Memorandum of KAPPC on DPRK-Japan relations
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC) released a memorandum today as regards the DPRK-Japan relations developing into the worst phase owing to Japan's current frantic anti-DPRK campaign.
The memorandum says:
The DPRK and Japan, which had been in abnormal relationship owing to Japan's past crimes committed against the Korean nation and its hostile policy toward the DPRK, took the first step for the normalization of bilateral relations in the late 1980s.
A "joint declaration of the Workers' Party of Korea and Japan's Liberal-Democratic Party and Socialist Party on DPRK-Japan relations" was adopted in Pyongyang in September 1990.
The three-party joint declaration stated that Japan should make an official apology and an adequate compensation to the DPRK for the immeasurable misfortunes and disasters and losses Japan inflicted upon the Korean nation for 36 years in the past and for 45 years later.
It also confirmed the principled matters arising in bilateral relations such as start of intergovernmental negotiation for removing the abnormal relationship between the DPRK and Japan and establishing bilateral diplomatic relations at an early date.
As a result, three rounds of preliminary talks and eight rounds of full-dress talks were held.
However, the talks came to a rupture without any fruit due to the moves of Japan's Foreign Ministry authorities and other right-wing conservative forces.
The Japanese authorities also overruled the "agreement on resumption of DPRK-Japan negotiations" adopted between the WPK and Japan's three ruling coalition parties in March 1995.
At that time the four parties agreed to resume negotiations between the two countries and hold talks for the normalization of bilateral relations without any precondition and strictly from an independent stand. Under the agreement, working-level contacts and preliminary negotiations took place for the resumption of the DPRK-Japanese intergovernmental full-dress talks from 1996, at which a consensus of views was reached upon almost all the technical matters.
However, Japan raised an issue of "missing Japanese" and an issue of "those deprived of nationality." Though the DPRK made a magnanimous response, Japan slandered the DPRK over "missile test" and "suspected underground nuclear facility," abandoned the negotiations for normalisation of DPRK-Japan ties and suspended air Koryo's flight to Japan.
Japan went sofar as to threaten the DPRK with "strike," "strong counteraction" and "military option."
As the three-party joint declaration and the four-party agreement were signed by ruling parties and involved government officials of Japan directly, the Japanese government has a legal and moral obligation to carry them into practice.
The Japanese authorities, motivated by their ambition for reinvasion, hindered the movement for improved ties between the two countries.
Japan worked hard to realise its aggressive design in line with the U.S. strategy of stifling the DPRK.
The Japan "self-defence forces," which were deployed mainly in the north, were re-deployed mainly in the southwest, with the DPRK as the target. The "crisis around Japan" specified in the "U.S.-Japan defence cooperation guidelines" was revised as "crisis caused by North Korea."
U.S.-Japan joint military drills are targeted at the DPRK.
Military bosses of Japan visit South Korea to discuss war scenario against the DPRK and even show up at Panmunjom to whip up war fever.
Japan's current campaign over "missile launch" and "suspected underground nuclear facility" is also a radical product of its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
As far as nuclear suspicion is concerned, no one can vouch when Japan possessed of much plutonium enough to make thousands of Hiroshima-type nuclear weapons will reveal its nuclear teeth.
Japan is worsening its ties with the DPRK because it does not want the reunification of Korea.
Japan also aims to avoid apologizing and compensating for its past crimes against the Korean nation.
For the DPRK to receive an apology and compensation from Japan is an important political issue to defend and exercise the Korean nation's dignity and independent rights as well as an acute military issue to frustrate Japan's reinvasion scheme and preserve peace.
Without help from Japan, we have lived and can live in the future, too.
The official and unofficial contacts for DPRK-Japan relations held in recent years have clearly showed that Japan answers benevolence with evil, and favor with enmity.
Now that Japan dislikes improved ties with the DPRK and takes a hostile policy toward us, we have no intention to waste our effort and time.
The Japanese authorities must clearly see the present reality of the DPRK that is turning into a powerful, thriving nation through a leaping progress with vast potentials and must refrain from reckless acts that may lead to their self-destruction.
The character of the Korean people is to answer a sword with a sword, and rice cake with rice cake.
Japan must ponder over this.
GI's murder denounced
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland on Jan. 31 issued information bulletin No. 779 denouncing the GI's murder in South Korea.
James Perman, non-commissioned officer belonging to the Naval Intelligence Service of the U.S. 8th army corps present in South Korea, cruelly murdered a South Korean woman and a four-year-old girl on Jan. 27.
The information pointed out that such an outrage could be committed only by the U.S. imperialist beasts, who were imbued with man-hating idea and humiliation of other nations and that it was an inevitable result of the dependent and treacherous policy of the present ruling quarters of South Korea.
It went on to say:
The South Korean chief executive last year foolishly said that the U.S. troops' presence in South Korea is for the "mutual interests of South Korea and the U.S., the security and democracy of South Korea are kept by the U.S. troops in South Korea and they should remain even after Korea's reunification."
Owing to this, the U.S. aggression troops are swaggering about in South Korea and they committed such a murderous atrocity without hesitation.
As long as the aggression troops are stationed in South Korea and the U.S to the nation depend on outside forces and remain in power, the South Korean people can neither live freely nor escape victims.
Kim Jong Il sends messages of greetings to foreign state leaders
Messages of greetings were sent to air of State of Kuwait Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Guinean President Lansana Conte, head of State of Nigeria and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces Abdulsalam Alhazi Abubakar, Mauritania President Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, President of Cote D'ivoire Henri Konan Bedie, Prime Minister of Grenada Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur, governor-general of Bahamas Orville Alton Turnquest, Prime Minister of Belize Said Msa, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Kenny Anthony and Prime Minister of St. Kitts Nevis Denzil Douglas.
Kim Jong Il in the messages extended warm congratulations to heads of state and peoples of those countries and expressed the belief that friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and them would continue to develop on good terms.
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, sent messages of greetings to foreign state leaders on the New Year Juche 88 (1999).
He wished them greater successes in their work for the prosperity of their countries.
Artifice to justify offering of fees for upkeep of U.S. troops in S. Korea
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The South Korean "Government for the People" took a measure for the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade" to undertake negotiations with the U.S. side on the issue of "sharing military fees for the upkeep of the U.S. troops" in the future, according to the South Korean Newspaper Hangyore January 28.
Previously, the "Ministry of National Defense" had been engaged in the negotiations.
The "Government for the People" said that it took the measure because they could take a favourable position in the negotiations if the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade" with "rich experience" in negotiations undertook them.
This is a third-rate artifice to justify and formulate the offer of fees for the upkeep of the U.S. aggression forces.
It goes without saying that the present South Korean ruler is employing every conceivable means to lull angry voices of the people who are protesting against the misbehaviour of the regime in allocating 36 million more dollars for "shares for the upkeep" in 1998, the first year of his assumption of power, than the figure of the previous year.
Sycophantic behaviour of S. Korean ruler
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The present South Korean chief executive on January 28 called to "Chongwadae" a parliamentary group which will leave for the United States and repeatedly requested it to conduct parliamentary diplomatic activities, according to a radio report from Seoul.
This is a disgraceful behaviour which can be done only by the authority who is dyed with pro-U.S. flunkeys to the marrow.
Japan digs its grave
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed commentary denouncing the Japanese reactionaries for intensifying their hostile policy toward the DPRK.
They are raising a hue and cry over the non-existent "nuclear suspicion" and "missile threat" of the DPRK, while saying that if the DPRK shows a "constructive response," they "have willingness to promote the improvement of relations through dialogue and exchange".
The so-called "nuclear suspicion" and "missile threat" of the DPRK are inventions made by the United States and the Japanese reactionaries hand in glove with each other in an effort to isolate and stifle the DPRK, the news analyst says, and goes on:
The Japanese reactionaries claimed that if the DPRK launches another "missile", they will take a "resolute countermeasure" and take into consideration a "military option," too. They set up the committee for measure against major incidents in defence within the government against the DPRK and are openly revealing their attempt to establish a wartime system in real earnest including the institution of an "emergency law." But the DPRK is not afraid of them.
No matter how frantically they may resort to such a campaign, the DPRK will take the way it chose.
It is ridiculous that the Japanese reactionaries said they would take into consideration the payment of their share of expenses for light-water reactors over the DPRK's "missile threat."
