Jong Ju Yong visits native place

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Honorary chairman of the Hyundai Business Group in South Korea Jong Ju Yong and his party visited Rosang-ri, Thongchon county, Kangwon Province, his native place, on June 19. They were deeply moved to visit the native place and made an emotion-charged reunion with relatives. The relatives hugged them and said in a sobbing voice that they have not forgotten them even a day. Jong Ju Yong recalled with deep emotion his childhood, overlooking the alleys, the village and Mt. Nam. Jong Ju Yong and his party planted persimmon trees in the garden of his old home as token of their visit. They called at their ancestors' grave together with the relatives. They said that nothing can break or block the feelings of kinship.

Booklet "Kim Jong Il's Theory" published in S. Korea

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The Solipsa Publishing House in South Korea recently brought out booklet "Kim Jong Il's Theory" under the plan of the sun society, says Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoting information of the Seoul city committee of the national democratic front of South Korea. Printed in the first page of the booklet is a portrait of General Kim Jong Il. The booklet of 200 pages, consisting of four chapters, praises his distinguished ideological and theoretical intelligence and immortal exploits.

Rodong Sinmun castigates S. Korean warmaniacs

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on aerial, ground and naval military manoeuvres staged frequently in South Korea against the north. Several days ago, South Korean warmaniacs carried out a "training for defence from chemical, biological and radioactive attacks" with sorties of several dozen "imaginary enemy planes." The training was timed to coincide with a "tactical drill in downtown Seoul" with the mobilization of tanks and armoured vehicles and with firing of blank shots. In a commentary the daily describes the manoeuvres as reckless act of those hell bent on confrontation with the north. They, who have staged war gambles under the pretext of "threat of provocation by the north" and "threat from the north," remind one of the "civilian" warmongers. They will not even shrink from plunging the nation into a nuclear holocaust for their personal comfort, wealth and luxury, clean indifferent to the destiny of the country, the nation and the people. The South Korean rulers must know that their reckless military manoeuvres will lead to their doom. The warmaniacs must stop acting rashly, mindful that they will get nothing but severe punishment from the provocation of a war against the north.

S. Korea urged to release prisoners of conscience

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland published information bulletin no. 765 on Friday denouncing the South Korean authority for the unreasonable remarks he made as regards the prisoners of conscience during his U.S. trip. He said that though the prisoners of conscience would be provided with freedom of idea, they should not negate the South Korean system in deed and word but pledge to refrain from "violent act." This "standard of release," however, is tantamount to an unheard-of anti-human rights declaration and a declaration of strong-arm rule. In other words, the South Korean authority intends to deprive the people of all human rights and freedom and reduce not only prisoners of conscience but all other South Korean people to slaves of modern version and human dregs without any idea and conscience, the information bulletin said, and continued: In a nutshell, by the "standard" he means that as long as the prisoners of conscience maintain their ideas and conscience and refuse to adapt themselves to the flunkeyist, separatist and fascist rule, they will be kept in prison and persecuted. The "standard," which criminalizes those who desire alliance with communism and the north and national reunification, is an undisguised provocation against and challenge to the north. The South Korean authorities must unconditionally release all the prisoners of conscience as unanimously demanded by people at home and abroad.

Basketball game between DPRK and Italy

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- A basketball game was held in Pyongyang on June 18 between the men's teams of the DPRK "Uroe" and the Fabriano Club of Italy. The host team won the game 110:101.

Kim Jong Il's work reported in 80 countries

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il's work "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction" was reported by over 140 news media of some 80 countries. Cuban paper Granma, Japanese papers Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, Indian paper Asian Age, Vietnamese paper Quan Doi Nhan Dan (people's army), Eygptian paper Al Siyassi, Brazilian paper Hora Do Povo, Romanian paper Romania Muncitoare, the Nigerian NAN News Agency, Zimbabwe radio and TV broadcasting and other news media said that the work is a valuable textbook by which world's progressive political parties and all countries of building a new society should be guided. Reuters, BBC, the New York Times and other western news media reported the work with a focus on the words of General Kim Jong Il that to preserve the Juche character and national character is the fundamental principle in accomplishing the socialist cause and one should not pin one's hope on the imperialists "aid". Seminars, lecture meetings, round-table talks and other events to study the work were held in some 60 countries including India, Guinea, Uganda, Madagascar, Poland, Denmark and Austria. Present there were party leaders, prominent political, public and military figures and pressmen.

