Guarantee of legal status of Koreans in Japan called for
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- At the 9th round of the intergovernmental talks between the DPRK and Japan held in Pyongyang in April our side proposed the issue of improving the legal status of Koreans in Japan as one of the key points related to Japan's redress of its past. This assertion is the most just one reflecting the DPRK's principled and fair stand to develop good-neighborly relations with Japan on the basis of Japan's redress of its criminal past. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article.
The article goes on:
The Koreans in Japan should be legally protected as victims of the military occupation and rule of the Japanese imperialists and their war of aggression in the light of the background against which they settled there and from a humanitarian point of view. However, they are neither guaranteed deserved democratic and national rights nor legally protected nor given humanitarian treatment. They have suffered all sorts of mental and physical pain generation after generation, subjected to unbearable national discrimination, contempt and persecution.
Without the solution of the issue of improving the legal status of the Koreans in Japan, Japan cannot say it has fully settled its past although it resolved other matters.
As far as the guarantee of the legal status of the Koreans in Japan is concerned, the Japanese government should apologize politically and morally for having inflicted unspeakable suffering and tremendous human and material losses upon the Korean residents in Japan through the pursuance of its policy of despising them before and after the liberation of Korea and make material compensation for them.
The Japanese government should drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan and all sorts of national contempt and discrimination against the Korean nationals in Japan, recognize their DPRK nationality and take ethical, moral and legal steps for their preferential and cordial treatment, so that they may live a stable life.
It should refrain from acts of politically persecuting the Korean residents in Japan for no reason and alienating and destabilizing the Korean community and abandon its national obliteration policy intended to naturalize them to Japanese.
Japan is well advised to stand to reason and properly judge the situation and fully redress its past wrongs including the problem of the status of the Koreans in Japan and thus put an end to the inglorious history of the DPRK-Japan relations and develop new good-neighborly relations with the DPRK.
IAEA delegation here
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived here today to participate in the 14th round of negotiations related to the implementation of the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework.
World Day of Red Cross and Red Crescent commemorated
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- Young members of the DPRK Red Cross Society conducted hygienic and cultural activities in Paeksangru park in Anju, South Phyongan Province, on Monday to commemorate the World Day of Red Cross and Red Crescent.
Taking part in the activities were head Thomas Liew and members of the assisting delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Also present were Ho Hae Ryong, vice-chairman of the c.c., the DPRK Red Cross Society, and officials concerned.
Speeches were made before the participants conducted the hygienic and cultural activities on roads, flower beds and pleasure grounds around the park, together with those members of the society.
They also appreciated an art performance given by young members of the society in Anju and conversed with each other.
Pyongyang international commodity exhibition opens
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang international commodity exhibition opened yesterday with due ceremony.
Present at the opening ceremony were delegations from the DPRK, China, Cuba, Russia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Australia, Britain, Japan and Taipei of China.
The participants looked round machinery, electronic, light industrial and chemical products, medicines, foodstuff and other products presented by companies from the DPRK and other countries and regions.
Present at the opening ceremony were Kim Yyong Mun, chairman of the Committee for the Promotion of International Trade of the DPRK, and officials concerned.
Three-point charter for Korea's reunification hailed
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- Organizations of Syria and Guinea and a Guyanese personage participated in the international signature campaign supporting the three-point charter for Korea's reunification.
The signature paper was signed by chairperson of the General Federation of Syrian Women Suad Bakr on behalf of its 280,000 members on April 25 and vice-chairman of the Guinea-Korea Friendship Association and vice-chairman of the Economic and Social Council Chiana Diallo and editor-in-chief of the Guinean newspaper Horoya Ibrahima Soriden on April 27 and the general director of the Guinean Radio and Television and the director general of the Guinean News Agency on May 2 in the name of their members and staff.
Meanwhile, Guyanese Minister of Public Service George Fung-on signed the paper on April 25.
Moran Hill with sweet aroma
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- Now in the prime of the year, Moran Hill in downtown Pyongyang is splashed in full-blast flowers, affording a breathtaking view. The surroundings of the Moranbong Theatre and youth open-air theatre are suffocated in apricot flowers while the Choesung pavilion embowered by fresh pink azaleas.
Moran (peony) hill is traditionally the foremost beauty spot in Pyongyang. It was so named because it looks like a peony.
The flower-scape here, one of eight scenic wonders in Pyongyang, sets about in March. Towards the 25th, a bit too early for spring, sweet aroma comes wafting from such tiny flowers as Benzoin Obtusilobum and Lonicera Chrysantha. Soon afterwards almond peeps out, heralding the onset of full flower-scape. Golden-bells and azaleas come out in early April and apricot flowers have a field day in mid-April, carpeting the hill in dazzling colors. Blazing flowers of Chaenomeles Trichogyna Nakai step in time before the fall of apricot flowers, vying with peach blossoms.
Close on the heels come flowers of broad-leaved clove with gasping fragrance, snow-white pear blossoms, and red and white plums.
