KAPPC spokesman on S. Koreans' tour of Mt. Kumgang

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC) today made public a statement in connection with the start of the tour of Mt. Kumgang by South Koreans. The statement said: It is expected that the tour of Mt. Kumgang for South Koreans will begin on November 18 thanks to the idea of the Workers' Party of Korea on the great unity of the entire nation and compatriot measures of the DPRK government. The KAPPC and our organs concerned, proceeding from noble compatriots, will render all convenience to South Korean visitors to Mt. Kumgang and guarantee their personal safety. We sincerely hope that South Koreans will tour Mt. Kumgang, one of the most beautiful places in the world, with national pride and value and love even a tree and a blade of grass of the mountain.

Juche-based literary and art ideology seminar on industrial fine art

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- A Juche-based literary and art ideology seminar on industrial fine art was held here on November 12. It was attended by chairman Jang Chol of the Central Committee of the General Federation of the Unions of Literature and the Arts of Korea and officials concerned. It was said at the seminar that General Secretary Kim Jong Il has given clear answers to the theoretical and practical problems arising in the creation of industrial fine art and wisely led the work. The seminar touched upon intrinsic demand and basic principle of creation of industrial fine art, as well as successes gained in the building of Juche-based industrial fine art. In the past period industrial fine artists compiled more than 43,000 valuable industrial fine art designs in 14 books and successfully created designs of national value.

Friendship gathering

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries held a friendship gathering with Indonesian embassy officials on November 13 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the signing of an agreement on culture between the governments of the DPRK and Indonesia. Present there were vice-chairman Choe Jong Hwan of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and officials concerned. The participants had a conversation about the successes in the cooperation of the two countries in cultural field and enjoyed an art performance given by schoolchildren.

Anti-DPRK and anti-Chongryon campaign condemned

Rodong Sinmun supports South Korean workers'struggle

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- A people's rally was recently cosponsored in Seoul by 60 civil and public organisations. More than 30,000 taxi drivers of the "Democratic Federation of Trade Unions of Taxi Drivers" under the (South) "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" entered a general strike for winning vital rights, and the Trade Union of the Hanjin Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. declared its total strike. Rodong Sinmun today carries a commentary supporting their struggle. The news analyst goes on: Their struggle is an eruption of the pent-up resentment and wrath of South Korean working people who have been deprived of their means of life under the traitorous misrule of the authorities, and an expression of their firm will to wage an undaunted struggle till their demand is met. Millions of workers have already lost their jobs under the flunkeyist and treacherous lay-off system by the South Korean authorities. As a result, many families and people have committed suicide or group suicide, unable to eke out their existence. Exploitation and oppression are bound to give rise to resistance, which will develop into the struggle of the people. South Korean people are turning out in the struggle against the authorities, saying the present regime is an anti-social government, not a "government for the people." South Korean workers, keenly aware that the struggle is the only way for their existence, will continuously fight unyieldingly till their just demand is met.

Unreasonable debate cannot be allowed =KCNA commentary=

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Some time ago, the UN General Assembly adopted a "resolution" calling upon the DPRK to abide by the "nuclear safeguards accord" of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This is a very unreasonable act of encroaching upon the sovereignty of the DPRK. It, therefore, cannot be allowed at all. The recent adoption of a "resolution" against the DPRK is, in the final analysis, a foolish act of impure elements ignorant of the essence of the "nuclear issue" of the Korean peninsula. The "nuclear issue" should be settled through negotiations between the DPRK and the U.S., not at the UN. The adoption of the "resolution" which is not helpful to the settlement of the issue at all is a product of the unreasonable anti-DPRK campaign of the U.S. and impure elements of the IAEA. It only resulted in endangering the fate of the framework agreement between the DPRK and the U.S. and doing harm to the dignity of the UN General Assembly. As already known to the world, the U.S. has introduced nuclear arms into South Korea, invented "nuclear suspicion" against the DPRK and tried to use the fiction for isolating and stifling the DPRK. Worse still, impure elements of the IAEA, instigated by the U.S. poked their nose into the "nuclear issue," internationalising the issue. The DPRK-U.S. framework agreement adopted in October 1994 eloquently proved that the "nuclear issue" is a political and military problem that should be solved between the DPRK and the U.S. it also made it clear that the U.S. and impure elements of the IAEA are to blame for the special status of the DPRK in the implementation of the "nuclear safeguards accord." The strict implementation of the framework agreement is basic to the settlement of the "nuclear issue." The implementation of the framework agreement, therefore, should not be an unilateral obligation. The U.S. has so far discharged none of its obligations under the framework agreement. It is obvious to anyone that without the U.S.implementation of the framework agreement, there cannot be the DPRK's unilateral full implementation of the safeguards accord. If one truly wants to see the settlement of the "nuclear issue" and the complete implementation of the safeguards accord, he should not put pressure on the DPRK, but urge the U.S. responsible for the "nuclear issue" to implement the framework agreement. Turning his back on this will result in playing into the hands of the U.S. and impure elements of the IAEA. Such an act cannot be construed otherwise than a foul and unreasonable act of towing the line of big countries. Attempts of the U.S. and impure elements of the IAEA who want to continue using the UN as a lever of putting pressure on the DPRK, ignoring its sovereignty, will make the DPRK take a necessary countermeasure. They should be aware of this.

