Floral baskets laid before statues of Kim Il Sung

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- People, servicemen, students and schoolchildren laid floral baskets before statues of the President Kim Il Sung on Wednesday, the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. Pyongyangites visited his statue on Mansu Hill. A floral basket from General Secretary Kim Jong Il was standing in front of the statue. Amid the playing of music, bouquets, blossoms and baskets of flowers were laid before the statue in the name of party, government, administrative and economic ration after generation, the speaker stated. Meanwhile, a banquet arranged by Kim Jong Il for overseas Koreans staying in the motherland to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DPRK was given at the Mokran House on Wednesday.

Senior party and state officials pay respects to President Kim Il Sung

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- Senior party and state officials visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where the President Kim Il Sung is preserved in state, on Wednesday, the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. Among them were Jon Pyong Ho, Yon Hyong Muk, Ri Yong Mu and Kye Ung Thae, chairman of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party Kim Yong Dae and chairperson of the C.C., the Chondoist Chongu Party Ryu Mi Yong. The palace was also visited by commanders of the Korean People's Army arms and services, chief secretaries of provincial party committees, KPA general officers and leading officials of working people's organizations. After paying deep respects to the Statue of President Kim Il Sung, the visitors went up to the hall where he lies in state and made bows to him in humble reverence. Then, they saw round the orders and medals the President received from different countries, a train used by him for on-site guidance and foreign trip, and a car used by him in the last period of his life.

People comment on military parade and mass demonstration

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- People of international and national Juche idea study organisations, other foreigners, overseas Koreans and other people gave their impressions of the military parade and mass demonstration that had taken place at Kim Il Sung Square on Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. Vishwanath, secretary general of the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" council and director of the board of the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI), said it was the first time he saw a grand military parade and mass demonstration during his visit to Korea. Those who want to know about Korea should come to this country and witness the realities, he added. He said the parade and demonstration convinced him of the invincibility of Korean socialism and gave fresh confidence and courage to him as a follower of the Juche idea. A former ambassador of the Swiss Foreign Ministry said he had never seen such a wonderful military parade as Korea's though he had seen many military parades in other countries. The Korean people are a great people with the might of unity and indomitable will, he pointed out. Secretary general of the IIJI Kenichi Ogami said the military parade and mass demonstration showed the might of the singlehearted unity of the Korean people around General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The parade and demonstration are an example for the people around the world and will give great encouragement to the peoples of revolutionary countries, he said. He said that in the courageous looks of the paraders, he saw the spirit of defending their leader with their lives. The Chairman of the Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification said the parade and demonstration clearly showed what strength the Korean people have. No one can overpower the strength of the tens of millions of Koreans united close around their leader, he added. Vladimir Tolstikov, chairman of the East European Centre For Support and Solidarity with the DPRK and chairman of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK, said the slogan boards and parade exhibits reflect the Korean people's spirit of the red flag and their iron will to carry out the instructions of the President Kim Il Sung. The Korean people are vigorously advancing along the road of socialism, pulling through natural disasters and all other difficulties under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il, he said. Kim Hwa Hyo, vice-chairman of the Association of Korean Social Scientists in Japan, said that while seeing the parade, he felt proud that he was a member of the Korean nation. He feels reassured that the motherland is an impregnable fortress, he stressed. Victory belongs to the DPRK, which has a strong army and people led by Kim Jong Il, he added. Ko Tok U, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the League of KoreanYyouth in Japan, said that hearing the powerful footsteps of the paraders, he could foresee a bright future of the prosperous motherland. Li Min, wife of Chen Lei, a person involved in the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, said the paraders moved as one, showing the might of the singleheartedly united Korean people. No force on earth can match their strength, she added. Ri Jae Dok, an anti-Japanese revolutionary veteran, said the completion of Korean socialism is guaranteed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il and the strong revolutionary armed forces.

