National seminar on Juche idea in Japan
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- A Japanese national seminar of the Juche idea on "Guiding Idea of 21st Century For Independence and Peace" was held in Tokyo on February 7 under the co-sponsorship of the Japanese National Liaison Council of the Society for the Study of the Juche Idea and the International Institute of the Juche Idea with the 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il just ahead. Present were delegates of the Juche idea study groups, followers of the idea and personages of various social strata, including director general Shuhachi Inoue and secretary general Kenichi Ogami of the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI). A delegation of Korean Social Scientists and a delegation of India were present on invitation. The director general of the IIJI in his report said that the Juche idea founded by President Kim Il Sung who devoted his whole life to the good of people, regarding it as his life-long maxim to believe in the people as in heaven is now being developed in depth by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
He said that today when a new guiding idea is needed for the 21st century, the followers of the Juche idea should make a deep-going study of the idea and build an independent society where the popular masses appear as its masters and a peaceful world free from war.
Speeches and lectures were made at the seminar.
A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the seminar.
The letter said:
The Korean people are advancing along the straight road of victory rallied close around the leader, displaying the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance even under the difficult situation, a proof of the vitality of the Juche idea.
The idea founded by the President and being developed in depth by the General Secretary is the common guiding idea of the world people, which will steer the 21st century to independence and peace.
Foreign diplomats in DPRK visit different places
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Diplomats of several embassies in Pyongyang visited the International Friendship Exhibition yesterday on the occasion of Kim Jong Il's birthday.
They saw with keen interest gifts to Kim Jong Il from foreign party and state leaders, political and social figures and people of various strata.
Meanwhile, the economic and commercial councilors corps of foreign embassies here visited Kimjongilia greenhouse and the exhibition hall of works on the Juche idea that day.
Repeal of "NSL" called for
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Vice-chairman Kim Kyong Rak of the north headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) in a statement issued on February 12 in support of a proposal adopted at a joint meeting of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations called for the repeal of the "National Security Law" (NSL) in South Korea, saying that it was a political obstacle to inter-Korean dialogue.
He said that with such a legal and institutional obstacle as the "NSL" left intact, which defines fellow countrymen as "enemies", inter-Korean dialogue will only result in fuelling mistrust and confrontation.
He further said:
The South Korean authorities are crying for "resumption of dialogue" and "dialogue without conditions," while keeping "NSL" in force. This proves that they have no intention to have dialogue.
Now that the South Korean authorities showed an affirmative response to the proposal, they should show an intention to make a new start by losing no time in abolishing the "NSL," an obstacle to dialogue for reunification, he stressed.
North's proposal supported
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Chief Pak Kwang Gi of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) published a statement on Feb. 10 in support of a proposal adopted at a joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK.
He said that NDFSK would greatly contribute to the nation's efforts to make this year a year of a turning-point in reunifying the country.
He said that the proposal is a resolute decision reflecting the respected Marshal Kim Jong Il's noble patriotic intention and fixed will to dispel the dark clouds of war and to open a new phase for national independence and reunification through the concerted efforts of the nation this year.
The South Korean people of different social strata hail and fully support the proposal, and a growing number of people are sympathetic with it, he said, adding:
The South Korean authorities should stop seeking "cooperation" with outside forces, discontinue joint military manoeuvres, repeal the "National Security Law" and provide freedom of reunification movement and activities for pro-reunification patriotic organizations and personages without delay.
S. Korean workers meet and strike
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Upwards of 2,000 employees of the Dae Woo Electronics Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries held a rally in Seoul on February 9 to protest against anti-social "exchange of ownership," a Seoul-based radio said.
Over 1,000 employees of the Central Research Institute of the Sam Sung Electronics Co., Ltd. met to protest against the unilateral "exchange of ownership."
The Trade Union of the Kia Motor Company held an emergency central dispute-steering committee on Feb. 9 to decide on an action program before going on a section-by-section strike next day.
They also held a joint rally of deputies with the Hyun Dai Motor Company Trade Union in Ulsan on February 11 to decide to go on a joint strike.
Feb. 16 holiday celebrations
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Colourful events are taking place one after another in Korea to celebrate the 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il.
Conspicuous among them are celebrations held by youth and students.
Pyongyang youth and students held the poem recital and song presentation "Korea, I'll glorify thee", an excursion march to the Jangsan and Oun revolutionary sites and a march of brass bands.
