Bright prospect opens for building powerful state this year
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A bright prospect opened for the building of a powerful country of Juche, the greatest success which was gained by the Korean people this year.
Rodong Sinmun stresses this in a signed article today.
The daily goes on:
This year was a year of struggle and progress when the politico-ideological position has been cemented and a great breakthrough made in the building of a powerful country and a significant year when the military position has been further consolidated.
This year the Korean people reelected the respected Kim Jong Il as Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK. The state machinery of the DPRK has grown stronger and developed into a powerful political instrument for carrying into practice his ideas and politics. That was an important political event that marked a turning-point in consolidating the politico-ideological strength of the DPRK, the might of monolithic unity around Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il and in comprehensively realizing his plan for building a powerful country. The DPRK launched an artificial satellite "Kwangmyongsong 1," the first of its kind in history of Korea, into orbit with its wisdom and technology.
That is a success worthy of special mention, a solemn gunreport of the building of a powerful country of Juche.
All the people have displayed the Kanggye spirit, the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance, this year.
As a result, more than 5,000 minor power stations were built and solid foundations were laid for putting production on a steady footing in metal and machine-building industries and many other sectors and units.
A prospect has been opened for attaining self-sufficiency in food through a great upswing in potato farming. The April 25 Hotel, September 9 Street and many other monumental edifices were built and signal achievements made in land management and socialist cultural construction including science, education, culture and art, public health and sports under difficult conditions.
With great efforts directed to the implementation of the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea on turning all the army into a cadre army, modernizing the army, arming all the people and turning the whole country into a fortress, the people's army has developed into an invincible army and all-people, nationwide defence system has been consolidated considerably.
The Korean people have been able to lay solid foundations for the building of a powerful country this year thanks to the wise guidance of Marshal Kim Jong Il.
DPRK, Cuba sign plan for cultural exchange
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A Juche 87-89 (1998-2000) plan for cultural exchange between the governments of the DPRK and the Republic of Cuba was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba on Dec. 23.
DPRK ambassador to Cuba Kim Kil Hwan and vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Isabel Allende signed the document.
"Dandong Kimjongilia Hreenhouse" opens in China
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- An opening ceremony of the "Dandong Kimjongilia Greenhouse" was held at Dandong of China on Dec. 27 to mark the 7th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA).
The opening ceremony was addressed by the chief of the Dandong city external economy committee and the vice-chairman of the DPRK Kimjongilia federation.
Speakers said that it is of weighty significance to open the Dandong Greenhouse with due ceremony in celebration of the 7th anniversary of Marshal Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the KPA.
They noted that Kimjongilia is in full bloom in more than 60 countries around the world.
They stressed that the opening ceremony will record one more beautiful page in further strengthening friendly ties between the peoples of the DPRK and China.
Victory of Cuban revolution observed
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Nirsia Castro Guevara, charge d'affaires of Cuba here, gave a party on December 28 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution.
Invited to the party were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, officials concerned and foreign diplomatic envoys here.
Nirsia Castro Guevara said in her speech that the parties, governments and peoples of Cuba and the DPRK have waged an unremitting struggle for building a righteous society in which everyone lives happily. She said Cuba is convinced of the victory of the Korean people under the wise leadership of leader Kim Jong Il.
She said that Cuba always supports the struggle of the fraternal Korean people to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and to build an independent society free from interference and pressure of outside forces.
In his reply Yang Hyong Sop touched on the achievements gained by the Cuban people, rallied close around the Communist Party of Cuba headed by the respected Fidel Castro Ruz over the past 40 years after the victory of the revolution.
He noted that the Korean people extend full support and solidarity to the just struggle of the Cuban people for defending the independence and sovereignty of the country under the uplifted banner of socialism.
He vowed to make positive efforts to consolidate and develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries and peoples, which were forged by the leaders of the two countries and which are efflorescing day by day.
On Kumgang Mountain tour
Pyongyang, December 30 (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 regards 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 longing for the reunification of the country and that 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.
Production of Koryo medicine
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Medical workers of the DPRK produce a large amount of Koryo medicine, overcoming difficulties.
According to data available at the Ministry of Public Health, a large amount of medicine of various kinds has been produced this year and effectively used for the promotion of people's health.
Pharmaceutical factories and herb medicine management stations under the Koryo medicine production and management bureau fulfilled their yearly plans one month ahead of schedule.
They made 3,470 more hectares of herb gardens this year.
The raw material base for ringer's solution and base of medical glucose by microorganism zymotechnics built as a result of the efforts of the medical workers throughout the country prove their worth.
A great many public health establishments are meeting the needs for surgical cotton with their own efforts by building cotton cultivation bases.
All the medical workers across the country are pulling through difficulties in the spirit of army doctors on the frontline under the tense situation and devoting themselves to medical treatment, working hard to develop medical facilities and curative methods for the promotion and protection of people's health.
Greetings to Fidel Castro Ruz
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il , and Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Fidel Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the c.c., the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the council of state of the Republic of Cuba, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution on Dec. 24.
The message says that during 40 years after the victory of the revolution, the Cuban people under the correct leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba headed by Fidel Castro Ruz have victoriously advanced the socialist cause, their own choice, courageously smashing the imperialists' vicious aggression moves and blockade with the revolutionary principle and indomitable will.
It expresses firm support for and solidarity with the just cause of the Cuban people.
The message also expresses the belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries will continue to strengthen and develop in the common struggle for independence against imperialism and for socialism. It wishes Fidel Castro Ruz and the Cuban people new successes in the struggle for defending the country, the revolution and the gains of socialism.
Greetings to Palestinian President
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today sent a message of greetings to Yasser Arafat, President of the state of Palestine, Chairman of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and head of the Palestine National Authority, on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the start of the Palestinian revolution.
The message sincerely wished him and the Palestinian people success in the work for retaking legitimate national rights.