S. Korean warships fire at KPA navy warships
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- South Korean warships bumped against warships of the navy of the Korean People's Army and fired bullets and shells at them and sank one of them on the north side's territorial waters southeast of Ssanggyo-ri, Kangryong county, South Hwanghae Province.
This morning again, the enemy infiltrated 12 warships into the north side's territorial waters. They ordered the warships to stage an offensive operation by bumping against the northern warships at 08:56. The enemy warships began moving in offensive formation at 09:05, deliberately bumped against northern warships at 09:12 and fired some 150 shells and more than 7,000 machine-gun bullets.
The enemy's reckless armed provocation gravely threatened the lives of sailors of the Korean People's Army, and a warship of the north sank and three others heavily damaged.
The armed provocation committed against our warships by the South Korean authorities, who have aggravated the situation in the territorial waters of the north side in the West Sea of Korea almost every day from June 4, is an unbearable insult and military challenge to us.
It is entirely thanks to the high patience and self-restraint of our people's army soldiers that the enemy's armed provocations in the west sea of Korea have not developed into an overall war.
As we have already clarified, the reckless military provocations by the South Korean rulers are deliberate and planned ones aimed at driving the situation of the Korean peninsula to the brink of war.
The South Korean rulers must immediately apologize for the serious consequences of their armed provocations.
They must not run amok, clearly mindful that if military provocations are continued, they will meet a thousand-fold retaliatory blow.
DPRK-U.S. general officers' talks
Panmunjom, June 15 (KCNA) -- As already known, there has been created a dangerous situation in which a war may break out any time in Korea because of the reckless military provocations of the South Korean rulers in the north side's territorial waters off the West Sea of Korea. It was against the background of this touch-and-go situation that talks between Ri Chan Bok, chief delegate of the Korean People's Army side, and his U.S. military counterpart took place at Panmunjom today.
For over ten days from June 4, the South Korean rulers infiltrated warships of the navy deep into the territorial waters of our side southwest of the Kangryong peninsula, South Hwanghae Province, and tried to block our peaceful boats from their routine fishing while threatening the safety of our fishermen.
Ignoring the self-defensive measures of the KPA navy patrol boats against the provocations of the South Korean Navy, the enemies called warships of various types out to bump against those of our navy on purpose several times. They went the length of firing bullets and shells at our warships. The provocations were a wanton violation of the Korean armistice agreement. They were deliberate and premeditated ones to bring the situation on the Korean peninsula to the phase of war.
At the talks the chief delegate of the U.S. forces side tried to shift the blame for the incident on to our side, by claiming our warships first intruded into the waters of South Korea.
The incident was entirely attributed to the intrusion into the north's territorial waters of the warships of the South Korean Navy and their provocations. The South Korean "Defense Minister" and the "chairman of the joint chief of staff" huddled together to hatch a plot for the incident. On June 9 they invented what they call an offensive operation through collision and told their warships to bump against the patrol boats of the Korean People's Army on a routine duty. They directly commanded the collision on the spot.
The main responsibility for the incident rests with the South Korean rulers.
The above-mentioned provocations were committed at the connivance of U.S. hard-line conservatives who were trying to aggravate tensions on the Korean peninsula. So, the U.S. cannot flee from the responsibility. Furthermore, the U.S. that has the prerogative of the supreme command over armed forces in South Korea is now joining the South Korean rulers in spreading the rumour that there was "southward invasion." The anti-DPRK diatribe cannot be pardoned at all.
The chief delegate of the KPA side held that the "northern boundary line," fixed by South Korea at will, could never be accepted as only five islets on the West Sea of Korea belong to it under the armistice agreement. The grave provocations committed on the west sea are deliberate and premeditated ones aimed at igniting a new war in Korea at any cost.
It is an open secret that the United States has already worked out "5027-98", an aggressive operation plan for a preemptive attack on the DPRK.
Under this plan, the U.S. forces side recently introduced into South Korea AC-130 ground attack planes, FA-18 fighter-bombers and additionally deployed scores of F-15 fighter-bombers belonging to the third wing based in Alaska and hundreds of pilots.
They also put on the alert the U.S. marines in Okinawa, Japan, and a tactical plane battalion and electronic warfare planes in the U.S. mainland. Meanwhile, unmanned planes, precision guided bombs and other sophisticated weapons and war equipment were deployed in reinforcement for the U.S. troops present in South Korea.
