Greetings to President of Gabon
Pyongyang, August 16 (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 El Hadj Omar Bongo, President of Gabon, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of its independence.
The message extended warm congratulations to the President, government and people of Gabon on this day.
In the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would develop on good terms, the message sincerely wished the President, government and people of Gabon greater success in their work for national harmony and the country's prosperity.
Greetings to Indonesian President
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to K. H. Abdurrahman Wahid, President of Indonesia, today on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of its independence.
On this day the message extended warm congratulations to the President, government and people of Indonesia.
Expressing the belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger and develop in the interests of the two peoples, the message wished the President success in his responsible work for the country's political stability and economic prosperity.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il yesterday received a congratulatory message from the central standing committee of the General Association of the Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Korea's liberation.
On this day the message paid highest tribute to the President Kim Il Sung, a benefactor who brought Korea's liberation and father of socialist Korea, and extended warmest thanks and highest glory to the respected leader Kim Jong Il who has defended the homeland of Juche which was liberated and glorified by Kim Il Sung, led the struggle to build it into a powerful nation and brought a great turning-point in the cause of national reunification, an age-old desire of the nation.
It went on:
Kim Jong Il opened up a new phase of national reunification through the historic Pyongyang meeting, the summit talks and the north-south joint declaration and took a meticulous measure to ensure that an agreement was reached at the first round of the north-south ministerial talks to realize the visit of compatriots under Chongryon to their hometowns in South Korea.
For the successful implementation of the historic north-south joint declaration the officials of Chongryon and compatriots in Japan will achieve their national unity and positively contribute to accomplishing the national cause of the country's reunification at an early date under the banner of national independence and reunification by federal formula.
The compatriots in Japan will further strengthen and develop the friendship and solidarity with the Japanese people and make a positive contribution to the work for establishment of the DPRK-Japan relations.
The message wholeheartedly wished Kim Jong Il a long life in good health.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from NDFSK
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) yesterday on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Korea's liberation.
On this day the message extended highest glory and warmest congratulations to Kim Jong Il, the sun of the nation and the lodestar of national reunification, representing the unanimous will and loyalty of the vanguard fighters and patriots from all walks of life in the south.
The great leader Kim Il Sung took the road of revolution in his early years, shouldering upon himself the destinies of the country and the nation, and fought a 20-year-long anti-J0panese war to liberate the country, the message said, and went on:
You, possessed of brilliant ideological and theoretical wisdom, outstanding leadership art and noble virtue, have fully materialized Kim Il Sung's long-term plan and brought golden days to Kim Il Sung's nation all of which are blessed with the leaders.
You realized the historic south-north summit meeting and talks, the first of their kinds since the August 15 liberation of Korea, produced the June 15 south-north joint declaration, a milestone for national reunification, and thus opened up a new turning phase of national reunification.
On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of liberation grand pro-reunification festivals for national independence and great unity are taking place with large attendance in the south, the north and overseas to carry out the south-north joint declaration and voices calling for national reunification are shaking the world. This is an immortal great exploit performed by you, the great leader.
The message noted that upholding the leadership of Kim Jong Il the NDFSK would raise high the banner of national independence and the great unity of the nation and give further momentum to the desire of all people for reunification and thus hasten national reunification without fail.
It wholeheartedly wished Kim Jong Il a long life in good health.
Relay groups carrying letters of loyalty start
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Relay groups carrying letters of loyalty to the great leader Kim Jong Il started from different places of the country with the approach of the 55th anniversary of the glorious Worker's Party of Korea.
A group left Ungsang workers' district in Sonbong county, Rajin-Sonbong city, on Aug. 8 and groups of officers and men of the Korean People's Army who are standing guard over the defence lines of the country including Height 1211 started on Aug. 10 and 13 at the end of meetings.
The letters read out at the meetings expressed the pledge of the people of north Hamgyong Province to speed up the building of a powerful socialist country and that of the servicemen to further strengthen the KPA as an army of the party and an army of the revolution.
Everywhere they reached on their way to Pyongyang they were warmly welcomed by servicemen, working people, school youth and children.
