Message to Kim Jong Il from Fidel Castro Ruz

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, received a message of greetings from Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the council of state and President of the council of ministers of the Republic of Cuba, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. In the message dated August 27 Fidel Castro Ruz said he was glad to extend fraternal and warmest congratulations to Kim Jong Il in the name of the people, Communist Party and is and will of the Korean people. Consequently, Korea was divided into the north and the south. In the final analysis, Korea was divided by outside forces and its reunification has not yet been realised owing to their intervention and obstructive moves. However, the South Korean ruler has uttered no word about this fact. Moreover, in the deceptive "proposal", he cried for "cooperation with the north," not abandoning his stand of depending upon outsiders. This is indicative of his anti-reunification, anti-peace and anti-DPRK moves to worsen confrontation between the north and the south and continue leaving the Korean issue to the mercy of outsiders. So, the Korean nation has unanimously rejected the proposal. At this very juncture, nations responsible for the Korean issue and some other countries complimented the criminal moves of the South Korean authorities in an attempt to fish in troubled waters. This is a wrong behaviour going against the international justice and universal morality of humankind.

Korean juvenile paddlers successful at international tournament

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Korean paddlers have proved themselves successful at the 7th East Asia Juvenile Table Tennis Championships held in Japan. Ryom Won Ok came first, Kim Jong Hui second and Kim Son Hui third in the women's singles. The DPRK came second in the men's and women's team events.

Ruling and opposition parties merge in S. Korea

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- The "national congress for new politics" merged with the opposition "new party for the people" on August 28 in an effort to gain a stable majority in the "national assembly" of South Korea, a Seoul-based radio said. As a result, seven of the 8 "national assemblymen" from the "new party for the people" are expected to join the "national congress for new politics" and one the "United Liberal Democrats." Ri In Je, advisor to the "new party for the people," who had taken the lead in attacking the present ruler in the "Presidential Election" campaign in South Korea, decided to join hand with his past political rival of the ruling party side. The "national congress for new politics" has not yet gained a stable majority in the "national assembly" even after the merger.

60th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's advance into Yangdok area marked

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Six decades have passed since President Kim Il Sung advanced into Yangdok area during the anti-Japanese armed struggle. Late in August Juche 27 (1938) when the Japanese imperialists' fascist rule was at its height and the Korean revolution was undergoing severe trials, President Kim Il Sung, accompanied by some members of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, went to a secret base in Yangdok area of South Phyongan Province. At the Namdaebong secret camp of the base, he convened a meeting of commanders of small units and political workers of KPRA and chiefs of underground revolutionary organizations. In his historic speech at the meeting, he put forth a new strategic and tactical policy of spreading out the flames of the anti-Japanese armed struggle to South Korea so as to step up preparations for all-people resistance on a nationwide scale. On the anniversary, a meeting was held in Yangdok county on Sunday. Ri Kil Song, chief secretary of the South Phyongan Provincial Party Committee and chairman of the provincial people's committee, made a report at the meeting. He stressed that Kim Il Sung's advance into Yangdok area contributed to invigorating the KPRA's military actions on a nationwide scale and uniting people of all walks of life as one for a sacred war against the Japanese imperialists and for Korea's liberation. A symposium was also held on the same day. Present at the meeting and symposium were secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee Choe Thae Bok and officials concerned.

Film show on National Day of Kyrgyzstan

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- A film show was held here on Sunday to mark the National Day of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Present there were Minister of Commerce Ri Yong Son who is also chairman of the Korea-Kyrgyzstan Friendship Association, officials concerned and working people in the city. The participants saw the Korean feature film "Forests Rustle" part 3.

