic and trade officials here. Speeches were made at the ceremony.

Rodong Sinmun on questions in improving DPRK-Japan relations

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a commentator's article headlined "normalisation of DPRK-Japan ties is urgent requirement of two peoples and times" as regards questions in improving the DPRK-Japan relations. The paper says: A series of positive changes, including an agreement on the resumption of talks between the governments of the DPRK and Japan, have recently been witnessed in the relationship between the two countries. The point is from what point of view and with what attitude and stand you approach the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations. Establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries is a requirement of the external policy of the DPRK government based on the idea of independence, peace and friendship and firm will of the Korean people. In the past Japan inflicted measureless sufferings and misfortune on the Korean people. If Japan sincerely shows remorse for the past and refrains from pursuing the policy hostile towards the DPRK and from obstructing the reunification of Korea, the Korean people will treat Japan with friendly feelings. The abnormal relations between the two countries will be improved as well. This is the invariable stand and policy of the DPRK government. Some people in Japan now argue that the DPRK seeks to resume the DPRK-Japan talks in a bid to overcome economic difficulties. From the historical point of view and in view of the implementation of the external policy, the argument is a short-sighted judgement based on misunderstanding of the DPRK and political ignorance. We make no secret of our suffering from economic difficulties. The ecomomic difficulties are temporary, though. Looking far into the Asia-Pacific era, the government of the DPRK has always shaped its policy towards Japan and worked hard to carry it into practice for the purpose of promoting a durable peace, co-existence and co-prosperity in Asia. Now that the two governments of the DPRK and Japan reached agreement on the resumption of talks and made up their minds to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries, the two governments are responsible for the settlement of the issue. Whether the talks will be successful or not depends on how the two governments discharge their responsibility as the parties concerned. What is most important in solving the problems arising in the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Japan in responsible manner is for the two sides to approach the talks with their own judgement and viewpoint. The talks are designed to establish diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Japan. So, the talks should be held for the improvement of the relations on the basis of the interests of the two peoples and the two countries and not for the settlement of any other issue. Only then is it possible to focus on the matters both sides are determined to solve and to achieve the desired success. The DPRK-Japan talks held in the past clearly show that the talks which lack independent judgement and viewpoint bring about nothing. Japan is proud of being an economic power and hopes to become a political power. So, there is no reason why Japan cannot deal with the issue concerning the DPRK-Japan relations, in keeping with its position as such. The Japanese authorities had better be mindful of the old diplomatic saying that there are neither eternal friends nor eternal enemies. They must shape the policy toward the DPRK with far-sighted insight and judgement lest they should suffer a great deal while following others. The resumption of talks and their success depend entirely on Japan's stand and attitude.

U.S. and Japan must stop adventurous military game

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The United States and Japan start large-scale joint military exercises in the East Sea of Korea on November 6, according to a report. The war game will involve vast armed forces and military facilities including the U.S. Seventh Fleet with the aircraft carrier independence as a main force and 120 warships and 180 warplanes of the maritime "Self-Defense Force" of Japan. It is the first U.S.-Japan joint military game after the new "Japan-U.S. defence cooperation guidelines", an aggressive war scenario for "contingency on the Korean Peninsula", was published. It will drive the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. Accordingly, we cannot but regard the premeditated and intentional war game as an open infringement upon the sovereignty of our republic and as a declaration of total war which may cause an explosive confrontation by rendering the situation on the Korean Peninsula extremely strained. The gravity of the war game is that it is timed to coincide with the frantic Foal Eagle joint military drills being staged in the sky, on the ground and in the sea of south Korea. The 36th foal eagle war game, involving the unprecedented-in-scale armed forces and military hardware enough to wage a war, is an out-and-out war drill intended to make a preemptive attack on the northern half, and it is driving the inter-Korean confrontation to the brink of war. No one can vouch that the foal eagle war game, no less dangerous than the "Team Spirit" joint military manoeuvres, a preliminary nuclear test war which is aggressive in scale and contents, will not develop into a total war to plunge the nation into a holocaust. The ceaseless provocative joint military exercises in and around the Korean Peninsula eloquently show that the foolish war moves of the United States, Japan and south Korean puppets to stifle our republic with strength have entered an extreme phase which may produce irrevocable consequences. We never beg for peace from provokers nor do we fear confrontation with them. We will answer the reckless war provocation moves of the United States and Japan with corresponding self-defensive measures. The United States and Japan would be well advised to look straight at the trend of the times and stop rash acts and adventurous joint military exercises at once.

