Kim Yong Nam meets Lao delegation
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, politburo member of the C. C., the Worker's Party of Korea and President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today met and had a talk with the delegation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party led by Thongsing Thammavong, member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and chairman of its organizational commission, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
The head of the delegation said the WPK has educated the popular masses in fidelity to the party, the leader and the revolutionary cause. This is a very valuable thing which our party should follow, he stressed.
He expressed deep thanks to the Korean party and people for having invariably and fully supported the revolutionary cause of the Laotian people.
Greetings to Albanian President
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Albanian President Rexhep Meidani on Sunday on the National Day of his country.
He extended congratulations to the President, government and people of Albania on its National Day and wished the Albanian people progress and prosperity.
Greetings to Mauritania President
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on November 28 sent a message of greetings to Mauritania President Maouiya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the independence of his country.
He expressed the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would further develop on good terms and wished the Mauritania people prosperity.
Greetings to Prime Minister of Barbados
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of its independence.
He wished the Prime Minister success in his work for the prosperity of Barbados.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Lao delegation
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
Head of the delegation Thongsing Thammavong, member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and chairman of its organizational commission, handed it to Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
Talks between WPK and LPRP delegations
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- Talks were held here on Sunday between the delegations of the Worker's Party of Korea and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
At the talks the two sides informed each other of their party activities and exchanged views on further development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and a series of matters of mutual concern.
Present there were Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, and personages concerned on the Korean side and members of the LPRP delegation led by Thongsing Thammavong, member of the political bureau and chairman of the organizational commission of the c.c., the LPRP, on the opposite side.
Lao delegation feted
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- The central committee of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) hosted a reception at the Mansudae Assembly Hall yesterday in honor of a delegation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP).
Addressing the reception Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the C.C., the WPK, sincerely wished the Lao people greater successes in their struggle to implement the decisions made at the 6th party congress under the correct guidance of the LPRP led by esteemed Khamtay Siphandone.
It is an invariable stand of the WPK to further strengthen and develop the friendly DPRK-Laos relations provided by the great leader Kim Il Sung and the respected leader Kaysone Phomvihane, he said, adding that the WPK and the Korean people will make positive efforts to further develop the traditional friendly relations with the people's revolutionary party and the people of Laos in the idea of independence and socialism against imperialism in the future, too.
Thongsing Thammavong, member of the political bureau and chairman of the organizational commission of the c.c., the LPRP, in his speech expressed deep thanks to the WPK, government and people of the DPRK for having sent positive support and material and moral assistance to the Lao people in their struggle for their national liberation and for the building of a new society.
He expressed his belief that the Korean people will achieve success without fail in their struggle to build socialism and realize national reunification based on the three principles of national reunification under the wise guidance of the great leader Kim Jong Il.
FM spokesman on undisguised U.S.-S. Korea plan
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued a statement today, denouncing the United States and South Korean authorities for having overtly revealed their plan of invading the DPRK.
The statement says:
At a "U.S.-South Korea annual security consultative meeting" recently held in Washington, the U.S. and South Korean authorities groundlessly slandered the DPRK over "bio-chemical weapons" and agreed to strengthen the anti-DPRK cooperation system to cope with the unstable security situation on the Korean peninsula.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Cohen went so far as to urge the DPRK to choose between "cooperation" and "confrontation" in compliance with their brigandish demand.
At the same time, the United States officially announced that it would dispatch 600,000 troops, five detached squadrons, 200 warships and 1,200 planes to the Korean peninsula in case of a crisis.
This shows the "annual security consultative meeting" was a discussion of war of aggression where a second Korean war was made an established fact and forestalling attack on the DPRK was confirmed.
At the talks held so far with the DPRK, the U.S. called for "high-level talks" for improved relations. No sooner had the talks ended than the U.S. Made public a timetable for emergency dispatch of huge aggressor forces to the Korean peninsula. This eloquently shows that their ambition for invasion of the DPRK still remains unchanged.
By overtly revealing their design on war against the DPRK and threatening it, they foolishly intend to gain some concessions and lull sharp criticism for the massacre in Rogun-ri, the spraying of defoliant in the demilitarized zone and other crimes they committed against humankind.
