U.S. urged to make clear position
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK today answered a question put by KCNA as regards recent rumor that the construction of Light Water Reactors will be delayed beyond the target date of completion. According to the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework, the U.S. is supposed to offer the DPRK Light Water Reactors with a total generating capacity of 2 million km by the year 2003 through the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO).
Some media have recently said that the construction of LWR would be completed far beyond the year 2003. Earlier, at the high-level expert's negotiation with the DPRK, the KEDO had unveiled an immediate timetable for the LWR project in which it promised to sign a basic contract with the major contractor toward the end of June and launch a full-scale project within 19 months since then, that is, in the year 2001 when the on-going readjustment of the site is completed. Linking the announcement of the KEDO with the rumor, it is becoming clearer that the construction of LWR would be completed later than originally scheduled.
If that is true, it means the U.S. side's violation of the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework and items of the agreement on the supply of LWR. Accordingly, it cannot give but rise to serious matters. In this connection, we consider it necessary to the U.S. side directly responsible for the supply of LWR to clarify its stand. We will make relevant decisions according to it.
Floral baskets to Kim Jong Il from abroad
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received floral baskets from Guinean Prime Minister Sidia Toure and general secretary of the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea Abou Bacar Sompare on the occasion of his 57th birthday. The chief of the Guinean Prime Minister's office and the administrative secretary and members of the party on Feb. 16 paid a congratulatory visit to the DPRK embassy in Conakry and handed the floral baskets to the ambassador.
The chief conveyed the Prime Minister's words: "Under the wise guidance of he supreme leader Kim Jong Il, outstanding statesman, the Korean people have made signal achievements after successfully carrying out the forced march even under the difficult situation and declared a new advance for building a powerful nation. Credit for all this goes to his wise leadership." The administrative secretary of the party said Kim Jong Il is a great statesman recognized by the present times, who is successfully carrying into practice the Juche revolutionary cause started by President Kim Il Sung through his distinguished, ideological and theoretical activities.
Kim Jong Il also received a floral basket from the Guinean preparatory committee for celebrating February 16. Meanwhile, baskets of flowers were sent to DPRK missions by deputy general secretary Abdullah al-Ahmar of the Arab Socialist Baath Party of Syria, the president of the People's Council and other political and public figures of Syria and the secretary general of the Italian Institute of International Relations.
Korean people's cause supported by Japanese figure
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- Kiyoo Nakagozi, chairman of the Japan-Korea Society for Scientific and Educational Exchange, said that during his Korea visit he could not see timid and dull Korea in ordeals, but the great people who have turned out in the building of powerful socialist nation with fresh vigor and confidence.
The chairman, who had visited the DPRK as head of a Japan-Korea Friendship delegation of Japanese teachers, pointed out that the imperialists are hell-bent on ceaseless war maneuvers, smear campaign and blockade to stifle Korean socialism and paralyze the Korean people's life but it is a foolish attempt. He went on: As shown by the reality, Korean socialism has not been stifled but grown stronger hundred times and the Korean people's faith and will have become unshakable.
Socialist Korea displays its dignity and might so proudly thanks to the outstanding idea and wise leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il and the monolithic unity of Korea where the leader believes in people and the people respect and follow the leader. Korea's reality clearly proves that it is quite possible to overcome any difficulties and successfully build a powerful socialist country as long as there are wise idea and guidance of the leader and unity of the leader and people.
Symposium on President Kim Il Sung's work
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- A symposium of social scientists was held in Pyongyang on Feb. 24 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the President Kim Il Sung's work "On Some Theoretical Problems of the Socialist Economy".
The President said in the work that the people's high revolutionary zeal is the decisive factor that propels the development of the productive forces in a socialist society. And he was the first to raise the issue of strengthening the unified and planned state guidance over the economic sector and give a scientific exposition of the theory on commodity-money relations and theories on abolishing peasant market and commerce as a whole and making a switchover to supply system.
