Greetings to Chongryon chairman
Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a congratulatory message to Han Tok Su, chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), on Friday to mark the New Year, Juche 88 (1999).
The message extended greetings to the chairman, officials of Chongryon and 700,000 Koreans in Japan.
It pointed that last year Chongryon further strengthened the organization and tirelessly conducted patriotic work in defiance of the unprecedentedly vicious campaigns of reactionaries at home and abroad against the DPRK and Chongryon.
The message called upon Chongryon to carry out the decision of the 18th congress of Chongryon by consolidating the organization into a powerful patriotic mass one and actively enlisting the patriotic enthusiasm of compatriots.
It expressed the belief that the Chongryon officials and Koreans in Japan will adorn this year, the last year of the 20th century, as a historic turning point in the development of the movement of Koreans in Japan by dynamically fighting full of confidence and optimism, bravely frustrating all sorts of provocations and tricks of the reactionaries with firm patriotic faith.
Greetings to Syrian People's Council President
Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Abdul Kader Kaddoura upon his reelection as President of the People's Council of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the parliaments of the two countries would develop on good terms and wished him successes in his responsible work.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from NDFSK C.C.
Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il on January 1 received a congratulatory message from the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on the occasion of the New Year Juche 88 (1999).
The message, representing the unbounded reverence and respect of the South Korean vanguard fighters and patriotic-minded people from all walks of life for the leader Kim Jong Il, extended him the warmest greetings containing their wholehearted wishes for his good health and a long life.
It further said:
Last year was a glorious year of Juche Korea and a year of Marshal Kim Jong Il when the northern half of Korea struck the world people with deep admiration by highly exalting the Kim Jong Il era and when the whole world burst into cheers, looking up to you.
Moreover, last year was a specially historic year which firmly promised the strengthening and development of the DPRK and the accomplishment of the Juche cause because you were reelected as chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK.
History tells a lot about exploits of great men. But it does not know such a peerless statesman and illustrious commander as you who adorned the history of the nation and humankind with remarkable miracles and feats in the most rigorous period of trials with extraordinary leadership ability and great revolutionary practice.
You are the great incarnation of Juche politics, the peerlessly great hero without an equal in all ages and the illustrious brilliant commander.
The future of the South Korean vanguard fighters and patriotic people from all walks of life is bright and the national democratic movement is sure to win because you are the leader of the nation.
Our NDFSK will continue to conduct the relentless anti-U.S., anti-war and anti-fascist struggle, true to the three major charters of national reunification advanced by the fatherly leader President Kim Il Sung and the five-point policy of great national unity formulated by you.
Instantly the united states ignites war of aggression against the nothern half of Korea, we, together with the brothers and sisters in the north, will not miss the opportunity to wage a courageous and sacred struggle against the U.S. and for national liberation and defeat the U.S. imperialists and thus accomplish the cause of independence, democracy and reunification without fail.
Anti-"government" struggle declared
Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- The (South) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions called a press conference in front of the "National Assembly Hall" on December 31 and declared that it would wage an anti-"government" struggle in the New Year, too, a Seoul-based radio reported.
Chairman of the confederation Ri Kap Yong said that the authorities relinquished items agreed upon at the first "labour-management-government committee" including those on the legalisation of the teachers' union and the admission of the union of jobless workers.
He announced that the confederation would in the new year, too, conduct an overall anti-"government" struggle in demand of the suspension of the anti-worker lay-off system.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon chairman
Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message on January 1 from Han Tok Su, chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), on the occasion of the new year, Juche 88 (1999).
The message said:
Juche 87 was a very glorious year when you were elected Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and a triumphant year when the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK was splendidly celebrated as a grand festival of victors and a general onward march was started to build a powerful nation.
It was also a historic year when patriotism and loyalty were more highly displayed in the teeth of the criminal anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon moves of reactionaries at home and abroad under your wise guidance and deep care. You are leading Chongryon and the movement of Koreans in Japan as well as the homeland to a new era of the Juche cause.
In the New Year, we will make a breakthrough in the effort for a great change and upsurge in the national patriotic movement and thus exalt the glorious Kim Jong Il era.
No matter how the situation may change and how frantically the reactionaries at home and abroad may persistently try, we will trust and follow only you, the sun of the 21st century, as our god and consolidate Chongryon into an overseas Koreans' organisation boundlessly loyal to the Juche cause.
We will devote our patriotic services and sincerity to the work for the prosperity and development of the homeland, conduct a powerful struggle involving all the compatriots for the reunification of the country and tighten solidarity with the world people including the Japanese.
Dangerous moves on part of Japan
Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries called a cabinet meeting a few days ago and adopted a decision on launching four reconnaissance satellites till the year 2002 and taking an active part in the joint technological study of the "Theatre Missile Defence System."
Minju Joson in a commentary today says the Japanese reactionaries are scheming to justify their moves to become a military giant under the pretext of "missile threat" from the DPRK.
The paper goes on:
On the other hand, the Japanese reactionaries are posing open threat to the DPRK with the backing of the U.S.
They went the length of claiming that the U.S. military attack upon Iraq was a warning message to Korea.
This is an open threat to Korea as it means that they, together with the United States, will make a military attack upon Korea.
If the Japanese reactionaries encroach upon the sovereignty of the DPRK in league with the U.S., it will soon result in the ruin of Japan.
The Japanese reactionaries should know that seeking to put pressure upon the DPRK, clinging to the sleeves of the U.S. imperialists is a dangerous political gamble related to the future fate of Japan.