FM of DPRK greets his Lebanese counterpart
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Selim al Hoss, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration of Lebanon.
In the message Paek extended warm congratulations to Selim al Hoss and the government and people of Lebanon on the historic victory they won by finally driving the Israeli aggressors out of southern Lebanon through the nationwide resistance to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
This national victory of the Lebanese people is a victory common to the Arab nations in the struggle against Israel's arrogant aggression and expansionist attempt and for justice and lasting peace in the Middle East, the message said.
It further said:
I take this significant opportunity of celebrating the liberation of the occupied land in Lebanon to express the belief that unity and solidarity between the two peoples of the DPRK and Lebanon will be further strengthened. And I wholeheartedly wish you greater success in your responsible work.
Three-point charter of Korea's reunification supported
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- The international signature campaign for supporting the three-point charter of Korea's reunification is going on in different countries.
The signature paper was signed by Petar Velickovic, chairman of the Worker's Party of Yugoslavia on behalf of 30,000 party members, the chairman of the Ugandan National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea and the chairman of the Uganda-DPRK Friendship Association on behalf of their organisations and the general director of the Kilembe copper mine of Uganda on behalf of employees from May 8 to 24.
It was also inked by Ahmad Nabil, general secretary of the Arab Veterans and War Victims Society, on behalf of society members of 12 Arab countries, and K. David Mafavi, acting general secretary of the secretariat of the Pan-African Movement, on behalf of the secretariat.
Joint friendship gathering on International Children's Day
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- A joint friendship gathering of women and children in Pyongyang and from foreign countries was held at the Mangyongdae fun-fair on June 1 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the International Children's Day.
Attending the gathering were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, and Chon Yon Ok, chairwoman of the central committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, and officials concerned.
Wives of foreign diplomatic envoys and foreign women and children here were invited.
The gathering began with a song and dance "Let Us Sing and Dance Our June 1 Holiday." Participants played sports and amusement games, deepening feelings of friendship.
They enjoyed the International Children's Day with fun-fair facilities.
Repressive step against general strike of S. Korean workers
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities took a strong countermeasure against the general strike of workers demanding shorter working hours, stop to the "restructuring" and wage hike, according to a radio report from Seoul.
The authorities sent "guidelines" to all companies on May 28, describing the strike of workers as "a political strike and illegal act against the government" and instructing them to give no wage to the strikers for doing nothing, punish them and close down workshops.
Kim Jong Il plaised
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- G. Debarajan, secretary of the central committee of the All-Indian Forward Bloc, issued a statement on May 25 on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the start of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
In the statement he said that Kim Jong Il published many works including "Giving Priority To Ideological Work Is Essential For Accomplishing Socialism" and "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction" to give scientific and clear answers to complicated theoretical and practical matters needed for the times and revolution.
Kim Jong Il's idea and theory are unique and encyclopedic because they cover all fields of the revolution and construction, he said, and went on:
The ideological work is placed ahead of any other work and everything goes well in socialist Korea thanks to his energetic ideological and theoretical activities and wise leadership.
It is the great honor of the Korean people and the world revolutionary peoples that they are led by Kim Jong Il, the most distinguished thinker and theoretician of the century.
Demonstration of S. Korean workers
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- Tens of thousands of South Korean workers marched through downtown Seoul on Wednesday after walking off their jobs demanding a shorter work week and better working conditions, according to a foreign press report.
We want a five-day work week, they chanted as they marched three kilometers occupying lanes of the main boulevard in central Seoul.
Many protesters carried placards or distributed leaflets.
Some 70,000 workers at 140 work sites went on a four-day general strike on Wednesday, said the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
We can't trust the "government" continuing lip service.
We need to show our strength, it added.
The confederation threatened to extend the strike unless the "government" accepts its demand by Sunday.
Aggressive operation plan "Air raid Task Order" (ATO)
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- The German Weekly Spieger quoted the U.S. military newspaper Aviation Week as saying the United States reinforced the air force in its air force bases in Osan and Kunsan of South Korea, judging that there is possibility of North Korea making a surprise attack on South Korea.
The U.S. massive reinforcement of the air force in South Korea cannot but arouse the DPRK's vigilance as it is a grave development that may render the situation on the Korean peninsula extremely strained once again.
This reinforcement for a war of aggression on the DPRK at a time when the inter-Korean agreement was made public recently and an atmosphere of dialogue and detente is being created on the Korean peninsula is an unpardonable deliberate criminal act of throwing a wet blanket over this climate.
The U.S. clamor about the DPRK's "possible surprise attack" is no more than a subterfuge to carry out its reckless "Air raid Task Order" and spark the second Yugoslav crisis on the Korean peninsula.
The U.S. tested a new war of aggression on the Korean peninsula through the Yugoslav crisis and, on this basis, worked out the "ATO," part of the "Operation Plan 5027-98", and dispatched air force several times stronger than that involved in the air raids on Yugoslavia to realise it and is now busy with its preparations for a surprise attack on the north.
All the facts prove that though the U.S. is talking about DPRK-U.S. negotiations and hailing the north-south dialogue, it is, in fact, not pleased with any dialogue but keen only on the moves to stifle the DPRK by force of arms.
If the U.S. considers the policy of strength as a cure for all, turning its face away from dialogue, we have no choice but to take a self-defensive measure.
The U.S. will be wholly to blame for all the consequences arising therefrom.
Korean children grow well
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- Members of foreign embassies and missions of international organisations here attended a joint friendship gathering held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the International Children's Day and gave their deep impressions of Korean children.
Dilawar Ali Khan, representative of the UN Children's Fund, said that the great leader Kim Jong Il calls children "king" of the country and brings them up with his loving care so that they may have nothing to envy in the world and that Korea undergoes temporary difficulties, but its children bring their talents into full play to their hearts' content.
Vietnamese ambassador Do Thi Hoa said that the joint gathering showed what a deep concern the party and state of Korea pay to children.
Nirsia Castro Guevara, councilor of the Cuban embassy, said that under the leadership of Kim Jong Il the Korean children are growing well into masters of future.
Buchari, wife of the Indonesian ambassador, said she looks ahead into a bright future of Korea at the Mangyongdae fun-fair full of children's laughter.
Korea of tomorrow will prosper as it has these creditable futures.
U.S. saber-rattling assailed
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today in a signed commentary assails the United States for staging the largest-ever RIMPAC joint military exercise.
The U.S. is deliberately escalating tensions in the Asian and Pacific region, regarding it as a key link of its efforts to realise its wild dream to dominate the world, the commentary notes, and goes on:
The military exercise being conducted by the U.S. under the pretext of increasing "capabilities" is aimed to bring the countries in the region under its military control and round off its aggressive "cooperation" system to attack the DPRK in case of "emergency."
What can not be overlooked is the fact that the Japanese reactionaries are deeply involved in the U.S. Asian-Pacific strategy for aggression.
The U.S. and its followers are enemies and harassers of peace who increase tensions in the region.
With nothing can the U.S. cover up its true colors as harasser of peace.
The DPRK is closely following the U.S. reckless military moves with sharp revolutionary vigilance.
The U.S. should promptly drop its anachronistic design to dominate the world, drawing a lesson from its bitter defeat in the Korean War in the 1950s.
The U.S. followers including Japan are well advised to be discreet.
S. Korean workers' struggle supported
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- At least 70,000 workers from different parts of South Korea went on a general strike on May 31 all at once, Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed commentary.
The commentary says:
South Korean workers went on a general strike all at once, acting upon the resolution adopted by their organization, the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. This is an entirely just action as it is an expression of their firm will to win the right to existence and democratic freedom through struggle at any cost.
As the confederation rightly stated, what the South Korean rulers have done in over two years of their office was nothing but such treacherous acts as, selling market, land and enterprises to foreign monopoly capital lock, stock and barrel as it demands, acting as henchmen of the IMF to enforce its mandate and thus bringing the economy to total bankruptcy and reducing people to economic slaves of foreign forces.
Suicide is reported in an unbroken chain from among at least 8 million jobless people and over 13 million absolutely poor and destitute people.
This is what the South Korean rulers' "promise" to make workers happy has brought.
Struggle against the oppressors is the only way for the workers and other people in South Korea to enjoy a worthy life and freedom as human beings, freed of the present miserable plight.
Truth behind more massacres by GIs and "ROK" army disclosed
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- Facts about massacres of at least 1,000 innocent civilians by GIs and soldiers of the "ROK" army in Sansong-ri, Ryechon county, and Hwagae-ri, Yongdok county, and 19 other places of North Kyongsang Province, South Korea, during the Korean War were disclosed, according to the May 30 issue of the South Korean newspaper Hangyore.
This disclosure was made by the investigation carried out by the ad hoc committee for probing the truth behind massacres of innocent civilians in North Kyongsang Province.
The committee started an investigation in 20 places, after getting reports about mass killings committed by GIs and soldiers of the "ROK" army during the Korean War from inhabitants in 119 places of the province from January to March. It was verified by the investigation that at least 1,000 civilians were killed. Therefore, it is probable that the number of those killed will increase when the scope of investigation will increase in future.