Release of Kim Hyon Chol slammed

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The south Korean puppets have set free Kim Hyon Chol, second son of the traitor Kim Young Sam. This shows once again that south Korea is a land of lawlessness and the worst politics. Rodong Sinmun says this in a commentary today. Kim Hyon Chol is no.1 criminal who has committed unpardonable crimes against the country and the nation, behaving as "little president" with the backing of his father, the puppet president, the news analyst points out, and says: The release of him, who should have been punished with his father Kim Young Sam, is a mockery of and challenge to the south Korean people demanding an immediate punishment for them, the kingpins of irregularities. In south Korea, patriots including students under Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils) calling for independence, democracy and reunification are being imprisoned on unreasonable charges while such criminals as Kim Hyon Chol are released. This wrong society where politics, laws and all other things have been rotten, has existed until today not far from the 21st century. It is a stain and tragedy of history. The traitor had better imagine the day when he and his son will be brought to justice by the people.

50th anniversary of state national art troupe marked

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The 50th anniversary of the state national art troupe was commemorated. The art troupe was founded on October 4, 1947. Over the fifty years after its founding, the art troupe created and performed many music and dance pieces, including more than 30 classical and modern operas, dance suites, dance dramas, dance pieces and songs of policies of the Workers' Party of Korea, contributing to enriching the treasure-house of the culture and art of the Korean nation. The proud course of the art troupe is associated with the energetic guidance and undying feats of President Kim Il Sung and comrade Kim Jong Il. Comrade Kim Jong Il gave on-site guidance on some 20 occasions and examined more than 6,000 songs and completed a great many works as masterpieces of the time during the creation of a "sea of blood"-style revolutionary opera. The art troupe created a large number of music and dance pieces to meet the requirements of the developing revolution and the aspirations of the Korean people, overcoming restorationism and nihilism in inheriting and developing the national cultural heritage and thus greatly helped toward the education of working people in socialist patriotism. The art troupe is well known to the world. By giving performances during the world festivals of youth and students and in many countries the artistes fully demonstrated the heroic mettle of the Korean people and the resourcefulness of the nation. The art troupe has grown to be a powerful group of revolutionary artistes with talented and excellent creating force and modern material and technical means. It was awarded the Order of Kim Il Sung for its great contributions to the implementation of the WPK's line of building socialist literature and art. the WPK Central Committee sent a congratulatory message to all the creators, artistes and employees of the art troupe on its 50th anniversary. The message showed high appreciation for the successes gained by them in the past period and expressed the conviction that they, true to the idea and guidance of comrade Kim Jong Il, will continue effecting an upswing in the production of revolutionary national art works. A meeting was held in Pyongyang on November 5 to commemorate the 50th founding anniversary of the art troupe. Attending the meeting were Secretary of the WPK Central Committee Kim Ki Nam and Vice-Premier and Minister of Culture and Art Jang Chol.

International organisation on human rights situation in south korea

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The International Lawyers Committee for Democracy and Human Rights in south Korea recently published "White paper on human rights in south Korea" no. 7. Under the subtitle "defense of human rights in south Korea and its reason in 1997" the white paper said that the Kim Young Sam regime has enforced corrupt dictatorship by relying on collusion between the military and businessmen and there is no sign of true democracy in south Korea. The U.S. press and its followers have protected the south Korean dictatorial politics for scores of years for the mere reason that south Korea is an "ally" of the west, it said. Today irregularities are common in the ruling quarters of south Korea but the west does not pay attention to this problem. The white paper under the subtitle "reunification is essential for promoting human rights" said that all the Korean people are willing to reunify the country but the 50 odd year-long division hinders democracy and development of Korea. If Korea had been reunified, the difficult problems in the economy of the north and the south would have been settled easily, it noted. It continued: Korea can be reunified when a Confederal State is built and the two systems cooperate with each other, as proposed by President Kim Il Sung long ago. The reunification through confederacy formula can be achieved when the disarmament including nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula is carried out. Under the subtitle "inseparable character of political freedom and socio-economic rights" the white paper said that the successive rulers of south Korea from Syngman Rhee to Kim Young Sam have used every conceivable means to block the requirements of social and political rights. Most brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, unreasonable arrest, terrible torture, assassination and the conversion of the opposition parties into "support forces" through bribery --these are features of south Korean society. The white paper under the subtitle "development of repressive steps in civil and political rights" said that the "constitution" and "election law" of south Korea are not solid. The Kim Young Sam regime is continuing to enforce the anachronistic and repressive "national security law" and punishing the patriots calling for reunification by invoking this law, the white paper said, exposing in detail the dangerous nature of the law. The process of reunification will begin and the human rights violation in south Korea will disappear only when dialogues are held between all the political parties, public and cultural organisations of the north and the south and detente is achieved, the white paper concluded.

