Japanese "SDF's" evacuation drill
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The Japanese ground "Self-Defence Force" reportedly staged a drill of "evacuating Japanese overseas" on December 8 in Chiba Prefecture under the simulated conditions of an "emergency" abroad.
At least 350 troops were involved in the drill. It simulated an operation of "rescuing" by helicopters Japanese overseas from the airfields of other countries where they "took refuge."
Yomiuri Shimbun December 9 said that this drill was aimed to keep the "SDF" ready for action in the wake of the revision of the "law on Self-Defence Forces" in May this year which provided a legal guarantee for the overseas dispatch of warships and warplanes.
It is well known that "evacuation of Japanese overseas" is nothing but a camouflage to justify the "SDF's" dispatch of warships and warplanes abroad for a war of aggression overseas.
The drill carried out by the Japanese reactionaries this time reminds one of the eve of June 25, 1950 when the U.S. evacuated their families to Japan and other areas from South Korea under the pretext of "protection" before provoking a war of aggression.
Such moves for overseas aggression escalated under the deceptive signboard clearly indicate that the Japanese reactionaries' wild design for overseas expansion has reached a dangerous phase.
Pakistani President refers to friendly relations with the DPRK
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- There exist very friendly relations between the DPRK and Pakistan and these will remain unchanged in the future, too, said Pakistani President Muhammed Rafiq Tarar on Dec. 7, when receiving credentials from the newly-appointed DPRK Ambassador E.P. to that country.
Expressing the belief that under the wise and dynamic leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the Korean people will successfully overcome temporary difficulties caused by natural disasters and achieve great success in building a powerful nation, he stressed that the Pakistani government and people will always support the efforts of the Korean people to reunify the country in accordance with their desire.
Japan's crafty double-dealing tactics assailed
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- Japan is working hard to show its "anti-nuclear efforts" to the world in a bid to realize its design to become a nuclear giant under the signboard of a "defender of peace", backed by the United States.
Minju Joson says this in a signed commentary today.
The daily goes on:
Nuclear arming is an invariable design of Japan for overseas expansion. It is not for its defence but is aimed to guarantee Japan's overseas aggrandizement with nuclear weapons.
Judging from the historic lesson, it is as clear as noonday that Japan's moves for overseas expansion through nuclear arming will bring unimaginably monstrous disasters to mankind.
If Japan craftily seeks a sinister aim, it will be ridiculed and put to shame by the international community.
Unconditional repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners demanded
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The Korean Committee of Measures for Rescuing Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners in South Korea released information on Friday as regards the mounting struggle for the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea this year.
Recalling that the unconverted long-term prisoners spent almost all their lives in prison for the mere reason that they rejected "ideological conversion," the information said: However, they in the sunset of their years are not allowed to go back to their hometowns where their families and relatives wait for them. This is an intolerable crime against humanity in the light of the requirements of the international law on human rights and from a humanitarian point of view.
The central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society sent letters to the South Korean Red Cross three times this year denouncing the South Korean side for blocking their repatriation and strongly demanding it take humanitarian measures for their unconditional repatriation before the end of this year.
The central committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, the Council for National Reconciliation and other organizations, different human rights organizations and families and relatives of such unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea as Kim In So, Kim Yong Thae and Ham De Hwan issued statements and letters pushing for their repatriation.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations including the Committee for the Promotion of the Repatriation of Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners, religious organizations and people from all walks of life in South Korea formed a liaison council for the promotion of the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners, held press conferences, sent letters and staged a pan-national signature campaign and other protest movements. A positive struggle was also waged by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
This year's campaign for their repatriation was participated in by many political parties, organizations, and individual figures of many countries in the world including Ukraine, Japan, Nigeria and Peru, regional organizations, international organizations including the International Democratic Lawyers Association, major newspapers and radios and magazines in different countries.
They condemned the South Korean authorities for their inhumane attitude and strongly demanded the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners.
Warning the South Korean rulers that if something deplorable happens to the unconverted long-term prisoners, they will be wholly responsible for its serious consequences, the information strongly urged them to unconditionally repatriate Kim In So, Kim Yong Thae, Ham Se Hwan and all other unconverted long-term prisoners to their families and relatives in the north before the end of the year, as unanimously demanded by the people at home and abroad.
Intensified war preparations of U.S. and S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- Jo Yong Gil, chairman of the South Korean joint chiefs of staff headquarters, and Shelton, chairman of the U.S. Joint chiefs of staff, were closeted together on December 8 over the military movements of the DPRK and the issue of strengthening the military alliance between South Korea and the United States, according to a radio report from Seoul.
The warmongers decided to operate their communication channel round the clock, asserting that there is "military threat from North Korea" and "it is necessary to cope with its possible military provocations."
On the same day, the South Korean authorities held a year-end "meeting of major officers" at which they decided to focus on making the ground force of the "ROK" army an "elite force."
This shows that the U.S. the South Korean authorities are strengthening "cooperation" and further stepping up the "ROK" army's war preparations to invade the north.
2nd Kimilsungia Show will be opened
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The 2nd Kimilsungia Show will be opened here in April, Juche 89 (2000) on the occasion of the Sun's Day (April 15), the birthday of the President Kim Il Sung.
This show will be sponsored by the Korea Kimjongilia Federation.
On display will be Kimilsungias presented by all the units, individuals, overseas compatriots and foreigners that grow the flower.
The flower is a species of the orchid family which was produced by an Indonesian botanist in Juche 53 (1964).
Former Indonesian President Sukarno decided to call this very beautiful and graceful flower after the august name of President Kim Il Sung carrying the unanimous desire of all Indonesians to give it the greatest and everlasting name in the world.
During the show the successes and experience gained in its cultivation and dissemination will be exchanged.
The first show took place here from April 10 to 19 this year.
U.S. moves to establish "missile defense" system
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Cohen, speaking before the NATO defense ministers recently, insisted that the U.S. "National Missile Defense" system should be established without fail. He asserted that the United States and Europe would be exposed to "grave threat" if the DPRK and some other countries continue to "develop or introduce long-range missile."
Commenting on this, Rodong Sinmun today says it is nonsense that the DPRK poses a missile threat to the U.S. The "national and theatre missile defense" systems are of offensive nature from A to Z and they are aimed at having a decisive military edge, the daily notes, and goes on:
The United States is scheming to deploy the "Theatre Missile Defense" system in South Korea and Japan.
Its "missile defense" system is not only intended to contain the DPRK. Through establishment of such system the U.S. seeks to lead big powers and some countries, which it considers as potential opponents, to arms race and thus put them in an economic crisis.
It also intends to include all areas of the earth in its "missile defense" network, take a military edge and dominate the world.
If such moves are allowed the U.S. will become more high-handed and arbitrary, the danger of war will grow and the global peace and security will be seriously threatened. We cannot but take countermeasure now that the U.S. is speeding up the establishment of "missile defense" system against the DPRK.
Second mass rally held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- Members of at least 50 dissident organizations including the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the National Federation of Peasants Associations (NFPA) and the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) staged the second mass rally attended by over 20,000 workers, peasants, poor urban people and students in Seoul Railway Station plaza Friday afternoon demanding the payment of wages to unionists and shorter working hours, etc. according to a Seoul-based radio report.
Tan Pyong Ho, chairman of KCTU, in a resolution adopted in the rally stated that as it was impossible to have their demands met through a legislative struggle in the South Korean "National Assembly", they have held the people's rally to declare an all-out resistance to the present "government" and a determination to intensify their struggle in the future.
The participants marched into the streets at the end of the rally.
On the same day, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, too, clarified the same position as KCTU's at an emergency meeting of deputies, threatening to call a general strike in the year-end.
At least 400 students of "Hanchongryon" and peasants who had attended the rally that day staged a demonstration defying repression by the riot police.
Concrete wall splits Korea into two parts
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- 20 years have passed since the concrete wall was built in areas south of the Korean Military Demarcation L ne.
The concrete wall is a product of the U.S. "two Koreas" policy and the South Korean authorities' maneuvers to perpetuate the national division. This is an unprecedented physical barrier which severed the blood ties of the Korean nation and bisected its territory into two parts.
This concrete wall cut off 122 villages of 8 counties, 3 railways, 3 main roads and over 220 minor roads on the Korean peninsula.
The over 240 km long-heavily fortified wall is 5-8 m high, 10-19 m wide at its bottom and 3-7 m wide on its top.
South Korea built it as a bridgehead to invade the north.
It has many pillboxes and artillery emplacements. Its over 4 m wide automatic iron gates make it possible for tanks and armored vehicles and other armored forces to promptly go into action in case of "emergency".
It is the nation's disgrace and greatest tragedy that such a wall of division, which can hardly be found in other countries and regions of the world still exists in South Korea though a new millennium is near at hand.
The DPRK branded the wall as a symbol of division for it split Korea, which has remained one and the same land for thousands of years, into the north and south and put forward many proposals demanding its immediate removal.
Well known to the world are the DPRK offers including the appeal sent by the DPRK government, political parties and organizations to the governments, political parties and organizations in all countries of the world on Dec. 3.
An international fact-finding group identified the wall on the spot in May, Juche 79 (1990) and urged the UN Secretary-General and the international community to make efforts for the removal of the wall.
The "international forum demanding the removal of the concrete wall" held in Pyongyang last August recognized the wall as a cursed artificial barrier dividing the nation in the 20th century and appealed to the world peace-loving people to join in the campaign for its removal.
It is the unanimous opinion of the world's progressives that they cannot greet a new millennium with the concrete wall, the last leftover of the cold war, remaining on the Korean peninsula.
The concrete wall should be pulled down unconditionally and immediately.
Group of Korean residents in Japan arrives
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- A group of Korean residents in Japan headed by Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, arrived here today for a visit to the socialist homeland to express thanks on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the realization of repatriation.
The group was met at the airport by Kim Su Ik, director of the general bureau of reception for overseas compatriots, and other officials concerned.