UNDP-assisted project completed
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- A modernization project of the Pyongyang Thermal Power Complex was completed with aid of the United Nations Development Program.
It helps improve the operation of the complex by computers and modernize its generating equipment.
As a result of the completion of the project, the complex has been provided with scientific, technical and material foundations to produce more electricity with the existing generating capacity.
The commissioning ceremony was held on the spot on Friday.
Cheryl Ann Hairston, acting resident representative of the UNDP, and another official of its mission here were on hand.
Communique on WFP Executive Director's DPRK visit
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- The Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP), Catherine Bertini, visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from April 7 to 11, Juche 87 (1998).
She learned about the DPRK's temporary food shortage caused by years of devastating natural disasters and discussed technical matters concerning humanitarian assistance.
In January the WFP made public an appeal for 650,000 tons of emergency food assitance to the DPRK.
While in the DPRK, she toured various areas of south Phyongan, Kangwon and north Hwanghae provinces and visited nurseries, kindergartens, hospitals and families of factory and office workers to learn about the distribution of food rendered by the WFP. She also went round food-for-work projects which have already been completed or are now under way with help of the WFP.
She expressed satisfaction at the fact that food rendered by the WFP and other international organizations and charitable bodies has been supplied to inhabitants and has been helpful towards their living and that the WFP-assisted food-for-work projects have paid off.
She voiced deep concern over effects to be caused by months of food shortage in the country where the total stock of food has been exhausted and called on the international community to positively respond to the WFP's appeal.
She also attended the opening ceremony of the Wonsan branch office of the WFP's mission here and inspected at Nampho Port the unloading of the first shipment from the 200,000 tons of food supplied by the United States in response to the appeal.
During her stay here, she paid a courtesy call on Vice-President of the DPRK Ri Jong Ok, had talks with Vice-Premier of the Administration Council Kong Jin Thae and met with Minister-level officials of the Foreign Ministry, the Education Commission and the Ministry of Public Health to discuss issues concerning emergency food assistance.
Telegram to G.S. Kim Jong Il from Cambodian King
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a telegram from Rorodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, on April 7 on the occasion of Sun's Day.
It notes that Generalissimo Kim Il Sung wisely led the courageous Korean people to the brilliant development with Juche philosophy.
His lifelong aim was to achieve the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula in such the greatest and wisest way as founding the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo, it says.
It also says General Kim Jong Il, the supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is successfully carrying forward the immortal cause of Generalissimo Kim Il Sung, the father of the most glorious and ever-victorious Juche Korea and the most dignified and prominent man in the world.
It sincerely wishes General Kim Jong Il greater success in the noble and patriotic cause of leading the DPRK.
International seminar on Juche idea hailed
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- The Central People's Committee and the Administration Council of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Friday sent a joint congratulatory message to the international seminar on the Juche idea for independence and peace in the present world, which is being held in New Delhi.
The message said it is very proud and significant that figures from the five continents met together to have the international seminar at a time when the struggle of the people for independence and peace is being intensified in the world.
The long-cherished desire of the popular masses to build a new anthropocentric society which ensures an independent and creative life and a free and peaceful world which guarantees equal development and prosperity of all the countries and nations, will undoubtedly be met by means indicated by the Juche idea, it added.
It expressed the belief that the seminar would live up to the expectation of the world people who hanker after independence, peace and solidarity, and wished success to the seminar.
Japan urged to renounce hostile policy towards Korea
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed article titled "Japan must renounce its policy of hostility towards Korea."
Though over half a century has passed since the end of World War 11 relations of friendship have not yet been established between Korea and Japan, the article notes, and says:
It is entirely due to Japan's hostile policy towards Korea.
The Japanese reactionaries have strengthened moves for comeback to Korea, clamouring about "threat from North Korea."
An "overture" made by the Liberal-Democratic Party of Japan last year, which is called "Japan-U.S. Joint Security Declaration and Guarantee for Future Security," states that "capabilities" should be enhanced to cope with "emergency" in the Korean peninsula.
The Japanese diet called for increased "capability in case of contingency" on the Korean peninsula and an enactment of "Emergency Law."
