Foreigners visit Jong Song Ok's family
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Ambassador Buchari Effendi and officials of the Indonesian embassy here visited the family of Jong Song Ok, the world's queen of marathon, yesterday.
Jong Song Ok warmly welcomed the visitors and had a talk with them in a friendly atmosphere.
The ambassador said that it was the pride of not only Korea but also Asia that she placed first in the women's marathon race of the 7th World Athletics Championships.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il's love and solicitude for her are also for all sportspersons of the DPRK, he said, hoping that she would repay them with greater success in sports .
The guests looked round the inside of the flat Kim Jong Il granted to her and her family and left souvenirs.
Kim Jong Il's work published in Nepal
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- The Nepal-Korea Friendship Association published General Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "Mangyongdae Revolutionary School is the Training Center of the Backbone that Will Succeed to the Juche Blood" in book form to mark the 51st anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
In its preface the book says that the President Kim Il Sung, not forgetting the fighters fallen in the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, built the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School for education of their children.
Kim Jong Il warmly congratulated the teaching staff and pupils of the school on the 50th anniversary of its foundation and sent a letter to them carrying his precious instructions on their duty and sense of responsibility, the preface notes, adding the letter is published in translation.
Letter to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- A letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at the seminar on the Juche idea for independence, peace and friendship in Latin America in the 21st century in Ecuador.
The letter said the Juche idea followers in Latin America are convinced that the revolutionary cause of Juche is sure to emerge victorious under the wise guidance of dear Kim Jong Il, the faithful successor to this cause of the President Kim Il Sung.
The U.S. is now seeking world supremacy, driving peoples to worse poverty, the letter noted, stressing only the Juche idea is the best weapon for removing such danger.
It is the most important duty of ours at present to study and disseminate the Juche idea in a theoretic way and apply its principles into practice in Latin America, it said.
The letter wholeheartedly wished Kim Jong Il a long life in good health.
DPRK Ambassador E.P. to Thailand appointed
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Jo In Chol was appointed to the DPRK Ambassadorship E.P. to Thailand.
Declaration adopted at Latin American seminar
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- A declaration was adopted at the seminar on the Juche idea for independence, peace and friendship in Latin America in the 21st century held in Ecuador on September 3 and 4.
All the participants in the seminar made public the declaration, reaffirming that the road indicated by the great Juche idea is the only way of building an independent, peaceful and friendly, new Latin America.
The declaration said that the prime task in building a new Latin America shining with independence, peace and friendship is to defeat any forms of domination and intervention by the imperialists and to invariably maintain independence of each nation and country.
They will resolutely fight against the imperialists' domination and intervention, steadfastly defend and consolidate national sovereignty and independence by themselves and thus successfully realize the independence of Latin America without fail in the new century, it stressed.
Branding imperialism as enemy of peace, it said they would never tolerate but decisively check and foil any aggression moves of the imperialists and turn Latin America into a continent of durable peace in the 21st century.
They will activate the work of studying and disseminating the Juche idea in conformity with the requirement of the new age and powerfully conduct the social movement of applying the Juche idea in Latin America so that it can take its roots deep among the masses of the people of each country to become an enormous material force, the declaration said.
Latin American seminar on Juche idea
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- The seminar on the Juche idea for independence, peace and friendship in Latin America in the 21st century was held at Guayaquil University of Ecuador on September 3-4 on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the DPRK.
Jose Francisco Aguilar Bulgarelli, chairman of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea (LAIJI), in his report at the seminar referred to the enduring feats of the President Kim Il Sung who founded the Juche idea and showed the road for progressive humankind to follow. The revolutionary cause of Juche is now victoriously progressing under the great leader Kim Jong Il, he said.
The idea of independence, peace and friendship, the embodiment of the Juche idea, is the militant banner that should be taken in the struggle to build a new Latin America in the 21st century, the reporter said, adding:
Countries in Latin America should shape independent politics in keeping with the fundamental interests of their nations, firmly defend national dignity and sovereignty in external relations, develop national economy and achieve the economic independence.
