1st day sitting of 4th round of inter-Korean ministerial talks held
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- The first day sitting of the 4th round of the north-south ministerial talks was held in Pyongyang on December 13 amidst growing expectation and concern of the people at home and abroad for the implementation of the north-south joint declaration.
Present there were the members of the north side's delegation headed by Jon Kum Jin, senior councilor of the cabinet of the DPRK, and its suite members and the members of the south side's delegation headed by Unification Minister Pak Jae Gyu and its suite members.
At the talks both sides reviewed the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration for half a year after its publication and exchanged views on the matters which would serve as a lesson in implementing it.
The talks will go on.
On the same day, the south side's delegation saw the demonstration of Taekwon-do instructors and players of the north side at the Taekwon-do Hall and enjoyed a performance at the Pyongyang Circus Theatre.
Greetings to Macedonian Foreign Minister
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Foreign Minister of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Srdjan Kerim upon his appointment as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Macedonia.
Extending warm congratulations to him, the message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further develop on good terms in the future.
It wished him great success in the performance of his new duty.
Joint soiree of north-south workers held
Kosong, December 13 (KCNA) -- A joint soiree of participants in the north-south workers' grand seminar for reunification was held on Mt. Kumgang today.
Present at the soiree were members of delegations of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, the Federation of South Korean Trade Unions and the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions who participated in the north-south workers' grand seminar for reunification.
At the soiree workers of the north and the south were pleased to share the will for reunification and patriotism and have a clear-cut goal of struggle at the first grand seminar for reunification and expressed their determination to demonstrate the wisdom and stamina of the working class, in the future, too and open up a new history of a reunified country.
They sang songs reflecting the faith and will of working class and other people of Korea to put an end to the tragic division and achieve the reunification of the country in the spirit of independence and great unity of the nation, demonstrating that they are united in thought and desire for reunification.
They intermingled with each other, singing songs, dancing and reciting poems, stirring up strong desire for reunification.
Earlier, members of the south side's delegations visited sea-Kumgang and lagoon Samil in Mt. Kumgang and appreciated a circus performance.
"International Kim Il Sung Prize" awarded to Guinean minister
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- "International Kim Il Sung Prize" was awarded to Dorank Diasseny Assifat, Minister of National Defence of the presidency of Guinea, who is also director general of the African Regional Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea.
The prize was instituted to meet the ardent desire of the world progressive figures and people to glorify forever the immortal exploits performed by the President Kim Il Sung for humankind.
It has been awarded since Juche 82 (1993) to prominent political and public figures and followers of the Juche idea of the world who have ardently espoused the immortal Juche idea founded by Kim Il Sung and worked hard to embody it and made outstanding contributions to achieving global independence and world peace.
Dorank Diasseny Assifat received a diploma, a gold medal and a souvenir at a ceremony held in Conakry on December 8.
Congratulatory speeches were made there by Lamine Sidime, Prime Minister of Guinea, Moussa Solano, Minister of Land Administration and Decentralization and Security, who is chairman of the Guinean National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea and first administrative secretary of the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea, and Vishwanath, general secretary of the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" Council and director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea.
Japan's call for "regional cooperation" dismissed as deceptive trick
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- Japan's much talk about "regional cooperation" and "dialogue for security" is nothing but hypocrisy, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
Recalling that some time ago its chief executive raised the issue of promoting the cooperation in East Asia, the article says:
This proposal was prompted by a political intention to secure Japan's influence and position on the international arena including Asia.
Japan has no face to talk about regional cooperation and dialogue for security in Asia. The primary task facing it at present is not to call for "regional cooperation" but to redress its past crimes.
In actuality, Asian countries are guarding against and keeping away from Japan because of its wrong stand and attitude towards the settlement of the past.
The Asian people see through Japan's dark intention.
The Japanese reactionaries should honestly settle its criminal past and show their will to earnestly work for peace and regional development, far from impertinently advocating "regional cooperation" and "dialogue for security" while showing their moneybag off.
