Kim Jong Il inspects KPA infantry division
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected guard Seoul Kim Chaek infantry division no. 4 of the Korean People's Army on May 28.
He was accompanied by director of the general political department of the KPA Jo Myong Rok, chief of the general staff of the KPA Kim Yong Chun and staffers of the KPA supreme command.
He climbed up to the forward command post of the division.
Looking round defence theatres of the division and enemy's positions, he acquainted himself with topographical conditions, disposition of forces and the enemy's movements and heard a report on the situation from the divisional commander.
He noted with great satisfaction that the officers and men of the division have armed themselves firmly with the Juche-based military methods of the Worker's Party of Korea and have turned the defence theatres into an impregnable fortress and bulwark. He said that the soldiers of the division are still demonstrating its might at defense posts, inheriting the proud traditions of the unit, and highly praised the heroic exploits of the soldiers of the division who left remarkable marks in the history of the Fatherland Liberation War.
He went to an artillery company under the division.
At a position of the company, he learned how soldiers are standing sentry and saw their weapon-handling training.
He expressed great satisfaction with this and set forth highly important tasks which would serve as guidelines in increasing the combat capacity of the division to the maximum. He went round the education room, the bedroom and other places of the company and warmly looked after the life of the soldiers. He met soldiers to learn about conditions of their clothes and shoes and said that special attention should be paid to the life of precious soldiers who are devoting themselves to the defence of the country at the forefront.
He also looked round the field newly brought under cultivation by KPA combined unit no. 549. Seeing a vast expanse of field in which crops and vegetables of various species are growing, he set forth tasks to tend the field.
After concluding the inspection of the division, he appreciated a performance given by an art propaganda squad of KPA combined unit no. 549.
He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the art propaganda squad gave an art performance of high ideological and artistic level suited to the character of a revolutionary army and highly estimated the members of the squad for visiting forefront heights to instill strength and courage into minds of soldiers.
Korea's reunification supported
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Josho, Japan, District Society for Supporting Korea's Reunification which visited the DPRK published a statement in Pyongyang on May 26 and expressed the firm belief that the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea will surely be achieved on the basis of the five-point policy of great national unity advanced by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The statement expressed full support for the Korean people in their powerful struggle to glorify Korean-style socialism and reunify the country, rallied close around Kim Jong Il, true to the behest of the President Kim Il Sung.
In order to improve the Japan-DPRK relations, it said, Japan should apologize for its past crimes and, fulfil, before anything else, the legal and moral obligation for the development of friendship between the two peoples on the basis of the joint declaration of three parties and the 1995 agreement of four parties on the Japan-DPRK relations.
Reception by Ethiopian charge d'affaires ad interim
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Dubale Belihu, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Ethiopian embassy in the DPRK, gave a reception in Pyongyang on May 28, the national holiday of the Ethiopian people.
Invited there were Pak Song Chol, Honorary Vice-President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Ri Won Il, Minister of Labour and chairman of the Korea-Ethiopia Friendship and Solidarity Committee, and officials concerned.
Foreign diplomatic envoys to the DPRK were also invited there.
Speeches were made there.
7th-term inaugural ceremony of Hanchongryon
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- More than 1,800 students under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) held its 7th-term inaugural ceremony in Seoul on Friday, according to a report. When the South Korean authorities "totally blocked" Yonsei University at which Hanchongryon was to hold its 7th-term inaugural ceremony, it moved the venue to Kyunghee University and held the ceremony.
Hanchongryon held a press conference in the afternoon and strongly called for ensuring its peaceful inaugural ceremony and repealing the definition of Hanchongryon as an "enemy-benefiting organization." The South Korean police, flustered by this, sent 32 companies around the university and deployed 85 companies 9,000 strong in subway stations and other places.
Separatist's remarks
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The South Korean chief executive, when he was recently interviewed by Reuters, said that "It is important for the north and south to coexist in peace through economic, humanitarian and cultural exchange at the present stage and the unification is the future issue," according to a report.
His remarks cannot be construed otherwise than utterances against the reunification. All the fellow countrymen want to achieve the independent reunification of the country at an early date through great national unity and are rising up in the nationwide reunification movement to this end. At the time when more than half a century has passed since the territory and the nation were divided by outsiders, the chief executive of South Korea made these irresponsible remarks against the nation and history, showing that he has no national conscience and sentiment of the times.
Particularly, his remarks are a politically sinister piffle as he is the ruler of the present regime which self-proclaims itself as "people's government" different from the preceding dictatorial "governments," anti-national and anti-democratic. By doing so, he not only denied again all the sincere and realistic proposals of the north for reunifying the country independently and peacefully but also threw away all his political commitments to the South Korean people as regards the unification question.
