S. Korean pro-reunification patriotic organizations here
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- Delegates of South Korean pro-reunification patriotic organizations arrived here this afternoon by plane to participate in the grand pan-national reunification festival.
They are adviser Ra Chang Sun and So Won Chol of the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon), and Ri Song U, Kang Hyong Gu and Pak Ki Su of the "National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification."
They were joined by Hwang Hye Ro, 4th year student of the department of astronomy of Yonsei University, who had arrived here earlier to attend the grand reunification festival of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) as a delegate of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils which represents the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon.
They were met at the airport by Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the central committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, An Kyong Ho, chairman of the north preparatory committee for the grand pan-national reunification festival, and officials concerned.
Working people and school youth and children of Pyongyang accorded a warm reception to them.
Upon arrival in the airport, delegates Ra Chang Sun and Ri Song U separately made statements.
The more than ten kilometre-long route was crowded with a large number of welcomes with flowers in their hands.
Despite sweltering weather they welcomed with warm compatriotic feelings the envoys who arrived here to participate in the festival, carrying the desire and will of the South Korean fellow countrymen for reunification and great national unity, singing songs "Our hope is reunification", "Korea is one" and others and shouting slogans "National reunification" and "welcome".
KCNA on Japan's "delusion of persecution"
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- Director general of the Japan Defence Agency Norota in an interview with Mainichi Shimbun echoed the provocative terms contained in the U.S. Defence report and the "defence white paper" of South Korea, talking about "apprehension" over the DPRK's "threat" and "countermeasure" against it.
At the interview he kicked up a terror and antagonism against the DPRK, asserting that "North Korea is the biggest threat in near future" and it has "stockpiled a bulk of poisonous gas" and it is difficult to take any "countermeasure." He even underscored the DPRK's non-existent "threat of such biological and chemical weapons as bacillus anthracites and Sarin gas," insisting the ministry of health and welfare and the cabinet should comprehensively "react" to it.
In a word, Norota prattled as if the DPRK's missile was about to drop in Tokyo and made an absurd and extreme argument that a wartime system should be established with involvement of the entire nation as well as the government because the defence agency alone could not "react" to it.
Indeed, it is nothing but a revelation of the criminal's "delusion of persecution." As the world knows, the Japanese militarist forces, blinded again by the fever of war of aggression even after committing indelible crimes against the Korean and other Asian nations, are making desperate efforts to find an excuse for provocation at any cost.
Their insistence that the DPRK's satellite launch was a "missile launch" and their ballyhoo about "threat of biological and chemical weapons" only betray the imprudent political and moral inferiority and weakness peculiar to them, who see in a war of aggression the only way of burying their crimes into oblivion for good.
The Japanese reactionaries have committed too many crimes against us to expiate.
If they start staging a comeback to Korea at any cost, the DPRK will never miss the opportunity to deal an annihilating blow to them.
Briefing on preparations for festival held
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- A briefing was given at the north headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) on Friday on the preparations of the '99 Grand Pro-Reunification Festival for Independence and Great Unity of the Nation and the 10th pan-national rally.
The briefing was attended by mediamen.
Ho Hyok Phil, vice-chairman of the preparatory committee for the grand pan-national pro-reunification festival, introduced the preparations for the festival.
He said all preparations for the festival are now at the final stage.
"The upcoming festival will be the largest and most splendid one in its scale and style of the August 15 pro-reunification events held until now," he said, noting, "representatives nominated and chosen in the north, south and overseas as of today number more than 2,500 altogether."
"The festival will mark a new chapter in the history of national reunification movement," he stressed.
GFTUK sends letters to foreign trade unions
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- The General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) central committee on Friday sent letters to trade unions of different countries and international trade union organizations in connection with the Japanese government's undisguised moves to set out on the road of reinvasion, refusing to take any measure for the liquidation of Japan's shameful past.