Evening gala of youths and students
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of youths and students in Pyongyang celebrating the 55th anniversary of Korea's liberation took place on August 15 around the arch of triumph, the Tower of the Juche idea, the Monument to Party Founding, the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, the April 25 House of Culture, Pyongyang Circus and other places of the capital.
They danced to the tune of "My Country Is Best" and "My Country Is an Eternal Country of Leader" and other songs full of boundless happiness and pride they enjoy in their being born and exalting their youthful life in socialist country built by the President Kim Il Sung.
When evening gala places were filled with songs "Our General Is Best", "Let's Sing of Dear General of People" and "We Will Hold Our General in High Esteem", loyalty was growing stronger.
The evening gala showed the unwavering will and revolutionary zeal of the youths and students to make life replete with loyalty and feats by devoting their youthful life to the struggle for adorning the 55th anniversary of the party foundation as a grand festival of victors under the leadership of the respected leader Kim Jong Il.
Foreigners visit Ssuksom revolutionary site
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations here and Pak Kwang Gi, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea, visited the Ssuksom Revolutionary Site on August 15, the 55th anniversary of the liberation of Korea.
It is located in the middle of the Taedong River flowing through Pyongyang.
It is a significant place associated with the history of the united front. In that place the President Kim Il Sung sat together with leaders of political parties and public organizations of South Korea who participated in the historic north-south joint conference and led them to the road of national unity in early May 1948.
Being briefed on the revolutionary site which conveys the immortal feats of Kim Il Sung through generations, the guests looked round the United Front Tower, the consultative meeting place, a look-out for a field, a ferryboat and other mementos.
Russian charge d'affaires ad interim hosts reception
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Alexander Timonin, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy here, gave a reception on August 15 on the 55th anniversary of Korea's liberation.
Invited to the reception were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yang Gon, department director of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, and Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other officials.
Alexander Timonin said in his speech that the historic events in August 1945 will always remain in the memory of the Russian and Korean peoples, adding that eternal friendship was forged between the peoples of the two countries in the arduous struggle against the common enemy.
The joint declaration that V. V. Putin and Kim Jong Il, the respected leaders of the two countries, signed at the Pyongyang meeting and talks some time ago laid a reliable groundwork to further develop the Russia-DPRK relations in all fields, he said, and went on:
Strengthening and developing cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK on the basis of a new inter-state treaty signed in February meet the interests of the two peoples and will contribute to ensuring stability in northeast Asia and the rest of the world.
Speaking next, Minister of Foreign Trade Kang Jong Mo said that August 15 was a historic day of victory in which Korea's liberation was achieved through a national-liberation struggle of all the Korean people, mainly the anti-Japanese armed struggle commanded by the great leader Kim Il Sung.
We have honored with homage the memory of the soldiers of the soviet army who fell in battles for Korea's liberation, he noted, adding this is an expression of the sense of moral obligation of the Korean people who set store by fraternal friendship with the Russian people.
Recalling that the long-standing DPRK-Russia friendship has entered into a new stage of development in accordance with the summit talks of the two countries and the spirit of the new inter-state treaty and the DPRK-Russia joint declaration signed some time ago, he stressed that further boosting the traditional DPRK-Russia relations is in full line with the aspiration of the two peoples and their fundamental interests.
We will continue to make positive efforts to develop the DPRK-Russia relations of friendship on the principle of mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs and equality and mutual benefit.
Reunion of separated families and relatives in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Members of the visiting group of separated families and relatives of the south side had emotional reunions with their kinsmen at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel on August 15 amid the mounting desire of all the fellow countrymen for reunification on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the country's liberation.
They warmly hugged each other after calling out the names of those whom they have wished to see even in dreams for over half a century of separation.
At every meeting place separated families and relatives were seen hugging each other, their cheeks pressed against each other in tears. These scenes proved that the Koreans of the same blood and the same nation can never live separated.
That day, Jang Chung Sik, president of the South Korean Red Cross, and his party visited the central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society.
The c.c., the Red Cross Society of the DPRK gave a reception for the visiting group at the People's Palace of Culture on the same day.
Jang Jae On, chairman of its central committee, in his speech said that the current exchange of the visiting groups of separated families and relatives, the first step taken for national reconciliation and unity in the spirit of the north-south joint declaration, will bolster up the Korean people's desire for national independence and unity.
He called for pooling will and intention to make this undertaking serve the purpose of achieving the cause of national significance to put an end to the tragedy of the division and open a new phase of reconciliation and reunification, going beyond the bounds of families.
The head of the group Jang Chung Sik said that the exchange of the visiting groups of separated families and relatives in the south and the north will be a starting point to put an end to the history of division and open a new national history of reunification and concord.
He expressed belief that the current visit arranged on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the liberation would be an important stepping stone to rejoin the severed blood ties of all the separated compatriots and bring earlier the day of reunification.
Visiting group of separated families and relatives of south side sojourns in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The members of the visiting group of separated families and relatives of the south side had family-to-family reunions with their kinsmen at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel today.
They shared joy of reuniting with each other in harmony.
Conveying each other news from their hometowns, inquiring after the health of families and relatives and telling about the paths of their lives, they shared the views on putting an end to the national tragedy caused by split and pictured to themselves the day of reunification when they will live altogether.
The visiting group of the south side headed by Jang Chung Sik, president of the South Korean Red Cross, toured different places of Pyongyang today.
Cruising in the Taedong River, they commanded a bird's-eye view of the Taedong Gate, the Ryongwang Pavilion, Moran Hill and other spots of scenic beauty and historic interests and Thongil Street.
They went on a sightseeing tour of different parts of the city including Kwangbok and Chongchun streets.
They went to the mausoleum of king Tangun, the ancestral father of the Korean nation, located in Kangdong county.
Meanwhile president Jang Chung Sik and his party looked round the Pyongyang metro.
Separated families and relatives of both sides reunite with each other in Seoul
Seoul, August 15 (KCNA) -- The members of the visiting group of separated families and relatives of the north side arrived in Seoul and had emotional reunions with their families and relatives in South Korea on August 15.
They warmly hugged each other after calling out the names of those whom they have wished to see even in dreams as they have never met for over half a century.
The members of the group and their families and relatives, their pent-up cares set aside, inquired after their kinsmen's health and exchanged tidings.
The meeting proved once again that no matter how time may flow and rivers and mountains may change, blood ties can never change nor can be severed and that the reunification of the country is the historic task of the nation whose fulfillment brooks not a moment's delay.
That day, the South Korean Red Cross hosted a reception for the visiting group.
Vice-president Pong Tu Wan of the South Korean Red Cross in his speech said: All of us, deeply moved to watch the reunion of the members of the visiting group with their families of the south, can keenly feel how profoundly you must be touched to reunite with your families for the first time since your separation more than 50 years back. He sincerely congratulated them.
In this place I more deeply realize that there is still a lot of work to be done by us in the future, too, and I keenly feel the responsibility for it, he said.
Head of the visiting group Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the central committee of the Korean Chondoist Chongu Party, said: The current exchange of the visiting groups was arranged by our respected leader Kim Jong Il, a man of noble virtue and humanity, together with President Kim Dae Jung, despite pressure of time two months ago.
She expressed strong belief that the exchange of the visiting groups would be made with success in a favourable atmosphere to meet the expectation of the leaders of the two sides.
New stamps
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has recently issued two stamps, two postcards and an aerogramme for the year 2000.
Stamp "general march toward the building of a powerful nation" portrays the red flag, rifle and artificial satellite that are symbolic of the policy of attaching importance the ideology, arms and science and technology, which the Korean people are upholding this year.
Stamp "for peaceful future" represents the desire of the Korean people for a peaceful new world.
DPRK ready to receive all unconverted long-term prisoners
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society answered a question put by KCNA on August 15 as regards the issue related to some unconverted long-term prisoners who wish to be repatriated to the north.
Unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea are due to come to the North Korea soon according to the historic north-south joint declaration and the agreement reached at the north-south Red Cross talks, he said, and went on:
The number of those who have requested their repatriation reached over 60 in early August.
Some of them wish to come to the north together with their families, if possible. It is only too natural for them to express such wish as it is an expression of elementary etiquette and morality as men having parents, wives and children.
Unconverted long-term prisoners at advanced ages who spent most of their lives in prisons wish to come to the north together with their families and spend the remaining years in happiness altogether. It is not only their desire but a deed to be hailed by all the fellow countrymen.
We will warmly receive unconverted long-term prisoners whether they come here together with their families or alone.
And we will receive and heartily and warmly welcome all the unconverted long-term prisoners who wish to come to the north regardless of their past.
DPRK representative speaks at UN sub-commission meeting on human rights
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made a speech during the discussion of "modern-brand slave", an agenda item of the 52nd meeting of the UN sub-commission on human rights held in Geneva on August 10.
He said:
The DPRK delegation draws attention to hideous enslavement committed by Japan during its occupation of Korea in the past and the wrong approach of the present Japanese authorities toward it.
Japan, a defeated nation and a country with poor human rights record, should fulfil its legal and moral responsibility and commitment to admit and apologize and compensate for its monstrous crimes committed against the Korean nation, a victim of its enslavement.
The Japanese authorities should know that it is not bad for them to redress Japan's inglorious past at an early date and turn over a new leaf and should make a decision.
And the international community should no longer leave the issue of redress for the past crimes to Japan only but continue to demand it settle them on a required level and contribute to the sound development of international relations and world peace.
The DPRK delegation requests the sub-commission to continue to pay deep attention to the full settlement of the issue of institutionalized rape, sexual slave and enslavement committed during armed conflicts, the second world war in particular.
Day of great victory in battles for national liberation marked
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- August 15 was commemorated as the day of national liberation in the DPRK.
The President Kim Il Sung led the 20 year-long anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle to victory and accomplished the historic cause of national liberation on August 15, 55 years ago.
He embarked on the road of revolution in his teens with a high aim at national liberation, founded the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) in April, Juche 21 (1932) and declared the anti-Japanese war.
The KPRA, firmly convinced of the victory in the revolution, fought many battles and defeated the Japanese despite hardships and difficulties as it got no support from a regular army nor the backing of the state.
The President advanced correct strategic and tactical policies at every stage throughout the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, set forth new tactical principles and methods of guerrilla warfare and steadily developed and enriched them. He always stood at the head of the fighters and personally commanded all operations and battles with superb tactics.
In the first half of the 1940s he made historic speech "on preparing for the great event of national liberation," set forth new fighting guidelines to successfully fulfil strategic tasks and wisely led the struggle to implement them.
As the great event of national liberation drew near, he pushed ahead with preparations for all-people resistance against Japanese.
On August 9, Juche 34 (1945) the President issued an order to all the units of the KPRA to launch a final attack for national liberation.
The KPRA units broke through fortresses on the borderline which the Japanese imperialists advertised as "impregnable defence lines," liberating vast areas of the homeland. They were joined by small units and political operatives of the revolutionary army and people's armed contingents and broad masses of people across the country who stormed into ruling machines of the enemy and wiped out remnants of the defeated army.
The Japanese imperialists, badly beaten by fierce attacks of the KPRA units and all-people resistance, declared an unconditional surrender on August 15, Juche 34 (1945), one week after the start of the anti-Japanese operation to liberate Korea.
The Korean people were thus finally liberated from the Japanese who kept Korea under their military occupation for nearly half a century.
The victory in the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle saved the Korean people from the crisis of life or death, brought them the sovereignty of the nation and independence of the country and enabled the popular masses to emerge as masters of new Korea.
Pan-national rally held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The preparatory committee for grand pro-reunification festival which groups the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, the "National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification," the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils and 17 other organizations held a pan-national rally at Myongdong Cathedral on Aug. 13 with at least 4,000 persons in attendance to implement the south-north joint declaration and achieve great unity for national independence, according to Yonhap News from Seoul.
A resolution adopted at the rally demanded the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea, urging the compatriots in the south, the north and overseas to unite in the struggle against GIs' crimes, drive them out of South Korea and preserve the self-respect of the nation.
Then they burned a large U.S. flag in effigy.
NDFSK debates on tasks to carry out north-south joint declaration
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) released a communique on Aug. 10 as regards a recently-held enlarged meeting of its presidium, according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
According to the communique, the enlarged meeting had discussions on the agenda item "On supporting the north-south joint declaration and conducting vigorous struggle to carry it out."
The meeting noted that the declaration enjoys great support from not only 70 million fellow countrymen but also people abroad, for it fully reflects the fixed will of the Korean people to settle the issue of national reunification in conformity with the desire of the whole nation to accomplish the noble cause of national reunification and build a powerful nation with the concerted efforts out of the independent stand.
At the meeting the NDFSK extended full support to the declaration and set out concrete tasks and ways to do its responsibility and role as befit the driving force of national reunification to carry it out. It appealed to people from all walks of life to turn out as one in all-people struggle for the implementation of the declaration.
Japan warned against tampering with history
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- A "Society for New History Textbook" made up of Japanese ultra-right elements compiled a history textbook in which they described aggression of Asia by the Japanese imperialists as a "national liberation war in Asia" and a war for "self-defence" and submitted it to the Ministry of Education for its examination.
The textbook praised the aggression of Asia as a "praiseworthy deed" which instilled "dream" and "courage" to win independence into the peoples of south Asia, India and Africa.
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses the Japanese imperialists' past aggression of Asia as a never-to-be-pardoned crime which no one can deny.
Their description of the aggression as a "liberation war" and an act which instilled "dream" of independence into the peoples is an outright challenge to the international justice and human conscience, the commentary notes, and goes on:
The world calls for fully redeeming aggression and other war crimes committed in the present century before greeting a new century. However, Japanese reactionaries are totally negating their history of aggression instead of swimming with the trend of the times and behaving, as guided by human conscience.
What is more serious is that they intend to awaken the younger generation to war of aggression and hurl them into overseas aggression.
The Japanese ultra-right reactionaries' farce of editing the twisted history book can never be pardoned as it is a revelation of their ambition for aggression.
Negation of history leads to national ruin.
If the Japanese reactionaries negate their history of aggression and embark upon overseas invasion again, they will meet only self-destruction.
Three-point charter of Korea's reunification favored
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- More regional organizations and organizations of different countries took part in the international signature campaign supporting the three-point charter of Korea's reunification.
Yobani Diaz Romero, chairman of the Latin American Continental Student Organization, signed the signature paper on August 5 on behalf of 32 youth organizations in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
It was also signed by chairman Rubens Dinis of the Brazilian Socialist Youth League and by representative Juan Esteban of the Federation of Communist Youth of Paraguay stationed in Cuba.
The signature paper was signed by president Orlando Lugo Fonte of the National Association of Small Farmers of Cuba and by general secretary Farook Nassar of the General Union of Railway Workers of Egypt.
Society for study of Juche idea inaugurated in Russia
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- A Russian Society for the Study of the Juche Idea was inaugurated at the institute of oriental studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences on July 26.
Yuri Vanin, section chief of the institute, was elected chairman of the society.
The main duty of the society is to study and distribute famous works of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, introduce the successes achieved by the Korean people in political, economic, cultural and other domains and apply the Juche idea in realities of Russia.
Kim Jong Il's famous work published in Peru
Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "Let Us Carry Out the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions for National Reunification" was brought out in booklet by the D.E.S.A. Publishing House of Peru.
The work was published on Aug. 4, Juche 86 (1997) on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of Korea's liberation.
Kim Jong Il in the work clarified the position of the three principles--independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity--the ten-point program for the great unity of the whole nation and the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo put forward by President Kim Il Sung in the movement for national reunification, formulated them as the three-point charter of Korea's reunification in which fundamental principles and ways for national reunification are systematized and consummated, and clarified his firm pledge and will to achieve national reunification on its basis.