Kim Jong Il sends gift to Fidel Castro Ruz
Havana, April 18 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a gift to Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba.
The gift was handed to Fidel Castro Ruz by Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Monday.
Expressing thanks to Kim Jong Il for the gift, Fidel Castro Ruz wished him good health and happiness.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Fidel Castro Ruz
Havana, April 18 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba.
Fidel Castro Ruz handed the gift to Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Monday.
Inter-Korean summit talks hailed abroad
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The inter-Korean summit talks which will be held in June is creating a great stir among the international community.
R. K. Shastri, secretary of the central committee of the All-India Forward Bloc, stressed in his statement that the signed agreement on holding the north-south summit talks is a victory of the policy put forward by the great leader Kim Jong Il to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country through great unity of the whole nation.
Kim Jong Il set forth the five-point policy of great national unity to carry out the instructions given by the President Kim Il Sung for national reunification and this policy is enjoying full support from all the Koreans in the north, south and abroad, he said, and went on:
If the north-south summit talks are to be held in conformity with the desire of all the Korean people, the South Korean authorities should, first of all, repeal the "security law," a roadblock in the way of Korea's reunification, and shift the anti-communist confrontation policy into reconciliation policy for alliance with the north.
The proposal for founding the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo put forward by President Kim Il Sung is the most fair and reasonable one for Korea's reunification under the condition in which different systems exist in the north and the south of Korea.
O. P. Mantri, secretary general of the Asian Regional Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, in his statement pointed out that the inter-Korean summit talks should be held in accordance with the three principles of national reunification and the 10-point programme of the great national unity brought out by President Kim Il Sung and the policy of national reunification of the respected Kim Jong Il so that they may bring joy to all the Korean people who earnestly desire the reunification of the country.
He called upon the South Korean chief executive to deal with the talks on the principle of national independence and with sincere stand on relieving pain of the fellow countrymen.
Talks between Kim Yong Nam and Fidel Castro Ruz held
Havana, April 18 (KCNA) -- Talks between Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, were held in Havana on Monday.
Present at the talks were Paek Nam Sun , DPRK Foreign Minister, and others and the DPRK ambassador to Cuba, and Ricardo Alarcon De Quesada, president of the National Assembly of People's Power, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, vice-president of the Council of State, Carlos Rage Davila, vice-president of the Council of State and secretary general of the executive committee of the Council of Ministers, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Minister of Foreign Trade, Carlos Valenciaga, member of the Council of State, Jose Armando Guerra Menchero, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Cuban ambassador to the DPRK.
Kim Yong Nam at the talks conveyed regards of General Secretary Kim Jong Il to Fidel Castro Ruz.
Fidel Castro Ruz expressed deep thanks for this and asked Kim Yong Nam to convey his heartfelt greetings of comradeship and wishes for good health and a long life to Kim Jong Il.
The talks proceeded in a comradely and friendly atmosphere.
Yang Hyong Sop meets foreign guests
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and had a talk with the Indonesian friendship delegation led by Rahmawati Sukarnoptri, president of the Sukarno Educational Foundation and chairperson of the Indonesia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Interchange Association, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
The head of the delegation said that the friendship between Indonesia and the DPRK is everlasting as it was provided by presidents Sukarno and Kim Il Sung, the preceding leaders of the two countries.
Yang Hyong Sop also met Vishwanath, director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, and his party.
Iranian ambassador gives reception
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Mohammad Ganjidoost, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the DPRK, gave a reception on Wednesday on the occasion of Sun's Day.
Invited to the reception were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Paek Hak Rim, Minister of People's Security, Ri Won Il, Minister of Labour and chairman of the Korea-Iran Friendship Association, and others.
The ambassador said that he remembered the efforts made by the President Kim Il Sung, founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, for the development of the friendly relations between the two countries.
The friendly and historic talks held between the leaders of the two countries during Islamic leader of Iran Seyed Ali Khamenei's Korea visit deepened and developed the mutual relations of the two countries, he noted.
Referring to the exploits performed by Kim Il Sung for the development of bilateral friendly relations, he expressed thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Il for strengthening the relations of the two countries still further by carrying forward the President's policy and line.
