Greetings to Kim Jong ll from Jimmy Carter
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong ll received a message of greetings sent by Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. President.
Jimmy Carter in the message extended congratulations to him on his reelection as Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter have vivid memories of their visit to the DPRK in 1994, including their meetings with President Kim Il Sung, Carter said, and continued:
I have been pleased to learn that some progress has been made in recent official talks on a number of the issues of concern to both countries. I very much hope that those discussions will now open up new possibilities for much more productive relationships. In that effort, the Carter Center and I are ready to play a significant part whenever you consider that our services might be helpful.
Congratulations to Kim Jong ll
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Dorank Assifat Diasseny, Minister in charge of National Defence of the Presidency of Guinea and Director General of the African Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, warmly congratulated General Secretary Kim Jong ll upon his reelection as Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and on the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.
He said that the election of Kim Jong ll as the supreme leader is a common jubilee of the progressive humankind of the world and a great joy of the Juche idea followers.
Through the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK, the Korean people demonstrated the might of their singlehearted unity around Kim Jong ll once again to the world, he noted.
The successful launch of an artificial satellite in the DPRK is a common jubilee and a great victory of the Korean people as well as the peoples of all the developing countries, he said. Through the satellite launch the Korean people demonstrated the might of the Juche idea once again.
Kim Jong ll, sun of humankind
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- A Libyan Poet Muhammad Sukni published a poem titled "Kim Jong ll, Sun of Humankind."
He said in the poem that socialist Korea is proudly advancing, holding high the banner of Juche, under the wise guidance of Kim Jong ll, the sun of Korea and the great sun of all humankind.
He, an invincible and iron-willed commander, a distinguished commander of modern warfare and a gifted strategist recognized by the world, strikes terror into the hearts of the arrogant imperialist aggression forces, he noted.
Thanks to Kim Jong ll, humankind is vigorously advancing along the road of independence, he said, adding: he is the sun indicating the way to be followed by humankind.
Vice-President Yang Hyong Sop meets Chinese guests
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on September 30 met and had a conversation with a delegation of the China Association for International Friendly Contact headed by its executive vice-President Liang Shi at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Liang Shi warmly congratulated General Secretary Kim Jong ll upon his reelection as Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission at the first session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly.
He expressed the belief that the Korean people would overcome difficulties caused by natural disasters and achieve greater success in socialist construction under the wise leadership of Kim Jong ll.
Joint plenary meeting of Chondoist Chongu Party and Korean Chondoist Church held
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- A joint plenary meeting of the Chondoist Chongu Party Central Committee and the Korean Chondoist Church Central Guidance Committee was held here on Wednesday.
The meeting called for waging a more vigorous struggle for the building of a powerful state and for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country, bearing deep in mind the pride and honour of having General Secretary Kim Jong ll at the head of the nation.
Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the Party Central Committee and chairperson of the Central Guidance Committee, made a report, which was followed by speeches.
The reporter and speakers stressed the need to make tangible contributions to defending Korean socialism, giving full play to its advantages and achieving the great unity of the whole nation and the independent and peaceful reunification of the country.
A relevant decision was adopted at the meeting.
Reception on 49th anniversary of PRC founding
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Chinese ambassador to Korea Wan Yongxiang gave a reception on September 30 on the occasion of the 49th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
Invited were vice-Premier Jo Chang Dok, officials concerned and foreign diplomatic envoys.
Addressing the reception, the ambassador expressed wholehearted thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong ll for his message of condolence to General Secretary Jiang Zemin over flood damage in China.
He expressed the belief that the fraternal Korean people would achieve new greater success in the revolution and construction under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by Kim Jong ll and wished the friendly relations between China and Korea and with other countries would be further developed by joint efforts.
Jo Chang Dok said that political stability has been settled and economy, culture and science and technology are developing fast in China and China's international position is being raised day by day.
Noting that it is the consistent stand of the Workers'Party and government of Korea to consolidate and develop the traditional Korea-China friendship invariably generation after generation, he said the Korean people would strive to expand and develop the friendship in conformity with the desire and will of the two peoples.
National symposium on medical science
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- A national symposium on medical science took place here on September 29 and 30.
The symposium outlined the exploits of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong ll who ushered in a great heyday of the Juche-based public health. It stressed the need to develop preventive medicine and combine Koryo medicine with modern medicine.
The speakers said that the sanitary and anti-epidemic system has been established in Korea and to build the socialist culture of production and life is becoming a social trait, hygienic propaganda is being powerfully conducted and pollution inspection spots have been fixed correctly so that the validity and vitality of preventive medicine may be brought into full play.
Papers of science and technology were read out at the symposium, which were followed by section symposiums on hygiene and anti-epidemic, internal medicine, surgery, Koryo medicine, pharmacology and basic medicine.
Rodong Sinmun on "memorial ceremony" in S. Korea
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities boisterously "commemorated" the 50th anniversary of the formation of the "rok" army.
In this connection, Rodong Sinmun today runs a signed commentary, which says:
The "rok" army is a down-the-line colonial mercenary army of the United States.
Its past 50 years are woven with crimes and disgrace.
Since its appearance, the "rok" army has engaged itself only in barbarous murder of fellow countrymen and served the U.S. imperialists as their war servants.
People still recall with bitter resentment the atrocities of the army in bestially suppressing the Jeju islanders' uprising, the April 19 Popular Uprising, the Kwangju Popular Uprising and other patriotic struggles of South Korean people. Worse still, during the Korean War, it served the U.S. imperialists as their cannon fodder and slaughtered a large number of fellow countrymen and ruthlessly destroyed the country.
It is shameless for the South Korean authorities to "commemorate" the history of the "rok" army which has committed only unpardonable anti-national crimes.
The "memorial ceremony" of the colonial servants, who have no independence, real power and supreme command of the army, is nothing but a farce which will only bring disgrace upon themselves.
Policy of strength is not almighty = KCNA commentary =
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The United States persists in a criminal attempt to stifle the DPRK by force of arms.
This is clearly revealed by the "white paper on defence" published by the "Defence Ministry" of South Korea.
According to the "white paper," in the "event of contingency on the Korean peninsula," the U.S. will mobilize the U.S. troops present in South Korea, the armed forces of the U.S. Pacific Command based in Japan and Hawaii and other troops in the U.S. mainland, 640,000 all told.
By the "event of contingency on the Korean peninsula" they mean a war caused by an armed conflict= it is a very serious political and military issue.
The United States has already made it a fait accompli to ignite a war on the peninsula and worked out a plan to dispatch huge aggression troops. We cannot remain a passive onlooker to this dangerous fact.
It is all the more serious because "four-way talks" to discuss a matter of guaranteeing peace and stability on the peninsula will be held in Geneva before long. The point is not confined only to this.
This year alone, the United States staged Rimpac 98 and Ulji Focus Lens joint military exercises with the South Korean war-thirsty elements against the north and deployed Carl Vinson and other nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and attack nuclear submarines, fighter planes and armed forces in seas near the Korean peninsula on the pretext of preventing "armed infiltration" of the north into South Korea. This poses military threats to the DPRK.
Facts show that, against its verbal advertisement about "peace" and "stability" on the peninsula, the U.S. has not yet renounced the policy of strength, the policy of stifling the DPRK militarily.
But the policy of strength is not almighty.
If the United States encroaches upon our sovereignty with the policy of strength, we will annihilate all the aggressors.
Comments on Japan's postwar settlement
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The 20th century that has witnessed unprecedented events in the life of humanity is waning in vortex and the 21st century is drawing near.
At this historic juncture, it is a trend in international relations to liquidate unhappy things of the 20th century full of vicissitudes before greeting the new century.
There is, however, a cancer-like nation that tries to bury into obscurity its crime-woven past and repeat it, issuing a downright challenge to this trend of history and the effort of the international community. It is none other than Japan.
Not only war criminal states and satellite nations but also victor nations have liquidated or are liquidating the past, assuming responsibility for wartime crimes. At this time, only Japan is avoiding postwar settlement and behaving shamefully, far from admitting its history of aggression and crime.
Japan is a war criminal state that plunged Asia into disaster. For a war criminal state to make apology and compensation to the victim nation is an unavoidable political and moral obligation and duty in view of international law and ethics.
Japan's postwar settlement should, in essence, be to frankly admit and repent of its aggression and crime and make unconditional material compensation.
In Japan, however, cabinet members and dietmen make remarks that totally deny and distort the history of aggression and crime= even a film that describes top-level war criminals as "heroes" and "pride" of Japan is screened overtly= and a samurai-style "view of history" that the truth of history cannot be learned within a hundred years is making its appearance.
During their occupation of Korea, Japanese imperialists kidnapped and drafted more than six million young and middle-aged people and murdered more than a million. Nearly 200,000 Korean women were kidnapped in broad daylight, violated, mutilated and burned to death. This story is still thrilling humankind.
The international community is indignant at Japan's colonial rule over Korea because it was the most brutal and heinous unethical crime in human history.
No matter how hard the Japanese authorities may try to distort and deny the history of crime and shameful plunder, this blood-stained history will neither be erased nor forgotten.
