Cypriot ambassador interviewed
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Loria Markides, newly appointed Cypriot ambassador to the DPRK, in an interview with KCNA on Nov. 19 referred to his country's situation, saying both Cyprus and Korea are suffering from division due to foreign domination and interference.
He expressed hope that the international community would make sincere efforts to find a political solution to the Cypriot issue during the negotiations between the Greece-controlled and Turkey-controlled sides of Cyprus to be held in New York next month.
He voiced belief that Korea would become a powerful nation under the wise guidance of the great Kim Jong Il.
Saying that Cyprus and the DPRK are supporting and cooperating with each other as members of the non-aligned movement, the ambassador noted Cyprus respects the sovereignty of the Korean people and expressed the belief that the Korean reunification would be realized in the near future.
U.S. supports S. Korea's development of long-range missile
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Ainhon, U.S. assistant secretary of State for Nuclear Non-Proliferation, on Nov. 18 came in support of the South Korean authorities' moves to develop long-range missiles, a Seoul-based radio reported.
Prior to "negotiations on missile" with the South Korean authorities, he told reporters that he "understood" the stand of the South Korean authorities to have "deterrent force against the north".
South Korea test-fired a missile with a range of 500 km last April in a bid to develop it.
Pretending not to know about it, the United States at the "negotiations" is going to extend the missile range to 300 km from 180 km and allow South Korea to research into and develop missiles with a range of more than 500 km.
This proves the United States support to the South Korean authorities' moves to develop long-range missiles.
Defoliant sprayed by U.S. in DMZ along MDL of Korea
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department reportedly admitted on November 18 that the U.S. troops planned an operation for spraying defoliant in the demilitarized zone along the Military Demarcation Line of Korea in the late 1960s and supplied it and supervised the operation.
Admitting that the U.S. troops' involvement in the spraying of defoliant from the beginning of the operation remains on record, the spokesman added that in early 1967 they started to examine the use of defoliant in South Korea and then asked for an approval of the plan to spray a large quantity of defoliant.
He revealed that the use of defoliant began in May 1968 and soldiers of the chemical unit of the U.S. forces supported and supervised the "ROK" army's South Korean Army will test-fire new self-propelled A.A.guns on the west coast on Nov. 19.
The South Korean authorities spent nearly 2.9 billion won for producing them though the economy is on the verge of bankruptcy and the people's living is deteriorating.
This shows how frantic the South Korean authorities have become in their arms buildup for a war against the north.
S. Korean authorities hit for development of new missiles
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) bitterly denounced the South Korean authorities for developing new-type missiles, considering it an unpardonable provocation against us and a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean peninsula.
This came in a statement issued on November 19 as regards their secret development of long-range ballistic missile.
The statement said:
The development stemmed from the despicable intention to round off war preparations against the fellow countrymen with the backing of outside forces and ignite a war against the north any moment.
The South Korean authorities must stop developing long-range ballistic missiles at once. The United States must not connive at and foster the development.
We do not want a war but will not remain a passive onlooker to the moves to do harm to the nation.
It is the unbreakable will and steadfast stand of the Korean people and people's army to sternly punish the aggressors and provocateurs for reckless war preparations.
If the South Korean warhawks persist in developing long-range ballistic missiles in South Korea at the instigation of the U.S., their master, ignoring our warnings, we will take a strong countermeasure to cope with it.
U.S. forces' spraying of defoliant under fire
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Papers here today in signed commentaries denounce the U.S. forces in South Korea for spraying the same poisonous defoliant as they used during the Vietnam War in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
The U.S. aggression forces sprayed over 70,000 liters of defoliant in the DMZ along the MDL in 1968 and 1969 with the approval of the U.S. Secretary of State to destroy wood under the secret operation called "68 plan to destroy plants."
Rodong Sinmun says: The U.S. aggressors mobilized soldiers of the "ROK" army to spray defoliant at random. This goes to prove once again that the U.S. is barbarians of the modern brand who regard Koreans as no more than objects of killing.
According to press disclosure, the soldiers of the "ROK" army who had served in frontline units along the MDL miserably died of various diseases caused by defoliant including cancer.
The U.S. barbarians, unsatiated with drenching South Korea with the blood of Koreans, sprayed such poisonous substance as defoliant to kill people and destroy natural environment. They can never be pardoned.
Minju Joson says that the U.S. aggressors should be forced out of South Korea and flunkeyists and traitors be thrown overboard in order to root out the cause of the national disasters.
Senior party and government officials help in erection of monument
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Senior party and government officials helped in the erection of the monument to the three-point charter of national reunification on Friday.
Among them were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Jo Chang Dok, vice-premier of the cabinet, officials of party and power organs, cabinet commission and ministries, national institutions and public and religious organizations.
They helped the builders of the monument, a symbol of national unity and reunification, and gave them many aid materials, encouraging them.
