Paek Nam Sun meets standing vice-FM of Vietnam
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun today met and conversed with Vu Khoan, standing vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, and his party who paid a courtesy call on him.
Greetings to Jordanian PM and FM
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Abdul Rauf al Rawabidah on his reappointment as Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun to Abdallah al-Hatib on his reappointment as Foreign Minister.
The messages expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further develop and wished them new success in their responsible work for the stability and prosperity of the country.
Korean books presented to Nepal
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of presenting Korean books was held in Kathmandu on January 20.
Conveyed at the ceremony were famous works of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, including the "Kim Il Sung's Works," "Kim Il Sung's Selected Works" and "Kim Jong Il's Selected Works," and other Korean books.
Kesab Lal Shresta, member of the central committee of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) and deputy head of the party school, said that the party central committee decided to put main stress on ideology and conduct the vigorous ideological education among the party members and people.
To this end, it resolved to furnish the party school and local party organizations with celebrated works of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and books on the history of the Korean revolution above anything else and widely disseminate them, he added.
Kim Jong Il's birthday to be celebrated abroad
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- The preparatory committees to celebrate the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il were inaugurated in Bulgaria and Kyrgyzstan.
The first secretary of the c.c., the Bulgarian Communist Party and the first secretary of the c.c., the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan were elected chairmen of the preparatory committees.
A preparatory committee of Guinea was formed in Conakry on January 14.
The preparatory committees decided to hold various celebration events.
Chongryon officials meet Italian ambassador
Tokyo, January 25 (KNS-KCNA) -- Chief vice-chairman Ho Jong Man and vice-chairman Nam Sung U of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) met and conversed with the Italian ambassador to Japan on January 24 as regards the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level between the DPRK and Italy.
Saying that the opening of diplomatic relations between Italy and the DPRK is supported and welcomed by many countries, the ambassador hoped for more brisk exchange in the political, economic and cultural fields between the two countries.
The chief vice-chairman said that Chongryon officials and Korean residents in Japan were also pleased with the establishment of these relations, calling for boosting the friendship and exchange between Chongryon and the Italian embassy in Tokyo with this event as a momentum.
Cambodian party delegation visits DPRK embassy
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Khmer Combatants Party for Mulinaka and Liberty of Cambodia led by chairman Prum Neak Reach paid a congratulatory visit to the DPRK embassy in Phnom Penh on January 21 on the occasion of the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The delegation laid a floral basket before the portraits of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and paid their respects to them.
The head of the delegation said to the ambassador that his party deems it great pride and honor to have had the special relations of friendship with the great Worker's Party of Korea and will do its utmost to develop these precious relations throughout generations to come.
It is entirely the brilliant fruition of Kim Jong Il's wise army-first politics that Korean socialism is winning victory after victory under the present complex situation, he added.
Extra-mural activities of schoolchildren brisk
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- Korean schoolchildren are now conducting brisk extra-mural activities during the winter vocation.
They are consolidating the knowledge acquired through lessons, building up their physical strength and doing a lot of work beneficial to society and collective through colourful extra-mural activities.
An increasing number of schoolchildren are visiting children's palaces and houses built in different parts of the country every day to acquire general knowledge about basic sciences and improve sports techniques and skills at music, dance and fine arts according to their taste and aptitude.
Youth league and children's union organizations of schools are arranging visits and excursions to revolutionary sites, museums, exhibitions and grand monuments.
Schoolchildren in Pyongyang and Ryanggang Province are making excursions to the native home of President Kim Il Sung in Mangyongdae and Jong Il Peak.
Through their visits or excursions they are deeply grasping the history of revolutionary activities of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and widening their knowledge of Korean history, geography and culture.
Meetings with heroes of the republic, public discussions on books and on experience gained by honor students are also organized these days.
Schoolchildren are also conducting various social and political activities including brass band and art propaganda team activities at factories, enterprises and construction sites where production and construction are stepped up in response to the joint New Year editorial.
Folk games such as kite flying, shuttlecock and top spinning, and skating and sledding of schoolchildren are also conspicuous in Pyongyang and local areas.
Miserable end of aggressors
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- The U.S.'s armed spy ship "Pueblo" anchoring at the river taedong flowing through Pyongyang, is now visited by an endless stream of people from all walks of life and servicemen despite freezing cold in January, in the depth of winter in the DPRK.
The ship was captured by the navy of the Korean People's Army on January 23, Juche 57 (1968) while committing espionage after illegally intruding into waters off Wonsan on the east coast of Korea, as instructed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
Preserved aboard the ship are historical evidence, including an integrated intelligence cabin equipped with sophisticated spying devices and equipment.
When the spy ship was captured, the U.S. threatened to "take back 'Pueblo' even by use of force," bringing the situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of war.
The DPRK reacted to this by declaring that it would return retaliation for "retaliation" and an all-out war for an all-out war.
In December of the same year, the U.S. was compelled to fully admit that it violated the DPRK's territorial waters and apologize for it and sign a document giving assurances that it would not repeat such crimes.
The then U.S. president Johnson confessed that it was the only document of apology ever to be signed by the U.S. in its history.
The history of the U.S.'s invasion of Korea goes back to 1866 when the U.S. ship "General Sherman" invaded Korea.
The ship committed arson, plunder and espionage in the area along the River Taedong. Infuriated by this, the people in the walled city of Pyongyang sent it to the bottom of the river by applying a "fire stratagem."
A monument to the sinking of "General Sherman" stands on the bank of the river.
"Pueblo" is anchoring just in front of this monument.
It is the mettle of the Korean people to mercilessly punish those violating the sovereignty of the country and dignity of the nation.
Japan's plan to create commando force blasted
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary denounces the plan of the Japan defense agency to create a commando force belonging to the ground "Self-Defence Force."
Dismissing this as part of Japan's moves for reinvasion, the commentary observes its plan to create a commando force with well-trained soldiers is intended to carry out overseas military operation by surprise naval attack and landing operation.
It continues:
The operations of the projected Japanese commando force are targeted against the DPRK. This is evidenced by the Japanese reactionaries' open assertion that the commando force is "to cope with the penetration of armed guerrillas from North Korea."
Having converted the relations between Japan and the DPRK into belligerent ones, the Japanese reactionaries are waiting for a chance to unleash a war for re-conquest of Korea.
It is the spirit of samurais that they never unsheathe their swords before hurting someone. Having inherited this spirit, the Japanese reactionaries can reinvade Korea any moment.
If Japan is allowed to move as now, a war between the DPRK and Japan is unavoidable.
If they dare reinvade Korea, the Korean people and the people's army will wipe them out to the last one.
The Japanese reactionaries' projected creation of commando force is as foolish an act as precipitating their own destruction.
Independent and peaceful reunification of Korea supported
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- The 22nd meeting of the Josho Regional Council for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea was recently held in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
The meeting summed up the council's activities for 1999 and adopted its action programme for 2000 and a resolution.
The program underscored the need to further expand the movement for full support and solidarity with the Korean people's struggle for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country. It called for vigorously promoting the activities urging Japan's apology and compensation for its past crimes, withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea and a conclusion of peace accord between the DPRK and the United States.
The resolution disclosed the Japanese authorities' anti-DPRK campaign and their moves to turn Japan into a military power and embellish its past, which are getting all the more pronounced these days.
It said that they would activate the solidarity movement for peace and stability of the Korean peninsula, the establishment of Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations and the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea in the New Year.
U.S. aircraft carrier's call at Pusan port
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson on Wednesday pointed out that a U.S. aircraft carrier's call at Pusan port of South Korea is not merely for "rest" and "supply of goods" to its sailors but for a new war against the DPRK.
Recently the U.S. forces command in South Korea announced that an aircraft carrier belonging to the 3rd fleet of the U.S. pacific fleet command would stay at Pusan port from January 26 to 30.
Commenting on it, the paper described this pirate ship's first access to South Korea as part of DPRK-targeted war preparations.
The South Korean ruling quarters are running amuck to stifle the DPRK militarily in "cooperation" with outsiders, the paper noted, and said:
The carrier's call at South Korea is part of the U.S.-South Korea "cooperation" against the DPRK and it is a dangerous move to unleash a war.
We have already solemnly declared that we will deliver decisive counterblows to those who infringe upon the sovereignty and dignity of our fatherland.
If the enemies finally ignite a war against the DPRK, ignoring our warnings, they will be destroyed by mercilessly annihilating strike.
Group for defending sovereignty over Tok Islet formed
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- A ceremony took place at sea off Tok Islet on January 23 to form a civilians' group for defending sovereignty over the islet, a radio report from Seoul said.
Over 500 citizens at the ceremony renewed their determination to arouse public attention to Tok Islet and defend sovereignty over it through frequent visits to it.
They condemned the South Korean "government" for always taking a humiliating and incompetent attitude to the Japanese government.
A resolution adopted at the ceremony urged the South Korean "government" to nullify the reactionary "fisheries accord" and the Japanese government to immediately stop the moves to apply Japanese census registration to the islet.
Tok Islet belongs to Korea
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- A campaign for applying Japan's census registration to Tok Islet with the approval of the authorities is now being conducted in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
The Japanese government is inciting the campaign, saying "there is no problem."
Doctor of history Kim Un Thaek of Kim Il Sung University in an interview with KCNA said that it is a premeditated and provocative act of aggression to occupy the islet, an inalienable land of Korea.
