Congratulations to Singaporean President
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to President S.R. Nathan of Singapore on August 5 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of its National Day.
Extending congratulations to the President, government and people of Singapore, Kim in the message wished Nathan success in his work for progress and prosperity of the country.
Chairman of S. Korean Hyundai Asan board of directors here
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Jong Mong Hon, chairman of the South Korean Hyundai Asan board of directors, and his party arrived in Pyongyang today via Panmunjom.
They were warmly greeted by Jong Un Op, chairman of the National Economic Cooperation Federation, and officials concerned with kindred feelings.
Paek Nam Sun meets new Indian ambassador
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, today met and conversed with Binanda Kumar Gogoi, newly-appointed Indian Ambassador E.P. to the DPRK, who paid a courtesy call on him.
Kim Yong Sun meets chairman of S. Korean Hyundai Asan board of directors
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Chairman Kim Yong Sun of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee today met with Jong Mong Hon, chairman of the South Korean Hyundai Asan board of directors, and his party on a visit to Pyongyang at the People's Palace of Culture.
Present there were Kang Jong Hun, secretary of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and officials concerned.
A conversation proceeded in an atmosphere overflowing with compatriotic feelings.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Jong Ju Yong
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Jong Ju Yong, Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Group.
The gift was conveyed to chairman Kim Yong Sun of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee by Jong Mong Hon, chairman of the South Korean Hyundai Asan board of directors.
S. Korean media delegation visits different places of Pyongyang
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Minister of Culture and Tourism Pak Ji Won and the delegation of South Korean media organizations jointly headed by chairman of the Newspaper Association and Hangyore president Choe Hak Rae and chairman of the Broadcasting Association and KBS president Pak Kwon Sang visited different places of Pyongyang yesterday.
The delegation was accompanied by Kang Nung Su, chairman of the DPRK Information Committee, Cha Sung Su, chairman of the DPRK Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee, and Kim Sang Ho, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Korean Journalists Union.
The delegation visited king Tongmyong's mausoleum in Pyongyang.
Being briefed on the mausoleum of king Tongmyong, father of Koguryo, a thousand-year-long powerful country in the east, it looked round the monument to the reconstructed mausoleum of king Tongmyong, stone sculptures, the Jongrung Temple and other historic relics of the mausoleum.
The delegation also visited the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, welcomed by children.
Schoolchildren at Korean dance, Kayagum and other circle rooms showed it their happy features of fully displaying their talents and hope and growing up as the pillars of future who will live in a reunified country.
The delegation enjoyed a music and dance performance given by art circle members at the theatre of the palace.
That day the delegation looked round Pyongyang metro and the Sangwon Cement Plant.
Vietnamese FM hosts reception
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Nguyen Dy Nien, Vietnamese Foreign Minister, hosted a reception yesterday at the Vietnamese embassy here upon winding up his Korea visit.
Invited there were Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Kil Yon and officials concerned.
Present were the Vietnamese Foreign Minister's entourage, Vietnamese ambassador to Korea Do Thi Hoa and embassy officials.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Mass rallies held to vow to carry out calls of C.C., WPK
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Mass rallies were held in south Hwanghae, south Hamgyong and north Hamgyong provincial seats yesterday to carry out the calls of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea published in the run-up to the 55th anniversary of the WPK.
The reporters and speakers at the mass rallies said that all the party members and other working people, upon receiving the calls of the Central Committee of the WPK, are firmly determined to successfully carry out the tasks set forth in the calls.
They highlighted the need for all officials and working people to hold fast to the line of giving top priority to ideology, equip themselves with the spirit of devotedly defending the leader and becoming human bombs, thoroughly establish the trait of giving great importance to the army and display to the full the traditional trait of army-people unity with a view to thoroughly implementing the calls.
They also called on the scientists and technicians to devote their wisdom and energies to solving urgent scientific and technological problems in the economic development and the improvement of the standard of the people's living.
All the officials, party members and other working people should vigorously advance to greet the Grand October Festival in the crucible of greatly increased activity of Chollima, firmly convinced that they are sure to emerge victorious as long as they are wisely guided by the great leader Kim Jong Il, they stressed.
People's Artist Choe Song Ryong
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- The DPRK has many noted painters, among them People's Artist Choe Song Ryong.
Choe graduated from Pyongyang University of Fine Arts in Juche 55 (1966) and has worked as a painter for 30 odd years. He has devoted his talents, wisdom and energies to the creation of fine art pieces and the training of reserves.
