40th anniversary of victory of Cuban revolution marked in Pyongyang

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- A meeting and photo exhibition was held here on Monday to mark the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution. Minister of education Choe Ki Ryong, chairman of the Korea-Cuba Solidarity Committee, in his speech at the meeting said that the Cuban people under the leadership of the respected Fidel Castro Ruz overturned the pro-U.S. reactionary regime and won the victory of the revolution 40 years ago. For the past 40 years, the fraternal Cuban people have firmly defended the gains of the revolution and made great achievements in socialist construction in the face of the persistent anti-Cuban campaign and blockade of the U.S. imperialists, he said, and went on: The Korean people sincerely hope that the Cuban people under the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) headed by Fidel Castro Ruz will achieve greater success in the struggle to defend the fatherland, revolution and gains of socialism in response to the decision of the fifth Congress of the CPC. The Korean people will actively strive to further develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples. Nirsia Castro, charge d'affaires ad interim of Cuba here, made a speech. She said: This year is a great year recording such a brilliant chapter in the history of the Korean people as the reelection of Kim Jong Il as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and significant celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the DPRK. The Korean people successfully launched the artificial satellite "Kwangmyongsong 1," which is our great joy and satisfaction as revolutionaries and friends. We are convinced of the lofty fighting spirit, wisdom and ability of the Korean people led by leader Kim Jong Il. Cuba extends solidarity to the struggle of the Korean people for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and will invariably fight shoulder to shoulder with the fraternal Korean people. Prior to the meeting the participants looked round photos displayed on the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution.

No change in S. Korea

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued information bulletin no. 776 on December 27, nearly one year after the emergency of the current "government" in South Korea, stressing there has been no change in South Korea during the period. The bulletin says: On the contrary, the South Korean ruling quarters have turned South Korea into a wasteland of independence and democracy and plunged its economy into crisis. They also laid new serious obstacles in the way of the north-south relations and national reunification. From the first days of taking office they openly revealed their pro-American and pro-Japanese nature. The South Korean ruling quarters have channeled huge amounts of money into keeping up the U.S. army in South Korea, though South Korea is in severe economic crisis, and put the South Korean economy at the tender mercy of the United States under the veil of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Bowing to the IMF demands, they have been carrying on "economic restructuring" which costs bankruptcy of over 50,000 enterprises this year alone. In his tour of Japan in October this year, the South Korean chief executive whitewashed past crimes of the Japanese imperialists. He totally lifted the ban on importing Japanese culture which his predecessors dared not to do. On September 25, he sold off the Tok islet, an inseparable part of Korea's territory, and handed Japan great part of territorial waters of South Korea. Before taking office, he often called for the repeal of the "National Security Law" and removal of the "Agency for National Security Planning." but soon after taking office he, against his calls, has maintained them and "readjusted" repressive institutions for the worse. The South Korean authorities, planning to build 17 new prisons by the year 2001, have suppressed the students and people more brutally. Their confrontation moves against the northern half of Korea have been further escalated with their incessant arms beef-up and war drills against the north. "'98 Hoguk," "Ulji Focus Lens," "'98 Foal Eagle," "'98 Hwarang" and other war exercises have been staged almost every day. The past one year shows there is nothing to expect from the current South Korean ruling quarters.

leaflets calling for U.S. troop pullout found scattered in S. Korea

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Leaflets written in English were found scattered at a U.S. military base in Ryongsan-ri, Phaju city, South Korea, on December 6 as regards the statement of the spokesman for the general staff of the Korean people's army, Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoted the Kyonggi provincial committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) as saying. The leaflet made in the name of the society of patriotic servicepersons says the statement of the KPA general staff spokesman reflects a firm will of Marshal Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, to annihilate the Yankees, who are running amuck like a puppy knowing no fear of the tiger, and emerge victorious. The leaflet also says the Yankees should go home at an early date, taking along all their armed forces for aggression on the north, if they do not want to meet a miserable end in a "punch bowl."

