Greetings to Kim Jong Il from Cambodian King
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a message of greetings on April 6 from Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, on the occasion of Sun's Day. The message said: His excellency Generalissimo Kim Il Sung, the great leader and President, set a good model of firm unity, friendship and love among all oppressed nations and peoples by unhesitatingly standing by the world people who aspire after liberation, independence and non-alignment. Recalling the beneficial, noble and unforgettable friendship which was formed with the Generalissimo and is now being glorified by your excellency Marshal Kim Jong Il, supreme leader of the DPRK, I extend warm congratulations to you and the government and people of the DPRK. The message heartily hoped that Kim Jong Il would accomplish the noblest historic cause.
President Kim Il Sung's achievements praised
New Delhi, April 10 (KCNA) -- Abani Roy, secretary of the central committee of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of India, on April 7 had an interview with the KCNA correspondent to India on the occasion of Sun's Day, the birthday of the President Kim Il Sung. He said that Kim Il Sung made the greatest achievements which could hardly be possible even if all great men of the world pool their wisdom and energies. He further said. Kim Il Sung put forth the correctest guiding idea and founded the Juche-oriented party and revolutionary government which look after the destiny of popular masses in a responsible way and strengthened and developed them.
He also built the genuine revolutionary armed forces defending the people's freedom and happiness. He trained the Korean people to be revolutionary people with strong independence and provided a sure guarantee for carrying forward and accomplishing the Juche cause. Kim Il Sung was a peerlessly great man of the 20th century who gained valuable achievements and rich experience of enduring significance in the development of Korean revolution and the world revolutionary movement throughout his life.
Kim Yong Nam meets Indonesian cultural delegation
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK Kim Yong Nam met and conversed with an Indonesian cultural delegation headed by Marzuki Usman, Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, participating in the 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on April 11. Present there were chairman Jang Chol of the festival organizing committee and Indonesian ambassador to Korea Buchari Effendi.
The head of the Indonesian delegation said that Kimilsungia is the flower symbolizing the traditional friendship and unity between the DPRK and Indonesia and that the Indonesian people are very proud of this. He expressed the belief that the Korean people under the wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il would surely build a p
owerful socialist nation.
Preparatory committee formed in Greece
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee to commemorate Sun's Day was formed in Greece on April 6 on the occasion of the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung.
Floral basket laid before Kim Il Sung's Portrait
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A function to lay floral baskets before the Portrait of the President Kim Il Sung was held at Kim Il Sung Agricultural College of Cuba on April 7 on the occasion of Sun's Day. The participants laid floral baskets before his portrait and paid homage to him. The director of the college said that they would try hard to make it a model of the country in study and work so as to display the honor of being the college named after him.
Youth, students and pupils visit Mangyongdae
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A "visit to the native home in Mangyongdae" by youth, students and pupils from across the country was made on Sunday on the occasion of Sun's Day. About 4,100 youth, students and pupils from all parts of the country laid floral baskets and bouquets before the statue of the President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill before starting for his native home in Mangyongdae.
They marched through streets of the capital city, waving flags of the Worker's Party of Korea, the republic and the youth league and red flags, before their arrival in Mangyongdae. They laid wreaths before the graves of grand parents of the President Kim Po Hyon and Ri Po Ik and his parents Kim Hyong Jik and Kang Pan Sok and observed a moment's silence. Then they visited the President's native home, the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Museum and other revolutionary sites.
President Kim Il Sung's reminiscences published in U.S.
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The 3rd volume of part one the anti-Japanese revolution of the President Kim Il Sung's reminiscences "With the Century" was published by the J.A.M.S. Publishing House in the United States on the occasion of Sun's Day, his birthday.
Korean people commemorate Sun's Day
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Korean people, who are running at a canter to adorn this year as a year of great turn in building a Powerful nation, are commemorating Sun's Day significantly. Colorful functions are proceeding in Pyongyang and local cities which are festively bedecked with commemoration posters and five-colored flags.
A national art exhibition and the 1st Kimilsungia Show to commemorate Sun's Day have opened in Pyongyang. Exhibited there are red Kimilsungia which represent loyalty, filial piety and reverence of the Korean people and the world progressive people and art works showing 80 odd years of the revolutionary activities and immortal achievements of the President Kim Il Sung.
The "Mangyongdae Cup" sports contest, national students basketball game and national basketball game of senior middle school pupils are being held in gymnasiums and stadiums. Feature and documentary films showing noble virtues and traits of the President who shared life and death with people all his life under the motto "Believe in people as in heaven" are being shown in Pyongyang and local areas.
