Japan warned to act with prudence
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee issued a statement today accusing Japan of making a fuss these days about a long- distance missile launching test that Japan says was carried out by the DPRK.
The spokesman says:
High-ranking officials and other politicians of Japan are making provocative remarks against the DPRK over a missile launching test that they say was carried out by the DPRK.
They describe the test as something "regrettable" and "dangerous" and claim that the test made it difficult to improve relations with the DPRK.
It is imprudent for Japan to say this or that, unaware of what the DPRK did, a missile test or anything else.
Japan's behavior is ridiculous, indeed, in view of the fact that Japan is zealously developing long-distance vehicles and other uptodate weapons and paving the way for overseas aggression, having worked out "guidelines for Japan-U.S.defence cooperation."
Many countries around Japan possess or have deployed missiles. Japanese politicians, however, hurl mud only at the DPRK while being unaware of the background. They emanate from the longstanding hostile policy toward the DPRK.
Japan has so far thrown a wet blanket over the magnanimous attitude of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government for development of good relations between the two countries, by answering it with anti-DPRK campaign.
Japan must necessarily pay for the 40 odd years of its occupation of Korea and murder of Koreans and plunder.
We bitterly denounce Japan for making a fuss over the matter that belongs to our sovereignty while being unaware of its background.
We warn Japan to face up to reality, act with discretion and renounce its anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK at once.
Statement of spokesman of DPRK Foreign Ministry distributed as UN official document
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- The August 18 statement of the spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry was distributed on August 24 as official document S/1998/798 of the UN Security Council.
The statement denounced the United States and South Korea for staging the large-scale Ulji Focus Lens joint military exercise in South Korea.
Interview with Russian party official
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Sazhi Umalatova, chairperson of the Central Council of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia, who was visiting Korea, in a press interview earnestly asked the Korean people to hold General Secretary Kim Jong Il in higher esteem.
Upholding him is a great fortune of not only the Korean people but the progressive humankind, she said, and continued:
His trait is most specifically characterized by utmost morality and obligation to the preceding leader.
His morality and obligation originate from the gifts of President Kim Il Sung. Under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, the history of the President is invariably proceeding and his revolutionary feats will be everlasting.
It is the steadfast faith of the Korean people that under the leadership of Kim Jong Il their future is optimistic.
He is a great man gifted with brilliant talents. He has led party, state and army affairs over 30 odd years.
It is by no means accidental that the Korean people are deeply trusting in and praising him as the people's leader.
Kim Jong Il with extraordinary intelligence is a man produced by heaven. The Korean people are the happiest people who are blessed with sagacious leaders generation after generation.
Vietnamese embassy officials visit Mt. Jongbang recreation ground
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese ambassador to Korea Le Xuan Vinh and embassy officials on September 1 visited Mt. Jongbang recreation ground in North Hwanghae Province on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the National Day of Viet Nam.
They were briefed on the conversion of the mountain into a scenic spot and a recreation ground of the people renowned for peculiar natural scenes and many historical and cultural relics before going round Songbul Temple, a Buddhist temple built in the year 898, and other places.
Friendship gathering with Cuban embassy women
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- A friendship gathering of Korean women and women of the Cuban embassy here took place at the Pyongyang Silk Mill on Sept. 1 on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Cuban Women's Federation.
Present there were Hong Son Ok, vice-chairperson of the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, officials concerned and women employees of the mill.
Women of the Cuban embassy were present on invitation.
The participants went round mementos showing the feats performed by the three commanders of Mt. Paektu for the mill and visited workshops.
They saw an art performance given by the art circle members of the mill.
National book exhibition opens
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- A national book exhibition has opened to mark the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.
On display there are over 36,000 copies of publications of more than 23,000 kinds brought out by the press organs of the DPRK and other publications by Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) and foreign countries.
Included there are "Kim Il Sung's complete works," "Kim Il Sung's works," "Kim Jong Il's selected works," and other works of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, books on revolutionary traditions, books explaining party policies, books of literature and art, books of science and technology, textbooks, reference books, dictionaries and handbooks.
An opening ceremony took place at the Grand People's Study House on September 1.
Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, in his opening address said that the men of the press should write good articles helpful toward modeling the whole society on the Juche idea and accomplishing global independence and become good educators, brave propagandists and faithful mouthpieces defending the WPK with the writing-brush of revolution.
Basketball games for "August 28 youth cup"
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- The second national basketball games of youths and students for "August 28 Youth Cup" took place at the indoor stadium of Kim Il Sung University from August 25 to 31 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK and the Day of Youth.
Cagers of Kim Hyong Jik University of Education (men) and those of Kim Chol Ju University of Education (women) won in the event of universities while those of Kang Pan Sok Senior Middle School (men) in Kwangbok street of Pyongyang and those of Pyongyang Ryulgok Senior Middle School (women) took titles in the event of senior middle schools.
Cagers of Kusong of North Phyongan Province (men) won in the event of working youths.
