World community urged to denounce nuclear power's attempt
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Korean National Peace Committee, in a press statement issued Monday 45 years after the tragic nuclear disaster on Bikini Island, appealed to the world community to strongly protest and denounce the nuclear powers' nuke test and development.
The statement said: There is no ground for the nuclear powers to refuse to commit themselves to completely abolish nuke-weapons as no Cold War system exists between the east and the west. Fundamental revision of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is instrumental in saving the mankind from nuclear disaster and building world free of nuke-weapons. The DPRK maintains that there should be a new NPT which stipulates the obligation of the nuclear powers to eliminate nuke-weapons on the basis of justice and impartiality.
They should be bold enough to drop the old War era mode of thinking intended to retain their vested rights and superiority and completely ban the nuke-test, thereby joining the people in the endeavors to build the world free of nuke-weapons. They should also make declarations guaranteeing non-use of nuke-weapons against the non-nuclear states in any case and this should be subjected to International Law. The United States should ponder over what catastrophic consequences would be entailed by a nuclear war in Korea and stop at once threat and blackmail against the DPRK.
For the complete elimination of nuke-weapons it is important, above all, to steadily push ahead nuclear disarmament worldwide and realize the complete denuclearization in northeast Asia, especially the Korean peninsula which is exposed to the biggest danger of nuclear war and where nuke-weapons are deployed in larger numbers than any other areas. The United States should pull all nuke-weapons out of South Korea without delay and stop at once nuclear threat to the DPRK as per its commitments under the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework.
Japan should lend an ear to the voices of her and other people of the world desirous of nuke-free peace, including the A-bomb victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, stop nuclear armament, give up her nuclear plan and guarantee the peaceful use of nuclear materials to world community. The world's peace-loving forces should create nuke-free peace zones throughout the world and further expand them.
Kim Jong Il meets participants in meeting
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il met the participants in the meeting of company commanders of the KPA and congratulated them on their success. The moment Kim Jong Il appeared, they broke into rousing cheers and shouted "Human bomb " "Devoted defence " and "Let us safeguard the headquarters of the revolution with lives."
Accompanying him were KPA vice marshal Jo Myong Rok, first vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and director of the General Political Department of the KPA, KPA marshal Ri Ul Sol, KPA vice marshal Kim Yong Chun and chief of the general staff of the KPA, KPA vice marshal Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, KPA vice marshal Ri Yong Mu and vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and other KPA vice marshals and generals.
General Secretary warmly congratulated the participants on their great contributions to consolidating the defence of the country as firm as an iron wall and building a prosperous and powerful country by rendering devoted services to the defence of the air, sea and ground of the country and at socialist construction sites in the self-sacrificing spirit with unbounded loyalty to the party and the leader and with ardent patriotism, and posed for a photograph with them.
He warmly waved to the enthusiastically cheering participants and expressed the expectation and belief that they would further strengthen the KPA to be main forces for accomplishing the Juche-based revolution by dynamically working to beef up their companies.
Kim Jong Il meets model company commanders
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il met model company commanders including heroes from the three services who had participated in the meeting of company commanders of the KPA.
Present there were KPA vice marshal Jo Myong Rok, first vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and director of the General Political Department of the KPA, KPA marshal Ri Ul Sol, KPA vice marshal Kim Yong Chun, chief of the general staff of the KPA, KPA vice marshal Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, KPA vice marshal Ri Yong Mu, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, and other KPA vice marshals and general officers.
Kim Jong Il warmly encouraged the company commanders, shaking hands with them. He highly praised them for having distinguished themselves in increasing the combat capacity of the KPA and rounding off its war preparations. He had a picture taken with them, expressing great expectation and belief that they would bring about a new revolutionary turn in the war preparations and increase of combat capacity of the companies in keeping with the development of the revolutionary armed forces and the requirement of the new era of the Juche revolution.
