2nd-day sitting of 2nd session of 10th SPA
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The 2nd-day sitting of the 2nd session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK was held today. Debates on the first agenda item "on the summing up of the fulfillment of the state budget for Juche 87 (1998) and on the state budget for Juche 88 (1999) in the DPRK" continued there.
The speakers said that the state budget for 1998 creditably ensured the sacred struggle to consolidate the political foundation of the revolutionary government as firm as a rock, enhance the might of the single-hearted unity of the leader, party, army and people in every way and firmly defend and glorify the socialist system.
The state budget for 1999 is a revolutionary and dynamic one which can financially guarantee the heroic struggle of the Korean people and People's Army to bring about a great change in building a powerful nation by speeding up the second grand Chollima march, they said, and fully supported and approved it. They underscored the need to increase the political, military and economic might of the country by successfully implementing the state budget for this year.
The sitting debated on the second agenda item "on adopting a law of the DPRK on the plan of the national economy." Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the SPA, delivered a report at the sitting in which the draft law of the DPRK on the plan of the national economy was read out. Discussions on the second agenda item took place.
The reporter and speakers said that to adopt the law at the historic time when the Korean revolution has entered the stage of new change would mark another significant occasion in fully demonstrating the validity of the policy of the Worker's Party of Korea and the DPRK government on the planning of the national economy and the vitality of the planned socialist economy and accelerating the cause of building a powerful nation of Juche in spite of difficulties.
The law presented to the SPA for consideration is a Juche-based law which fixes by law the achievements made in the planning work in the past and which fully represents the party's policy on planning and a Korean-style revolutionary law on the plan which reflects the invariable will of the Worker's Party, state and people of Korea that have maintained the principle of planned management in socialist economic construction.
They pointed out that the law on the plan of the national economy fully stipulates the principles, system and method of the planned socialist economy in keeping with the requirements of the developing revolution, and voiced full support and approval for the law by proposing to adopt it as it is. The sitting continues.
Preparatory committees formed abroad
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- A French preparatory committee and a preparatory committee of the International United Confederation of Koreans to commemorate Sun's Day were formed on March 26 and 30 on the threshold of the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. The preparatory committees discussed matters for splendidly commemorating Sun's Day.
Chinese art troupe performs in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- A Chinese art troupe, which had come here to attend the 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival, gave a performance before its opening at the Ponghwa Art Theatre in Pyongyang on Wednesday. It was appreciated by vice-Minister of Culture Song Sok Hwan who is vice-chairman of the organizing committee of the art festival, officials concerned and working people in the city. Among those in the audience were Chinese ambassador Wan Yongxiang, embassy officials, the government cultural delegation led by vice-Minister of Culture Al Qingchun and other Chinese guests. The artists impressively represented the life of the diligent Chinese people and their emotions and ardent love of their country with elegant and beautiful rhythm, rich voice and refined talent of vocal music. They presented Korean songs, winning applause from the audience.
Ridiculous anti-reunification sophism
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The present South Korean chief executive, when meeting "ROK" army generals on Tuesday, asserted that the U.S. forces should stay in South Korea even after reunification in order to repel "aggression" from somebody, according to Seoul-based radio No. 1. This is a virulent anti-reunificational jargon of a colonial stooge who seeks to perpetuate the partition of Korea that has lasted for over half a century and to prolong his remaining days with the backing of his U.S. master.
No "POW" in DPRK
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- "The South Korean ruling quarters are now calling for 'exchange' of 'ROK army POWs' for unconverted long-term prisoners of the north origin. It is a cock-and-bull argument because there is no 'POW' in the north. We are not 'POWs.'" This was stated by Kim Jun Gyong, 74, who was born in Yongyang county, North Kyongsang Province, and resides in Seumul-ri, Ryokpho district, Pyongyang. During the last Korean War (June 1950-July 1953) he was drafted into the "ROK army" in South Korea and then defected to the north to serve the Korean People's Army.
The South Korean rulers are now describing as "POWs" those like him who voluntarily defected to the DPRK and served in the KPA. This is an intolerable insult and the height of impudence, Kim said, and went on: After defecting to the north in June 1952, I fought in Kimhwa area of the central front as a People's Army soldier. I, who was denied the opportunity of going to school in the south, learnt our mother tongue at a military political academy after defection. My days in the "ROK" army were really terrible. So, I and my fellows quit the "ROK" army and defected to the north.
