Kim Jong Il receives Ho Jong Man
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il on March 1 received Ho Jong Man, chief vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) staying in the socialist homeland.
Ho Jong Man offered the warmest greetings to Kim Jong Il, representing the unanimous loyalty and reverence of all the Chongryon officials and 700,000 Koreans in Japan.
Kim Jong Il expressed thanks for this and conversed with him in a cordial atmosphere.
He arranged a dinner for Ho Jong Man.
Message of sympathy to Malagasy President
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Feb. 29 sent a message of sympathy to Didier Ratsiraka, President of Madagascar, in connection with the human loss and big damage from cyclone and torrential rain in Toamasina Province and many other areas of the country.
The message expressed the belief that the President, his government and people would recover from the damage and bring the life of the people in the afflicted areas to normal as soon as possible.
Greetings to Libyan leader
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today sent a message of greetings to Moammer El Gaddafi, leader of the great September 1st Revolution of the great socialist people's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of its proclamation.
Expressing the belief that the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to develop in the future, too, the message sincerely wished him and the Libyan people greater success in their work for the independent development and prosperity of the country.
DPRK delegation leaves
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegation led by Kim Kye Gwan, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, left here today to participate in the DPRK-U.S. talks to be held in New York.
The delegation was seen off at the airport by vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Kil Yon.
Greetings to Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Caetano N'tchama upon his appointment as Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau.
The message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to grow stronger and develop in the interests of the two peoples and wished him success in his work.
Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to Yaia Djalo upon his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and community.
Congratulatory message to Finnish President
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, yesterday sent a congratulatory message to Tarja Halonen on her assumption of office as President of Finland.
The message wished the President success in her responsible work for the prosperity of the country and expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further develop on good terms.
Brisk preparations made to found WPK
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- The liberation of Korea in August Juche 34 (1945) gave a great impetus to the work for founding the Worker's Party of Korea, a Juche-type revolutionary party.
The President Kim Il Sung set forth a policy on creating a powerful party central guidance body in North Korea, first of all, under the situation where the country was divided into two parts after its liberation.
The complicated internal and external political situation of the Korean revolution at that time urgently called for the emergence of a revolutionary party capable of correctly leading the people's struggle to build a new society.
The U.S. who occupied South Korea and their stooges brought together reactionary forces in a bid to disunite the revolutionary forces for building a new country while all sorts of "communists" were locked in scrambles for power to expand the sphere of their influence.
Under this situation Kim Il Sung met many communists separately active at home and abroad to explain to them the line of nation-building and policy on founding the party in detail and thus get them united close.
He dispatched anti-Japanese revolutionary veterans to local areas so as to revamp and expand party organizations in a short span of time, organize party cells and increase the party membership at factories and enterprises and in rural areas.
He also set up institutions to train party cadres on a systematic basis.
On the basis of these preparations he called a party inaugural congress in Pyongyang on October 10, 1945.
At the congress he formed the central organizing committee of the communist party of North Korea as a party central guidance body and proclaimed its foundation.
The party foundation enabled the working class and other laboring people of Korea to have reliable vanguard and political staff and successfully carry out the cause of building a new society under the leadership of the party.
DPRK proud of birth of many triplets
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Seven triplets were born in the first month of the year to please the people of the DPRK.
More than 260 triplets and quadruplets have been born at the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital since it was opened in Juche 69 (1980).
The state has bestowed all sorts of profound solicitude upon the newly born triplets and quadruplets, considering their birth as a sign of the country's prosperity and an auspicious event.
According to Yu Yong Il, deputy director in charge of technical affairs of the hospital, the best health care is given to the mothers and the babies. The doctors and nurses in charge of the triplets and quadruplets and their mothers always pay primary attention to their condition. They are entirely brought up by the state till they join kindergartens.
In addition, the state grants allowance to the triplets and provides foodstuff, dresses and bedclothes, medicament and all other things free to them till they go to school.
It is a commonplace in this land that a group of competent doctors is formed for the newly born triplets and their mothers and helicopters fly to bring them to hospitals.
