Japan's claim to Tok islet flailed

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- Discussions on and assertions for the dominium over Tok islet now being made in Japan do not deserve even a passing note, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary. It says:
    The Japanese reactionaries peddled a "diplomatic blue paper for the year 2000" in which they claimed Tok islet is "an inalienable part" of Japan's territory and had diet discussions on more than 150 issues related to dominium over Tok islet. The governor of Shimane Prefecture asserted at a recent session of the prefectural assembly that "Takeshima (Tok islet) is an inalienable part of Japan's territory in view of historical facts and international law." This touched off bitter wrath among the Korean people.
    The Japanese reactionaries are becoming increasingly assertive for the claim to Tok islet despite the fact that the Tok islet is marked as a territory belonging to Korea in Japan's historical materials and in the past the Japanese authorities admitted themselves that the islet belongs to Korea. Lurking behind their persistent claim is a black-hearted intention to put the islet under its control and stage a comeback to Korea at any cost.
    The Japanese reactionaries' moves to usurp the islet are part of their premeditated moves to check Korea from becoming a reunified powerful country, afraid of it. This can not but be interpreted as a fit of those obsessed by guilty conscience and a ridiculous folly of political dwarfs forsaken by history and the times.
    It is intolerable for Japan which occupied Korea and inflicted unspeakable misfortune and sufferings upon the Korean people in the past to give its eye-teeth for the inviolable territory of Korea instead of admitting those crimes and making an apology for them. Japan is well advised to behave with discretion and drop its claim to Tok islet.

Permanent under-secretary of FCO of United Kingdom and his party interviewed

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- Permanent under-secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom John Kerr and his party on a visit to the DPRK had a press conference at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel on Monday. Present there were media persons in Pyongyang and correspondents from different countries here.
    At the conference the permanent under-secretary said that while staying in Pyongyang he had in-depth dialogues with officials concerned over the development of the relations between the two countries, and hoped that the bilateral relations would develop in various fields including politics, economy and culture.
    He expressed his will to make positive efforts for the development of relations between the two countries.

Seminar on great army-first politics held

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- A joint seminar on the great army-first politics of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was held by Dominican political parties on March 1. Speakers at the seminar said it is entirely thanks to leader Kim Jong Il's army-first politics and army-first revolutionary leadership that the WPK has firmly defended and glorified socialism, frustrating all moves of the imperialists to isolate and stifle the DPRK.
    His army-first politics is a unique political method that all statesmen of the world should learn, they noted.
    They expressed the belief that the WPK would consolidate socialism centred on the popular masses as an invincible fortress and achieve shining successes in the efforts to build a powerful nation under his army-first revolutionary leadership.
    The seminar was attended by Dominican Political Party leaders and representatives including the chairman of the Central Committee of the Dominican Workers' Party.

Measures for preventing environmental pollution by U.S. military bases demanded

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- South Korean magazine Mal called for taking measures for preventing environment from being polluted by the U.S. military bases. The South Korean government is not in a position to make timely investigation into various environmental pollution committed by the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, the magazine said, and went on:
    According to the "status of forces agreement," "South Korea has no right to demand compensation for the environmental destruction committed by the U.S. troops and the latter is not under an obligation to restore environment around establishments used as military bases."
    Under this situation the government should purify the polluted land and pay huge restoration costs in case of using those bases which were used by the U.S. troops.
    But the government is transferring environmental damage and financial burdens to the people.

National science and technology festival under way

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- The 16th National Science and Technology Festival is now going on in the DPRK. The festival was opened in last December under the sponsorship of the Korean General Federation of Science and Technology. It is now under way at provincial (or municipal) level after its successful holding at the level of institutions, industrial establishments, cities and counties.
    Those scientific research successes and technological innovations appreciated at the above-said festivals will be on display at the central science and technology festival slated for April.
    Over 300 items were showcased at the festival in Pyongyang scores of which were highly appreciated.
    This festival has been an annual event since Juche 75 (1986). many exhibits were evaluated as instrumental in solving urgent scientific and technological problems in the socialist economic construction.
    The festival is open to anyone wishing to participate in it.
    Successful contributors will be awarded honorary titles and state commendations as well as festival citation, cup, medal and certificate.

