Kim Jong Il sends wreath to bier of Jong Ik Han
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il on Sunday sent a wreath to the bier of labour hero Jong Ik Han, winner of Kim Il Sung order and Kim Il Sung Prize and people's artist, expressing deep condolences on his death.
He, a cameraman of the Korean Film Studio, passed away on June 17 from a long illness at the age of 66.
Greetings to Seychellois President
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to France Albert Rene, President of the Republic of Seychelles, on June 16 on the occasion of its National Day.
In the message, Kim Yong Nam expressed conviction that the traditional relations of friendship between the two countries would continue to develop and wished the Seychellois President greater success in his work for the prosperity of the country.
KPA presents farm machines and trucks to farms
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Officers and men of the Korean People's Army (KPA) presented farm machines and trucks to the Taehongdan county integrated farm in Ryanggang Province.
The farm situated in the northern tableland of the country is turning into a model in potato farming and comprehensive mechanization.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il annually visited the county in recent years to make a new history of revolution in potato cultivation.
He took a measure of sending 1,200 discharged soldiers who are members of the Worker's Party of Korea to this county and called on the party, the army and the people to actively support the county.
Vice-marshal Jo Myong Rok who is first vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, addressing an army-people rally held on June 17 said that KPA's presentation of farm machines, etc, to agricultural workers again this time reflects Kim Jong Il's strong wish to see the Taehongdan county integrated farm taking the lead in the nationwide drive to build a powerful country.
A rally was held on the Phothae integrated farm on June 17 to convey trucks presented by the people's army to the farm.
In March this year Kim Jong Il visited this farm and took measures to improve potato farming and encourage the party, the army and the people to support the farm.
Officials of foreign embassies help Korean farmers
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- The Polish, Chinese and Iranian ambassadors to the DPRK and their embassy officials visited co-op farms to help farmers in farming.
They did weeding and other farm work together with farmers and conversed with them during break, deepening feelings of friendship.
They handed aid materials to the farms.
Meanwhile, Pak Kwang Gi, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea, and its members went to the Haksan cooperative farm to do rice-transplantation.
Kim Jong Il praised
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Foreign political party leaders who had visited Korea this year highly praised immortal exploits performed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il by wisely leading the Worker's Party of Korea.
Andy Brooks, general secretary of the New Communist Party of Great Britain, said that Kim Jong Il pursued the best politics representing the present times and future, great politics for making the country rich and powerful and building a new world of justice and freedom for 36 years.
Thus, he fully demonstrated his traits to the Korean people as well as the world revolutionary people as a distinguished and seasoned veteran statesman.
That is why the progressives today boundlessly respect and revere Kim Jong Il, who is pursuing only great politics which is praised by the history and times, as a rare statesman and an experienced political leader, he noted.
Chaivat Sinsuwong, leader of the Palang Dharma Party of Thailand, spoke highly of Kim Jong Il's prominent exploits.
Kim Jong Il strengthened the WPK as an invincible revolutionary party, considering it to be fundamental problem decisive of the victory of the revolution to strengthen the party and increase its leading role, and consolidated single-hearted unity of revolutionary ranks with his absolute confidence and love for the people, he said.
Ivan Rodriguez, chairman of the central committee of the Dominican Worker's Party, said that indomitable will and obstinacy of unyielding to difficulties and pushing ahead with all work to the end and relentlessness of holding fast to principles--all this is disposition Kim Jong Il possessed as natural characters.
Recalling his leadership history, I keenly felt that he is the greatest man whom no other great man in the world can surpass, he stressed.
Head of DPRK delegation refers to political and economic cooperation
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government will further expand and develop the relations of political and economic cooperation with other Asian and pacific countries on the principle of independence, equality and mutual benefit and make a positive contribution to increasing the role of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific and other regional organizations.
The head of the DPRK delegation said this in his speech at the 56th meeting of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific held in Bangkok on June 5.
He went on:
Socio-economic issue in the Asian and Pacific region still remains a serious problem and negative influence of "globalization" is one of the main factors of retarding socio-economic development in the region.
First of all, an equitable international economic order should be established in all countries to achieve socio-economic development in the region in the new century and to this end developing countries should participate in formulating the policy for international economic development on an equal footing and the principle of mutual benefit should be thoroughly observed in international trade relations.
It is equally important to create an atmosphere of trust to promote socio-economic development and for this it is necessary for the countries in the region to strengthen their relations based on security, equality and mutual benefit and there should be such positive steps to drastically cut down or write off their foreign debts, a hurdle in the way of development of developing countries.
