S. Korean defected to north
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- A South Korean Pak Song Hun, 29, defected to North Korea across the Military Demarcation Line in the eastern sector of the front on Aug. 21.
Hailing from Rohwa-up, Wando county, south Jolla Province, he worked as a builder in Yongdungpho district, Seoul, and lost his job before defecting to the north.
He said the poor are unable to work and live in South Korean society where elementary freedom and dignity of humanity are trampled underfoot. He had long yearned to defect to the north where all the working people lead a happy life, he added.
National swimming tournament of students and schoolchildren
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- A national swimming tournament of students and schoolchildren, which began in Pyongyang on August 17 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK, closed on August 20.
Competing there were more than 700 swimmers (boys and girls) selected from across the country.
The tournament was divided into primary school, senior middle school, university and college groups.
Swimmers showed good results in the freestyle, butterfly and other events.
Citations, trophy cups and medals were awarded to the organisations which won in the events.
Agreement on mutual travel of citizens of Korea and Syria
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- An agreement on mutual travel of citizens was signed between the governments of the DPRK and Syria in Damascus on August 18.
It was signed by Pak Kil Yon, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the Korean side and Suleiman Hadad, vice- Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the opposite side.
Non-governmental cooperation should not be obstructed = KCNA commentary =
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities are now trying hard to block non-governmental cooperation between the north and south.
The present chief executive of South Korea has never let a chance pass by without saying that he will "promote economic exchange and cooperation between the north and south" on the principle of "separating politics from economy".
If it is true, it is clear to everyone that the South Korean authorities should not meddle in non-governmental cooperation nor black it.
They, however, are trying to put the spoke in the wheel of cooperation with the north by Hyun Dai and other business groups. Worse still, they are employing every conceivable means to block even their humanitarian assistance.
Such behaviour of the South Korean authorities shows that "separation of politics from economy" and "encouragement of non-governmental cooperation" on their lips are an empty talk and an advertizement to curry favour with businessmen and people of South Korea.
It cannot be a policy for cooperation and exchange with the north.
Theirs is a criminal anti-north, anti-reunification policy which opposes exchange and cooperation and totally blocks the desire of the nation for reunification.
"Separation of politics from economy" advertized by them is hypocrisy. Their scheme to poke their nose into non-governmental cooperation reveals that it is a variant of "politics-economy fusion".
If the "government" meddles in the non-governmental cooperation, the "Agency for National Security Planning" and "the Ministry of National Unification," headquarters of anti-north plots, will poke their noses in to this affair.
Then, non-governmental cooperation will be frustrated.
If the South Korean authorities truly want exchange and cooperation with the north, they should no longer obstruct non-governmental cooperation.
We will watch their attitude.
Rodong Sinmun on Ulji Focus Lens exercise
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on frantic joint military exercise codenamed "Ulji Focus Lens" staged by the U.S. troops and army in South Korea.
The South Korean warmaniacs advertised that the exercise is for the sake of "defence". But this is a sophysm to cover up the aggressive nature of the exercise, the news analyst of the paper says, and goes on:
The exercise is a three dimensional offensive operation drill to make a forestalling attack on the DPRK. Involved in it are huge armed forces enough to wage a war of aggression.
It is a dangerous adventure to examine, master and perfect the war scenario they have already worked out against the DPRK. This revealed that "improvement of inter-Korean relations" and "reconciliation and cooperation" on the lips of the South Korean authorities are no more than hypocrisy.
The enemy must not be mistaken. If warmongers dare to pounce upon us, we will shower thunderbolts of revenge on them with self-defence power.
The United States should reexamine its anachronistic Korea policy and refrain from egging the South Korean authorities on to confrontation and war against the DPRK.
S. Korean authorities arrest Kang Hui Nam
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities on August 20 detained Rev. Kang Hui Nam, chairman of the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon), and three other leading members on charges of violating the "National Security Law," a Seoul-based radio reported.
