Floral baskets and congratulatory letters to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received floral baskets and congratulatory letters from the diplomatic corps and military attaches' corps on the occasion of the New Year Juche 89 (2000).
They were handed yesterday to Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol respectively by Damdiny Byamba, Mongolian Ambassador E.P. to the DPRK, on behalf of the diplomatic corps and doyen of the military attaches' corps Vu Dinh Thang, military attach of the Vietnamese embassy in Pyongyang.
Kim Il Sung praised by Cambodian King
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A national TV of Cambodia reported that Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, looking back on his life at a function held at the royal palace on December 25, said as follows:
It is entirely thanks to Generalissimo Kim Il Sung, the greatest leader of Korea, that I have been able to serve the country and people till now in good health.
While I was living in exile far away from the country for scores of years owing to the military coup engineered by Lon Nol, he took warm care of me as usual and actively supported me and the cause of the national liberation struggle of our Cambodian people.
All of us should remember his warm favour forever.
Reception given at Chinese consulate general
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A reception was given at the Chinese consulate general in Chongjin yesterday on the threshold of the New Year.
Invited there were Kim Song Gwon, vice-chairman of the north Hamgyong provincial people's committee, and officials concerned.
Present were Liu Zhigang, Chinese consul general in Chongjin, and officials of the consulate general.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Victory of Cuban revolution commemorated
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A meeting and photo exhibition were held here yesterday to mark the 41st anniversary of the victory in the Cuban revolution.
Present at the meeting were Minister of Education Pyon Yong Rip who is also chairman of the Korea-Cuba Solidarity Committee, Kim Jin Bom, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and other officials concerned and working people in the city.
Invited there were Jose Manuel Inclan Embade, Cuban ambassador to the DPRK, and embassy officials.
Speeches were exchanged at the meeting.
The participants looked round the photos showing the proud course and successes of the Cuban revolution on display on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the victory in the Cuban revolution.
Party given by Egyptian military attach
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Mohamed Mohamed Ahmad Ashour, military attach of the Egyptian embassy here, gave a party yesterday to mark the 8th anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.
Invited to the party were Ryo Chun Sok, vice-Minister of the People's Armed Forces, generals and officers of the KPA.
Speeches were made there.
Joint measure committee for victims of defoliant formed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- "All-People Joint Measure Committee for Victims of Defoliant" was formed in Seoul on December 28.
The committee involves six civic and social organizations such as the Alliance of Measures Against Defoliant, the Citizens Federation for Economic Justice and the Solidarity of Green Consumers.
The committee declared that it would stage a campaign demanding the amendment to the laws related to expansion of the scope of compensation and assistance to the victims of defoliant and boycotting U.S.-made goods and a two million signature campaign pushing for compensation for damage.
It also said that it would conduct a survey of the actual condition of the victims of defoliant to take measures for their survival.
Letters to international human rights organizations
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Hwa Sim, Kim Jong Sim and Kim Pong Son, daughters and sister of unconverted long-term prisoner Kim In So, sent letters to the UN Commission on Human Rights, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Amnesty International separately accusing the South Korean authorities of their refusal to repatriate the unconverted long-term prisoners to their hometowns where their families and relatives are waiting for them.
The condition of Kim In So left alone on a hospital bed has not improved even a bit though more than a year has passed since he was admitted to Christian hospital in Kwangju of South Korea last September because of aggravating cerebral hemorrhage sequela, the letter said, and went on:
The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has repeatedly urged the repatriation of the unconverted long-term prisoners including father Kim In So who is hovering between life and death in South Korea to their hometowns. But the South Korean authorities have turned down this demand under an unreasonable pretext each time.
The South Korean authorities' inhumane, illegal and hideous criminal act should never be pardoned.
We earnestly request your organizations which value justice and human rights to take all possible urgent measures to help all the unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea including father Kim in so exposed to a threat to his life every moment come back as soon as possible to their hometowns where their families are waiting for them.
U.S. design to stifle DPRK
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- This year the U.S. has persistently worked to stifle the DPRK, but in vain, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. Giving details of the facts that this year the U.S. has persisted in their arms build-up and military threat in and around South Korea, taking issue with the DPRK over what it called "suspected underground nuclear facility" and "missile and human rights issues," the article says.
The DPRK has always pursued the army-first policy, closely watching the enemies' even more undisguised moves to provoke a new war.
The U.S. instigated the South Korean warmongers to spark the west sea incident in a bid to test the DPRK's strength and combat posture.
But, the heroic people's army soldiers meted out a severe punishment to the provokers.
The Korean People's Army clarified its resolute stand that it would never forgive anyone invading even an inch of the sky, land and sea of the DPRK but would strongly retaliate against them mercilessly.
The KPA warned enemies that if they seek to intrude again into territorial waters of the west sea of the north, insisting on the "Northern Limit Line," far from drawing a lesson from the west sea incident, the KPA would not stay calm but mobilize all necessary self-defensive means to throw them into the sea.
