Sixth Pyongyang film festival to be held
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- The sixth Pyongyang film festival of non-aligned and other developing countries will be held from September 16 to 25 in the noble idea of independence, peace and friendship.
The festival will make great contributions to strengthening friendship and solidarity among people and movie artistes of non-aligned and other developing countries and to promoting exchange and cooperation in the moviedom.
S. Korean authorities scheme to build new military apparatuses
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- The "people's government" of South Korea decided to set up the "chemical, biological and radioactive command of the army" within the army to prepare a chemical, bacteriological and atomic warfare, a Seoul-based radio reported.
It also decided to drastically reinforce the formation and equipment of the chemical units in all army corps and divisions.
The South Korean authorities are advertizing the building of the chemical, biological and radioactive command as "defensive" but it is no more than a camouflage to cover its aggressive nature.
Minju Joson on war hysteria of S. Korean ruler
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- The present South Korean ruler called a "general meeting on Ulji military exercise," an "'Ulji' meeting on state security" and "'Ulji' cabinet meeting" and incited war hysteria.
Branding them as unprecedented war confabs, a news analyst of Minju Joson today says:
The confabs fully show that the South Korean chief executive attaches great importance to the "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military exercise and that he is getting overheated with the wild ambition to start a war against the north.
The South Korean authorities are recklessly trying to stifle the DPRK with arms in league with outside forces, crying that they must perfect "war preparations."
If the South Korean ruler continues to incite confrontation and war out of reason, he will be destined to meet his doom as former dictators did.
Japanese government denounced for its moves
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- Representatives of non-governmental international organisations made speeches at the debate on modern-type slavery, the sixth agenda item of the 50th session of the U.C. subcommission on prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities, on August 14.
A representative of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers said that the Japanese authorities are employing every conceivable means to evade their responsibilities and apology for the unethical crimes committed by Japan in the past.
This is a prelude heralding that Japan will repeat aggression and overseas expansion after burying its crimes in oblivion, he added.
He declared that the world justice and conscience as well as the victims will not tolerate such behaviour of the Japanese government.
A representative of the council of Asian Women's Human Rights recalled that remarks beautifying the past are being continuously made in Japan.
This shows that the Japanese government has no intention to admit its responsibilities for war crimes and act on the basis of admission, she noted.
She urged the Japanese government to admit its past crimes and make state compensations to the former "comfort women for the army."
A representative of the liberation organisation stated that mass media and even cabinet members of Japan describe "comfort women" as those engaged in "commercial practice."
If the Japanese government is to do away with such phenomena, it must open all its past materials to the public.
No reason for U.S. military occupation of S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- The U.S. military occupation of South Korea is entirely wrong in view of international law and usage, in view of the trend of the international situation and in view of the U.S. responsibility for peace on the Korean peninsula.
Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article.
The article continues:
The United States has tried to justify its military occupation of South Korea with unreasonable pretexts.
In international law on war, there is a principle that warring parties should observe. The principle is that after the end of war, the warring parties should withdraw their troops in order to remove hostile relations and improve bilateral ties.
All the nations but the U.S. that were involved in the Korean War have totally withdrawn their troops from the Korean peninsula.
The resolution adopted at the 30th session of the U.N. General Assembly in November 1975 calls for dissolving the "U.N. Command" in South Korea and withdrawing foreign troops.
The United States, however, has not fulfilled its obligation.
The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union deprived the U.S. of the pretext of "containing the southward thrust of the Soviet Union" that the U.S. had used for justifying its troops' deployment and arms buildup in South Korea during the Cold War.
The process of reconciliation and detente is underway in the international arena.
The United States must make a political decision to renounce its policy of military occupation of South Korea and withdraw its troops from South Korea at an early date.
New film released in Korea
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- The Korean Film Studio recently released the first and second parts of the feature film "Trunks Grow From Roots."
Based on a theme of socialist realities, the film deals with a story about the Cha Kwang Su Youth Shock Brigade of the Chilli Coal Mine under the Anju Area Coal Complex.