DPRK government gives banquet

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) gave a banquet at the People's Palace of Culture on Wednesday, the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. Present at the banquet were Kim Yong Nam, Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol, Kim Yong Ju, Jon Mun Sop, Kim Il Chol, Ri Ul Sol, Hong Song Nam and other senior party and state officials, deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly, officials of the party, government, military, administrative and economic organs, public organisations, men of science, education, culture and the arts, public health and the press and people of meritorious services from different parts of the country. Invited to the banquet were the congratulatory delegation of the National Democratic Front of South Korea, the congratulatory groups and delegations of overseas Koreans and overseas personages. Foreign diplomatic envoys, delegations and delegates of Juche idea study groups and other foreign guests were present on invitation. Addressing the banquet, Premier of the cabinet Hong Song Nam said the DPRK is a great land of Juche and Kim Il Sung's Korea in its glory in that the President Kim Il Sung provided its roots and founded and exalted it all his life. The DPRK is today making a vigorous advance continuously along the road of Juche under the tested leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, who is identical to Kim Il Sung in ideology, leadership and virtue, the premier added. The Korean scientists and technicians succeeded in launching the first artificial satellite in Korea "Kwangmyongsong No. 1" with entirely local wisdom and technology just before the 50th anniversary of the DPRK, a grand festival of victors, Hong Song Nam noted, adding that this was a great event of the nation that demonstrated the unshakable faith and iron will of the Korean party, army and people to build a powerful state of Juche under the leadership of Kim Jong Il. Thanks to Kim Jong Il, President Kim Il Sung will always be with the Korean people as their leader and the sun of Juche and the DPRK will prosper generation after generation, the speaker stated. Meanwhile, a banquet arranged by Kim Jong Il for overseas Koreans staying in the motherland to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DPRK was given at the Mokran House on Wednesday.

NDC Chairman Kim Jong Il congratulated

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- Meetings were held in North Phyongan, Jagang, North Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces and Kaesong on September 7 and 8 to congratulate General Secretary Kim Jong Il on his reelection as Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. Speeches were made at the meetings by leading officials of local party committees and representatives of different social standings. The speakers stresssed Kim Jong Il's reelection as Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission reflected the requirement of the Korean revolution as well as the unanimous will of the Korean people who have demonstrated the dignity and might of Kim Il Sung's Korea under his guidance. Meanwhile, celebration meetings were held at units of the three services of the Korean People's Army. It was stressed at the meetings that the KPA has developed into a matchlessly strong army which is capable of defeating any formidable enemy and that Korea has turned into an impregnable fortress in which all people are armed and the whole country is fortified.

Korea shining with august name of great man

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- Members of an international organization, delegations and delegates of groups for the study of the Juche idea, staying in Korea to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DPRK, called a press conference here on Tuesday. At the press conference they referred to the President Kim Il Sung's feats in state building and to the greatness of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il. Shuhachi Inoue, director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, said President Kim Il Sung was a benefactor of national rebirth, who led the arduous anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle to victory and liberated the Korean people. He was also a hero of the nation who built Korea into a powerful socialist state, independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in defence, he added. Francis Fanuel Lyimo, chairman of the Tanzanian National Coordinating Committee of the Juche Idea Study Group, said that the DPRK is a country which can not be called without the august name of the President and that human history knows no such distinguished leader, father of the people, as him. Tesfaye Habisso, an Ethiopian delegate for the Study of the Juche Idea, said that guided by General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the DPRK is shining bright all over the world. He is building a powerful state of Juche, resolutely smashing the moves of the enemies, he stressed. In addition to them, speeches were made by N. Sarantuya, head of the Mongolian Juche Idea Study delegation, and Mekui Tada, secretary general of the National Liaison Council of Japan Societies for the Study of Works of Kim Jong Il.

Japan must discard anti-DPRK moves

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- Public figures of Japan criticized the authorities for their frantic moves against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which successfully launched the first artificial satellite. Member of the house of representatives Hajime Fukada said that the government should reflect on "sanctions" it hurriedly took against the DPRK after judging the situation on the basis of only the information provided by the United States. Professor of Saitama University Takao Kamakura said: the Japanese diet mistook the artificial satellite for a missile and adopted a "resolution of protest" against the DPRK. This a rash resolution taken by Japan without confirming whether it is true or not. Former director of the Information Department of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yasuhiko YoshiDa, who is also professor of Saitama University, said that Japan must refrain from pushing ahead with the negotiation about domestic "legislation for emergency," vociferating about "threats" from the DPRK.

CPRF secretariat denounces S. Korean authorities' suppression of workers

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued information bulletin No. 770 on Sept. 8 denouncing the South Korean authorities for the recent fascist suppression of workers. According to the information bulletin, the South Korean authorities arrested more than 2,430 unionists of the Mando Machine Company who were on a strike in protest against the deceptive lay-off system and "restructuring" and fired tear gas canisters and water cannon at strikers. Their crackdown on the struggle of workers for vital rights revealed that the present "government" is not a "people's government" but it is a more crafty, brutal and ferocious traitorous one against the workers, the people and the nation than the preceding military and "civilian"-veiled fascist dictatorial regimes, the information bulletin said. It continued: The South Korean authorities must discard at once the deceptive and murderous lay-off system and "restructuring", stop the unreasonable suppression of the workers unconditionally and release the arrested hardcore unionists and workers without delay.