We make it clear that it is a daydream for them to try to use the payment of their share of expenses for light-water reactors as a bait of any bargaining in relationship with the DPRK.
They intend to hasten their moves to arm Japan with nuclear weapons and become a military giant and round off war preparations to realize their wild ambition for comeback to Korea on the pretext of the non-existent DPRK's suspected underground nuclear facility" and "missile threat". That is why they are vociferating about the "countermeasure."
The more they are resorting to the hostile policy toward the DPRK, the faster it will precipitate their destruction.
Japanese Sankei Shimbun hit for false report
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman answered a question put by KCNA in the wake of a recent false report of the Japanese Sankei Shimbun that last year the DPRK proposed the DPRK-U.S. summit talks to the U.S. side.
On January 22 the Japanese Sankei Shimbun quoted diplomatic sources in Washington as saying that the U.S. side dismissed a DPRK-proposed summit talks in Washington last year and that a North Korean official who is deeply involved in the policy toward the U.S. informally conveyed the proposal while participating in a seminar at the U.S. Defense University in Washington in the last spring.
The report is virtually false.
Up to this date the hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S. remain unchanged, with the U.S. still pursuing the hostile policy toward the DPRK. So, we have had no idea of having summit talks between the DPRK and the U.S.
No one from our side has participated in the seminar.
No doubt, such a false report of the Sankei Shimbun is part of the anti-DPRK smear campaign of the U.S. and Japan to tarnish the image of the DPRK over its underground facility and the launch of artificial satellite though the report is a product of the newspaper office or of the instigation by someone.
The smear campaign of the enemies will bear no fruit.
Kim Jong Il sends New Year's greetings to foreign heads of state and party leader
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, sent New Year's cards to heads of state and party leaders of different countries on the New Year, Juche 88 (1999).
The following are receivers:
Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the C.C. of the Communist party of China and President of the People's Republic of china, Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Zhu Rongji, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese people's Political Consultative Conference, Hu Jintao, vice-President of the People's Republic of China, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of the Communist Party of China, Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, B. Yeltsin, President of the Russian Federation, Khamtay Siphandone, President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and chairman of the C.C. of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Emile Lahoud, President of the Republic of Lebanon, Tuanku Jaafar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, King of Malaysia, Natsagiin Bagabandi, President of Mongolia, Shahabuddin Ahmed, President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Hafez Al Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar and Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Hussein the First, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Glafcos Clerides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Emomali Rakhmonov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Robert Kocharyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, K.R. Narayanan, President of the Republic of India, B.J. Habibie, President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, Tran Duc Luong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana, Cassam Uteem, President of the Republic of Mauritius, Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, Obiang Nsuema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Laurent Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Republic of Tunisia, Liamine Zeroual, President of the Algerian Democratic and People's Republic, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, President of the Republic of Angola, Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Negasso Gidada, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Kiro Gligorov, President of the Republic of Macedonian, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, President of the Republic of Malta, Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, Franjo Tudjman, President of the Republic of Croatia, Janet Jagan, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Vernon Shao, President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Jules Wijdenbosch, President of the Republic of Surinam, President A.N.R. Robinson and Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad And Tobago, Alber to Fujimori Fujimori, President of the Republic of Peru, James Fitz Allen Mitchell, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Lester Bryant Bird, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Shodi Shabdolov, chairman of the C.C. of the Communist Party of Tajikistan, H.S. Surjeet, general secretary of the C.C. of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), A. Bardhan, general secretary of the National Council of the Communist Party of India, Le Kha Phieu, general secretary of the C.C. of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Alek Papariga, general secretary of the C.C. of the Communist Party of Greece, O. Shenin, chairman of the Council of the Union of Communist Parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Sazhi Umalatova, chairman of the Central Council of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia, Nina Andreyeva, general secretary of the C.C. of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, Gennady Zyuganov, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Lapshin, chairman of the Central Council of the Agrarian Party of Russia, V. Zhirinovsky, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, V. Tyulkin, first secretary of the C.C. of the Communist Worker's Party of Russia, Miroslav Grevenicek, chairman of the C.C. of the Czechy-Morava Communist Party, Carlos Carvalhas, secretary general of the C.C. of the Communist Party of Portugal, Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, coordinator of the National Executive Committee of the Workers Party of Mexico, Joao Amazonas, chairman of the C.C. of the Brazilian Communist Party, Claudio Campos, secretary general of the October 8 Revolutionary Movement of Brazil.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il also sent New Year's cards to Raul Castro Ruz, second secretary of the C.C. of the Communist Party of Cuba and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba, and Kofi Annan, secretary general of the United Nations.
