Young vanguard visit revolutionary battle sites in area of Mt. Paektu
Hyesan, January 4 (KCNA) -- The first group of the young vanguard from across the country for expedition to Mt. Paektu in the 21st century visited revolutionary battle and historic sites in the area of Mt. Paektu to renew their resolution to follow only leader Kim Jong Il, the great sun.
After making an oath to uphold Kim Jong Il's idea and leadership with loyalty in front of the his native home at the secret camp on Mt. Paektu, members of the group visited the Pegae Hill Bivouac, the Samjiyon Revolutionary Battle Site, the Chongbong Bivouac and the Rimyongsu Revolutionary Site and then the Pochonbo Revolutionary Battle Site.
While looking round various places, they realized the immortal feats of peerless great persons who devoted everything to the liberation of the country and the spirit of devotedly defending the leader and the indomitable revolutionary spirit displayed by anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners.
Through their visit, they hardened their pledge to glorify the immortal feats performed by President Kim Il Sung in the anti-Japanese war and to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche which started on Mt. Paektu, generation after generation.
Rodong Sinmun on idea of great national unity
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Signal successes made in the struggle for great national unity and the reunification of the country are a clear proof of the great vitality of the Juche-oriented idea of the great national unity and line of national reunification put forth by the Workers' Party of Korea, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
Leader Kim Jong Il has steadfastly carried forward the idea of great national unity set forth by President Kim Il Sung and his exploits he performed in the struggle to realize it, thus putting the struggle for great national unity on a new higher stage, the article says, and continues:
Kim Jong Il, regarding the strengthening of internal forces of the nation as a sure guarantee for national reunification, has widely led the struggle to unite the whole nation under the banner of national reunification.
He has taken warm care of all the compatriots and invited them to join the movement for national reunification. He said that he would join hands with whoever comes out for national reunification with national conscience irrespective of his ideology and religious belief, be he or she a capitalist or an army general or a person in high authority and that he would not care about the past of those who committed crimes against the nation, leniently treat and unite with them, if they return to its fold, repentant of their past wrongs.
The historic Pyongyang meeting and the publication of the north-south joint declaration were the brilliant fruition of Kim Jong Il's great idea of national reunification and noble idea of great national unity, the article concludes.
High vigilance against Japan called for
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Japan has emerged as the most dangerous aggression forces by pushing ahead with its militarization last year, observes Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The article says:
throughout last year the Japanese reactionaries were busy inventing pretexts for overseas aggression after rounding off their preparations for it, while evading under this or that pretext the liquidation of their biggest war crimes in the 20th century.
It is clearly evidenced by their moves to complete the fascistization of the country and to put it on wartime footing, institution of a wartime law to legalize Japan's overseas military actions and their frantic escalation of the drive to turn the "Self-Defence Forces" into modern armed forces capable of operating anywhere in the world.
Last February the Japanese diet began a formal discussion on the revision of the constitution so far called "peace constitution" in a bid to replace it by a war constitution.
The Japanese reactionaries urged the government to stipulate an article providing for the "exercise of right to collective self-defence" in the constitution, asserting that Japan will not be able to make satisfactory "international contribution" unless its "SDF"'s "exercise of right to collective self-defence" is allowed. They even asserted that the "SDF" should be renamed "national army."
They, in fact, fabricated a wartime law. A good example of this is a "law on inspection of ships" instituted in the Japanese diet last November. The law legally allows the Japanese "SDF" to restrict, control and inspect ships of other countries sailing along recognized international sea route and in open seas and use weapons in case of "emergency."
The Japanese reactionaries visited the United States one after another from early last year and had confabs with its top brasshats at which they called for "closer ties" between the two countries to counter North Korea.
They worked hard to strengthen their position as a military power and convert the "SDF" into first class armed forces.
They pushed forward their plan to introduce up-to-date "F-2" support fighters, air refuelling tankers, "Aegis" warships and build large warships of aircraft carrier type under the pretexts of "coping with emergencies in surrounding areas" and "increasing defence capabilities" of the "SDF."
They are now giving a finishing touch to their commanding system so as to carry out military actions for aggression worldwide.
The article calls for heightening vigilance against Japan and foiling the Japanese militarists' moves for overseas expansion.
Servicemen under Ministry of People's Armed Forces meet
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Servicemen under the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces held a meeting at the April 25 House of Culture on Thursday to carry through the tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial under the wise guidance of leader Kim Jong Il.
The meeting was attended by Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yong Chun, chief of the general staff of the KPA, and Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces.
At the meeting Jo Myong Rok made a report, which was followed by speeches of generals.
They stressed that the joint new year editorial is a bright design reflecting the far-sighted plan and intention of Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century, and a millitant banner that the Workers' Party of Korea, the army and the people should hold fast to this year.
All the officers and men of the people's army will be standard-bearers and a shock brigade in upholding the army-first politics of the WPK to make a powerful socialist advance under the red flag and become the most resolute worshippers of Kim Jong Il and best loyal subjects, they pointed out, and went on:
A strong army will firmly defend and hold higher the red flag of socialism. A great turn will be brought in increasing the combat power of the people's army in the New Year.
The people's army is the main force in building a powerful nation. The people's army will be a model in all aspects of ideology, culture, struggle and life to lead society.
Korean schoolchildren's art troupe from Japan entertained
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- A banquet was given in honour of the Korean schoolchildren's art troupe from Japan at the Mokran House yesterday under the care of leader Kim Jong Il.
Kwon Sun Hwi, vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), in his speech at the banquet said it is the greatest honour and happiness for the Korean children in Japan to enjoy the New Year's day of the hopeful new century in the socialist homeland led by Kim Jong Il.