Probe into death of S. Korean woman called for
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- The South Korean newspaper Hangyore (internet) reported that 17 civic and social organizations in the areas of Taegu and North Kyongsang Province including the Taegu Citizens' Association for Retaking the Land used by the U.S. Military Bases, the Taegu Women's Association and the Taegu Citizens Federation for Economic Justice issued a joint statement on December 11 demanding the clarification of the cause of a doubtful death of woman Pak Chun Hui, an employee of a unit of U.S. forces in South Korea, and the announcement of results of investigation into it.
Pak has served at the 20th support corps of the U.S. forces in South Korea since 1994.
The statement urged the U.S. forces' side to settle the case in a responsible manner and the South Korean authorities to take practical "governmental" measures in this regard.
The U.S. forces side claimed that she died by falling down from a taxi which was running on a motorway in Virginia state in the evening of the very day in early August this year she arrived there on a business trip at the invitation of the defense department.
A reinvestigation into her death is now under way as her bereaved families lodged a protest with the U.S.
Guinean President meets DPRK delegation
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- We absolutely support leader Kim Jong Il who is successfully carrying forward the cause of President Kim Il Sung.
Guinean President Lansana Conte said this when he met the DPRK government delegation on a visit to his country on December 8.
With high sense of obligation Kim Il Sung gave sincere help to Guinea, he said, and went on:
It is thanks to him that we have been able to defend independence until now.
Therefore, I and my people always remember and keep the sense of obligation towards him.
We will work hard to further develop the friendly relations between the two peoples in the future, too.
Kim Jong Il praised as sun of humankind
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- The world progressive people are praising the great Kim Jong Il as the most outstanding leader of the 20th century.
C. R. Aslam, chairman of the Pakistan Socialist Party, said that the Juche idea developed and enriched by Kim Jong Il holds a topping place in the history of human thought and it is a perfect socialist idea, a beacon illuminating the road ahead of humankind.
Razacarisoa Noelson, national secretary of the Party of the Congress for the Independence of Madagascar, noted that Kim Jong Il in his many works dealt a blow to the ideology and theory of renegades of socialism and imperialists, and brought the scientific accuracy and invincibility of socialism and conviction of socialist victory home to the world progressive people.
Francis Fanuel Lyimo, chairman of the Tanzanian National Coordinating Committee of the Juche Idea Study Groups, stressed that the world public is now acknowledging Kim Jong Il as the only leader who will guide the cause of global independence in the 21st century.
Claudio Campos, general secretary of the October 8 Revolutionary Movement of Brazil, emphasized that Kim Jong Il is a great man of excellent caliber who is guiding the Korean revolution to victory with his outstanding and seasoned leadership.
Nina Andreyeva, general secretary of the central committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Volsheviks, said that Kim Jong Il has convincingly led the heroic Korean people to the struggle to achieve a new victory in the socialist cause, giving full play to the people's intelligence and strength under the banner of the Juche idea.
Garib Newaz, President of the Bangladesh People's League, noted that Kim Jong Il, who defended the just cause of socialism in the hardest time when socialism was undergoing turns and twists, will be recorded in history as the savior of socialism.
Anders Karlsson, chairman of the central committee of the Communist Party of Marxist-Leninists (Revolutionaries) of Sweden, said that the achievements gained by the Korean people in accomplishing the cause of socialism in recent years under the leadership of Kim Jong Il astonished all the socialists and revolutionaries around the world.
Ivan Rodriguez, chairman of the central committee of the Dominican Worker's Party, praised Kim Jong Il as the great leader who has glorified the era of independence and the sun of humankind who will steer the political history of the 21st century.
Exploits of Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk praised
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- Symposiums were held in India, Peru and Guyana to mark the 9th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and the 83rd birth anniversary of great communist revolutionary fighter Kim Jong Suk.
B.C. Gupta, chairman of the Juche Idea Study Society of Delhi, India, in his speech at the symposium said that Kim Jong Il is the iron-willed commander who is possessed of clairvoyant wisdom, revolutionary sweep, competent leadership ability and distinguished military qualifications and traits.
