Central Election Committee organized
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- A decision of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly was adopted to organize the Central Committee for the election of deputies to the 10th SPA of the DPRK.
According to the decision dated May 24, Yang Hyong Sop is Chairman of the committee, Kim Jung Rin vice-Chairman, Ri Mong Ho General Secretary, Paek Hak Rim and nine others members of the committee.
43rd anniversary of Chongryon observed
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries an editorial article headlined "proud achievements of Chongryon traversing road of victory and glory" in congratulation of the 43rd anniversary of the formation of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), a Juche-based organization of overseas Koreans.
Over the past 40 odd years since the formation, Chongryon has recorded a proud history of patriotism shining with victory and glory and performed great feats for the country and the nation under the wise guidance of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il, the article says, and goes on:
Chongryon has prepared the officials and compatriots to be overseas citizens of Juche type, true patriots unfailingly loyal to General Kim Jong Il and achieved the ideological and purposeful unity and cohesion of the organization based on the Juche idea.
The organisations of Chongryon at all levels have been built into patriotic ones boundlessly faithful to the General and fully armed with the Juche idea. This is the greatest achievement made by Chongryon and compatriots in Japan.
Since its formation, Chongryon has developed into an invincible, patriotic organization of loyal subjects and become a model of the world movement of overseas compatriots, breaking through manifold difficulties and trials. This is a precious fruition of the outstanding guidance and utmost care of the general, who is exalting the leadership feats of the President.
Pointing to the tasks facing Chongryon officials and compatriots in Japan today when the movement of Koreans in Japan is entering a new stage of its development, the article continues:
Chongryon should further strengthen itself into a patriotic organisation of Juche unfailingly loyal to the General.
Remaining loyal to him is the way of upholding the President as the sun of Juche forever, further strengthening Chongryon, defending the national rights and interest of compatriots and glorifying their dignity.
Chongryon should model itself on the Juche idea and prepare all the officials and compatriots to be ardent patriots of Juche type with absolute trust in and worship for the General in keeping with the developments.
Chongryon officials and compatriots should bring about a new turn in all the patriotic work for preserving the Juche character and the national character in the movement of Koreans in Japan, defending their national rights to democracy and interest and contributing to the prosperity and development of the socialist homeland and the reunification of the country, with a great national pride of being overseas citizens of the homeland of Juche.
The patriotic cause of Chongryon is just, and there is no force to block the road of Chongryon and compatriots in Japan advancing under the guidance of the General.
18th Congress of Chongryon closes
Tokyo, May 23 (KNS-KCNA) -- The 18th Congress of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) which opened on May 22 was successfully closed on May 23.
The congress elected Han Tok Su Chairman, So Man Sul first vice-Chairman, Ho Jong Man chief vice-Chairman, Pak Jae Ro, Kwon Sun Hwi, O Hyong Jin and Kim Thae Hui vice-Chairmen and Ri Ki Sok Secretary General.
It also formed the central member and central audit member nomination committee, the Chongryon rules amendment committee and the financial settlement and budget committee.
Congratulatory messages from Japan and other foreign countries, overseas Koreans' organisations, organs of Chongryon and compatriots were read out.
The chairperson of the Japanese Women Society, the Director General of the General Research and Development Organisation, the Secretary General of the Japan Committee For Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea and other persons of Japan participated in the congress and made congratulatory speeches.
It was noted in the debate on the report of the Chongryon Central Committee on its work that the greatest achievement over the past three years is that the Chongryon officials and compatriots in Japan have been convinced that General Kim Jong Il is the living image of President Kim Il Sung and when they believe in and follow only the General, they can achieve the prosperity and development of the country and national reunification and have a bright prospect of the movement of Koreans in Japan.
The speakers referred to the tasks for pushing ahead with the patriotic work to further strengthen Chongryon into a true mass organization of compatriots to suit the developing reality and to meet the demand of the compatriots including the rising generation, in hearty response to the historic letter of the general and his congratulatory message to the congress.
A letter to General Kim Jong Il was read out at the congress.
Rodong Sinmun blasts Japan, S. Korea for anti-DPRK intelligence activities
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries and the South Korean puppets recently agreed to set up a "Council for Exchange of Information on North Korea" and coordinate "policy towards North Korea" on the basis of information provided by it.
Rodong Sinmun today views the "council" as part of their anti-DPRK intelligence activities.
