S. Korean businessman entertained
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC) gave a reception at the Mokran House on Tuesday for Jong Ju Yong, honorary chairman of the South Korean "Hyundai Business Group," and his companions.
Present at the reception were chairman of the KAPPC Kim Yong Sun, chairman of the External Economic Affairs Commission Ri Song Dae, chairman of the National Economic Cooperation Federation Jong Un Op and other officials.
Song Ho Gyong, vice-chairman of the KAPPC, in his speech warmly welcomed the visitors with compatriotic feelings, saying Jong Ju Yong arrived here with his kinsmen, crossing the wall of division, out of love for his hometown and desire to make a contribution to the prosperity of the homeland.
Song said it is the greatest, pressing task of the Korean nation to put an end to the tragedy of territorial split and national division and achieve the unity of the nation and the reunification of the country.
"In the period of the anti-Japanese war President Kim Il Sung provided a great tradition of the unity of the entire nation," Song said. "When the country was divided, he called on all the people to turn out in the building of a new country under the banner of great national unity, those with strength giving strength, those with knowledge dedicating knowledge and those with money donating money, and devoted his whole life to the prosperity of the country and national reunification."
Song noted that in his historic works General Kim Jong Il clarified policies of national reunification and laid down a five-point policy of great national unity.
Song expressed the belief that Jong Ju Yong's current visit will be a model of non-governmental exchange as part of solidarity and collaboration for the country's reunification.
In his speech Jong Ju Yong said his heart was filled with emotion over his visiting the north again. He voiced the belief that Panmunjom would turn back into a peaceful zone as it was in the past so that compatriots in the north and the south may visit each other freely through it and take a good rest there.
It is high time that the era of north-south confrontation was terminated, he said. Reconciliation and cooperation are badly needed for the sake of each other's interests.
He sincerely hoped that his visit will be a foundation for inter-Korean reconciliation and unity, not merely an individual's hometown visit.
Letter of conference of political parties and orgs. in DPRK sent to south side
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- A letter addressed to the political parties, organisations and public figures in South Korea and overseas was handed to the south side through Panmunjom on June 15.
It was adopted at a conference of the political parties and organisations in the DPRK held in Pyongyang on June 10.
Contained in the letter is a proposal for holding a "grand festival for national reconciliation, unity and reunification" involving Koreans in the north, the south and overseas in Panmunjon on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the country's liberation.
Among addressees of the letter sent in the name of the preparatory committee of the grand festival are the president and acting president of the national congress for new politics, the president and honorary president of the united liberal democrats, the president and honorary president of the grand national party, the president and advisor of the new party for people, leading officials of democratic movement groups, organisations of workers, peasants, students and women, business groups, scientific, educational, cultural and art, religious and other circles and individual figures in South Korea.
National championships of schoolchildren held
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- National championships of schoolchildren from schoolchildren's palaces, houses of culture and sports clubs took place in Pyongyang from June 9 through 15 to mark the founding anniversary of the Korean Children's Union.
Competing in the recent championships, which was held divided into table tennis, rhythmic and heavy gymnastics, were some 400 boys and girls.
They proved successful by giving full play to their talents and technique they had cultivated at extramural sports centres.
Struggle for independent reunification declared
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The Taegu and north Kyongsang provincial federation of university student councils in South Korea reportedly met at Kyongbuk National University on June 14 to declare a struggle for independent reunification with due ceremony.
Students of universities gathered at Kyongbuk National University to pledge to take the lead in the struggle for independent reunification.
After the ceremony they marched through the streets and conducted a propaganda campaign by university.
They said only victory is in store for the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils which is fighting, pulling through difficulties and hardships, adding that the anti-American struggle for independence and reunification is the only way out for the nation.
Pyongyang University students propose to jointly design Thongil Bridge
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- University students of Pyongyang proposed to their South Korean counterparts to jointly design a Thongil (reunification) Bridge, a bridge that will be built across the River Rimjin in the wake of the reunification of the country.
The student committee of Pyongyang University of construction and building materials production under the north headquarters of the national alliance of youth and students for the country's reunification (Pomchonghakryon) remarked this in a letter dated June 11 to general student council of Kyonggi University under the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon.
In the letter the university students of Pyongyang proposed to design such a wonderful bridge that the 70 million Koreans who have lived separated for over half a century can feel relieved to see it and the world people can admire it, and also proposed to have an academic seminar on a draft design in Pyongyang on October 3.
Students of Chongjin University of mining and metallurgical engineering proposed to students of Pusan National University to have a joint study tour on the subject of "pride of the Korean nation in scenic spots.
South headquarters inaugurated for ninth Pan-Korean rally
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters for the promotion of the ninth Pan-Korean rally for national independence and great unity was reportedly inaugurated with due ceremony at Hanyang University in Seoul on June 6.
The inaugural declaration of the south headquarters was adopted at the ceremony.
The inaugural declaration says:
"We vow to achieve great national unity under the banner of national independence and drive the South Korea-based U.D. Forces out of the Korean peninsula, who infringe upon life of our nation and impede the reunification of the country.
"We vow to conduct a powerful struggle for getting all prisoners of conscience released, abolishing the 'National Security Law' which defines the fellow countrymen as the 'enemy' and dismantling the fascist 'Agency for National Security Planning'.
