G.S. Kim Jong Il's work published in Guyana
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- The celebrated work of the General Kim Jong Il "Let Us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification" was published in booklet by the Pavnik Publishing House of Guyana on Mar. 12 with the approach of Sun's Day.
Greetings to Indonesian FM
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam sent a message of greetings to Ali Alatas on his reappointment as Foreign Minister of Indonesia.
The message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to expand and develop on good terms and wished him Success in his responsible work.
Military attaches visit Ponghwa Revolutionary Site
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- The military attaches corps here visited the Ponghwa Revolutionary Site which is situated in a Pyongyang suburb on Mar. 20, three days before The 81st anniversary of the Korean national association formed by Kim Hyong Jik, an indomitable revolutionary Fighter and outstanding leader of the anti-Japanese national liberation movement.
In Ponghwari, there are Myongsin School, a morning exercises site and other revolutionary relics and museum Which are associated with his immortal revolutionary feats.
The military attaches laid bunches of flowers and bowed Before his statue.
Earlier, they visited the Hakdanggol historical site.
Unconverted long-term prisoners must be repatriated unconditionally
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Kang In Dok, "Minister of National Unification" of South Korea, told a press conference some time ago that, since South Korea suffered "enormous losses" from the repatriation of Ri In Mo, it would not repeat the same "mistake" in the issue of repatriating unconverted long-term prisoners.
Commenting on his outbursts, Rodong Sinmun today says:
To repatriate unconverted long-term prisoners of the DPRK origin, who were taken prisoner while in the Korean War, is a humanitarian issue rather than a political issue and an inviolable requirement of international law and the Korean Armistice Agreement.
It is only too right that Ri In Mo was repatriated to the socialist homeland.
As admitted by the world, his return bears nothing harmful but good for the improvement of the north-south relations and reconciliation and unity.
Kang In Dok's remark about South Korea's losses is nonsense. Ri must have been repatriated long before.
The DPRK government has already expressed its apprehension and disappointment at the fact that Kang In Dok, who is detrimental to improving the relations between the north and the south and reunification and who cannot share the lot with the nation aspiring after reconciliation and reunification, was appointed to a ministry in charge of the reunification question.
We are all the more concerned and disappointed about his indecent remarks.
How to approach the issue of repatriating unconverted long-term prisoners is a touchstone which distinguishes between reconciliation and confrontation and between reunification and division.
The ruling quarters of South Korea must ponder over the serious consequences to be entailed by their wrong attempt to use the issue of repatriating the unconverted long-term prisoners for their sinister political purpose and return all of them to the north unconditionally.
Rodong Sinmun on U.S. reckless policy of strength
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comes out with a signed commentary on the reorganisation of the U.S. 8th Army Command present in South Korea into a field army command.
This is aimed at drastically increasing the offensive capacity of the 8th army, the news analyst of the paper says, and continues:
Such a reorganisation can be seen only on the eve of war.
It is precisely intended for a military offensive.
Regarding the 8th army as a very important factor in executing its korea strategy, the united states schemes to form a three-dimensional and overall front for striking North Korea with the huge armed forces deployed there. It plans to mount a land mobile offensive with huge ground forces the nucleus of which is the 8th army on one hand and, on the other hand, make intensive strikes at the DPRK from the sea and sky with the naval and air forces.
The reorganisation clearly proves that the U.S. scenario of Korean War has entered the stage of implementation.
To provide against this situation, the DPRK government issued a wartime mobilisation order throughout the country and hurled all the armed forces including the people's army into military exercises. This is a very just self-defensive measure to prevent war and preserve peace on the Korean peninsula.
The United States must give up the reckless policy of strength to test the will of the Korean people.
Danish Communist Parties on WPK's experience in party building
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- A seminar of Danish Communist Parties on experience in party building was held in Copenhagen on Mar. 13.
Delegates of the parties said in their speeches that experience of the Workers' Party of Korea in independent party building gives great help to them and emphasized that it was important to set forth realistic slogans to rally masses around the parties and firmly hold fast to the independent stand in party activities in the future.
They also put forward ways for further strengthening solidarity with the Korean people.
A joint statement was made public at the meeting in support of the proposal advanced by the DPRK political parties and organisations at their joint meeting.
Scientific theory on independent and creative stands
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in an article proves that theory on the independent and creative stands clarified by General Kim Jong Il is the most scientific one.
The article says:
General Kim Jong Il clarified the essence of the independent and creative stands and their fundamental requirement, thus scientifically making clear the basic features of these stands different from the preceding dialectical materialist stand.
the independent stand is one that the masses of the people ought to occupy their position as masters of the world and their own destiny. And its basic demand is to strictly defend their independence against all forms of subjugation and restriction. It is hard to regard this stand as the same with the materialistic stand that everything should be viewed by focussing on material conditions since the world consists of material.
The creative stand is one that the masses of the people ought to play the role as transformers of the world and shapers of their own destiny. And it fundamentally requires that all the problems should be solved in a creative method with reliance on inexhustible creative strength of the masses and their creativity. This stand is different from the dialectical stand of the preceding philosophy considering that the world consistently changes and develops, so everything should be viewed as process of change and development.
The might of the Juche idea as instrument of practice can be increased only when the people have a correct understanding of the independent and creative stands and adhere to them in the revolution and construction, the article stresses.
Folk holidays in Korea
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- In Korea a year is divided into four seasons and the 24 divisions of the year (in the lunar calender) are made, taking account of seasonal factors. People take their holidays on the occasion.
Such holidays include January 1 (lunar New Year Day), may 5 festival (on the fifth of the fifth lunar month) and August 15, the fullmoon night of the fifteenth day of the lunar month.
Folk holidays with a long history which were founded on old legends have been inherited from the ancient time to the successive generations.
During their colonial rule in Korea, the Japanese imperialists strove to extinguish every spark of national culture. Due to their policy, some folk holidays disappeared.
These traditional holidays have now been revived. People are encouraged to celebrate these days.
Warhawks should act with prudence
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- A time-bomb situation has persisted on the Korean peninsula.
As was already reported, the United States, motivated by the "two-war strategy," has brought huge armed forces and combat equipment including a new air strike force in South Korea and reorganized the south korea-based 8th Army Command and the U.S. mainland-basded army into field army system under the pretext of the Iraqi crisis.
Large-scale military manoeuvres have staged one after another in South Korea, assuming all the more offensive nature, though it has suffered a serious financial crisis.
We take a serious view of the ill-boding military manoeuvres which have been staged behind the curtain of DPRK-U.S. contacts and "four-way talks."
The situation makes us suspect that the "four-way talks" the United States is describing as peace talks are only aimed at camouflaging its intention to stifle the DPRK by military force.
At a time when the DPRK has suffered a temporary food shortage caused by years of natural disasters, the increasing military threat from outside has given rise to our deep concern.
What the U.S. forces and the South Korean puppets have done in South Korea is what can be seen on the eve of war outbreak.
This compels us to heighten vigilance and keep ourselves fully prepared to defend the country in such a time as now when we are undergoing economic difficulties.
So, we have put ourselves in a state of war in the whole country and staged important military exercises from march 12.
We are ready for both dialogue and war.
If the United States persistently seeks a war behind the scene of dialogue, we will unhesitatingly cope with it.
We want peace but never beg for it. It is our people's spirit not to fear a war.
The warmaniacs must clearly know it and really act with prudence.
G.S. Kim Jong Il sends greetings to Iranian President
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il today sent a message of greetings to Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami on the occasion of the Islamic New Year.
The message wished the Iranian President and people greater achievements in the efforts for the independent development of the country and the building of new society and expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further expand and develop in various domains.