August 15 festival opens
Panmunjom, August 15 (KCNA) -- a "Grand Festival for National Reconciliation, Unity and Reunification" has opened today.
It is a historic festival in which delegates of people from all walks of life in the north, the south and abroad gathered for the first time in 50 years after the North-South Joint Conference was held in April 1948.
An opening ceremony is going on at panmunjom, attended by delegates of some 60 political parties and organisations and prominent public figures in the north, the south and abroad, over 1,200 in all, and many observers.
It will be followed by a rally for unity of the fellow countrymen, a photo and art exhibition, a joint conference of Pomchonghakryon (National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification), the '98 Pan-National Rally for the Peace and Reunification of the Country, the 3rd meeting of Pomchonghakryon and a pro-reunification art festival of the nation.
August 15 grand pro-reunification festival opens at Panmunjom
Panmunjom, August 15 (KCNA) -- A "Grand Festival for National Reconciliation, Unity and Reunification" has opened at Panmunjom symbolic of the division of the nation this morning amid great expectation and interest of people at home and abroad.
Panmunjom is located in an area through which runs the Military Demarcation Line of more than 240 kilometres, keeping Korea divided into the north and south for more than 50 years. It is a well-known place where the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
The festival is a historic one for national reconciliation, unity and reunification in which delegates of people from all walks of life in the north, the south and abroad gathered for the first time in 50 years after the North-South Joint Conference in April 1948.
It was proposed by the conference of the political parties and organisations in the DPRK held in June, and the offer was positively responded to by the south and overseas headquarters of Pomminryon (National Alliance for the Country's Reunification).
Today is the 53rd anniversary of the liberation of the country.
The festival is attended by many compatriots in the north, the south and abroad.
The participants in the festival laid a floral basket before the monument bearing a signature of President Kim Il Sung and made a bow in humble reverence.
The monument was erected at Panmunjom in memory of the signature put by the President in a document related to national reunification a day before he passed away.
Then the participants heard an explanation about General Secretary Kim Jong Il's leadership exploits associated with Panmunjom.
Present at the opening ceremony were Kim Yong Sun, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the Reunification Policy Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly= Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Chondoist Chongu Party= O Ik Je, Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland= Kim Yong Ho, chairman of the preparatory committee of the festival, Chairman of the Council for National Reconciliation (Minhwahyop) and Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party= Paek In Jun, Chairman of the north headquarters of Pomminryon and Chairman of the preparatory committee of the 9th Pan-National Rally= officials of the north headquarters of Pomminryon and Pomchonghakryon (National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification)= working people from all walks of life, youths and students.
Delegates of Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils), which represents the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon, and priests of the South Korean Catholic Priests' Council for Justice were on hand.
Also present were So Man Sul, First Vice-Chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), Rim Min Sik, Secretary General of Pomminryon, delegations and delegates of overseas headquarters of Pomminryon and Pomchonghakryon and overseas Koreans.
Attending the festival are 2,000 people including delegates of 68 political parties and organisations and prominent public figures in the north, the south and abroad.
Many people including overseas compatriots are participating in the festival as observers.
Kim Yong Ho in his opening address expressed the belief that the festival will greatly promote the nationwide march of the 70 million fellow countrymen to greet the 21st century as a new century for national reunification.
The flag of the festival was hoisted amid the playing of the song "Grand Festival for National Reunification."
The participants in the festival shouted "Let us accomplish the historic cause of national reunification with concerted efforts of the entire nation " and "Let us all closely unite as one, transcending differences in ideology, system, political view and ism "
Rally for unity
Panmunjom, August 15 (KCNA) -- A rally of fellow countrymen for national reconciliation, unity and reunification was held at the Thongil House here this morning.
It was the first of its kind in 50 years after the April 1948 North-South Joint Conference was held. At the conference, different political forces and people of various social strata from the north and the south of Korea expressed their will for reunification and national salvation.
The rally was attended by delegates of political parties and organisations and individual figures in the north, the south and overseas who gathered with ardent compatriotic feelings, determined to achieve the country's reunification, the cherished desire of the nation, transcending differences in idea, system, political view and religious belief.
