General officer-level meeting of KPA and U.S. Forces sides held
Panmunjom, June 22 (KCNA) -- The general officer-level meeting of the Korean People's Army and the U.S. Forces sides was resumed at Panmunjom today to discuss the armed conflict in the waters off the west coast.
Present at the meeting were members of our side with lt.
General of the KPA Ri Chan Bok as its chief delegate and members of the U.S. Forces side with Maj. General Michael Dunn as its chief delegate.
Addressing the talks first, the chief delegate of our side said that the waters, where both sides clash with each other, definitely belong to our territorial waters both in the light of the provisions of the Armistice Agreement (AA) and the practice so far followed since the truce.
He went on to say: The sub-paragraph 13b of the Armistice Agreement clearly stipulates that only five of the islands lying to the north and west of the " A-B Line" of the provincial boundary line between Hwanghae-do and Kyonggi-do shall be under the military control of the commander-in-chief, United Nations command.
This legally states that all the five islands under the control of the U.S. Forces are inside our territorial waters.
As regards this point, a delegate of the U.S. side at the staff officers meeting held on January 30, 1952 to discuss paragraph 3 of the agenda of the armistice talks said, " that paragraph was meant to control on only those islands."
Following the signing of the AA, warships of the U.S. Forces sailed to the high seas to come to the five islands north of the extension line of the Military Demarcation Line in the waters off the west coast.
This fact proves the U.S. Forces side's recognition of our right to naval patrol pursuant to the AA.
That was why our fishing boats conducted routine fishing operations in those waters during the fishing season every year.
But the South Korean rulers are talking about the " limit line" which is not stipulated in the AA and on which no agreement was made between both sides and which no one has recognized. They have illegally infiltrated scores of warships of different types into the north side's territorial waters since June 4 to threaten the safety of northerners who were engaged in peaceful fishing operation and disturb it.
Recalling that the South Korean warships recklessly attempted to bump against warships of the KPA navy while blocking them from performing self-defence patrol duty to protect our peaceful fishing boats, the chief delegate of our side stated:
The recent incident was directly commanded by top commanders of the " ROK" army from its very beginning.
This incident was followed by ill-boding military movements of the U.S. encouraged by this, the South Korean rulers carry on their provocations by infiltrating warships deep into the north side's territorial waters.
Their military provocations in the territorial waters off the west coast are an intolerable challenge to us and a perilous crime of leading the situation on the Korean peninsula to an extreme pitch of tension.
Now the Korean people and people's army are greatly angered by these naval provocations committed by the " ROK" navy and are determined to make them pay dearly for this without fail.
The United States and the South Korean authorities should fully admit the responsibility for this incident, sternly punish those involved in it and assure us that they will not repeat it in future.
But the U.S. Forces side asserted that as our warships " intruded" into the south side's territorial waters to fire at South Korean warships first, many warships of theirs were damaged. And the U.S. Forces side advanced what it called " proposal" on preventing the recurrence of conflict in the waters off the west coast.
However, the " proposal" was nothing but a brigandish one intended to maintain the " northern limit line" unilaterally defined by them and get our warships withdrawn from there.
The chief delegate of our side promptly refuted it in strong terms.
Accusing the U.S. chief delegate of insisting on his wrong assertion, the chief delegate of our side stated: Insisting on the " northern limit line" cannot be construed otherwise than an intention to drop sub-paragraph 13b as it diametrically runs counter to that provision.
If the U.S. side wishes to abrogate the sub-paragraph 13b, it should make its stand clear.
The U.S. chief delegate, however, failed to answer that question.
Our chief delegate went on to state: If the problem is to be solved, the U.S. and the South Korean authorities should first make an apology for causing that serious armed conflict, give us assurances that they would never repeat such provocation and withdraw at once the " northern limit line" unilaterally set by them. A mere talk about " easing tensions" without such assurances is no more than a mockery of public opinion. Concluding his statement on the basis of his review of the proceeding of the meeting, the chief delegate of our side declared:
What we have to make clear firstly at today's meeting is that the U.S. Forces side still seeks to infiltrate its warships into our territorial waters to spark a reckless conflict, instead of drawing a lesson from the incident.
