Iranian ambassador gives party on Sun's Day
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Mohammad Ganjidoost, Iranian ambassador to Korea, gave a party on April 9 on the occasion of Sun's Day, the birthday of President Kim Il Sung.
The ambassador said in his speech that the korea visit of Ayatollah Khamenei and his talks with Generalissimo Kim Il Sung were a historical event in the relations between the two countries. He referred to the exploits of President Kim Il Sung in the development of the relations between the two countries.
Noting that the Korean people are vigorously advancing, true to the behests of President Kim Il Sung, he expressed the belief that the relations between the two countries would continue to strengthen in the future.
Vice-President Ri Jong Ok said in his speech that instituting April 15 as Sun's Day and significantly commemorating it are the brilliant realisation of the unanimous desire of the Korean people and the progressive people of the world to hold President Kim Il Sung in high esteem for all ages and to exalt his revolutionary life and exploits generation after generation.
He said that friendship between Korea and Iran is based on the intimacy between President Kim Il Sung and Iranian leaders. We will make efforts to further expand and develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in response to the intention of General Kim Jong Il, he added.
Friendship gathering with Finnish guests
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A friendship gathering with members of the visiting Finnish friendship and cooperation delegation was held at the Pyongyang Moranbong Senior Middle School no.1 on April 9.
Present were Ryang Tal Ju, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and vice-chairman of the Korea-Finland Friendship Association, and other officials concerned.
Participants were shown round experimental and practice rooms of the school, saw a performance of art circle members and played sports and amusement games with pupils.
Then, they had a talk in a friendly atmosphere.
Cooking festival
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A holiday cooking festival was held at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang to commemorate Sun's Day.
The sixth festival was attended by more than 850 good cooks, waiters and waitresses in foreign and public services from across the country.
The delicate, fresh and tasty national dishes on display drew the attention of the spectators.
The scientific and technical results concerning cooking and service were highly appreciated by the experts.
Good experience which helps preserve the advantages of national dishes and raise the level of cooking were made public at competitions held in various forms, including holiday special diet service, cooking, service technique and experience in cooking and service.
The prize of the "April Holiday Cooking Festival", the gold, silver and bronze medals of the festival and the gold, silver and bronze medals of the Korean cooks association were awarded to the Koryo Hotel, Chongryu and Okryu restaurants and other teams, cooks and waiters and waitresses who distinguished themselves in the festival.
Gift to G.S Kim Jong Il from Chinese government cultural delegation
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The visiting Chinese government cultural delegation made a gift to General Kim Jong Il.
Vice-Minister of Culture Meng Xiaosi, who is leading the delegation, asked Jang Chol, Vice-Premier and Minister of Culture and Art, to convey the gift to him.
Gift to G.S. Kim Jong Il from Palestinian President
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A gift was sent to General Kim Jong Il by Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine.
The gift was conveyed to Ri Jong Ok, politburo member of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and Vice-President of the DPRK, by Hani Al Hassan, member of the Palestine National Liberation Movement (Fatah) Central Committee and chief of its foreign relations department.
Hani Al Hassan is leading a Fatah delegation.
International seminar on Juche idea to be held in New Delhi
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- An international seminar on the Juche idea for independence and peace in the present world will be held soon in New Delhi to commemorate Sun's Day.
It will be attended by delegations and delegates of many countries, international and regional organizations, political, social and academic figures and delegates of Juche idea study groups.
Discussed at the seminar will be theoretical and practical issues concerning the world progressive people's efforts for achieving independence on the basis of the Juche idea, the guiding idea of the present era.
U.S. urged to take reasonable attitude
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The United States, since a new regime appeared in south korea, has reaffirmed its willingness to keep its troops there for an indefinite period and favored the "National Security Law" (NSL), changing its attitude towards it.
Defense Secretary William Cohen and other U.S. warhawks have said the U.S. "military security relations" with South Korea and its military presence there will be maintained even after "security threat" is removed and north-south reconciliation achieved on the Korean peninsula.
In a commentary Rodong Sinmun today says their remarks make clear that though there was a change of regime in South Korea, the U.S. military policy and strategy towards it will remain unchanged.
In the past the united states showed a negative attitude towards the "NSL" while calling for "respect for human rights" and dialogue with the DPRK. It also manifested its official position calling for the abrogation of the "NSL."
With the "NSL" left unscrapped, freedom and genuine democracy and human rights can never be ensured in South Korea, nor can inter-Korean reconciliation and confidence be achieved.
The U.S. policy of maintaining its military presence in South Korea and supporting the "NSL" is obstructive to defusing military confrontation on the Korean peninsula and achieving its reunification.
The United States wants to execute its Asia strategy, persistently taking hold of South Korea as its colony and military strategic foothold. It is an invariable design of the United States. What is important in its design is to stifle the DPRK by military force and dominate the whole of Korea. For this purpose, the United States has reinforced armed forces, strengthened its occupation and escalated military exercises in South Korea.
If the United States truly hopes for peace and stability on and around the Korean peninsula, it should do something favorable to Korean reunification.
Doing so is in the interests of the United States.
Art festival begins
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Foreign acrobats gave their first performance at the Pyongyang Circus Theatre and the Korean People's Army Circus Theatre on April 9 for the 16th April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
Put on the stage were graceful and conspicuous acrobatic pieces.
Chinese acrobats put on the stage new and conspicuous "foot stunts," "pearl-plucking girls" and "bowl-piling on ladder", which were highly praised at international circus festivals.
