S. Korean "Hyun Dai Business Group" Honorary Chairman here

Panmunjom, October 27 (KCNA) -- Honorary Chairman Jong Ju Yong of the South Korean "Hyun Dai Business Group" and his party today headed for Pyongyang by land via Panmunjom. Jong Ju Yong and his party were cordially met at Panmunjom by vice-chairman Song Ho Gyong of the Korean Asia- Pacific Peace Committee, chairman Jong Un Op of the National Economic Cooperation Federation and officials concerned. They came with cattle representing their compatriot feelings.

KAPPC chairman meets Jong Ju Yong and his party

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- Chairman Kim Yong Sun of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee today met and had a conversation with Honorary Chairman Jong Ju Yong of the South Korean "Hyun Dai Business Group" and his party in an atmosphere overflowing with compatriotic feelings.

DPRK government gives reception for UNDP administrator

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- The government of the DPRK gave a party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Monday in Honor of James Gustave Speth, under-Secretary General of the United Nations and UNDP administrator, and his party. Invited to the party were James Gustave Speth and his party, resident representative of the UNDP Christian Lemaire and representatives of international organizations in Korea. Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon, vice-Minister of Agriculture Kim Yong Suk and officials concerned were present. Addressing the Party, Paek Nam Sun said the UNDP administrator's visit has provided a good occasion for further development of cooperative relations between the DPRK and the UNDP. He expressed deep thanks to the UNDP and other international organizations and relief agencies for having rendered disinterested assistance to the DPRK in industry, agriculture, science, technology and other domains. He noted that the UNDP initiated and is pushing ahead with a medium-term assistance for agricultural rehabilitation, which is of weighty significance. There is no change in the DPRK's position to continue its close cooperation with the UNDP to this end, he said, hoping the administrator would continue paying deep attention to its successful implementation. In his speech James Gustave Speth stressed the need to maintain cooperation between the UNDP and the DPRK. The UNDP is still pushing forward the project for agricultural development on the principle of humanitarianism, he said. The administrator expressed the belief that the DPRK will take an active part in international organizations to lay a solid foundation for further strengthening cooperation with them.

Japanese aggression troops' crimes disclosed

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- Pae Sam Yop, a former "comfort woman for the Japanese army", disclosed the crimes of the Japanese imperialist aggression army, according to a South Korean newspaper. She said that the Japanese aggressors had forced women to serve as sex slaves not only in their stationary places but also in battle fields. They mercilessly beat and shot to death those "comfort women" who resisted their demand, she said.

U.S. and S. Korean authorities hit for anti-DPRK war provocation moves

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) released a statement denouncing the U.S. and the South Korean authorities for staging frantic anti-DPRK military manoeuvres in South Korea, said Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation. The statement says: Large-scale joint military manoeuvres, codenamed "98 Foal Eagle," have been staged in the sky and land and on the Sea of South Korea, involving over 35,000 U.S. troops present in South Korea and more than 50,000 South Korean troops, as well as huge combat equipment. The manoeuvres, which began on October 26, will last till November 6. "98 Hwarang" war game involving regular and irregular armed forces, more than 1.1 million in all, is being staged, synchronised with "98 Foal Eagle." "98 Foal Eagle" and "98 Hwarang" manoeuvres are all unpardonable because they are designed to provoke a war against the north. The above-mentioned manoeuvres eloquently prove that the U.S. is a source of aggression and war. While paying lip-services to "detente" and "peace" on the Korean peninsula at the "four-party talks," the U.S. has run amuck to aggravate tensions and unleash a war against the north. Kim Dae Jung-led bellicose group is trying hard to strangle the fellow countrymen, turning the whole South Korea into a war theatre of the U.S. aggression forces against the north. Its act reveals with added clarity the true colors of the "government for the people" as a herd of vicious anti-reunification warmaniacs. The U.S. must have a good knowledge of the unanimous and firm will of our people to reunify the divided country independently and in a peaceful way and put an immediate halt to the reckless manoeuvres to provoke a war against the north. It also must immediately pull its forces out of South Korea whose presence in South Korea can not be justified in any case. Kim Dae Jung-led warmaniacs should act with discretion, mindful that their efforts to realise the U.S. design of aggression to plunge the fellow countrymen into the holocaust of nuclear war will only precipitate their destruction.

