U.S. should take practical steps as soon as possible
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry answered questions of KCNA on May 7 concerning the fact that the U.S. side has not taken practical steps to implement the DPRK-U.S. framework agreement.
He told KCNA:
The agreement was adopted in 1994, the keynote of which is that both sides shall build confidence with the DPRK maintaining nuclear freeze and the united states offering light water reactors and shall remove the hostile relations with eased sanctions.
No sooner had the agreement been adopted than we promptly froze self-reliant nuclear power facilities, comprehensively lifted the sanctions on the United States and smoothly promoted safe storage of spent-fuel rods. Thus, we have sincerely fulfilled our obligations under the agreement.
The U.S. side, however, has not taken practical steps to ease the sanctions on the DPRK as it promised in the agreement. On the contrary, it is trying to use them as a means for gaining concession from the DPRK and, at the same time, is persistently pursuing the hostile policy toward the DPRK with intensified military threat.
The ground-breaking ceremony of the lwrs project, a main point of the agreement, took place more than one year later than scheduled. Now the construction is not progressing substantially on the pretext of difficulties within the KEDO (Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation).
This makes us doubt that the United States can complete one of the lwrs till the year 2003 as it promised in the agreement.
The United States is obliged to supply heavy oil to the DPRK to compensate for electricity shortage resulting from nuclear freeze. But the u.s. Side has not set forth the timetable for heavy oil supply this year and is not supplying heavy oil to the DPRK in time.
All facts show that the DPRK has gone farther in implementing the agreement whereas the U.S. side is not sincerely fulfilling its obligations. This causes serious imbalance in the implementation of the agreement which is based on the principle of simultaneous action.
Therefore, our competent organ says that the DPRK should no longer lend an ear to the empty promise of the U.S. side, but open and readjust the frozen nuclear facilities and do everything our own way.
We have issued warnings to the U.S. side over this on several times. The U.S. has made empty promise each time, but has not taken practical steps to implement the agreement.
There is a limit to our patience concerning this matter.
The situation keeps the DPRK from promoting spent-fuel rods storage any longer till the U.S. side has taken relevent measures.
If the spent-fuel rods storage is suspended for a long time, we will be compelled to take measures for safe storage of spent-fuel rods for technical and security reasons.
This will be an unavoidable step to ensure the balance in the implementation of the agreement and to save the agreement.
In order that the DPRK may promote the safe storage of spent-fuel rods regularly, the U.S. side should take practical steps to fulfil its obligations under the agreement as soon as possible. In case the U.S. side repeats empty words, the consequences will be unpredictably grave.
13th National Scientific and Technological Festival
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The 13th National Scientific and Technological Festival was held in Pyongyang from May 4 to 7.
Present at the festival were scientists, technicians, workers, peasants and students who were highly appreciated at local festivals.
Upwards of 30,000 valuable scientific and technological materials were published at the local festivals which had been held with the attendance of tens of thousands of people from December last year till the end of February this year.
The participants in the national festival exhibited more than 250 pieces on scientific and technological achievements made in agriculture, coal industry, electric power industry, railway transport, metal industry and other domains of the national economy and published papers at 17 subcommittee meetings.
Special prizes were awarded to materials on development of the new-type large-size compressors, on the construction of floating small hydraulic power station, on the technology of the cultivation and processing of amaranth, on the system of production processes of high-quality magnesia clinker and others.
Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, was present at the closing ceremony.
North and South Korean children meet
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- Circle members of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace and children of the "Little Angels" Art Troupe of the World Peace Federation held a joint meeting at the Mansudae Art Theatre on May 7.
Invited to the meeting were Vice-Chairman Song Ho Gyong of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and officials concerned and leading officials of the art troupe led by co-chairman Pak Po Hui of the federation.
President Kwak Su Ung of the palace, addressing the meeting, said North and South Korean children and teachers got together hand in hand, and this gathering is just reunification and a reunified country belongs to children.
He hoped that all the children present at the meeting would have a good time in union.
Jo Song Suk who is in charge of the arts of the art troupe, expressed thanks for the kind evening on which children of the north and south had a conversation concerning reunification.
