Kim Jong Il inspects army unit
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected KPA unit no. 488 on Thursday.
He was accompanied by generals Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong and other general officers of the KPA.
When he arrived at the unit, its officers and men warmly welcomed him.
He was greeted by the commanding officers of the unit on the spot.
The unit has had the honor of receiving on-the-spot guidance from the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il scores of times right after the liberation of the country.
In the past Fatherland Liberation War it killed or wounded tens of thousands of enemy forces, destroyed many combat and technical equipment of the enemy including hundreds of artillery pieces, tanks and armored cars and, in this course, produced scores of heroes and heroines of the republic and thousands of order-bearers.
After receiving a salute, Kim Jong Il went round the monument to the President's on-site instructions, and the room for education in his revolutionary exploits.
Seeing mementos associated with the President's immortal exploits, he recollected with deep emotion the unforgettable historic days and said in a touching tone that the victorious and glorious course covered by the unit is closely associated with the tireless efforts and total dedication of the President.
Noting that the unit which fully displayed its invincible might has always been a guard unit both in battles and ideology, he emphasized the feats performed by the unit in the sacred war to defend the country will shine long in the annals of the country.
He learned about how the unit was performing its duty and noted with great satisfaction that today it is reliably standing guard over the defence line of the socialist homeland in the same revolutionary spirit as it displayed during the war and highly praised its exploits.
He then looked round the education room, bedroom, dining room, provision store and entertainment, other educational and logistic facilities, taking deep care of the soldiers' life.
He appreciated successes made by the officers of the unit, greatly pleased to know that all of them have substantially managed the unit and supply service with warm love for the soldiers to provide them with good living conditions.
It is of weighty importance in increasing the unit's fighting efficiency to manage well the unit, supply service and equipment, he said, setting forth highly important tasks which will serve as a guideline in further improving the unit's management and preparing all the soldiers to be a-match-for-a-hundred foes.
He had a picture taken with the servicemen of the unit, expressing the expectation and belief that they would as ever continue exalting the honor of the guard unit.
Minister of Electronic Industry appointed
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- O Su Yong was appointed as Minister of Electronic Industry according to a decree promulgated by the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly on Dec. 23.
New type helicopters introduced into S. Korean Navy
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Navy took over three new type helicopters for attacking submarines imported from Britain with due ceremony at Jinhae on Dec. 22, according to a Seoul-based radio report.
The military authorities said that the introduction of these helicopters equipped with the latest electronic equipment would increase naval operation capacity.
Evening gala
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces was held at the Jonsung Square yesterday to mark the 8th anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.
Present there were vice marshals of the Korean People's Army Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department, Kim Yong Chun, chief of the general staff, and Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, generals, officers and soldiers.
The immortal revolutionary hymn "Song of General Kim Il Sung" came wafting through the air over the square where officers and men of the army, navy and air forces danced.
The faces of the participants shone with great honor and happiness in having Kim Jong Il at the head of the Juche revolutionary armed forces.
Kim Jong Il's army-first policy praised
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- The Korean revolution is winning victory after victory despite the imperialists' encirclement and constant military threat. This is entirely thanks to the great leader Kim Jong Il's army-first policy.
H.S. Surjeet, general secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), stated this on Dec. 16 when interviewed by the KCNA correspondent in New Delhi on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of his election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.
The army-first policy is a sure guarantee for the victory of the Korean revolution, he noted, expressing the belief that the Worker's Party of Korea headed by Kim Jong Il would achieve shining victory in the just struggle for the building of socialism and national reunification, shattering the U.S.'s moves to stifle the DPRK.
Celebrations held abroad
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Czech on December 17 on the occasions of the 8th anniversary of the election of the great leader Kim Jong Il as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and the 82nd birth anniversary of Kim Jong Suk.
The chairman of the Mt. Paektu Czech-Korean Friendship Association said at the meeting that the election of Kim Jong Il as Supreme Commander of the KPA was a significant event for the Korean people and the world progressive people, who are upholding socialism, opposed to the imperialists.
Through his ceaseless on-the-spot guidance to various fields of the national economy and KPA units Kim Jong Il has wisely led the DPRK's struggle for building a powerful socialist nation and achieving national reunification, he noted, and continued:
Kim Jong Suk was a great communist revolutionary fighter who devoted her all to thoroughly implementing President Kim Il Sung's revolutionary idea and line.
Meanwhile, a celebration meeting also was held by the Leninabad regional committee of the central committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan on December 14.
Introduced at the meeting were Kim Jong Il's short biography and the exploits performed by him in the party and army building and successes made by the Korean people in socialist construction under his leadership.
Jo Song Thae's provocative statement denounced
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- Jo Song Thae, "Minister of Defence" of South Korea, was busy on December 22 touring the units of the three services of the South Korean Army such as the "Chongryong" unit of the marine corps, the "Roejong" unit of the army, the first fleet of the navy and combat air division no. 19 of the air force to examine "alert posture" and provoke the north, according to a radio report from Seoul.
As part of his renewed anti-north smear campaign he called on the army to back the "engagement policy" towards the north with a "strong defence posture" so as to lead "someone to change."
This clearly indicates that he is the most vicious traitor and separatist.
Press conference at NDFSK Pyongyang mission
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- A press conference was held at the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on Dec. 23.
Present there were media men in Pyongyang and foreign correspondents here.
Chief Pak Kwang Gi said a noteworthy success achieved by the South Korean people in their anti-U.S., anti-Japanese and anti-foreign forces struggle for national independence this year is that the struggle became a main trend of the movement for the nation and democracy.
Referring to the firm determination of the South Korean people who are confident that they will certainly emerge victorious as they have the respected Kim Jong Il, the savior of the nation, he spoke of the New Year's tasks for independence, democracy and reunification.
He called on the South Korean people to focus on the anti-U.S. struggle for independence, the final aim of their revolutionary movement, considering it as the main task, and direct the sharp edge of their struggle to the U.S. and thus escalate the struggle against the U.S. politics, its military domination, economic aggression through the IMF and massacres committed by GIs.
He underscored the need to carry on a stubborn anti-fascist struggle for the total abolition of the "security law," the dismantlement of the "Intelligence Service" and the release of the prisoners of conscience and undertake the struggle against the IMF mandate, lay off and for the right to existence such as job stability, guarantee of living conditions to unemployed, and so on in close combination with the movement to overthrow the present regime.
S. Korean workers call general strike
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- 101,000 workers of South Korea reportedly called a general strike yesterday demanding the reduction of working hours and payment of wages to the trade union cadres.
An original plan of the Federation of South Korean Trade Unions was to call a strike involving more than 16,000 workers of 30 minor enterprises. But the struggle gained further momentum as at least 85,000 workers rose in a struggle once again, enraged at the authorities' moves to crack down upon the labour movement and their misrule.
The strikers at Seoul Railway Station and other areas put up five-point demands including the payment of wages to the trade union cadres, stating that they would escalate their anti-"government" struggle into a struggle against the "National Assembly election" slated for next year if the authorities do not meet those demands.
The workers downed tools and held inter-factory protest rallies, demanding the authorities revise the evil labour law and guarantee them the right to existence.
They pushed for an immediate lifting of the measure taken not to pay wages to the trade union cadres.
Meanwhile, the general strike of coal miners for the right to existence, flared up in Thaebaek region on Dec. 12 continued on December 23, too.
Performance given by KPA song and dance ensemble
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- A performance was given by the Korean People's Army song and dance ensemble at the April 25 House of Culture yesterday to celebrate the 8th anniversary of the election of the great leader Kim Jong Il as Supreme Commander of the KPA.
Among those in the audience were Kim Yong Nam, Jo Myong Rok, Hong Song Nam and other leading officials of the party and state.
Put on the stage were the song and dance "Present Arms Looking Up To the Marshal" and woman's solo "Soldiers Live Near the Marshal" and other numbers.
The performers sang of the outstanding leadership exploits of Kim Jong Il who has strengthened the people's army to be an ideologically strong army and ever-victorious revolutionary armed forces, while leading the socialist cause of Juche to victory with his great army-first politics. Their program also dealt with the pride and dignity of the KPA soldiers and people blessed with the great leader and the brilliant commander.
Also staged were numbers depicting the brilliant revolutionary career and feats of the anti-Japanese heroine Kim Jong Suk.
Exalting of honor of having Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate editorials to the 8th anniversary of the respected leader Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA).
Rodong Sinmun says that his election as the KPA Supreme Commander was a historic event of great significance in reliably defending the revolutionary cause of Juche generation after generation and exalting the dignity of Kim Il Sung's nation for all ages.
This event provided a sure guarantee for carrying the Korean-style socialist cause to completion and made it possible for the Korean people to emerge as the most dignified people having an invincible army and for the nation to achieve the most solid single-hearted unity of the party, army and people.
Saying that devotedly safeguarding the headquarters of the revolution headed by Kim Jong Il is a sure guarantee for demonstrating the invincible might of Korean-style socialism to the world, the editorial continues:
The great Kim Jong Il represents the destiny of the country, the nation and socialism of Korean style and the supreme brain of the Korean revolution.
As we are led by him, socialism of our style is winning victory after victory and there is a rosy future of a powerful nation.
It is the need of our revolution and a firm guarantee for building a powerful nation to increase the national defence capability in every way.
The KPA is fully prepared to guarantee the cause of building a powerful nation with arms.
The KPA is firm in its stand and its spirit of annihilating the enemies is sky-high.
If the enemies, persisting in its policy of strength, encroach upon even an inch of our land or a blade of grass, our people's army will resolutely wipe them out with unrivalled courage and indomitable spirit instilled into them by the three commanders of Mt. Paektu.
Repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners urged
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- The Bangladesh Solidarity Committee for Supporting the Struggle of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) and the South Korean people sent a statement of solidarity on Dec. 17 to the Pyongyang mission of the NDFSK demanding the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea to the DPRK within this year.
The statement fully supported the just demand of the central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society for repatriation to the north of the unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea, which will help settle the worst human rights problem in the world and contribute to the reunification of the country today when a new millennium is at hand.
The violation of human rights committed by the South Korean authorities who are blocking their repatriation by seeking confrontation with the north and the policy of violating human rights is inviting the worldwide resentment, the statement said.
It noted: We strongly urge the South Korean authorities to take an immediate measure to send all the unconverted long-term prisoners within this year back to the DPRK where their relatives are awaiting them as demanded by them.
Repeal of "security law" called for
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- Organizations including the all-people hunger strike group for the abolition of the "security law" and withdrawal of U.S. forces, the gathering of declarants in Kangrung area, the Kangwon industries trade union under the Taegu-north Kyongsang provincial headquarters of the Federation of Metal Workers' Unions and the Kuro Youth Society are waging a struggle for the repeal of the "security law", according to a South Korean newspaper report.
They are calling for abolishing the "security law", the cancer, for the country's reunification and development, and building a reunified country.
The slogans raised by them demand the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from South Korea, reject the U.S. economic aggression and plunder and call for ensuring the people's right to existence.
S. Korean transport plane explodes
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- A South Korean cargo transport plane Boeing 747 of the "Korean Air Lines" exploded in the sky over London on Dec. 23, a Seoul-based radio report said.
All of 4 crewmen on board were killed by the explosion just after the take-off.
When it happened, BBC said that South Korea "was on top of the worst air accidents", adding that crashes of "KAL" airliners in the last two decades claimed at least 700 human lives.
DPRK appeal for demolition of concrete wall supported
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- The People's National Congress of Guyana expressed support to an appeal of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations demanding the demolition of the concrete wall sent to the governments, political parties and organizations of the world.
Considering the appeal as a fair document for the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula, we urge the South Korean authorities to demolish the concrete wall, noted the party in a letter sent to the DPRK embassy to Guyana on December 16.
The Socialist Unionist Party of Syria had also urged the demolition of the concrete wall and the dissolution of the "UN command" which block the Korean reunification and expressed full support to the appeal in its statement issued on December 15.
DPRK has stood test of 1990s
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- The 1990s was a period of ordeals for the Korean people. Capitalism was restored in the former Soviet Union and a number of east European countries which had been building socialism, leading to the collapse of the socialist market.
This created difficulties in various sectors of the Korean economy such as bottlenecks in the purchase of raw and other materials and equipment and marketing.
The imperialists lost no chance to impose every conceivable pressure and sanction upon the DPRK in a bid to isolate and stifle it.
To make matters worse, the country has been hit hard by several years of natural disasters such as the worst flood and tidal wave in a hundred years. This adversely affected various sectors of the economy, rendering its conditions more difficult.
The year 1994 was the most painful year for the Korean people as they suffered the nation's greatest loss in the demise in July 1994 of the President Kim Il Sung acclaimed by them for the first time in the nation's history spanning thousands of years.
Not only all the fellow countrymen but all the progressive people of the world were overcome with profound grief over his demise.
The world was concerned over the future of Korea standing at the crossroads of life and death.
But Korea rose to the occasion as it was guided by the great leader Kim Jong Il possessed of iron will and matchless courage.
The DPRK took such tough measures as declaring a semi-war state and withdrawal from the International Atomic Energy Agency, thus repulsing the enemy's military pressure and "nuclear inspection row" and defending the dignity of the nation and socialism.
It caught the world's admiration by accomplishing the cause of perpetuating the memory of President Kim Il Sung on the highest level in history.
At a time when several countries were torn asunder because of antipathy and turmoil caused by ethnic conflicts and conflicting political views and religious belief, the DPRK achieved the single-hearted unity of the leader, the party and the people and launched a satellite relying on its strength.
This tremendous strength that demonstrated the majestic appearance of Kim Il Sung's Korea, originated from the faith and will of the Korean nation united close around the leader.
The situation in the DPRK in recent years was worse than that in the postwar period after the three-year war reduced everything to ashes in the 1950s.
The production could not be kept going in every field of the economy due to the shortage of power, raw and other materials and equipment, making it impossible to meet even the needs for consumer goods.
The grain production in major granaries shrank by half or more over that in the average year due to severe natural calamities. This resulted in suspending regular food supply and increasing the number of the families depending on food substitute.
Thanks to the positive steps of the Worker's Party of Korea and the state, not a few successes have been made in the work to put the economy on a normal track and stabilize the people's living, but the economic situation and the people's living still remain difficult.
The Korean people, however, do not yield to these ceaseless difficulties.
The DPRK has laid a foundation of eternal value guaranteeing the rosy future of the country and the nation despite the ordeals in the 1990s.
It is thanks to this foundation that the Korean people are putting spurs to the second grand Chollima march to build a prosperous powerful nation in the near future.
Slogan-bearing trees praising Kim Jong Suk
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- There are in Korea many trees bearing slogans which praise the great communist revolutionary fighter Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese heroine.
These slogans were written on trees by revolutionary forerunners during the rigorous anti-Japanese armed struggle in order to convey her undying revolutionary feats and august name to posterity.
"Long live Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese woman commander. May 1945", "Kim Jong Suk, an illustrious commander, came here. 1941", "Kim Jong Suk, a woman commander of Mt. Paektu" and other slogans born on trees in Ryanggang, north Hamgyong, north and south Phyongan provinces and other areas show well her greatness during the anti-Japanese war for the liberation of the country.
"O, the Korean nation groaning in a dark land, the great Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Suk have returned here to save thee, leading tens of thousands of soldiers. 1942", "Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese woman commander of Korea, appeared here. 1941", "Kim Jong Suk of the anti-Japanese army has returned here the homeland, assisting Kim Il Sung, the commander of the anti-Japanese army, in accomplishing the final decisive battle. May 1945" and other slogans in the areas of Unsan county, North Phyongan Province, and Rajin-Sonbong city convey forever the immortal feats of Kim Jong Suk who made outstanding contributions to liberating the country.
"O, the 20 million strong nation, long live commanders of Mt. Paektu Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Suk and the bright star of Mt. Paektu ," "Meeting of commander-in-chief of the anti-Japanese army Kim Il Sung, woman commander Kim Jong Suk and the bright star of Korea, June 1942" and other slogans in Yonsa county, North Hamgyong Province convey for all ages the feats of Kim Jong Suk who gave birth to the great leader Kim Jong Il, the bright star of Mt. Paektu in Korea.
Besides, there are also slogan-bearing trees conveying the feats of her who devotedly defended the President Kim Il Sung with her pure and clean loyalty in Onsong, Musan and Myongchon counties and Tanchon city and many other cities and counties.
S. Korean chief executive's hypocrisy
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary denounces the present South Korean chief executive for playing all sorts of tricks in a bid to placate the angry public.
Recently he talked the rubbish at a meeting that he would strive to "improve the people's living" and would "not work for reunification," but make "utmost efforts" for an "end to the Cold War" and "detente" through reconciliation, cooperation and exchange in the remaining years of his office.
The commentary dismisses this as treacherous jargon of a fascist and anti-reunification element. It goes on:
It is none other than the South Korean chief executive who brought about economic bankruptcy and put the people into the mire of the worst destitution with his treacherous policy.
For all his talk about the "improvement of living" he can not cover up his crimes.
His anti-reunification remarks proved to the world that he is a sworn enemy of reunification.
No one will be taken in by his hypocritical talk meant to cover up his criminal nature. On the contrary, it convinced the South Korean people once again that the present chief executive is the traitor with whom they cannot live under the same sky.
Wreaths laid before Kim Jong Suk's bust
Pyongyang, December 22 (KCNA) -- Wreaths were laid by senior officials of the party and state, servicemen of the people's army, working people, school youth and children and overseas compatriots before the bust of Kim Jong Suk, communist revolutionary fighter, in the revolutionary martyrs cemetery on Mt. Taesong, this morning on the occasion of her 82nd birth anniversary.
A wreath sent by the great leader Kim Jong Il was standing there.
Hong Song Nam, Ri Ul Sol, Kim Il Chol and other senior officials of the party and state participated in the ceremony.
Placed there were wreaths in the name of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and its cabinet.
Also seen there were wreaths and bouquets in the name of all the anti-Japanese revolutionary veterans, the joint organization of the Korean Children's Union, the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, working people's organizations, the commission and ministries of the DPRK cabinet, national institutions, units of the Korean People's Army, scientific, educational, cultural and art, health and press institutions, the party and power bodies in Pyongyang, industrial establishments, co-op farms and delegations and visiting-groups of overseas compatriots.
Pak Kwang Gi, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea, and his members laid bouquets and the military attaches' corps in Pyongyang a wreath before the bust.
Floral baskets were placed before her statues in Hoeryong city of North Hamgyong Province, Kim Jong Suk county of Ryanggang Province, at Kim Jong Suk Naval University and Kim Jong Suk General Military Academy this morning.
FM greets his Democratic Congolese counterpart
Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to Yerodia Abdoulaye Ndombasi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Democratic Congo, on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Democratic Congo.
It wished him good success in his work to defend the country's sovereignty and achieve territorial integrity and peace, expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms.