Letter to Kim Jong Il from foreign diplomatic corps
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the foreign diplomatic corps in Korea on the occasion of Sun's Day. Palestinian ambassador Shahir Mohammed Abdlah, on behalf of the corps, handed it to Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Apr. 13.
Loyalty to Kim Il Sung pledged
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of officers and men of the three services of the Korean People's Army (KPA) was solemnly held at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on Tuesday to pay respectful homage to the President Kim Il Sung and pledge loyalty to him on the occasion of Sun's Day. Present were director of the KPA general political department Jo Myong Rok, chief of the KPA general staff Kim Yong Chun and Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol.
Jo Myong Rok in his speech said that all KPA officers and men will always hold the great Generalissimo Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the eternal leader and the father of the nation with unchangeable loyalty and filial piety to him and exalt his noble revolutionary life and his immortal exploits for all ages. The KPA soldiers will believe and follow only the respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il with strong faith and sense of obligation and safeguard the headquarters of the revolution with their life even in any storm, he stressed.
All the KPA officers and men, loudly responding to the speech, pledged that they will demonstrate the power of the KPA as the eternal army of the leader, the Worker's Party of Korea and people and creditably fulfil their honorable mission as a pillar of the Korean revolution and main force for the accomplishment of the Juche revolutionary cause. Then came the march past of officers and men of the KPA three services.
Large flower baskets to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with large floral baskets by president of the Senate of Cambodia and chairman of the central committee of the People's Party of Cambodia Chea Sim and speaker of the parliament Norodom Ranariddh respectively in the countdown to Sun's Day. The baskets were conveyed to the DPRK ambassador to Cambodia.
KCNA on Japanese Foreign Minister's remarks
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The Japanese Foreign Minister, at talks with the chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and his party on a visit to Japan on April 9, said "Japan is ready to start a dialogue once north Korea takes a constructive response," according to the Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
His remarks are incompatible with the position and level of education of the topmost diplomatic official in view of the historical and political background and essence of the DPRK-Japan relations and of the nature of their present state. Japan is behaving imprudently as if the dialogue with the DPRK for the normalization of relations with the latter were@a "present," moreover, Japan is trying to create the impression that the DPRK is unilaterally requesting the former to have a dialogue.
Japan has failed to normalize its relations with the DPRK only mainly because it has neither liquidated the history of crimes against the Korean people nor rectified its hostile policy towards the DPRK. But, in utter disregard of these issues, Japan is nowadays unhesitatingly resorting to such a despicable act as smear campaign against the DPRK and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), while striking its people with terror of "missile threat" over the DPRK's satellite launch.
It is imprudent and shameless for Japan to talk about the DPRK's "constructive response" and assert it can start a "dialogue" according to it. His remarks seem to be intended to improve Japan's image before Americans. But his outbursts only reveal more glaringly the political and moral inferiority of Japan which neither repents of its disgraceful history of aggression nor tries to admit its present position.
Branch of Italian Juche Idea Study Committee formed
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The Catania branch of the Italian Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea was formed on April 9 on the occasion of the birthday of the President Kim Il Sung. At the inaugural meeting, the reporter and speakers referred to the creation of the Juche idea, its historic signification and philosophical principle and said that General Secretary Kim Jong Il has developed and enriched the Juche idea and wisely led the revolution and construction.
Preparatory committees inaugurated in Tajikistan
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The standing committee of the c.c., the Communist Party of Tajikistan on March 30 issued a resolution no. 35 on inaugurating a preparatory committee to commemorate Sun's Day on the occasion of the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. The resolution said that the c.c., the Communist Party of Tajikistan inaugurates a preparatory committee to commemorate the 87th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, President of the DPRK, on the occasion of Sun's Day. It pointed to commemoration programs to be carried out in April. The Tajikistan Foreign Friendship and Cultural Liaison Council also formed a preparatory committee on April 5 to commemorate Sun's Day.
Jang Chol meets cultural delegation and dance troupe
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Chairman Jang Chol of the organizing committee of the 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival had a talk with the Cambodian government cultural delegation headed by Sisowath Sirivuth Panara, secretary of State of the Ministry of Culture and Art, at Mansudae Assembly Hall on April 13. The head of the delegation said that the intimate friendship between the President Kim Il Sung and King Norodom Sihanouk is inherited through generations and the friendly relationship between Cambodia and the DPRK will be everlasting under the guidance of the great Marshal Kim Jong Il. He sincerely wished that the Korean people would live happily in a reunified country under the leadership of Kim Jong Il. That day Jang Chol had a talk with the Russian Beryozka Dance Troupe at the Pyongyang International House of Culture.
