Kim Yong Nam meets foreign guests
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, separately met and conversed with Zivadin Jovanovic, Yugoslav Foreign Minister, and his party and a delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization headed by Zakaria al Agha, member of the executive committee of the PLO and director of its Arab and international relations department, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Zivadin Jovanovic said that Yugoslavia highly appreciates the solidarity expressed by the Korean leadership and people with it during the NATO aggression against it.
Noting that the position of Yugoslavia to develop the friendly relations with the DPRK remains unchanged, he stressed that Yugoslavia will boost cooperation with the DPRK in all fields on the basis of mutual respect and trust.
He hoped the Korean people would achieve greater success in the struggle to achieve their aim under the wise guidance of the great leader Kim Jong Il.
Zakaria al Agha said that the friendly relations between the DPRK and Palestine are based on the close intimacy forged between the President Kim Il Sung and President Yasser Arafat and this friendship will grow stronger and develop in the interests of the two peoples.
Holding that Korea's reunification should be achieved by a confederacy formula set forth by President Kim Il Sung, he declared the Palestinian people would further strengthen positive support and solidarity with the just cause of the Korean people.
Senior DPRK officials meet foreign guests
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, met and conversed with Zivadin Jovanovic, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and his party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on sunday.
At the meeting the foreign minister said that the relations between the two countries are developing on the basis of mutual respect and trust, and cooperation in various fields, including mutual visits of the two parliamentary delegations, will grow stronger in the future, too.
Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met and conversed with the delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization headed by Zakaria al Agha, member of the executive committee of the PLO and director of its Arab and international relations department.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Palestinian President
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from 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.
It was handed to an official concerned by Zakaria al Agha, member of the executive committee of the PLO and director of its Arab and international relations department who is the head of the PLO delegation on a visit to Korea.
Gift to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and his party on a visit to the DPRK.
It was handed to DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from PLO delegation
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Zakaria al Agha, member of the executive committee of the PLO and director of its Arab and international relations department, on a visit to Korea handed it to an official concerned.
Yugoslav Foreign Minister interviewed
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Zivadin Jovanovic, Yugoslav Foreign Minister, at a press interview here today, expressed deep gratitude to the DPRK for the support and solidarity manifested with the Yugoslav people in their struggle for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country.
He extended full support to the stand of the DPRK on achieving the country's reunification independently and peacefully free from foreign interference.
He expressed the conviction that their visit to Korea would contribute to developing the friendly and cooperative relations between Yugoslavia and the DPRK.
The foreign minister sincerely hoped that the Korean people would foil sanctions and blockade imposed by the imperialists and build a powerful nation under the wise guidance of the great leader Kim Jong Il.
Meeting of KPA company political instructors
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- A meeting of company political instructors of the Korean People's Army was held in Pyongyang on February 26 and 27.
The meeting reviewed the achievements and experience in the party political work of strengthening companies, the main combat unit of the people's army, and discussed the tasks to bring about a revolutionary turn in the political and military strengthening of companies in conformity with the development of the Korean Revolutionary Armed Forces and the requirements of the Juche revolution in the new era.
Present at the meeting were Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department of the KPA, Kim Yong Chun, chief of KPA general staff, Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, and KPA vice marshals and commanders of all services and arms.
The participants listened to the recorded teachings given by the President Kim Il Sung at the meeting of KPA company political instructors on December 25, Juche 80 (1991).
At the meeting Jo Myong Rok conveyed a congratulatory message of the central military commission of the Worker's Party of Korea to the participants.
The congratulatory message sent warm congratulations to all the company political instructors in the people's army who are actively contributing to defending the defence line of the fatherland as firm as an iron wall while sharing life and death, bitters and sweets with soldiers in rain or snow and to building a rich and strong country.
Company political instructors helped toward preparing all the soldiers to be human bombers of Ri Su Bok type, self-blasting warriors of Kil Yong Jo type who absolutely worship, follow and devotedly defend the Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il in any adversity and trial, said the congratulatory message.
It highly praised company political instructors for greatly contributing to strengthening the combat power of the people's army and completing combat preparations by firmly building up companies as iron-like militant ranks in response to the army-first politics of Kim Jong Il.
KPA general Hyon Chol Hae made a report at the meeting.
He referred to the achievements made in strengthening the revolutionary armed forces since the meeting of company political instructors was held in the presence of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
He said that numerous companies grew into three-revolution red flag companies, twice and thrice three-revolution red flag companies and more than 280 DPRK heroes and labour heroes were produced in the last 8 years of carrying through the last instructions of the President and the words of the Supreme Commander.
