Title of Korean honorary academician awarded to Chinese scientist
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Feng Shiliang, president of the Diabetes Treatment Centre of Liaoning Province, China, was awarded the title of honorary academician of the DPRK state academy of sciences for his great contribution to friendship between the peoples of Korea and China and development of medical science and technology.
An awarding ceremony was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on August 11.
Present there were vice-President Ri Jong Ok, president of the Academy of Social Sciences Thae Hyong Chol, Chinese ambassador to Korea Wan Yongxiang and Chinese guests.
Bereft of reason, they will mess state affairs
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Japanese dietmen reportedly met on August 4 to hear about the "truth behind abductions" explained by An Myong Jin sent by the South Korean "Agency for National Security Planning" (ANSP).
Even though phony politicians bereft of reason gathered and listened to "testinomy" of a renegade, the "suspected kidnapping case" cannot be solved, nor can the "kidnapped persons" be rescued.
We do not feel it necessary to know what an told Japanese dietmen. He apparently read a script written by the ANSP.
He defected to South Korea from the north after committing such crimes as larceny and rape. To save himself, he could not but seek safe haven in the ANSP and do what it tells him to do.
The "suspected kidnapping case" was created by the ANSP.
If Japanese politicians had had a proper judgement, they would have already grasped the truth behind the "case."
But they, availing themselves of the plots of some right-wingers and South Korean authorities, have connected the cases of those who disappeared in Japan with the DPRK in a far-fetched way and used them in impeding the improvement of DPRK-Japan ties.
Worse still, some politicians have attempted to make the "abductions" by the DPRK a faith accompli and internationalize the "cases," saying that they should be "carefuly dealt with because they are related to the lives of the abducted."
If politicians fail to clearly see the situation, availing themselves of the plots, they will inevitably mess the state affairs.
Their talk about the "suspected kidnapping cases" invented by the South Korean authorities only brings Japan's tarnished public image into a bold relief. They have nothing to get from it.
We have already made clear our position concerning the "suspected kidnapping" and, requested by Japan, made a sincere operation for searching for ordinary missing persons and informed Japan of the results.
As for such a crime as "kidnapping," Japan has no face to talk about it.
During their occupation of Korea, the Japanese imperialists kidnapped and took away a total of more than 6 million young and middle-aged people and slaughtered more than one million people.
Now the Asian and world people are urging Japan to make an honest apology and compensation for its past crimes.
Their demand is growing stronger with each passing day.
If Japanese politicians fail to extricate themselves from the narrow-minded and short-sighted view, they can never evade worldwide criticism.
They should know clearly that they have nothing to get but shame with "kidnapping," a term hostile to the DPRK.
They should take a calm and reasonable view of the issues and act with prudence.
Unchanged wild ambition of militarists
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Papers here today comment on the official announcement of newly-appointed ministers of the Japanese government that they will visit the "Yasukuni Shrine" on August 15.
The announcement goes to show that not a small number of champions of militarism are in the present government and, accordingly, they will pursue conservative policies, a news analyst of rodong sinmun says, and goes on:
If the ruling quarters of Japan have a healthy mode of thinking, as well as a peace-loving stand, they should look back on wrongdoings of the past and a lesson drawn from defeat and take a step for the prevention of the revival of militarism.
In the past officials of Japan have visited the "shrine" symbolic of militarism on that day every year to pray for the souls of those who were punished by history for their crimes of aggression and war.
The projected visit to the "shrine" proves that the present government authorities take the road of building Japan into a military power and stepping up overseas aggression as the successive government authorities of Japan did.
Worse still, the present government authorities of Japan are conniving at and encouraging all the acts of distorting historical facts, inciting militarism and agitating for overseas aggression.
Minju Joson describes the present government of Japan as a herd of civil servants imbued with militarism and qualities of samurai to the marrow of the bone, a government that outdistances its predecessors in this sense.
Overseas Koreans here to participate in August 15 festival
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Overseas compatriots arrived here on Tuesday to participate in the "Grand Festival for National Reconciliation, Unity and Reunification."
