SPA chairman meets Philippine delegation
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and had a talk with a delegation of the congress of the Republic of Philippines led by Senator Blas Ople at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
At the meeting the head of the delegation expressed deep thanks to the SPA of the DPRK for its invitation and the cordial hospitality accorded to the delegation and the firm conviction that the friendly relations between Philippines and the DPRK would grow stronger and develop in the future.
Pyongyang Film Festival at hand
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- The 7th Pyongyang Film Festival of non-aligned and other developing countries will be held in the DPRK from Sept. 13 to 21.
The film festival will bring together participants from at least 40 countries including Cuba, Iran, Egypt and India.
The film festival to be held in the noble idea of independence, peace and friendship is an international film festival which is of great importance in swapping achievements and experience gained by world progressive moviemen in the development of national movies, boosting exchange and cooperation and giving impetus to the human cause of independence.
There have been six festivals of this kind since the first one held in September Juche 76 (1987). This means a festival was held once in every two or three years.
During this period many countries contributed feature films and documentary films on diverse themes to the festivals to win high appreciation.
Gold torch prizes went to the Korean feature films "a Bellflower" and "the Nation and Destiny" (part 1 and 2), the Chinese feature film "Red Cherry," the Vietnamese feature film "Reed Field," the Polish documentary film "City Enveloped In Smoke" and others.
Different prizes were awarded to many films and moviemen.
Feature films and documentary films on various themes showing successes made in the building of a new society and the creation of a new life will enter this festival.
Every arrangement has been made for the success of the festival.
The Pyongyang International Cinema House will be the main venue and other cinema houses in Pyongyang will also be available for this festival.
Memorial service for Kang Kon held
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- September 8 will commemorate the 50th death anniversary of Kang Kon, a communist revolutionary fighter.
Born to a poor peasant's family, he began his career as a true revolutionary after joining the anti-Japanese people's guerrilla army led by the President Kim Il Sung in April, 1933.
After having the honor of a member of the communist party in 1935, he assumed heavy responsibilities as a political commissar of a regiment and later a detachment and displayed unparalleled spirit of self-sacrifice and performed heroic exploits in the sacred war for national liberation. His brilliant feats are recorded in the Korean people's history of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle.
He participated in many operations of the fraternal Chinese people to liberate northeast China after the liberation of Korea, thus setting a striking example of proletarian internationalism.
As the chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army during the Fatherland Liberation War fought to beat back the U.S. imperialists' armed invasion, he skillfully organized and commanded combat operations of the people's army units on the forefront pursuant to the strategic and tactical policies of the President Kim Il Sung and thus made a great contribution to wiping out enemies and defending the freedom and independence of the country.
He was awarded the title of hero of the republic and central military academy no. 1 named Kang Gon Military Academy in recognition of the exploits he performed in building revolutionary armed forces.
A Pyongyang city memorial service took place at the People's Palace of Culture today to commemorate his 50th death anniversary.
Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, in his memorial address said that Kang Gon's life was a noble life of a loyal revolutionary who, holding Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the great leader of the revolution, devoted his all to the struggle for the victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche under his leadership. It was a brilliant life which fully displayed the staunch spirit and noble trait of a communist revolutionary.
He called on all the party members, officers and men of the people's army and people to cherish loyalty to the party and the leader as a revolutionary faith and obligation as anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners did and uphold the respected Kim Jong Il's ideology and leadership with one mind and one purpose.
Present at the service were party and state leading officials including Kim Il Chol and Jon Pyong Ho.
DPRK will ever prosper with great Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- Pak Jae Ro, vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, who arrived here to congratulate the 52nd anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, had an interview with KCNA at the airport.
He said that the foundation of the DPRK by the President Kim Il Sung was a solemn declaration announcing the birth of Juche Korea and a historic event which brought about an epochal turn in hewing out the destiny of the Korean people.
Since the DPRK foundation the Korean people could have their genuine fatherland and sovereignty for the first time in history and independently and creatively hew out their destiny and the DPRK could shine as a powerful socialist country with independence, self-support and self-reliance in national defence, he noted, and went on:
Our fatherland is now shining all the more brilliantly as it is led by the great leader Kim Jong Il, who is identical with the President.
Kim Jong Il has made tireless efforts to further glorify the fatherland liberated by the President and demonstrated the dignity and might of the DPRK all over the world with his continued on-the-spot guidance.
Under the leadership of Kim Jong Il the DPRK will ever prosper and shine long as Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il'S. Korea.
Letter-carrying relay groups leave from different parts
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- A number of relay groups to convey letters of loyalty to the great leader Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Worker's Party of Korea are leaving from different parts of the country.
Starting ceremonies were held on the spot.
Letters carrying the firm pledge of the people across the country to bring the socialist cause of Juche to completion, upholding the leadership of Kim Jong Il with loyalty were read out at the ceremonies.
The relay groups of different provinces, soldiers of the Korean People's Army, people's security men and school youth and children are running toward Pyongyang after they left Mangyongdae, holy land of revolution, the native home in Mt. Paektu secret camp, Hoeryong, Height 1211 and other areas on Sept. 6.
Checking imperialists' arms race
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article calls for checking the imperialists' arms race.
Noting that it is of great importance to check the imperialists' arms race in order to defend world peace, the common desire of humankind, the article explains the reason.
It says:
An overall review of the 20th century shows that all the big wars which threatened world peace were preceded by arms race.
It was again arms race which the imperialists used as a principal means of their campaigns against socialism in the Cold War period.
He who wins in an arms race can win a war. This is logic of the imperialists.
Although a decade has passed since the demise of the Cold War, the imperialists are again triggering off an arms race in the world. The U.S. moves to establish the "theatre and national missile defence" systems are a main factor of the arms race. Imperialists' much publicized "threat" from someone is nothing but a subterfuge. The new arms race sparked by them is aimed at revamping military monopolies, saving militarized economy from its crisis and containing other big powers in a bid to realise their wild ambition to dominate the world.
The imperialists' arms race is always beset with dangers of a new world war, a thermo-nuclear war. Their arms race presupposes a war.
When the world is embroiled in the arms race, no one can predict when a new world war, a thermo-nuclear war will break out, the article notes, calling for waging a dynamic struggle worldwide to check and foil the imperialists' nuclear arms race.
Neither nuclear weapons nor biological and chemical weapons in the world can overpower a united force, the article observes, concluding that only when progressive humankind struggle in unity, can they surely foil the imperialists' arms race.
DPRK delegation leaves for Russia
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Ministry of Power and Coal Industries of the DPRK led by Minister Sin Thae Rok left here today for Russia.
The delegation was seen off at the airport by Hyon Ryo Jin, vice-Minister of Power and Coal Industries, and Alexander Timonin, charge d' affaires ad interim of the embassy of the Russian Federation here.
Socialist constitution of DPRK
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- The socialist constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was instituted and took effect in Juche 61 (1972).
The socialist revolution triumphed and radical changes have taken place in the socio-economic conditions of the popular masses since the first constitution in Korea was adopted in Juche 37 (1948).
The Worker's Party of Korea legally codified the achievements already made in the revolution and construction and began to newly lay down the principles to govern politics, economy and culture in the socialist society.
A meeting of the political committee of the WPK Central Committee held in early Juche 60 (1971) adopted a decision on drafting the socialist constitution.
The President Kim Il Sung clearly elucidated principal matters of the socialist constitution and its articles one by one.
The new constitution defined the DPRK as an independent socialist state and declared that the sovereignty of the state rests upon the workers, peasants, soldiers and working intellectuals. It also declared that the government of the DPRK has inherited the traditions of the anti-Japanese revolution and it is guided in its activities by the Juche idea.
It comprehensively laid down the main revolutionary tasks facing the government of the DPRK, the formation and duties of unique state organs, and principles to govern their activities, rights and duties of citizens, independent foreign policy and so on.
The first session of the 5th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on Dec. 27, Juche 61 (1972), adopted the draft as the "socialist constitution of the DPRK."
This provided the Korean people with a sure legal guarantee for more independent and creative life in state activities and all fields of society.
The first session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK held in September Juche 87 (1998) amended and supplemented the socialist constitution to develop it into Kim Il Sung's constitution in which his idea of nation-building and exploits performed by him are codified.
Seminar for independent development of Asia
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- A seminar on the Juche idea for the independent development of Asia in the 21st century was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Sept. 1 and 2 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Worker's Party of Korea and the 20th anniversary of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea (ARIJI).
Attending the seminar were delegations and representatives of different countries including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Japan, political, public and academic figures and mediapersons in Bangladesh, director general Vishwanath and secretary general Kenichi Ogami of the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI).
The general secretary of the central committee of the Worker's Party of Bangladesh made an opening address at the seminar which was followed by congratulatory speeches by the Minister of Water Resources of Bangladesh, the director general and the secretary general of the IIJI, the general secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) and the vice-chairman of the Bangladesh National Socialist Party.
The president of the Bangladesh People's League who is the executive director general of the ARIJI made a report which was followed by speeches.
The reporter said that the Juche idea is the unique man-centred outlook on the world which clarifies from a new angle a fundamental method of carving out man's destiny and a scientific doctrine which illumines the way of struggle to realise the independence of the popular masses.
The banner of the Juche idea should always be uplifted in order to make decisive progress in the struggle for independent development of Asia, he stressed.
He highly praised the great leader Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Worker's Party of Korea, for the immortal exploits he has performed by steadily developing the Juche idea in depth in conformity with the demand of the developing era and smashing the imperialists' moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK with his outstanding army-first leadership and thereby firmly defending socialism.
He said:
It is important to build people-centred society and hold fast to the principles of independence, self-support and self-reliance in defence, further intensify the anti-imperialist struggle and unite close with the peoples of all countries in Asia as guided by the Juche idea in order to achieve the independent development of Asia in the 21st century.
Speakers unanimously expressed their firm determination to make positive contributions to the building of independent Asia and the cause of making the world independent under the uplifted banner of Juche.
A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted there.
The letter manifested their firm resolve to make a fresh advance in the struggle for the independent development of Asia in the 21st century under his outstanding leadership.
The seminar adopted a declaration "the Juche idea is a great guiding idea for realising independence of humankind."
The declaration called for deeply studying and widely disseminating the Juche idea to encourage the Asian people to actively apply the idea in the struggle to realise independence.
Preparatory committee formed in Sweden
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- A Swedish preparatory committee for celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) was formed on Aug. 28.
Thomas Ronstrom, chairman of the Sweden-Korea Friendship Association, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee.
The first meeting of the preparatory committee discussed the program of colorful functions including a celebration meeting.