Referring to the key of economic achievements made by the DPRK despite difficulties in the last several years, he stressed that the DPRK government would exert its positive efforts to contribute to the implementation of regional development projects proposed by the commission on the basis of the foundations of its independent national economy.
Firing ranges of U.S. forces in S. Korea
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- There are 11 firing ranges of the U.S. forces in Seoul, Inchon and other areas of Kyonggi Province, South Korea, according to a South Korean newspaper report.
The area of the firing ranges is 12.75 million Phyong (each Phyong equals six square feet), or more than 15 times that of Youido of Seoul.
South Korean residents around the firing ranges of the U.S. forces including those in Maehyang-ri, Hwasong county, Kyonggi Province, often suffer human losses and heavy mental and material damage.
Withdrawal of U.S. forces and closure of their firing range demanded
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Villagers of Maehyang-ri, Hwasong county, Kyonggi Province, South Korea, students and trade union activists held one more anti-U.S. demonstration demanding the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from South Korea and closure of their firing range on June 17, according to a foreign press report from Seoul.
About 100 demonstrators chanted: "Pull back U.S. forces."
When they marched towards the firing range of the U.S. forces demanding its closure, hundreds of riot policemen blocked their way. The demonstrators bravely fought against the police, throwing stones at them and brandishing bamboo sticks.
The South Korean people from all walks of life are becoming more angry at the announcement of the U.S. forces of aggression on June 16 that they would resume the strafing exercise at the firing range in Maehyang-ri from June 19, which was temporarily stopped.
Japan's sleight of hand assailed
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Japan recently decided to pay "compensation" to Koreans in Japan who were either soldiers or employees of units of the imperial Japanese army.
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary observes this decision makes the DPRK doubt if Japan is going to redeem its past crimes or not.
The commentary goes on:
Quite many Koreans were forcibly drafted as soldiers or employees of units of the imperial Japanese army in the period of the Japanese imperialists' military occupation of Korea. Hundreds of thousands of them were killed.
The Japanese government instituted scores of laws on compensation to Japanese whereby it pays at least a hundred million yen to every person. But it intends to unwillingly pay a Korean only one-several tenths of its compensation to Japanese, even that only to some Koreans though over half a century has passed since it used them as bullet shields.
This is nothing but a move to evade its responsibility for its past crimes, an insult to the victims and a mockery of the Korean people. It is also clear expression of its undisguised policy of racial discrimination.
Japan's sleight of hand intended to make the victims stay calm and hush up the issue of compensation through payment of a petty amount of money to them will not work on the DPRK.
Japan should properly judge who is its counterpart and rightly handle the issue of compensation. If Japan continues to play tricks in a bid to evade its responsibility for its past crimes, this may spark something undesirable. It is well advised to bear this in mind and act in good faith.
DPRK keeps door of talks with Japan open
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Before and after the historic Pyongyang meeting and the inter-Korean summit, Japanese Prime Minister Mori repeatedly said Japan has a strong will to establish diplomatic ties with the DPRK, referring to the issue of the DPRK-Japan relations, and asked for conveying this will to the DPRK. And high-ranking officials of the Japanese government vied with each other to appear at official meetings to say that an "opportunity has been provided" for the DPRK-Japan talks and Japan hoped that the negotiations for opening the DPRK-Japan diplomatic relations would progress smoothly.
If the Japanese authorities have a sincere and strong will for the improved DPRK-Japan relations, there is no need for them to hesitate over the issue.
The DPRK has maintained a sincere approach to the talks with Japan from the view that the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations is in full line with the interests of the two peoples and the need of the times and this stand and attitude remain unchanged.
Therefore, Japan should not detour but is only requested to appear in the talks, if Japan is truly willing to shift the inglorious relations between the two countries to good neighborly ties.
The DPRK always keeps the door of talks with Japan open.
Korea's reunification by federal formula called for
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Korea should be reunified by federal formula, stresses Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The most realistic way to settle the issue of Korea's reunification at the earliest possible date on the three principles-independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity-is to found a unified federal state of the nation, the article says, and goes on:
The proposal for reunifying the country by federal formula means achieving reunification by founding a unified national state leaving differing ideologies and systems in the north and the south as they are.
In Korea where there exist two differing systems in the north and the south national reunification should be achieved by federal formula based on the conception of one nation, one state, two systems and two governments, guided by the principle of allowing no one side to swallow up the other side or being swallowed up by it.
This is a realistic, fair and aboveboard proposal to reunify the country peacefully at the earliest possible date by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation in keeping with the specific conditions of the country.
The proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo advanced by the President Kim Il Sung has commanded positive support and approval of the whole nation for its feasibility and impartiality.
The proposal for achieving reunification by federal formula is arousing support and sympathy from all the fellow countrymen, coupled with their daily growing aspiration for reunification, and it is demonstrating ever-increasing validity and vitality.
Japan, "anti-communist base of Asia"
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- The then U.S. Secretary of State Acheson abruptly described Japan as an "anti-communist base of Asia" on January 10, 1950, on the threshold of the Korean War.
The Korean peninsula was needed for the United States as a military bridgehead for attack against the socialist countries in the continent and Japan was considered as a logistic base necessary for the war of aggression against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The U.S. increased military expenditure from 11.7 billion dollars in the fiscal year 1947-1948 to 17 billion dollars in the fiscal year 1949-1950.
Such arms reinforcement and description of Japan as an "anti-communist base of Asia" showed the U.S. intention to invade the DPRK.
More than 800 Japanese large munitions plants produced weapons for the U.S. forces under the control of the Macarthur command.
Many military bases and airports for large strategic bombers such as "B-29" were built in different parts of Japan.
At the same time, the U.S. 7th fleet to be sent to the war of aggression on Korea was reinforced with two aircraft carriers, two cruisers and six destroyers, and three regiments of "B-26" and "B-29", six regiments of pursuit planes and two regiments of transport planes assembled in the bases of the U.S. Air Force in Japan.
The 8th U.S. Army on the standby in Japan was reinforced with mechanized units and different arms to be on war footing.
The U.S. Navy on the sea of the far east was put under the Macarthur command and a new command of the U.S. army and navy in the far east was framed up for the Korean war.
Meanwhile, chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff Bradley and other military bosses went to Japan to inspect preparations of the Macarthur command for the war against the DPRK.
Like this the U.S. imperialists had Japan prepared as a starting base, logistic base and repair base for the war of aggression, before igniting the war on the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950.
Leaderdship exploits of Kim Jong Il praised
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Foreign figures released statements on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
Victor Oliva Miguel, general secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru, said that they highly praise Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the WPK, as a genius of ideology and theory, a master of ever-victorious leadership and a political leader deeply respected by the people.
Wilfred Saens Vigo, chairman of the Peruvian National Association for the Study of Kimjongilism, noted the immortal exploits of Kim Jong Il are the provision of a powerful instrument of defending socialism and leading it to victory in the struggle for the cause of world independence.
Santosh Kumar, chairman of the All-India Newspaper Employer Federation, stressed that the world progressive humankind is convinced that the Korean people will surely overcome the present difficulties and build a prosperous and powerful socialist nation under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Great leadership provided by Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- 36 years have passed since General Secretary Kim Jong Il started his work at the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
In this period he has wisely led the revolution and construction, bringing an era of prosperity to this land.
In the 1960s, he paid deep attention to literature and art and brought about a revolution in different fields including movie and opera, thus ushering in a renaissance of literature and arts.
In February 1974, he proclaimed the programme for modeling the whole society on the Juche idea, led the work to transform nature, society and man as required by the Juche idea and brought about golden days in the 1970s and the 1980s.
Successes unprecedented in the history of economic construction were registered. There mushroomed magnificent edifices greatly instrumental in consolidating the foundations of the independent economy and demonstrating its might. Among them were the large transportation line of long-distance belt-conveyer of the Unryul mine, the Musan-Chongjin large and long-distance pipeline for the transport of concentrates, ore-dressing plant no.3 of the Komdok mine, the West Sea Barrage, the northern railways, the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Arch of Triumph, the Grand People's Study House, Changgwang Street, Munsu Street and Kwangbok Street.
The DPRK underwent unprecedented ordeals and difficulties in the 1990s.
The state was not in a position to properly provide the people with food and consumer goods because of the imperialists' persistent moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, drop in production in all fields of the national economy owing to several years of natural disasters and so on.
In the 1990s the Korean people suffered the nation's biggest loss that was the demise of the President Kim Il Sung whom they acclaimed for the first time in its history spanning thousands of years.
The whole world worried over the future of Korea.
But Kim Jong Il stood against the military pressure and the "nuclear inspection racket" of the enemy with his iron-will and courage, thus firmly defending the national dignity and socialism.
He accomplished most successfully the cause of perpetuating the memory of Kim Il Sung, striking the world with admiration.