The children of the north and south put on the stage colorful art pieces.
The meeting place was filled with compatriotic feelings and ardent desire for reunification as children of the north and south sang "Spring of Native Olace," "Song of Korea," "Happy to See You," "Our Wish is Reunification" and other songs representing their love for native place and longing for living together in a reunified country.
When the meeting was at its height, the participants danced a reunification train dance hand in hand to the tune of a song "Reunification Train Runs."
Forming "Pyongyang-Seoul" and "Sinuiju-Pusan" trains to run, they hardened their resolve to reunify the country through the great unity of the nation.
North and South Korean children spent the evening, writing letters "Let Us Meet Again at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on the Day of Reunification !"
And "Our Reunification is Not Far Off."
That day, the art troupe gave a performance at the palace.
Rodong Sinmun comments on Japan's diplomacy towards DPRK
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a commentator's article titled "On Japan's diplomatic attitude towards DPRK."
The article says in part:
Since DPRK-Japan preliminary talks between vice department directors of Foreign Ministries were held in Beijing in August last year, the 9th round of the inter-governmental full-fledged talks has not yet been held. The reason should be found in Japan's position and attitude towards the agreement reached between the two governments.
At the preliminary talks the sides reached an agreement on all the technical matters, except the opening date of the full-fledged talks, on the basic principle of resuming the talks without raising any preconditions.
The Japanese side, however, is raising the settlement of the groundless "suspected kidnapping" as a precondition in violation of the agreement.
The Japanese government is avoiding the implementation of the agreement with unreasonable pretexts and conditions. The perfidious act degrades Japan's diplomatic image and deprives it of its international confidence.
Japan can never flee from the responsibility for breaking the agreement.
It is the height of moral shamelessness and arrogance in diplomacy that Japan, the perpetrator, is raising a precondition while calling for normalizing relations with the DPRK, the victim.
It is related to the diplomatic character intrinsic to Japan, which is blindly compliant with others' solicitation, pressure and order.
It is a stark fact that Japan talked about relations with others and atmosphere at contacts and even talks with the DPRK and sought "understanding" and received requests from others.
It is common sense that nothing can be achieved with dependent, submissive diplomacy.
The precondition raised by Japan, breaking its promise, is a product of Japan's tragic diplomacy.
Japan is now kicking up a row over the groundless "suspected kidnapping."
As for such a crime as kidnapping, Japan is not in a position to open its mouth.
No fewer than 6 million Koreans were taken away by the Japanese imperialists in the period of their colonial rule over Korea. It is they that abducted nearly 200,000 Korean women and forced them to serve as "comfort women for the army" and it is also they that kidnapped and brutally killed one million innocent Koreans.
Nevertheless, the Japanese government, ignoring the stark historical fact about abductions, killings and slave labour, has raised outcries over the "suspected kidnapping."
It fully reveals Japan's shamelessness and mental derangement.
Japan, oblivious of itself as a kidnapper, is attaching the groundless "suspicion" to th normalisation of bilateral relations as a precondition. It is really a rash act reminding one of a thief crying "stop thief " and also a foolish act adding to its crime.
Now the Japanese side is foolishly trying to prepare a noose for the DPRK side in a bid to cover up its poor position at the talks.
Motivated by such a third-rate trick, Japan is clamouring about the "suspected kidnapping" it is resorting to in talks with the DPRK.
What it is seeking is to isolate and stifle the DPRK in league with the South Korean puppets. But it is a foolish daydream.
If Japan cannot awake from the daydream, it can never improve its image.
Japan should cooly review its stand concerning DPRK-Japan relations and its diplomatic attitude towards the DPRK and draw a serious lesson.
If Japan continues resorting to such reckless and unprincipled acts and foolish tricks, we will have no contact with it for the sake of our dignity.
Search for Japanese army sex slavery criminals
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Measure Council of the "volunteers" issue (Jongdaehyop) decided to form the South Korean preparatory committee of the women international war crimes trial for sex slavery for the Japanese army in a bid to ferret out the criminals involved in drafting women as "comfort women for the army" during the Japanese imperialist occupation of Korea, according to the South Korean newspaper Hangyore May 4.