Yang Hyong Sop said that the monument to the three-point charter of national reunification will convey the immortal exploits performed by the president Kim Il Sung for the sacred cause of national reunification and its erection will give further momentum to the struggle of the compatriots in the north, south and overseas to carry out his instructions for national reunification under the leadership of the respected Kim Jong Il.
He called on the whole nation to pool its will and efforts and successfully complete the monument until august 15 next year so that it may tower high as a monument of reunification common to the nation.
U.S. projected "NMD" system blasted
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses the United States' projected "National Missile Defense" system as a brigandish move to seize the whole Korean peninsula by force of arms.
Recalling that the military and diplomatic authorities of the United States did not bother to claim that the projected system was aimed to "defend" the United States from the "attack from North Korea", the commentary says:
The projected "National Missile Defense" system cannot but spark a new global arms race as it reveals the U.S. ambition for world domination. Russia and China clarified their stands to strongly react to the system.
The commentary goes on:
It is a strategy of the United States to realize its ambition for world domination by occupying the whole Korean peninsula and containing other powers in the Asia-Pacific region with a military edge. Herein lies the true intention of the United States to establish the system.
With nothing can the United States justify its moves to seek military domination over the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world under the pretext of "threat from North Korea".
A signed commentary of Minju Joson says that the recent moves of the United States clearly prove that it is still trying to solve the Korean issue with strength, not through dialogue.
Anniversary of Pomminryon observed
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a signed article to the 9th anniversary of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon), the umbrella organization of the compatriots in the north, south and abroad for the patriotic reunification movement.
It is the brilliant exploits made by Pomminryon in the movement for national reunification that it has held reunification functions every year since its foundation despite vicious obstructive moves of the separatists, the article says, and goes on:
It was a noteworthy success that the '99 Grand Pro-Reunification Festival and the 10th Pan-National Rally were successfully held through the three-way unity and solidarity of the compatriots in the north, south and abroad amid great expectation and concern of the whole nation.
The foundation of Pomminryon, its growth and development as a parent body for the nationwide reunification movement and an upsurge in it could hardly be thinkable but for the president Kim Il Sung's dedication of all his life to the country's reunification and the prosperity of the nation and successor to his revolutionary cause the great leader Kim Jong Il's indefatigable efforts and wise leadership.
Pomminryon has an important task to fulfil in order to bring earlier the country's reunification, the supreme goal of the nation. It is the key to victory in Pomminryon's patriotic cause of reunification to hold fast to the three-point charter of national reunification as a program of struggle and lifeblood.
It is one of the important tasks before Pomminryon to rouse all compatriots to make a tangible contribution to the erection of the monument to the three-point charter of national reunification and complete it till august 15, 2000, the 55th anniversary of the country's liberation.
The article calls on the compatriots in the north, south and abroad to decisively foil anti-DPRK tripartite joint actions of the U.S. and Japanese aggressors and the South Korean authorities through their strong patriotic three-way solidarity and strengthen solidarity of the patriotic forces for reunification centred on Pomminryon.
Pomminryon's patriotic cause of reunification vigorously advancing under the banner of the three-point charter of national reunification is sure to triumph, it stresses.
Book "The Great Leader" published in India
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- The book "The Great Leader" written by Alock K. Nayak, deputy editor-in-chief of the Indian Magazine Microcosmic Illustrate, was published in India recently.
It has 4 chapters dealing with the main features of the politics and leadership of the great Kim Jong Il and the true appearance of Korea.
It said that the future of the global socialist movement is bright thanks to Kim Jong Il who is leading the Korean revolution and the world revolution.
It is a fortune for Korea to have Kim Jong Il as an outstanding leader and the Korean people is blessed with the sagacious leaders generation after generation, it noted.
Kim Jong Il sends message of thanks
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) - General Security Kim Jong Il sent a message of thanks to workers, technicians and officials of the Kim Jong Thae General Electric Locomotive Works on November 10 for their signal successes made in the production and repair of electric locomotives.
The message said:
You workers, technicians and officials of the works, fully aware of your important mission in the economic development of the country, have performed such labour feats as producing and repairing one hundred electric locomotives in a short period through an intensified drive in the spirit of unconditionally and devotedly carrying out the party's policy.
Through these achievements you demonstrated once again the heroism and devotion of the Korean workers and other people who unconditionally carry out whatever the party is determined to do and instilled strong confidence into all other people accelerating new grand chollima march despite the ordeal and difficulties.
The message highly praised the great feats they performed in the efforts to hit ahead of schedule the party-set goals for the production and repair of electric locomotives by fully displaying intense loyalty to the party and the revolution and the spirit of Kanggye.
It called on them to firmly uphold and glorify the exploits made by the party and the leader for the works and set a higher goal and bring about a fresh upsurge in production till the 55th anniversary of the Worker's Party of Korea and thus contribute to solving the issue of railway transport of the country.