Addressing the rally were Paek Nam Jun, Director of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, Fatherl Mun Kyu Hyon, Co-Chairman of the South Korean Catholic Priests' Council for Justice, Kim Thae Hui, Vice-Chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents In Japan (Chongryon), Chon Yon Ok, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, Kang Wi Jo, Advisor of the U.S. headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon), Kim Tae Won, delegate of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) which represents the south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon), Kim Yong Sun, Chairman of the United Confederation of Koreans in Ukraine.
The speakers said that the principle of national independence is the kernel of the reunification question and basis of the great unity of the entire nation.
They said it is imperative to support each other and take concerted action in the common cause of national reunification irrespective of differences in ideology, ideal, political view and religious belief, upholding the five-point policy of great national unity advanced by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The three principles of national reunification -- independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity -- are great principles which make it possible to successfully accomplish the Korean nation's cause of reunification, they added.
They called upon the participants in the meeting to pool their efforts to see the demolition of the barrier of division built by separatists, reunify the country and make it strong and prosperous.
The rally adopted a panmunjom joint declaration for national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
The declaration called for invariably maintaining the three principles of national reunification, no matter how the internal and external situation may change and whatever complicated situation may be created, and resolutely rejecting any pseudo "principles of reunification" or "foundations of reunification," which are contrary to the principle of national independence.
All the fellow countrymen should achieve the great unity as members of the same nation, it said, and added: all political parties, organisations and people from all walks of life in the north, the south and overseas should support each other and take concerted action in the struggle for national reunification.
The declaration laid stress on the need to establish a pan-national unified state which does not infringe upon vested rights of others and which promotes co-existence, co-prosperity and common interests of the north and the south.
It called for further accelerating the reunification-oriented advance which has just made a new start through the rally for unity of fellow countrymen, in order to change the meaning of Panmunjom from the symbol of division into the symbol of reunification and achieve the country's reunification at an early date.
Reception given at Russian embassy
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- The Russian charge d'affaires to Korea, Konstantin Kostyunin, hosted a reception at the embassy on Friday, a day before the 53rd anniversary of Korea's liberation.
Present at the reception were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri In Gyu and officials concerned.
Speeches were exchanged there.
Earlier, a party was given at the Russian Consulate General in Chongjin.
'98 Pan-National Rally for Peace and Reunification of Country
Panmunjom, August 15 (KCNA) -- '98 Pan-National Rally For Peace and Reunification of the Country was held at the Thongil House here this morning.
Attending the rally were delegations and delegates of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) and the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) from the north and overseas, people from all walks of life, youths and students and overseas Koreans.
Discusssed there was an agenda item "On accelerating national reunification through efforts for national independence and great unity."
Vice-Chairman Han Yong Su of the north headquarters of Pomminryon delivered a joint keynote report of the north, south and overseas headquarters of Pomminryon on the agenda item.
The reporter said the last one year after the eighth PNR was a year of trials that the Korean people's cause of national reunification was confronted with a great challenge and the most complicated difficulties cropped up in the activities of pomminryon owing to outsiders' domination over the Korean nation, their interference and flunkeyist treacheries of the forces dependent on outsiders.
Through the hard-fought struggle it waged under such a grave situation, he noted, pomminryon fully demonstrated that its platform and idea of reunifying the country by confederacy formula on the three principles of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity were just and that its movement was a truly patriotic one, a powerful one to pull through difficulties lying in the way of reunification and accelerating the cause of national reunification.
The Korean people cannot pass the tragic division of the 20th century on to the 21st century, but they should bring about an epochal phase of national reunification within the century through concerted efforts, he said.
He said in order to fully discharge the noble mission it assumes before the nation, pomminryon should carry through the five-point policy of great national unity which will be very instrumental in achieving national unity and reunification.
He put forward the concrete tasks to be carried out for the implementation of this great reunification programme common to the nation.
The way ahead of pomminryon is still thorny, but the cause of national reunification will certainly be accomplished, he said, and called upon the participants to uphold the banner of great national unity and stubbornly fight for opening a new phase of national reunification in the immediate future.
An address from the south headquarters of Pomminryon was read out, and Vice-Chairman Kang Yong Sop of Pomminryon north headquarters and Chairman Choe Il Su of Pomminryon headquarters of Koreans in Japan took the floor.
They referred to the tasks of Pomminryon organisations in the north, south and overseas to open a decisive phase for the accomplishment of the cause of national reunification within the century through a powerful nationwide reunification movement under the uplifted banner of national independence, great unity and reunification by confederacy formula.
The rally adopted a joint resolution of '98 PNR.
The four-point resolution calls for decisively checking and frustrating the ever-worsening dependence on outsiders of the anti-reunification forces and their moves to keep national division and for accelerating the independent, peaceful reunification of the country through national independence and great unity.
It also calls for maintaining the principle of national indepenence in achieving great national unity and national reunification, carrying it into practice and conducting a more powerful struggle for great national unity under the uplifted banner of national reunification, the patriotic banner.
It calls for decisively checking and frustrating the anti-north confrontation moves of separatists against national reunification, strengthening Pomminryon and pushing ahead with a powerful struggle for encouraging pomminryon south headquarters.
Seminars on Kim Jong Il's work held in different countries
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Seminars on the famous work of General Secretary Kim Jong Il "Let Us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification" were held in Guinea and Austria on August 4 on the occasion of the first anniversary of its publication.
The chiefs of the Group for the Study of Kim Jong Ilism in Guinea and the Group of Youths for the Study of Kim Jong Il's Juche Idea in Austria said that the work is a great programme and library of Korea's reunification which crystallizes the immortal exploits of President Kim Il Sung and gives all-round answers to all questions arising in achieving the cause of Korea's reunification.
The three principles of national reunification, the 10-Point Programme of the Great Unity of the Whole Nation and the proposal for the founding of the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo, which were formulated by Kim Jong Il as the three charters of Korea's reunification, are enjoying support and sympathy from the world peace-loving people, they stressed.
They said the U.S. troops should withdraw from South Korea at once and the South Korean authorities should abolish the "National Security Law" and realize democracy in society , so that all patriotic forces may turn out in achieving reunification.
Congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il from Military Attaches' Corps
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, received a congratulatory letter from the Military Attaches' Corps here on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the country's liberation.
It was handed to Kim Il Chol, First Vice-Minister of the People's Armed Forces, by Vu Dinh Thang, doyen of the corps and military attache of the Vietnamese embassy in Pyongyang, on August 14.
And congratulatory letters to Kim Jong Il from military attaches of Viet Nam and Russia were handed to an official concerned.
Kim Jong Il receives message of greetings from Russian President
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, on August 13 received a message of greetings from B.N. Yeltsin, President of Russia, on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the liberation of Korea.
The message extended congratulations to Kim Jong Il and the entire Korean people on the day of Korea's liberation.
The message said that experience and traditions of many years of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would become a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations in future.
The good-neighborly relations between Russia and Korea conform with the interests of the two peoples and contribute to the consolidation of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, the message said.
The message wished Kim Jong Il good health and success in his work. It also wished the Korean people peace and prosperity.
Central People's Committee sends message of greetings to Russian President
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) --The DPRK Central People's Committee on August 14 sent a message of greetings to the Russian President, B.N. Yeltsin, on the 53rd anniversary of the liberation of Korea.
The message said that the DPRK Central People's Committee extended greetings to the President and his people on the 53rd anniversary of Korea's liberation.
The message expressed the belief that friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Russia would as ever develop in various fields on the principle of independence, equality and non-interference.
Rodong Sinmun lashes out at suppressive campaign in South Korea
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- The 8th Grand Pro-Reunification Festival of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) and the 9th Pan-National Rally opened at Seoul National University on August 13 in defiance of the brutal suppression by the authorities.
Commenting on this, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today says:
At the opening ceremony, some 2,000 students under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) declared that they would certainly hold joint functions between the north, the south and overseas sides from 13 to 15 no matter how frantically the authorities may try to block them, and are valiantly fighting to this end.
The August 15 grand pro-reunification festival organised by Hanchongryon and the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) reflects the desire and aspirations of the nation for reunification and represents their noble patriotic and loyal resolution to put an end to the division, the bitterest pain and greatest misfortune of the fellow countrymen and achieve national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
Accordingly, it is a peaceful meeting in all aspects.