He has administered the army-first politics. Under this great leadership the Korean people have achieved the single-hearted unity of the leader, party and the masses which was a decisive factor of enabling the DPRK to rank itself among satellite possessors and lay foundations of a powerful nation.
Not a few successes have been made in different fields but the economic situation of the country and the people's living are far from satisfactory.
However, the Korean people are forging ahead, confident of a rosy future and victory as Kim Jong Il is standing in the van of the Korean revolution.
Giving priority to ideological work, WPK principle of leadership
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il published a famous work "Giving Priority To Ideological Work Is Essential for Accomplishing Socialism" on June 19, Juche 84 (1995).
Comprehensively clarified in the work are the essence and importance, principles and method, form and content of ideological work and other principled issues in developing it in depth in accordance with the requirements of the times and developing revolution.
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article stresses that Kim Jong Il, holding fast to the revolutionary leadership principle of giving definite priority to ideological work, built our country into an ideologically strong country, a country of single-hearted unity and made the socialism of Korean-style shine as an invincible socialism which is unshakable in any situation.
It continues:
He modeled the whole society after the Juche idea, taking ideology as the fundamental of socialism, and led people to arm themselves with the socialist idea so that they smashed the imperialist ideological and cultural poisoning with revolutionary ideological offensive and firmly defended the purity of the socialist idea.
It is his iron rule to strengthen the party and the army with ideological might and to achieve prosperity of the country and the nation in reliance upon the idea of people.
Therefore, the ideological position of socialism in the DPRK has been solidly consolidated as a strong ideological bulwark, a fortress of confidence unshakable in any wind.
Papers on greatness of Kim Jong Il's politics
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Papers here today devote editorials to 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, which call for highly demonstrating the Korean nation's dignity and honor of holding a peerlessly great man in high esteem as their leader.
Kim Jong Il's politics is unique one unprecedented in the human history of politics and ever-victorious one with infinite might and vitality, Rodong Sinmun says, and continues:
The outstanding greatness of Kim Jong Il as a peerless politician lies in the fact that he has scientifically led the revolution and construction to a brilliant victory without a mistake or failure for nearly 40 years.
His greatness is expressed in his pursuing the most independent politics, politics of love and trust and leading the revolution and construction with his invincible army-first politics. The might of his independent politics has been fully demonstrated in the most arduous and complicated struggle.
The moves of the imperialists and reactionaries to stifle the DPRK have been totally smashed by his bold grit and just politics.
The miraculous victory of the DPRK, which has firmly defended the socialism of Korean style and laid firm foundations for the building of a powerful nation in fierce confrontation with the imperialists is the victory of the unique army-first politics founded by him.
Our people are now holding him in high esteem with loyalty, singing the song of infinite worship for the leader "we live, believing in him as in heaven."
He enjoys the absolute respect and trust of all people as the most distinguished statesman of the present era, the sun to lead the 21st century for the immortal great contributions he has made with his extraordinary political insight and ability, the paper says, calling for upholding his leadership with loyalty.
The history of his leadership over the WPK and revolution is shining as glorious one which fully showed the traits of an outstanding and experienced veteran statesman in our times, Minju Joson says in an editorial.
U.S. invariable design to dominate Korea
Pyongyang, June 19 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary rails against the United States for its recent sophism about the permanent presence of its forces in South Korea.
The U.S. let loose a string of absurd remarks that the inter-Korean summit talks "would not exert any influence on the withdrawal of the U.S. forces" and "it is premature".
Assertions that "the U.S. forces' presence in South Korea will go on irrespective of the talks" are heard from the U.S.
This lays bare the U.S. invariable design to dominate Korea as it is an undisguised challenge to the desire of all the Korean people to get the U.S. troops withdrawn from South Korea and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and the call of the world peace-loving people for this, the commentary says, and goes on:
There is no ground whatsoever for the U.S. troops to stay in South Korea.
Once the U.S. insisted that its military presence in South Korea was required to "deter the soviet union's southward advance" but there is no longer such justification.
The U.S. loudmouthed "threat of southward invasion by the north" is a sheer fiction. It is the consistent stand of the DPRK government to defuse the tensions and reunify the country independently and peacefully through dialogue and negotiation. This has been proven in practice.
Though the U.S. absurdly asserts that the withdrawal of its troops from South Korea is premature, their pullback is an unavoidable obligation of the U.S. and an urgent need of the times.
The United States should pull its aggression troops out of South Korea unconditionally and immediately for the sake of peace and reunification of Korea and peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world. This will be beneficial to the U.S. itself.