An expeditionary group of schoolchildren from across the country is now on its way to the native home of Kim Jong Il in the Mt. Paektu secret camp.
A story-telling meeting on his virtues "Our Father Marshal Kim Jong Il" was held by students and a national folk game of schoolchildren took place.
There came a get-together between veteran anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters and officials of the youth league.
The veterans asked the officials to follow only Kim Jong Il with loyalty and filial piety in whatever storms.
Celebrations, oratorical meetings, oath-taking gatherings and story-telling meetings on virtues were held by the General Federation of Trade Unions, the Union of Agricultural Workers and the Korean Democratic Women's Union.
An expeditionary group of trade unionists from across the country made a march to Kim Jong Il's native home in Mt. Paektu secret camp.
A fine arts exhibition of the Korean People's Army opened and a Kimjongilia Exhibition took place at the Ministry of Public Security.
All the events underscored the distinguished great virtues of Kim Jong Il and his undying feats and fatherly loving care for the people and expressed firm faith and will to build a powerful socialist nation in Korea at an early date.
Feb. 16 celebration performance
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- A Feb. 16 celebration performance "great leadership for the people's happiness" was given at the People's Palace of Culture on Friday.
It was appreciated by Pak Song Chol, Kim Il Chol, Paek Hak Rim, Jon Pyong Ho and other senior party and state officials, working people in Pyongyang and home-visiting overseas Koreans.
Taking part in the performance, which began with a chorus "confetti of wishes," were people of all walks of life -- officials, men and officers of the People's Army, workers, peasants and scientists -- who had the greatest honour and happiness of having met the great leader Kim Jong Il at their villages, working places and defence posts and received important teachings from him.
The performers told about the enduring leadership exploits of Marshal Kim Jong Il who made a breakthrough in the current forced march and about the bonds of kinship between him and the people.
They exclaimed they are all the same family members with the Marshal and sang in chorus a song "Marshal, please don't step on snow-covered road".
Also seen on the stage were writers and artistes who created art works overflowing with the revolutionary spirit of soldiers and revolutionary optimism.
Song presentation of foreign students
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Foreign students studying at Kim Hyong Jik University of Education made a song presentation on Feb. 12 on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il.
Present at the gathering were teachers and students of Kim Hyong Jik University of Education and foreign students studying at various universities in Korea.
Put on the stage were an ode "the Highest glory to the great leader Marshal Kim Jong Il", women's group singing "Here is my fatherland" and chorus "Song of general Kim Jong Il".
Oral narrators stressed that the Korean people are proud of being led by the respected Marshal Kim Jong Il and that the Korean people will always feel secure under the leadership of the fatherly Marshal.
A narration and men's group singing "Great Country" said that the Korean people are praised by humankind as a great nation as they are led by Marshal Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century.
Discreditable diplomatic campaign
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Japanese reactionaries are hectic with a discreditable diplomatic campaign.
Japanese Foreign Minister Komura, flew to Seoul to have "talks" with authorities of the self-described "government for the people."
On February 11 Komura had "talks" with the South Korean "Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade" and the "Minister of National Defense" at which they reportedly agreed to "keep step with" each other as regards "missile launch" and "suspected underground nuclear facility in north Korea."
This proves that the Japanese reactionaries make desperate efforts to do harm to the DPRK through what they call "cooperation," availing themselves of the U.S. policy of stifling the DPRK.
As we repeatedly clarified, missile development, test and launch belong to the sovereignty of the DPRK from A to Z. No one is entitled to say this or that about it.
The "suspected underground nuclear facility" issue is an invention of U.S. hard-line conservatives to mislead public opinion. The issue should be settled through negotiations between the DPRK and the U.S.
The Japanese reactionaries, who have neither part nor lot in this issue, were closeted with their stooges. This shows that they are out of their head over the "missile launch" and "nuclear suspicion."
To tell the truth, Japan is not qualified to take issue with the DPRK over "missile launch" and "nuclear suspicion."
A lot of nuclear research institutes and nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities, storage of hundreds of tons of plutonium and H-2 rocket liftoff in Japan come under fire worldwide.
It is ridiculous of the Japanese reactionaries to huddle with the South Korean authorities to do harm to the DPRK.
The Japanese reactionaries are well advised to adopt a reasonable way of thinking in handling all things and pull themselves together.
The South Korean authorities should stop such mean acts to please the Japanese reactionaries.
Auspicious holiday common to humankind
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- February 16 is the greatest holiday of the Korean people.
