Gift to Gen. Secy. Kim Jong Il from wife of former Japanese Prime Minister

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Mutsuko Miki, wife of former Prime Minister of Japan Takeo Miki, over his election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. The gift was handed to chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan Han Tok Su, by Mutsuko Miki on Nov. 7.

Gen. Secy. Kim Jong Il inspects island-defending unit

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), inspected a unit that defends al island in the forefront on the east coast on November 10. He was accompanied by KPA Generals Hyon Chol Hae, Kim Ha Gyu and Pak Jae Gyong and staff members of the SPA Supreme Command. On the forward observation post, he learned about the topography and the deployment of forces, looking around the unit's vast defence theatre and the southern waters which were under thick war clouds caused by the enemy's frantic marine military training. He gave the unit important tasks to increase the combat capacity of the unit in every way and fortify the defence theatre as an impregnable wall to cope with the enemy's war preparations. He saw the unit's soldiers in high spirits performing feats with a loyal heart, full of indomitable fighting spirit and confidence in certain victory. He said no force on earth can match the KPA, which is determined to share destiny with the party, the leader and the beloved socialist country. The socialist country, which is home to the Korean people forever, is a precious gain of revolution which they won at the cost of blood, he said, and urged the unit's soldiers to defend the country, even a tree and a blade of grass, dependably, aware of their mission as the defenders of the country. He then looked round the barracks, the dining hall and other logistic facilities and showed great loving care and favors for the soldiers, adding that they should not feel any inconvenience in life in a solitary island far away from the land. He also saw a basketball game played by soldiers during their break. He noted with great satisfaction that all the soldiers of the unit have grown to be invincible combatants and live an optimistic and vigorous life through art and sports activities with confidence in victory in the revolution. This is a noble mental and moral trait of the KPA soldiers who are confidence of the future, he added. He called for conducting art and sports activities more briskly in the army in conformity with the characteristics of young soldiers so that they all can have rich emotions and strong physique and spend a worthy youthful life defending the country. He gave the unit a machine gun, an automatic rifle and a pair of binoculars as gifts. He had a picture taken with the unit's soldiers.

Japanese delegation feted

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea gave a party at the Mansudae Art Theatre on Nov. 11 in honor of the visiting delegation of the Three Ruling Coalition Parties of Japan. Present on invitation were the members of the delegation of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Yoshiro Mori, Chairman of the General Council of the LDP and member of the House of Representatives, the delegation of the Social-Democratic Party led by Shigeru Ito, Secretary General of the SDP and member of the House of Representatives, and the delegation of the New Party Sakigake led by Akiko Domoto, Chairperson of the New Party Sakigake dietmen's group and member of the House of Councillors. Also invited there were the suite members of the delegation, officials of the Japanese Foreign Ministry and reporters of Japan. Present there were Kim Yong Sun, Secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Yang Gon, Director of a Department of the WPK Central Committee, Song Ho Gyong, Deputy Director of a Department of the WPK Central Committee, Ri Jong Hyok, Vice-Chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, Mun Jae Chol, Acting Chairman of the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Jang In Su, Secretary of the Pyongyang Municipal Committee of the WPK, Nam Sun Hui, Deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly, Kang Jong Hun, Secretary General of the DPRK-Japan Friendship Society, and other officials concerned. Kim Yang Gon in his speech said that Korea and Japan are close neighbours yet far-apart countries. The unhappy past between the DPRK and Japan in the beginning of the present century has not been settled properly today when a new century is drawing near, he noted. This is an abnormal thing which does not meet the demand and aspiration of the peoples of the two countries. It is a good deed deserving welcome that the delegation of Three Ruling Coalition Parties of Japan visits the DPRK again for an early resumption of inter-governmental talks to improve the DPRK-Japan relations, he said, and went on: "If we open-heartedly exchange opinions independently and with our own views, looking forward to a bright future to meet the aspiration and desire of the peoples of the two countries, it will bear a good fruit, I think. "The forthcoming 21st century will be an era for the Asia-Pacific region. The Workers' Party and people of Korea will make all efforts to build a new Asia, independent, peaceful and prospering, with its neighbouring countries in Asia including Japan." Speaking at the party, Yoshiro Mori expressed deep thanks once again to the DPRK for extending sincere consolation and encouragement to Japan at the time when it suffered from a great earthquake in 1995. Noting that eight rounds of Japan-DPRK governmental talks were held, he said that the two governments agreed upon an early resumption of the talks. The realisation of the long-awaited home visit of Japanese-Korean women is a confident stride forward in the Japan-DPRK relations, he said, expressing deep thanks to the governments of Japan and the DPRK for this. There are difficult problems between Japan and the DPRK, but there are also sentiments for improving their relations, he said, adding that it is of historic significance to exchange frank views between the parties of the two countries in encouraging these sentiments. At the same time, it is of great importance for the leaders of the two countries to build confidence in the sense of creating circumstances to promote the negotiations between the two governments, he said. He sincerely hoped that the new system of the DPRK would live up to the expectation of the people after the election of the leader Kim Jong Il as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and would contribute to world peace and stability as a member of the international community. He expected that Japan and the DPRK would build good relations for the future of the 21st century as close and near countries with the current visit as an occasion. Shigeru Ito in his speech congratulated the leader Kim Jong Il on his election as WPK General Secretary. He was pleased to visit the DPRK at a time when the home-visiting group of Japanese-Korean women is staying in Japan, he said. Asia is greeting a new era today when the world has put an end to the Cold War era, he said. Needless to say, the key here is the Fareast Asia and the Korean Peninsula. He said he wants to frankly exchange views to tide over the difficulties, believing in the big trend and advance of history which can open the door of the 21st century drawing near with a new Asia structure. He could not forget that he visited the DPRK in the past and met with the respected President Kim Il Sung, he said. The Socialist Party, though renamed the Social-Democratic Party, has supported the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea, he noted, adding that there is no change in their mind to bring earlier the normalisation of the Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations. The Social-Democratic Party will in the future, too, develop the friendly relations with the WPK on the basis of these long relations. Expecting that the talks between the delegation of Three Ruling Coalition Parties of Japan and the delegation of the WPK will become a new page in normalizing the Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations, he said he would make all efforts for this. Akiko Domoto in her speech said: The flag of the WPK carries deep meaning. Expressed there is the will of the Korean people including the workers, peasants and intellectuals. Referring to the importance of the visit of the delegation, she expressed her will to make active efforts for successful talks.