The U.S. has worked hard to disarm the DPRK under the name of "improvement of relations," while escalating its military pressure upon the DPRK. However, the Korean people have taken firm and resolute measures against their moves, neither yielding to their military pressure nor being taken in by any appeasement and deception.
Noting that the Korean people are filled with the firm determination to defeat any strong enemies in the future, too, the article stresses that the DPRK has everything in place to win a sure victory.
If the U.S. recklessly provokes the second Korean war, it will bring to the U.S. a military defeat more disastrous than what it suffered in the 1950s, the article warns.
Anti-reunification act flayed
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- At least 10 South Korean policemen walked away Kim Ryong Thaek, an unconverted long-term prisoner, when he left his home early in the morning to go to Seoul by train to watch the "basketball game for reunification" held there recently.
This brings to light the true colors of the South Korean authorities as violators of human rights and freedom of activities and enemies of reunification who trample down the nation's desire for reunification at the point of bayonet, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary.
It goes on:
The Korean people, upon hearing the news that the "basketball game for reunification" would be held in Seoul this time, wished the game to be a significant occasion in bringing a thaw in the frozen inter-Korean relations and stirring up the desire for national reconciliation and reunification.
The unconverted long-term prisoners are patriots who devoted themselves to the reunification of the country.
They reposed expectation in the game and eagerly wished to see the game. This was prompted by their strong aspiration after reunification and patriotism.
The action taken by the South Korean rulers to bar him from watching the game was intended to block the inter-Korean dialogue and contact and aggravate north-south relations.
They should know that they will never escape from a stern punishment by history and the nation if they continue committing crimes by persecuting the unconverted long-term prisoners, laying obstacles in the way of dialogues and contacts between the north and south and inciting inter-Korean confrontation.
We will live in powerful country
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- 1999 is a year which gave the faith and confidence of a bright future and courage to the Korean people who have struggled to build a powerful nation of Juche, sharing life and death in the raging storm of history.
The Korean people will always remember 1999 when they gained extremely precious experience and great truth in the course of building a powerful nation under the guidance of the respected leader Kim Jong Il.
So says Rodong Sinmun today in a political essay on the closing 1999, a year of great turn.
The essay says: The vicious economic blockade and military pressure by the imperialists have reached the climax this year, but the Korean people surprised the world with a historical declaration that 1999 is a year of great turning-point in building a powerful nation.
The great change made by the Korean people this year is the precious foundation and treasure with which they can display miraculous strength and might in building a powerful nation.
In particular, they have advanced, picturing Kim Jong Il in their mind. This is their pulse and the most precious truth recorded the year 1999 in the history.
In 1999 the Korean people dauntlessly advanced under the guidance of the brilliant leader Kim Jong Il, the great symbol of all our victories, future and the powerful socialist nation of Juche.
As they have grasped the great truth that they can build a powerful nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, they have turned out in the struggle to build it.
The DPRK is not only a politically powerful country but also a militarily powerful one. When the DPRK builds an economically powerful country, it will become a powerful nation.
The powerful nation is the dignity, glory and happiness of the Korean people.
We love a powerful nation.
We will always remember the present hardship with deep emotion and proudly tell the coming generations how we built a powerful nation, confident of a rosy future under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Book on Kim Il Sung's exploits published
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Volume 18 "Successful Solution of the Question of the Overseas Compatriots" of the library "Immortal Revolutionary Exploits of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung" came off the press at the Worker's Party of Korea Publishing House recently.
The volume 18 has 3 parts, 6 chapters and 16 sections which comprehensively deal with President Kim Il Sung's immortal revolutionary exploits.
Its part one comprehensively and deeply explains and proves the greatness of the ideo-theoretical exploits the President performed by founding the original idea and theory on the solution of the question of the overseas compatriots and developed and enriched them to be an integral system of theories.
Its part two deals in detail with the superb leadership and greatness of the President who indicated ways of solving the issue of overseas compatriots including the movement of Koreans in Japan and led the overseas compatriots' movement to victory and glory.
Its part three comprehensively explains and proves the historic changes the President brought about in the solution of the issue of overseas compatriots by leading their movement along the road of Juche and its historical significance in the Korean revolution and in accomplishing the cause of independence of the world progressives.
S. Korean people find their future in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Yun Song Sik, permanent member of the Consultative Council of Former South Korean Politicians in the North for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification, on Tuesday gave a lecture titled "different realities in the north and south as evidenced by people's looks" before men and women of the press here.
In the lecture he said that in the past one year since he came under the care of the respected Kim Jong Il, the care of the socialist homeland, he deeply realized that the people in the north and the south strikingly differ from each other in their looks though both of them are undergoing economic hardships.
The slogan "The great leader comrade Kim Il Sung will always be with us" and the song of trust and praise for Kim Jong Il "no motherland without you" can be seen and heard everywhere in the north. This clearly shows what a profound trust the people in the north repose in him, he said, and went on:
Such a big difference between the looks of the people in the north and south can be explained by the fact that in the north there are politics and people-centred socialist system guaranteeing the people life and future but there is no such in the south.