Since the imperialists are violating global peace with "policy of strength," it is necessary to decisively check and frustrate their aggressive moves and resolutely struggle for peace.
It is the noblest internationalist duty of the Juche idea followers in Latin America to defend socialist Korea, the reporter said, calling for full support to the Korean people's struggle.
Then followed speeches.
Speakers stressed that the Juche idea has become an inspiring banner which gives faith, hope and future to the peoples aspiring after an independent, new world and a guiding banner which leads to victory the peoples who have turned out in the struggle for independence and justice.
Thus, the great exploits of President Kim Il Sung will shine forever, they said.
They said that it is the great Kim Jong Il who has been defending and glorifying Korean socialism, true to the high intention of President Kim Il Sung, and who revived the frustrated socialist movement and put it on the track of new politics and leads the cause of global independence to victory. They said that the President is still alive under his care.
They expressed the determination to conduct on a wider scale the work of studying and disseminating the Juche idea among Latin American nations and thus turn the continent into a continent of independence, peace and friendship in the new millennium.
They praised Kim Jong Il as the great leader of the 21st century, saying he is a most outstanding statesman and a master of leadership art whom the masses of the people want and the new century needs.
A letter to him was adopted at the seminar before the declaration "Let us build an independent, peaceful and friendly, new Latin America under the banner of the Juche idea" was made public.
Meanwhile, the 12th meeting of the LAIJI executive committee took place in Ecuador on September 3.
At the meeting discussions were made and views exchanged on measures to improve and strengthen the work of the LAIJI in keeping with the requirement of the developing situation.
A celebration reception was given on September 4 under the sponsorship of the LAIJI and the Ecuadorian preparatory committee of the seminar.
We will mercilessly punish provokers
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the central committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and Ri Il Hwan, first secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, released statements on Thursday denouncing the U.S. and South Korean rulers for their challenge to the righteous measure of the DPRK which proclaimed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) at the West Sea of Korea.
The statements said that recently political parties and public organizations of the DPRK made public a joint statement in support of the special communique of the general staff of the Korean People's Army proclaiming the MDL at the West Sea of Korea and this reflected the unshakable will of the Korean people to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK.
Noting that the United States and the South Korean authorities unhesitatingly let loose bellicose and provocative remarks against the proclamation, intensifying anti-DPRK confrontation and war moves as never before, they said this shows their aggressive intention to provoke a 2nd Korean War and conquer the DPRK.
If the U.S. and the South Korean authorities encroach upon the MDL at the West Sea of Korea, the Korean people and army will mercilessly punish the provokers, they warned.
They expressed the iron will and stand of workers and five million youth and students of the DPRK to defend the socialist fatherland with the might of single-hearted unity in the spirit of devotedly defending the leader and the spirit of human bomb and suicidal attack and achieve the historic cause of national reunification.
DPRK Taekwon-do players' success
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- The DPRK came first at the recent 11th World Taekwon-do Championships in Argentina.
The championships were unprecedented in their scale as they were participated in by more than 800 players and officials from 76 countries and regions of the world.
Matches were held for 30 gold medals.
The DPRK players carried off 15 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 4 bronze medals and 4 trophies, thus taking the first place in team standing.
The DPRK team has had seven straight wins since the 5th World Taekwon-do Championships held in Greece in Juche 76 (1987) when it participated in them for the first time.
In the championships it garnered 93 gold medals, 33 silver medals, 23 bronze medals and 34 cups.
47 gold medals, 12 silver medals, 6 bronze medals and 8 cups went to the DPRK team from the first to the 3rd World Junior Taekwon-do Championships.
And the DPRK bagged 22 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 3 bronze medals at the 1st Asia-Pacific Taekwon-do Championships.
These successes of the DPRK players demonstrated the spirit of the homeland of Taekwon-do to the world.
10 people's athletes and 25 merited athletes have been produced from among them.
