"Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" decides on action programme
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" decided on an action programme for the first half of the year at a meeting of its central committee on April 16, a South Korean newspaper said.
The organisation set itself the goal of having employment stability and living stability ensured, system abolished and the layoff system and employment exchange system, renegotiation with the international monetary fund held, and securing fund for the unemployed.
It also made public a plan to intensify a sit-in at Myongdong Cathedral and Wednesday rallies and hold a nation-wide meeting and a rally of trade union delegates before going over to an all-out struggle including a May-June general strike.
Rajin Market opens
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Rajin Market has been built at opened in Tongmyong-dong, Rajin-Sonbong city, the Free Economic and Trade Zone of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The market with a building space of 5,500 square matres occupies an area of 16,000 square metres .
It will ensure wholesale and retail of various goods and exhibition, transit and resale of products by local and foreign companies.
The market equipped with different counters can accommodate 6,000 customers a day.
Sale counters may be rented by any foreign company for an indefinite period.
Rodong Sinmun urges S. Korean authorities to make policy switchover
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- With the beginning of the 21st century drawing near, the Korean nation is still suffering the biggest tragedy. If it is to be free from the tragedy as early as possible, there should be a change in South Korea.
Rodong Sinmun today says this in an article titled "Policy switchover in South Korea is actual demand."
Though nearly two months has passed since the change of regime in South Korea, there has been no sign of affirmative change there, the daily says.
It accuses the present rulers of South Korea of pursuing treacherous, separatist, confrontation and war moves little different from those of the "civilian" dictators. They are opposing the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea, refusing to eliminate the "National Security Law" and the "Agency for National Security Planning" and escalating the confrontation and war moves against the north, it says, and continues:
The fact makes us suspect that they will follow in their predecessors' footsteps, characterized by anti-independence, anti-nation, anti-reunification and anti-north policies.
They should break with the past in keeping with the South Korean people's demand for the replacement of the anti-north war moves with a pro-north reconciliation policy. They should also take a patriotic stand of national independence, join hands with the fellow countrymen in the north and shape the destiny of the country and the nation with concerted efforts.
S. Korean workers struggle for vital rights
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The South "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" (KCTU) held meetings on April 18 to eradicate unjust action against labour and urge employment stability with the attendance of more than 15,000 working people in Ulsan, Taejon, Kwangju and ten other cities of South Korea, a Seoul-based radio report said.
"KCTU" held a rally for defending people's right to live in Seoul on the same day and declared again that they will stage a general strike in late may or in early June in case the "government" forces restructuring in the public sector.
Present at the rally were more than 5,000 unionists of the Kia business group-affiliated companies and the Seoul subway corp. Now on a strike.
Ssuk Islet associated with reunification and patriotism
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Many people from all walks of life in Korea are now visiting Ssuk Islet in the centre of the River Taedong in Pyongyang.
The islet is associated with the noble patriotism of President Kim Il Sung for reunification.
On this islet he had a consultative meeting with South Korean politicians who participated in the April joint conference of representatives of political parties and public organisations in the north and south of Korea held in Pyongyang 50 years ago.
One day in October 1989, the President said that the North-South Joint Conference and the consultative meeting on Ssuk Islet were the victory of the united front, the victory of collaboration with communism and that the islet should be rehabilitated and handed to posterity.
A revolutionary site and a recreation ground were built in an area of 380,000 square metres of the islet in less than one year.
Erected in the centre of the revolutionary site is the united front tower with 56 pieces of granite, symbolic of the number of political parties and public organisations which participated in the joint conference. Engraved on the tower are the names of those parties and organisations and the names of Kim Chaek, Kim Ku, Kim Kyu Sik and other participants in the consultative meeting.
A lookout shed, a meeting place and a ferry-boat are preserved in their origin.
More than 800,000 trees and flowers of over 60 kinds are growing at the recreation ground. A wading pool and other cultural and amusement facilities have been built to meet the cultural needs of the working people.
Photo exhibition for commemorating Sun's Day in South Korea
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- A photo exhibition for commemorating Sun's Day was held at a place of Ulsan city, according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoting the South Kyongsang Provincial Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea.
Displayed there were pictures of President Kim Il Sung standing on Lake Chon of Mt. Paektu, being in his study and among people of all walks of life, and pictures he had taken with Rev. Mun Ik Hwan and overseas Koreans and other pictures, 86 in all.
The visitors, looking round the pictures, prayed for the immortality of President Kim Il Sung and vowed to make efforts to realise his wish for national reunification at an early date, said the radio.
10-Point Programme of Great Unity supported
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago-DPRK Friendship and Solidarity Association issued a statement on April 7 on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the publication of the 10-Point Programme of the Great Unity of the Whole Nation for the Reunification of the Country.
The ten-point programme published by President Kim Il Sung is the most reasonable and just proposal to realise Korea's reunification with great national unity, without foreign interference, he said, and went on:
"It serves as basic guidelines to closely unite all the compatriots in the north and south with deep love for the nation and the spirit of national independence.
"Considering dialogue and negotiations as main ways of solving the Korean reunification issue independently and peacefully, we urge the South Korean "government" to abandon the policy of dependence on foreign forces and to introduce a policy of reconciliation with the north.
"We extend full support to the struggle of the Korean people for reunifying the country by implementing the ten-point programme."
Abolition of "National Security Law" called for
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Delegates from non-governmental organisations called for the abolition of the "National Security Law" in their speeches regarding human rights of the detainees or prisoners at the 54th meeting of the U.N. commission on human rights which was held in Geneva recently.
The delegate from the forum of Asian cultural development voiced support for the recommendation of a special reporter for freedom of speech on the abolition of the "NSL" in South Korea.