In the north, I found so many people like me. I had many opportunities to meet them. They were equally proud of their happy families and life in the north. After getting discharged from military service, I graduated from a college of agriculture and became a member of the Worker's Party of Korea and a livestock engineer. I had served as sub-work-team leader of a state-run stock-farm until I retired from my post. Being a war veteran, I have no worries about my livelihood, always enjoying benefits from the state.
Through my experience both in the north and south, I have realized that the north is a society for the people where all the people enjoy a harmonious life. How can we leave such a good place? I will never go back to the south under whatever circumstances. The South Korean rulers should not urge us to come back to the south which has been turned to a veritable hell under the rule of the U.S. but immediately allow the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners to the north where they were born.
DPRK Foreign Minister sends letter to Yugoslav counterpart
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, sent a solidarity letter to Zibadin Jovanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as regards the U.S.-led NATO force's indiscriminate large-scale air raids on Yugoslavia, an independent and sovereign state. The letter said: The DPRK considers that the NATO's military attack on Yugoslavia is a wanton violation of the international law and the UN Charter and a grave threat and outrageous challenge to peace and security of the Balkans, Europe and the rest of the world.
The DPRK strongly holds that the Kosovo problem is totally an internal affair of Yugoslavia and it must be certainly solved peacefully through dialogues and negotiations on the basis of respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity and the illegal military action of NATO against Yugoslavia must be stopped at once, it said. It expressed full support and solidarity with the just stand of the Yugoslav government and people to smash the aggression of the NATO forces and defend the country's security as well as the belief that their struggle for justice will bear good fruit.
Press conference at Russian embassy
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- A press conference was held at the embassy of the Russian Federation here on Wednesday. Russian ambassador Valery Denisov made a speech at the press conference. He briefed its participants on the contents of the annual message the Russian President recently sent to the federation council. The message referred to the tasks for shaping the economic policy of Russia for 1999, the present political situation and the main principle of social development. The crisis of Yugoslavia once again showed justness of the stand of Russia which has never allowed NATO's expansion toward the East and Russia holds that NATO must immediately stop military attack on Yugoslavia and the Kosovo problem must be solved politically, the message stressed.
Deep homage to Kim Il Sung paid
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly which is now in session called at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on April 7 to pay profound homage to the President Kim Il Sung.
Meeting for solidarity with Yugoslav people held
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- A meeting for solidarity with the Yugoslav people in their fight against the U.S.-led NATO aggression on Yugoslavia was held here on Wednesday.
Ri Song Ho, vice-chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is chairman of the Korea-Yugoslavia Friendship Association, in his speech said the acts of aggression of the U.S. and NATO against Yugoslavia can never be justified. If they choose to escalate their military actions against the country, they will not escape from the unanimous curses and strong condemnation from the peace-loving people of the world, he declared.
Referring to the fact that the Yugoslav people and army have courageously turned out in the sacred fight against the aggressors, firmly determined to defend the sovereignty of the country, he stressed the Korean people will continue to extend an active support and solidarity to the Yugoslav people in their just struggle.
Ljubomir Djukic, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to Korea, in his speech said that if the aggressors thought they could bring Yugoslavia to its knees and conquer it by force of arms, it was a miscalculation. The Yugoslav people have spiritual strength, the strength of justice, he declared. The Yugoslav people are ready to defend their country to the last man and they will win victory with all their efforts and by all possible means, he stressed. A solidarity letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was adopted at the meeting.
Kim Jong Il highly praised
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) - Takashi Nada, chairman of the Shikoku, Japan, Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, was awarded the DPRK Friendship Order First Class in Pyongyang some time ago for his positive activities to widely disseminate the Juche idea and support the Korean people in the struggle for socialist construction and national reunification.
He is the writer of a book "Korea in Kim Jong Il Era" popular in Japan. He wrote the book on the occasion of the 57th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. He had already written books "Secretary Kim Jong Il and People, Song of Praise for Great Love" and "Kim Jong Il, Son of People" while visiting Korea several times from the 1970s.
He was not satisfied with this. He felt more deeply that Kim Jong Il is the peerlessly great man and master of politics when he looked up to him, who is leading the socialist cause and the movement for global independence to victory under the red flag even under the complex international situation. This prompted him to write the book "Korea in Kim Jong Il Era" with detailed data about the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il who is firmly defending and glorifying socialist Korea despite manifold difficulties and ordeals.
