National art festival of agricultural workers held
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- A national art festival of agricultural workers is going on here to celebrate the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Attending the festival are agricultural art circle members and workers who have conducted mass cultural and art activities.
The participants made arrangements to present to the festival art pieces based on the advantage of Korean socialist rural economic system and socialist and patriotic education and other numbers of various forms.
Its opening ceremony was held at the Central Youth Hall yesterday.
Kim Jong Il praised in Guinea
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The president of the National People's Assembly of Guinea issued a statement recently in the wake of the publication of the joint editorial of newspapers Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi "glorify this year, the WPK's 55th anniversary, with signal victory in the crucible of greatly increased activity of Chollima."
Last year, the Korean people overcame a lot of untold difficulties caused by political and military pressure and blockade of the imperialists and natural disasters and made brilliant successes and a great turn, which is the fruition of Kim Jong Il's distinguished leadership, he said, and continued:
Kim Jong Il is the great leader possessed of the outstanding leadership ability.
His army-first leadership is a new method of leadership unprecedented in history. It is an example to be followed by all countries that the army defends the country and serves as creator of people's happiness, undertaking difficult projects of economic construction.
Celebrations of Kim Jong Il's birthday held abroad
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Celebrations were held in various countries to mark the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Meetings were held by the Juche Philosophy Study Committee of India and at Chambogo College of Industry of Uganda and ceremonies of opening the Korean film month and the Korean photo exhibition month at the National Theatre and the National House of Culture in Uganda.
Exhibited at the function places were photos showing the army-first revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il and the achievements of the Korean people in the construction of socialism.
Speakers stressed that Kim Jong Il is a great man of excellent caliber putting the Juche idea into practice and the genius of creation and construction, possessed of experienced leadership art, brilliant stratagem, matchless grit and rare skilful organizational ability and strong revolutionary capabilities.
They said that under his leadership the dignity of the DPRK is shining and the Korean people are creating a great history in spite of the continued vicious moves of the imperialist forces.
Meanwhile, a celebration performance was given by the police band of Guyana and Korean films including "The Second Kim Jong Ilia Show" were shown with due ceremony by a branch of the National Youth Forum of Nepal and the Tourist Agency of Malaysia.
Foreign diplomats help building of monument
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here visited the construction site of the monument to the three-point charter of national reunification on January 28 to help its builders.
They looked round the site, being briefed on the monument which is being built wonderfully as a grand historic monument to be handed from generation to generation.
After planting trees around the monument, they enjoyed an art performance and encouraged the builders, singing with them.
Councilor of the Cuban embassy Nirsia Castro Guevara expressed positive support and solidarity with the Korean people's struggle for the country's reunification, saying that national reunification is an aspiration and desire of the Korean people.
Third secretary of the Syrian embassy Riyad Abbass expressed the conviction that the Korean people will further glorify Korea as a powerful socialist nation by accomplishing the country's reunification under the leadership of the great Kim Jong Il, true to the lifetime intention of President Kim Il Sung.
Koreans' sentiments seen through Koryo celadon
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The famous Koryo celadon from Koryo (918-1392) still retains its glamour for its unique colors, designs and shapes.
Its shapes take on a wide variety of subjects symbolic of Koreans' sentiments. The household ornamentals and stationery are in the shape of dragon, lion, mandarin duck and other animals in a message of bravery, integrity, love, friendship and harmony. Kettles, bowls, wine-glasses, braziers and so on are shaped like melon, pomegranate, lotus flower, gourd and other plants to symbolize good health and longevity.
The celadon's array of decorative designs by a judicious combination of sketching and simplification are a tribute to differing symbols: those of dragon or hawk represent bravery and fortitude= phoenix, good omens, turtle, peach, crane and pine, a long life in good health, mandarin duck, butterfly and duck, love, friendship, happiness and harmony= peony blossom and peacock, living in luxury= and apricot, bamboo and reed, chastity and stamina.
In particular, the celadon is of spectacular colors blending in well with its shapes and designs. The Koryo celadon is a typically jade green which is traditionally likened to the azure blue of the autumn sky, the pure blue of the rain-cleared sky, or to the color of a stream in deep mountains. The noble and lyrical character of this color inspired so many ancient poets who compared it to jade or crystal in their verses.
The elaborate craftsmanship of Koryo celadon is an eloquent proof of the Korean nation's high cultural accomplishments.
Kim Il Sung's work commemorated
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The President Kim Il Sung delivered "On Tempering the Party Spirit of Foreign Trade Workers and Strictly Adhering To Independence In Foreign Trade," a historic concluding speech at a general meeting of the party organization of the Ministry of Foreign Trade on January 28, Juche 54 (1965).
The work comprehensively defines political and ideological traits to be possessed by the foreign trade workers and tasks and ways for improving and developing foreign trade.
The work clarifies all the issues of stepping up foreign trade and socialist construction of the country such as strictly maintaining credibility in foreign trade, expanding foreign market, making the economic ministries observe strict legal discipline of unconditionally fulfilling the plan to produce export goods in order to develop foreign trade.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il instituted significant January 28 as the day of foreign trade.
A meeting to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the publication of the work took place yesterday.
Present at the meeting were Han Song Ryong, politburo member and secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the cabinet, and officials concerned.
Minister of Foreign Trade, Kang Jong Mo, in his report said that Kim Il Sung's historic concluding speech was a library full of love which helped the trade workers become true communist revolutionaries and a very important work which indicated the road for independent foreign trade to follow and clarified issues of principle to be solved for foreign trade, guided by the Juche idea.
Reception given by Vietnamese ambassador
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK Do Thi Hoa gave a reception at the embassy yesterday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Vietnam.
The ambassador said in his speech that the Vietnamese party, government and people have valued the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties, governments and peoples of Vietnam and the DPRK provided by presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kim Il Sung 50 years ago.
The Vietnamese party, government and people have the desire to further develop the relations between the two countries and are always grateful to the Korean party, government and people for the valuable aid to their cause, he noted.
He stressed that Vietnam has watched with keen interest and supported the efforts of the Korean people for socialist construction and peaceful reunification of the country.
DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun said in his speech that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was the reflection of the will of the two governments and peoples to strengthen and develop the bonds of friendship and cooperation in realising the common cause of independence against imperialism and of socialism.
The two peoples have closely supported and cooperated in the joint struggle for national reunification and socialism against aggression and interference by the imperialists for 50 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations, he noted.
He expressed the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two peoples would continue to grow stronger and develop on good terms in conformity with the socialist cause and the interests of the two peoples thanks to the joint efforts of both sides.
Present at the reception were standing vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Vu Khoan and his party.
Three-point charter, program of national reunification
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The main key to opening an epochal phase of national reunification is to carry out the three-point charter of national reunification, stresses Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The three principles of national reunification, the 10-point program of the great unity of the whole nation and the proposal for founding the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo (DCRK) set forth by the President Kim Il Sung are a reunification program common to the nation as they reflect the unanimous desire of the Korean nation and the specific conditions of the country, the article says, and goes on:
The three principles of national reunification-- independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity--constitute the starting point, foundation and fundamental principle in settling the issue of national reunification in conformity with the Korean people's desire for independence and their basic interests.
The 10-point program of the great unity of the whole nation is a great charter of national unity and reunification to achieve the great unity of the whole nation, transcending differences in ideology, ideal and system.
The general target of great national unity clarified by the program is to build a confederal state, independent, peaceful and neutral.
Korea should be reunified according to the proposal for founding the DCRK.
The Korean nation's movement for national reunification has made a victorious advance despite the continued maneuverings of the separatist forces because it is steered by such a reunification charter and program common to the nation as the three-point charter.
Korean books presented to Cambodia
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of presenting Korean books was held at the Academy of Sciences of Cambodia on January 24 to mark the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Works of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and other Korean books and picture albums were conveyed to the president of the academy at the ceremony.
He said that they will preserve those books with much care and make effective use of them in the research work for prosperity and progress of Cambodia.
Korean circus wins gold prize
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- "Aerial flight on the iron bar" performed by the Korean Pyongyang Circus won a gold prize at the 24th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival.
Participating in the festival which took place from January 20 to 23 were excellent acrobatic pieces from 14 countries including the DPRK, China, Russia, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and the U.S.
Ugo De Roci, head of the Mernaro Circus of Italy who was a member of the festival jury, said that "aerial flight on the iron bar" was an acrobatic piece flawless in artistic value and technique.
It is unthinkable without state concern and assistance to cultural field and high cultural taste of the people that the DPRK, not large in territory and population, has taken the first place at the world festival of top notch acrobats, he said.
S. Korean chief executive advised to mind his own business
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The South Korean chief executive in a "New Year press conference" held on Jan. 26 let loose a spate of grumble and rubbish, failing to set out any "new idea on policy". He uttered nothing but a tirade in his so-called "proposal made to the north."
