Tricksters' misinformation refuted
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- "Editors" of the reptile newspaper "Chosun Ilbo" of South Korea reportedly carried an article titled "'Wolgan Chosun' in Pyongyang Koryo Hotel" saying that a South Korean magazine "Wolgan Chosun" was displayed in a parlor of Pyongyang Koryo hotel.
They carried even a note that Kim Sun Gwon, director of the "International Maize Foundation", and his party photographed the magazine in the hotel parlor while staying in Pyongyang some days ago in a bid to make the story sound plausible.
This is nothing but a third-rate charade.
It is necessary to state clearly that such a disgusting newspaper of South Korea has never been displayed at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel and such a thing can never happen there.
As far as the picture of "Wolgan Chosun" displayed in the parlor is concerned, the background against which it was taken and its architecture suggest that it was the work done by the fledgling agents in a back room without having a chance to see the hotel.
Such false propaganda is an unpardonable grave insult and slander at the DPRK.
By floating misinformation they sought to create the impression that the South Korean authorities' "engagement policy" has a sort of "implication" on the north and there is any "change" in it.
We strongly warn the manipulators of "Chosun Ilbo" and their agents against this diatribe.
The tricksters of the paper are well advised to face up to the trend of the times and drop such foolish attempt at once.
They will have to pay dearly for this false propaganda.
Message to Kim Jong Il from ITF president
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a message from Choe Hong Hui, president of the International Taekwon-do Federation, on April 15 on the occasion of Sun's Day.
He said in his message that the President Kim Il Sung was not only the savior of the nation, who was acclaimed for the first time in the history of the Korean nation, but also the benefactor of him and his 50 million Taekwon-do players.
Noting that he thinks it is the great fortune for him to lead his life under the great loving care of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he said he would devote the remainder of his life to the Marshal with loyalty to repay the great loving care.
He expressed his determination to contribute to national reunification with Taekwon-do.
Joint performances of art festival
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Joint performances of the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival were given at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre, the Central Youth Hall, the Pyongyang Circus Theatre and other theatres on April 16.
Seeing the performances were Hong Song Nam, Kye Ung Thae and other senior party and state officials, overseas compatriots staying in the socialist homeland, foreign diplomatic envoys and embassy officials here and foreign guests.
Foreign artistes and overseas Korean artistes put on the stage songs, dances, pieces of instrumental music, acrobatic pieces and other colorful numbers.
Put on the stage were works created by them with particular care for the current festival to highly praise the sun of humankind, the President Kim Il Sung, on the occasion of Sun's Day, his birth anniversary.
They gave a vivid representation of the best wishes of humankind for good health and a long life to General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
The joint performances proceeded in an atmosphere overflowing with the feelings of friendship and solidarity forged among artistes of various countries in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.
At the end of the performances senior party and state officials mounted the stage to present floral baskets to the performers, congratulating them on their successful performances.
Kim Il Sung's work published in booklet in Cuba
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- A celebrated work of the President Kim Il Sung "On the Three Principles of National Reunification" was brought out in booklet by the Academia Publishing House of Cuba on March 27.
Koreans in Japan meet to commemorate Kim Il Sung's birthday
Tokyo, April 14 (KNS-KCNA) -- A central meeting of Koreans in Japan was held at the Korean house of culture in Tokyo on April 14 to commemorate the 88th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung.
So Man Sul, first vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), said in his report at the meeting that Kim Il Sung put forward the line of Juche-oriented national patriotic movement to save the movement of Koreans in Japan and their destiny and steadily led them to a true patriotic road with much care.
He called upon all the Koreans in Japan to vigorously advance under the leadership of the respected Kim Jong Il, holding Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the eternal sun of the nation so as to exalt for all ages the immortal exploits performed by the President for the movement of Koreans in Japan.
A letter of the central standing committee of Chongryon to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting.
Friendship meeting with Mongolian guests held
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- A friendship meeting with Mongolian guests was held at the Taedonggang Club for the diplomatic corps on April 14 on the occasion of Sun's Day, the birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung.
Invited to the meeting were the Mongolian government cultural delegation headed by B. Baatarzorig, Mongolian Art and Acrobatic Troupes which are participating in the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival and the Mongolian delegation for commemoration of Sun's Day headed by N. Sodnomtsog, acting general secretary of the Federation of Mongolian Peace and Friendship Organizations, Damdiny Byamba, Mongolian ambassador to the DPRK, and the embassy officials.
On hand were Hong Son Ok, vice-chairperson of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations With Foreign Countries and vice-chairperson of the Korea-Mongolia Friendship Association, and other officials concerned.
The participants conversed with each other in a friendly atmosphere and sang songs of two countries and danced with art circle members of Korea-Mongolia friendship Pyongyang Songyo senior middle school no. 1, deepening friendly feelings.
Yang Hyong Sop meets participants in IIJI meeting
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society, met and conversed with foreign guests participating in the 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI) at the People's Palace of Culture yesterday.
Among them were Shuhachi Inoue, director general of the IIJI, and Kenichi Ogami, secretary general of the IIJI, and their party, Milton Anibal Burbano Borquez, director of the board of the IIJI and vice-chairman of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea, and Alva Chavez, secretary general of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea.
Kim Yong Il, vice-chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society, was present there.
Anti-U.S. demonstration held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Over 1,000 students and citizens from all walks of life in South Korea staged an anti-U.S. demonstration in a park in the center of Seoul on April 15, according to a foreign news report.