A national meeting, national symposium, seminars of working people's organizations, singing get-together, meetings to hear true stories on virtues and provincial, city and county meetings will be held to commemorate Sun's Day. Commemorations of Sun's Day will include evening galas of Pyongyang youths and students, a joint national meeting of the Korean Children's Union, a performance of participants in the national art festival of school youth and children and other colorful functions.
Foreign art and acrobatic troupes and artistes from 40 countries and overseas. Korean artistes and local artistes, international and national prize winners and famous actors and actresses included, are taking part in the 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival now under way. Particularly, cultural delegations and aesthetic delegations of various countries will hold an aesthetic symposium during the festival.
"Among the People" vol. 58 published
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Worker's Party of Korea Publishing House published "Among the People" vol. 58 to mark the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. The book carries 15 reminiscences showing noble and great traits of Kim Il Sung who showed unbounded love for the country and people, mixing with the people throughout his life. Printed in the book are reminiscences of great love and care shown by the President for those related to his early revolutionary activities and their family members, not forgetting them even if several decades passed. The book also tells how he led officials to work hard as true servants of the people and trained them to be true revolutionaries.
Investment in agriculture increases
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The DPRK will make a priority investment in agriculture this year. According to a report on the state budget for this year at the 2nd session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly, 11% more funds than last year will be channelled into agriculture this year. In order to effect a fresh turn in agricultural production Korea plans to make a signal innovation in potato farming. Areas under potato cultivation will be drastically enlarged in Ryanggang, north Hamgyong and Kangwon provinces, high-yielding seeds will be sown to suit soil conditions and new advanced methods and technologies of potato cultivation applied for boosting its production.
A vigorous drive will be launched in all fields of agricultural production to bring about an innovation in seed production, do farming on the principle of right crop on right soil and right crop in the right time and widely apply two crop farming. An innovation will also be effected in live-stock production through sustained efforts to expand grazing areas and increase the number of head of domestic animals of various species. The provinces, cities and counties of the country will undertake land rezoning as a massive movement, drawing on the experience of Kangwon Province, to obtain more arable lands with the result that the appearance of rural communities will change beyond recognition.
Last year, too, the Worker's Party of Korea and the government significantly increased state investment in agriculture as compared with the previous year and saw to it that the whole party, army and all the people gave helping hands to farmers. But, a long spell of a bad weather and natural disasters hit many parts of the country, causing a great loss in agricultural production. The food situation is expected to remain very difficult this year, too. The agricultural workers and other people are now speeding up sowing with redoubled efforts, taking food substitute, deeply aware that the key to building a powerful nation is to reap a good harvest and solve the food problem.
African regional seminar on Juche idea
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The African regional seminar on the Juche idea and peace and solidarity was held in Conakry on April 7-8 on the threshold of Sun's Day.Attending the seminar were delegates from 12 countries, including Guinea, Tanzania and Madagascar, and delegations of the Korean Social Scientists Association and the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI).The Minister for Defence of the Presidential Office of Guinea, who is the director general of the African Regional Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea (ARCSJI), made a report under the subject "the Juche idea is banner of peace and solidarity" there.
The reporter said that the Korean people have reliably defended the fortress of socialism and are now pushing ahead with the general advance for building a powerful socialist state, closely rallied around their leader on the basis of the Juche idea. Their experience eloquently teaches the truth that unity brings about victory and split means defeat, he added. The Juche idea, a man-centred outlook on the world and a scientific doctrine for independence of the popular masses, serves as the most correct guideline in the struggle to build a free and prosperous, new Africa, he stressed.
Then followed a congratulatory address of the IIJI secretary general and speeches of delegates of different countries. The seminar also adopted a letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Il. In the letter the participants said the might of Korea, which is speeding up the forced march of socialism under the outstanding and tested guidance of Kim Jong Il, is greatly encouraging the African people to the worldwide struggle for independence against imperialism. They will devote all their wisdom and energies to make the 21st century a century when the Juche idea will triumph across Africa, the letter said.
A declaration "Let us vigorously struggle to build an independent and peaceful, new Africa by the united efforts" was adopted at the seminar. The declaration said the great feats of the President Kim Il Sung, who brought the spring of independence to humankind, will remain shining forever along with history. "We will advance without the slightest vacillation, only under the banner of the Juche idea which his excellency Kim Jong Il is ceaselessly developing in depth," it said. "It is the unshakable faith not only of the Korean people but also of the African people that guided by him, they are sure to win."
Peace and stability should be ensured in the African continent and unity of all its nations achieved to realize the regional independence, the declaration noted, adding: All countries and nations in Africa should unite firmly, transcending the differences in political view, ism and religious belief and struggle against the imperialist aggression forces by united efforts. For independence to be realized in the African continent it is important to arm broad sections of Africans more firmly with the great Juche idea. The 5th board meeting of the ARCSJI took place prior to the seminar.
Sun's Day commemorated abroad
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Sun's Day, the birthday of the President Kim Il Sung, is being commemorated in different countries. Multifarious events including meetings, photo exhibitions and film shows were held in Tanzania, Mongolia, Cambodia, Mexico, India and Pakistan.
Speakers said: not only the Korean people but also the world people revere the great leader Kim Il Sung as the eternal President of the DPRK and the sun. This is because he created the Juche idea and built Korean-style socialism of independence, self-support and self-reliance in defence in the east through its application.
Saying that Kim Jong Il inherited the revolutionary cause of Kim Il Sung and is leading the Korean people to victory with single-hearted unity, they wished the Korean people greater successes in building a powerful socialist nation. Rays of President Kim Il Sung, the sun, will illumine the road for humankind to follow forever, they said. A meeting held in Tanzania adopted a letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Anti-"government" struggle vowed in South Korea
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The South Korean labor circles vowed to stage an anti-"government" struggle against lay-off system of the South Korean authorities, according to a radio report from Seoul. The South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)) at a press conference on April 8 denounced the authorities for taking a repressive offensive in disregard of worker's demand for vital rights and declared it would launch a general strike.
The KCTU stressed that it would hold large-scale protest rallies in large cities of South Korea on April 23 and 24 and set a period of "enlisting all forces on labour day" from April 26 to 30 in order to expand the struggle. The union decided to call a general strike on May Day and enter an overall strike on may 10. The Federation of South Korean Trade Unions also officially declared it would withdraw from the "Labour-Management-Government Committee" on April 9 and expressed its determination to conduct an active anti-"government" struggle from April 17.
Jang Chol meets cultural delegation and art troupe
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Jang Chol, chairman of the organizing committee of the 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival, met Omar El Boar, vice-Minister of Culture who is the cultural representative of Egypt, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. The representative said that the Egyptian people stood by the Korean people in the struggle for socialism and independence and expressed the confidence that equipped with Juche idea and the spirit of Chollima, they would surely reunify the country. Jang Chol also had a talk with the art troupe of Koreans in Japan headed by Kim Hong Chol, the leader of the Kumgangsan Opera Troupe of Chongryon, at the Pyongyang International House of Culture.
U.S.-led NATO aggression on Yugoslavia assailed
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The United States insists that the NATO force's military operations against Yugoslavia are a military measure for "peace" but this is nothing but a sophism to conceal their aggressive and criminal nature, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary.
It continues: The Kosovo issue is an internal affair of Yugoslavia and a matter to be settled by Yugoslavia in a responsible manner. Nobody has a right to interfere in the issue by force of arms. Therefore, the large-scale military operations undertaken by the U.S. with the mobilization of the NATO forces are a brigandish armed invasion of a sovereign state in contravention of the UN Charter and international laws, which should never be tolerated. The NATO's acts of aggression against Yugoslavia are an indication that the arbitrary, high-handed and aggressive nature of the United States has reached its height.
The United States launched an aggression on Yugoslavia this time, but nobody knows which country will be the next target of its armed assault. Drawing attention to the vicious maneuvering of the U.S. war hawks to provoke a new war of aggression on the Korean peninsula, the daily warns: If the United States dare unleash a reckless war against the DPRK, underrating its strength as other's, it will only taste a bitter cup of defeat.
Cursed service in "ROK " army
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The South Korean defectors, who served in the "ROK " army, are unanimous in saying that they are not "POWs," but voluntary defectors to the North Korea.
Jang pong Jae, 68, in Kaephung county, Kaesong city, said no sooner had the Korean War broken out than he deserted the "ROK " army, and he defected to the DPRK in July 1950. He went on to say: It was my thought that service in the "ROK " army would lead to my death. So, I crossed the frontline to join the People's Army. A soldier of the 12th division of the 5th corps of the Korean People's Army, I fought with the enemy. I was not taken prisoner, but joined the People's Army of my own accord. After military service I have lived in Kaephung county within a hailing distance from my hometown.
Ryang Jae Gu, 68, residing in Obong district, Undok county, North Hamgyong Province, had this to say: I was drafted into the "ROK " army in august 1952. In early June 1953 I was in the frontline area on ambush duty. Availing myself of this opportunity, I defected to the north together with my army fellows. My army fellows and I experienced the bitterness of the service in the "ROK " army during which every man was deformed mentally and physically. After joining the People's Army we came to know well about what bravery and traits of the People's Army.