Ridiculing this, Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary observes that his domestic and foreign policy failure has put him on the defensive and driven him into a passive position. The recent press conference was nothing but a charade intended to win more "seats" come what may through the "National Assembly election" slated for April, the commentary notes, and continues: As regards the "issue of south-north relations" he dashed our fellow countrymen's hope for reunification by repeating the so-called "proposal for forming economic community" he had made in his "New Year address."
It was impertinent for him to make a piffle about the opening of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and western countries, the commentary points out, adding if he has time to poke his nose into our affair, he had better mind his own business past remedy.
Campaign for defeating candidates for "National Assembly election"
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- A campaign for defeating candidates has been launched in South Korea with the approach of the "National Assembly election" due in April, causing a great political sensation.
This campaign is sponsored mainly by the Citizens' Solidarity for General Elections and also joined by other organizations.
The targets of the campaign are corrupt and incompetent persons who have been engaged only in corruption and irregularities, "migrant-like politicians" who change their party affiliation according to the situation, indifferent to sufferings of people and preoccupied with greed for power and those involved in "military coups."
The Citizens' Solidarity for General Elections announced the list of 67 persons from the ruling and opposition parties and other groups as disqualified candidates while the Citizens Federation for Economic Justice made public the list of 164 disqualified candidates.
The campaign is a new movement which has never been in South Korea's history of "National Assembly elections." It is now called "greatest political event," "trend of the times" and even "civic revolution," enjoying "explosive support."
It has been an unexpected telling blow to political parties and political philistines, who are seized with uneasiness and terror.
S. Korean workers join anti-candidate campaign
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Workers of South Korea are joining the campaign for defeating candidates for the "National Assembly election" which involves people of different social standings, a radio report from Seoul said.
The South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is setting the criteria to reject candidates and plans to announce the list of undesirable candidates.
In particular the confederation plans to put anti-worker candidates on the list and stage a campaign to defeat them.
The Federation of South Korean Trade Unions started conducting an opinion poll among its unionists to set criteria and plans a campaign to defeat undesirable candidates in solidarity with civic organizations.
S. Korean cargo workers union declares general strike
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The cargo transport workers union of South Korea on January 26 declared a general strike, enraged at the authorities' infringement upon their vital rights, a radio report from Seoul said.
The trade union said that the strike would be started mainly at the container transport business on January 27 and then at railways and airports, etc. on a phased basis.
From early February the union will go on a strike in Pusan and check transport of raw materials to Pohang Iron and Steel Co., power station and other "government-run" businesses, it added.
2nd list of disqualified candidates to be published
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The Citizens' Solidarity for General Elections of South Korea declared on January 24 that it would launch a campaign for defeating those in the list of disqualified candidates, if they are nominated as candidate "national assemblymen," a Seoul-based radio reported.
The organization decided to announce the second list of those who are considered to be disqualified candidates from among former "national assemblymen" attempting to run for the "elections."
It also resolved to get more support for the campaign and conduct an all-people signature campaign for revision of the "election law" across South Korea.
U.S. State Secretary's remarks
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The U.S. Secretary of State has come in for strong criticism by Rodong Sinmun today for her recent reiteration of the United States' sustained "cooperation" with the ruling quarters of Japan and South Korea for "stability" on the Korean peninsula in "the U.S. foreign policy outline" for 2000.
The author of the commentary describes this as one more revelation of the true intention and political stand of the United States to strengthen the "cooperation system" aimed to stifle the DPRK and realize its ambition for domination and go ahead with its moves to knock into shape a new military bloc.
The commentary goes on:
The United States is poised to invariably pursue its policy designed to stifle the DPRK even in 2000, far from drawing a lesson from disgrace and shame it suffered for its vicious anti-DPRK campaign conducted under the pretext of the DPRK's "nuclear suspicion" and "missile threat" in the '90s. This is intended to contain the DPRK through a military edge at any cost and dominate the entire Korean peninsula.
This attitude on the part of the U.S. increases our anti-American feeling and hardens our resolve to pursue the policy of attaching great importance to the military and the policy of self-reliance in national defence with all consistency, the commentary notes, and stresses: The DPRK will meet the challenge of the United States with arms and defend the national dignity and socialism by the same means.
Reactionaries urged to think over serious consequences
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The recent declassification of a document in the United States testifying to the fact that there was a secret agreement between Japan and the United States on the shipment of nuclear weapons to Japan once again stripped bare the true colors of Japan as a waiting maid for the U.S. which has served the purpose of its policy of nuclear war for many years, says Minju Joson today in a signed commentary.
The "three non-nuclear principles" of Japan are nothing but a worn-out wrapper to cover up its moves for nuclear weaponization, the commentary says, and goes on:
They have long been replaced by the three principles for nuclear weaponization.
Japan intends to step up its nuclear arming without difficulty and increase the capacity for overseas expansion with a tacit approval and connivance of the U.S. in return for allowing U.S. warships carrying nuclear weapons to anchor in Japan.
The Korean peninsula is the first target of the Japanese reactionaries' moves for overseas expansion.
We have every right to protect ourselves.
We are left with no option but to hate the Japanese reactionaries who are allowing the U.S. to use their land as a base for aggression and a nuclear forward base in collusion with the United States keen on stifling the DPRK.
The Japanese reactionaries are well advised to ponder over a merciless revenge and retaliation to be invited by their reckless attack on us.
In that case it would be too late for them to regret for their rash action.
KCNA on U.S. Persistent adventurous moves for hegemony
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- As already reported, the United States failed in its missile interceptor test-fire over the pacific ocean on January 18.
This has touched off a growing opinion demanding a halt to the U.S. moves to build the "missile defense system" not only in the U.S. but among its allies, coupled with concern about technical guarantee for it.
The U.S. Defense Department, however, reclarified its stance to go ahead with the development of the system, far from lending an ear to the opinion.
This is an indication that through the introduction of the "National Missile Defense" system (NMD) the United States seeks to contain those big powers which stand for multi-polarization and have an unchallenged military edge over them in an adventurous bid to establish global hegemony.
What merits a serious attention is that the U.S. missile interceptor test-fire and the expression of its stand in its wake came when the DPRK-U.S. high-level negotiations for the settlement of the missile issue and a number of other matters were under way.
The DPRK took the initiative of declaring moratorium on its missile test-fire to take effect since September last year with a view to creating a favorable climate for the negotiations and bringing the DPRK-U.S. high-level talks to a success.
The United States not only conducted the recent missile interceptor test-fire as a response to it but officially declared that it would go ahead with the development of the "NMD" on the pretext of the DPRK's "missile threat."
This is another intolerable challenge to the DPRK's magnanimous gesture and good faith to seek a negotiated settlement of the pending issues.
Our moratorium on the missile test-fire can be reconsidered depending on the U.S. attitude.
The United States should properly behave, clearly mindful of the adverse impact its adventurous moves to develop the "NMD" escalated under the pretext of "missile threat" from the DPRK will have on the efforts to improve the bilateral relations and the future DPRK-U.S. high-level negotiations.
We will make an appropriate decision on the issue of bilateral relations, including moratorium on the missile test-fire, while closely watching the U.S. attitude.
KCNA on Japan's attempt to avoid liquidation of past crimes
Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- On January 23 the right-wing forces of Japan reportedly inaugurated what they call "local dietmen's council for rescue of Japanese kidnapped by North Korea" and decided to conduct a nationwide "campaign" for the "settlement of suspicion of kidnapping." The Sankei Shimbun and men of the press in the service of right-wing forces persistently spread the "suspicion of kidnapping" to incite anti-DPRK feelings among the Japanese people. Some senior civil officials of Japan do not hesitate to describe the settlement of the "suspicion of kidnapping" as a major prerequisite to restart of food aid.
The DPRK has already made clear its position on the "suspicion of kidnapping." There is no room for haggling on it with right-wing elements bereft of sound way of thinking and reason, it thinks.
The point is why some senior officials of the Japanese government who "welcomed the improved relations with the DPRK" are persistently raising a hue and cry over non-existent "suspicion of kidnapping" with no reasonable ground even now when talks for normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries are high on the agenda.
Japan is crying out for settlement of "suspicion of kidnapping" as a pre-condition for the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations. Lurking behind it is a sinister intention to ensure its high profile in the coming negotiations between the two countries and avoid the liquidation of past crimes rather than to focus on the improvement of bilateral relations.
The right-wing forces of Japan think that if they succeed in branding the DPRK as "abductor," they may take a position favourable to them at the negotiations. Their miscalculation goes only to betray their moral inferiority and shamelessness.
The key to the solution to the outstanding issues between the DPRK and Japan is Japan's sincere liquidation of the past crimes. The improvement of bilateral relations would have been unthinkable without it.
If Japan truly wants to improve the relationship with the DPRK, it should stop trying to use non-existent "suspicion of kidnapping" for putting pressure upon the partner of dialogue. It should also honestly admit the abduction of millions of Koreans, the stark historic fact which it still refuses to do so.