Japanese delegation pays homage to President Kim Il Sung

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- The visiting delegation of the Three Ruling Coalition Parties of Japan today paid homage to President Kim Il Sung who is preserved in state at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace. Present there were the delegation of the Liberal-Democratic Party led by Yoshiro Mori, Chairman of the General Council of the LDP and member of the House of Representatives, the delegation of the Social-Democratic Party led by Shigeru Ito, Secretary General of the SDP and member of the House of Representative, the delegation of the New Party Sakigake led by Akiko Domoto, Chairperson of the New Party Sakigake dietmen's group and member of the House of Councillors, suite members, officials of the Japanese Foreign Ministry and journalists of Japan's major news media. Secretary Kim Yong Sun and Department Director Kim Yang Gon of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and other officials concerned were on hand. The participants made bows before the Statue of the President. And they paid respects to the President who lies in state. They went round the orders and medals of many countries awarded to the President and a coach and a car used by him.

Kindergarteners give art performance

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- An art performance was given by kindergarteners across the country at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on Nov. 11. Appreciating the performance were Vice-President Pak Song Chol and other senior party and government officials. The program included choruses "We uphold the fatherly General" and "General Kim Jong Il is the best", a Kayagum solo "My country is the best", a group dance "We are little soldiers of the General" and a narrative and chorus "We will exalt father's gold star medal". The performance shows that the Korean children are the happiest in the world, as they have leader Kim Jong Il as their father and firmly prepare themselves to be dependable successors to the Juche revolutionary cause, fully displaying their talents and hope from their childhood in his embrace.

Kim Young Sam regime hit for suppression of Hanchongryon

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- The murderous trial held by the Kim Young Sam for Kang Wi Won, Chairman of the fifth-term South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), and other students is one more unpardonable fascist suppression, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed commentary today. The analyst further says: The puppets are incriminating Hanchongryon, the lawful autonomous organisation of south Korean students, and punishing the members of the organisation on the strength of the notorious "National Security Law". This is a crime that cannot be justified in any case. It is the Kim Young Sam fascist clique, a herd of arch traitors, that should be sentenced to capital punishment by the people. Their anti-social misrule and irregularities and corruption caused the worst crisis in south Korea. The Kim Young Sam is still repressing the champions of independence, democracy and reunification by force of arms. Their brutal suppression of Hanchongryon which leads the movement for independence, democracy and reunification is the last-ditch effort of those doomed to ruin. It will only precipitate their destruction.

Book "Kim Jong Il, Banner of Socialism" published in Portugal

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- A book "Kim Jong Il, Banner of Socialism" which was written by Rui Matos Dias, a reportor of the newspaper Noticias Da Amadora and writer, has been recently brought out by the Grafica Europa Publishing House of Portugal. The book consists of three chapters. The book says that leader Kim Jong Il conducted energetic ideological and theoretical activities already in the early 1960s and gave scientific exposition of the characteristics of modern imperialism and the inevitability of its ruin, the anti-imperialist idea and the revolutionary principle, the essential advantages of socialism and the necessity of its victory. It describes in detail the scientific accuracy, validity and great vitality of these ideas and theories. It also vividly explains the true advantages of the Korean-style socialism centred on the popular masses led by the respected General Kim Jong Il and the happy life of the Korean people living as a large harmonious family under the rays of the benevolent politics. The book highly praises General Kim Jong Il for giving scientific answers to the theoretical and practical questions arising in carrying out the socialist cause on the basis of expounding the basic cause of the collapse of some socialist countries, and for wisely leading the struggle for the rebuilding of socialism.

S. Korea: Monument to deceased democrats unveiled

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- Members of the national association of bereaved family members of the deceased democrats, a dissident organization of south Korea, unveiled a monument to the deceased democrats at the graveyard in Moran Park in the vicinity of Seoul on November 8, a Seoul-based radio said. Among the deceased democrats are the Rev. Mun Ik Hwan= Jon Thae Il, a worker of Pyung Hwa Market Garment co., ltd. who immolated himself to protest exploitation and oppression in November 1970= and Pak Jong Chol, a student of Seoul National University who was tortured to death at the anti-communist office of the puppet police headquarters in January 1987. The monument, 2.4 metres high, depicts the desire of those martyrs for independence, democracy and reunification. It was unveiled on the eve of the 27th anniversary of Jon Thae Il's self-immolation (Nov. 13). Many deceased democrats including Jon and the Rev. Mun are enshrined at the graveyard.

Greetings to Pakistani Foreign Minister

Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam sent a message of greetings to his counterpart of Pakistan Gohar Ayub Khan on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The message said that in the past 25 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations the two countries have consistently developed the good bonds of friendship and cooperation in the interests of the two peoples in political, economic, cultural and other fields and supported and cooperated with each other especially in the international arena including the non-aligned movement. It expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further expand and develop in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.