The Korean people and army are in full preparedness with maximum vigilance over the new war preparations of the U.S. and South Korean authorities.
If the aggressors unleash war of aggression, we will take the opportunity to wipe out the enemies at one stroke.
Interview over UN combined appeals
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee of the DPRK had an interview with KCNA today over the combined appeals for aid to the DPRK and some other countries for next year made public by the United Nations some time ago.
On November 23, the United Nations appealed for some 330 million dollars of international aid including about 600,000 tons of food to the DPRK next year.
In the appeals the UN asked international agencies, donor nations and individual organisations to take active part in humanitarian assistance in food, agricultural rehabilitation, health service, and so on.
We feel grateful for the UN appeal for aid to the DPRK as it is an expression of interest and good will of the international community to continue support to the DPRK, which is suffering food shortage and other temporary difficulties caused by years of natural disasters.
The continued support from the UN and other international agencies, nations and individual organisations will encourage the Korean people in the efforts to do away with the consequences of natural disasters at an early date and build a stable life.
U.S. spraying of defoliant covered up
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- It was disclosed that the U.S. Army's spraying of defoliant over the demilitarized zone along the Military Demarcation Line was reported by a South Korean news agency on April 25, 1980 but it was not known to the public because of the press censorship enforced by the South Korean "military," according to a radio report from Seoul.
The Chun Doo Hwan dictatorial forces who had seized all powers in December 1979 through a coup d'etat backed by the U.S. concealed the fact after deleting it, asserting that an article which might arouse anti-U.S. feeling should not be reported.
GIs' spraying of defoliant which has been hidden for 20 years since then was recently brought to light to trigger off the South Korean people's stronger anti-U.S. feeling and bitter condemnation of the South Korean authorities who are licking U.S. boots.
U.S. spraying of defoliant branded as crime
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea on November 26 made public a statement as regards the spraying of defoliant by the U.S. forces over the demilitarized zone along the Military Demarcation Line in the late 1960s, according to a Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
Saying that the defoliant sprayed by the U.S. forces over the Military Demarcation Line is the most barbarous chemical weapon, the statement noted that it had been clearly proved in the Vietnam War waged by the United States.
The statement accused the U.S. and South Korean authorities of having concealed the criminal act for more than 30 years and trying hard to cover up the gravity of the crime. It went on:
The Korean people can not live under the same sky together with the U.S. barbarians who massacred innocent people cold-bloodedly during the wartime and sprayed poisonous substance in peacetime.
Now the U.S. and Kim Dae Jung group are clamoring about the non-existent "threat of chemical weapons from the north." This is a trick to conceal their crime of using chemical weapons and divert elsewhere people's attention at home and abroad.
The U.S. and the South Korean criminals should apologize for their spraying of defoliant over the Military Demarcation Line before the nation and be judged by history.
Anti-DPRK moves will not be tolerated
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- While holding "dialogue" with the DPRK, the United States is egging the Japanese reactionaries and the South Korean rulers behind the scene on to escalate the anti-DPRK moves in a bid to fish in troubled waters, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed commentary today.
The commentary goes on:
The Japanese reactionaries staged a drill of "transporting Japanese overseas" under the simulated conditions of a "contingency" on the Korean peninsula on November 7 and decided to stage a full-dress commanding post exercise in February next year.
The South Korean rulers held an air defence drill in major cities on Nov. 15 under the pretext of repelling someone's "surprise attack" and a "99 night eagle" drill, "anti-commando" drill and a firing exercise on Nov. 19 and 22.
The United States is accountable for the reckless arms buildup and war rackets of the Japanese reactionaries and the South Korean rulers.
The Japanese reactionaries and the South Korean rulers certainly do not want DPRK-U.S. dialogue.
The United States is working hard to disarm the DPRK under the plea of "dialogue" and "negotiations" and, at the same time, encouraging the Japanese reactionaries and the South Korean rulers to step up preparations for a new war in a futile attempt to stifle the DPRK militarily.
The Japanese reactionaries and the South Korean rulers are well advised to ponder over the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by their reckless anti-DPRK rackets.
S. Korean civic organizations and trade unions stage rally
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- 9 civic organizations and trade unions including the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on November 27 held a rally in front of the "National Assembly" building in Seoul and urged it to pass 8 bills on vital rights including a special bill on the cut of working hours, according to a Seoul-based radio report.