Film show held
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of the People's Armed Forces gave a film show at the People's Palace of Culture on April 13 on the occasion of Sun's Day. Present on invitation were the members of the foreign military attaches corps here. General jong Chang Ryol and other generals and officers of the Korean People's Army were among those present. The participants appreciated a documentary film showing the President Kim Il Sung mixing with KPA officers and men and showing warm loving care for them.
Cambodian delegations visit Korean embassy
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the general bureau of the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Cambodia headed by deputy prime minister of the Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol, representative of the Queen of King Norodom Sihanouk, visited the Korean embassy in Phnom Penh on last Friday on the threshold of Sun's Day. The delegation laid an extra-large floral basket in the name of the Cambodian king and a floral basket in the name of the general bureau of the Royal Palace before the portraits of the President Kim Il Sung and Marshal Kim Jong Il and paid profound tribute to them. Kong Sam Ol said the special Cambodia DPRK friendship forged by the efforts of the heads of state of the two countries will be everlasting.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the People's Party of Cambodia headed by Chea Soth, member of the standing commission of the party, called at the Korean embassy on the same day. The delegation laid a floral basket in the name of the party before the Portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and paid tribute to them. The head of the delegation pointed out that the People's Party and people of Cambodia will make every effort to develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples and the two parties and always send full support to the just cause of Korea.
Cuban embassy officials visit Kim Il Sung's statue
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Cuban ambassador to Korea Jose Manuel Inclan Embade and embassy officials on Tuesday laid a floral basket before the statue of the President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill on the occasion of Sun's Day. They also planted 39 magnolia trees in the arboretum of the sacred Temple of Juche, the Kumsusan Memorial Palace,@where the president lies in state as a token of a long-standing history of friendship between the two countries. The ambassador said the friendship between the two countries forged by Kim Il Sung and Fidel Castro Ruz will be everlasting. Meanwhile, they visited the Korean Revolution Museum.
S. Korean authorities keen on joining "Hawaii dispatch drill"
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities announced that they would send a submarine of the navy on April 14 to a war exercise dubbed Hawaii dispatch drill involving the U.S., Australia and other countries, a South Korean newspaper report said. In the war game they will practice command and communications of the submarine and increase its tactical and operational capabilities through air-to-sub warfare and anti-surface vessel attack exercises, they said. The projected dispatch is clear evidence of their frantic war preparations.
"First half of 1999 Ssangryong" drill projected in S. Korea
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities announced that there would be what they call "first half of 1999 Ssangryong" from April 13 through 16, a Seoul-based radio said. They plan to call vehicles out to the war exercise in inland, central and western areas of north Chungchong Province.
Foreigners visit various places
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The diplomatic corps here visited the first Kimilsungia show on April 13 with Sun's Day just at hand. At the end of the visit, the guests made an entry in the visitors' book. Lao ambassador to Korea Khamkheng Sayakeo said that beautiful Kimilsungia in full bloom are clear evidence of boundless reverence of the Korean people and the progressives of the world for the President Kim Il Sung. The visit provided me with a good opportunity to keenly realize the great exploits and dignity of the President, he said. On the same day the military attaches corps here visited the Pyongyang cultural exhibition. On display are works of the President Kim Il Sung and Marshal Kim Jong Il, books and data on their ideo-theoretical exploits. Also exhibited are art works and handiwork.
Commemorations of Sun's Day go on
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Commemorations of Sun's Day, the birth anniversary of the great leader President Kim Il Sung, took place on April 13. There were a public presentation of the greatness of the President by the Ministry of Public Security, an oratorical contest of youth and students from across the country, a national joint performance of art groups of workers, a loyal oath-taking meeting of members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea and a national meeting of schoolchildren to hear stories about the childhood of the President Kim Il Sung. Stressed at these functions were great revolutionary feats and noble virtues of President Kim Il Sung.
