Kim Jong Il enjoys military art performance
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il enjoyed an art performance given by the youth mobile propaganda squad of the Korean People's Army during his inspection of the frontline.
The audience included director of the general political department Jo Myong Rok, chief of the general staff Kim Yong Chun, generals Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong and general officers of the Korean People's Army as well as officers and men of the KPA.
The audience also included secretaries Kim Ki Nam and Kim Yong Sun and first vice department directors Ri Yong Chol and Jang Song Thaek of the WPK Central Committee.
The squad members put on the stage the agitation and song "We will be the seventh regiment of today," the fact-based drama "Incarnations of soldiers faithful to the leader," the witty remark drama "Let us love soldiers," the mixed chorus "We will win under the flag of the Supreme Commander" and other numbers.
Through the art works that have strong militancy, appeal, great attraction and influence, the performers vividly represented the noble political and moral traits of the soldiers of the heroic Korean People's Army who are fully prepared politically and ideologically and in military technique.
He expressed great satisfaction with the wonderful performance of the squad members and congratulated them on their successful performance.
He highly praised them for having greatly contributed to the strengthening of the revolutionary armed forces by making constant visits to the soldiers in the frontline, the rear and construction sites and imbuing them with indomitable spirit and courage through strict application of the anti-Japanese guerrillas' way of propaganda. He gave important tasks to make art propaganda activities in a mobile and swift way.
Chinese cargo ship and its crew rescued
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- The crewmen of the DPRK trade cargo ship "Mangyongbong" on November 16 rescued the Chinese trade cargo ship "Gang Long" and its crew in distress at the East Sea of Korea.
The ship "Gang Long" was adrift in sea waves due to engine trouble, struck by "typhoon 22" while sailing to Kim Chaek port of Korea with 2,000 tons of cargo aboard. At that time the ship "Mangyongbong" was on stand-by because of bad weather, anchored at Wonsan port. No sooner had it received SOS than it headed for the rough sea without delay about 5 P.M. on November 15.
The stormy waves blocked the ship "Mangyongbong" from having access to "Gang Long". But the only idea in the mind of the Korean crew was to save the Chinese crew from a critical situation come what may. They buffeted the rough waves at the risk of their lives. At last at 06:00 on the morning of Nov. 16 they succeeded in linking rope with the Chinese ship. The rope broke all of a sudden while the two ships were heading for their destination. Koreans succeeded in re-linking the two ships with rope after buffeting the rough waves for four hours. The two ships thus entered Kim Chaek port safely.
People's struggle to denounce GIs' massacres supported
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- A mass meeting was held in Sinchon county, South Hwanghae Province on Nov. 18 to support the South Korean people in their struggle against GIs' massacres.
U.S. aggression troops ruthlessly killed more than 35,000 innocent people in Sinchon county, or a quarter of its population, while they were stationed there during the Korean War.
Kwon Chun Hak, chairman of the south Hwanghae provincial people's committee, in his speech extended full support to the just struggle of the South Korean people and students who are demanding an apology and compensation, disclosing the truth about brutal killings committed by GIs.
Representatives of people from all walks of life in their speeches held that GIs' most hideous criminal acts can never be tolerated and they should be made to pay for them without fail.
An appeal to the people of all social standings in South Korea was adopted at the meeting.
It is quite natural for the South Korean people from all walks of life to have come out to denounce the unheard-of massacres committed by the U.S. and force them to pay for the blood shed by Koreans, it said.
The appeal called for escalating the struggle for a probe into the truth behind the massacres including the killing in Rogun-ri and compensation into a nationwide anti-U.S. struggle to keep tab on the crimes of the U.S., who have forced sufferings resulting from division and disasters of the war upon the Korean nation, and make them pay for the massacres.
It appealed to the South Korean people to put up a vigorous struggle to decisively foil the U.S. deceptive "probe into the truth" and "investigation".
It also called upon them to turn out as one in the struggle to liquidate the pro-U.S., pro-Japanese stooges who are trampling underfoot the dignity and interests of the nation.
Japan's moves for militarization assailed
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses the Japanese reactionaries' move to justify the official visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine" as a dangerous one to step up militarization of Japan and realise its ambition for overseas expansion.
The paper has come hard on the Liberal Democratic Party's recent decision to inaugurate dietmen's council to examine the mode of existence of the "Yasukuni Shrine".
It says:
The Liberal Democratic Party's undisguised intention make visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine" official and legal, ignoring public sentiment and opinion at home and abroad, is a vicious challenge to the Asian people.
If the official visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine" is allowed, militarism will be prevalent in the Japanese society to bring about fascistization. Also lurking behind the scheme for the official visit is a sinister intention to imbue foreign heads of state and personages from all walks of life with militarism at the "Yasukuni Shrine" during their stay in Japan.
The Japanese reactionaries should not dream a pipe dream but drop their scheme to make visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine" official.
Deceptive "voluntary confession" denounced
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses the farce of a ferocious torture expert Ri Kun An's "voluntary confession" staged recently by the South Korean rulers as a revelation of their intention to go ahead with the murderous torture policy and the fascist policy of smear campaign against the north.