Under his leadership the KPA is firmly prepared politically, ideologically and in military technique and has grown up to be an invincible strong army with powerful offensive and defensive means.
Clarence Elliot, chairman of the Group for the Study of Works of Comrade Kim Jong Il in Lainyavernus, Guyana, said in his speech that Kim Jong Suk defended the safety of Kim Il Sung, the lodestar of Korean liberation and the father of socialist Korea, which is striking in her revolutionary struggle. It is her greatest feat for the country and the nation that she firmly provided the continuity of the revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered by Kim Il Sung and brought a bright future of modern Korea, he added.
A message of greetings to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the symposium held in India.
Korean pro-boxer retains his world championship
Tokyo, December 12 (KNS-KCNA) -- Pro-boxer under the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan Hong Chang Su, world champion of the super flyweight of the world boxing council (WBC) and people's athlete of the DPRK, punched out a Japanese pro-boxer in 3-0 decision at the Maishima gymnasium of Osaka Prefecture, Japan, on December 12, retaining the championship.
Hong successively attacked the opponent from the very start, overwhelming him, and finally knocked down him with a left fist hook in the third round.
Grand gymnastic display and artistic performance praised
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- Many foreign friends lavished praises on the grand gymnastic display and artistic performance "Ever-victorious Worker's Party of Korea" staged in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the WPK.
Vishwanath, director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, said that he deemed it the highest honor to see the grand gymnastic display and artistic performance, the monumental masterpiece of the times.
Subash Kaji Shrestha, chairman of the Study Forum for Self-reliance of Nepal, noted that the moment he saw the performance he felt as if he had entered a paradise for people for the first time in his life.
Juha Kieski, chairman of the Finnish Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, said that he clearly realized how ardently the Korean people revered and missed the great leader Kim Il Sung through the performance, adding that the history of the WPK would shine forever as the history of Kim Il Sung, founder of the party.
Tavee Viriyatoon, general secretary of the Social Development Coordinating Center of Thailand, said that the performance truthfully represents the firm will and determination of the Korean people to safeguard socialism, under the guidance of the great Kim Jong Il.
Only victory and glory are always in store for the Korean people led by Kim Jong Il and the great party, he added.
Exhibition of Koryo medicines and medicinal herbs
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang exhibition of Koryo medicines and medicinal herbs was recently held, attended by 40 units in Pyongyang, including the district pharmaceutical plants, the medicinal herb management office and the medicinal herb-growing farms.
On display at the exhibition were 650 kinds of 130 Koryo medicines and 200 sorts of 450 plant, animal and mineral medicines.
The displays attracted the visitors' attention.
Aloe injection, crataegus pinnatifida injection, schizandra chinensis juice, injin paste and atractylodes Japonica paste received high appreciation.
The plant, animal and mineral medicines exhibited by the medicinal herb management office were also favorably commented.
Implementation of three-point charter of national reunification called for
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- The three-point charter of national reunification serves as a guideline of the cause of reunification, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
It goes on:
The three-point charter set forth by the President Kim Il Sung is a reunification program the keynote of which is the three principles of national reunification, the ten-point program of the great unity of the entire nation and the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo.
The charter clarifies key principles to be observed in the movement for national reunification based on the transparent spirit of national independence which regards the dignity and sovereignty of the nation as its life and soul, a political program to reunify the country on the basis of the great unity of the entire nation and a blueprint of a reunified state.
The charter provided three pillars which surely guarantee national reunification and a guideline to be held fast to in carrying out the reunification cause.
Explaining the reason why the charter serves as a guideline of reunification cause, the article notes that it is a grand reunification program of Korean style and a scientific reunification charter based on the great Juche idea.
The article continues:
This charter is based on the patriotic idea which places the interests of the nation and its will for reunification above anything else, irrespective of ideology, system, political view and religious belief in the north and the south. The charter is an important guideline to be abided by all of us desirous of reunification.
If the national reunification movement is to discharge its mission and responsibility to the full before the nation, it should keep a firm hold on the three-point charter of national reunification as its life line and action program and thoroughly implement it.