Message of sympathy to Pakistani President
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of sympathy to Pakistani President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar on Jan. 31 in connection with the damage caused by an earthquake in Pakistan.
The message said:
Upon hearing the sad news that the southeastern part of Pakistan was hit by an earthquake, I express profound consolation and sympathy with you and, through you, with the inhabitants in the afflicted area.
The message hoped that the Pakistani government would do away with the earthquake damage and the life of the sufferers return to normal at an early date.
DPRK books presented to Nepal
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- DPRK books were presented to Nepal with due ceremony on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
A presenting ceremony took place at the building of the C.C., the Nepal Communist Party (United Marxism-Leninism) on February 1.
President Kim Il Sung's reminiscences "With The Century", works of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and other DPRK books were donated to the library of the C.C., the Nepal Communist Party (UML).
Present there were presidium members of the C.C., the Nepal Communist Party (UML) and members of the party central committee and advisors.
On hand were the DPRK ambassador to Nepal and embassy officials.
Abrogation of "Security Law" urged in S. Korea
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- Many dissident and public organisations and citizens of South Korea are joining those who have been on a sit-in strike around the Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul for 15 days in demand of the abrogation of the "Security Law", the South Korean newspaper Hangyore Feb. 2 said.
At least 40 members of the family movement for realizing democracy and the Kuro Youth Society and long-term prisoners are joining the strikers in a signature campaign.
The signature campaign was participated in by more than 10,000 citizens and seen on their internet homepage everyday were articles encouraging them, the paper reported.
Appeal of 2001 meeting supported
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- An appeal made at the 2001 meeting for the independent reunification of the Korean nation was supported in different countries.
The Communist Party of Bulgaria in a statement supported the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, a landmark of Korea's reunification, and hailed the decision of the meeting on setting a period from June 15 to august 15 as a "period of the campaign for promoting national reunification".
At a meeting sponsored by the Madagascan National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, its chairman said that the present era is a great era when the cause of Korea's reunification will be achieved by leader Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century, and an era when a reunified Korean nation will prosper, demonstrating its dignity and might all over the world.
Meetings for supporting Korea's reunification were also held by the Madagascan Society for the Study of Kim Jong Il's Works, the Madagascan Society for the Study of the Juche-Based Idea on Literature and Art and the Society for the Study of the Juche Idea at the university of Madagascar.
Technical modernization makes headway in DPRK
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- Technical modernization is under way in the DPRK to build up national economic power commensurate with the new century.
In recent years the state built modern industrial establishments of lasting value even under very difficult economic conditions.
Among them are fish farms including the Myonggi Cattle Farm in Songam, the ostrich farm, Chicken Factory No. 112, the Hwangju Chicken Factory and other poultry bases catfish factories and other fish breeding centers and basic foodstuff producing bases built in all provinces, a syringe factory, medicine research institute and an instant noodle factory that appeared in Pyongyang and a potato starch factory in Taehongdan county.
They are model units commensurate with the new century as they look neat and tidy and all the equipment are computerized.
This is part of the work to modernize the economy as a whole.
Going in full gear in the field of iron industry is the work to put furnaces, sintering furnaces and coke ovens, etc. on the latest scientific and technological basis and replace the Juche-oriented iron manufacturing equipment including oxygen-blown blast furnaces with large-sized and modern ones.
In the field of steel-making it is planned to equip comprehensive steel industrial bases with ultramodern high capacity alternating current furnaces and new type roughing machines.
The Musan Mining Complex is pushing ahead with the work to realize computerization and remote-control in open mining and build modern ore-dressing plants in order to put the yearly production of millions of tons of concentrated iron ore on a normal footing.
In light industry a technical innovation drive is going on to readjust and modernize overall production processes in leading textile production centres including the Pyongyang Textile Combine and Sinuiju Textile Combine and clothing, shoes, foodstuff and daily neccessities production bases.
In silk mills including the Nyongbyon Silk Mill equipment are being updated and computerized. The Sinuiju cosmetics factory has been built on an expansion basis.