Secondly, the U.S. Forces' side ignores the Armistice Agreement and has no willingness to implement it.
Our chief delegate had this to say:
The KPA side has no idea to debate on this matter any longer now that the unreasonable stand and attitude of the U.S. side have been confirmed.
There is a limit to our patience and self-restraint.
If the U.S. Forces' side refuses to draw a lesson from the recent incident and instigates the provokers again to invade our territorial waters off the west coast, the KPA will not restrain itself but get them buried at sea forever by employing all the necessary self-defensive means.
The South Korean rulers would be well advised to think twice before feeling sorry later.
Spokesman on Mt. Kumgang tour
Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee issued a statement on Monday denouncing the South Korean authorities for trying to use the Mt. Kumgang tour for their sinister purposes.
The spokesman said:
An unidentified South Korean woman, Min Yong Mi by name, came to the Mt. Kumgang area of the north side on June 20 as a tourist and made ill-intentioned remarks to tempt northerners who were on routine environmental inspection duty.
She told them, " Those who defected to the south are well off now" and " You must be tired, climing up and down the mountain." She revealed her ulterior intention, saying, " If you come to the south, you will live in happiness."
This is a provocation against the north and has nothing to do with tourism.
Moreover, it is a product of the South Korean authorities' premeditated anti-north plot to foil the Mt. Kumgang tour sponsored by our committee and the Hyundai Business Group.
Those who include a professional agent among tourists of Mt. Kumgang in an attempt to preach " defection" must be condemned by the nation and pay dearly for that.
Our competent organ will conduct a necessary investigation on the unidentified woman who violated our law by doing something that has nothing to do with tourism of Mt. Kumgang in the north.
The South Korean authorities must ponder over the consequences of their foolish attempt to abuse the Mt. Kumgang tour for their sinister purposes. They must admit responsibility and apologize for the incident.
Committees for remembering President Kim Il Sung formed abroad
Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- Committees for remembering the great leader President Kim Il Sung were formed in Bulgaria and Syria.
Boris Petkov, chairman of the executive council of the central committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party (Marxists), spoke at an inaugural meeting held in Sofia on June 17. Noting that it is nearly five years since President Kim Il Sung passed away, he stressed that to make the president's revolutionary exploits shine forever is the unanimous desire of not only communists but also the progressive people of the world.
Alexander Paunov, first secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Bulgaria, was elected chairman of the committee.
The meeting decided to organize and hold meetings, film shows, seminars and other multifarious events for remembering the President in Sofia and local cities.
A committee for remembering the President formed in Syria on June 13 set a period from June 13 to July 8 as days of remembrance and decided to hold multifarious events in these days.
KCNA on S. Korean authorities' ceaseless provocations
Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities, although they were hit hard in an engagement in the west sea of Korea on June 15, are continuously infiltrating warships into the north side's territorial waters.
According to a communique released by the navy command of the Korean People's Army, they infiltrated 11 warships on June 16, 4 on the 17th, 6 on the 18th and 19th each and 18 on the 20th.
More than a hundred enemy warships have intruded into the north side's territorial waters since June 4, intentionally committing provocations.
The situation in Korea has reached a critical phase due to the South Korean authorities' incessant naval provocations.
Military provocations being committed by the South Korean authorities at the west sea at the beck and call of the U.S. are a premeditated act to ignite a new war in Korea on all accounts.
In view of the prevailing situation, the spokesman of the KPA mission at Panmunjom demanded in the June 11 statement that the South Korean authorities immediately withdraw all warships that had intruded into the north side's territoral waters, make an apology for the incident and hold responsibility for its consequences. But, the South Korean authorities reinforced armed forces and launched the " bump-and-push operation."
There is a limit to our patience.
The South Korean authorities should clearly know that if they persistently commit reckless provocations despite the north's repeated warnings, they will get powerful self-defensive blows from the north.
The people and the people's army of Korea are now fully ready to annihilate the enemy.