It was against this backdrop that military provocations have been committed in the north side's territorial waters off the west coast of Korea and it is clear what they were aimed at.
The provocations with an involvement of scores of South Korean battleships are timed to coincide with the end of the U.S.-led war of aggression on Yugoslavia. This fully reveals the U.S. intention to unleash a war finally. As he could no longer insist on his assertion, the chief delegate of the U.S. forces side proposed simultaneous withdrawal of warships of both sides.
The chief delegate of the KPA side held that the South Korean battleships must be withdrawn at once because they infiltrated into the territorial waters of the north side, stressing: We will fully exercise our inviolable sovereignty in our territorial waters.
The Korean People's Army will not in the least pardon anyone violating the sky, ground and seas of our country even 0.001 mm but mercilessly punish provokers with strong self-defensive blow. We are fully prepared for both dialogue and war. If an opportunity presents itself, we will not miss it.
The United States and South Korean rulers must clearly understand the will of the Korean People's Army, immediately withdraw all battleships which infiltrated into the territorial waters of the north side and apologize for this. And they must put an end to the false propaganda aimed at misleading public opinion and take full responsibility for the consequences of the provocations.
As he could no longer insist on his far-fetched argument, the chief delegate of the U.S. forces side stood up abruptly at around 11:45 and left the room quite contrary to the precedent for agreement between both sides.
Peruvian figure refers to history of Kim Jong Il's leadership
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- Guzman Rivera Castaneda, general secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru, published a statement on June 9 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
It says: Kim Jong Il, the great leader of the Korean people, leading the WPK for 35 years, has made tireless efforts to firmly defend and apply the Juche idea, leadership method and popular traits of President Kim Il Sung, the founder of the party and the father of socialist Korea.
Thanks to his energetic leadership, the WPK is known to the world as an ever-victorious iron-willed party, the Korean People's Army as an invincible army, the Korean people as a great creator of heroic feats and Korea as a country of Chollima.
The history of his great leadership is a great one that taught them ideologically, theoretically and practically how to build a genuine socialism.
European seminar on Juche idea to be held
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- A European seminar on the Juche idea and socialism will be held in Moscow to mark 35 years since General Secretary Kim Jong Il began to work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
The preparatory committee for the seminar issued information on June 14 in this regard. According to the information, the seminar will be attended by representatives of Juche idea study organizations and followers of the Juche idea in Russia and European countries, political, public and academic figures in Europe, a delegation of the International Institute of the Juche Idea and a delegation of the Korean Social Scientists Society.
The seminar will discuss the theoretical and practical issues arising in the movement for socialist reconstruction on the basis of the Juche idea, the guiding idea of the present era, and in the struggle for its realization.
Dissolution of "Intelligence Service" called for
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, answering the question put by KCNA on June 14, denounced the anti-north confrontation outcry of Chon Yong Thaek, chief of the South Korean "Intelligence Service," and demanded his removal and the dissolution of the service. While at the ministerial post of "national defence", Chon proclaimed the north as the "principal enemy" and ran amok in the moves for confrontation with the north and war of aggression on it.
The South Korean chief executive, instead of removing such a devil, appointed him to the post of the chief of the service, the headquarters of the anti-north plot-breeding moves, the spokesman said, and went on: This fully shows the ulterior intention of the South Korean authorities to further aggravate inter-Korean relations and block peace and peaceful reunification.
If the chief executive of South Korea sincerely wants to improve inter-Korean relations, he should not resort to "engagement policy" but oust such an anti-north confrontation as Chon Yong Thaek and dissolve the service.
Working-level talks of Pomchonghakryon held
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- Working-level talks of youth and students in the north, south and abroad to make a success of the 9th grand pro-reunification festival of Pomchonghakryon (National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification) were held in Pyongyang, Seoul and Tokyo on June 10. The three parties were represented in the talks through the exchange of documents.
The talks were to be held at Panmunjom on June 10 with attendance of the three parties in accordance with the agreement reached at the ninth meeting of co-chairmen. But the three parties were compelled to exchange documents owing to the obstructions of the South Korean authorities.