The letters said:
During World War II Japan occupied Korea and other Asian countries and imposed immeasurable disasters upon them. However, it has refused to take responsibility for its dirty past until today when 54 years passed after its defeat in the war.
Japan is now conducting secret studies for aggression on the DPRK while stepping up the moves to realize nuclear arming and become a military giant under the pretext of fictitious "nuclear and missile threat" from the DPRK. It has also codified the overseas dispatch of its "Self-Defense Forces" in order to invade other countries.
The letters expressed firm belief that national and international trade union organizations which value justice and conscience would lay bare the unethical crimes the Japanese imperialists committed in Korea and other Asian countries and build up a widespread international public opinion so that Japan may apologize for and liquidate its past crimes.
Reception given for WFP executive director
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government gave a reception for Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Program, and her party on a visit to Korea at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Friday.
Invited to the reception were the executive director and her party and resident representatives of different international organizations in Korea.
Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon and officials concerned were present.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Struggle for abrogation of "NSL" supported
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- The chairmen of the religious organizations in the DPRK on Friday respectively made public statements in support of the South Korean people's vigorous struggle for abrogation of the "National Security Law" (NSL).
The statements stressed that the struggle for abrogation of the "NSL" being staged by South Korean religious organizations and other civic and human rights organizations is a very righteous and just struggle reflecting the unanimous desire of the South Korean people.
The chairperson of the Korean Chondoist Church Central Guidance Committee in her statement called upon South Korean Chondoists to actively join in the struggle of the people from all walks of life for the complete abrogation of the fascist "NSL", aware that the struggle makes it possible to love the country and the nation, oppose tyranny and save the people.
The chairman of the Korean Buddhist Federation central committee held in his statement that the national unity and the reunification of the country are the most pressing demand of the times and the "NSL" of South Korea, a legal and institutional obstruction to them, must be abolished without delay.
The chairman of the Korean Catholics Association central committee stressed that the South Korean people from all walks of life must not have even the slightest illusion about the authorities' "amendment," but continue to struggle vigorously until the "NSL" is completely abolished.
Cohen's anti-DPRK remarks
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the anti-DPRK remarks made by U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen during his recent visit to Japan and South Korea.
He called for the dispatch of more U.S. armed forces to South Korea and its surroundings, stressing the need for the United States, Japan and South Korea to "counter" a possible "missile re-launch" of the DPRK with mobilization of all military means and make a close "military cooperation". He also promised to offer 100 sophisticated missiles to South Korea and examine the issue of developing a missile which will enable the South Korean warhawks to strike any place of the DPRK.
A signed commentary says:
The United States attempt to stifle the DPRK by force of arms compels it to take actions to increase the country's defence capabilities. Our missile development and production is part of them.
The U.S. unabated fuss over a "missile launch" of the DPRK and its "threat" are aimed at finding a pretext to ignite a war against the DPRK and using the Japanese reactionaries and the South Korean warmongers as a shock brigade in a new Korean war.
It is a miscalculation for the United States to think they can overpower the DPRK with strength.
If the U.S. shows good faith, we will approach it with good faith and return strength for strength.
The U.S. policy of strength will never work on the DPRK.
We will not abandon the exercise of our sovereign right whoever may say this or that. We will launch a satellite any time when necessary and will be proud of it.
KCNA on shameless blast of "Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade"
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- The South Korean "Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade", Hong Sun Yong, reportedly appeared on the CNN a few days ago to reel off a string of tirade that once the DPRK makes an "additional launch of missile" it will stand "isolated after meeting a censure and punishment" from the world community.
How can the launch of a satellite or missile, the issue pertaining to the sovereignty of the DPRK, be an object of "punishment" by the world community?
Hong Sun Yong's blast cannot be construed otherwise than a despicable attempt of the authorities to suffocate the northern half of Korea at all costs, availing themselves of the U.S. and Japanese reactionaries' hostile moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK.
We are not a sort of people who will make a compromise over matters pertaining to sovereignty, the life and soul of the country and the nation, afraid of "sanctions".
