New ministries set up in Korea
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK issued a decree on setting up the ministry of City Management and the Ministry of Land and Environmental protection.
According to the decree dated March 3, the Ministry of City Management and Land and Environmental Protection of the DPRK was removed and the Ministry of City Management and the Ministry of Land and Environmental Protection were set up.
Nomination of candidates ends
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Voters' meetings for nominating candidates for deputies to provincial (municipal), city (district) and county people's assemblies of the DPRK before the elections due on March 7 came to a successful end nationwide.
Those nominated at the meetings include workers, farmers, servicepersons and intellectuals, who have transparent revolutionary outlook on the leader and unshakable faith in Juche-based socialism and discharge their duties with credit as dedicated servants of the people for the party, the revolution, the country and the people.
Letter to Kim Jong Il adopted in Belgium
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- A letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at an enlarged meeting of the executive committee of the International Liaison Committee for the Reunification and Peace in Korea held in Brussels on February 6.
The letter noted:
The enlarged meeting denounced the despicable acts of the United States and its allies to stifle socialist Korea and stressed that activities for international solidarity should be conducted with a main emphasis laid on the struggle calling for the conclusion of a peace agreement between the DPRK and the U.S.
The meeting said the South Korean authorities are still pursuing the policy of dependence upon the U.S. and the policy of confrontation with the north.
It vowed to rouse the progressive forces of the world to urging South Korean authorities to make a drastic change in their policy toward reunification.
The meeting reaffirmed full support for the three charters for Korea's reunification and the five-point policy of great national unity and adopted an action programme for the year 1999 and an appeal to the governments and socio-political forces of all countries and international organizations so that the international community may make active contributions to the solution of the Korean problem.
Day of agricultural working people
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- March 5 is the Day of agricultural working people in Korea.
This day, 53 years ago, "Law on agrarian reform in North Korea" was promulgated to realize the centuries-old desire of peasants for land.
The Korean farmers annually celebrate the day as their holiday.
The agricultural working people, bearing in mind that agricultural production is the mainstay for building a powerful nation, are turning out as one man in preparations for farming needed for good crops this year.
They are making substantial farming preparations under the difficult conditions where they have to eat food substitute due to an acute shortage of food caused by years of natural disasters.
Having found it an important way of solving the serious food problem to do double cropping this year, they are concentrating efforts on planting spring wheat and barley in time as the first crops in paddy and non-paddy fields in time.
The planting of wheat and barley is being accelerated in many counties of South Hwanghae Province including Paechon, Yonan, Jaeryong and Anak counties.
As a result, 80 percent of the plan for planting wheat and barley has been carried out in paddy and non-paddy fields in a matter of a few days.
Cities and counties of North Phyongan Province such as Jongju and Ryongchon counties and co-op farms on the outskirts of Pyongyang are planting high-yielding wheat and barley seeds in proper soil.
Many cities and counties of Ryanggang Province including Taehongdan county secured high-yielding potato seeds and are making proper preparations to plant them in time.
Cities and counties of various provinces chose right soil for potato cultivation and are applying much manure suited to soil conditions, temperature and moisture.
Treacherous act challenging desire of nation@
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- South Korean "Prime Minister" Kim Jong Pil showed up at a "ceremony for commissioning graduates of the reserve officers' training corps" on March 3 and cried that the "communist army is the principal enemy as long as the north poses threats to security, refusing to give up its strategy of achieving reunification through communisation of the south," according to a news report.
His provocative remarks are sparking bitter indignation among the peace-loving fellow countrymen in the north.
As is known, some time ago, the DPRK convened a joint meeting of its government, political parties and organisations and proposed to the South Korean authorities to hold wide-range dialogues between the north and south including authorities-to-authorities talks as an important measure to make a new breakthrough in national reunification.
This is a landmark proposal for breaking the present deadlock between the north and the south because it reflects aspirations and urgent requirements of the entire fellow countrymen for a solution to the issue of national reunification.
This is why the proposal, fully reflecting our peaceloving stand, is supported and favoured at home and abroad.