Mangyongdae, Sopho, Ryongsong, Sungho and Hadang chicken factories in Pyongyang are in the process of technical modernization and expansion to meet the needs of the new century.
Choesung Pavilion
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- A number of old pavilions are still found on moran hill, a pleasure park in the middle of Pyongyang. One of them is Choesung Pavilion which stands on the highest peak of moran hill. It came to be called Choesung Pavilion in the sense that it is an excellent place commanding a panoramic view.
It was first built in Koguryo dynasty (277 bc-ad 668) and rebuilt in 1716 during Ri dynasty (1392-1910).
It is of cosy attic style, the front 7.36 m long and the flank 4.67 m wide, on the embankment erected by well-trimmed granite.
The perimeter of the embankment is piled up with granite.
Down below the pavilion it looks higher and more magnificent and up in the building it feels far stable and comfortable although at height.
The floor is covered with square granite plates to make it clean and elaborate.
Pillars painted with red colour and wooden framework coloured with traditional patterns add a special touch of beauty to the building.
The hip-saddle roof like a crane taking flight also adds the cheerful effect on the building.
Though it has suffered the action of time, it still testifies to the resoucerfulness and talents of the Korean people.
Rodong Sinmun on comradeship that will lead Korean revolution to victory
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a political essay titled "comradeship will lead us to victory."
The comradeship has become a great trait of the whole party and the army and all the people in the DPRK, the banner of single-hearted unity, the essay notes, and says:
The song of comradeship which was sung during the struggle for national liberation in the early period of the revolutionary cause of Juche has become a march encouraging the people in building a powerful country, a song of final victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche.
Comradeship represents an ever-victorious revolutionary philosophy of leader Kim Jong Il, an illustrious commander of Mt. Paektu.
Kim Jong Il reviewed the 20th century which saw the Korean revolutionaries register great victories and changes united close around Kim Il Sung with one faith and will as a history of comradeship and formulated the comradeship as a scientific programme for the Korean revolution.
Saying that our comradeship means comradeship of Kim Jong Il, the essay notes that his dedication to comrades is his greatest joy and happiness.
Recalling that "song of comradeship" is his most favourite song, the essay says. That he always sings the song as his all-time favourite during his inspection of the front and on-site guidance and in good or bad times.
The essay cites the historic victory in the "arduous march," a provision of a springboard from which to build a powerful nation and a vigorous advance of the army-first revolution as a great fruition of comradeship.
it further says:
The banner of comradeship reflects Kim Jong Il's unique view on the revolution to build a new world by virtue of love and trust.
Comradeship alone leads to the protection of our own dignity, justice and prosperity.
Nothing is fearful and impossible for us if we are under the steermanship of Kim Jong Il though the road ahead of us is thorny.
This is the requirement of the Korean revolution for glorifying the 21st century and a banner of life and struggle of the revolutionaries in our times.
Agreement on promoting economic cooperation between north and south exchanged
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- An agreement of the first meeting of the committee for promoting economic cooperation between the north and south of Korea held from Dec. 27 to 30 last year was finalized by way of exchanging documents.
It was agreed, to set up under the committee two sub-committees, one for cooperation in the power industry and the other for the prevention of flood damage in the area along the River Rimjin, and to have the first meeting of the first sub-committee on Feb. 7 and the first meeting of the second sub-committee on Feb. 21.
Greetings to President of Sri Lanka
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on February 3 sent a message of greetings to Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of Sri Lanka, on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of its independence.
The message extended warm congratulations to the president, the government and people of Sri Lanka on that occasion.
Convinced that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms in the future, the message wished the president success in her work for the stability and prosperity of the country.
Meanwhile, Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet, sent a message of greetings to his Sri Lankan counterpart Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.
Yang Hyong Sop meets delegation of secretariat of IIJI
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and conversed with the delegation of the secretariat of the International Institute of the Juche Idea led by secretary general Kenichi Ogami at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Kenichi Ogami said that the 21st century will shine as a century of victory thanks to the immortal Juche idea founded by President Kim Il Sung and the outstanding leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.