DPRK proposes to have inter-Korean high-level political talks
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- With a view to preventing the imminent danger of war and bringing about a radical phase for national reunification in reliance upon the concerted efforts of the entire nation this year, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea proposed to the South Korean authorities to have inter-Korean high-level political talks.
A joint meeting of the government, political parties and organisations of the DPRK today had discussions on the question of opening a new phase of national reunification with national independence and great unity and set forth this proposal.
The meeting adopted three immediate measures reflecting the present tense situation and urgent demand of the whole nation--setting this year as a "year of national independence and great unity," letting the authorities of the north and south, political parties and organisations at home and abroad adhere to the three principles of national reunification the keynote of which is independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity, which the north and south agreed upon and confirmed, and holding a wide-range dialogue between the north and south, including the talks between authorities, at an early date.
It was said at the meeting that for reunification-oriented dialogue it is necessary to do away with anti-DPRK "cooperation" with outsiders, an obstacle in the way of national reunification, discontinue joint military maneuvers, abolish the "National Security Law" and ensure the reunification movement and free activities of pro-reunification patriotic organisations and figures in South Korea.
The meeting proposed to the South Korean authorities to have inter-Korean high-level political talks in the second half of the year following the implementation of the above-mentioned measures in the first half of the year.
The proposed talks will focus on a step for the implementation of the inter-Korean agreement in which the three principles of national reunification are reaffirmed.
Matters of cooperation and exchanges and relieving the pains of separated families and relatives and immediate questions arising in inter-Korean relations will be discussed as well.
A letter carrying the proposal to the South Korean authorities and political parties, organisations and figures at home and abroad was adopted at the meeting.
The meeting expressed expectation that the South Korean authorities and political parties, organisations and figures at home and abroad will show positive response to the patriotic call of the DPRK.
DPRK government, political parties and organisations meet
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- The government, political parties and organisations of the DPRK met here today.
The meeting was attended by honorary vice-president Pak Song Chol of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and representatives of the government, political parties and organisations.
It discussed the question of opening a new phase of national reunification in reliance upon national independence and great unity.
Secretary Kim Yong Sun of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea made a report at the meeting.
The reporter called attention to the attempt of the U.S. and Japanese military authorities and hawks to unleash a war on the Korean peninsula.
He said that the Korean people who have suffered from national division in the latter half of the 1900s cannot remain a passive onlooker to the danger of war at all.
He further said: With national disaster drawing nearer, all those who are truly concerned about the destiny of the nation, whether they be authorities or common people, should work hard to prevent the danger of war, open a new phase of national reunification and usher in a new century of reunification and prosperity in reliance upon the concerted efforts, irrespective of the differences in ideology and social system. This is the most urgent task common to the Korean people this year.
He proposed, as immediate measures, to let the authorities in the north and south and political parties and organisations at home and abroad set this year as a "year of national independence and great unity," adhere to the three principles of national reunification--independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity--and have a wide-range dialogue between the north and south, including the talks between authorities, at an early date.
He said for reunification-oriented dialogue it is necessary to do away with anti-DPRK "cooperation" with outsiders, an obstacle in the way of national reunification, discontinue joint military maneuvers, abolish the "National Security Law" and ensure the reunification movement and free activities of pro-reunification patriotic organisations and figures in South Korea.
He proposed to the South Korean authorities to have inter-Korean high-level political talks in the second half of the year following the implementation of the above-mentioned measures.
He said that a measure to implement the north-south agreement which was signed by the north and the south after reaffirming the three principles of national reunification should be a basic agenda item at the high-level political talks and besides, the immediate problems arising in inter-Korean relations including the issue of cooperation and exchange and the issue of alleviating the sufferings of the separated families and relatives, which our side had proposed long ago, may be discussed at the talks.
He continued: The South Korean authorities should not turn their back on this fair and aboveboard proposal of ours but abandon the habit of accepting our proposal faithlessly. They should ponder over it, make a comprehensive study of it and earnestly accept it in practice.
Then followed speeches of Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the c.c, the Korean Social Democratic Party, Choe Ki Ryong, Minister of Education, Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the c.c., the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and Pak Thae Hwa, vice-chairman of the north headquarters of Pomminryon and chairman of the c.c., the Korean Buddhist Federation.
A letter to the South Korean authorities, political parties, organisations and people from all walks of life at home and abroad was adopted at the joint meeting.
The letter proposed to define 1999 as a "year of national independence and great unity" and, to this end, pool strength and resourcefulness of the whole nation.