He called for building up companies as militant ranks full of the spirit of devotedly defending the leader, the spirit of human bomb and suicide bombers, establishing the revolutionary system of command and strict military discipline in the companies and improving officer-men relations, army-people relations and the material and cultural life of servicemen.
He called for all the companies to conduct the three-revolution red flag movement more vigorously with the "movement for the title of O Jung Hup seventh regiment" as the general direction of military and political work, so that all of them may win the three-revolution red flag of higher degree on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the WPK.
Speeches were made at the meeting.
Korean pheasants
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Pheasants are being massively propagated in Korea.
Recent years witnessed a sharp increase of pheasants in their number. They are found not only in the area around Mt. Paektu in the northern tip of the country but in all other parts of it.
There are many farms across the country that breed many pheasants. They let them fly in mountains and conduct brisk activities to provide good habitats for them.
About 40 varieties of pheasants are known to exist in the world which are largely divided into two categories Korean and Japanese.
A Korean pheasant has a long neck and tail.
Many countries are improving breed of pheasants by using Korean pheasants as a pure stock for they are known for big bodies, good taste of their flesh and strong fertility and vitality.
Flesh of pheasants is used not only as good tonic but for the treatment of stomach, gall and roundworm troubles.
Their beautiful feathers are used for decoration.
The central committee of the DPRK natural conservation union is busy disseminating science and technology on Korean pheasants and protecting and propagating them with the approach of the world bird conference slated to be held in 2002.
Cambodian saved by KPA soldier
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Han Jae Hak, a soldier of Kim In Guk unit of the Korean People's Army, saved a Cambodian from danger at the risk of his life on Feb. 20. That day the foreigner was taking a walk on ice in the coastal waters. At about 5. 50 p.m. The ice was broken so that he took a layer of ice, floating to sea.
At that time Han Jae Hak noticed him while on duty. As soon as he reported the fact to his unit commander, he ran toward him.
He jumped into the sea without delay and pushed the layer of the ice on which the foreigner was to the shore by exerting all his efforts for over one hour in the iced water. And then he fell unconscious.
He was restored to life by the first-aid treatment of the soldiers and citizens who arrived there later. Refusing to accept the foreigners' request to go to their lodging he left for his post, saying he was on a duty.
A foreigner who was moved by the self-sacrificing deed of Han Jae Hak said:
"The Korean People's Army reared by Marshal Kim Jong Il is quite different from the others. This fact can be found only in Korea. I extend thanks to Kim Jong Il for having trained these excellent soldiers."
Family of servicemen blessed by great leaders
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- There is a family of servicemen that enjoys particular love and respect from the people in the DPRK.
It is the family of the Korean People's Army officer Om Pok Sun, 47, whose 5 members all serve in the army.
Om Pok Sun volunteered to join the KPA at a time when the situation on the Korean peninsula was on the brink of war due to the "Pueblo" incident sparked by the U.S.
In the course of her service at the woman coastal battery, she realized how dear the motherland was to her and came to have the faith that the defence of the country was the greatest patriotic devotion.
The President Kim Il Sung inspected the battery in March, 1972.
She had the honor of presenting the President with a bunch of flowers.
He instructed the women soldiers to defend the country's coast as firm as an iron-wall, saying it is very good that women in charge of one of the two wheels of the revolution are standing guard over the coastal post.
Om has remained true to his instruction throughout her military service and in the days after her discharge from the army.
She got married to an army officer. She made up her mind to give birth to children and let them stand at the defence post where she had done.
Her wish came true 20 years later. She brought up a son and two daughters and let them join the KPA. Her elder daughter Son Kyong Sil was sent to serve at the same coastal battery that she did.
Son Kyong Sil had the special honor of being received by General Secretary Kim Jong Il during his on-site guidance to the battery in November, 1997.
He was greatly satisfied to learn that Son Kyong Sil was standing guard over the post to succeed to her mother and acquainted himself in detail with what her family was doing.
He spared time to meet Om Pok Sun and her husband and told them about their daughter in January, 1998, busy as he was providing the army-first revolutionary leadership.
Taking into consideration the loyalty of Om who was devotedly working in the revolutionary spirit of soldiers, always considering herself to be in the army, even after her discharge, he showed such loving care for her as letting he rejoin the army and work as a political officer.
And on Feb. 17 this year he asked all of them to come to see him so as to arrange a meeting of the members of her family serving at the different posts.
He highly praised them as the first family of revolutionary servicemen, and called on the whole country to follow their example. He had a picture taken with them and hosted a luncheon for them.
Greatly inspired by this profound trust and love, Om Pok Sun's family is firmly determined to uphold with loyalty Kim Jong Il's army-first revolutionary leadership as a model of revolutionary families of servicemen.
Korean people's struggle supported
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Hannu Harju, chairman of the Communist Worker's Party of Finland for Peace and Socialism, who was heading the party delegation which visited the DPRK to congratulate General Secretary Kim Jong Il on his birthday was interviewed by KCNA before his departure.
He said that during his stay he came to know well about the Worker's Party of Korea which is conducting its independent and creative activities in conformity with the interest of its people and the reality of the country.
He continued:
The great exploits and experience established by the WPK in the party building and activities, the revolution and construction should be followed by all revolutionary parties in the world. The WPK is now dignified as the most powerful, ever-victorious and invincible party.
Kim Jong Il is strengthening and developing the WPK into the revolutionary party which holds Kim Il Sung in high esteem as its leader and teacher and into the militant party which is conducting its activities guided by his revolutionary idea.
There will be victory and glory ahead of the Korean people as they are led by the great party, the WPK.
Although imperialists are uttering the cry that Korean socialism will collapse, it is a downright lie.
The socialism built in Korea is the best and ideal society that should be defended and is longed for by humankind.
Our party will in the future, too, extend positive support and solidarity to the workers' party and people of Korea in their struggle to defend socialism to the last under the difficult situation.
U.S. wild dream to stifle DPRK remains unchanged
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed commentary denouncing the U.S. for continuously staging joint military exercises against the DPRK this year, saying that they are needed to cope with "possible provocation" by the DPRK.
"Possible provocation" is nothing but a fabrication, the commentary says, and continues: The DPRK has neither threatened nor provoked the U.S.
The U.S. purpose is to strengthen the triangular military alliance of the U.S., Japan and South Korea under the pretext of the "possible provocation" by the DPRK and thus stifle it through the massive military interference.
We will further strengthen our self-defensive power if the U.S. continues its moves to militarily stifle the DPRK.
It is our unchangeable stand to answer strength with strength and aggressive war with revolutionary war.
The U.S. is not interested in effective talks and improved relations but hell-bent on provoking a war to stifle the DPRK. If the U.S. employs double-dealing tactics, we will go our own way.
Talks between WPK and PLO
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Talks between the delegations of the Worker's Party of Korea and the Palestine Liberation Organization were held here on Feb. 27.
At the talks they informed each other of their party activities and exchanged views on developing friendly relations between the two parties and a series of issues of mutual concern.
The WPK side was represented by Kim Yang Gon, department director of the c.c. of the party, and other officials concerned and the other side by members of the PLO delegation headed by Zakaria al Agha, member of the executive committee of the PLO and director of its Arab and international relations department.
Talks between DPRK and Yugoslav foreign ministers
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Talks between DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and his Yugoslav counterpart Zivadin Jovanovic were held here on Feb. 27.
At the talks they informed of the situation of their countries and exchanged views on the relations between the two countries and a series of issues of mutual concern.
On hand were vice foreign minister Pak Tong Chun and other officials concerned and those accompanying the Yugoslav Foreign Minister and charge d'affaires ad interim of the Yugoslav embassy here Milorad Kosovac.
Spokesman of FM on Korea visit of Russian FM
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK today answered a question put by KCNA as regards the visit to the DPRK of the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.
He said:
As already reported, the Russian Foreign Minister, I. S. Ivanov, visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea between February 9 and 10.
The Foreign Minister conveyed regards to General Secretary Kim Jong Il from V.V. Putin, acting president and Prime Minister of the government of the Russian Federation, and his personal letter carrying the willingness to upgrade the traditional relations of friendship between the two countries.
During his stay in Pyongyang Foreign Minister Ivanov paid a courtesy call on the President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.
Talks were held between the foreign ministers of the two countries and cordial and friendly negotiations took place between military, trade and economic officials from the DPRK and Russia.
At the open-hearted and in-depth talks and negotiations the two sides agreed to comprehensively expand and upgrade the bilateral relations in political, economic, military and all other fields.
In particular, the recent signing of the DPRK-Russia treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation marked an important occasion in putting the bilateral relations onto a new higher stage.
Under the treaty the two sides are fully obliged to upgrade the friendly relations on the principle of mutual respect to national sovereignty, non-interference in other's internal affairs, equality, reciprocity, territorial integrity and other recognized international laws, and the two signatories are fully obliged neither to conclude with a third country any pact agreement nor to join in any action and measure against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the other.
The two sides recognized that to achieve the reunification of Korea on the three principles of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity fully accords with the national interests of the Korean people and it is a great contribution to world peace and security.
They stressed the need to take a joint action against all moves for aggression and war that threaten the sovereignty and stability of a sovereign state, all manner of terrorism and maneuverings against the reunification.
Besides, the two sides had a wide-ranging and in-depth exchange of views on a series of international issues of mutual concern and confirmed that their stand was identical on the most of issues.
And the two sides were of the views that the U.S. intention to build "unipolar world" and its moves to establish the "National Missile Defence" system and the plan to wild the "Theatre Missile Defense" system pushed by the U.S. and Japan pose a grave threat to northeast Asia and world peace and security and that a "missile threat" from the DPRK does not exist. And the two sides agreed to closely cooperate in the international arena to frustrate those moves.
The Russian Foreign Minister's visit to the DPRK and the signing of the new treaty marked an important occasion in developing the relations between the two countries based on the long-standing friendship in conformity with a new situation.
It is the view of the DPRK that the relations of friendship and good neighborliness between the DPRK and Russia will dynamically develop in the future, too, by the concerted efforts of the two sides in the spirit of the new treaty.
New type of laser weapon to be deployed
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The U.S. forces stationed in South Korea are stepping up a plan to deploy air-loaded laser weapon now under development by the U.S. airforce, in addition to the existing missile defence systems, under the signboard of "interception of medium- and long-range missiles" of someone, according to Yonhap News from Seoul.
A U.S. high-ranking officer in South Korea said on Feb. 25 that the U.S. airforce recently dispatched an investigation group as an initial stage of this plan to survey and analyze the atmospheric conditions of the Korean peninsula and the group has already carried out flight missions on more than 40 occasions and plans to make 2 or 3 more flights in order to survey the atmosphere.
The U.S. is bluffing that when the weapons are installed in planes of various type they can "destroy missile bases" and "intercept long-range artillery and medium- and long-range missiles."
S. Korean rulers' crimes disclosed
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed article disclosing the crimes committed by the rulers of the "people's government" in South Korea in two years of their office.
South Korea has been seriously ruined in political, economic, cultural and all other fields. This grim situation is attributable to the authorities' flunkeyist, fascist and treacherous misrule, the article says, and goes on:
The South Korean chief executive begged for the U.S. aggression forces' permanent presence in South Korea, arguing that their presence "does not injure independence of South Korea" and that "they should still remain in South Korea even after the reunification of Korea."
The South Korean authorities have engaged themselves in pro-Japanese treacherous deed. They sold Tok Islet, an inalienable territory of Korea, and fishing ground surrounding it to Japan, decided to call the Japanese king representing the criminal Japanese "Emperor" and opened door of South Korea to the Japanese corrupt "pop culture."
They have turned South Korea into a harsher fascist society against democracy than in the former dictatorial "governments".
Their "people-veiled" fascist rule, the rotten politics, has reduced the South Korean economy into total bankruptcy, producing 8 million jobless people, 13 million absolute poor and 1.1 million lunatics.
Their heinous crime in the two years of office is that they laid a more stumbling block in the way of national reunification.
The present chief executive told without hesitation that "the reunification will not be realized during his term of office" and "he will leave this issue to his successor."
The South Korean ruling quarters have taken the lead in carrying into practice the "operation plan 5027-98", the U.S.'s scenario of war against the DPRK, while crying that they would continuously pursue the "policy of engagement toward the north" under the "support" of the outside forces.
They ran wild to develop and deploy long-range missiles capable of attacking the whole territory of the north, staged war exercises such as "Foal Eagle" and "Ulji focus lens" with the U.S. aggression forces and committed armed provocations against the north at the West Sea of Korea.
As long as they are allowed to stay in power, South Korea can never escape from the yoke of double colonial subjugation by the United States and Japan and it is impossible to realize its people's desire for democracy and reunification. As a result, South Korea has gone to ruin in all fields of politics, economy and culture.
