U.S. President's special envoy to visit DPRK
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- William Perry, special adviser to U.S. President Clinton, will visit the DPRK from May 25 to 28, Juche 88 (1999) as his special envoy.
He will be accompanied by an ambassador of the State Department, a director of the National Security Council, White House, and a general of the Defense Department and others.
During the visit the envoy will exchange with the DPRK side opinions on issues concerning the relations between the two countries.
Letter to Federation of Hospital Workers Unions
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- The central committee of the Korean Government Employees Trade Union sent a letter on May 21 to the members of the "Federation of Hospital Workers Unions" in South Korea who are struggling for vital rights and democracy.
Their struggle is a very natural and just heroic deed stemming from their will to live as human beings, the letter said, and continued: The medical workers and unionists in the North Korea are holding meetings to express positive support and solidarity with your just struggle for human dignity and true life.
Ten million workers and the members of the "Federation of Hospital Workers Unions" in South Korea will never lower the flag of struggle they have already held high unless their just demands for survival including withdrawal of the murderous "restructuring" and a stop to wage cut and unreasonable layoff are met.
The medical workers and unionists in the North Korea are convinced of the day of victory and will always stand by you in the struggle for justice and truth.
"Arirang Festival" in Tokyo
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- An "Arirang Festival" was held in Tokyo on May 16 on the theme of the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea and Korea-Japan friendship, according to Joson Sinbo published in Japan. Present there were first vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) So Man Sul and other Chongryon officials and compatriots in Japan, South Koreans staying in Japan, public officials and people from all walks of life of Japan.
The opening ceremony of the festival was addressed by Ku Pon Hon, chairman of the festival executive committee, Banri Kaieta, member of the House of Representatives of Japan, Ryosho Hayashi, chief director of the Japan-Korea Cultural Interchange Association, and other public figures of Japan.
Colorful events were held at the festival. Among them were performances of the Kumgangsan Opera Troupe and other local song and dance groups and street performances by students of Korean schools.
Japanese map marking Tok Islet as Korean one
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- It has been brought to light that Tok Islet was clearly marked as belonging to Korea on an atlas which was worked out by a Japanese renowned map maker Seizo Ito and published in Tokyo in 1910, according to the South Korean newspaper Hangyore. Prof. Ri Jin Myong who has studied the "issue of claim to Tok Islet" opened to the public a "complete map of Korea" and a "complete map of Shimane Prefecture, Japan" from a "large atlas of imperial Japanese prefectures", which is kept at a state library in France.
Revision of "foreigners registration law" called for
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- Representatives of the Human Rights Association of Koreans in Japan visited the Hall of the House of Councilors of Japan on May 17 and demanded the fundamental revision of the "foreigners registration law", according to Joson Sinbo published in Japan.
They said that the issue of the legal status of Koreans in Japan is not referred to in a draft amendment to the "law" which is under consideration at the Japanese diet.
They handed to the chairman and members of the judicial committee of the House of Councilors a letter of request for the fundamental revision of the "law" addressed to the Minister of Justice of Japan.
Earlier, they submitted a similar letter to the Ministry of Justice of Japan.
Friendship gathering in Nepal
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- A friendship gathering was held in Katmandu on May 15 to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Kingdom of Nepal.
Addressing the gathering, Beni Bahadur Karki, chairman of the National Council of Nepal, said that the friendly relations between Nepal and the DPRK have developed on good terms for 25 years and he would make all efforts to consolidate the relations. Murari Raz Sharma, secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in his speech that friendly relations between Nepal and the DPRK have truly developed in the interests of the two government and two peoples without any problems and laid stress on expanding the relations.
The Korean documentary film "Famous Mt.Chilbo of Korea" was screened at the gathering.
Present were the chairman of the National Council of Nepal, the secretary general of the Nepal Congress Party, the chairman of the Nepal-Korea Friendship Association, political and public figures, the Korean ambassador to Nepal and embassy officials.
S. Korean workers' struggle supported
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- Workers in the North Korea expressed support and solidarity with South Korean workers in their struggle for vital rights and democracy. Meetings were held separately at the central district public building construction office in Pyongyang, the west Pyongyang locomotive unit and Pyongyang Steel Works over May 18-20.
Speakers said that the massive struggle of workers and other people in different places of South Korea were an eruption of pent-up grudge and wrath against the rulers who have trampled underfoot the elementary right to existence and democracy and plunged them into the abyss of death.
Present ruler and Kwangju murderer assailed
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- The Kwangju murderer Chun Doo Hwan is free to go about in South Korea without any restriction.
By nature, Chun is a fascist who not only "sentenced to death" the present ruler, the then opposition leader, on charges of the violation of the "National Security Law" and the "anti-communist law" right after the Kwangju incident but also instructed mass media to "support the punishment on Kim Dae Jung".
The present ruler in an interview with the Japanese magazine Sekai held in the summer of 1984 branded Chun as a "criminal who killed a large number of democratic-minded citizens".
But now they pretend to be unaware of such a thing.
The March issue of the South Korean magazine Shin Dong-A said the cooperative relations between "President Kim's side" and Chun Doo Hwan's side are rather based on regionalism than their political faith, where the essence of the tie-up between them is made quite clear.
In other words, in order to cement his ruling system, the present ruler felt the need to patronize and win over the fascist military hooligan who is believed to represent the forces of Taegu and North Kyongsang Province. Chun Doo Hwan, in order to find a way out, needed collusion with political charlatans now in power who are believed to represent the forces of north and south Jolla provinces. They are symbiotic in a bid to meet their respective interests.
Korean people's struggle praised
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- Lyudmil Kostatinov, member of the c.c. of the Communist Party of Bulgaria, who visited Korea, said he was deeply impressed to see the Korean people firmly defending the socialist bulwark of Juche without the slightest vacillation under all ceaseless isolation and suffocation moves of the imperialists.
He went on to say: Quite contrary to western propaganda, today the Korean people are fully determined to surely build a powerful nation in Korea with the firm faith in the validity of the cause of socialism and its victory, valiantly meeting all the challenges of the imperialists.
Reading faces of people full of conviction and optimism about victory, I was firmly convinced that the Korean people advancing with redoubled courage and in high spirit, rallied close around Kim Jong Il, would surely win final victory.
KCNA on Japan's dangerous political gambling
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- The legislation for the implementation of the "Japan-U.S. Defence Cooperation Guidelines" will reportedly be passed through the house of councilors of Japan on May 24.
This shows Japan is going to adopt a war legislation which may spark arms race and armed conflict in the Asia-Pacific region despite the unanimous opposition of the peoples of Korea and Asia.
As known to all, the projected passage is a dangerous political gambling of officially proclaiming the legal and institutional machine to intensify the military tie-up between the United States and Japan in the Asia-Pacific region and legalize overseas expansion stepped up by a war criminal and a defeated nation in World War II, Japan, in violation of international law and its present law.
As regards the passage of the legislation through the plenary session of the House of Representatives on April 27, the DPRK pointed out the military danger of Japan is becoming real and warned against the reckless moves of the Japanese reactionaries.
Hence, their projected passage shows how shameless they are getting in their militarist ambition to totally negate and repeat the past history of aggression.
Any move of Japan's diet, a political waiting maid of the rightwing reactionary forces, to legalize their moves for militarist reinvasion is a perfidious act contrary to the desire of the Japanese people for peace and Japan's fundamental interests. This will eventually invite bankruptcy of parliamentary politics itself.
U.S. arms buildup in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed commentary assailing the United States for massively reinforcing armed forces in South Korea for a war against the DPRK under the pretext of the Yugoslav crisis.