Rodong Sinmun on anti-Chongryon campaigns in Japan

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries are suppressing and harassing the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and Koreans in Japan, groundlessly taking issue with the DPRK's launch of an artificial satellite, which belongs to the legitimate right of a sovereign state. Commenting on this suppression, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today says: The Japanese reactionaries' suppressive campaign is a grave hostile act which infringes upon the national dignity and democratic national rights of Koreans in Japan and which violates the sovereignty of the DPRK. Rightwing reactionaries of Japan are threatening Chongryon institutions and Japan-resident Koreans almost every day. We cannot overlook the fact that the Japanese authorities are directly taking part in the anti-Chongryon suppressive campaign. They have mobilized the police and other security-related organs to ransack Chongryon organisations and institutions including the Korean bank, schools and Kumgang Insurance branch. And they are openly watching and shadowing Chongryon officials and Japan-resident Koreans and blocking business activities of Korean traders and industrialists in every way. Chongryon is a dignified overseas Koreans' organisation under the DPRK's legal protection. Accordingly, the Japanese authorities should protect Chongryon and Koreans in Japan. This is an international obligation and legal responsibility of Japan. Nevertheless, Japan is engaged in a frantic anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon racket. Its is an outrageous act against international usage and morality and ethics and an unpardonable challenge and provocation against the DPRK. If the Japanese reactionaries persist in their anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon moves in disregard of our warnings, they will be made to pay dearly for their criminal acts including the past crimes against the Korean nation.

Achievements in coal industry

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- Achievements are being made in coal industry of Korea. According to data available, in recent 20 days, coal industrial workers carried out their assignments 115-120 percent as against the corresponding period of the previous month on all indices including capital tunneling, preliminary tunneling and slope pit tunneling. In the period, 90,000 more tons of coal were dug out. Taking the lead in coal production are Anju, Sunchon, Kaechon, Tukjang and Pukchang area coal complexes. Progress has been also made in the construction of coal mines. Tokchon and Kangdong area coal complexes opened up 40 odd cutting faces, creating favourabl conditions for increasing coal production. Meanwhile, Masan and Phunggok coal mines are being developed in Pukchang area and the construction of coal mines with a capacity of several million tons each, is progressing at the final stage in Myongchon and Saepyol areas.

Kosanjin Revolutionary Site

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- The Kosanjin Revolutionary Site is situated in Manpho city, Jagang Province. Kosanjin is a time-honoured place where the President Kim Il Sung stayed from November 8 to December 18,Juche 39 (1950) during the most rigorous period of the Fatherland Liberation War, smashing the "Christmas general offensive" of the U.S. imperialists and bringing about a fundamental change in the war. The President took Kosanjin to be a strategic area favourable for counteroffensive and placed the supreme command here. The Kosanjin Revolutionary Site occupying a vast area of 48 km in diameter with Kosan-ri township in the centre includes Sonmungori, Rimsonggol, Kujolgol, Pyolo, Oryugol and other revolutionary sites. Preserved here are historic buildings and relics including a command post, an staff office, a communication centre and a shooting range of the supreme command, and a house at which meetings of the political committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and senior military and political cadres of the Korean People's Army were convened. The Korean people built a monument to President Kim Il Sung's revolutionary activities and the Kosanjin Revolutionary Museum in Rimsong valley to hand down his revolutionary feats and learn the greatness of his revolutionary idea and virtues. On display at the museum are historic materials and relics showing that the President laid down military strategic and tactical policies and tasks to overcome the temporary difficulties of the war and take a new counteroffensive. General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited the Kosanjin Revolutionary Site on October 22. Going round the site, he said Kim Il Sung is an ever-victorious iron-willed brilliant commander, outstanding military strategist, peerless patriot and great man who defeated formidable imperialist enemies in the two revolutionary wars and saved the destiny of the motherland and the people.

