Atmosphere should be created in favor of tour of Mt. Kumgang
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) in a statement expressed the expectation that the tour of Mt. Kumgang, the first of its kind in history of national division spanning half a century, will help achieve national reconciliation, unity and great national unity and promote national reunification.
The tour of Mt. Kumgang for South Koreans will soon start as a result of the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of great unity of the entire nation, its benevolent politics and a compatriot step of the DPRK government.
The statement was issued today in this regard.
It says:
For successful promotion of the tour of Mt. Kumgang in conformity with the desire and interests of the entire nation there should nothing different from the tour.
Particularly, great efforts should be made to create an atmosphere for smooth tour which conforms to its original purport.
If there still remain distrust and escalating confrontation between the north and south of Korea, the smooth tour cannot expected.
This is a lesson drawn from the history of inter-Korean relations.
The South Korean authorities should stop provocative anti-north military manoeuvres and all sorts of confrontation with the north which cast a shadow over or endanger the tour which will soon begin amidst the interest and expectation of the entire nation.
Availing ourselves of this opportunity, we hope that all South Korean visitors to Mt. Kumgang will be grateful, with sincere love for the nation, our noble love for compatriots and magnanimity which provided them with a chance to tour Mt. Kumgang, value and love a tree and a blade of grass of the superbly beautiful mountain, a pride of the nation and make joint efforts to convey the mountain, a wealth of the nation, to posterity.
U.S. special envoy for Korean peninsula peace talks
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Charles Lartman, a special envoy for the Korean peninsula peace talks, and his entourage arrived here today by plane.
Message of condolence to acting President of Comoros
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on November 13 sent a message of condolence to Tadjidine Ben , acting President of the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros, upon the death of its President Mohamed Taki Abdulkarim.
On behalf of the DPRK government and his own, Kim Yong Nam expressed deep condolences to the acting President, the bereaved family of the deceased and the people of Comoros in bitter sorrow.
Greetings to CPG Central Committee
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- The Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee sent a message of greetings to the C.C., the Communist Party of Greece (CPG) on Sunday on the occasion of its 80th founding anniversary.
The message said that the WPK is sincerely rejoiced over the successes made by the CPG in the struggle to strengthen the party and win in the cause of socialism while firmly defending the anti-imperialist and socialist revolutionary principle under the complicated situation.
It extended full support and solidarity to the righteous struggle of the CPG and expressed the belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties will further expand and develop in the common struggle against imperialism and for socialism in the future, too.
The message wished the CPG new success in its activities.
Anti-Chongryon moves in Japan denounced abroad
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Japanese reactionaries' rackets against the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) were denounced in different countries.
Vladimir Tolstsikov, chairman of the Russian Association For Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK, made public a statement on Nov. 12.
He said that threats and terrorism of the Japanese authorities against Chongryon, its affiliated organisations and Korean nationals in Japan are provocative acts of laying severe difficulties in the way of ensuring security and peace in the Korean peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region and strongly demanded that these moves be stopped at once.
The Swedish-Korean Friendship Association in a letter of protest to the Japanese Prime Minister on Nov. 9 demanded that the Japanese authorities take a measure to immediately stop the suppression and persecution of the Korean nationals in Japan, punish the criminals and compensate the victims.
The Barbadian Committee for Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People said in a statement on Nov. 6 that the anti-Chongryon campaign of the Japanese authorities and right-wing reactionaries is an act of violating the national dignity and democratic rights of the Koreans in Japan and a grave hostile act toward the DPRK.
The Guyana-Korea Friendship Association in a statement on Nov. 9 said that the despicable crackdown of the Japanese authorities and right-wing reactionaries upon Chongryon and Koreans in Japan is infringement upon the sovereignty of an independent state and a wanton violation of the international law.
It stressed that the Japanese authorities should stop such acts and fully ensure the democratic rights of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan and their free business activities.
28th anniversary of corrective movement in Syria observed
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- The Korean people extend whole-hearted congratulations and friendly greetings to the Syrian Arab people on the 28th anniversary of the corrective movement, and wish them fresh success in their efforts to build a prosperous new Syria, says rodong sinmun in a by-lined article today.