Confirmed in September last year was the new "Japan-U.S. Defence Cooperation Guidelines," which mirrors the Japanese reactionaries' intention to reinvade Korea and realize overseas expansion with backing of the United States.
The Japanese reactionaries were more zealous in the anti-DPRK "cooperation system" with the South Korean puppets and in the anti-DPRK smear campaign last year than ever before.
Even abroad, they conducted anti-DPRK activities and made persistent moves to deny their anti-ethic crime against the Korean people and evade the settlement of the past.
The position of Japan denying the past crimes was manifested concentrically in the "comfort women" issue.
Japan must draw a lesson from its anachronistic and prejudiced korea policy and renounce its anti-DPRK hostilepolicy.
Reception given on end of WFP Executive Director's visit
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- A reception was given on Friday upon the conclusion of the DPRK visit of the Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP) and her party.
Invited to the reception were Vice-Premier Kong Jin Thae, officials concerned and foreign diplomatic envoys here.
Executive Director of WFP Catherine Bertini, her party, resident representative of the WFP Douglas Casson Coutts and members of missions of other international organizations here were present.
Speeches were made at the reception.
WFP Executive Director visits several places
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- Catherine Bertini, Executive Director of the World Food Program, and her entourage visited the projects assisted by WFP in Wonsan city, Kangwon Province on Apr. 9.
On Wednesday, they went round a nursery, kindergarten and people's hospital in Sukchon county, South Phyongan Province and learned about the damage by tidal waves last year before looking round rehabilitation sites.
Shameless deed
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- It has been disclosed that the Japanese government put pressure on several occasions upon the U.N. special rapporteur who submitted to the UN Commission on Human Rights a report on "violence against women" including the "comfort women" issue.
According to the rapporteur, a Japanese government official called at her office several times to force her to make no mention about "government compensation" when she worked out the report for 1996.
The fact shows more clearly that the establishment of "private fund" for "comfort women" advertised so far by the Japanese government was nothing but a cunning trick intended to mislead public opinion and gloss over the liquidation of the past.
The crime related to the "comfort women" issue is a wanton human rights violation in which the Japanese government was directly involved. It is not a matter which Japan can solve willfully through such "private fund."
This special anti-ethic crime should be handled in the way that the Japanese government makes apology and compensation in a responsible manner according to international law on human rights.
The International Association of Democratic Lawyers, too, has urged the Japanese government to make state compensation.
However, the Japanese government insisted, as regards "comfort women" issue, that its policy is not to make any compensation to an individual and, worse still, put pressure even upon the UN special rapporteur. This shows their moral vulgarity well.
Former "comfort women's" demand is not for some "money of charity" but for the Japanese government's apology and compensation.
The Japanese government, which has so far refused to make apology and compensation, is committing another crime by attempting to gloss over the settlement of the past in such a way.
It should probe the "comfort women" issue in an allround way and open to public its truth, make an adequate compensation for its victims and punish all those responsible for it.
Pyongyang festival continues
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- Theatres in Pyongyang are crowded with many spectators during the 16th April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
The festival is drawing the attention of more people with each passing day as it is attended by many international and national concours prize winners and famous artistes.
The performers sang "Ever-Green Pine Tree on Nam Hill," "We Believe in You as in Heaven," "Don't Ask My Name" and other Korean songs to be acclaimed by the audiences.
The Chinese art troupe consisting of international and national concours prize winners put on the stage a male vocal solo "My Country," "Two Thousand Ri-Long Amnok River" and other Korean songs.
A Cuban Songstress sang the Korean song "The Leader Will Always Be with Us," leaving deep impressions upon the audiences.
A vocal solo "Don't Advance, Night of Pyongyang" by a singaporean singer and serial folk songs "Song of the Eight Beauty Spots of Korea" and "Ongheya," a kayagum solo by a Mongolian artiste, were represented to suit the ideological and artistic feelings of the Korean people and delight the audiences.
A French saxophone quintet performed the Korean song "Best Wishes."
The songs and dances performed by the festival participants, reflecting the ideological feelings of the peoples of their own countries, made the festival stage conspicuous.
A Nepalese song "Love" by the Nepalese art troupe, a song "Good Health" of an opera "Strength of Fate" by Ma Mei, a songstress of the Chinese central opera and ballet drama college who is an international concours prize winner and a female vocal solo by the Swiss pusta song and dance troupe were acclaimed by the audience.
A dance by the Nigerian art troupe, "Black Swan Dance" of the ballet "On the Bank of Swan Lake" by the Romanian art troupe showed well national feelings.
Acrobats from different countries put on the stage colorful numbers at the Korean People's Army circus theatre and the Pyongyang circus theatre.
The "Bicycle Stunts" by the Swedish circus group showed swift movements to delight the spectators.
The "Hand Stunts" by a Finnish acrobat was popular among the spectators.
Despicable propaganda
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- The New York Times April 2 devoted one whole page to an ad in the name of the "national federation for the rescue of the kidnapped" of Japan, the Voice of America said.
The ad asks the U.S. government to help "release the abducted Japanese" and take an "appropriate step" against the northern half of Korea.
This shows that while spreading the "suspicious incident of abduction" even to the U.S. across the Ocean, the Japanese reactionaries are resorting to despicable propaganda to give "authenticity" and "effectiveness" to it.
As well known to the world, the "abduction incident" is a plot hatched by the South Korean Agency for National Security Planning in conspiracy with the Japanese reactionaries against the northern half of Korea. It does not deserve even a passing note.
The Japanese reactionaries craftily used the "incident" for anti-DPRK sentiments among the Japanese. And they set a precondition for the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Japan.
This is, in the final analysis, a product of Japan's sinister intention to flee from the liquidation of the past full of indelible anti-ethic crimes against the Korean people.
For this purpose, the Japanese reactionaries are squandering a huge amount of money for a dirty propaganda in the U.S., only to disgrace themselves.
The ad came after last year some U.S. officials egged the Japanese reactionaries on to the anti-DPRK smear campaign, saying that in case the Japanese government asked for it, they would give an active help in an investigation into the "suspicious incident of abduction".
We consider this an unreasonable act of the U.S. to block the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations by poking its nose into the incident which is not its own business.
Japan and the U.S. should know that the further they intensify their campaign to isolate and stifle the DPRK by poking their nose into the plot hatched by the South Korean puppets, the graver their crimes against the Korean people.
Repatriation of pows in S. Korea urged
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- The Arab People's Solidarity Committee for Supporting the Struggle of the National Democratic Front and People of South Korea on Mar. 23 sent a letter of protest to the authorities of South Korea in demand of the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea including Kim In So, Ham Se Hwan and Kim Yong Thae to the DPRK.
The letter said that the repatriation issue is a touchstone showing whether the present authorities of South Korea are willing to achieve national reconciliation and unity or not.
U.S. marine corps in Japan aiming at Korea
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- A recent issue of the Japanese magazine Sekai Shuho revealed the aggressive colors of the U.S. marine corps on Okinawa, Japan, a news report said.
The magazine quoted military sources in Tokyo as saying that the forward deployment of the corps on Okinawa is aimed at attacking the Korean peninsula. It is also intended to realize the U.S. military domination over Asian countries, the magazine added.
Taesongsan recreation ground
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- The Taesongsan Recreation Ground in Pyongyang has made full preparations for service to working people with the approach of Sun's Day (April 15).
According to Jong Jin Ho, director of the amusement facilities management office of the Taesongsan General Bureau, test operations of all the amusement facilities of the recreation ground have been made. And shooting facilities of electronic ray rifles and other amusement facilities have been supplemented.
The recreation ground was built in Juche 66 (1977). It occupies 80,000 square meters and accommodates more than 30,000 people a day.
There are a jet coaster (1,500 metres-long rail), a monorail car (1,000 metre-long rail), a big wheel (36 metres in height) and a mad mouse (80 km/h) and other scores of kinds of amusement facilities.
Well arranged are folk game grounds, a swimming pool, boating grounds and other sports and cultural amusement facilities, restaurants, resting places and public catering and service establishments.
The central zoo and botanical garden with a large plottage of hundreds of hectares are adjacent to the recreation ground.
Delegation of Korean residents in Japan arrives
Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Korean residents in Japan led by Ho Jong Man, Chief Vice-Chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, arrived here today on the occasion of the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The delegation was greeted at the airport by Kim Yong Sun and Jang Chol.