S. Koreans resolve to follow Kim Jong Il

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Members of the February 16 Fellowship Society recently met and fully supported the election of Kim Jong Il, the sun of the nation, as a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly, Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoted the Pusan City Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea as saying. They said that his election is a great event of the nation and expressed the conviction that the country would be reunified, the prosperity of the nation be achieved and its dignity be exalted because there is Kim Jong Il. They evinced their determination to trust in and follow only him in any adversity. They stressed that they would fully discharge their obligation as the reunification vanguard by intensifying the reunification movement in accordance with the five-point policy of great national unity advanced by Kim Jong Il.

National reunification through anti-U.S. struggle for independence called for

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) made public a statement on August 13, two days before the 53rd anniversary of the country's liberation, said Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation. The statement highly praised the undying exploits of the President Kim Il Sung, who liberated the country. It said: The present regime, which is following the anti-reunification policy of the preceding dictators under the patronage of the United States, branded the north as the "sworn enemy" and is frantically trying to foil the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival for national reconciliation, unity and reunification. The South Korean people must further intensify the anti-U.S. struggle for independence to terminate the U.S. domination of and interference in the internal affairs of South Korea and force the U.S. troops out of it. And they must resolutely frustrate the treacherous moves of the present regime, which has persistently sought confrontation with the north and harshly suppressed the reunification movement, depending on outsiders. The NDFSK and the South Korean patriotic people from all walks of life will hold higher the banner of the nationwide struggle for anti-U.S. independence and reunification with unshakable faith and optimism and thus pave the way for national reunification without fail.

Young KPA soldiers leave Hyesan for secret camp on Mt. Paektu

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Young soldiers of the Korean People's Army left Hyesan for excursion to the secret camp on Mt. Paektu, the sacred place of revolution, on August 15 with the approach of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The marchers, who are youth league officials and model soldiers of the three services of the Korean People's Army, will visit Pochonbo, Lake Samji, Taehongdan, the secret camp on Mt. Paektu and different revolutionary battle sites via Mt. Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution. They laid a floral basket before the Statue of the President Kim Il Sung in Hyesan and held a meeting for departure. A report and addresses of pledge were made and flags were awarded to marchers. The marchers left for the secret camp on Mt. Paektu.

Socialist Korea will be prosperous forever

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Shashi Bushan, chairman of the All-India Freedom Fighters Association, had an interview with the KCNA correspondent in India on August 5 to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Korea's liberation. He said the history of struggle for human liberation has not known such a legendary hero as the President Kim Il Sung, who organized and led the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle in the most difficult conditions for over 20 years and liberated the country. He stressed that the revolutionary tradition of Korea gives a strong impetus to the struggle of peoples for freedom and liberation. He noted that Korea, where the revolutionary cause started by Kim Il Sung has successfully been inherited by General Secretary Kim Jong Il, is drawing the attention of the world people. Socialist Korea led by Kim Jong Il will be prosperous forever no matter how vicious the challenge of imperialists may be.

National contest of workers' art circles held

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- A national contest of workers' art circles was held here on August 14, with the approach of the 50th anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Competing at the contest were the art circles selected at the preliminaries of factories and enterprises in all provinces. The participants in the contest highly praised Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the two great leaders who built the socialist homeland of Juche and led the Korean people to victory and glory. They showed the revolutionary faith, heroic spirit and indomitable will of the Korean working class to build a strong and prosperous country on this land, rallied around Kim Jong Il with one mind and one purpose.

Kim Jong Il's work published in booklet in Barbados

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The famous work of the Kim Jong Il "Let Us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification" was published in booklet by a company in Barbados on August 4.

Release of all prisoners of conscience urged

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Civic organisations of South Korea on August 14 rejected the deceptive August 15 "special pardon" of the "people's government" and strongly demanded the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, a news report from Seoul said. The family movement for realizing democracy in a statement expressed resentment at the amnesty and reinstatement for the culprits of the "December 12 army purge coup," the Kwangju massacre and corruption and urged the "government" to release all prisoners of conscience including the longest-term prisoner in the world without any string. The "National Alliance for Democracy and National Unification" in a commentary branded the August 15 "special pardon" as deceptive. The citizens' federation for economic justice said the chief executive released all of the real criminals while excluding most of the prisoners of conscience. This does not meet the people's demand, the federation added. The "people's government" excluded nearly 80 percent of the prisoners of conscience from release, revealing its anti-social, anti-democratic nature.