We mean what we say.
Our revolutionary armed forces will keenly follow every movement of the South Korean authorities.
Reception for Indonesian guests
Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of the People's Armed Forces Monday gave a reception for Feisal Tanjung, Coordinating Minister for Policy and Security of Indonesia, and his party now on a visit to Korea.
Present at the reception on invitation were the guests and Indonesian ambassador to Korea Buchari Effendi.
Attending the reception were Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol, KPA general Jong Chang Ryol, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Tong Chun and officials concerned.
Addressing the reception, Kim Il Chol expressed the conviction that the current visit of the coordinating Minister and his party would be conducive to broadly developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples and two armies.
Noting that the DPRK would strengthen solidarity with Indonesia in the struggle for building an independent and prosperous new Asia, he wished the officers and men of the Indonesian army greater success in their work for successfully fulfilling the mission as defenders of the country and the nation and as defenders of stability.
Feisal Tanjung in his speech said the friendly relations between the two countries are based on the solid foundation provided by the respected President Kim Il Sung, the respected Marshal Kim Jong Il and the respected President Sukarno, noting the current visit would be conducive to further developing the friendly relations between the two peoples.
Highly appreciating the successes scored by the Korean people, he expressed the conviction that the Korean people would make a bigger stride forward in the future under the wise leadership of the great Kim Jong Il, with him held in high esteem.
Changes around basin of Taedong River
Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- River Taedong flowing through the central part of Pyongyang is one of the five famous rivers in Korea.
The basin of the Taedong River extending more than 400 km abounds in forests, coal, mineral, water and other underground and water-power resources.
Since the liberation of the country in August 1945 a great number of monumental edifices have been built on this river and its basin under the long-term land administration plan of the Workers' Party and the state of Korea, which tell about the Korean people's history of creation and construction.
Situated on the banks of the river are ten odd cities and counties, including the capital city of Pyongyang, the port city of Nampho, the iron producing centre of Songrim and Yangdok and Maengsan counties.
Hundreds of industrial establishments are also seen around the basin of the river, among them the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex, the Chollima Steel Complex, the Taean Heavy Machine Complex and the Sungri General Motor Works, which demonstrate the might of Juche-oriented industry.
Recent years witnessed the appearance of new small and big factories including a cigarette paper mill and Aeguk Preventive Medicine Plant and modern dwelling houses for tens of hundreds of families.
In Sunchon city, South Phyongan Province alone, there are a vinalon complex, a cement complex, a pharmaceutical plant and many other industrial establishments.
The river makes a big input to the nation's power output.
It has the Taedonggang Power Complex, barrage power stations and hundreds of minor power stations.
The west sea barrage, Mirim, Sunchon and Ponghwa Lock Gates, Okryu Bridge, Chongryu Suspension Bridge and many other modern bridges have been built on the river, forming a rational traffic network.
Irrigation networks spread through fields on both sides of the river. Of them, Phyongnam and Kiyang irrigation networks are used to water over 100,000 hectares of paddy and non-paddy fields in Anju, Mundok, Sukchon and Phyongwon counties around the Yoldusamcholli Plain and tens of thousands of hectares of paddy and non-paddy fields in Taedong and Ryonggang counties including Onchon and Jungsan plains.
Seen on the scenic banks of the river are the Tower of the Juche Idea (170 metres in height), the arch of triumph, the 150,000-seat may day stadium, the grand theatre and many other monumental edifices. There are also rest houses and sanatoria at beauty spots of the river area.
Many people of all ages and both sexes are having a pleasant time on promenades and parks, pleasure grounds, swimming pools, boating-grounds and angling sites created on the banks of the river, adding beauty to the landscape of the river basin.
North-south vice-minister level meeting held
Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- A north-south vice minister-level meeting was held in Beijing this morning.
The three-member delegation of the north was headed by Pak Yong Su, senior councillor of the cabinet.
Pak Yong Su made a key-note speech.
In his speech, he described the meeting as significant in that all Koreans were paying attention to the meeting with earnest hopes for improved north-south relations and national reunification and it opened at a historical turning point when the 1900s are coming to a close and a new millenium is at hand.
