Indian national preparatory committee for celebrating 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il inaugurated
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The Indian national preparatory committee for celebrating the 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il was inaugurated in New Delhi on January 10.
The committee consists of 25 political parties, social organizations and friendship organizations.
Member of the Indian Parliament and Former Minister of External Affairs P. Shiv Shankar, chairman of the All India Indo-Korean Friendship Association, was elected its chairman.
The committee at the inaugural meeting called upon the world peace-loving people to jointly celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong Il.
Joint New Year Editorial supported abroad
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Foreign political and public figures published statements in support of the Joint New Year Editorial of Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi .
Leader of the Good Green Guyana Hamilton Green in a statement on January 7 noted that his party expressed full support to and sympathy with the position of the Workers' Party of Korea toward national reunification set forth in the Joint New Year Editorial.
V.I. Anpilov, chairman of the executive committee of the "Working Russia" movement, said they were convinced that the Korean people would successfully carry out the tasks set forth in the Joint New Year Editorial under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Mayor of Alcochete of Portugal Miguel Boieiro said that this year would mark a turning-point in the Korean people's struggle for national reunification.
The secretary general of the Peruvian Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea expressed the belief that the Korean people would make a new breakthrough in building a powerful nation under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il, upholding the banner of the Juche idea founded by the President Kim Il Sung.
The chairman of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru stressed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea would be a brilliant powerful socialist country in the 21st century.
Anniversary of conclusion of cultural agreement between DPRK and Egypt marked
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Pyongyang on Jan. 14 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the cultural agreement between the governments of the DPRK and Egypt.
Invited to the meeting were members of the visiting government cultural delegation of Egypt and Egyptian ambassador to Korea Mahmoud Mohamed Farag Zain.
Choe Jong Hwan, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee For Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, officials concerned and working people in the city were present.
Speeches were exchanged at the meeting.
Defector Yun Song Sik welcomed in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- A Pyongyang mass meeting was held on Thursday to welcome Yun Song Sik, a South Korean who defected to North Korea.
Yun Song Sik (61), who was working at the dissident democratic movement camp, came over to the north at the end of last year.
A DPRK order and money awards were given to him at the meeting.
Choe Yun Sik, vice-chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, said in his speech that Yun's defection reveals his ardent admiration for man-centred socialism of Korean style and his patriotic will to live a worthy life for the fatherland and nation together with the people of the north.
In his reply address, Yun said:
In the past 60 years I shed tears of indignation. Unable to endure the damned colonial rule I fought in protest against dictatorship, shedding tears of hatred and revenge even in prison. But, now I am shedding grateful tears, moved by the favour granted to me.
South Korea has been completely reduced to a colony of the U.S. and Japan, he said, adding that he is very happy that his wish for defection has been realised.
The north is now a happy society in which songs are loudly sung and which is optimistic about the future. It is because the north has General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the illustrious leader.
Rodong Sinmun on misdeeds of S. Korean authorities
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The ruling parties of South Korea single-handedly railroaded scores of treacherous bills through the "National Assembly."
Branding this as political gangsterism, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today says:
The South Korean rulers, styling their regime a "government for the people," shamelessly turned even the "National Assembly" into a theatre of fascism. This fully reveals how ill-natured the South Korean rulers are.
What is all the more serious is the fact that the "National Assembly" session passed a motion on the treacherous Japan-South Korea "fisheries pact" which has already been signed.
This is an open challenge to the South Korean people calling for the abrogation of the treacherous pact.
It indicates that the South Korean rulers intend to enforce anti-social evil policies this year, too.
Cohen's trip to Japan and point at issue@= KCNA commentary =
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Cohen reportedly arrived in Tokyo on the first leg of his trip to Japan and South Korea for military and political diplomacy.
He openly declared that the United States is ready to help Japan to develop its space satellite programme and wants Tokyo to cooperate in establishing the theatre missile defense system.
He went to the U.S. air force base in Yokota and said that the U.S. troops present in Japan protect two billion people in the region from San Diego (California) to Seoul.
Why is he touring northeast Asia from the beginning of the New Year and what is the point at issue in his Japan trip?