At this very juncture, Kim Jong Pil let loose a string of rubbish about the "north's strategy for reunifying the country through communisation of the south" and "threats to security" and went the length of branding the fellow countrymen in the north as "principal enemy."
This eloquently shows that the South Korean authorities have no intention for dialogue and reunification.
Even after the north made the landmark proposal for reunification-oriented dialogues, the present chief executive of South Korea ranted that the country would not be "reunified during his term of office." "Minister of National Defense" Chon Yong Thaek inspected army units to "examine their preparedness" during which he cried that the north is the "major enemy until it abandons its design for reunification through communisation of the south."
Worse still, the South Korean warmongers are not only committing military provocations in areas along the Military Demarcation Line but also decided to set up a new air operational command aimed at northward invasion.
To oppose the reunification of the country means challenging the aspirations of the nation. Accordingly, it is the most heinous treachery that cannot be pardoned in any case.
The South Korean authorities should show their will for national reconciliation and reunification by renouncing the "National Security Law" defining the fellow countrymen in the north as "enemy" and affirmatively responding to our proposal.
Day of March 8 Revolution in Syria marked
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The Korea-Syria Friendship Association and the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign countries co-sponsored a meeting here on Thursday to mark the 36th anniversary of the March 8 Revolution in Syria.
Invited to the meeting were Bassam Al-haj Hussein, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Syrian embassy here, its officials and Syrian students.
Present were Rim Kyong Suk, Minister of Finance who is chairperson of the association, Ri Song Ho, vice-chairman of the committee, personages concerned and working people in the city.
A congratulatory letter to the Syrian President was adopted at the meeting.
S. Korean authorities blamed for suppression of "Hanchongryon"
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The north headquarters of the national Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) on March 4 released a statement denouncing the present South Korean authorities for making desperate efforts to isolate and stifle the South Korean federation of university Student Councils (hanchongryon), an umbrella organisation of the one million students of South Korea.
The statement says:
The desperate efforts to block the growth of the student movement find expression in their mailing to the new university students, evidence of infringement upon freedom of their activities.
The mailing is no more than an expression of senseless fascist suppression of "Hanchongryon"-led student movement which is gaining momentum as days go by.
The South Korean authorities, far from praising "Hanchongryon" for fighting for justice, have resorted to sabre-rattling suppression of the organisation. They have stretched their crooked tentacles of fascist suppression even to innocent university new-comers. That is evidence of the falsity, undemocratic and anti-reunification nature of the self-proclaimed "government for the people."
They should apologize to the students for their despicable mailing and step down at once.
Papers on danger of U.S.-Japan military alliance
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Newspapers here today comment on a news report that the United States and Japan had three confabs behind closed doors last year to work out a "war plan" for "emergency in areas surrounding Japan."
At the confabs senior officials of the U.s. army and the Japan "Self-Defense Forces" examined such key issues for a joint military action as deployment and operational movement of units of the U.S. army and Japan's "SDF," command and control, order-issuing system and rules of action for each unit in case of "emergency."
Rodong Sinmun says:
It is from such moves of the U.S. and Japanese reactionaries that their undisguised military tie-up is intended not for "regional security" but for a new war of aggression in the Korean peninsula and Asia-pacific region.
The "war plan" is a scenario for carrying into practice the updated "guidelines," which is a product of the new Asia military strategy of the United States and Japan. The "guidelines" is intended to justify their military intervention and aggressive moves in Asia-pacific region, especially on the Korean peninsula.
The strategy of aggression on Korea is a key to their reactionary strategy toward Asia and the Korean peninsula is regarded as its major front.
The danger of war is growing in the Korean peninsula owing to the reckless moves of the United States and Japan, which seriously affect the Asian situation.
Minju Joson warns that the DPRK will never overlook the reckless moves of the hostile forces driving the situation of the Korean peninsula to the brink of a catastrophic war.
Art performance given in S. Korea on February holiday
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The whistle band in South Korea gave an art performance on February 16 in celebration of the 57th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, Seoul-based radio Voice of national Salvation quoted the Seoul city Committee of the National democratic front of South Korea as saying.