Grave challenge to progressive press

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo's groundless slander at a treatise of professor Choe Jang Jip of Korea University. This is based on the scenario of the South Korean authorities to lacerate the progressive press and pressmen, the news analyst says, and goes on: Nothing can be called in question in Choe's paper. He wrote his opinion and stand toward the past Korean War on the basis of the historic fact and truth. Chosun Ilbo, however, alleged that he "justified" the north over the Korean War and that his ideology must be "verified." this is an intolerable challenge to and provocation against justice and truth. Chosun Ilbo is a cancer inciting the anti-north confrontation and hindering great national unity. We are ready to join efforts with any press organ of South Korea if it truly wants national reconciliation and reunification. But we will have no relations with pseudo-pressmen such as hack writers of Chosun Ilbo, who are whipping up confrontation with the north.

U.S. and S. Korean authorities hit for war exercises

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- An emergency joint meeting was held in Lombardia Province, Italy, on November 6 to denounce the U.S. and the South Korean authorities for their reckless war exercises. It was attended by chiefs and members of the Lombardia provincial branch of the Italian Committee for Peace and Solidarity among the peoples and the Milano branch of the Italian Committee for the Reunification and Peace of Korea. At the meeting speakers expressed deep concern at the tensions created in the Korean peninsula as a result of the reckless war gamble of the U.S. and the South Korean authorities against the DPRK. They denounced the new war provocation manoeuvrings of the U.S. and the South Korean authorities as a grave threat to peace and security in the Korean peninsula and the rest of the world. The meeting adopted a statement. The statement called for expressing full support for all the proposals of the DPRK government for peace and national reunification and the struggle of the Korean people for carrying them into practice. It also called upon the peaceloving people of the world to join in an active movement for solidarity with the Korean people.

Licensed prostitution in S. Korea

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- "National Assemblymen" from the "National Congress for New Politics," one of the ruling coalition parties, cried for the introduction of "lawful licensed prostitution" at a plenary session of the "National Assembly" or parliament of South Korea, on November 10, according to a radio report from Seoul. In fact, the licensed prostitution has already been prevalent in South Korea. The loud-mouthed "lawful licensed prostitution" even at the parliamentary session is meant to impose greater misfortune upon South Korean women. It is an unbearable insult to the South Korean women.

Energetic on-the-spot guidance

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- This year the working people and the soldier-builders of the Korean People's Army have vigorously struggled to bring about a new upsurge in the production and construction, surmounting temporary difficulties. The builders in Pyongyang renewed the appearance of the capital city by completing the construction of September 9 Street and the April 25 Hotel with accommodation for 20,000 guests on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (September 9). The workers of the Huichon General Machine Tool Plant produced a great number of machine tools in a little more than 4 months, thus making a breakthrough in the development of the nation's machine industry. A struggle to make an epochal change in socialist construction has been waged in all domains of the national economy since the workers of the Songjin Steel Complex kindled the torch of a new great upswing. Thousands of minor power stations have been constructed across the country, thus increasing the number of units that are meeting the demand for electricity with their own supply. All these successes are results of the wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, who is directing the Korean people's forced march for the final victory at the head, firmly determined to make the country strong. To make a new advance in socialist construction with tireless and energetic on-site guidance is a method of revolutionary activities to Kim Jong Il. This year alone, he visited tens of factories and enterprises to make a breakthrough in economic construction. While he was staying in Jagang Province in January, he gave on-the-spot guidance to more than 20 units, lodging and boarding in a train several days. The total distance was more than 2,400 kilometers. Looking round factories and enterprises and minor power stations built by the workers of the province, he hardened his faith in the validity and vitality of the line of self-reliance of the Workers' Party of Korea and indicated how to solve the electric problem in our own way. In march, he visited the Songjin Steel Complex and encouraged its workers to kindle a torch for new great upswing and saw to it that the flame was spread across the country. In June, he gave on-site guidance to industrial establishments in Huichon, Jagang Province, the January 18 General Machinery Plant and the Chongchongang Machinery Plant. In October, he revisited the industrial establishments in Huichon. During his guidance, he met ordinary workers and technicians in their work and praised their successes, encouraging them to new innovations. Then he went to Taehongdan county, Ryanggang Province, and several units in Manpho, Jagang Province, during which he set forth tasks and ways to develop agriculture and bring economic potentials of the country into full play. Kim Jong Il's energetic revolutionary activities give great encouragement to the Korean people in their struggle to make their country powerful.

What do full-fledged joint military exercises pursue?