DPRK will positively contribute to UNESCO

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The head of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the 29th UNESCO General Assembly Session reaffirmed that the DPRK would positively contribute to the work of the UNESCO to realize its noble idea in the future, too. He said that comrade Kim Jong Il signed the declaration that reaffirmed the idea of the UNESCO in 1995 on the occasion of its 50th founding anniversary and this means reiteration of the DPRK government's firm commitment to the idea and objective of the UNESCO. President Kim Il Sung in his lifetime paid deep attention to the UNESCO activities and this will remain in the minds of humankind forever with the history of the UNESCO, he said, and went on: The DPRK gives priority to education, regarding it as the work to foster the independent and creative ability of man and takes positive measures to preserve historic and cultural relics. We will exchange achievements and experience in preserving cultural relics with other member nations and closely cooperate with the organization in this domain in the future. Though the east-west confrontation has come to an end, it changed into north-south confrontation in the field of human rights. The UNESCO should pay due attention to arrogant acts of abusing human rights problem for infringement upon other nation's sovereignty and right to self-determination and blaming other nations and regions as wrong. Mass media of the world must pay attention to just, fair, noble and intellectual contents and UNESCO contribute to establishment of new moral norms that are fit for the independent and creative character of man.

Former president of Segye Ilbo persecuted in s. Korea

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The south Korean fascist clique are viciously persecuting former president of the Daily Segye Ilbo Park Bo Hi for the reason that he made a visit to Pyongyang in July, 1994, to mourn over the death of President Kim Il Sung, a Seoul-based radio reported. The puppet agency for national security planning and prosecution authorities repeatedly summoned him for investigation on charges of violating the "National Security Law". He would be indicted sooner or later, the radio said. By blocking northern visits of a large number of south Korean public figures who wanted to express their condolences in Pyongyang, the "civilian"-veiled fascist clique revealed their ulterior intention as ruffians and hooligans who have no elementary sense of ethics, etiquette and morality, thus inviting bitter denunciation from among world people. Nevertheless, the group are stretching out tentacles of suppression to Park Bo Hi for his visit to Pyongyang.

Historical relics on Mt. Kuwol

Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- On Mt. Kuwol there are many long-standing historical relics such as tombs, walls and temples. The area has over 1,000 dolmens, tomb style of the ancient times. A dolmen in Kwansan-ri, Unryul county, consists of a horizontal granite stone slab, 13.5 cubic metres in volume and above 100 tons in weight. This dolmen is closely structured, displaying high stone-processing technique. In the area are groups of dolmens and a large number of graves framed with wooden boxes, logs, bricks, jars and dugout mud holes. Also there are tombs belonging to the Koguryo Dynasty (277 b.c.-668 A.D.), among them Anak tombs nos.1-3 in Anak county and tombs with mural paintings in Poksa-ri and Woljong-ri. Painted inside the tombs are customs of the Koguryo Dynasty. The noted mountain also boasts of stone and earthen walls including Mt. Kuwol Castle, which were built by ancestors to prevent outsiders' invasion. The castle, built early in the 5th century, is preserved at its original state around Sahwang Peak (954 metres), the highest on the mountain. It is a stone wall, 5,230 metres long and 3.5-5.2 metres high. Inside the wall are sites considered to be armory, food storehouse and barracks as well as a site where Koryo celadon was baked. The mountain has lots of Buddhist temples and hermitages, too. Only preserved there is Woljong Temple, which was built by a monk surnamed Woljong in 864. The temple with Buddhist image and pictures and peculiar style of architecture, draws deep attention of historians and architects. Besides, there are a five-storied and other pagodas, monuments telling history of temples and monks and 88 graves of monks.