Release of dictators protested

Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- The South Korean public protested the release of the Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo, according to reports from Seoul. The national council of professors for democracy in a statement on December 23 expressed surging indignation at the "pardon" and "reinstatement" for the two murderers. This will cause new social trouble and discord, it warned. It demanded that the Kim Young Sam regime confiscate the ill-gotten property of the dictators of the "fifth and sixth republics" and open it to the public.

CPRF on "pardon and reinstatement" in S. Korea

Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on Friday, denouncing the South Korean rulers for granting "pardon and reinstatement" recently to the Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo and all others involved in the "December 12 army purge coup" and the May 18 Kwangju massacre. The statement brands the "pardon and reinstatement" as another anti-national, anti-democratic crime that flouts and insults the pro-democracy forces of South Korea, especially the fallen resistance fighters of Kwangju, their bereaved families and public opinion at home and abroad. The statement says: This heinous crime can be committed only by Kim Young Sam. He engaged in fascism and corruption in South Korea in league with Chun and Roh, who left indelible wrath in the hearts of South Korean people. Kim Young Sam can never be justified in releasing the murderers while keeping behind bars and persecuting the members of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils and the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification who conducted righteous activities for independence and democracy in South Korean society and national reunification. Through the "pardon" Kim Young Sam intends to win favor of conservatives and find a way out thereby. This is a foolish attempt, however.

Papers observe day of Socialist Constitution

Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate editorials to the 25th anniversary of the publication of "socialist constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" by President Kim Il Sung. Rodong Sinmun calls for resolutely defending the Juche socialist system. The paper says: The Korean people will never lay down the banner of socialism but defend Korean socialism to the last at the cost of life, no matter what formidable enemy may attack and how many difficulties may crop up. Come what may, they will hold fast to the socialist principle. The heroic Korean people are ready to share life and death with Korean socialism. In the course of building socialism, they have no room for retreat and no right to die. The struggle to defend Korean socialism is victoriously led by General Kim Jong Il. He represents the destiny of Korean socialism and the banner of victory and glory. We must unite behind him more closely and consolidate the wholehearted unity of our party and revolutionary ranks around him. In order to resolutely defend our socialism, we must consistently uphold and implement our party's Juche line and policy of building socialism. Making radical changes in socialist economic construction is essential for defending our socialism. The Korean people's struggle to defend their socialism is arduous, but it is sure to be crowned with victory. Minju Joson calls for consolidating the revolutionary foothold of korea through strict application of the socialist constitution.

39th anniversary of the victory of Cuban revolution marked

Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Pyongyang on December 26 to mark the 39th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution. Choe Ki Ryong, Chairman of the State Education Commission and Chairman of the Korea-Cuba Solidarity Committee, addressed the meeting. He said that since the victory in the revolution, the fraternal Cuban people under the leadership of the communist party of Cuba headed by President Fidel Castro Ruz have consolidated the socialist position in Cuba, resolutely frustrating repeated moves of aggression and intervention, sanctions and blockade on the part of the imperialists. He sincerely wished the Cuban people greater successes in their future work to implement the tasks of the 5th Congress of the Party and defend socialism. "To continuously consolidate and develop friendship with the Cuban people through generations is the intention of President Kim Il Sung in his lifetime and the invariable will of the Workers' Party and people of Korea," he stressed. He expressed the belief that the relations of friendship between the two countries forged and cultivated by President Kim Il Sung and President Fidel Castro Ruz would be further developed by the joint efforts of the leaders and peoples of the two nations and under their deep concern. Cuban Ambassador to Korea Jose Ramon Rodriguez Varona said in his speech that this year they commemorated the 85th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung together with the Korean people. He noted that they shared the joy of electing Kim Jong Il as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, which aroused a worldwide sensation, with the Korean people and commemorated the 80th birth anniversary of the great anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter mother Kim Jong Suk together with them. Expressing the belief that the New Year Juche 87 will be a year of victory to the Korean people, the Cuban Ambassador wished the Korean people success in their struggle to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of their country in the new year in which falls the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Floral basket to G.S. Kim Jong Il from Palestinian leader

Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a floral basket from Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, with the approach of the New Year, Juche 87 (1998). The basket was handed to an official concerned by Ibrahim Abu Mualiq, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Palestinian Embassy here, on Dec. 26.

So Jun Sik, champion of human rights

Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities arrested So Jun Sik, Chairman of the Human Rights Movement Committee, on charges of violating the "National Security Law" for the mere reason that he screened a documentary film dealing with the April 3 popular resistance on Jeju island at a recent human rights film festival. Japan-born Korean So Jun Sik had been kept in prison for 17 years in South Korea since he was arrested in 1971 on charges of involvement in "campus spyring case" while studying at Seoul National University. After his release from the prison, he did not go back to Japan but devoted himself to the struggle for the democratisation of South Korean society and human rights, acting as member of the promotion committee for the abrogation of the "Social Security Law", chairman of the council of families of the long-term prisoners of the family movement for realising democracy and chairman of the human rights committee of the national federation for democracy and unification. The documentary film presented by So Jun Sik to the human rights film festival deals with testimonies of old men and women aged 70 to 80 who survived the massacre by the punitive force of the puppet army, reports of the then U.S. government, news items carried in newspapers, scientific papers on the April 3 resistance and other objective evidences. Prior to the festival, the film was also screened at the Pusan International Film Festival. The film was reportedly appreciated by Lee Hoi Chang, Kim Dae Jung and Kim Jong Phil, presidents of the three ruling and opposition parties. At that time, it offered no problem.

Release of Jo Ung Ju called for

Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- The Coordination Council of the World Federation of Democratic Youth published a statement on December 16 calling upon its affiliated organisations and international organisations to take emergency action of protest for the release of Jo Ung Ju, a delegate of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon). She, the only girl delegate of Hanchongryon who took part in the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students held in Havana last summer, was arrested by the Agency for National Security Planning right after she arrived in South Korea some time ago, the statement said. It denounced the South Korean regime for scheming to disorganize and obliterate Hanchongryon, branding it as an "organisation benefiting the enemy". It strongly urged the South Korean authorities to stop the unheard-of suppression of Hanchongryon at once and set her free unconditionally and immediately. The statement called upon all the member organisations, friendship organisations and the international community to organize emergency action of protest against the South Korean authorities so that she may be promptly released, the right of the South Korean people to meet their counterparts in the north be respected and the progressive and democratic movement of the South Korean students be defended.