He noted that before the meeting, the South Korean authorities perpetrated a grave military provocation against the north.
The provocations have been continuing since June 4, he said, adding that in this period, the south side infiltrated battle ships deep into the territorial waters of the north side southwest of the Kangryong peninsula in South Hwanghae Province, threatening peaceful fishing boats of the north and even blocking the routine patrol of naval warships of the Korean People's Army. June 9 witnessed a deliberate, surprise bumping of southern warships against northern patrol boats, he said.
In this situation, sailors of the Korean People's Army contained the south side's reckless provocations with high vigilance and displayed maximum patience and self-restraint lest the incident should develop into an exchange of gunfire, he said, and continued:
Despite our repeated warnings, the South Korean authorities failed to take any measure to save the situation. Moreover, top-level authorities sent a " congratulatory message" that described the provocation against the north as " something well done." and they dispatched ranking military officials to the provokers for a pep talk and for further provocation.
Accordingly, the south side amassed tank-landing ships, destroyers, escort ships and many other warships on the waters at issue on June 15. They overtly obstructed the routine patrol of our naval warships and, finally, staged a full-scale " bump-and-push operation" plus indiscriminate firing of bullets and shells.
That is why our side had to take self-defensive measures against the south side's provocation. Our army's strong retaliatory strike was legitimate.
The South Korean authorities should have given up military provocations, lending an ear to our warning. But, they escalated the provocations, backed by the United States, and took the adventurous line of unleashing a new war on the Korean peninsula and, eventually, met with natural punishment.
A high-level official of the south side called for military " cooperation" with the United States and announced that South Korea agreed with the U.S. military on mobilizing U.S. Forces. At the same time, he issued an " emergency alert order" to all military units and " emergency operation no. 2" to all police and " mobilization order" to all civil servants.
The head of the north delegation denounced all this hostility as an unbearable challenge to the north that is displaying high patience and self-restraint for the relaxation of tensions on the Korean peninsula and the improved inter-Korean relations.
He went on to say that the recent incident in the west sea of Korea was not an accidental one, but a very dangerous provocation prearranged by the South Korean authorities in a bid to unleash a war. As a result, the situation on the peninsula is driven to the brink of war, he said.
The recent provocations, he noted, cannot be construed otherwise than part of the " operation plan 5027-98," the second Korean war scenario, which is being carried into practice by the South Korean authorities in league with the U.S. He sternly blamed the south side for the ensuing consequences.
With nothing the South Korean authorities can flee from the responsibility for the incident, he said, and continued:
An increasing number of citizens' organisations and intellectuals in South Korea say the " northern limit line" is a problem and cannot be recognised by international laws.
The spokesman for the U.S. Department of State repeatedly said the inter-Korean engagement was thought to have taken place on the open sea, denying the argument of the South Korean authorities. All this is clear proof of the fact that the South Korean authorities are entirely responsible for the incident.
The provocations prearranged by the South Korean authorities on purpose laid a grave obstacle in the way of the inter-Korean Vice Minister-level meeting, endangering its future. Even if the two sides sit at the negotiating table in the context of the tense situation of the country and inter-Korean confrontation going from bad to worse, they cannot expect desirable results at all. That is a serious lesson drawn from the history of inter-Korean dialogue plagued with suspension and ruptures, he said.
The north side strongly demanded that the South Korean authorities make an immediate apology to the entire nation, bearing the responsibility for the incident.
The south side should adopt responsible measures, with reason, for immediately removing obstacles lying in the way of the meeting, the north side stressed.
The south side spoke next.
Its statement represented a trick to avoid the responsibility for the armed provocations in the west sea that triggered off tensions on the peninsula reminiscent of those on the eve of war and drove the inter-Korean relations to the extreme pitch of confrontation.
As regards the next meeting, Pak Yong Su said the north delegation would come to the next meeing if the south side, back home, makes full preparations to meet the north's principled demand and then informs the north of the time of the next meeting.