Greetings to Yemeni President
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of Yemen, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of its unification and the foundation of the Republic of Yemen.
The message extended warm felicitations to the President, the government and people of Yemen and sincerely wished him and his people greater success in the work for consolidating the unification of the country and achieving national unity and prosperity.
The message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms.
Great change in North Phyongan Province
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) - The appearance of the land in North Phyongan Province, Korea has changed beyond recognition.
At least 50,000 hectares of over 531,340 patches of land were leveled and rezoned into 149,380 standardized fields.
Thousands of hectares of land came under plough after the disappearance of over 13,600 km of ridges between paddies, 289 km of waterways and over 3,360 swamps.
Various structures, including thousands of irrigation and draining set-ups, made their appearance in the realigned fields. New roads criss-cross there to be favorable for the mechanization of farmwork. Their total length is 289 km longer than that of the old ones.
The successful completion of this great nature-transforming work in North Phyongan Province in a matter of a little more than five months following the great change in Kangwon Province is the fruition of the long-term plan and daring and gigantic operation of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Il visited the province last summer to indicate the order of project to be done for the land realignment and went there again in January this year to direct the work.
He clarified concrete ways of carrying out the project such as undertaking land leveling and rezoning in a bold and big way under a long-term plan, obtaining more new land, making an effective use of farming equipment and materials, reclaiming swamps, building well-designed waterways and roads and supplying materials necessary for the construction of structures in the realigned land. He instructed the builders to finish the undertakings one by one.
Soldiers of the Korean People's Army, land builders from different provinces and people from all walks of life of the province turned out as one in the gigantic nature-transforming project of lasting significance and admirably carried it out.
They honored their quotas for land realignment at 103 percent as of May 10 by displaying great patriotic devotion and mass heroism under the difficult conditions where they were hard pressed for everything.
Preparations for rice transplantation is now in full swing in 40 km-long Unjon, Pakchon, Ryongchon and Handure and other cooperative plains whose appearance has changed beyond recognition as befits the land of the socialist state.
American religious leader leaves
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Rev. Franklin Graham, American religious leader and son of Dr. Billy Graham, and his party left here today.
They were seen off at the airport by Kang Yong Sop, chairman of the central committee of the Korean Christian Federation.
Earlier, on May 19, Rev. Franklin Graham gave a reception in connection with their Korea visit.
Stones donated to erection of monument
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Stones were donated to the erection of the monument to the three-point charter of national reunification by the Japanese Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea, the Liaison Council of Societies of Japanese Teachers for the Study of the Juche Idea, the Japan-Korea Society for Scientific and Educational Interchange, the Society for the Study of the Juche Idea in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, the Council for Promoting Friendship Between Japan and the DPRK, the Shizuoka Prefectural People's Council for Friendship Between Japan and the DPRK and secretary general Masagazu Yokobori of the Liaison Council of Societies of Japanese Teachers for the Study of the Juche Idea.
Carved on the stones are letters reading: "Long live immortal Juche idea ," "long live three-point charter of national reunification ," "Korea is one " and "long live independent and peaceful reunification of Korea ," and so on.
Photo exhibition
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- A photo exhibition was held here yesterday to mark the 10th anniversary of the reunification of Yemen and the foundation of the republic.
Invited to the exhibition were Awadh Abdulah Ali Mashbah, charge d'affaires ad interim of Yemen, and embassy officials here.
Present there were Ri Song Ho, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations With Foreign Countries and chairman of the Korea-Yemen Friendship Association, officials concerned and working people in the city.
Speeches were made there.
The participants looked round photos showing achievements made by the Yemeni people in different domains including industry, agriculture, fisheries, education, culture and construction.
Solidarity meeting in Athens
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- A meeting of solidarity with the Korean people was held in Athens on May 11.
Mun Jae Chol, chairman of the Korean National Peace Committee, made a speech on the Korean situation and the reunification issue.
Honorary chairman of the World Peace Council Romesh Chandra in his speech said that the three-point charter of national reunification set forth by the President Kim Il Sung is the most fair and aboveboard way of achieving Korea's reunification at an early date.
He expressed the belief that the Korean people will surely reunify the country and build a powerful country in near future under the wise guidance of the respected Kim Jong Il.
A representative of the Workers World Party of the United States said that the peace and security of the Korean peninsula are linked to world peace and security and that the U.S. troops and nuclear weapons should be immediately pulled out of South Korea to ensure world peace and security.
The chairman of the U.S. Peace Council stressed that what is important in ensuring peace and security in northeast Asia is to fully support the Korean people's struggle to achieve Korea's reunification on the principles of independence, peace and great national unity. It is the due obligation and duty of members of the World Peace Council.
A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting.
Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's start of his work at WPK marked
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The Tanzanian National Coordinating Committee of the Juche Idea Study Groups held a lecture meeting on May 13 to commemorate the 36th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of his work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
The chairman of the committee in the lecture titled "his excellency Kim Jong Il, a veteran statesman of the world" highly praised his revolutionary exploits, saying that there has been a new era of revolutionary turn in Korea since he began his work at the WPK Central Committee.
Kim Jong Il enjoys deep respect and trust from the Korean and world peoples and is widely known as a veteran statesman of the world for his rare wisdom, distinguished ability and experienced and tested leadership.
Moves for retrogressive revision of law
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The central committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea published a statement yesterday denouncing the ever more pronounced moves for a retrogressive revision of the "law on assembly and demonstration" in South Korea.
The South Korean "National Police Office" is working hard to make a retrogressive revision of the present "law on assembly and demonstration" by branding commemorations and general strike staged by workers, peasants and students of South Korea on May Day as "disturbance of public order" and adding to it such poisonous provisions calling for making it compulsory to "rule out the participation of the organization with previous records of staging extremely violent demos in rallies" and newly instituting "rules for punishment of violators."
It is an unpardonable challenge to the South Korean working masses in their just struggle for the right to existence and democratic freedom, the statement said, and continued:
The GFTUK central committee bitterly condemns their moves for the retrogressive revision of "law on assembly and demonstration" as an unpardonable crime against democracy to totally block the activities of the legal labour organizations and stamp out the democratic freedom and rights of the workers.
These moves were prompted by their sinister intention to check the general strike of the South Korean workers and the solidarity struggle of the students which are likely to mount higher than ever before and harshly crack down the anti-U.S., anti-fascist struggle of people from all walks of life.
The statement demanded the South Korean authorities immediately drop the anti-social labour policy and their moves for the retrogressive revision of the fascist "law on assembly and demonstration."
"Kwangju declaration" published
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Scholars of South Korea and foreign countries on May 17 published a "Kwangju declaration" at an international scientific meeting held in Kwangju reflecting the spirit of May 18 Kwangju resistance, according to Yonhap News of South Korea.
They said in the declaration that the Kwangju resistance was an action to win human rights and democracy, opposition to the military which trampled down the principle of democracy and voluntary resistance to defend their wishes for human dignity and the desire of citizens for democracy.
Recalling that the spirit of Kwangju was newly established as the idea of democracy and human rights, the aspiration of humankind in 2000, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Kwangju uprising, the scholars called for preserving the spirit of unity and resistance demonstrated by citizens of Kwangju in May, 1980.
Carrying forward revolutionary traditions
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- To imbue all the members of Society With the Traditions of Revolution and Carry Them Forward is a fundamental issue in accomplishing the cause of socialism to the end, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today.
It goes on:
The traditions of revolution established by the leader are the historical roots of socialism and ideological and moral wealth to keep the lifeline of the revolution.
Defending and carrying forward the revolutionary exploits performed by the preceding generations of the revolution under the idea and guidance of the leader who carved out the road of socialism are the process of accomplishing the cause of socialism.
Many years have passed since the cause of socialism was pioneered and younger generations have become the main forces in the revolution and construction. This situation claims strengthening of the education in the revolutionary traditions to meet the requirements of the developing realities. Attitude and standpoint towards the revolutionary traditions is a touchstone that distinguishes revolution from anti-revolution.
It is the most vicious and despicable perfidy and anti-revolutionary action to debase the leader and revolutionary forerunners who pioneered the road of revolution for the first time and obliterate the historic exploits of socialism.
Capitalism has been restored in those countries which were building socialism because they failed to imbue all the members of society with the revolutionary traditions and carry them forward.
One of the fundamental matters in accomplishing the cause of socialism to the end is the question concerning the revolutionary traditions. Accordingly, it is a lesson from the history of the world socialist movement that the education in the revolutionary traditions should be strengthened and the revolutionary traditions carried forward.
