Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from NDFSK
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on February 16, his 58th birthday.
The message noted that his birthday is an auspicious day when the Korean nation had a great good fortune to lead a happy life blessed with the great leaders and an eternal holiday when the eternal prosperity of Kim Il Sung's Korea and the bright future of the Juche era have been promised, the message said, and went on:
You, lodestar of national reunification, put forward the great idea of independence and the unique policy for national reunification to provide fellow countrymen with firm mainstay of reunification and aroused them to the nationwide march for reunification, so that the national reunification movement has opened a new turning phase in the nationwide movement.
You are the prominent leader of the era, the greatest of great men and the bright sun of the 21st century, who is building a new independent and peaceful world, demonstrating the might of Juche Korea and the honor of the nation all over the world with his brilliant wisdom and outstanding leadership.
It is the unshakable faith and pledge of the vanguard fighters of NDFSK and patriotic people made on the morning of the greatest national holiday in February to uphold you in high esteem, live and struggle true to your idea and intention and advance and triumph with your spirit and strategy.
We will further strengthen NDFSK and the ranks of the revolutionary movement into the ranks of Juche which absolutely worship and follow you and give spurs to carrying out the three-point charter of the national reunification and the five-point programme of the great unity of the nation so as to glorify this year on which falls the 55th anniversary of the country's liberation as a year of proud victory, breaking fresh ground in the national mass movement.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il yesterday received a congratulatory message from the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on the occasion of his 58th birthday.
The congratulatory message extends the greatest glory and the warmest congratulations to him who greeted his 58th birthday amidst infinite benedictions of the entire nation and the world progressive people.
The message continues:
You led the "arduous march" and the forced march to a heroic victory and performed immortal feats which will shine in the annals of the country, holding fast to the idea, arms and science and technology as the three pillars for the building of a powerful nation and taking the destiny of the country and the nation upon himself in the last 90s when the Juche cause and the cause of global independence were faced with unprecedented trials.
The 70 million fellow countrymen and the world progressive people are now upholding and praising you as the great defender of the dignity of the country and the nation and genuine world peace and as the brilliant sun of the 21st century who is building ideal society of humankind with independence realized.
You wisely led Chongryon and compatriots in Japan with warm care to glorify the honor of being pioneers of the overseas compatriots' triumphant movement generation after generation, smashing the suppression and persecution moves of the reactionaries within and without.
All the officials of Chongryon and compatriots in Japan will develop the movement of Korean residents in Japan on to a higher stage by conducting the patriotic movement more dynamically in step with the stern stamina of the Korean people who are greeting the 55th anniversary of the Worker's Party of Korea with signal victory in the crucible of greatly increased activity of chollima under your leadership.
Talks held between WPK and foreign parties
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Talks were held here yesterday between delegations of the Worker's Party of Korea and the New Communist Party of Great Britain.
Present there on the WPK side were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, and officials concerned, and on the opposite side were members of the delegation of the New Communist Party of Great Britain headed by its general secretary Andy Brooks.
Talks between delegations of the WPK and the Greater Romanian Party were held here on the same day.
Present were Kim Yang Gon, director of a department of the WPK Central Committee, and other officials concerned and members of the delegation of the Greater Romanian Party headed by its vice-president Dorin Lazar Maior.
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.
Greetings to President of Croatia
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Stipe Mesic on his election as President of Croatia on Feb. 15.
The message warmly congratulated him on his election and wished him success in his work for stability and prosperity of the country.
Premier of the DPRK cabinet Hong Song Nam and DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent messages of greetings respectively to their Croatian counterparts Ivica Racan and Tonino Picala.
Greetings to 4th congress of Socialist Party of Serbia
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The Worker's Party of Korea Central Committee yesterday sent a message of greetings to the 4th congress of the Socialist Party of Serbia.
The message expressed conviction that the 4th congress of the party would mark an important occasion in the party's activities to strengthen itself, defend the independence, dignity and sovereignty of the country and build a prosperous nation.
Expressing belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and peoples of the two countries would further develop in the joint struggle for independence against imperialism and for peace in the future, the message wholeheartedly wished the congress of the party great success in its work.
9th Paektusan Cup International Figure Skating Festival closed
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The 9th Paektusan Cup International Figure Skating Festival which opened at the ice rink on Feb. 12 to mark General Secretary Kim Jong Il's birthday closed on Feb. 16.
Present at the closing ceremony were Hong Song Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop and other senior party and state leaders.
Foreigners on a visit to the DPRK and embassy officials of different countries here were invited there.
Among those who took the first place in the festival were DPRK athlete Han Jong In in single (man), Russian athlete Yekaterina Kasper in single (woman), DPRK athletes An Yong Hui and Rim Thae Jun in pair and Ryu Sun Ae and Kim Yong Ho in ice dance.
A prize awarding ceremony took place at the closing ceremony.
Celebrations of February holiday held
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of youth and students in Pyongyang was held at the Central Youth Hall yesterday to mark the 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Present there were Kim Yong Nam, Kim Il Chol, Kye Ung Thae and other senior party and state officials.
The gala began with recitation of a poem carrying best wishes for longevity in good health and a dance "Bouquet of Best Wishes To You". The loyalty and filial piety of all the Korean people to Kim Jong Il were represented by dances to the tune of songs.
The youth and students celebrated the holiday night with dances representing the stamina and will of young vanguard to devotedly defend Kim Jong Il and advance under the red flag of revolution.
Art performances and concerts were given at theatres in the capital city and local areas on the same day.
A synchronized swimming took place at the Changgwang Health Complex.
U.S. urged to approach DPRK-U.S. talks with sincerity
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The insurance of peace and security in northeast Asia including the Korean peninsula depends on progress of the DPRK-U.S. talks, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary.
The talks now under way is aimed at defusing distrust and misunderstanding between the two countries and normalizing bilateral relations.
Therefore, the talks itself is a positive development in dispelling hostile relations between the two countries and ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula and Asia as a whole.
To create a favourable atmosphere for the talks, the U.S. should drop its attempt to stifle the DPRK, the commentary notes, adding: The U.S. talks about "peace" on the Korean peninsula and "improvement of relations" with the DPRK at the table of dialogue but acts different from it behind the scene.
The U.S. is staging war exercises without letup in a bid to invade the DPRK in league with Japan and South Korea while extensively reinforcing aggression troops in South Korea and its surrounding areas.
It planned to hold large-scale U.S.-Japan joint military exercises this month under the simulated conditions of "emergency in areas surrounding Japan."
All the exercises, military operations to stifle the DPRK, are a dangerous action rendering the situation of the Korean peninsula more strained.
Under such conditions the talks cannot proceed properly nor gain success.
If the DPRK-U.S. talks is oriented toward ensuring peace on the Korean peninsula and improving relations between the two countries both in name and reality, the U.S. should give up its hostile policy to stifle the DPRK.