Kim Jong Il consoles Jiang Zemin

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a message of condolence to President Jiang Zemin of China as regards a recent flood damage in some areas of China. The message dated August 19 extended deep sympathy and condolences to Jiang Zemin and, through him, to the Communist Party, government and people of China, over the recent grave flood damage in some areas of China. It sincerely wished that the Communist Party, government and fraternal people of China led by Jiang Zemin will make greater success in the endeavors to heal the flood damage as soon as possible and achieve the prosperity and development of the country.


Kim Jong Il's work published in Cuba

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- "Let Us Reunify the Country Independently and Peacefully through the Great Unity of the Entire Nation," a work of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, was brought out in booklet by the Academia Publishing House of Cuba on August 13 with the approach of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.


Joint anti-air raid drill announced in S. Korea

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities announced that a joint anti-air raid drill would begin in the "metropolitan area" covering Seoul, Inchon and Kyonggi Province on August 19, a Seoul-based radio said. The joint chiefs of staff said F-4 fighter planes would fly as "imaginary enemy planes" in the provocative drill, part of the Ulji Focus Lens war exercises.


Examination of "wartime preparations" inciting war fever = KCNA commentary =

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The Present South Korean ruler on August 17 called an "'Ulji' meeting on state security" and "Ulji cabinet meeting" at "Chongwadae" and examined "war preparations," according to a report. Inciting war fever, the examination is an unpardonable anti-reunification crime which more clearly exposed the true colour of the present ruler who is pursuing only confrontation and war. Now the desire of the entire fellow countrymen for reunification is getting fiercer than ever before. Through the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival all Koreans in the north, south and overseas powerfully demonstrated their ardent desire and will of national reunification and hardened their determination to achieve peace and peaceful reunification of the country through national reconciliation and unity. However, the present ruler, challenging the ardent desire of the fellow countrymen for peaceful reunification, called out all staffers of "Chongwadae" and put them under the "emergency duty system," thus creating a terrible war atmosphere throughout South Korea and kicking up inter-Korean confrontation racket. What does the present situation show? It shows that "cooperation between the north and the south" and "reconciliation" on the lips of the present ruler are nothing but hypocricy and that he wants to unify the country only through armed invasion. For example, he finally examined "the state wartime plan" at "Chongwadae" on August 10, when he ordered that "Ulji" war exercises should be staged as "practical ones." he inspected "war preparations" on August 17 when the "Ulji Focus Lens" started. The Korean people will not pardon the warmongers, who are inciting war fever on the Korean peninsula against the desire of the fellow countrymen for peaceful reunification.


Symposium on historical relics

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- A symposium on historical relics in the north was held on Mt. Myohyang on Tuesday, sponsored by the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon). Students and young people from the north, south and overseas took the floor on the subjects "significance of the disinterment of King Tangun's tomb in the history of national reunification" and "significance of historical relics of Koguryo and Koryo in the history of national reunification." The speakers pointed out that the symposium was of great importance in having a correct understanding of the Korean nation's history which is becoming heterogeneous due to the division of the country. They said documents, geographical evidences and relics proved that Tangun was a real person. The mausoleum of King Tangun is a moral wealth of the Korean nation in that it is a symbol of one nation and one country, they added. The speakers documented the fact that Koguryo, which inherited the traditions of ancient Korea, was the strongest country in national history in view of territory and defence of national sovereignty and that Koryo, which succeeded to Koguryo, was the first unified strong state in Korean history. The excursion to historical sites of Koguryo and Koryo showed that if the Korean people, though divided, achieve great unity of the nation with national pride and self-confidence, they can terminate the disgraceful history of division and exalt the honor of the Korean nation, which was famous as a strong, prosperous country in the east.


S. Korean rulers censured for suppressing pro-reunification, pro-democracy forces

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The South Korean fascist clique were hell-bent on harsh suppression throughout South Korea to block the participation of pro-reunification, pro-democracy forces in the grand pro-reunification festival at Panmunjom and August 15 pro-reunification events. Commenting on this, Rodong Sinmun today says: The South Korean police whisked away 207 Seoul students who were related to '98 Pan-National Rally and arrested hundreds of dissidents and students through bloody suppression of the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival when it was held. This brutal suppression reminds people of the August 15 bloodshed committed by the "civilian"-veiled dictators two years ago. The South Korean rulers are fascists and heinous enemies of reunification. The news analyst says: For the South Korean authorities to suppress Pomminryon south headquarters and Hanchongryon and other pro-reunification, pro-democracy forces in South Korea, linking them with us in a far-fetched manner, is, in the final analysis, bayoneting against and challenge to us. The South Korean authorities called tens of thousands of riot police out to suppress pro-reunification, patriotic forces and their pro-reunification events. They began Ulji Focus Lens military manoeuvres against the north, in league with the U.S. All this is as good as declaration of war against North Korea.


