Japan's moves to revive militarism condemned
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK committee for investigation into the damage during the Japanese imperialists' occupation of Korea made public a statement today, condemning the Japanese authorities' reckless moves to revive militarism.
The statement said:
The recent visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine" in Japan is an intolerable insult to all the Korean people and the Asian people who were forced to undergo tremendous damage, disasters and misfortune by the Japanese imperialists and an open challenge to the world conscience and justice.
The committee vehemently denounces the Japanese chief executive's visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine" as one more crime against all the Korean people.
The visit to the "Yasukuni Shrine" and militarist fever running high in Japan are a product of a reckless policy to revive the militarist spirit which went bust in the last century and restore militarist Japan.
The Japanese authorities should draw lessons from the shameful crimes committed by their ancestors and their consequences. They should not be buoyed by militarist fever but see the reality before action.
If the Japanese government turns away its face from the present changed reality and resorts to militarist policy to follow in the wake of its ancestors, it will run head-on into stiff resistance by the Korean and Asian peoples and it is bound to meet a more shameful doom than in the past.
KCNA on Kim Jong Il's Russia visit
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- As widely reported, Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, recently paid an official visit to the Russian federation.
Kim Jong Il's Russia visit is a historic event of great significance as it marked a milestone for the DPRK-Russia friendship and the cause of independence in the new century.
This visit opened a new chapter in the history of the development of the traditional DPRK-Russia friendly relations and provided a banner for ensuring global peace and stability.
What is the most important aspect in the visit is that the DPRK-Russia Moscow declaration was adopted thanks to the political determination of the top leaders of the two countries.
The adoption of the declaration after President Putin's Pyongyang visit last year is, first of all, clear evidence of the validity and vitality of the independent foreign policy the Workers' Party of Korea has consistently pursued. it once again proved that the DPRK-Russia relations are growing stronger and developing in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding, friendship and cooperation.
Taking note of the fact that the 1972 ABM treaty serves as a cornerstone of strategic stability and a basis for the further reduction of strategic offensive weapons, the top leaders of the two countries expressed the resolution to make every possible contribution to strengthening the international stability and they affirmed that the DPRK's missile program is of peaceful nature and, accordingly, poses no threat to any country that respects its sovereignty.
This dealt a telling blow to the u.s. moves to establish the "Missile Defense" system (MD) aimed at unchallenged world domination and its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
The DPRK and Russia will strongly and decisively counter the U.S. moves for establishing MD to militarize space and spark nuclear arms race.
The two top leaders reached a consensus of views on the fact that to support the Korean people in their efforts to settle the issue of the country's reunification independently and peacefully by themselves according to the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration will contribute to solving the issue of Korea's reunification and stressed the fact that the pullout of the U.S. forces from South Korea is a pressing issue in ensuring peace and security in the Korean peninsula and in northeast Asia.
This reaffirmed the validity of the DPRK independent stand.
Peace and stability have not yet been settled on the Korean peninsula even after the demise of the Cold War entirely due to the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK and the U.S. troops' presence in South Korea which provides military backing to the policy.
There is no justification for the U.S. troops to stay in South Korea any longer as the north and the south agreed to solve the issue of national reunification independently by the efforts of the Korean nation in the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
The United States should no longer budge from its obligation as the party responsible for the solution of the Korean issue and make a bold option to withdraw its troops from South Korea.
Only then is it possible to ensure peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia.
The two leaders agreed on the detailed orientation and measures to boost bilateral cooperation in different fields such as politics, economy, military affairs, science and technology and culture and a number of relevant agreements were signed to implement them. This is an auspicious event for the two peoples.
The intimate relations between the two leaders are getting closer and the enthusiasm to boost the friendly ties is growing stronger than ever before among the broad public circles and peoples of the two countries. This gives a powerful impetus to the development of the bilateral friendly relations.
The traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two peoples which have steadily developed generation after generation, century after century will grow stronger and develop in the spirit of the agreement reached between the two leaders.
"Ulji Focus Lens" joint military exercise criticized
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) made public a statement on August 24, castigating the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean military authorities for launching "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military exercise on August 20 despite strong opposition and rejection at home and abroad, according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
The statement denounced the joint military exercise as a dangerous war rehearsal against the north to put into practice the operation plan for northward invasion "5027-98," an unpardonable move to harass peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and ignite a war against the north any moment, an intolerable perfidy to the June 15 joint declaration and a vicious challenge to the desire of all the fellow countrymen for peaceful reunification and to human conscience.
Worse still, the South Korean authorities are zealously joining the U.S. in its reckless war policy against the north in contravention of the June 15 joint declaration, the statement said, and went on:
All the facts clearly show that the peace and peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula cannot be achieved unless the U.S. domination and interference moves and its henchmen the South Korean bellicose group's war moves against the north are checked and frustrated.