It was discussed at the talks to successfully hold the '99 grand pro-reunification festival for independence and great unity of the nation and the 9th grand pro-reunification festival of Pomchonghakryon within the framework of the tenth pan-national rally which will be held on August 15. The talks also discussed the working-level issues for the second joint excursion to historical remains in the north. A joint resolution was adopted at the talks.
The resolution said that the youth and students in the north, south and abroad will take the lead in the efforts to glorify the '99 grand pro-reunification festival, the 10th pan-national rally, the 9th grand pro-reunification festival of Pomchonghakryon as a grand pro-reunification assembly common to the nation.
It underscored the need to successfully make the second joint excursion to historical remains in the north without fail, wipe out the enemies of the nation who are blocking the nation's reconciliation and unity and resorting to anti-reunification moves and surely build a reunified country powerful and prospering.
Meanwhile, joint meetings took place to make a success of the June 10 working-level talks of youth and students in the north, south and abroad among the north, south and overseas headquarters of Pomchonghakryon and universities in the north and south.
Chinese leader on traditional China-DPRK friendship
Beijing, June 13 (KCNA) -- Li Peng, member of the standing committee of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the standing committee of the National People's congress of the PRC, met the leader of the Pibada Opera Troupe of the DPRK and principal actors and actresses in Beijing on June 13.
He said: China and Korea are friendly neighbors linked with each other by mountains and rivers. Traditional friendship was forged between the two parties, two countries and two peoples of China and Korea. The ministries of culture of China and Korea have long-standing relations of friendship and cooperation. The Pibada Opera Troupe is the famous one in Korea and "the Sea of Blood" is its celebrated masterpiece.
The two countries are closely cooperating with each other in the fields of politics and foreign affairs and having frequent exchange in the cultural field. It is my hope that the opera troupe will make spectacular success in its performance tour of China. I am confident that although the Korean people are undergoing temporary difficulties, they will certainly overcome them under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
S. Korean ruler's suppression of mint company trade union protested
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- The struggle of people from all walks of life in South Korea protesting against the prosecution's "inducement to strike" to stamp out the Mint company trade union is gaining momentum, driving the anti-social "government for the people" into a tight corner, according to a radio report from Seoul.
On June 12 representatives of the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minjurochong), the Citizen's Federation for Economic Justice, the Citizen's Federation for Democratic Society and five other trade unions and citizens' organizations formed a committee for probing the truth behind the "restructuring" of the mint company in order to make a probe into the truth behind the "inducement to strike" of the mint company trade union.
The committee said that in case the "National Assembly" conducts "activities of investigating the state policy," the committee would keep watch on them and concentrate efforts on collecting and disclosing materials on plots of the prosecution and other repressive machines. The committee decided to make public a declaration on the situation to condemn the prosecution's "inducement to strike."
Chairman of Minjurochong Ri Kap Yong and twelve other representatives of dissident organizations on June 11 reported to the "supreme public prosecutor's office" former "minister of justice" Kim Thae Jong and other criminals involved in the suppression of the mint company trade union.
In an indictment they said Kim Thae Jong and others should be surely punished because they abused their authority and interrupted the business work of the trade union and the company by planning to crack down on the trade union by means of "inducing to strike."
Minjurochong held a protest rally on the same day and strongly demanded a probe into the truth behind the suppression of the trade union and punishment of criminals involved in it. The Federation of South Korean Trade Unions also held an "extra national congress of deputies" that day and vowed to hold a general strike of limited hours on June 16 and go on an all-out general strike from June 26.
Meanwhile, the opposition "Grand National Party", availing itself of the public protest, set in motion its president and more than fifty "national assemblymen" to conduct street propaganda activities demanding probe into the truth behind all suspected cases including the case of "inducement to strike" and an introduction of a special prosecution system in the five central streets in Seoul.
That day the opposition party distributed among passers-by 20,000 copies of literature carrying the above-said contents, the report said.
Fascist move of those driven into corner
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities arrested 22 students and soldiers, members of the Hanyang Organization for Anti-U.S. National Salvation, on charges of violating the "National Security Law."
Commenting on this, Minju Joson today says: It is said that they organized a "ceremony for proclaiming the anti-U.S. struggle of Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils)" at the beginning of the year, an inaugural ceremony of hanchongryon at the end of May and other meetings, while disseminating the Juche idea, propagandizing the advantages of the proposal for reunification through confederacy formula among students and soldiers and inviting unconverted long-term prisoners to lecture. If this is true, they are worthy of praise.
Citing example, the commentary observes none of their activities offers any problem. The arrest of them on the charge of violating the "National Security Law" is a fascist move of the South Korean ruling quarters who are driven into a corner, the commentary notes, and adds: The ruling quarters of the "people's government" are now suppressing those members by linking them with the north in a bid to direct elsewhere the South Korean people's hatred for the anti-national, anti-social acts of having sold off the people's dignity and interest to outsiders.
S. Korean authorities' moves to stamp out labour movement
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- The South Korean prosecution recently arrested and indicted 11 senior unionists who organised the strike of the Seoul Subway trade union in April. Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed commentary in this regard.
The commentary says: It is another premeditated move to block the worker's struggle for vital rights and democracy.
The South Korean authorities let the prosecution "induce" the mint co. trade union to strike with a view to suppressing and obliterating trade unions. The prosecution is notorious as the second "Intelligence Service," which reveals South Korea is a theatre of fascist Rowdyism and a hell on earth. The South Korean rulers, who turned the sites of the worker's strikes into pools of blood and arrested senior unionists even after "inducing trade union to strike," are the fascist tyrants and plotters surpassing the preceding dictators.
Committees for remembering Kim Il Sung formed
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- A committee for remembering the President Kim Il Sung was formed by the central association of Korean residents in Russia. Chae Jong Man, chairman of the Central Association of Korean Residents in Russia, was elected chairman of the committee at an inaugural meeting on June 6. The committee decided to hold multifarious events on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of his demise.
On the same day, a similar committee was formed by the united confederation of Koreans in the far east of Russia. Letters to the respected marshal Kim Jong Il were respectively adopted at the inaugural meetings on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the President's demise.
U.S.'s war move flailed by Korean resident in Russia
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- Chae Jong Man, chairman of the Central Association of Korean Residents in Russia, issued a statement on June 11 in support of the statement of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland which denounced the U.S. for recklessly intensifying moves for a war against the North Korea to stifle the DPRK militarily.
He denounced the U.S.'s aggressive "operation plan 5027-98" as a grave provocation encroaching upon the sovereignty of the DPRK. The United States is making great miscalculation. If the U.S. unleash a war in Korea despite the repeated warnings of the DPRK, it will get nothing but death.
And the South Korean rulers and the Japanese reactionaries, too, are well advised to act with discretion, mindful that they will not escape from an annihilating blow of the Korean people and the heroic Korean People's Army, if they ignite the fuse of a war in Korea in pursuance of the U.S.
Symposiums on revolutionary exploits of Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- Symposiums were held in Pyongyang on June 14 by the General Federation of Trade Unions, the youth league and the union of agricultural workers to mark the 35th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea. Speakers said that his start of work at the WPK Central Committee was a historical event which brought about a new turn in the development of the party and revolution.
Kim Jong Il gave perfect answers to all theoretical and practical questions related to the building and activities of the General Federation of Trade Unions, the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League and the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea through his indefatigable ideological and theoretical activities and has wisely led them to carry out their missions and role, they stressed.
Noting it was his most precious exploit that he had steadily strengthened and developed the Worker's Party of Korea into a party of the great Kim Il Sung, they said he made sure that all problems related to the party building and activity were solved strictly guided by the Juche idea, achieved the unbreakable unity and cohesion of the party around the leader and made it a mother party serving the people.
What is important in the exploits performed by him in achieving single-hearted unity of the leader, party and people is that he realized the cohesion of the revolutionary ranks in thought and will based on one idea with President Kim Il Sung held in high esteem as the supreme brain of our revolution and center of unity and turned the whole society into a great family with the policy of love and trust, the policy of benevolence, they said.
The speakers stated that the officials and members of the working people's organizations would follow the idea and leadership of Kim Jong Il with single-hearted loyalty and make all efforts to carry out his plan for building a powerful nation.
Strong self-defence capabilities
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- Any country and nation that values independence should be strong enough to cope with any threat of aggression and challenge, stresses Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today.
Recalling that the imperialists have become more undisguised in pursuing their power policies since the end of the Cold War, in their bid to expand the sphere of influence, hold the world supremacy and exercise an unlimited right to domination, the article goes on: The United States, in particular, is unhesitatingly committing high-handed state terrorism and acts of aggression in gross violation of the UN Charter, the UN resolution, international law and international regulations on relations among nations that ban interference in other's internal affairs, military threat and use of forces and provide for respect to the territory, sovereignty and independence of each country and peace and security.
Strength should be countered by strength and counter-revolutionary violence suppressed by revolutionary violence. Confrontation with the imperialists is a showdown of ideology and will and, at the same time, it is one of strength. Looking down upon the countries and nations with weak military power, the imperialists do not hesitate to threaten and blackmail them and even use forces against them.
Only when a country possesses powerful self-defence forces along with strong ideology and will, can it successfully contain and frustrate military offensives of the imperialists. In view of methods of aggression employed by the imperialists these days it is imperative to fortify the whole territory and possess powerful defence and offensive means in increasing self-reliant national capabilities.
Meeting and contacts of youth and students called for
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- The north delegation for the June 10 working-level talks of youth and students from north, south and abroad released a statement on June 10 denouncing the South Korean authorities for blocking the talks which were to be held at Panmunjom.
The youth and students from north, south and abroad were to have a historic meeting at Panmunjom and discuss the issues of the 9th grand pro-reunification festival of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification and the 2nd joint excursion to historical remains in the north. The South Korean federation of university student councils held a press conference on June 8 and made public the plan. However, the South Korean authorities blocked the talks before opening.
The statement says: We question the South Korean authorities: Do they dare have the face to talk about "engagement" toward someone and "reunification" while stopping 8 representatives of youth and students from going to Panmunjom?
The South Korean authorities, though belatedly, should apologize to the nation for their anti-national and anti-reunification crimes, stop their fascist suppression of youth and students at once, unconditionally and immediately release the youth and students arrested on unreasonable charges and ensure a free meeting and contacts between youth and students.
Construction of Rajin-Sonbong international center started
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- A ground-breaking ceremony for the Rajin-Sonbong International Center of Post and Telecommunications was held today.
When the center is completed, it will provide a more satisfactory domestic and international post and telecommunications service in the Rajin-Sonbong economic and trade zone and a sufficient capacity will be created to expand the telecommunications network in future as needs for service increase in the zone.
Present at the ceremony were vice-Minister of Post and Telecommunications, officials concerned and builders. Also present there were Peter Place, director of the Thai Loxley Pacific Limited Company, and other foreign guests. Kim Su Ryol, chairman of the Rajin-Sonbong city people's committee, made an address at the ceremony.
He said that the center to be constructed, pursuant to the decision of the council of the Northeast Asia Telephone and Telecommunications Company which was founded under the contract on joint collaboration signed between the Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation and the Thai Loxley Pacific Limited Company will be successfully completed thanks to the deep concern and efforts of the two sides.
Speeches were made by Song Su Nam, vice-director of the Northeast Asia Telephone and Telecommunications Company, and Peter Place, director of the Thai Loxley Pacific Limited Company.
It was followed by ground breaking.
National symposium held
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- A national symposium was held here today to mark the 35th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea. The symposium was addressed by officials of different institutions and sectors. The speakers pointed out the immortal feats performed by him while beginning the work at the WPK Central Committee.
They said: His 35-year-long leadership over the WPK is brilliantly shining as a sacred leadership history of the distinguished leader who has glorified Kim Il Sung's Korea all over the world, holding high the red flag of revolution.
What holds the most important place in the ideological and theoretical feats he has performed by comprehensively indicating the road of victory of socialism is that he provided a clear-cut guiding idea of accomplishing the socialist cause of our era.
He has built the WPK into a genuine party of the leader in which the oneness of idea and leadership is fully ensured, and strengthened and developed it into the only political organization that thoroughly establishes political leadership over the whole of society and made it a mother party that is leading the people, taking warm care of their destiny in a responsible manner.
Thanks to his leadership over revolution with priority given to the army, the great leader President Kim Il Sung's cause of army building has been steadfastly carried forward and the modeling of the whole army on the Juche idea has been stepped up dynamically in the DPRK.
Kim Jong Il's 35-year-long history of leadership is characterized by the classic formulation of the President's revolutionary idea, proclamation of modeling the whole of society on the Juche idea, defence of Korean-style socialism, laying of a springboard from which to build a powerful nation and exploits of worldwide significance.
Present at the symposium were senior party and state officials Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop and Kim Ki Nam.