3rd session of 10th Supreme People's Assembly of DPRK opens
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The 3rd session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea opened at the Mansudae Assembly Hall here today.
Attending the session are deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly.
Leading officials of the Worker's Party of Korea, armed forces and power bodies, commissions and ministries of the cabinet, national institutions and public organisations and officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and the press are present as observers.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il appeared on the platform.
The platform was also taken by Kim Yong Nam, Jo Myong Rok, Hong Song Nam, Kim Yong Ju, Pak Song Chol and other senior officials of the party and the state.
The session adopted the following agenda items:
1. On the summing up of the fulfillment of the state budget for Juche 88 (1999) and on the state budget for Juche 89 (2000) in the DPRK.
2. On approving the laws adopted by the presidium of the DPRK SPA during its recess.
3. On renaming the Ministry of Public Security of the DPRK.
4. On ratifying the treaty signed between the DPRK and the Russian Federation.
Minister of Finance Rim Kyong Suk made a report on the first item of the agenda.
The session goes on.
Finance Minister's report made at 3rd session of 10th SPA of DPRK
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The 3rd session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK opened here today.
Rim Kyong Suk, Minister of Finance, made a report on the first agenda item "on the summing up of the fulfillment of the state budget for Juche 88 (1999) and on the state budget for Juche 89 (2000) in the DPRK."
She said in the report:
The Worker's Party of Korea's revolutionary policy and positive steps have revitalized the national economy and put several industrial fields on the track of recovery. And there is a good prospect of raising the people's living standard in the near future.
Achievements were made in the fulfillment of last year's state budget.
Last year the total state budgetary revenue was 19,801,030,000 won, or 97.2 percent of the plan, and the total state budgetary expenditure was 20,018,210,000 won, or 98.2 percent of the plan.
Last year the state budgetary revenue failed to reach the planned level, but showed an increase over 1998.
Its growth clearly proves that in the DPRK the economy has begun to recover and its independent financial foundation is being consolidated with each passing day.
Last year the DPRK government increased appropriations for the national economy in the state budget. A huge investment was made in the construction of power stations, and in coal, iron and steel and machinery production and railway transport, the domains which play a key role in accelerating the building of an economically powerful nation.
Investment in the building of power stations last year was 20 percent bigger than the previous year. The construction of large-scale hydro-power stations was pushed ahead, including an expansion project of the Thaechon Power Station and a second-stage construction of the Anbyon Youth Power Station. And a large number of minor power stations were built in different parts of the country.
In coal industry a foundation was laid for rapid increase in coal output. The working people in the fields of metal and machine-building industries opened a good prospect of accelerating the Juche-orientation of metal industry and effecting a turn in iron and steel production, holding aloft the torch lit at the Songjin Steel Complex.
In railway transport a brisk drive was conducted to repair and consolidate coaches and wagons. The workers at the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Plant manufactured and repaired through their devoted efforts 100 electric locomotives, thus further increasing the transport capacity.
The agricultural workers strove hard to do farming as required by the Juche farming method, bring about a radical change in seed selection and potato cultivation and carry out double-cropping.
The Taehongdan county integrated farm has been turned into a major base for a radical change in potato cultivation and a farm where comprehensive mechanization has been fully realized. And a modern chicken plant and a cattle farm were built to pave a wide way for developing stockbreeding onto a new stage.
People in different parts of the country built many fish-breeding grounds by harnessing rivers, lakes, springs and hot springs and pisciculture was conducted on a large scale.
Last year's investment in science was 6.3 percent bigger than the previous year. Scientists and technicians successfully solved scientific and technological problems in microelectronic engineering and mechanical electronics, thus putting researches into up-to-date science and technology in these domains at a higher level.
Signal successes were also made in various scientific researches, among them research into producing medicines of various kinds by gene engineering.
Last year the DPRK government channelled huge funds into the land development and construction of monumental edifices for the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people.
The young builders completed the roadbed construction of the whole section of the 40-odd km Pyongyang-Nampho Motorway in a matter of one year.
The soldier-builders, people and their helpers turned out in land leveling and rezoning project in North Phyongan Province following the completion of the similar project in Kangwon Province and finished the first stage project ahead of schedule and are pushing ahead with the second stage project at the last phase. The working people in South Hamgyong Province wrought such a miracle as building the modern Kwangmyongsong saltern on the seaside of Kumya bay.
The reporter said that such famous mountains and beauty spots as Mt. Kuwol, Mt. Chilbo and Ryongmun cavern were converted into more attractive scenic spots and pleasure grounds last year.