"For People's Freedom and Liberation" vol. 12 published
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The reminiscences "For People's Freedom and Liberation" vol. 12 was recently published by the Worker's Party of Korea Publishing House. The book contains 13 reminiscences showing the immortal revolutionary exploits and noble virtues of the President Kim Il Sung, who led the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle to victory and achieved the historic cause of the country's liberation.
Reminiscences "With Courage and Wisdom of Great Brilliant Commander" and "Personally Commanding Scout Units" deal with the President's outstanding military strategy and commanding art. And reminiscences "Under Great Care", "Fatherly Love for Members of Children's Corps in Xiaobeigou" and "Warm Love for Comrades" tell about the President's noble traits as a great man and real father. The book contains reminiscences of the immortal exploits of the President who provided historic roots of the Sino-Korean friendship, stories about how he instilled the spirit of the red flag of Mt. Paektu into guerrillas as well as those about his revolutionary activities and exploits.
Treacherous diplomacy for solicitation
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary ridicules the South Korean chief executive's recent solicitation made to a foreign head of state who was visiting Seoul, for "cooperation in improving inter-Korean relations."
Bereft of any self-consciousness, the South Korean chief executive entreated outside forces to meddle in the issue of inter-Korean relations, an internal affair of the nation. This proves that the South Korean authorities are, indeed, a group of flunkeyist traitors without an iota of political independence, it notes, and continues: We keep the door open to the dialogue for improved inter-Korean relations.
For an early realization of the inter-Korean dialogue we proposed such realistic priorities to the South Korean authorities as urging them to give up the "cooperation" with outside forces and joint military drills against the north, repeal the anti-dialogue, anti-reunification "security law" and ensure the freedom of pro-reunification movement and activities of the patriotic organizations and personages.
Cooperation and dialogue between the north and the south have not yet been realized and the inter-Korean relations are daily deteriorating entirely because the South Korean authorities are kicking up a war racket against the north, after branding the north, the other party of dialogue and reunification, as the principal "enemy". The inter-Korean relations failed to improve not because of the absence of any broker or of the blocked road.
If the South Korean authorities have even the slightest intention to realize dialogue and cooperation with the north and truly want peace and stability in the country they should, first of all, implement the north-proposed priorities.
Pakistani ambassador gives reception
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Pakistani ambassador to Korea Fazal Ghafoor gave a reception on April 13 to commemorate the birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung and the 6th anniversary of the election of General Secretary Kim Jong Il to the chairmanship of the DPRK National Defence Commission.
Present on invitation were Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and officials concerned. Fazal, addressing the reception, said that the foundations of excellent relation of friendship between the DPRK and Pakistan were laid by the President Kim Il Sung and the relationship grows stronger and develops thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Il. Both countries are member nations of the non-alignment, he said, adding that they actively help each other in the international arena. He expressed belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would be put on a higher level.
In his reply Paek Nam Sun said that the DPRK and Pakistan have long maintained the bonds of friendship, whose viability is brought into fuller display with each passing day. He expressed heartfelt thanks to the friendly Pakistani government and people for their humanitarian moral and material aid to the DPRK that has suffered from natural calamities.
Spring festival goes on with swing
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- Art performances of the 17th April Spring Friendship Art Festival were given at theatres in Pyongyang on April 13. The group performances of the festival which began in a grand style on April 11 came to a close. Put on the stage were hundreds of numbers, including songs, dances, pieces of instrumental music and circus acts. The art works reflect the unbounded reverence of all people for the President Kim Il Sung and unshakable faith and will of humankind to uphold and follow General Secretary Kim Jong Il as the sun of the 21st century. Also put on the stage were foreign art works on traditional and national way of life. A joint performance will be given in the wake of the group performances.
Warmongers will face destruction, KCNA warns
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The South Korean army is reported to stage a military exercise "Ssangryong" from April 13 to 16. And the United States and South Korea hold a "joint wartime reinforcement exercise" for one week from April 13. These are anti-DPRK war games which will aggravate the crisis of the Korean peninsula. Accordingly, they are arousing the vigilance of the DPRK.
The north has already made a landmark proposal for improved inter-Korean relations including the authority-to-authority talks. Recently, the Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland published slogans for great national unity and the country's reunification in which it called for opposing joint military exercises with foreign armed forces which will disturb the peace on the Korean peninsula and plunge the nation into a holocaust.
