Japan's rude act: shame in 20th century =KCNA commentary=

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- The Japanese government impertinently lodged a "protest" with Russia against the DPRK's legal fishing according to an agreement with Russia in the sea off Kuril islands. The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected Japan's "protest", decently saying that it has found no ground for the protest. Japan's protest is a rude act of those who insult sovereign states and are ignorant of elementary international law and usage. The Japanese government is still pursuing the hostile policy to stimulate home people's sense of the "northern territory" through the case and defame the DPRK. Japan is kicking up a row again after a preposterous campaign over the launch of an artificial satellite in the DPRK. This shows the persistence and shamelessness of Japan's long-standing hostile policy toward the DPRK. It cannot but be a shame in the 20th century that Japan is acting audaciously, not yet making apology and compensations for indelible crimes against the Korean people and for great damage on humankind. Our people keep tabs on this rude action as well as the past crime-woven history of Japan.

Rodong Sinmun on invincible WPK

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- The invincible Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) which inherited the glorious tradition of the "Down-With-Imperialism Union" (DIU) proves its worth under the wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. Rodong Sinmun today says this in an article dedicated to the 16th anniversary of the publication of his famous work "the Workers' Party of Korea is a Juche-Type Revolutionary Party Which Inherited the Glorious Tradition of the DIU." The daily continues: The work was published on October 17, Juche 71 (1982). The immortal work clearly indicates ways of strengthening and developing the WPK which found root with the formation of the DIU into an invincible revolutionary party of Juche type. It gives full details of the successful foundation of the WPK which began with the formation of the DIU. It also gives a comprehensive exposition of the features and peculiarities of the WPK as a working-class party of new type and tasks and ways of strengthening the party and improving its leadership role. The WPK has won victory after victory. It is because it has always adhered to the principle of independence laid down by the DIU and inherited the tradition of unity of the DIU. It is also because the WPK makes itself a harmonious whole with the popular masses as the DIU did. It is the fixed will of Kim Jong Il to inherit the tradition of the DIU purely despite alteration of generations. He works hard to firmly defend the glorious revolutionary traditions established by the President Kim Il Sung. Thanks to Kim Jong Il's energetic guidance the WPK will remain the party of Kim Il Sung for ages.

Japan hit for anti-DPRK smear campaign

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the measure committee for demanding compensation to "comfort women for the army" and the victims of the Pacific War issued Friday a statement bitterly denouncing the right-wing reactionaries of Japan for intensifying anti-DPRK smear campaign in the wake of the DPRK's launch of an artificial satellite. The statement says: The Japanese reactionaries are persistently slandering the DPRK over the DPRK's launch of artificial satellite and the fiction of "abduction suspicion." their anti-DPRK diatribe is aimed at covering up the crimes they committed as the sworn enemies of the Korean people and fleeing from the responsibility for compensation. It is also aimed at creating extreme distrust in and antagonism against the DPRK among the Japanese, imbuing them with the anti-Korean spirit, inventing an excuse and a justification for the militarisation of Japan and staging a comeback to Korea which they dreamed of. For their refusal to make an apology and compensation for the past crimes the Japanese authorities are not entitled to poke their nose into the "talks on peace on the Korean peninsula." They are now crying for "six-party talks," though. The loud-mouthed "talks" are nothing but a trick to stifle the DPRK, in league with the U.S. and South Korea. We vehemently denounce the misbehaviour of the Japanese reactionaries, considering it a grave insult to the sovereignty of our republic and the dignity of our people. We don't care whether normalisation of diplomatic relations with Japan is realised or not. However, it is our unshakable will and right to get an apology and compensation from Japan for its past crimes generation after generation.

