Kim Jong Il gives on-site guidance
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il on Dec. 7 gave on-site guidance to newly-built industrial establishments in Pyongyang.
Working people in Pyongyang and soldier-builders have built many modern industrial establishments greatly conducive to improving the standard of people's living.
He gave on-site guidance to the instant noodle factory, the sanitary material factory, the reservoir and the ostrich farm.
He learned about details of the construction and production, looking round the inside and outside of the instant noodle factory and the sanitary material factory newly built on the bank of the river taedong.
He set forth tasks to be fulfilled in the production and the management and operation of factories, noting with great joy that now it has become possible to supply people and soldiers with more delicious and nutritious instant noodle and high quality sanitary materials.
The next leg of his guidance was the modern large capacity reservoir.
He was greatly pleased to see one more edifice of eternal value erected by builders in the spirit of devoted service for the people, saying that it was built well in terms of design and quality.
Then he looked round a modern ostrich farm newly built in the suburbs of Pyongyang. It covers over 400,000 square metres.
After being briefed on it, he looked round production processes including a computer room, hatchery, breeding and fattening houses.
He highly appreciated feats soldier-builders have performed in building a valuable edifice in the worker's party era to be handed down to the generations to come, and repeatedly expressed satisfaction with them, noting that all the buildings were built at the highest level.
He set forth important tasks to be fulfilled for the management of the farm.
Touring several industrial establishments newly built in Pyongyang, he noted once again with a high appreciation that all the structures were modernly built to win the admiration of posterity.
He was accompanied by Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yong Chun, chief of its general staff, Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, Yon Hyong Muk, member of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, and Choe Thae Bok, Kim Kuk Thae and Kim Yong Sun, secretaries of the Central Committee of the WPK.
Pothong gate
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- The Pothong gate in Pothongmun-dong at the central district, Pyongyang, was built in the mid-6th century as the western gate of the middle castle of the walled city of Pyongyang, the capital of Koguryo (277 bc-ad 688), the first feudal state in Korea.
It served as the western gate of Sogyong (Pyongyang at present) in the period of Koryo (918-1392) and was called the Kwangdok gate and the Uyanggwan before it was called the Pothong gate. It is situated on the River Pothong, hence the name. In the period of the ri dynasty (1392-1910), great importance was attached to it in view of national defence and traffic as a gateway toward the north-western region.
It was rebuilt in 1406 and repaired in 1473, 1644, 1719 and 1777.
In the present-day Korea, the gate spiced with traditional flavor links Chollima and Changgwang streets with others in Pyongyang.
The scene of seeing off guests at the Pothong gate was one of the eight scenic beauties in Pyongyang in the past.
The gate is one of the oldest castle gate in Korea and consists of a stout embankment and a two-storey tower. The embankment is piled up with well-trimmed granite. At its center is an arch gate 4.55 metres high and 4.4 metres wide.
The great wooden door is covered with iron plate.
The two-storey tower has hipped roof whose facade is 14.8 metres long and whose side is 9.65 metres long. The middle room is planked and a pillar without joint on its both sides pierces up to the upper story which is faintly painted.
The gate is in a good state of preservation in accordance with the national policy of preserving culture. It stands as a historical building with magnificent and well-balanced appearance.
Three-point charter of Korea's reunification supported
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- Akbar Tanjung, chairman of the (ruling) Golkar Party of Indonesia, on November 23 signed the signature paper supporting the three-point charter of Korea's reunification on behalf of his party.
Congratulatory message to 16th congress of CPP
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) sent a congratulatory message to the 16th congress of the Communist Party of Portugal (CPP) yesterday.
The message noted that the Central Committee of the WPK warmly congratulates the CPP on its 16th congress and sends, through the congress, comradely greetings to all the members of the party.
Expressing belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties forged in the common struggle for the victory of the cause of socialism would grow stronger in the future, too, it wished the party great success in the work of the congress.
Written demand sent to Japanese police station
Tokyo, December 6 (KNS-KCNA) -- Officials of various organizations under the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) including its Chiba prefectural headquarters on December 4 visited Kasami police station where the Japanese investigation headquarters is located to deliver a letter demanding the arrest of the criminals who murdered young Korean Jang Yong Su and seriously wounded others when they were assaulted by Japanese gangsters, according to Joson Sinbo on Dec. 6 published in Japan.
The letter demanded the police immediately arrest the criminals, clarify and make public who was behind the assault, severely punish them, sternly deal with the violence by that group of hooligans and take measure to prevent the recurrence of such crimes.