Nevertheless, the South Korean rulers, labeling the festival of Pomchonghakryon and the pan-national rally as "Pro-north illegal ones", are threatening that they would totally block them.
National reconciliation, unity and reunification are related to the existence of the nation and vital interests of all the Koreans. Therefore, the brutal suppression of students and public figures is an unpardonable treacherous act against patriotism.
With nothing can the South Korean rulers stop the advance of fellow countrymen toward national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
President Kim Il Sung is liberator of country
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Ri Sang Chol, Chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK), published a statement on August 13 on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of national liberation.
The statement said:
President Kim Il Sung was a peerless patriot and legendary hero who liberated the country and nation, believing in the people as in heaven. He wisely led the great anti-Japanese war for over 20 years, defeated the Japanese imperialist aggressors and opened a new era of prosperity of the country.
The President devoted all his efforts to the reunification of the country to the last moment of his life and performed immortal exploits which will shine long in the history of the movement of national reunification.
The South Korean people of all walks of life are struggling to successfully hold a "Grand Festival for National Reconciliation, Unity and Reunification" at Panmunjom.
The statement praised the visit to the north of delegates of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) as a patriotic deed for national reunification.
It further said:
The South Korean people, upholding the five-point policy of the great unity of the nation put forward by General Secretary Kim Jong Il, are struggling to carry it out.
Therefore, the reunification of the country will be achieved before long.
National liberation, great victory
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Fifty-three years have passed since Korea was liberated from Japan's colonial rule.
The Korean people suffered national humiliation and insult from the Japanese imperialists for 40 odd years.
The anti-Japanese armed struggle was launched in the 1930s under the wise leadership of President Kim Il Sung, so that the Korean people's anti-Japanese struggle for national liberation made new progress. In the course of this, a deadly, political and military blow was dealt at the Japanese imperialist aggressors and the revolutionary forces were built up for Korea's liberation.
The struggle for national liberation was conducted more powerfully in the '40s.
In August Juche 29 (1940) President Kim Il Sung advanced the policy of training a large number of military and political cadres, converting large-unit operations of the Korean people's revolutionary army into small-unit operations and intensifying the underground struggle and preparations for a popular uprising, so as to actively prepare for a great event of national liberation.
Under this policy the main unit of the KPRA engaged itself in military and political training such as political study and exercises of ordinary and special arms to successfully ensure the operation for national liberation.
Scores of small guerrilla units and teams dispatched to different areas built temporary secret camps and, relying on them, conducted assaults and other military actions against the enemy as well as mass political work.
At that time many people were joining in various kinds of struggle against plunder and forced labour and military drafting by the Japanese imperialists and the anti-Japanese armed struggle.
The President ordered the KPRA units on August 9, Juche 34 (1945) to launch the final attack for national liberation.
On this order, KPRA units liberated Rajin, Chongjin and other parts of the country, expanding the fruits of battle.
As a result, the Japanese imperialists surrendered unconditionally on August 15 and the Korean people were liberated from the colonial rule of nearly half a century.
Japan is still in dock
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Though half a century has passed since the end of the war, Japan has still refused to honestly admit its disgraceful history and repent of it.
Worse still, it has tried to flee from the responsibility For compensation.
Accusing Japan of its shameless act, Rodong Sinmun today says:
The Japanese imperialists inflicted immeasurable disasters and misfortunes upon the Korean and other Asian peoples.
They took away more than 6 million young and middle-aged Koreans and used them as cannon fodder and wartime slaves.
They drafted more than 200,000 women from Korea, China, Indonesia and other Asian and European countries as "comfort women" for their aggression army.
The Japanese reactionaries have alleged that the compensation has been settled, in a bid to evade the responsibility for an honest apology and adequate compensation for the past crimes.
As for the "comfort women" issue, they are attempting to gloss it over through "civilian fund."
They have also systematically increased military expenditures and turned the "self-defence forces" into regular armed forces equipped with sophisticated means of war for the purpose of overseas expansion with military force. They have made full preparations for any kind of war through the efforts for turning Japan into a military power.