Symptoms of war hysterics

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on "South Korea visits of U.S. soldiers who participated in Korean War" planned by the bellicose U.S. military and South Korean authorities from June of the year 2000 in which falls the 50th anniversary of the start of the aggressive Korean War. Branding this as a fit of war hysterics, the news analyst of the paper says: It is planned that in June 2000, the U.S. President will come to South Korea and in July of the year, the South Korean chief executive will go to the United States. In four years till 2004, more than 60,000 ex-soldiers of America, who had participated in the aggressive Korean War, will "visit" Seoul. The former American soldiers were provokers of the Korean War and aggressors. Accordingly, their visits to South Korea are ones intended to incite another Korean War and a prelude to an aggressive war. They are an open challenge to and provocative act against the DPRK. We, representing the indignation of the nation, vehemently condemn the United States and the South Korean authorities for planning South Korea visits of former American soldiers, aggressors and war criminals who had reduced our inviolable territory to ashes and killed a large number of innocent Korean people after igniting the war of aggression. It is clear what the South Korean authorities seek in the visits. They intend to incite the fever of war against the north through the visits of participants in the Korean war and bridge over their ruling crisis with the help of anticommunist right-wing forces of the United States. Worse still, they seek to worsen DPRK-U.S. relations and thus create a favourable atmosphere for provoking a war against the north. However, the United States and the South Korean authorities will only be cursed and denounced as aggressors and warmaniacs by people at home and abroad.

U.S. will be to blame

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today runs a commentary four years since the DPRK-U.S. framework agreement was adopted and effectuated. The news analyst says: In the agreement, the U.S. is obliged to supply light-water reactors with a total generating capacity of two million kw to the DPRK till 2003, to deliver 500,000 tons of heavy oil to the DPRK every year, to lift or remove sanctions and restrictions and neither to use nuclear weapons nor to threaten the DPRK with them. The United States, however, has not fulfilled any of the obligations faithfully. Can we believe the framework agreement will be implemented? Moreover, hardline conservatives within the U.S. call for intensifying the anti-DPRK campaign and breaking the agreement. It is self-evident that in this situation,we cannot pin our hopes on the agreement with the U.S. The United States brands our civilian underground structure as "nuclear facility" and demands its verification. Hardline conservatives within the u.s. Intend to disarm the DPRK on the pretext of "missile threat." Development, production and deployment of missiles belong to our sovereignty. We cannot sit idle while being exposed to threat from the U.S. They even try to politicize and use humanitarian food assistance as an expedient of pressure. Exposed to unreasonable pressure from the U.S., we have no idea of resorting to the framework agreement. If the U.S. regards the agreement as a nuisance, it is free to break it. Then, we will go our own way. But, the U.S. must clearly know that it will be wholly to blame for the consequences.

Seminars on proposal for founding of DCRK

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- A seminar on the subject of "Korea's reunification should be realised by confederacy" was held by the group for the study of comrade Kim Jong Il's idea on the youth movement in Patenshire, Guyana on Oct. 6 and a seminar on the subject of "great program for Korea's reunification" by the Jordanian group for the study of the Juche philosophy on Oct. 8 on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the proposal for founding the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo. Speakers at the seminars said that the proposal for founding the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo (DCRK) is the most fair and reasonable one stemming from the character of the issue of Korea's reunification and concrete situation. They mentioned the contents and justness of the proposal. They emphasized that General Secretary Kim Jong Il put forth the five-point policy of great national unity and is energetically leading the struggle for national reunification.

Indian Party refers to Korea's issue

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- The General Secretary of C.C., the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in a report of political work to the 16th Congress of the party said that Korea is keeping a vigorous struggle though it is suffering hardships caused by the imperialists' moves against the socialist construction and natural disasters in recent years. The Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK are defending sovereignty and building socialism successfully under the guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he said. A political resolution adopted at the congress noted that the DPRK is making socialist progress under the complicated world situation and strongly countering the pressure of the U.S. and Japan encroaching upon the sovereignty of the country.

