Kim Jong Il sends letter to mark 50th anniversary of newspaper Joson Inmingun

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il of the Korean People's Army sent a letter "On further enhancing the militant function and role of the newspaper 'Joson Inmingun'" to journalists and editors of the KPA newspaper office, to mark its 50th anniversary. In the letter the supreme commander extends warm felicitations to all the journalists, editors and employees of the newspaper office who are significantly greeting the 50th anniversary of the newspaper. The letter says ever since its foundation on July 10, Juche 37 (1948) the newspaper Joson Inmingun has creditably discharged its duty and played the role as befits a genuine mouthpiece and intimate educator of the People's Army. The present basic task of the ideological work of the People's Army and the People's Army newspaper is to imbue the whole army with the Juche idea, the monolithic idea of the Workers' Party of Korea, and prepare all the servicemen to be true revolutionary soldiers, guards and lifeguards most faithful to the Party, it says. The letter calls upon the People's Army newspaper to be very instrumental in implementing the military line and policies of the WPK and intensifying combat training of the People's Army and completing its combat preparations. It also calls for increasing information services to encourage the soldiers to give full play to their revolutionary spirit in the performance of their military duty and socialist construction and to establish a proper way of entertainment so that the People's Army may set an example for society in all aspects of ideology, culture, struggle and livelihood. The letter from Kim Jong Il was conveyed with due ceremony on July 10. Director Jo Myong Rok of the General Political Department of the KPA read out the letter. At the meeting the speakers vowed to regard the letter as the bloodline of the newspaper and the general goal of its building and effect new innovations in information and propaganda activity.

Floral basket laid before Pres. Kim Il Sung's statue in Mongolia

Pyongyang, July 11 （KCNA）- A ceremony for laying a floral basket before the Statue of President Kim Il Sung standing at the ten-year middle school ｉn Altanbulag county, Tov province, Mongolia, took place on July 8, the fourth anniversary of his death. Present there were S. Surenjav, Chairman of the Mongolia-Korea Friendship Association, and other public figures. The participants laid a floral basket and bouquets before the statue and made a bow, praying for the President's immortality.

Timely humanitarian appeal = KCNA commentary =

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- The World Food Program on July 2 appealed to the international community to render food assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea before the harvesting season. Earlier, on June 22, U.S. civic relief organizations strongly urged the U.S. Government to immediately lift "economic sanctions" against the DPRK in mainly food, agricultural and health domains. This is a timely humanitarian appeal based on a deep consideration of the DPRK's food and health conditions. As was already reported, the WFP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization sent a joint fact-finding group to the DPRK in June to get first-hand knowledge of its food problem. The group toured the DPRK from June 2 to 12 and voiced deep concern that the total stock of food had exhausted and the country's food shortage would be further deteriorated in coming two months. The U.S. civic organizations, through supply of humanitarian materials on several occasions, have learnt that the DPRK's food shortage is serious. Suffering from years of natural disasters, many of the Korean people have lived with substitute food. To make matters worse, agricultural production was heavily damaged by tidal waves on the east coast in early June and by a long spell of cold weather. And low temperature which persisted in the country from early spring made it hard to expect a harvest of wheat, barley and other early crops in the whole of the DPRK. The appeal of the WFP and the U.S. civic organizations stemmed from such a serious situation and implies that the international community should pay deep concern to offering of humanitarian assistance to the DPRK. The United States should, in response to their humanitarian appeal, lift the unreasonable ban on the DPRK as early as possible for a wide-ranging assistance. For the United States, to lift the ban on the DPRK is not only a humanitarian issue but what it is obliged to do under the DPRK-U.S. framework agreement. The United States should show the international community its sincerity for the implementation of the framework agreement, thus making a tangible contribution to ensuring humanitarian food supply on a wider scale.

