Bangladesh public figure on Korea
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- Garib Newaz, president of the Bangladesh People' League, visited the international friendship exhibition some time ago. He said that the exhibition is a pride of the world that all people call the treasure-house of the planet and wealth of humankind.
During my visit to Korea, I was moved to see the Korean people turning out in building a powerful nation, he said, and went on: The imperialists and reactionaries have maneuvered in every way to stifle socialist Korea and the Korean people have suffered from natural disasters for years.
Seeing the Korean people upholding the leadership of the respected Kim Jong Il with loyalty, rallied around him in one mind despite the present hard conditions, the world's people say Korea will soon be a powerful country.
I am confident that Korea will certainly win victory in building a powerful nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
S. Korean ruling quarters satirized
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- South Korean newspapers carried cartoons satirizing the present ruling quarters and political figures.
The newspaper Hangyore on April 19 carried a cartoon under the title "Decisive Battle" ridiculing antagonism between the present chief executive and businessmen over the murderous "restructuring".
It showed the present chief executive holding a sword bearing letters "workout" and waiting behind a wall on an unforked road for businessmen, who are putting their foot down.
Another cartoon under the title "... Imaginary Statements " carried by the newspaper on April 14 depicted people turning their heads, while snorting with pooh-pooh imaginary statements at the "statements" allegedly to "improve labour policy and human rights policy" pasted up in streets by the "Ministry of Labour" and "Intelligence Service."
Another newspaper Kyunghyang Daily News on April 12 carried a cartoon ridiculing a fierce race between the dictator of the "fifth republic" Chun Doo Hwan and the president of the opposition "grand national party" Ri Hoe Chang with sinister political greed for Kyongsang provincial area.
Criminal acts of U.S. and NATO denounced
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- Chon Yon Ok, chairperson of the central committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, issued a statement on May 15 in connection with the U.S.-led NATO air raids on Yugoslavia which are escalating with each passing day.
The U.S.-led NATO destroyed civilian objects as well as military objects, brutally killing innocent people and bombing the Chinese embassy, the object of international protection and inviolability, the statement said, and went on: Such act ignoring law and common sense is not "possible damage" nor "mistake" but a brigandish one which was premeditated beforehand. The aggressors, boasting of their "precision guided weapons" and "precision guided bombing technology," cannot justify this crime on any pretext.
The U.S.-led NATO, interfering in the territorial integrity and internal affairs of a sovereign state, is committing aggression in defiance of the UN Charter and the recognized principle of international law, and violating the wartime humanitarian regulations on protection of civilians and means and method of war. This must be punished as a crime against peace and ethics and a war crime.
If NATO continues committing this criminal aggression, challenging the justice and consciousness of humankind, it will meet a bitterer defeat.
WPK delegation leaves for Greece
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) led by vice-department director Pak Kyong Son of the Central Committee of the WPK left here on Saturday to participate in an international meeting of communist and worker's parties which will be held in Athens.
Vigorous anti-government struggle
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- The anti-U.S. and anti-"government" struggle is gaining momentum in South Korea on the occasion of the anniversary of the Kwangju Uprising. Rodong Sinmun today says that 19 years have passed since all Kwangju citizens turned out in the heroic uprising against the aggressors and treacherous groups, recording a brilliant chapter in the history of the struggle for anti-U.S. independence, anti-dictatorship democracy and national reunification.
But the independence and democratization of South Korean society, which Kwangju Uprising aspired after so ardently, have not yet been realised, a signed article of the paper says, and goes on: It is entirely because of the aggressors and traitors that grave obstacles have been laid in the way of national reunification, the long-cherished desire of the nation.
The U.S. have occupied one half of the country, forced colonial slavery upon the South Korean people and furthermore, placed them under the trusteeship, and are going to plunge the Korean nation into a nuclear holocaust.
The South Korean rulers sold out the sovereignty of the nation to foreign forces, and are running amok in the move to unleash a fratricidal war, trampling down the democratic right and vital rights of the people.
The reality makes it incumbent upon the South Korean people to stage a nation-wide resistance against the aggressors and traitors as the Kwangju uprisers did for a new politics, new system and new life.
The ongoing anti-U.S. and anti-"government" struggle of the South Korean people from all walks of life is an eruption of aspiration and desire to retake dignity and sovereignty and to live a worthy life.
They are in high spirit to continue the struggle to the end, expanding and strengthening their ranks.
The banner of independence, democracy and reunification that Kwangju uprisers held high remains a banner of struggle to the South Korean people.
Inaugural ceremony of 12th-term Sochongryon
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- More than 400 students in Seoul, South Korea, held an inaugural ceremony of the 12th-term Seoul District Federation of General Student Councils (Sochongryon) at dong university on May 15, according to a radio report from Seoul.
They vowed to struggle to abolish the notorious "National Security Law" and defend the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) in defiance of suppression by the authorities.
Ri Sang Hui, a 4th year student of Hongik University, was elected chairman of Sochongryon.
And, Hanchongryon declared its will to hold an inaugural ceremony on May 28.
Part 47 of film "the Nation and Destiny" released
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- A preview of part 47 of the multi-part feature film "the Nation and Destiny," third follow-up on Choe Hyon, was held at the People's Palace of Culture on Saturday.
This part shows Choe Hyon's steadfast revolutionary view on the leader and noble traits as a revolutionary who led all the officers and soldiers of his corps to breathe and struggle according to the President Kim Il Sung's idea, intention and war methods in the enemy rear during the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950-july 1953).
The film deals with the indomitable fighting spirit of him, who continued to put the enemy on the defensive with tactics of allurement created by the President in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and skillfully organized the fighting behind the enemy line to liberate Cholwon.
It also impressively depicts the absolute worship for the leader and high sense of moral obligation of choe hyon, who had always looked up to the supreme headquarters with yearnings for the President.
Dangerous tie-up of war hawks at home and abroad
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a commentary denouncing the South Korean authorities for recently opening a hot line with the bosses of the Defense Agency of Japan to "exchange military information" about the north.
The news analyst says: This shows that the tie-up of the South Korean authorities and the Japanese reactionaries to stifle the DPRK is reaching a very grave phase. The opening of the hot line is a stark proof that@the U.S.-Japan-South Korea triangular military alliance for aggression on the DPRK is actually operating for "emergencies on the Korean peninsula".
The U.S. are now getting more frantic in the moves for arms buildup against the DPRK on the pretext of "making up military vacuum on the peninsula" caused by the Yugoslav crisis. Taking side with them, the Japanese reactionaries are sharpening a sword for reinvasion of the peninsula and the South Korean authorities are supporting their masters U.S. and Japan's moves to unleash a war of aggression against the DPRK. Therefore, the situation of the Korean peninsula is being led to the brink of war as days go by.
The DPRK warns the U.S. aggressors, Japanese reactionaries and South Korean authorities that it would take a due self-defensive step to cope with the situation.
Continued struggle against "restructuring"
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- People of different social standings across South Korea are further intensifying the struggle for suspension of the unilateral "restructuring" and workers' right to existence.
A large-scale "'99 people's rally" was held in Seoul on Saturday under the sponsorship of the headquarters of the people's movement for vital rights and social reforms against IMF, which consists of 55 citizens and public organizations.
The meeting was attended by more than 10,000 workers, peasants and students who came from small-scale meetings in different parts of the city. The rallies adopted the 14-point demand to the "government", including reduction of working hours and suspension of layoff, and marched along streets.
Prior to the rally, Ri Kap Yong, chairman of the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), referred to the orientation of the future struggle. He warned that they would stage a general struggle from mid-June if the authorities continue the repression. On the same day, over 700 members of 30 odd organizations in Taegu presented the authorities with the ten-point demand including "opposition to IMF trusteeship" before going over to a demonstration.
Meanwhile, an estimated 300 unionists under the KCTU in south Kyonggi Province met to urge the "government" authorities to suspend "restructuring" and reduce working hours and staged a demonstration.
The trade union of a hospital attached to Seoul National University staged a strike on Thursday and seven citizens organizations made public a statement on Wednesday as regards the general strike of KCTU, among them the Citizens Federation for Economic Justice, the Citizens Federation for Democratic Society and the Association for Environmental Protection Movement.
S. Korean university professors publish declaration
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- Professor Kim Jin Gun of Seoul National University, professor Yu Cho Ha of Chungbuk National University and other university professors in South Korea held a press conference on May 14 and published a declaration on the situation to the effect that the "government" should change the mode of "restructuring" killing workers and other ordinary people and accelerate the reform of society as a whole, according to a radio report from Seoul.
The declaration was signed by more than 500 professors of 41 universities across South Korea.
It said it is the present reality that the political camp is revealing its incompetence and idleness and inviting the people's resentment by defending only the interests of business groups without showing any sign of change.
It strongly called for eliminating political-economic fusion and the bureaucratic system.
Warmonger's inciting war fever against north
Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- Chon Yong Thaek, "Minister of National Defence" of South Korea, who is notorious for anti-national acts, "inspected the first field army command of the puppet army and its "Alga" unit on the frontline on May 13, a Seoul-based radio reported.
He incited a fever of war against the north, making much ado about someone's "southward provocations" and calling for "building steadfast combat posture."
His "inspection" and remarks, synchronizing with the U.S. Defense Secretary, William Cohen's utterances on May 11 that the United States is ready to hurl military force needed for contingencies on the Korean peninsula in the shortest time, are part of the anti-national criminal moves to unleash a war against the north.