Profound, indeed, is the loving care of the great leader Kim Jong Il for the triplets and quadruplets.
He presented silver knives and gold rings to the newly born triplets and quadruplets, including 148 triplets born after the country's liberation to be preserved by them forever. Whenever opportunities present themselves, he inquires after the work and life of all of them and shows loving care for them, saying that they should be brought up as true sons and daughters of the country.
In November of 1996 he spared time to meet 22 triplet soldiers of the Korean People's Army who were attending the third meeting of youth league workers of the KPA. Greatly pleased to see all of them stoutly grown up to stand guard over the posts for the defence of the country, he presented gold watches to them.
His loving care for them was unbounded. Triplet officers Rim Tong Son, Rim Tong Jung and Rim Tong Hu were honored to receive wedding tables of best wishes from him at the same time.
The triplets and quadruplets who have grown up under the great care of the party and the state are devoting themselves to repaying it at educational institutions of various levels and at posts for the defence of the country and in other domains.
Spring tree-planting starts
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Spring tree-planting started in Korea.
The Ministry of Land and Environment Protection set a target to plant hundreds of millions of rapidly growing trees of good species such as larch, pine-nut, poplar and acacia trees in the area of about 100,000 hectares during the period of spring tree-planting from March to May this year.
Many trees will be planted at revolutionary battle and historic sites, along highways and railway lines, in provincial seats, cities, county seats and recreation grounds.
The President Kim Il Sung climbed up moran hill in Pyongyang on March 2, Juche 35 (1946) to plant trees and teach how to build up it into a picturesque pleasure ground for the people.
That day was set as the tree-planting day in Korea.
The state annually carries out a spring tree-planting as a mass movement on the occasion of the day.
Last year over 833 million trees were planted on mountains and fields throughout the country.
Working people, youth and students in Pyongyang, south Hwanghae and south Phyongan provinces and all other parts of the country are now all out in a drive to cover mountains, fields, streets and villages with green foliage.
S. Korean rulers' anti-DPRK confrontation moves condemned
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued its information bulletin no. 802 on March 1 condemning the South Korean authorities for justifying their anti-DPRK confrontation moves by clamoring about the "engagement policy toward the north."
The bulletin said:
Some time ago, the "vice-Minister of Unification" uttered that they would induce someone to "reform" on the basis of the "Liberal Democracy System."
His remarks betray the anti-DPRK confrontation moves to destabilize the DPRK and realize "unification under the system of liberal democracy."
It is impertinent for those who are colonial stooges, puppets of the outside forces, to talk about "engagement" and "change" toward someone.
Worse still, they are even trying to extend to the DPRK their wretched colonial fascist ruling system which has turned South Korea into a waste land of independence and democracy and a living hell.
Their attempt is an illusion that can never be realized any time.
The baloney of the South Korean rulers is no more than the scream of those in fear of the might of our people and people's army who are vigorously advancing toward a powerful socialist country.
However loudly they may propagandize about the "engagement policy," we will go our own way and climb the pinnacle of victory.
Projected deployment of new type of laser weapon denounced
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- The United States' plan to equip the U.S. air force stationed in South Korea with a new type of laser weapon for intercepting missiles under the signboard of "intercepting medium- and long-range missiles" of the DPRK is aimed at making a forestalling strike at it, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary. It urges the United States to clarify its stand concerning this plan.
The commentary goes on:
The DPRK army and people strongly assert that the DPRK should not deal with the United States any more as its deeds do not agree with its words though it is talking a lot about "dialogue" and "improved relations" with the DPRK.
The United States is seriously mistaken if it seeks to get any concession from the DPRK in the dialogues through a military pressure.
It is the spirit and grit of the Korean People's Army and people that once they are exposed to any threat, they do not waver but stand up to cope with it.
The DPRK is strong enough to retaliate against any u.s. Strike.
The KPA and people are firmly determined to make the U.S. Imperialists pay a thousand times for the blood shed by millions of innocent people massacred by them during the Korean war.
If the United States eventually starts a war, the DPRK will not avoid it.
The United States should clearly tell the DPRK whether it stands for dialogue or war, and improvement of relations or confrontation.
The DPRK will closely watch the U.S. attitude and take a corresponding action.
If the United States wants dialogue and improved relations with the DPRK without any prejudice, it should stop military threat and war moves against the DPRK at once.
Film show on National Day of Bulgaria
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- A film show was held by the Korea-Bulgaria Friendship Association at the Chollima House of Culture on March 1 on the occasion of the National Day of Bulgaria.
Present there were Jon Kuk Man, vice-Minister of Education and chairman of the association, officials concerned and working people in the city.
They appreciated Korean feature film "the Forest Sways" part 6.
National spirit of March 1st condemns traitors
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Yun Song Sik, permanent member of the Consultative Council of Former South Korean Politicians In the North for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification, made public an article headlined "The national spirit of March 1st condemns traitors."
Although 81 years have passed since the March 1st Popular Uprising, the anti-Japanese shouts which were raised across the country are still lingering in the ears of all fellow countrymen, the article said, and went on:
The Korean people's March 1st struggle for independence demonstrated all over the world that Koreans are the people with strong independence, indomitable stamina and ardent patriotism.
The Japanese militarists are hindering the Korean nation's cause of reunification by thrusting their claws of aggression into our country with the backing of U.S. in a bid to restore their old position in the Korean peninsula.
The present rulers in the south are not only itching to make a clean sheet of Japan's past crimes against Korea but also making no scruple of doing a treacherous act of putting forward Japanese militarism as the "leader in aggression of Asia."
The patriotic people in South Korea should not overlook the reinvasion moves of the Japanese militarists and the treacherous act of the pro-American and pro-Japanese flunkeyist traitors.
There is only extension of MDL fixed by the DPRK at West Sea of Korea
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Recently the South Korean authorities, backed by the U.S., have left no stone unturned to "maintain" the illegal "Northern Limit Line," while resorting to unabated military provocations at the west sea.
In this regard the spokesman for the navy command of the Korean People's Army issued a statement today.
He said:
Of late the South Korean authorities, supported by the U.S., are getting frantic in their ill-boding moves to spark another shocking incident at the west sea, going against the trend towards detente and peace.
Far from drawing a due lesson from the west sea incident which took place last year, they continue to deploy more 155 mm self-propelled howitzers and other combat equipment of the latest type and armed forces on five islands at the west sea. They dispatched high-ranking military officers there one after another to have operation confabs almost every day to "maintain" what they call "Northern Limit Line" and provoke another war under that pretext.
Some time ago, they let warships of the navy of "ROK army" frequently violate the MDL at the west sea as part of their provocations in the sea in a bid to "maintain" the illegal "Northern Limit Line" at any cost.
They went the length of interpreting the basic agreement between the north and south and the north-south non-aggression agreement, products of our sincere efforts to implement the three principles of national reunification, in favor of their own interests and using the agreements for justifying the "Northern Limit Line."
As for the boundary and zone laid down in those agreements, they mean the extension of the Military Demarcation Line at the sea fixed under the Korean Armistice Agreement which was already agreed upon by the warring sides from the ground MDL and the boundary line between Hwanghae and Kyonggi provinces stipulated by the AA, not the "Northern Limit Line" fixed unilaterally by one of the warring sides without the consent from the other.
The South Korean authorities claim that the "point" which was fixed for meeting of the north and south at the sea when many relief goods were delivered to the South Korean side for the flood victims in 1984 as the result of a humanitarian measure as well as our stand that represented warm love for the compatriots is evidence of our recognition of the "Northern Limit Line."
They are nowadays distorting facts, saying that at a meeting of the military armistice commission in 1963 we recognized what they call "Northern Limit Line" and that our side was not opposed to the "Northern Limit Line" which was used as a base line when the west sea boundary in the flight information zone was fixed in 1997.
When there is no response to their allegations, they are using sea routes and movements of our navy warships and civil ships at the west sea for justifying the "Northern Limit Line," and stole a 1959 version of a publication whose prescription expired to prove the "validity" of the "Northern Limit Line."
They are now using even a "principle" and "principle of prescription" for maintenance of the "Northern Limit Line" only to be ridiculed by the world people. The principle means that the acquisition of rights is recognized by such complex factors as agreement with a country concerned, its consent and connivance, which does not work even in the western world where a jungle law prevails. This reminds one of a saying a drowning man will catch at a straw.
With whom did they agree and from whom did they get consent to fix the "line" and at whose connivance did they have the right recognized?
The "principle of prescription" is a brigandish logic as it stipulates that one side's violation of sovereignty over a territory, a clear breach of the international law, is not punishable if the other side fails to protest it and connives at it for a long time. Moreover, the "principle" asserts that there should be tranquility without inviting protest.
Judging from this, the South Korean authorities can neither turn their face away from the strong demands of the fellow countrymen for the nullification of the "Northern Limit Line" nor can they describe the controversial waters of the west sea of Korea as "calm waters."
The criterion that should be applied in settling the sensitive and important issue is a fair legal ground and desire and demand of the army and people.
The "Northern Limit Line" advertised by the South Korean authorities is the ghost line unilaterally fixed by the side of the U.S. forces without any prior consultation with our side= it is an illegal line that ignores the elementary requirement of the armistice agreement and international law of the sea.
The enemies themselves admitted that the "Northern Limit Line" was unilaterally fixed by the side of the U.S. forces in august 1953.
The far-fetched description of the illegal line which was fixed without any legal ground, consent from the other warring party and any notification to the DPRK, as the MDL at the sea cannot be construed otherwise than a brigand's act of drawing a line in the middle of the yard of other's house without any notification and insisting that belongs to him.
We have so far made all sincere efforts to settle the issue of the MDL at the west sea that has been a source of military conflicts.
In particular, now that the issue is related to the matter of armistice, we tried to settle the issue with the side of the U.S. forces, a signatory to the Korean Armistice Agreement . Taking interests of the South Korean authorities into full consideration, we have worked with the utmost magnanimity and patience to settle the issue through the three-way negotiations involving the DPRK, the U.S. and South Korea.
The U.S. forces side backpedaled its earlier claim of its own accord that it could not discuss the issue related to the armistice under any circumstances without a mandate as "allied forces" and took the conflicting attitude by asserting that the issue of the MDL at the west sea should be solved through discussions with the South Korean side which is not a signatory to the Military Armistice Agreement. This was a crafty trick to flee from the responsibility for the unilateral fixing of the "Northern Limit Line."
Under the situation the side of the Korean People's Army declared in September last year the fair and aboveboard MDL at the west sea acceptable to anyone reflecting the desire and demand of the people of the whole country for peace and stability.
Firstly, the MDL at the west sea declared by the DPRK is the most correct MDL at the sea that was fixed to meet the requirements of the Military Armistice Agreement signed by the warring sides.
The paragraph 13 B of the Korean Armistice Agreement stipulates that all the islands lying to the north and west of the provincial boundary line between Hwagnhae-do and Kyonggi-do shall be under the military control of the Korean People's Army, except the island groups of Paengyong-do, Taechong-do, Sochong-do, Yonpyong-do, and U-do, which will shall remain under the military control of the "UN command" side.
Now that the MDL at the West Sea of Korea was fixed as an extension of the boundary line between Hwanghae and Kyonggi provinces (A-B line) laid down under the paragraph of the Korean Armistice Agreement , the armistice-related issue was most correctly handled to meet the requirements of the Armistice Agreement.
Secondly, the MDL at the west sea is the fairest line fixed on the basis of the international law of the sea.
The international law of the sea demands that the two sides maintain the principle of fixing sea boundary at the end of the land or between islands at equidistance.
The MDL fixed by the DPRK at the west sea is an extension passing through the point a of the boundary line (A-B line) between Hwanghae-do and Kyonggi-do, the equidistance between Tungsangod, the tip of the Kangryong peninsula of our side, and Kulop Island under the control of the U.S. forces side, and the equidistance between Ong Island of our side and Sogyokryolbi Island and Sohyop Island under the control of the U.S. forces side. So, sea-related issue existing between warring sides has been settled in the fairest way under the international law of the sea.
The MDL fixed by the DPRK at the west sea is similar to the "imaginary equidistance between the north and south" at the West Sea of Korea laid down in an official document distributed by the U.S. government to the participants in a meeting on the international law of the sea in 1980, which is based on the "UN Convention on the law of the sea."
Thirdly, the MDL at the west sea is an impartial line that enjoys full support from the people at home and abroad.
It mirrors the will of the Korean People's Army and people to defuse tensions in the waters, a source of permanent military conflicts that has been "controversial waters" for nearly half a century after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement and ensure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula as a whole.
The South Korean authorities, however, have persistently insisted on the "Northern Limit Line" whose falsity has been brought to light. This is intended to get rid of the predicament in which they find themselves after our proclamation of the impartial MDL at the west sea.
We will never pardon a foolish attempt of the South Korean authorities to maintain the "Northern Limit Line" at any cost and the crafty moves of the U.S. who fixed it unilaterally and pretend to be ignorant of it.
There is only the extension of the MDL fixed by the DPRK at the West Sea of Korea.
The U.S. and the South Korean authorities should have a correct understanding of the will and demand of the KPA and the people for peace and reunification, immediately stop all the military provocations at the West Sea of Korea and honor the MDL fixed by the DPRK at the West Sea of Korea.
If they turn their back on the just demand of ours, the U.S. and the South Korean authorities will be held entirely responsible for all the consequences arising therefrom.
Covering whole country with green foliage
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- March 2 is the Day of Tree Planting and March the month of tree planting in the DPRK.
On this day, Rodong Sinmun editorially calls upon all the people to turn out in spring tree-planting to cover the whole country with green foliage.
The editorial underscores the need to carry out tree planting as a mass movement in a short span of time.
It calls for planting many trees of good species to meet scientific and technological needs in the tree-planting month.
It is a consistent policy of the Worker's Party of Korea to cover all the country with green foliage by planting trees on a large-scale.
Considering it as an important work for the prosperity of the country and improving the standard of the people's living to cover all the country with green foliage, the WPK has exerted great efforts to this work.
Anniv. of proclamation of People's Jamahiriya commemorated
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Papers here today observe the 23rd anniversary of the proclamation of the great socialist people's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
Since its proclamation the Libyan people have waged positive struggle to build a new independent society along the road chosen by themselves under the leadership of Colonel Moammer El Gaddafi, leader of the September 1st Revolution, while frustrating the constant aggression and threat from the United States, Rodong Sinmun in a signed article says, and goes on:
The Libyan people have held fast to the anti-imperialist independent stand and fought against the U.S. anti-Libyan moves, not shrinking back from this stand.
The Korean people have extended support and solidarity to them in their struggle for defending the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation.
The friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples formed in the common struggle for independence against imperialism have developed on good terms.
The Korean people wish the Libyan people greater success in the struggle to build a new, free and prosperous society.
A singed article of Minju Joson says that the Korean people will make tireless efforts to develop the friendly and cooperative relations with the Libyan people in the future, too.
Committee for study of Juche idea formed in Egypt
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- An inaugural meeting of the Egyptian Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea was held in Cairo on Feb. 22 on the occasion of the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The general secretary of the Arab Art, Culture and Information Association of Egypt who is the director of the board of the African Regional Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea in his speech at the meeting highly praised the revolutionary exploits of Kim Jong Il as a genius of ideology and theory and outstanding practician, who is developing and enplaned on mountains and fields throughout the country.
Working people, youth and students in Pyongyang, south Hwanghae and south Phyongan provinces and all other parts of the country are now all out in a drive to cover mountains, fields, streets and villages with green foliage.
Japanese PM meets DPRK A-bomb victims delegation
Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Keijo Obuchi, Prime Minister of Japan, met the DPRK delegation of A-bomb victims on a visit to Japan on March 1.
Present there were former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and acting secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party Hiromu Nonaka.