Gift to Kim Jong Il from Ethiopian delegation
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of the Ministry of Information and Culture of Ethiopia.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by Minister Michael Chemu Wolde.
Kim Yong Nam meets Ethiopian delegation
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and conversed with a delegation of the Ethiopian Ministry of Information and Culture headed by Minister Michael Chemu Wolde at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present were Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and Dubale Belihu, charge d' affaires A.I. of the Ethiopian embassy here.
On the occasion the head of the delegation said that the friendly relations between Ethiopia and the DPRK are steadily developing on the principle of mutual understanding and respect.
He noted that the great Kim Jong Il is wisely steering the Korean people's struggle to build a powerful country.
Greetings to Peruvian President
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, today sent a message of greetings to Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori on its Independence Day.
The message sent greetings to the President, the government and people of Peru on its Independence Day and sincere congratulations to him on the reassumption of his office.
It wished the Peruvian President and people great success in their work for the country's prosperity.
Report on investigation into whereabouts of missing Japanese
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is investigating the whereabouts of missing Japanese as requested by the Japanese side according to the agreement made at the DPRK-Japan Red Cross talks.
The DPRK Red Cross Society has already informed the Japanese side several times of the results of the investigation and passed the recently confirmed information about two missing persons on to the Japanese Red Cross.
The DPRK Red Cross Society will as ever implement with good faith and sincerity the points agreed upon between the two Red Cross organizations.
Press report on meeting between DPRK and Canadian foreign ministers
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- A press report on the meeting between the DPRK and Canadian foreign ministers was announced on Wednesday.
The report reads:
Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, met in Bangkok on July 26th, 2000 to have discussed the matters of mutual concern.
The DPRK Foreign Minister made a positive appreciation of Canada's efforts for the sustainable development, peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed his hope that the relations between Canada and the countries in the region will continue to develop favourably.
The Canadian Foreign Minister welcomed the DPRK's participation in the ASEAN regional forum, giving it as an expression of the consistent efforts by the DPRK for peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world, and expressed his hope that the Korean peninsula will be reunified independently and peacefully in the near future.
The Foreign Minister of the DPRK and the Foreign Minister of Canada hoped to develop the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation on the recognized principles of the Vienna Convention towards the mutual respect of sovereignty, non-interference in other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.
They agreed that a high-level Canadian delegation will soon visit the DPRK and that the diplomatic contact will continue to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries as soon as possible.
Friendly gathering with Ethiopian delegation
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- A friendly gathering with the visiting delegation of the Ethiopian Ministry of Information and Culture was held here on Thursday.
Invited to the gathering were members of the delegation led by Minister Michael Chemu Wolde and the charge d'affaires of the Ethiopian embassy here.
Present were vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Ri Song Ho, who is concurrently vice-chairman of the Korea-Ethiopia Friendship and Solidarity Committee, and members of the Friendship and Solidarity Committee.
The participants conversed with each other, deepening feelings of friendship.
Wreaths and floral baskets laid to mark war victory day
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Senior party and state officials, servicemen, working people, youth and students laid wreaths at the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong and the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery on Thursday, the 47th anniversary of the Korean people's victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.
Standing at the wreath-laying stands of the cemeteries were wreaths from General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Hong Song Nam, Kye Ung Thae and other senior party and state officials were present at the wreath-laying ceremonies.
Laid at the cemeteries were wreaths in the name of the WPK Central Committee, the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the cabinet of the DPRK.
Wreaths were also laid in the name of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, working people's organizations, ministries, national institutions, and party and power bodies and other organs in Pyongyang.
On the same day, Jon Pyong Ho, Choe Yong Rim and other senior party and state officials, servicemen and working people laid baskets of flowers at the monument to victory in the Fatherland Liberation War.
Wreaths were also placed at the martyrs' statues or busts, monuments to the fallen fighters of the people's army and martyrs' graves across the country.
Meanwhile, the military attaches' corps in Korea laid a floral basket at the monument to victory in the Fatherland Liberation War and a wreath at the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong.
DPRK officials meet South Koreans
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Vice-premier of the DPRK cabinet Kwak Pom Gi and chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee Kim Yong Sun separately met and conversed in an atmosphere of compatriotic feelings with Yun Jong Ryong, vice-president of Samsung Business Group of South Korea, and his party at the People's Palace of Culture on Thursday.
Floral baskets laid before Kim Il Sung's statues on war victory day
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Working people, servicemen and school youth and children of the DPRK laid baskets of flowers before the statues of the President Kim Il Sung in the capital city of Pyongyang and local areas on July 27, the 47th anniversary of the Korean people's victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.
Placed before Kim Il Sung's statue on Mansu Hill were floral baskets, together with bouquets and flowers, in the name of party, armed forces and power bodies, public organizations, commissions and ministries of the cabinet, national institutions and other organs, units of the Korean People's Army, industrial establishments, farms and schools.
Written on the ribbons of baskets were letters "The great leader comrade Kim Il Sung will live forever" and "The great leader comrade Kim Il Sung will always be with us."
Floral baskets, bouquets and flowers were also laid before his statues at Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Il Sung Political University, Kim Il Sung University, the Ministry of People's Security and in other places of the capital city.
Working people, servicemen and school youth and children across the country visited the President's statues in their residential and working quarters.
Meanwhile, members of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea and the military attaches' corps here laid baskets of flowers before the statue of Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill.
Russia-Korea treaty ratified by Russian Federation Council
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- The Federation Council (upper house of the parliament) of Russia ratified the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, reported Itar-tass Wednesday.
The treaty was ratified by the Russian State Duma (lower house) on July 19.
The international affairs committee of the Federation Council stated that the treaty, concluded in Pyongyang on February 9, provides new conditions for developing to the full the Russia-DPRK cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, culture and other fields.
Evening galas of youth and students held
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Evening galas of youth and students were held across the country on Thursday to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the Korean people's victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.
At the monument to victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, the Tower of the Juche Idea, the April 25 House of Culture and the three-revolution exhibition and other places in Pyongyang, youth and students here significantly celebrated July 27, the day, when fireworks were set off to mark the victory in the war.
The participants danced to the melodies of songs "Long Live Generalissimo Kim Il Sung", "Our Victory-day July 27" and "We Have Won," "Let's Become Army of Kim Jong Il" and "We Will Defend the Headquarters of Revolution With Our Lives" and wartime songs.
Significant names
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- There are many significant names which will be handed down through generations in the DPRK.
The President Kim Il Sung personally gave names, deep in national feeling and favored by the people, to a number of units and buildings during his continued on-site guidance to every part of the country.
When a new bridge was built across the River Taedong in Juche 49 (1960) he, looking round the bridge, said that from olden times our people termed the river flowing around Chongryu cliff, Moran Hill, Okryu as its water is as clear as gems and, therefore, the bridge should be named "Okryu bridge" before writing the name in his own hand.
The "Mirim bridge," "Chungsong bridge" and "Rungna bridge" built across the river in the 70s and the 80s were also named by him.
When he saw a silk fabric with azalea and red maple leave patterns during his on-the-spot guidance to the Nyongbyon Silk Mill, he denominated "Yaksandan" silk naming after Mt. Yak, a famous scenic spot in the area.
He named silk with a sober pattern "Kuryongdan" in comparison with the River Kuryong flowing around Yaksandongdae.
On his on-site guidance he was very satisfied to see a county on the east coast being converted into a paradise of people good to live in and called it "Rakwon county" and named magnesite-producing center "Paekkumsan" (white gold) as it is as precious as gold.
"Chongnyon Street," "Chollima Street," "Thongil Street," "Sungri Peak," "Pulgungi" Electric Locomotive, "Paektusamcholli plain" and "Kumnung tunnel," etc. reflect the aspiration and desire of the fellow countrymen and the people and his noble intention to bring better and happier lives to the people.
Seeing monumental buildings, places and units denominated by the President, the Korean people miss him, recalling his tireless efforts devoted to the people all his life.
Happy Korean women
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- July 30 will mark the 54th anniversary of the promulgation of the law on sex equality in Korea.
The promulgation of the law marked a historic event that brought a radical turn in the life of the Korean women.
The promulgation of the law freed the Korean women from the leftover of the Japanese imperialist rule and the long established feudal custom and enabled them to participate in political, economic and cultural affairs of the country with equal rights with men.
In the DPRK women at the age of 17 and above have equal rights with men to elect and to be elected. Women are elected deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly and power bodies at all levels to actively participate in political activities.
Women account for 20.1 percent of the deputies to the 10th spa.
Hundreds of thousands of women engineers and experts are working in various domains of the national economy.
Many women were awarded the Title of Heroine of the Republic, the Title of Labour Heroine and that of twice labor heroine, the highest honor for a citizen, for their devoted service for the country and the people.
The state provides the women with every condition for working according to their ability and aptitude.
Those female workers having more than three children are entitled to work 6 hours a day and receive the same living allowance as that paid for 8 hours' work. Women are prohibited from doing difficult and hard labor.
Nurseries and kindergartens are run at state expense.
They are given preferential treatment such as the enforcement of maternity leave and a full pay for them during this leave.
Women account for nearly 50 percent of the work force in the national economy thanks to these social measures of the state.