The performance began with the immortal revolutionary "Song of General Kim Jong Il." Put on the stage were a trio "Song praising Marshal Kim Jong Il," a solo "February is our pride," a chorus "Let's present him with toast to his longevity" and other colorful numbers.
It fully reflected feelings of South Korean people who look up to General Secretary Kim Jong Il as the sun of the nation and the lodestar of national reunification and heartily wish him longevity.
Japan Defence Agency director general hit for provocative remark
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Director general of the Defence Agency of Japan Norota reportedly told the House of Representatives Special Committee for Security on Wednesday that Japan "might attack the opponent through the exercise of the right of self-defence even before damage is done to his country."
Norota's remark which came in the midst of the noisy smear campaign over "missile threats" from the DPRK is a naked revelation of Japan's intention of making a "preemptive attack" on the DPRK any moment under any pretexts.
Japan had inflicted immeasurable pain and misfortune upon the Korean people. It, far from making an official apology and compensation for the past crimes, is threatening to make a preemptive "attack" on the DPRK. This blackmail is very foolish and dangerous. It is also a rash act of getting on the nerves of the DPRK.
The Japanese reactionaries should not run amuck, clearely mindful of the ensuing catastrophic consequences of their behaviour.
Juche Idea Study Group formed in Malta
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- An inaugural meeting of the Birgu regional group for the Study of the Juche Idea of Malta was held on February 23 on the occasion of the 57th Birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
At the meeting, the honorary chairman of the Birgu Regional Committee of the Labour Party of Malta said that they would work hard to study the Juche idea and learn from experience of the DPRK.
Songs composed on basis of revolutionary anecdotes
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Many songs were composed on the basis of revolutionary anecdotes in Korea.
Revolutionary anecdotes tell about traits of t General Secretary Kim Jong Il displayed during his ceaseless on-the-spot guidance for the prosperity of the country.
A song "joy of commander" is a typical work on his popular traits.
Based on the story that Kim Jong Il visited a house of a newly-built village in a cold winter day, and was greatly satisfied when feeling the warm floor heated by electricity and seeing its mistress using an electrical rice cooker, the song tells about the Korean people's pride in having him as the fatherly leader of the great family of socialism.
A song "Mist on Panmunjom" tells a story that he visited Panmunjom, the forefront of the country, to give matchless courage and strength to soldiers of the Korean People's Army while "night he spent with soldiers" deals with a revolutionary anecdote saying he went back to a People's Army post hundreds of kilometers away, skipping his dinner because it weighed heavy on his mind that he left it without appreciating an art performance of soldiers, and spent the night with them.
Songs "Marshal and eight bravemen of Phohang" and "Stone photo associated with love" tell about revolutionary anecdotes that when seeing an art work, he remembered the feats of war heroes who devoted their lives to the fatherland and that, informed of invention of a new technology of making stone pictures, he saw to it that stone photos were placed on gravestones of forerunners.
Besides, more than 50 songs were created on the basis of revolutionary anecdotes including "snowstorm in Mangyongdae" and "Flower bud and blossoms" which tell stories that he visited a revolutionary school on the morning of a New Year's day in the face of snowstorm to look after children and that he took benevolent measures to stoutly raise children, the future of the country.
Part of last-ditch efforts
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The United States and Japan are employing very shameless and despicable tactics to put spurs to the establishment of the "Theatre Missile defense" system (TMD) in the Asia-pacific region.
Typical of this is their recent groundless assertion that China "transferred technology" related to the launch of an artificial satellite to the DPRK.
They have stubbornly insisted that the DPRK fired a "ballistic missile," not an artificial satellite. But when their far-fetched argument failed to convince unbiased public opinion, they raised a new issue of "China's transfer of technology" to the DPRK in a foolish attempt to discount the DPRK's scientific and technological achievements.
As already known to the world, the DPRK launched its first artificial satellite with its own wisdom and technology 100 percent, a contribution to the common work of humankind to use the outer space for peaceful purposes.