Friendship Tower

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- The friendship Tower, symbolic of Korea-China friendship, is located in Moranbong district, Pyongyang. It hands down to posterity the enduring feats of the fallen fighters of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) who laid down their lives in the June 1950-July 1953 Korean War unleashed by the U.S. imperialists. The tower was erected on October 25, Juche 48 (1959), the 9th anniversary of the CPV's entry into the Korean War, and rebuilt on an expansion basis on the occasion of the 34th anniversary. It is 30 metres high and stands on a plot of land measuring 120,000 square metres. The tower is made of 1,025 pieces of granite and marble symbolic of October 25, the day of the CPV's entry into the Korean War. Inner and outer walls of its first floor are adorned with carvings, magnolia blossoms and murals portraying Korea-China friendship. Letters "Friendship Tower" are engraved on the front of the tower. On its top is a five-point star, 1.5 metres in diametre. The tower bears an epitaph praising the feats of the CPV and the fraternal friendship and solidarity between the Korean and Chinese peoples forged at the cost of the blood. Carved in relief on its left and right sides are group sculptures of heroic fighters of the two countries. On the back side there is a bronze door one ton in weight to a round room made of marble, where a bronze box containing the two red-covered books carrying lists of CPV fallen fighters is placed. Seen on the wall of the room are three large murals portraying CPV fighters in battles and in the postwar reconstruction of the Korean people.

Tax burden increases in S. Korea

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities have confirmed a "budget bill of revenue" for 1999 to squeese taxes up 4.6 percent as against last year, a South Korean newspaper reported. This brings per capita tax burden to nearly 1,880,000 won.

Aggressive nature of imperialism will never change

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comes out with a signed article entitled "aggressive nature of imperialism will never change." The author of the article says: The imperialists are tenaciously resorting to the policy of aggression and intervention while paying lip-service to "peace" and "friendship." This eloquently shows the aggressive and predatory nature of imperialism. In employing the policy of strength, the war strategy, the United States seeks to stifle the indepenent forces of the world, uni-polarize the world in its favour and thus dominate it at random as it likes. This is the U.S. general strategical goal. To attain this goal, the U.S. has invested a colossal amount of money in the military domain although it is under heavy financial pressure from enormous military spendings. The imperialists are directing the spearhead of their war strategy to developing countries. The Korean peninsula is the very place which vividly reveals the aggressive and predatory nature of imperialism. What the U.S. seeks is to ignite another war against the DPRK in the Korean peninsula for the purpose of stopping the trend toward peace and detente, keeping and expanding its armed forces, extricating its economy from the crisis and establishing a "new world order." recently, the imperialists reactionary forces are intensifying their military pressure against the DPRK over the "nuclear issue," "missile issue" and its launch of an artificial satellite. Theirs are premeditated misdeeds to find a pretext for igniting another war by aggravating the tensions on the Korean peninsula. This is a requirement of the monopolies that want to keep their fattened military industry and earn more profitsand, at the same time, a product of the endless greed of the imperialists to gratify their design for world supremacy with strength. As long as there is imperialism in the world and imperialists resort to the policy of strength, a war strategy, for world supremacy, peace and security of the world cannot be ensured. The aggressive and predatory nature of imperialism will never change.

Looking back on noble revolutionary obligation

In the article the author cites materials in saying that after the defeat of the Japanese imperialists the President gave material aid and moral support to the revolutionary war of the Chinese people against the Jiang Jieshi clique. The article says: In those days Korea faced a lot of difficulties at the initial stage of state building. In the situation the President sent Kang Kon, Pak Rak Gwon, Choe Kwang and many other military and political cadres and military personnel to northeast China for an operation to liberate the region, though their role was awfully needed for army building in Korea. He also went to China two times at the risk of his life when the war was at its height, learned about the military and political situation prevailing in northeast China and indicated the strategic and tactical policies for a radical change in the war. Later he made sure that units of the 8th route army of China were sent to northeast China via Korea. He sent a huge amount of cloth for military uniforms, military uniforms, weapons, explosives and medicines. He paid particular attention to the safety of the Chinese refugees and commanding officers and organised an operation to save them. Excellent sons and daughters of Korea, true to his intention, devotedly fought for the liberation of northeast China. The devoted services for the Chinese revolution could be made only by the Korean people, true comrades and comrades-in-arms of the Chinese people. The President is still alive in the hearts of the Chinese revolutionaries of the old generation as the greatest of great internationalists and a great sage. As there is Kim Jong Il who is carrying forward the ideas and cause of the President, the President is immortal in the hearts of the Chinese revolutionaries of the old generation and the people as are the exploits he performed for the Sino-Korean friendship.

Peasant dance contest

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- A short while ago, a contest of peasant dance was held in Haeju city, South Hwanghae Province in the western part of Korea. The dancers received loud applause from the audience as they represented skillfully the year's farming process while making effective use of traditional rhythmic movements and lively melody. The peasant dance, a combination of lively music, dance and interesting play, is a folklore art enjoyed by Korean farmers since olden times. It is an annual entertainment mainly connected with agricultural work and is a group art reflecting the farmers' desire to relieve their fatigue from work and increase agricultural production. It has two kinds: one performed along a circle in tune with various rhythms played by gong, janggo, drum, tabor, brass wind instruments and other Korean traditional instruments= and the other performed by a single or a group of players of musical instruments. Symbolic of the optimistic nature and the artistic talent of the Koreans, the peasant dance is being inherited and developed in keeping with modern aesthetic sense. Now scenes of lively peasant dance can be seen not only on the fields of cooperative farms but also among the ranks of parades on national holidays and among participants in various celebration meetings. The peasant dance now unfolded in rural areas are stirring up the morale of the farmers who are busy with finishing harvest. South Hwanghae Province, one of the rural areas in Korea, sponsored the peasant dance contest with enthusiastic support from farmers. To take Ongjin county only, dancers from 14 villages attended the contest. Haeju city, the venue of the contest, was all in a festive mood. The performances given by dancers from Jangsong-ri, Ongjin county and by children from Sowon-ri Kingergarten, Pyoksong county were loudly applauded by the audience. In accordance with the unanimous demand of the participants and audience, the province decided to sponsor another contest, which would present more cheerful performances.

Greetings to Austrian President

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings on Monday to Thomas Klestil, federal President of Austria, on the occasion of its National Day. The message expressed the belief that relations of the two countries will develop in the interests of the two peoples and wished him and Austrian people successes in their work for the prosperity of the country.

Greetings to Czech President

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- President Kim Yong Nam of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea today sent a message of greetings to Czech President Vaclav Havel on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the formation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia. The message expressed the belief that friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of the two countries will develop on good terms and wished him greater successes in his work for the improved welfare of the Czech people.

Greetings to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- Premier Hong Song Nam of the cabinet of the DPRK sent a message of greetings to James Fitz Allen Mitchell, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the Independence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The message wishes the Prime Minster of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines success in his responsible work for the nation's prosperity.

CPRF spokesman interviewed

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland had an interview with KCNA over the "Panmunjom incident," a controversy between the ruling and opposition parties of South Korea these days. He told KCNA: We are sharply watching the power-hungry ruling and opposition parties of South Korea slandering each other over "Panmunjom incident" which they say is connected with the north. When we speak out, both the ruling and opposition parties will find themselves in a quagmire. Moreover, the opposition "grand national party" is hindering in every way the tourism of Mt. Kumgang, an inter-Korean nongovernmental business based on compatriots. Lee Hoi Chang's "grand national party" is behaving so imprudently that we cannot but change our mind. There is nothing good for the "grand national party" to get from its imprudent behavior at a time when rumours about new "north wind" are in vogue in South Korea. Lee Choi Chang and his "grand national party" must clearly know that they will get nothing good when we speak out.