It is a shameful act for Hong Sun Yong, who is no more than a political charlatan, to dare to talk about "isolation" of the north, not knowing his poor position as a colonial hireling.
What can not be overlooked is the fact that he described the U.S. forces in South Korea as "creditable part of deterrent forces against the north".
The U.S. forces in South Korea are the source of war and troubles in the Korean peninsula and the main obstacle to Korea's reunification. Furthermore, they are a cancer-like entity posing threat to the peace and stability of Asia.
His praise of the U.S. forces' presence in South Korea only revealed his dastardly nature as a flunkeyist and traitor to the nation, who regards the U.S. master as a savior and can not survive even a day without its patronage.
The nation's security and national reunification can hardly be expected as long as this partitions remains in office.
Hence, the traitor should be dislodged.
U.S. warhawk's outburst calling for preemptive attack on DPRK
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- The commander of the 7th fleet of the U.S. pacific fleet command, at a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday raised a hue and cry over the DPRK's "missile test-fire" and asserted the U.S. Navy was ready for the worst situation in the Korean peninsula, thus openly revealing the ulterior intention to take a military action, a South Korean newspaper said.
He disclosed that the U.S. Navy was on the alert just as it rapidly deployed the U.S. guided-missile cruisers "Mobile Bay" and "Vincennes" in Pusan port immediately after the west sea incident.
He said that the United States maintains a "steadfast cooperation system" with the South Korean rulers to cope with the DPRK's possible "missile test-fire".
This eloquently shows that the U.S. is running wild to make a preemptive attack on the DPRK by justifying the military pressure put upon it on the absurd pretext that the missile launch that pertains to the sovereignty of the DPRK poses a "threat".
Release of prisoners of conscience and repeal of "NSL" called for
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) -- 16 human rights and public organizations in South Korea, including the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy and the Roman Catholic Human Rights Committee, reportedly held an inaugural ceremony for campaign for release of prisoners of conscience and the repeal of the "National Security Law" in Seoul on Thursday.
99 figures from all walks of life, including the cardinal Kim Su Hwan and former "Minister of Unification" Han Wan Sang, made public a declaration on recovery of human rights, in which they urged the "'government' to release all prisoners of conscience and settle the issue of the 'National Security Law' in a short time so as to open up a new era of guaranteeing the dignity, freedom and equality of people."
Some 20 renowned writers and artistes went into a 0.75 square metre solitary room arranged in front of the Myongdong Cathedral to experience the sufferings of the prisoners of conscience, as an event for the recovery of human rights.
Meanwhile, a 3 day cartoon show on human rights opened on Thursday with 24 caricaturists in attendance and a citizens' singing festival is to be held for prisoners of conscience today.
Juche-based theory on destinies of socialism and nation
Pyongyang, August 7 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il propounded the idea and theory on preserving the Juche character and national character in accomplishing the cause of socialism, which was an event of great significance in which the destiny of socialism is linked with that of the nation, stressed Rodong Sinmun in a by-lined article Friday.
Kim Jong Il was the first in history to raise the adherence to the Juche character and national character as a fundamental principle for the accomplishment of the cause of socialism and indicate overall tasks and ways of its implementation, the article noted, and went on:
This idea and theory comprehensively elucidates the issues of valuing national interests and resolutely defending them, not absolutizing the class ideology and demands only, carrying out revolution and construction one's own way on the principle of national independence, building up strong internal driving forces and preserving the superiority of the nation and giving play to it to stir up the people's dignity and pride.
The perfectly systematized idea and theory on preserving the Juche character and national character made it possible to link the destiny of socialism with that of the nation and provided a guarantee for the victorious advance of the socialist construction and the eternal prosperity of the country and the nation.
This idea and theory is a most just one in full accord with the independent nature of the cause of socialism as well as with the socio-historical conditions for its realization and the wisest one that correctly reflected the common demand and aspiration of the peoples of all countries.