Li Peng hosts banquet in honor of DPRK delegation
Beijing, June 3 (KCNA) -- Li Peng, chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, hosted a banquet at the Great Hall of the People today in honor of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea headed by Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.
Present on invitation were Kim Yong Nam, members of the delegation and suite members. Present there were Li Lanqing, vice-premier of the State Council of the PRC= Jiang Chunyun, vice-chairman of the NPC standing committee= He Chunlin, secretary general of the NPC standing committee= Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs= Dai Bingguo, head of the international liaison department of the c.c., the Communist Party of China= Fu Zhihuan, Minister of Railways= Shi Guangsheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation= Sun Jiazheng, Minister of Culture= Li Shuzheng, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the NPC and chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association= Wan Yongxiang, Chinese Ambassador E.P to Korea= and other officials concerned.
Li Peng in his toast said that the DPRK delegation's official goodwill visit to China is a great event in the development of the relations between the two countries these years. He noted that he had an in-depth exchange of views with Kim Yong Nam on the issue of further strengthening and developing the relations between the two countries and international and regional issues of mutual concern in a friendly and candid atmosphere and reached a unanimity of wide-range views.
Particularly, the two sides reclarified the consistent stand of the two parties and the two governments toward attaching importance to the development of the traditional Sino-DPRK friendship and reiterated that they would carry forward and develop this fine tradition, he said.
He stressed that China is ready to make a fresh and steady advance in the traditional relations of the Sino-DPRK friendship and cooperation together with the Korean comrades this year which marks the half centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the DPRK.
In a toast Kim Yong Nam recalled that the great leader Kim Jong Il dispatched the first ever, state delegation to China since the election of a new state leadership body in the DPRK in order to further develop the DPRK-China friendly relations in keeping with the requirement of the present situation.
He stated that at the talks held today both sides fully exchanged views on the development of the friendly relations between the DPRK and China and on issues of mutual concern and reached a unanimity of views.
He expressed the belief that the China visit of the DPRK delegation would mark an important occasion in further consolidating and developing the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the DPRK and China.
Letter of thanks to Kim Jong Il from O Ik Je
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a letter of thanks from O Ik Je, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, who came back from his visit to local areas. O Ik Je in his letter dated May 30 said he visited Mt. Chilbo and revolutionary sites, factories, rural villages and spots of scenic beauty and historic interest in north and south Hamgyong and Kangwon provinces under the warm care of Kim Jong Il.
He continued: Wherever I went, I saw historic monuments which will shine long in the annals of the great President Kim Il Sung and the respected Kim Jong Il and deeply grasped the shining feats made by them who have mixed with the people and administered politics for them, always believing in them as in heaven. He said through the visit he has deeply realized that on-the-spot guidance of Kim Jong Il truly represents politics of love that calls for sharing life and death, sweets and bitters with the people in adversity and a unique politics administered in the DPRK only.
Noting that this land is growing fertile thanks to Kim Jong Il's endless tour and the life of the people is becoming worthier as their hearts are burning with their loyal determination to repay his love, O Ik Je stressed: As the leader's dedication and respect for the people are total and deep, the people are revering and upholding the leader as the sun.
Full of fresh conviction, I renew my resolution to do everything within my power to defend everything precious on this land gained by the leader and reunify the country.
U.S. "operation plan 5027-98"
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (Hanminjon) issued a statement on June 1 denouncing the United States for having retrogressively changed "operation plan 5027" into "operation plan 5027-98", Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation reported.
The newly unveiled plan has six phases with "deterrent phase" of the former war scenario for aggression on the north changed into a phase of "preemptive attack" on the north and with a "phase of occupying" the north and "establishing a rule" over it added, which undisguisedly reveals the U.S. attempt at a war of aggression on the north.
It is a very dangerous war document worked out by the United States to unleash a war of aggression on the north's any time it pleases, in gross violation of the north dignity and sovereignty, the statement said, and went on: The gravity and danger of the plan lie in the fact that the United States has entered a stage of verifying the effectiveness of a scenario of war of aggression on the north through the war of aggression on Yugoslavia.
Now that the Cold War is over, the United States is getting frantic in saber-rattling to spark a new cold war and the north is made its target. This is motivated by its brigandish ambition to secure the position of a superpower in the unipolar world and take the initiative in the 21st century by "containing" the north that is admired by the world people as an independent, strong nation.
Hanminjon bitterly condemns the U.S. war hawks for having worked out the concrete operation plan aimed at making a preemptive attack on the north and occupying the whole of the Korean peninsula and for working hard to plunge the whole of Korea into a holocaust of a thermonuclear war by military force. The United States should face up to reality and stop acting rashly.
The treacherous Kim Dae Jung group which is begging for the permanent presence of the U.S. forces in South Korea in pursuance of the U.S. war strategy for aggression on the north and is getting more frenzied in arms buildup than ever before must ponder over the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by their moves and give up a foolish dream of stifling the fellow countrymen in collusion with outside forces.
Suit against Yugoslav leadership rejected
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry answered a question put by KCNA today in connection with the action brought by the UN international tribunal against members of the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for "war crime".
He said: On May 27 the UN international tribunal related to war crimes in former Yugoslavia in Hague indicted five members of the Yugoslav leadership including President Slobodan Milosevic on the suspicion of "anti-ethical war crime" and issued warrants for arrest of them. Needless to say, this action was a product of the heinous plot hatched under the U.S. manipulation behind the scene.
Such undisguised intrigue which is made at a time when the diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution to the Kosovo issue are hectic clearly shows that the United States is not willing at all to seek a peaceful settlement of the crisis but is leaving no stone unturned to militarily bring the Balkans under its control and dominate the world. This is a grave violation of justice and international law and a wanton interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.
To violate human rights under the signboard of "defence of human rights" is a shameless hypocrisy. The assailant who unleashed a war of aggression is trying to lay a "war crime" at the door of the victim who is subjected to aggression and do harm to him. This is, in the real sense of the term, a brigandish act reminiscent of a thief turning on the master with a club.
It is an unheard-of shameless arbitrary practice to bring an unreasonable suit against the publicly recognized head of state of a sovereign state who was elected by the people's will and try to trample down the sovereignty of a full-fledged UN member nation with strength. If such practices are connived at and tolerated, the imperialists will become more high-handed in their atrocities, choosing
Small countries as targets of their assaults and scapegoats at random.
The U.S.-led NATO forces' indiscriminate air raids of more than two months killed many defenseless people, reducing Yugoslavia to debris and producing millions of refugees and wanderers.
Moreover, the United States is using without hesitation up-to-date lethal weaponry of all types, while forbidding other countries to produce and possess weapons of mass destruction.
This unethical act is, indeed, a real crime that should be prosecuted.
We, together with progressive humankind the world over who want a peaceful solution to the Kosovo issue, will in the future, too, extend invariable support and solidarity to the Yugoslav people in their just struggle to defend their dignity and sovereignty.
S. Korean students' struggle backed
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Korean Students Committee made public a statement on June 3 supporting South Korean students in their just struggle for freedom of learning and vital rights.
Recently South Korean university graduates, students who stay out of schools temporarily and school leavers in mid-course whose plight is the same as that of unemployed owing to the consequences of the economic trusteeship imposed by the U.S. and the South Korean ruling quarters have formed the "Young Unemployed Union" and turned out in the anti-U.S., anti-"government" struggle.
There are more than 470,000 university graduates left without jobs and 530,000 students who stay out of school temporarily or school leavers in mid-course in South Korea this year alone.
The statement said that the South Korean students who love justice and truth are rising up in a struggle, unable to endure the deplorable situation of South Korea where there is no seat of learning in which one can learn and inquire into science to one's heart's content though there are schools and in which there is no workplace where an educated man can dedicate himself.
It noted: This notwithstanding, the fascist ruling quarters are trying to appease and deceive the South Korean students with a few dollars in a bid to arrest their just struggle and, at the same time, brutally cracking down on it at the point of the bayonet while staging repressive drills under the manipulation of the U.S., their master. But neither crafty deceptive moves nor reckless suppression by these ruling quarters can check the struggle of the students in the south for justice and truth.
All the students in the North Korea will continue to extend support and encouragement to the fighting fellow students in the south and earnestly pursue study and scientific researches in the spirit of being in the same boat with them to prepare themselves to be able builders of a reunified powerful nation.
Friendly meeting with Lao delegation
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting with the members of the visiting delegation of the Ministry of Information and Culture of Laos was held at the Korea-Laos Friendship Pyongyang Chongryu Senior Middle School on Thursday.
Invited there were members of the delegation of the Ministry of Information and Culture of Laos led by vice-Minister Ban Vorakhoun and an official of the Lao embassy here.
Vice-chairman Ri Song Ho of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and officials concerned, teachers and pupils of the school were present there. The participants saw an art performance given by members of the art circle of the school after looking round its educational facilities.
They conversed with each other, deepening friendship.
S. Korean authorities' "engagement policy"
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comes out with a commentator's article headlined "On South Korean authorities' 'engagement policy'".
Recalling that the South Korean authorities were reported to have sympathized with Park Chung Hee who could not live out a natural life, while suppressing hundreds of thousand of people, it observes: This is precisely "generosity" and "engagement" advertised by the South Korean authorities.
They are now talking about "engagement" with someone, although they are not in a position to engage even the pro-reunification, pro-democracy forces. This is nothing but a silly dream.
Referring to the truth behind the "engagement policy," the article goes on: The South Korean authorities claim that the "engagement policy" is aimed at promoting "peace", "co-existence and co-prosperity" and "reconciliation and cooperation." But, underlying the "policy" is their ulterior intention to extend the corrupt anti-popular colonial system of South Korea to the North Korea.
The "engagement policy", which has fully disclosed its ill-intentioned nature, is an overt betrayal of the north's generosity and trust as well as an intolerable challenge to the best socialist system in Korea. The "engagement policy" on the lips of the South Korean authorities is meant to impose their policy upon others. It is a daydream that can never be realized.
Such "changes" which the South Korean rulers wish to see in the north will never take place in the north. If there be any, it will be only dynamic advance and victory of socialism which they can hardly imagine.
Although the South Korean authorities seek to undermine the north from within through the so-called "cooperation and exchange," it is ridiculous, indeed, to try to bring about a policy switchover with money. Their attempt to apply the principle of market economy into politics seems to be possible in the capitalist society where money is everything, but will never work on the north.
The destiny of the entire nation is what we cannot but worry about.
The "engagement policy" will bring about nothing but confrontation, fuelled by the endless drain of nation's treasure, a merciless war and tragic permanent division. Herein lie the anti-national nature of the "engagement policy" as well as an actual justification for not tolerating it.
The ultimate result of the north-south confrontation, which is pursued by the South Korean authorities through their "engagement policy", cannot be a positive one. The north has consistently sustained the patriotic faith with conviction and optimism about future and is keeping to the most right path it has already chosen.
We should adhere to the three principles of national reunification, promote the great national unity and opt to found a reunified confederal state, which is the genuine way of national resurrection. The South Korean authorities should refrain from acts of delaying the reunification by wasting time with the infeasible "engagement policy" and take the road the north and the entire nation have chosen.
They should change themselves, not inducing others to bring about changes.
They should drop a silly illusion about their masters, the United States and Japan, and throw off the yoke of a servant.
If they miss the chance, it will never come again.
Pochonbo battle
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- The 62nd anniversary of the victory in the historic Pochonbo battle (June 4, 1937) is commemorated in Korea. The battle took place in Pochon county, Ryanggang Province in the northern part of Korea.
The Japanese imperialists illegally occupied Korea, strengthened colonial ruling machines in the middle of the 1930s and enforced the repressive policy of allowing no slightest anti-Japanese movement of the people.
They drove the people hard into the expanding military establishments in the northern part of Korea with a view to making continental invasion.
At this juncture, the President Kim Il Sung organized and commanded the Pochonbo battle to give the Korean people a dawn of national liberation.
The President personally commanded the main force of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army to break through frontier defenses, loudly advertised by the Japanese imperialists as a "wall of iron", and advanced to Pochonbo.
By his signal of attack, the KPRA soldiers raided in a flash a police substation, a farm test ground, Myon administration office and other ruling organs of the enemies.
After the victorious battle, he made a speech before the cheering crowd. He said the Korean people were not dead but alive and they could emerge victorious if they fought against the Japanese imperialists, and called upon all the people to rise up in the anti-Japanese struggle for national independence.
The KPRA main force wiped out the chasing enemies in the area of Kouyushan and Jiansanfeng after the Pochonbo battle.
The historic significance of the Pochonbo battle, which took place when the Japanese suppression reached its highest pitch is that it inspired the Korean people with firm confidence in national liberation and shook the colonial ruling system of the Japanese in Korea to its very foundation.
DPRK consulate general to open in Hong Kong
Beijing June 2 (KCNA) -- An inter-governmental agreement on opening the consulate general of the DPRK in the Hong Kong special administrative region of China was signed between the DPRK and China in Beijing on Tuesday.
It was signed by Ju Chang Jun, Korean ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to China, and vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Yang Wenchang.
Jiang Zemin receives DPRK delegation
Beijing, June 4 (KCNA) -- Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China, received the DPRK delegation led by Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, in Beijing this afternoon.
The head of the delegation conveyed warm greetings of General Secretary Kim Jong Il to Jiang Zemin. Jiang Zemin expressed deep thanks for this and asked the head of the delegation to convey his warm greetings to Kim Jong Il.
Jiang Zemin said that the China-DPRK friendship was forged and deepened by revolutionaries of the old generation of the two countries and that the great leader Kim Il Sung devoted great efforts to the development of friendly relations between the two countries.
To strengthen the China-DPRK friendship is beneficial to mutual interests and development of the two peoples and to the defence of peace and stability in the Asia-pacific region, he said, noting that it is an invariable stand of the Chinese party and government to further strengthen and develop these friendly relations.
He stated he was pleased with the fact that the Korean people are continuing to make a dynamic advance toward building a powerful nation along the road paved by President Kim Il Sung, closely rallied behind the Worker's Party of Korea headed by Kim Jong Il.
He expressed full support for the struggle of the Worker's Party and people of Korea for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and laid stress on the need to achieve global peace and stability, defend national sovereignty and dignity and establish a new fair international political and economic order.
Present together with Kim Yong Nam were members of the delegation Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet of the DPRK= vice marshal of the Korean People's Army Kim Il Chol, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Minister of the People's Armed Forces= Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and chairman of the SPA= Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs= Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the central committee of the Chondoist Chongu Party= Ju Chang Jun, DPRK Ambassador E. P. to China= Pak Tong Chun, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs= and suite members.
On hand were Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PRC= Dai Bingguo, head of the international liaison department of the central committee of the Communist Party of China= Wan Yongxiang, Chinese Ambassador E.P. to Korea= Wang Yi, assistant foreign minister= and other officials concerned.
The talk proceeded in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
DPRK senior officials meets Zhu Rongji
Beijing, June 4 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, and Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet of the DPRK, on an official goodwill visit to the People's Republic of China today met Zhu Rongji, premier of the State Council of the PRC, at the Great Hall of the People.
Present were vice marshal of the Korean People's Army Kim Il Chol, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Minister of the People's Armed Forces= Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and chairman of the SPA= Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs= Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the central committee of the Chondoist Chongu Party= Ju Chang Jun, DPRK Ambassador E. P. to China= and suite members.
On hand were Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PRC= Shi Guangsheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation= Wan Yongxiang, Chinese Ambassador E.P. to Korea= Wang Yi, assistant foreign minister= and other officials concerned.
The talk proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.
DPRK Foreign Minister meets Chinese counterpart
Beijing, June 4 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, who is member of the DPRK delegation on an official goodwill visit to China, met his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan in Beijing this morning.
Present were officials concerned.
On hand were Wang Guozhang, leading member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi, assistant foreign minister, and officials concerned.
The foreign ministers had a talk in a friendly atmosphere.
Tang Jiaxuan gave a luncheon in honor of Paek Nam Sun.
Kim Il Chol meets Chinese counterpart
Beijing, June 4 (KCNA) -- Kim Il Chol, vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and Minister of the People's Armed Forces who is member of the DPRK delegation on an official good will visit to China, met Chi Haotian, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the PRC, member of the State Council and Minister of National Defence, in Beijing this morning.
Present were DPRK ambassador to China Ju Chang jun and officials concerned.
Qian Shugen, deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and officials concerned were on hand.
They had a talk in a friendly atmosphere.
Chi Haotian gave a luncheon in honor of Kim Il Chol.
Luncheon given for DPRK delegation
Beijing, June 4 (KCNA) -- Jiang Chunyun, vice-chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, gave a luncheon at the Diaoyutai Guest House in Beijing today in honor of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea headed by Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.
Present on invitation together with Kim Yong Nam were members of the delegation Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet= Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK= Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the central committee of the Chondoist Chongu Party= Pak Tong Chun, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs= and suite members.
Present there were Li Shuzheng, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the NPC and chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association= Wan Yongxiang, Chinese Ambassador E.P to Korea= Lu Congmin, deputy secretary general of the NPC standing committee= Yang Wanting, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of China= and officials concerned.
The luncheon proceeded in a cordial atmosphere.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Tadjik delegation
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the delegation of the Tajik Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and friendship society.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by head of the visiting delegation Maisara Kolonova, chairperson of the Tajik Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.
Pak Song Chol meets Tadjik delegation
Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- Pak Song Chol, Honorary vice-President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today met and had a talk with the delegation of the Tajik Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and friendship society led by Maisara Kolonova, chairperson of the Tajik Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
On hand was vice-chairman Ri Song Ho of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.
Kim Jong Il sends gift to Jiang Zemin
Beijing, June 4 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a gift to Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the c.c., the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The gift was conveyed to Jiang Zemin today by President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong Nam, who is leading the DPRK delegation on an official goodwill visit to China.
Kim Jong Il receives gift from Jiang Zemin
Beijing, June 4 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the c.c., the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Jiang Zemin handed the gift to President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong Nam, who is leading the DPRK delegation on an official goodwill visit to China, today.