Report on Korea visit of Russian delegation
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA ) -- A delegation from the Foreign ministry of Russia visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from March 15 through 18.
While staying in Pyongyang , the delegation led by Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin laid a floral bunch before the Statue of the President Kim Il Sung standing on Mansu Hill, paid high tribute to the President at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace and participated in celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the agreement on economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Paek Nam Sun, Foreign Minister of the DPRK , had a meeting with the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. At the meeting Karasin conveyed to Paek Nam Sun a letter from Foreign Minister of Russia Ivanov. And he said Ivanov wished to visit the DPRK in May in order to formally sign a treaty of friendship, good-neighbourliness and cooperation between the two countries.
Sincere talks took place between the delegations from the two foreign ministries.
The delegations discussed the text of the treaty and initialled the treaty.
This laid legal foundations for upgrading the bilateral relations.
The talks focussed on the bilateral relations, the situation in northeast Asia and international matters of common concern.
The DPRK side briefed its Russian counterpart on the need for reunifying Korea by confederacy formula on the basis of the three principles of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity, the five-point policy of great national unity of the entire nation and immediate measures for national reunification adopted at a recent joint meeting of the government, political parties and organisations of the DPRK .
A special emphasis was laid on the U.S. troop pullout from South Korea and the conclusion of a peace accord between the DPRK and the U.S. which are priorities for the relaxation of tensions on the Korean peninsula and the reunification of Korea.
The Russian side voiced understanding of this position of the DPRK .
The delegations expressed deep concern over the U.S. high-handed and arbitrary practices in defying the UN Charter and international commitments, the moves of the U.S., japan and South Korea to bring into shape the triangular military alliance aimed to wreck peace and security in the Korean peninsula, northeast Asia and the rest of the world and the manoeuvrings of the U.S. and Japan to set up "Theatre Missile Defense" (TMD) system.
They were emphatic that those are a main source of upsetting the balance of forces and increasing risks of war in northeast Asia, and acknowledged the need for joint action of the countries concerned to cope with them.
They referred to the daily upgrading of the relations between the two countries and re-affirmed their will to work towards further development of those relations on the principle of independence, equality and non-interference.
S. Korea-France joint naval manoeuvre held
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA ) -- A joint naval manoeuvre of the "ROK" army and the French navy was staged in waters between Pusan and Ulsan, a Seoul-based radio said.
Involved there were maritime supply exercise, tactical movement and helicopter transport exercise. It was participated in by a fast patrol ship of the third fleet from the South Korean side and a light cruiser-class vessel and helicopters and a bulk of other war equipment from the French side.
The South Korean authorities have already dispatched naval force to the Seventh U.S. Fleet-led "West Pacific Drill 99" now under way in the sea off Guam island in the Pacific and are planning to stage a joint naval exercise with Japan, too.
Friendly gathering with Russian embassy officials
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA) -- A friendly gathering took place at the Korea-Russia Friendship Moranbong Senior Middle School No. 1 on Friday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the agreement on economic and cultural cooperation between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation.
Invited to the gathering were Russian Ambassador to Korea Valery Denisov and embassy officials.
It was attended by Ri Song Ho, chairman of the Korea-Russia Friendship Association, and officials concerned.
After looking round experiment rooms of the school, the guests saw the presentation of art pieces by pupils and enjoyed a sports game together with teachers and pupils.
The participants conversed with each other in a friendly atmosphere.
Drill of evacuating Americans projected
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA) -- The U.S. air force present in South Korea plan to stage a drill of evacuating Americans from South Korea to Japan under the simulated conditions of "emergency" on the Korean peninsula late March, according to a foreign press report.
In announcing the plan the U.S. air force in South Korea said that a transport plane carrying more than one hundred American civilians would leave the U.S. military base in Osan for Fukuoka airport of Japan, according to a program covering March 25-27.
The projected evacuation drill proves that the U.S. are bringing military manoeuvres closer to the brink of war, making the outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula a fait accompli.
Drop of "policy of combined use of Chinese characters" demanded
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) released a statement on March 17 denouncing the South Korean authorities for pursuing with increased frenzy the sycophantic treacherous "policy of combined use of Chinese characters," Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation said.
He said:
The self-described "government for the people" did not bother to pursue the policy of "combined use of Chinese characters" that its preceding traitorous "governments" had renounced. As a consequence, the withering Chinese characters and a mixed language are appearing again in "formal papers," road markers and publications, and Korean culture is exposed to the cultural poisoning from the neighbouring countries, including Japan. the "government" is an outcome of pro-Japanese traitorous nature of the present chief executive of South Korea.
