Gift to Kim Jong Il from Syrian President
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- A gift was presented to General Secretary Kim Jong Il by Hafez Al Assad, general secretary of the central committee of the Arab Socialist Baath Party and President of Syria, on the occasion of his birthday. The gift was handed to Kim Yong Nam, member of the political bureau of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, by head of the delegation of the Arab Socialist Baath Party of Syria Ahmad Kabalan, member of the Regional Leadership and director of the Peasant Department of the ASBPS.
Preparatory committee formed
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- A national preparatory committee of Peru was formed to commemorate the 87th birthday of the President Kim Il Sung.
Chairman of the Peru-Korea Institute of Culture and Friendship was elected chairman of the preparatory committee and general secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru, general secretary of the Socialist Party of Peru, chairman of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru and general secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Peru (Red Motherland) were elected vice-chairmen at the inaugural meeting on Monday.
They set a commemoration month from February 15 to April 15 and decided to organize colorful functions including a meeting, a lecture meeting, a remembering session and a seminar on achievements.
Kim Jong Il's work published in Pakistan
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il's work "Let Us Reunify the Country Independently and Peacefully Through the Great Unity of the Entire Nation" was published in book form by the Afzal Publishing House of Pakistan on Feb. 11.
Preface of the book says that Kim Jong Il has strengthened the Workers' Party of Korea into a Juche type revolutionary party and the Korean People's Army into invincible revolutionary armed forces and led Korean socialism centered on the people along the road of victory by creditably applying the Juche idea for 3 decades. It stresses that he energetically leads the struggle of the Korean people to achieve independent and peaceful reunification of the country through the great unity of the entire nation.
Talks between secretary of WPK and chairman of PFWPSP
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Talks between Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, and Genaro Ledesma Izquieta, chairman of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru, were held in Pyongyang on Feb. 19. They informed each other of party activities and exchanged views on developing friendly relations between the two parties and matters of common concern.
Anti-DPRK U.S.-Japan tie-up
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- An anti-DPRK confab was held by a deputy assistant secretary and the policy planning director of the U.S. State Department and the director of the Diplomatic Policy Department of the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Japan on Feb. 14, according to a news report. The two sides reaffirmed that Japan and the United States will intensify nexus "lest North Korea should launch another missile." this shows that the United States and Japan continue threatening the DPRK over its "missile launch."
Cambodian King gives reception on Kim Jong Il's birthday
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk gave a reception on Feb. 16 on the occasion of the 57th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The King said in his speech that February 16 is the most significant and auspicious day for the Cambodian people. He wholeheartedly wished Kim Jong Il on his 57th birthday a long life in good health and success in accomplishing the noble cause of leading the Korean people to victory.
The respected Marshal Kim Jong Il is the greatest historic hero who is identical with the great Generalissimo Kim Il Sung, he said, and went on: Kim Jong Il has energetically and wisely led the party, the state and the army of Korea for 30 odd years to turn Korea into a great powerful nation which the world people envy and build the Korean People's Army into a matchless army that can defeat any formidable enemy. He is now wisely leading the struggle to build a great powerful nation, stronger and more prosperous. The King extended the warmest respect and wholehearted reverence and greetings to the Marshal.
Kim Jong Il sends wreath to bier of Jon Yong Sik
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a wreath on Friday to the bier of labour hero, Kim Il Sung Prize laureate, academician, professor and doctor Jon Yong Sik, researcher of the economics department of Kim Il Sung University, expressing deep condolences over his death.
Restructuring of "Chongwadae"
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- The present chief executive of South Korea decided to increase the present 6 chief secretaries of "Chongwadae" to 7 and intensify the function of the government chief secretary and some other chief secretaries for "political reform" and "people's unity," according to a radio report from Seoul. A spokesman of "Chongwadae" in a television appearance said political reform was needed for "people's unity" before "Chongwadae" restructuring took place. This shows that the present ruler intends to put in action even administrative power in a bid to expand his power base.
25th anniversary of declaration of programme
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- A national meeting was held here on Friday to observe the 25th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's declaration of the programme of modeling the whole society on the Juche idea, which was on February 19, Juche 63 (1974). Present at the meeting were Kim Yong Nam, Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol and other senior party, state and army officials. Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, made a report there. He noted that the respected Kim Jong Il in his historic work formulated the revolutionary idea of the President Kim Il Sung and declared the modeling of the whole society on the Juche idea maximum programme of the WPK.