He continued:
Tok Islet, part of the territory of Korea, consists of two islets (east and west islets) on the East Sea of Korea surrounded by some 30 reefs situated in 131 degrees 52 minutes 40 seconds of east longitude and 37 degrees 14 minutes 18 seconds of north latitude.
The islet, along with Ullung Islet, has historically existed as inalienable part and parcel of the Korean territory since it was discovered by Koreans.
The islet, along with Ullung Islet, belonged to Silla dynasty in the name of Usanguk in the period of the three kingdoms (Koguryo, Paekje and Silla) on the Korean peninsula and it had since been under the administrative jurisdiction of the then Uljin county in the period of Koryo and ri dynasties.
The islet has been recorded as a traditional land of Korea in historical materials of Korea including "true records of king Sejong" (completion in 1454) and "geography" and in historical materials of Japan including "Korean coastal hydrographic collection," "Tanguksonji" (ancestral Korea map) and "Shimane Prefecture map."
The islet is recorded as the territory of Korea in the "Korean hydrographic map" and "Japanese hydrographic map" published by the navy of Japan between 1886 and 1920, a naval map published in 1887 and the "historical map of new Japan" edited by the ministry of education in 1931.
In 1693 Japan's feudal government in a paper sent to the Shimane prefectural governor instructed him to hand over a document confirming Ullung and Tok islets do not belong to Japan to An Ryong Bok, a Korean on a visit to Japan for the settlement of the claim to islets.
Japan's allegation that Tok Islet belongs to it is merely based on the fact that Japan unilaterally annexed the islet and released a public notice of Shimane Prefecture in 1905 when it occupied Korea.
The Potsdam Declaration and the Cairo Declaration clarified that the territory of Japan was limited to four proper islands and some other islands to be decided on by the allied countries and Japan was deprived of the ownership of all the prewar Japan-controlled islands, which the doctor said proves Tok Islet clearly belonged to Korea.
The campaign for applying Japan's census registration to Tok Islet was motivated not only by the Japanese reactionaries' covetousness for rich natural resources in its waters but also by their ulterior intention to lay a firm foothold for territorial expansion and comeback to Korea, he stressed.
Tok Islet is inalienable part and parcel of Korea to which no one can raise claim.
S. Korea: "ULD" breaks with "DP"
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- The "United Liberal Democrats" of South Korea on Tuesday announced breakaway from the "Democratic Party" in "policy cooperation," a radio report from Seoul said.
The "ULD" secretary general said that continued mutual cooperation is meaningless since the "DP" refused to recognize his party and that the "ULD" will join hands with the opposition "Grand National Party."
He also hinted that his party would not rule out possibility of its withdrawal from the coalition "government" according to the times and circumstances. And he announced that the "ULD" calls off the talks between the chief executive and Kim Jong Pil due on Thursday.
The "Citizens' Solidarity for General Elections" on January 24 made public a list of 67 persons considered to be disqualified candidates, among them Kim Jong Pil, present "National Assembly" speaker Pak Jun Gyu and 14 other members of the "ULD."
Enraged at this list, the "ULD" has expressed its strong distrust in the present ruler and the "DP," complaining that the "DP" and the "Chongwadae" might be involved in making the list.
Election-related struggle expanded
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- The Federation of South Korean Trade Unions reportedly issued a statement on January 24 as regards the announcement of the list of disqualified candidates by the "Citizens' Solidarity for General Elections" (CSGE).
Fully supporting the announcement, the federation in the statement urged all the political parties to accept the will of the people with modesty.
It declared that it would continue the campaign for opposing nomination of anti-worker candidates and defeating them and, at the same time, campaign for "pro-reform and pro-worker politicians."
Meanwhile, the Kwangju Religionists Council for Peace involving Buddhists, Catholics and Christians in Kwangju released a statement on the same day supporting the CSGE's announcement.
Students of five universities in Inchon called a joint press conference at which they declared that they would join civic organizations in the campaign for defeating candidates.
Corrupt politics in S. Korea
Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- As a civic organization of South Korea released a list of 67 "undesirable figures" out of the candidates for the upcoming "National Assembly election" shortly ago, the South Korean political circle finds itself in such a chaos as a disturbed honeycomb.
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary observes:
It is the first time that such a strong anti-candidate campaign was launched in South Korea before the election. It is a natural outcome of the corrupt politics.
Those in power in South Korea are traitors without exception who have betrayed the country and nation for their personal wealth and luxury. Like their predecessors the rulers of the self-proclaimed "people's government" have enforced a traitorous rule, going against the people's aspiration after independence, democracy and reunification.
The on-going campaign is an eruption of the South Korean people's disappointment and wrath at the corrupt politics and treacherous rule.
It is the unanimous feeling of the South Korean people that they can expect nothing from the corrupt politics.