Loyal pledge of KPA officers and men
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Officers and men of the three services of the Korean People's Army solemnly held a ceremony for pledging loyalty at the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on April 13 to express their deep reverence for Generalissimo Kim Il Sung on the occasion of Sun's Day.
In his speech Jo Myong Rok, Director of the General Political Department of the KPA, said that Generalissimo Kim Il Sung would be immortal in the mind of humankind as the sun of Juche.
He called upon all the officers and men of the KPA to defend the motherland of Juche as firm as an impregnable fortress and make a breakthrough in major fronts of economic construction, bearing deep in mind the high trust of the party in the people's army, the pillar and main force of the revolution, and become honorable victors in the forced march for the final victory.
All those present at the ceremony loudly responded in chorus to his speech and vowed to make strenuous efforts for the reunification of the country and the victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche in close unity around General Kim Jong Il as taught by the Generalissimo.
They marched in file.
Foreign diplomats commemorate Sun's Day
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Foreign diplomats here commemorated Sun's Day on April 13.
Foreign diplomatic envoys and embassy officials in charge of culture and friendship visited Mangyongdae, the birthplace of President Kim Il Sung.
They looked round relics and planted pine-nut trees near his old home.
They also saw a Korean documentary film "the Great Course."
The military attaches corps here visited the Tower of The Juche Idea and was invited by the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces to appreciate a Korean documentary film "They always worked together for the people."
"Kim Il Sung's collected works" vols. 20 and 21 off press
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House has brought out "Kim Il Sung's collected works" vols. 20 and 21 on the occasion of Sun's Day.
The volumes systematically and comprehensively contain celebrated works of President Kim Il Sung in chronological order.
They carry tens of works including reports, speeches and concluding speeches delivered by him in the historical period when the establishment of foundations of socialism was being accelerated in the wake of the postwar rehibilitation -- the 20th volume from January to September Juche 46 (1957) and the 21st volume from October that year to April Juche 47 (1958).
The works clarify highly important guidelines to strengthen the party, the state and the army and ideas, theories and policies that give scientific answers to all the questions arising in the socialist cultural construction, the struggle for national reunification and other domains of revolution and construction.
Art performances given for Pyongyang Festival participants
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The participants in the 16th April Spring Friendship Art Festival enjoyed a performance given by the merited choir of the song and dance ensemble of the Korean People's Army at the Mansudae Art Theatre and a legend dance drama "A Touch-Me-Not" at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre on April 13.
The performances were acclaimed by the audiences for their high ideological and artistic value and strong national colouring.
Chinese government decides to provide food and chemical fertilizers to DPRK
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The Chinese government decided to provide 100,000 tons of food and 20,000 tons of chemical fertilizers to North Korea free of charge.
In recent years the Chinese government gave assistance to the flood-hit DPRK several times. The latest decision of the Chinese government which values Korea-China friendship and excellent traditions of helping each other in hard times is a great encouragement and support to the Korean people in their forced march for the final victory.
Wan Yongxiang, Chinese ambassador e.p. to Korea, informed Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam of the decision on April 13.
Youth and students pledge loyalty
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Youth and students in Pyongyang vowed to venerate President Kim Il Sung as the eternal sun of Juche and remain loyal to the idea and leadership of General Kim Jong Il on the occasion of Sun's Day.
A pledge-taking meeting took place at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace Plaza on April 13 with the attendance of more than 60,000 youth and students in the city.
Ri Il Hwan, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, made a report at the meeting, which was followed by speeches of delegates of young people of all social standings.
The reporter and speakers called for firmly defending the revolutionary ideas and feats of the President and remain loyal and devoted to his cause in one mind.
They stressed that the youth and students should be unfailingly loyal to the leadership of General Kim Jong Il, the destiny of the Korean people and a symbol of all victories and glories.
Vice-President Pak Song Chol, who is a politburo member of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, and other senior officials of the party and government were present at the meeting.
G.S. Kim Jong Il orders to upgrade servicemen
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il issued an order to raise military ranks of KPA commanding officers on the occasion of Sun's Day.
According to order no. 00102 dated April 13, Choe Song Su was promoted to colonel general, Jong Hong Gyong to lieutenant general and Ri Hui Song and 19 others to major generals.
The KPA commanding officers unfailingly loyal to the Workers' Party of Korea and the leader have taken a share in the undying feats of the KPA in the worthwhile struggle to defend the party and the leader at the risk of their lives, reliably safeguard the country and the people and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche, the order noted, adding:
The party's trust in and expectation from the commanding officers of the KPA, its pivot and hard core, are very deep and great.