All legitimate rights to self-defence to be exercised
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- If the United States and the South Korean authorities, insisting on the brigandish "Northern Limit Line," negate the Military Demarcation Line of universal validity at the West Sea of Korea proclaimed by the north and breach it even 0.00l mm, the Korean people and people's army will mercilessly exercise all their legitimate rights to self-defence and they should be entirely responsible for all the ensuing consequences.
This was solemnly declared in a joint statement issued by 23 political parties and public organizations of the DPRK including the Worker's Party of Korea and the central committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland.
The general staff of the Korean People's Army proclaimed the establishment of the Military Demarcation Line at the West Sea of Korea through its special communique published ten odd days ago.
All the Korean people welcomed and fully supported the statement as an entirely just self-defensive measure to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK.
The U.S. and the South Korean authorities, however, are clamoring that they will "defend" the "Northern Limit Line" fixed by them and will not "pardon" someone.
This row is lashing the Korean people into fury.
Papers here continue carrying articles stressing that the Military Demarcation Line at the West Sea of Korea proclaimed in the special communique is unquestioned one that allows no vilification.
Rodong Sinmun asserts that there is no other Military Demarcation Line at the West Sea of Korea except the one proclaimed by the north and warns the U.S. and the South Korean authorities not to impertinently argue about this matter.
Kim Sung Gil, department director of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, said that if the U.S. and the South Korean authorities encroach upon the Military Demarcation Line proclaimed by the DPRK, we will consider it as an open breach of the DPRK's right to self-defence and deal a deadly blow to them.
KPA general Kwon Hyok Chang had this to say:
The spirit of the KPA officers and men is as high as that of angry tigers.
If the enemy recklessly come in attack, ignorant of this, they will bury the enemy at the west sea and remove the Military Demarcation Line at the West Sea of Korea.
Rodong Sinmun on U.S. "missile defence" system
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article lays bare the real aim sought by the United States in its "missile defence" system.
The "missile defence" system came to be known to the world after the United States reduced the "star wars" program to a more realistic scale in 1991 and formally renamed the "strategic defence initiative" the "ballistic missile defense" in 1993.
The "missile defence" system is a very infeasible one little different from the "star wars" program and is beset with serious difficulties in its materialization, the article says, and goes on:
The United States is working hard to push ahead with this system in a bid to realize its ambition for world domination.
Through this the U.S. seeks among other things to bring as many countries as possible under this system and make them their servants who totally depend on it militarily and, at the same time, to goad those big powers that are regarded as its potential rivals into an arms race and thus overpower them.
Its another aim is to improve the ever worsening economic performance through the establishment of the system.
Pointing out that the most important aim sought by the U.S. in the establishment of the "Theatre Missile Defence" system (TMD) is to build up the sphere of its unchallenged domination over the Asia-Pacific region, the article observes: That is why it intends to put this region under this system before any other regions.
It is working hard to militarily stifle the DPRK through the establishment of the "TMD." However, any "missile defence" system of the United States will be of no use because of our strong striking power.
Symposiums mark Passing away anniversary of Kim Jong Suk
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Symposiums of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces and women's union members were held to get grasps on the immortal revolutionary exploits performed by Kim Jong Suk, Indomitable communist revolutionary fighter, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of her Passing away.
Vice marshals of the Korean People's Army Jo Myong Rok and Kim Il Chol, Chon Yon Ok, chairwoman of the central committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, and others made speeches at the symposiums.
Speakers praised Kim Jong Suk's whole life as a brilliant and glorious lifetime of the true communist revolutionary fighter. She decorated annals of the Korean revolution in trying ordeals with feats of loyalty and, as an outstanding leader of the Korean Women's Movement, performed immortal exploits for the times and revolution, the country and the people, they noted.
The most precious revolutionary feat of hers is that she created the brilliant tradition of devotedly defending the leader with the steadfast revolutionary outlook on the leader, they stressed, and said: She defended the great leader Kim Il Sung politically and ideologically at the risk of her life and remained loyal to him, with high moral obligation and revolutionary conscience.