In the film, some youths, who dislike organisational and collective life, rectify their errors and grow up to be true workers loved by the country.
It vividly shows the rising generation can glorify their honor only under the deep love and trust of Kim Jong Il, who set forth the idea of attaching importance to the youths.
A preview of the film was held at the People's Palace of Culture on August 22.
It was appreciated by party and government cadres, officials of national institutions and working people in the city.
Songdowon International Children's Camp
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- Children from all parts of the country and from abroad enjoyed camping at the Songdowon International Children's Camp in Wonsan, DPRK, which borders the sea.
The camp building with a total building area of 28,000 square metres is seven-storied. The national flags are to be hoisted over the top of the building.
The building looks like a large liner sailing across the ocean with children from five continents on board.
The floor of the entrance hall is covered with glasses, under which fishes are swimming in the water. Then one feels as if one is in a fairy dragon palace.
The camp can accommodate about 1,200 children. The club is furnished with various rooms devoted to arts, crafts, hobby groups and marine information, as well as with facilities for amenities and recreational activities.
Besides, there is a playground and boats are available.
The camping period is divided into 12 days and two days and covers the period from mid-April to the end of October.
The camping programme includes mountaineering, sporting, literary and art activities, nature observation and animal, plant and mineral collecting.
Children from Nepal, Russia, Mongolia, China, Thailand, and Tanzania enjoyed camping there from July 23 to August 2.
The camping period serves as a good occasion for children to promote friendship.
Abnormal climatic phenomena in Korea
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- Abnormal climatic phenomena have seriously influenced the summer weather this year.
According to Kim Ho Il, vice-director of the hydro-meteorological service, heavier rain fell in granaries of coastal plains in a short time than in inland areas, causing much damage.
This is characteristic of the rainy spell in this year's summer.
For example, Kaesong's average rainfall is 91 mm early in August. However, 547 mm downpour was recorded in Kaesong in this period. As a result, granaries of Kaesong and south Hwanghae Province including Yonan, Paechon and Chongdan suffered heavy losses in the first ten days of August.
In early August, Jongju, Pakchon, Sonchon and other granaries of north Phyongan Province had 257 to 300 mm torrential rain, or two or three times the average precipitation. Consequently, these granaries suffered serious losses.
This year's rainy season is characterized by downpours which fell in some areas periodically.
During a few months of this year's rainy season, Kosong, Thongchon and other areas of Kangwon Province had 1,052 to 1,473 mm rain which is tantamount to the amount of its annual precipitation. Consequently, much damage such as dead-water and landslides was recorded in the province.
The agricultural sector suffered heavy losses from hails which came in July.
On July 3 and 23, hails, 15 millimetres thick, dropped in Jasong county of Jagang Province and Ryongchon county of north Phyongan Province.
Cold weather was registered on east coastal areas in the period from mid-July till early August.
Previously, a spell of cold weather occured from early June to early July.
This year's cold weather had a fatal influence on the agricultural sector.
From mid-July to early August, threfore, the temperature of the east coastal areas declined 2 or 4 degrees below the average temperature. And the ratio of hours of sunshine was 20 percent lower than the average. Particulary, not a single day was registered in Chongjin and Kilju in the period from late July to early August.
DPRK hit by windstorm
Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- A strong wind of low pressure began blowing in nearly all parts of the DPRK from early this morning.
The wind is expected to last for days.
Many areas were hit by windstorm and downpour of more than 200 millimetres.
Wind of 13 to 18 metres per second and rainfall caused much damage to agriculture in Nampho, Pyongyang, Phyongsong, Sinuiju and other parts on the west coast.
Especially, in Nampho a wind as fast as some 20 metres per second blew for hours.
As a result, thousands of hectares of paddy and nonpaddy fields were submerged and rice, maize and other crops fell down.
Rainstorm hit hard Kowon, Kumya and other parts of south Hamgyong Province. Strong wind, downpour and 20-40 cm high tidal waves inundated thousands of hectares of paddy and nonpaddy fields and damaged railways and motorways.
Emergency rescue operations as well as survey of damage are going on in the afflicted areas.