Nevertheless, the united states and the Japanese reactionaries are floating the rumour about "transfer of technology" in a bid to hurt china by linking it with "missile threats" from the DPRK. How can the world community tolerate this behaviour?
China has already categorically refuted the preposterous argument about "transfer of technology" and dismissed it groundless.
During her recent tour of China, U.S. secretary of state Albright said that China should concentrate efforts on persuading North Korea to restrain itself in missile development and test before expressing apprehensions over the "TMD" system.
In a word, the issue of "transfer of technology" raised by the United States and Japan to interfere in the internal affairs of other country is nothing but a third-rate strategy invented as part of their last-ditch efforts to find a pretext for establishing the "TMD" system at any cost.
Such a despicable and shameless behaviour satirically shows that the U.S. and the Japanese reactionaries are much embarrassed by the indomitable stamina and might of the Korean people who are working hard to build a powerful state while contributing to the human cause of peace and independence, invariably upholding the banner of socialism in spite of the imperialists' blockade and suffocation moves.
Leaflets on birthday of Kim Jong Il scattered in South Korea
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- leaflets on the 57th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il were scattered in Jungangdong, Chunchon, at the dawn of February 16, Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoted the Kangwon Provincial Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea as saying.
Written on the front of the leaflet in the name of the February 16 Fellowship Society were letters "We pray for longevity of the great leader Kim Jong Il" against the background of his native home in the secret camp on Mt. Paektu and JongIil Peak.
On its back were the rising sun depicted with letters "the 57th Birthday" and letters "Long live leader Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century "
More crimes of Japanese imperialists exposed
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- A record of the U.S. troops' investigation into a Japanese prostitution dealer taken p
Prisoner at the end of the Second world war was opened to public on March 1. It proves that the Korean headquarters of the Japanese imperialist aggression army, a tool of Japanese colonial rule over Korea, forcibly enrolled Korean women as "comfort women" in an organized way with the mobilization of Japanese prostitution dealers, said a South Korean newspaper.
This record written in English was found by Pang Son Ju, a U.S.-resident Korean, historian, in a U.S. government archive in Washington.
According to it, the headquarters ordered Japanese civilians who were operating restaurants in Korea to enroll Korean comfort women, which was confirmed in the course of examining Japanese prostitution dealer Kitamura's couple who were arrested in Myanma on august 10, 1944 together with twenty Korean comfort women.
Crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against Korean women in the past are being brought to light one after another.
Anniversary of March First Popular Uprising observed in Japan
Tokyo, March 3 (KNS-KCNA) -- A reunification seminar commemorating the 80th anniversary of the March First Popular Uprising was held in Tokyo on March 2, under the sponsorship of an executive committee composed of Japan-resident Koreans from all walks of life.
The seminar heard speeches titled "on significance of the March first movement viewed at present time" and "on preservation of national character and national reunification."
A letter to the Koreans at home and abroad was adopted at the seminar.
The letter said that national independence and great unity are the only way of achieving national reunification and called upon them to turn out as one in the great cause for the country's peace and reunification with the united strength of the nation.
World political parties greet February holiday
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Political parties of different countries grandly celebrated the 57th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
He received floral baskets from the central committees of the Communist Parties of China and Cuba and messages of greetings and gifts from more than 150 party leaders of over 60 countries.
Over 20 party leaders including the general secretary of the central committee of the All-India forward bloc together with other members of their leadership visited the DPRK missions in their countries to lay floral baskets and bouquets before portraits of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and pay tribute to them.
A total of over 300 colorful functions including celebration rallies, performances and sports games, friendly gatherings, seminars, film shows, photo exhibitions and lectures were organized by more than a hundred political parties in 40 odd countries.
At the meetings, political parties and party leaders of various countries highly praised Kim Jong Il as "the distinguished great man of the era of independence," "the outstanding leader of world revolution" and "the defender of the world socialist movement."
They lavished praises on the wise guidance of the marshal who is giving conviction and courage to the world progressive people by leading Juche-based cause of socialism to victory, smashing the isolation and suffocation moves of the imperialists.
