Kim Yong Nam meets delegation of Japanese political parties
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, member of the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and had a talk with the delegation of political parties of Japan led by Tomiichi Murayama, former prime minister and member of the House of Representatives, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present there were department director Kim Yang Gon and vice department director Song Ho Gyong of the C.C., the WPK and officials concerned.
Tomiichi Murayama said that the talks his delegation had with the WPK delegation were beneficial, adding that he would endeavor to implement the agreed issues in future.
If the Japan-DPRK relations are normalized, it will do good not only to the peace and stability in the two countries but to those in the Asia-Pacific region, he noted.
Joint press statement of Korean and Japanese party delegations
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- A joint press statement was released here today between the Worker's Party of Korea and Japanese political parties delegations.
It was signed by Kim Yong Sun who is leading the WPK delegation and Tomiichi Murayama who is leading the delegation of Japanese political parties.
It reads:
A delegation of Japanese political parties led by former prime minister Tomiichi Murayama visited Pyongyang from December 1 to 3, Juche 88 (1999) at the invitation of the Worker's Party of Korea.
President Kim Yong Nam of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK met and had a conversation with the delegation.
Talks were held between a WPK delegation headed by secretary Kim Yong Sun and the delegation of Japanese political parties led by former prime minister Murayama.
At the talks the party delegations of the two countries had a candid exchange of views on points in which the two countries are interested.
They said the DPRK-Japan relations have not yet been improved even when the 21st century is at hand.
Considering it necessary to liquidate the unhappy history as soon as possible and improve and develop the DPRK-Japan relations in the interests of the peoples of the two countries, they have agreed as follows:
1. The two sides agreed to the importance of the resumption of inter-governmental negotiations between the DPRK and Japan on opening state relations on the basis of dialogue and exchange held hitherto between political parties and governments of the DPRK and Japan and decided to urge their governments to work toward an early resumption of the negotiations.
2. With the Pyongyang visit of the delegation of Japan political parties as an occasion, the two sides agreed to the importance of the settlement of humanitarian issues in which the DPRK and Japan are interested and decided to recommend Red Cross organizations to cooperate with each other with the help of their governments.
3. The two sides decided to increase interchange and visits to do away with mistrust existing between the two countries and promote mutual understanding and friendship.
Japanese delegation leaves
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- The delegation of Japanese political parties headed by Tomiichi Murayama, former prime minister and member of the House of Representatives of Japan, left for home today.
The delegation was accompanied by suite members, officials of the Foreign Ministry, other personages concerned and men of major mass media of Japan.
It was seen off at the airport by department director Kim Yang Gon and vice department director Song Ho Gyong of the C.C., the Worker's Party of Korea and officials concerned.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Chinese delegation
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of People's Daily of China.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by deputy editor-in-chief Yu Ning, who is heading the delegation.
Kim Jong Il's election as KPA Supreme Commander observed
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- Various events took place in different countries on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il's election as the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and on the 82nd birth anniversary of the revolutionary fighter Kim Jong Suk.
At the inaugural ceremony of the Korean book, photo and handiwork exhibition held in Peru, speakers warmly congratulated the respected Kim Jong Il on the 8th anniversary of his election as KPA Supreme Commander and paid a high tribute to Kim Jong Suk on her 82nd birth anniversary.
They said that having a great brilliant commander, Korea is advancing for the accomplishment of the cause of Juche pioneered by its leader without any wavering despite any blockade and natural disasters and has turned into a land which boasts independence, self-sustenance and self-reliance in national defence provided by invincible armed forces.
Kim Jong Suk embarked upon the road of struggle for the liberation of Korea at her early age and performed great exploits and devoted herself to the Korean women's movement.
Meanwhile, photographs and materials on exploits made by Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk in their revolutionary activities were displayed in different countries including Romania and Guyana.
Anniversary of Kim Il Sung's work commemorated
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- A meeting took place at the April 25 House of Culture yesterday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the President Kim Il Sung's celebrated work "Some Questions on Communist Education of Youths and Children."
The President in the work defined it as the essence of socialist education and the work of the youth league to rear the youth and children as genuine communists by revolutionizing and working-classizing them and, on this basis, laid down the fundamental principles to govern their education and upbringing.
He put it forth as a way of tempering the youth and children politically and ideologically and educating them in a revolutionary way to establish a strict organizational discipline among them and let them participate in a variety of socio-political activities and carry out an effective education of them through literary and art works.
Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, in his report said that the publication of the work by the President was a historic event which brought about a fundamental turning-point in educating and bringing up the rising generation to be genuine communist intellectuals of Juche type.
He referred to the landmark changes made in educating and bringing up the youth and children over the last 30 years under the wise guidance of the party and the leader.