It is an important work of fundamental significance in carrying to completion the cause of the leader who pioneered the cause of revolution, to formulate his revolutionary idea and, on this basis, define the action programme of the party. This work can be done only by a successor who is unfailingly loyal to the leader's idea and cause, the reporter stressed, and went on to say: In the work the respected Kim Jong Il formulated President Kim Il Sung's revolutionary idea. It was an immortal, great historic exploit of his for the WPK, revolution, times and humankind.
The Juche idea, a revolutionary idea fathered by the President, is a fresh and original idea reflecting the demand of the Juche era, a new era of human history, and it is an encyclopedic idea containing theories involving all the stages and areas of revolution and construction.
Kim Jong Il in the work evidently clarified that the revolutionary idea of President Kim Il Sung is an absolutely new and original idea that should be called after his august name only. On this basis, he intelligently defined this idea as the systematized Juche idea, theory and method.
This is famous and flawless formulation that clarified the President's revolutionary idea is an original, revolutionary idea that is consistent with the Juche idea in its content and is, in its formation, the systematized idea, theory and method.
As a result, the President's idea was made the guiding idea of the times which should be called after his august name only. It is an undying feat of world significance that could be performed only by Kim Jong Il who is the successor unboundedly faithful to the President and a most prominent thinker-theoretician, the reporter stressed.
Shameless and preposterous remarks
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- The South Korean "Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade" in a recent "television interview" span out a shameless and preposterous rigmarole about "engagement policy" towards the North Korea and "beneficial and non-beneficial offer."
Commenting on this, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today observes: The "engagement policy" on the lips of the South Korean authorities is a variety of what they called "sunshine policy". It is, in essence, a pseudo policy of reunification utterly contrary to the three principles of national reunification, independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity. Therefore, it is no more than a wild dream.
It is the height of shamelessness for them to "engage" he north which they branded as a "major enemy", while labeling the people calling for reconciliation with the north and reunification as "enemy-benefiting elements."
And, it is disgustful for the South Korean authorities to talk about "beneficial and non-beneficial offer" to somebody at a time when they are busying themselves with begging for money to save their economy from total collapse.
If they do not stop making such maladroit and shameful remarks they will have to pay dearly for this.
Gifts to Kim Jong Il from foreign public figures
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received gifts from public figures of different countries on the occasion of his 57th birthday. Among them are Cati Campos, member of the political bureau of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru, and P.C. Sharma, chairman of the International Study Center of the Juche mass communication of Nepal, advisor to the Defence Minister of Ecuador Alberto Molina Flores, manager Humberto Ortiz Flores of the "Voluntad" Publishing House of Ecuador and director general Nelson Ortiz Rea of television station "Tele Andina 23".
Secret strife between two rivals
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- The relationship between the present chief executive of South Korea and Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil is getting worse because of divergent views of the two potential rivals on the "constitutional revision" for "parliamentary system of government", according to reports from Seoul. When Kim Jong Pil visited "Chongwadae" to report results of his foreign trip of 11 days and 10 nights, the chief executive met him for 30 minutes only.
As regards this, the chief of information of "Chongwadae" said the issue of "constitutional revision" for the "parliamentary system of government" was not mentioned at all at the conversation. The 2 rivals quarreled with each other over the issue even when they were far away from each other before Kim Jong Pil's arrival in Seoul, drawing public attention. This shows that contradiction of the present "coalition government" is getting worse.
Unveiling ceremony of hanging board "Kim Il Sung Class"
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- A ceremony for unveiling hanging board "Kim Il Sung Class" was held at the 10-year middle school in Altanbulag county, Tov Province, Mongolia, on Feb. 13. The participants laid a floral basket and bunches of flowers before the statue of the President Kim Il Sung standing at the school and paid homage to him. At the ceremony the county administrative governor pointed to the solicitude shown by General Secretary Kim Jong Il to the school and the achievements made by the Korean people in the building of a powerful nation. He extended warm congratulations to Kim Jong Il on his 57th birthday and wholeheartedly wished him a long life in good health.
Realistic proposal for opening epochal phase
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Political parties and organizations of different countries published statements supporting the proposal of a joint meeting of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations.
The Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement of Grenada said that the proposal is a most realistic one to open an epochal phase for the reunification of Korea through national independence and great unity. The Ecuadorian Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea and the Guayaquil and Cuenca committees under it, the Ecuadorian Cultural Institute for the Study of the Juche Idea and the Voluntad Publishing House in a joint statement strongly demanded that the South Korean authorities take urgent practical steps for discontinuing "cooperation" with outside forces, stopping joint military exercises with them, repealing the "National Security Law" and providing pro-reunification patriots and organisations with the freedom of reunification movement and activities and approach reunification-orientated wide-ranging dialogue.
The Socialist Unionist Party of Syria said that wide-ranging dialogue between the north and south of Korea including authorities should be held without fail and that political parties, organizations and personages of all social standings in South Korea should extensively develop independent non-governmental dialogue and reunification movement. The c.c., the Communist Party-KPMI (R) of Sweden said that the initiative for talks on the three principles of national reunification is most just and timely, adding that the South Korean authorities should no longer play a stooge of the U.S. imperialists. The Communist Party (Red Motherland), the National Reconciliation Movement, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and 6 other political parties of Peru in a joint statement strongly demanded that the United States stop the moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and unleash a second Korean war, honestly implement the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework and withdraw its troops from South Korea.
They also called upon political parties, organizations and people of all countries of the world to make efforts for the realization of the proposal of the joint meeting. Hamilton Green, leader of the Good Green Guyana, in a statement said that if dialogue between the north and south is to be held truly for reunification, practical steps for removing stumbling blocks in realizing dialogue should be taken in South Korea before anything else.
U.S. troops' crimes of murder condemned
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Japan mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea made public a statement on February 15, condemning the U.S. imperialist forces of aggression for committing murders in South Korea without letup. He said that the U.S. imperialists have committed crimes of murder, imposing painful division upon the Korean nation for more than a half century. The present ruler of South Korea is begging for the permanent presence of the U.S. troops as the successive authorities did, he said, and stressed: Owing to this treacherous action, the U.S. troops' crimes of murder are further encouraged. As long as the U.S. troops remain in this land, there can be neither national sovereignty, nor human rights nor national reunification.
Floral baskets to Kim Jong Il from Guinea
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received floral baskets from Guinean Foreign Minister Lamine Camara and president of the National Assembly of Guinea El Hadj Boubacar Biro Diallo on the occasion of his birthday. They paid a congratulatory visit to the Korean embassy in Conakry on Feb. 11 and conveyed floral baskets to the ambassador. The Foreign Minister said that Kim Jong Il is an outstanding leader who has wisely guided the party, the state and the army of Korea as a whole for 30 odd years. He said the Guinean government sincerely congratulated the Korean government and people. The president of the National Assembly said that Kim Jong Il is a great statesman widely recognized long ago. He wholeheartedly wished him a long life in good health.
Brisk election propaganda
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- Propaganda is brisk in all parts of Korea to have elections of deputies to the provincial (municipal), city (district) and county people's assemblies scheduled for March 7, Juche 88 (1999) with a high degree of political enthusiasm and great achievements. This propaganda is being conducted in Pyongyang and all other parts of the country in various forms and methods including explanatory talk, lectures and use of visual aids. Propagandists are performing their assignments to encourage all voters to participate in the elections and contribute to cementing the revolutionary government as firm as a rock. The whole country is now pervaded by the spirit of certain victory and revolutionary vigor as a result of powerful political propaganda about the undying feats performed by the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il in the building of power.
Kumgang Temple of Koguryo
Pyongyang, February 20 (KCNA) -- The Kumgang Temple from the period of Koguryo was recently restored to its original state on the occasion of its 1,500th anniversary.
It was built in lunar July 498 at Chongam-dong on the northern tip of Moran Hill, after Koguryo's capital was moved in 427 to Pyongyang (Mt. Taesong today). It came when Koguryo was at the peak of its sweeping influence in the east, and it existed several hundred years into the latter half of the reign of Koryo. But there is no historical record available on its subsequent fate, except the one that the Kumgang Temple was the biggest and most impressive of its kind built since 372.
It was not until 1938 that the temple was known in its entirety.
It consists of the pagoda and hall areas. In its construction, the Koguryo measure with the unit foot of 35.3cm was used, and another enlarged measure with the 35-fold larger unit. Its total floor space is 14,000 square metres, the pagoda area taking up 9,000 square metres. The pagoda is 70 metres high, of seven stories, the highest of its kind of Koguryo and one of the highest in the world at that time.
Another standout of the temple is the three roads. The pagoda and its surrounding buildings have the royal road in the middle and the road for vassals on either side. This points to the status of "national temple" devoted to major state functions.