Unpardonable flunkeyist acts
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The South Korean chief executive recently revealed his flunkeyist nature again at a confab with the Japanese Prime Minister on a visit to Seoul. During his visit to Japan last October, he had announced a humiliating "declaration on partnership". After returning to South Korea, he sold off fishing grounds of South Korea to Japan, took a measure of opening the door for corrupt mass culture of Japan and adopted a "policy on combined use of Chinese characters" in an attempt to curry favor with the Japanese authorities.
During the confab, he talked about a "new future-oriented partnership" aimed at rendering political, economic, military, social, cultural and all other domains of South Korea dependent upon Japan. Worse still, he went the length of opening it to the public in a "joint communique." What cannot be overlooked is the fact that "close cooperation among South Korea, Japan and the United States" over the "nuclear suspicion" and "missile threats" from the DPRK was reaffirmed at the aggressive and unequal confab.
In this connection, the South Korean ruler cried that the north's missiles pose threats to Japan and make even greater threats against South Korea. It is clear that the Japanese and South Korean authorities have no faculty of thinking to properly discern between facts and "suspicion", satellite and "missile." This is proved by the fact that, although more than half a year has passed since the DPRK launched its first satellite last August, they are still insisting that it is a "missile launch." Now, their "common view" about the "missile launch" is arousing hatred as well as astonishment.
The Japanese and South Korean people feel nothing but contempt for shameless acts of those politicians who are vociferating about "peace of Asia" and "needs of the times heading for the 21st century", shunning or distorting stark historical facts. They should have lent their ears to the fact that, synchronizing with the South Korean visit of the Japanese Prime Minister, South Korean people turned out in protest actions against the visit, loudly shouting it is impossible to establish future-oriented South Korea-Japan relations as long as Japan refuses to liquidate its past.
S. Korea's arms buildup program against DPRK
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- A few days ago, the South Korean authorities confirmed and published a "mid-term 5-year plan for arms buildup" aimed at invading the north. Under the plan, military spending will increase by 4 to 6% on an annual average for 5 years from next year. Thus, a total sum of 81,500 billion won will be spent for a military purpose. Of the total sum, 26,700 billion won will be allocated for arms buildup.
The South Korean authorities plan to develop new-type missiles to replace the existing Nike ground-to-air missiles by expending a colossal amount of money. They also plan to build a 7,000-ton "aegis" destroyer and introduce up-to-date fighters and an unmanned reconnaissance plane to reinforce the three services of the army. The South Korean authorities are now crying that if the "plan" is carried out, South Korea will have an early warning system and can keep "watch" over the north and "hit major targets through long-distance flights."
What they stress more than anything else in preparations for a war against the north is "getting edge over the north in military power." Under the motto of "maximizing military power," they introduced long-distance transport helicopters from the United States last year and deployed latest destroyers. Besides, they signed a new arms contract of 8.2 billion U.S. dollars with the United States. The "mid-term 5-year plan for arms" fully discloses the design of the South Korean authorities to invade the north.
Aerial attack exercise to be held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The South Korean "army metropolitan defense command" announced that it would stage an aerial attack exercise in Seoul on March 23 and 26, according to a radio report from Seoul. The warmongers also made public a plan to hold a tank control drill on March 23 and 24. Nowadays, the South Korean rulers have frequently conducted military training even in downtown Seoul, motivated by an ulterior intention to worsen inter-Korean relations, dampen ever-mounting anti-"government" feelings of South Korean people and divert elsewhere their attention.
President Kim Il Sung praised by Austrian
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- Max Verworner, chairman of the Society for the Promotion of Relations between Austria and the DPRK who is also chairman of the Austrian Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification issued a statement on March 16 on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. He noted: It was very right that the President's birthday was set as Sun's Day and that the Juche era with 1912 when he was born as the first year was instituted. History does not know such a statesman as Kim Il Sung, who devoted his all to people, finding himself among them even on his birthdays. The great exploits performed by the President for Korea and humankind will be immortal. Our society is proud that it has commemorated the President's birthday as an international holiday. We will invariably make it a tradition to commemorate the day in the future, too.
Expression of deep respect for Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received messages of greetings and congratulatory letters from many figures including over 160 heads of party, state and government of more than 110 countries on the occasion of his birthday. This is an expression of the world revolutionary people's reverence and trust in him.
Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk stressed that they particularly celebrated Kim Jong Il's birthday and paid the highest and warmest tribute to him. Oleg Shenin, chairman of the council of the union of communist parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, pointed out that the DPRK has been able to defeat the counterrevolutionary offensives of the imperialists and defend socialism heroically thanks to the wise and correct policies enforced by President Kim Il Sung and Marshal Kim Jong Il for a long time, demonstrating the great vitality of the genuine people's government. C.R. Islam, chairman of the Pakistani Socialist Party, stressed that Kim Jong Il has developed the Juche idea in depth and achieved great successes by applying it to the socialist revolution and construction and played a very important role in the movement for the restoration of socialism in the world.
Military attaches corps visits Korean Revolution Museum
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The military attaches corps in Korea visited the Korean Revolution Museum on Monday on the occasion of the 82nd anniversary of the formation of the Korean National Association (KNA) by Kim Hyong Jik, an outstanding leader of the anti-Japanese national liberation movement. The KNA was an anti-Japanese underground revolutionary organization whose purpose was to achieve the independence of the country by the efforts of the Korean people. Visitors looked round relics and materials, hearing an explanation about the revolutionary struggle of Kim Hyong Jik.
War hysterics carried to extremes
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today describes the air-ground-sea joint maneuvers, joint air defense drill and other maneuvers staged by the South Korean authorities on the plea of non-existent "threat from the north." The news analyst says: "Intrusion" and "provocation" on their lips are no more than sophism to conceal their design to invade the north.
Some time ago the north set the year as a "year of national independence and great unity" and put forward a landmark proposal for bona fide adherence to the three principles of national reunification, the holding of a wide-ranging inter-Korean dialog and the opening of a new phase of national reunification. On the contrary, the South Korean authorities are up to their ears in frantic maneuvers against the north that is making every possible effort for the nation's peace and peaceful reunification. The never-ceasing maneuvers constitute a vicious treason.
They attempt to round off anti-north war preparations on the absurd pretext of "intrusion" and are kicking off a senseless war racket in a bid to divert elsewhere the spearhead of popular hatred for them, which is surging into high tide with the workers' struggle for right to existence.
"Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade" denounced for his remarks
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The South Korean "Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade" made remarks against reunification at a "recent lecture given at invitation" in Seoul. He said "unification should not be placed above liberal democracy" and that it should be "based on the view on the value of liberal democracy, or there is neither need for unification nor significance of unification."
Rodong Sinmun today, commenting on his remarks, says: The unification "based on the view on the value of liberal democracy" is essentially meant to expand the U.S. colonial domination and ferocious fascist repressive rule to the north. It is a variant of theory of "unification through absorption" and an extension of the outdated theory of confrontation with communism. Describing the decadent "liberal democracy" as "standard of unification" is a revelation of the ulterior intention of the present "government" that is pursuing "sunshine policy" and "engagement policy" towards the north. The loud-mouthed "unification by absorption" and "unification by prevailing over communism" can never come true.
The "absorption" on their lips is as foolish as lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet. Their persistent confrontation with the north will only precipitate their destruction.
Korean National Association
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- March 23 is the day when the Korean National Association (KNA) was formed. This day, Juche 6 (1917), Kim Hyong Jik, an indomitable revolutionary fighter, formed the KNA in the Hakdang Valley in Pyongyang (by the side of the now Mansudae Art Theatre).
The objective of the KNA was for the Korean people to achieve the independence of the country and build a genuinely cultured state by their own efforts, united in one mind. It also indicated fighting tasks and specific ways to put them into practice. It was the largest-ever anti-Japanese underground revolutionary organization widely distributed at home and abroad before and after the March 1 Uprising and a pivotal organisation which directed the anti-Japanese national liberation movement in Korea in a uniform way.
It conducted an armed struggle as well as the work to instill into the minds of people from all walks of life the advanced idea of "aim high" that if the independence of the country was to be realised, they should have a lofty aim and, to this end, they should cultivate their strength. By doing so, it contributed to building up the internal force of the nation and giving momentum to an anti-Japanese national liberation movement.
Nowadays, an increasing number of Korean people are visiting revolutionary sites associated with activities of Kim Hyong Jik on the occasion of the anniversary of the KNA. Looking round the historical sites, visitors look back with deep emotion upon the exploits of Kim Hyong Jik who dedicated his precious life to the independence of Korea and the freedom and liberation of the people, taking the idea of "aim high" as the maxim of life and struggle.
21st century for sun's nation
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The 21st century is the century of the sun's nation. The historic day will come before long when the 70 million Korean people will glorify the 21st century with General Secretary Kim Jong Il in high esteem as president of a reunified country. So said Yun Song Sik, permanent member of the consultative council of former South Korean Politicians in the north for the promotion of peaceful reunification, in an article titled "21st century for Korean nation" contributed to Rodong Sinmun. Some time ago, he came over to the north while acting as a freelancer and writer in South Korea.
In recent years, he took part in the struggle for the release of unconverted long-term prisoners and prisoners of conscience conducted by dissident pro-reunification democratic movement organizations in South Korea. He wrote about what he felt while seeing the amazing reality in the north which is building a powerful nation although it has to make the "arduous march" for several years owing to the tenacious blockade moves of the imperialist allied forces and the natural disasters unprecedented in 100 years.
The author said: the Marshal is the genius of ideology and theory who illumines the road ahead of the Korean nation and the world people and the sun of humankind who has wrought miracles of the century with an extraordinary sweep, organising ability and matchless grit. He is the one and sole sun of the world as his name says. The building of a powerful state in the north will serve as a victory of socialism over capitalism. It is only too natural that he is highly praised by humankind as the great sun of the 21st century. He is the destiny, future and reunification of the Korean nation. "Let us build a reunified country, upholding leader Kim Jong Il, President of a reunified nation." This is the unanimous faith and will of the South Korean people.
DPRK's proposal supported in Russia
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The presidium of the c.c., the Communist Party of the Russian Federation released a statement on March 15 supporting the proposal made by a joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations in the DPRK. The statement said that the proposal is a constructive proposal which opens the road for removing military confrontation and realizing wide-ranging dialogues between the north and the south. It urged the South Korean authorities to positively respond to initiatives and appeals made by the DPRK again and expressed support for the new peace initiatives of the Korean people.
Highly efficient sound facilities produced
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The Meari Sound Equipment Company in the DPRK produces a lot of highly efficient sound facilities. These include microphones of 13 various types, amplifiers of 3 different kinds and loudspeakers of 4 varieties. Among them microphones are very popular. The microphones that introduced newly developed capsule are highly efficient as compared with those produced before. The capsule has a very small change with the passage of time and has become immune to differences of property depending on temperature or humidity. The microphones are favourably noticed by experts as they are highly durable with small noise and 50-ohm outlet impedance. The Meari Sound Equipment Company operates as a contractual joint venture with the Matsuda Corporation in Japan.
The Meari Company receives orders for the production of sound facilities and goods of different varieties. The company's products are exported to different countries. The 319 M-series microphones, amplifiers and loudspeakers were well received by the participants in the 34th International Exposition of Broadcasting Equipment held in Japan last November. The Japanese magazines "Radio Technique" and "Wireless and Experiment" (February 1999) gave large space to people's lively response to the Meari-produced microphones and loudspeakers with illustrations. The capsule of 319M-AL, 319M-A2 and complex electric microphones were awarded prizes respectively at the 18th, 22nd and 24th Geneva International Invention Salons. The company which was established in July, Juche 80 (1991) is situated at Thongil Street in Pyongyang.
Minju Joson on S. Korean worker's struggle
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) in South Korea are turning out in an all-out March-April spring struggle. This is an eruption of their pent-up wrath at the ruling quarters who have trampled down upon their vital rights. Minju Joson today stresses this in a commentary.
After taking office, the present ruling quarters are pursuing labour policy more vicious than that of the predecessors. On one hand they try to fool the KCTU and FKTU with honey words that "they will examine in an about-face manner and accept the demands of those labour organizations" and, on the other, crack down upon workers' rallies and demonstrations and arrest union leaders under the pretext of "maintaining legal order."
Their "about-face examination" and "acceptance" are a lie, which was already made before the setup of the "Labour-Management-Government Committee" last year. After the appearance of the "committee" the rulers pushed aside the demands of workers and enforced the lay-off and "restructuring" against their will. Worse still, the present chief executive has stated that such steps will be maintained though there is an increase of the jobless. Such being the case, there is nothing to expect from the present ruling quarters.
U.S. power politics must be frustrated
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- Without frustrating the u.s. Power politics it is not possible to establish new impartial and equal international relations based on independence nor is it possible to achieve the democratization of the international community and a durable peace and stability of the world, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today.
The daily goes on: The United States intends to impose its will and interest upon other countries and expand the sphere of its domination by force of arms. Such behaviour of the United States is getting all the more undisguised on the Korean peninsula. The U.S. has become more frantic than ever before in its moves to stifle the DPRK militarily, raising a hue and cry over the latter's "suspected underground nuclear facility".
The U.S. belligerent group is now vociferating about a preemptive attack on the DPRK, crying for the reinforcement of its troops present in South Korea and Japan and introduction of the "Theatre Missile Defence" system. Seeing the reality of the Korean peninsula, people keenly feel once again that they should never allow the arrogant power politics of the U.S. but resolutely frustrate it.
Now that the United States is getting more undisguised in its reckless power politics while seeking a U.S.-led unipolar world against global independence, all the world's people aspiring after independence and peace should wage a dynamic struggle against such behaviour of the U.S. There should be a common step and joint actions against this politics. Tremendous concerted efforts and a joint struggle alone can surely foil the U.S. power politics.
Repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners demanded
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The Korean Measure Committee for Rescuing Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners in South Korea made public a statement on Monday accusing the South Korean rulers of putting up unreasonable conditions as regards the just demands of the north for the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners to the north.
The present South Korean chief executive let loose new sophism about "exchange" at a "press conference" and in a "special statement", ignoring the north's just demand for the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners to the north where their families live. And the South Korean red cross went to the length of sending a "letter" to international human rights organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Amnesty International on Mar. 15 in an attempt to internationalize this issue.
The statement says: Such behaviour of the South Korean rulers has no validity= it is motivated by a new smear campaign to refuse their repatriation. The Korean Measure Committee for Rescuing Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners in South Korea, in the name of all the fellow countrymen, brands this move of the South Korean authorities as a blatant challenge to the demands of international law for human rights and the humanitarian principle and bitterly condemns it. The unconverted long-term prisoners do not hail from the south but have always demanded their repatriation to the north as they had been crippled due to a long prison life. Moreover, they have no families in South Korea.
There are in the northern half of Korea no "ROK army's POWs" or "those kidnapped by the north" noisily mouthed by the South Korean authorities. There are only those who voluntarily joined the People's Army and fought after refusing to serve any more as cannon fodder of the U.S. during the past Fatherland Liberation War and those who came over to the north through different channels. Getting married and enjoying a happy life with their families and relatives as citizens of the DPRK, they have expressed their will not to go back to cursed South Korea.
The South Korean authorities' call for "exchanging" those who expressed their will not to go back to South Korea as they are enjoying a worthy life with their families in the north with those in South Korea who wish to come back to the north where their families await them is very unjustifiable both from the humanitarian point of view and in view of International Law. That was why the successive South Korean rulers could not raise sort of "exchange". Nevertheless, the present rulers wearing the mask of "people" put up unreasonable conditions. This is nothing but their last resort to bar the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners, finding no pretext whatsoever to reject the north's just demand.