He called for bringing up revolutionary intellectuals competent enough to serve the cause of building a powerful socialist nation to meet the requirements of the developing reality.
Appeal to world
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government, political parties and organizations today issued an appeal to the governments, political parties and organizations of all countries of the world, 20 years after the concrete wall was built in the area south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
The concrete wall, 5-8 m in height, 10-19 m in lower width and 3-7 m in upper width, extends more than 240 km, dividing 8 counties and 122 villages and cutting off 3 main railways, 3 highways and 220 minor roads on the Korean peninsula.
The wall can be used as a bridgehead for aggression against the north as it is equipped with many pillboxes and artillery positions and armored units including tanks and armored vehicles can go promptly into action in case of emergency from behind it.
Recalling that the South Korean authorities, in utter disregard of the destiny of the country and the nation, built such an immense wall of division unprecedented in the world history, backed and instigated by outside forces, the appeal condemned this crime that brought an indelible disgrace to the inviolable territory of the nation as a thrice-cursed anti-reunification, anti-national criminal act.
The present South Korean authorities are building higher all sorts of political and judicial barriers blocking reunification while persistently denying the existence of the concrete wall. This goes to prove that they have neither willingness to have true reconciliation and unity with us nor will for reunification.
The "reconciliation" and "cooperation" touted by them under the signboard of "engagement policy" are nothing but a broad hoax to cover up their true colors as separatists.
It would have been unthinkable without the support and patronage of the U.S. that the South Korean authorities' anti-reunification moves are encouraged and connived at, the appeal noted, and continued:
The U.S. not only turns blind eyes to the concrete wall in South Korea whose existence is a hard fact but keeps egging its authorities on to a showdown with the north.
Having worked out the "operation plan 5027-98", a second adventurous war scenario to invade the DPRK, the U.S. specified even the size of the U.S. forces to be rapidly dispatched to the Korean peninsula in the event of contingency and a timetable for it. It is staging large-scale joint military exercises with the South Korean authorities without a let-up after supplying them with huge quantities of sophisticated military hardware, thus driving the situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of war.
The daily aggravating situation on the Korean peninsula clearly proves that it is hard to expect improved north-south relations or any progress in the reunification cause as long as barriers blocking reunification including the concrete wall remain as they are.
The South Korean authorities should remove without delay all the political and physical barriers going against the desire of the nation and the aspiration of the times and turn to alliance and reconciliation with the north and reunification.
The United States which is chiefly responsible for the division of Korea should be accountable for the fact that the concrete wall in South Korea has not yet been pulled down although ten years have passed since the Berlin wall was removed and lend an ear to the just demand of all the Korean people and the world peace-loving people for its immediate removal.
It is an urgent task for peace and security on the Korean peninsula and the rest of Asia and the world to pull down the wall of division in Korea as soon as possible and achieve national unity and reunification.
The government, political parties and organizations in the DPRK express the expectation and belief that the justice-and peace-loving governments, political parties and organizations of the world will voice positive support and solidarity to our patriotic and reunification-oriented efforts for the removal of the concrete wall.
Famous composer Ri Kon U remembered
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- "Ri Kon U concert" was held at the Yun I Sang Concert Hall in Pyongyang recently amid keen interest of music lovers.
Put on the stage were over 10 pieces of music including songs "Camellia" and "We, Too, Will Become Human Bombs" composed by Ri Kon U in his lifetime.
The concert touched the right chord of the audience for representing rich emotion and pulsating life.
Ri Kon U (1919-1998) had a long career as a composer.
He was very erudite in music from his early years. A young man of a colony as he was, he entered for a composing competition of the national music concours held under the sponsorship of the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun and won it twice in his twenties, drawing great attention of the people.
It was his wish to create true music for the people.
After liberation he energetically struggled for social democracy and the reunification of the country together with progressive men of literature and art in South Korea for which he was thrown into Sodaemun prison, Seoul.
The liberation of Seoul on June 28, 1950 marked a turning-point in his life and his creative work.
After his release from prison he joined the Korean People's Army. During the war he created at least 10 songs encouraging the soldiers and people to win victory in it.
After the war he worked at national and local art institutions. He worked at the Yun I Sang Music Institute as an honorary researcher from October 1990 and died in 1998 while dedicating himself to the music creation.
Among his more than hundreds of music pieces are such folk songs as "Changsong Is Good" and "Song of Boats in Monggumpho," such wartime songs as "Song of Young Guerillas" and "Song of Encirclement and Annihilation" and chorus and orchestra "May South Sea Roar ."
Basketball made mass-based
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- In the DPRK where sports is an everyday activity of the masses, public interest in basketball is currently growing.
The basketball courts are always alive with fans at all industrial establishments, cooperative farms, educational institutions and even frontline army units.