"We pledge to conduct an all-people struggle for bringing about a decisive phase of national reunification through the conclusion of a peace accord between Korea and the U.S. in place of the truce agreement on the Korean peninsula and for achieving independent exchanges."
Ri Tong Gyu, treasure doctor
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- A Korean doctor has succeeded in a new method of heart blood vessel operation which requires ultra-modern technology, causing a great sensation in medical circles.
He is Ri Tong Gyu (68), an academician, professor and doctor of Kim Hyong Jik Military Medical University.
He suceeded in the first operation of heart blood vessel in December Juche 79 (1990). He made several operations to bring many critical patients back to life, generalizing his experience of operation across the country from 1994.
He also studied and completed the method of treating osteomyelitis and the methods of treating abdomen and chest trauma. He has made successful operations of more than 22,900 cases, gaining fame as a treasure doctor of the country since he was active as an army surgeon during the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950-july 1953).
He wrote a surgery, a field surgery, a complete book of clinical medicine, a complete book of surgery and other reference books and textbooks, more than 30 in all.
General Kim Jong Il met him several times, heard his experience in treatment and highly praised him as a treasure in medical circles, hoping that he would train the rising generation well as he performed feats during the war.
Last year, Kim Jong Il made sure that his great contributions to the medical development of the country and his picture were introduced in "Great Korean Encyclopedia."
"It was thanks to the deep loving care and trust of General Kim Jong Il that I could succeed in the operation of heart blood vessel, which was hardly explored in the world." Ri Tong Gyu said this at each medical academic symposium.
March of socialism
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- A Russian writer Vasili Grishaev made public a poem "March of Socialism" dedicated to General Kim Jong Il.
The poem called on the world to listen to the sounds of Korea's vigorous march and the roll of thunder and said that the bugle call of the march heralds a new era of socialism.
Calling for closely rallying around Korea and holding the red flag of victory higher under the banner of socialism, it said the march of socialism is a glorious and invincible march.
It also called for keeping step with the march for victory of socialism, the march toward the sun.
National instrument - Janggo
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Janggo (long drum) is a typical national percussion instrument in Korea. It has a long history and has been used as an important rhythmic instrument for concert or ensemble. It has a great artistic beauty. It is double-headed and you feel like playing it.
The left hand striking head and the right stick-striking head are cord-tensioned with the wasp coupler at the centre.
The stick-striking head is a little smaller than the hand-striking head and its skin is thin and it produces high sound. The hand-striking head produces soft low sound but the stick-striking head produces higher, elastic sound.
Janggo produces the effects of two drums in one, makes the character and representation of music pieces more distinct and greatly helps play a variety of rhythms of national music.
Hand and stick striking heads have different playing methods and have their own playing methods.
There are also drums, which are rather small and are used as solo instruments, player in a standing position. Strings are tied to the heads and rings and drums are shouldered and played in some rhythms.
The playing methods of Janggo are used in artistic combination with the playing of all musical tunes.
This drum is widely used as an important rhythmic instrument of national music in close combination with Korean people's optimistic life.
14th congress of Union of Korean Writers and Artists in Japan
Tokyo, June 15 (KNS-KCNA) -- The 14th congress of the Union of Korean Writers and Artists in Japan was held in Tokyo on June 13.
A congratulatory message of General Kim Jong Il to the 18th congress of the General Association Of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) was read at the congress.
A report of the Union of Korean Writers and Artists in Japan on the work of the central committee was delivered.
Then followed speeches by deputies.
The congress elected Kim Jong Su chairman of the union.
A letter to the General was adopted at the congress.
Japan should be well aware of its position
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Japan is now raising a row over the "suspected kidnapping."
In order to give authenticity to the fiction, Japan put forward an "agent in exile" as "testifier" and "witness."
An Myong Jin in question was described as an "agent in exile" by the South Korean "Agency for National Security Planning."
He fled from the DPRK after committing crimes. He, who was a senior middle school teacher, fooled after schoolgirls and killed some of them who refused to satisfy his sexual desire.
He also frequently burgled public buildings and dwelling houses, before fleeing from the country, fearful of legal sanctions.
Japan, which styles itself a law-abiding state, is now using such a fellow as "testifier." it is really a poor thing to lend an ear to his "testimony."
There is little difference between An Myong Jin, who ran away to save his dirty life, and the Japanese reactionaries who are using him in the despicable anti-DPRK drama.
Japan occupied Korea for more than 40 years, slaughtered a million Koreans and took away and abducted six million people for labor, military and sexual services.
Every part of Japan was soaked with blood and sweat shed by Koreans and with grudge of Korean workers who were killed in cold blood.
No matter how much water has flowed under the bridge since then, the crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists can never be whitewashed.
Japan should clearly see the situation and stop acting rashly.
The Korean people will, by all means, make Japan apologize and compensate for the crimes.
Pak Song Chol meets Algerian ambassador
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Vice-President Pak Song Chol today met and had a talk with Algerian ambassador to Korea Hanafi Oussedik, who paid a farewell call on him, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Kil Yon was present.
FM Kim Yong Nam meets new Bangladeshi ambassador
Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, today met and had a talk with a. K. M. Farooq, Bangladeshi ambassador e.p. to Korea, who paid a courtesy call on him.