Book on struggle of patriotic martyrs published in S. Korea

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- The "National Council of Bereaved Families for the Nation and Democracy" and other organizations for honouring the memory of the democratic and national martyrs in South Korea printed a book "we will survive to meet" and distributed it, according to a report. The book carries pictures showing youth and students out in struggle for democratization of South Korean society and people of different social standings supporting them. It consists of part of labour, part of students and part of dissidents, which introduce the biography and struggle of martyrs who devoted themselves to democratization. It also introduces the struggle of unconverted long-term prisoners with their conscience and principles.

Korean embroidery

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- Since olden times, embroidery in Korea has been used widely for the decoration of folding screens, quilts, pillow ends, spoon cases, children's bands, pouches, clothes, cushions, etc. Embroideries show a decided preference for characters and floral patterns. Pillow ends are decorated with elaborate embroidered designs to convey messages such as "blessing" and "double happiness",and pictures like a pair of cranes and pine tree. Peacock, crane and fish are typical design elements for spoon cases. There are many needlework groups in Pyongyang and provinces. The Pyongyang embroidery institute is staffed with 100 designers and hundreds of professional and assistant embroideries. The Mansudae Art Studio has an embroidery production unit. Such sort of unit is found in the capital and provinces. Embroidery with a long tradition is encouraged to practice by housewives at homes. In addition to handicraft method, sewing machine-done and double-faced methods have been introduced in embroidery and the method of Korean painting is applied in ornamentation. "Tiger", "Flower and bird-inscribed folding screen", "Dancing Crane", "Grosbeak" and "Flower and Bird" are typical Korean needlework. "Seaward Kumgang", "White Pheasant" and "Deer" have been awarded special prize or gold medal at the International Handicraft Exhibition. The Korean needlework find favorite not only among the Koreans but the foreigners, with the demand for them steadily increasing.

S. Korea saddled with foreign debts

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- South Korea must pay dlr. 57,010 million out of its foreign debts because they mature in June next year, according to a South Korean newspaper. 25 percent of this figure is short-term foreign debts which must be paid within one year. Irritated by this, the South Korean authorities zealously tried to defer the payment of debts. However, they must clear off foreign debts of dlr. 6,000 million this year and dlr.18,000 million till the first half of next year.

Message of sympathy to Dominican President

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- President Kim Yong Nam of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on October 14 sent a message of sympathy to President Leonel Fernandez Reyna of the Dominican Republic over heavy losses of human life and materials from violent hurricane and flood that hit the country as a whole recently. The message expressed deep sympathy with the President and, through him, with the people in the afflicted areas, as well as the conviction that the government and people of the Dominican Republic will do away with damage and bring about a stable livelihood to the people in the afflicted areas.

DPI spokesman on U.S. troop pullout

Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- The issue of the U.S. troops' pullback is a prerequisite for and a kernel of peace on the Korean peninsula, stressed the spokesman for the disarmament and peace institute of the DPRK. In a statement released today, the spokesman said that threats of northward invasion are the only threats which can wreck the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula. He further said: The DPRK is technically in a state of war with the United States. As for the armed forces of the U.S. side, they include 640,000-strong U.S. troops including those in the pacific and the mainland, thousands of strategical offensive weapons -- weapons of mass destruction --, hundreds of thousands of Japan self-defense forces and more than 10 million regular and irregular forces of South Korea. At a time when the DPRK has mobilized most of its armed forces in peaceful construction and farming, the United States has drastically expanded the size, intensity and number of joint military exercises involving huge armed forces. Such a sharp contrast in characteristics of military actions fully shows that "forces deterrent to war" on the lips of the United States are precisely offensive and aggressive forces. Peace has been able to be maintained narrowly on the Korean peninsula entirely because the DPRK has plenty of will and ability to punish aggressors. Peace and stability can be ensured on the Korean peninsula only when the U.S. troops are withdrawn from South Korea. Accordingly, the U.S. attempt to raise any precondition at the soon-to-be-held third "four-way talks" cannot be construed otherwise than a sinister political design running counter to the purpose of the talks.