At this very juncture, the U.S. and South Korean warmongers plan to stage provocative war games against the DPRK. This is an unpardonable challenge to the call. Facts eloquently show that the South Korean authority's outcries over "dialogue," "exchange" and "cooperation" are a hypocritical signboard intended to mislead public opinion and that their real intention is to stifle the north militarily at the United States' beck and call.
It is the revolutionary character of the Korean people to answer dialogue with dialogue, war with war. If the U.S. And South Korean warmongers opt to ignite a war against the DPRK in disregard of the warnings of the Korean people, they will not escape from destruction.
Sun's Day commemorated abroad
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung was commemorated in different countries. At the commemoration rally in Nepal, speakers including the chairman of the National Council of Nepalese Parliament said that the greatest achievement of the President is that he ushered in a new era of independence in which popular masses transform the nature and society independently and creatively by founding the immortal Juche idea and built a people-centred socialist system in the Korean land.
A letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted. Deputy director of the institute of social and political affair of the Russian Academy of Sciences Aleksandr Kapto and other speakers said at a meeting of those who had the honor of being received by President Kim Il Sung held in Moscow on April 8 that Kim Il Sung is the greatest man. The China Association for International Friendly Contact, the Beijing Association for International Friendly Contact and the Beijing Tree-Planting Fund on April 11 jointly planted memorial trees at the Korean embassy in China.
Strike in demand of withdrawal of the "bill on human rights"
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- 30 odd leading officials of 18 human rights and civic organizations including Citizen's Federation for Democratic Society, the Human Rights Committee of Catholics and the Committee of Human Rights Movement on April 7 started a week-long hunger strike in demand of the withdrawal of the "bill on human rights" worked out by the South Korean authorities and the resignation of the Minister of Justice, according to a newspaper report from South Korea.
These organizations on April 8 held a seminar on the "problematic bill on human rights" and announced they would wage large-scale people's campaigns during the strike such as a solidarity rally of social organizations in the future.
Meanwhile, members of the "National Council of Bereaved Families for Democracy" have been in a hunger strike demanding the withdrawal of the "bill on human rights" introduced by the "government" authorities and the enactment of a special law and on probing the truth behind doubtful deaths in the building of the "National Congress for New Politics" since April 6.
Objectivity and impartiality called for
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- At the 55th conference of the UN Commission on human rights held in Geneva on April 6, the DPRK representative held that objectivity and impartiality should be observed for the real solution of human rights issues.
After the end of the Cold War, the politicization of human rights has reached the phase of attempting to change a social system, going beyond its limit, he said, and continued: Serious violations of human rights in the countries which blindly follow the west are not criticized in the international arena but the countries which enforce independent politics are becoming the target of an unfair "decision".
There is no progress in the work of the UN Commission on human rights because of such a double standard. In order to perform its mission and role today when the 21st century is at hand, the commission should strictly observe objectivity and impartiality. There still exists in the world, such a "regime" which violates human rights by the fascist law disguised as "national security," arousing serious concern among members of the international community. This "government" should, above all, rescind the fascist law, the disgrace of humankind.
Joint national meeting of KCU
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- A joint national meeting of the Korean Children's Union (KCU) to commemorate the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung was held in the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial palace today on the occasion of significant Sun's Day. Representatives of the provincial organizations of the Korean Children's Union and schoolchildren in Pyongyang were present at the meeting.
Paek Hak Rim and Choe Thae Bok and other officials concerned, anti-revolutionary fighters, veterans of the Fatherland Liberation War, men of meritorious services, parents of children and working people in Pyongyang were present at the meeting. The participants paid respectful homage to the President Kim Il Sung.
A poem dedicated to Kim Il Sung was read out, representing the 3 million KCU members' loyalty and filial piety. Saying that children, the future of the country, were always in the mind of the Generalissimo, the poem said that he gave posterity everything he could do. It said that his whole life was devoted to the successive young generations and paid most profound tribute to him.
It stressed 3 million KCU members would follow and uphold the respected father Marshal Kim Jong Il, the destiny of the country, nation and socialism, with loyalty. An admission ceremony of the Korean Children's Union was held at the meeting.