Celebrations are going on in the DPRK and many other countries around the world ahead of this day.
A "Latin American regional seminar on exploits performed by the respected Kim Jong Il for national reunification" took place in Lima, Peru, on January 28, attended by over 400 people, including delegates from 10 Latin American countries.
Those present at the seminar warmly congratulated Kim Jong Il on his birthday, highly praising him for his exploits in the cause of reunifying Korea.
On December 22 last year a preparatory committee was inaugurated in Guyana to celebrate his 57th birthday. Similar organisations have since been formed in some 30 countries, including Cambodia, Pakistan, Russia, Germany, Britain, France, Congo, Egypt and Mexico, involving senior party and government officials, politicians and public figures. The Indian national preparatory committee involves representatives of 25 political parties, public and friendship organisations.
The preparatory committees fixed celebration days. In this period they hold celebration and lecture meetings, symposiums and other events in their capital cities and localities.
The San Miguel City Council of Peru presented city gold medal and certificate of merit to him, and the Lain Ya Vernus, Guyana, Group for the Study of Works of Comrade Kim Jong Il was inaugurated with the February holiday in the offing.
Media of many countries including the Ethiopian Paper the Monitor, the Guyanese Paper Chronicle and the Madagascar National Radio arranged special issues or special programs under titles, including those "Leader Kim Jong Il's political philosophy" and "Great Man of 21st Century." His famous works have been published in booklet.
In the last three years alone, more than one hundred countries witnessed the inauguration of preparatory committees to celebrate the February holiday and more than 2,000 celebrations were held in some 200 countries. Over 300 media in about 150 countries made special issues and broadcast special programs on some 1,000 occasions.
Rodong Sinmun on anti-reunification remarks of S. Korean chief executive
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- A few days ago, the present chief executive of South Korea said during his term of office the country "would not be reunified" and "war provocation by the north should be prevented."
Branding them as very anti-national, anti-reunification remarks throwing a wet blanket over the ardent desire of the entire nation for reunification and inciting confrontation between the north and the south, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today says:
Recently, the DPRK government set this year as a "year of national independence and great unity" and published a landmark proposal calling for opening a new phase for the reunification of the country by faithfully implementing the three principles of national reunification and holding wide-range dialogues between the north and the south including talks between authorities.
At this very juncture, the South Korean ruler made such anti-reunification utterances as "provocation" by the north.
We cannot overlook his rigmarole.
He seems to have considered our proposal for achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of the country through the concerted efforts of the north and the south as something like a declaration of a "war against the south."
In the final analysis, his rigmarole fully reveals that he is an anti-north confrontation champion, warmonger and anti-reunification element who is worse than his preceding dictators.
To oppose the reunification of the country is the worst treachery to the nation, which cannot be pardoned in any case.
We would like to ask the present South Korean ruler if we should interpret his utterances that the "country would not be reunified during his tenure of office" as his intention to oppose national reunification until his term expires.
He must answer this question of the entire nation.
No pressure upon DPRK will work
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- No pressure upon the DPRK will work, declare Pyongyang-based newspapers today in commentaries on the scheme of the United States to enact a "law on sanctions" against "possible missile refiring" by the DPRK.
A signed commentary of Rodong Sinmun says:
Development, production and deployment of missiles belong to the sovereignty of the DPRK. Accordingly, no one can poke his nose into its missile launch.
We are constantly exposed to U.S. military threats and a large number of missiles deployed in and around South Korea are always leveled at us. Under this condition, we cannot but take a self-defensive measure.
Nevertheless, the United States is using our "missile launch" as an excuse to tighten its sanctions.
It is ridiculous for the U.S. to argue that only the DPRK must be sanctioned for its missile launch as not a few countries have fired missiles.
The U.S. schemes to kill the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework and stifle the DPRK under the pretext of "its missile threats".
No matter what others may say, we will exercise our legitimate sovereignty.
We are fully ready to rise to the occasion.
If the United States breaks the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework, we will take our own way. If it makes a military challenge, we will meet it with a determined counteraction.
A signed commentary of Minju Joson warns that it is a miscalculation if the United States thinks it can get something from its tightened "pressure" upon the DPRK.
DPRK proposal supported worldwide
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- A proposal of a joint meeting of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations to open a new phase of national reunification through national independence and great unity has been favored worldwide.
11 Nepal political parties and organizations, including the Nepal Congress Party and the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Committee of Nepal, in a Feb. 7 statement sincerely hoped that wide-range dialogue between the north and south of Korea, including talks between authorities, will mark an occasion in creating preconditions for peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula.
