Enlarged plenary meeting of c.c., GFULAK held
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- The 14th enlarged plenary meeting of the 6th central committee of the General Federation of the Unions of Literature and the Arts of Korea took place here yesterday.
The meeting discussed the tasks before the general federation and its organizations to arouse the creators and artistes to a fresh upswing in their activities in response to the joint New Year editorial.
Jang Chol, chairman of the c.c., the general federation, made a report at the meeting, which was followed by speeches.
The meeting underscored the need for the creators and artistes to further glorify the immortal leadership feats performed by leader Kim Jong Il in the field of literature and the arts, produce more masterpieces reflecting the spirit of the present times and thus make positive contributions to successfully carrying out the tasks laid down in the joint New Year editorial.
Japan's scheme to legalize overseas military operations flayed
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- A mandarin of the Japanese Foreign Ministry said that Japan would examine its military participation in the future "UN peace-keeping operations".
Commenting on it, Rodong Sinmun today says:
This means that Japan intends to lift the restrictions imposed by its "law on cooperation in peace-keeping operations" which bars "Self-Defence Forces" from participating in any military actions of the "UN peace-keeping forces".
Such scheme is very dangerous as it will provide a legal guarantee for Japan's aggressive military actions overseas.
This goes to prove that Japan is ready to throw away all sorts of cloaks and launch overseas military expansion in real earnest.
For the present the Japanese reactionaries are seeking to remove the restrictions imposed upon the "SDF's" overseas military activities so that it may participate in armed conflicts and military intervention operation worldwide, unhindered.
For this purpose, the Japanese authorities have expressed their strong willingness to allow the "SDF" to take an active part in the "UN peace-keeping forces'" military operations, from the outset of the year.
Lifting of the restrictions imposed upon the "SDF's" overseas military actions is as dangerous as releasing a beast of prey from a cage.
Enlarged plenary meeting of c.c., KBF held
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- An enlarged plenary meeting of the central committee of the Korean Buddhists Federation was held here yesterday to support an appeal made at the 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation and vow to carry it out.
Present there were permanent members and members of the c.c., the KBF, office-bearers of its provincial, city and county committees, chief priests of temples across the country, monks and believers in Pyongyang.
Pak Thae Hwa, chairman of the c.c., the KBF, made a report at the meeting. Then followed speeches. the reporter and speakers said that the proposals made at the 2001 meeting that called for setting this year as a "year of opening the door of the independent reunification of the Korean nation" and splendidly decorating the first liberation day in the 21st century as a grand nationwide festival for reunification are very just proposals reflecting the desire of the fellow countrymen for reunification.
They called upon all the Buddhists in the north, the south and abroad to make a tangible contribution to implementing the north-south joint declaration with Buddha's love and concord irrespective of place of abode, faction and status.
A letter to the Buddhists in South Korea and abroad was adopted at the meeting.
Federal formula for Korean reunification supported abroad
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Indian and Peruvian figures issued statements in support of the appeal made at the 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation.
D. D. Shastri, chairman of the Coordinating Centre of Trade Union of India, in a statement on Jan. 12 said that the DPRK government, political parties, organizations and figures from all walks of life at the 2001 meeting called for achieving the peaceful reunification of the country by federal formula at an early date.
The centre fully supported the federal formula, hailing it as the most realistic and reasonable way of Korean reunification, he stressed.
Eleazar Ramos, secretary for propaganda and economic affairs of the Peruvian group for the study of Kimilsungism, in a statement on Jan. 11 noted that the thorough implementation of the north-south joint declaration is a master key to opening up a decisive phase of Korean reunification.
Meanwhile, mass media of China, Russia, Cuba, Indonesia, Singapore, Ethiopia and other countries reported about the meeting.
Appeal of 2001 meeting for independent reunification of Korean nation supported
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Jo Yong Hwan, chairman of the Zhongnan Regional Association of the General Association of Koreans in China, issued a statement on January 14 in support of the appeal to the 70 million fellow countrymen made at the 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation.
Saying that it is the only true way of patriotism to implement the June 15 north-south joint declaration, he declared that the association would work hard to carry out it.
He said that the association would intensify various activities to promote national reunification in the "June 15-August 15 period of the movement for the promotion of national reunification" set at the meeting in order to make a positive contribution to bringing about a great advance in the movement for reunification and brilliantly decorating the first liberation day in the 21st century as a grand nationwide festival for reunification.
