Greetings to Colombian President
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, on July 20 sent a message of greetings to Andres Pastrana Arango, President of Colombia, on the occasion of the 190th anniversary of its independence.
Extending warm congratulations to the President, government and people of Colombia on its Independence Day, the message expressed the belief that the relations of friendship between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms and wished the President success in his work for the prosperity of the country.
Wooden plough from ancient Korea
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- Amidst a swing of discoveries of remains, a wooden plough from Kojoson, the first ancient state in Korea, was unearthed in 1992 at Juui-ri, Yomju county, North Phyongan Province in northwestern Korea.
The L-shaped farming implement of oak has a curved blade, a beam and a stilt slanting upward from the back end of the beam.
The blade, a thick staff with a front edge cut sharp slantwise, is similar to a modern-day ploughshare. Thinner on the left side than on the right, it enables the bored earth to be removed to the left. It is 31 cm long by 18 wide.
The beam is the same sort of staff cut thinner than the blade in width, and between them there are three holes for attaching a spoon for removing the earth to one side. It is 35 cm in length and 7.5 cm in diametre.
The 73 cm-long stilt tapers upward and has on the top a hole for the handle.
This delicately trimmed plough was a major help to contemporary farming.
New stamps
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has recently issued three new stamps featuring bridges in Pyongyang-Okryu, Ansan and Rungna bridges.
The Okryu bridge, built in August Juche 49 (1960), spans the River Taedong to link central Pyongyang to the east. The second of its kind on the river, it was completed in a matter of one year and a half. In the middle of it one can view the blue and clear water of the river taedong and majestic-looking structures on either banks.
The Ansan bridge, completed on December 24 Juche 77 (1988), connects Phyongchon and Mangyongdae districts across the River Pothong, a tributary of the River Taedong.
The Rungna bridge, opened to traffic in September Juche 77 (1988), runs from the east bank of the River Taedong to the Kumnung tunnel crossing over Rungna Islet.
It consists of the slim-figured main bridge supported by continuous girder structures and spiraled by flyovers, providing access to the May Day Stadium that looks like a mammoth parachute.
KCNA blasts senior Japanese official's outburst to chill atmosphere
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- Tokyo metropolitan governor Ishihara was reported to have let loose a spate of anti-DPRK outbursts again at a meeting on July 19.
Referring to the great Hanshin earthquake, he hurled mud at the DPRK and fanned up hostility toward it, saying "the shock was so great that he felt as if Japan had been hit by a missile from Hokusen" meaning North Korea in derogatory term and "Hokusen is an annoying entity".
The DPRK can never remain a passive onlooker to such provocative remarks openly made by the senior official of Japan to get on the nerves of its dialogue partner at a time when important official dialogues for opening diplomatic relations are high on agenda between the two countries .
It is well-known to the world that Ishihara, speaking for the ultra-right reactionaries of Japan, has for long incited militarism and ultra-nationalism, creating furore in Japan and the international community. Then who was behind him each time he was free to reel off any hostile outbursts.
This is a point at issue.
We have already warned the Japanese authorities and media that it was because of their tacit connivance and under their patronage that such guys as Ishihara, abusing their official posts, openly called for fascistizing Japan and converting it into a military power and incited national chauvinism.
This notwithstanding, more deplorable things are happening in Japan. Such guys as Ishihara are getting more vociferous in their anti-DPRK diatribe and it is echoed even by Japanese authorities and media.
If the Japanese authorities have true willingness to improve relations with the DPRK, they should roll back their hostile policy towards it and, first of all, take serious measures to stop the sinister actions to vitiate the atmosphere of dialogue.
KCNA terms Japan cancer in international community
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- Japan reportedly decided to express "understanding" toward the U.S. development of the "National Missile Defense" system (NMD) at the G-8 summit in Okinawa.
The U.S. NMD which evokes the world's concern is a strategy aimed at military domination over the world.
This is why Russia and China as well as Germany, France and other U.S. allies are opposed to the nmd.
But only Japan is giving its approval to the U.S. missile defense program and instigating it surreptitiously.
This proves that Japan is the most unstable state in the world that sparks a new arms race.
Worse still, Japan cited the "missile threat" from the DPRK as a pretext for subscribing to the U.S. program.
Japan seeks two aims in escalating the row over the "missile threat from North Korea," asserting that its missiles may strike the U.S. mainland at once.
Today the biggest destabilizing military factor in East Asia is the development of the "Theatre Missile Defense" system jointly stepped up by the U.S. and Japan.
The development of the system would help Japan have military supremacy in East Asia. Japan is now desperately involved in this program to realize its old dream of "Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere."
This is one reason why Japan is making much ado about "missile threat from North Korea."
Another aim of Japan is to justify its shameless moves to evade the settlement of its past by tarnishing the DPRK image in the international community through this row over "threat from North Korea."
The world should be vigilant against Japan.
Int'l fact-finding group for closure of firing range formed
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- The National Special Investigation Committee for Closure of the Firing Range in Maehyang-ri on July 18 formed an international fact-finding group consisting of foreign anti-war peace activists and decided to wage a joint struggle for closure of the firing range of the U.S. Air Force, according to Radio No. 1 of South Korea.
The group called a press conference at an office room of the "National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification" and urged the U.S. military side to immediately close down the firing range in Maehyang-ri and compensate to villagers.
The group said that it will make a field survey of the firing range in Maehyang-ri and damage and conduct a joint activity with Maehyang-ri villagers.
Three-point charter of Korea's reunification supported abroad
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- More political parties and organizations of different countries joined in the international signature campaign for supporting the three-point charter of Korea's reunification.
The signature paper was signed by chairman Joao Amazonas and international secretary Jose Reinaldo Carvalho of the Brazilian Communist Party, the chairman of the Indonesian National Party and the leader of the Democratic Party of Guyana on behalf of their parties and party members from July 13 to 17.
The general secretary of the Ethiopian Youth League signed the signature paper on behalf of over 10,000 members on July 4.