Kim Jong Il praised by Indian youth
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A seminar titled "Brilliant commander Marshal Kim Jong Il" was held by the Youth Group for the Study of the Juche Philosophy in Dheradoon, India, on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK. Speakers highly praised General Secretary Kim Jong Il as a iron-willed commander, who is brilliantly carrying forward the cause of Juche-oriented army building pioneered by the President Kim Il Sung and strengthening the Korean People's Army into revolutionary armed forces, each being a match for a hundred foes.
They said that Kim Jong Il is a famous commander who has strengthened the KPA into an invincible army with outstanding military wisdom, strategy, iron will and courage. Those watchers of the U.S. Defense Department said the "North Korean leadership is characterized firstly by its correct judgement, secondly by its strong determination and thirdly by its merciless attack. They stressed that led by the great brilliant commander socialism in Korea is ever-victorious.
Anti-"government" struggle in S. Korea
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The National Council of Leaders of the Stockbreeding Cooperatives in South Korea on April 2 held a rally against the authority's moves to forcibly merge their organisations with the attendance of some 25,000 members, according to a radio report from Seoul. In a resolution, the rallies denounced the authorities for scheming to destroy the stockbreeding through the "unilateral decision on merging the cooperatives into a single organization" in disregard of the intention of livestock breeders and strongly urged them to put an immediate halt to their scheme to bring their organisations under the government control.
Joint symposium on Juche idea held in Madagascar
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A joint symposium on the Juche idea was held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on March 27 on the occasion of Sun's Day and the 17th anniversary of publication of "On the Juche Idea," a celebrated work of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. Speakers referred to the philosophical principle and theoretical and practical significance of the idea. They stressed that the DPRK has become a genuine socialist country where the popular masses have become masters of everything thanks to the politics administered by the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on the basis of the Juche idea. President Kim Il Sung was a defender of socialism and great sun in the 20th century and Kim Jong Il is a symbol of socialist victory and great lodestar in the 21st century, they said. A message of greetings to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the symposium.
Preparatory committees formed abroad
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Preparatory committees to commemorate Sun's Day were inaugurated in Denmark, Jordan and Portugal on the occasion of the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. Action programs were discussed and decided at the meetings.
Symposium on Korean situation
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The 18th symposium on the policy in the 21st century concerning the situation on the Korean peninsula and "guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation" was held in Tokyo on March 26. Yasuhiko Yoshita, professor of Saitama University, in his report at the symposium, referred to the recent underground facility negotiations held between the DPRK and the U.S. The DPRK's requirements over "missile issue" and "nuclear facility issue" are, in the final analysis, to lift economic sanctions and establish diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the U.S., he said, and continued: There cannot be the DPRK's "collapse" and its neighboring country does not want it either. Only Japan still does not admit it. Former prime minister of Japan Tomiichi Murayama, a social democratic member of the house of representatives stressed that improving the relations between Japan and the DPRK is related to peace in Asia, and this belongs to Japan's responsibility.
Anti-American demonstration in S. Korea
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Some 1,500 students affiliated with the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) staged an anti-American demonstration on April 2, a Seoul-based radio said. The demonstrators criticized the reckless war moves of the U.S. and strongly demanded an immediate end to them. The South Korean authorities called out riot police to block the demonstration of the students and watched their movements in different parts of streets. The demonstrators attacked policemen who were watching their movements from a drugstore and wrested wireless apparatuses from them.
U.S. move for "NMD" system
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the evermore stepped up moves of the United States to establish the "missile defense" systems. Recalling the contention inside the United States that this is almost infeasible and it is hard to expect any effect and its implementation should be considered, the paper in a signed commentary observes this is indicative of the widespread notion in the U.S. that its move to establish the systems is anachronistic.
The United States is underscoring the need to build the "NMD" system and "TMD" system on the pretext of protecting itself and its allies from the "missile threat" from somebody, the commentary notes, adding: This is intended to secure its military edge in East Asia and other parts of the world and meet its hegemonic ambition for global domination. The U.S. talk about "missile threat" from somebody is nothing but a trite subterfuge to justify its criminal move to build systems.
Underlying the assertion of former U.S. defense secretary Perry that the projected "TMD" system would not be productive is his wish to see the caution and concern of big powers about the U.S. allayed. But this, in fact. Constitutes an admission of the unfeasibility of the systems. The United States is well advised to face the reality and behave properly. The anachronistic and hegemonic move to establish the systems will bring nothing good to the United States.
Prelude to bestial suppression
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A few days ago, the South Korean authorities held the first "working-level meeting" called "consultative meeting for measures on public peace" at which they defined the general strike of workers as "illegal", alleging that the demands of trade unions "cannot be included in the category of disputes." And they threatened that, if the trade unions go on a general strike, they will "strictly deal with" the leadership and hardcore elements guiding the struggle by mobilizing riot police.
Commenting on this, a news analyst of Rodong Sinmun today says: This is a prelude to a new fascist repressive offensive to crack down upon the just struggle of working people for democracy and vital rights at the point of bayonet. The struggle of workers and other people sweeping all parts of South Korea is an expression of their fixed will to win genuine rights to work and existence through a united struggle, not being taken in by the deceptive trick of the authorities who pretend to work for "people."
Their struggle for democracy and the right to existence is a very just one which is an exercise of their inviolable right. Nevertheless, the South Korean authorities are threatening to crack down upon the struggle, branding it as "illegal." This shows that they are a group of murderers. Water is bound to take its course and one's crime rebounds itself upon him. The South Korean authorities are well advised to stop such foolish acts as trying to calm down the anger of people at the point of bayonet, clearly seeing the trend of the times.
Work of President Kim Il Sung published in Russia
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The immortal classical work of the President Kim Il Sung "Let Us Bring the Advantages of Socialism in Our Country into Full Play" was printed in booklet at the Paleya Publishing House in Russia on March 30.
Dangerous move of Japan
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- What is Japan going to choose at this time of history when more than half a century has passed since the end of World War II? This is a question put by Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today. The author of the article says: Now, Japan is faced with the most serious crisis after World War II. So, it is getting frantic in its moves to find a way out of their crisis in invading other countries. What it seeks in this is to extricate itself from the crisis of economic bankruptcy, create an international climate for new "prosperity" and, furthermore, become a "world empire."
Urged by an ulterior desire to make an overseas invasion, Japan is these days trying to designate "Hinomaru" as the national flag and "Kimigayo" as the national anthem and applying itself to implementing the updated "guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation" allegedly to cope with "emergencies in the areas surrounding Japan." What is noteworthy is the fact that the Japanese reactionaries are putting spurs to their scheme to possess the capacity for long-distance transport and mid-air refueling and introduce spy satellites. Japan is now crying that this is a measure taken for the "preservation of peace" and "emergency aid" but the reality is quite opposite.
The Japanese militarist's overseas invasion, which is now going beyond the danger line, is a matter of time. If Japan chooses overseas invasion at historic crossroads, it will result in its second defeat and self-destruction. Japan had better make a correct choice with proper reason if it wants not to be buried in oblivion of history forever.
Unconverted long-term prisoners should be repatriated
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities should abolish the murderous "Law on Supervision for Public Peace", immediately stop the fascist surveillance and persecution of the unconverted long-term prisoners and unconditionally repatriate them to the North Korea, where their kinsmen are awaiting them.
The spokesman of the Korean Measure Committee for Rescuing the Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners of South Korea answered a question put by KCNA as regards the condition of unconverted long-term prisoners getting worse in South Korea. The condition of the unconverted people who settled down in the "house of meeting" in Kwanak district, Seoul, after being released from prison at the end of long prison terms has become more difficult because a woman, their helper, was laid up with sickness.
Though they were set free, they live in misery, their human rights violated by the fascist "Law on Supervision for Public Peace." Particularly, old men of the DPRK origin who have no blood relations in South Korea and those who have family members in the north lead a very miserable life. If any mishap befalls them, the South Korean authorities will have to bear full responsibility for all consequences.
FSKTU decides to withdraw from "Labour-Management-Government Committee"
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The Federation of South Korean Trade Unions decided to hold its central committee meeting on April 9 and withdraw from the "Labour-Management-Government Committee" as the present regime has not clarified its willingness to honor its commitments to labour-related pending issues until March 31 set by its organization as a deadline for its withdrawal, a Seoul-based radio reported.
In a statement, it said that although it urged the authorities to meet its six-point demands, including the suspension of the unilateral "restructuring," a sincere prior discussion and the compulsory payment of wages to full-time union leaders by the end of march, they have not yet accepted any of them. It declared it would decide the orientation of its actions, including its withdrawal from the "Labour-Management-Government Committee," the struggle for its dissolution and simultaneous rallies in different parts of South Korea, at the soon-to-be-held meeting of its central committee. It vowed it would wage a powerful struggle without pinning any hope on the present regime.
"The Nation and Destiny" (part 45) produced
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The April 25 Film Studio of the Korean People's Army produced part I (Choe Hyon) of the multi-part feature film "the Nation and Destiny" (part 45). Choe Hyon, an anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter, worked at the responsible post of the Korean People's Army. The film impressively shows his true loyalty to the party and the leader and his revolutionary traits displayed in the period of the Korean War (June 1950 - July 1953). The film illustrates what the gun of revolution means through philosophical dialogue and moving scenes and underscores the posture and standpoint of soldiers loyal to their leader. The preview of the film was given at the People's Palace of Culture on April 3. Senior state officials appreciated the film.
Spring struggle called for
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The worker-peasant department of the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea published slogans for an immediate struggle on March 30 calling upon 10 million working people to turn out in a spring struggle. They appeal for a strong opposition to "restructuring" and layoff and a struggle against unemployment and for wage increase. They call for winning worker's right to existence through all-out struggle in March and April and for overthrowing the anti-worker "government for the people", the trusteeship by the International Monetary Fund should be ended and the "National Security Law" scrapped and "Intelligence Service" be dismantled, they said. They underscore the need to achieve solidarity between workers and peasants, between workers and students and to wage an anti-government joint struggle.
Myohyang Transit Marine Transport Company on maritime accident
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A DPRK trade cargo vessel "Manphok" collided on March 31 with "Hyundai Duke", a trade cargo vessel of the "Hyundai group" of South Korea, in the open sea 420 miles away from Colombo port in Sri Lanka, while it was sailing to Colombo port via Singapore from Jakarta port in Indonesia. In this connection, the spokesman of the DPRK Myohyang Transit Marine Transport Company issued a press statement today.
The statement says: By this accident, the "Manphok" sank and 37 of the 39 crewmen aboard the vessel are missing. The collision is the first of its kind between civil vessels of the north and the south. When the vessels collided, 2 crewmen of the "Manphok" were narrowly rescued and boarded the "Hyundai Duke". In this regard, we took measures to immediately dispatch resident officials of our company in Singapore to Colombo to learn about the circumstances of the accident, and bring the 2 crewmen back to the motherland after comforting them.
When our company representatives reached the "Hyundai Duke", 3 persons including 2 secretaries of the South Korean embassy were already on board their vessel and hindered the northern officials from getting aboard the vessel to meet our 2 crewmen. The South Koreans even forcibly drew our crewmen from the deck into the inside of the vessel. By the accident, we lost dozens of invaluable crewmen and our cargo vessel sank while the "Hyundai" side has no human and material loss except for insignificant scratch on the vessel.
Nonetheless, the rumour is afloat in South Korea that the southern vessel gave "alarm whistles" but the northern vessel "ignored" them, resulting in the accident. Some news reports unilaterally distort the fact, talking as if the north side were to blame for the accident. This cannot be construed otherwise than a premeditated and deliberate plot of the South Korean authorities to conceal the truth, mislead public opinion and abuse the tragic maritime accident for north-south confrontation.
As a matter of fact, the "Manphok" left Singapore port at 20:00 March 26 and its speed is 11 knots while the "Hyundai Duke" left the same port at 22:20 March 29 and took the same course at the speed of 26.2 knots. This proves that the "Hyundai Duke" chased after our vessel. As a result of the collision, the "Hyundai Duke" suffered small scratch on its port bow while the "Manphok" sank on the spot. This is indisputably patent proof that shows which is the offender and which is the victim.
Since the accident happened between civil vessels of the north and the south, we consider it to be most reasonable that the problem should be resolved smoothly by the parties concerned of the two sides from a compatriotic and humanitarian stand without the interference of authorities, a third country or a third party.