Kim Jong Il's exploits praised
Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- Dorank Assifat Diasseny, Minister in Charge of Defence of the Presidential Office of Guinea, met the DPRK ambassador to Guinea on Aug. 21 and highly praised General Secretary Kim Jong Il's exploits.
He said he is greatly admired by the fact that Kim Jong Il laid down specific orientation and ways to achieve the country's reunification at an early date and opened a new phase of Korean reunification through his energetic activities.
The recent developments in Korea prove that the situation is developing according to the five-point policy of great national unity put forward by Kim Jong Il, he noted, and went on:
Following the situation on the Korean peninsula with great attention, I felt once again that Kim Jong Il is, indeed, a great leader with distinguished leadership, clairvoyance and practical ability.
The international authority of the DPRK is rising unprecedentedly higher as it has Kim Jong Il as its leader and he provides wise guidance. I am convinced that Korea would be reunified and become a powerful and prosperous country in the near future.
Korean books presented to Egypt
Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- A book-presenting ceremony was held at the institute of Asian affairs of the Cairo University on Aug. 22.
Korean books including immortal famous works of the President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il were presented to the institute.
Muhammad Selim, director of the institute, said the works of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are precious treasures and the institute will keep them with good care so that everyone may read them.
U.S.-S. Korea joint military exercise
Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- The Egypt-Korea Friendship Association released a statement on Aug. 22 denouncing the "Ulji-Focus Lens" U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise.
Noting that cooperation and exchange between the north and the south have entered into the phase of full-scale realization as evidenced by recent talks between the authorities and red cross organizations of the north and the south, visits of separated families and relatives in the north and the south and visits of South Korean businessmen and mediapersons for the implementation of the north-south joint declaration, the statement said:
The large-scale military exercise launched by the U.S. and South Korean authorities at a time when the whole world rejoices at and welcomes the developments on the Korean peninsula is a very dangerous move which may bring the north-south relations back to those of confrontation before and an undisguised provocation against the DPRK, their dialogue partner.
The Egypt-Korea friendship association strongly demands the U.S. and South Korean authorities immediately stop the military exercise aimed to dampen the desire of all the Korean people and the international community for the successful implementation of the north-south joint declaration and reconciliation, peace and reunification on the Korean peninsula.
Sojourn of Japanese visiting group of "Peace Boat" in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- A "joint meeting for peace and friendship" with members of the Japanese visiting group of "Peace Boat" was held here yesterday.
Present there were Ri Song Ho, vice-chairman of the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, officials concerned and youth and students in the city.
Present there were members of the Japanese visiting group of "Peace Boat" led by Tatsuya Yoshioka, director of its executive committee.
Speeches were made at the meeting.
The participants sang and danced together, deepening their friendly feelings.
Prior to the meeting, they looked round photos on display in the meeting place which show the aggression of Korea and war crimes committed by the U.S. and Japanese imperialists and A-bomb disasters in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
That day, a seminar on the issue of "comfort women for the army" and crimes committed by the Japanese imperial army, a meeting with A-bomb victims and seminars on the issue of establishing diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Japan were held as part of activities to know better about the DPRK according to different subjects.
Some members of the visiting group had a round-table conversation with officials of the central committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, called on Jong Song Ok, "marathon queen" of the world, and her family and went round Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies and the Thaekam cooperative farm, etc. that day.
Japan urged to make governmental apology and compensation
Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- The chief executive of Japan, addressing a recent function to mark the 55th anniversary of its defeat in the war, expressed "deep repentance" of wartime crimes it committed in Asia and "homage" to war victims in the neighboring countries.
In this connection Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says: The core of the issue of Japan's redeem for its past is to make a governmental apology and compensation for the crimes and this alone is legally valid and it can make compensation a reality.
Recalling that a chief executive of Japan had expressed the willingness of "apology" and "compensation" in the past but they took no effect and turned out to be empty talks, the commentary notes:
The Japanese imperialists' invasion of Korea and military occupation and rule over it were unpardonable crimes. They committed too many crimes to enumerate.
However, the present Japanese chief executive tries hard to cover up such hideous crimes with a few words and did not even touch upon the issue of governmental apology and compensation for the Japanese imperialists' invasion of Korea.
The Japanese government has sidestepped the issue of its redress for its past under this or that pretext, dragging out it for over half a century. Germany, a war criminal state, is redeeming its past crimes through governmental apology and compensation for all its war crimes.
The DPRK states once again that Japan should redress its past by making a governmental apology and compensation on the basis of admitting the Japanese imperialists' acts of aggression. Only this will be a true apology and compensation for their aggression and can convince people.
Japan's redeem for its past should not be delayed indefinitely.
Japan should drop such a foolish attempt to gloss over the issue of its redeem for its past.
5th World Junior Taekwon-do Championships closes
Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- The 5th World Junior Taekwon-do Championships closed.
The following are the results of its fourth day competitions held before its closing ceremony.
Men's team demonstration
1: DPRK
2: Czech
3: Argentina
U.S.
Men's demonstration individual
1: O Phyong Rim (DPRK)
2: Murawiecki Lukasz (Poland)
3: B. Tomorkhuyag (Mongolia)
Daniel Laury (U.S.)
Men's special skill individual
1: Pu Song Min (DPRK)
2: Bobek Tomas (Czech)
3: Luleck Maciej (Poland)
Norman Forrest Andrew (Canada)
Women's team special skill
1: DPRK
2: Poland
3: Argentina
Czech
Women's special skill individual
1: Sin Hae Song (DPRK)
2: Becian Beata (Poland)
3: Ana Coronel (Argentina)
Nadezda Bidlasova (Czech)
Men's team pattern
1: DPRK
2: Russia
3: Czech
China
Women's team pattern
1: DPRK
2: Czech
3: Russia
Uzbekistan
Men's team special skill
1: DPRK
2: Czech
3: Kazakhstan
Argentina
Men's team sparring
1: Poland
2: Russia
3: DPRK
Argentina
Women's team sparring
1: DPRK
2: Argentina
3: Poland
Russia
Countries' standings are as follows:
1: DPRK
2: Poland
3: Russia
The following are teams' standings:
Men's team
1: DPRK
2: Poland
3: Czech
Women's team
1: DPRK
2: Poland
3: Czech
Argentina
A closing ceremony was held at the Taekwon-do Hall yesterday.
It adopted a letter of thanks of the participants of the championships to the great leader Kim Jong Il.
An art performance was given for its participants.
In the evening the organizing committee of the championships hosted a reception in connection with their closing.
Lively response evoked by State Symphony Orchestra's performance in Seoul
Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- The DPRK State Symphony Orchestra's performances in Seoul evoked a lively response throughout South Korea.
Kang Tae Yong, vice-president of the KBS, said that eminent symphony orchestras of different countries of the world have performed in South Korea but it was something unprecedented that an orchestra drew such an enthusiastic acclaim before full houses as the State Symphony Orchestra did. "I have never imagined such a successful performance," he added.
Director of the "South Korean institute of labour community studies" Kim Kum Su noted that the performance of the State Symphony Orchestra was very wonderful and impressive.
Kim Hui Chol, chief of the Kwanak district office, Seoul, said that words failed to give adequate impressions of each number of the program which represented national identity with melodies on the highest level as it is profound in meaning and rich in content.
Choe Hyon Gi who is residing in Seoul said that the performance was, indeed, a fascinating one that deeply touched the audiences.
The north's music should be appreciated as a masterpiece with popular nature and high artistry as it gave a truthful representation with national melodies and songs, he added.
Ri Ji Yong, member of the symphony orchestra of the south side, said: The performance of the State Symphony Orchestra was unimaginably mysterious. This is pride and dignity of the Korean nation.
A newspaper reporter, Ri Yun Mi, said that she came to ask herself if the south has not been engrossed in music for music's sake and music for the sake of musicians, realizing that the north has channelled efforts into the development of music for the people, popular music. "It seems to me that through the performance of the state symphony orchestra I have found an orientation, that is what should be focus of the policy for culture including music," she added.