He wrote in the book that Kim Jong Il is brightly indicating the road ahead of the world revolutionary people and leading the socialist cause, the human cause of independence, to victory. The Kim Jong Il era has come as he was elected General Secretary of the Worker's Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, the highest post in the DPRK, and the 21st century will be Korea's century, he stressed.
Memorial services for fallen April 3 Popular Uprising
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Memorial services were held on Jeju Island and in Seoul on April 3 on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the April 3 Jeju Island Popular Uprising, according to a Seoul-based radio. The uprising was a patriotic one started in protest against the may 10 ruinous separate election faked up by the U.S. Tens of thousands of island's residents were killed and 35% of its population fell victim to the brutal suppression of the uprising.
Participants in the memorial service, which was held on Jeju Island with more than 2,000 people including the bereaved family members in attendance, denounced the "Presidential Election" promise made by the present chief executive to settle the problem of the uprising as no more than a deception. They asserted that their demands, including the probe into the truth behind the uprising, formation of a special committee for reinstatement and enactment of a special law, should be met.
On the same day, a memorial service and a meeting for urging reinstatement were sponsored in Seoul by the People's Committee for Probe into the Truth Behind the Uprising and Promotion of Reinstatement. In another development, the National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification (Jongukryonhap) and the Joint Measure Committee for Civil Rights co-sponsored a meeting, at which they expressed the resolution to struggle for national reunification in the spirit displayed by the martyrs during the uprising.
Repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners urged
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Yun Song Sik, presidium member of the Consultative Committee of Former South Korean Politicians in the North for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification, when interviewed by KCNA on Tuesday, asserted that the South Korean authorities should send the north-born unconverted long-term prisoners, including Kim In So, Ham Se Hwan and Kim Yong Thae back to the north at once.
He said: The condition of the aged and weak unconverted long-term prisoners, who are residing at a "get-together house" in Seoul, is deteriorating after a woman Jong Sun Dok, who had been looking after them, fell seriously ill of cerebral hemorrhage. To repatriate them to the north where their kinsmen are awaiting is a pressing issue that should not be delayed any longer. If the South Korean authorities continue to bind them hand and foot by a variety of institutional mechanisms and threaten their personal safety by delaying their repatriation, they will not escape from more severe judgement by history.
Korean books presented to Germany
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- A ceremony for presenting Korean books was held at the building of the central committee of the Communist Party of Germany on April 2 on the threshold of the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. Famous works of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and other Korean books were conveyed at the ceremony. Hans Wauer, vice-chairman of the Communist Party central committee, said that the Juche idea, created by Kim Il Sung and enriched by Kim Jong Il, and the experience of the Worker's Party of Korea in its struggle for applying it are very precious for his party. The books will be distributed to and deeply studied by the party central committee and its lower organizations, he said.
Friendship tournament for "Paektusan Thaeyang Cup"
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The "Paektusan Thaeyang Cup" friendship tournament among clubs of the International Taekwon-do Federation was held in Vienna on Mar. 28 to commemorate the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. The "Paektusan Thaeyang Cup" was awarded to the top medallist club in the tournament. A letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted there.
Poem "Great Man and Famous Mountain"
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Choe Se Jin, a South Korean poet, in his poem "Great Man and Famous Mountain" says that under the care of the great Marshal Kim Jong Il Mt. Chilbo of Korea has become a most famous mountain. The poem says: Mt. Chilbo reflects the hearts of the 70 million Korean people who are looking up to the Marshal as the sun. When the Marshal climbed Mt. Chilbo raining stopped and mist and cloud cleared off and the mountain presented a kaleidoscopic view. It means he is the very one produced by heaven and he is the sun.
The mountaineering course to Mt. Chilbo opened by the Marshal will be followed by those from Seoul, Pusan and other areas and this way will be an avenue leading to reunification. Far from inhabited area, the steep and craggy mountain could not catch interest of people. But today the mountain stands more imposingly as one of the 6 famous mountains of Korea after the greatest man visited it. Under his care even all species of grass smell sweet and a rubble stone shines. If he comes to South Korea, its people, mountains and streams will revive and shine under the rays of his love.
Comprehensively developed post and telecommunications
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Today marks day of communications. The Korean working people in this field are observing this day when the significant Sun's Day is just around the corner. They are recollecting with deep emotion the tireless efforts exerted by the President Kim Il Sung to build the nation's post and telecommunications. The President put forward a unique idea of building socialist communications long before the country's liberation and accumulated a wealth of experience and performed exploits. He expounded its characteristics, its duty and the principles of its management after liberation and wisely led the work in this domain at each period and each stage of the developing revolution.
The communications network in the country remained seriously deformed and one-sided due to the aftermath of the Japanese colonial rule. But it has developed to be an independent and comprehensive one equipped with up-to-date technologies. A commanding communications network operating for the party and the government and an industrial telephone network have been fully established and the Pyongyang earth station made its appearance.
A big stride forward was made in the domain in hearty response to the letter "Let us speed up modernization of communications more vigorously" sent by General Secretary Kim Jong Il to the participants in the national meeting of communications workers on August 25, 1993. A well-organized communications system has been set up throughout the country through the readjustment and reinforcement of the overall telephone cables and the introduction of up-to-date equipment.
Various kinds of carrier telephones were produced and installed and a larger number of direct telephone circuits have been connected to key factories and enterprises from state institutions. A phone exchange has been computerized and cables have been replaced by optical cables through the introduction of ultra-modern communications equipment, including automatic digital phone switchboards and great capacity impulse-code modulators.
There is a well-organized international phone system which satisfactorily meets the growing needs of international communications. Radio and wire broadcasting stations and relay TV broadcasting stations across the country have been rebuilt on an expansion basis and readjusted and reinforced. There is also a well-regulated relay broadcasting system. There began microwave FM service and relay broadcasting was realized in major cities, with the result that the inner structure of the broadcasting system has been perfected and diversified.
Material and technological foundations of factories producing communication apparatuses and their scientific research institutions have been consolidated. The workers in the field of communications are now speeding up the introduction of optical fiber cables and pushing ahead the work to introduce multiplex phone circuits under a long-term plan.
Gathering of world-famous artistes to commemorate Sun's Day
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The April spring festival, an annual event in Korea, draws world-famous art troupes and artistes. The forthcoming 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival (April 10-18) will be an excellent stage because it is to be attended by a great many world-famous international and domestic concours laureates, gold medallists and top prize winners.
The world-famous Russian Alexandrov Army Choir and Dance Ensemble with a long history spanning more than 70 years will participate in the coming festival again. The ensemble has 2 people's artistes and 25 merited artistes. It has made tangible preparations for the festival. The festival will be participated in by a Russian group of well-known artistes and the Russian Academia "Belyosuka" Dancing Group. The dancing group includes some 10 people's and merited artistes. The group will contribute to the festival with graceful and beautiful rhythmic movements.
The repertoire of more than 50 artistes of category a and well-known artistes selected from famous art troupes, including the Chinese Opera and dance drama troupe, the Tungfang Song and Dance Ensemble and the Central National Song and Dance Ensemble includes Korean songs and some ten other numbers.
Talented artistes from Mongolia and Poland will come to the festival. Among the participants in the festival are a Bulgarian conductor who received gold medals several times at international art festivals and who will conduct the chorus of the immortal revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Il Sung," well-known international and national concours laureates, many famous vocal and instrumental artistes, dancers and acrobats of Austria, Moldova, Belarussia, Romania, Egypt, Spain, Italy and many other countries.
Tangible numbers are now being created to adorn the festival with splendor. World-famous artistes will bring their artistic talents into full play at the festival, which will give a strong impetus to the efforts of the Korean people who are running at canter for the building of a powerful nation.
Development of biological and chemical weapons exposed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (Hanminjon) published an indictment on April 2 laying bare the truth behind the development of biological and chemical weapons by the South Korean authorities, said Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
Citing materials to expose that the policy of developing biological and chemical weapons which has been pursued by the successive South Korean rulers and the process of their deployment, the indictment said: It was at the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s that the South Korean authorities took a policy of developing biological and chemical weapons.
The Pak Chung Hee regime adopted a secret policy of developing biological and chemical weapons and pushed ahead with the development = it set up a large number of institutes aimed at killing people and put them under the control of the "Ministry of National Defense" and the "Institute of Defense Science" = and it dispatched groups of brains engaged in the development of biological and chemical weapons to the United States and "invited" a technical team of the U.S. Defense Department for technical aid.