This is a shameless deception and perfidious deed.
The most urgent problem for reunification is to diffuse and put an end to political and military confrontation between the north and south. Ignoring, this nevertheless, the chief executive of South Korea is talking about "exchange" and "peaceful coexistence" as if they were a matter for relations with other countries.
This only shows that he has no will for reunification at all but is dreaming of fixing, perpetuating and internationalizing the division of the nation so as to maintain the power in reliance upon outsiders.
The Korean nation will never tolerate the separatist, anti-reunification acts of the South Korean authorities.
CPRF denounces U.S. for designing war against DPRK
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on May 28 denouncing the U.S. for having changed "operation plan 5027" for a second war of aggression on the DPRK into "operation plan 5027-98".
The statement said: The new operation plan sets "judgement of signs" of the DPRK's military movements as an important condition for a preemptive strike.
Under the plan, the U.S. pacific command can take a preemptive attack on Korea directly without combination or consultation with the South Korea-U.S. "combined forces command" in a second Korean war.
What the U.S. seek in this is to mobilize huge aggression forces stationed around the Korean peninsula including Japan and in the pacific and make a surprise strike at the DPRK. To this end, they concluded the updated "Japan-U.S. Defence Cooperation Guidelines" with the Japanese reactionaries and are putting the U.S. forces present in Japan including the U.S. marines in Okinawa and the U.S. forces in the pacific on emergency alert for action.
They are now deploying massive armed forces in and around South Korea on the plea of filling up the "vacuum of military power of the U.S. forces" on the Korean peninsula caused by the Yugoslav crisis.
The former operation plan envisages five stages -- "deterrence, strikes for neutralization, ground offensive operation, expansion of success in war and conclusion of war". But the new "operation plan 5027-98" is composed of six operation stages including a stage of "occupation rule after conclusion of war." According to the plan, the U.S. have already formed the so-called "South Korea-U.S. combined civil affairs command" which will take charge of "occupation rule" under the South Korea-U.S. "combined forces command" in December last year.
The plan is also supplemented with "formation of a second front" and other operations for aggression on the DPRK. The plan is a very bellicose, dangerous scenario and document of war designed to invent some pretext for an preemptive attack and stamp out the socialist system of the DPRK by force of arms.
The U.S. are now extensively hurling armed forces equipped with all kinds of war means into Yugoslavia which is similar to the Korean peninsula in topographic features and examining the feasibility and effectiveness of the operation plan for a war of aggression on the DPRK, using even the mass-destruction weapons the use of which is banned internationally.
The Yugoslav crisis is a test war to carry into practice "operation plan 5027-98" in Korea and a preliminary war for a second Korean war.
However the u.s. are making a misjudgment. The Korean peninsula is not the Balkans.
It is the unshakable faith and character of the Korean people and army to meet a challenge with thousand-fold annihilating strike and a war of aggression with a liberation war of justice.
If the U.S. misjudge the quality of the Korean people rallied around the great brilliant commander in one mind in the spirit of human bomb and unleash a war of aggression, the Korean people will not miss the opportunity to rise up as one in the spirit of annihilating the enemy, the spirit of "you shall die and I will stay alive," , deal a thousand-fold blow to the aggressors and accomplish the historic cause of national reunification, the cherished desire of the nation.
The U.S. aggressors and their followers involved in carrying on "operation plan 5027-98" will be reduced to ashes by flames of justice in the life and death war.
They should clearly see who is their rival and act with discretion.
Greatest fortune to have Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- It is the greatest fortune of the Korean people to have the respected Kim Jong Il as the great teacher and the outstanding leader of the nation. G. Debarajan, secretary of the c.c. Of the All India Forward Bloc, said this in a statement published on May 24 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the start of work by Kim Jong Il at the C.C. of the Worker's Party of Korea.
He noted: Today Kim Jong Il has fully personified the quality and personality of the great leader President Kim Il Sung and is wisely leading the Korean revolution and socialist construction. He has raised it as the fundamental question deciding the destiny of socialism to strengthen the party and firmly build up the revolutionary ranks and put tireless energies and efforts into consolidating the WPK organizationally and ideologically and achieving the unity and cohesion of the party and the masses. He is dedicating his all to the people with warm love for them and in the spirit of devoted service.
Foreign diplomatic envoys visit Sinchon Museum
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Diplomatic envoys and embassy officials of Laos, Romania, Mongolia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Pakistan here visited the Sinchon Museum in South Hwanghae Province on Friday. On display there are exhibits and visual aids showing atrocities of the U.S. aggressors in killing 35,383 people or a quarter of the population of Sinchon county in cold blood in 52 days of the temporary strategic retreat of the Korean People's Army during the Fatherland Liberation War (October 1950).
The visitors looked round a former air-raid shelter of the Sinchon county party committee in which the U.S. aggressors burnt over 900 patriots to death, a powder depot in Wonam-ri, a tomb of 5,605 patriots, a tomb of 400 mothers and a tomb of 102 children. They laid bouquets before tombs and observed a moment's silence.
Central Botanical Garden
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The Central Botanical Garden serves as a scientific and educational institution whose main purpose is to carry on plant breeding and other research, as well as to advance and diffuse knowledge and appreciate botanical resources. Now more than 5,600 species and varieties of plants grow there. Botanic gardens exist in all provinces and branch gardens with different missions in Samjiyon, Ongjin and Mt. Oga. Experimental plots are found in many places. All this forms a unified network of botanic gardens.
There are arboretum and a flower garden 100 hectares each and an area of gift plants with 3,100 species presented to President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il by leaders of parties and states from different countries, from political and public figures and overseas Koreans. The botanic garden also has the Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia greenhouses and a gift plant orchard, which forms an "international friendship botanic garden."
A garden arranged according to some system of classifications features collections of 480 species of native trees and 500 species of herbaceous plants. When making a round of this area, you will get a renewed understanding of the plants growing in Korea. The medicinal herb garden features exhibits of 500 species of medicinal herbs, including astragalus membranaceus bge.
The Central Botanical Garden is divided into 14 areas such as a flower garden, an area planted with ornamental plants, a garden of plants of economic value, an orchard of different species of fruit trees, as well as an experimental plot, a tree nursery, a museum of living plants, a botanical specimen hall and a meteorological observatory.
The books published at the botanic garden include the two volumes of "the Flora of Korea", "Reference to Trees of Economic Value", "Plants of Economic Value in Our Country", "an illustrated book on Korean flora" and 630,000 copies of 60 kinds, which have greatly contributed to the country's botanical development and diffusion of knowledge of plants.
The central botanical garden bulletin is released regularly. On major occasions the botanic garden sponsors exhibitions, academic seminars and scientific festivals.
It has established relations with 30 countries to share information.
U.S. and Japan's scheme to ignite 2nd Korean war
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed commentary denouncing the United States and Japan for deciding to frame up the U.S.-Japan "joint coordinating center" to "cope with emergencies in the area surrounding Japan".
The news analyst says: The decision suggests that the U.S.-Japan military tie-up to establish the sphere of military domination over the Asia-pacific region is being further intensified and completed, all the preparations for Japan's overseas aggression have been made and the U.S.-Japan military action of aggression is imminent.
The projected "joint coordinating center" is an aggression command, a military commanding machine charged with the mission to directly operate and command a U.S.-Japan war of aggression that will be unleashed on the pretext of "coping with emergencies in the area surrounding Japan". In other words, in case the United States and Japan ignite a war of overseas aggression, they intend to organise military action of the U.S. forces and Japan's "Self-Defence Forces" through the "center", without going through all the bothersome processes and procedures.
The first target of their military tie-up and overseas aggression is none other than the DPRK.
The DPRK is becoming the basic target of the "center."
They themselves do not deny this.
No one can predict when the U.S. and the Japanese reactionaries who have framed up the U.S.-Japan joint command will ignite a second Korean war on any pretext.
Our army and people are fully prepared to rise up and deal a thousand-fold strong and merciless blow to the aggressors instantly they dare to violate a blade of grass and a tree and invade an inch of our territory.
U.S. arms build-up
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today runs a commentary denouncing the United States for openly reinforcing armed forces in and around the Korean peninsula under the pretext of making up "military vacuum" caused by the Kosovo crisis.
The U.S. recently deployed "AC-130" attack planes, "FA-18" fighter-bombers and other fighter planes and forces in South Korea and it is scheming to ship large armed forces into South Korea and Japan, the paper says, and continues: The U.S. warmongers are foolishly trying to cover up their preparations for a new war of aggression of Korea by describing their forces as "military forces for emergency" and "deterrent force." This cannot convince anyone in the world now.
It is clearly proved by the recent Yugoslav crisis. The U.S. arms build-up on the Korean peninsula and its surrounding areas shows that it tries to unleash the second Korean war at any cost. The U.S. is more openly reinforcing the armed forces in and around Korea under the pretext of filling up "military vacuum" in a bid to ignite the second Korean war at any cost. The reinforced armed forces are strategic forces for aggression. The paper warns that the U.S. should not run amok.
Repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners called for
Pyongyang,Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- a signature campaign demanding the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea kim in so and Ham Se Hwan has been conducted from May 24 under the sponsorship of the Asian regional committee for Korea's reunification and the Indian committee for their repatriation.
The signature paper said that though more than 40 years have passed since the cease-fire in Korea, the South Korean authorities have not yet sent the unconverted long-term prisoners back to the north. This is a wanton violation of the international law including the Geneva convention, it noted.
It strongly demanded kim in so, Ham Se Hwan and other unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea be immediately sent back to the democratic people's republic of Korea where their families are awaiting them.
Heaviest financial deficit of S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- South Korea posted the heaviest financial deficit in history last year, or 18,700 billion won, according to a report.
This was caused by the authorities' excessive issue of bonds and massive introduction of loans from foreign countries to cope with foreign exchange crisis.
7th-term Hanchongryon inaugural meeting praised
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- the South Korean federation of university student councils (Hanchongryon) declared its 7th-term inauguration in the teeth of suppression by the authorities, thus demonstrating its dignity and might as the vanguard of independence, democracy and reunification to the world, says the press here today.
Rodong Sinmun in a commentary says: the inauguration means a disgraceful defeat to the South Korean authorities but a great victory to the patriotic-minded students who are fighting for the cause of justice.
Indeed, Hanchongryon has made a praiseworthy start this time for the nation and the country despite manifold difficulties.
To defend and support it is precisely the road for the nation and patriotism.
South Koreans who aspire after independence, democracy and reunification should defend Hanchongryon, braving the suppression by the authorities, and take the same step with patriotic-minded students.
Minju Joson in a commentary says that the South Korean authorities' mobilization of above 1,000 riot police of 18 companies to suppress the 7th-term inaugural meeting is a heinous fascist repression.
The commentary calls for an immediate halt to suppression of Hanchongryon and the abolition of the notorious "national security law."
Greetings to President of Croatia
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- kim yong nam, president of the presidium of the supreme people's assembly of the DPRK, today sent a message of greetings to Croatian president Franjo Tudjman on the occasion of the independence day of Croatia.
The message wished the president and people of Croatia success in the work for the stability and prosperity of the country.
Meanwhile, premier of the cabinet hong song nam and foreign minister paek nam sun respectively sent messages of greetings to Croatian prime minister Zlatko Matesa and Mate Granic.
Rumour of "drug trafficking"
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- a few days ago, the Thai newspaper Bangkok Post in an article said the DPRK is engaged in "drug trafficking."
This is an utterly groundless false propaganda and a despicable and dastardly literary hackwork that deserves to be denounced and scorned by the people.
As is known, in the DPRK the people have very sound ideological consciousness and a cultured way of life, help and lead each other forward and form a big harmonious family. So, narcotics can be found nowhere and smuggling it into other countries is not imaginable at all.
The DPRK is shocked by the Thai newspaper's faked-up propaganda that the DPRK processes and smuggles drug into Asia. What astonishes us all the more is the fact that the newspaper described the DPRK as a "drug nightmare".
In the article the newspaper again touched on the ephedrine issue that had occurred in Thailand in January last year. At that time, our competent organ legally imported ephedrine through official proceedings under the approval of the UN international drug control council from the outset. But it suffered a big loss for some unknown reason. Therefore, the DPRK has more to say about it.
Such being the case, the Bangkok Post slandered the DPRK in the article written with false materials.
Much effort is not needed to guess what it pursued in the false propaganda.
In a nutshell, it is nothing but a despicable attempt to impair the international prestige of the DPRK and isolate it on the world arena and, in particular, to drive a wedge into the friendly relations between the DPRK and Thailand.
It is as clear as noonday that underlying it is a political scheme of the United States, Japan and the South Korean ruling quarters to tarnish the prestige of the dignified DPRK.
Not content with heaping abuses on the DPRK over the non-existent "nuclear and missile issue", the United States, Japan and the South Korean ruling quarters are now spreading the false rumour of "drug trafficking" through the Bangkok Post devoid of faith and principle.
They are trying to stifle the DPRK through the loud-mouthed international cooperation.
Anyone who intends to violate the dignity of the DPRK will be held wholly responsible for all consequences to be entailed therefrom.
The Thai newspaper Bangkok Post can not be an exception.
Its groundless slander of the DPRK for a few dollars will face denunciation by public opinion.