U.S. war moves against DPRK under fire
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Anders Kristensen, chairman of the Denmark-DPRK Friendship Association, in an interview with KCNA on May 18 branded the U.S. as heinous provoker of the Korean War and aggressor.
The U.S., which was chiefly responsible for the division of Korea, keeps tens of thousands of troops in South Korea till today and is dead-set against Korea's reunification, having massively deployed nuclear weapons, he said, and went on:
The U.S. is amassing huge attack forces on the Korean peninsula after working out a new adventurous "operation plan 5027-98" to stage a preemptive attack on the DPRK.
Meanwhile, they are busy with preparations for unprecedented-in-score "commemorations" of the half centenary of the war of aggression in Korea.
It is foolhardy of the U.S. to stage such farces in a bid to make profound confusing of right and wrong.
The U.S. can never browbeat the single-heartedly united Korean people.
Repeal of "security law" urged
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The all people solidarity meeting for the repeal of the "security law" in South Korea reportedly urged the South Korean authorities on May 18 to abolish the "security law," an anti-reunification evil law, release all prisoners of conscience, repatriate unconverted long-term prisoners to the North Korea before the inter-Korean summit talks will be held in Pyongyang.
That day the meeting called a press conference in Seoul and noted that the existence of the "SL" which describes the north as the "enemy" is contradictory to the inter-Korean summit which is to be held for reconciliation and unity of the nation.
It went on a time-limit sit-in strike to push its demands till June 14, the last day of the summit talks.
AP responds to questions about investigation
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The AP responded on May 15 to the questions raised by the magazine U.S. News and World Report about the Associated Press report last September on the mass killings at Rogun-ri by GIs during the last Korean War of aggression.
Jonathan Wolman, executive editor of the AP, said none of the material cited in the reports of the magazine undermines any of the AP's major findings.
In his statement he entirely guaranteed the truth of the AP investigation into mass killings at Rogun-ri.
The statement went on:
"Even as we review discrepancies between several records and eyewitness accounts, we are confident of the accuracy and fairness of the central finding that South Korean civilians were killed by U.S. forces during chaotic days at the end of July 1950.
"Events at Rogun-ri were important and complicated ones that deserve the scrutiny of journalists, historians and investigators. We were proud of the Rogun-ri story when we distributed it, as we are today."
Endocrine institute commissioned
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The endocrine institute under the Academy of Medical Science was built in Kwangbok Street, Mangyongdae district of Pyongyang.
The institute will help further intensify scientific researches aimed to prevent and treat diseases related to endocrine and metaboly system and thus greatly contribute to the people's health care and promotion.
The institute is equipped with x-rays, equipment for infra-imagic diagnostic apparatus and other modern facilities for diagnosis and treatment thanks to sincere assistance of overseas. Koreans.
A ceremony of commissioning the institute was held on May 19.
Present at the ceremony were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, Jo Chang Dok, vice-premier, Choe Chang Sik, vice-Minister of Public Health, and officials concerned.
Cancellation of ridiculous "commemorations" urged
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- O Ik Je, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, released an article demanding the U.S. and the South Korean authorities cancel at once their farces intended to tamper with the history of the Korean war of aggression planned on the occasion of its "half centenary."
He dismissed the "commemorations" much publicized by warhawks at home and abroad as moves to tamper with the history of the Korean War as they are designed to cover up the truth about it and their despicable true colors as war provoker and war criminal.
This can never be pardoned as this is a premeditated challenge to and provocation against the DPRK and a mockery of the Korean people and world peace-loving people aspiring after peace and reunification of Korea, he stressed, adding:
The Korean War was a brigandish war of aggression and mass destruction provoked by the U.S. who egged the Syngman Rhee clique on to destroy the DPRK in its cradle.
By tampering with the history and beautifying themselves the U.S. and the South Korean rulers seek to cover up not only their past crimes but their acts of aggression today and their wild design for future aggression, he said.
Through their projected "commemorations of the half centenary" of the Korean War intended to twist the aggressive nature of the Korean War, the U.S. seeks to convince the world public of the fiction of "invasion of south by the north" and justify their moves for a new war in a bid to hurl mercenaries of satellite states into the Korean front in the case of "contingency" just as it did during the past Korean War.
Stressing that the warhawks at home and abroad will get nothing from such silly anti-DPRK burlesque, he urged the U.S. and the South Korean rulers to bear in mind that their tampering with history is an indelible crime which deserves accusation and condemnation by humankind not only today but in the future, too.
He demanded they cancel at once "commemorations of the half centenary" of the Korean War.
Move for retrogressive revision of "law on assembly and demonstration" slammed
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) issued a statement on May 17 denouncing the South Korean authorities' recent moves for a more retrogressive revision of the "law on assembly and demonstration," Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation said.
The statement pointed out that the authorities are going to add poisonous provisions to the law which call for making it compulsory to "rule out participation in meeting" of the organization which has previous records of "radical violent demonstration," "newly instituting rules for punishment of violators" and limiting "big rallies and demonstrations in the center of cities" at the weekend or on holidays.
It dismissed this as an intention to ban rallies and demonstrations and crackdown upon them on charges of violation of the law.
Much upset by the mounting anti-U.S., anti-"government" struggle of people from all walks of life, the "people's government" is keen to revise this law for the worse in a bid to put down the struggle, the statement said, and went on:
The NDFSK bitterly condemns the present "government's" move for a retrogressive revision of the law as a crime against democracy to totally block legal activities of the organizations of the patriotic movement and stamp out democratic freedom and rights of the people.
The statement called on all the organizations of the movement for democracy and reunification and the people from all walks of life to wage a nationwide vigorous struggle to check and frustrate the dictatorial "people's government's" plan to revise this law for the worse.
The present regime should stop this move at once if it does not want to meet a strong resistance of the whole nation, it warned:
S. Korean authorities repress anti-U.S. struggle
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The public security division of the "Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office" of South Korea instructed prosecutors across South Korea to strictly check "illegal anti-U.S. activities," a Seoul-based radio said.
In South Korea anti-U.S. struggle is being staged around the U.S. embassy and military establishments as regards damage done by the bombing of a U.S. airforce plane in Maehyang-ri.
Claiming that the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils has planned to stage demonstrations after setting May 20 and 21 for "attack on the U.S. embassy" and May 22 for "anti-U.S. struggle," the authorities issued such repressive order in a bid to arrest and investigate those who try to occupy the embassy and military establishments and demonstrate around them.
They arrested and prosecuted 55 students and dissidents who were involved in the recent demonstrations around the U.S. embassy.
NDFSK Japan mission releases statement
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The Japan mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) released a statement on May 18 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the heroic Kwangju Popular Uprising.
The statement noted that Kwangju citizens including youths and students resolutely rose up in the resistance against the military fascist tyranny and defended the city of 800,000 people for 10 days, leaving a shining record in the history of the people's liberation movement in the east.
The statement went on:
The Kwangju Popular Uprising was a historic milestone which changed the course of the people's movement in South Korea to the struggle for independence against the U.S. The uprisers' fighting spirit for independence, democracy and reunification of the country remains alive.
Our fighting target is the U.S. imperialists.
The statement called upon South Korean students and all other patriotic people to direct the sharp edge of struggle at the U.S. and wage a vigorous struggle to drive the U.S. forces out of South Korea.
Plot to suppress hanchongryon disclosed
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The Pusan "National Police Agency" of South Korea declared on May 18 that it would strictly block an inaugural meeting of the 8th-term South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) scheduled to be held at Pusan University for 3 days from May 26, according to news reports.
Threatening to totally block the inaugural meeting of Hanchongryon by mobilizing all police forces as it is defined as an "enemy-benefiting organization," the fascist police declared that it would hurl its scores of companies into areas around the university from May 25 to bar students from coming to attend the meeting and arrest leading members of general student councils belonging to Hanchongryon.
Protesting against the injust move to block the peaceful rally at a time when an atmosphere is being created for the inter-Korean reconciliation such as the north-south summit talks, hanchongryon clarified its staunch will to push ahead with the inaugural meeting defying whatever suppression.
53 civic organizations in South Kyongsang Province including the Pusan Human Rights Center formed a joint measure committee on May 12 to demand the authorities ensure a peaceful opening of the inaugural meeting.
They threatened to take resolute countermeasures, including joint demonstration if the police suppresses the meeting.