Large bouquet to DPRK embassy
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Malagasy President Didier Ratsiraka sent a large bouquet to the DPRK embassy in Antananarivo on April 10 on the occasion of Sun's Day.
Bouquets were also sent there that day by the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the National Assembly and the Foreign Minister who is also deputy Prime Minister of Madagascar.
The bouquets were laid before portraits of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il.
Seminar on present times and national culture
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The first seminar on the present times and national culture was held here on April 13.
Present at the seminar were Vice-Premier and Minister of Culture and the Arts Jang Chol and officials concerned.
Also present were Nouth Narang, a Cambodian government cultural delegate who is Minister of Culture and Art= Hussein Abd El Moneim A. Tolba, an Egyptian cultural delegate who is first deputy Minister of Culture= foreign artistes and overseas Korean artistes, who are attending the 16th April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
Prof. and Dr. Jong Pong Sok made a report under the title "Let us exalt forever the achievements made under the leadership of the party which effloresced and developed the literature and arts of the Korean nation by preserving the Juche character and the national character."
A candidate academician, Prof. and Dr. Han Jung Mo, advisor to the Chinese Yanbian musicians association Kim Tok Gyun, chairperson of the society for Japan-Korea music and art exchanges Mitsuko Ogasawara and other people took the floor.
It was said at the seminar that to preserve the Juche character and the national character is a principle that should firmly be maintained in building national art at present.
The speakers laid emphasis on the necessity to more brilliantly effloresce the true national arts of the present era in accordance with General Kim Jong Il's policy of preserving the Juche character and the national character.
Senior party and state officials visit Mangyongdae
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Senior party and state officials today visited Mangyongdae, the time-honored place of the revolution, on the threshold of Sun's Day, the birthday of President Kim Il Sung.
Among them were Vice-Presidents Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol and Kim Pyong Sik, and other senior party, state and army officials.
The visitors attentively went round the old home in Mangyongdae where the President spent his childhood and historical mementoes preserved with much care.
They planted trees in token of their visit to Mangyongdae.
Joint national meeting of KCU organisations
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- A joint national meeting of the Korean Children's Union (KCU) organisations commemorating significant Sun's Day, the 86th birth anniversary of Generalissimo Kim Il Sung, was held at the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace today.
It was attended by delegates of the KCU organisations from all provinces and schoolchildren in Pyongyang.
Present were member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Vice-President Pak Song Chol, other senior officials, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, participants in the Fatherland Liberation War, men of meritorous service, parents of children and working people in the city.
At the ceremony, KCU members gave salutations to flags bearing portraits of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il.
Ri Il Hwan, first secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, in his report said that Generalissimo Kim Il Sung's was the life of the tender-hearted father who devoted his all to the happiness of the Korean people and posterity.
His deep loving care for the KCU members is coming into fuller bloom in the warm bosom of General Kim Jong Il, the reporter noted.
He urged the KCU members to hold the Generalissimo in high esteem as the eternal sun of Juche for all ages and prepare themselves to be loyal and filial sons and daughters of the General under the slogan "Let us always get ready for the respected General Kim Jong Il !"
An admission ceremony of the KCU was held at the meeting.
Friendship meeting with foreign diplomats
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- A friendship meeting with foreign embassy officials in charge of culture and friendship here was held at the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School on April 13 on the occasion of Sun's Day.
The participants in the meeting laid a floral basket and bowed before the Statue of President Kim Il Sung at the school.
They were shown round lecture rooms, experimental and practice rooms, saw an art performance of students and had a conversation.
Kumsusan Memorial Palace
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The Korean people visit the Kumsusan Memorial Palace with humble reverence for President Kim Il Sung with Sun's Day at hand.
There are the Statue of the President and a hall where he is preserved in state. Exhibited there are a passenger car used by the president during his on-site guidance and his trip to foreign countries, a car used by him in the last period of his life and orders and medals which were awarded to him by many countries around the world.
Hung on the front of the palace is a portrait of the President with bright smile. A palace plaza, a corridor to the palace and an arboretum have been built around the palace with much care.
The palace has been built up as the sacred temple under the meticulous guidance of General Kim Jong Il.
He made sure that the construction projects were carried out at the highest level, saying that when the Kumsusan Memorial Palace is built up as a memorial palace of the people, the President will live forever as the eternal leader of the people.
When the corridor project was finished, he tried his step on the horizontal elevator in person and said with great satisfaction that the people are able to visit the palace enjoying an excellent view of the palace, not exposed to rain, snow and the heat.
In early July Juche 85 (1996) he told officials to make the memorial palace accessible to all.
