DPRK-Australian diplomatic relations reopened
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- A communique on reopening diplomatic relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Commonwealth of Australia was released here today.
It said: The DPRK and the Australian governments agreed to reopen the temporarily suspended diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level to develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries on the principle of mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in other's internal affairs, equality and reciprocity.
Both sides will soon appoint their ambassadors, the communique said.
4th preparatory contact held
Panmunjom, May 8 (KCNA) -- The 4th preparatory contact for a historic Pyongyang meeting and summit talks was held at the Thongil Pavilion in the north side's portion of Panmunjom on May 8.
At the contact the north side put forward realistic and flexible offers, taking into full consideration opinions of the south side.
But, the two sides failed to reach a consensus of views and produce a final agreement.
It was agreed to have the next contact when the south side informs the north side of its proposed date with willingness to positively respond to the north side's flexible offer.
"War commemoration" moves assailed
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland published a statement on sunday denouncing the U.S. and the South Korean authorities for planning to "commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War."
Branding the "commemorations" as a premeditated move to distort the history of their criminal aggression war and unleash a second aggression war on the Korean peninsula, the statement said:
The U.S. imperialists are distributing to primary, middle and high schools across the United States posters advertising non-existent "southward invasion" by someone.
Meanwhile, the South Korean authorities are going to conduct "commemorations" on a large scale including the building of a "cenotaph" to the U.S. war dead on the Rimjin River.
The facts clearly show that they are shamelessly and desperately attempting to distort the history in a bid to totally reverse the truth behind the Korean War of aggression and cover up their foul colors as war provokers and aggressors.
It is as clear as noonday that their war "commemorations" are part of the criminal war preparations. Through such moves, the U.S. and the South Korean authorities intend to distort the nature of the last Korean War, prevent the war-weariness and evasion of conscription, which are prevalent in South Korea, and, in the event of contingency, collect mercenary troops from different countries.
We will never overlook such criminal moves of the U.S. and the South Korean authorities distorting the history of the Korean War with a huge amount of fund and many war criminals involved.
It is our unshakable determination and will to bring to the stern court of history and punish those criminals who provoked the Korean War and make them pay due compensation for it.
Anachronistic illusion
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- An aide of Bush, the republican candidate for U.S. President, recently said that if Bush is elected, he will keep the U.S. forces in East Asia at the level of 100,000 to cope with "threat" from North Korea and pursue the U.S.-Japan-South Korea triangular military alliance.
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary notes his utterances are a revelation of the grave attempt of the U.S. bellicose elements to intensify the moves of aggression and war on the Korean peninsula and its surrounding areas.
The U.S. bellicose elements never let a chance pass by without saying to the same effect, the commentary says, and goes on:
Their remarks justifying the presence of the U.S. forces in East Asia and pursuing the U.S.-Japan-South Korea triangular military alliance are aimed at creating conditions and circumstances for their strategy of domination over the DPRK and Asia by force.
The alleged "threat from North Korea" is a downright lie and a deceptive signboard to pursue the policy of stifling the DPRK and strategy of domination over Asia.
The U.S. strategy of domination over Asia is an anachronistic illusion which is doomed to destruction, countered by countries in this region. The U.S. is well advised to stop such foolish acts.
World Day of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- May 8 is World Day of Red Cross and Red Crescent.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent movement set the birthday of Henry Dunant, pioneer of the Red Cross movement, as World Day of Red Cross and Red Crescent to commemorate it every year.
The Red Cross movement regards it as its basic task to protect the human life from war, all sorts of armed conflicts, natural disasters, etc. and stabilize the living of victims on a worldwide scale and actively encourages international and regional bonds of cooperation and solidarity among the forces involved in the movement in this field.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is conducting its activities in Korea, too, to remove the aftermath of natural disasters and stabilize the living of people in the afflicted areas.
Three-point charter of reunification supported abroad
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- Worldwide support to the three-point charter of Korea's reunification is growing with each passing day.
A ceremony of starting the international signature campaign for supporting the charter was held in Denmark on May 1.
An appeal of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea calling for staging the signature campaign was read out at the ceremony.
That day the signature paper was signed by 80 odd people.
Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Guinea also participated in the signature campaign.
Bonamou Martin, first vice-president of the assembly, on April 19 signed the signature paper on behalf of the assembly members, 114 in all.
Improving layout of fields is work of lasting significance
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are firmly convinced that the appearance of all fields of Korea will radically change as they befit the land of socialist Korea in the near future and the day will surely come when they live an affluent life free from food problem under the wise guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The article goes on:
It is Kim Jong Il's long-term plan for improving the layout of fields not only to bring new land under cultivation to increase grain production and realise comprehensive mechanization of farm work but to radically change the appearance of the land won back by the President kim il sung as befits the land of socialist Korea and liquidate once and for all the remnants of feudal landownership.
This unique plan has been translated into a shining reality in Kangwon and north Phyongan provinces.
He has wisely led the officials and workers involved in the work to carry it out not in a passive way but as an undertaking of lasting significance for the prosperity of the generations to come.
He has wisely instructed them to finish projects one by one to register earliest possible successes as was the case with all other work.
Bright is the prospect of land leveling and rezoning initiated by the Worker's Party of Korea the article notes, and concludes: The appearance of all fields in the DPRK will change beyond recognition in the near future as there are the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il and our people's army and people rallied single-heartedly around him.
S. Korean comes over to N. Korea
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- South Korean Ri Ki Won, 54, came over to the North Korea a few days ago.
Before his defection he was in charge of equipment maintenance in a joint tramcar stock company. Availing himself of his foreign tour, he succeeded in coming over to the north.
Hailing from Inchon, he graduated from the engineering college of Hanyang University in 1974 and worked at different enterprises.
Referring to the motive of his defection, he said he was tired of living in the unfair South Korean society where money decides everything. He said he decided to come over to the northern half of Korea, a society for the people and the nation, to live a worthy life.
Art of acupuncture and moxa cautery in Korea
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- Art of acupuncture and moxa cautery of Korea has rapidly developed.
In recent years the medical workers in this field have made successes in the treatment by finding new regions for acupuncture and systematizing them.
The art of acupuncture and moxa cautery originated from Korea.
Ancestors in the Neolithic era used sharp pointed stones to incise tumors and squeeze out pus.
The development of alchemy in the subsequent period led to the introduction of various types of acupuncture. It steadily developed in the period of Kojoson (ancient Korea) and the age of the three kingdoms (Koguryo, Paekje and Silla).
As early as in 692 there appeared a physicians training school where medical science, including the art of acupuncture and moxa cautery, was taught. Not a few books on good experience gained in treating diseases were brought out.
Ancestors singled out most sensitive parts of a human body as regions of acupuncture and moxa cautery and successfully treated troubles by means of acupuncture and cautery.
On this principle acupuncture was used in the treatment of various diseases such as paralytic diseases, diseases causing pains, inflammation and digestive trouble.
This treatment method of Koryo is in wide use not only at home but in other countries.
U.S. hit for its ado about "threat from N. Korea's missile threat"
Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- Recently the United States slandered the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in a bid to avoid the daily growing international criticism of the "National Missile Defense" system.
The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK today issued a statement denouncing the U.S. for its anti-DPRK diatribe.
He said.
No one can be fooled by the U.S. tricks. The DPRK will never remain an onlooker to the U.S. moves to violate the nation's sovereignty and dignity.
The U.S. moves to set up the "NMD" are very reckless and dangerous ones aimed at upsetting the world's strategic balance and getting the unchallenged nuclear upper hand at present. So, they invite unanimous curses and denunciation from broad segments of world people.
The U.S. ruling quarters are working hard to establish it at any cost despite public criticism at home and abroad.
The U.S. is making much ado about the "threat from North Korea's long-range missile" to this end.
It tried to play down the significance of the launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong 1, the first of its kind, in the DPRK, describing it as a "mini satellite for test." It is nowadays describing the launch of satellite as the long-range missile launch, claiming that the "missile defense" is designed to cope with the DPRK's long-range missile development, not aiming at Russia and china.
It is reckless enough to think that people will be taken in by its endless string of lies and this will help convince the countries concerned and the world public of this "NMD".
It is seriously mistaken, though.
It keeps thousands of nuclear missiles in different parts of the world on a permanent basis. It is a height of impudence for such a country as the U.S. to set up "missile defense" networks on the plea of the DPRK's satellite launch.
If satellite launch presents itself as a problem, not only the DPRK but all other satellite-launching countries, including the U.S., should discontinue launching satellites.
The same is the case with missile.
If the U.S. truly feels any threat from the DPRK's missile, it should stop posing grave military threat to the DPRK forthwith.
It is also commitment of the U.S. side that should have been fulfilled under the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework.
The U.S. has to spend tens of billions of dollars on developing the "NMD." If it stops posing military threat to the DPRK, however, it will save more money.
This notwithstanding, the U.S. is opting for spending a huge amount of money for the "NMD". In the long run, this U.S. intention cannot be construed otherwise than a move to attain another greater strategic purpose under the pretext of "threat" from the DPRK.
The issue of the DPRK cannot be any pretext and a ploy for a bargaining. The U.S. should be mindful of this.