The U.S. urgently sent 12 of 18 F-15E fighter-bombers, and armed forces over 200 strong including pilots to the Kwangju airfield of South Korea. They had been expected to be deployed there under the plea of filling up "security vacuum" caused by the recent dispatch of its aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk to Persian gulf. And two AC-130 ground attack planes were additionally deployed to support the U.S. forces in South Korea while two wings comprising over 30 F-18 fighter planes and five B-52 strategic bombers in the U.S. mainland were put on standby alert.
Such steps, which can be seen only on the eve of war, indicate that the U.S. seeks to ignite a war against the DPRK at any moment, the commentary says, and goes on: The South Korean authorities, who seek a way out of the grave political and economic crisis in provoking an anti-north war, are scheming to purchase airplanes of the latest type from France to step up arms buildup, taking advantage of the U.S. war moves.
The facts clearly show that the U.S. and South Korean war hawks have made it a fait accompli to unleash the second Korean war of aggression. We cannot remain a passive onlooker to such moves for arms buildup. If the U.S. regards the DPRK as an "object of test" for its win-win strategy in collaboration with the South Korean war hawk, it will meet nothing but irrevocable destruction and bitter defeat.
The bellicose forces at home and abroad should be mindful of this and stop such reckless moves to unleash a war against the DPRK.
Unabated efforts for overseas aggression
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun in a signed commentary today denounces the Japanese reactionaries for their desperate efforts to realise a design for overseas aggression.
The news analyst says: On May 24 the Japanese House of Councilors will reportedly approve the legislation on the updated "Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation."
For this Japan's moves for overseas aggression have gone beyond danger line and are becoming a reality. With the soon-to-be approved legislation at the upper house following the passage through the lower house the Japanese reactionaries are trying to create legal conditions for sending the "Self-Defense Forces" to all the operational theatres of the U.S. forces.
The "bill on security in emergencies in the areas surrounding Japan," "draft amendment to the Japan-U.S. acquisition and close-servicing agreement," "draft amendment to the law on SDF" and other bills are all meant for massive overseas dispatch of aggression forces and military operations.
It is not accidental that the Japanese reactionaries are nowadays describing the legislation as a "means to cope with the threats from North Korea." They intend to make a surprise attack on the DPRK on the pretext of "threats from North Korea" and, furthermore, invade other Asian countries by taking advantage of the precedent.
The threat posed by the Japanese reactionaries just means a menace to Asia. If the legislation is finally approved at the upper house of Japan, Japan's moves for overseas aggression will become all the more dangerous and the consequences will be very serious. The Japanese reactionaries' militarization of Japan and overseas aggression will lead to self-destruction. They had better stop the folly and pursue peace.
What does Yugoslav crisis show
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries an article entitled "What does the Yugoslav crisis show?"
The U.S.-led NATO started an outrageous attack on Yugoslavia on March 24, announcing their design to escalate the attack until their brigandish demands and insidious purpose are met.
The Yugoslav crisis suggests very instructive and serious problems to people, the paper says, and goes on: One of them is that the aggressive nature of imperialism remains unchanged.
The crisis shows that the United States, the ringleader of imperialism, is the most shameless strangler of sovereignty, a chief culprit of state terrorism and a wrecker of stability and peace.
Yugoslavia is a recognized sovereign state and the Kosovo dispute is its internal affair. However, the U.S. has been attacking this country by putting NATO into action under the signboard of "humanitarian assistance." This is, in essence, a strangler of independence and sovereignty of Yugoslavia and state terrorism against it.
The crisis also fully proves that the strength of the imperialists is not almighty and their up-to-date military technique is not "mysterious."
The imperialists are by no means formidable existence and their military strength is not invincible. They can never bring to their knees the people with a strong spirit and stand to defend national sovereignty and dignity. This is a lesson drawn again from the current crisis.
This crisis also suggests that the end of the Cold War is not permanent and the specter of a new Cold War is haunting the world. The Yugoslavia crisis has sparked new arms race and confrontation in the international arena.
The serious lesson drawn from the crisis demands that all the countries and nations defending independence increase self-reliant defence capabilities by their own efforts and cope with any event on their own initiative, not depending and counting on others' strength.