53rd anniversary of Korea's liberation observed

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Art performances have been given at theatres in Pyongyang and local areas in celebration of the 53rd anniversary of national liberation. A concert "Let us love our motherland" is given by artistes of the Mansudae Art Troupe at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre. The state symphony orchestra put on the stage symphonic and orchestral music works at the Moranbong Theatre. A revolutionary opera "Sea of Love" is performed by the Phibada Opera Troupe at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre and a drama "Today will be remembered" by the State Theatrical Company at the Ponghwa Art Theatre. An acrobatic performance by the Pyongyang Circus is on at the Pyongyang Circus Theatre and a puppet show by the Pyongyang Toy Drama Company at the House of Culture in Taesong district. Put on the stage at local theatres are colorful numbers that show the heroic struggle and optimistic life of the Korean people.

Pro-reunification events in S. Korea

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Some 2,500 students under South Korea's Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) held a ceremony at the open-air theatre of Seoul National University on Saturday in the teeth of fascist suppression, prior to their departure for Panmunjom, a radio report from Seoul said. The ceremony was for participation in the 9th Pan-National Rally and the 8th Grand Pro-Reunification Festival of Pomchonghakryon (National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification). The South Korean authorities posted about 20,000 riot police of 200 companies around the university and flew two police helicopters above the place. Meanwhile, an estimated 1,000 members of the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions took part in a '98 pro-reunification event of workers and a rally for independent reunification sponsored by the "National Alliance for Democracy and National Unification" at Jangchung Park. In another development, a ceremony of religionists for national reconciliation and peaceful reunification was held at Kyongdong Church in Jangchung-dong, sponsored by 15 Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and other religious organisations.

Intolerable crime of S. Korean authorities

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today blasts the South Korean authorities for having desperately tried to foil the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival. The daily says in a commentary: Delegates of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils could not but make a roundway journey for several days, risking their lives, to come here and the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification were not allowed to go to Beijing for working-level talks of the north, south and overseas preparatory committees for the festival. This is due to the obstructions of the South Korean authorities, who do not want national reunification, reconciliation and unity. The Korean nation will never tolerate the South Korean rulers who kept pro-reunification, patriotic forces from visiting the north for the festival.

Challenge to nation's desire for reunification

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today comments on the joint military manoeuvres codenamed "Ulji Focus Lens" to be staged by the United States and South Korea from August 17 to 28. The daily views the manoeuvres as an adventurous military training for stifling the DPRK by military force and a reckless move to increase the danger of war and deteriorate the situation on the Korean peninsula. It says: The desire of Koreans in the north, south and overseas for national reconciliation, unity and reunification is growing stronger through the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival. At this time, the U.S. and South Korean warmongers are going to stage criminal war exercises, challenging the Korean nation's desire for peace and peaceful reunification. They should act with prudence, pondering over the grave consequences to be entailed by the large-scale war gamble.

Improvement of DPRK-Japan ties depends on Japan's attitude

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today attributes the failure to improve DPRK-Japan ties entirely to Japan's hostile policy toward the DPRK. The news analyst says: To put a period to the hostile and abnormal relations between the DPRK and Japan and normalize these relations is what the peoples of the two countries want and demand. The DPRK has made every sincere effort to improve the relations with Japan. The successive governments of Japan, however, have pursued a hostile policy toward the DPRK. They opposed the reunification of Korea, pursued an absolutely pro-South Korean policy and encouraged the South Korean authorities in efforts to unleash fratricidal war. In the international arena, they slandered the DPRK and tried to isolate it. Improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations entirely depends on whether the Japanese authorities renounce their hostile policy toward the DPRK or not. Normalization of DPRK-Japan ties is, in essence, establishment of good-neighbourly relations between the two countries on the basis of Japan's atonement for its disgraceful past. Japan occupied Korea and enforced unprecedentedly truculent colonial rule for more than 40 years. For Japan to atone for its past crimes is an unavoidable moral obligation before history and international law. Japan has not honestly admitted, apologized and compensated for the past crimes, though it is more than half a century since its defeat in the war. On the contrary, Japan is making crafty moves to bury into obscurity its past crimes. The Japanese authorities must approach postwar settlement from a sincere position and attitude.

Kim Yong Sun meets overseas Koreans

Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- 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, had a conversation with first vice-chairman So Man Sul of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, heads of delegations and delegates at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. The overseas Koreans had participated in a "Grand Festival for National Reconciliation, Unity and Reunification."