Kang played a leading role 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) held in Seoul to mark August 15, the liberation day.
He had been arrested on several occasions for his activities for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country.
S. Korea's financial deficit
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- South Korea is now saddled with a colossal amount of financial deficit, a Seoul-based radio reported.
It is foreseen that the deficit will reach 17,500 billion won this year. On top of it, more than 50,000 billion won should be invested in the "structural readjustment" of financial organs.
As a result, South Korea has to pay over 9,000 billion won in interest for enormous financial deficit every year from the year after next.
Production of substitute food encouraged
Pyongyang August 22 (KCNA) -- Every encouragement is given to produce substitute food in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The Korean people are still pressed for food because of the continued economic blockade by the enemy and natural disasters. To cope with this, steps have been taken to increase agricultural production as well as to take substitute food.
Detailed arrangements have been made to produce substitute food through introducing science.
The Ministry of Food Administration delivered several tons of seed of amaranth to provinces early this year.
Officials from the ministry went down to all provinces to find its wider application in close cooperation with local technicians.
An exhibit concerning the cultivation of amaranth presented by Wang Song Thae, a teacher at the Samsok college of agro-mechanics, was awarded a special prize at the 13th National Science and Technology Festival held in May.
Its cultivation has stood the test and it is now in wide use in people's diets.
Amaranth is processed into noodle, bread, pancake, cake, sweets and confectionery, soy and beanpaste.
An exhibition of over 120 kinds of food drew public attention in Kangso district, Nampho. These food items were made of 100 tons of amaranth, the first crops this year.
The foodstuffs which were made at the proportion of five amaranth to five grain powder, including maize and wheat, or three to seven, were popular at the exhibition.
Other plants are also in wide use for substitute food.
Those at the Phyongsong City Food Administration Agency collected various species of plants to produce substitute foods and supply them to the people. They decomposed the fibroid material, neutralized the poisonous elements and enriched the albuminous substances. At the proportion of 60-50 to 40-50 maize powder, foodstuffs are being processed.
Dr. Kim Sok Gun and other research workers have recently completed the research into the production processes and methods of chlorella.
Food arrives in DPRK
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- More than 30,000 tons of food donated by the World Food Program arrived in Nampho and Chongjin ports on August 20 and 21.
Out of the humanitarian stand, the WFP has sent food to the Korean people who have suffered from food shortage caused by years of natural disasters.
The aid from the WFP and other international organisations and some countries give a strong impetus to the struggle of the Korean people who are working hard to solve the food problem as early as possible in reliance upon substitute food.
Flood damage in DPRK
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Strong rainstorm, hail and high tidal waves hit many areas of the DPRK, causing heavy damage.
According to conservative estimate as of mid-August, more than 74,000 hectares of arable land were inundated and some 4,250 houses were destroyed or submerged in Kaesong city, Kangwon, south Hwanghae, south Hamgyong and north Phyongan provinces and other areas. Schools and other public buildings covering a total of 25,600 square metres were damaged.
In Kaesong city, in particular, an average of 230 to 250 mm of rain fell for two to three hours at the interval of two to three days from August 4 to 10.
As a result, it is foreseen that rice harvest will decrease by more than 60 percent and the yield of maize and other dry-field crops will drop sharply in Kaesong, Kaephung and Panmunjom areas.
In south Hamgyong Province, 500 mm of rain fell in an hour on June 29, causing landslide that buried quite a few hectares of arable land and tens of kilometres of railways as well as some toll of human life.
In Jasong county, Jagang Province, and in Phihyon and Ryongchon counties, north Phyongan Province, hail came in early July several times, one of the pieces being 15 mm thick. As a result, harvest can hardly be expected in the provinces.
Besides, north Hamgyong and south Phyongan provinces and other areas were also hit hard by natural disaster.
Damage in land administration, city management and other sectors of the national economy is also severe.