Kim Jong Il sends wreath
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il today sent a wreath to the bier of vice-director Ko Hak Chon of a department of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, expressing deep condolences over his death.
New Chinese ambassador to DPRK arrives
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Wang Guozhang, new Ambassador E. P. of the People's Republic of China to the DPRK, arrived here today by air.
KEDO delegation here
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- A delegation from the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation arrived here today by air for the signing of a protocol related to the implementation of an agreement on the light water reactors provision reached by the DPRK and KEDO.
New school year begins
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- A new school year has begun in the DPRK.
Ceremonies took place at schools of all levels today to start the year.
Kye Ung Thae, Choe Thae Bok, Yon Hyong Muk and other senior party and state officials and leading officials of national and local organs attended the ceremonies to congratulate the new school boys and girls.
They inspected their classes and conversed with teaching staff and pupils.
Film director Ko Hak Rim
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA)-- Ko Hak Rim, 65 has a 40-year brilliant career as a film producer now working at the Korean Film Studio.
Usually meditative and enthusiastic in creation, he is endowed with gifts that characterized a film director.
His ability as a director began to be revealed in the production of the feature film "Salesgirl on the Train" and others.
The films "Thaw" and "a Silver Hairpin" produced in March Juche 74 (1985) opened up a brilliant career for him.
The film "Thaw" received a prize at the 25th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival held in July 1986.
Since that time on, he has followed his career with much interest.
His career has been decorated with the production of 50 and more films, including the multi-part films "the Nation and Destiny" and "Unknown Heroes".
As a people's artist, he is highly respected by film fans.
Sea-bird sanctuary Tok Islet
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Tok Islet in Onchon county, South Phyongan Province in the middle of Korea is a favorite haunt of sea-birds.
The islet, not so high and lying east- and west-ward, is thick with shrubs and weeds, and its surroundings are rich in shell-fish and seaweed. For its geographical location, sea-birds flock in there all the year round.
In spring over 20 species of Asian indigenous birds under international protection including black-faced spoonbill, yellow-beaked white heron, red-cheek cormorant, herring gull, heron and so on fly to the islet. Their breeding period extends from the end of April to mid-August.
Red-cheek cormorant breeds from early May to mid-June.
Black-faced spoonbills, gathering in pairs early in May, build their nests by mending old ones on the rocks over 60 m high. Two or four eggs are laid in the nest in mid-May and it takes 35 to 37 days to breed. After staying some 40 days there, adults and younglings spend a few months over the surrounding tideland in a family group, and then gradually migrate to far-off places.
Yellow-beaked white heron hatches 2 to 3 or 4 to 5 eggs in mid-May. Those birds which fail to breed, exposed to strong wind, or when their nests are destroyed by crow and magpie, rebuild nests in other places and hatch 2 to 3 eggs.
In such nests younglings are to be found even in mid-August.
At the end of August, when breeding is over, almost all birds move in groups to tidelands, rice fields, seashore and lower reaches of the river to seek for food, and then leave the islet in the middle of September, except some birds including black-tailed seagull. This islet, favourable for the colony of black-faced spoonbill and yellow-beaked white heron, is now under the government protection as a living monument.
Revolutionary traditions of Mt. Paektu
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il's on-the-spot guidance to the revolutionary battle sites in Mt. Paektu area demonstrated his fixed will to carry to completion the revolutionary cause of the President Kim Il Sung.
Rodong Sinmun stresses this in an editorial today.
It goes on:
To carry to completion the revolutionary cause started by Kim Il Sung is a noble maxim cherished by Kim Jong Il in his early years.
The revolutionary traditions of the Worker's Party of Korea are the greatest and most glorious ones which are based on the Juche idea and which were established and developed in depth in the crucible of the most arduous and complicate revolutionary struggle ever known in history.
As years go by and the revolution moves forward, greater efforts should be channelled into the work to defend, carry forward and develop the revolutionary traditions. That is the will of Kim Jong Il.
His on-the-spot guidance gives a strong impetus to the revolutionary struggle with which all the Korean people are pushing ahead full of faith in a certain victory and revolutionary optimism as the anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners did.
It is associated with his lofty aim to ensure forever a continuation of the ever-victorious history made by Kim Il Sung with the revolutionary optimism.
Only when we fight with the noble revolutionary optimism, can we successfully make any "arduous March."