Struggle for peace against war called for

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- In order to make the new century a century of peace, the world people should put up a more vigorous struggle for peace against imperialism, observes Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It says:
    The imperialists are more blatantly challenging the aspiration of the people for peace. This is evidenced by the U.S. imperialists' large-scale airstrike against Iraq and moves to establish the "National Missile Defense" system (NMD), etc.
    People can never be safe nor can achieve peace unless the imperialists' moves for aggression and war are checked and frustrated.
    What is important in the struggle of the people for peace is not to allow hegemonism and high-handed policy of the imperialists under any circumstances but put collective pressure upon them and shatter them.
    The world progressives should brand imperialists' hegemonism and high-handed policy as acts of infringing upon sovereignty and harassing world peace and put up strong opposition to them.
    For the guarantee of the world peace, it is necessary to decisively foil military interference and aggression committed by the imperialists under the signboard of the UN.
    For this the world people should heighten vigilance against the "establishment of a democratic order" and the "protection of human rights" touted by the imperialists.
    They should not overlook the imperialists' aggression against other countries, regarding it as aggression against their own countries. under no circumstances they should allow themselves to give assistance in the imperialists' military invasion or get involved in it.
    Holding that the U.S. moves for establishing the NMD are a main factor of disturbing global strategic stability and security at present, the article calls for scotching the imperialists' development of new type weapon systems.
    Peace should be won through struggle, the article notes, adding:
    The world progressives should make the 21st century a century of peace in name and reality through the intensified struggle for peace.

Beautiful Korean characteristics

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- Since olden times, the Korean nation has been resourceful, courageous and virtuous and has cared for justice and truth and valued moral obligation. Sharing joy and sorrow and living in cooperation and harmony with neighbours and friends is part of their traditional customs.
    A glimpse of this is given by the existence of Hyangdo, a community of villagers for amity and assistance that was traced to the Koryo dynasty (918-1392), about which a relevant ancient record runs in part: "Hyangdo is a beautiful entity. It was mostly a gathering of neighbours."
    Hyangdo gatherings were set on promoting harmony through discussions of communal affairs and dinner pastimes.
    It laid a special stress on financial assistance in case of happy and, particularly, unfortunate events. The members united to criticize any breach of promise or ethics and help the sinners out of it.
    This fine custom was motivated by desire for mutual help, harmony and unity and a concept of value that stressed morality at the expense of power and wealth.
    The Korean nation has lived in harmony for thousands of years until the mid-20th century when it was bisected by foreign forces. However, national harmony, or national commonness, runs steady and deep across the barrier.

Monggumpho, scenic spot on west coast

    Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- Monggumpho, (literally Mong means dream, Gum gold and Pho spit) one of the scenic spots on the west coast of Korea, makes a splendid and harmonious ensemble with white sand, green pine trees and full-blossomed sweet briars. Monggumpho, as the name goes, is said of a fine scenery which can be seen in a dream. It is also called a "ten-ri golden beach" whose name was derived from the sand of weathered quartzites at the foot of the Pultha range.
    There is 7 to 8-metre-high elephant rock floating above the sea. according to a legend, a mammoth elephant came here from the tropics to see the sights of Monggumpho and was turned into a rock, carried away by its scenic beauty. At high tide it looks like an elephant dipping its lengthy trunk into the sea water to drink water, and at low tide exposing its full body on the tidal flat. Viewed from the rock downward, one can see the full spectacle of waves beating upon the curious-looking rocks lying like a folding screen to form the cloud of mist, and presenting a view of wonderful cliffs and rocks, its beauty similar to rock mass in sea kumgang.
    There are also many rock reminding one of a "sentry" standing guard over Monggumpho and Imdangsu which is said to be associated with the Korean classical tale about Sim Chong, a filial daughter who threw herself into the sea after having been sold for 300 Sok of rice for the sake of her blind father.
    Natural wealth is found in abundance here. The sand is in wide use not only as a raw material for glass but casting along with that in Kumipho. It abounds in effective medicinal herbs including parsnip. Sea shores teem with pacific sand launce, sea cucumber, anchovy, oyster, lobster and kelp. The swimming beach surrounded by recreation parks is crowded with holiday-makers in the summer season.

KEDO delegation leaves

Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), which had participated in the high-level negotiations between the DPRK and KEDO for the implementation of the agreement on the provision of light water reactors, left here today by air.