U.S. will be to blame for kidnapping of DPRK diplomat
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on Tuesday over the kidnapping of a secretary of the DPRK interest section in Berlin and his wife in broad daylight by the South Korean Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP).
The statement brands the incident as a product of the premeditated plot of the "ANSP" which has long since intrigued against the DPRK mission in Germany systematically.
The "ANSP" infiltrated its agent Choe Chang Dong into the European headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification in the early period of the 1990s.
Choe pretended to be a South Korean resident in Germany and had contact with the DPRK mission in Berlin to hurt DPRK diplomats and commit espionage.
Having systematically stolen computer files of secretary Kim Kyong Phil through Choe Chang Dong, the "ANSP" tenaciously tried to allure and kidnap the secretary with the files as threatening means.
As the true nature of Choe Chang Dong as an agent of the "ANSP" was revealed, the "ANSP" embarked upon an operation to kidnap the secretary by disguising Han Hyong Su linked with Choe as a "businessman."
At 10:00 on January 13, Han Hyong Su, together with three other hooligans, appeared before the Hilton Hotel situated near the DPRK mission aboard a car with the number plate "B-SS-5787" and attempted to abduct the secretary in broad daylight.
As the secretary showed up together with officials of the mission, the Han Hyong Su group were dismayed. Unable to realise their purpose, they handed him an envelope with letters "working plan" allegedly for business dealing before fleeing.
Contained in the envelope were a slip reading "0172-3123375. Han Hyong Su," a catalogue of computer files already stolen, a letter of blackmail and 1,000 U.S. dollars.
In the afternoon, the Han Hyong Su group allured the secretary and his wife again before the Hilton Hotel by the same dastardly and wicked means and kidnapped them.
In the wake of the grave incident, we immediately sent, through Panmunjom liaison channel, to the South Korean authorities a letter carrying principled demand for probe into the truth behind the abduction and reinstatement of our secretary.
In their shameless and base reply the South Korean authorities said that they had nothing to do with the recent incident, in a bid to flee from the responsibility.
It is reported that the South Korean abductors interned our secretary for three days for the purpose of taking him to South Korea and that upset by our stern warning, they hurriedly delivered him to the U.S.
The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland bitterly denounces the South Korean authorities for abducting our secretary with diplomatic privilege in broad daylight in Germany, a law-governed country, considering the terrorism to be a naked, hostile provocation against the DPRK and wanton violation of human rights and international laws.
We cannot remain a passive onlooker to the abduction, but will make those responsible for it pay dearly for it.
Just as a crime deserves punishment, provocation deserves retaliation.
Now that the U.S. still keeps our secretary abducted by the "ANSP," we cannot but consider the U.S. to be an accomplice of the abduction.
The U.S. is to blame for abducting a secretary of its dialogue partner, in conspiracy with its stooge, behind peace talks with the DPRK. It also will be held responsible entirely for all the consequences arising therefrom.
If the South Korean authorities and the U.S. want the relaxation of tensions on the Korean peninsula and the improvement of inter-Korean relations, they should stop a heinous act of using our secretary as scapegoat for anti-North campaign and unconditionally reinstate the couple at once.
Foreign Ministry spokesman on Japan's hostile policy toward Korea
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK answered a question put by KCNA on January 20 with the Japanese authorities' hostile acts toward the DPRK getting pronounced as days go by.
The spokesman said: The top-level authority and other cabinet members of Japan have never let a chance pass by without describing the launch of artificial satellite in the DPRK as missile launch. They went so far as to threaten to take "a resolute countermeasure" in case there is such a launch again, to "discontinue financial support for the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO)" and send a "strong warning" envisaging a "military option". They also set up a committee for measures against major incidents in defence within the government against the DPRK. They are now trying to railroad a bill related to the guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation through the diet. This proves that they are busy adjusting their national system allegedly to cope with an emergency.
This campaign of the Japanese reactionaries is an overt expression of their policy of isolating and stifling the DPRK with the backing of the United States and in concert with the South Korean authorities.
This is a very dangerous move for their sinister purposes of turning Japan into a military giant and realising overseas expansion. It is a grave threat and challenge to peace and security in Korea and the rest of Asia.
The Japanese authorities must ponder over the consequences of their campaign and refrain from acting foolishly.
They regard the payment of their share of expenses for light-water reactors within the framework of the Korean peninsula energy development organisation as a "gift" to the DPRK and say their payment depends on whether the DPRK launches a missile or not. This only invites ridicule.
Japan must know that it is mistaken if it intends to use the payment of its share of expenses for light-water reactors as a bait for any deal in its relations with the DPRK.
As for satellite and missile, it is absolutely our independent right to develop, test, deploy and launch them.
Whatever others may say, the DPRK has no intention of giving up its legitimate right.
If Japan continues its anti-DPRK campaign in cooperation with those who are hostile toward the DPRK, the Korean people's anti-Japanese sentiments and fighting spirit will grow stronger and Japan will get nothing but the most catastrophic result.
KCNA on kidnapping of DPRK diplomat
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) allured and kidnapped Kim Kyong Phil, secretary of the DPRK interest section in Germany, in front of Hilton Hotel in broad daylight on January 13.
The incident is a product of the premeditated plot of the "ANSP."
The "ANSP" detained the secretary for three days in order to take him to South Korea before transferring him to the United States, upset by a resolute warning of the DPRK.
Now that the secretary is in the United States, we cannot but consider the U.S. to be an accomplice of the kidnapping.
The U.S. will be wholly to blame for its consequence.
The DPRK, which regards national dignity and sovereignty as its lifeblood, will never remain a passive onlooker to The kidnapping of its diplomat, but will make the criminals pay dearly for it.
Crime deserves punishment, and provocation deserves retaliation.
The DPRK makes the criminals and provokers pay ten-fold and hundred-fold.
The DPRK, as the victim, has the legitimate right to retaliate on the offenders thousand-fold.
The DPRK will exercise this right resolutely and mercilessly.
The South Korean authorities and the United States must reinstate the secretary immediately and unconditionally.
There is trap
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The remarks made by a high-ranking official of the U.S. Department of Defense over "suspected underground nuclear facility" and "missile launch" in the DPRK during his trip to Japan are indicative of the U.S. position towards the DPRK.
Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed commentary today.
The news analyst says: The U.S. hawks claim that U.S.-Japan-South Korea "joint counteraction is essential." That is a revelation of their intention to set in motion the aggressive triangular military alliance and stifle the DPRK.
It is the U.S. strategy to tighten the alliance and use it for the execution of the policy to stifle the DPRK.
The U.S. is trying to swallow up the DPRK in reliance upon the alliance.
The war chariot the U.S. is driving in league with Japan and South Korea is rushing along the road to a Korean War.
There is a trap on the way ahead of the war chariot.
The U.S., Japan and the South Korean authorities should be mindful of this.
Kim Jong Il visits Choe Hyon Military Academy
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected the Choe Hyon Military Academy.
Kim Jong Il went round modernly-equipped study rooms for military technological education and learned how the academy was giving education.
He stressed that the academy should give ample knowledge of military affairs to the cadets in keeping with up-to-date warfare so as to train them into efficient commanding officers capable of splendidly fulfilling whatever combat duties.
In order to train the cadets to be a-match-for-a-hundred commanding officers possessed of deep military knowledge and commanding capabilities, the academy should incessantly develop the content of education in conformity with the developing reality and upgrade the quality of teachers, he noted.
He saw a training of teachers and cadets of the academy and expressed deep satisfaction with it.
And he met combatants who distinguished themselves in the training and warmly encouraged them.
Then, he saw round cultural education and logistic facilities of the academy, saying that nothing should be spared for the cadets who will be the backbone of the Korean army.
Saying that the position and role of the academy is very important in the strengthening and development of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, he specified important tasks in education and management of the academy.
He gave the academy a pair of binoculars, a machine gun and an automatic rifle as gifts.
He had a picture taken with the teaching staff of the academy.
He was accompanied by generals Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong and colonel general Ri Myong Su of the Korean people's Army.
Accompanying him were also secretary Kim Kuk Thae and first vice department directors Ri Yong Chol and Pak Song Bong of the WPK central committee.
Thousand-fold punishment will go to provokers
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on January 19 as regards war confabs which were recently held between the South Korean
authorities and U.S. military bosses.
The statement said: A "joint statement" was published at the 20th South Korea-U.S. "military committee" meeting and the 30th South Korea-U.S. "annual consultative meeting on security" held with the participation of the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the U.S. chairman of joint chiefs of staff who toured South Korea from January 14 to 16.
The keynote of the "joint statement" is a "strong warning to the DPRK."
Particularly, U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen openly declared that "all means including nuclear weapons" would be used on the Korean peninsula.
These confabs between the U.S. warmongers and the South Korean authorities are dangerous military ones which can be held only on the eve of war.
This is an open declaration of a nuclear war against the DPRK.
It is unprecedented that the U.S. openly declared the use of nuclear weapons against the DPRK.
Since its "appeasement strategy" and "isolation and suffocation strategy" do not work with the DPRK, the United States is taking it as its last choice to ignite a war against the DPRK.
The DPRK is fully ready to annihilate any formidable enemy at one stroke.
If the U.S. and the South Korean authorities finally unleash a war against the DPRK in disregard of its repeated warnings, the invincible Korean People's Army and people will deal a thousand-fold blow at the aggressors and take the opportunity to accomplish the historic cause of national reunification.
Exhibition of posters
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- An "exhibition of posters for carrying through challenging tasks set out in the Joint New Year Editorial" is going on at the People's Palace of Culture.
Exhibited are more than 90 posters.
Posters "Let us exalt the DPRK as an ideologically, militarily and economically powerful socialist nation " and "Let this year mark a turning-point in building a powerful nation " show the Korean people's strong will to push ahead with the second grand march of Chollima to build the socialist fatherland of Juche into an invincible country.
"Forward to fulfill this year's economic tasks raising the sound of the revolutionary drum ", "Forward to build a Powerful nation in the spirit of victors " and many other Posters call for speeding up production and construction in power, coal, metal, railway transport and other domains of the national economy.
There are also posters such as "Potato is like rice " and "Let us turn out in land management " calling for active efforts for agricultural production and land management.
Among them of various themes are also posters showing the idea of the Workers' Party of Korea on attaching importance to the youth affairs, the party that puts forward youth as a most viable unit of society and masters of future and brings them up to be heroes of the times and performers of exploits. Some of them tell about the WPK's idea of giving priority to science and the spirit of great national unity.
The posters encourage the Korean people to the advance for building a powerful nation.
Rodong Sinmun on fascist suppression of students
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The South Korean ruling quarters recently arrested students who waged a demonstration near the "civilian" dictator Kim Young Sam's house urging him to appear at an economic hearing.
Commenting on this, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today Says: It cannot be a crime that the students demanded the "civilian" dictator be brought to an economic hearing for punishment.
This is a unanimous demand of South Korean people.
The fascist rulers' arrest of the students clearly proves that they have no willingness to break with the dictatorship and treacherous politics of the "civilian" fascist.
It also shows that they are the fascists and traitors who are the same with the "civilian" dictator.
Kim Young Sam and his protectors, the rulers of "People's Government," must be thrown into the rubbish of history.
Patriots given jail sentence in S. Korea
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities in a trial held at the Pusan district court on Jan. 15 sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3 to 15 years 15 persons involved in the fake "case of the underground revolutionary leadership of the North and South Kyongsang provincial committees of the National Democratic Front of South Korea," according to a radio report from Seoul. Among them were Kim Chang Hyon, "head" of east district office, Ulsan and Pak Kyong Sun, who was spotted as "leader" of the organisation.
The authorities charged them with organizing or joining an "anti-State organisation."
In July last year, they cooked up the incident and arrested those people on the strength of the "National Security Law" in fear of the intensified struggle among workers and other people of all social standings in South Korea.
S. Korean workers' rally
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- The "South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" held a rally in front of the "government" building on Jan. 15 calling for stopping suppression of workers, according to a radio report from Seoul.
The South Korean authorities arrested or searched more than 480 people last year on charges of their involvement in demonstrations against the layoff. The confederation denounced such outrageous suppression and strongly called for the release of the arrested workers and lifting the "want" list.
It also published a statement on the same day and called for withdrawal of lockout of the Kia Motor Co. Ltd.
In the meantime, the federation of metallurgical trade unions under the confederation demanded withdrawal of the unilateral measure of threatening vital rights of workers of Kia Motor Co. Ltd.
80,000 tons of oil delivered to Korea
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- A total amount of 80,000 tons of Chinese oil had been delivered to the DPRK as of January 14.
The Chinese government decided to sent it to the DPRK free of charge on October 13 last year.
The Oil sent in the wake of the for delivery of 100,000 tons of food and 20,000 tons of chemical fertilizers last year is an expression of the traditional DPRK-China friendship. The two countries have helped each other in adversity.
The free deliveries of food and other relief goods to the DPRK by the Chinese party and government in recent years gave a strong impetus to the Korean people in their efforts to triumphantly finish the "arduous march" under the wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The Korean people sincerely wish the fraternal Chinese people under the guidance of the Communist Party of China headed by respected Jiang Zemin big success in their struggle for socialist modernisation this year which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the return of Macao to China.
"Arduous march" and cheerful advance
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- A Joint New Year Editorial of the papers of party, army and youth league of the DPRK set forth the slogan "Follow up the arduous march with a cheerful advance "
This slogan represents the will of the Workers' Party and people of Korea to convert adversity into favourable condition, misfortune into fortune.
The Korean people have made an "arduous march" for more than 4 years. The difficulties caused by continued pressure of the imperialist allied forces and years of serious natural disasters were so grim that other people may give way.
However, the Korean people have made the "arduous march" upholding the slogan "Let us always be cheerful in thorny road" despite difficulties and shortage and thus made a breakthrough in a new advance for socialist construction.
In the period the DPRK launched the first artificial satellite "Kwangmyongsong 1" with its own efforts, technology and wisdom 100 percent to legitimately rank among the satellite-possessing nations.
Large-scale September 9 Street was built and the first-stage project of the Anbyon Youth Power Station with an investment of several billion dollars was finished. In the meantime, hundreds of factories, enterprises and workshops were newly commissioned and minor power stations were built across the country. Those are creations of the Korean people's strenuous efforts.
During the "arduous march" the Korean people have laid solid foundations for building a powerful nation.
The DPRK is following up the "arduous march" with a cheerful advance.
The model of the cheerful march has already been created in Jagang Province in northern part of the country.
The people in the province have built minor power stations in all parts of the province and kept a steady rate of production of consumer goods and realised the electric heating of flats.
The DPRK surmounted the worst difficulties and is now standing on the hill where the final victory is in sight.
It is bracing itself up to let this year mark a turning-point in building a powerful nation.
It is a feasible and impending task facing the DPRK to activate the national economy, put it on the right track and stabilize and improve people's living conditions.
When this task is carried out the DPRK will make a cheerful march.
S. Korea: "ULD" threatens "NCNP" with separation
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Pil-led "United Liberal Democrats," one of the ruling parties of South Korea, at a meeting held in Taejon on January 15 urged the "National Congress for New Politics", its ally, to unconditionally keep a promise of "constitutional revision for the parliamentary cabinet system", a Seoul-based radio said.
Kim Ryong Hwan, senior vice-President of the "ULD", severely warned its "ally" that if "it does not keep faith it will go to ruin."
This strongest challenge is an undisguised threat that they would part from the present chief executive and withdraw from the "coalition government".
Since the end of last year, the "ULD" has cried for arousing public opinion to the "constitutional revision for the parliamentary cabinet system" in the New Year, and Kim Jong Pil went so far as to say they are ready to do the same for the revision as at the time of the may 16 military coup.
The recent meeting of Kim Jong Pil's gang was the "beginning of the constitutional revision for the parliamentary cabinet system," the radio said.
The fact suggests that the melee between the two "allies", each with its own ax to grind, for power has come in real earnest and the so-called "coalition government for the people" has sunk into a new crisis.
Successes achieved at beginning of this year
Pyongyang, January 20 (KCNA) -- Korean working people have turned out to carry out the tasks set forth in the Joint New Year Editorial. They are boosting production from the beginning of the year.
National industrial output value in the first 10 days has increased more than 30 percent as against the same period of last year.
In this period, the production of electricity, rolled steel, coal and daily necessities and railway transportation have considerably increased.
Large-size hydroelectric power plants including Suphung, Hochongang, Jangjingang power plants and the United March 17 Hydroelectric Power Station opened a bright prospect for electricity production by exerting great efforts on maintaining the high water level and high efficiency. And electricity producers across the country increased electricity production 45 percent as against the similar period of last year.
Coal production at coal mines in Tokchon, Pukchang and KuJang areas is 40 percent more than in the same period of last year. This is because they have secured more cutting faces by giving priority to tunnelling.
The Songjin Steel Complex has daily turned out more molten iron than the schedule by introducing various working methods including a rational method of oxygen-blowing.
The Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex has turned out 1,900 more tons of steel than in the corresponding period last year by operating furnaces and equipment efficiently.
Pyongyang-Nampho Express Highway builders filled or cut over 1,070,000 cubic metres of earth in seven days of the New Year in spite of insufficient rolling stock and excavating machines.
In the domain of agriculture, progress has been made in the struggle to solve the food problem through large-scale potato farming suited for topographical conditions of the country as well as the cultivation of staple crops.
All these achievements were the first fruition of the drive to let this year mark a turning-point in building a powerful nation.