National winter sports contest of schoolchildren
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- The national winter sports contest of school youth and children was held in Anju city, South Phyongan Province, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League.
It marked a good occasion in keying up the interest of school youth and children in sports.
More than 500 schoolchildren participated in the contest including speed skating, Taekwon-do and group running.
They fully demonstrated the sports technique and talents they had cultivated through extra-mural sports activities.
Taekwon-do widespread
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- Taekwon-do has been made an everyday activity of the Korean people.
It draws a widespread interest among the public, particularly in factories, enterprises, cooperatives and schools. It is a major item at the sports contests on national fete days and other holidays.
Korean players have come into the limelight at international games. They stole the show at the 5th Pyongyang World Junior Taekwon-do Championships and the 11th World Taekwon-do Championships held in Argentina and other international tournaments last year.
They captured the team title at the first Asia Taekwon-do Championships held in Japan, receiving 15 gold, 5 silver and one bronze medals.
The DPRK government conferred the title of Labour Hero on Jang Kyong Ok, and titles of People's and Merited Athlete on dozens of Taekwon-do players.
Mass physical culture booms
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- In the DPRK, public organizations of all levels pay deep attention to putting sports on a mass and regular basis. The physical culture and sports department under the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea is the case in point. It embraces ministries, national organs and industrial establishments across the country and each of them has a full-time chief secretary in charge of physical culture and sports. It gives short courses to the personnel once or twice every year and arranges a demonstration to encourage them to follow a set example.
A demonstration was held at the Taedonggang Battery Factory.
It has become a daily routine for the factory workers to do morning run, rhythmic exercise and health-promoting Taekwon-do.
A part-time sports association led by the manager meets on third Thursday every month to review its activities and discuss the future plan.
The factory, equipped with necessary amenities and facilities for such sporting activities as football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis and Korean chess, boasts of several teams.
In parallel with brisk amateur sporting activites, annual production quotas of the factory have been successfully carried out.
Enlarged plenary meeting of KSDP CC
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- An enlarged plenary meeting of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party (KSDP) was held here on Thursday.
The meeting discussed the "task facing party organizations to make this year a year for the independent reunification of the Korean nation."
Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the KSDP Central Committee, made a report there, which was followed by speeches.
The reporter and speakers described the appeal made at the 2001 meeting of the DPRK government, political parties, organizations and individuals as a timely and important measure. The 2001 meeting called for setting this year as a "year for the independent reunification of the Korean nation" and bringing about a radical phase of national independent reunification through a nationwide movement.
The enlarged plenary meeting referred to the tasks to be carried out in decorating the "June 15-August 15 period of campaign for promoting national reunification" with brilliant achievements in the reunification movement.
The KSDP's willingness was also expressed to have heart-to-heart dialogues with any parties and politicians in South Korea and work for earlier reunification of the country together with them, if they respect the historic north-south joint declaration and turn out in its sincere implementation on the stand of national independence, great unity and patriotism.
Attending the meeting were members of the political commission, and members, of the KSDP Central Committee.
Also present as observers were KSDP deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly and chairmen of the provincial, city and county committees of the party.
KCNA on Saito's solicitation diplomacy
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- Japan's Defense Agency director general Saito toured France and met its high-level defense official to discuss the "security situation" surrounding the Korean peninsula, Kyodo News reported.
At the meeting Saito said that "though there was progress on the diplomatic front on the Korean peninsula, no big change was made in Pyongyang's missile development program."
And he requested French help in drawing the world's attention to this issue.
The Japanese reactionaries would take issue with others to attain their sinister intention. Saito's remarks show that such trite method still remains unchanged even in the new century.
It is well known to the world that in the past century Japan raised a hue and cry over the DPRK's "missile threat" only to be put to shame.
In fact, the main threat to peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region is posed by Japan's policy of turning itself into a military power for overseas expansion.