Wreaths laid before Kim Hyong Jik's statue and grave

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Senior Party and State officials, working people, servicemen and school youths and children laid wreaths before the Statue of Kim Hyong Jik, an indomitable revolutionary fighter and an outstanding leader of the Korean anti-Japanese national liberation movement, in Ponghwa-ri, Kangdong county, Pyongyang, and his grave in Mangyongdae on Friday morning to commemorate his 104th birth anniversary. Placed before the statue and the grave were wreaths from Kim Jong Il. Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol and other Senior Party and State officials were present at the wreath-laying ceremonies. Amid the playing of the wreath-laying music, wreaths were placed before the statue and the grave in the name of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, the DPRK Central People's Committee and the Administration Council (AC), commissions and ministries of the AC, National Institutions and Educational, public health and press organs, units of the Korean People's Army, and Party and power bodies, administrative and economic organs, industrial establishments and co-op farms in Pyongyang. Bouquets and flowers were also laid before the statue and grave. The participants observed a moment's silence to the memory of Kim Hyong Jik. On the same day, wreaths were laid before his statues in Sakju county, North Phyongan Province, and Junggang county, Jagang Province.

Ministry of national unification hit for obstructing August 15 Festiva

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today bitterly condemns the south Korean ministry of national unification for trying to check a festival which is scheduled to be held on August 15. The news analyst says: The minister of national unification, Kang In Dok, demanded that a "non-governmental organisation of reunification movement" be formed with no participation of the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) and the (south) Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) and that members of Hanchongryon and Pomminryon south headquarters defect from their organisations in case they want to take part in the festival. A conference of political parties and organisations in the northern half of Korea proposed to hold the festival. The festival is a pro-reunification event of independent, non-governmental organisations, so the government authorities have no ground and justification to poke their nose into the event. The scheme to keep Pomminryon south headquarters and hanchongryon, which are leading pro-reunification activities in south Korea, from participating in the festival and break the event. Their criminal scheme is a hurdle lying in the way of a successful holding of the festival.

Japanese reactionaries criticised for wild ambition for reinvasion

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Papers here today comment on military tie-up of Japan and the south Korean against the northern half of Korea. Rodong Sinmun calls attention to the fact that during his recent trip to south Korea a top official of the Defence Agency of Japan had discussions with south Korean brasshats about the "Situation on the Korean Peninsula" and the "Direction of future defence policy." The paper says the confab proves that they will step up war preparations against the northern half of Korea. The news analyst says: The Japanese reactionaries, overheated with the vaulting ambition for a military power and overseas expansion, are trying to tighten the tie-up with the south Korean talking about the "instable situation on the peninsula", and use the puppets in making a breakthrough in reinvasion. Unlike in the past, Japan intends to openly participate in another Korean War. The south Korean puppets seek to prolong their remaining days through a war of aggression against the fellow countrymen. By tightening military tie-up with the south Korean puppets and increasing military interference in the internal affairs of south Korea the Japanese reactionaries are trying to use the south Korean puppets as a guide for their aggression on Korea. The "Direction of future defence policy" on their lips means tightening anti-DPRK military tie-up with the south Korean puppets in "emergency." The Japanese reactionaries and the south Korean puppets cannot realise their anti-DPRK scheme at all. They should stop acting rashly, aware that their foolish scheme will bring nothing but ignominious destruction. Minju Joson says their reckless military fusion will bring nothing but destruction.

Chinese Ambassador hosts reception on 37th anniversary of signing of Korea-China treaty

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Chinese Ambassador to Korea Wan Yongxiang hosted a reception at the Embassy Friday to mark the 37th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. At the reception the ambassador expressed deep reverence for Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and President Kim Il Sung, who established the Sino-Korean Friendship and devoted everything all their lives to its strengthening and development. Their great feats in the annals of the Sino-Korean friendly relations will shine forever in history and remain long in the memory of posterity, he said. Wan expressed the belief that the traditional Sino-Korean friendship will surely be developed down through generations by joint efforts of the two peoples amid the interest of the two parties and governments. Referring to the Korean People's vigorous efforts to greet the election of deputies to the Tenth Supreme People's Assembly and the 50th birthday of the DPRK with a high degree of political enthusiasm and brilliant achievements, the ambassador said: We hope that the spa election will be held successfully and the Korean people will make greater achievements in socialist construction under the guidance of the Kim Jong Il. Vice-Premier Jang Chol said it is the consistent policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK Government to consolidate and develop the Korea-China friendship. The fraternal Chinese people are now making much effort to build a powerful socialist state with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the Communist Party of China headed by respected Jiang Zemin, he noted. The Korean people, he said, are sincerely rejoiced over the fact that the might of china is increasing day by day and great achievements are being made in the efforts for national stability, prosperity and development. "We wish the Chinese people new progress in the endeavours to carry out the tasks set forth at the 15th CPC Congress and the first session of the Ninth National People's Congress of China and to reunify the whole country"

Rodong Sinmun on U.S. "strategy of appeasement"

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today runs an article on the U.S. "strategy of appeasement." The dails says= While pursuing the strategy of power after the end of the Cold War, the U.S. is resorting to a new "strategy of appeasement," which is a basic strategy to dominate and control the developing countries for the present. Talking about "peace" and "detente," the U.S. stretches its crooked tentacle of domination and intervention to the developing countries under the guise of a political "mediator," an economic "partner" and a military "helper" in security. The U.S. foreign policy makers look upon "dispute mediation" and "economic and security cooperation" as the most effective way of domination and control over those countries. The new "strategy of appeasement" pursued by the U.S. does not reflect the change of its aggressive nature nor its sincere desire for aid to other countries and peace and security, but its intention to gain without difficulty what cannot be obtained with the strategy of strength. The U.S. strategy of power does not work any longer. It results in isolating the U.S. under the situation the U.S. is pursuing the "strategy of appeasement" as well as the "strategy of power" in order to win over other countries and realise its wild ambition for domination and control over the world. Its dominationist and aggressive "strategy of appeasement" is also suffering failure.

Korean books donated to India

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Korean books were donated with due ceremony recently at the building of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions on the occasion of the fourth death anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The DPRK Ambassador to India handed famous works of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, Kim Il Sung's reminiscences, Kim Jong Il's brief biography and other Korean books and albums to the Secretary General of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions. The Secretary General said that President Kim Il Sung Was not only the great leader of the Korean people but also the great leader of the world revolutionary people, and the great teacher of the Indian working class and other working masses and trade unionists. "We are always encouraged by Korean socialism which is winning victory after victory under the tested leadership of Kim Jong Il," he noted. "We will disseminate these precious books among unionists and let them learn from the revolutionary life and activities of the president and the brilliant leadership feats of Kim Jong Il," he added.

Kim Il Sung's feats will be kept in memory

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Vice-Minister of Communications of Russia Aleksandr Kondratenko was interviewed by KCNA in Pyongyang. He, who was heading a delegation of the Ministry of Communications of Russia, said that while visiting different places during his stay in Korea he could keenly feel that President Kim Il Sung's feats have been creditably defended. "The Tower of the Juche Idea rises high, conveying long the ideological and theoretical feats of Kim Il Sung" he said. "He is the founder of the DPRK." He continued: "Kim Il Sung made great contributions to friendship and unity between the Russian and Korean peoples." "The Russian people will remember his feats forever."

Month of international solidarity with Korean people marked abroad

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- A lecture was given and a film show was held in Libya, a photo exhibition and a film show in Madagascar, film shows in Nepal and Democratic Congo and meetings in Switzerland, India and Mongolia from June 23 to July 3 to mark the month of international solidarity with the Korean people. Screening during the period were "U.S. imperialist aggressors are provokers of the Korean War," part 1 of "the Fatherland Liberation War," "40th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War" and other Korean films. Meetings expressed invariable solidarity with the Korean people who are smashing the moves of the imperialists and the south Korean puppets to isolate and stifle the DPRK and defending and advancing socialism.

Pyongwonroryon goes on strike in s. Korea

Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Hospital Trade Unions under the National Federation of Hospital, Health and Medical Industry Trade Unions (Pyongwonroryon) on July 9 went on a strike in solidarity with the struggle of the trade union of the hospital attached to Seoul National University and other trade unions for vital rights, according to a report. Pyongwonroryon held a press conference on July 8 and said that the stable employment of hospital workers is directly linked with the life of patients. It declared it goes on a strike to protest the unreasonable attitude of hospitals.