Rodong Sinmun on 20th century
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) --Rodong Sinmun today in an article reviewing the 20th century says that the century proved the truth that the world cannot be peaceful as long as there is imperialism and peace can be achieved only through a resolute struggle against imperialism.
In the 20th century the imperialists ignited two world wars for world domination and many other wars, bringing untold calamities to humankind, the article says, and goes on:
The United States, which emerged as the boss of world imperialism at the end of the second world war, has persistently pursued the policy of confrontation accompanied with a fierce political offensive and a military threat in a bid to make the 20th century a "century for the U.S." due to the Cold War the world had to experience the confrontation of strength between the east and the west for a long time.
The collapse of the Soviet Union gave the U.S., whose end was near, a chance to raise its head again and a momentous opportunity of reviving its ambition to dominate the world.
Styling itself the world's "only superpower" after the end of the Cold War, the U.S. has resorted to strong-arm and arbitrary practices to establish a "new world order." The history of the 20th century showed that imperialism is neither mythological nor ever-lasting. Imperialism suffered irretrievable setbacks in its bid for world domination.
The U.S. imperialists will be the next to be punished by history for their most hideous crimes in human history.
Floral basket to Kim Jong Il from Yasser Arafat
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A floral basket was sent to the leader Kim Jong Il by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on the New Year Juche 90 (2001).
Shaher Mohammed Abdlah, Palestinian ambassador e. p. to the DPRK, handed it to Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Dec. 29.
Floral baskets laid before statue of Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Economic and commercial officials of different countries in Korea laid floral baskets before the statue of the great leader President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill and paid tribute to him on December 29 on the New Year Juche 90 (2001).
Written on the ribbons hanging from the floral baskets were letters reading "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung Will Live Forever."
Floral basket and congratulatory messages to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A floral basket and a congratulatory message were sent to the leader Kim Jong Il by the diplomatic corps here on the occasion of the New Year Juche 90 (2001).
Palestinian ambassador e. p. Shaher Mohammed Abdlah who is the doyen of the diplomatic corps handed them to Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun on December 29.
A congratulatory message was also presented to Kim Jong Il by the economic and commercial councillors' corps here on the occasion of the New Year.
North Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee hosts reception
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The North Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee yesterday hosted a reception on the occasion of the New Year Juche 90 (2001).
Invited to the reception were members of the Chinese consulate general in Chongjin.
Present there were Kim Song Gwon, vice-chairman of the North Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee, and other officials concerned.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Floral baskets sent to Cuban embassy
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Ministries and a national institution of the DPRK sent floral baskets to the Cuban embassy here on December 29 on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the victory in the Cuban revolution.
Floral baskets in the name of the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries were separately handed to Cuban ambassador Jose Manuel Inclan Embade.
Film show and reception
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of the People's Armed Forces hosted a film show yesterday on the occasion of the New Year Juche 90 (2001).
Invited there were military attaches of various embassies here.
Present there were Ryo Chun Sok, vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces, and generals and officers of the Korean People's Army.
The participants saw part 14 of aKkorean documentary film "Having the Great Brilliant Commander."
Then followed a reception.
Unionists of S. Korean communications continue strike
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Unionists of the South Korea communications company are on strike for several days in protest against the company side's mass layoff, a Seoul-based MBC reported.
The company side announced that it will dismiss at least 7,000 of over 10,000 workers hired on a contract by the end of December. In protest against this, the unionists went on a strike on Dec. 13.
On the 28th, more than 150 unionists occupied the ground and first floors of the company building and demanded negotiations with the management side, shouting slogans.
Meanwhile, the police authorities have deployed over 300 policemen around the building allegedly to cope with the strike .
Reception given by Cuban ambassador
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Cuban ambassador to the DPRK Jose Manuel Inclan Embade yesterday gave a reception at the embassy on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the victory in the Cuban revolution.
