Reception given by Russian ambassador
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- Russian ambassador to the DPRK Valery Denisov gave a reception at the Russian embassy here Friday evening on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Russian Federation.
He said in his speech that friendship and many-sided cooperation between two neighbors Russia and Korea began on Oct. 12, 1948.
The tradition of bilateral relations which experienced all sorts of trials is a guarantee for further developing the relations between the two countries on the principle of respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and international law, he noted, and went on:
President of the Russian federation V. V. Putin recently visited the DPRK at the invitation of chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il. The meeting and talks that took place in Pyongyang in this course marked a landmark event in the history of Russia-Korea friendly relations. Both sides are now working hard to implement the agreements reached at the Russia-DPRK summit and the joint declaration signed by the heads of the two countries.
Russians here are witnessing the Korean people's devoted labour and achievements made by the DPRK government in the work to develop friendly and cooperative relations with all the countries of the world. The Russian people wish the Korean people success in their efforts to build a powerful nation.
Russia reiterates its support to the north-south joint declaration and welcomes its implementation.
DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun in his speech said the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 52 years ago was a historical occasion which paved a broad way for the development of the good neighborly relations between Korea and Russia.
He went on: The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are expanding and developing day by day after the publication of the DPRK-Russia joint declaration directly signed by chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il and Russian President Putin, who are supreme heads of the two countries, at the historic meeting and talks in last July.
We are very pleased to see Korea-Russia relations steadily developing on good terms and believe that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger and develop in the new century.
Today the Russian people under the leadership of President Putin are making energetic endeavors to achieve social and economic stability and build powerful Russia and multipolar world, opposed to dominationism and highhanded practices in the international arena.
The Korean people sincerely hope that the friendly Russian people will register fresh and greater success in the future thanks to the correct policy of the present leadership.
Reception given on occasion of anniversary of CPV entry into Korean front
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- The North Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee hosted a reception yesterday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Chinese people's volunteers' entry into the Korean front.
Present on invitation were Liu Zhigang, Chinese consul-general in Chongjin, and his staff members.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Film show on National Day of Czech Republic
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- A film show was held in Pyongyang yesterday under the sponsorship of the DPRK-Czech Friendship Association on the occasion of the National Day of the Czech Republic.
Present there were Ri Si Hup, chairman of the association, and other officials concerned and Pyongyangites.
The participants saw a Korean feature film "the Echo of Life."
Friendly get-together with Chinese delegation
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- A friendly get-together with a delegation of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of China headed by Zhang Ping was held at the Korea-China friendship Thaekam co-op farm yesterday.
The guests were deeply impressed to see the friendship room of the farm showing the history of the Korea-China friendship, a creche and a kindergarten there.
They conversed with officials of the farm, deepening the friendship.
Japan accused of its military moves
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- It was reported on October 15 that Japan's "Self-Defense Forces" and the U.S. troops have planned to stage in the Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture a drill of rescuing GIs in a distress and a drill of evacuating non-combatants as part of the Japan-U.S. joint combined field maneuvers next month.
Commenting on the projected drills, Minju Joson today says:
This clearly proves that Japan is more hell-bent on the moves to turn it into a military power and prepare for reinvasion backed by the U.S., behind the curtain of "dialogue" and "improvement of relations." The reality shows that Japan's war chariot has already been on its track.
It is not hard to guess what disasters such moves of Japan to realize its ambition to become a military power and launch overseas aggression will bring about, if Japan is allowed to do so.
Nations in northeast Asia and countries concerned are taking a constructive stand and attitude out of the desire to achieve peace, but only Japan is going in a different direction.
Japan, preoccupied by the ambition for militarist overseas expansion, does not know at all what crimes it is committing against humankind.
It is rushing headlong toward a road of war for reinvasion, dreaming a pipe dream. This will only accelerate its own destruction.
Japan must face up to the trend of the times toward peace and detente and stop such foolish act of going against it at once.
Defoliant spread for much longer period
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- South Korean "national assemblyman" Kang Chang Song asserted that the operation for spreading defoliant in the demilitarized zone in the 1960s lasted for much longer period than what was officially announced, according to Radio No. 1 from Seoul.
He disclosed that the operation to spread defoliant was conducted from April 15 to October 31, 1968, not to may 30 which was known earlier.
Charging that the military authorities have not disclosed this fact, though they had confirmed it, he demanded they open it to the public immediately.
Citing a report, he said that 5,700 soldiers of nine battalions including five battalions of the fifth army corps of South Korean and one battalion of the U.S. first army corps were involved in the operation in those days, adding that soldiers put defoliant into their helmets and manually spread it.
Principle and basic requirements for great national unity
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today runs an article titled "Principle and basic requirements for great national unity."
The article says:
Leader Kim Jong Il laid down the principle to be observed to achieve great national unity.
What is most important in the principle for great national unity is to place common interests of the nation above anything else in work to achieve the country's reunification.
It is possible to achieve the great unity of the whole nation, transcending the differences in ideology and system when the north and south of Korea give common denominators and interests of the nation primary consideration and turn out to achieve the country's reunification.
It is necessary to strictly adhere to the stand of giving priority to the nation and great importance to it and the principle of placing its common interests above anything else. Herein lies a shortcut to achieving the cause of national reunification.
It is also important in the principle for great national unity to respect and trust each other, leaving the past of members of the nation unnoticed.
It is an embodiment of our party's all-embracing policy, a benevolent policy, to achieve great national unity on this principle.
We will not dig into the past of even those who committed crimes against the nation in the past, but treat them leniently and join hands with them, if they repent of their wrongs and return to the fold of the nation.
Kim Jong Il also put forward basic requirements for great national unity.
One of the requirements is for the north and the south to give up a hostile policy towards the other side, transcending difference in ideology and system.
It is quite possible for the two sides to find common denominators and achieve great national unity on this basis if they give up a hostile policy and make concerted efforts prompted by a sincere desire for unity.
Another basic requirement is to wipe out misunderstanding and distrust between the north and the south.
In order to achieve great national unity both sides should remove misunderstanding and distrust from the stand of placing the national interests above anything else.
All Koreans in the north, south and abroad can promote mutual understanding and trust and pool will and efforts for the common aim of the nation and attain great national unity if they exchange visits and have contacts and dialogues and strengthen solidarity.
Dominican political party leader arrives
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- Miguel Mejia, secretary general of the United Left Movement of Dominica, arrived here today.
The guest was greeted at the airport by Pak Kyong Son, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea.
DPRK government delegation for DPRK-Japan inter-governmental talks leaves
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea led by Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Foreign Ministry, left here today by air for Beijing to participate in the 11th round of the DPRK-Japan inter-governmental full-dress talks.
Greetings to Czech President
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, on Oct. 26 on the occasion of its National Day.
The message extended warm salutation to the Czech President and people on its national day and expressed belief that the cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to expand and develop in the interests of the two peoples in the future, too.
Meanwhile, DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to Jan Kavan, who is deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.