DPRK's stand to work for national unity and cooperation reclarified

    Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The DPRK will always join hands and work together with all forces and individuals who support the north-south joint declaration and are willing to implement it, free from the old views of confrontation, declared Pak Song Chol, honorary vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, in a statement issued on January 11 in support of the proposal and appeal made at the 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation. The statement said:
    The meeting was a significant one as it clarified the firm stand and will of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to glorify this year as a historic year in which a decisive phase will be opened in the independent reunification of the nation.
    The meeting gave a strong impetus to the nationwide march to implement the June 15 north-south joint declaration and instilled hope and conviction of independent reunification into the Korean nation.
    A master key to bringing earlier the national reunification that started in the last century is to implement the north-south joint declaration to the letter.
    The authorities and politicians in the north and the south should have a clear-cut stand of national independence in the solution of the issue of national reunification and stick to the firm position to unite and cooperate with compatriots, not seeking dependence and cooperation with foreign forces.
    All the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and overseas should bring about a new turn in the movement for national reunification in "the period of the movement for the promotion of national reunification from June 15 to August 15" in response to the appeal made at the meeting and thus demonstrate the true feature of the United Nation and its will for reunification and glorify this year as a "year of opening up the door of the independent reunification of the Korean nation."

Respect for independence called for

    Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- It is the independent foreign policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to improve relations with all the countries that respect its sovereignty, notes Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It says:
    This stand will give a strong impetus to raising the DPRK's say and dignity in the international arena, establishing sound international relations and ensuring global peace, stability, prosperity and progress.
    When all the countries and people observe the principle of respect for sovereignty, they will be able to establish good neighbourly and friendly relations with each other irrespective of ideologies and political systems and achieve common prosperity and progress.
    Respect for sovereignty provides a ground and a principle for the sound development of inter-state relations.
    Any violation of sovereignty is a criminal act as it fosters hostility among countries, harasses peace and stability of the world and checks the development of civilization.
    It is the outdated way of thinking to bring others under one's domination and subjugation and draw water to one's mill taking advantage of inequitable international relations. any country that seeks to do so is bound to go to ruin, censured and rejected by the world.
    There is no reason to hesitate about improving relations with capitalist countries. Respect for sovereignty provides a sure guarantee for global independence, peace and progress.

New posters created

    Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The creating staff of the art studio of the Korean People's Army produced 120 posters at the outset of the year, inspiring the whole party and army and all the people to make a new advance under the red flag along the path of socialism in the new century. Among them are posters reflecting the spirit of devotedly defending the revolutionary headquarters.
    The newly created works include posters calling for victoriously advancing the Korean revolution under the uplifted Red Flag in the 21st century and dealing with the might of the single-hearted unity of the Korean people and the revolutionary comradeship fully displayed among them.
    There are also posters encouraging the servicemen and the people to turn out in the drive to build up powerful national economic potentials commensurate with the 21st century.

Detention of university professors denounced in S. Korea

Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The "National Teachers' Council for Democracy" in its statement on January 8, condemned the prosecution's detention of four professors at Kyongin women's vocational college on charge of "interference in the execution of its duty" last December as a threat to the right to education, according to Seoul-based "Radio No. 1." Noting that the professors affiliated to the emergency measure committee of the college voluntarily approached the prosecution for investigation into the case of the embezzlement of public money after accusing the college foundation of it last July, the organization dismissed their detention as a partial action.

Postcards carrying pictures of Kim Jong Il distributed in Seoul

Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Postcards carrying pictures of leader Kim Jong Il and New Year's cards wishing him longevity were mailed to dwelling houses in South Korea on the New Year, according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation. Carried in the postcards distributed to families in Seoul were photos of Kim Jong Il having a historic meeting with South Korean President Kim Dae Jung last June, receiving a South Korean media delegation and inspecting tourist resorts of Mt. Kumgang being developed by Hyundai Asan.
Written in the New Year's cards were letters "We sincerely wish General Kim Jong Il longevity on the New Year" against the background of the sunrise on Mt. Paektu.

Repeal of SL called for

Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- About 140 religionists and citizens held a "meeting of citizens and religionists for institution and abolition of legislation on three reforms" in Seoul on January 8 in demand of abolition of the "Security Law" and institution of a law on human rights committee and a law on prevention of corruption, according to the South Korean newspaper Hangyore (internet) dated January 9. That day the religionists made public a statement containing the demands.

Korean people's just cause supported

    Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The joint New Year editorial of Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi "Let's open our way through the new century in the spirit of the victorious 'arduous march' " is supported in different countries. Foreign political party representatives in Cuba including those of the Dominican Revolutionary Force's Party, the Communist Party of Argentina and the Communist Party of Chile said in a joint statement on Jan. 3 that last year was a significant year which witnessed a fresh epochal turn in the struggle to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.
    The statement said:
    We congratulate the workers' party and people of Korea on their achievements made last year and express support and solidarity with the Korean people's just struggle to carry through the tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial.
    The Latin American and Caribbean Regional Committee to Support the Reunification of Korea, the Communist Party of Peru (red motherland), the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru and the Peruvian National Association for the Study of Kimjongilism and other Peruvian political parties, organizations for the study of the Juche idea and organizations for friendship with the Korean people in a joint statement on Jan. 4 said that they would always support the Korean people's movement for the independent reunification to thoroughly implement the June 15 north-south joint declaration, a landmark of the reunification of Korea in the 21st century.
    The statement called upon the governments, political parties, organizations and individuals of all countries that advocate justice, progress and peace to turn out as one in the international solidarity movement for supporting the Korean people's struggle to build a powerful nation and reunify their country.
    The political bureau of the Socialist Unionist Party of Syria in a statement on Jan. 6 expressed hope that the north-south joint declaration adopted in June 2000 would be a landmark to reunify Korea under the guidance of leader Kim Jong Il.

