Kim Yong Nam meets Chinese delegation
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and conversed with a delegation of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference led by its vice-chairman Ye Xuanping at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present there were Kang Ryon Hak, a presidium member of the central committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, officials concerned and Wang Guozhang, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.
On the occasion the head of the delegation said that China and Korea linked by a mountain and rivers have long relations of friendship which were personally forged and developed by the leaders of the old generation in the two countries.
He pointed out that the great leader Kim Jong Il's unofficial visit to the People's Republic of China in may this year was a historical event in further strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.
Noting that his. Korea visit convinced him that under the guidance of Kim Jong Il the Korean people will build a powerful country true to the behest of President Kim Il Sung, he confirmed that the Chinese people will fully support the proposals of the Korean party and government for the reunification of the country.
Friendly meeting with Russian guests
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- The State Symphony Orchestra led by Ho I Bok came back here today from South Korea.
The orchestra was met at the airport by Minister of Culture Kang Nung Su, chairman of the DPRK Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee Cha Sung Su and officials concerned.
Friendly meeting with Russian guests
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting with the members of the delegation of the Russian paper Utro Rossi was held at Korea-Russia friendship Moranbong Senior Middle School no. 1 yesterday.
Invited there were the members of the delegation headed by its deputy editor-in-chief Nina Maslova.
A vice-chairman of the Korea-Russia Friendship Society, officials concerned and teaching staff and students of the school were present there.
The guests looked round several experiment and practice rooms of the school and saw an art performance given by its students.
And they conversed with each other, deepening friendly feelings.
DPRK government delegation visits Korean Hall of Chongryon
Tokyo, August 23 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government delegation headed by roving ambassador Jong Thae Hwa of the Foreign Ministry which is taking part in the 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks today visited the Korean Hall of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).
The delegation was warmly greeted by first vice-chairman So Man Sul, chief vice-chairman Ho Jong Man, vice-chairmen Pak Jae Ro, Kwon Sun Hwi, O Hyong Jin and Nam Sung U, chairman Choe Pyong Jo of the financial committee, chief Ri Ki Sok of the comprehensive planning office and department directors of the Chongryon central standing committee and leading officials of its organizations and enterprises.
Women staff members of the Korean hall presented bunches of flowers to the members of the delegation.
Jong Thae Hwa and the members of the delegation conversed with Chongryon officials in an atmosphere overflowing with warm compatriotic feelings.
The delegation was shown round the hall.
DPRK's symphony orchestra evokes lively response from S. Koreans
Seoul, August 23 (KCNA) -- The DPRK's State Symphony Orchestra's performance in Seoul has created a great stir among South Koreans.
Leading media including Hangyore, Kyunghyang daily news, Dong-a Ilbo and Hankuk Ilbo, Yonhap News, Christian Broadcasting System reported about the orchestra's performance under such headlines as "State symphony orchestra's performance characterized by mixed orchestra" and "Performance highlighting essence of music."
They said the north's symphony is an orchestra of new style in which western musical instruments are properly mixed with Korean traditional ones. It gives peculiar tone, which can be heard nowhere else, and strong national sentiment.
Orchestra "Rich Harvest Comes to the Chongsan Plain" in particular sounded like a declaration of mixed orchestra, they stressed, describing the State Symphony Orchestra's performance as one of top level that fully demonstrated the pride of Pyongyang.
Saying the performance stirred up warm compatriotic feelings and desire for reunification, the media reported that at the end of the performance the audience gave non-stop deafening applause and cheers and sang in chorus with performers the songs "Hometown in Spring" and "Our Wish Is Reunification".
The performance also evoked a great sensation from among people of political, social, cultural and other circles.
Hong Song Gyu, chief of the "Korean Broadcasting System" center for audience, said he wanted to appreciate again orchestra "Rich Harvest Comes to the Chongsan Plain" even after it was replayed. It was something unprecedented that an orchestra was encored, he said, adding this orchestra is the best, flawless piece of music.
Hwang Pyong Gi, a professor of music at Ehwa Woman's University, had this to say:
The north's unique mixed orchestras aroused strong national sentiment as they are based on traditional folk songs familiar to South Koreans and on the north's songs.
A music critic, Ro Tong Un, professor at Chungang University, said the State Symphony Orchestra has proved the possibility to fully develop the arts with national melody.
O Mi Hwan, a journalist of Hankuk Ilbo, said that the numbers of the orchestra are wonderful enough for South Korean musicians to envy and learn and that its unique quality of tone can be taken as a guideline for the development of the nation's music.
O Jae Sik, residing in Seoul, said he was deeply moved to see the north and South Korean artistes staging the joint performance and the audience giving applause and singing in chorus to the tune of orchestras. He keenly felt that national reunification should be realized at an early date, he added.
Chairman of DPRK Red Cross Society sends telephone message
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Chairman Jang Jae On of the central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society yesterday sent a telephone message to his South Korean counterpart Jang Chung Sik in which he held that Jong Sun Dok, Jong Sun Thaek and all other unconverted long-term prisoners and their families desirous of coming to the north should be repatriated under any circumstances.
It reads:
Holding that all the unconverted long-term prisoners who wish to come to the north and their families should be repatriated in future, our side has the pleasure to inform you that it has decided to receive all 63 unconverted long-term prisoners of whom your side notified our side.
As far as route and means of repatriation are concerned, the direct air route between Pyongyang and Seoul which has been available for recent visits between the north and the south will be used, and our plane will reach Kimpho airport on the morning of September 2 (Saturday) with about 20 guides and medical workers aboard.
We request your side to send us as quickly as possible health papers of the unconverted long-term prisoners and other information necessary for receiving them.
DPRK officials express condolences at Russian embassy
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Officials of the DPRK Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, the Foreign Ministry and the DPRK-Russia Friendship Society yesterday visited the Russian embassy here to express condolences over the deaths of the crewmen of the Russian nuclear-powered submarine "Kursk."
Present there were Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol, Korean People's Army generals and officers, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri In Gyu, a vice-chairman of the friendship society and officials concerned.
They observed a moment's silence as a token of deep condolences to the bereaved families and the Russian people over the deaths of the crewmen.
The Minister of the People's Armed Forces made an entry in the condolence book.
Signal successes made in universal compulsory 11-year education
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- The Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) has wisely led the work to steadily develop the system of free and compulsory education at each new stage where the revolution and construction made progress and the economic foundation of the country grew strong.
The WPK saw to it that universal compulsory primary education was enforced at state expense in August Juche 45 (1956), to be followed by universal compulsory secondary education in Juche 47 (1958) and universal compulsory 9-year technical education in Juche 56 (1967).
In the 1970s, the WPK dynamically pushed ahead with the work to introduce universal compulsory 11-year education.
This was free education system like the preceding systems.
The WPK put forward tasks to enforce the compulsory 11-year education at a meeting of the secretariat of its central committee held in September Juche 59 (1970) and other meetings. Then it proposed to move down the school age by one year for introducing 11-year compulsory schooling. It ensured that education was conducted on an experiment basis at classes made up of six-year-old children at over 40 schools in urban and rural areas, plain and mountainous for two years from October Juche 59 (1970).
On this basis, the law "on introduction of universal ten-year compulsory education and one-year compulsory preschool education" was promulgated at the second session of the DPRK fifth Supreme People's Assembly in April Juche 62 (1973).
Brisk preparations for the introduction of the compulsory 11-year education were made under the care of the whole party and the country. As a result, the number of primary schools reached 4,700 and that of senior middle schools 4,100 and the number of teachers over 200,000 in Juche 64 (1975). The WPK took measures to set up branch schools in the mountainous villages, at mines and forestry workers' villages and operate commuter trains and buses.
The universal compulsory 11-year education was thus introduced across the country from Sept. 1, Juche 64 (1975).
This education system has brought about a signal advance in consolidating and developing the socialist education system and carrying out the cultural revolution in Korea.
Clothes institute of Ministry of Light Industry
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- The clothes institute of the Ministry of Light Industry is an authoritative center for fashion design.
This institute was inaugurated in September Juche 50 (1961). Its main mission is to introduce into clothes factories scientific achievements made in designing, processing, framing standard and making patterns out of paper, and invent new fashions. It also provides technical service to clothes factories under the ministry.
The institute consists of research rooms for the design of Korean dresses and men's clothes, for automatic designs and for processes, materials and styles, a department in charge of external technical exchange and a pilot plant for the production of samples and mass-production.
It makes a comprehensive study of all needed in the field of clothes industry, such as the research into dressmaking which suit the physical characters of Koreans, the framing of standard and paper patterns, the rational organization of sewing process and the research and development of supplementary materials.
Each year one or two short-training courses on new fashion designs and advanced processing method are given to professionals from clothes factories across the country and the fashion preview is sponsored twice a year.
Fashion design is also the subject of its study and fashion magazine is published.
It collects information and materials on clothing technique and fashions and promotes bilateral and multilateral cooperation and exchange with foreign companies.
Now it exports samples to Japan, Sweden and other countries and makes paper patterns to order from home and foreign companies.
Staffed with experts in style, computer and mathematics, the institute has 15 academic degree and title holders.
It is equipped with up-to-date facilities, including a facility for automatic designing system and automatic embroidering machines.
Director Yang Il Sun of the institute says: "We will carry out research and dissemination more actively to satisfy the ever-growing demands for fashion and improve nation's standard of clothes."
Results of 1st day competitions of junior Taekwon-do championships
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- The first day competitions of the 5th World Junior Taekwon-do Championships took place at the Taekwon-do Hall here yesterday.
The day witnessed preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of men's pattern individual in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades, women's sparring in 53 kg class.
The following are results:
Men's pattern individual
First grade
1: Pu Song Min (DPRK)
2: Kim Artur (Kazakhstan)
3: Go Geng Wei (Malaysia)
So Pyong Su (Koryo Taekwon-do Federation in Japan)
Second grade
1: Chae Sim Myong (DPRK)
2: Rim Dmitri (Uzbekistan)
3: Jin Hao (China)
Cohon Nicolas Sebastian (Argentina)
Third grade
1: Pak Chung Song (DPRK)
2: Biccire Guerman Luis (Argentina)
3: Michael Hencke (U.S.)
Kim Dmitri (Kyrgyzstan)
Women's sparring in 53 kg class
1: Sin Hae Song (DPRK)
2: Joanna Paprocka (Poland)
3: Mariam Agapikhvili (Russia)
Athanasia Nikolakaki (Greece)
The championships continue.
Mt. Chilbo
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Mt. Chilbo, a scenic spot, is visited by many Korean and foreign holiday-makers these days.
This famous mountain is situated on the east coast in North Hamgyong Province, the northeastern part of the country.
The mountain rising 659 metres above sea level covers an area of over 250 square kilo metres. It is called "Kumgang of north Hamgyong" as it looks like Mt. Kumgang, the world famous mountain.
It is divided into three parts: Inner Chilbo, outer Chilbo and sea Chilbo according to distinguishing features of its peaks, valleys, strange rocks and various scenic beauty presented by the coast line.
Inner Chilbo is comprised of Rojok Peak which looks like a grain stack, Mansa Peak reminiscent of a lion with its legs drawn, Rahan Peak which looks like a column of marching people, Chonbul Peak and Jonggak Peak. These five peaks are called Mt. Obong.
It is characterized by its gentle and exquisite scenery presented by its strange rocks, blue ponds and splendid waterfalls.
Outer Chilbo is noted for such strange peaks as Pongso rocks reminiscent of thousands of birds of various kinds, Manmulsang (myriad-shaped rocks), Karam Peak rising high in forest, Maengsu Peak and Kijok Peak. It is characterized by its steep and majestic appearance.
Sea Chilbo stretches about 40 km along the coast line.
It also presents superb scenic beauty as it is dotted with sea-eroded cliffs, caves, Dalmun (moon gate) for small boats and rocky islet. Pillar rock rising in the middle of the waters, cliffs which look like a folding screen, Mujigae (rainbow) rock, a group of rocks, sol islet, Kangsonmun cliff offer spectacular scenic beauty of sea Chilbo.
This mountain and its surrounding area were designated as a nature conservation zone for its rich fauna and flora including medicinal herbs and abundant aquatic resources in coastal waters.
Many cultural and recreation facilities such as rest homes and camps have been built and mountaineering lanes paved in the mountain for visitors.
Japan urged to lend ear to world voices
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Japan should behave itself, lending an ear to the world voices demanding redress for its past, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary.