Ri Kun An, while serving in the anti-communist section of the South Korean police office from the end of the 1970s to the end of the 1980s, brutally tortured and executed many patriots and democrats. This killer should have already been punished when the military dictatorship came to an end.
The commentary says:
This cruel murderer could remain alive entirely because of strong backing and protection by the South Korean authorities. The farce of "voluntary confession" is nothing but a trick to set him free.
Although the rulers of the "people's government" is vociferating about "human rights" and "democracy", their act of shielding Ri and his murderous torture laid bare their true colors as violators of human rights and fascist killers.
The South Korean authorities should stop such burlesque as "voluntary confession" and punish at once the butcher as demanded by the South Korean people.
S. Korean rulers urged to repatriate unconverted long-term prisoners
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- Personages of different countries demanded the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea including Kim In So, Kim Yong Thae and Ham Se Hwan.
Terence A. Marryshow, political leader of the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement of Grenada, released a statement on Nov. 11 saying that the present South Korean authorities are blocking the repatriation of the long-term prisoners under the unreasonable pretext and this is a violation of human rights and a very improper behaviour. In the statement he strongly urged the South Korean authorities to immediately repatriate them to the DPRK where their families and relatives await them, to meet their demand.
An Indian parliamentarian in his statement on Nov. 12 said the South Korean authorities imprisoned tens of prisoners of war for many years, forcing unlawful "ideological conversion" and cruel tortures upon them. They defined them as "those under supervision for public peace" after their release and are imposing mercilessly mental and physical sufferings upon them, he said, and went on:
This is the worst inhumanitarian deed ever known in human history, which goes beyond imagination. The South Korean authorities should not use the humanitarian issue for their sinister political purpose but send the unconverted long-term prisoners back to their hometown at once.
Oil leakage accidents on increase
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- 2,530 accidents of oil leakage polluting sea were reported in South Korea from 1993 to 1998, a Seoul-based radio said.
The quantity of oil leaked at seas reached 38,300 litres and 65 percent of the accidents were caused by oil tankers.
As a result, the number of the fishermen leaving their fishing grounds because of polluted waters is on an annual increase in South Korea.
Ryongthong Temple under reconstruction
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- A reconstruction of Ryongthong Temple is now under way in Korea.
The temple is directly connected with Ui Chon. He was a famous Buddhist priest of Koryo and founder of Chonthaejong, the main sect of Buddhism in Korea at that time.
Ui Chon was born in 1055 as the fourth son of Mun Jong, the 11th King of Koryo, and died in 1101.
Ui Chon left the royal palace for the temple to take tonsure at the age of 10 in 1065.
He studied Buddhist classics for 35 years as a priest and founded Chonthaejong in Korea.
When the reconstruction project is completed, the temple will provide a clear testimony to the architectural history of Koryo, the first unified state in Korea.
The research group including the archaeological institute of the Academy of Social Sciences and the office for the study of the architectural history of Pyongyang University of Construction and Building Materials finished the design for its reconstruction on the basis of survey of the temple site at the foot of Mt. Ogwan in Ryonghung-ri, Kaesong, and historical data related to it.
It was designed in such a way as to represent the appearance of the temple in the period before and after 1065, that is the second phase of the history of its culture as it was verified by the relics unearthed there as the best architecture in those times.
The temple has a plottage of over 40,000 square metres.
It is divided into a main temple, northeastern tomb and northwestern structure. There will appear scores of buildings of temple architectural style belonging to the period of Koryo.
Its total floor space is over 2,800 square metres.
An able construction group is in charge of the project.
U.S. citizen expelled
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- A US citizen So Sun Dok was expelled from the DPRK by an organ concerned on November 19, 1999.He was caught red- handed on September 29, engaging himself in espionage on military secrets of the DPRK.
He was staying in the Rajin-Sonbong Economic Trade Zone under the plea of joint venture investment.
His espionage activity was a grave violation of the sovereignty of the DPRK.
So he should have been severely punished by the law of the DPRK.
The organ concerned decided to expel him after fining him because he honestly admitted and apologized for his crime and the U.S.government repeatedly asked for lenient handling.
The DPRK granted So Sun Dok consular access and gave him humanitarian aid under DPRK-US tentative agreement on the consular protection of their citizens which was signed in December 1994.
The DPRK will severely punish by law anyone who attempts to undermine our socialism in the future too.
Jong Mong Jun leaves
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- Jong Mong Jun, president of the South Korean Football Association who doubles as vice-president of FIFA, and his party left here today.
They were seen off at the airport by Song Ho Gyong, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and other officials concerned with compatriotic feelings.
After their arrival here on Monday they visited Mangyongdae, the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Arch of Triumph, May Day Stadium, King Tangun's Mausoleum, the International Friendship Exhibition and other places in Mt. Myohyang. They were invited to enjoy a song and dance performance by the Mansudae Art Troupe.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission of the cabinet Pak Myong Chol met and had a talk with Jong and his party who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Jang Ung, vice-chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission of the cabinet who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, met them at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel and exchanged views on issues of common concern.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Equatorial Guinean President
Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Equatorial Guinean President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who is the founder and chairman of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea.
The gift was conveyed to Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, by Candido Muatetema Rivas, deputy secretary general of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea on a visit to the DPRK.