Heroes produced this year

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Heroes and heroines of the times sacrificing and devoting themselves to the party, leader, society and collective have been continuously produced in the DPRK. A number of people received titles of heroes this year for rendering meritorious services as independent human beings. DPRK heroes Kim Un Chol, Kim Chol and Kim Kwang Chol, soldiers of the Korean People's Army, took out portraits of President Kim Il Sung and Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il from the quarters enveloped in flames and sacrificed themselves to rescue revolutionary comrades-in-arms from danger. 17 young soldiers died after protecting the precious treasure of revolution, trees bearing slogans written by anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners, from an unexpected fire which occured in a historic mountain and received titles of DPRK heroes for their heroic deeds. They are living examples of mass heroism displayed this year. A number of heroes and heroines were produced among officials and worker innovators who made exploits in the building of a powerful socialist country as well as among intellectuals who contributed to the development of science, education, literature and art of the country. Among them are officials who have been working at important posts of the party and state for a long time devoting themselves to the development of the party and rendering services to raising the external dignity of the country and to shoring up different sectors of the national economy. Also among them are 8 scientists and technicians who contributed to the successful launch of an artificial satellite "Kwangmyongsong 1" and ordinary colliers of the Anju area coal complex. This is a result of the benevolent politics of Kim Jong Il. He leads all the Korean people to heroic exploits, saying that most worthwhile life of an independent human being is to live heroically and become heroes. Heroism of the Korean people which traces its origin to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle has been inherited in the arduous revolutionary struggle generation after generation. It is being fully demonstrated today when the DPRK is making the forced march of socialism. Now, all the Korean people are glorifying their honor in the socialist forced march for final victory, inheriting the spirit of heroes, creators of exploits and models of the times.

KCNA on "restructuring" nullifying "election commitments"

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities and top conglomerates recently confirmed and published a "restructuring plan" of five conglomerates, yielding to the pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). By doing so, the present South Korean chief executive made a clean sheet of "commitments" he made during the "Presidential election". At that time, he had promised that he would ensure employment if he took office. "Restructuring plan" is not only an instrument of surrender to the U.S.-led international monetary capital but also a death warrant against the South Korean workers. Since he took office, the South Korean ruler, advertising the ruinous "introduction of foreign capital," has sold off enterprises, banks, buildings and even land to foreign monopoly capitalists and destroyed the economy as a whole with super-retrenchment and high-interest policies and "economic restructuring" program as demanded by the IMF. As a result, streets of South Korea are crowded with jobless people and many people commit suicide, unable to endure extreme destitution. If the "restructuring" of top conglomerates which hold an overwhelming proportion of the South Korean industry is forced, it will reduce the South Korean workers and people to more miserable fates. This is the criminal consequence of the loud-mouthed "commitments" made by the present South Korean ruler who, styling himself "prepared president," loudly promised that he would tide over the economic crisis. This reality is patent proof that the South Korean rulers are a group of truculent traitors who ruthlessly trample underfoot the vital rights of workers and people in league with outside forces if it is for the maintenance of power.

Fussy movement of U.S. 31st marine expedition

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today comments on the fussy movement of the U.S. 31st marine expedition stationed in Okinawa. The daily says: The expedition, the mission of which is to ensure the U.S. military control over the Asia-Pacific region and the Indian ocean area, has chosen the operation "over horizon" as its main mode of combat. Korea is the first zone of the expedition's operations "over horizon." In the event of "contingency" on the Korean peninsula the United States is mobilizing the marine corps with the expedition as the hardcore to make a large-scale wave-style landing operation on the east and west coasts of Korea, attack and contain its coastal and depth areas, take the initiative of the war, unleash a total war of a scorched earth type and stifle the DPRK with military strength. According to such criminal operation and strategical intention of the U.S. imperialists, their expedition and other marine corps are further intensifying surprise landing exercises and operational activities in Okinawa and around the Korean peninsula. If the U.S. troops in Japan including the 31st marine expedition attack us from a sortie base and an operation base in Okinawa in the event of "contingency," Okinawa will not go scotfree, either.