A meeting was held on Friday to convey the message.
Open letter calls for abolishing "security law"
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) on Nov. 10 published an open letter to international human rights organizations and the world's forces of conscience.
The letter assailed the successive South Korean regimes for defining as an "organization benefiting the enemy" the south headquarters of Pomminryon whose aim is to reunify the country on the principles of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity and making it the primary target of their suppression.
It said:
Crackdown reminiscent of a war was committed in South Korea whenever the August 15 pan-national rally took place every year, and after the rally leading members of Pomminryon and hundreds of other people were taken to prison on the strength of the "security law". Such evil law should be completely abrogated at once.
Kim Yang Mu, permanent vice-chairman of the south headquarters has been suffering from illness due to suppression by the fascists. In spite of a warrant of arrest and harsher suppression he staged a sit-in at Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul demanding the abolition of the "security law."
He is now in a critical condition as his illness is getting more serious in the course of the sit-in strike.
It appealed to the international human rights organizations and the world's forces of conscience to send effective assistance to his medical treatment and support the struggle for the repeal of the "security law".
Anniversary of "convention on rights of child" observed
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate articles to the 10th anniversary of the "convention on the rights of the child."
Rodong Sinmun in a signed article says the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently set out the full implementation of the "convention on the rights of the child" in all countries as its main objective, asserting right-based cooperation freed from the past standpoint of rendering cooperation when necessary. The UNICEF has given big cooperation to the DPRK children's health and education every year since 1994 when it suffered from natural calamities.
The article goes on:
All the issues asserted by the convention have found a successful solution in the DPRK thanks to the best policy and measures for nursing and upbringing children adopted by the Worker's Party of Korea and the state which consider children as the "king" of the country.
Minju Joson in a signed article says the DPRK will continue to promote the children's welfare and rights in accordance with the principles laid down in the convention.
Most dangerous hot spot in world
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Today the Korean peninsula remains the most dangerous hot spot that poses a grave threat to international peace and security, says Rodong Sinmun in a by-lined article today.
The paper underscores the need to remove the danger of war from this region.
The peninsula remains the most dangerous hot spot and is plagued with the most sensitive situation in the world, it says, and attributes this to the United States.
It goes on:
The U.S. focuses on Asia in its world strategy under the changed international circumstances and considers the peninsula the main frontline tin view of the geo-political, military strategical importance of the peninsula. As a result, the peninsula remains the main frontline for the realization of the U.S. reactionary world strategy based on the policy of strength. The U.S. has the unprecedented-in-scope aggression forces in and around South Korea.
The increasing U.S. led war maneuvers lead to the growing danger of war and escalating tensions in the peninsula.
In particular, the tightened U.S.-Japan-South Korea triangular military alliance called NATO of Asian version is one of the factors in having reduced the peninsula into the most dangerous hot spot.
The danger of war in the peninsula poses a grave threat to peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world.
The best way of removing the danger of war on the peninsula is the U.S. troop pullout from South Korea, discontinuation of all war maneuvers and establishment of a new peace-keeping mechanism.
All people who want world peace and security should bitterly denounce the U.S. for their moves to provoke another Korean War.
Joint fact-finding team proposed
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- The central committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland sent a letter to pro-reunification movement organisations in South Korea and abroad on November 20.
In the letter it proposed to form a joint fact-finding team of people in the north, south and abroad and conduct an active investigation into the truth behind the criminal killings committed by the U.S. aggression forces in the north and south of Korea during the last Korean War.
The letter said:
Even in wartime killings of peaceable civilians, not servicepersons, are strictly banned by the international law. To strictly square accounts with the U.S. for their murderous crimes is a matter of weighty importance in defending the dignity of the Korean nation and keeping outsiders from inflicting disasters upon the nation again.
It underscored the need to lay bare massacres by GIs in the North Korea as well as in South Korea during the last Korean War and to make yankees pay for their atrocities one thousand times.
It went on:
The U.S. and the South Korean authorities claim that they engage themselves in what they call "joint investigation" into the killings in Rogun-ri. That is a deceptive trick to put down the wrath and anti-American feelings of the South Korean people.
It is the height of impudence that the criminals "investigate" their crimes. It is not hard to see what result their "investigation" will bring about.
Their loudmouthed "investigation" is designed to while away the time playing tricks and cover up their crimes and flee from the responsibility for them at any cost. So, there is nothing to be expected of it.
Worse still, the present authorities of South Korea who place the interests of the U.S. above the interests and dignity of the nation are zealous ly defending the excesses committed by uncle Sam. The reality shows that only through impartial and active efforts of the fact-finding team is possible to fully expose the historic crimes of the U.S. Troops.
We express hope that all the fellow countrymen and pro-reunification movement organisations in the north, south and overseas which value the dignity and sovereignty of the nation will show an affirmative response to the constructive proposal of the DPRK for the formation of the joint fact-finding team.