A great many working people are seen going through basketball paces after the Day's Worker on Sundays, and their skills are improving noticeably. This habit is widely encouraged at homes.
A spectacular example can be taken of O Sang Sik's family living in neighbourhood unit no. 4 in the township of Kangryong county, South Hwanghae Province, who went on a basketball tussle between the sons' team and daughters' team, as a celebration of their grandfather's birthday. The sons and daughters and their in-laws included a worker, factory manager, army officer, university student and nursery teacher.
The women's basketball team from the Pyongyang beer factory, all married women, recorded several wins at national tournaments.
Other successful teams are those from the Pyongyang cornstarch factory and the Turu Islet cooperative farm in Raknang district, Pyongyang.
Last year at the 9th people's athletic meet held at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, the limelight was claimed by Ryu Chun Song of the Pyongyang team, an employee at a national organ and a 42-year-old mother of two daughters, who hit a streak of lay-ups and three-pointers with frequent feints.
The increasing public enthusiasm for basketball promotes the working people's health and inspires optimism throughout the society.
Reception given on Day of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- A reception was given by Eduardo Sanchez Pena, military attach of the Cuban embassy here, at the embassy yesterday on the occasion of the 43rd Day of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Invited there were Ryo Chun Sok, vice-Minister of the People's Armed Forces, generals and officers of the Korean People's Army, diplomats and military attaches of different embassies here.
Cuban ambassador Jose Manuel Inclan Embade and embassy officials were present there.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Film show
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- A film show was held yesterday at the Chollima House of Culture under the sponsorship of the Korea-Romania Friendship Association to mark the Romanian National Day.
Invited were Neculai Cotlogut, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Romanian embassy here, and embassy officials.
Present there were Choe Jong Hwan, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, officials concerned and working people in the city.
The participants appreciated the Romanian feature film "The Second Proposal."
Popular comedies
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- Popular comedies are now being staged by the State Comedical Company at the Pyongyang International Cinema House.
A variety of numbers presented include such light comedies as "What Happened in the Wedding Day", "Potato Is Like Rice" and "Forgive, Please," a short play "Amaging Meeting" and a jest "Ddolddoli and Sam Nyo". They are so comic that the audience cannot keep back their laughter throughout the show.
Its performances are highly acclaimed by audiences for truthfully representing the validity of the policy of the Worker's Party of Korea and the truth of life.
The company was founded in December 1994.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il, deeply considerate of making the people's life bright and cheerful, saw to it that a comedical company was organized and named it the state comedical company. He also posted famous comedians and comediennes in the company and clearly taught what equipment should be used in creation and what permanent themes be chosen for it.
As a result, the company has grown to be a popular art company in a short period.
The company created at least 150 excellent works fully reflecting policies set forth by the Worker's Party of Korea' in each period, thus greatly encouraging the people in the economic construction.
The creative staff of the company is endeavoring to create more new comedies to cater to the growing ideological and aesthetic tastes of the people.
Repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners demanded
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- The Mexican Remember- President Kim Il Sung Fellowship Society, the Mexican Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification and the Mexico-DPRK Institute of Friendship and Cultural Interchange made public a joint statement on November 25 demanding the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea.
The statement condemned the South Korean authorities for having seriously abused human rights by forcing the unconverted long-term prisoners to spend almost all their lives behind bars for the mere reason that they refused to make "ideological conversion."
What is more serious is that they have not yet taken any positive attitude to liquidate their crime-woven past though one century of human history is nearing its end, the statement noted, and continued:
The unconverted long-term prisoners have every right to go back to the beloved motherland and their families as they are victors who have preserved their revolutionary idea and will despite all manner of inhumane suppression.
The statement urged the South Korean authorities to unconditionally repatriate all the unconverted long-term prisoners without delay.
Koreans under "Mindan" call for abolition of "security law"
Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- Koreans under "Mindan" held meetings in different parts of Japan to express solidarity with the South Korean people who are struggling for the abolition of the "security law," according to a Koreans' paper Minjok Sibo published in Japan.
Speakers at the meetings said that struggle for the abolition of the "security law" is being steadily escalated into a mass movement in South Korea and noted that 100,000-signature campaign actively conducted by Koreans in Japan is greatly inspiring the struggle.
They expressed the belief that the Koreans in Japan will continue to wage the struggle for solidarity with the South Korean people in their struggle for the total abolition of the evil law.
The participants in the meetings hardened their will to struggle more vigorously for the abrogation of the evil law, singing "song of abolition of the ' security law '" popular among South Korean people from all walks of life these days.
At a meeting held in Tokyo on Nov. 7, a document demanding the abrogation of the "security law" and so on was sent to the present South Korean chief executive.