The statement called upon the South Korean authorities to abandon "cooperation" with outsiders, abolish anti-reunification, anti-democratic "National Security Law" and create a favorable climate for peace and peaceful reunification on the peninsula as demanded in the proposal.
The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana, the Good Green Guyana and the Labor Party of Guyana in a joint statement dated Feb. 5 noted that the proposal is the most practical way of opening a new phase of the reunification of the country through independence and great national unity.
We demand that the South Korean authorities, political parties and organizations make a bold decision to discard flunkeyism and dependence on outsiders, take a true path of independence and great national unity and uphold the three principles of national reunification as a basis of the policy towards the north the, statement said.
The Peruvian Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea and the Peru-Korea Institute of Culture and Friendship in a joint statement dated on February 4 said that the South Korean authorities should decisively break with dialogue of confrontation against reunification and pursue instead a reunification-oriented dialogue.
They should put an immediate halt to anti-DPRK joint military maneuvers of various names and provide pro-reunification patriotic organizations and personages with freedom of reunification movement and activities, the statement added.
Korean books presented to India
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- A Korean book-presenting ceremony was held at the Indian Center of Trade Unions on February 5 on the threshold of the 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il .
The books presented include works of President Kim Il Sung and Marshal Kim Jong Il and other books on the Juche idea and advantages of Korean socialist system.
Instruction of flunkeyist and traitorous nature
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- The present South Korean chief executive at a "cabinet meeting" in "Chongwadae" on February 9 gave instruction to put up signboards written in Chinese and English as well as in Korean, in favour of foreign visitors, according to a radio report from Seoul.
That can be done only by a man of flunkeyist and traitorous nature.
National show of landscape paintings
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- A national exhibition of landscape paintings is going on at the Pyongyang International Cinema House to celebrate February 16.
On show are over 200 Korean, oil and graphic paintings on landscapes created by painters at capital and local organs including the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio, Pyongyang University of Fine Arts and provincial fine arts studios.
Typical of them are "My home town in the morning" and "On Pom Pass of Mt. Kuwol," Korean paintings based on stroke technique. They show beauty of a noted mountain and a whole view of a rural village which has been turned to a paradise.
Perspective painting "Autumn-tinted valley of Mt. Kuwol" presents a complete view of scenic Mt. Kuwol.
Drawing visitors is also "Warm season" based on marks, a traditional technique of Korean painting, which represents in different tones of colour a mountain village in spring.
An oil painting "a Fish farm in the evening" vividly reflects a view of the rural village in the evening.
A print "Landscape of Sinhung-ri" well depicts on a small canvas beauty of mountain valleys.
Besides there are works showing scenic mountains and spots and the pulsating realities.
3rd Kimjongilia show opens
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- The 3rd Kimjongilia Show opened here today to celebrate the 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il.
The show has been sponsored by the Kimjongilia Federation of the DPRK since Juche 86 (1997).
Put on show are more than 2,500 flowers of Kimjongilia in full bloom raised by many units and people of various social standings across the country and foreigners.
The flower was raised first by Mototeru Kamo, a Japanese gardener. He presented the flower to Kim Jong Il on his 46th birthday.
Kimjongilia is now found in more than 60 countries of the world.
The flower won a special prize and gold medal at the 12th International Flower Show and a top prize at the Jilin Flower Show of China.
Present at the opening ceremony were Ri Jong Ok and Kim Jung Rin, working people, overseas compatriots and foreigners.
The show is open until after Feb. 17.
Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan arrives
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- A congratulatory group of Korean residents in Japan arrived in Pyongyang today to celebrate the 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il.
First vice-chairman So Man Sul of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan is heading the group.
It was met at the airport by Kim Yong Sun, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Kim Su Ik, director of the bureau of reception for overseas compatriots.
Foreign party delegations arrive
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- General secretary Rod Eley of the Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist) and a delegation of the Unified Communist Party of Italy headed by general secretary Osvaldo Pesce arrived in Pyongyang today to celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong Il.
They were met at the airport by Kim Yong Sun, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), and Ji Jae Ryong, vice-director of a department of the C.C., the WPK.
Greetings to King of Jordan
Pyongyang, February 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Abdullah Bin Hussein on Feb. 12 on his enthronement as King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The message wished him success in his responsible work for stability and prosperity of the country and expressed the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would expand and develop.