Rodong Sinmun blames U.S. for threat of b.c. weapons

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- In a commentary Rodong Sinmun today says the United States is the very one responsible for the threat of biological and chemical weapons. The United States is now raising a clamour over danger and threat of b.c. weapons and necessity of their elimination. In this way, it wants to veil its true colors as very one responsible for the threat of b.c. weapons, Rodong Sinmun says. The daily continues: It was disclosed recently that during the Vietnamese war the United States stockpiled large quantities of nerve gas in frontline areas and used it against its runaway soldiers and northern Vietnam's soldiers. Opening the fact to the public, the then u.s. Joint chiefs of staff chairman implied that even the U.S. President was aware of the use of the poison gas. His remarks made clear that the nerve gas was used by the U.S. Forces in the war with the approval and connivance of the U.S. government. At that time, the Nixon administration officially declared the policy of no first use of b.c. weapons. The fact is enough to show the U.S. double-dealing policy and its shamelessness and ferocity. During the Korean War (June 1950-July 1953), too, the United States massively used b.c. Weapons against the Korean people. It has not only kept many b.c. weapons in stock but shipped such weapons to South Korea and its vicinity, threatening the DPRK with them.

Preparatory committee of FKNC inaugurated

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The federation of Korean nationals in China held an enlarged meeting of its central executive committee on June 12 to inaugurate a preparatory committee of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Chairman Yang Yong Dong of the federation was elected chairman of the preparatory committee. The preparatory committee had discussions on the holding of celebrations, including a meeting, a book and photo exhibition and a film show, to mark the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.

More minor power stations completed in Korea

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- More minor power stations were completed in Korea. According to data available, more than 1,900 minor power stations were commissioned in Korea in a little over the first five months of this year. They were built to use flowing water, wind power, methane, charcoal gas and other power resources. They have generating capacities ranging from several kilowatts to thousands of kilowatts. Korea encourages the construction of minor power stations as part of plans to meet demands for electricity by local efforts. This year, Nampho and north Phyongan Province completed the construction of hundreds of minor power stations each. Having set an example in this project, Jagang Province built scores of hydraulic and gas power stations with much generating capacity to additionally turn out electricity of several thousand kilowatts. More than 10 cities and counties including Taehongdan and Pochon counties of Ryanggang Province, Janggang and Songgan counties of Jagang Province and Hochon county of south Hamgyong Province are meeting local demands for electricity needed for their economic development and management by themselves. With the commissioning of minor power stations in succession, the units which cut off state supply lines and set up local electricity-supplying system are on the increase.

Grave challenge to peace

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today comments on the soon-to-be-staged RIMPAC '98 military manoeuvres involving naval forces of the United States, Japan, South Korea, etc. The commentary says in part: Participating in the manoeuvres will be some 70 vessels including a U.S. flattop, 280 aircraft and 30,000 troops. Through the exercises, the United States intends to give concrete shape to its aggressive design to isolate and stifle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the strength of multinational forces. Herein lie the gravity and danger of the manoeuvres. Admittedly, since the end of the Cold War, the United States has pursued a "policy of strength" to contain Asia-Pacific nations by military force and put them under its control, bringing huge aggression forces and sophisticated military equipment to the region. As a result, a timebomb situation has been created on the Korean peninsula with huge armed forces deployed in and around the peninsula. Participating in the U.S.-led manoeuvres under any pretext means not only allowing the U.S. strong-arm policy for supremacy over the Asia-Pacific region but giving tacit support to the United States in its efforts for stifling the DPRK by military force. If the manoeuvres planned by the United States and its allies lead to the provocation of a war for invading the Korean peninsula, the Korean people will sternly and mercilessly punish the aggressors.

Ultra-modern medical appliances developed

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The Korean computer center has recently developed several ultra-modern medical appliances. Among them are a diagnosis appliance for prediction of heart blood vessel diseases and a cold-reaction diagnosis appliace in which computer technology is introduced. The diagnosis appliance for prediction of heart blood vessel diseases, based on biomechanic models of two million blood vessels extending 8,700 kilometres in a human body, examines clinical changes of the brain proper, spondyl artery and carotid, predicts their features and evaluates the composition of blood circulation and nerve regulation function. It is a comprehensive function diagnosis appliance which gives automatic diagnosis, predicted diagnosis, rules of health and scientific medical advices. The rate of predicted diagnosis of cerebral haemorrhage, thrombus, myocardial infraction, angina pectoris and other diseases is over 90 percent. The cold-reaction diagnosis appliance measures sensibility to cold stimulus at ear region for acupuncture and evaluates function of all internal organs. It has been completed through more than 3,000 rounds of clinical tests. It makes diagnosis of more than 30 kinds of diseases related to internal organs including bronchitis, asthma, heart nervous breakdown, chronic gastritis and hypertension. Its correctness is over 80 percent. These medical appliances are drawing attention at home and abroad.