Rajin Granite Quarry commissioned
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- The Rajin Granite Quarry situated at the foot of Suchae Peak in Rajin in North Korea started operation in September last year. Its main products include gravel of various sizes and various kinds of flat stones needed in the construction of public buildings and dwellings. The quarry is furnished with modern stone-processing facilities, crushers and is staffed with skilled workers. It also produces high-quality flat stones with decorative patterns to be used in floors, steps, walls, and ground mark stones, and other processed stones of various purposes. The processed stones for decorative use patterned with various animals and plants as tiger and magnolia find special favorites among the people for their elaborate designs.
The crushing and screening grounds with a production capacity of 150,000 cubic metres a year are in a position to mass-produce gravel to be used in construction work. Within a few months since its inauguration, it produced 10,000 cubic metres of aggregates. This year a new oxygen- or hydrogen-fueled drilling method instead of rock drill will be introduced and large-sized crushing and processing facilities applied to double the output. As a long-term plan, a wharf will be built off the shore of the quarry to increase export.
Building of self-supporting powerful nation called for
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are building a powerful country by their own efforts, says Rodong Sinmun March 9 in a signed article. A powerful country of the era should be built on the basis of self-reliance, the article says, and goes on: Ours is a powerful socialist nation which is being built by the Korean people's high level of ideological consciousness and revolutionary faith that they should shape their own destiny by themselves. The revolutionary faith is the motive power which turns adversity into favourable conditions, misfortune into a blessing. It is an ideological source of astounding miracles. It is the Korean people's fixed will to build a powerful socialist nation their own way, not turning to others.
The Korean people have keenly realized in practice that they are sure to win only when they rely on their own efforts, guided by the spirit of independence. Hence they turn out as one in the building of the powerful nation based on self-reliance, with faith and optimism. Ours is a powerful nation which is being built on the solid foundations laid by the Korean people at the cost of blood and sweat. The might of monolithic unity, solid foundations of the independent national economy, fast developing science and technology and rich natural resources are all which make it possible to build a powerful nation in the spirit of self-reliance.
There is nothing foreign-made in economic aspects of Korea, including heavy and light industries, but its economy has inexhaustible potential to make anything once people are determined to do. The building of a powerful nation is guaranteed by its own military strength. The Korean People's Army is ready to be the first line guards in devotedly defending the leader. It is strong enough to defeat any aggressors at one stroke and drive them out of this planet. The Korean people can build a powerful socialist nation entirely because they are under the ever-victorious leadership of the respected Kim Jong Il.
Japan attempts to update armed forces
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Japan's NHK reported on Tuesday that the defence agency decided to include in the budget for the fiscal year 2000 fund for the introduction of long-distance large transport planes and air-refueling tankers. Such large-size and long-distance transport planes will be developed at home for emergency transport and "rapid participation in 'UN peace-keeping operations,'" the report said. The defence agency also seeks to strengthen the system of long watch-out for the situation of the Korean peninsula by using refueling tankers. The fact shows that the Japanese reactionaries are stepping up the updating of armed forces to unleash a war for reinvasion of Korea.
Guyanese preparatory committee formed
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- An inaugural meeting of a Guyanese preparatory committee to commemorate Sun's Day was formed in Georgetown on March 5 on the occasion of the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. The Minister of Social Service of the President's office and others who addressed the meeting said that the respected leader Kim Il Sung was the father of the Korean people who liberated the country and founded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and a great statesman of the world. The great leader Kim Jong Il of the Korean people is the distinguished statesman loyal to the cause of the President, the country and the people, they noted.
The reunification of Korea should be accomplished by their own strength according to the 5-point policy of the great unity of the nation set forth by Kim Jong Il, they added. The meeting elected the Minister of Social Service of the President's office an honorary chairman of the preparatory committee and the general secretary of Good Green Guyana who is also the chairman of the Guyanese National Committee for the Study of Comrade Kim Il Sung's Juche Idea its chairman. They decided to have presentation of floral baskets, seminar, photo exhibition and sports and cultural programs from March 5 to April 20.