Owing to the end of the Cold War the presence of the U.S. troops in Japan and their role in the northeast Asian area, the U.S. Asia strategic vantage, lost justification and pretext with the dissolution of the former Soviet Union and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from abroad is unavoidable with the passage of time. The U.S. military monopolies and their spokesman hard-line conservative forces consider this to be developments contradictory to their interests.
Especially, the hard-line conservative forces in the U.S. congress steadily mounted pressure last year to turn foreign policy into tough one in the wake of the sex scandal of the Clinton administration and set the time limit for a political gamble this year.
Their objective is to worsen the situation of the world, northeast Asia in particular, proliferate a hotspot and collect bloody dollars, in a word, to give a boom to the U.S. military conglomerates in the crisis.
To get a thick bundle of banknotes here it is imperative to subordinate Japan's satellite development and the establishment of the Theatre Missile Defense system to the United States.
To this end the United States is seeking to make "threat" by someone a fait accompli.
That is why Cohen gave a hint that one of the important contents of talks in Japan is "to establish the defense system to provide against a possible missile attack from North Korea."
We will keep a good watch over the future trip and remarks of Cohen and will never pardon any encroachment upon our sovereignty.
"Guidelines" for overseas aggression
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Papers here today comment on the remarks of Yamasaki, an high-ranking official of the Japanese Ruling Liberal-Democratic Party, that the new "guidelines for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation" reflected the "concern" of Japan and the U.S. about "North Korea's suspicious plan to develop missile and nuclear weapons."
This is Japan's vicious method to get understanding of the people and to cover up its aggressive and criminal nature by justifying the "new guidelines" as "legitimate self-defense," Rodong Sinmun in a commentary says, and goes on:
The new "guidelines" are an aggressive scenario of the U.S. and Japan.
They are based on the "U.S.-Japan joint declaration on security". In this "declaration," the U.S.-Japan "security" cooperation is expanded to surrounding areas from "defense of Japan".
According to it, the new "guidelines for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation" were worked out with emphasis laid on "deterring" and putting down "emergency" which may occur around Japan.
It is ridiculous of the Japanese reactionaries to cry that the DPRK has a "plan to develop nuclear weapons."
The DPRK is exposed to nuclear threats posed by the U.S. and Japan.
The new "guidelines" were jointly worked out by the U.S. and Japan for aggression on and military interference in Asia.
The U.S. and Japan are going to realise their ambition to dominate Asia, the former using the strength of the latter and the latter taking the former's aggressive chariot.
A signed commentary of Minju Joson notes: The Japanese reactionaries plan to start their overseas aggression in Korea, unreasonably heaping slanders at the DPRK. This will bring an irrevocable defeat and shame to Japan itself.
Cantering Korean people
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are now cantering from the beginning of the general onward march to let this year mark a turning-point in building a powerful nation.
The Korean people's unswerving advance toward a clear goal represents their fixed will to make successes even under obstacles and difficulties.
Last year when they were on the forced march of socialism, the Korean people successfully launched the first artificial satellite, built the April 25 Hotel with a 20,000 accomodation capacity and the gigantic September 9 Street. Besides, they commissioned or completed several industrial establishments including the Pyongyang integrated circuit factory and the refined salt factory. This has further consolidated the economic foundation of the country.
The forced march was always led by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
From the beginning of the year he visited many parts of the country on a guidance mission including Jagang Province, Taehongdan county, Ryanggang Province, Tokchon, South Phyongan Province, and North Hamgyong Province, opening a bright prospect to activate the economy and to bring about a turning-point in this year's struggle to build a powerful nation.
The entire Korean people have turned out as one to carry through the tasks set out in the Joint New Year Editorial in hearty response to the steadfast determination and will of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The workers across the country are carrying out production assignments with the use of all potentialities and reserves in order to keep a steady rate of production in all domains of the national economy and to put the economy as a whole on the right track.
A well-organized work is going on to ease the strain on transport, develop natural resources on a large scale and thus lay the foundation for economic revival.
The farmers are directing special efforts to preparations for potato farming, regarding it as an important way for solving the food problem this year.
The intellectuals are devoting all their energies and wisdom to raising the science and technology of the country as a whole to the world level at an early date and, for the present, to solving scientific and technical problems arising in different domains of the national economy.
Farmers' winter recreation
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Farmers' winter recreation is going on at rest centres in Korea.
The winter recreation is annually held from early December to mid-February of the next year.
Farmers are enjoying a good time at rest houses built in scenic spots across the country including Sokam and Mt. Kobang in Pyongyang, Pakyon in Kaesong, Sakju in North Phyongan Province and Onpho in North Hamgyong Province.
In the period, farmers visit several places including the revolutionary sites, make mountaineering and play various amusement and sports games.
They also learn advanced farming methods.
They exchange successes and experience gained last year in increasing the fertility of paddy and non-paddy fields and effectiveness of fertilizer, producing and securing high-yield seeds and doing two-crop farming, and discuss how to improve farming in the New Year.
They spend holidays entirely at state expenses.
Rest centres have been refurbished with better conditions in recent years.
Anti-DPRK campaign
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The acting undersecretary of defense of the United States, on January 12 had a conversation with the former chairman of the policy affairs research council of Japan's Liberal-Democratic Party and discussed an issue of intensifying cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, according to a news report.
Referring to the DPRK's "suspected nuclear development and missile launch," he alleged that a joint action between Japan, U.S. and South Korea toward the issue is important.
It shows that the United States schemes to intensify moves to stifle the DPRK over its "suspected underground nuclear facility" in league with Japan and the South Korean authorities this year.
First Women's Trade Union formed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Women workers in Seoul formed the Seoul Women's Trade Union, the First Women's Trade Union in South Korea, on January 10, according to a news report.
An inaugural declaration was adopted.
It said that South Korean women workers are denied any legal protection although they live in anxiety from very low wages caused by temporary time duties and poor working conditions and from possible dismissal.
They formed an independent organization to win women workers' rights by themselves, it stressed.
Repressive measure to stifle Hanchongryon
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- The "supreme public prosecutors office" of South Korea announced on January 13 that it would take a legal action against those involved in the seventh-term interim executive body of Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils) on "the charge of forming an organisation benefitting the enemy" in light of the "National Security Law" before the formation of the executive body, according to a radio report from Seoul.
This announcement was made at a working-level meeting of the "headquarters for joint investigation into public peace violation" attended by officials of the "supreme public prosecutors office," the "Agency for National Security Planning" and the "National Police Agency."
Hanchongryon reorganised its executive body each year to protect itself and continue its struggle for independence, democracy and reunification. Its term is the seventh this year.
The measure to arrest those involved in forming the new executive body proves that the "people's government" is a more vicious fascist "government" than the previous ones.
Korean people's just cause supported
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Foreign state and party leaders, when they met Korean ambassadors to their countries, expressed full support for the Korean people's efforts for socialist construction and national reunification.
Maltese President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, expressing support for the reunification of Korea, hoped that the Korean people would make great progress in the struggle to achieve great national unity and accelerate reunification this year.
Cyprian President Glafcos Clarides wished the Korean people great success in their struggle for the development and reunification of the country.
General secretary of the central committee of the Peruvian Communist Party Renan Raffo Munoz said he was convinced that the Korean people would let this year mark a turning-point in building a powerful nation under the outstanding leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The Peruvian Communist Party, he said, would always support the Korean people's struggle for socialist construction and the independent and peaceful reunification of the country as in the past.
Ts. Elbegdorj, chairman of the Democratic Union Coalition of the National Democratic Party and Social-Democratic Party of Mongolia, expressed the belief that everything would go well in Korea under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun meets Egyptian delegation
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun today met and conversed with the visiting Egyptian government cultural delegation led by Nagla Mohamad Hussainy Rakha at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Present were Choe Jong Hwan, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and Mahmoud Mohamed Farag Zain, Egyptian ambassador to the DPRK.
Gift to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from an Egyptian government cultural delegation on a visit to Korea.
The head of the delegation Nagla Mohamad Hussainy Rakha handed the gift to DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun.