North-south agreement

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The north and the south of Korea, reaffirming the three principles of national reunification clarified in the historic July 4 North-South Joint Statement, reached an agreement aimed at accelerating national reconciliation and unity, exchange and cooperation, peace and reunification. The agreement says:
    At the request of President Kim Dae Jung, he will visit Pyongyang from June 12 to 14, 2000.
    In Pyongyang a historic meeting between Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, and President Kim Dae Jung will take place and inter-Korean summit talks will be held. Both sides decided to have a preliminary contact to discuss precedural matters in the near day of April.
    The agreement was signed by Song Ho Gyong, vice-chairman of the Korean Asian and Pacific Peace Committee of the north side on behalf of the will of the highest authority and Pak Ji Won, minister of culture and tourism of the south side on behalf of the will of the highest authority.

Kim Jong Il inspects KPA unit no.1311

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected unit no.1311 of the Korean People's Army on Sunday. Accompanying him were director of the KPA general political department Jo Myong Rok, chief of the KPA general staff Kim Yong Chun, minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol and staff members of the KPA supreme command.
    Kim Jong Il looked round the monument to the President Kim Il Sung's on-site guidance and historic relics at the unit.
    He also went round the education room, bedroom and entertainment and logistic facilities of hero kim sun son company under the unit. All commanding officers should take deep care of every aspect of soldiers' living with warm love as commanders of the anti-Japanese guerrillas did, he said.
    Then he saw a military training of servicemen of the unit.
    He noted with great satisfaction that all the servicemen have been fully prepared politically and ideologically, in military technique and physically, and advanced highly important tasks which would serve as a guideline in increasing the unit's combat capabilities in every way.
    The KPA, a dependable successor to the glorious traditions of the anti-Japanese war, has grown to be an army strong in ideology and faith whose unwavering faith is the spirit of devotedly defending the leader, spirit of becoming human bombs and suicide bombers, he said, adding: Our revolutionary cause is invincible because of this great matchless army.
    He gave the unit servicemen a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as gifts. He posed for a photograph with soldiers of the unit.
    On the same day, he inspected a company under KPA unit no. 3995.
    He looked round an education room, bedroom and other places of the company to take warm care of soldiers' living and gave a warm pep-talk to them reliably standing guard over the defence line of the country.
    He presented them with a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as gifts and posed for a photograph with them.

Indonesia-DPRK Friendship Association formed

Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held at the building of the Sukarno Educational Foundation on April 3 to inaugurate the Indonesia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Interchange Association. At the meeting, president of the foundation Rahmawati Sukarnoptri declared the inauguration of the association and announced the list of members of the association leadership.
A letter to the great leader Kim Jong Il was adopted there.

Foreign and overseas Korean artistes arrive

Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Foreign and overseas Korean art troupes and artistes arrived here to participate in the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival. Among them were a Chinese art troupe, a Chinese acrobatic troupe, a naval song and dance ensemble of the Russian Ministry of Defence, a Russian Moscow State Academic Philharmony, a Russian circus, a Nepalese art troupe, a Malaysian art troupe, a Mongolian art troupe, a Mongolian acrobatic troupe, Singaporean art troupe, an art troupe of the new cultural committee of Indonesia, an Indian Bharat Natyam Dance Troupe, a Tenko magician group of Japan, Vietnamese art troupe and group of acrobats, a German cello ensemble, a Romanian art troupe, a Belarussian bliskavitsa song and dance troupe, a Belarussian musical troupe, a Swiss musical troupe, a French art troupe, a Cuban musical troupe and acrobat, a Tajik art troupe, an Armenian musical troupe, an Uzbek musical troupe, an Italian art troupe, an Egyptian folk dance troupe, a Swedish acrobatic troupe, an art troupe of Japan-Korea Art Exchange Society, a group of Colombian artistes, Cambodian musician and acrobat, group of Moldovan musicians, Bulgarian groups of musicians and acrobats, a Polish group of musicians, an Austrian group of musicians, an Ukrainian group of musicians, a group of Yugoslav soloist, an art troupe of Koreans in Japan, an art troupe of Koreans in China and an art troupe of Koreans in the United States.
Meanwhile, Chinese, Russian and Mongolian delegations, a delegation of the International United Confederation of Koreans, a delegation of Koreans in China, an Uzbek delegate and a delegate of Koreans in Japan arrived to participate in the 3rd aesthetic symposium on the present times and national art.

Foreigners arrive to attend IIJI meeting

Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Horst Michael Junghas, chairman of the Sachsen provincial association for the study of the Juche idea in Germany, and his party and Kurt Ebert, director of the state political institute of Austria, arrived here on Sunday by air to attend the 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea. Earlier, an Italian delegate for the study of the Juche idea, Guiseppe Amata arrived.

Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as NDC Chairman celebrated

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Youth and students of Pyongyang met on Sunday to celebrate the seventh anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. A reporter and speakers at the meeting extended the highest honor and warm congratulations to Kim Jong Il on the anniversary, saying that his election was a historic event in reliably guaranteeing the final victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche and the eternal future of Kim Il Sung's nation with arms and that it is a great fortune of the Korean youth and students and other people.
    They stressed the need for the young people to positively and voluntarily join the people's army true to his idea of giving importance to the military and greatly contribute to developing the nation's science and technology and building a powerful socialist nation.
    Present at the meeting were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea central committee, and officials concerned.
    Evening entertainments of youth and students were held across the country on Sunday.
    In Pyongyang entertainments took place in front of the Tower of the Juche Idea, the monument to the Workers' Party of Korea founding, the monument to victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, the April 25 House of Culture and other places.
    The participants rolled sea of flowers and dances representing the high pride and joy of the Korean youth and students and other people who are demonstrating the dignity and honor of the socialist fatherland of Juche with marshal Kim Jong Il at the head of the revolutionary armed forces.

Chinese art troupe gives performance

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A Chinese art troupe, which is staying here to attend the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival, gave a performance at the Mansudae Art Theatre on April 8 before the start of the festival. Appreciating the performance were chairman of the festival organizing committee Jang Chol, vice-minister of culture Song Sok Hwan and vice-chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee Choe Yun Sik who are vice-chairmen of the festival organizing committee, other officials concerned and citizens.
    Also present to see the performance were Chinese ambassador to the DPRK Wang Guozhang and embassy officials, a Chinese government cultural delegation led by Zhang Wenbin, director of the state administration of cultural heritage and other Chinese guests.
    The numbers included dances "Smile of Oasis" and "Xueshan in Spring" and a Chinese song "Tears of Love." through gracious rhythmic movement and refined vocal technique, the performers well represented the Chinese people's happy life and love for the country.
    They also put on the stage "Whenever Spring Comes" and other Korean songs to win warm applause of the spectators.

Russian artistes perform

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A naval song and dance ensemble of the Russian Ministry of Defence and a Russian Moscow State Academic Philharmony now staying here to attend the 18th April Spring Frienship Art Festival separately gave performances at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre and the Ponghwa art theatre on Sunday before the start of the festival. Appreciating the performances were Jang Chol, chairman of the festival organizing committee, Jong Mun San, director of the secretariat of the cabinet, officials concerned and working people in the city.
    Russian ambassador to the DPRK Valery Denisov and embassy officials also saw the performances.
    The naval song and dance ensemble of the Russian Ministry of Defence is made up of famous international concour winners, people's and merited artistes and other renowned artistes. they put on the stage a colorful program.
    It began with the wind instrumental music and trio "Song of General Kim Jong Il." The ensemble presented other Korean songs to the acclaim of the audience.
    Its program also included wind instrumental music "Strong Door" from "Painting at Exhibition" of Musorgski orchestral music suite and a man's solo of Russian songs "Oh, My Dear" and "Kalinka".
    The Russian Moscow State Academic Philharmony raised the curtain with orchestral performance of the Korean song "Don't Advance, Night of Pyongyang" conducted by Vladimir Ponkin, an international concour winner and merited artist of Russia.
    Its successful presentation of orchestral music of Chaikovsky fantasia "Romeo and Juliet" and other famous music pieces deeply impressed the audience.

Strengthened south-south cooperation called for

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are pleased with the opening of the first Nam summit in Cuba under the sponsorship of the group of 77 and warmly hail it, says Rodong Sinmun today in an editorial. The summit will provide the developing countries with an opportunity to review the achievements made in south-south cooperation and swap experience gained in it and make a big strive forward in strengthening cooperative relations and friendship and solidarity among them, the editorial notes, and goes on:
    There are ample conditions and possibilities for the developing countries to effect south-south cooperation. If they benefit from each other's economic potentials and exchange good technology and experience, they can successfully build a self-supporting national economy and achieve national progress and prosperity without depending on the imperialists.
    If developing countries are to expand and develop south-south cooperation, it is essential for them to adhere to the principle of collective self-reliance and the principle of complete equality and mutual benefit.
    The Korean people believe that the summit will adopt a new measure and strategy to expand and develop south-south cooperation and thus contribute to smashing the imperialists' moves for "globalization" and establishing a new fair international economic order.
    It is the consistent stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK to expand and develop south-south cooperation.
    The Korean people will always make all efforts to boost south-south cooperation under the wise guidance of the great leader Kim Jong Il, the editorial concludes.

18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival opens

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival was opened today at the 6,000-seat theatre of the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang. The festival has been an annual event that has brought together artistes from various countries of the world since Juche 71 (1982) to commemorate sun's day, birth anniversary of the great leader President Kim Il Sung.
    Present at the opening ceremony were Hong Song Nam, Premier of the DPRK cabinet, Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and other senior officials as well as working people in the city.
    It was attended by foreign government cultural delegations and delegates and artistes from at least 40 countries.
    Invited there were foreign embassy officials here, foreigners and overseas Koreans.
    Chairman of the festival organizing committee Jang Chol said in his opening speech that the participation of many friends of the world in the Pyongyang festival despite the present complicated international situation is a clear demonstration of the unanimous desire of the world progressive men of culture and art to preserve the idea and tradition of the April Spring Friendship Art Festival and glorify it.
    Hong Song Nam in his congratulatory speech said that the festival which has opened in grand style in the noble idea of independence, peace and friendship will fully demonstrate the attraction and vitality of the festival heading for a new century and inspired the men and women of culture of various countries desirous of genuine literature and art.
    He called on the world progressive artistes who love justice and peace to create true art and conduct positive literary and art activities to actively contribute to meeting the aspiration and demands of the popular masses.
    The government of the DPRK will in the future, too, bring literature and art to efflorescence, pursuant to the line of building Juche-oriented national culture, expand cultural cooperation and exchange with different countries of the world and thus make a positive contribution to humankind's cultural construction.
    It was addressed by the head of the Indonesian government cultural delegation, the head of the French art troupe, the Egyptian government cultural delegate and the head of the Chinese government cultural delegation.
    The opening ceremony was followed by an art performance.
    Prior to the ceremony, artistes of various countries and overseas Korean artistes marched past warmly welcoming working people and school youth and children in the city along the route from the arch of triumph to the April 25 House of Culture.

Greetings to Indonesian Foreign Minister

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, DPRK Foreign Minister, sent a message of greetings to his Indonesian counterpart Alwi Ahdurrahman Shihab 35 years after the great leader Kim Jong Il paid a historic visit to Indonesia accompanying the President Kim Il Sung. The message says that the two leaders' Indonesian visit was a landmark event which opened a new chapter in developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.
    It recalls that the special friendly relations between the two countries have been steadily consolidated and developed thanks to the deep concern and common efforts of both sides over the past 35 years despite the complicated international situation.
    It expresses the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries will further expand and develop in the future, too, in all fields of politics, the economy and culture, etc. In keeping with the aspiration and desire of the two peoples on the principle of sovereignty, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Yang Hyong Sop meets Indonesian delegation

    Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and conversed with the Indonesian government cultural delegation headed by Hidajat Djaelani, state minister of tourism and arts, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Jang Chol, chairman of the festival organizing committee, and Buchari Effendi, Indonesian ambassador to the DPRK.
    The head of the delegation said that he deemed it a great honour to visit the DPRK 35 years after Kim Jong Il paid a visit to Indonesia accompanying the President Kim Il Sung.
    He noted that Kimilsungia, named after the president, represents the deep reverence of the Indonesian people for him.
    He expressed the belief that the Korean people would achieve greater success in building a powerful nation this year, the 55th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Il receives gift from Indonesian delegation

Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting Indonesian government cultural delegation. Head of the delegation Hidajat Djaelani, state minister of tourism and arts of Indonesia, today conveyed the gift to Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.