The South Korean authorities threw behind bars So Jun Sik and other sponsors of the second human rights-related film festival on charges of violating the "law," which he said is the violation of freedom of speech and illegal detainment.
The delegate from the Faxromana laid bare the fact that champions of human rights are ruthlessly suppressed by dint of the "NSL" in South Korea.
He called for inspecting prisons in South Korea and informing the U.N. commission on human rights of the results of the inspection as recommended by the special reporter against torture.
The delegate from the International Pen called upon the South Korean authorities to grant amnesty to all those who have been kept in jails for free expression of their will.
Criminal "civilian defence training"
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The South Korean puppets staged a criminal "civilian defence training" in over 250 cities and counties and at more than 1,360 workshops and organisations on April 15, according to a radio report from Seoul.
More than 500,000 people and about 50,000 pieces of equipment were involved in the training allegedly to provide against fire and poisonous gas in "emergency."
Foreigners visit Korean embassies
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Political figures of various countries paid a congratulatory visit to the Korean embassies in their countries to mark Sun's Day.
Chairman Oleg Shenin of the Council of the Union of Communist Parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union laid a bunch of flowers before the full-length portrait of President Kim Il Sung before paying homage.
On the occasion he said President Kim Il Sung remains the sun in the hearts of not only the Korean people but also the progressives of the whole world.
He said he would venerate President Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the international communist movement, as the eternal sun.
He sincerely wished General Kim Jong Il a long life in good health.
General Secretary Tani Baler Lopera of the National Executive Committee of the left Revolutionary Union, National Secretary General Jorge Diaz Leon of the popular action party, Chairman Genaro Ledesma Izquieta of the people's front of workers, peasants and students and other political, social and academic figures of Peru presented floral baskets to a picture of President Kim Il Sung discussing state affairs with General Kim Jong Il.
National chairman Otete Gaston Mboyo of the National Movement of the Genuine Lumumbist Combatants of Democratic Congo paid a call at the Korean embassy in his country to commemorate Sun's Day.
Fiftieth anniversary of North-South Joint Conference marked
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- A national seminar was held here today to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the historic joint conference of representatives of political parties and public organizations in the north and south of Korea.
In Juche 37 (1948) President Kim Il Sung advanced a policy of establishing a unified democratic government of whole Korea with the efforts of the Korean people and proposed the joint conference.
The conference was held here on April 19 that year with the participation of representatives of 56 political parties and social organizations in the north and the south.
Speeches were made at the seminar on the subjects "Historic April North-South Joint Conference is splendid fruition of President Kim Il Sung's idea of great national unity," "General Kim Jong Il is the centre of great national unity," "10-Point Programme of the Great Unity of the Whole Nation for the Reunification of the Country is a great charter of national reconciliation and unity" and "preserving the Juche character and national character is essential for achieving great national unity."
The seminar was attended by Vice-Presidents Pak Song Chol and Kim Pyong Sik and senior officials of political parties, working people's organizations and religionist organizations.
Kaesong Students and Children's Palace
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- This palace in unique Korean style stands on Morakjae Hill is the heart of Kaesong.
President Kim Il Sung had this palace erected here at the site of the detached palace of Koryo on June 6, Juche 50 (1961) on the 15th anniversary of the Korean Children's Union. Its total building lot is 50,000 square metres and the floor space of its main building and gymnasium is 10,000 square metres. It has a 750-seat theatre and rooms for 20 study groups including medical, computer, motor vehicle and string music. The gymnasium is used for gymnastics, table-tennis, boxing, wrestling, Taekwon-do, weightlifting, volleyball and basketball.
President Kim Il Sung gave personal guidance to this palace on September 14, Juche 61 (1972) and later on, he provided personal guidance to it nearly 20 times. He sent it hundreds of experimental and sports apparatuses and musical instruments as gifts several times. General Kim Jong Il sent it hundreds of educationa, cultural, sports and rcreational apparatuses more than ten times.
So far many study group members of the palace have developed into fine workers for the country. The staff of the palace are working hard to train more talents there.
S. Korea responsible for deadlocked inter-Korean talks
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland released a statement concerning the failure of inter-Korean vice minister-level talks which began in Beijing on April 11.
The talks, which began after the South Korean authorities officially suggested supply of fertilizers were deadlocked without scoring any success due to the South side's unreasonable position and wrong behavior, the spokesman said, and continued:
At the talks the south side raised as preconditions political issues which have nothing to do with the supply of fertilizers. It asserted that if the preconditions were not met, it could not offer fertilizers.
The south side tried to get something from the north in return for the fertilizers, talking about "reciprocity" and preconditions. This is a mean and foolish act intended to mock the north, deceive the people into believing that the south does a lot of things for the north and win popularity.
We feel deep apprehensions as to whether we can discuss the national reunification issue decisive of the nation's destiny with them who regard inter-Korean relations and humanitarian assistance between the fellow countrymen as a bargaining chip.
Worse still, the south side, ignoring the agreement that the talks would be held behind closed doors, allowed the Korean broadcasting system to plant a tapping apparatus at the negotiating table. The senseless and despicable act, unprecedented in the history of inter-Korean dialogue, shows well the behavior of the south side with no sense of elementary morality and courtesy for talks.
We are deeply doubtful whether the "Ministry of National Unification" headed by Kang In Dok, who has already been condemned by the South Korean people, can be our partner in the talks.
Through the talks the south side revealed that the present regime is little different from the Kim Young Sam regime in seeking confrontation with the north. The south Korean authorities should be held wholly responsible for the deadlocked talks and the gloomy prospect of inter-Korean relations.