This is the lesson the South Korean people have again drawn from the two years' rule by the "people's government."
There is no future for traitors.
If the South Korean authorities are insisting on the flunkeyist, fascist, anti-reunification and confrontation treacherous policies, they will only face a bitter curse and denunciation by the people and be thrown into the scrap-heap of history.
S. Korean authorities' intensified military provocations
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities are persisting in military provocations in waters under the DPRK's military control at the West Sea of Korea these days, thus further aggravating tensions.
As known, the DPRK, through a special communique of the general staff of the Korean People's Army dated September 2, 1999, clarified the Military Demarcation Line at the West Sea of Korea and solemnly declared that the "Northern Limit Line" set by the U.S. in an arbitrary and brigandish way is invalid and its right to defend the MDL at the West Sea of Korea will be exercised by various means and methods.
Nevertheless, the South Korean authorities have illegally infiltrated "ROK" army warships into waters under our military control.
These warships are still violating these waters under the pretext of the "Northern Limit Line" unilaterally set by the U.S. masters. Worse still, they are crossing and recrossing the "limit line" like cat burglars as they did on February 22 and 25.
What cannot be overlooked is the fact that the South Korean authorities set the "period for perfecting combat preparations" from February 20 to march 30 and have drastically amassed up-to-date war equipment in this zone in view of the "lesson drawn from the naval battle at Yonphyong."
Recently alone, they introduced a new type of 155 mm self-propelled howitzers and a large quantity of shells into Paekryong and Yongphyong islets. On February 23 and 24 including mid-February, they staged a "test-firing" under the simulated conditions of a battle to "destroy" warships of the north.
In addition, they additionally deployed many guided weapons launchers in islets in waters under our military control including Paekryong, Taechong, Sochong and Yonphyong islets.
The South Korean military have reorganized the commanding system of the "ROK" army units deployed on the west coast and dispatched high-level warmongers including commanders of the second fleet and the marine corps to five islets at the west sea including Paekryong Islet to examine the "combat capabilities" and stage war exercises under various names.
We cannot but take a more serious view of these ill-boding developments as they are timed to coincide with those moves.
All facts fully show that the South Korean authorities, encouraged by the U.S., are openly preparing for a new conflict at the west sea of Korea in a bid to use it as a pretext to ignite a war of aggression on the DPRK.
They should clearly know that our people's army is sharply following every movement of the enemy with a heightened vigilance and act with discretion, properly judging what will follow the present silence.
They will be held wholly responsible for all the serious consequences to be entailed by their reckless acts.
DPRK FM spokesman on Japan's moves to codify "prefectural suffrage"
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- Japanese politicians are discussing the legislation of "prefectural suffrage" at a time when contacts and dialogues are under way for the establishment of the DPRK-Japan diplomatic relations.
In this regard a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry released a statement today taking a serious view of such attempt.
The attempt to legislate the "prefectural suffrage" is a national chauvinist deed of depriving the Korean residents in Japan of their national character and infringing upon their democratic national rights. It is also a political trick intended to split and disintegrate the community of Korean nationals in Japan and eventually, undermine the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), a dignified organization of overseas compatriots of the DPRK, the statement says, and goes on:
Instead of making apology and compensation for the crimes committed by Japan against the Korean people in the past, the Japanese authorities are seeking to reduce Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan into a political plaything of Japan, ignoring the dignity of the DPRK. This is as good as throwing a wet blanket over the desire for improved DPRK-Japan relations.
They should immediately withdraw the "bill on prefectural suffrage" and stop the anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon moves at once, if they truly hope for the improvement of relations with the DPRK.
We will decisively reject any infringement upon Chongryon and Japan-resident Koreans' democratic national rights, regarding it as an act of violating the sovereignty of the DPRK.
If the Japanese authorities persistently legislate the "prefectural suffrage," disregarding our warning, they will be entirely to blame for all its grave consequences.
DPRK FM spokesman demands withdrawal of "bill on prefectural suffrage"
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry in a statement issued today demanded an immediate withdrawal of the "bill on granting right to be elected members and chiefs of local legislative bodies to foreigners permanently residing in Japan" which was submitted by some political parties of Japan to the house of representatives on January 21.
The statement said that the moves of the Japanese political circles for legislating "prefectural suffrage" is a national chauvinist act of obliterating the national character of Koreans in Japan and trampling underfoot their democratic national rights and a political trick to split and disintegrate them and finally undermine the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), a dignified overseas Koreans organization of the DPRK.
The Japanese authorities' desperate efforts to legislate the "prefectural suffrage" are manifestation of their undisguised hostile policy toward the DPRK and an anachronistic move to repeat the crime-woven past, going against the trend of history and the era, it noted, and continued:
The policy of national discrimination and national chauvinist acts practiced in Japan so far, including outbursts made by the Japanese authorities and the right-wing reactionary forces and violence committed against Koreans in Japan, are not attributable to the absence of such "suffrage." "Ggranting" of this "suffrage" would not put an end to those practices.
The guarantee of democratic national rights and equal social policies and right to live on the basis of the recognition of their national character are most vital to the Koreans in Japan.
The criminal acts of some forces of the Japanese political circles and the South Korean rulers to deny the righteous demand of the Koreans in Japan under the signboard of the submissive "right to participate in Japanese politics" can never be tolerated nor overlooked.
The successive South Korean rulers have left no stone unturned to destabilize and undermine Chongryon, the dignified overseas compatriots organization of the DPRK, and even made no scruple of committing such treacherous acts as allowing the Japanese community to absorb the Korean community by egging some dishonest "Mindan"-lining elements steeped in national nihilism to conduct a "suffrage campaign."
The dishonest behaviour of some forces of Japanese political circles to encroach upon the national rights of Koreans in Japan in conspiracy with the South Korean rulers, a group of most wicked traitors who fan up national division even in the alien land, is touching off unanimous resentment and wrath among all the Korean people.
We cannot but take a serious note of the attempt to legislate "suffrage" debated by the Japanese political circles at a time when contacts and dialogues are under way for the opening of the DPRK-Japan relations as it gravely violates the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and the rights and interests of Chongryon and the Koreans in Japan.
The Japanese authorities' attempt to reduce Chongryon and Koreans in Japan to a plaything for Japanese politics in disregard of the dignity of the DPRK, far from making an apology and compensation for its past crimes against the Korean people is as good as an act of throwing a wet blanket over the efforts to improve the bilateral relations.
If the Japanese authorities truly wish the improved relations with the DPRK, they should immediately roll back the "bill on prefectural suffrage" and stop their anti-DPRK and anti-Chongryon moves at once.
We will resolutely foil any act of violating the democratic national rights of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan, considering them as a violation of the sovereignty of the DPRK.
If they finally legislate the "bill" despite our warning, they will be held wholly responsible for all the serious consequences to be entailed by them.
Japanese hit for moves to inscribe Korean East Sea with "Japan Sea"
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries asserted, at the 20th session of the UN group of the experts on geographical names, that East Sea of Korea should continue to be named "sea of Japan." Meanwhile, the South Korean authorities came to "compromise" with it.
Commenting on such moves, Rodong Sinmun today says:
Japan's assertion is a brigandish sophism that is quite improper in view of the historical principle and view of the realities. The sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan has been inscribed with "sea of Korea" from old times. This is the stark historical fact.
The world people have recognized the East Sea of Korea as "Sea of Korea" from long ago.
Its wrong inscription as "Sea of Japan" must be corrected on any account.
Japan's insistence on the wrong inscription at the current session reveals its unchanged nature of aggression.
Noting that at the session the South Korean ruling quarters made no protest against such unreasonable assertion but talked about "transitional step" and "simultaneous inscription," the commentary says:
This obviously shows that the Japanese blood flows in their bodies instead of our nation's blood.
To correct the wrong inscription is a joint task of the north and south of Korea, which is directly linked with the defence of the national sovereignty.
Therefore, the north and the south must take concerted action with a proper understanding of this issue.
Only by doing so, is it possible to totally clear away the old leftover of the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule and defend the sovereignty and dignity of the Korean nation.
Japan is well advised to deeply repent of its crimes it committed against the Korean people in the past and take a proper attitude to the issue of liquidating all the leftover of the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule over Korea.
Real picture of S. Korean colonial dependent economy disclosed
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The "economic recovery" touted by the South Korean authorities is a sheer lie because economy has not been recovered at all but is in the grip of total bankruptcy and the people's living in dire distress, observes Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
It goes on:
Though the South Korean rulers claim that there was an increase in "foreign exchange holdings," this was the result of snowballing foreign debts. They borrowed more than tens of billions of dollars from the U.S. and other countries in the last two years of the mandate.
For all their advertisement about the "increasing rate of economic growth" enterprises are going bankrupt everywhere in South Korea while the foreign ones operating there have attained growth.
South Korea has to pay more than a hundred billion dollars to other countries and its total foreign debts amount to three hundred billion dollars when the money borrowed overseas is added to this.
Under the mandate over 60,000 enterprises have proven insolvent in South Korea and at least 1,000 enterprises have fallen victim to foreign businesses. And the operation rate of some enterprises that survived is much lower than that before the mandate came.
The jobless rate in 1999 is 2.3 times that in the preceding years and a million more people have joined the ranks of the unemployed.
The income of the ordinary people dropped 12.7 percent in this period.
With the South Korean economy in the grip of such uncontrollable depression, the people have been thrown into bottomless abyss of death and the people's living is in the worst destitution. Only a tiny handful of the privileged class who account for less than 0.3 percent of the population have become richer.
This is the truth about the South Korean rulers loudmouthed "economic recovery."
It is the lesson to be drawn from this deplorable reality that as long as South Korea remains a colonial dependency, it can neither get rid of economic bankruptcy nor can it improve the people's living. Bankruptcy of South Korean economy is unavoidable.
KCNA on U.S. moves to establish "missile defence system"
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The United States has persistently floated the fiction of "missile threat from North Korea" in its recent documents such as "national defence report" and "annual report." It also made high-ranking officials of its administration and military let loose at international conferences a sheer sophism preposterously describing the DPRK as a "missile proliferater" and crying out for deploying a "missile defence system for the security of its mainland and allies."
This indicates that the U.S. is working hard to justify its moves to establish the "missile defence" system under the pretext of the "DPRK's missile threat" and thus to hold a missile monopoly at any cost in a bid to contain big powers which advocate multipolarization at the end of the cold war and realise its wild dream of dominating the world.
It is quite natural for various countries around the world, including member states of the European union to have opposed those moves of the U.S. and expressed profound apprehension as to them.
The U.S. development of the "missile defence" system, in the long-run, marks an occasion of escalating a global arms race.
Now that the U.S., the arch criminal posing a missile threat to the world, is working hard to establish a military monopoly by establishing the "missile defence" system, other countries can not remain a passive onlooker to this.
The DPRK cannot but take measures to cope with the missile threat from the U.S.
It is an inviolable right pertaining to the DPRK's sovereignty for it to have a corresponding option against the U.S. which is blatantly challenging it under the pretext of "threat from it."
An option does not reside with the U.S. only.
The U.S. moves to establish the "missile defence" system compel the DPRK to reconsider the moratorium on missile test-fire. Its military experts stubbornly insist on this.
The U.S. attitude only hardens the DPRK's will to develop, test and deploy missiles.
February holiday celebrated worldwide
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The 58th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il was celebrated with splendor in different countries around the world.
After the inauguration of the Peruvian national preparatory committee for celebrating the 58th birthday of Kim Jong Il in lima last December, other preparatory committees were formed one after another in more than 40 countries including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt, Russia, Italy and Mexico.
Celebrations were held from the outset of the year amidst the deep concern of parties and governments of different countries.
A DPRK film show was held in Nepal with attendance of the Minister of State in charge for local development and leaders of different political parties and an opening ceremony of the DPRK art exhibition held in Malaysia with attendance of the Prime Minister of Kedah state government and personages of political, social and press circles.
Political parties and social organizations on the five continents including the Center of Indian Trade Unions, the Party for Unity and Progress and the Defence Ministry of Guinea and the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru held multifarious functions such as celebration meetings, seminars, lectures, reading sessions, photo exhibitions and sports meet almost every day.
The Iranian newspaper Kayhan International and the Ethiopian newspaper the Monitor and other mass media carried special write-ups together with the portrait of Kim Jong Il.
Prominent figures of different countries issued statements highly lauding his greatness.
The national executive committee of the Socialist Party of Peru decided to elect him honorary chairman of its party and Piura National University of Peru awarded him a diploma of honorary doctor of philosophy and a gold medal.
Guyanese political parties organized the Georgetown Group for the Study of Comrade Kim Jong Il's works.
Bulletins were published in Peru and Guyana and magazine "Star of Independence" was released in Britain.
The participants in celebrations held in many countries the world over extended the highest glory to Kim Jong Il praising him as "sun of the 21st century," "greatest man" and "outstanding leader."