Kim Jong Il enjoys art performance
Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il enjoyed works of narration performed by artistes of the song and dance ensemble of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on Sunday.
Among the audience were KPA generals Hyon Chol Hae, Kim Ha Gyu and Pak Jae Gyong and other general officers, secretaries Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Ki Nam and Kim Yong Sun and first vice department director Jang Song Thaek of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee.
The program included items of witty remarks "Four sergeant majors," "Song of victory, song of revolution," etc.
At the end of the performance, Kim Jong Il expressed great satisfaction with the successful performance that vividly reflected the life and feelings of soldiers and civilians.
The chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission highly praised the artistes of the ensemble for producing many impressive and instructive works of narration and performing them before soldiers and civilians.
DPRK will accept humanitarian offer
Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee of the DPRK had an interview with KCNA today over false reports broadcast by some countries after the organisation "Medicines Sans Frontiers" (MSF) withdrew from the DPRK at the end of emergency medical assistance.
He told KCNA:
The MSF stayed in the DPRK for emergency offer of medical and pharmaceutical products to the DPRK in temporary difficulties caused by years of natural disasters.
Their assistance encouraged the Korean people in the effort to heal the aftereffect of natural disasters at an early date. We are grateful for their assistance.
The assistance from international agencies and donor nations is effectively used to help the DPRK not only overcome the present difficulties but also attain the objective of reaching the pre-disaster level at an early date.
Recently, the government asked the international community for assistance aimed at increasing the DPRK's capacity of agricultural production, decided to use the medical assistance to increase the local capacity as in the agricultural sector and asked international agencies and donor nations for assistance.
The international community favors this effort of the DPRK.
Under this policy of the government, the Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee asked William Claus from the MSF in Brussels who visited the DPRK in early August for discussions on future assistance, to end the assistance that was underway and to offer raw material for pharmaceutical production in the next stage. That would markedly increase the effect of assistance funds in the economic aspect.
He expressed understanding about that proposal and replied that as his organisation was to offer medical and pharmaceutical products in the form of emergency assistance, not raw material for medicines, his organisation would withdraw at the end of the assistance and that he would introduce another relief organisation which can offer raw material for medicines.
That was why the MSF withdrew from the DPRK.
This being the fact, U.S., British and some other western mass media broadcast incoherent reports that the DPRK expelled the MSF and that the MSF suspended the assistance and withdrew because it was not allowed to treat cases of malnutrition and relief medicines and food were diverted to troops and specific quarters.
Now a certain donor agency calls for suspending food assistance to the DPRK, alleging that relief food is diverted to the army.
We consider this to be an act prompted by hostile forces hell-bent on frustrating humanitarian assistance to the DPRK.
Humanitarian assistance agencies that stay in the DPRK are free to go to the areas under their concern, unless any special problem occurs, and relief materials are distributed to relevant areas.
Humanitarian assistance should be given from the humanitarian point of view in the true sense of the word.
If donor organisations give us humanitarian assistance, We will accept it gratefully, and if not, we will not beg for it.
Apology to Korean people made
Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Japanese apology movement to north Koreans led by Reiji Oyama made public a letter of apology at Pongsu Church on Sunday.
In the letter the head of the delegation noted that Japanese robbed Korea of lands, rice and even names of inhabitants during their colonial rule over it. They committed brutal atrocities such as drafting of Korean women as "comfort women" for the Japanese army and violations of their human rights, he stated.
He said that the delegation, on behalf of the entire Japanese, made a sincere apology. He declared that the delegation would make all its efforts for an official apology of the Japanese government.
The delegation also attended a Sunday service at the church.
Consolation to Cuban FM
Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, sent a message of consolation to his Cuban counterpart Roberto Robaina Gonzalez over huge human and material losses caused by a hurricane which hit Cuba in late September.
Expressing deep consolation and sympathy to him and inhabitants of the affected areas, Paek Nam Sun said in the message:
I am convinced that the fraternal Cuban people will clear away aftereffects of the hurricane as soon as possible and stabilize the life of people in the afflicted areas, under the guidance of the Communist Party of Cuba headed by Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz.
Paper on Kang In Dok's outburst
Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) -- South Korea's "Unification Minister" Kang In Dok in a recent interview with the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun hurled mud at the satellite launch of the DPRK and talked about "missile threat" and "possible strike" at South Korea and Japan.
Rodong Sinmun today comments on this, saying:
The satellite launch of the DPRK is entirely for peaceful space exploration. This is exercise of an internationally recognised right of a sovereign state to self-reliance and poses no threat to anyone.
Kang In Dok's outcry about "missile threat" from the north is a sheer lie and shameless remark reversing black and white.
His talk about possible "failure" of the satellite launch and "strike" was motivated by his criminal intention to belittle the world-startling success of the DPRK, incite confrontation with fellow countrymen and inveigle the Japanese reactionaries in this hostile campaign.
Program of Juche-based party building
Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) -- October 3 marks the 8th anniversary of the publication of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's work "the Workers' Party of Korea Organizes and Guides All the Victories of Our People".
On this occasion Rodong Sinmun Sunday carried an article stressing that the work is a great platform for building a Juche-based party which made it possible to strengthen and develop the WPK into the guiding force of socialism.
The work expounds that party's leadership is vital to the socialist cause, the paper pointed out, and said:
The work stresses that only under the guidance of the working-class party is it possible to build up the driving force of socialism, put forth a correct strategy and tactics and consistently adhere to the revolutionary principles in the whole course of accomplishing the socialist cause.
For victorious advance of socialism, it is important to direct primary efforts to strengthening the working-class party's mission the more urgent because, in their efforts to stifle socialism, the imperialists are directing the spearhead of their attack to the working-class party.
Expounded in the work are also theories and policies that the party's revolutionary character should be defended firmly, the unity and cohesion of the party based on the oneness of the idea and leadership be strengthened in every way and the kinship between the party and the masses be tightened.
The working-class party's mission is to take responsibilities for the destiny of the people and look after their life. Only when it loves, values and devotedly serves the masses can the party enjoy full support and trust from them.
Harvest Moon Day, Korean folk holiday
Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) -- Today is Harvest Moon Day, that is August 15 by lunar calendar.
This day has been enjoyed as happy holiday in Korea from olden times.
On the day, people as a unit of family call at their ancestors' graves with flowers and dishes and arrange them well before holding memorial services.
Particularly, dishes are made of new crops and fruits such as apple and pear are prepared.
Typical of those dishes is a rice cake steamed on a layer of pine needles. Nochi is enjoyed in some local areas. Nochi is a kind of cake made of glutinous rice and malty powder.
Colorful folk games are also popular among people this day. Men enjoy wrestling and tug-of-war while women swinging.
The state set the harvest moon day as red-letter day and provides people with better traffic conditions.