Ugandan Preparatory Committee formed to celebrate 56th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee was formed with due ceremony in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 8 to celebrate the 56th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Baguma Isoke, Minister of State for Natural Resources of Uganda, was elected Chairman of the Committee.
He said that they will hold colorful events under the sponsorship of the Government in Uganda to grandly celebrate the significant holiday they greet after the General Secretary Kim Jong Il was acclaimed as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Sixth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as KPA Supreme Commander celebrated abroad
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Last year, the world progressive people significantly celebrated the sixth anniversary of the election of Kim Jong Il as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA).
On this occasion he was awarded "Order of October Revolution", "Certificate of World Honorary Citizenship" and other orders and certificates of honorary citizenship.
The preparatory committee for celebrations was formed for the first time in Zambia on November 29 last year and then preparatory committees comprising Senior Party and Government officials were organized in different countries and colorful events held in over 50 countries including China, Nepal and Mongolia on more than 360 occasions.
More than 100 mass media of over 60 countries including the Russian Paper Glasnosti, the Bulgarian Paper Narodna Tribuna, Radio Santa Rosa of Peru organized special write-ups and programs and published articles on this occasion.
It was stressed at the events and in the press that as it has General Secretary Kim Jong Il as Supreme Commander, the KPA has grown to be an invincible, matchless army.
Basketball game between Korea and Russia
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Women's basketball game between the Korean "Phokphung" team and Russia's Moscow Regional "Spartak" team was held at Pyongyang indoor stadium Thursday.
The Korean cagers won the game 103:94.
S. Korean regime hit for their shipment of military hardware from Russia
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today charges that the South Korean regime are stepping up the introduction of the latest military hardware from Russia, crying for "diversification of arms system."
It describes the purchase as a premeditated move to wreck peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and unleash a war against the northern half of Korea.
The stepped-up arms buildup will cause arms race in northeast Asia and violate peace and security in the region, the news analyst says, and goes on:
While crying for detente through military confidence building on the Korean Peninsula, some countries concerned are vying with each other in delivering sophisticated military hardware to South Korea. They should ponder over the consequences arising therefrom.
The Korean people and People's Army keep a watchful eye on the arms buildup and military provocation moves of the South Korean regime against the northern half of Korea and will have to take a counter-measure.
Korean fishermen rescued by Americans return
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The crew of the Korean fishing boat "Samhwa" arrived at Wonsan Port on January 16 by the ship "Mangyongbong."
The U.S. merchant ship "Cornucopia" rescued them on January 9 while drifting on the sea for several days, entrapped by severe wind and waves on January 1, after leaving Thongchon-up, Thongchon county, Kangwon Province, for fishing.
Americans offered them humanitarian treatment in accordance with international law and helped them to temporarily stay in hakodade port of Japan before coming back home as wanted by them.
The Japanese authorities immediately allowed the Korean fishermen to land on the Japanese territory and transferred them to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).
While in Japan, they received compatriot and sincere assistance from Chongryon.
Their family members and relatives and employees of their fishing station warmly welcomed them.
Revolutionary spirit of soldiers, heroic stamina of Korea
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Today the Korean peoples live and work in the revolutionary spirit of soldiers.
This spirit is the source of strength of Korea, which turns adversity into favorable condition, misfortune into fortune, and is also a powerful weapon of struggle.
It is the heroic stamina of Korea breaking through difficulties.
The spirit was created by soldiers of the Korean People's Army in the construction of the Anbyon Youth Power Station.
The servicemen overcame inconceivable difficulties and hardships in the spirit of accepting and carrying out the Supreme Commander's order absolutely and unconditionally and in the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and strenuous efforts. They built dikes and finished the 40-km waterway tunnel project, even covering with their bodies pouring water and stones from ceiling.
The construction of the power station was a grand nature-remaking project, which was two times the west sea barrage in a total amount of work.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il, KPA Supreme Commander, visited this power station under construction and highly estimated the revolutionary spirit displayed by soldier-builders.
He said the power station is a precious product of the revolutionary spirit of KPA soldiers, who are ready to do anything the party, wants. The fatherland will never forget the mass heroism and noble self-sacrificing spirit displayed by soldier-builders and the feats performed by them for the country and the people, he declared.
Now seen at workplaces of Korea are slogans and posters reflecting the firm determination to live and work in this revolutionary spirit of soldiers.
Displaying the spirit, Korean people and servicemen made great achievements in socialist construction last year.
Among the achievements is the completion of such projects as 100 km-long Wonsan-Kumgang youth railways, pleasure grounds of Mts. Kuwol and Jongbang, more than 500 minor power stations, and land construction.
This spirit is the source of the heroic stamina demonstrated by the Korean people, who are consolidating politico-ideological, economic and military fortresses of socialism, braving manifold hardships and difficulties.
Rodong Sinmun on noble traits of Korean people
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- It is the noblest ideological and spiritual traits of the Korean people to fight indefatigably, believing in the Great Leader General Kim Jong Il as the eternal mental pillar and saviour of their destinies, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today.
The author of the article says:
They live and struggle with their destinies entrusted wholly to the General.
They deeply revere and follow him, singing the song "We believe in the General as in heaven." this is because the song fully represents the noble ideological and spiritual world of the Korean people, who cannot live even a moment separated from him.
They uphold his ideas and lines with loyalty.
They know well how he turns misfortune into fortune and adversity into a favourable condition with his rare ideological intelligence and veteran and tested guidance.
"When the Party is determined, we can do anything " this is a slogan reflecting the loyalty of the Korean people, who are working hard to implement the Party's lines and policies, cherishing their validity deep in their hearts.
They are always optimistic about their future.
The General is symbolic of the bright future for the Korean people.
