Greetings to King of Thailand
Pyongyang, December 4 (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 Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, on his birthday and the National Day.
The message extended warm congratulations to the king and the people of Thailand on his birthday and their National Day.
Convinced that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further expand and strengthen, it sincerely wished the King good health and happiness and the people of Thailand well-being and prosperity.
Kim Yong Nam meets Japanese delegation
Pyongyang, December 4 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today met and conversed with the visiting delegation of the People's Council for Promoting the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and the DPRK led by Tomiichi Murayama, ex-Prime Minister of Japan and chairman of the council at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Present there were Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned.
The head of the delegation said that the people's council was formed to improve relations between Japan and the DPRK and the Japanese government should take the independent stand in improving relations with the DPRK.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Japanese delegation
Pyongyang, December 4 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of the people's council for promoting the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the DPRK.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by head of delegation Tomiichi Murayama, ex-Prime Minister of Japan and chairman of the council.
Gratitude expressed for appeal for international assistance to DPRK
Pyongyang, December 4 (KCNA) -- Recently the United Nations released an aid package appeal for rendering humanitarian assistance to the DPRK and several other countries of the world next year.
The UN appealed to the world to render assistance worth approximately 390 million dollars to the DPRK including 810,000 tons of food, holding that help in agricultural rehabilitation and health care and other fields should be continued next year, too, with main emphasis on food aid, as food production drastically decreased in the DPRK this year as against last year due to drought and typhoon damage.
In this regard a spokesman for the DPRK flood damage rehabilitation committee in a statement released today said that the UN appeal is a manifestation of concern and good faith of the international community to continue to render assistance to the DPRK, which is undergoing temporary difficulties including food shortage due to several consecutive years of natural disasters.
Support and aid by the international community including the UN encourage the Korean people in their efforts to clear away the consequences of natural disasters at an early date and ensure stable living.
The DPRK will continue to strengthen cooperation with UN organizations including the World Food Program, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization and non-governmental organizations and various donor nations who have taken part in the humanitarian assistance to the Korean people.
Modern potato starch factory built in Korea
Pyongyang, December 4 (KCNA) -- A modern potato starch factory was recently erected in Taehongdan county, Ryanggang Province on the northern tip of Korea.
This factory has potato feeding, washing, refining and starch drying and packing and other processes all of which are streamlined and remote controlled.
The factory has an annual production capacity of thousands of tons of starch.
Starch production takes about 30 minutes and its production rate is nearly 100 per cent.
Produced starch is good in terms of purity and whiteness.
This factory will be helpful to supplying a sufficient quantity of starch for noodle to public catering networks across the country.
More fish farms built in DPRK
Pyongyang, December 4 (KCNA) -- Many modern catfish factories and fish farms are under construction in the DPRK.
According to data available at the fish administration bureau under the Ministry of Fisheries, more than 200 catfish factories and fish farms were built or rebuilt on an expansion basis across the country as of November this year.
Their area covers thousands of hectares.
Recently the Songhwa catfish spawning pond was constructed in South Hwanghae Province and the Onchon fish farm was rebuilt on an expansion basis in South Phyongan Province.
The Songhwa catfish spawning pond mainly produces catfish fries, while breeding fish. It has excellent open-air ponds, a base of protein feed and others and is operated in all seasons.
In South Phyongan Province the area of the Onchon fish farm increased by scores of hectares after its reconstruction. As a result, its breeding ground no. 1 with 54 hectares was given face-lifting and there appeared more than 80 ponds, each having an area of 3,200 square meters at its breeding ground no. 2.
Fish farms, each with an area of 20-30 hectares were built in cities and counties of South Hwanghae Province including Haeju city and Ongjin and Anak counties and fish farms, each with an area of 20 odd hectares suitable to the topographical features of the mountainous area were built in different parts of Jagang Province.
Besides, those in Pyongyang, north Hamgyong and Kangwon provinces and other provinces, cities and counties and at industrial establishments built or rebuilt on an expansion basis catfish factories and fish farms in places good to breed freshwater fish.
In the DPRK big efforts are also directed to putting pisciculture on a scientific and intensive basis.
Great national unity called for
Pyongyang, December 4 (KCNA) -- The great unity of the nation serves as a firm guarantee for achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and the respected leader Kim Jong Il, the great sun of the nation and the lodestar of national reunification, is the center of the unity, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The article goes on: The entire nation should unite as one under the banner of great national unity and it be consolidated. This is a sure guarantee for prevailing over the anti-reunification forces and reunifying the country independently and peacefully to meet the interests and the demand of the nation.
National reunification is not for a certain individual class or social circle but a nationwide cause to establish the sovereignty of the Korean nation throughout Korea.
All the Koreans who love the country and the nation should come out to the plaza of the great national unity for national reunification irrespective of ideology, political view, religious belief, class and social circle.
If the nation is to achieve the great unity, it should unite around its outstanding leader.
Kim Jong Il is so generous and broad-minded as to join hands even with those who committed crimes against the nation in the past, not caring about them, if they turn to reunification and patriotism, repentant of their past. This is an important factor of achieving the great unity and reunification of the nation.
Preparatory committee inaugurated in Sri Lanka
Pyongyang, December 4 (KCNA) -- A Sri Lankan preparatory committee was inaugurated to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and the 83rd birth anniversary of indomitable communist revolutionary fighter Kim Jong Suk.
The inaugural meeting was held in Colombo on Nov. 30.
At the meeting, Reggie Ranatunga, Sri Lankan Minister of Food and Market Development, was elected chairman of the committee.
The meeting decided to hold colorful celebrations.