Floral basket to G.S. Kim Jong Il from Pres. of Democratic Congo
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a floral basket from President of Democratic Congo Laurent-Desire Kabila on his birthday.
The basket was conveyed to an official concerned on Monday by Nellie Ngoy Twite, private secretary of the President of Democratic Congo on a visit to Korea.
Vice-Premier Kong Jin Thae meets Iranian government cultural delegation
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Vice-Premier Kong Jin Thae met and had a friendly talk with a government cultural delegation of Iran led by Ali Janati, first Vice-Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Monday.
Present on the occasion were vice-chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Ri Song Ho, and Iranian Ambassador to Korea Mohammad Ganjidoost.
Ali Janati said he deems it a great honor to visit Korea at the time when the 56th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il is being celebrated.
The head of the delegation wished him good health and a long life.
Exchange plan signed between Korean and Iranian governments
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- A Juche 87-89 (1998-2000) plan for cultural, scientific, educational and technical exchange was signed in Pyongyang on Monday between governments of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Present at the signing ceremony were Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Ri Song Ho, officials concerned and the government cultural delegation of Iran led by Ali Janati, first Vice-Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and the Iranian Ambassador to Korea.
Korean artistes from Japan give performance for guests of honor
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The art troupe of Korean residents in Japan gave an art performance "The General is Our Motherland" for guests of honor at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre on February 16, the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
It was appreciated by Ri Jong Ok, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Vice-President of the DPRK, other party and government officials, Ryu Mi Yong, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Chondoist Chongu Party, O Ik Je, Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland and Advisor to the Central Guidance Committee of the Korean Chondoist Association, Choe Hong Hui, President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation, officials concerned and working people and artistes in the city as well as youth and students.
Put on the stage were art pieces including the song and dance "Let us sing of our happiness in having Kim Jong Il as the sun," the male vocal solo "Thinking about the leader" and the folk dance "Our nation is good."
International Figure-Skating Festival opens
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The 7th International Figure-Skating Festival for Paektusan Prize has opened in Pyongyang on the occasion of the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The International Figure-Skating Tournament for Paektusan Prize, which had been held traditionally every year, will be an international festival from this year.
In the idea of independence, peace and friendship, the festival will contribute to strengthening friendship, cooperation and solidarity among the world's progressive people and sportsmen and sportswomen aspiring after independence and exchanging successes and experience gained in sports field.
Demonstrations of individuals (men and women), pairs and ice dance will be held in the festival.
Commemorative medals will be awarded to the festival participants and special prizes and prizes of the festival to the figure-skaters who give good accounts of themselves in the festival.
Russian, Slovak, Ukrainian and Chinese teams and the DPRK teams (a and b) took part in the opening ceremony of the festival, which was held at the ice rink on February 16.
Present there were Vice-President of DPRK Ri Jong Ok and Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam who are also poliburo members of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and other party and government officials.
Invited there were diplomatic envoys, embassy officials of different countries and foreign guests staying in Korea.
Han In Gun, Vice-Chairman of the State Commission of Physical Culture and Sports and Chairman of the Festival Organising Committee, delivered an opening address.
DPRK figure-skaters gave an exhibition performance "celebration."
The opening ceremony was followed by the first-day display.
Evening gala of youths and students
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of youths and students was held at the Central House of Youth on Feb. 16 to celebrate the 56th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Pak Song Chol, Kim Yong Nam, Yang Hyong Sop and other senior party and government officials were present at the gala.
Invited to the gala were members of foreign delegations which have come to celebrate the 56th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, foreign guests, diplomatic envoys here and embassy officials.
Gaily dressed performers danced to the tune of song "Glory to the dear leader".
Group dances, rhythmic gymnastics, gymnastic dances, magic and other colourful numbers were performed to the tune of songs "Moment of sunrise", "Song of comradeship" and "Let us become General's army".
And a popular dance followed.
Rodong Sinmun on U.S. war intention
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The United States in an "annual strategy report" branded the DPRK and China as the "most dangerous beings" and claimed that it should push ahead with the modernization of its strategical armed forces.
Commenting on this, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today says:
It is none other than the United States that is wrecking peace and security in Asia.
The U.S. is still modernising its aggression forces stationed in Asia.
The U.S. pursues the foreign military policy of keeping hold on Asia by dint of force. The keynote of the U.S. Asia strategy is to stifle the DPRK, the bulwark of socialism, by force of arms and put other Asian nations under its control.
What the U.S. warhawks pursue in branding the DPRK and China as the "most dangerous beings" and accelerating the modernisation of its aggression forces is to unleash a war on the pretext of "threats" in and around the Korean Peninsula.
Our people value the dignity of the nation and the sovereignty of the country like their lives.
Our people's army and people will give thounsand-fold retaliatory blows to the enemies if they unleash a war of aggression.
The U.S. warhawks would be well advised to ponder over the consequences to be entailed by their policy of aggression on Asia and act with discretion.
Letter to G.S. Kim Jong Il from war veteran
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from Ri In Mo, who is known as an incarnation of faith and will, on his birthday, Feb. 16.
The letter says the Korean people have become great thanks to the respected General Kim Jong Il's ideology, leadership and virtues.
Ri In Mo continues:
"All our people, more than 20 million, have firm faith and will, ready to become human bombs for your sake. This reminds me of the meaning of our party's optimistic slogan 'Let us see who will be the final winner. Victory is ours.'
"Then I can imagine the future of Korea crowned with victory under your leadership, the looks of our powerful socialist state and the reunification of the country.
"I will always cherish your great name as a symbol of victory and learn from the people you have brought up. And I will wholeheartedly remain loyal and dutiful to you."
Art performances to celebrate February 16
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Art performances were held in the capital and local areas on Feb. 16 to celebrate the 56th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
At the theatres, palaces and houses of culture in the capital city, performances were given by artists of the Mansudae Art Troupe, the State National Art Troupe, the State Symphony Orchestra, the National Comedy Group and Film Studios.
Performances took place at the Hamhung Grand Theatre, the Kaesong Art Theatre and other provincial art theatres and houses of culture.
Performers sang of boundless reverence for and absolute trust of our people in General Secretary Kim Jong Il, who has brilliantly carried forward the historic cause of the revolution of Juche and performed immortal feats for the era and humankind since he was born as the lodestar of Mt. Paektu.
G.S. Kim Jong Il's works published in Russia and Pakistan
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il's celebrated work "The Juche Philosophy Is An Original Revolutionary Philosophy" was published in booklet by the Paleya Publishing House of Russia on February 9 on the occasion of his 56th birthday.
And his work "Let Us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification" was brought out in booklet by the Afzal Publishing House of Pakistan on February 1
G.S. Kim Jong Il's on-site guidance to over 2,100 units
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il has led the Korean revolution to a brilliant victory, giving on-site guidance to many units even on red-letter days for 34 years since he started working at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Days of his on-site guidance number 3,693 equivalent to over 10 years, among them 997 red-letter days including his birthdays equivalent to nearly 3 years.
On these red-letter days, he gave on-site guidance to more than 2,100 units across the country, covering the road of 59,196 kilometres.
This clearly proves that he has devoted everything only to the happiness of the people.
Vice-Pres. Ri Jong Ok meets leading members of Korean art troupe from Japan
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Vice-President Ri Jong Ok on February 16 met leading members and principal actors and actresses of the art troupe of Koreans in Japan headed by Kim Hong Chol, head of the Kumgangsan Opera Troupe of Chongryon which has come here to celebrate February 16, and had a conversation with them in an atmosphere overflowing with compatriotic feelings.