Kim Jong Il sees performance of KPA merited chorus
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il together with the participants in the meeting of company commanders of the KPA, enjoyed an art performance given by the merited chorus of the KPA.
Seeing the performance together with him were KPA vice marshal Jo Myong Rok, first vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and director of the General Political Department of the KPA, KPA marshal Ri Ul Sol, KPA vice marshal Kim Yong Chun, chief of the general staff of the KPA, KPA vice marshal Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, KPA vice marshal Ri Yong Mu, vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, KPA vice marshals Jon Jae Son and Pak Ki So, and KPA generals.
Put on the stage were songs including "We always look up to the leader," "Song of the defence of the country," "Thunder on Jong Il Peak," "Let us sing of army-people unity," "Motherland calls us," "Military parade of victory" and "We will devotedly safeguard the headquarters of the revolution." Through the performance, the artistes highly eulogized the undying exploits of General Secretary Kim Jong Il and showed well the iron faith and will of all the KPA officers and men to firmly guarantee with rifles the building of a prosperous and powerful country and the victory of the cause of the Juche-based revolution under his guidance.
Kim Jong Il congratulated them on their successful performance and warmly waved to the enthusiastically cheering audience. He expressed great satisfaction with the artist's successful performance of the program high in the ideological and artistic level and extended thanks to them. He said that it is the great pride of the army and people to have the KPA merited chorus, a powerful weapon which greatly encourages them in the revolutionary struggle and set forth highly important tasks to be fulfilled by the chorus.
Anti-Japanese meeting of Pyongyang youth and students
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- An anti-Japanese meeting of Pyongyang youth and students was held on Monday to mark the 80th anniversary of the March 1 Popular Uprising which was a nationwide anti-Japanese patriotic resistance. Choe Yong Sik, professor and doctor of Kim Il Sung University, in his speech said: Through the uprising the Korean people demonstrated to the world that they were strong in the spirit of independence, the spirit of refusing to become slaves of others, and resourceful and brave in fighting in defence of national dignity and sovereignty to the last.
Addressing the meeting, those who witnessed the brutal crimes of the Japanese, said that they should never forget the bloody history imposed by the imperialists and they should firmly defend the man-centred socialist system of Korean-style so that the bitter past might not be repeated. Youth and students in their speeches said that the Japanese authorities should behave with discretion, mindful that the Korean people are not people of the past.
Amnesty International criticizes human rights abuses
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- The Amnesty International recently decided to conduct widespread campaign in protest against the South Korean authority's abuses of human rights. It said that it would urge the South Korean "government" to release all the prisoners of conscience, set up a public human rights organization and guarantee the right to labor. It also said that, for this purpose, its chapters in all countries would pay protest visits to South Korean embassies and send letters of protest to them for 3 months from March as a campaign to put international pressure upon the South Korean regime.
Arms buildup in S.Korea
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities had purchased 9.5 billion dollars worth of military hardware from the United States from 1993 to 1997, according to a news report. This fact was disclosed by a recent issue of a U.S. monthly news magazine. The newly purchased weapons include bodies of multi-stage rocket systems, stinger anti-air missiles and harpoon anti-warship missiles.
Absurd remarks of warmonge
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- U.S. President Bill Clinton in a speech outlining foreign policy in San Francisco on February 26 said that the United States would "closely cooperate with South Korea and build a stronger alliance with Japan and renew its commitment to deter aggression in Korea and intensify efforts for a genuine peace on the Korean peninsula," according to a news report. His utterances are nothing but a sophism to justify the intensified anti-DPRK war moves and dominate design of the United States.
The U.S. warmongers are now engaged in frantic war moves against the DPRK, tightening the triangular military alliance with the South Korean authorities and the Japanese reactionaries. They are heading for a war of aggression according to "operation plan 5027," a second Korean war scenario, crying over "missile threats from the DPRK" and its "suspected underground nuclear facility." That being a hard fact, it is quite ridiculous for Clinton to clamor about "deterring aggression" and "efforts for peace."