All the fellow countrymen in the south should hold fast to independence and the great unity of the nation as the banner of patriotism, check and frustrate the U.S. war moves and resolutely reject flunkeyism and dependence on outsiders that bring about a war, the letter said.
It urged the South Korean authorities, political parties and organisations to take a decisive step to determinedly break away with flunkeyism and sycophancy and take the road of genuine independence and great national unity.
The letter called for honestly implementing the three principles of national reunification--independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity.
Stressing the three principles are a reunification program common to the nation the north and the south agreed upon and declared before the nation, it held that the South Korean authorities, political parties and organisations should take a step to fix them as the principle of activities for national reunification and as the basis of the policy toward the north.
They should also renounce all the phoney "principles" and "bases" contrary to the three principles, it said.
The letter proposed to arrange authorities' dialogues and other wide-ranging dialogues between the north and south.
In order for the north-south dialogue to take a new step as a true reunification-oriented dialogue, practical measures for removing the stumbling-block of dialogue should first be taken in South Korea -- to repeal "cooperation" with foreign forces against the DPRK, stop the joint military exercises, abolish the "National Security Law" and provide the freedom of movement and activities for reunification to the patriotic organisations and public figures, the letter noted.
The faster such practical steps are taken, the better, the letter said, proposing to the South Korean authorities to have north-south high-level political talks in the second half of this year after the steps are taken in the first half of the year at latest.
The letter expressed the hope that the South Korean authorities and political parties, organisations and public figures of all strata in the north, south and overseas will actively respond to the DPRK's patriotic appeal intended to adorn the 2000s as a hopeful decade of national reunification by removing the danger of war and making a new breakthrough for national reunification this year under the banner of national independence and great unity.
Letter of DPRK handed over to south side
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- A "letter to the South Korean authorities and political parties, organisations and individuals at home and abroad", adopted at a joint meeting of the DPRK government, political parties and organisations, was conveyed to the south side via Panmunjom at four this afternoon.
The north side asked the president of the South Korean Red Cross to faithfully convey the letter carrying an important proposal based on patriotism to the authorities, relevant parties and organisations and individuals of different social strata in the south, 150 persons all told.
Letter sent to S. Korean authorities, political parties, organisations and personages
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- A letter to the South Korean authorities, political parties, organisations and personages of various social strata was conveyed to the south side.
A joint meeting of the government, political parties and organisations of the DPRK held here today adopted the letter and decided to send it to South Korea.
At 4 p.m. at Panmunjom Red Cross liaison delegates of the north side, upon authorization, handed over to southern Red Cross liaison officers the letter addressed to the South Korean authorities, representatives of political parties and organisations and personages, 150 people in all.
The letter has been sent to South Korean "President" Kim Dae Jung, "Prime minister" Kim Jong Pil, acting president of the "National Congress for New Politics" Jo Se Hyong, president of the "United Liberal Democrats" Pak Thae Jun, president of the "Grand National Party" Ri Hoe Chang, representative of the "Progressive Party of Youths" Choe Hyok, chairman of the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification Kang Hui Nam and 14 personages of pro-reunification movement organisations, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Ri Kap Yong and 6 personages of labor movement organisations, acting chairman of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils Yun Ki Jin and 5 personages of youth movement organisations, co-chairperson of the Federation of Women's Organisations of South Korea Ji Un Hui and 4 personages of women's movement organisations, chairman of the General Federation of Peasants' Associations of South Korea Ri Su Gum and 2 personages of peasants' organisations, permanent chairman of the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy So Kyong Sun and 6 personages of pro-democracy movement organisations, chairman of the Korean Amateur Athletic Association Kim Un Ryong and another personage, representative of the People's Victory 21 Kwon Yong Gil and 5 personages of civic movement organisations, president of the South Korean Red Cross Jong Won Sik and 8 personages of other organisations, co-chairman of the Council of Religionists for National Reconciliation and Reunification Ham Se Ung and 14 personages of religious organisations, chairman of the National Teachers Union Kim Ki Sik and 10 personages of organisations of science, education, culture and the press, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries Kim U Jung and another businessman, Mayor of Seoul Ko Kon and 55 other personages.
Symposiums on greatness of Kim Jong Il held abroad
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- Juche Idea study Organisations in Guyana and Bulgaria had symposiums on General Secretary Kim Jong Il on January 26 on the occasion of his 57th birthday.
Speakers said that they held symposiums to most significantly celebrate the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il as a common holiday of humankind. He is deeply respected and revered and absolutely supported by the Korean people and world progressive people as the sun of the 21st century, they added.