They are seeking to isolate and stifle invincible Korean socialism through despicable intelligence activities, but it is a foolish daydream, the daily says in a commentary, and continues:
Their effort is like hammering on cold iron. We regard their foolish effort as a ridiculous act reminding one of a puppy feeling no fear of the tiger.
They would be well advised to refrain from such a foolish act.
Dauntless will and stamina expressed
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) elected Chairman of the Student Council of Ryongnam University Son Jun Sik Chairman of the sixth-term Hanchongryon at meetings of deputies to regional federations of university student councils, and declared the inauguration of the Pusan and south Kyongsang Provincial Federation (Pugyongchongryon) under it, says Rodong Sinmun in a commentary today.
The daily continues:
This is an expression of the dauntless will and stamina of the students to defend Hanchongryon and accomplish its cause.
It is also a heavy blow to the self-styled "government of the people," which is desperately trying to root up Hanchongryon, regarding it as a thorn in the flesh.
Though the military fascist dictators and the "civilian"-veiled dictator tried hard to stifle the patriotic organisation of students --the National Council of Student Representatives (Jondaehyop) and then Hanchongryon -- over some ten years, it is not the students' organization but the dictators that perished. The present puppet rulers had better ponder over it.
Singlehearted unity, matter of great concern to Korean revolution
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- Korea is making a great revolutionary advance to bring about an epochal turn in socialist construction with the might of singlehearted unity of the leader, the party and the masses.
Standing in the van are the workers of the Songjin Steel Complex in the northern part of the country.
Giving on-the-spot guidance to the complex in March, General Kim Jong Il called upon the steel workers to take the lead in a new great advance.
The workers of the complex produced nearly as much steel in one week in May as that in the previous month, breaking through hardships and difficulties in the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance.
In response to the torchlight kindled at the complex, new innovations are being effected at coal mines in Anju, Kujang and other areas, different sectors of the national economy and construction sites of the capital.
Singlehearted unity is a matter of great concern to the Korean revolution.
It, which was established during the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, has been cemented invincible in the annals of the Korean revolution.
In the 1950s the workers of the Kangson Steel Works (now Chollima Steel Complex) produced 120,000 tons of steel by a blooming mill with a capacity of 60,000 tons in response to the call of President Kim Il Sung:
"If you produce 10,000 more tons of steel, the country would overcome difficulties. I believe you and you believe me to tide over this hardship."
The workers of the Kim Chaek Iron Works (now Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex) lived up to the trust of the party and the leader by turning out 270,000 tons of pig iron by a furnace with a capacity of 190,000 tons.
In the 1960s the Korean people made a great advance in production and construction with the might of singlehearted unity and completed the socialist industrialisation in a matter of 14 years.
The construction of the 8-km West Sea barrage in five years, manufacture of a 10,000-ton press and a large oxygen separator and other achievements in the '80s were the proud fruition borne by the might of singlehearted unity with which the party believes the people and vice versa.
This singlehearted unity is the source of strength of the Korean people who are making a triumphant advance, not pessimistic of the worst hardships caused by the imperalists' moves to stifle the DPRK and natural disasters which continued for years.
Rodong Sinmun marks OAU anniversary
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a signed article to the 35th founding anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The paper says in the article that thanks to the positive efforts of the OAU unity and cooperation among African countries further strengthened and many countries liquidated the remnants of the colonial system and racism to develop independently.
The organization is active with a heavier duty under the changed circumstances today, the paper says, and goes on:
By the help of the OAU many African countries are waging a powerful struggle for peace and stability of the continent and steady economic development against foreign interference.
Bloody firing stopped and peace and stability began to settle in many countries which were harassed by disputes.
Economy grew in the region through cooperation strengthened on the principle of south-south cooperation last year.
The international community regards the OAU as an important regional organization because it is striving to defend interests of African countries and to establish a new international political and economic order.
The invariable role of the OAU will further encourage the African people in their struggle.
Letter to General Kim Jong Il from participants in 18th Congress of Chongryon
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a letter from the participants in the 18th Congress of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on May 23.
The letter noted that Chongryon and Koreans in Japan have made a worthwhile advance overcoming difficulties and hardships with conviction of victory and single-hearted unity under the great leadership of General Kim Jong Il.
The brilliant achievements of Chongryon are a valuable fruit of the wise leadership and great benevolence of the General, the letter said, and went on:
"In the period of the historic turn we will defend the Juche character of the movement of Koreans in Japan and exalt President Kim Il Sung's idea of the movement of overseas Koreans and exploits of his leadership generation after generation by firmly carrying forward the patriotic traditions of the movement established by the first generation who upheld him with loyalty for half a century.
"We will unite with all the compatriots in the north, south and overseas under the banner of great national unity put forward by you in your historic letter 'Let Us Reunify the Country Independently and Peacefully Through the Great Unity of the Entire Nation' and wage a nation-wide struggle for independent and peaceful reunification of the country.
"We will also extensively propagandize your greatness to the world including Japan and increase ranks of supporters and sympathizers of the Korean people's cause."
Catastrophic crisis of S. Korean economy exposed
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- Broad public opinion at home and abroad exposed the catastrophic crisis of the south Korean economy which has been placed under the trusteeship of the International Monetary Fund.
The South Korean Hankuk Ilbo said:
This year, unemployment is monthly setting the highest-ever record.
Financial organs and big businesses will soon undertake full-scale structural reforms. Accordingly, it is foreseen the number of jobless people will drastically increase.
The Seoul-based radio no. 1 had this to say:
The on-going foreign currency crisis is an inevitable outcome of total structural vulnerability from high expenses and low efficiency and of the incapacity of the then economic team to cope with the crisis.
The South Korean economy has collapsed in a twinkling because the President did not perform his role and responsibility.
Another South Korean Dong-A Ilbo reported:
A wave of unemployment and bankruptcies of enterprises have drastically multiplied social disorder and crimes. The economy was driven to a cliff in a brief space of time owing to irresponsibility, corruption and incompetence of politicians.
The U.S. paper Los Angeles Times noted that South Korean enterprises have gone bankrupt one after another and banks could not withdraw a stupendous amount of loan.
This bad operation will plunge South Korea into the second economic turmoil, the paper added.
In April, the U.S. ambassador in Seoul told the chamber of commerce and industry that South Korea, placed under the trusteeship of the IMF, would suffer from more serious trials than it had undergone.
The Japanese NHK and newspapers of India, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand highlighted the catastrophic crisis of the South Korean economy.
Korean draftees expose atrocities of Japanese imperialists
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- Voices urging the Japanese authorities to honestly admit, repent of and atone for the crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in the past are loudly ringing out in Korea.
Survivors of the forcible drafting by the Japanese imperialists in the northern half of Korea are angered to hear that undisguised moves are going on in Japan to embellish the past crimes and hurt the DPRK over "suspected kidnapping of Japanese."
While occupying Korea for nearly half a century, the Japanese imperialists abducted and forcibly drafted more than 6 million Koreans and used over 200,000 Korean women as "comfort women for the army."
Old Kim Se Guk residing in central district, Pyongyang, said that when he was 14 years old, he was taken away by the Japanese imperialists and had to undergo inexpressible hardships.
He further said:
More than 100 boys and girls of my age were taken away to the Utsumi Spinning Mill, Arita county, Wakayama prefecture, Japan.
From 8 in the morning to 11 at night, we were subjected to forced labour at workplaces in which we could not freely breathe or open our eyes owing to the smell of caustic soda and dust.
One day, a girl named Ri Myong Ja fell unconscious while working and sank down into a caustic soda cauldron before dying.
A hungry girl, working with a cutting machine, lost her two arms as a result of its roller taking in them.
Instantly, she died on the spot. In a word, most of the draftees were beaten to death and died from or were crippled by machine accidents and starvation.
Another old Choe Sang Jon, who had lived in Pukchong county, south Hamgyong Province, said that he was taken away to an islet called parah in the pacific when he was 18 years old and subjected to forced labour at the consruction site of a military airport.
Exposed to the boiling sun of the tropic region, he pickaxed and carried earth on a pole for 7 years, not having proper rests.
When the pacific war started, he was drafted into the Kamakura unit of the 18th regiment of the Japanese imperialist navy for their cannon fodder.
Survivors of the backbreaking forced labour said that the Korean people will never forget the thrice-cursed atrocities of the Japanese imperialists but make them pay dearly for this sometime.
Greetings to Russian Foreign Minister
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister Kim Yong Nam sent a message of greetings to Yevgeny Primakov on his reappointment as Russian Foreign Minister.
The message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would develop on the principle of independence, equality and non-interference in other's internal affairs.