They are secretary general of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) Rim Min Sik and his companion= a delegation of the U.S. headquarters of Pomminryon led by permanent chairman Yang Un Sik= a delegation of the Canada regional headquarters of Pomminryon led by chairman Jong Hak Phil= a delegation of the Australia regional headquarters of Pomminryon led by vice-chairman Choe Song Won= a delegation of the American regional headquarters of the Buddhists federation for the peaceful reunification of the fatherland led by director of its secretariat Sin Tong Su= and chairperson Jon Sun Yong of the association of Koreans in Canada as its delegate .
General examination of "state wartime plan" in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- The present South Korean ruler proclaimed a general examination of the "state wartime plan" on August 10, accoridng to a radio report from Seoul.
He called a meeting at "Chongwadae" that day and gave an order to make the general examination through a "practical exercise" with mobilization of the army, all organs and citizens.
The examination will be held mainly in Seoul, Inchon and Kyonggi Province under the signboard of "Ulji".
It is aimed at hindering the reunification movement which is being intensified with the approach of the grand pro-reunification festival at panmunjom and dampening the desire of the fellow countrymen for peaceful reunification.
Pro-reunification festival held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- A grand pro-reunification festival of the Pusan and south Kyongsang provincial federation of university student councils was held on August 8 as part of the pro-reunification events prepared by the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), according to a news report.
Participants in the meeting, singing songs which reflect the desire of the fellow countrymen for reunification, urged the South Korean authorities to unconditionally ensure the participation of Hanchongryon in the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival.
On the same day, the Chungchong regional headquarters for promotion of the pan-national rally held a similar festival with the participation of students under the Taejon regional federation of university student councils.
The participants demanded the government ensure the peaceful opening of the 9th Pan-National Rally and the 8th Grand Pro-Reunification Festival of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification.
Five-point policy of great national unity, banner of national reunification
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed article headlined "five-point policy of great national unity, invincible banner of national reunification."
The five-point policy which was advanced by General Kim Jong Il in his famous work "Let Us Reunify the Country Independently and Peacefully Through the Great Unity of the Entire Nation" includes the questions of adhering to the principle of national independence, uniting under the banner of patriotism, improving inter-Korean relations, rejecting domination of outside forces and fighting against the anti-reunification forces, and having mutual contact, promoting dialogue and strengthening solidarity, the article says, and goes on:
The five-point policy is a patriotic reunification policy which most correctly reflects the aspiration and requirement of the era and the nation.
The idea of achieving the great unity of the Korean nation on the principle of national independence means to accomplish national reunification with the internal force of the nation and realize the independent development of a reunified country and the common prosperity of the nation.
The Korean nation can become a true master of its own destiny, a great motive force and a decisive force for the reunification of the country and prosperity of the nation only when it achieves the great national unity on the principle of national independence.
The South Korean authorities' confrontation policy against the north is producing misunderstanding and distrust between the north and the south and blocking improvement of inter-Korean relations and national unity. They must make a policy shift to turn the anti-north confrontation policy into pro-north reconciliation policy.
It is one of the important ways of achieving the great national unity for the whole nation to make mutual visits, hold contacts, promote dialogue and strengthen solidarity.
FM meets new WFP resident representative
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, today met with David Morton, newly appointed representative of the World Food Programme to Korea who paid a courtesy call on him.
Executive committee of festival calls press conference
Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- The joint executive committee of "Grand Festival for National Reconciliation, Unity and Reunification" called a press conference here today after its first meeting.
Rim Min Sik, secretary general of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) and chairman of the joint executive committee, informed reporters of what was discussed at the first meeting and of the festival's program.
The program includes festival delegates' visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, a rally for the implementation of the five-point policy of great national unity, a march along streets of Pyongyang and a pro-reunification art performance of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon).
A rally for unity of the fellow countrymen, a photo and art exhibition, a joint conference and the third meeting of Pomchonghakryon, the '98 Pan-National Rally for the peace and reunification of the country and a pro-reunification art festival of the nation will take place as part of the grand festival in the wake of its opening in Kaesong on August 15.
Rim said the grand festival will mark a new occasion in the efforts for national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
He demanded that the South Korean authorities stop describing the south headquarters of Pomminryon and the (South) Korean Federation of University Student Councils as "enemy-benefiting organizations" and trying to disintegrate the patriotic forces aspiring after reunification and democracy.
They should not prohibit delegates of organizations and individuals of South Korea from participating in the grand festival, he urged.