Kim Dae Jung group will never be pardoned
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Chief Pak Kwang Gi of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on Thursday answered a question put by KCNA as regards what the South Korean people say of the recent "dialogue with the people" and "press conference" by the present south Korean chief executive.
He explained in detail that the "dialogue" was clear evidence of the deteriorating politics, economy, social life in South Korea one year after the present regime's rise to power.
In the "dialogue" Kim Dae Jung advertised his "exploits" in a bid to deceive the people. In the "press conference" he did not bother to conceal his intention of more vicious treacherous acts, Pak said, and went on:
The chief executive peddled again the "sunshine policy" towards the north.
That is an anti-reunification policy which runs counter to the three principles of national reunification.
Underlying it is a sinister attempt to destabilize and stifle the north in concert with outside forces.
There is nothing to expect from the Kim Dae Jung group any more. This is a serious lesson to the South Koreans.
The realities prove that the desire of the South Korean people for independence, democracy and reunification will never come true as long as there are such flunkeyist as the Kim Dae Jung group and that a relentless struggle is the only way out.
The South Korean people will never pardon the Kim Dae Jung group for flunkeyist treacheries.
The NDFSK and the South Korean people will conduct a nation-wide struggle against Kim Dae Jung as well as a struggle for independence against outside forces to open a new phase of the national democratic movement without fail this year.
Rodong Sinmun calls for wide-ranging inter-Korean dialogue
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The joint meeting-proposed early wide-ranging dialogue between the north and south of Korea, including talks between authorities, to break the deadlock in the relations between the two sides and make a new breakthrough in national reunification is a timely and reasonable measure under the present situation, stresses Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
It goes on:
There is no change in the DPRK's stand on the peaceful negotiated settlement of the national reunification issue.
National reconciliation and unity can be achieved and a new phase of national reunification opened only through reunification-oriented dialogue between the north and south of Korea.
If the South Korean authorities stop "cooperation" and joint military exercises with outside forces, abolish the "national Security Law" and refrain from suppressing pro-reunification forces, it is possible to open a dialogue for reunification between the north and south right now.
If they are sincere in desire for reunification-oriented dialogue, there is no reason whatsoever for them to refuse to take necessary practical measures.
The joint meeting proposed to the South Korean authorities to do what is to be done before anything else for pro-reunification dialogue at an early date and open north-south high-level political talks in the second half of this year.
The talks should focus on measures for the implement of the north-south agreement, which the north and south of Korea signed following the reaffirmation of the three principles of national reunification. They may discuss cooperation and exchange, an issue of relieving pains of families and relatives separated in the north and south and other immediate matters related to the inter-Korean relations.
The South Korean authorities should affirmatively respond to the new landmark proposal of the DPRK for reunification-oriented dialogue.
Rodong Sinmun on S. Korean people's struggle for cancellation of "fisheries accord"
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The struggle of the South Korean people for the cancellation of the submissive "fisheries accord" the South Korean authorities signed with the Japanese reactionaries is an eruption of resentment at the rulers of the "government for the people" who sold off the territory and waters of the country to outsiders to gratify their greed for power and luxury, says Rodong Sinmun in a commentary today. It continues:
It is entirely just for the people of all walks of life to have risen up in the struggle to defend the interests of the country and the nation and their vital rights.
The South Korean authorities pardoned Japan's crimes during her colonial rule over Korea, called Akihito, a mastermind of crimes, "emperor", flung the door open to the corrupt Japanese culture and even traded off Tok Islet, and territorial waters, part of the Korean territory. Such treacheries can never be justified.
With the treacherous "fisheries accord" remaining in force, it will only impose more unbearable misery and sufferings and death upon the South Korean people.
The South Korean authorities should ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by their pro-Japanese flunkeyist behaviour and cancel the treacherous "fisheries accord" without delay.
Caution about "economic cooperation" and "aid" called for
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- An idea to live on "economic cooperation" and "aid" from the imperialists is as good as inviting colonial subordination, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today.
If the countries advocating independence are to maintain political independence, they should build an independent economy, it says, and goes on:
The imperialists first impose capitalist market economy upon those countries with a view of subjugating them economically and, furthermore, depriving them of political independence.
The glossy words of "economic cooperation" and "aid" have been used by them as a main lever in imposing "prescription" of their own making upon other countries.
That is mainly aimed to facilitate infiltration into other countries for economic domination and completely subjugate them politically.
The "economic cooperation" and "aid" is used for the purpose of depriving sovereign countries of political independence through counterrevolution.
In recent years the united states has given a lot of "aid" to dissidents in some countries in an attempt to overthrow the present governments of those countries.
It threatens to stop granting any "cooperation" and "aid" to those countries which reject the "prescription" of imperialists and decisively do away with pro-U.S., pro-west forces.
If the countries and peoples advocating independence are to follow up the already gained political independence, they should build an independent economy.
In particular they should set themselves against the imperialists' attempt to foster counterrevolution and encroach upon political independence through the medium of "economic cooperation" and "aid".
Sunrise on Mt. Paektu
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The sunrise on Mt. Paektu is the spirit of Korea, the spirit of illustrious Commander Marshal Kim Jong Il, as well as the sunrise of victory and optimism heralding the advent of a new era of a powerful nation in the 21st century to be built by the great marshal, stresses rodong sinmun today in a political essay titled "Sunrise on Mt. Paektu".
The author of the political essay continues:
The sunrise on Mt. Paektu is an inexhaustible power source of revolution that implants the soul of revolution and kindles faith in the mind of all the people.
It also represents the great viability of Korea and a fierce flame of the revolution which are inexhaustible for all ages and a symbol of eternal victory and prosperity for the Mt. Paektu's nation that will stand imposingly in the world arena.
The gifted looks, spirit and emotion of Kim Jong Il, who was born on Mt. Paektu with a bright future of Korea, are as beautiful and dignified as the sunrise on Mt. Paektu.
Noting the world is now seething with the enthusiasm to usher in the 21st century, the political essay stresses the truly first morning of a new millennium, the dawn of independence, has already come to Mt. Paektu, Korea.
Kim Jong Il, looking at the end of the globe on the peak of Mt. Paektu, declared the thunder of victory in the 21st century, the political essay says, adding:
Mt. Paektu was a sacred one of the Juche-based revolution in the 20th century and will shine as the banner of all our victory and prosperity in the 21st century, too.
U.S., Japan hit for projected "missile defense" system
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the disarmament and peace institute of the DPRK released a statement denouncing the united states for pushing their plan to establish a "missile defense" system in real earnest, which poses another grave threat to world peace and security in northeast Asia.
Last December the U.S. and Japan agreed to a joint research into the development of the "Theatre missile Defense" system in the wake of the launch of an artificial satellite in the DPRK, the statement says.
It says they are now using the launch for the purpose of justifying their sinister strategic design.
It cites data saying that judging from the historic background against which the "missile defense" system was coined, the DPRK has nothing to do with the matter.
As a result of acute nuclear rivalry between the U.S. and former soviet union during the cold war development of interceptor missile with which one side tried to neutralize missile attack capabilities of the other side was high on the agenda.
The two sides, bowing to the growing pressure from the international community, signed the "anti-ballistic missile treaty" in 1972.
The U.s. design to get the upperhand in nuclear rivalry with the Soviet Union at any cost remained unchanged, though.
It entered a new stage of practice with the then U.S. President, Reagan, setting forth a "strategic defense initiative" in 1983.
The "initiative" was pigeonholed following the dissipation of more than dlr. 9 billion in a matter of a few years. In this course the U.S. brought the cold war to the extreme.
In view of the U.S. strategic design which underlies the "missile defense" system it is not hard to guess that the "missile threat from North Korea" on the lips of the U.S. is an absurd pretext.
Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War the U.S. ambition for world supremacy has been confronted with new challenges.
Russia, which still has significant nuclear missile attack capabilities, is reorienting itself from its early pro-western policy to a more autonomous foreign policy.
Meanwhile another nuclear missile state, china, has grown to be a potential rival of the United States.