Release of patriotic pro-reunification democrats called for

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Korean religious believers council and chairmen of the central committees of the Korean Christian Federation and the Korean Buddhist Federation published statements on Sept. 8 condemning the South Korean authorities for raising a whirlwind of the unprecedented suppression of the pro-reunification patriotic forces including those who took part in the August 15 grand pro-reunification festival. The statements said that the participation in the festival of Father Mun Kyu Hyon and other priests of the South Korean Catholic Priests' Council for Justice is a very just and righteous patriotic deed both in view of the desire of the fellow countrymen and of the ideal of the religionists praying for reconciliation and unity. Nevertheless, the south Korean authorities arrested Father Mun, who came back after visiting North Korea, on unreasonable charges of conducting "pro-north activities", the statements noted. This clearly showed that the present rulers of South Korea have no will for reconciliation, unity and reunification. The statements said that if the South Korean authorities want to clear themselves of infamy, they should abolish the "National Security Law," the anti-national, anti-reunification evil law, without delay, dissolve the "Agency For National Security Planning" and set free all the patriotic pro-reunification democrats at once.

Korean books donated to Singapore

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- Korean books including the President Kim Il Sung's reminiscences "With the Century" and General Secretary Kim Jong Il's brief biography and works were donated to Singapore on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.

Kim Jong Il's election as NDC Chairman welcomed by Koreans in Japan

Tokyo, September 8 (KNS-KCNA) -- A central meeting of Koreans in Japan was held in Tokyo on September 8 to celebrate the reelection of General Secretary Kim Jong Il as Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. Addressing the meeting, Han Tok Su, Chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), called upon the participants to remain loyal to General Secretary Kim Jong Il, Defend the honor of being overseas citizens of the DPRK through generations and conduct more vigorous, patriotic activities for prosperity and reunification of the country. Chief vice-Chairman Ho Jong Man said in a report that the reelection of Kim Jong Il as chairman of the DPRK national Defence commission is the greatest event of the Korean nation which gratified the ardent desire and the unanimous will of all the fellow countrymen. It is also a great honor and happiness of all the Chongryon officials and Korean residents in Japan, He stated. He said: General Secretary Kim Jong Il is the greatest thinker, theoretician and a prominent statesman of the present times, and a great defender of the country and the nation's destiny. He is also the leader of the nation and the lodestar of reunification who is wisely guiding the entire fellow countrymen to the struggle for the reunification of the country, and the great sun in the era of independence who has made enormous contributions to the cause of independence.

New exhibits added to museum

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- New data and materials associated with the revolutionary activities of the President Kim Il Sung were exhibited in the Korean Revolution Museum on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. The exhibits include pictures on his exploits in state-building and samples of crops and minerals he used to see in his office room. There are also newspapers, data on persons and other exhibits supplemented in the museum.

We cannot sacrifice our nuclear power industry

Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had an interview with KCNA today over the DPRK-U.S. high-level talks held in New York between August 21 and September 5. He told KCNA: The talks were held to solve the grave problems caused by the U.S. side's long delay of the fulfillment of its obligations under the 1994 DPRK-U.S. framework agreement. This year, the u.s. Has long failed to fulfil the program of light-water reactor project and supply of heavy oil because of opposition in U.S. Congress and "economic crisis" in member nations of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO). This compelled the DPRK to suspend the storage of spent fuel and make preparations for more relevant measures. At the recent talks, the U.S. side admitted its failure to fulfil the program of KWR project and supply of heavy Oil, reaffirmed its obligations under the framework agreement and promised to begin the supply of heavy oil due for this year in late September and complete it by the end of the year, enter into the LWR project in real earnest from November, hold negotiations for deleting the DPRK from the list of "terrorism sponsor nations" and lift the sanctions. The U.S. also promised to take positive measures for continued humanitarian assistance. The two sides reached an agreement in a package form on mutual pending issues such as the "four-way talks" and missile talks. We made it clear that the development, launch and use of satellites are internationally-recognised rights of a sovereign state for independence, and agreed that the problem of the object "suspected" by the U.S. side should be settled through negotiations on condition that in case the object is civilian, the U.S. should compensate the DPRK for slander, insult and defamation. At the talks, we emphasized that in case such an incident occurs again, irrevocable consequences may arise. At the talks, we made it clear that in case the U.S. takes a step backward again in the implementation of the framework agreement, we will take practical measures to show that we cannot unilaterally sacrifice our own nuclear power industry under the framework agreement. We will watch how the U.S. side implements the agreement in future.