She performed brilliant feats in the history of the Juche-oriented army building. She strengthened and developed our revolutionary armed forces into the true army of the leader.
She energetically conducted to brilliantly carry out Kim Il Sung's plan to build the Korean-style revolutionary regular armed forces.
She vigorously organized and mobilized women for the cause of national liberation and the work of building a new country, and led the women's movement to truly contribute to the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche.
Japan assailed as Korean War criminal
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- It was one of the crimes committed by Japan against the Korean people that it took an active part in the Korean War of aggression (June 1950-july 1953) launched by the U.S.
There is fresh evidence proving this.
Some times ago, NHK admitted that "Korean War significantly improved Japanese economic performance" and meeting the highest need for war supplies provided Japan with an opportunity of laying the foundation of an economic giant."
Soon after the outbreak of the Korean War Japanese prime minister Yoshita in his speech made at the diet blasted that it was "natural for Japan to participate in the war" to cope with "threat of communism."
More than 25,000 Japanese military personnel took part in the Korean War. Even "police reserve force" was hurled into Korea in 1952. Well over 140,000 young and middle-aged men were conscripted to be sent to the Korean front.
Naval and air forces of Japan were also involved in the war. Over 50 warships and about 30,000 Japanese took part in the Inchon landing operation alone.
Japanese pilots flew U.S. aircraft on combat missions.
The Japanese reactionaries offered their land to the U.S. as sortie, logistic and operation bases. All the ammunition used by the U.S. troops in the first three months of the war had been made in Japan. On special order from the U.S. forces at least 400 enterprises produced military hardware and war supplies of various types round the cloak.
Japan handed the germ weapons it had developed in secrecy during World war II over to the U.S. who used them in Korea.
It was entirely with this support from Japan that the U.S. could hold out in the war for three years.
The Korean War brought huge profits to Japan. But for Japan's participation in the Korean War, Korea would not have suffered such disastrous calamities.
As clarified in the recent DPRK government statement, it is widely known that Japan, a defeated nation in World war II, revived and rearmed itself under the "golden shower," availing itself of the "Korean War boom" at the instigation of the U.S.
Japan's criminal participation in the war is still fresh in the memory of the Korean people and the people's army.
When an opportunity presents itself they will certainly settle accounts with it.
Choesung Pavilion
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Choesung Pavilion stands on the summit of Moran Hill in Pyongyang.
With a facade of 7.36 metres and a flank of 4.67 metres, it is built on a granite embankment and is surrounded by a 0.8-metre-high stone fence. The floor is of square granite slabs.
Red-painted wooden pillars that taper upward and brilliantly colored wooden beams add beauty to the building. The gabled roof gives an impression of lightness.
The pavilion was built in mid-sixth century during the Koguryo period and was moved to its present location in 1716 during the Ri dynasty.
When it was originally completed, it was called Osung Pavilion. Later, when it was rebuilt, it was renamed Choesung Pavilion, a name that reflected the beautiful scenery on Moran Hill.
In the past, when fighting against foreign invaders, the people of Pyongyang set up a beacon in the pavilion and used it as a command headquarters.
The pavilion commands a good view of Pyongyang.
It is preserved in its original state through the policy of preserving historical relics, adopted by the DPRK government. Now it is widely used as a recreation site by the working people.
SPA vice chairman meets Austrian delegation
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Vice-president Yang Hyong Sop of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK today met with a delegation of the society for promotion of the relations between Austria and the DPRK led by its chairman Max Verworner at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Present were vice-chairwoman Hong Son Ok of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is also chairwoman of the DPRK-Austria Friendship Association. The head of the delegation hoped for an early peaceful reunification of Korea and expressed the determination to work hard for further growth of friendly relations between the two countries.
Premier Hong Song Nam meets Chinese delegation
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Premier Hong Song Nam of the cabinet today had a talk with a Chinese government economic and trade delegation led by vice-Minister Chen Xinhua of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Present were vice Minister Kim Ryong Mun of Foreign Trade and Chinese ambassador to Korea Wan Yongxiang.