They must not play into hands of S. Korean authorities =KCNA commentary=

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- The present South Korean ruler made a "proposal to the north" and has employed every conceivable methods to mislead the public opinion. In this connection, the secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland recently published an open questionnaire to expose the fantastic, contradictory and deceptive nature of the proposal. Nevertheless, some countries responsible for the Korean question said that the "proposal to the north" would "contribute" to peace and security on the Korean peninsula and it accords with "their national interests." This is an act of casting a sheep's eyes at the South Korean authorities. To ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula is, in essence, related to the reunification of Korea. The issue of Korea's reunification is an internal matter of the Korean nation= it is to rejoin the blood vessel of the nation which has been divided artificially, achieve the national harmony and realise the independence of the nation throughout the country. After the Second World War, the Korean issue was dealt with in accordance with interests of big powers, not taking into consideration the requirements and will of the Korean people. Consequently, Korea was divided into the north and the south. In the final analysis, Korea was divided by outside forces and its reunification has not yet been realised owing to their intervention and obstructive moves. However, the South Korean ruler has uttered no word about this fact. Moreover, in the deceptive "proposal", he cried for "cooperation with the north," not abandoning his stand of depending upon outsiders. This is indicative of his anti-reunification, anti-peace and anti-DPRK moves to worsen confrontation between the north and the south and continue leaving the Korean issue to the mercy of outsiders. So, the Korean nation has unanimously rejected the proposal. At this very juncture, nations responsible for the Korean issue and some other countries complimented the criminal moves of the South Korean authorities in an attempt to fish in troubled waters. This is a wrong behaviour going against the international justice and universal morality of humankind.

Greetings from Cuban FM

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Roberto Robaina Gonzalez, Foreign Minister of Cuba, sent a message of greetings to Kim Yong Nam, Foreign Minister of the DPRK, on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the message he expressed satisfaction over the fact that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries and peoples, determined to advance invariably along the way of building socialism even under difficulties, have continuously developed over the past 38 years. Expressing the belief that the Cuban Foreign Ministry will make every conceivable effort to develop friendship between the two countries, he sincerely wished the Korean people well-being and happiness.

Thai leaders refer to friendly relations with Korea

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on August 29 received Vice-President of the DPRK Pak Song Chol who was staying in Thailand on his way to South Africa to participate in the 12th summit meeting of the non-aligned countries. The King hoped that Korea would be reunified as soon as possible by the Korean nation itself without outsiders' interference and the Korean people would enjoy a peaceful and prosperous life. He wished Kim Jong Il success in his work to achieve the reunification and prosperity of the country. On the 28th, Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, when he received Pak Song Chol, said that President Kim Il Sung attached importance to the development of friendly relations between the two countries and made great contributions. He hoped that the government and people of Korea would win in the efforts to overcome natural damage and in all other work under the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il. He laid stress on further developing cooperation and exchange between the two countries in the future.

Japanese government urged to make apologies

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Three South Korean women made public an open letter to the present chief executive of South Korea in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on August 26, said the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun on August 27. They were once drafted and forced to serve the Japanese imperialist aggression troops as "comfort women" during the Second World War. In the open letter they said that they could not die before they receive apologies from the Japanese government. They strongly demanded that the present ruler of South Korea get apologies and reparations for the past crimes from the Japanese government.

Kim Jong Il's election as President to be supported abroad

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Preparatory committees for welcome to Kim Jong Il's election as DPRK President were formed in Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh. The Nepalese speaker of parliament, the Cambodian Minister of Public Work and transport, who is deputy Prime Minister, and the General Secretary of the C.C., the Bangladesh Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) were elected chairmen of the committees. Similar welcome committees were also inaugurated in Austria, Sweden and the Czech republic.

Okryu restaurant

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Okryu restaurant of Korea is a public catering base popular among the people. It stands between Moran Hill and Okryu Bridge on the River Taedong in the heart of the capital city of Pyongyang. It is of unique Korean architectural style. It has gable eaves with green tiles. When it was opened to the public in August 1960, its total floorspace was 5,000 square metres. When it was built on an expansion basis in September 1988, its total floorspace was more than 11,500 square metres. It can accommodate some 10,000 a day. More than 3,000 people can have a meal at the same time. The restaurant has 20 to 100-seat mess halls and 8 to 15-seat family dining rooms, some 40 in all. It also has banquet halls and dining rooms. Open-air dining halls on the balcony are used in summer. National dishes are mainly served in it. Those include Pyongyang cold noodle, cold noodle on shallow round plate, gray mullet soup and boiled rice, Pyongyang Onban, beef rib soup, sinsollo and green bean pancake. In particular, Pyongyang cold noodle is popular among the people at home and abroad. The dish is chiefly made of buckwheat. The thin and tough noodles with various kinds of mince are served with noodle broth processed with much care. The noodle broth is made of water boiled with pheasant, beef and chicken and cooled. It makes people's mouth water. Sinsollo served at the restaurant is also popular among the people. Sinsollo is a soup made of materials of tens of sorts, including meat, fish, vegetable, pine nuts, gingko nuts and mushroom. Cuisines of other countries are served for foreign tourists. Okryu restaurant is very instrumental in developing Korean cookery and disseminating it throughout the country. 70 percent of the employees are graduates from universities and colleges related to public catering and services. Among them are nearly 30 merited cooks. General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent thanks to the employees for their excellent services on some 50 occasions.

Astronomical observations

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Korea has a long history of astronomical and meteorological activities. According to information available, Kojoson (the first ever state in Korea that existed from early 30th century BC To 108 BC) had an astronomical observation group called Chomsongdan and since 1682 BC, an agricultural calendar came into use. The astronomical chart "map of distribution of celestial bodies" drawn up in the 450s bc is a proof of our ancestors' high level of observation. The chart was engraved upon a large slabstone at a spot near Pyongyang, but later, it is said, it was thrown into a river in the time of a war. But its printed version remains to this day. On it, 1,46 stars are grouped into 283 constellations in the arctic-centred polar coordinates. Astronomical observation further developed during the period of three kingdoms (Koguryo, Paekje and Silla). Koguryo (from 277 BC to 668 AD) had a group observing, studying and recording the astronomical phenomena throughout the day under a certain system and discipline. In the walled capital city of Pyongyang, an astronomical observatory was at work to observe solar eclipse and other astronomical phenomena. In September 640, they discovered big spots on the surface of the sun and recorded it. Paekje (from mid-3rd century BC to 660 AD), too, observed solar and lunar eclipses, planets, meteors, earthquakes, frost, hail and so on. Its calendar designated a year as amounting to 365.2467 days and a month as 29.53058 days. Silla (from mid-1st century to 935) had Chomsongdae, a famous observatory, set up in Kyongju in the first half of the 7th century. It is believed to be one of the oldest observatories in the world that preserve the original shape and state. A sundial was also made and used. In Koryo (from 918 to 1392), a national observatory worked in Kaesong and almost all parts of the land conducted observation and recording. The observation of wind started in January 950, that of hail in 1013, that of frost in April 1012, that of muddy rain in February 1009, that of clouds in November 1020, that of thunderclap in September 948, that of abnormal temperature in June 1014 and that of halo in November 1010. During the 474 years of Koryo's existence, a great deal of information was accumulated - for instance, 172 entries on damage from the cold, 65 entries of flood damage and 32 entries on abnormal temperature. In the Ri dynasty (from 1392 to 1910) our meteorological activity made rapid progress. Sounkwan, the national agency, was renamed "Kwansanggam" in January 1467, where the experts studied astronomy, geography, meteorology and such like. In August 1441 a metal rain gauge was devised - the earliest one in the world. This instrument was a big bowl of copper or cast-iron supported by a slabstone. It is on display at the Korea Central History Museum. In 1799, a mercury barometer called "Chongugye" was used for weather forecast, and it is believed that a vane was used.

Ri Jong Ok meets Russian party delegation

Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Ri Jong Ok, politburo member of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and Vice-President of the DPRK, had a friendly talk with a delegation of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia led by Sazhi Umalatova, chairperson of its central council, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present at the talk was Ji Jae Ryong, Vice-Director of a Department of the WPK Central Committee. The head of the delegation praised President Kim Il Sung for having successfully settled the question of succeeding the revolutionary cause. And she said Korean socialism is being firmly defended as it is guided by General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The benevolent politics administered by Kim Jong Il has become a model which should be followed by all in socialist construction, she stressed. She expressed the belief that Korea will surely be reunified, so that Kim Il Sung's desire may be realized.