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The recent U.S.-South Korea, the U.S.-Japan joint military exercises were a preliminary war, a test war designed for a surprise invasion of the DPRK in every way. Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed article today. The daily goes on to say: These military drills aimed at finally examining and rounding off the preparations for a war against the DPRK, were field manoeuvres within the framework of the triangular military alliance. C-130 transport plane was flown from the Alaska base of the U.S. air force and the commander of the U.S. forces present in Japan and the chairman of the joint staff council of Japan's "self-defence forces" personally directed the joint war military exercises. These are unprecedented things. The U.S.-Japan joint exercise which was held from Nov. 2 was participated in by almost all U.S. units that had taken part in the "'98 Foal Eagle" joint military exercise. And F-16 fighter planes, AWACS planes, air refueling tankers flew to Japan from South Korea for the U.S.-Japan joint exercise. It is all the more serious that warships of the Japanese marine "self-defence force" staged a joint military drill with warships of the South Korean Army in seas off Pusan on October 16. These facts prove that the U.S. and Japanese authorities are trying to finally examine and round off the preparations for a war against the DPRK at the last stage through the joint military exercise. They also show that the military tie-ups between the United States and South Korea, between the U.S. and Japan and between South Korea and Japan have been linked with one another and that these relations are actually operating. The U.S., Japanese and the South Korean authorities had better ponder over consequences to be entailed by their moves for war of aggression and act with discretion.

Most important affair of the nation

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- To resolutely defend the politics of General Secretary Kim Jong Il= this is the most important affair of the Korean nation at present, stresses Rodong Sinmun today in a political essay headlined "most important affair of the nation." As Korea has a great brilliant commander, a powerful army and the heroic people, its national defence is invincible and its socialism is unbreakable, the political essay says, stressing: Kim Jong Il's politics is that of placing great importance on national defence. The political essay continues: As long as imperialism exists in the world we should defend the country's sovereignty and the nation's dignity and build a socialist powerful state, holding fast to national defence= this is an iron-willed faith and an ever-victorious revolutionary philosophy of Kim Jong Il. National defence is a mainstay of the state politics that safeguards in an all-round way all treasures created by the nation and is the first one of state affairs regarding the nation's prosperity and the social progress as foremost tasks. The Korean nation, which was forced to suffer distress of a colonial nation by foreign aggressors because it neglected national defence in the past, has become a powerful and dignified nation any imperialist aggressors dare not to provoke because it has put main stress on national defence in the prosperous era of the Workers' Party. As long as imperialism exists the Korean nation will regard national defence as its most important state affair and harden its determination to cement its own national defence and push ahead with the work of legitimate self-defence, pulling in its belt even more. National defence of ours represents the might of the country's self-reliance and serves the people to better their beautiful material and cultural life. The integral whole of the iron-willed brilliant commander, most powerful armed forces and the courageous people is the secret of the most powerful national defence of socialist Korea and the secret of high dignity and strongness of Kim Il Snug's nation. The Korean people will put national defence above anything else as long as imperialism exists and the revolution continues. The People's Army will be strengthened still further, all the people will prepare themselves more firmly for national defence and the country will push ahead with the work of making the entire army a cadre army, modernizing the whole army, putting all the people under arms and turning the whole country into a fortress. If the imperialists dare to invade the DPRK, the Korean people will smash them at a stroke with the might of defence power they have built for scores of years.

Military attaches corps here visits great Ryongmun cavern

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The military attaches corps here visited the world-famous great Ryongmun cavern on Nov. 13. It lies in Kujang county, North Phyongan Province. It is a natural cavern of fantastic shapes formed about 480 million years ago by solution and corrosion of limestone. After visiting the cavern, military attach of the Vietnamese embassy here Vu Dinh Thang who is the doyen of the military attaches corps, said that the beauty of the great Ryongmun cavern is not only landscape. The wonderful spectacle could be unfolded thanks to the warm care of the respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il, he noted.

Sunrise above snow-covered Mt. Paektu

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The first snow had fallen on Mt. Paektu, a holy mountain of Korea, for three consecutive days in early November, spreading a snow-covered scene. Then came a grand sunrise above this beautiful snow-covered mountain for several days. The sunrise appearing above the snow-covered mountain is indeed a wonderful scene. It tinged with red Janggun Peak, Hyangdo Peak, large and small Yonji peaks and ridges of Mts. Sobaek and Phothae one after another. Presently, the sun rose grandiosely above them. The snow-covered scene of Mt. Paektu reflects loyalty and filial piety of the Korean people while the sunrise above it symbolizes the loving care of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, who indicates the road of history. People in the area of Mt. Paektu proudly say that the sunrise above Mt. Paektu is the sunrise of Korea and the climax of majesty.

Greetings to Palestinian President

Pyongyang, November 14 (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 Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who is chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and head of the national authority of Palestine, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of the State of Palestine. The message noted the Palestinian people are now actively striving to found an independent state with sacred kuds as capital under the leadership of the PLO. It wished greater success to the President and the people of Palestine in their efforts to restore legitimate national rights including the right to return home, the right to self-determination and the right to found an independent state, and expressed the belief that the friendly relations between the two peoples would continue to develop on good terms.

President of International Taekwon-do Federation here

Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- President Choe Hong Hui of the International Taekwon-do federation and his party arrived here today by plane.