To whitewash the past through denial and distortion of history is a suicidal act that will lead Japan's today and future to destruction.
Japan has no other alternative but to frankly admit the history of aggression and plunder, make unconditional and thorough state apology and compensation and abandon the anachronistic militarist ambition. This is a criterion of Japan's postwar settlement.
Japan must utter a word carefully. Before they boast of being a rich nation with "rapidly growing economy," they must remember that their silk quilt is stained with blood and sweat of the Korean people.
There are many wars, big and small, recorded in history and each of them was accompanied by murder, arson and plunder. But, there is no such nation as Japan that robbed other country of everything, even spoon and chopsticks.
Today's Japan is an empire of evil that has risen from the sea of blood of the Korean and other Asian peoples.
The Japanese authorities, however, are disguising themselves as victim by fabricating a fiction of "suspected kidnapping of Japanese" in an attempt to escape from their political, moral and historical obligation.
This shows the savage, shameless feature and political and moral vulgarity of Japan, which is distinct from other countries including Germany that have admitted their war crimes and made apology and compensation.
While shelving their postwar settlement, the Japanese authorities are now making a fuss with "countermeasures" based on the deeply-rooted anti-DPRK policy in the wake of the successful satellite launch of the DPRK. This lays bare their true colors as "political dwarf."
It is ridiculous for Japan that has not shaken off the ill fame of enemy state to covet permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
The Korean people have a legitimate right to receive an apology and compensation from Japan. This right is indisputable, unconditional and thorough-going.
If the hostile relations between the DPRK and Japan are to be removed and bilateral relations to be normalized, Japan must liquidate its past, first of all. There can be no improvement in their relations without postwar settlement.
If Japan continues avoiding postwar settlement, the Korean people's wrath, hatred and revengeful thought against their sworn enemy, Japan, will grow thousandfold.
The Japanese authorities must be honest before history and make a political decision not to delay the atonement for their past crimes against the Korean people till the 21st century.
If Japan continues avoiding postwar settlement without making an honest apology and unconditional compensation to the Korean people, it will be criticized by the international community as the most savage, shameless and politically and morally despicable nation ever in human history.
Satellite can be seen by naked eye
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- "Kwangmyongsong No. 1," the artificial earth satellite launched by the DPRK at 12:07 August 31, can be seen by the naked eye early this month.
A competent organ said that the satellite moving from the west to the cast can be seen in different parts of Korea between 04:50 and 05:30 (local time) on Oct. 3 and 4.
Meeting of Nordic Cooperation Committee held
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- A meeting of the Nordic Cooperation Committee for Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People was held in Denmark.
Present there were Jorgen Petersen, chairman of the Communist Party of Denmark (M-l) Central Committee, and delegates of other political parties of Denmark, and delegates of the Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish organisations for friendship with Korea. A delegation of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People on a visit to Denmark was invited.
Anders Kristensen, Secretary of the Nordic Cooperation Committee for Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People, said in a report that a situation as tense as on the eve of war has been created on the Korean peninsula by the machinations of the U.S. and its stooges to isolate and stifle the DPRK.
He noted that they actively supported and welcomed the five-point policy of great national unity clarified by General Secretary Kim Jong ll, considering it a programme for achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea at an early date.
In response to an appeal of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea, they should conduct a "solidarity-Korea" campaign on a regional scale and make the world public focus on calling for peace and reunification of Korea, he added.
Delegates of friendship and solidarity organisations in Nordic countries spoke at the meeting.
An action program for next year was adopted there.
The program set 1999 as a "year of international solidarity for peace and reunification of Korea" to conduct a solidarity movement.
It supported the proposals for Korea's reunification and the efforts of the Korean people to promote the reunification of the country and demanded that the United States replace the armistice agreement with a peace agreement and withdraw its troops from South Korea and that the South Korean authorities turn the anti-north confrontation policy into a pro-north reconciliation policy and stop the suppression of the South Korean people.
Letters of protest to the U.S. government and the South Korean authorities were adopted at the meeting.
The participants in the meeting called upon friendship and solidarity organisations in the world to conduct the solidarity movement for supporting the Korean people's struggle and upon the governments of the Nordic countries and the EU to continue humanitarian assistance to Korea.
The meeting elected co-chairmen.
Old scholars faithful to party
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Old scholars of Korea have faithfully upheld the party with their knowledge.
Among them are associate Prof. and Dr. Kim Song Guk, chief of the ore-dressing engineering research room of the National Mining Institute and Merited Scientist, associate Prof. and Dr. Ri Ju Rak, researcher of the Poultry Technical Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Dr. Kim Tong Hyon, researcher of the Experimental Biological Institute of the Biological Branch of the National Academy of Sciences.
