Kim Jong Il receives Chinese goodwill delegation
Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il yesterday received the Chinese goodwill delegation led by Jiang Chunyun, member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of China and vice-chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress. The delegation is on a visit to the DPRK to participate in the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
Present there were Yon Hyong Muk, member of the NDC of the DPRK, Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and secretary of the c.c., the WPK, Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of foreign affairs, and Wang Guozhang, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.
Kim Jong Il warmly welcomed the delegation's visit to the DPRK and conversed with the guests in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
After sending his regards to Jiang Zemin, General Secretary of the c.c., the Communist Party of China, he sincerely wished the fraternal Chinese people greater success in their efforts to build new modern China under the leadership of the CPC, saying that the DPRK-China treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance concluded 40 years back has always demonstrated its great vitality and will serve as a strong impetus to further strengthening and developing the friendly relations between the two parties and countries in the future, too.
Jiang Chunyun conveyed Jiang Zemin's warm greetings to Kim Jong Il and expressed sincere thanks to him for personally receiving them and according cordial hospitality to them.
Kim Jong Il hosted a dinner in honor of the guests that day.
Present on invitation were members of the Chinese delegation headed by Jiang Chunyun, ambassador Wang Guozhang and other senior officials of the Chinese embassy here.
Also present were Yon Hyong Muk, member of the NDC of the DPRK, Kim Kuk Thae, Han Song Ryong, Choe Thae Bok and Kim Jung Rin, secretaries of the c.c., the WPK, Pak Yong Sok, chairman of the central control commission of the WPK, Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of foreign affairs, Pak Nam Gi, chairman of the state planning commission, Kim Su Hak, minister of public health and chairman of the c.c., the DPRK-China friendship association, and other officials concerned.
The dinner proceeded in an amicable atmosphere overflowing with friendship.
KCNA on Japan's missile development
Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Japan is going to conduct the first launch of "H-2A" on August 25, according to Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
One may contend that there is no need to be cautious about Japan's plan, asserting that it is an independent right of a sovereign country to conduct scientific research for the peaceful use of space. But its neighbouring countries are becoming increasingly vigilant against Japan's plan to launch a space rocket because it is not simply for scientific researches.
Japan is undergoing a rapid process of militarization and stepping up the moves to become a military power. Viewing its ambitious nuclear development plan in close linkage with this political and military tendency of Japan, one can come to a conclusion that the development of space rocket precisely means the development of nuclear delivery means.
It is a well-known fact that when the DPRK launched a satellite in 1998 Japan kicked up a noisy fuss about the DPRK's "missile launch" and staged such a fin-de-sie-cle rowdyism as "suspending the Japan-DPRK talks" before their resumption and stopping food aid.
Why much ado about nothing? Japan badly needed such a campaign as it was speeding up the development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads under the pretext of "space research."
As the Korean saying goes, the thief is afraid of his own shadow. Japan self-exposed its wild ambition through such disgraceful behaviour which invited the derision of the international community.
Japan is fully ready both materially and technologically to become a nuclear power any moment. What remains to be done by Japan is to have access to missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
This is the ulterior aim sought by Japan in the space rocket test launch despite its repeated failures.
Economic and commercial councillors' corps@visits Kumsusan Memorial Palace
Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- The economic and commercial councillors' corps here yesterday visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay homage to President Kim Il Sung on the occasion of the 7th anniversary of his demise.
The guests made a deep bow to the president who lies in state there.
Then they looked round the orders and medals he received from different countries, the mourners' hall and a train and a car he used for on-site guidance and foreign tour and in the last period of his life.
They made an entry in the visitor's book.
Foreign diplomats visit Jonsung Revolutionary Museum
Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- The secretary and staff members of the people's bureau of Libya here and the charges d'affaires a.i. of the Cuban, Egyptian and Ethiopian embassies here visited the Jonsung Revolutionary Museum on July 11 on the occasion of the month of international solidarity with the Korean people.
On display at the museum are historical materials and relics showing the feats President Kim Il Sung performed leading the last fatherland liberation war to a brilliant victory.
After the visit, Ahmed Amer al Muakkaf, secretary of the Libyan people's bureau, said it was thanks to the wise leadership of the president that the Korean people could win a great victory in the war.
And he expressed the firm belief that the Korean people will achieve great successes in their efforts for socialist construction and the independent reunification of the country under the wise guidance of leader Kim Jong Il.