The representative of Jongdaehyop, in regard to the formation of the organisation, said that the preparatory committee will ferret out the then brasshats of the Japanese imperialist aggression troops, drafters and executors of the policy of "comfort women for the army" and operators of brothels and, at the same time, open their lists to the public.
Therefore, the citizens campaign of the issue of "comfort women for the army" will be invigorated to demand the punishment of principal culprits and the Japanese government's apology and compensation, the newspaper said.
Pilgrimage in South Lorea on Sun's Day
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The members of the sun society active in Chungju city, South Korea, made a pilgrimage to Suanbo on the occasion of Sun's Day, Seoul-based radio Voice Of National Salvation said.
Suanbo is a time-honored place which President Kim Il Sung visited during the Fatherland Liberation War.
On April 13 the members of the sun society held a ceremony for starting the pilgrimage, arrived in Suanbo, and made public a declaration.
The declaration said that the pilgrimage to Suanbo was prompted by the steadfast will to hold President Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the eternal heaven of the nation.
Going round Suanbo, the members looked back upon the President's noble love for the nation and his popular policies.
Minju Joson on U.S. perfidious behaviour
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- A high-ranking diplomat of the U.S. Administration discussed and "agreed" on the issue of the Korean peninsula during her tour of East Asian nations.
Commenting on this, a news analyst of Minju Joson today says:
The main cause of the division of Korea into the north and the south is the U.S. military occupation of South Korea.
The United States, far from withdrawing its troops from South Korea at an early date, is seeking to keep them in South Korea for an indefinite period.
It is poking its nose into the issue of the Korean peninsula because it wants to cover up its true colors as the very one who obstructs the reunification and peace of the Korean peninsula and attain its aggressive design.
However, its attempt will not work. Its hypocritical behaviour will result in breaking its faith in the face of the world.
If it is truly interested in the settlement of the issue of the Korean peninsula, it must take a decisive decision to pull its troops out of South Korea without delay.
It will be of benefit to the reunification and peace of the Korean peninsula and to the United States.
Metal work "Sabina chinensis for longevity"
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The metal work "Sabina Chinensis for Longevity" is now popular among people.
Vividly depicted in the work are an aromatic tree standing on a rock, a cicada sitting on a trunk and scores of ants and flowers around the tree.
Particularly, delicately founded legs and antennae of crawling ants remind people of living ants.
According to the main creator of the work Thak Ho Sik (man), it was completed with the introduction of a super high-precision founding method.
Creators created an evergreen aromatic tree and named it "Sabina Chinensis for Longevity" reflecting the people's desire for longevity.
The metal work, a typical one of modern metal works of Korea, was created by the metal works production of the Mansudae Art Studio.
The production is making various types of rings and other ornaments for women.
The newly-introduced super high-precision founding method received a gold-silver medal at the 24th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, new techniques and products held in 1996.
"Sabina Chinensis for Longevity" is now on display at the Korean art gallery.
KCTU refuses to participate in "labour-management- government committee"
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The South "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" (KCTU) announced again that it would not participate in the second-term "labour-management-government committee" published by the present authorities on May 4, a Seoul-based radio report said.
"KCTU" in a statement said that as long as the present ruling authorities do not accept the requests for elimination of unjust labour actions, revision of the "law on lay-off and employment exchange" and thorough business reform, the second-term "labour-management-government committee" is meaningless.
The "Federation of Korean Trade Unions" also said in a statement that in case the present ruler does not promise to implement the agreed points of the first-term "committee", it will not take part in the second-term "committee."
Scientific and technological cooperation between Korean and Russian governments
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- A protocol on the second meeting of the intergovernmental subcommittee for scientific and technological cooperation between the DPRK and the Russian Federation was signed here today.
Present at the signing ceremony were Chairman Choe Hui Jong of the DPRK state commission of science and technology and officials concerned and members of a Russian government science and technology delegation led by Gennady Tereshchenko, deputy Minister of Science and Technology, and Russian ambassador to Korea Valery Denisov.