S. Korea defector interviewed

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- A South Korean defector to the northern half of Korea Yun Song Sik, who engaged himself in pro-reunification, pro-democracy movement in South Korea, had an interview with domestic and foreign reporters here on December 29. In South Korea Yun served as director of the "April Revolution Institute" and auditor of the joint measure committee for guarantee of basic rights of the people and release of prisoners of conscience and conducted anti-"government" activities for pro-reunification and pro-democracy movement. He also took an active part in a struggle for the release of unconverted long-term prisoners and prisoners of conscience and wrote articles on national reunification and democratisation of South Korean society. In the interview he made public a statement on his defection to the northern half of Korea. In the statement he said he decided to defect to the north because he was disgusted with the self-styled "government for the people" and perfidies of Kim Dae Jung against the people. The chief motive of his defection to the north was the respect and reverence for Marshal Kim Jong Il, who is building the north into a genuine society for the sake of the working people and into a powerful and prosperous country, carrying forward the instructions of President Kim Il Sung, he said, and continued: The abolition of the "National Security Law" and the release of prisoners of conscience in South Korea lead to the reunification of the country. The minds of the South Korean people come to the north, to the marshal. That is because of rare leadership, noble personality and benevolent politics of the marshal who is building the DPRK into a powerful country in the face of the continued pressure and blockade by the imperialists. He said of what he felt in the northern half of Korea, adding that the north is the only homeland of the nation with a bright future, the homeland of Juche with strong independence. Inexhaustible are potentials of the north because it is led by the marshal, the illustrious commander, because it has the independent national economy and powerful defense capabilities and because it is united around the marshal in one mind and purpose, he stressed.

U.S. and S. Korean authorities are to blame for suspension of Kumgang Mountain Tour

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- The Kumgang Mountain Tour, a non-governmental undertaking which began under an agreement between the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and the Hyundai Business Group of South Korea, is now facing a grave obstacle with the new year at hand as a result of the obstructions of some forces at home and abroad. On December 28 the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun reported that while visiting South Korea early in December, the U.S. coordinator of North Korean policy, Perry, said as regardsg for the reunification of the country and that the Kumgang Mountain tour that a huge amount of money remitted to the north may be exclusively used as military spending and so the South Korean authorities are keeping the Hyundai Business Group from making a remittance. Earlier, a South Korean radio said the South Korean authorities accepted an application file from the Hyundai Business Group on the payment for the Kumgang mountain tour on December 23, but they said it is difficult for them to permit it within this year because it they say will take a month to go through formalities and the file is insufficient. What matters as regards the tour is to define the period of the right to use the sightseeing facilities as three decades. When the problem was raised by the Hyundai business group, we made clear the position that the definition is a Serious political issue related to the prospects for the reunification of the country, that if the period is defined as three decades, it may disappoint the Korean people who are longin for this reason we cannot approve it at all. We have since maintained the position. The Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and the Hyundai Business Group had understanding of this matter and other issues and reached a satisfactory consensus. The historic Kumgang Mountain tour, a non-governmental cooperation work, began on November 18 amidst the expectation and interest of the whole nation. It has proceeded well up to this date. With a view to achieving the great national unity, helping even a bit realise the reunification of the country, the supreme task of the Korean people, and realising the desire of the South Koreans for sightseeing the famous Kumgang Mountain of the nation, we agreed to a document on the Kumgang Mountain tour for realising the non-governmental tour program with the hyundai business group and gave the Hyundai Business Group a document of the DPRK government guaranteeing the undertaking and made every possible effort for the successful program. Mt. Kumgang is adjacent to the Military Demarcation Line. The DPRK is in acute military confrontation with the U.S. and South Korea with the MDL in between. Despite the situation we approved the Kumgang Mountain tour program and took other compatriotic steps. We have given full play to great magnanimity and patience for the successful promotion of the program in the face of the escalating tensions triggered by the never-ceasing provocation manoeuvrings of the U.S. and the South Korean authorities. The U.S. and the South Korean authorities, however, described the program as a "success" of their North Korea policy. While using the program for their sinister political purpose, they left no stone unturned to block the successful promotion of the program. The U.S. President, Clinton, visited South Korea in late November, a few days after the beginning of the tour. He made provocative remarks against the north at U.S. military bases, rendering the situation strained on purpose. The South Korean authorities, dancing to the tune of the their U.S. master, brought the situation to the extreme pitch of strain through the medium of large-scale military manoeuvres. As foreign newspapers reported and recongnised, the U.S. and the South Korean authorities are putting the brake on the program, clamouring about the period of the tour when the program, based on the compatriotic stand, is smoothly proceeding. The U.S. and the South Korean authorities went so far as to link the payment for the program with military spending in a far-fetched manner. The U.S. and the South Korean authorities will be held responsible entirely for the ensuing consequences of the possible suspension of the Kumgang Mountain tour and other undertakings for economic cooperation between us and the Hyundai Business Group.