They firmly believe that although they are experiencing hardships at present, the day will certainly come when they will live a happy life because he guides them.
Korean people's struggle for national reunification favored
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Foreign Party and State leaders voiced support for the Korean people's struggle to reunify the country.
The Senegalese President, Abdou Diouf, when meeting with the outgoing Korean Ambassador on January 7, expressed solidarity with the Korean people in their efforts for national reunification, and hoped for peaceful reunification of the north and south of Korea.
Chairman Boris Petkov of the Executive Council of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party (Marxist) met the Korean Ambassador to his country on January 5 and voiced full support for the three charters of Korea's reunification. Korea will surely be reunified in accordance with the three charters, he added.
General Secretary A.B. Bardhan of the National Council of the Communist Party of India, when meeting with the Korean Ambassador to his country on January 10, said:
"No one and no force on earth can break the indomitable will and faith of the Korean people rallied around the Great Leader General Kim Jong Il in one mind. The just cause of the Korean people led by him will win without fail."
"The Communist Party of India will work harder to strengthen the friendly and comradely relations with the Workers' Party and people of Korea and extend invariable support and firm solidarity to the Korean people in their cause of socialism and national reunification."
"KCTU" stages over-night sit-in
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" in South Korea (KCTU) kept an overnight vigil against the authorities' move to introduce the system of allowing companies to lay off workers under the pressure of the International Monetary Fund, according to a Seoul-based radio report.
The "KCTU" at a press conference on Jan. 12 called for giving precedence to stern punishment of those that foiled the economy and to reform of comprador business groups in order to overcome the serious crisis of foreign exchange.
It said that the authorities are describing the introduction of the system as the only cure for bridging over the crisis and are imposing all the pains caused by the economic failure upon workers.
The leading members of all organizations under the "KCTU" decided to enter an indefinite overnight sit-in from Jan. 12 Till the introduction of the system was withdrawn. They also decided to hold meetings of trade unions till Jan. 17 and stage a general strike.
And they decided to hold large-scale meetings all at once across South Korea on Jan. 17 to put pressure upon the authorities.
The "KCTU" declared that it would hold a meeting against the institution of the "special law of allowing financial organs to lay off workers" in Seoul on Jan. 12 and wage a strong struggle including a general strike in case it is passed through an "interim session of the national assembly".
South Korean clique hit for scheming to introduce layoff system
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The Director of the Worker-Peasant Department of the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) issued a statement to the press on Jan. 9, rejecting the moves of the South Korean clique to introduce the reactionary system of allowing companies to lay off workers, faced with the total bankruptcy of the economy owing to the financial crisis, the Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation said.
The clique is openly scheming to introduce the system overall, giving in to the demands of the International Monetary Fund, the director said. Owing to this, forcible dismissal and mass unemployment are coming in sight.
He ascribed the total economic bankruptcy to the intemperate introduction of foreign capital, market opening, dependence on foreign forces and flunkeyist and treacherous policy.
The attempt to legalize the system is to follow in the wake of the "civilian"-veiled government this shows there is neither way nor counter proposal in South Korea to overcome the present economic failure, he noted.
He said that the working people couldn't be free from the chains of oppression and capital any time unless precedence is given to punishment of the prime movers of the economic bankruptcy and dismantlement of the chronical colonial and slave economic structure.
He stressed that the NDFSK will more vigorously advance along the road of independence, democracy and reunification to defend the dignity of the nation and the right to existence, together with all the patriotic people including 10 million workers across South Korea.
Animals in the Sobaeksu Valley
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The Sobaeksu Valley near the Log Cabin of the Paektusan Secret Camp, the birthplace of the Great Leader General Kim Jong Il, abounds in various beautiful animals such as deer, yellow dogs, roe deer, musk deer and antelopes, as well as wonderful sites. Deer and yellow dogs live in the valley where trees grow sparsely and grass is knee-high, and roe deer scatter in the wide area of woods from the mouth of the valley.
Musk deer inhabit the quiet place on the sunny side of the valley less affected by the wind, and antelopes cover the rock cliffs around the Jong Il Peak, Jangkom (long sword) Rock, Ryongma (swift horse) Rock and Haedoji (sunrise) Rock.
This valley offers tigers that occupy the vast area near the Jong Il Peak, Sobaek Hill, Saja Hill and Kom Hill.
Deep in the woods of the valley live bears, and wild boars appear halfway up the valley from its mouth.
Quality fur animals like ferrets; sables, badgers and otters can be seen in the valley.
Sables occurring in the needle-leaved tree woods of the whole valley continue to increase in number.
The rock-covered slopes of the valley make a nice place for badgers to live in and offer them wild fruits, insects and rats as their feeds.
But tigers, deer, yellow dogs and sables are especially preserved, as they are listed national treasures.
This valley has ten sorts of animals preying on insects, such as hedgehogs, moles and squirrels. Hedgehogs dig and eat harmful insects such as whitegrubs in the earth of the grassland and shrubbery.
Hares and pikas are animals in the greatest number in the valley. Pikas are found a lot living beneath the roots of big trees and piles of stones, along with squirrels, around the log-cabin of the secret camp.
Foxes, raccoon dogs and varieties of bats live in low hills.
Such various and rich animals are of great importance in both the economic and scientific fields and at the same time further beautify the local landscape.
Second batch of Japanese wives to visit hometowns
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society announced that the second batch of Japanese women in the DPRK will soon visit their hometowns in Japan under the agreement of the governments and the Red Cross organizations of the DPRK and Japan.
The twelve Japanese women, guided by the DPRK Red Cross officials, will pay a weeklong visit to Japan from Jan. 27, thanks to the all-embracing, benevolent policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK Government.
They will meet their relatives and friends and pay homage at their parents' graves.