Rally of women workers from across S. Korea held in Seoul
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- A rally of women workers from across South Korea was reportedly held in Seoul on March 6, attended by about 1,000 women workers. It was co-sponsored by the Women's Fellowship Society, the council of women workers, the "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions" and the "Federation of Korean Trade Unions" in South Korea. They in a resolution demanded a halt to the "restructuring" and an act of giving only part-time jobs to women, measures for stable living and employment of women out of job. They also called for a stop to the maltreatment of workers, measures for protection of the part-time workers and guarantee of their rights, reduction of working hours and prompt social reforms.
Minju Joson on S. Korean worker's struggle
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today runs a commentary on worker's struggle for vital rights and democracy now gaining momentum in South Korea. In the last one year, the self-proclaimed "government for the people" in South Korea pretended to do something for the workers with outcries about "labor-management-government negotiating system" and "sharing of suffering," but it has only sacrificed the people's interests, gratified greedy ambitions of outside forces and worked hard to maintain its power, the news analyst of the paper says, and goes on: Now the South Korean workers are suffering from massive unemployment, extreme destitution, family breakup and reduced wage caused by the lay-off system and "restructuring" being pushed ahead with by the present chief executive.
It is quite natural that South Korean workers, unable to endure their sufferings, have turned out in the struggle against the "government" and for vital rights. The South Korean people will certainly win in their struggle to build an independent and democratic society where popular masses enjoy a worthy life as masters.
Intensified military tie-up between S. Korea and Japan
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Army announced that a group of Japanese "trainees" composed of junior officers of the ground "Self-Defense Force" will visit South Korea over March 8-13 on a "training mission," a Seoul-based radio reported.
The "training" tour would be made under an agreement reached between military officials of South Korea and Japan during their mutual visits in 1997 and 1998. The Japanese officers are scheduled to visit the headquarters of the South Korean Army, a military academy, a military training center, the drill ground of a field unit and even Panmunjom under the signboard of "inspection tour," inciting war fever. This fully shows that the criminal military tie-up between the Japanese militarists and the South Korean rulers are getting intensified day by day.
"Mailing" to new university students repudiated
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Pusan University Students of South Korea staged a demonstration on March 5 denouncing the "Minister of Education" for "mailing" a letter to new university students, a Seoul based radio said. They charged that his sending a letter to new university students across South Korea recently urging them to stop student movement was a violation of freedom of thinking and called for an open apology and guarantee for right to student autonomy.
Harsh treatment of unconverted long-term prisoners flailed
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- World public denounces the South Korean authorities for their inhumane treatment of the unconverted long-term prisoners, who had been taken prisoner during the last Korean War, and strongly calls for sending them back to the North Korea where their families and relatives are waiting for them as a token of desire for national reconciliation and unity. The Italian magazine "Biritti Umani" says: The South Korean authority's inhumane treatment of the unconverted long-term prisoners runs counter to the Geneva convention and Hague convention on repatriation of POWs and international covenant on human rights.
The Arab People's Solidarity Committee for Supporting the Struggle of the National Democratic Front of South Korea and the South Korean people in a protest letter to the South Korean authorities noted that whether the present South Korean authorities return the unconverted long-term prisoners or not was a touchstone showing whether they have a will for national reconciliation and unity or not. The Pan American Solidarity Committee for Supporting the Struggle of the National Democratic Front of South Korea and the South Korean people in a statement denounced the South Korean authorities for violating basic human rights and strongly called for early repatriation of those who had been taken prisoner in the last Korean War to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as required by international norms.
The Guyana-Korea Friendship Association, the Guyana Labor Union and the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union in a joint letter sent to the U.S. President demanded that the U.S., a belligerent party in the Korean War, pay attention to the fact that the unconverted long-term prisoners have not yet been repatriated and press the South Korean authorities into solving the repatriation issue. Martin Reucer, chairman of the Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, in a protest letter to the South Korean chief executive called for return of the unconverted long-term prisoners to the DPRK, repeal of the "National Security Law" and release of all political Prisoners.