The organizations in their resolution stated that they staged a protest as they could no longer remain a passive onlooker to the treacheries of the South Korean ruling quarters who are locked in a scramble for power. They demanded the "National Assembly" adopt as early as possible "8 bills, the minimum call for the guarantee of democratic rights of the people and right to existence and right to health care."
Repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners called for
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- World public is lifting up its voices pushing for the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners.
The Nepal-Korea Friendship Association in its statement November 23 noted that it was a grave infringement upon human rights that the South Korean authorities have not yet repatriated the unconverted long-term prisoners to their hometowns in the northern half of Korea.
The statement strongly demanded the South Korean authorities repatriate the ailing prisoners to their hometowns so that they may be attended by their kin in order to put a period to harsh infringement upon human rights, promote the reconciliation between the north and south of Korea and contribute to the cause of peace on the Korean peninsula.
Ali Aksad, general secretary of the Bangladesh Peace Council, in a statement issued on November 22 expressed support for the letter of the chairman of the central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society which called for letting the unconverted long-term prisoners reunite with their families without delay.
He strongly urged the South Korean authorities to repatriate the unconverted long-term prisoners to their hometowns from a humanitarian stand in response to the DPRK's call.
Gag on campus press condemned
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- The director of the youth and students department of the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on November 25 issued a statement condemning the South Korean authorities' gag on campus press, said Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
The statement said:
The South Korean authorities instructed the "Ministry of Education" to gag university papers. As a result, some university papers were forced to suspend their publication and progressive journalists fired.
This is, no doubt, political terrorism against progressive university press and student movement.
As for the articles about the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils, the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and North Korea which the South Korean authorities are using as a pretext for gag on campus press on charges that "they pose threat to the system of liberal democracy", they do not offer any problem as they reflect the unanimous will and demand of one million students who desire independence, democracy and reunification.
The Kim Dae Jung group has resorted to the fascist gag on university press, which the military dictatorial regime dared not do, only to betray its true colors as a repressive junta more ferocious than the successive dictators.
Firm solidarity to Palestinians' just cause
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries an article on the occasion of the day of world solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The paper says that the Palestinian people are waging a strenuous struggle to retake their usurped territory and regain their national dignity and sovereignty.
It goes on:
It is the unanimous desire of the Palestinians to establish an independent state of Palestine.
Palestine is holding talks with Israel over its final status in the wake of its recent signing of a new peace agreement with it. Palestine is maintaining its principled stand at the talks.
For its justice the Palestinian people's struggle to restore the legitimate national right is supported by the progressive people of the world.
Voices supporting the Palestinian people's just cause are ringing out from the international arena. Material and moral support is sent to the Palestinians by various countries of the world.
The Korean people have always supported the Palestinian people's just cause. This position will remain unchanged in the future, too.
"Joson Munhak Festival Prize" instituted
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- "Joson Munhak festival prize" was newly instituted in Korea.
The prize, instituted in the joint name of the central committee of the Korean Writers Union and the Literature and Art Press Group, will go to writers, journalists and editors (overseas Koreans included) whose excellent works including novels, poems, comments and notes won prizes at the annual festival arranged by the July issue of the magazine "Joson Munhak".
The prize includes the "Joson Munhak festival certificate" and a gold medal.
The medal has a small metal disc 2 cm long and 7 mm high and silk decoration 2.4 cm in upper width, 1.8 cm in lower width and 3.8 cm in height, and its upper part curved. It is linked with the medal by a chain.
The magazine "Joson Munhak" is the successor to the "Munhwa Jonson", the first magazine in this field.
The President Kim Il Sung gave highly important instructions for the edition of the magazine after reading its first issue in July, Juche 35 (1946).
Ever since its appearance the magazine has creditably fulfilled its mission and duty as the country's typical literary and art publication loved by the people.
The editorial department of "Joson Munhak" of the literature and art press group has successfully organized a festival on its July issue since 1990.
More than ten writers and journalists were awarded the "Joson Munhak festival certificate" and a gold medal in Pyongyang at the end of September this year for proving successful in the past festivals.