The demonstrators protested against the recent provocative military exercises staged by the U.S. which are coiling up tensions in Korea and strongly demanded the investigation into and apology for the mass killings committed by GIs during the last Korean war.
They marched streets shouting "yankees, go home " and holding anti-U.S. slogans.
Finnish friendship delegation presents stones
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- A Finnish friendship delegation led by Anna Liisa Jokinen, former parliamentarian, staying in the DPRK to commemorate Sun's Day visited the construction site of the monument to the three-point charter of national reunification and presented high-grade building stones on April 14.
Tapani Salonen, member of the delegation, said the world progressive people fully supported the three-point charter of national reunification put forward by the great leader Kim Il Sung and hoped that the Korean people would bring the sufferings of the division of the country to an end at an early date and achieve national reunification without fail.
Rodong Sinmun observes Syrian Independence Day
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today devotes a signed article to the Syrian Independence Day.
The article says that its independence marked a landmark event in the struggle of the Syrian Arab people to build a new free and prosperous society.
Recalling that the Syrian Arab people have worked hard to build new Syria under the leadership of the Arab Socialist Baath Party led by president Hafez al Assad, the article goes on:
The Korean people sincerely rejoice at the successes made by the Syrian Arab people in the struggle to defend their national sovereignty and create a new life.
They are extending full support to the Syrian government and people in their legitimate stand and efforts for the
Return of the Golan Heights, their territory, and the fair settlement of the Middle East issue.
The friendship between the DPRK and Syria will grow stronger and develop in the struggle to achieve the common aim and idea.
The Korean people sincerely wish the Syrian Arab people greater success in the future struggle to accomplish their cause of justice.
15th IIJI board meeting opens
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- The 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea was opened here yesterday.
The meeting will review the successes and experience gained in its activities to study and disseminate the Juche idea for the last two years since its 14th meeting and discuss issues of more energetically carrying out the work and raising the role of the IIJI in the new millennium.
Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, said in his congratulatory speech at the meeting that the progressive humankind has widely accepted the Juche idea as a true textbook and guideline in their life and struggle for independence.
Revolutionary practice proves that the Juche idea will always remain a guiding idea of humankind with the century, he said, and stressed:
The 20th century is a glorious one in which the cause of independence of the popular masses was pioneered by the respected leader Kim Il Sung and won victory thanks to him and the 21st century will be a great one in which this cause will achieve a decisive victory thanks to the great leader Kim Jong Il.
Shuhachi Inoue, director general of the IIJI, made a report on the work of its board at the meeting.
According to the report, the tasks set forth by the 14th meeting have been successfully carried out to bring about a new turn in the work to study and disseminate the Juche idea.
The groups for the study of the Juche idea have been reorganized in keeping with the acute political situation and actual conditions and strengthened and developed to be militant organizations capable of successfully carrying out their function and role.
During the period under review, 12 new organizations for the study of the Juche idea were formed in at least 10 countries.
Seminars on the Juche idea were held worldwide. They took up urgent socio-political issues in realising independence of regions and sought ways of solving them.
Brisk national seminars on the Juche idea held in various countries assumed new dimensions.
The groups for the study of the Juche idea applied various forms and methods to regularly or irregularly release publications such as bulletins, information and materials to be distributed through internet.
The reporter stressed that the idea and theories of Juche which were fathered by Kim Il Sung and have been steadily developed and enriched by Kim Jong Il serve as a treasured sword that firmly guarantees the victory of the cause of global independence and as a banner of struggle to be held aloft by the progressive humankind in the 21st century for their originality and validity.
Speeches were made by Garib Newaz, director of the IIJI board and executive director general of the Asian regional institute of the Juche idea, Milton Anibal Burbano Borquez, director of the board of the IIJI and vice-chairman of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea, Bruno Amoroso, secretary general of the European Regional Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, Chango Machyo, director of the IIJI board and senior advisor to the Ugandan President, Takao Kamakura, director of the IIJI board, Manik Lal Shrestha, deputy director general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, and Kurt Ebert, director of the State Institute of Politics of Austria.
Speakers referred to tasks to be fulfilled to strengthen activities to disseminate the Juche idea and solidarity with the Korean people.
The meeting elected Vishwanath, secretary general of the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" council and secretary general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, director general of the IIJI and Shuhachi Inoue, former director general of the IIJI, its honorary director general.
Deputy director generals, members of the executive committee and directors were also elected at the meeting.
Greetings to Zimbabwean President
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Robert G. Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on April 13 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the republic.
The message said that the Republic of Zimbabwe achieved great successes in its work for the development and prosperity of the country and made positive efforts for regional peace and stability for 20 years after its foundation.
It wished the President and people of Zimbabwe greater success in their work to defend the sovereignty of the country and national interests against the interference of foreign forces and expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further strengthen and develop.
Juche 89-90 plan signed between Korea and Russia
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA -- A Juche 89-90 (2000-2001) plan for cultural and scientific exchange between the governments of the DPRK and the Russian Federation was signed in Pyongyang today.
Present at the signing ceremony on the Korean side were officials concerned and on the opposite side were members of the delegation for discussing and signing the plan for cultural exchange, the Russian ambassador to Korea and embassy officials.
Senior party officials meet foreign guests
Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, alternate politburo member and secretary of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, today met and had a conversation with Darrel Chandra Raja Collure, general secretary of the central committee of the Sri Lanka Communist Party.
Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the WPK central committee, met and had a conversation with the delegation of the People's Party of Cambodia led by Ney Pena, vice-chairman of the control committee of the party, who is also member of the standing commission of the central committee of the party.