Japan's true intention of raising status of defence agency to ministry flayed
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- Japan's three ruling coalition parties (Liberal-Democratic, Komei and Conservative) recently agreed to set up a "council to discuss the elevation of the status of the defence agency to ministry" at the end of the diet session to push ahead with this move in real earnest.
In this regard Rodong Sinmun today observes in a signed commentary:
Through this move the ruling parties seek to sound the domestic and foreign public opinion on it and railroad a bill on it through the diet on that basis.
The Japanese reactionaries say that "it is unnecessary to worry about Japan's conversion into a military power as there are such restrictive means as the peace constitution and defence policy," asserting that the proposed elevation of the status of the agency is aimed to "help the officers of the 'Self-Defence Forces' (SDF) buckle down to rendering services for the citizens and the world with pride and dignity." But this is just like crying wine, and selling vinegar.
Their true intention is to establish a new military mechanism whereby they can fully ensure their moves to turn Japan into a military power and launch overseas military aggression.
By raising the status of the agency to "ministry" the Japanese reactionaries seek to develop the SDF into regular armed forces and ensure that the "ministry" will adopt any decree providing for the conversion of Japan into a military power and preparations for overseas military aggression as they please.
If the Japanese reactionaries foolishly embark upon reinvasion, Japan will only stand further isolated and meet destruction.
Achievements in DPRK diplomacy
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- A new chapter has been opened in the history of DPRK diplomacy in Juche 89 (2000).
Signal progress has been made in the traditional friendly relations between the DPRK and China and the DPRK and Russia.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il's unofficial visit to China in May and the Korean and Chinese leaders' visit to the embassies in Pyongyang and Beijing marked important events in boosting the friendly relations between the DPRK and China and intensifying the joint struggle of the two peoples to defend and develop the cause of socialism.
Visits and contacts that took place in different fields of the two countries greatly contributed to boosting the friendship and solidarity between the two peoples.
The Russian President's visit to the DPRK last July marked a new occasion in developing the DPRK-Russia relations.
At the end of their meeting and talks the leaders of the two countries published a joint declaration on developing the bilateral relations and multi-faceted cooperation.
The exchange of delegations between the two countries resulted in signing in Pyongyang and Moscow protocols and agreements on strengthening cooperation in various fields.
These developments show a bright prospect of developing the relations between the two governments.
The DPRK's external activities were more brisk this year.
The Namibian President visited the DPRK at the end of November. High-level delegations from Italy, the Philippines, Laos, Benin and many other countries and the European Union visited the DPRK to strengthen mutual confidence and cooperation.
Recently, there were some moves to improve the DPRK-U.S. relations, including their high-level talks.
Many countries which were hostile to the DPRK in the past have expressed sympathy with its government's foreign policy whose basic idea is independence, peace and friendship.
The DPRK established diplomatic relations with Italy and the Philippines and resumed diplomatic ties with Australia this year.
The DPRK Foreign Minister clarified his country's official stand to establish diplomatic relations with Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Spain and Britain to their foreign ministers and almost all of them positively responded to it.
This progress made in the DPRK foreign relations this year testifies to the justness of the sacred cause of the Korean people advancing toward the new century.
Historical relics destroyed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- A statue of Sejong, the fourth king of Ri dynasty, standing at a primary school in Pusan was partially destroyed on November 30, according to MBC of South Korea.
Part of its head was broken down and the wrist of its right hand cut off.
A statue of ri sun sin, a famous patriotic admiral, was stained with mud.
In 1999 and 2000 at least 40 statues of Tangun were damaged and other historical treasures destroyed in South Korea.
Minju Joson on solidarity and cooperation
Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today in a signed article says that the noble cause of building a new peaceful and independent world can be achieved only by solidarity and cooperation among countries and nations.
Even after the end of the Cold War, the old imperialist forces still remain and are resorting to the divide-and-crush strategy in a bid to stamp out those countries and nations aspiring after sovereignty, independence and socialism.
At this juncture, only with united efforts can all countries and nations frustrate the imperialists' dominationist policy and build a peaceful and independent new world.
The article continues:
All countries and nations should counter the imperialists' splittist and alienation moves with strategy of unity and deal a heavy blow at them everywhere in the world.
If they strengthen solidarity and cooperation on the principle of independence, equality and reciprocity, it will be possible to successfully solve all problems arising in the international arena in keeping with the common cause of humankind for building a new world, peaceful and independent.
The government and people of the DPRK, proceeding from the idea of the foreign policy--independence, peace and friendship--, are strengthening solidarity and cooperation with peoples of all countries which are aspiring after independence and are friendly to the DPRK.
The DPRK will never allow dominationist moves of the imperialists and resolutely defend independence of the peoples of all countries, upholding the banner of independence against imperialism.