Peerlessly great man and independent politics
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Yun Song Sik, who defected to the North Korea last year, published an article captioned "Peerlessly great man and independent politics" praising General Secretary Kim Jong Il for his independent politics. The author of the article says in the North Korea all the people, rallied close around Marshal Kim Jong Il, devotedly work for the building of a powerful socialist nation, overwhelmed with joy and optimism, which he attributes to the politics of love for and trust in the people, benevolent politics, carried out by President Kim Il Sung and the Marshal.
He further says: The Marshal is a great statesman revered by humankind and a savior of the Korean nation, who regards the Juche idea as the political idea and carries out an independent politics. What makes the earth turn round is the Juche idea, the Guiding idea of independent politics. The idea spreads quickly across the length and breadth of the world, dominates the age and leads the ideological and moral transformation of humanity and worldwide revolution now in progress.
The DPRK won in nuclear confrontation with the United States and the U.S. President sent a message of assurances to the Marshal in the long run. The credit for it goes to the ever victorious independent politics. Traitors to the nation swagger and Yankees lord it over in South Korea plagued with flunkeyism and treachery because there is no leader who can defend the sovereignty of the nation. The independent politics demonstrates its increasing viability despite the continued economic blockade against the north by the western world and serious natural disasters. It arouses all the people to the building of an economically powerful country. It is a banner of victory leading Korea to a bright future.
The absolute worship for the Marshal of the people in the North Korea is a manifestation of trust in the independent politics. That is a source of signal successes in the revolution and construction. Complete abolition of taxation, free health care, universal compulsory 11-year education, free education, stable jobs for the people are also attributable to the independent politics. Those measures adopted for the good of the people are inconceivable under the "free democratic system."
The independent politics is just Kim Jong Il's ever-victorious politics that has proved its tremendous vitality. This politics which makes the people masters of politics and serves the people is, indeed, the life and soul of Korea and a model of independent politics.
Kim Jong Il's works studied and distributed worldwide
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) - General secretary Kim Jong Il's works have been brought out in many countries around the world. "Let Us Reunify the Country Independently and Peacefully Through the Great Unity of the Entire Nation," "Our Socialism Centred on the Masses Shall Not Perish" and other works were published in booklet in Cuba, Russia, Pakistan and many other countries to mark his 57th birthday this Year.
In the recent few years his works were brought out in pamphlet in some 30 countries.
His works have hitherto been published in more than one hundred countries in some 40 languages. Study and distribution of his works is brisk in different countries all over the world where his works are called a great encyclopaedia giving clear answers to all questions arising in the era and the revolution. progressive publications and media of the world concentrated on study and dissemination of his famous works to mark his birthday, February 16.
His work study groups were formed in some 30 countries. These groups are making a systematic and all-round study of his works. National seminars and lecture meetings and other programs are organized on various occasions to study them. In recent years alone India, Uganda, Tanzania and 60 other countries around the world had national seminars and joint symposiums on his works on more than 1,200 occasions. Those present there were emphatic that his works served as an immortal banner for the revolutionary people in their efforts to build a new independent world.
His work "Socialism Is a Science" was distributed as an official document at a recent international seminar of the Juche idea on global independence, which was held in Denmark. The New Communist Party of Great Britain, the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea and other progressive political parties in Togo and Poland and other countries chose his works as a must book and vowed to successfully apply them in Their activities. Worldwide publication, study and distribution of his works prove that his works serve as an inspiring banner of great victory for the progressives of the world.
Cuban ambassador presents credentials to Kim Yong Nam
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Jose Manuel Inclan Embade, new Ambassador E.P. of the Republic of Cuba to Korea, presented credentials to Kim Yong Nam President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Kim Yong Nam had a conversation with him after receiving credentials.
Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun meets Swiss ambassador
Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister of the DPRK Paek Nam Sun today met and had a talk with new Swiss Ambassador E.P. to Korea Dominique Dreyer, who paid a courtesy call on him.