Foreigners here to observe National Day of Korea
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Personages of different countries arrived here by air on Tuesday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.
Among them were Vishwanath, secretary general of the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" council and director of the board of the International Institute of the Juche Idea= Salifou Camara, chairman of the Society for the Study of the Juche Farming Method at the Kim Il Sung Institute of Agricultural Science in Guinea, as its delegate= Per Salomonsen, director of the Danish Centre for the Study of Independent and Self-supporting Socialism, as its delegate= Tesfaye Habisso, Ethiopian delegate for the Study of the Juche Idea= and Francis Fanuel Lyimo, chairman of the Tanzanian National Coordinating Committee of the Juche Idea Study Groups, as its delegate.
Student delegates in north and south meet
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Tae Won and Hwang Son, delegates of Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils) which represents the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon (National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification), and officials of the north headquarters of Pomchonghakryon, the Korean Student Committee and the Pyongyang City Student Committee met here on Sept. 1.
It was noted at the meeting that the joint excursion to historical sites in the north and Pomchonghakryon's joint scientific symposium on historical relics were successfully held.
The participants exchanged views on matters of further expanding independent exchange between students in the north and the south and holding the second joint excursion and a pro-reunification soccer game of Pomchonghakryon.
At the proposal of the delegates of the south side it was agreed that student committees at all levels and university student committees in the north will send letters of invitation to general student councils of universities and colleges and student councils at all levels in the south.
The delegates of the south side said that Hanchongryon will make active efforts to help students in the south make large-scale visits to the north through a legal channel.
On August 31, the delegates visited the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, the Kim Jong Suk Creche, the Korean Art Gallery and other places.
87 foreign countries visited by President Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- The President Kim Il Sung, guided by noble internationalism, conducted energetic external activities.
Ever since Korea's liberation from the Japanese colonial rule in August Juche 34 (1945), he visited a total of 87 foreign countries in 685 days on 54 occasions, making a long journey of more than 522,460 km
He paid historic visits to foreign countries by air, by train or by car in response to the wholehearted invitation from leaders of many countries around the world.
In February Juche 38 (1949) he flew to the former Soviet Union as the head of a Korean government delegation. Later, he visited a total of 30 countries, including Indonesia, Algeria, Mauritania and Yugoslavia, making a long journey of some 209,928 km in 172 days on 20 occasions. He visited by train a total of 33 countries, including China, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Mongolia, in 275 days on 22 occasions, covering a road of some 152,844 km.
He visited by train or by air a total of 22 countries, including the former Soviet Union, Vietnam, former Czechoslovakia, Albania, the former German Democratic Republic and Bulgaria, in 232 days on 10 occasions, making a long journey of some 158,700 km. During the visit he covered the road of some 62,472 km by train and the route of some 96,228 km by air.
He visited other countries by train and by car, making a long journey of some 972 km.
DPRK will further prosper
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Emile Toumpapa, vice-chairman of the Guinean National Information Committee, called a press conference on August 18 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.
He said that the foundation of the DPRK was an event of great significance in the national history of Korea and the political history of the world.
The DPRK has made a historic progress in the efforts to realize independence of the popular masses on the basis of the Juche idea authored by President Kim Il Sung, and has turned into a powerful socialist state, independent, self-supporting and self-reliant in defence, he noted.
He expressed the belief that the DPRK will further prosper in the future and certainly accomplish the cause of reunification in the form of confederation through the great unity of the entire nation under the energetic guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Kim Il Sung is father of state building
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- The President Kim Il Sung is the great man and saviour of national rebirth who liberated the Korean people and an outstanding leader who developed the DPRK into a powerful socialist state independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in defence.
This is the topic of a signed article of Rodong Sinmun today.
The author of the article says:
Today, the Korean people highly praise Kim Il Sung as the founder of socialist Korea and the father of state building.
Ours is Kim Il Sung's Korea which was saved and developed by him.
His greatness finds its expression in the fact that he made a new origin of building an anthropocentric socialist state for the first time in history and laid solid foundations to make the country powerful and prosperous.
The Korean people more deeply feel how great exploits he performed in state building and hold him in high esteem as an eternal father of national building.
They are working hard to follow and apply his noble spirit of patriotism, taking his idea and lines on state building as an eternal lifeline.
It is the maxim of the struggle and life of the Korean people to exalt all his exploits in state building.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il is a peerless patriot and leader who is carrying to completion the patriotic cause of Kim Il Sung with loyalty on the highest level.
Long story "Legend of Land" off the press
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Of late the Literature and Arts Press Group in Korea published a long story "Legend of Land" of the cycle of novels "Immortal History."
The story deals with the brilliant revolutionary activities of the President Kim Il Sung in the period of the cooperativisation of agriculture.
The cooperativisation of agriculture was a top priority in the rural villages of Korea right after the ceasefire in July 1953.