CPRF on nature of "offices for north's five provinces"
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) today issued a white paper disclosing the true nature of the "offices for north's five provinces" in connection with the lapse of 50 years since the appearance of this anti-communist plot-breeding institution in South Korea.
Recalling that these offices are dens of traitors to the nation, the white paper goes on: The South Korean rulers organized these offices in May 1949.
The offices and the "committee for north's five provinces", which is said to be a central organ of the offices, are staffed with traitors who committed crimes against the nation during the colonial rule of the Japanese as well as scoundrels who fled to the south during the Korean War after committing hideous atrocities.
Having organized ultra-right anti-communist organizations, the scoundrels frantically perpetrated terrorism against patriotic and democratic forces and brutally massacred compatriots in South Korea, shouting "down with communism."
More vicious among the organizations were the "northwestern youth group", "Phyongan provincial youth society", "Hwanghae provincial youth society" and "north Hamgyong provincial youth society."
The aim sought by them in organizing the offices was to take back what they called "usurped land," claiming the North Korea was their territory seized by the communists. In order to realize their brigandish ambition, the South Korean rulers enacted on January 20, 1962 a "special measure law on five provinces in the north" that "legalized" the "recovery" of the provinces in the northern half of Korea.
Noting that the "offices for five provinces in the north" are playing the role of a shock-brigade in anti-north confrontation, the white paper points out: The offices' history is woven with criminal anti-north confrontation.
Their preoccupation has been distortion, fabrication, smear campaign and sabotage and conspiratorial moves against all things in the North Korea.
Whenever an opportunity presented itself, they kicked up anti-communist and anti-north rackets by sponsoring "meetings to renew their resolution" and undertaking a "signature campaign" against the North Korea.
They printed the monthly "information on north" and other publications which carry all sorts of forged materials to sling mud at the socialist system in the north and distributed them. They have virulently challenged national unity and the cause of reunification.
In a bid to freeze the national division, the offices defined it as their main job to block the inter-Korean dialogue.
When the first full-dress talks were due in Pyongyang after the successful talks between the red cross societies of the north and the south, they included the "chairman of the national association of people from five provinces in the north" in the delegation as an "advisory member", in a bid to lay an artificial hurdle in the way of talks.
At the time of the exchange of art troupes and home-visiting groups between the north and the south in the middle of the 1980s, they included wicked anti-communist elements there in an attempt to create a confusion. The offices made themselves infamous by obstructing justifiable activities of pro-reunification patriots and democratic personages in South Korea.
Whenever the ruling system in South Korea was hit hard by political crisis, the offices sponsored "rallies to denounce" the north at which they incited north-south confrontation and thus spearheaded the campaign intended to create a political atmosphere to suppress reunification-oriented people's movement.
Pointing to the despicable tie-up between the present authorities and the offices, the white paper continues. The offices are a leftover of the long standing anti-communist and anti-north confrontation. The tie-up and cooperation between the present South Korean authorities and the offices are prompted by their common intention to persistently pursue a showdown with the North Korea and extend the "system of liberal democracy" to the north.
As long as these offices, which have been indulged in anti-communist and anti-north criminal moves for the last five decades, are left intact it is impossible to improve the north-south relations or terminate the north-south confrontation.
These offices in South Korea must be dismantled unconditionally.
They will have to pay dearly for the crimes they have committed against the nation.
Masses held to celebrate sacred birthday of Buddha
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- "North-south Buddhists' simultaneous masses to celebrate sacred birthday of Buddha" were held today at all temples across the country.
Present at the masses were clergymen of the central committee and the provincial, city and county committees of the Korean Buddhist Federation, priests and believers.
Those who preached and spoke at masses expressed their will to achieve strong harmony and unity under the banner of great national unity, noting that it is a vivid expression of solidarity between Buddhists in the north and south on the road of national reunification to simultaneously hold masses and make public a joint statement when all the fellow countrymen have turned out in the march for national independence and great unity.