S. Korean authorities hit for brutal suppression

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The headquarters of Koreans in Japan, the U.S. headquarters, the Canada regional headquarters and the European regional headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) made public statements on August 17 denouncing the South Korean authorities for suppressing the south headquarters of Pomminryon and the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) fighting for the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival. The statements said that the South Korean authorities called tens of thousands of riot police out to crack down on the south headquarters of Pomminryon and Hanchongryon that fight for national reconciliation, unity and reunification. They strongly demanded that the South Korean authorities set free at once the unreasonably arrested pro-reunification patriots of the south headquarters of Pomminryon and Hanchongryon. They called for strengthening solidarity to terminate the South Korean authorities suppression of the pro-reunification patriots. They also called for the abolition of the anti-reunification "National Security Law" and the dissolution of the "Agency for National Security Planning."


Paek In Jun denounces S. Korean ruling quarters' suppression

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Paek In Jun, chairman of the north headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon), published a statement on August 18 denouncing the South Korean ruling quarters for cracking down on the south headquarters of Pomminryon and the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) which had participated in the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival. The South Korean authorities on August 15 took away officials of Pomminryon and destroyed the grand pro-reunification festival, Paek In Jun said. The pro-reunification events promoted by the south headquarters of Pomminryon and Hanchongryon cannot become a target of suppression. He noted: The South Korean authorities must stop branding these organisations as "enemy-benefiting ones" and unconditionally release the arrested pro-reunification patriots. They must not threaten that they would arrest the delegates of Hanchongryon, which represents the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon (National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification), and priests of the South Korean Catholic Priests' Council for Justice, who had taken part in the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival held in the north. If they arrest the visitors to the north, they will face strong denunciation and judgement by the entire nation aspiring after reunification.


Release of all political prisoners called for

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Japan mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) published a statement on August 17 denouncing the South Korean authorities for the deceptive "special amnesty". He said: The "special amnesty" of the present South Korean regime is aimed at deceiving the public opinion at home and abroad calling for democratization and reunification and, at the same time, at setting free the fascists of the "5th and 6th republics" and those involved in corruption and irregularities by taking advantage of the complex situation. The real intention of the chief executive of South Korea was fully revealed in the fact that the day after the "special amnesty" came into force, the "Minister of Justice" openly threatened that they will cancel the "special amnesty" and rearrest those released in case they take part in campaigns against the "National Security Law". As long as there exists the "NSL" which defines the fellow countrymen in the north as the "enemy" and incriminates contact and exchange with them as "enemy-benefiting acts," the independent and peaceful reunification of the country cannot be achieved. The Japan mission of the NDFSK strongly demands that the present regime of South Korea set free unconditionally and promptly all the political prisoners, abolish at once the "NSL" and dissolve the "Agency for National Security Planning" and turn the anti-north confrontation policy into pro-north reconciliation policy.


Deceptive "special amnesty" = KCNA commentary =

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The deceptive nature of the "August 15 special amnesty" noisily advertized by the South Korean authorities has been brought into a bolder relief. The South Korean "Ministry of Justice" on August 16 announced that they will cancel the "special amnesty" and rearrest "security offenders" who were released on parole or from suspension of the execution of sentences under the "amnesty" in case they take part again in campaigns to abolish the "National Security Law." As already known, the South Korean authorities granted a "special amnesty" in march, prattling that they would set free many prisoners of conscience called "security offenders." but they did not honor their promise, inviting criticism from South Korean society. People are kept behind bars as prisoners of conscience in South Korea because such anti-national, anti-reunification fascist laws as the "NSL" exist. The fundamental solution to the issue of the prisoners of conscience, disgrace of the civilized era, therefore, depends on abolition of the "NSL." all the pro-reunification, pro-democracy forces in South Korea unanimously call for the abolition. Moreover, the present chief executive of South Korea and his party once called for its repeal. The present authorities, however, with the "NSL" left intact, have released only those who were arrested for involvement in irregularities and corruption during the "fifth and sixth republics," through the incoherent "amnesties," crying that they would solve the issue of prisoners of conscience. The "August 15 special amnesty" is as deceptive as the march amnesty. The South Korean authorities set up the system of "law observance oath", which reminds people of the barbarous "ideological conversion" system of the Japanese , on the threshold of the anniversary of the August 15 liberation. No sooner had they released those prisoners of conscience than they threatened that they would cancel "amnesty" and rearrest "offenders." this fact shows they do not want the abolition of the fascist law. This means that the present ruling forces are following in the footsteps of the preceding fascist dictators who could not maintain their regimes without the fascist "NSL." The South Korean authorities must not forget the lesson of the preceding dictators who were ruined by the fascist law, but abolish at once the "NSL."