Yang Hyong Sop said in his speech it is the expression of the Iranian people's reverence and trust in the fatherly leader President Kim Il Sung that the Iranian friends commemorate Sun's Day every year together with the Korean people.
He further said:
The Korea-Iran relations with a long tradition were forged by the President and are based on the intimacy between him and Iranian leaders. Today, the relations are further developing thanks to the deep care of the great leader Kim Jong Il.
Pyongyang boasts grand people's study house
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The Grand People's Study House in Pyongyang is operating as a main center for the intellectualization of the whole society in the DPRK.
The Grand People's Study House opened to public in April Juche 71 (1982). It is capable of keeping 30 million books.
The house has works of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, all kinds of publications and technical documents released in the DPRK, including those on social science, technical engineering, special technology and literature as well as foreign books on science and technology and periodicals, etc.
It can accommodate 12,000 visitors a day.
They can receive lectures on relevant subjects and read necessary books.
The house has a reading room of at least 5,000 seats, 800-seat lecture room, two 400-seat lecture rooms, two 180-seat rooms and two 90-seat rooms equipped with visual and audio facilities, and twelve recorded lecture rooms.
The rooms are equipped with video tape recorders, TV sets, recorders, film projectors, slides and other educational facilities.
Lecture is a main form of education in the house. It is properly combined with briefing, question and answer, recorded lecture and reading.
Lectures on scientific theories, scientific and technological workshops and foreign language training course are also available there.
The house lends books not only to visitors but to those who order them by correspondence and organizes travelling lectures and dissemination of new technologies at factories and construction sites.
The development of the Grand People's Study House into a center for the dissemination of science and technology and cultural information among working people of all social standings, youth and students of the DPRK is ascribable to the wise guidance and loving care of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who have provided the Korean people with the best opportunity of learning.
Kim Il Sung initiated the building of a house in the heart of Pyongyang to enable all the people to study and named it "Grand People's Study House" after its completion.
Kim Jong Il set out orientations and ways of building the house and saw to it that best materials, equipment and furniture were provided to it.
He has sent more than 617,300 books, video cassettes and many facilities of 442,530 varieties to the house over the last nearly two decades.
Democratic policies enforced
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The Worker's Party of Korea promulgated the labor law and the law on sex equality, established the new educational system and enforced other democratic policies after the liberation of the country.
The WPK put preferential efforts on establishing the democratic labor system of the working class.
At that time, the working class called for removing the remnants of the colonial slave labor of the Japanese imperialists and establishing the democratic labor system at an early date.
The President Kim Il Sung put forward the issue of enacting the labor law at an early date at the 8hth session of the provisional people's committee of North Korea in June Juche 35 (1946).
Accordingly, the WPK sent officials and members of party organizations of all levels to factories and enterprises to discuss and explain the draft labor law.
"Labor law for the workers and office employees in North Korea" was published on June 24, 1946 after a nation-wide debate on the draft labor law.
Specified in the law were fundamental ways of improving the social and economic conditions of the working class including the introduction of eight-hour working system, paid leave for two weeks and social insurance.
The WPK, after the promulgation of the law, has enhanced the function and role of the people's power organs and strengthened legal control over the implementation of the labor law.
The WPK published the "Law on sex equality in North Korea" on July 30, Juche 35 (1946) so that women might have equal rights with men, free from the ideological leftovers of the Japanese imperialists and feudal customs.
With the promulgation of the law on sex equality, women, a half of the population, have been completely liberated from the centuries-old feudal status and taken an active part in the building of a new country as the proud ones responsible for the state and society.
The WPK completely abolished the colonial slavery educational system of the Japanese imperialists and established a new educational system in conformity with the demand and desire of the Korean people.
Thus, the regular school system and the study-while-working system of various forms have been established. In 1946, 77 percent of school-age children were enlisted in the 6-year elementary educational network and at least 556,000 working people in the adult educational network.
Moves for biochemical war by U.S. and S. Korean rulers assailed
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee made public a statement on Wednesday denouncing the U.S. and the South Korean ruling quarters for their frantic preparations for a biochemical war.
The U.S. and the South Korean warmongers are spreading the rumour about fictitious "threat of biochemical weapon attack" from the north, the statement said, and went on: Lurking behind it is their wicked intention to isolate the DPRK and legalize their preparations for a biochemical war under the pretext of the threat.
They started a provocative and aggressive war exercise, "reception, staging, onward-movement and integration exercise." Timing with it, they are staging biochemical war exercises in different parts of South Korea. Such frantic war moves should never be tolerated.
The Korean people will never remain an onlooker to the sinister moves of the U.S. and South Korean ruling quarters, who crack a smile of reconciliation at negotiating table and sharpen knife against the dialogue partner behind it, but take a self-defensive, counter-measure.
The U.S. and South Korean warmongers should stop at once the reckless moves for a biochemical war, which will bring earlier their destruction, keeping in mind the saying "curses, like chickens, come home to roost."
If they persistently resort to the preparations for a biochemical war under the pretext of fictitious "threat of biochemical weapon" of the DPRK despite of its repeated warnings, they will be held wholly responsible for all the consequences arising therefrom.
The statement expressed the belief that the world peace-loving people and international anti-war and peace organizations would clearly see the danger of their adventurous moves to ignite a biochemical war and actively turn out in the struggle to check and frustrate them.
Japan urged to think twice
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Japan in the "draft 2000 diplomatic blue book" said that it keeps intact its "balanced policy of dialogue and deterrence" in establishing relations with the DPRK.
In this regard Minju Joson today says in a signed commentary:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Japan is, in essence, an issue of developing new good neighborly ties in conformity with the interests of the two peoples and the requirements of the times on the basis of Japan's liquidation of the crimes committed by it in Korea in the past. A key point in this is Japan's liquidation of the past.
Therefore, the DPRK-Japan talks which were resumed with so much effort should focus on the issue of Japan's liquidation of its past.
Japan seems to seek any "concession" from the DPRK through "deterrence" and thus get the "upper hand" in the "dialogue," but it can never achieve this aim.
If Japan truly wants the improved relations between the two countries, it should honestly reflect on and fully compensate at an early date for the misfortune and pain, disaster and damage it inflicted upon the Korean people during its military occupation of Korea. Japan should show this position and will at the DPRK-Japan talks, too.
Japan is well advised to think twice, clearly mindful of the irretrievably serious consequences to be entailed by this provocative statement.
U.S.-S. Korea war maneuver under fire
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary lashes out at the aggressive war exercise called "reception, staging, on-ward movement and integration exercise" the U.S. is staging together with the South Korean warmongers.
The commentary terms this exercise as a reckless military drill aimed to throw a wet blanket over the ardent desire of the Korean people for national reunification, escalate confrontation and ignite the second Korean war.
Recalling that whenever there were mounting desire for reunification and signs of detente on the Korean peninsula, the U.S. deliberately aggravated the situation and opted for harassing peace, the commentary notes: It is because of the U.S. that the Korean peninsula remains the biggest hot spot and a region fraught with the greatest danger of war in the world.
A war exercise and peace can never go together.
If the U.S. truly wishes peace on the Korean peninsula and improved relations between the north and the south, it must halt all the military maneuvers targeted against the DPRK, refrain from driving the South Korean warmongers to moves to invade the north and withdraw its forces from South Korea.
The "reception, staging, on-ward movement and integration exercise" launched by the U.S., turning its face from those issues, is a serious action against the Korean reunification and peace which will only complicate the situation and throw hurdles in the way of improving the relations between the DPRK and the U.S. and between the north and the south.
U.S. and S. Korean warmongers' preparations for war blasted
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The U.S. and the South Korean warmongers' stepped up preparations for a bio-chemical war under the pretext of "coping" with "threat of bio-chemical attack" from someone are premeditated moves for a war intended to inflict not only nuclear calamities but bio-chemical disasters upon the Korean nation, says Minju Joson today in a signed commentary.
The U.S. and the South Korean warhawks have systematically stepped up the preparations for a bio-chemical war in South Korea in the past, the commentary notes, and goes on:
All this goes to prove that they have made the use of bio-chemical weapons in the second Korean war an established fact and its preparations have entered a dangerous phase.
Their much talk about "threat of bio-chemical attack" from the DPRK which has nothing to do with the bio-chemical weapons is part of their moves to stifle and isolate it as it was the case with their fuss about "nuclear threat" and "missile threat." This is nothing but a pretext to justify their preparations for a bio-chemical war.
The U.S. and the South Korean authorities should immediately stop such reckless moves as preparations for a bio-chemical war, clearly mindful that they will lead them to self-destruction.
Rodong Sinmun on "election" in S. Korea
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The results of the 16th "national assembly election" held in South Korea on April 13 show that none of the political parties, ruling or opposition, could hold the majority of the parliamentary seats and the "United Liberal Democrats" failed to win the minimum 20 seats enough to form the parliamentary negotiating body (parliamentary group), making it impossible for it to properly play its role as a political party in the "National Assembly".
In this regard Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed commentary:
The recent "election" was characterized by a Rowdyism of political threat, repression, fraud and artifice. The failure of any political party in South Korea to attain its target for "seats" clearly shows how the South Korean rulers and right-wing reactionaries are isolated and rejected by the people.
The balloting rate in the "election" which took place amid utter indifference of the people was no more than 57.2 percent, the lowest in its history. This is a clear indication that the South Korean people are turning their back upon the traitorous corrupt politics of the ruling quarters and craving for new politics, new system and new life.
Through the "election" the South Korean people demonstrated their unbreakable will and determination to put an end to the colonial fascist rule of the U.S. and set up an independent and democratic regime for reunification.
As the "election" ended in the defeat of the conservative political parties, the political chaos in South Korea is inevitable.
U.S. practical measure for nuclear weapons reduction called for
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Russia's approval of the "START-2" is a manifestation of its will for disarmament and the U.S. should take a practical step for the reduction of nuclear weapons.
The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK stressed this in an answer to a question put by KCNA today as regards the Russian State Duma's recent approval of the "START-2."
He further said:
The international community appreciates the recent approval as a step forward for practical disarmament and calls for pushing ahead with the disarmament process and complete abolition of all nuclear weapons on the earth.
The U.S., however, is working hard to amend the "ABM treaty" in a bid to set up the "national and theatre missile defense" systems, seeking a military edge and a uni-polar world.
The U.S. attempt is denounced by the international community as an anachronistic one that sparks another arms race and upsets strategic stability of the world.
Now that Russia approved the "START-2," we demand the U.S. completely dismantle and pull out its nuclear weapons from South Korea as a practical step for the reduction of nuclear arms.
There is no change in the DPRK's principled stand on a comprehensive disarmament, including overall and complete elimination of nuclear weapons.
We will fully support all international efforts and steps for disarmament and peace.
Korea-Armenia Friendship Association formed
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The Korea-Armenia Friendship Association was formed here on April 12 with due ceremony.
Ri Song Ho, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, was elected chairman of the association.
Poems praising Kim Il Sung created in different countries
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Public figures of different countries wrote and published many poems with one mind to revere the President Kim Il Sung as the eternal sun of humankind for all ages.
Jose Castro Poso, chairman of the National Association of Writers and Artistes of Peru, in his poem praised Kim Il Sung, founder of socialist Korea, as the eternal sun shining with gold colors not only in Korea but also in the world, banner of victory and sun of all people.
Madagascan Yvonne Razanamasy said that the world is commemorating Sun's Day, an auspicious holiday common to humankind, most significantly with great joy and pride. His immortal exploits and noble traits will remain forever in the hearts of humankind, he said.
A Syrian Hudarl Homsy said that the DPRK is a country where Kim Il Sung's thought is shedding rays like sunshine and his birth anniversary is a glorious holiday in the mind of people.
Salim Abdul Sharif, secretary of the basic people's congress of Murzuq city, Libya, wrote that Kim Il Sung is the sun shining all over the world and he reverentially presents a bunch of beautiful roses to him, the eternal sun.
Cuban poet Carmelo Garcia Fernandez hoped that Kim Il Sung would be alive forever in the hearts of humankind to dye the whole world for good with red glow of socialism.