A joint statement read out there reflects the determination of the Buddhists in the north and south to uphold the three principles of national reunification as the right law and make sure that a new phase of national reunification is opened through an early implementation of priorities such as abandonment of cooperation with outsiders, stop to joint military exercises, repeal of the anti-reunification evil law and guarantee of free movement for reunification.
S. Korean authorities urged to stop anti-north moves
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee released a statement today as regards the South Korean authorities' recent attempt to foil the tour of Mt. Kumgang, part of non-governmental economic cooperation between the DPRK and Hyundai Business Group of South Korea, over the issue related to the ship "Hyundai Phungak."
The statement said: The issue of the ship "Hyundai Phungak" was caused by the Hyundai Business Group as it unilaterally decided and allowed the departure of the ship before getting formal permission from us after the presentation of a list of tourists and also before arrangements were made to receive the ship.
As a result, a large number of tourists aboard the ship "Phungak" had to wait at sea near the Military Demarcation Line for more ten hours. The entry of the ship, anyhow, was allowed and tourists could have a tour of Mt. Kumgang, though belatedly, thanks to our generosity and sincere efforts. Nevertheless, the South Korean authorities distorted the fact and are getting overheated in anti-north confrontation campaign.
They, who have hindered the tour of Mt. Kumgang from its beginning, seek to shift the blame for the delay of the ship "Phungak", talking about "unexpected denial" and "incomprehensible attitude" on the part of the north. The "Phungak" issue is totally a matter raised between us and the Hyundai group and the South Korean authorities have no ground to meddle in it.
The South Korean authorities should immediately discontinue such moves as instigating the fellow countrymen to confrontation, in disregard of the desire and will of the north, the Hyundai group and the South Korean people. They must stop the foolish attempt at once to meddle in and hinder the tour of Mt. Kumgang on non-governmental level and use it for their insidious political purpose.
DPRK delegation leaves for Nigeria
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- The DPRK delegation headed by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), left here today by air to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the Nigerian President.
It was seen off by Kim Yun Hyok, general secretary of the presidium of the SPA, and Pak Kil Yon, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.
60th anniversary of victory in battle in Musan
Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- A national meeting was held at the April 25 House of Culture today to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory in the battle in Musan area organized and commanded by the President Kim Il Sung during the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle.
Attending the meeting were President Kim Yong Nam of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and other senior party and state officials. Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Worker's Party of Korea Central Committee, made a report there.
The reporter said that the operation for advancement into the Musan area on May 23, 1939, was a significant battle which proved that the army and people courageously fighting in the steadfast spirit of national independence and indomitable revolutionary spirit guided by a great leader can defeat any formidable enemy.
This will shine long in the history of the Korean people's sacred cause of anti-imperialist independence struggle, he said, and continued: Under the leadership of the President Kim Il Sung, the Korean people brought about a fundamental change in shaping the destiny of the country and the nation and covered a course of victory and glory. Today they have become a proud and happy people creating a new history in the van of the times with the respected Kim Jong Il at the head of the party, the state and the army.
Through their experiences they have come to cherish the rock-firm faith that under the veteran and seasoned leadership of Kim Jong Il they can build their country into a powerful socialist state in terms of ideology, politics, military, economy and all other fields in near future.
The whole course of the Korean revolution has clearly proved that the cause of national liberation can be achieved, the victory of the revolution defended and national prosperity and development and victory of socialism ensured only by the gun of revolution.
The reporter called for revitalizing the national economy in strict reliance upon the foundations of Juche-based independent economy by fully displaying the spirit of self-reliance, the indomitable revolutionary spirit created in the forests of Mt. Paektu, and thus bringing about a new turn in the building of a powerful socialist nation this year.
We will surely build a powerful nation, reunified and prosperous, in this land by accelerating the national reunification movement under the uplifted banner of the idea of great national unity advanced by the great leader Kim Jong Il.