He said the palace plaza should be opened to the public on national holidays and when flowers come into full bloom and when the leaves of trees turn red so that people may have souvenir pictures taken.
The palace plaza was crowded with 15,000 people an hour after it was opened to the public for the first time on July 27 Juche 85 (1996), the war victory day.
An increasing number of people visit Mangyongdae and the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the sacred temple of the sun with the approach of Sun's Day.
International Seminar on Juche Idea opens
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- An International Seminar on the Juche Idea for Independence and Peace in the Present World was opened in New Delhi on April 11 with a large attendance.
Present were prominent public activists and men of science, education, culture and the press including 32 delegations and delegates from 23 countries, the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" Council, the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI), the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea and continental Juche idea study organisations.
A delegation of the Korean social scientists society led by Chairman Yang Hyong Sop, who is also Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, and a delegation of social scientists under the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan were on hand.
Director General of the IIJI Shuhachi Inoue made a report "Juche idea is a great banner guiding the popular masses' cause of independence to victory" at the seminar.
He said that the Juche idea authored by President Kim Il Sung opened the road for national independence in the colonial and semi-colonial countries which comprised an overwhelming majority of the world, and indicated a shortcut of universal significance in building socialism centred on the popular masses.
The Juche idea, on the basis of original theories on global independence, lights the road of building a new world where imperialism and dominationism are eliminated and the national sovereignty of all countries fully realized, he noted.
Referring to outstanding ideas and leadership of General Kim Jong Il for developing the Juche idea, he said: "For their originality, truth and revolutionary nature, his ideas and theories are A precious sword that fully guarantees the brilliant victory of the cause of independence and the cause of socialism, and the banner of struggle to be held high by us in the 21st century."
He called for closely linking the dissemination and study of the Juche idea with the practical struggle for building a new society and strengthening international solidarity in arming the people with this idea and applying it.
The 14th meeting of the IIJI board of directors was held on the same day.
S. Korea: bad bonds of financial organs, 20 trillion won
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- South Korean financial organs have bad bonds amounting to 20 trillion won, according to a radio report from Seoul. Bonds of financial organs have been reduced to sheets of waste paper because many large businesses are unable to pay debts, let alone interests.
National meeting commemorates 86th birth anniv. of Pres. Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- A national meeting for commemorating the 86th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung was held at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang this afternoon.
Attending there were vice-presidents Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol and Kim Pyong Sik and other senior party, state and army officials.
Present were a delegation of the National Democratic Front of South Korea headed by Jo Il Min, a delegation of Korean residents in Japan headed by Ho Jong Man, Chief Vice-Chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), delegates of overseas Koreans from different regions of the world, foreign delegations, diplomatic envoys and foreign guests staying in Korea.
Vice-President Ri jong Ok delivered a report headlined "The Great Comrade Kim Il Sung Is the Immortal Sun of Juche."
The reporter said:
April 15, the birthday of comrade Kim Il Sung, is a great auspicious day common to humankind when a new epoch was opened in the history of the Korean nation and the era of independence dawned.
The Korean people, who have covered the road of the revolution for more than 70 years with comrade Kim Il Sung as their leader, teacher and father, keenly felt from the bottom of their hearts that he is the sun of Juche who, with his great idea and practice for world change, brightly indicated the eternal truth of the onward movement of history and human destiny and gave vitality to the people.
He is the sun of the nation and humankind and the eternal sun of Juche alive in the hearts of all the people who, with his great revolutionary idea, distinguished revolutionary practice, noble virtues and undying revolutionary exploits, built a powerful socialist state of Juche and a strong nation of independence and indicated the bright road of independence to all the fellow countrymen and mankind, opening up a bright future.
With the institution of the Juche Calendar and Sun's Day on the occasion of the third anniversary of the death of the President, the history of Juche Korea could become his history for all ages and the Korean people could demonstrate the honor of being the sun's nation forever.
The reporter called for achieving national reunification, the lifelong desire of the President, at an early date and accomplishing the cause of Juche revolution with credit, upholding the idea and guidance of comrade Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, with loyalty.
Referring to the question of national reunification, the reporter said:
The present South Korean authorities and politicians should not follow in the footsteps of the successive rulers who had adhered to dependence upon outsiders and anti-north confrontation moves but should accept with sincerity the proposal of a joint meeting of the political parties and organisations in the DPRK and take the road of dialogue and negotiation to pave the way for the nation independently.
The WPK and the DPRK government will in the future, too, invariably maintain the independent foreign policy and actively struggle to build an independent, new world, the reporter stressed.