The ground below big trees is covered by flowering sward of Lycoris Squamigera, day lily and Hosta Longipes Nakai that last till the close of August. With the onset of the cool, the Chongryu cliff is garbed in wild Chamonile and the hill is tinged scarlet and golden.
This flower scenery is all the more spectacular in harmony with surrounding historical relics, pavilions, cascades, birds and amusement facilities.
The hill harbors some 200,000 trees of over 180 species such as needle- and broad-leaf and fruit trees, 150,000 of them flowering trees, as well as scores of varieties of flowering shrubs and 70-odd kinds of flowering plants.
Kim Jong Il gives two names to baby to be born
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- A story of two names "Tae Hong" and "Hong Dan" is now told among the people in Korea.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited Taehongdan county on the northern tablelands of the country last March and indicated again the ways for bringing an epoch-making change in potato farming.
He learnt about details of living conditions of the discharged soldiers who volunteered to work there in response to the call of the Worker's Party of Korea and bestowed favors on them.
Kim Jong Il called on a family of a discharged soldier and asked him in which unit he served, what he was doing now and when he got married. He kindly asked his wife, hailing from Pyongyang, if it was hard for her to do farming.
Personally opening the cupboard in the kitchen and the wardrobe and quilt-box in the room, he meticulously looked after every aspect of life with parental love.
He had a souvenir photo taken with the couple.
At that time they felt as if they were meeting their real father. She took him by the hand and freely asked him in undertones to name her baby who will be born in July.
Responding to her simple request without reserve, he said that it would be good to call a boy Tae Hong or name a girl Hong Dan.
It is, indeed, a noble picture which can be seen in the relationship between father and daughter.
Thus, the two significant names related to Taehongdan, a historical land, were given.
After he was told that many women would give birth to children from April, he took a benevolent measure for the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital to organize a mobile medical service group and send it to Taehongdan to assist at childbirth.
That is why the discharged soldiers and their wives unanimously call him their father.
Ishihara's remarks under fire
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- The Korean Human Rights Association in Japan released a statement scathingly denouncing Tokyo metropolitan governor Shintaro Ishihara for his hostile and discriminatory remarks against the DPRK and Korean residents in Japan, according to Joson Sinbo published in Japan.
Ishihara intentionally let loose such words as "Sangokujin" and "Hokusen," which have been used by the Japanese ruling quarters and chauvinists who refused to abandon their discriminatory and hostile feelings toward Korea even after it was liberated from the Japanese imperialists' military rule, the statement noted, and said:
His utterances came not by chance but were prompted by the intention of Japan to avoid the liquidation of its past wrongdoings committed during its military occupation of Korea and other Asian countries.
The statement urged Ishihara to immediately withdraw his anachronistic and discriminatory remarks going against the voices of the world public demanding respect for human rights and the desire of the Korean and Japanese people for establishment of good neighborly relations between the two countries and apologize for them.
Reckless moves of warmongers assailed
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- Papers here today run signed commentaries denouncing the U.S. and the South Korean authorities for "commemorating the 50th anniversary" of the Korean War.
Rodong Sinmun says the frantic racket of the warmongers at home and abroad can never be tolerated because it is a mockery and insult to justice and human conscience and a premeditated challenge and provocation against the DPRK.
The daily goes on:
If the U.S. and South Korean warmongers, who reduced the sacred land of Korea to ashes and brutally massacred millions of Koreans during the war, had a bit of reason as human beings, they would not have held such a fanatic farce as "commemorating" the anniversary of the war of aggression.
Their real intention to perform the anti-DPRK war burlesque is to distort the aggressive character of the Korean war ignited by them, prevent the prevalent war-weariness and the evasion of conscription and introduce mercenary troops of their satellites into the Korean front in case of "emergency" as they did in the last Korean war.
They should drop their daydream to stifle the DPRK and give up at once their farce of "commemorating the 50th anniversary" of the Korean war.
Minju Joson stresses that the DPRK will never remain a passive onlooker to their criminal moves to beautify the war of aggression on Korea but bring the criminals who provoked the Korean war before the severe court of history.
Liquidation of war forces called for
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- Papers here today devote articles to the 55th anniversary of the victory of the soviet people in the great patriotic war.
Dailies say that on this day the Korean people extend felicitations to the people and the officers and men of the armed forces of Russia.
Rodong Sinmun says that the victory won by the soviet people in the war was a shining fruition of the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, unity and cohesion between the party and people, boundless love and devotion of the Soviet people to their Soviet motherland and their indomitable will and mass heroism displayed in the battles against the enemy.
The Soviet army and people crushed the Hitler fascists, thus defending their Soviet motherland, liberating peoples of many countries from the danger of fascist enslavement and making contributions to saving world civilization, the paper notes, and goes on:
The great victory of the soviet people in the patriotic war taught a serious lesson that with no war of aggression can the imperialists ever stifle socialism and enslave the world people.
Though more than half a century has passed since the end of World War II, there still exist hotbeds of invasion and war.
The imperialists are major war forces at present.
Taking advantage of the situation where the balance of forces on the international arena has been upset, the imperialists are becoming more arrogant in their acts to stifle socialism and human cause of independence.
With no moves can the imperialists ever block the advance of socialism and human cause of independence.
Minju Joson says:
The great victory won by the Soviet people in the war against fascist Germany was an event that proved that the might of the people, who turned out as one, firmly believing in their just cause, was inexhaustible and no aggressor forces could match their strength.
KCNA on charade of aggressors
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- The United States and the South Korean authorities are going to stage "commemorations of the half centenary of the Korean War" provoked by them.
On this occasion a "resolution" was passed in the United States under the co-sponsorship of its congress and the President, while the South Korean authorities have formed a preparatory committee for "commemorations" and allocated a huge amount of fund to make "financial contributions" to the erection of "cenotaphs" and "monuments" and the construction of "war memorials" in South Korea and other countries.
This is nothing but a charade intended to totally falsify the truth behind the Korean war of aggression and cover up their true colors as war provokers and aggressors.
The Korean War was a war of aggression started by the United States by instigating the South Korean warmongers as it was a product of its aggressive policy to dominate Asia and the rest of the world, using Korea as a bridgehead.
The United States should stand trial of history for its ignition of the Korean War and can never evade its responsibility to pay reparation.
"Commemorations" and "functions" planned by the U.S. are part of its premeditated moves to provoke a second war of aggression on the Korean peninsula. This lays bare its sinister intention to get "assistance" in the event of contingency such as dispatch of mercenaries by different countries.
If the United States and the South Korean authorities hold those burlesques despite stark historical facts, they will certainly meet condemnation by the Korean and other peoples of the world.
Obtrusive acts
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- With the G-8 summit to be held in Okinawa as an occasion Japan seeks to present a "no war declaration" calling upon the world to vow not to ignite a war.
In this regard Minju Joson today runs a signed commentary noting that its motion is nothing but a trick to mislead the world public under the veil of a "peace state."
Calling attention to the fact that Japan is actually stepping up its moves to become a military power threatening peace, the commentary stresses that its "no war declaration" will be a declaration of war against world peace sooner or later.
It continues:
Japan is paying lip service to "peace state" and "contribution" to world peace in an attempt to mislead public opinion and stop the international community from criticizing its refusal of the settlement of the past. By showing its "concern" about world peace Japan is trying to curry favour with the international community and get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Japan should not obtrusively behave itself as a "political power" under the veil of a "peace state" but frankly apologize and reflect on its past crimes and honestly approach the settlement of the past.
By so doing Japan May improve its tarnished image in the international arena and become a member of the international community.
Savage exhumation of tombs by Japanese
Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- Japan indiscriminately destroyed and plundered a lot of cultural properties as part of its policy to obliterate the Korean nation after it occupied Korea by force of arms.
The savage exhumation of tombs by the Japanese imperialists across the country is touching off the indignation of the Korean people as the days go by.
The Japanese exhumed more than 2,000 tombs including kings' mausoleums in Kaesong, Kanghwa Islet, Haeju and other areas in a matter of a few years from 1904.
They made no scruple to exhume and destroy the mausoleum of Tangun, the ancestral father of the Korean nation.
They dug the grave mounds, destroyed the ceilings of grave chambers and coffins. There was not a mausoleum left untouched at that time.
They took filigrees Koryo celadon and all other cultural properties from mausoleums.
Vandalism and plunder of cultural relics were committed in other tombs in different parts of the country.
According to records available, in December 1921 the Japanese imperialists dug a tomb of a couple in Ryangsan, South Kyongsang Province, which was entombed in the age of Silla and robbed it of more than 100 pieces of cultural properties including necklaces and earrings. In October 1924 they dug out ancient tombs in the vicinity of Pyongyang and carried away all valuable articles.
More than 1,400 tombs in areas along the taedong river and Ryongyon-myon were dug down in 10 years.
The Japanese imperialists' barbarities committed in Korea are criminal acts unprecedented in human history.
Those Japanese who witnessed the scene made the following testimonies:
"Nowadays barbarities (exhumation of ancient tombs) were prompted by a dream getting of a windfall of new business opportunities since they came to rural villages of Korea.
They dug all tombs related to legends which said that gold bowls were entombed or a gold rooster crew inside a tomb on new year's day." ( Koizumi, head of "Pyongyang Museum" during the Japanese imperialists' occupation).
Book "Rakrang and Pyongyang of Legends" (page 9 of 1934 edition) says that "any Japanese in Pyongyang who had not kept an old mirror or earthenware dug out from Rakrang tombs were considered to be a fool."
Japan has more Korean cultural properties than Korea.
All the Korean people strongly demand Japan make a formal apology for its past vandalism and unconditionally return and compensate for all that they plundered and destroyed.