With Kim Jong Il carrying forward and developing the traditions of the anti-Japanese revolution with credit and the revolutionary people remaining unfailingly loyal to the WPK and the revolutionary cause the Korean revolution is able to emerge ever-victorious, adds the editorial.
Chief of NDFSK Pyongyang mission refers to "general election"
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Pak Kang Gi, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea, was interviewed by KCNA on March 31 as regards the vigorous anti-candidate campaign now under way among South Korean people from all walks of life before the "national assembly election" slated for April 13.
The political situation before the "election" in South Korea is characterized by acute political confrontation between patriotism and treachery and between democracy and fascism and a serious struggle on which hinges the trend of the fast changing situation before the "power" transfer, he said, and went on:
The situation in South Korea is now turning very favourable to the forces for the nation and democracy. The struggle to cope with the "general election" should be waged as a campaign for completely replacing the existing structure of political sphere by a new one.
He called on the South Korean people from all walks of life to make sustained efforts to revitalize the campaign in the "general election" and put pro-Japanese, pro-U.S. forces and fascists, separatists and warmongers who are dead-set against independence, democracy and reunification on top of the list of unqualified candidates and strictly prevent them from being involved in the political sphere.
S. Korean authorities' arrogant behaviour blasted
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Papers here today in their signed commentaries denounce the South Korean authorities for behaving arrogantly, while letting loose sheer sophism as regards the order of navigating to and from the five islands at the west sea recently proclaimed by the navy command of the Korean People's Army (KPA).
The South Korean authorities cried out for taking "high alert posture" on the five islands at the west sea, describing the north's just measure as an "act in violation of what they called agreement" and a "conception unprecedented in the law of the sea."
In this regard, Rodong Sinmun says:
The South Korean authorities' madcap moves are a challenge to the peace-loving and sincere efforts of the north to prevent the danger of military clash and war at the west sea and ensure peace and security on Korean peninsula and an unpardonable criminal act to lead the inter-Korean relations to an extreme pitch of tension.
Demanding the U.S. and the South Korean authorities strictly observe the Military Demarcation Line at the west sea drawn by the north and the navigation order, its follow-up measure, Minju Joson warns them that if they violate it, the north will mete out a severe punishment to them.
Atonement for past called for
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Yukio Yokohara, secretary general of the Movement Center of Hiroshima for Peace, Human Rights and Environment, at a press conference held here stressed that the issue of establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the DPRK can never be solved without Japan's atonement for the past. He is now visiting the DPRK as a member of a Hiroshima prefectural trade union delegation for Japan-DPRK friendship.
Referring to the misfortunes and sufferings imposed upon the Korean people by Japan for 40 odd years after its occupation of Korea, he said that if diplomatic relations between Japan and the DPRK are to be established Japan should make due apology and compensation for the damage inflicted on the Korean people during the period of its occupation.
He continued:
Japan recently raised the "kidnapping issue" and "missile issue," unfit for the atmosphere of the inter-governmental talks between Japan and the DPRK. The "kidnapping issue" is a trick of Japan to mislead the world public and the "missile issue" is a brainchild made by Japan on the basis of the anti-DPRK hostile policy.
The Japanese government should not throw a wet blanket over the talks under the pretext of satellite launch because the launch is an issue pertaining to the sovereignty of every country.
U.S. troops hell-bent on biochemical warfare preparations
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Yonhap News March 30 from Seoul disclosed that the U.S. forces command in South Korea organized chemical units under the U.S. 19th theatre supporting command last year as part of the preparations for a biochemical warfare.
The forces under this supporting command are the second largest U.S. Army unit present in South Korea after its second division and specialize in "military supply and neutralization of poisonous effects."
Those chemical units are deployed in the U.S. military bases in Pusan and Phyongthaek, Kyonggi Province.
The U.S. forces command in South Korea organized these units after providing the families of the U.S. troops and embassy staff in South Korea with gas masks for the first time under the pretext of "coping with threat of attack of biochemical weapons" by someone.
They are now busy with preparations for a biochemical warfare, inoculating GIs in South Korea with anti-bacillus anthracis vaccine.
U.S. bellicose elements' war hysteria
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- The U.S. reactionary ruling circles are making much fuss, distributing "posters marking half centenary of Korean War" to schools, and busying themselves with the erection of a "cenotaph" to Japanese American soldiers near panmunjom.
Minju Joson today in a signed commentary lays bare the sinister aim sought by the U.S. in ballyhooing about "commemoration" and the erection of a "cenotaph," oblivious of the bitter defeat it suffered in Korea in the 1950s.
The "commemoration of the half centenary of the Korean War" and other burlesques planned by the U.S. bellicose circles are intended to fan up war hysteria and justify their reckless moves to ignite a new war of aggression on the Korean peninsula, the commentary says, and goes on:
The DPRK cannot but heighten its vigilance against the U.S. As it is poised to solve the Korean problem from the position of a "strength".
It is a principled stand of the DPRK to respond to a dialogue with a dialogue, to a war with a revolutionary war.
It is fully ready for both dialogue and war. If the U.S. Dares provoke a second Korean war, the DPRK will mete out the most severe punishment to it and achieve the historical cause of national reunification, the cherished desire of the nation.
Meeting held in Seoul
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) held a meeting for preparing jade for the erection of the monument to the three-point charter of national reunification at Hanyang University in Seoul on March 22, according to a news report.
The meeting was attended by over 40 members of the National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification (Jongukryonhap), the Central Council for National Independence and Peaceful Reunification, the Joint Measure Committee for Ensuring Basic Rights of the People and for Release of Prisoners of Conscience and other organizations and unconverted long-term prisoners.
Ri Jong Rin, acting chairman of the south headquarters of Pomminryon, in his address called for stepping up the erection of the monument, appealing to all the workers, peasants, youths, fishermen, poor people, students, pro-reunification and patriotic organizations and figures from other social strata to unite for reunification and make the year 2000 a historic year to open a turning phase of national reunification.
Ri Chon Jae, co-chairman of Jonkukryonhap, in his solidarity speech called for taking an active part in the erection of the monument, noting that the monument will serve as a great historic declaration that all the fellow countrymen in the north, south and overseas are one and the same.
A report on the progress of the erection of the monument was made and a letter to the construction site of the monument in the name of the participants was read out at the meeting.
The letter noted that they would devote all their efforts and wisdom to rendering support and assistance in the erection of the monument and more energetically prepare jade to be sent to the construction site and expressed the belief that the monument would shine as a symbol of national unity and reunification.
After the letter was read out, there was a signature campaign for vowing to support and implement the three-point charter of national reunification.
Meeting of dietmen's league for Japan-DPRK friendship
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- A meeting of the dietmen's league for Japan-DPRK friendship was held in Tokyo on March 29.
The meeting decided to hear the results of the ninth DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks.
Chairman Tomiichi Murayama said the league would work for progress in the Japan-DPRK intergovernmental negotiations.
Taro Nakayama of the Liberal Democratic Party, who was Foreign Minister of Japan, and Eisei Ito, deputy representative of the Democratic Party, were elected vice-chairmen of the league at the meeting.
Reminiscences of Kim Il Sung published in U.S.
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Song Ki Roe, chairman of the scientific and technological sub-committee of the General Federation of Korean Residents in the United States and chairman of the "New York Book Presentation Society," published the English version of vol. 4 of part 1 the anti-Japanese revolution of reminiscences of the President Kim Il Sung "With the Century" in the U.S. on the occasion of the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Concert given in U.S. to celebrate Kim Jong Il's birthday
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- An orchestral concert was held at the Lincoln Center in New York to celebrate the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il. It was prepared by renowned orchestral conductor Ri Jun Mu, chairman of the cultural and arts division of the General Federation of Korean Residents in the United States.
At the concert the Korean song "Marshal of Korea" was played by 40 Korean and foreign musicians in New York together with artistes of the Kumgangsan Opera Troupe of Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) to win the acclaim of the audience.
They also played the Korean orchestra "rich harvest comes to the Chongsan plain" and other world-famous pieces of music.
Preparatory committees formed abroad
Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Preparatory committees were formed in Mexico and Malta to commemorate Sun's Day, the birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung.
The Mexican preparatory committee of friendship organizations formed on March 27 consists of the Mexican Fellowship Union To Honor the Memory of President Kim Il Sung, the Mexico-DPRK Institute of Friendship and Cultural Interchange and the Mexican Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification.
The president of the Mexican Fellowship Union To Honor the Memory of President Kim Il Sung was elected chairman of the preparatory committee.
Vassalo Anthony, general secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Malta, was elected chairman of the Maltese preparatory committee which was formed on March 20.
The preparatory committees discussed various commemorations to be held.