S. Korean authorities scheme to destroy Hanchongryon
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The South Korean prosecution on April 11 announced that it decided to block an extraordinary meeting of deputies to the 7th-term South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) at the "initial stage," according to a news report from South Korea. Saying that it brought lawsuits against 161 students affiliated with the 6th-term Hanchongryon and declared them guilty at the first trial, it threatened it would continue to punish members of Hanchongryon on the strength of the "National Security Law."
National meeting commemorates 87th birth anniv. of Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- A national meeting was held at the April 25 House of Culture today to commemorate the 87th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung. Present there were leading officials of the party, state and army including Kim Yong Nam. Diplomatic envoys to Korea, foreign guests and overseas. Koreans were also among those present.
Premier of the cabinet Hong Song Nam made a report at the meeting. He said: April 15 when the President was born is the greatest national holiday when a new era was opened in the history of the Korean nation and a common holiday of humankind when the dawn of the era of independence was broken. For 70 years after the President embarked on the road of the revolution in his early years, he devoted his all to the country's freedom and independence and to the people's happiness and bright future of the humankind and thus performed immortal exploits for the era, revolution, country and people.
The President, the father of socialist Korea, built a powerful driving force of the revolution which does not waver even in the raging wind and best socialism which the popular masses value as their life and soul. This is his most precious revolutionary exploit. The President performed immortal exploits for the cause of the nation and humanity for independence by dedicating himself to it throughout his life as a great thinker, statesman and revolutionary in the 20th century. He is the eternal sage of revolution and the sun of humankind who will shine for ever in the history.
We should hold the President in high esteem as the eternal leader of our party and people and as the sun of Juche for all ages and carry out all work as he did, taking his revolutionary idea, the Juche idea, as the eternal guiding idea of the Korean revolution. The decisive guarantee for final accomplishment of the Juche revolutionary cause is to uphold the idea and leadership of the great leader Kim Jong Il with loyalty. We should devote all our wisdom and energies to accomplishing the grandiose plan for building a powerful nation unfolded by Kim Jong Il.
We should surely accomplish the cause of national reunification in near future by putting spurs to the movement for national reunification in conformity with the three principles of national reunification and the 10-point program of the great unity of the whole nation set forth by Kim Il Sung and the five-point policy of great national unity advanced by Kim Jong Il and thus realize the lifelong desire of Kim Il Sung.
We will strengthen unity and solidarity with the world progressive people and anti-imperialist independent forces, who aspire after socialism, in the idea of independence, peace and friendship in hearty response to the noble intention of the President. We will smash the imperialists' moves for war and aggression and actively contribute to the cause of building a peaceful and independent new world.
"ROK army" is cannon fodder of U.S. forces
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The South Korean defectors to the north strongly maintain that they are not "POWs". Ri Kon Song, 69, who is residing in Kaesong city, said he defected to the north in January 1951 and joined the Korean People's Army, refusing to serve in the South Korean Army , cannon fodder of the U.S. forces. He went on to say: While serving in the KPA, I fought in the enemy rear and participated in the battle for the defence of Height 1211 and Mt. Solak Battle, and on. Through which I realized the might of the KPA. Now I am proud of having fought after voluntarily joining the People's Army. I of the south origin have been accorded cordial treatment as a war veteran without any discrimination.
Ri Kyu Il, 70, who is residing in Wonsan city, Kangwon Province, said he had a hard time while serving in the South Korean Army for nearly half a year. He went on: The South Korean army is a poor servant of the U.S. forces. It was not unusual that its soldiers were killed in battlefields, having no chance of firing a bullet. Risking my life, I crossed the frontline and joined the People's Army. I fought as a scout of the first corps of the KPA. Now my friends call me a "veteran scout."
Ryong Hwan Gi, 66, in Undok county, North Hamgyong Province, said: It is preposterous for the South Korean authorities to describe the defectors to the north as "ROK POWs". I was recruited to the South Korean Army in December 1950. We retreated as far as to Kwangju from the demarcation line of Kangwon Province. Availing myself of coming again to that line I deserted the South Korean Army and joined the People's Army early in July 1951. As an orderly I always accompanied commanding officers and, in this course, I saw and learnt a lot.
All defectors were unanimous in saying that there was none of them who was willing to return to South Korea from the North Korea to which they came of their own accord.
Gift to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the general secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Peru (Red Motherland). The gift was handed to Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, by Alberto Moreno, general secretary of the c.c. of the party, on a visit to Korea.