The article continues:
For 28 years since the corrective movement the Syrian people have dynamically covered the road of independence against imperialism and the building of a new society.
It represents the validity and vitality of the movement that the Syrian people have traversed the road of national prosperity, waging the bloody struggle to smash all sorts of challenges of the imperialists and defend the sovereignty of the country and the nation in the past 28 years.
They still continue taking the road of justice and of independence.
Disinterested support and assistance between the peoples of Korea and Syria in the road of independence against imperialism have further strengthened their friendly relations.
The Korean people will, in the future, too, discharge their duty in relations with the Syrian people.
Release of patriotic youths demanded
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- The Joint Measure Committee for People's Basic Rights and Release of Prisoners of Conscience issued a statement on Nov. 6 urging the release of all detained students including Hwang Son, a delegate of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils, according to a report.
The statement denounced the South Korean authorities for arresting Hwang Son, the chairman of the Seoul Council of Democratic Youth Organizations (Sochonghyop), the chairman of the Patriotic Youth Council for National Reunification under Sochonghyop and 7 other young people on charges of violating the notorious "National Security Law" (NSL).
It said that the "government", which "promised" implementation of the south-north agreement, throws a wet blanket over the desire of the people for reunification and suppresses patriotic people, far from abolishing the "NSL", an anti-national and anti-reunification law.
The statement stressed that Kim Dae Jung's "government" should immediately release Hwang Son, the chairman of the Sochonghyop and other patriotic youths.
Stop to U.S.-S. Korea joint manoeuvres called for
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Public organisations of different countries flailed the joint military exercises of the United States and the South Korean authorities.
The Swedish-Korean Friendship Association in a letter of protest to the South Korean authorities on November 9 said that the United States and the South Korean authorities recently staged war exercises under the simulated condition of overall preemptive attack on the DPRK.
It strongly lashed out at the war exercises, saying that they ran counter to the peace process on the Korean peninsula.
The Trinidad and Tobago Association for Friendship and Solidarity with the DPRK in a statement on November 7 said that the scale of armed forces involved, the operational region and purpose fully showed that the joint military exercises of the United States and the South Korean authorities were provocative ones to make a preemptive strike at the DPRK.
An Austrian public organization in a statement on November 6 strongly urged the United States and the South Korean authorities to put an immediate stop to the joint military exercises against the DPRK.
The United States must withdraw its troops and war means from South Korea at the earliest date in accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly, it stressed.
Stadium seething with activity
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- After school is over, schoolchildren go to schoolchildren's palaces and indoor Stadiums.
The Pyongyang Indoor Stadium (built on a complex of 350,000 square metres) equipped with various sporting and amusement facilities is a favourite haunt for schoolchildren.
Some play table-tennis and badminton and still others amouse themselves with electronic games and paduk, Korean chess and yut. Roller-skating and tennis are available outside the stadium.
The stadium is visited by thousands of working people and schoolchildren every day.
Korean jewel painting
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- An exhibition of Korean jewel paintings is being held at the Pyongyang International House of Culture.
Exhibited there are nearly 100 Korean jewel paintings including "Pigeon Dance," "Light Purple and Puppy" and "It snows."
The jewel painting is a new method of drawing with natural jewel powder on the ground of Korean paintings.
The Korean jewel painting appeared 10 years ago.
The Korean Jewel Painting Creative Group of the Mansudae Art Studio has made over 5,700 works during the period.
Tens of the works were registered as paintings worthy of national treasure.
The Korean jewel painting is very popular in other countries.
Some of the Korean jewel paintings were highly appreciated at art exhibitions held in Germany, Poland, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and tens of other countries and regions.
"Crane on a Lake," "Fairy," "Cats" and other Korean jewel paintings won gold medals and got diplomas of honour in the "88 Beijing International Inventions Exhibition" held in August Juche 77 (1988).
Merited artist Sin Pong Hwa, head of the Korean Jewel Painting Creative Group, said that the jewel painting based on perfect materials can depict various objects. The jewel paintings can be exhibited inside or outside irrespective of natural condition and season, he added.