Japan has been stepping up arms buildup even after the end of the cold war. It is reinforcing its "Self-Defense Forces" with sophisticated military equipment while undisguisedly calling for the amended constitution so as to legalize their overseas operations.
The DPRK's "missile threat" is a main pretext invented by Japan in a bid to let down domestic and foreign vigilance against such dangerous militarist tendency. Under this pretext Japan is joining in the drive to establish the "theatre missile defense" system.
In this situation, defense agency officials are these days conducting solicitation diplomacy for "security."
Saito's current trip to France and his remarks are an evident expression of it. This only reveals once again the shamelessness of Japan which has seen in the new century without redressing its heinous crimes committed in the 20th century.
National seminar on Kim Jong Il's theory held
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- A national seminar on the theory of seed and the idea of giving importance to seed propounded by leader Kim Jong Il was held at the People's Palace of Culture yesterday.
Presented at the seminar were theses which proved the originality, truth and vitality of the theory and idea and clarified issues in putting them into practice.
It was stressed at the seminar that the theory and idea are the most revolutionary and greatest theory and idea of bringing about a significant leap and advance in all aspects.
This theory and idea of Kim Jong Il are based on the Juche idea and fully embody its methodological principle.
The seminar pointed out that greatest achievements made by the DPRK in literature and art in the 20th century were the result of the embodiment of his theory and idea.
The seminar recalled that Kim Jong Il made a new brilliant history of media of the Workers' Party of Korea by seeing to it that the theory of seed was held fast to in the media and a signal advance was made in the issue of newspapers, news service and the printing of publications in the historic period in which modelling the whole society on the Juche idea was high on agenda.
The seminar explained reasons why the theory and idea provided a sure guarantee for opening a decisive phase of developing the rural economy.
It was emphasized at the seminar that the Korean people's cause of building a powerful nation is sure to succeed under the leadership of Kim Jong Il as it is guided by his theory and idea.
Present at the seminar were Jong Ha Chol, department director of the WPK Central Committee, Kang Nung Su, Minister of Culture, Choe Chil Nam, editor-in-chief of Rodong Sinmun, Thae Hyong Chol, president of the Academy of Social Sciences, and others.
Rodong Sinmun calls for pooling nation's efforts to reunify country
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- For the Korean nation to pool its efforts to open the door of reunification is the core and basic spirit of the north-south joint declaration, stresses Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
For the Korean nation to pool its efforts to open the door of reunification means that the Korean nation should become the master of national reunification to settle the issue of reunification by itself without the help of outside forces.
in a word, national reunification should be achieved by the wisdom, strength and efforts of the Korean nation, the article says, and continues:
The cause of Korea's reunification is the cause of national independence.
The driving force of national reunification is the Korean nation and our fellow countrymen should live in a reunified country. The cause of national reunification for national sovereignty can be achieved only by the Korean nation in conformity with its interests and demand.
It is the Korean nation who ardently wants the reunification of the country, knows local reality better than any others and has the capability and wisdom to achieve national reunification.
The basic spirit of the north-south joint declaration calling upon the Korean nation to pool its efforts to open the door of reunification requires to maintain the principle of national independence in the movement for reunification.
It is national independence to reject outside forces and solve the issue of reunification by the concerted efforts of the nation.
It is contrary to the basic spirit of the joint declaration to beg for any help of outside forces or allow their intervention in internal affairs.
The whole nation should have the transparent consciousness of national independence in order to embody the principle of national independence.
The basic spirit of the joint declaration requires the harmony and unity of the whole nation for strengthening the driving force of national reunification.
In order to achieve the harmony and unity of the whole nation it is imperative to have a transparent patriotic stand and will to reunify the country.
The whole Korean nation in the north, south and overseas should dynamically conduct the movement for national reunification with the united might of the nation itself so as to speed up the dawn of national reunification in the basic spirit of the north-south joint declaration, a landmark of national reunification.
DPRK's joint New Year editorial hailed abroad
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- Seven political parties in Bangladesh including the Workers' Party released a joint statement on Jan. 19 hailing the joint New Year editorial of the party, army and youth league newspapers of the DPRK.
In the statement they hoped that this year would be a year of opening up a radical phase of the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea as noted in the joint editorial.
The statement expressed full support to the Korean people in their efforts to carry through the tasks laid down in the editorial.
It also expressed the belief that under the wise guidance of leader Kim Jong Il, the Korean people would achieve fresh successes in socialist construction and the efforts for national reunification this year.
The Russian Society for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK, too, published a statement on Jan. 18 fully supporting the joint editorial.
The signal achievements made last year by the Korean people under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea give joy to all the friends of Korea, the statement pointed out.
It wished the Korean people greater success as well as happiness and prosperity in the New Year.
Korean people's efforts for reunification supported
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- The International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea made public a statement on Jan. 18 in support of the appeal made at the 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation.
The appeal of the 2001 meeting held in Pyongyang on Jan. 10 mentioned in a reasonable manner the issues of key importance in reconciliation and reunification between the north and south of Korea, the statement noted, and said:
All the progressive forces of the world in the international movement for solidarity with the Korean people fully support the will and sincere efforts of the DPRK government and people for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country.
We will make a positive contribution to building up world public opinion so as to urge the South Korean authorities to implement to the letter the north-south joint declaration, which is a key to bringing about a radical turn in the cause of reunification.
The Ugandan federation of railway workers, in a statement on Jan. 16, described the appeal as a militant call for bringing earlier reunification of Korea by implementing the joint declaration to the letter.
The statement said that the appeal proposed to set the days from June 15 this year marking the first anniversary of the joint declaration to august 15 as a "June 15-August 15 period for campaign for promoting national reunification."
Hailing this proposal, the statement called upon the progressive people of the world to take various measures of solidarity in the period so as to build up world public opinion supporting the Korean people's cause of reunification.
NATO's "humanitarianism"-veiled "peace-keeping operation" flayed
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun yesterday carried a signed article disclosing the truth behind NATO's "peace-keeping operation" in Kosovo.
The article says:
The United States and NATO fought a war against Yugoslavia to seize the Balkans of strategic importance, not prompted by "humanitarianism" and the desire to "restore of democratic order" in Kosovo.
The U.S. indiscriminately used depleted uranium bullets during the Balkan war although it was aware that the radioactive substances contained in the bullets would contaminate areas and seriously damage human lives and health and ecological environment. This gives the lie to "humanitarianism" much advertised by the U.S. during the war.
The imperialists' "peace-keeping operation" can not be construed otherwise than a recourse to force as it violated the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other countries and harassed peace and stability in those countries.
Their "operation" only resulted in further complicating disputes and aggravating the situation.
NATO's "operation" in Kosovo only escalated ethnic discord, far from stabilizing the situation. As a result, ecological environment was seriously polluted and a large number of people are subjected to mental and physical sufferings and damage.
All these facts go to prove that the U.S. conducted "peace-keeping operation" in Kosovo to test its new-type weapons.
National Day of India observed
Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate articles to the day of the proclamation of the Republic of India.
Articles say that following the proclamation of the Republic India emerged as a full-fledged independent state and a member of the international community.
Rodong Sinmun notes that since the foundation of the republic the Indian people have consolidated national independence and advanced along the road of the independent development of the country and the building of a new society.
One of the founders of the non-aligned movement, India has pursued the non-aligned policy and made positive efforts to strengthen friendship and cooperation with other countries, rejecting imperialists' aggression and interference, the paper notes, and goes on:
The Korean people rejoice over the achievements made by the Indian people in the development of the country and the construction of a new independent society and extend solidarity to them in their just struggle.
The Korean people will make positive efforts to boost friendly and cooperative relations with the Indian people in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.
Minju Joson says that the Korean people wish the Indian people steady success in their efforts for the progress and prosperity of the country.