New work of Kim Jong Il published
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- A new work of General Secretary Kim Jong Il "Improving the Layout of the Fields Is a Great Transformation of Nature for the Prosperity and Development of the Country, a Patriotic Work of Lasting Significance" was made public.
This is his talk given to officials during his on-site guidance to the land leveling and rezoning in North Phyongan Province on January 24 and 27, Juche 89 (2000).
Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, today carries its full text.
Kim Jong Il in the work said that the WPK singled out the land leveling and rezoning as one of the important policies for the agricultural revolution and has successfully pushed ahead with it in recent years.
The party members and other working people in North Phyongan Province, servicemen of the Korean People's Army and members of the shock brigades from different provinces have done a great deal of work despite difficult conditions, he said, adding the large-scale land leveling and rezoning is possible only under the socialist system.
He noted that land leveling and rezoning in North Phyongan Province is evidence that nothing can break the revolutionary stamina of the Korean people to build an economically powerful nation in the spirit of self-reliance.
He pointed out that the KPA servicemen and people are now working hard to build a powerful socialist nation by displaying the revolutionary spirit of fortitude, the revolutionary spirit of soldiers, full of optimism about future that the day is sure to come when they will live well off, though they are hard pressed for everything.
The great change that has taken place in the rural areas of Kangwon and north Phyongan provinces is a striking demonstration of the politico-ideological might of our army and people single-heartedly united around the party and the leader and the solid independent national economy, he said, adding it is also a manifestation of the steadfast will of our people to build a prosperous, powerful socialist nation without fail with redoubled courage in sky-high spirit full of conviction of certain victory and optimism.
Noting that he decided to level and repartition all the fields of the country by generalizing the experience gained in Kangwon Province, he said improving the layout of fields is a great transformation of nature for the prosperity and development of the country, a patriotic work of lasting significance.
He pointed out that the improvement of the layout of fields initiated by the WPK is aimed at giving a radical face-lifting to this land liberated by the President Kim Il Sung as befitting the land of genuine socialist Korea, glorifying his leadership exploits and changing the appearance and structure of fields and thereby eradicating the last leftover of the feudal ownership of land.
Describing the improvement of the layout of fields as a worthwhile work to free the farmers from hard and back-breaking labour, he called for undertaking it in a bold and big way true to the party's policy.
The fields will look like those of the socialist state only when land leveling and rezoning is carried out under a plan for 10, nay 50 years, instead of undertaking it in such a passive manner as removing a few ridges between patches, he noted, adding: When undertaking land leveling and rezoning we should carry it out under a long-term plan not only for the present generation but for posterity.
He said that for smooth progress in land realignment project it is necessary to concentrate machines and manpower on the work and admirably finish it one by one.
Land leveling and rezoning should be conducted in South Hwanghae Province after the project in North Phyongan Province, he said.
Stressing the need to successfully carry out the Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway project as soon as possible, he said:
It is important to concentrate forces on driving waterway tunnels to this end.
He also urged all provinces, cities and counties to conduct land realignment projects through a brisk all-people movement so as to turn paddy and non-paddy fields into standardized fields best suited to mechanization.
Speech of Kim Yong Nam at south summit
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, made a speech at the south summit on April 12. The DPRK government and people would in the future, too, fully discharge their responsibility and duty for the expansion and development of south-south cooperation to make an active contribution to the cause of global independence, he said.
Noting that the history of sustained efforts for south-south cooperation is associated with the noble intentions and exploits of the President Kim Il Sung and other preceding leaders of developing countries, he said the successful opening of the south summit was an indication that its cause would continue to victoriously advance in the future, too.
He went on: Although the Cold War was brought to an end, the international relations have not shifted from confrontation to cooperation and national sovereignty of small countries is overtly violated by the power politics and arbitrary practices of big countries.
In the context of the present international economic relations marked by serious inequality and imbalance, free market competition on the lips of the advocates of "globalization" brings profits to the developed countries only. It is an advanced form of neo-colonialism which imposes the specified socio-economic system upon south countries in disregard of their option.
Never have the vital rights and sovereignty of the south countries been so seriously threatened as today. It is vital to establish a fair international economic order on the principle of independence, equality and mutual benefit.
He referred to the issues to which the current summit should pay attention in adopting the south development strategy and action program.
Firstly, a common view of the south on the present "globalization" should clearly be confirmed and the developed countries' doctrine of "globalization" whereby they force the south countries to accept their view on value and economic mode must be categorically rejected, he said, and went on:
And any international economic cooperation for development must be instrumental in assisting state efforts of the south countries to strengthen the independence of their national economy and increase their capabilities for development.
Secondly, south-south cooperation based on collective self-reliance should be further expanded and developed to establish new south-south economic relations among the south countries.
Thirdly, a special emphasis should be put on the issue of scientific and technological development in the south countries.
Fourthly, active measures should be taken for practical joint actions to create an international environment and conditions favourable for the growth and development of the south countries.
The main role of the UN should be further strengthened in analyzing and discussing international economic problems and formulating policies related to them.
DPRK order to chairwoman of Japan-Korea Music and Art Interchange Society
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The DPRK friendship order first class was awarded to Mitsuko Ogasawara, chairwoman of the Japan-Korea Music and Art Interchange Society.
The order was awarded to her for excellently performing many songs praising the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and greatly contributing to developing friendly relations between the peoples of the DPRK and Japan.
An awarding ceremony was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall yesterday.
Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Jang Chol, chairman of the organizing committee of the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival, and other officials concerned and members of the art troupe of the Japan-Korea Music and Art Interchange Society.
2nd Kimilsungia Show closes
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The 2nd Kimilsungia Show which was opened on the occasion of Sun's Day closed yesterday.
The show drew Korean visitors and overseas compatriots, foreign guests, diplomatic envoys and embassy officials here, at least 200,000 in all.
A closing ceremony was held at the Pyongyang International House of Culture that day.
The best prize, prize and prize of merit were awarded to the units which distinguished themselves in the show and commendations to individuals.
The special prize of the organizing committee went to the Indonesian embassy here which contributed to the show Kimilsungias it raised with much care.
Present at the closing ceremony were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, and Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and others.
Staff members of the Indonesian embassy here were among those present at the ceremony.
18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival closes
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival which opened here on April 10 closed today.
Attending a closing ceremony held at the April 25 House of Culture were Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet, and Yang Hyong Sop, vice-President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Also present there were government cultural delegations, delegates and artistes of different countries and overseas Korean artistes that participated in the festival, foreign diplomatic envoys and embassy officials here, foreign guests and overseas. Koreans.
A letter of thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted by the participants in the festival.
A message of thanks to the festival participants from the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK was read out at the ceremony.
Jang Chol, chairman of the festival organizing committee, in his closing address noted that the festival has beautifully adorned the significant year 2000 with colourful international art stage of friendship and solidarity and greatly contributed to developing human culture towards a new century.
He expressed the hope that friends from different countries would meet here again next year to sing more loudly the song of independence, peace and friendship.
Prize-giving ceremony was held there.
Group prizes were awarded to the Chinese and Mongolian delegations, the Moscow State Academic Phil-Harmony of Russia, Art Troupe of Koreans in Japan and Art Troupe of Koreans in China.
Individual prizes went to Liu Wei Wei of the Chinese troupe and 53 others, ensemble prizes to symphony "Prelude To Cavalrymen" of the Moscow State Academia Phil- Harmony of Russia and 46 other numbers, special prizes to Denko Hikita of the Denko Magic Group of Japan and 6 others, creation prizes to Pam Choon Hock, head of the Malaysian Art Troupe, and 22 others.
Certificates, cups, money awards, gold and silver statuettes were given according to prizes.
Kim Jong Il receives gifts from foreign guests
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received gifts from foreign guests who participated in the 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea and the delegation of the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association on a visit to the DPRK on the occasion of Sun's Day.
Gifts were handed to Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society, and an official concerned by Vishwanath, director general of the IIJI who is also secretary general of the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" Council and secretary general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, Jose Francisco Aguilar Bulgarelli, vice-director general of the IIJI and chairman of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea, Garib Newaz, director of the IIJI board and executive director general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, Alva Chavez, secretary general of the Latin American 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, Chango Machyo, director of the IIJI board and senior advisor to the Ugandan President, Reggie Ranatunge, vice-Minister of Ports Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Sri Lanka and advisor to the Sri Lankan Society for the Study of Self-reliance, Mustafa Jaber, chairman of the Jordanian National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, Andria Velonandro Anselme, chairman of the Malagasy National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, Debabrata Biswas, Indian parliamentarian, and Krasae Chanawongse, director of the IIJI board, and their parties.
Gifts were also handed to an official concerned by P. Malanuk, vice-chairman of the Ukrainian Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, Guiseppe Amata, member of the Italian Committee for the Study of Juche Idea, and Horst Michael Junghas, chairman of the Sachsen Provincial Association for the Study of the Juche Idea in Germany, and his party.
Meanwhile, a gift to Kim Jong Il was handed to an official concerned by Pham Tat Dong, president of the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association and deputy head of the science and education department of the central committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Venerable mother
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Professor Ri Hye Jong of the South Korean Women's Society released an article titled "Venerable Mother", according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
In her article she dealt with the brilliant life of Kim Jong Suk who made a contribution to founding the sun's country where the nation would live together holding President Kim Il Sung in high esteem and worked hard to achieve its eternal prosperity.
She went on: Kim Jong Suk was the greatest mother of all the fine women beautifully recorded in the human history.
The nation found in her the very personality of the woman commander blessed with sun-rays, standing by commander Kim Il Sung, its sun. She lived and struggled, inspired by his spirit and his wisdom and bravery.
She devotedly defended him in the countless bloody battles during the 15-year-long sanguinary anti-Japanese war.
She was mother who made a great contribution to building Korea of Kim Il Sung, the sun. She took care of the people's life and state affairs assisting Kim Il Sung who was busy with building the country.
She was possessed of the most beautiful and noblest trait to be followed by the women.
She was characterized by her service and sacrifice that shined like sunrays, her pure heart and kindness, tender-hearted personality and simplicity which were as warm as sunrays.
Her character is reflected in the great personality of leader Kim Jong Il. It is thanks to her that the nation is blessed with the leader who is the incarnation of loyalty and filial piety.
She gave Kim Jong Il the wisdom and bravery of the brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu and brought him up as the son of the people who devotes himself to the people like Kim Il Sung.
Kim Jong Il is totally dedicated to the country and the nation like his mother Kim Jong Suk who held President Kim Il Sung in high esteem.
Intense loyalty and filial piety have inexhaustible strength like the sun. Indeed, President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Suk are immortal and the sacred cause of global independence is sure to triumph thanks to Kim Jong Il, the incarnation of loyalty and filial piety.
Fuss about "suspected kidnapping" in Japan
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- It is a well-known fact that the Japanese ultra-right reactionaries are hell bent on the hostile moves against the DPRK, making a fuss about "suspected kidnapping."
It is becoming clearer as the days go by that this is much ado about nothing.
This is evidenced by the facts that Fusako Sano, who had been reported to be kidnapped in broad daylight 10 years ago, appeared at the age of 19 in Niigata prefecture last January and two men came to the police headquarters of Nagoya city, Aichi prefecture, on April 10 and confessed to their involvement in the "kidnapping of two women" in the prefecture.
In fact, such funny things are commonplace in Japan. Yet, it is a height of folly for the Japanese reactionaries to turn aside from the reality in Japan and slander the DPRK over "suspected kidnapping" and for some of the authorities to be impertinently involved in the smear campaign.
A senior Japanese diplomat recently raised "kidnapping problem" again, claiming its solution should be a precondition for the inter-governmental talks between the DPRK and Japan. His remarks are overshadowing the prospect of the DPRK-Japan full-dress talks which resumed with much effort.
This cannot be construed otherwise than a brazen-faced intention of the Japanese authorities to evade an apology for the crimes committed against the Korean people in the past and liquidation of their past wrongdoings.
If the Japanese politicians truly hope for the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations and feel ashamed of their crime-woven past and present, they should stop talking about "suspected kidnapping," a product of their anti-DPRK hostile policy, and combat crimes inside their own country.
Japan's bid for permanent membership of UNSC
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Some time ago, the UN Secretary General made public a report on the reform of the UN. Taking advantage of this, Sato, Japanese ambassador to the United Nations, justified Japan's bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, claiming that there is growing discontent in Japan as its financial contribution to the UN was not properly appreciated. In short, his claim is that Japan should be a permanent member of the UNSC because it is one of the biggest financial contributors to the UN among its member nations.
Financial contribution to the UN cannot be a criterion for becoming a permanent member of the UNSC. If Japan's view on value should be accepted, developing countries can never sit on the UNSC.
The UN is a world body which was founded to defend world peace and security. Therefore, a country which has contributed to the world peace and security or is capable of doing so should be elected a permanent member of the UNSC.
If the UN compromises on Japan's assertion, backpedaling its principle, it will create an obstacle to the fair solution of disputes and result in gnawing away at the confidence in the UN.
Japan is still registered as an "enemy state" in the charter of the United Nations.
Japan should unconditionally and fully redress its past to shake off its disgrace of being an "enemy state." Japan's redress of its past would be a touchstone showing whether it can win confidence from the international community or not.
But, Japan has persistently refused to make a formal apology and compensation for its past crimes, including the most hideous crime related to "comfort women for the army."
Yet, Japan asserts that it should sit on the UNSC to contribute to world peace and security. This is nothing but sheer sophism.
Japan should get rid of the disgrace of being an "enemy state" before making any bid for permanent membership of the UNSC.
April 19 spirit cannot be violated
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Yun Song Sik, permanent member of the Consultative Council of Former South Korean Politicians in the North for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification, was interviewed by KCNA yesterday on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the April 19 Popular Uprising of South Korean people.
Although 40 years have passed since the Apr. 19 Popular Uprising, there is nothing changed in South Korea, he said, and continued:
The Apr. 19 spirit is noble and it cannot be violated by any force.
The struggle of South Korean people clearly showed that where there is oppression there is always resistance, people are more awakened through ordeals and no force of arms can block the struggle of the patriotic people for independence, democracy and reunification.
The desire of the Apr. 19 uprising for new politics, new system and new life is just the desire for independence, democracy and reunification.
If the reactionaries of history seek to quench the desire again instead of drawing a lesson of history, the Apr. 19 Popular Uprising will continue and eventually develop into a decisive revolutionary movement to sweep away all the scum of history.
Preparations of U.S. and South Korean rulers for biochemical war
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland yesterday issued a statement condemning the U.S. and the South Korean authorities for their ever more frantic preparations for a biochemical war against the DPRK.
Recently the U.S. newly organized units for a chemical war in U.S. forces stationed in South Korea and are planning to stage a north-targeted adventurous joint bio-chemical war exercise of these units and the South Korean army in mid-April, the statement said, and continued:
This clearly indicates that the U.S. and the South Korean authorities are keen to ignite a new war in Korea at any cost and bring disasters of not only nuclear war but biochemical war to the Korean nation.
The U.S. have stepped up preparations for a biochemical war, making the use of biochemical weapons banned by the international law an established fact.
The statement bitterly denounced the moves of the U.S. and the South Korean authorities for a biochemical war as an outright challenge to the unanimous aspiration and desire of the Korean people for peace and the peaceful reunification of the country and an unpardonable criminal plan to bring immeasurable disasters to the Korean nation and humankind.
The revolutionary armed forces and people of the DPRK will never remain a passive onlooker to the dangerous biochemical war moves, the statement warned.
U.S.-Japan cooperation in anti-DPRK campaign blasted
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- U.S. conservatives' scheme to achieve their sinister aim through the DPRK-Japan talks came under fire by a signed commentary of Rodong Sinmun today.
As regards the DPRK-Japan inter-governmental talks U.S. conservatives submitted a "report" to the effect that Japan's compensation should be a "main lever" to force the DPRK to drop its "nuclear and missile programs," the commentary says, and goes on:
U.S. conservatives are now finding themselves in an awkward position as their policy to stifle the DPRK does not work and everything is far from going as they wish. They are making desperate efforts to get rid of this predicament.
This is evidenced by their attempt to put a brake on the DPRK-Japan talks in "cooperation" with the Japanese reactionaries.
Meanwhile, the Japanese reactionaries are dancing to the U.S. tune to achieve their black-hearted aim. "cooperation" on the lips of the U.S. and the Japanese reactionaries is a product of their common plot to stifle the DPRK.
As far as the issue of dropping the "nuclear and missile programs" is concerned, the DPRK has every right to demand the U.S. abandon those programs.
Yet, U.S. conservatives are calling for the DPRK's drop of its "nuclear and missile programs" like a thief crying "stop thief " this row is aimed to paint the DPRK as the harasser of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, not the U.S. and disarming it in a bid to realise their aim to invade the DPRK with ease.
But this will bring them to nowhere. Their attempt to use the issue of Japan's compensation as a "main lever " to force the DPRK to drop its "nuclear and missile programs" would only create complexity in the process of improving the DPRK-Japan relations.
U.S. conservatives should be clearly mindful of the consequences to be entailed by their moves for "cooperation."
The U.S. and Japan will be held wholly responsible for all the adverse consequences of their "cooperation."
U.S. troops' massacre during Korean War
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The material research department of the Socialist Unionist Party of Syria on April 8 released a statement denouncing the U.S. troops for their atrocities in the Korean War.
Indiscriminate bombing and bombardment by the U.S. troops during the Korean War recently revealed by U.S. official documents, testimonies and statements of U.S. soldiers who participated in the atrocities, victims and witnesses are touching off wrath and resentment of the world people who love justice and peace against the U.S., said the statement.
It hoped the fraternal Korean people would achieve national reunification according to the three-point charter of national reunification under the wise guidance of the great leader Kim Jong Il.
Great political program for great national unity and reunification
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates an article to the second anniversary of the publication of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "Let Us Reunify the Country Independently and Peacefully Through the Great Unity of the Entire Nation".
Kim Jong Il's work serves as a library for national unity as it developed in depth the Juche-oriented idea of great national unity advanced by President Kim Il Sung as required by the present situation and gave overall answers to all the theoretical and practical problems in achieving the great national unity at present, the article says, and goes on:
Kim Jong Il in the work comprehensively explained the immortal feats Kim Il Sung performed in achieving the great national unity by clarifying from a new angle the issue of the nation on the basis of the Juche idea, advancing the unique idea of great national unity in his early years and successfully embodying it in the whole course of the struggle for national liberation, the construction of a new country and the country's reunification.
In the work he clarified his firm determination and iron will to uphold and confidently carry forward the President's great idea of national unity, feats, rich experience and traditions and thus achieve the great unity of the whole nation and reunify the country in the present generation at any cost.
He advanced the historic five-point policy for the great national unity, a guiding principle for achieving the great unity of the whole nation, noting it is the irresistible trend of the national history and lawful requirements for national development for the Korean nation to put an end to its split caused by foreign forces and get reunified.
Kim Jong Il's five-point policy for great national unity calls for achieving, unity on the principle of national independence and under the banner of patriotism and national reunification, improving the relations between the north and south, struggling against foreign domination and anti-reunification forces and realizing contact and dialogue and strengthening solidarity among all the compatriots. This paved the broad way for the Korean nation to unite close in the common interests of the nation.
Korean cadres meet foreign guests
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and friendly conversed with the delegation of the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association led by its president Pham Tat Dong, deputy head of the science and education department of the central committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall yesterday.
On the occasion the head of the delegation said that President Kim Il Sung is the great leader of the Korean people and the world progressives.
He expressed his belief that the Korean people would achieve greater success in building a powerful nation under the wise leadership of the great Kim Jong Il.
Meanwhile, Jang Chol, chairman of the organizing committee of the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival, met and had a friendly talk with the art troupe of the Japan-Korea Music and Art Interchange Society led by its chairwoman Mitsuko Ogasawara at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel yesterday.
Zimbabwe's day of independence marked
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Papers here today devote signed articles to the day of the foundation of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
They say the proclamation of the republic was a historic event of great significance in the struggle of the Zimbabwean people for the building of a new independent and prosperous society.
Noting that the Zimbabwean people have achieved many successes in the building of a new society under the leadership of President Robert G. Mugabe, Rodong Sinmun says that pursuing a non-aligned foreign policy, Zimbabwe has opposed imperialism and colonialism and worked hard to establish a new international economic order.
The Korean people sincerely rejoice over the successes achieved by the Zimbabwean people in the efforts to firmly defend their gains and achieve the independent development of the country, the daily notes, and goes on:
The DPRK-Zimbabwe friendship has developed on good terms in line with the interests and desire of the two peoples.
Minju Joson says the Korean people believe that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples will grow stronger and develop in the future, too, in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.
Letter to Kim Jong Il from IIJI board of directors
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a letter from the participants in the 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea yesterday.
The letter said that the current board meeting was a very significant meeting which reviewed the proud achievements decorating the 20th century with the movement for the study and dissemination of the Juche idea and expressed the determination to greet the new century as a century of overall victory of the cause of independence.
The letter went on:
For his immortal exploits for the era and history the President Kim Il Sung lives an eternal life as the sun of Juche in the hearts of the world progressive people and the followers of the Juche idea.
The cause of Juche started by President Kim Il Sung is being brilliantly carried forward by respected your excellency Kim Jong Il.
Your excellency, identical with Kim Il Sung in ideology, leadership and personality, are leading the popular masses' cause of independence to victory so that the sun of Juche is shining all over the world more brilliantly.
Especially, we, witnessing the realities seething with the building of a powerful nation of Juche in your country, had a better understanding of the truth of your idea and theory that socialism is ever-victorious as a science and realized once again that the people-centred socialism of Korea is most solid, superior and viable in the world.
The banner of the great Juche idea should be held high by humankind in the 21st century after the 20th century.
We will glorify the 21st century with the truth of Juche by conducting a more dynamic movement to study and disseminate the Juche idea among people in different continents and countries bearing the Juche idea in mind as a firm faith and in keeping with the changed situation.
15th IIJI board meeting closes
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea closed yesterday.
The meeting discussed a 2000 plan for the board of directors of the IIJI.
Then, speeches were made.
The floor was taken by directors of the IIJI board--Kim Yong Il, vice-chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society= Alva Chavez, secretary general of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea= Andria Velonandro Anselme, chairman of the Malagasy National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea= Mustafa Jaber, chairman of the Jordanian National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea= Joseph f. Mbwiliza, chairman of the State Standing Survey Committee of Tanzania= Reggie Ranatunge, vice-Minister of Ports Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Sri Lanka and advisor to the Sri Lankan Society for the Study of Self-reliance=--and Guiseppe Amata, member of the Italian Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea= and Pak Ryong, vice-president of the Social Science Institute of Joson University under Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan).
Speakers referred to the ways of intensifying the study and dissemination of the Juche idea in their regions and countries.
At the meeting, the rules of the IIJI were revised and the duty of directors of its board was laid down.
A letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting.
It adopted the declaration of the 15th board meeting of the IIJI "Juche idea is a great guiding banner for the 21st century".
The declaration said that the 20th century was a century of independence in which the popular masses' cause of independence was pioneered and had victoriously advanced thanks to the Juche idea founded by the respected Kim Il Sung.
The ideas and theories of Juche which Kim Jong Il has developed in depth as required by the developing realities serve as a militant banner to be held aloft by humankind in the 21st century for their validity and truth, the declaration noted, and continued:
The groups for the study of the Juche idea and its followers in various countries will vigorously wage a new historic onward movement in the 21st century full of conviction of sure victory and optimism, holding aloft the banner of the Juche idea under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
They would firmly protect the purity of the Juche idea from all hues of ideological trends spread by the imperialists and reactionaries and put up a resolute struggle against imperialism, sternly combating any illusion about it.
The declaration called for achieving the unity of the independent forces, strengthening solidarity with the progressive people of the world and decisively frustrating the moves of the imperialists and reactionaries to isolate and stifle socialism in Korea.
The presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly gave a reception on Monday in honor of the participants in the meeting.
Hong Song Nam meets new Chinese ambassador
Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, met and had a talk with Wang Guozhang, newly-appointed ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the DPRK who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present there were Pak Kil Yon, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Li Bin, minister-counselor of the Chinese embassy here.
Meanwhile, Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, met and conversed with the ambassador today.