Present on invitation were Pak Song Chol, honorary vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yang Gon, department director of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Minister of Education Pyon Yong Rip who is chairman of the Korea-Cuba solidarity committee and other officials concerned.
Speeches were made there.
Friendship medals awarded to Russian figures
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Friendship medals of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were awarded to members of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK.
An awarding ceremony was held at the DPRK embassy in Moscow on December 21.
At the ceremony a decree of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on awarding the friendship medals was read out and medals were awarded to chairman of the association Vladimir Tolstikov and its members.
Police suppression denounced in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The South Korean labour organizations issued statements on Dec. 27, condemning the police authorities for forcibly dispersing the strike of the housing bank and national bank unionists, a Seoul-based "Radio No. 1" said.
The South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in a statement accused the police authorities of dispersing the peaceful strike of the bank unionists with the mobilization of thousands of policemen. This is aimed to shift the responsibility for the failure of restructuring on to the workers, it said, declaring that it will go on a strike again.
The Federation of South Korean Trade Unions in a statement said that the present "government" is cracking down on the just strike of bank unionists with its power.
It called for withdrawing the forced merger of the two banks.
High vigilance against Japan called for
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today in a signed commentary calls for heightening vigilance against Japan as it has persisted in the moves dangerous enough to aggravate the situation in and around the Korean peninsula, ignoring the will of the international community.
This year Japan has exerted a baneful influence on the regional situation by staging frequent Japan-U.S. joint military drills under the simulated conditions of "emergencies in surrounding areas" and getting involved in the madcap moves to establish the "Theatre Missile Defence" system, the commentary observes, and goes on:
It is Japan's intention to stoop to any infamy if it is to serve the purpose of realizing its old dream of "Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere." No one can predict what dangerous acts the Japanese reactionaries will commit and what disasters they will bring to humankind.
If peace is to be preserved and a new war prevented in Asia, it is necessary to maintain a high degree of vigilance against Japan and check Japan's militarization and its moves for reinvasion.
Japan should discard its foolish view that its strengthened military alliance with the U.S. is the only way to achieve its ambition.
The Japanese reactionaries' daydream to achieve its ambition of overseas expansion with the U.S. backing will surely lead Japan to its final doom.
They should bear this in mind.
Rodong Sinmun calls for achieving reunification in new century
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article says that the Korean people once again solemnly declared that it is their fixed will to reunify the country, recalling that the historic Pyongyang meeting and inter-Korean summit were held and the north-south joint declaration was published here in June.
Noting that the path of the struggle for national reunification has by no means been smooth, the article says that the new century calls for waging a nation-wide struggle for national reunification.
The article continues:
The entire nation should hold ever higher the three-point charter of national reunification= the three principles of national reunification -- independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity -- the ten-point programme of great unity of the whole nation and the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo, and thoroughly implement them and always remain true to the north-south joint declaration.
The Korean nation should continue to vigorously struggle under the banner of national independence and national reunification to see the country reunified in the new century.
First meeting of north-south committee for promotion of economic cooperation held
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The first meeting of the north-south committee for the promotion of economic cooperation was held here from dec. 27 to 30, Juche 89 (2000) according to the agreement reached at the fourth round of the north-south ministerial talks.
At the meeting both sides shared the view that economic cooperation and exchange between the north and the south is of weighty significance in promoting co-prosperity and common interests and developing the national economy in a balanced way by pooling efforts of the Korean nation. They agreed to positively push ahead with economic cooperation between the north and the south.
Both sides discussed the matters related to the composition, operation, function and duties of the committee.
They also discussed cooperation in various fields such as cooperation in power industry, relinking of railways and roads, prevention of flood damage in the area along the Rimjin River, the building of the Kaesong industrial zone and agreed to take practical measures to form relevant sub-committees at an early date.
The delegation of the south side headed by Ri Jong Jae, vice-Minister of Finance and Economy, left here today after participating in the first meeting of the committee.