Why they slander UN report

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the August 11 edition of the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun Newspaper, which totally slandered the report that was submitted to the 50th session of the UN subcommission on prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities. The report calls for the Japanese government to make state compensation and punish those responsible for the "comfort women for the army" issue. The Japanese newspaper denied that the "comfort women" system was a slave system. It added that forcible drafting had not been confirmed. The newspaper described as forgers of history some press media and civic organisations which laid bare the truth of the "comfort women" issue. The news analyst of rodong sinmun says: It is only too natural that the report clarified the truth of the crime related to "comfort women" and urged the Japanese government to make state compensation and punish those responsible for the crime. Yomiuri Shimbun carried an unreasonable article in a bid to mislead public opinion as world people increasingly condemn this crime committed by Japanese imperialism and as Japanese and foreign public demand that Japanese authorities make state compensation for the crime. The same edition of the Japanese newspaper also carried an article that defends cabinet members' visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine," a symbol of militarism. The visitors to the shrine do not admit the crimes committed by Japanese imperialism including the crime related to "comfort women" and they oppose compensation and war reparation. They also call for Japan to repeat aggression. This clearly shows which way Yomiuri Shimbun goes, what it wants and why it slanders the report.


Water sports

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Water sports are brisk in the DPRK. In-door and out-door swimming pools, wading pools and swimming beaches in Pyongyang and other areas of the country are crowded with a great many people every day. Thousands of youths and schoolchildren go to the Panwoldo Swimming Pool on the River Taedong in the capital city of Pyongyang on a daily average. Not all of them are good swimmers, but they want to swim across the river, hundreds of metres wide. Many of them already swam across the river. Swimming beaches in Songdowon, Majon and Waudo and swimming pools in provinces, cities and counties are vibrating with water sports of working people and schoolchildren. Great efforts are directed to the development of sea sports in Korea bounded on three sides by the sea and abundant in rivers and streams. July and August are months of water sports. Working people and schoolchildren set themselves the goal of learning how to get used to water, swim, cross a river and row a boat during those months of the year. Many factories, enterprises and schools hold many games, including swimming matches in the period. The swimming game of youths and schoolchildren draws a particular attention. The youths and schoolchildren throughout the country are preparing themselves for a swimming meet to be held in Pyongyang to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the DPRK.


188 students under Hanchongryon taken away

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The South Korean police reportedly took away 188 students under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) in Seoul on August 16 by invoking the "National Security Law." The outrage was committed against the students who had fought for the pan-national rally and the grand pro-reunification festival of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification, shouting "Hanchongryon is everlasting" and "Let us reunify the country."


Dignified DPRK

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Amar Singh, General Secretary of the All-India Socialist Party, was interviewed by the KCNA correspondent in New Delhi on August 11 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. The General Secretary said that the heroic Korean people showed the world people that a people rallied close around a great leader can gain great achievements. The Korean people could win a world-startling victory in the teeth of all challenges of imperialists because they were under the tested guidance of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the reliable successor to the President's cause, he stressed. He said that the DPRK is a dignified non-aligned state which always maintains the independent stand in the international arena. He sincerely hoped that the DPRK led by Kim Jong Il, an outstanding statesman, will continue to win victory on all fronts and that Korea, divided, will be reunified as desired by the people.


Panwoldo swimming pool

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- July and August are designated as the maritime sports month in the DPRK, a seabound country. Brisk nationwide sporting activities are performed in rivers, sea, lakes and swimming pools during the period. There is the Panwoldo Swimming Pool in the Rungnado Pleasure Ground in the River Taedong, Pyongyang. With its site covering 1.5 hectares, the swimming pool was built in July 1993. It is furnished with four pools, 50 m long and 25 m wide each, shower rooms, dressing and locker section, beach and other facilities. With a 6,000-people accommodation capacity, it is always full of the populace of all ages. After-office service is also available as it is equipped with lighting apparatus. Swimming competitions are often held. The beautiful scenery of the nearby moran hill and the Rungnado Pleasure Ground Provide the swimmers with recreational and leisure time activities. Now schoolchildren are enjoying their summer vacation with a lively programme of maritime sports activities. One of the schoolgirls said: "I make it a rule to go swimming every year to increase my physical strength. I am going to make myself an expert swimmer by hard application."


S. Korean authorities must release students

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The north headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) released a statement on August 18 denouncing the South Korean authorities for suppressing students and pro-reunification patriotic figures participating in events of the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival. The statement recalled that the South Korean authorities totally blocked the events with the mobilisation of tens of thousands of riot police and military helicopters and whisked away hundreds of participants. All the students and people in the north denounce the brutal suppression, it said. It branded the suppression as an undisguised act going against the aspirations of seventy million Koreans for reunification. It noted that the crime of the present South Korean rulers against national reunification and great unity of the nation would certainly be calculated. They will be made to pay dearly for it, it stressed. It urged the South Korean authorities to unconditionally and promptly release the unwarrantably arrested officials of the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification and students of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils.


Release of all patriotic champions of reunification and students called for

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The overseas headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) issued a statement on August 19 denouncing the South Korean authorities for suppressing the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) and the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), which represents the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon for the mere reason that they participated in the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival. The document recalls that the South Korean authorities called police out to suppress the just struggle of the pro-reunification, patriotic forces, including pomminryon south headquarters and Hanchongryon, which were holding the "Grand Festival for National Reconciliation, Unity and Reunification." It says: The recent August 15 grand pro-reunification festival is a pro-reunification, patriotic one held in accordance with the desire of the 70 million Koreans and under the agreement of pro-reunification, patriotic forces in the north, south and abroad. Therefore, there can be no reason whatsoever to block the festival. By totally repressing the festival the South Korean authorities revealed that the "reconciliation" and "unification" on their lips are all sham. They should stop suppressing the struggle of the pro-reunification, patriotic forces, including Pomminryon south headquarters and Hanchongryon, and immediately release all the arrested patriotic champions of reunification and students.


Hanchongryon delegates release statement

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Kim Tae Won and Hwang Son, delegates 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), made public a statement on August 18. Pointing out that the Korean nation is a homogeneous nation that boasts of a long history of 5,000 years, the statement said: Our nation has steadily developed its peculiar culture without an equal in the world and defended its homogeneity formed through a long history, repulsing invasion by outsiders with concerted efforts. The north of the country has been placed under the economic blockade by the united states, while the south has been shackled to outsiders in all fields including politics, military affairs, economy and culture. For the present, the south cannot use even taxes collected from the people, without permission of the International Monetary Fund= and tens of millions of people are wandering about streets, dismissed under the lay-off system. Out of national conscience, Hanchongryon has fought for the reunification of the country. If people who are striving for reunification and great national unity, unable to endure the tragedy of the divided country, are criminals, those who brand them as criminals and crack down upon them cannot be construed otherwise than anti-reunification forces seeking to keep it divided forever. The south authorities committed outrages against patriotic figures of Pomminryon, an umbrella organisation of the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas, and whisked away its officials. Worse still, they sent even helicopters to Seoul National University in an attempt to obstruct the peaceful pan-national rally and walked away hundreds of sons and daughters of the country aspiring after reunification. These outrages are a treacherous act frontally challenging the will of the people. Reunification is the requirement of the times and the only way of national development and prosperity. Truth is sure to win. This is why those who sold off the country and destroyed the lives of the people have always been punished by the people. The present "regime" must discard its foolish design to extinguish the flame of patriotism by means of suppression and lend an ear to voices of conscientious-minded 70 million fellow countrymen. Reunification is a way out for the nation. Stop suppressing the reunification movement the statement called for abolishing "National Security Law," an anti-reunification law, dissolving the "Agency for National Security Law," releasing all the arrested students and prisoners of conscience and refraining from branding Hanchongryon as an "enemy-benefiting organisation."



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