The reporter went on:
Though hard pressed for everything, our people built magnificent monumental edifices and gave face-lifting to the land. This is a striking demonstration of their indomitable spirit, heroism and inexhaustible creative energy.
The DPRK government allocated 14. 6 percent of the total state budgetary expenditure as military spending to increase the defence capability of the country last year.
Great efforts were exerted for the development of education, culture, public health and physical culture and sports.
Educational institutions at all levels were equipped with modern facilities through the allocation of huge state funds thanks to the educational policy of the Worker's Party of Korea. And huge state funds were also spent for implementing the WPK's policy of preventive medicine in the field of public health.
Many successful literary and art works were created in the field of literature and art. And in the field of sports heroine jong song ok won the world women's marathon title, glorifying the country and delighting the nation.
Despite difficult economic situation the Korean people lead an independent and creative life, receiving such huge benefits from the state as free education and health care without any taxes thanks to all the popular policies.
Then the reporter referred to the state budget for the year 2000.
She quoted General Secretary Kim Jong Il as saying:
"This year 2000 is a significant year, the glorious WPK's 55th anniversary, and a year of general advance to achieve a decisive turn in the building of a powerful nation."
This year we should firmly adhere to the WPK line of attaching great importance to ideology, the military and science and technology and channel big efforts into socialist economic construction for a leaping advance in building an economically powerful nation, the reporter said, and continued:
This year the state budget has been worked out in such a way as to provide a satisfactory financial guarantee for the endeavors of the Korean people to successfully carry out the tasks for economic construction, defence building and socialist cultural construction, the tasks to be fulfilled in building a powerful nation, and glorify the 55th anniversary of the WPK as a grand festival of proud victors.
The total state budgetary revenue and expenditure for this year is 20,405,320,000 won respectively, up 3.1 percent in total revenue and up 1.9 percent in total expenditure over last year.
The government of the republic will increase the expenditure for the national economy this year. Primary efforts will go to the power and coal industries.
State investment in the power and coal industries is expected to grow 15.4 percent and 12.3 percent over last year respectively to consolidate the foundation for production in these domains.
This year innovations will be effected in the production of electricity and coal, a productive boost at the major industrial establishments in such key industrial sectors as metal and chemical industries and railway transport improved to lay more solid foundations to build an economically powerful nation.
This year's state investment in agricultural and light industrial sectors is expected to go up 5 percent and 4 percent respectively over last year.
Allocation of funds for the development of science and technology this year will be 5.4 percent bigger than last year.
This year we will complete the Pyongyang-Nampho Motorway before the 55th anniversary of the WPK, completely finish the land leveling and rezoning project in North Phyongan Province and dynamically push ahead with a similar project in South Hwanghae Province and the Kaechon-lake Thaesong waterway project.
The government of the republic envisages an allocation of 14.5 percent of its total state budgetary expenditure as military spending, pursuant to the party's line of attaching great importance to the military. Huge funds will be channelled into socialist cultural construction, including education, culture, public health and physical culture and sports.
This year, too, the government of the republic will send a large amount of educational aid fund and stipends for the children of Korean nationals in Japan.
The state budget for this year is a revolutionary and popular budget aimed to properly tap and use the country's financial resources to speed up a general advance for building a powerful socialist nation and exert big efforts to improving the people's standard of living.
SPA deputies pay homage to Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Deputies attending the 3rd session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay homage to the President Kim Il Sung.
They paid humble homage to the statue of the President and then mounted the grand staircase to make a bow to him who lies in state for perpetuity.
They looked round the orders and medals awarded to him by different countries, bronze sculptures carved in relief in the waiters hall, a train used by him for on-site guidance and foreign visits and a car he used in the last period of his life.
On Monday they laid a basket of flowers before the statue of the President on Mansu Hill.
Greetings to Guinean President
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Monday sent a message of greetings to Lansana Conte, President of the Republic of Guinea, on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the proclamation of the second republic in Guinea.
The message extended warm congratulations to the Guinean President and people on the anniversary.
It sincerely wished the President greater success in his work for the country's peace and stability and the socio-economic development and expressed the belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further be strengthened.
DPRK FM and his party leave for Colombia
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Foreign Minister of the DPRK, and his party left here today to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers of non-aligned countries, which is to be held in Colombia.
KEDO delegation leaves
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The negotiating delegation of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), which came here for the signing of a protocol related to the implementation of an agreement on the light water reactors provision concluded by the DPRK and KEDO, left here today by air.
Japanese delegation feted
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government today hosted a reception for the Japanese government delegation.
Invited there were members of the delegation headed by Kojiro Takano, ambassador of the Japanese Foreign Ministry for negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and the DPRK who came here to participate in the 9th intergovernmental full-dress talks between the two countries.
Head of the DPRK government delegation Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Foreign Ministry, and officials concerned were present there.
Independence Day of Senegal marked
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held here yesterday to mark the 40th anniversary of the independence of Senegal.
Present there were Choe Hui Jong, chairman of the Korea-Senegal Friendship Association, members of the association and working people in the city.
A speech was made and a message of greetings to the President of Senegal was adopted at the meeting.
Brief biography of Kim Il Sung published
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The Worker's Party of Korea Publishing House brought out the "Brief Biography of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung" on the occasion of his 88th birth anniversary.
The brief biography newly supplemented and compiled by the history institute of the WPK Central Committee is divided into twelve periods.
The history of his revolutionary activities is a glorious revolutionary history of a gifted thinker and theoretician, outstanding statesman, rare military strategist, man possessed of outstanding leadership art and a benevolent father of the people.
The biography contains the immortal exploits performed by the President for the Korean and world revolution for a long time until he died at his post.
He was born into a revolutionary and patriotic family, embarked on the road of revolution in his teens, led the underground revolutionary struggle, two revolutionary wars, two stages of social revolution and several stages of socialist construction to victory and successfully resolved the issue of succession to the revolutionary cause.
Anniversary of Kim Il Sung's work commemorated
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a signed article to the 10th anniversary of the publication of the famous work of the President Kim Il Sung "On Effectively Managing Economy in Keeping with the Nature of the Socialist Economy" on April 4, Juche 79 (1990).
The President in the work elucidated the questions of principle arising in improving the economic management in conformity with the nature of the socialist economy.
The article says:
The work serves as a powerful ideological and theoretical weapon and an immortal banner whereby the officials and working people in the DPRK could hold fast to the principle of management of the socialist economy without the slightest hesitation and vacillation in the 90s when the country's economic situation was very difficult.
The great significance of the work lies, first of all, in that it proved the vitality and superiority of the Korean-style economic management, encouraging the Korean people to defend the principle of management of the socialist economy with firm confidence.
The President in the work made a perfect theoretical and practical clarification of the validity of the Worker's Party of Korea's line of the economic construction and its theory of the economic management, and explained with well-grounded logic that socialism could successfully be built if the economy is managed and operated as required by the Taean work system under the uplifted banner of the three revolutions.
The Korean people, therefore, have managed the economy in keeping with the nature of the socialist economy with the steadfast faith even in the period of the "arduous march" and the forced march when the economic condition was very difficult.
The work advanced concrete tasks to successfully build the economy under the changed circumstances, thus powerfully demonstrating the vitality of management of the socialist economy. This is another significance of the work.
The President in the work said that the main way of putting the production on a normal footing under the new circumstance is to give definite priority to the production of goods of first- and second-stage processing and indicated one by one the ways of effective planning in the domain of production and organize and guide the production under a meticulous plan.
Today the independent national economy of the DPRK has paid off profusely despite the imperialists' intensified moves for isolating and stifling it. It is a springboard from which the Korean people can reach a higher stage of building an economically powerful country.
Achievements in medical science and technology
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The 6th National Invention and New Technology Exhibition in the field of public health took place in Korea recently.
According to Kim Myong Dok, director of the science and technology department of the Ministry of Public Health, exhibited there were new kinds of medicines, medical apparatuses and methods of diagnosis and medical treatment, more than 5,200 pieces in all. Among those exhibits highly appreciated were achievements made in laying a foundation for industrializing the production of preventive hepatitis-b vaccine by a new gene engineering method and a new type of syringe without a needle displayed by the medical biology institute and the medical appliances institute under the Academy of Medical Science.
The blood condition memorizing alloy screw and a guiding device from Kim Man Yu Hospital, new homeostatic, pain killer and Koryo antibiotic ophthalmic from the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital and 18 kinds of medicines and potato glucose from the academy of medical science, south Hamgyong and Jagang provinces were recognized as something greatly helpful to clinical treatment.
Artificial blood vessel, artificial dura, scaler, freezing treatment apparatus and micro operation apparatus were also appreciated as something new and valuable.
Also displayed there were new and reasonable treatment methods and diagrams and models for scientific diagnosis of diseases and education.
All these achievements in medical science are ascribable to the devoted service made by scientists and technicians in the field of public health for the people at the difficult time when the country is hard pressed for everything.
400-hectare saltern under construction
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A 400-hectare saltern is now under construction in the Odaejin area of North Hamgyong Province on the northeastern coast of Korea.