It was stressed at the symposium that with the work published, theoretical and practical problems that were decisive of socialist economic construction at that time were completely solved, and economic construction and management were based on the principle of socialism. The speakers called for conducting economic and scientific research activities according to the ideas and theories clarified in the work and bringing about a turn in socialist economic management and operation to contribute to building a powerful nation.
Leaflets carrying five-point policy scattered
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- Leaflets carrying the five-point policy of great national unity, which was advanced by General Secretary Kim Jong Il, were found scattered in a residential district of Somun-dong, Chongju city, South Korea on February 6, according to the Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoting information of the North Chungchong Provincial Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK).
The leaflets carried in detail each point of the policy, with letters "Let us build a dignified reunified country and a powerful nation with 70 million countrymen united around the leader Kim Jong Il. The meeting of builders of a reunified, powerful nation." People who read the leaflets said Kim Jong Il is really a center of national unity and lodestar of national reunification.
O Ik Je on treasonous nature of S. Korean ruler
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- A South Korean defector O Ik Je who is now vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland was interviewed by KCNA on February 23 following the present chief executive of South Korea's "dialogue with people" one year after his "assumption of office." O Ik Je charged that the "dialogue" is consistent with "self-praise with loopholes," "lies full of contradictions" and "flunkeyism and treachery." He further said: In the "dialogue " the present chief executive of South Korea described "introduction of foreign capital as a way leading to an economically advanced country, not a colony."
His ridiculous description is the height of impudence. He has been outspoken in dependence on outsiders for maintenance of power and his personal comfort, clean indifferent to popular desires. His crying for introduction of foreign capital is a scream of a psychopath. The introduction of foreign capital will result in increased dependence on outsiders and national ruin.
O Ik Je expressed anger at the statement of the present chief executive of South Korea that "introduction of foreign capital would beef up 'state security' as well." He went on to say: The statement is the worst of sophistries, which represents what the chief executive of south Korea sought in the "dialogue." It is the lifelong aim of the present chief executive to keep the U.S. military presence in South Korea at any cost. If the South Korean authorities do not want to be tried by history, they should turn to national independence and reunification in response to the call of the joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK, O Ik Je added.
Book on Korean issue published in Bulgaria
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- A book "Politics and Destiny of Nation" written by a woman social activist, Maria Nikiforova, was recently brought out by the Dimitar Blagoev Publishing House of Bulgaria. The author said that in Korea a benevolent politics serves as the best politics and it is the eternal guarantee of Korean socialism.
She referred to the harsh realities in some former socialist countries caused by the failure to build their ruling parties into mother parties, and cited vivid data to show true looks of Korean socialism, which is winning victory after victory under the benevolent politics administered by the great leader Kim Jong Il, guided by great leader President Kim Il Sung's idea of believing in people as in heaven. The Korean people enjoy a worthwhile political life and a sound and equal, material and cultural life, which is a true human life, the author said, and stressed: It was only thanks to the benevolent politics of the great leaders that the Korean people could bring about a fundamental change in shaping their destinies and reach the highest peak of history.
Rodong Sinmun calls for following up rural theses
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- Today marks the 35th anniversary of the publication of the President Kim Il Sung's famous work "Theses on the Socialist Rural Question in Our Country." Rodong Sinmun today editorially calls for following up the rural theses. It says: The last 35 years have witnessed a dynamic progress in the three revolutions, ideological, technical and cultural, in the countryside under the banner of the rural theses, which have transformed the ideological and moral traits of the farmers and laid solid material and technical foundations of agriculture.
Farm villages of Korea have turned into socialist modern ones good to live in and distinctions between towns and the countryside have been narrowed considerably.
The wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il has led to full display of advantages of socialist rural economy. He sent a lot of People's Army men and officers to the countryside for socialist rural construction and growth of agriculture. He led agricultural workers to adhere to the Juche method of farming in a responsible manner. Farming prospects are very bright, it says, and calls upon all agricultural workers and other people to carry through the agriculture-first policy of the Workers' Party of Korea.
It underscores the necessity to effect a new turn in potato and 2-crop farming to hit the target of grain production this year. It also underlines the necessity for more assistance to the countryside to meet requirements of the socialist rural theses, adding that all domains and units should give agriculture more material, technical and manpower assistance.
S. Korean ruler's "dialogue with people"
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comes out with a signed commentary on a recent "dialogue with people" of the present South Korean chief executive in which he let loose a string of rubbish about "administrative results" in one year of his office. Branding his dialogue as a jugglery of words and rhetoric aimed at covering up his crimes in having plunged the economy into total bankruptcy by enforcing policies dependent upon outsiders, the news analyst of the paper says: Ridiculous is his rigmarole that South Korea "has created a foundation to overcome financial crisis and make another economic leap forward."
The South Korean economy has been driven into a hopeless corner of total bankruptcy since the self-styled "people's government" came into existence: foreign debts have reached the astronomical figure, the economy recorded a double-digit "minus growth rate," tens of thousands of enterprises closed down and the number of jobless people increased 4 times as compared with the days before the present regime came to power.
It is the South Korean economy that cannot exist even a moment without "foreign relief funds." Therefore, his utterances about "another leap forward" are utterly unreasonable.
What are all the more preposterous are his remarks that "introduction of foreign capital" is the way for "building an advanced economy."
The South Korean economy has been ruined owing to the "introduction of foreign capital." The rulers borrowed a colossal amount of money from the International Monetary Fund to save the sagging economy. However, this introduction has resulted in multiplying foreign debts of South Korea. The present condition of South Korean economy is so deplorable that the rulers cannot deceive people with any word juggling. National independence is the only way to save the devastated South Korean economy. If the South Korean authorities truly want "economic recovery," they should rescind the policy of dependence upon outside forces and make a switchover to national independence.
"Internet Satirical Newspaper" released
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- An "Internet Satirical Newspaper", which publishes articles and photos for internet is now popular in South Korea, a news report said. The newspaper cartoons such acute socio-political problems in South Korea as scramble for power among ruling quarters and social corruption. It makes a photo-accompanied description of political swindlers in the upper crust of South Korea as deformed riff-raff, bringing the actual situation into bolder relief. The newspaper has 10 kinds including "Tanji Ilbo", "Mangchi Ilbo", "Susemi Ilbo" and "Tolmani". It covers all domains of society from politics to economy, international affairs and sports.
The newspaper, which was read by people of limited strata at the outset, has become a popular one read by everyone, professors, politicians and businessmen. Some kinds are published even in pamphlet. The readership of the "Tanji Ilbo" has reached 10,000 to 20,000 a day and its subscribers totaled 3 millions as of the end of last December. The newspaper Hangyore commented: The "Internet Satirical Newspaper" that carries cartoons on the prevailing social state and delightful critics, which the existing mass media cannot do, is evidently taking the position of mass media.
Kim Jong Il praised by Peruvian party leader
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- Humankind's reverence for Kim Jong Il stems from its appreciation of the greatness of his ideology and leadership, said Genaro Ledesma Izquieta, chairman of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru, in a press conference here. He told the conference how he was fascinated by the traits and political mode of Kim Jong Il, who is recognized by the world. His greatness is vividly illustrated in his transparent political philosophy and strong political faith and in steadfastly defending Korean socialism, he said, and went on: Kim Jong Il's political philosophy is the Juche idea.
It is his unshakable political faith to build a powerful socialist nation and safeguard the destiny of the popular masses on the basis of the great Juche idea. Any power politics and appeasement employed by the imperialists are impotent before his political faith. Such statesmen as Kim Jong Il, who is confident in his political philosophy and strong in his political faith, are rare to be found in the present-day world political arena. It is charm of Kim Jong Il as a great man that he is administering politics on the basis of single-hearted unity. The single-hearted unity is a peculiar weapon available only in Korea.
With the might of the single-hearted unity, Kim Jong Il has wrought miracles in socialist construction and firmly defended socialism from imperialist's aggression. The U.S. and other reactionaries are afraid of the might of Korea. It will be right to say that the DPRK is strong because of Kim Jong Il's politics of single-hearted unity. Now the world's progressive people praise Kim Jong Il as the hope of humankind, looking up to socialist Korea inspired by his ideology and leadership.
Symposium of public security officers
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- A symposium of public security officers was held on Wednesday to observe the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the program on modeling the whole society on the Juche idea. It was stressed at the symposium that General Secretary Kim Jong Il in the Feb. 19, Juche 63 (1974) work formulated the President Kim Il Sung's revolutionary idea as the systematized Juche idea, theory and method and proclaimed the modeling of the whole society on the Juche idea as the maximum programme of the Worker's Party of Korea, which was a historic event that occasioned an epochal turn in the party building and the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche.
It was also pointed out at the symposium that Kim Jong Il's proclamation of the program on modeling the whole society on the Juche idea has made it possible for the Worker's Party of Korea and people to confidently advance the socialist cause of Juche with a clear aim and bright blueprint. The symposium stressed that a new turn has been brought in the party's ideological work of public security organs over the past 25 years and they have been built into loyal ranks with the party's ideological work steadily gaining in depth under the wise leadership of the respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il.
Book "Heaven of Present Era" published
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- O Ik Je, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, has written a three- volumed book "Heaven of Present Era" praising the peerless greatness General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
In the volume 1 "Leader of history" under 16 titles the author impressively wrote about the greatness of General Secretary on the basis of impressions of the realities of the DPRK he has got while visiting its different parts since he settled down.
The book says: Unlike the South Korean society, the north is a truly patriotic holy land guaranteeing bright future of the nation, since independent politics is administered and national independence is firmly maintained in all aspects of its society. Marshal Kim Jong Il whom the people in the south unanimously look up to as hero leading the era of independence and symbol of national dignity, is the sagacious leader of the nation who guarantees its future. Supplemented to the book are O Ik Je's letters addressed to General Secretary, and his statements made at press interviews and articles he contributed to papers.
Deluxe restaurant in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- A peculiar building reminiscent of a large sightseeing boat stands high on the bank of Pothong River in Pyongyang. This is Chongryu Restaurant specializing in national dishes. It serves over 120 kinds of famous national dishes such as Sinsollo, beef casserole, green bean pancake, Pyongyang soup mixed with rice cakes and broil. Sinsollo is very popular. A well-known traditional dish, it has been highly praised at international exhibitions. It won a gold medal at a world food festival in 1986.
It comprises more than 20 foodstuffs such as beef, pheasant, egg, abalone, sea cucumber, mushroom, bracken and over 10 kinds of spices including sesame oil, pepper and seasoning. Customers can eat while boiling it in a peculiar-shape vessel of copper alloy. It has various nutritive elements such as protein, vitamin, mineral matters and carbohydrate. Peculiar in preparation, Sinsollo attracts the attention of customers and stimulates their appetite. Beef casserole, mixed soup, green bean pancake, soup mixed with rice cakes, Korean sweets, broil and others are popular among customers.
This restaurant started business in April, Juche 71 (1982). Covering a floor space of over 10,000 square metres, it has 13 general rooms, 23 family rooms and 3 open-air rooms. It has a total of 1,600 seats.
The restaurant is also popular among foreign visitors for its good service.
New Slovak ambassador presents his credentials
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- New Slovak Ambassador E.P. To Korea Peter Paulen today presented his credentials to Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall. Present was Ri In Gyu, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. After receiving the credentials, Kim Yong Nam conversed with the ambassador.
Greetings on Kuwaiti national and liberation days
Pyongyang, February 25 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings on Feb. 23 to Jaber al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, emir of the State of Kuwait, to mark the national and liberation days of Kuwait.
The message extended warm congratulations to the emir and the Kuwaiti government and people, and sincerely wished the Kuwaiti people success in the struggle for peace and welfare. Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet of the DPRK, sent a similar message to Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah, heir to the emir of the State and Prime Minister of Kuwait, and Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun a similar message to Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber, first deputy prime minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait.