Setback of UN peace-keeping activities in Africa
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- The spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK answered a question put by KCNA on March 26 in connection with the repeated setbacks of UN peace-keeping activities in Africa. The spokesman said that the UN Security Council took a step of withdrawing the UN peace observation mission from Angola as demanded by its government. This is entirely due to the U.S. arbitrary practices and interference, the spokesman noted, and went on: The U.S. has behaved as it pleases lording it over the UN. The U.S. used name when necessary, and defied the UN when unfavorable to it.
The UN adopted a just resolution on dismantling the "UN command" present in South Korea and withdrawing all the US armed forces from South Korea already 20 years ago. In spite of this, the U.S. still keeps its armed forces in South Korea under the berets of the "UN forces." This is a clear evidence of U.S. arbitrary and insolent acts of defying the UN. The U.S. should stop such illegal acts as interfering in internal affairs of other countries to trigger off disputes and aggravate them, clearly mindful that the time has gone when it had its arbitrary decision passed at the UN by using its voting machine.
IIHF Asian Oceanic Junior U18 Championship closes
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- The IIHF Asian Oceanic Junior U18 Championship (division II) which was opened here on March 20 closed. Following are the final placing of the championship.
1. DPRK
2. South Africa
3. New Zealand
At the closing ceremony held in ice rink on March 25 technical prizes were awarded to 4 players of foreign teams, and a cup to the Chinese Taipei team for its praiseworthy moral sense at games. In the evening the DPRK Ice Hockey Federation hosted a reception for the teams that participated in the championship.
Yugoslav ambassador to DPRK flails NATO's air strikes
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will do its utmost to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and is convinced that all peace-loving countries will demand a halt to the air strikes by the United States and NATO, said Yugoslav ambassador to Korea Ljubomir Djukic at a press conference on Thursday. The United States and NATO have launched indiscriminate air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a legitimate member state of the United Nations and other international organizations, he pointed out.
Elaborating on the historic background against which the Kosovo issue surfaced and its details, he said NATO resorted to such an action, ignoring the Yugoslav efforts to settle the issue in a peaceful way through dialogue. A gross violation of the principle of UN Charter and International Law, the current NATO air strikes have cast their gloomy shadow over the peace and security of the Balkan peninsula and other parts of the world, he said.
Japan urged to redress past crimes like Germany
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- The German government recently took new step for compensation to victims of World War II. In this connection, a spokesman for the Committee for Investigation into the Damage Caused by the Japanese Imperialist's Occupation of Korea answered a question put by KCNA today. He said Japan should not embellish its history of aggression and unheard-of anti-ethical crimes and follow the dangerous footsteps of militarism, but frankly admit and make a sincere apology and adequate compensation for its past crimes as Germany did.
The government of Germany announced it would pay compensation out of "fund for memory, responsibility and future" from September 1 to those victims who have not yet received it, irrespective of religious belief and nationalities, the spokesman noted, and said: Since the end of the World War II the German government has paid 60-80 billion dollars in compensation in various forms, honestly admitting the Nazi state crimes and apologizing to the world community. Germany, which shows continued governmental care for compensation to the victims, announced another huge compensation this time. The step is an expression of its will to see in the new century after completely settling the Nazi past.
Unlike Germany, Japan has refused to liquidate its past wrong. In the past Japan occupied Korea illegally and imposed immeasurable misfortunes and sufferings upon the Korean people. Nevertheless, it has been resorting to all kinds of tricks to shirk the blame for the past crimes instead of admitting and apologizing for them. It is now talking about "improvement of relations" with the DPRK. Though, it turns aside the responsibility for the past crimes and, on the contrary, sets out these or those conditions for the "improvement."
Bangladeshi Independence Day observed
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- Papers today note that the Korean people are extending warm and friendly greetings to the Bangladeshi people on the occasion of the Independence Day. The Bangladeshi people have achieved big successes in their efforts to create a new independent life since its independence, a signed article of Rodong Sinmun says, and goes on: All the achievements made in Bangladesh are the fruition of the efforts of the hard-working people. Minju Joson in a signed article says that the Korean people express the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will continue to develop on good terms and wish the Bangladeshi people new successes in their struggle for the stability and prosperity of the country.
No "ROK army POWs" in DPRK
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- Recently the present chief executive of South Korea referred to the "exchange" of unconverted long-term prisoners for "POWs of the ROK army." Kim Hung Chan, 66, who had been a private soldier of the "ROK army," had an interview with KCNA in this regard. He said: I was forced to be cannon fodder for the U.S. forces during the last Korean War, and volunteered to join the People's Army in the remaining days of the war. The South Korean authorities describe those who joined the People's Army, refusing to serve in the "ROK army" in the war as "POWs of the ROK army." I was not a "POW" but voluntarily joined the People's Army and fought with the enemy. In the North Korea there is no "POW of the ROK army."
Kim said he hailed from Yangbok-ri, Pogae-myon, Ansong county, Kyonggi Province. He defected to the DPRK because he was disillusioned with the living in South Korea occupied by the U.S. and unable to serve any more in the cursed "ROK army," he said. On May 7, 1951, he came over to the DPRK, joined the Korean People's Army and fought at Yanggu in the eastern sector of the front, he said adding: I was admitted to the Worker's Party of Korea in October 1953. I have worked at the Pyongyang Mechanization Office ever since discharge from military service. I made home and live a very happy life as a full-fledged citizen under the care of the DPRK.
I, a war veteran, am respected and loved by the people. My returning to cursed South Korea, turning my back on the generous DPRK, is unimaginable. The South Korean authorities should not call for the return to the south of those who do not want to go back, but repatriate as early as possible the unconverted long-term prisoners who earnestly call for their return to the north.
Solution of issue of succession to revolutionary cause
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- Debkumar Ganguli, secretary of the Asian and Pacific Regional Office of the World Federation of Trade Unions, made public a statement on March 19 on the occasion of the anniversary of the publication of the President Kim Il Sung's famous work "For the Accomplishment of the Socialist Cause".
The President Kim Il Sung was the great leader of the revolution in the 20th century, who made an outstanding contribution to the international communist movement, he noted, and went on: Kim Il Sung in his work gave a perfect answer to the issue of succession to the revolutionary cause which presented itself as a serious question in the international communist movement.
He was the great leader of the revolution, who led Korea's revolution to victory and most successfully solved the fundamental issue decisive of the destiny of revolution. The respected Kim Jong Il is an outstanding thinker and theoretician, statesman and military strategist and the great leader who is leading the country and people to victory, shouldering their destiny upon himself. Sure to triumph is the socialist cause in Korea under the leadership of the great Kim Jong Il boundlessly loyal to the cause of the leader.
Desperate efforts of those forsaken by people
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- Some days ago, the South Korean "prosecutor general" issued an instruction as to "strictly checking" the "illegal labour strikes" that "flatly reject restructuring". Meanwhile, the "prosecutor's office" adopted a so-called "countermeasure" to step up the "arrest campaign against" the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) and foil its activities beforehand, including its inaugural ceremony.
This is another repressive order and plan of the fascist clique to arrest at all costs the struggle of workers and students for vital rights and democracy, says Minju Joson in a commentary today. The news analyst continues: The present South Korean rulers, in utter disregard of the living of the working people, have resorted to the policy which gratifies the greed of foreign monopoly capitalists and meets the interests of entrepreneurs alone. They have legalized the "layoff" and forced "restructuring" of enterprises, which resulted in massive dismissal of workers. The South Korean ruler's threat to "strictly check" the struggle of workers against the "layoff" and "restructuring," dismissing it "illegal" is a wicked act that can be committed only by those forsaken by the people.
Foodstuffs good for health made of faggot fruit
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- In recent years, the scientists and technicians of the Korea Koryo Medicine Technical Center have succeeded in producing new foodstuffs from sweet fruit of aronia. The tree bears an average of 4 to 8 kg of fruits per year, 10 kg at best, from the third year after its planting. The fruit which weighs 0.6 - 1.5 g is efficacious for the treatment of diseases caused by high penetrability and fragility of capillary vessels for it abundantly contains vitamin P. Those foodstuffs produced at the center are good for preventing arteriosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes and affection of kidney. It is also used as expectorant and antidote.
Among them there are vitamin drinks like "aronia tea" and "aronia syrups" which are made of extracts and fruit juice sweetened with sugar. "Sweet fruit of aronia" with its sugar content reaching 60 percent and "aronia tincture" have very high contents of vitamin P. "Aronia medicinal liquor" is also well received by people for it is efficacious for building up cardiovascular system, lowering blood pressure and preventing arteriosclerosis.
DPRK's just stand towards U.S. "annual report on human rights" supported
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- The Madagascar-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee issued a statement in support of the DPRK's just stand towards the U.S. State Department's "annual report on human rights". The statement said a specific country has no right to apply its "standards of human rights " to other country or to "judge" it. It continued: The U.S. should resolve its human rights problem before slandering the DPRK. We fully support the Korean people in their struggle against the United States' interference in other country's internal affairs, posing itself as a "model of human rights."
Halt to NATO military action against Yugoslavia demanded
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- NATO should stop its illegal military action against Yugoslavia before the flames spread. A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry said in a statement today as regards the on-going battle between the Yugoslav army and the U.S.-led NATO forces, which was triggered off by the latter's air strikes against Yugoslavia.
NATO's exercise of force against Yugoslavia is a wanton violation of International Law and the UN Charter and a grave challenge to peace and security in the Balkan region, Europe and the rest of the world, the statement pointed out, and said: Outsiders are encroaching upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of a sovereign nation by force on the pretext that it refuses to yield to their partial demand and pressure intended to impinge on its interests. Such illegal action can never be justified.
The Kosovo dispute is entirely an internal affair of Yugoslavia. This issue can never be solved by outsider's intervention and pressure and use of military strength, which will only aggravate confrontation, conflict and the tensions. It is our consistent stand towards it that the issue should be settled peacefully and politically through dialogues and negotiations between the parties in dispute on the basis of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia.
Hong Won Myong declares his will to return home
Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- Hong Won Myong, a son of former science councilor of the Korean embassy in Bangkok Hong Sun Gyong, reportedly called a press conference at the Thai foreign ministry building on March 23. He said: Frankly speaking, Korean's living is difficult now, but they will live well in the future. If my father and mother turned traitors to the country, I would work hard to redeem the crime of treachery. I want to live as a patriot, not a traitor to the country. I will return to the socialist homeland where my elder brother, relatives and friends live and all the people live with no worries and anxiety. I will talk my heart to my parents. If they voice opposition to my will, I will break with them and return home alone.
Hong Won Myong's remarks stemmed from his love for the Korean socialist system where everyone lives in harmony with no worries and anxiety and from the faith in the future of the homeland which is to be built into a powerful nation under the wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. His willingness to return home, come what may, is unshakable. Any attempt to put down his free will cannot be construed otherwise than a trick for attaining an impure political aim, as well as an action unfriendly towards the DPRK and a violation of his human rights. Those who attempt to keep Hong Won Myong from returning home deserve curses and condemnation from the international community. Hong Won Myong should immediately be sent back to his homeland to meet his wish.