Kim Song Guk has greatly contributed to increasing the Juche character and independence in the industrial development of the country for more than 40 years.
In the 1970s, he succeeded in producing phosphate fertilizer with apatite and developed a method of dressing kyanite, corundum, andalusite, bauxite and zirconium ores in the '80s.
Recently, he developed a new titan-dressing method suited to domestic reagent, equipment and technical conditions and opened a vista for producing high-quality fluorspar.
Ri Ju Rak rendered great services to the development of the animal husbandry of the country.
In the '60s, he obtained a new breed of rabbit with short fur and thick and hard skin.
In recent years, he succeeded in obtaining two breeds of ducks in keeping with the world trend of the developing poultry. These ducks are 0.6 to one kilogram more heavier than previous ones.
Kim Tong Hyon is a renowned woman scientist who devoted herself to the agricultural development of the country.
She developed a method with which to economize much manpower in nipping buds while increasing tobacco yield and succeeded in increasing the fertility of soil and rice harvest in tideland-turned paddy fields and developed a stimulant for the growth of plants.
Besides, she formulated a large number of basic materials needed for putting the Juche farming method on more scientific basis.
50th anniversary of KNS marked
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today dedicates an article to the 50th anniversary of the Korean News Service (KNS), DPRK's sole news organ overseas.
The article says that the five-decade history of the KNS is one of victory and glory during which it has covered the patriotic road of Juche under the paternal care of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong ll, guided by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).
It has turned into a powerful news organ which is briskly waging news exchange with many news agencies of other countries, keeping close bonds with them. And it publishes "Korean news" for the press organs of Chongryon and mass media of the world, stresses the article.
Noting that it is the DPRK's great pride to have the KNS which is unswervingly advancing along the patriotic road even in the complex capitalist country of Japan, upholding the banner of Juche, the article expresses the belief that the KNS will creditably carry out its mission and duty in the future, too.
Chairman of General Student Council of Jeju University walked away
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities walked away Ri Song Un, chairman of the General Student Council of Jeju University, who had long been wanted on charges of admission to Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils), a Seoul-based radio report said.
Angry students fought against police of the Jeju district police office.
DPRK will develop friendly and cooperative relations with all countries
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Head of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Choe Su Hon in a speech at the 53rd session of the UN General Assembly on September 28 said that the DPRK government will develop friendly and cooperative relations with all the countries that respect the sovereignty of the DPRK and will continuously strive to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula and defend peace and security in northeast Asia in conformity with the purpose and principle of the UN charter.
The 21st century should be a century of independence, and global independence be realized to build a world which is free from all sorts of domination and subjugation and where all countries and nations enjoy equality on this planet, he said, and continued:
In order to remove the danger of war and ensure a durable peace on the Korean peninsula, the country must be reunified without fail.
The inter-Korean dialogue should be held on the principle of giving priority to the common interests of the nation, removing distrust and confrontation between the north and the south and subordinating everything to national reunification.
If the South Korean authorities show in practice their willingness for reunification including the abolition of the "National Security Law", we will meet them any time and hold dialogue and negotiations on the destiny of the nation and strive for national reunification together with them.
The United States should withdraw its forces from South Korea and put an end to belligerent relations with the DPRK.
Japan should not follow the United States in military affairs, but honestly apologize and compensate for its past crimes against the Korean people so as to discharge its responsibility for the Korean question.
The Japanese authorities are kicking up a row to call the DPRK satellite launch in question and brought it before the UN Security Council, urging a "countermeasure". This is a serious mockery of the International Community.
Saying that the issue of disarmament, nuclear disarmament in particular, remains the first agenda item in the United Nations, he stressed that the main practical obstacle to the nuclear disarmament is that nuclear states pursue the policy of providing nuclear umbrella and apply double-standards in dealing with the nuclear problem.
Referring to human rights, he said that the UN should reject politicization of human rights and not allow the double-standards in application of human rights conventions.
The United Nations should encourage the spirit of collective self-reliance of developing countries and play its role in making the developed countries keep their commitment to official development assistance, he said.
Greetings to Cypriot President
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on September 30 sent a message of greetings to Glafcos Clerides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, on the 38th anniversary of the independence of the country.
Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two peoples would grow stronger and develop, the message wished the President and his people greater success in the work for peace, unification and prosperity of Cyprus.
Paek Nam Sun sends greetings to his Togolese counterpart
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, sent a message of greeting to Kokou Joseph Koffigoh, on his appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Togo.
The message believed that the good relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would further strengthen in the future.