Talks held between presidents of DPRK and Vietnam
Hanoi, July 12 (KCNA correspondent) -- Talks were held between Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Tran Duc Luong, President of Vietnam, here on July 11.
At the talks both sides informed each other of their countries' situation and exchanged views on the need to develop the friendly and cooperative ties of the two countries in keeping with the requirement of the new century and a series of issues of mutual concern, and confirmed the identity of views on the discussed issues.
The DPRK side briefed on the achievements the Korean people have made in the building of a powerful socialist nation, carrying out of the cause of national reunification and the external relations under the army-first revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il. And it stressed the need for the two countries to closely support and cooperate with each other for ensuring peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world.
It clarified invariable stance of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to further consolidate and develop in the new century the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries provided by their preceding leaders.
The Vietnamese side estimated the achievements the Korean people have made in the revolution and construction under the wise steermanship of leader Kim Jong Il, braving the trials and difficulties, and expressed firm solidarity with their just cause.
It also expressed heartfelt thanks to the WPK and the DPRK government for their full support and encouragement to the Vietnamese people in the struggle for national liberation, the reunification of the country and socialist construction.
And it stated it would inherit the excellent tradition of supporting and assisting with each other in the new century, too.
Present at the talks on the DPRK side were Ri Kwang Gun, minister of foreign trade, Kang Nung Su, minister of culture, Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of foreign affairs, and other suite members and, on the Vietnamese side were Nguyen Dy Nien, minister of foreign affairs, Nguyen Canh Dinh, director of the general office of the presidency, Hoang Van Nghien, chairman of the Hanoi city people's committee, and other officials concerned.
Kim Yong Nam's sojourn in Vietnam
Hanoi, July 12 (KCNA correspondent) -- Tran Duc Luong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, hosted a reception in honour of Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, who is paying an official goodwill visit to Vietnam at his presidency on July 11.
Tran Duc Luong in his speech said that the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two parties and countries were provided and developed by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung and they have been steadily consolidated and developed despite all sorts of trials in the way of the glorious revolutionary struggle of the two peoples.
He continued:
It is the hope of the Communist Party, the government and the people of Vietnam to further consolidate and develop with true sincerity the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two parties, governments and peoples in the interests of the two peoples, for peace, stability and cooperation in the asia-pacific region and other parts of the world in the 21st century.
He expressed the conviction that the Korean people would continue to achieve successes in the struggle for socialist construction and independent and peaceful reunification of the country despite all sorts of temporary difficulties and hardships under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Kim Yong Nam in his speech said that it is the firm will of the DPRK to invariably carry forward the valuable ties of friendship between the two countries which were provided by the preceding leaders for the sake of the socialist cause and in the interests of the two peoples.
The Korean people rejoice over the great successes made by the Vietnamese people in their struggle to invariably defend the banner of socialism chosen by President Ho Chi Minh, he said, and expressed his belief that they would realise the industrialization and modernization of the country and build prosperous socialist Vietnam under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
He expressed his conviction that his visit would mark a significant occasion in further strengthening and developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations existing between the two countries in the new century.
Present at the reception on invitation were the party and suite members of Kim Yong Nam and the Vietnamese foreign minister, the director of the general office of the Presidency of Vietnam and others.
Kim Yong Nam paid a courtesy call on Tran Duc Luong and met the President of the National Assembly of Vietnam who paid a courtesy call on him that day.
Kim Yong Nam visited the monument to heroic martyrs and the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi and the tomb of fallen fighters of the Korean People's Army in Bac Giang Province and laid wreaths there on July 12.
Chinese goodwill delegation leaves
Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- The Chinese goodwill delegation led by Jiang Chunyun, member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of China and vice-chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress, left here today for home after wrapping up its 5-day visit to the DPRK.
It participated in the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
It was seen off at the airport by minister of public health Kim Su Hak, chairman of the central committee of the Korea-China Friendship Association, Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of foreign affairs, and other officials concerned, ambassador Wang Guozhang and officials of the Chinese embassy here.
The delegation visited the international friendship exhibition on July 11.
Jiang said that the delegation's visit to the exhibition provided an opportunity to know well that President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il are the greatest men in the world.
The delegation also inspected the victorious fatherland liberation war museum yesterday.