The "aerial trapeze" by a Canadian acrobat who was awarded the gold prize at an international circus festival was acclaimed by the spectators.
He skilfully performed daring movements, freely revolving around the swing.
Vietnamese acrobats performed "jars on forehead", to the acclaim of the spectators.
"Unicycle stunts" by a Belgian acrobat, "plastic acrobating on rope" by Mongolian acrobats and "hand stunts" by international acrobatic festival prize winners from Russia were popular among the audiences.
The colorful numbers given by Cuban, Swedish and Finnish acrobats drew the attention of the spectators.
Conspicuous acrobatic shows
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang is now in a festive mood with the approach of Sun's Day.
Songs of Sun's Day are ringing out from theatres here.
Foreign artistes from more than 40 countries and overseas Korean artistes who came here for the 16th April Spring Friendship Art Festival gave premieres at some ten theatres on Thursday.
Among them are many international and national prize winners and famous actors and actresses.
The performers put on the stage colorful numbers praising President Kim Il Sung, with deep reverence for him.
The Russian army song and dance ensemble named after Alexandrov consisting of 20 people's actors and merited actors, and the Mongolian army song and dance ensemble sang the immortal revolutionary hymn "Song of General Kim Il Sung."
A female soloist of Spain Garcia Pilar, who is an international prize winner, sang well "Song to the Great Leader" written and composed by herself venerating President Kim Il Sung as the eternal sun.
A Malagasy soloist Ralai Narivo Noel Harvey, who had participated in previous festivals, sang "Song of Sun" created by himself, receiving warm applause.
A Moldovan soloist I. M. Popova, who is an international prize winner and a merited actress, Koji Chong Yamching of Malaysia and many other artistes sang Korean songs well, touching the heartstrings of the audience.
The dovron song and dance troupe of Poland, a Nepalese art troupe, a Czech folk musical troupe, an Australian musician, the state folk dance troupe of Egypt, a Kazakh musician and a Romanian art troupe also successfully performed to commemorate Sun's Day, a holiday common to humankind.
Overseas Korean artistes put on the stage songs and dances they prepared with sincerity for a long period to significantly adorn the current festival, the first after the birthday of the president was instituted as Sun's Day.
"Train for the People"
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A train is on display as a precious relic in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the sacred temple of Juche.
It was used by President Kim Il Sung during his on-site guidance to the country and foreign tour from May Juche 71 (1982) to early July Juche 83 (1994).
By train in his lifetime President Kim Il Sung gave on-the-spot guidance across the country and made foreign tour on 786 occasions, covering a total distance of 368,000 km enough to make nine rounds of the earth.
For half a century from September Juche 34 (1945) after the liberation of the country he worked and lodged in the train on a long journey of on-site guidance for the development and prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people. That is why the Korean people call the train a "Train for the People."
General Kim Jong Il made sure that the train used by the president is preserved as a relic on display in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace. The train on display was made best by General Kim Jong Il.
In Juche 63 (1974) he was resolved to make a new train in which the President could board and lodge and have consultative meetings and talks. And he planned a model and compasing of the train and directed its manufacture. He worked heart and soul to have the train built with no vibration in any railway condition and suitable to the taste of the president who always enjoyed a simple life. The train was manufactured on the occasion of the 70th birth anniversary of the President in Juche 71 (1982).
Examining the speed of the train and its equipment and technology, General Kim Jong Il said that he did not feel relieved whenever the President visited foreign countries by plane but from now he felt at ease. And he noted with satisfaction that his wish came true and that the President would feel more comfortable.
Thus, the train is associated with the deep loyalty and filial piety of General Kim Jong Il to the President.
Farm machines and tractor spare parts mass-produced
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The production for farm machines and tractor spare parts is being stepped up, the factories and enterprises under the Ministry of the Machine-Building Industry having a substantial share in the process.
At Kum Song General Tractor Works, cylinder heads, engine blocks and other spare parts are mass-produced by applying new and advanced production techniques and processes.
At the Chongjin Tractor Spare Parts Plant, the use of various facilities such as 1,000-ton press, crank shaft grinding machines, high-frequency heat treatment equipment and low-frequency induction furnace ensures a further increase in the production of spare parts such as crank shafts, pistons and rings.
At the Yonan, Kumya and Mundok farm-machine stations, tractor engine blocks, gears and bearings are produced from their own materials, using technology which they have developed themselves.
Rice-transplanting machines, five-blade ploughshares and other spare parts for farm machines produced at the Haeju and Kwaksan trailer farm machine factories and the Sinwon Machine Factory have been supplied to the countryside.
In the recent one month hundreds of tractors and rice-transplanting machines were given a thorough servicing by the tractor spare parts and farm machine factories.
Gift to G.S. Kim Jong Il from WFP Executive Director
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the executive director of the World Food Program (WFP) on a visit to Korea.
The gift was handed to Vice-President Ri Jong Ok by Executive Director Catherine Bertini.
General Kim Jong Il was also presented with a gift by the WFP.
The gift was conveyed to Vice-Premier Kong Jin Thae by Catherine Bertini.
Hong Song Nam sends message to Vanuatu Prime Minister
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, acting Premier of the Administration Council, sent a message to Donald Kalpokas, congratulating him on his election as Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
The message wished him achievements in his work for the country's development and expressed the belief that friendly relations between the two countries would continue developing in line with the principle and idea of the non-aligned movement and in the interests of the two peoples.
Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam also sent a message to him upon his appointment as Foreign Minister.