NDFSK considers the present rulers who play a role of shock brigade for reinvasion by the Japanese militarists, selling off Korean language, to be the worst traitors who put to shame the "five traitors of
Pursuance of the policy of "combined use of Chinese characters" on the part of 1905" who had traded off the country to the Japanese imperialists, and earnestly calls for an immediate drop of the "policy" aimed to nip the soul of the nation in the bud.
NDFSK and patriotic-minded people from all walks of life will turn to more powerful struggle to check the traitorous "combined use of Chinese characters" by the present "government" and preserve the Juche character of the Korean nation and defend its dignity.
U.S. warhawks accused of anti-DPRK campaign
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA) -- Papers today say the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency director's frequent, clandestine visits to South Korea were aimed at coaxing the South Korean rulers into introducing the "Theatre Missile Defense (TMD) system" in South Korea.
Rodong Sinmun recalls that in South Korea he discussed with the South Korean authorities U.S.-South Korea "military countermeatures" regarding the DPRK 's "underground facility" and "missile threat."
In a commentary the daily says:
The u.s. warhawks, basing themselves on the allegation that the DPRK has presented a great threat to the U.S. "security," are seeking to tighten ties with South Korea in "information" gathering and introduce the TMD system in South Korea.
In this way they intend to impede the proposed inter-Korean dialogue, foster confrontation and further increase military tension on the Korean peninsula.
Through the introduction of the TMD system in South 1orea, the United States wants to keep the DPRK and other Asian countries in the range of its missile attacks.
The hostile relations between the DPRK and the United States, which remain at war technically, have been so aggravated that they are on the brink of war.
If the United States goes like this, a war will be unavoidable on the Korean peninsula.
If the United S11tes starts a war against the DPRK at all risks, the Korean people and army will mercilessly annihilate the aggressors.
In a commentary Minju Joson urges the United States to stop sisyphean efforts to isolate and stifle the DPRK and radically change the anachronistic Korea policy hampering peace and peaceful reunification of Korea.
U.S. naval force to be reinforced
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA) -- U.S. military brass hats proclaimed the U.S. navy plans to replace the "Belleau Wood" assault ship stationed at Sasebo, Nagasaki prefecture, Japan, with a more advanced one "Essex" in June 2000, according to a report from Kyodo News Service.
"The deployment of the 40,532-ton essex whose capability is almost twice that of the older ship is seen as a move to increase the U.S. military attack capability and ability to transport troops and supplies in the area."
"The change is the latest in a series of moves for strengthening forces stationed at the port since suspicions concerning North Korea's nuclear program surfaced in 1994," the report said.
As an indication of the U.S. warhawks' persistent moves to stifle the DPRK , this deployment is arousing due vigilance of the DPRK .
Greetings to Tunisian President
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK , today sent a message of greetings to Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on the occasion of the 43rd National Day of Tunisia.
In the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will as ever strengthen, the message wished the Tunisian President and people greater successes in their work for progress and prosperity of their country.
Inspired with love of hometowns
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA) -- All the Korean people are engaged in a dynamic drive to refashion their hometowns and villages.
Take for example the Chogyo-ri in Unchon county, South Hwanghae Province.
Here, surrounding thick forests greet you at first sight.
The thickets of pines, nut-pines and oaks impress the villagers as a great wealth and a source of pride. Every year, the forests yield abundant wild fruits and a large quantity of timber.
The thick foliage provides an ideal habitat for wild animals and birds, especially pheasants and roe deer. This proves due credit to the villagers in their massive tree-planting campaign over several years. For the past three years, they raised 2,500 pheasants and let them fly away.
Further, the farmers have kept the eight-km-long waterway of the River Sujong in good shape and against any possible flood damage, and built a minor power station with due reward.
It has also straightened out the roads and built 300 modern dwellings. Every farmhouse has been encouraged to plant at least five fruit trees, and now the whole farm is a sea of fruit trees.
Land rezoning is also in full swing to adapt all the paddy and dry fields for use of machinery.
This achievement is all the more valuable as it has come over recent years of the "arduous march." It is a praiseworthy result of the farmers' patriotism, self-reliance and fortitude.
IIHF Asian Oceanic junior championship opens
Pyongyang , March 20 (KCNA ) -- The 1999 IIHF Asian Oceanic junior championship (division II) opened in Pyongyang today.
Participating in the championship are teams of the DPRK , Chinese ‚saipei, New Zealand and South Africa.
Johan Dobida, council member of the International Ice Hockey Federation and its representative, made an address at the opening ceremony held at the ice rink.
Then came the first-day game.
The championship will last till March 25 in the form of league matches.