The South Korean people express admiration at the great policy of Kim Jong Il while seeing the DPRK steadily pushing forward the second grand Chollima march to build a powerful nation, and unanimously say that they have their future in Pyongyang.
Nothing can check the sentiment of the people in the south looking up to and following Kim Jong Il, the sun of the nation and peerless hero.
Spectacular success in creation of industrial art
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Big success has been made in the creation of industrial art in the DPRK.
According to information available from the management bureau of measuring and quality control, over 3,200 designs of products, decoration and brand and package have been examined and registered this year.
More than 120 new computer fonts were completed recently.
Those designs and fonts are well received by customers for their Juche-oriented national character and economic value.
A variety of designs such as digital plane grinder, universal tool grinder and universal lathe created by industrial art studios in the domain of the machine-building industry have already been introduced into production.
The light industrial art studio of the Ministry of Light Industry applied over 130 designs of foodstuff trademarks and packing materials to production.
Successful industrial art designs including designs of dress, footwear and decoration have also been made.
The institute of children's nutrition of the Academy of Medical Science, Kim Chaek University of Technology and several units in the field of the textile industry succeeded in rounding off designs with the help of computers.
Various decoration designs of signboard, neon light, park, outdoor counter and street have also been created.
Popular among foreign customers are trademarks such as "Kangansan honey," "Adalsan liquor," "Tongyang water," "Pyongyang cold noodle" and "crown" for their peculiar well-designed trademarks.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea joined the Madrid Union for the International Registration of Trademarks (June, 1980) and the Hague Union for the International Registration of Industrial Designs (May, 1992).
Many trademarks and industrial designs sent by the DPRK are examined and registered there every year.
Aerial espionage against DPRK
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The U.S. committed more than 1,760 cases of aerial espionage on the DPRK this year with involvement of strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes of different missions, military sources said.
They conducted over 130 cases of espionage in September, at least 140 cases each in January, April, July, October and December, 150 odd cases each in May, June, August and November, over 160 cases in February and over 170 cases in March.
Involved in the espionage were U-2, RC-135, RC-12, RF-4c, EH-60, E-3 and other strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes and electronic warfare helicopters based in Japan and other overseas areas.
The planes flew over the area along the Military Demarcation Line for photographing and electronic reconnaissance on the strategic objects in the depth of the DPRK. They also committed aerial espionage on the seas and coastal areas of the DPRK, flying over the east and west seas of Korea.
The facts clearly prove that the U.S. is watching for a chance to invade the DPRK, persistently resorting to the war policy of aggression on the DPRK.
Kim Jong Il's dynamic leadership praised
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Han Tok Su, chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), issued an article titled "On the peak of the 1900s" in Tokyo.
In the article, he wrote about the dynamic revolutionary leadership provided by the respected Kim Jong Il in the last nearly five years and six months, during which he has built the world's highest monuments weathering the storms of history single-handedly in the homeland seized with the greatest sorrow at the demise of the President Kim Il Sung.
Those 2,000 odd days are just a moment in one century of the 1900s. But Kim Jong Il built such a most majestic monumental edifice in such a short period. These achievements are much bigger than what the great men produced by this century made in a hundred years, the article said, and went on:
Kim Jong Il started the glorious cause of building a powerful nation for the first time in the nation's history of 5,000 years. This is the highest monument that recorded a most brilliant page in his revolutionary history.
It is thanks to this monument built by him by revolutionary leadership in those days that our homeland is praised by humankind as a great country which boasts people's loyalty and filial piety.
The world people envy our homeland as a politically powerful nation leading the history of the times and it is demonstrating its might as a militarily powerful nation.
Chongryon has grown stronger despite trials. This is another monument in the revolutionary leadership provided by the Marshal in those days.
The enemies have become most desperate in their moves to separate Chongryon, a little entity of the DPRK, from the homeland and destroy it at any cost in this period.
But under the particular care of the great Marshal, Chongryon has grown stronger and united closer around the homeland.
I am sure that the coming 2000s will shine forever as the century of the respected Marshal Kim Jong Il like the 1900s in history.
Japan-U.S. war confab to be held
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Director general of the Japan Defence Agency Kawara reportedly told a press conference Tuesday that he will visit the United States between Jan. 4 and 9 next year to hold talks with U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen to "share views" on "issues" related to the "missile development in North Korea."
He added that he would discuss early construction of a framework to decide what Japan should provide in its cooperation with the U.S. forces during emergencies in unspecified areas surrounding Japan.
His remarks predict that Japan and the United States will get more frantic in their moves to stifle the DPRK in the New Year, too.
Greetings to Sudanese President
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed al Bashir on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of its independence.
Wishing him success in his work for the country's stability and development, Kim Yong Nam expressed belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms.
Greetings to Palestinian President
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today sent a message of greetings to Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, chairman of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and head of the Palestinian National Authority, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the start of the Palestinian revolution.
The message sincerely wished the President and people of Palestine success in the work to restore the legitimate national rights including the right to found an independent state.