It says:
A wide spectrum of international community including the UN Sub-commission on Human Rights and a group of U.S. congressmen flailed wartime crimes including the Japanese imperialists' past crimes related to "comfort women for the army" and strongly demanded Japan immediately apologize and compensate for them.
Crimes related to "comfort women for the army" are unpardonable acts against humanity. Yet, Japan is evading a governmental responsibility for them and even openly denying them.
No matter how desperately the Japanese reactionaries may work to keep those crimes buried in oblivion of history, they can never conceal them.
The more feverishly Japan resorts to sleight of hand to play down the case of "comfort women for the army" and evade responsibility for it, the more bitterly world people will protest and condemn its despicable behaviour.
Japan should feel ashamed of more than anything else that its crimes related to "comfort women for the army" remain recorded in history.
Anti-imperialist struggle called for
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- The calls of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea appeal to the world people to meet the challenge of the imperialists in the steadfast spirit of waging an anti-imperialist struggle, thus greatly encouraging all the progressive peoples who love peace and aspire after independence at present, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The article notes:
The imperialists always dream of invading other countries and work tooth and nail to achieve the goal. Their nature and ferocity remain unchanged.
The article calls for meeting the craftiness of imperialism with a steadfast revolutionary principle and its ferocity with a staunch anti-imperialist struggle.
Only when a people have a strong spirit of waging an anti-imperialist struggle, can they find a good idea of countering the nuclear attack of imperialists and successfully solve all problems in building a new society in the spirit of self-reliance without depending on their "aid", the article says, and goes on:
If the world progressive forces frustrate the imperialists' moves for aggression and plunder everywhere in this spirit, contradictions among them and their inner frictions will get from bad to worse and finally go to ruin.
One should be resolute in the anti-imperialist struggle.
One step in concession to imperialism leads to ten, nay, to a hundred concessionary steps.
The world people should sharpen the bayonet of justice if imperialists seek to ignite a war.
Imperialists' nature and crimes should be laid bare on the international arena.
Imperialists cannot go scot-free everywhere if the world progressive forces unanimously condemn them.
Japan's infringement on human rights flailed at int'l forum
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Akira Maeta, representative of the Asian Women's Council for Human Rights, addressing the meeting of the UN Sub-commission on Human Rights on August 16 reportedly denounced Japan's infringement upon the rights of Korean children in Japan.
Over 200 cases of violence against Korean children in Japan occurred in 10 years and most of them were perpetrated against those Korean schoolgirls who were in Korean jackets and long skirts, the speaker noted, and continued:
None of the Japanese state-run universities allows the Korean high school graduates to have entrance exams, pursuant to the government's discrimination policy.
This discrimination is not fortuitous as it reflects the history of Japan and its present political environment. The jackets and long skirts of Korean girls are often torn to pieces in broad daylight even today, which is an extension of its past colonial policy to destroy the national identity of Koreans.
Each anti-DPRK row in Japan is accompanied by frequent violence against Korean children. Japan has been strongly urged to stop such human rights abuses by UN human rights organizations in recent years.
Akira called on the UN Sub-commission on Human Rights to continue to pay attention to this issue until the Japanese government stops its discrimination policy against Korean children.
Japanese right-wing's smear campaign under fire
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Gangsters of Japanese right-wing organizations heaped slanders and calumnies on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), timed to coincide with the 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks.
In this connection, Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says:
The unceasing anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon rowdyism being committed by hooligans of right-wing organizations in Japan, which styles itself a law-abiding state, can not be considered as an accidental crime perpetrated by an individual or a group but a very disturbing organized crime committed under a political backing as it was in pursuance of Japan's hostile policy towards the DPRK.
The Japanese authorities drove those gangsters to launch such anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon rowdyism in a bid to damage the international authority of the DPRK, incite anti-DPRK hostile feelings among Japanese people and disturb the patriotic activities of Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan.
This is the height of folly.
The Japanese authorities are engrossed in hostile moves against Koreans in Japan and their legitimate organization instead of making an apology for its past crimes against the Korean people and redeeming them. This is intolerable.
The Korean people will resolutely react to any crackdown and hostility against Chongryon, considering them as an encroachment upon the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK.
The Japanese authorities should drop their hostile policy towards the DPRK, arrest criminals responsible for this provocation and strictly ferret out those behind the crime and take necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of similar hostile act.