Japan, which has neither admitted nor atoned for its past crimes but has sought overseas aggression, has become a target of worldwide criticism and caution.
Japan is still in the dock. If it wants to extricate itself from the dock, it should properly atone for the past crimes and seek peace, not overseas aggression.
Sanctions useless
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the U.S. policy of sanctions. The news analyst says:
This policy is facing strong criticism and complaint within and outside the U.S. these days. It shows that the policy is unreasonable.
The policy of sanctions is an expression of arrogance and arbitrariness in international relations and an infringement on the sovereignty and interests of other countries and nations.
The U.S. has long since pursued this policy against the DPRK in a bid to stifle it.
The U.S. is, however, seriously mistaken.
We have done all we want to in face of dozens of years of U.S. sanctions.
We do not mind if the U.S. continues sanctions against us. We will live on and advance socialism through self-reliance.
The U.S. must act with discretion, mindful that it can get nothing from the policy of sanctions.
Papers dedicate editorials to liberation day
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- 53 years ago today the Korean people defeated the Japanese imperialists and achieved the liberation of the country. On this occasion, they are overflowing with unbounded reverence for President Kim Il Sung who liberated the country and built the socialist country of Juche.
Pyongyang-based papers today dedicate editorials to the 53rd anniversary of the country's liberation.
Rodong Sinmun editorially calls for exalting socialist Korea built by President Kim Il Sung.
The President is the father of socialist Korea and the eternal sun of the Korean nation, the paper says, and goes on:
He took the road of revolution in his early years, shouldering the destiny of the country and the nation, and achieved the historic cause of national liberation. This is his greatest exploit.
The paper points to his undying exploits after the liberation, during the fatherland liberation war and socialist construction.
His whole life was dedicated to the country and people.
The Korean people are blessed with boundless honor and happiness thanks to the imperishable exploits of the President in state building.
3rd Pomchonghakryon joint conference and meeting
Panmunjom, August 15 (KCNA) - The 3rd Joint Conference of Korean Youth and Students at home and abroad for the independence and great unity of the nation was held at Panmunjom today.
Discussed at the conference were agenda items "On historic significance of the joint conference of representatives of political parties and public organisations in north and south Korea in 1948" and "On role and tasks of youth and students for independence and great unity of entire nation."
Chairman Kim In Ho of the north headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) made a speech on the first agenda item.
Delegate Hwang Son of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), which represents the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon, made a speech on the second agenda item. The joint conference adopted an appeal to the youth and students at home and abroad "Let us achieve national independence and great unity for early reunification of the country by confederacy formula "
The document calls upon all the Korean youth and students in the north, south and abroad to hold higher the banner of national independence and great unity and more stubbornly fight for the reunification and prosperity of the nation, rallied close around pomchonghakryon.
The 3rd general meeting of Pomchonghakryon took place today.
Delegate Kim Tae Won of Hanchongryon made a keynote report on the agenda item "review of Pomchonghakryon's struggle and its tasks," Director Ri Jong Su of the joint secretariat of the overseas headquarters who is the leader of the overseas side's excursion team "on the results of Pomchonghakryon's joint excursion to and joint seminar on historic sites in the north" and Vice-Chairman Hwang Ho Yong of the north headquarters "on the building of the fourth-term joint secretariat."
A resolution was adopted at the meeting.
The resolution says the movement of Pomchonghakryon should be conducted more powerfully on the principle of national independence and Pomchonghakryon built as a mass organisation of all Korean youths and students at home and abroad.
It also calls for building the joint secretariat into a joint permanent consultative organisation of the youth and students in the north, south and abroad and increasing the scope of Pomchonghakryon's activity. Pomchonghakryon should fight against anti-reunification forces to the end, it adds.
Pro-reunification art festival
Panmunjom, August 15 (KCNA) -- The desire for reunification of the Koreans in the north, south and abroad was fully reflected by a pro-reunification art festival of the nation held in front of the Panmun House here today.
The festival was the last event of the grand festival for national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
The dance "One" was followed by folk songs "Our Tune is Good," and "Song of Bean Paste."