The United States would be well advised to refrain at once from behaving like a thief crying "stop the thief " and stop running indiscreetly. If the U.S. finally imposes war, we will unhesitatingly counter it and annihilate all the aggressors with merciless blows.
Meeting with Peruvian guest
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting with first vice chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Committee to support the reunification of Korea Genaro Ledesma Izquieta who is also chairman of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru was held here on Monday.
Present there were vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Ri Song Ho who is also chairman of the DPRK-Latin American and Caribbean Friendship Association and officials concerned. Participants informed each other of the activities of the DPRK-Latin American and Caribbean Friendship Association and the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Committee to support the reunification of Korea and conversed in a friendly atmosphere.
Spring tree planting begins in Korea
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Spring tree planting has begun in Korea. The forest conservancy bureau of the Ministry of City Management and Land and Environment Protection set itself a goal to expand forests by 155,400 hectares this year. Envisaged in the plan is the planting of lots of trees for firewood and trees for the wellbeing of the people and the economic development of the country including those for fiber, paper and oil.
March 2 is the tree planting day in Korea. On March 2, 53 years ago, the President Kim Il Sung climbed up Moran Hill together with the revolutionary fighter Kim Jong Suk and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and said that many trees should be planted there and turn it into a recreation place for the people. The working people across the country are now all out in the drive to plant more trees in mountains and fields of the country on the occasion of the tree planting day.
"Minister of National Unification" hit for unreasonable remark
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Lurking behind the remark of the South Korean "Minister of National Unification," Kang In Dok, over a solution to the "divided families problem" is a sinister intention to bring inter-Korean relations to the extreme confrontation, says a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today. He goes on: The loudmouthed solution of this "problem" amidst never-ceasing gun report of confrontation with the north is the height of impudence.
There should be an end to acute politico-military confrontation, a basic and principled matter. Only then is it possible to create an atmosphere of reconciliation and cooperation between the two sides of Korea and resolve the "problem." Kang cried for "signing a lasting peace accord" between the north and south of Korea to replace the existing armistice agreement. The north and south have already adopted an agreement on reconciliation, non-aggression, cooperation and exchange. What remains to be done now is put it into practice.
For South Korea, which is not a signatory to the armistice agreement, to cry over the "conclusion of a peace accord" without implementing the inter-Korean agreement is a symptom of hysterics. This is rubbish which can convince no one. If the South Korean authorities truly want reconciliation and cooperation, they should get rid of a wrong way of tit-for-tat thinking and act with reason.
Follow Kim Jong Il as sun of 21st century
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- An appeal to progressive political parties, organizations and personages of all countries was adopted at a meeting of Russian public figures held in Moscow on Feb. 12 to celebrate the 57th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
It said that the progressive people all over the world are looking up to the DPRK as the beacon of hope, the bulwark of justice because it is anthropocentric socialism triumphantly advancing under the guidance of the great leader, determinedly frustrating the imperialists' blockade, pressure, interference and arbitrariness when the people's cause of independence is faced with vicious challenges of the imperialists and reactionaries and the world peace is greatly threatened. It further said: Kim Jong Il is the great man of the century who grasps and puts the desire of the era and humankind into practice. Holding him in high esteem is, therefore, a great fortune not only of the Korean people but also of all the world progressives.
It appealed to the progressive political parties, organizations and figures of all countries to uphold and follow him as the sun of the 21st century and to make it a tradition to celebrate February 16 every year as a grand festival common to humankind. It called for extending more active support and encouragement to the Korean people in the struggle to build a powerful nation and accomplish the national reunification.
2,000th issue of Pyongyang times
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- The first English issue of the Pyongyang Times was released on May 6, Juche 54 (1965). The newspaper was founded to cater to the Korean people's desire to promote their friendship, unity and cooperation with the peace-loving people around the world.