At the end of the 1970s, it laid a technical foundation to cultivate bacteria and virus for biological weapons and mass-produce poisonous substances for chemical weapons. The development of biological and chemical weapons has been further stepped up by the Chun Doo Hwan regime in the 1980s. Chun Doo Hwan frequently sent teams specializing in the development of biological and chemical weapons to the United States to introduce its successes in research and hurried up with joint development with U.S. germ weapons institutes.
In the mid-1980s, South Korea succeeded in experimenting bacteria and virus on living bodies and put the production of poisonous substances for chemical weapons on an industrial footing. The Roh Tae Woo group put spurs to the work to put the development of biological and chemical weapons on a stage of full application. Experts on biological and chemical weapons were included in a medical team of the "ROK" army dispatched for the gulf war to verify the effectiveness of South Korean-made biological and chemical weapons.
The "civilian"-veiled Kim Young Sam group of war hawks made an official decision to possess chemical weapons at the end of 1993 on the plea of "coping with the north's development of biological and chemical weapons" and submitted it to the "National Assembly" in 1994 for ratification.
The Kim Dae Jung "government" has pumped a colossal amount of money and manpower into the project to possess its "powerful capacity for biological and chemical warfare," while floating the rumour about "the north's development of biological and chemical weapons" in a bid to convince the international community, following the United States.
Referring to the truth behind the development of biological and chemical weapons in South Korea and its seriousness, the indictment further said: More than 1,000 persons are engaged in the study and development of germ weapons in South Korea. This started in the form of "collaboration" with the United States. In the mid-1980s, at least 70 kinds of pathogenic bacteria for germ warfare were developed as a result of successes in study.
While experimenting bacteria and virus on living bodies, the South Korean authorities pushed ahead with the production of arms which can carry, drop and launch those weapons. For example, the germ weapons institute under the "Ministry of National Defense" has thousands of special containers for military use which keep pathogenic bacteria and germs. In addition, tens of thousands of weapons of various kinds capable of carrying bacteria and virus are stockpiled at the "secret arsenals" under the corps, divisions, regiments and battalions of the "ROK" army.
The manufacture and stockpiling of chemical weapons in South Korea has entered a serious stage. The chemical institute of South Korea had produced as many as 10,000 compound substances as guinea pigs from 1982 to 1987, while the Samyang chemical technical institute completed the development of more than 30 kinds of "new goods" for chemical weapons in 1987.
After having built many factories which produce deadly poisonous gas, the South Korean authorities are speeding up its production. At present, South Korea has tens of thousands of tons of poisonous substances and several million chemical bombs stockpiled in frontline areas and other parts of South Korea including Kwangju and Taegu. It has also established a system needed for using the stockpiled biological and chemical weapons for real actions.
The South Korean authorities' criminal production of biological and chemical weapons and the stockpiling of them for real war are not only a frontal challenge to the September 1992 international convention on prohibition of the development, production, stockpile and use of chemical weapons but also a hostile act of going against the north-south agreement on non-aggression.
In conclusion, Hanminjon expressed the hope that the world conscience would heighten vigilance against South Korea's frantic moves to arm itself with biological and chemical weapons which is being stepped up under the support of the U.S. and take the same step as the South Korean people in the struggle to frustrate them.
Traditional Korean handicrafts
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Some time ago, a Korean white inlaid porcelain dish from the Ri dynasty (1392-1910), Korea's last feudal kingdom, was sold at a price of 2.8 million in New York. The small tray, 21.9 cm in diameter, gives a glimpse of Korea's advanced handcraftsmanship. The Korean handicraft industry is still carrying on its long-standing tradition. Every encouragement is given by the government to the development of this industry.
Handicrafts studios are found everywhere throughout the country. In this field emphasis is laid on the judicious combination of traditionalism and modernism. Various methods of technical art are in wide use to raise the cultivated taste in handicrafts. The world-famous Koryo celadon is inlaid with white or black clay, the woodworks from the ri dynasty have delicate inlays and the stone works from the same period are spangled with gold, silver and other precious metals. These traditional masterstrokes have been taken over by contemporary handicrafts and serve as a guarantee for a remarkable artistic capacity.
Floral basket to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a floral basket from Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of his election to the chairmanship of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK. Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Korea Shahir Mohammed Abdlah Thursday handed it to an official concerned.
Congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the economic and commercial councilors corps in Korea on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of his election as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. The letter was handed to an official concerned today by Chen Yufa, economic and commercial councilor of the Chinese embassy and doyen of the corps.