It is a large and multi-staged saltern, consisting of evaporation and crystallizing ponds, 40 hectares of amassing yards, 30,000 m-long transportation road, salt-water supply channels and drainage systems. It will fully meet the local demands when completed.
Due to the strenuous efforts of the builders, pond-leveling, ground-hardening and gravel disposal are now nearing completion.
The project is a follow-up to General Secretary Kim Jong Il's November Juche 87 (1998) on-the-spot instruction to build a saltern in the province and meet the local demands.
World follows DPRK-Japan talks
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Japan's liquidation of its past is a short cut to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Japan and a major point and task of the bilateral talks, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary on the 9th DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks which will begin in Pyongyang on Tuesday.
The DPRK-Japan talks are not intended for argument, the news analyst of the paper says, and continues:
The purport and purpose of the talks are to make the two countries near and close neighbors, not near but faraway ones, by undoing deep-rooted complicated knots which have existed in the history of Japan, the assailant, and the DPRK, the victim, and converting the abnormal relations between the two neighbors which have existed as sworn enemies into ties of good neighborliness.
The stand of the DPRK is that both sides should focus on the debate on a key matter with a sincere attitude, and thus settle it.
By the key matter the DPRK means Japan's liquidation of its past wrongdoings against the DPRK.
The DPRK and Japan are now near but faraway countries and remain sworn enemies. This is attributable to Japan's refusal to liquidate its past.
The DPRK-Japan talks should focus on the debate about the issue of liquidating Japan's past and be oriented to its settlement.
Everything depends on with what will and stand the Japanese side approaches the talks with the DPRK. The DPRK is of the view that it is important for Japan to approach the talks with a sincere stand and will to put the bilateral relations on the orbit of normalization in such a way as to solve the issue of liquidating its past at an early date and then settle other matters on the basis of this.
The DPRK-Japan talks are not for the sake of one side.
Moreover, both sides should not hold the talks, reading other's face.
The talks are for the sake of both sides. They are needed to meet the aspiration and requirement of the two peoples.
The lesson taught by the past DPRK-Japan talks shows that the talks will be useless and produce only undesirable results if they fail to make any progress due to a verbal spat.
Collection of legends published in S. Korea
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The "People's Voice Publishing House" in Seoul published in pamphlet a collection of legends which deal with the greatness of the President Kim Il Sung on the occasion of Sun's Day, his birth anniversary (April 15), Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation quoted the Seoul city committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea as saying.
The collection carries 20 pieces of stories about his greatness which were told among the people when he was waging the anti-Japanese struggle including "a sage appears at Jilin prison" and "a bomb and a harmonica."
The collection is now widely being disseminated, bringing his greatness home to the people from all walks of life.
Special committee for political reform organized
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The "citizens solidarity for general election" organized a permanent special committee for political reform on March 30 and began its activities, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News.
The committee groups at least 30 professors and policy experts of civil organizations.
The organization declared that it would welcome more experts of different sectors to the committee to review and estimate the results of anti-candidate campaign and the "election" and conduct activities for political reform even after the "election."
The committee is conducting a signature campaign for introducing a legislation on political reform and a system of people's recall of "national assemblymen" in reflection of demands of people from all walks of life.
S. Korean warmonger's reckless remarks
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Jo Song Thae, "Minister of National Defense" of South Korea, at a "monthly meeting" with bosses of the "Ministry of National Defense" and the "joint chiefs of staff headquarters" and at a recent "commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the homeland reserve forces" cried out for "keeping themselves combat ready to cope with threat and provocation from the north."
In this regard Minju Joson today in a signed commentary says:
The DPRK put forward the army-first idea without hesitation and has paid due attention to increasing its defense capability because of the U.S. And the South Korean warmongers' massive reinforcement of forces and their adventurous war exercises to bring the situation to the brink of war in a bid to invade the north according to the scenario for the second Korean war of aggression.
The South Korean ruling quarters' talk about the non-existent "threat" and "provocation" by someone is nothing but sophism to justify their preparations to invade the north.
It is also a cunning trick to arrest the people's anti-"government" struggle now gaining momentum in South Korea.
The South Korean ruling quarters in the grip of a serious ruling crisis are busy spreading the rumor of "threat from the north" in a bid to fan up confrontation with the north among South Korean people and divert elsewhere their bitter hatred against them.
However, they are seriously mistaken if they think they can mislead public opinion and achieve their foul aims with such a poor trick.
The South Korean rulers should stop all their vicious moves to deceive and flout people and hide their preparations for a war of aggression against the north.
Japanese delegation to DPRK-Japan full-dress talks arrives
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A Japanese government delegation led by Kojiro Takano, ambassador of the Japanese Foreign Ministry for negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and the DPRK, arrived here today to participate in the ninth intergovernmental full-dress talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Japan.
It was greeted at the airport by head of the DPRK government delegation Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Foreign Ministry, and officials concerned.
Also arriving were journalists of leading Japanese media accompanying the delegation.
Active help to Taehongdan county called for
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today editorially calls on the whole party and country to give active support to Taehongdan county.
The whole party and country are required to help the county in order to build this county as a model, generalize its example throughout the country and thus bring about a revolutionary turn in potato farming, the editorial notes.
It calls on the officials of the cabinet and ministries and national institutions to distinguish themselves in assisting the county and do their bit to solve knotty problems.
In assisting the county the whole party and country should pay primary attention to the supply of farm materials, spare parts and fuel oil needed for the building of a pig breeding factory and minor power stations, creation of windbreak forests and potato farming, says the editorial.
It underscores the need to establish a trait of assisting the county in the whole society and undertake a vigorous all-people movement to do so.
U.S. urged to drop ridiculous plan
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary blasts the U.S. bellicose forces for scheming to erect a "cenotaph" to American soldiers who died in the Korean War, while distributing "posters marking half centenary of the Korean War."
Dismissing this as something that can be done only by despicable and foolish elements who are accustomed to doing harm to others and justifying their crimes with lies and fabrications, the commentary notes:
The U.S. provoked the Korean War against the Korean people only to suffer a bitter defeat and face worldwide condemnation as aggressors.
The U.S. bellicose forces' talk about "commemoration" is aimed to play down their defeat in the Korean War and tone down the daily mounting anti-U.S. sentiment in South Korea.
They also seek to fan up anti-DPRK sentiment in the American society and use its young and middle-aged people as a shock force in igniting a new war against the DPRK.
The U.S. ambition for aggression on the DPRK remains unchanged. It has massively deployed nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, sophisticated offensive weapons and equipment in and around South Korea.
Its aerial espionage against the DPRK is being escalated.
These developments reminiscent of those on the eve of war clearly prove that the U.S. warmongers' moves to provoke a war against the DPRK have entered a very dangerous phase.
The Korean people and the people's army are fully prepared for any confrontation.
The U.S. is well advised to properly judge its opponent and behave itself.
Independence Day of Senegal observed
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- The Korean people extend warm congratulations and salute to the friendly Senegalese people on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the independence of Senegal, says Minju Joson today in a signed article.
The article refers to the successes made by the Senegalese people in the struggle to eradicate the evil aftereffects of the colonial rule since the independence of the country.
The Senegalese government has strengthened friendly and cooperative relations with many countries of the world, pursuing a non-aligned policy externally, the article says, and goes on:
Though far away from each other, the two peoples are closely linked with each other for the common struggle against imperialism and for a new life.
The Korean people sincerely wish the Senegalese people greater success in their future work to build a new society.
Sri Lanka national symposium on self-reliance
Pyongyang, April 4 (KCNA) -- A national symposium of Sri Lanka on self-reliance, the right way of national prosperity, was held on March 26 to mark the President Kim Il Sung's birth anniversary.
The symposium stressed that Kim Il Sung founded the immortal Juche idea in his early years and creditably built man-centered socialism of Korean style by applying the Juche idea in the DPRK under the banner of self-reliance and the revolutionary banner of independence, self-supporting and self-reliance in national defense.
Self-reliance is the only way out, a reporter and speakers said, and went on:
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is firmly advancing along the road of socialism though socialism collapsed in the former Soviet Union and other east European countries. This is the result of self-reliance under the banner of the Juche idea.
The reality of the DPRK clearly proves that the President's idea of independence is very just and absolutely right.
The people of Sri Lanka is the master of Sri Lanka and they know well the reality of Sri Lanka.
They called upon the people to strive hard for the prosperity of the country, bearing deep in mind that the road of self-reliance is the right way of carving out the destiny of the country and the nation.
A letter to the great leader Kim Jong Il was adopted at the symposium.
The letter said the Juche idea founded by the President is the beacon of hope and the banner of struggle indicating that self-reliance for those people who are building a new society is the right way of carving out the destiny of the country and the nation and achieving prosperity.
The letter expressed the belief that the brave Korean people under the wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il will achieve greater success in the building of a powerful socialist country, firmly maintaining the line of attaching importance to ideology, the military and science and technology under the uplifted banner of the Juche idea and self-reliance.