Such move of the South Korean rulers is contrary to the "sunshine policy" and "engagement policy" on their lips. This is an immoral and rude act of applying "reciprocity" rejected at home and abroad even to the humanitarian work. If the unconverted long-term prisoners die before being repatriated, the South Korean rulers will be held wholly responsible for it. We strongly demand that all the unconverted long-term prisoners including the old Kim In So, Kim Yong Thae and Ham Se Hwan be repatriated unconditionally and immediately to the north where their families live, as wished by them.
S. Korean authorities-proposed "exchange" under fire
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) released a statement on March 20 denouncing the Kim Dae Jung group for their recent vicious attempt to use repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners to the north for confrontation with the north, Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation said.
He said: Upon receiving a letter from the chairman of the central committee of the Red Cross society in the north in February calling for their return to the north, the chief executive of South Korea said that taking into consideration "feelings of the people" he would "exchange" the unconverted long-term prisoners with "ROK army servicemen who had been taken prisoner" and "those abducted by the north."
The South Korean authorities are now trying to build up international public opinion by taking the "exchange," an invention of Chongwadae, to the 55th meeting of the UN commission on human rights. And they fabricated the numbers of "those abducted by the north" and of "POWs," clamoring about "condition of those abducted by the north" and the "survival of POWs" before sending a "letter" calling for "cooperation in "repatriation" to the UN commission on human rights and the Amnesty International.
Their is a third-rate farce designed to mislead public opinion. It has neither grounds nor justification. It is one more anti-north smear campaign aimed at keeping the unconverted long-term prisoners from being sent back to the north. For the present "government" to talk about "feelings of the people" is the height of impudence. The unconverted long-term prisoners of the north origin do not belong to the "ROK." Ever since they were taken prisoner they have all along earnestly called for their return to the north. While in prison for decades, they were handicapped. Worse still, they can no longer live in South Korea where they have no relations. So, they call for an early return to their hometowns in real earnest.
As for the "POWs" and "those abducted by the north" advertised by the South Korean authorities, they are all citizens of the DPRK, who voluntarily defected to the north, yearning after the society established there. All of them made home and enjoy a happy life in the north. They are unanimous that they will not go back to cursed South Korea where colonial fascist rule is rampant. The loud-mouthed "exchange" of the unconverted long-term prisoners, who are calling for return to the north where their families are waiting for them, with the people who do not want to go back to the south, enjoying all blessings with their families in the north, is quite unreasonable either from the humanitarian point of view or in view of international laws. It runs counter to the "sunshine policy" on the lips of the present "government."
The Kim Dae Jung group, finding no reason whatsoever to refuse to meet the reasonable demands of the north for repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners, are peddling as a last resort the "exchange," which is the application of the "reciprocity" even to the humanitarian issue, on the International Arena. NDFSK, on behalf of all the South Koreans and all the fellow countrymen desirous of reconciliation, unity and reunification between the north and south of Korea, condemns in the strongest terms the Kim Dae Jung "government" for blocking the return to the north of the unconverted long-term prisoners, describing the "exchange" of the unconverted long-term prisoners with the people who defected to the north as "feelings of the people."
The unethical and anti-reunification criminal refusal to send the unconverted long-term prisoners back to the north cannot be justified in any case. It will only bring bigger disgrace to them under the eyes of the international community. The Kim Dae Jung group should immediately stop anti-humanitarian attempt to use the return of the unconverted long-term prisoners to the north for one more round of confrontation with the north, apologize for decades-long imprisonment of the unconverted long-term prisoners and unheard-of torture and maltreatment of them and immediately send them back to the north where their families are waiting for them, as demanded by them.
Greetings to Bangladeshi President
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, on March 22 sent a message of greetings to Shahabuddin Ahmed, President of Bangladesh, on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh. The message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Bangladesh would grow stronger and develop in the interests of the two peoples and wished the President success in his responsible work for the prosperity and development of the country.