Gifts and congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received gifts and a congratulatory letter from party leaders and the visiting delegations of different countries on the occasion of his 58th birthday.
Gifts came to him from Oleg Shenin, chairman of the Council of the Union of Communist Parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Norodom Ranariddh, chairman of the Funcinpec Party of Cambodia, the Communist Worker's Party of Russia, the Communist Worker's Party of Finland for Peace and Socialism, the Dominican Worker's Party and the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist), Hasanul Huq Inu, general secretary of the National Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Andy Brooks, general secretary of the New Communist Party of Great Britain, the delegation of the Union of Communist Parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the delegation of the Funcinpec Party of Cambodia and the delegation of Yuwen Middle School in Jilin, China.
Meanwhile, he received a gift and a congratulatory letter from Claudio Campos, general secretary of the October 8 Revolutionary Movement of Brazil.
Floral baskets, gifts and letters to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received floral baskets, gifts and congratulatory letters from diplomatic envoys and missions of different countries here on the occasion of his birthday.
Floral baskets, gifts and congratulatory letters were conveyed to officials concerned by diplomatic envoys and missions of China, Cambodia, Russia, Palestine, Vietnam, Indonesia, Libya, India, Ethiopia, Laos, Iran, Mongolia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Nigeria, Romania and Sweden.
Gifts and congratulatory letters were also presented to him by the resident coordinator of the UN and resident representative of the UNDP, the representative of the UNICEF and the representative of the German Interest Section here.
Stamp and envelope issued to commemorate February 16
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of the DPRK issued a stamp and an envelope to commemorate the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Pictured in the center of the stamp are Kim Jong Il's native home in the secret camp on Mt. Paektu as well as Jong Il Peak.
The stamp is rimmed with the golden band and written on it are letters "February 16" and "Juche 31 (1942)-Juche 89 (2000)."
Its frame is decorated with Hyosonghwa and the lily of the valley representing the mind of the Korean people.
The ministry also published the commemorative envelope(Choilbong), portraying Jong Il Peak and Kimjongilia.
DPRK measure committee for demanding compensation meets
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A general meeting of the DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to "Comfort Women for the Army" and the Victims of the Pacific War was held here yesterday.
The meeting reviewed the committee's activities last year and denounced the Japanese authorities for trying to evade the state responsibility and compensation for the past crimes, again talking about "payment of fund of comfort" to the victims.
The meeting discussed the issue of strengthening the solidarity with organizations in different countries this year, the 55th year since the defeat of Japanese, so as to undertake more vigorous activities to strongly demand the Japanese authorities make an honest apology and compensation.
The meeting elected Hong Son Ok, vice-chairperson of the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, chairwoman of its committee and chose its vice-chairmen, secretary general and permanent members.
Talks with foreign party delegations held
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Talks were held here yesterday between Kye Ung Thae, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Ivan Rodriguez, chairman of the central committee of the Dominican Worker's Party, and between the delegation of the WPK and the delegation of the Funcinpec Party of Cambodia headed by its deputy secretary general Serei Kosal.
At the talks, both sides informed each other of the activities of their parties and exchanged views on the issue of developing the friendly relations between their parties and a series of matters of mutual concern.
Photo exhibition held
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A photo exhibition was held yesterday at Changdok school on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of friendly relations between Changdok School in Mangyongdae district, Pyongyang and Yuwen Middle School in Jilin, China.
Invited there were the members of the delegation of Yuwen Middle School in Jilin, China headed by vice-director Cheng Qi.
It was attended by Hong Son Ok, vice-chairperson of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is also vice-chairperson of the central committee of the Korea-China Friendship Association, and other personages concerned and the teaching staff and pupils of Changdok School.
Speeches were made at the exhibition.
Its participants saw photos on revolutionary activities of the President Kim Il Sung.
Prior to the exhibition, the delegation laid a basket of flowers before the statue of Kim Il Sung at Changdok School and paid homage to him.
The delegation looked round educational facilities of the school that day.
Congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il from Dominican party
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from Ivan Rodriguez, chairman of the central committee of the Dominican Worker's Party, on a visit to the DPRK celebrating his birthday.
The letter was handed to Kye Ung Thae, member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, by the chairman.
Korean and Japanese sportspersons meet
Tokyo, February 14 (KNS-KCNA) -- A New Year's meeting of Korean and Japanese sportspersons was held in Tokyo on Feb. 10.
Present there were Kwon Sun Hwi and Nam Sung U, vice-chairmen of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, Kim Ro Hyon, vice-chairman of the DPRK Olympic Committee and chairman of the Association of Korean Sportspersons in Japan, and Yushiro Yaki, chairman of the Japanese Olympic Committee, and others.
Speakers at the meeting recalled that Jong Song Ok placed first at the women's marathon race at the 7th world track and field championships and football and basketball games were held between the north and south of Korea last year.
They hoped that the DPRK and Japan would have more brisk sports exchange, taking opportunities of having international games including Olympic preliminaries and thus register good results this year which will witness the Olympic games.
Art performances given to celebrate Kim Jong Il's birthday
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Art performances were given at theatres and palaces in Pyongyang on Tuesday to celebrate the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Appreciating the performances were Kim Yong Nam, Hong Song Nam, Kim Il Chol and other senior party and state officials.
Among those in the audience were a congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan, a congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China, congratulatory groups and delegations of overseas. Koreans and other overseas. Koreans from different regions of the world.
Invited to enjoy the performances were foreign delegations and guests on a visit to Korea, foreign diplomatic envoys and embassy officials here.
Put on the stages were such numbers as a woman solo and chorus "Song To Comrade Kim Jong Il", a song and dance "We Present Bouquets of Best Wishes To You" and a dance "Morning At Native Home In the Mt. Paektu Secret Camp."
The performers truthfully represented the reverence and best wishes of the Korean people and schoolchildren for Kim Jong Il who has demonstrated the might of Kim Il Sung's Korea to the whole world since his birth on Mt. Paektu and their pride and self-confidence of being blessed with the illustrious leaders down through generations.
An art performance of the song and dance ensemble of the Ministry of Public Security was also given at the Ponghwa Art Theatre on the same day.
Foreign guests visit revolutionary museum
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The economic and commercial councilors' corps here visited the revolutionary museum at Kim Il Sung University yesterday on the occasion of the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
They looked round historic materials and relics with deep attention, being briefed on the ideological and theoretical exploits Kim Jong Il performed through his energetic pursuit and thinking after joining the university and on the wise leadership he provided to develop the university into one of the President Kim Il Sung.
Evening gala of Ministry of People's Armed Forces
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces took place at Jonsung Square Tuesday to celebrate the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Present there were vice marshals of the Korean People's Army Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department of the KPA, and Kim Yong Chun, chief of the KPA general staff, and others.
Its participants danced to the tune of melodies of "Song of Best Wishes" and "Dear Kim Jong Il With Us," extending warmest congratulations to Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il who is greeting his birthday, blessed by all people.
When the evening gala was at its height, leading officials of the ministry joined soldiers in dancing to add to the festive mood.
Banquet given by C.C., Worker's Party of Korea
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea gave a banquet at Mokran House yesterday on the occasion of the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Invited there were foreign party delegations and delegates. Korean anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters in China, those related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and their families and foreign delegations and guests on a visit to the DPRK.
Kye Ung Thae, politburo member and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, and other officials concerned were on hand.
Choe Thae Bok, alternate politburo member and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, made a speech at the banquet.
He said that Kim Jong Il who was born on Mt. Paektu, a holy mountain of revolution, has performed immortal exploits on behalf of the party, the revolution, the country and the people, leading the Korean revolution for a long period.
He continued:
The workers' party and people of Korea have confidently and triumphantly advanced the socialist cause, decisively smashing the anti-DPRK, anti-socialist moves of the imperialists despite unprecedentedly difficult conditions.
This is a brilliant fruition of the unique army-first politics of Kim Jong Il and his outstanding army-first revolutionary leadership.
The WPK will in the future, too, further strengthen friendship and solidarity with the revolutionary and progressive political parties which are struggling for independence against imperialism and for socialism in the idea of independence, peace and friendship and make all efforts to shatter the aggression and war moves of the imperialists and build a peaceful and independent new world.
Leader of the Palang Dharma (Righteous Force) Party of Thailand Chaivat Sinsuwong who is heading the delegation of the party said in his speech that the Korean people, single-heartedly united around Kim Jong Il, are invariably advancing socialism under the wise leadership of him who is identical to Kim Il Sung.
General secretary of the New Communist Party of Great Britain Andy Brooks who is leading the delegation of the party, speaking at the banquet, said that the reality in Korea clearly proves the advantages of socialism and its sure victory. Socialism, guided by Kim Jong Il, will surely be revived and a final victory be achieved, he added.
Ivan Rodriguez, chairman of the central committee of the Dominican Worker's Party, in his speech said that now progressive mankind is significantly celebrating Kim Jong Il's birthday as a great event common to humankind in all parts of the world. This is an expression of boundless respect, reverence and praise of the revolutionary people for Kim Jong Il, the great sun in the 21st century and the distinguished leader of the world socialist movement, he stressed.
Kim Jong Il's birthday observed
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate editorials to the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
An editorial of Rodong Sinmun stresses the need to stoutly make a long journey for victory, full of revolutionary faith and optimism on the occasion of the February holiday.
The editorial says:
The glorious road covered by the Korean revolution through a protracted arduous struggle still remains thorny but the workers' party, the army and people of Korea are dynamically pushing ahead with the cause of building a powerful nation, fully confident of certain victory.
The course of the revolutionary activities of Kim Jong Il is a glorious history of a great revolutionary, a great statesman and a great people's father who has made a long journey for victory along the road explored by the President Kim Il Sung.
It is shining as a history of the struggle of a peerlessly great man who has performed world-startling immortal exploits braving ordeals with his revolutionary faith and optimism.
Though the glorious course along which he has led the Worker's Party of Korea and revolution was arduous as it was beset with manifold ordeals, he has devoted himself to the prosperity and development of the country.
The whole course of revolution traversed by him is a history of trust in which he has cemented the single-hearted unity in every way despite ordeals.
He has covered the road of total dedication, pulling through difficulties facing the revolution with his unremitting energies, the road of believing in the people as in heaven along which he relied on the people and enlisted their inexhaustible strength and a noble patriotic road on which he fully demonstrated the dignity and might of the country to the world.
The Korean people's revolutionary faith and optimism are unshakable as they were cherished in the course of the protracted and arduous struggle under his leadership and consolidated in the new era of the Juche revolution in which his idea and politics are comprehensively embodied.
The long path to be followed by us is a road of the victory of socialism for us to take to the end despite rain or snow and an ever-victorious road of advancing in the spirit of unity and breaking through difficulties with the might of unity.
Kim Jong Il is a distinguished leader who is hewing a long rigorous road of the Korean revolution in the van and the mainstay of the Korean people.
No matter how many "arduous marches" have to be made, the Korean People's Army and people under his leadership can carry them out without hesitation, meet all the vicious challenges of the enemy and win victory after victory.
The editorial calls for holding aloft forever the banner of his revolutionary idea in the long journey for revolution, firmly arming oneself with his idea and theory and carrying on a dynamic struggle along the road indicated by him.
Message of greetings to Kim Jong Il from Russia
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a message of greetings from acting President of Russia V. Putin on Monday on the occasion of his birthday.
In his message Putin wholeheartedly congratulated Kim Jong Il on February 16, the national holiday of the DPRK.
Pointing out that the experience and tradition of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries accumulated in many years become the solid foundation for the continuous development of the bilateral relations, he said that the good neighborly relationship between Russia and the DPRK favors the interests of the two peoples and it contributes to firmly ensuring peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.
He wished Kim Jong Il good health and success in his work and the Korean people peace and prosperity.
Joint national meeting of Korean children's union held
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A joint national meeting of Korean children's union organizations was held at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium today to mark the 58th birthday of General Secretary Marshal Kim Jong Il.
Present at the meeting were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and other senior officials.
At the end of a ceremony of the children's union, Ri Il Hwan, first secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, made a report.
Calling on all the members of the union to prepare themselves as reliable successors to the revolutionary cause of Juche, he said that they should learn from the brilliant boyhood and youth of Kim Jong Il to be loyal and filial children who always trust and follow him.
The reporter underscored the need for them to stoutly grow to be future pillars of the powerful nation of Kim Jong Il, holding aloft the slogan "Let us learn for Korea."
A ceremony of accession to the Korean Children's Union was held at the meeting.
Upon receiving the slogan "Let us always be ready to become future builders of communism ", the new members of the union made the first salute "always ready " an anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter and other speakers congratulated the children on their admission and urged them to grow up to be excellent future masters equipped with ample knowledge, good morality and strong physique to keep their oath made before the flag of the children's union.