The weekly has so far given wide publicity to the Korean people's achievements and experience in the cause of socialism, their independent and creative life, and their struggle for national reunification. It has also made clear the Korean's principled approach to major events and incidents of the world and pressing international issues.
In this way, the Pyongyang times has given the world community a better understanding of Korea and her people, and helped promote the friendship, unity and cooperation with world's progressives under the ideals of independence, peace and friendship. The newspaper has a wide readership in 160 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and other regions and maintains good terms with the readers.
Korean people immensely fortunate to have Kim Jong I
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- General secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist) Rod Eley on a visit to the DPRK said at an interview with KCNA here it is the greatest fortune of the Korean people that they are led by Kim Jong Il.
He said the progressive people of the world who look up to the DPRK as the beacon of socialism are unanimously praising the great Kim Jong Il as the great leader of the era of independence, the symbol of the victory of socialism and sincerely wish him longevity. He further said: Korean socialism is firmly defended and advanced victoriously because Kim Jong Il, who is identical with the great Kim Il Sung in ideology, leadership and traits, was elected to the highest post of the party and state.
Today, the Korean people are in the forefront of the struggle of the world progressive people for the victory of the human cause of independence, the cause of socialism. Representing the unanimous desire of the Irish communists and the progressive people of the world, he earnestly asked the Korean people to hold Kim Jong Il, the destiny of socialism and the great leader of the international communist movement, in higher esteem. He stressed that led by Kim Jong Il, the Korean people will always win.
Preparations for election
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Elections of deputies to provincial (municipal), city (district) and county people's assemblies will take place in Korea on March 7. Voters' meetings for nominating candidates for deputies are at the final stage. Officials, workers, farmers, servicemen and intellectuals fully ready to perform their duties as servants for the people have been nominated as candidates. At voters' meetings held across the country, the participants expressed full support for the candidates nominated.
Article 66 of chapter 5 of the socialist constitution of the DPRK stipulates that all the citizens aged above 17 have the right to elect or to be elected irrespective of sex, nationality, occupation, length of residence, property status, the level of knowledge, party affiliation, political view and religious belief. With the election just at hand, propaganda and agitation teams are busy introducing innovations being made by working people in production with high political enthusiasm.
Publication of lists of nominated candidates for deputies and voters' lists and arrangement of election sites and other preparations are making brisk headway. Noteworthy is election propaganda through display of slogans and posters and brass bands and loudspeaker cars.
Irregularities and corruption of S.Korea politicians ridiculed
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- South Korean publications caricatured irregularities and corruption of the present South Korean chief executive and other politicians. The Dong A Ilbo carried a cartoon captioned "Why do I only?" over "Presidential Election" fund of the present chief executive and his predecessor Kim Young Sam. The cartoon shows the present chief executive steering his ski, keeping clear of a tree bearing the letters "presidential election fund," which means charges of misappropriation of "presidential election fund," and Kim Young Sam bumping his head against the tree, lamenting his miserable lot.
The magazine news people carried a cartoon of the irregularities and corruption of the South Korean lawmakers. It shows an overhearing guy wearing a badge with "National Assembly" symbol and the letter "license" getting out of its building, with a large bag bulged with slush fund in one hand and a tag bearing the letters "immunity from arrest" in the other.
S.Korea authority's campaign against Hanchongryon
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the South Korean authority's vicious moves to isolate and stifle the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon).
They sent a letter to new students this year urging them to refrain from studying the Juche idea of the north and participating in an illegal violent demonstration. And the Seoul "prosecutor's office" sent a letter to chairmen and cadres of university student councils urging them to withdraw from Hanchongryon. This campaign of the South Korean authority was prompted by a fascist attempt to put an end to the tradition of the student movement and Hanchongryon resolute for justice and ardent for reunification, the news analyst says, and goes on: It is the freedom of the South Korean youth and students to follow any idea and stage any movement.