Korea rises like phoenix
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Korean people have risen up like a phoenix to build a powerful nation despite rigorous trials.
Serious natural disasters which have continued in recent years have inflicted tremendous damage upon various domains of Korea.
In the domain of coal industry, over 180 pits were submerged in water, over 30 coal mines completely water-logged and over 1,000 major equipment were damaged by downpours, tidal waves and typhoons last year.
The same is the case with the mining industry.
In the forestry, hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of logs were lost and forest railroads and roads severely damaged. Tens of ships were sunk, damaged and lost in the fishing industry. Particularly, many fishing boats were washed ashore by waves.
No harvest was made from tens of thousands of hectares of fields owing to burying, floods and others while many dwelling houses and public buildings were damaged and deaths and missing persons were reported.
These were severe blows to the Korean people who have undergone difficulties under isolation and suffocation moves of the imperialists.
All sectors of the country were short of power, materials, equipment and funds, and the food problem was very serious.
The imperialists took this opportunity to put pressure upon the Korean people from all directions. But the Korean people unyieldingly defended socialism, eating even substitute food.
They rose like a phoenix with the firm faith that obstacles and trials were temporary and victory was sure to come. They demonstrated the might of the DPRK as an ideologically, politically and militarily powerful nation to the whole world.
Last year, they ranked the DPRK among satellite-possessing nations and laid foundations to activate the key industries even under the difficult conditions, upholding slogans "Let us advance merrily, though our way is rugged " and "Let us live our own way ."
They also opened up a prospect to solve the food problem and laid the foundation of eternal value which ensures the future of the country and the nation.
This indomitable faith will bring into reality the resolution of the Korean people to build a powerful nation in the near future.
In order to make a turning-point this year, they are running at a canter from the beginning of the year.
Declaration of civil rights and national salvation issued in S. Korea
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The joint measure committee for basic rights of the people and for the release of prisoners of conscience and the steering headquarters of a million signature-collecting drive demanding the release of all prisoners of conscience and repeal of the "National Security Law" and supporting the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" in South Korea made public a "Declaration of Civil Rights and National Salvation," according to a news report.
The declaration said:
Under the dictatorial regime of South Korea, the national sovereignty and basic rights of the people have been violated, democracy has been suffocated and the deformed economy has gone bankrupt. Besides, people's life has been reduced to misery under the IMF's trusteeship.
The dictatorial regime and monopolistic conglomerates must be severely punished for having ruined the economy. The military expenditure must be invested in people's life to give life to the economy for the people.
Public justice and the spirit of the nation must be revived by realizing national sovereignty in all domains of society on the principle of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity.
The authorities must relinquish the definition of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification and the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) as "enemy-benefiting organizations," abolish the "National Security Law" and "law-abiding oath system" and release all prisoners of conscience.
They should ensure vital rights of the people and political activities of workers and students affiliated with Hanchongryon.
The declaration called upon the entire nation to unite and vigorously fight for national independence and the reunification of the country.
S. Korea, grave of vital rights
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities describe themselves as "defender of the human rights". This is a deceptive trick to advertise South Korea as a region which ensures human rights and to divert elsewhere the spearhead of criticism from at home and abroad.
South Korea is a graveyard of human rights where even elementary vital rights are violated.
The present ruler coercively carried out the "layoff" and "restructuring" programs under the trusteeship of the International Monetary Fund, leaving as many as 8 million people jobless.
The number of persons who die of hunger and diseases and commit suicide is rapidly increasing among 1.7 to 1.8 million people who are absolutely poor.
The South Korean people have no human rights but rights to unemployment, starvation and death.
Drug addicts and alcoholics are increasing in South Korea in which social unrest and confusion is being deepened.
The number of people who were confirmed as drug addicts in January and February last year increased more than 51 percent compared with the similar period of the previous year.