The story says that in those days the President went to Junghwa county and other rural villages to have a conversation with peasants and, basing himself on the specific analysis of the actual conditions of the rural villages, put forward an original idea of transforming agriculture into a socialist one before its industrialisation.
It also says how his unique class policy of limiting the growth of the rich peasant economy and remoulding the rich peasants was carried into practice along with the triumphant progress of the movement for the cooperativisation of agriculture.
Brisk creation of amateur literature
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- A large number of amateur literature were created in Korea.
Many amateur writers such as workers, farmers, soldiers, office workers, youths and children created literary works.
According to data available at the Central Committee of the Korean Writers Union, over 13,000 literary works, including full-length novels, medium-length novels, short stories, poems, scenarios and dramatic pieces were created in the last one year. More than 560 works were presented to the national mass literature prize contests and many of them became prize-winners.
They have attracted the attention of expert writers and readers for their truthful description of life.
Among them are a full-length novel "Zeal", a medium-length novel "Green Sprig", a short story "the Scene of snow-covered Mt. Paektu", selected poems "I am a son of Pyongyang", criticism "Under this sky and on this earth" and words of song "an Eternal Family."
Selected poems "I am a son of Pyongyang" and criticism "Under this sky and on this earth" were awarded "June 4 Literature Prize."
The prize (certificate, gold medal and bonus) is awarded every year to the best works of those created in one year with June 4 as an occasion.
Since the prize was enacted in March Juche 71 (1982), over 40 persons have received the prize.
International aid and farming in Korea
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the flood damage rehabilitation committee and the director of the Agricultural Production Department of the Agricultural Commission of the DPRK today answered questions put by KCNA as regards international humanitarian aid given to the DPRK up to date and this year's farming in the DPRK.
Recalling that international organisations and governments, groups and individual figures of different countries have sent food, medicines and other humanitarian relief materials to the DPRK which has undergone temporary difficulties including shortage of food caused by years of natural disasters, they said:
Only in August, more than 100,000 tons of food and other relief materials donated by the world food program, the European Union and other international organisations and different countries arrived in our country.
Now, the WFP, the EU, other international organisations and donator-nations are endeavouring to send secured food and other relief materials to our country while securing them to the maximum as planned for this year.
Encouraged by humanitarian aid from the international community, we, determined to solve the food problem this year by ourselves under any circumstances, made substantial preparations for farming with the general mobilisation of all the people and the whole army from the beginning of the year. Thus, we finished major farming processes including rice and maize transplantation and weeding in the right season and thus laid foundations to increase the grain output.
Nevertheless, an unexpected abnormal weather severely hit our country in the latter half of the year.
In July and August, east and west coastal areas including Kangwon, South Hamgyong, South Phyongan and South Hwanghae provinces and Kaesong suffered from cold weather, downpour and hail while Jagang and Ryanggang provinces and other northern inland areas were hit by off-season cold weather.
In our country, rice, maize and other crops come into ear or are pollinated in July and August. Accordingly, the ratio of hours of sunshine must be high for increased grain output and much rain is harmful in this period.
But, in Kaesong area downpours of 230 to 250 millimetres on an average fell for two or three hours at intervals of two or three days from August 4 through 10. As a result, the arable land where only 40 percent of crops had ears due to cold weather was buried in the ground or submerged in water. More than 60 percent of rice harvest is expected to decrease in this area.
In early July hail fell several times in Jasong county, Jagang Province, and in the west coast areas, including Phihyon and Ryongchon counties of North Phyongan Province, tearing maize leaves or breaking maize tassels. A piece of hail was 15 millimetres in diametre. Harvest cannot be expected from nearly all the fields.
Crops have not grown well owing to the abnormal weather in the areas that were not directly exposed to natural disasters. The ratio of hours of sunshine went down drastically, keeping the crops from coming into ear and being pollinated. As a consequence, per-head grains will decrease in number and many of the crops will have empty heads.
According to the conservative data available as of late-August, Kangwon, North and South Hwanghae, north and south Hamgyong, north and south Phyongan provinces, Kaesong and other afflicted areas were subjected to the loss of lives.
128,927 hectares of arable land were submerged in water, washed away or buried in ground. More than 10,000 dwelling houses were destroyed or submerged in water. Heavy damage was also reported from various domains of the national economy.
A few days ago, the representatives of the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, the World Food Program, the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and red crescent societies here learned about the damage on the spot.
This year the prospects of harvest have become gloomy owing to the natural damage caused by the recent abnormal weather. Accordingly, international assistance still remains urgent.
Though the Korean people are suffering from the heavy damage caused by natural disasters and shortage of food, they are working hard to solve the food problem at an early date and normalise agricultural production.
Greetings to Vietnamese Prime Minister
Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, acting Premier of the Administration Council of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on the occasion of the 53rd National Day of Vietnam.
The message wished the fraternal Vietnamese people fresh success in the efforts for defending the gains of revolution and implementing the decision of the 8th congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
It expressed the conviction that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries will continue developing on good terms.