Rodong Sinmun on important measure for reunification

    Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The government, political parties, organizations and individuals of the DPRK held the 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation in Pyongyang on January 10 and called upon the 70 million fellow countrymen to brilliantly decorate the first liberation day ever to be commemorated in the 21st century as a nationwide festival of reunification. In this regard, Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed article, which says that it is an important measure for opening up a decisive phase of independent reunification by promoting the implementation of the north-south joint declaration reflecting the whole nation's desire for reunification.
    The master key to making an epochal advance in accomplishing the cause of national reunification this year is to implement the north-south joint declaration to the letter, the article says, and goes on:
    The basic spirit of the declaration is national independence. It calls for solving the issue of Korea's reunification with the concerted efforts of the nation. This issue should be solved independently by the Korean nation itself.
    The entire Korean nation is the driving force of reunification.
    All the 70 million fellow countrymen including the authorities, civilians, ruling and opposition parties in the north and south should be responsible for the implementation of the historic north-south joint declaration.
    In order to bring about an epochal turn in accomplishing the cause of national reunification this year, it is necessary to recognize the commonness of the north-proposed low-level federation and the south-proposed confederation and work for reunification in this direction as specified in the declaration.
    the north and the south should move toward reunification by federal formula, solving Those issues agreeable one by one while leaving the existing ideologies and systems as they are. We have no other way than this.
    The north and the south should immediately settle the humanitarian issues including the exchange of visiting groups of separated families and relatives and promote cooperation and interchange in various fields.
    Whoever concerned about the future of the nation and aspires after the reunification of the country should not hesitate to implement the north-south joint declaration, nor overlook it nor do anything obstructive to it.

This year's slogans in DPRK

    Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Slogans "Let's open our way through the new century in the spirit of the victorious 'arduous march' " and "Glorify this year as a year of fresh onward march in the building of an economic power in the 21st century " were set forth by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for this year before starting its dynamic advance in the new century. These slogans reflect the fixed will of the Workers' Party of Korea to give fullest play to the advantages of Korean socialism in the same vim and vigour with which the Korean people defended and consolidated socialism for the past several years when they were hard pressed for everything.
    The WPK is determined to give fuller play to the advantages of Korean socialism in all fields of the revolution and construction, give a fresh impetus to the building of a powerful nation and thus make a breakthrough in bringing about prosperity in the new century.
    A powerful nation where the advantages of Korean socialism are displayed to the full means a socialist paradise where everything will prosper and people live with nothing to envy in the world.
    Though the country was in difficult conditions, the Korean people made signal achievements in the building of a powerful nation last year, too, by accelerating the great chollima march through indefatigable fortitude.
    There are still not a few economic difficulties.
    But this year's slogans advanced in the joint New Year editorial of the newspapers Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi will powerfully encourage the Korean people full of conviction and optimism in the onward march to pave a wide avenue for the building of a powerful nation.

Greetings to Romanian Prime Minister

Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, Premier of the DPRK cabinet, on Jan. 8 sent a message of greetings to Adrian Nastase upon his appointment as Prime Minister of the government of Romania. The message extended warm congratulations to him and wished him success in his responsible work for progress and prosperity of the country.

Greetings to Romanian Foreign Minister

Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Mircea Dan Geoana upon his appointment as Foreign Minister of Romania. The message extended warm congratulations to him and expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms.

North's will to carry out projects for inter-Korean cooperation clarified

    Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- There is no change in our will to earnestly carry out the projects for cooperation agreed upon between the north and the south this year, too, in the spirit of the June 15 north-south joint declaration. A spokesman for the committee for the promotion of north-south economic cooperation said this answering the question put by KCNA today as to the prospect of carrying out the projects, for economic cooperation agreed upon by the north and the south.
    The first meeting of the committee held here in late December last year discussed a wide range of issues of economic cooperation including cooperation in power industry, relinking of railways and road between the north and the south and offer of part of the fishing ground of the north in the east sea to the south side's fishermen and agreed to push ahead with those projects.
    Such agreement fully conforms with the basic spirit of the joint declaration on settling the issue of the country's reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation, the spokesman said.
    He recalled that the recent 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation stressed the need to energetically push ahead with north-south economic cooperation for the balanced development of the national economy and co-prosperity this year phase by phase in a forward-looking manner.
    We, he added, will step up preparations to carry out at an early date such projects as taking measures to prevent flood damage in the River Rimjin Basin, relinking railways and road and building an industrial zone in Kaesong, while positively promoting the already discussed cooperation in power industry as immediate tasks.