Thanks to Kim Jong Il, the future of our homeland and Chongryon is bright and the 21st century will shine for all ages as the great Kim Jong Il century, he stressed, adding that the Korean schoolchildren in Japan would stoutly grow to be creditable pillars who will shoulder the patriotic cause of Chongryon, picturing Kim Jong Il in mind.
Given at the banquet was a joint art performance of schoolchildren in Pyongyang and members of the troupe.
Present there were choe thae bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, and other officials concerned.
The troupe headed by Song Kun Hak, department director of the central standing committee of Chongryon, joined in the schoolchildren's celebration of the New Year Juche 90 (2001) held in Pyongyang on Jan. 1.
Pyongyangites meet
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Pyongyangites met at the Kim Il Sung Square today to vow to carry through the militant tasks laid down in the joint editorial in the first year of the 21st century.
Attending the meeting together with more than 100,000 people from all walks of life were premier Hong Song Nam and other senior party and state officials.
Ryang Man Gil, chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, in his report said that the joint editorial of the newspapers Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi is a banner of victory which calls upon the whole party, the entire army and all the people to turn out in the general march of the New Year.
Juche 89 (2000) was a year of great turn marked with momentous events unprecedented in the history of the Korean nation, a historic year that triumphantly made the "arduous march" and concluded the 20th century with brilliant achievements, the reporter said, and continued:
The credit for the great victory won last year which splendidly concluded the 20th century goes to leader Kim Jong Il's preeminent political ability and energetic activities.
The New Year 2001 is a year of new advance and a great turn in which a broad avenue will be opened for the building of a powerful nation in the 21st century.
He called upon all the party members and other working people in the capital city to give fuller play to the advantages of socialism in all fields of the revolution and construction and put fresh spur to the building of a powerful nation, basing themselves on the achievements gained in the "arduous march".
He underscored the need for them to become indomitable fighters who implement the idea and line of Kim Jong Il under any circumstances, true to the party's great policy of unity. He added that they should not merely shout slogans but prove their loyalty in devotedly protecting the leader.
He called upon them to work hard to implement the army-first revolutionary line of kim jong il, regarding it as their lifeline, no matter how the situation may change.
In hearty response to the slogan "glorify this year as a year of fresh onward march in the building of an economic power in the 21st century " they should consolidate the existing economic infrastructure and display its potentials to the full, while conducting a forceful campaign for refashioning the national economy as a whole with up-to-date technology, he noted.
He also stressed the need to increase the potentials of powerful national economy to meet the requirements of the new era of the army-first revolution.
Then, the floor was taken by representatives of people from all walks of life including workers, farmers, youth and students.
The speakers said that they will carry through the militant tasks laid down in the joint editorial, holding aloft the red flag of Korean socialism under the tested leadership of kim jong il.
At the end of the meeting, its participants marched through main streets of the city, shouting slogans to vow to take the lead in the advance under the red flag of socialism.
Reception given by Vietnamese ambassador
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Do Thi Hoa, ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Korea, hosted a reception at the embassy yesterday on the occasion of the New Year Juche 90 (2001).
Present on invitation were Pak Kil Yon, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned. speeches were made at the reception.
Exhibition of successful calligraphy works
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The first national exhibition of successful calligraphy works is going on at the Pyongyang International House of Culture under the sponsorship of the central committee of the Korean Artists Union.
This is the first of its kind ever to be organized to attract social interest in calligraphy and popularize it.
The exhibition followed the 60-odd-day long national calligraphy prize contest participated in by calligraphers and calligraphy fans from across the country.
Displayed there are about 200 works appreciated as successful at the contest.
On display there are a photo of President Kim Il Sung writing letters with a writing-brush and calligraphy works done by him and leader Kim Jong Il.
Many calligraphy works such as "Bright Road", "My Native Village" and "Greeting Spring of National Reunification" are highly praised for their diversity in balance between letters, strokes, arrangement of letters and space between them.
Drawing particular interest of visitors are calligraphy works including "Bright Star Over Mt. Paektu", "Star", "All-Embracing" and "Treasured Sword." diverse style and methods of art including embroidery, handicraft, gem painting and pyrography are applied to the creation of these works to increase aesthetic and emotional effect.
It will last till January 10, Juche 90 (2001).
U.S. should be punished by history
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Massacres of civilians committed by the U.S. imperialists during the Korean War are vehemently condemned by the world public.
The chairman of the Paektusan Chech-Korean Friendship Association said that the outrages committed by the U.S. imperialists during the Korean War surpassed by far those committed by Hitler of Germany.
The brutality of the U.S. imperialists was clearly proved by the fact that they dropped over Pyongyang at least 400,000 bombs equivalent to the city population during the Korean War, he noted.
The Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea in a statement said that all the U.S. troops' mass killings in the north and South Korea were crimes against humanity grossly violating the international convention and wartime rules that prohibit targeting non-combatants as they were deliberate and premeditated ones committed according to orders from their superiors.
The Egypt-Korea Friendship Association in a statement held that the massacres of peaceable civilians by U.S. troops were an intolerable violation of the international law and the truth behind them should be thoroughly probed and those responsible for them should be punished by law as the Nazi war criminals of Germany were done.
The chairman of the Bulgarian Green Party said that the U.S. imperialist aggressors are diabolic beasts in human skin and rare killers and the past Korean War was that of massacres launched by them for the purpose of annihilating the Korean nation.
The chairman of the Madagascan branch of the African Human Rights Committee in a press statement said that the United States should admit its crimes before the Korean nation and humankind, face a trial, make compensation for the losses and take hands off the land of Korea stained with its crimes.
The leader of the new left movement of Peru in a press statement vehemently denounced the massacres by the U.S. troops as thrice-cursed moral crimes and vicious manslaughter.