Pak Jong Chol remembered
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- A memorial ceremony for Pak Jong Chol was held in front of the monument to him at Seoul National University in South Korea on January 14, according to Yonhap News (internet) Pak Jong Chol was tortured to death by fascist law enforcement agents in 1987.
Present at the ceremony were his father Pak Jong Gi, chairman of the national bereaved families' council for the nation and democracy, and its members and students of Seoul National University.
Pak Jong Gi in his memorial address called upon the participants to work hard to achieve democracy by carrying forward the will of Pak Jong Chol who remained true to his conscience and principle to the last moments of his life, braving the brutal suppression under the dictatorship.
At the end of the ceremony they held a service for the deceased.
Song of comradeship popular in DPRK
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Economic agitation by art propaganda teams is brisk in all parts of the DPRK to make a new advance this year.
Their programs mainly include famous songs of the era. This agitation conducted by them at production and construction sites inspires working people to the drive to glorify this year as a year of fresh leap and overall revival.
"Dear general, where are you?", the enduring song of comradeship, was very popular in the 20th century and will remain a favourite song in the 21st century. This song has instilled strong worship and reverence for the leader and intense loyalty into the people.
The song fully reflects absolute trust in the leader and firm confidence of victory in the revolution. It truthfully represents comradeship displayed by Korean revolutionaries with the faith that they should honour the pledge once made without vacillation or hesitation despite trials and difficulties.
It also deals with noble comradely trust, love and sense of obligation between the leader and soldiers who share their destiny on the road of the revolution.
The song was sung more loudly when the country was beset with stern tempest.
A woman soldier of the Korean People's Army sang the song reflecting her burning determination to reach the supreme headquarters come what may while covering thousands of miles to escort wounded soldiers through forests behind the enemy lines in the period of the Fatherland Liberation War.
Her singing encouraged the faltering soldiers to rise up.
It was this song that inspired the people in Jagang Province to launch before others a march to bring about prosperity even under the difficult conditions where they are hard pressed for everything. It also inspired young people to build the over 40 km-long youth hero motorway with empty hands and KPA servicemen to hold arms more tightly to devotedly protect the leader and take charge of both the defence of the country and socialist construction.
The Korean people are now advancing confidently to achieve higher aims, considering the song as an ideological and mental pabulum in the revolutionary struggle.
The song "dear general, where are you?" is resounding through the country as a song of confidence.
Preparatory committees formed
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Preparatory committees were formed in Pakistan and Egypt on January 8 and 9 to mark the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
N.D. Khan, former Pakistani Minister of Judicial and Parliamentary Affairs, and Ahmad Abdul Tawab, chairman of the Arab Art, Culture and Information Association of Egypt, were elected chairmen of the committees.
The committees set the celebration period and decided to hold multifarious events such as a meeting, symposium and photo exhibition.
Cooperation with fellow countrymen called for
Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- The Korean nation should regard the principle of national independence as the basic one of settling the issue of national reunification and stick to the stand of cooperating with the fellow countrymen, not with outside forces, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The June 15 north-south joint declaration, a proclamation of independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity anchored on the three principles of national reunification and a landmark of national reunification, serves as a banner common to the nation all the fellow countrymen should hold aloft in order to reunify the country, the article says, and goes on:
The declaration calls for settling the issue of Korean reunification independently by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation, the driving force of the reunification movement. There is no doubt that the declaration will lead to national reunification when it is implemented to the letter.
The attitude toward the declaration at present means an approach toward the issue of national reunification and a criterion which distinguishes between patriotism and treachery. Whoever wants the reunification should support the declaration. He should neither hesitate nor avoid nor obstruct its implementation.
It is important for the authorities and politicians to fulfil their responsibility and role in implementing the declaration to the letter.
They should display the transparent spirit of national independence before anyone else, rely on the strength of the nation, away from dependence on foreign forces, and cooperate with fellow countrymen, not with outside forces.
They should never seek military cooperation with outside forces to hurt fellow countrymen under the pretext of "security".
The whole Korean nation is the driving force in the settlement of the issue of national reunification and the people from all walks of life in the north and the south are responsible for the movement for national reunification.
There should be no distinction between the north and the south and between authorities and civilians and between the ruling and opposition parties as far as the implementation of the declaration is concerned.
All the 70 million fellow countrymen should implement the historic declaration in a responsible manner.