It is none of the authority's business. History does not know such a tyrant as "people's government" rulers who staged a "letter operation" in a bid to bind new students hand and foot and gag them. Youth and students burning with patriotism will never be taken in by despicable mailing.
Buddhist masses held to mark March 1 Popular Uprising
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Buddhist masses were held at Kwangbop Temple of Mt. Taesong, Pohyon Temple of Mt. Myohyang and Phyohun Temple of Mt. Kumgang on February 28 to mark the 80th anniversary of March 1 Popular Uprising. The masses were attended by senior priests and Buddhists of the Central Committee of the Korean Buddhist Federation (KBF), provincial, city and county committees of the KBF and local temples. Preaches and speeches were made there.
The preachers and speakers expressed firm will to make efforts to put into practice the resolution of the joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK on making the year a "year of independence and great unity of the nation," in solidarity with the Buddhists in South Korea and abroad on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of March 1 Popular Uprising which demonstrated the anti-Japanese spirit of the Koreans for independence.
They charged that recently the South Korean authorities cried over "unconditional dialogue," though they "welcomed" the proposal of the joint meeting. They repeatedly pressed for implementation of priorities for inter-Korean dialogue, including an immediate halt to "cooperation" and joint military maneuvers with outsiders, repeal of the "National Security Law" and guarantee of free activities of pro-reunification patriotic organisations and personages.
Proclamation of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya marked
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate signed articles to the 22nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The Libyan people have waged a hard struggle in defence of the independence of the country and dignity of the nation over the last 22 years since the proclamation of Jamahiriya, Rodong Sinmun says, and goes on: The Libyan people are now steadily advancing along the road they chose, under the guidance of colonel Moammer al-Gaddafi, the leader of the September 1st Revolution.
The Libyan leadership and people are standing firm against the U.S. anti-Libya campaign. The independent and principled stand of the Libyan leadership and people is supported and sympathized with by the world revolutionary people. The Korean people will stand firm, as in the past, on the side of the Libyan people who are defending the dignity and sovereignty of the country and building a new society, rich and prosperous.
Congratulations on day of proclamation
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- President Kim Yong Nam of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK sent today a message of greetings to Moammer al-Gaddafi, leader of the September 1st Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the proclamation of Jamahiriya in Libya. Expressing the belief that friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries forged in the anti-imperialist joint struggle for independence would grow stronger, the message wished the head of state and the people of Libya greater success in their efforts to build a new free and prosperous Libya.
"Globalization" and "liberalization" rejected
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Participants in the 9th summit meeting of G-15 countries in Jamaica in February were emphatic that the imperialists were the very ones who triggered a horrendous worldwide financial crisis and underscored the necessity to reject intervention of outsiders in economic management so as to get rid of the present crisis. Most of the G-15 countries have been considered developing countries with comparatively favourable conditions and prospects for economic growth. The ongoing financial crisis hit hard the economy of those countries. The meeting clearly confirmed that those countries attribute the basic cause of the present crisis, honorary to the "globalization" and "liberalization" on the lips of the imperialists.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir, addressing the meeting, attributed the crisis of developing countries to the western intervention and called for rejecting the "globalization" and "liberalization" advertised by the imperialists. The Jamaican Prime Minister said outsider's intervention and prescription was a source of ever greater disaster and that the "globalization" was threatening the very existence of developing countries.
At the meeting speakers highlighted the importance of strengthened unity and cooperation to foil the "globalization" moves of the imperialists. They came to a conclusion that the "globalization" and "liberalization" was a helpless dilemma and they should build a unique economy to suit the specific conditions of their own countries. The conclusion is based on their bitter experiences of the past, in which they found themselves suffering from a catastrophic financial crisis under the U.S. led financial system. The west's prescription has led to the bankruptcy of the national economy. The current crisis in Brazil is just like the financial crisis in Asia. Realities prove that building an independent national economy in the spirit of self-reliance is the only road to prosperity of the country and nation.