Rodong Sinmun on significance of five year long history of Kim Jong Il's guidance over revolution
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today runs an editorial captioned "Let us remain loyal to ideology and guidance of the respected Kim Jong Il."
Touching upon the significance of the five year long history of his guidance over the revolution, it calls for grasping the greatness of the respected Kim Jong Il, the greatest man in the world.
It goes on: His distinguished greatness has fully been demonstrated in the historic five years following the death of the great leader Kim Il Sung.
The five years of his guidance over the revolution is characterised by the most intense loyalty and the highest sense of moral obligation dedicated to the preceding leader.
It is a history of a great defender who saved the destiny of the country and the nation from imperialist efforts to isolate and stifle them, with his iron will, matchless grit and the art of ever-victorious leadership and a noble history of patriotism in which solid foundations have been laid for building a powerful nation.
His revolutionary records of five years are the most precious national treasure of weighty importance in stepping up the Juche revolution, the cause of human independence and socialism with credit.
Included in them are noble ideological and moral traits of true revolutionaries in the present era and valuable guidelines for carrying the revolutionary cause to completion in face of any adversity and difficulties.
The five years of his guidance over the revolution fully reflects the noble traits of the marshal as a great statesman, an outstanding military strategist and a tender-hearted father of the people and his distinguished exploits.
It contains a considerably rich and profound content which thousands of books are not enough to deal with.
The editorial calls for making a comprehensive and deep-going grasp of his distinguished greatness and undying exploits, displaying infinite loyalty and filial piety as he has held in high esteem and upheld the preceding leader at the highest level and carrying out a revolutionary task as he did, by following his traits as a revolutionary.
9-year-old middle school pupil
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- A little talent was reported from the remote, mountainous county of Maengsan in South Phyongan Province. She is Hyon Myong Gyong, a second-year pupil at the Maengsan Senior Middle School.
As a nursery child, she learned to speak and write Korean and committed to memory all the names of countries and their locations on the world map. This surprised her parents and nursery teachers. The teachers saw her remarkable faculties of hearing and memory and taught her simple English words.
At the age of 2, she had a command of over 200 English words and could read English books adapted for children. At three, she entered primary school and at seven, went on to senior middle school.
In a recent county meeting of teachers, she appeared before them to speak English sentences and sing an English song. She invited a resounding applause from the audience.
DPRK has no intention to improve ties with hostile Japan
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Korean people will wreak deep-rooted vengeance upon Japan if its authorities dare provoke them, refusing to repent of its past crimes and persistently pursuing a hostile policy towards the DPRK.
The Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee declared this position in a memorandum, which was released on
Sunday to uncover the truth behind the development of DPRK-Japan relations into the worst phase by Japan.Some quarters of Japan have made nonsensical argument that the DPRK's demand for compensation has come from its economic reason,the memorandum said,and stressed:Their argument is not right at all.
Without help from Japan, we have lived and can live in the future, too.
In fact, the Korean nation would have made much faster and greater progress than now if such a country as Japan had not existed near by.
It is very ridiculous for the Japanese authorities to raise a precondition for the improvement of DPRK-Japan relations, trifling with the DPRK's sincere efforts while considering the improvement to be benefit to the DPRK.
Now that Japan dislikes improved ties with the DPRK and pursues a hostile policy toward us, we have no intention to waste our efforts and time.
Japan should ponder over consequence of worsened DPRK-Japan relations
Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Japan must take one of the two choices to go to ruin as our sworn enemy or clear away its past and put an end to the hostile relations with the DPRK so as to proudly usher in the 2000s with the world's people.
The character of the Korean people is to answer a sword with a sword and rice cake with rice cake.
Japan must ponder over this.
This stern position of the DPRK was expressed in a memorandum of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, which was released on Sunday to disclose the truth behind the development of DPRK-Japan relations into the worst phase by Japan.
The memorandum said: The Japanese authorities must be mindful that in case they continue anti-DPRK moves in line with the U.S. policy of stifling the DPRK, aggravating the DPRK-Japan relations, they will get nothing but inconceivably terrible disaster.
It is Japan itself that will suffer losses if the DPRK-Japan relations are so worsened as to lead led to military conflict. Then, Japan proper will face the miserable fate of a ship wrecked in the Pacific, not an "unsinkable aircraft carrier."