Sun's Day to be marked by overseas Koreans

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee of the International United Confederation of Koreans (International Kothongryon) was formed on March 9 to commemorate Sun's Day. The preparatory committee decided to hold rallies, lecture meetings, film shows, photo exhibitions and other events by the international Kothongryon and its affiliated organizations to mark the significant day.

S. Korea's "NSL" must be abolished

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) -- The upper echelons of the South Korean political camp have said it is still too soon to abolish the "National Security Law" (NSL). Commenting on their assertion, Rodong Sinmun today says the anti-nation, anti-democracy and anti-reunification fascist law must be scrapped unconditionally in any case. The daily says: We regret that even the man who suffered from the evil law in the past is now reluctant to remove it, oblivious of his sufferings, and is finding fault with our criminal law which has nothing to do with inter-Korean relations. He, who called more than once for the abolition of the fascist law, a legacy of the successive dictators, is refusing to repeal it with our criminal law as the reason to keep on it. Such an act is really a self-contradiction. We maintain once again that if South Korea wants to be our independent dialogue partner, it should not hesitate to replace the anti-north confrontation policy with a pro-north reconciliation policy in the spirit of national independence. The South Korean ruling circles had better refrain from following in the footsteps of the "civilian" dictators.

Ri In Mo, incarnation of faith and will

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) -- Five years have passed since Ri In Mo, former war correspondent of the Korean People's Army (KPA) and unconverted long-term prisoner, came back to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He is called the incarnation of faith and will. He was a correspondent following the KPA during the Fatherland Liberation War (June, 1950-july, 1953). During the strategic temporary retreat of the KPA, he was active in the Jirisan guerrilla unit before he received a bullet wound and was arrested by the enemy. He was imprisoned in South Korea for 34 years suffering all sorts of tortures and inhuman maltreatment. He published his memoirs on the struggle of the Jirisan guerrilla unit and his prison life through the press of South Korea in Juche 78 (1989). Later, the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government conducted activities for his repatriation. The DPRK political parties and organisations sent letters to the South Korean authorities and Red Cross, demanding his repatriation. The DPRK government strongly urged his early repatriation at the north-south high-level talks and other dialogues and contacts. The Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society and the Korean Democratic Lawyers' Association sent letters to Red Cross and lawyers organisations of different countries and international organisations, calling upon them to conduct international solidarity movements for his repatriation. Red Cross organisations of different countries, the international organisation of journalists and many other organisations and international organisations loudly demanded his repatriation. International signature campaigns for his repatriation were carried on. He returned home on March 19, Juche 82 (1993) thanks to the positive step of the WPK and DPRK government and the full support of the world people.

Democratization of S. Korean society is prerequisite to improved inter-Korean relations

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today says that the democratization of the social and political life in South Korea is a prerequisite to terminating confrontation between the north and south and achieving reconciliation and unity. The movement for Korea's reunification, a nation-wide cause, can strike root and bear a good fruition on the basis of democratic politics which reflect and respect the aspiration and demand of the people in the north and south, a signed article of the paper notes, and goes on: With wide-ranging contact and exchange for reconciliation and unity of the nation hampered by political interests and blocked by arbitrariness of authorities, our compatriots can not unite with each other for reunification. If the harsh fascist suppression of the pro-democracy, pro-reunification patriotic forces continues, free discussions and activities for national reunification by all parties, all groupings and all social strata will be impossible and aggravated confrontation between the north and south cannot be avoided. The South Korean politicians should draw a lesson from the crimes of the "civilian"-veiled fascist regime, which drove the north-south relations into the worst phase, pursuing the policy of confrontation with the north and fascistization. What is the most conspicuous in the anti-communist fascist character in South Korea is the notorious "National Security Law" (NSL) and the "Agency for National Security Planning" (ANSP). The NSL and the ANSP are symbols of the anti-north confrontation, anti-reunification fascist policy pursued by the successive South Korean rulers and main factors of the brutal suppression of pro-democracy, pro-reunification patriotic forces of South Korea and of obstructed contact, dialogue, reconciliation and unity between fellow countrymen. With such anti-national, anti-reunification fascist institutional mechanisms left intact, national reconciliation, unity, cooperation and exchange between the north and south can never be realised.

Rodong Sinmun calls for fresh upsurge in socialist economic construction

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il kindled a signal fire of fresh great revolutionary upsurge during his recent historic on-site guidance to the Songjin Steel Complex. In this connection, Rodong Sinmun today comes out with an editorial calling for effecting a fresh great upswing in socialist construction in hearty response to his call at the Songjin Steel Complex. The editorial says: Let us bring about a new great upsurge in socialist construction, encouraged by the signal fire kindled at the Songjin Steel Complex. This is the banner of struggle and advance which our people should hold high. All the party members and other working people should bear deep in their mind the intention of General, who kindled the flame of a fresh great upsurge, and advance like the wind with spurs put on Chollima and thus demonstrate the invincible might of Korean-style socialism all over the world. The signal fire lighted by the general at the Songjin Steel Complex will lead to a new advance and final victory. His on-site guidance to the complex is a historic event which has started such a great upswing as was made in the '50s. The Korean people see the image of the fatherly leader President Kim Il Sung in the great leadership traits of the General. They are convinced that only when they dynamically advance in response to his call can they make a fresh upswing in socialist economic construction as in the '50s. The signal fire lighted at the Songjin Steel Complex will lead to the final victory. When the flame of the great upsurge spreads throughout the country, a decisive victory will be won in the forced march of socialism.

U.N. called upon to dissolve "UN Command" in S. Korea

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) -- It accords with the UN Charter and contribute to ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula for the security council of the united nations to fairly approach the "resolution 84" and the U.S. establishment of the "UN Command", nullify the "resolution 84" and take a step for recalling the name and flag of the UN from the U.S. Forces Command in South Korea. This is said in a communique published by the permanent mission of the DPRK in the united nations on March 9. The communique was distributed as official document S/1998/210 of the UN Security Council on March 11. It lays bare the U.S. real intention to keep the "UN Command" in South Korea. It makes clear that the "resolution 84" of the UN Security Council dated July 7, 1950, on whose legal ground the United States set up "UN Command", has no legal effect, because it was adopted without participation of all the permanent member nations. The communique goes on: The "resolution 84" is contrary to paragraph 3 of article 27 of the UN Charter stipulating that all the problems except procedural matters should be supported by seven countries with a unanimous approval of the permanent member nations. The absence of the Soviet Union, a permanent member nation at that time, means there was not a unanimous approval of the permanent member nations. The "UN Command" in South Korea is a U.S. product of the Cold War. The UN Secretary General in a letter to the DPRK Foreign Minister on June 24, 1994 clarified that the "UN Command" was organized by the United States, not by the UN Security Council as a subsidiary organ under its control. The United States should not attempt to legitimate the existence of the "UN Command" by submitting a report of the command to the UN Security Council every year but dissolve it. The United Nations should call in question the "resolution 84" and the use of the UN Flag by the U.S. Forces Command in South Korea and correct them. We expect that the UN member nations will pay deep attention to dissolving the "UN Command" in South Korea.

New FAO representative presents credentials to Kim Yong Nam

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) -- Qureshi Ajmal Mahmood, new resident representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to the DPRK, today presented his credentials to Kim Yong Nam, Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister. After receiving credentials, Kim Yong Nam had a talk with him.

G.S. Kim Jong Il cables Pres. Jiang Zemin

Pyongyang, March 16 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a message to President Jiang Zemin today, congratulating him on his reelection as President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission. The message said his reelection to responsible posts of the state is an expression of the Chinese people's deep trust in and respect for him. It hoped that fraternal Chinese people will make fresh achievements in the building of socialism with characteristics under the leadership of the communist party and government of China. It expressed the belief that Korea-China friendship with a long history will be consolidated and developed by joint efforts of the two parties, two governments, and two peoples. It wished President Jiang Zemin greater achievements in his responsible work for the prosperity and reunification of the country.