Rodong Sinmun on achievements of Korean people this year
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- It is an unprecedented miracle in history that the Korean people have firmly defended the socialist system of Juche, the most precious gain of the Korean revolution, and demonstrated the might of socialist korea, overcoming ordeals this year.
Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed article today.
The daily notes:
This year the Korean people solemnly held a memorial service for the third year after the death of President Kim Il Sung. In the course of this they showed well the noblest moral obligation of holding him in high esteem forever.
General Kim Jong Il was elected General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea in accordance with the unanimous will and desire of the whole party, all the army and all the people this year. This was a historical event which is of epochal significance in the development of the party and the revolution.
As General Kim Jong Il is standing in the van of the party and the revolution and the whole party, all the army and all the people are united in one mind, not wavering in any storms of history, the country will be reunified and shine forever as prosperous Kim Il Sung's Korea. This is the faith and optimism we have, looking back upon the year of great events.
The indomitable will of the Korean people has been fully displayed in the struggle to overcome all hardships and difficulties by their own efforts and effect innovations in production and construction.
This year witnessed a fundamental turn in the struggle to preserve the Juche character and national character of the revolution and construction.
It is under the outstanding and tested leadership of the General Kim Jong Il that the Korean people could demonstrate the stamina of Kim Il Sung's Korea, holding high the red flag this year.
Ri Sang Chol on NDFSK's tasks for New Year
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- What is most worthy of note in South Korea's political situation this year is that the South Korean people from all walks of life worshipped and revered General Kim Jong Il as the supreme leader of the nation more deeply than ever before.
Ri Sang Chol, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK), said this in a press conference on December 29.
The reverence grew deeper around the great auspicious event of the nation that the General was elected General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, he said, and went on:
The present South Korean situation is favorable to the patriotic champions of democracy and reunification, but unfavorable to the colonial fascist forces.
South Korea is plagued with serious political crisis, economic bankruptcy and social confusion= it has been reduced to the most politically backward area ever in history and a colony saddled with a heavy burden of foreign debts.
In the New Year NDFSK will hold higher the banner of national independence together with the people from all walks of life, push ahead with the national democratic movement with redoubled efforts and open a new epochal phase of independence, democracy and reunification.
S. Korea: "Amnesty" for murderers under fire
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Organizations of supporters of the May 18 Kwangju popular resistance in South Korea are protesting against the release of Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo, according to a South Korean newspaper.
The Kwangju-South Jolla Provincial Federation for Democracy and National Reunification and the Kwangju-South Jolla Provincial Headquarters of the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions published statements accusing the authorities of "unconditional pardoning" for culprits of the Kwangju bloodbath. The statements urged an immediate withdrawal of the "Amnesty".
The Information Centre for Justice and Peace, a north Jolla Provincial Human Rights Organization, said the "pardon" for Chun and Roh is an insult to the spirit of the May 18 popular resistance and a betrayal to the will of the entire people. "It is an intolerable behavior," it added.
Questionnaire of Amnesty International about human rights of prisoners in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- In October, two months before the "Presidential Election" in South Korea, the Amnesty International, in the name of its secretary general, sent presidents of South Korean political parties an open questionnaire about human rights of prisoners of conscience, according to a report.
It was addressed to presidents of the "Grand National Party" (the then New Korea Party), the "National Congress for New Politics" and the "United Liberal Democrats", who ran as "Presidential candidates".
Calling their attention to the fact that a large number of prisoners of conscience have been kept in South Korea, it urged them to make clear what measure they intended to take for human rights of those prisoners if they came to power.
It asked them if they were willing to abrogate the undemocratic evil laws which produce prisoners of conscience.
In a statement published early in November as regards the issue of prisoners of conscience in South Korea, the Amnesty International also said that many people detained in South Korean jails were being persecuted for their political expressions or views.
This fact proves that the fascist government of South Korea ruthlessly violates human rights of people aspiring after independence, democracy and reunification.
Repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners called for
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The 15th meeting of the society for realizing the repatriation of old men Kim In So, Ham Se Hwan and Kim Yong Thae, unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea was held in Tokyo on December 22.
The meeting reviewed the past activities and discussed future action program.
Chairman of the society Choe Il Su said the society members have made much effort for the repatriation of the old men, conducting positive work with the South Korean Red Cross and support organizations. And he called for activating the work to realize the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners without fail.