Under this situation, the U.S. had secretly stepped up research and development of "missile defense" system. In January 1991 it reduced the "star wars" project to a more practical scale and in 1993 officially changed the "strategic defense initiative" into an "anti-ballistic missile system."
However, the U.S. could no longer allocate funds for such development of the system unless it was formally made a fait accompli.
The U.S. has had no more pretext to define China and Russia as enemies as it was left with no option to squeeze tax from its people since the Cold War ended and it advocated "strategic partnership" with the two countries.
So, it needed a plea for justifying the U.S.-Japan joint research into the "missile defense" system in order to screw money out of Japan.
To this end they were compelled to single out "enemy" "capable of posing missile threat" to Japan and the U.S. among the nations which were not their "partners."
It was against this backdrop that "missile threat by North Korea" was advertised after DPRK's launch of artificial satellite for peaceful purposes was misinterpreted as "missile launch."
The United States circulated "data" about possible strike of the DPRK's missiles against any part of Japan, so that Japan agreed to provide funds for missile defence system.
And then the U.S. lost no time in claiming that the DPRK's missiles could reach the U.S. mainland and finally announced its project for the study and development of the "National Missile Defence" system.
Meanwhile, Japan received a promise from the U.S. to offer it modern missile technology and to agree to the formers miniaturization such as possession of its own reconnaissance satellites and mid-air refueling tankers and expansion of the operation sphere of the "Self-Defence Forces" in exchange for Japan's offer of funds.
These days, the South Korean authorities join in the U.S.-Japan duet over "missile threat from North Korea."
China and Russia have already expressed deep concern, sharply reacting to the "missile defence" system development project of the United States and Japan.
It is self-evident that if any of the two sides possessed of nuclear attack missiles has a "shield," the other side will be inferior from the strategic point of view.
In order to avoid this inferiority, the other side will have to react at the risk of losses in economic development.
This will eventually trigger confrontation and a new arms race among big powers and will probably lead to the revival of the Cold War.
Any country weak in this arms race is bound to be a slave of other nations totally bereft of its position as a strong power.
It was for this strategic purpose that Japan, which benefited more than any others by the cold war, decided to contribute money to the development of the "missile defence" system.
Japan, too, does not wish to see any other stronger power than itself in northeast Asia and, furthermore, in the Asia-pacific region.
This is the development which makes the DPRK to be more vigilant.
The grave situation prevailing in the areas surrounding the DPRK eloquently proves how justifiable and far-sighted the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea on giving priority to military affairs is.
We will never remain an onlooker to the dangerous moves of the hostile forces for the establishment of the "missile defence" system and, in particular, the despicable act of slandering the DPRK's activities for the peaceful use of the space over the "missile threat" from the DPRK, but counter it our own way.
Greetings to Ghanaian President
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's assembly of the DPRK, on Thursday sent a message of greetings to Ghanaian President Jerry John Rawlings on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the Independence of Ghana.
Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms, he wished the president and people of Ghana success in the work for progress and prosperity of the country.
Pak Song Chol meets Chinese delegation
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- Pak Song Chol, honorary president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK met and had a talk in a friendly atmosphere with the Jilin City friendly delegation of China headed by Tian Xueren, secretary of the Jilin City Committee of the Communist Party of China, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Tian said while staying in Korea he was impressed to see brilliant successes made by the DPRK in socialist construction and wished the Korean people greater successes in their struggle for the socialist revolution and the country's reunification under the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.
DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman on Israeli military action in Lebanon
Pyongyang, March 5 (KCNA) -- A spokesman of the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs today answered a question put by KCNA as regards Israel's recent military action in southern Lebanon.
He said:
Israel is seeking to escalate its military actions to different parts of southern Lebanon. This is a grave violation of the decisions of all the international conferences for a peaceful solution to the Mideast problem as well as outrageous infringement upon Lebanon's sovereignty.
The world's peaceloving people are now deeply concerned about grave consequences to be entailed by such continued military offensive.
We consider that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon should be respected in any case.
The key solution to the Mideast problem is an unconditional withdrawal of Israelis from southern Lebanon and all other occupied Arab lands according to the decisions of international conferences concerned.