He has produced over 500 fine art works so far to contribute to enriching the garden of Juche-oriented fine arts.
Scores of his works, including Korean paintings "Bear on Mt. Paektu," "Lotus Flower and Kingfisher" and "Taedong River in February," were highly estimated at international shows. He also created "Pyongyang Thriving under the Guidance of the Party," "Pyongyang Rising from the Ruins" and other scores of works to be listed as national treasure.
Choe trained a number of reserves while working as a teacher and a department head at Pyongyang University of Fine Arts.
Kim Pyong Nam, deputy general-director of the Central Fine Art Studio and Kim Tong Hwan, an office head of the Mansudae Art Studio, are among more than ten holders of honorary titles and academic degrees.
Meanwhile he gave a systematic education to two-four years old children to be widely known as "little painters."
Those little painters include O Un Byol, Hwang Kum Chol, Han Song Il, Kim Kyu Gwon and Kim Mo Ran, who are well known at home and abroad.
He wrote such textbooks and references as "Technique of Korean Painting" and "Basis for Single-stroke Technique of Korean Painting" to contribute to perfecting the traditional technique of Korean painting.
He, a "Kim Il Sung Prize" winner, is now working as head of the Korean painting section of the central committee of the Korean Artists Union.
Land of songs
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Yu Jong, member of the Future Music Society of South Korea, published an article titled "A Land of Songs" extending salutation to the north, according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
Kim Yu Jong wrote:
Watching performances given by a schoolchildren's art troupe and an acrobatic troupe from Pyongyang in Seoul, I once again realized that the north is a "land of songs," indeed.
In the north everyone's program starts with songs and ends with songs.
Streets in the north in mornings resound with schoolchildren's brass band music and songs of joy and optimism can be heard from all construction and other work sites where a worthy life is built. Songs are also heard from the brightly lit flats in evenings.
The author pointed out that songs of the north reflect the noble mental world characterized by love of the country, trust in the Worker's Party of Korea and boundless veneration for their leader.
Kim described the songs of the north as a nutrient to keep life in beautiful bloom and a tonic to add fragrance to it.
It is thanks to the peerlessly great man that the songs in the north inspire the people in their life and struggle, the author noted, and continued:
President Kim Il Sung made a long journey of the bloody anti-Japanese battles with songs and won one victory after another right after liberation in the June 25, 1950 war, in the post-cease-fire period and the period of socialist construction, singing songs.
The President's will has been inherited by leader Kim Jong Il. Regarding music as a means of making a revolution, he discovered the leadership philosophy among songs.
He has united the people as one and trained the people into those who have iron will and faith and are responsible for creation and changes with the help of songs.
The north will emerge victorious and thrive forever thanks to songs.
U.S. urged to face up to reality
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Members of the U.S. Republican Party in an election "platform" released on July 31 made a series of "commitments" to "deter actions of aggression and check the spread of weapons of mass destruction" on the Korean peninsula.
In this connection Minju Joson today in a signed commentary says:
Conservative hard-liners of the U.S. Republican Party in their "platform" described the DPRK as one seeking aggression and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, but the reality is quite contrary to it.
The DPRK has spared no efforts to prevent war and preserve peace on the Korean peninsula, the commentary says, and goes on:
Conservative hard-liners of the U.S. Republican Party do not want the negotiated settlement of the Korean problem.
They stand for recourse to force to settle it.
They consider use of force as the only way for the settlement of all problems and think only when they do so can they enlist support for their Presidential election campaign which is just around the corner.
However, they should know that they are making a serious political mistake.
The logic of strength does not work on the DPRK.
The DPRK is prepared for both dialogue and war.
If the U.S. intends to settle the Korean problem by military means, the DPRK will strongly react to it to defend its dignity and sovereignty.
Conservative hard-liners of the U.S. Republican Party are well advised to do soul-searching for their irresponsible actions which only strain the DPRK-U.S. relations and heighten vigilance of the DPRK, and make a switchover in their hostile policy towards the DPRK, though belatedly.
Japan to make redress for its past top priority of its diplomacy
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Japan has recently intensified its diplomatic moves to sit on the UN Security Council (UNSC) with the UN General Assembly slated to open in September.
Japan betrayed its ulterior bid for the permanent membership of the UNSC by getting a point underscoring "the necessity of reforming the UN" laid down in the declaration of the G-8 summit held in Okinawa. It announced that it would dispatch an official of its Foreign Ministry to the UN headquarters to have an "exhaustive discussion on the overhaul of the UNSC" at the UN General Assembly.
As everybody knows, the UN is a sacred world body aimed to discuss important matters related to global peace and security against war.
Japan should do things helpful to global peace and security if it wishes to fulfil its responsibility as a permanent member of the UNSC.
However, Japan is censured as a root cause of disturbing world peace and security for seeking to become a military and nuclear power.
For Japan to sit on the UNSC it should abandon such aggressive and bellicose attempt and win trust from the world people.
One of the most urgent things to be done by Japan to get trust from the international community is to fully redress its crime-woven past.
Japan's redress for its wrongs done against Korea in the past is not only a political matter but an issue whose solution is indispensable for getting its status as a member of the international community.
Yet, Japan has not settled its past but is making a desperate bid for the UNSC permanent membership, showing its bulgy moneybag off. This cannot but be a mockery of the UN and the world people.
Japan should bear in mind that the permanent membership of the UNSC is not something to be sold or bought nor can international trust be won by bribery.
A top priority job to be done by Japan to sit on the UNSC is to honestly redress its inglorious past and win international trust.
Probe into truth behind GIs' mass killings urged
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- The "Society of Families of Victims to Mass Killings of Civilians During the War" of South Korea declared that it would lodge a petition to the South Korean "National Assembly" urging the enactment of a law on investigating the truth behind all mass killings of civilians during the Korean War, Seoul-based Radio No.1 said.
The organization charged that the truth behind mass killings in Munkyong, Hamphyong and other areas of South Korea has not been disclosed as the "National Assembly" handled only some individual cases, sidestepping the enactment of a law on investigating the truth behind all mass killings of civilians.
KCTU vows to launch powerful struggle
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at a press conference held on August 4 vowed to launch a powerful struggle, according to the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation in Seoul.
Noting that proper steps have not yet been taken since the violent police crackdown upon the strike of the unionists of Lotte Hotel, the organization declared that it would launch a struggle with a rally to frustrate moves for suppression and demand the reinstatement of the workers in custody or wanted by police.
Tan Pyong Ho, chairman of the organization, demanded the chief of the "National Police Office" step down, bearing responsibility for the violent crackdown upon the strikes of the unionists of Lotte Hotel and an insurance company.
Intensified anti-imperialist struggle called for
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article stresses the need to lift higher the banner of the anti-imperialist struggle.
The article says:
There are opinions in the world nowadays that changes taking place on the international arena are a sign of the changing nature of imperialism and, therefore, an anti-imperialist struggle may be given up.
The anti-imperialist struggle should continue as ever.
It is wrong to assert that the imperialists' aggressive nature has changed, cheated by their jargon of "peace" and "human rights."
If there be any change as far as imperialism is concerned, it is a change in its method of aggression, not in its aggressive nature.
Giving up an anti-imperialist struggle precisely means capitulation to imperialism and despicable betrayal of the popular masses' cause of independence.
Referring to issues in the anti-imperialist struggle, the article says:
The popular masses should never tolerate the ideological and cultural poisoning by the imperialists, but resolutely counter it with a strong revolutionary ideological offensive.
They should also strictly guard against the imperialists' jargon of "peace" and "human rights."
Real peace and human rights can be ensured only when they firmly maintain anti-imperialist independent stand.
They should decisively smash the imperialists' "globalization" strategy. "globalization" is no more than a cunningly veiled strategy to build a unipolar world and dominate it.
The popular masses should react to "globalization" by further strengthening the Juche character and national character.
Calling for not yielding to the imperialists' sanctions and military pressure, the article stresses:
Maintaining a firm anti-imperialist stand is the only way to win in the confrontation with the imperialists.
The people advocating independence should clearly understand the nature of what is happening in the world and raise higher the banner of the anti-imperialist struggle.
Only then can they victoriously advance the human cause of independence and build a free and peaceful world.
Anniversary of ASEAN observed
Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a signed article to the 33rd anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The ASEAN is playing an important role in achieving stability and social development in southeast Asia, the article says, and goes on:
The ASEAN has grown to be a regional cooperative organization handling overall matters existing among its member nations including politics, economy, culture and security.
It has entered a new stage in its development in recent years. Progress is being made, above all, in the economic field.
Its member nations set it as its main target to establish a free trade zone and introduce a single currency and are working hard to achieve it.
In its political field, the ASEAN is solving crucial problems including regional security, with top priority given to the sovereignty and dignity of its member nations.
Its member nations are now advancing, optimistic and confident of the future.