Singing "Where the marshal indicates," "Thunder above Jong Il Peak," "With Pride" and other songs, the performers showed the Korean nation's strong will to reunify the country at an early date and turn it into a strong country admired by the world, under the banner of the great national unity unfolded by General Secretary Kim Jong Il, lodestar of national reunification.
The art festival also included such acrobatic pieces as "Feats on Bar" and "Seesaw."
Compatriots from the south and overseas, too, fully showed their desire for reunification in the festival.
In the songs "Ojak bridge to reunification," "Our desire is reunification" and "Korea is One" the performers also represented their unshakable will to promote national reunification through unity of the 70 million fellow countrymen.
Meanwhile, a photo and art exhibition on the theme of national reunification took place here as part of the grand festival.
August 15 festival closes
Panmunjom, August 15 (KCNA) -- A historic grand festival for national reconciliation, unity and reunification was successfully held at Panmunjom today, attracting the attention of all the fellow countrymen.
It was a grand festival in which delegates of people of various social standings in the north, the south and overseas took part for the first time in 50 years.
It reconfirmed that the Korean nation is a homogeneous nation that cannot live separated and unanimously expressed the desire for national reunification.
At the closing ceremony, Kim Yong Ho, Chairman of the festival preparatory committee, said that the successful holding of the festival is a great event which will be recorded in the history of national reunification movement together with the historic April North-South Joint Conference.
He called upon the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas to more dynamically turn out in the struggle to implement the great cause of national reunification.
The flag of the festival was slowly pulled down from the flagpole while the "Song of Great National Unity" was being played.
South Korean students arrested
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities issued warrants of arrest for Ri Yong Man and 6 other students belonging to the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) on August 11, according to a report.
They charged that they participated in a Chungchong area pro-reunification event held at Chungnam National University within the framework of the 9th Pan-National Rally and tried to attend the grand pro-reunification festival to be held at Panmunjom.
On August 9, the authorities sent police force to the university to arrest 84 students who participated in the event.
Struggle for release of prisoners of conscience in South Korea
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- The family movement for realising democracy set a period of "street activities for release of all prisoners of conscience and abolition of the system of law-observance pledge" from July 20 to August 15 and are struggling to have the demand met, according to a South Korean newspaper.
The organization is holding meetings and conducting a signature campaign in different places of Seoul.
Meanwhile, five civic and public organisations in Pusan including the Pusan Family Council for Realising Democracy held a press conference on August 11 under the title "300 Persons' declaration for August 15 release of all prisoners of conscience without condition", said a radio report from Seoul.
Floral baskets laid before President Kim Il Sung's statues
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Party and government cadres, people of different social standings, servicemen, overseas Koreans and foreign diplomatic envoys to Korea visited the Statue of the President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill today, the 53rd anniversary of the country's liberation.
Placed before the statue was a floral basket sent by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
A floral basket was laid before the statue in the joint name of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Central People's Committee and the Administration Council of the DPRK.
Floral baskets were also placed in the name of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, commissions and ministries under the administration council, public organisations, party, government, administrative and economic organs in Pyongyang and the DPRK-Russia Friendship Association.
The Russian embassy and diplomatic corps here, too, laid floral baskets before the statue.
Then, working people, servicemen, students and schoolchildren in Pyongyang placed floral baskets, bouquets and flowers before the statue.
Members of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea laid a floral basket.
Today, working people from all walks of life, servicemen, youths and schoolchildren called at statues of the President across the country and paid their respects to him.
Wreaths laid at revolutionary martyrs cemetery on Mt. Taesong
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Wreaths were laid at the revolutionary martyrs cemetery on Mt. Taesong today, the 53rd anniversary of Korea's liberation.
A wreath was laid in the joint name of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, the Central People's Committee of the DPRK and the Administration Council, wreaths in the name of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, commissions and ministries of the Administration Council, public organizations, party and power bodies, administrative and economic organs in Pyongyang and the Korea-Russia Friendship Association.
Wreaths in the name of the Russian embassy here and the diplomatic corps were also laid.
Working people from all walks of life and soldiers of the Korean People's Army laid bunches of flowers.
Wreaths were also laid today at the Liberation Tower and the cemeteries of the fallen Soviet officers and men in Pyongyang and local areas.