They noted that Kim Jong Il administers politics of love for and trust in the people, the magnanimous politics. They elaborated on his greatness, undying leadership feats and love for the people.
They vowed to conduct extensive activities to study and disseminate Kim Jong Il's revolutionary idea.
A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at a joint symposium held in Guyana.
Rally and demonstration held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- Some 6,000 employees of Sam Sung Motor Company in Pusan and Taegu of South Korea held a rally and a demonstration in Taegu on January 30 against the authorities-imposed "exchange of key entities", according to a Seoul-based radio report.
Saying that the "exchange of entities" is imposing unilateral sacrifices upon workers, they vowed to wage a general solidarity struggle of motor companies in case the authorities carry it out.
The rally was followed by a demonstration.
Hypocritical nature of S. Korean ruler revealed
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- The hypocritical nature of the present South Korean chief executive as the violator of human rights has been fully revealed.
A typical example of this is that he further beefed up the "Agency for National Security Planning" (ANSP) and retrogressively revised the "National Security Law" (NSL).
When he was in an opposition party, he called for the release of the prisoners of conscience and for the termination of the tip-off politics and voiced strong opposition to the "NSL" and the "ANSP."
As was reported, however, the "ANSP" was promoted to the "National Intelligence Service" (NIS) on January 22 although other organs were "reduced" when a "government for the people" was established.
Early in January this year, "director of the NIS" Ri Jong Chan declared that he would push ahead with the revision of the law on the "ANSP" so that "ANSP" could gather "information for national strategy" in a comprehensive way.
The present chief executive has further tightened the noose around necks of the people through the "NSL."
He rigged up the "law-abiding oath system," a version of the fascist ideological conversion system. Saying that the word law meant the "NSL," he cried that the "law-abiding oath system" required people to observe the law although
They have different ideologies.
This means that people cannot possess nor express any progressive ideology nor translate it into practice as long as the "NSL" does not permit.
In the long run, the law compels people to blindly abide by it.
U.S. President urged to implement Geneva agreement
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- The Asian Regional Committee to Support Korea's Reunification on January 25 sent a letter to the U.S. President in protest against the U.S. violations of the agreement reached in Geneva between the DPRK and the U.S. the letter recalled that the U.S. has not implemented any of the main articles of the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework including the construction of the Light-Water Reactors.
This is part of the U.S. hostile policy to isolate and stifle the DPRK, it added.
It said that the U.S. violations of the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework were also instigated by the South Korean authorities and Japan.
It urged the U.S. President to faithfully implement the Geneva agreement aimed at peacefully solving the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula and renounce the hostile policy toward the DPRK.
It stressed that for the U.S. to implement the Geneva agreement honestly would be favourable not only for relations between the U.S. and the DPRK but also for the peace and security of the world.
Rumours about "development of ballistic missiles" invented by U.S.
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- Gennady Seleznyov, speaker of the state Duma of Russia, told reporters on February 1 that rumours about the possibility of the "development of ballistic missiles" in the DPRK are an excuse invented by the United States to back out of the anti-ballistic missile treaty signed between Russia and the U.S., according to an Itar-tass report.
In the DPRK there is no possibility to develop such weapons, he said, adding that there is no ground for the U.S. to feel uneasy in this regard.
He called for looking through such acts of the United States beforehand.
Criminal acts of U.S. CIA
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- The U.S. reshuffled many leading officials and working agents including the chief and deputy chief of the South Korean branch of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said the South Korean newspaper Choong-Ang Ilbo on February 1.
This is an unprecedented shake-up, the paper said, and continued: The drastic personnel change was made according to a "measure taken to expand activities of gathering and analysing information under the changed situation of the Korean peninsula." The reshuffle is characterized by a remarkable increase of experts in north affairs.
During his Seoul trip at the end of last year, director of the U.S. CIA already informed the authorities of the measure on shake-up and its purpose.
The recent shakeup is closely linked with the start of "operation plan 5027" aimed at invading the DPRK.
Needless to say, the U.S., hell-bent on provoking the second Korean War of aggression, carried out the drastic shake up of CIA personnel for the purpose of further intensifying espionage, and subversive and smear activities against the DPRK.
Unreasonable plea for military expansion
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- The United States is scheming to increase armaments under the pretext of "threat to security" from the DPRK.
Branding its argument about "threat" as an unreasonable and gangster logic, Rodong Sinmun today says in a commentary: Its planned arms buildup is mainly intended to complete preparations especially to unleash another war in the Korean peninsula.
The United States has described the DPRK's launch of an artificial satellite as "missile launch" and claims that the DPRK is about to make another "missile launch," "threatening" others' security.
However, in actuality, DPRK's security is threatened by the United States, which amassed huge combat forces in and around South Korea under the "operation plan 5027" and has been staging frantic war gambles, tightening military blockade on the DPRK and posing nuclear threat.
The U.S. arms buildup is mainly to carry into practice the operation plan.
Its arms expansion under the pretext of "threat to security" by the DPRK can never be justified.
Kim Jong Il's ideology, banner very instrumental in bringing about great advance
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in an article says General Secretary Kim Jong Il's ideology is a very instrumental banner in bringing about great advance in Korean revolution.
It continues: Kim Jong Il's ideology indicates a way of the Workers' Party and the people of Korea to carry forward and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche. The patriotic hammer held up by the Korean people in building a powerful nation is a hammer to realize his ideology. The militant spirit of socialist Korea running at a canter stems from the might of his ideology.
His ideology is great in that it is a revolutionary idea full of absolute loyalty to the respected Kim Il Sung's ideology and cause, the encyclopedia and almighty instrument of the revolution and construction which proves its worth in solving any difficult and complex problems of the present era. His ideology is also great in that it is a revolutionary idea whose truth and justness have fully been proved in revolutionary practice of tens of years.
Kim Jong Il defined the "Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" which was amended, supplemented and adopted at the first session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly as Kim Il Sung's constitution and took a revolutionary step to hold Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the eternal President of the DPRK. The definition and step fully reflect his boundless loyalty to the preceding leader's ideology and cause.
The revolutionary policy of bringing about a fresh advance in building a powerful nation through the second grand march of Chollima shows his firm will to lead the Korean revolution as the President did.
When socialism suffered setbacks in some countries and the imperialists and renegades were zealously slandering socialism with this as an occasion, his ideology gave a scientific exposition of the truth behind the collapse and clearly indicated the way of victory to defend socialism. It imbued a lot of people who were bewildered by the collapse with the faith that socialism is just and it is sure to win.
The monolithic unity of Korea is gaining momentum thanks to the greatness of his ideology. The invincible might of the revolutionary armed forces traces back to his idea of attaching importance to the military affairs. The indomitable fighting spirit of the Korean people in the "arduous march" and the forced march is based on his spirit of independence.
All his ideas, theories and policies have clear targets and ways of putting them into practice. They serve as great guidelines capturing the minds of the people.
His idea has been a source of certain victory of decades.
It is, indeed, the eternal guiding idea and militant banner of the revolution in all the historical times of humankind.
GI's murder spree flailed
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on February 2 describing the recent murder spree of the U.S. aggression forces in South Korea as a thrice-cursed crime which can be committed only by the Yankees.
The statement gives details of the murders and excesses they have committed against the South Koreans up to this date since their occupation of South Korea.
It goes on: The aggressors killed innocent South Koreans by running trucks over them, hanging, mutilating and clubbing. They, not contented with such a murder spree, burnt people to death with a flame thrower.
Countless are outrages, rapes and murders committed by the yankees ever since their occupation of South Korea.
Among them are a "case of rape of Korean women," a "case of raid into a dwelling house in Phaju," a "case of hair cutting against Korean women in Tongduchon," a "case of painting against Korean women in Uijongbu" and a "case of murder of Yun Kum I."
The recent murders of South Korean women and a four-year-old child are the continuation of such sexual violence and murder. The brutal murders by the U.S. cannibals have turned the whole of South Korea into a bloodbath.
As long as the yankees remain in South Korea and their colonial rule continues, the South Korean people will not get rid of misfortunes and pains anytime. Nor can peace and peaceful reunification be expected.
The South Korean people should mete out stern punishment to the U.S. murderers, make them pay thousand-fold for the blood, drive the aggressors out of South Korea, move forward with a courageous struggle for independence and remove the source of bloodshed and disasters.
Artificial blood vessel
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- An artificial blood vessel has been developed by the joint efforts of researchers at the textile research institute of the branch academy of light industry under the academy of sciences and medical workers at the Kim Man Yu Hospital.
The surface of the new one is so smooth that it helps platelets to be free from sticking to and stomata are appropriate enough not to cause haemorrhage.
Greetings to Sri Lankan Prime Minister
Pyongyang, February 3 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, Premier of the DPRK, today sent a message of greetings to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo R.D. Bandaranaike on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Independence of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The message extended warm congratulations to her, her government and people and expressed the firm belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will continue to develop favourably in the interests of the two peoples.
It wished the Prime Minister and the Sri Lankan people great successes in their struggle for the country's stability and national development.