Congratulations to Fidel Castro Ruz

    pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il together with Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, sent a congratulatory message to Fidel Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the C.C., the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, on August 8 on the occasion of his 75th birthday. The message extended warm congratulations and comradely greetings to Fidel Castro on his birthday.
    It highly estimated the great achievements the fraternal Cuban people under his wise leadership have made in the struggle to resolutely defend socialism from the U.S. imperialists' moves to isolate and stifle their country.
    Expressing the belief that the fraternal relations of friendship and cooperation between the two parties, governments and peoples would continue to strengthen and develop, the message wholeheartedly wished Fidel good health and happiness as well as greater success in his responsible work for the prosperity and development of the country and the victory of the cause of socialism.

Greetings to President of Chad

pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, on August 9 sent a message of greetings to Idris Deby, President and head of state of Chad, on the occasion of its independence day. In the message Kim sent warm congratulations to the president, government and people of Chad on its independence day.
He wished the president and people of Chad greater success in the work for political stability and peace of the country and expressed conviction that the friendly relations existing between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms.

Delegations of overseas Koreans arrive

    Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- A delegation of Korean residents in Japan led by Pak Jae Ro, vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and a delegation of the Federation of South Koreans in Japan for Democracy and Unification led by its chairman Kwak Tong Ui arrived here on August 11 to participate in the 2001 Grand Festival for National Reunification. They were met at the airport by Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the preparatory committee for the festival who is chairman of the council for national reconciliation, and officials concerned.
    Heads of the delegations made arrival statements.
    Also arriving Wonsan yesterday by the ship "Mangyongbong-92" were a delegation of the joint secretariat of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) led by its secretary general Rim Min Sik, a delegation of the Korean Women in Japan led by Kim So Ja, chairwoman of the central standing committee of the Union of Democratic Korean Women in Japan, a delegation of the Korean Youth and Students in Japan headed by Mun Tal Sung, vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the Korean Youth League in Japan, a delegation of the Association of Koreans in Japan for Peaceful Reunification headed by its chairman Ri Jong Hwal and a delegation of the headquarters of Koreans in Japan of Pomminryon led by its chairman Choe Il Su.

Overseas preparatory committee formed

pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) --Aa ceremony was held here yesterday to inaugurate an overseas preparatory committee for the 2001 Grand Festival of National Reunification. The overseas preparatory committee was inaugurated and co-chairmen, members, secretary general, and deputy secretaries general were elected at the ceremony.
Vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan Pak Jae Ro, head of the delegation of Korean residents in Japan, Kwak Tong Ui, head of the delegation of the Federation of South Koreans in Japan for Democracy and Unification, and Yang Un Sik, head of the delegation of the Federation of Koreans in the United States, were elected co-chairmen.

All Koreans urged to have high national self-respect

    Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- National self-respect serves as an important factor of achieving national unity, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It goes on:
    The Korean nation keenly realized through revolutionary wars against Japan and the United States that people with high national self-respect can build an independent and prosperous, new society free from all sorts of subjugation and domination. historical lesson and experience teach that a nation with no self-respect may go to ruin but a nation with high national self-respect can successfully accomplish its cause without fail.
    It is urgent for the Korean nation suffering pain due to national division to have high national self-esteem.
    The issue of national reunification on which the destiny of the nation hinges is, in essence, an issue of advocating and realizing independence of the nation.
    All the Koreans should firmly arm themselves with the spirit of national independence, categorically reject flunkeyism and the idea of depending on outsiders and resolutely foil their moves to interfere in and obstruct reunification.
    If the national self-esteem is to be raised, all the fellow countrymen should unite on the basis of patriotism.
    Whoever sincerely loves the country and the nation should turn out in a drive to realize reunification, the supreme task of the nation, and the great unity of the nation.
    Those with strength should devote their strength, those with knowledge should contribute their knowledge and those with money should donate their money and thus make a tangible contribution to the patriotic cause of reunification.

Anniversary of Korea's liberation

    pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- August 15, 1945 was the day when the historic cause of national liberation was achieved. Since liberation the Korean people have enjoyed an independent and creative life free from domination and subjugation of the Japanese imperialists.
    That is the fruition of the wise guidance of President Kim Il Sung who led the 20-odd-year long anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle to victory.
    The president embarked upon the road of revolution in his teens, bearing the destiny of the country and nation on his shoulders. In April Juche 21 (1932) he founded the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) and declared a war against Japan.
    He dealt a telling political and military blow to the brigandish Japanese imperialists by applying original guerrilla tactics without the backing of the state and the regular army.
    He instilled into the people the confidence in the victory of revolution and unshakable faith that when they fight against Japanese imperialism they are sure to win.
    He wisely led the work to mobilize the whole nation to a final decisive battle against the Japanese imperialists while fighting many battles and making marches.
    An all-people resistance was thus fully prepared to positively greet a great event of national liberation.
    On August 9, Juche 34 (1945) he ordered all units of the KPRA to launch a final offensive operation for national liberation.
    The operation for national liberation was participated in by units of the KPRA, people's armed groups, organizations of armed uprisers and broad sections of people across the country.
    The Japanese imperialists unconditionally surrendered in just a week after the start of the operation.

Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry slams Japan's dastardly attitude

Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Denis Sassou Nguesso, President and commander of the armed forces of the Republic of the Congo, on August 11 on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of its independence day. Expressing the belief that the good friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries would grow stronger, the message wished the president and people of the Congo greater success in their work for national unity and prosperity of the country.

Greetings to Congolese President

    Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry in an answer given today to a question put by KCNA assailed the Japanese authorities for blocking again the entry into Japan of the DPRK delegation recently. He said:
    As already reported, the Japanese government on august 3 refused to allow the entry into Japan of a delegation of the DPRK measure committee for demanding compensation to "comfort women for the army" and the victims of the Pacific War which was invited to participate in meetings to hear testimonies to the past crimes related to the Japanese imperialists' forcible drafting.
    This is the second action taken by the Japanese government to refuse to permit the entry of a delegation of the same committee into Japan since early June when it took the similar step.
    Japan is an assailant which brought indescribable misfortune and pain to the Korean people in the past, but it refused to give individual victims in the DPRK, a victim, chances to testify in the land of Japan. This is a dastardly attitude in view of international morality and ethics.
    Worse still, the Japanese authorities refused to allow the entry into Japan of the DPRK delegation only. This is an expression of the undisguised hostile policy of Japan towards the DPRK and it can never remain indifferent to this attitude.
    The unfriendly policy persistently pursued by the Japanese authorities towards the DPRK compels it to take a corresponding measure.

15th Pyongyang International Table-Tennis Invitational Tournament opens

    Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- The 15th Pyongyang International Table-Tennis Invitational Tournament opened with due ceremony at the table-tennis gymnasium in Chongchun Street today. Present at the ceremony were teams from Iran, India, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Canada, Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) and group a and b of the DPRK.
    Among those present there were Jong In Chol, vice-chairman of the Korean Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, Kim Yu Ho, chairman of the DPRK Table-Tennis Association, and Kim Won Sik, chairman of the organizing committee of the tournament, and other officials concerned.
    The ceremony was also attended by Yue Kwok Leung Tony, secretary general of the Asian Table Tennis Union who is an honorary guest at the tournament and other foreign guests.
    Men and women's team events took place after an opening speech was made by the chairman of the organizing committee of the tournament.

Government delegation of DRC arrives

Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- A government delegation of the Democratic Republic of Congo led by minister of public works, land adjustment, city management and housing Nkomdi Mbaki arrived here today. The delegation was greeted by Ri Kang Hui, vice-minister of city management, at the airport.