The U.S. should clearly see the unanimous desire of the Korean people for reunification and their resolute anti-American spirit, stop its adventurous war moves against the north at once and pull its troops out of South Korea without delay as well as its military equipment.
The South Korean authorities should clarify their will to implement the June 15 joint declaration and stop joining the U.S. in its war rackets aimed to destroy fellow countrymen, going against the trend of the times and the desire of the people.
U.S.-South Korea military exercise slammed
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- The "Ulji Focus Lens" war exercise staged by the united states and the South Korean military authorities is an outrageous challenge to the DPRK as it is very provocative and aggressive in its nature, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary. The commentary goes on:
This sabre-rattling goes to prove that the united states is leaving no means untried to stifle the DPRK by force anytime while talking about "dialogue".
The hard-won peace and reconciliation process on the Korean peninsula was thrown into the danger of collapse after the emergence of the Bush administration.
A very dangerous situation is prevailing on the Korean peninsula where the state of armistice may collapse and a war may break out anytime due to the war hysteria of the bellicose elements of the bush administration and their stepped-up hard-line policy to stifle the DPRK.
If the United States truly stands for the peace and reconciliation process on the Korean peninsula it should stop all its military moves threatening the DPRK and increasing the danger of war.
The United States should withdraw its forces from South Korea, away from the conception of regarding the DPRK as its "principal enemy" and hostile policy towards it and strive to create a sound atmosphere of dialogue by withdrawing all the unilateral preconditions.
S. Korean Grand National Party's anti-north diatribe under fire
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland on August 27 issued a statement assailing some forces of South Korea for bringing charges against those who participated in the "2001 Grand Festival for National Reunification" held in Pyongyang as representatives of South Korea.
It says:
The successful grand Pyongyang festival which drew together personages of organizations from all walks of life in the north and the south of Korea and abroad, the first of its kind after the country's division, is commanding absolute support and warm welcome at home and abroad as a significant festival which made a great stride forward toward achieving the cause of independent reunification of the nation.
However, seriously disturbing developments are taking place in South Korea. The historic significance of the festival is grossly distorted and representatives who participated in the festival are charged with absurd "prominent acts". North-south confrontation is thus incited in contravention of the spirit of the June 15 north-south joint declaration.
It is quite natural that the representatives are commanding nation's unreserved praise and welcome as they conducted praiseworthy activities for reunification and patriotism during their stay in Pyongyang.
As for the opening and closing ceremonies held in front of the monument to the three charters for national reunification, the representatives of the south side attended it only as observers as they were organized by the north side. We have already made this clear.
Their participation in the ceremonies should never be called into question as personages of different political parties and those from all walks of life of the south side attended as observers the functions held on October 10 last year in celebration of the 55th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea.
If the visit should be called into question as claimed by the Grand National Party it would mean that mutual visits are unthinkable to say nothing of joint functions between the north and the south where differing ideologies and systems exist.
By recklessly working to distort the significance of the Pyongyang festival and incriminate representatives the party seeks to nullify the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and push the situation on the Korean peninsula back to that in the days of inter-Korean confrontation and attain their despicable political ambition to go "unchallenged" in internal political strife. This is its true intention.
It is as clear as noonday that allowing these things to go on would dampen the hard-won spirit of reconciliation and unity and bring the inter-Korean relations back to the state of confrontation.
Right-wing conservatives of the grand national party are well advised to ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by their reckless acts and behave with discretion facing up to the reality.
The South Korean authorities should lend an ear to the just voices of the South Koreans from all walks of life in their movement for reunification and patriotism and refrain from bringing charges against pro-reunification patriotic figures as what the anti-reunification elements are now doing diametrically runs counter to the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
Withdrawal of U.S. forces urged
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- The Korean nation's will for independent reunification was fully demonstrated once again through the DPRK-Russia Moscow declaration, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The article further says:
The declaration reconfirmed the justness of the Korean nation's struggle to reunify the country independently and peacefully by its concerted efforts in the spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. It also stressed that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea is very urgent for ensuring peace and security in the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia.
It is the Korean nation's will to reject outside forces and achieve the independent reunification of the country by its united efforts at any cost in the spirit of the joint declaration.
This will of the nation has been affirmed in the Moscow declaration, which reflects the unshakable will of the workers' party and people of Korea to valiantly remove any obstacles and reunify the country at an early date under the banner of national independence.
As a local executive of the U.S. imperialists' policy for division of Korea, its troops in South Korea are desperately obstructing Korea's reunification while inflicting untold misfortunes and pain upon the Korean nation.
As the inter-Korean relationship has turned into that of reconciliation after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration, the U.S. imperialists are intensifying the anti-DPRK smear campaign and its criminal hostile policy toward the DPRK to bring the north-south relationship back to confrontation and tense situation.
The withdrawal of the U.S. forces is the demand not only of the Korean nation but also of the world community. The U.S. forces should go out of South Korea at once for Korea's reunification and peace in Asia.
Abolition of "Security Law" urged
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- Fighting slogans were released by the Kwangju and South Jolla Provincial Federation of Peasants Associations, the Measure Committee of Detainees' Families of the Seoul Workers Council for Democracy, the Joint Council of Hanam Organizations for Democracy and other organizations, said the South Korean newspaper Hangyore.
The slogans called for abolishing the "security law" which goes against the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and blocks great national unity, removing the definition of "enemy-benefiting" organization from the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils, an independent umbrella organization of one million students, and the Kwangju and South Jolla Provincial Federation of UniversitySstudent Councils and legalizing them.
The slogans also called for discontinuing the suppression of the labour movement and ensuring people's vital rights.
Former unconverted long-term prisoners greeted in S. Korea
pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- Jang Pom Jin, member of the youth society for unification in South Korea, released an article entitled "Best wishes to unification soldiers of the sun" on the occasion of the first anniversary of the repatriation to the north of unconverted long-term prisoners, according to seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
He in the article said that their repatriation to the north was a new legend in the 2000s, a product of leader Kim Jong Il's love and trust, and a manifestation of his noblest and beautiful human love.
Pointing out that they were strong in faith as they emerged as victors in their struggle guided by the idea and will of Mt. Paektu, he went on:
The source of their indomitable spirit was President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, great men born of heaven over Mt. Paektu.
The South Korean people sincerely love and respect them because they express such ardent worship of the leader which anybody cannot nurture easily and pay tribute to their iron- faith and will which ordinary men can never have.
Kim Jong Il's love for them was the elixir of life which helped them rise from sick-beds and saved them from death.
The great feat Kim Jong Il performed by realizing the "great exodus of revolutionaries from darkness to brightness" at the historic time when the dawn of reunification was breaking, will shine long in the annals of the country.
Kim Jong Il is the benefactor of everlasting happiness for all unconverted long-term prisoners and all the fellow countrymen.
We congratulate them who came into his care to enjoy an eternal life.
DPRK girl snatches gold medal at Universiad
Beijing, August 27 (KCNA) -- DPRK gymnast Son Un Hui placed first in an individual apparatus competition and a vault final of women's gymnastics at the 21st world Universiad held in Beijing on August 26.
The Universiad drew more than 60 gymnasts from 41 countries and regions.
Meanwhile, An Kum Ae placed third in women's 52kg Judo competition, Pak Chol Su third in men's 73 kg judo competition, women table-tennis players third in the women's team event while Ri Ok Rim came third in the women's 10m platform diving and women's gymnasts third in the women's gymnastic team event.
FAO director general and his party here
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- Director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Jacques Diouf and his party arrived here today.
They were greeted at the airport by Choe Su Hon, vice- minister of foreign affairs, and David Morton, resident coordinator of the United Nations here.
The DPRK government hosted a reception for the director general and his party this evening.
Statement of DPRK CNR spokesman
Pyongyang, August 28 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Council for National Reconciliation today issued a statement as regards the implementation of the agreements reached between organizations of the north and the south of K
korea during the 200l Grand Festival for National Reunification held in Pyongyang.
The recent festival was a significant event that fully demonstrated at home and abroad the Korean nation's desire and will for reunification and a historic grand gathering that deepened mutual understanding and gave further momentum to the solidarity and unity between different organizations of the north and the south growing stronger after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration, the statement notes, and says:
However, some right-wing conservatives of the grand national party of South Korea are incriminating the activities conducted by representatives of the south side in the festival on unreasonable charges such as "pro-north" and "enemy-benefitting". Such move is prompted by their dirty intention to play down the success of the Pyongyang festival, dampen the growing desire for reunification and exploit the north-south confrontation for a victory in the political strife in contravention of the spirit of the joint declaration.
No matter how desperately a handful of conservatives may work, the June 15 joint declaration will be implemented and no one will block the dynamic advance of the fellow countrymen toward reunification.
We set store by what was agreed upon at meetings and contacts between different organizations during the grand festival and will make every sincere effort to implement it to the letter.
Proceeding from this stand, we deem it good to have at the moment working-level negotiations among relevant organizations as early as possible to put into practice all the points of the joint press statement agreed upon between the north and the south during the festival.
Availing ourselves of this opportunity, we hope that the issues proposed by different organizations and personages would be also discussed.
We express the expectation that this proposal will meet a positive response from all organizations and personages from all walks of life in South Korea.