All the South Korean defectors say: We were warmly treated without any discrimination in battlefields and equally enjoy happiness today. Why should we go back to South Korea? The South Korean authorities should not urge us to return to the south, but send unconverted long-term prisoners of the north origin back to their hometowns at an early date.
Songs of praise for sun on festival stage
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A national symposium to commemorate Sun's Day was held at the People's Palace of Culture today. Among those present there were Ri Jong Ok, Yang Hyong Sop, Choe Thae Bok and officials concerned. Referring to the great and enduring revolutionary exploits performed by the President Kim Il Sung before the era and history, the speakers noted that the revolutionary exploits performed by the President which exalted the 20th century are great in that he opened up the era of independence and successfully built man-centred socialism in our land for the first time in history.
Pointing out that the Juche idea fathered by him has fully demonstrated its validity and revolutionary nature in practice, they referred to the greatness of the President as an outstanding thinker and theoretician without parallel in history. They spoke of the far-sighted and wise leadership of the President who laid a firm foundation of eternal value for the country and nation to usher in a new era of building a powerful nation.
Saying it was an enduring feat made by the president before the times and revolution that he established the great tradition of leading revolution with priority given to the army, they noted he opened up a new historic era of developing the world revolution and positively supported the revolutions in other countries with all sincerity out of noble sense of internationalist obligation, thus ensuring sustained victory of the world revolution.
It was the behest of the fatherly leader Kim Il Sung that the revolutionary cause of Juche should be consummated generation after generation under the guidance of the respected Marshal Kim Jong Il, they said, stressing the need to exalt the Korean nation's pride and honor of enjoying blessings of the sun generation after generation thanks to him through their struggle to consummate the cause of building a powerful socialist nation.
National symposium to commemorate Sun's Day
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Participants in the 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival that opened on the occasion of Sun's Day put beautiful and elegant songs and dances on the stages here on Sunday, its first day. The performers sang songs of praise for the sun with unbounded reverence for the President Kim Il Sung. They successfully presented Korean songs that reflect its people's reverence for the President.
Chorus "Song of General Kim Il Sung" by the Russian Alexandrov Army Choir and Dance Ensemble, Moldovan male solo "You are always with us," Cuban female solo "Our Leader," Vietnamese male solo "Path associated with great love," "Song of Mangyongdae" by the Singaporean art troupe and other numbers represented well mankind's admiration for the President, the world progressive people's reverence and yearning for him. Many numbers of the program put on the stage praised high the greatness of General Secretary Kim Jong Il who is identical to President Kim Il Sung.
Foreign artistes sang Korean songs well, fully reflecting feelings of the Korean people who trust and follow Marshal Kim Jong Il as their father. Among them are songs "Thunder on Jong Il peak" and "the Marshal rides on white horse at full speed" by the Mongolian art troupe and "We cannot live without you" by a Lao woman soloist.Naim Hamdi, Syrian soloist, who had participated in the art festival five times before, put on the stage the song "Long live his excellency Kim Jong Il," its words and music created by himself.
Dances staged by the Russian Beryozka Dance Troupe and the Egyptian art troupe and other foreign artistes with a high artistic skill represented well the good custom of their people.
"Leader and comrades-in-arms" opens in museum
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The section "leader and comrades-in-arms" in the Korean Revolution Museum, the first of its kind in the working class history of building museums, opened with the approach of Sun's Day. This section has been arranged to implement the task given by General Secretary Kim Jong Il last July to display materials on the distinguished services made by revolutionary comrades-in-arms under the guidance of the President Kim Il Sung in the Korean Revolution Museum.
The section has two rooms devoted to the great love and revolutionary obligation that glorified the history of the Korean revolution. It is divided into the introductory and concluding parts, the periods of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, building of a new country, the Fatherland Liberation War, the postwar socialist revolution and the socialist construction.
Exhibited there are photographs of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, those of 57 comrades-in-arms who were always remembered by the President, historical evidence of revolutionary comradeship, over 100 revolutionary historical data, more than 80 revolutionary relics, about 350 remains and over 160 data.
An opening ceremony was held on Monday. Present at the ceremony were senior party and state officials including Pak Song Chol, personages concerned and bereaved families of revolutionary comrades-in-arms. Curator Hwang Sun Hui of the Korean Revolution Museum in her speech stressed that the opening of the Korean-style unique section is one of the great exploits performed by Kim Jong Il for the era and the revolution, the country and people, as the leader who has noble virtues and sense of obligation towards the preceding leader.
Kim Jong Il receives gift
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from a cultural delegation of Indonesia on a visit to Korea. Marzuki Usman, Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture who is head of the delegation, conveyed the gift to President Kim Yong Nam of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.