The committee strongly urged the United States to make an open apology and compensation for the massacres. It also demanded the South Korean authorities institute a "special law" to reinstate those killed and erect a cenotaph to them.
Kyongsilryon calls for forming anti-corruption committee
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Citizens Federation for Economic Justice (Kyongsilryon) held an open hearing on May 29 and called for setting up an independent committee for combating corruption with a view to establishing a policy of preventing corruption and making a fair investigation into corruption, according to a radio report from Seoul.
The organisation proposed to form the committee with those recommended by the "President," the "National Assembly," the "Ministry of Justice" and citizens' organisations and let its members stay in office for two years.
It also proposed a bill on the committee which invests it with the right to request the appointment of a special prosecutor.
U.S. tops list of war crimes
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- The U.S. ignited a war of aggression on the Korean peninsula on June 25, 1950, where they topped the list of war crimes in history.
This was the most stern trial for the Korean people as it was just five years since Korea was liberated from the 40 odd-year long military occupation by the Japanese and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was just two years old.
The United States was more than 93 times bigger than the DPRK in territory and 15 times larger than the latter in population. Armed with up-to-date weapons, the U.S. forces came out to destroy the young DPRK whose army was equipped with conventional weapons.
When the territories and populations of the United States and its 15 satellite countries were put together, they were more than 330 times bigger than the DPRK in territory and nearly 40 times larger than the latter in population.
The U.S. mobilized one-third of their land force, one-fifth of their air force and most of their pacific fleet armed with up-to-date technique as well as armies of their 15 satellite countries and "ROK" army, more than two million in total, for the Korean War.
What a severe war of aggression the U.S. fought in Korea can be explained well by the fact that the U.S. Navy consumed some 140 million tons of war supplies out of the military materiel used by it and the U.S. aggression forces consumed in this war 11 times as many war supplies as what they did in the Pacific War.
They spent a total of 165 billion dollars for this three year Korean War.
They mobilized for the war such up-to-date large-caliber artillery pieces as 105 mm guns, modern heavy cruiser "Baltimore", large strategic bombers such as "B-29" which was advertised as "a fortress in the air" and other sophisticated war equipment.
Not content with this, they used even chemical and germ bombs which were banned by the international law and threatened to use even A-bombs against the DPRK.
The outbreak of such destructive war was by no means accidental and it did not come all of a sudden. This was a carefully prepared war.
No matter what a cunning trick the U.S. may play, they cannot deny the criminal history of their provocation of this war of aggression.
NDFSK brings complaint against U.S. war criminals
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- The central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) sent an indictment to the United Nations court of justice on the occasion of the half centenary of the Korean War of aggression provoked by the U.S. on June 25, 1950. The indictment dated May 27 called for strictly trying the criminal case concerning the GIs' killings of civilians under the international law and the Geneva Convention on wartime protection of civilians.
Pak Kwang Gi, chief of the NDFSK Pyongyang mission, informed Korean and foreign reporters here of this on Thursday.
The indictment described the last Korean War provoked by the United States as a war of aggression aimed at annexing the north of Korea and a barbarous war to kill innocent civilians in order to exterminate the Korean nation.
According to it, the U.S. aggressors killed more than 1,100,000 innocent civilians in cold blood in areas south of the 38th parallel alone during the June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953 Korean War.
It recalled that the U.S. aggression troops attacked civilian villages not related to their military operation theatre and employed most cruel and bestial methods to kill peaceable civilians who had nothing to do with combat actions during the Korean War.
GIs' massacres of civilians during the war was an organized and premeditated criminal case. They were state-sponsored organized crimes that have so far been concealed by the successive governments of the U.S., the indictment said, and went on:
These are serious war crimes and crimes against humanity which are in violation of the August 12, 1949 Geneva Convention on wartime protection of civilians.
The central committee of the NDFSK, invested with a litigious right by the victims of massacres of civilians by GIs during the Korean War, files a complaint at the international court asking it to severely judge the crimes related to GIs' mass killing of civilians.
The indictment demanded the U.S. war criminals, assailants, be brought to the international court and the U.S. admit its crimes and make an open apology to the South Koreans in the name of the government and compensate for the crimes.
Those assailants who directly executed massacres of civilians during the war, military officials who ordered the shooting and the then U.S. military and government authorities should be sentenced to capital punishment as war criminals, the indictment urged, concluding: The U.S. troops branded as war criminals responsible for massacres of civilians should be forced to withdraw from South Korea at once.