KCNA slams remark of U.S. defense secretary
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- U.S. defense secretary Rumsfeld at a recent press conference pulled up the DPRK again, asserting that North Korea is directly involved in terrorism and proliferating its missile technology.
This goes to prove that the U.S. anti-DPRK hostile policy remains unchanged and it is set to escalate it.
He, at the same time, disclosed the U.S. intention to push ahead with its moves to establish the "Missile Defence" system (MD), which may disturb the global peace and strategic stability, under the pretext of non-existent "threat" from the DPRK.
It is well known that the u.s. has so far gone ahead with the MD under this pretext.
It is preposterous for the U.S., styling itself a "superpower," to claim that it should establish the MD for fear of the DPRK's missile solely meant for self-defence.
The international community, therefore, is ridiculing the U.S. insisting on such pretext.
As the DPRK has already clarified, its missile program is of peaceful nature and it poses no threat to any country which does not intend to invade it.
Furthermore, the DPRK assured the international community that it would freeze its launch of ballistic missiles by 2003 and is now sincerely keeping this promise.
Nevertheless, the U.S. is again taking issue with the DPRK, asserting that the DPRK's "development of weapons of mass destruction and proliferation of its missile technology pose a real threat" to it. It is a blatant challenge to the DPRK and a despicable plot to divert the international resentment at its arbitrary and high-handed practices to the DPRK.
As far as terrorism is concerned, the DPRK had already clarified its principled stand that it is opposed to all forms of terrorism and any support to it. And no one can deny the fact that the DPRK is not involved in any terrorism.
The groundless charges brought by the U.S. against the DPRK over the issues of "terrorism" and "missile threat" go to clearly prove that its talk about an unconditional dialogue with the DPRK is nothing but hypocrisy and it is, in fact, not interested in the dialogue and improved relations.
The U.S. had better stop behaving rashly, not forgetful of the historical lesson that its escalated anti-DPRK hostile moves have never brought any good consequences.
Seminar on DPRK held in France
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- A seminar titled "the DPRK in the first year of the new century" was held in Paris on November 19.
Edmond Jouve, president of the council of the European Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, in his report said that the DPRK is a society based on the Juche idea fathered by President Kim Il Sung.
The Juche idea is now being developed and enriched by leader Kim Jong Il and its validity and vitality are fully demonstrated in the reality of the DPRK, he said.
With the embodiment of the Juche idea, the DPRK has become a powerful country independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defense and a people-centered socialist country where the popular policy is in force, he noted, and added:
Though the Korean people are undergoing difficulties caused by collapse of the socialist market and natural disasters, they are building a powerful and prosperous socialist country with conviction and optimism and making a new advance in the struggle for national reunification under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Then speakers called on all Europeans to express positive solidarity with the most realistic and reasonable proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo for Korea's reunification.
Return of U.S. bases in S. Korea demanded
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- The Inchon and Kyonggi Provincial Federation of University Student Councils in South Korea reportedly issued a statement on Nov. 17, condemning the U.S. troops for turning a blind eye to the recent victim to a high-voltage line for their exclusive use.
Referring to the fact that a resident got an electric shock by a high-voltage line of the U.S. troops at a construction site in mid-July, the statement said that the U.S. military side brushed aside the repeated demand of the then people in charge of the project for the removal of the high-voltage line before the beginning of the project.
The statement called for the U.S. military authorities' apology and compensation for the victim to the high-voltage line, abolition of the deceptive "joint land management plan," return of all the U.S. military bases across South Korea and immediate withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea.
U.S. troops assailed for destroying forest in S. Korea
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- The environment juridical centre for public interest under the environment movement association and the U.S. troops issue committee under the bar association for democratic society on Nov. 21 submitted an open questionnaire to the ministry of national defense, 'the ministry of environment and the forestry administration as regards the U.S. troops' destruction of a vast forest in Phaju, Kyonggi Province, according to the South Korean newspaper Daehan Maeil.
Condemning the U.S. troops for destroying the forest, the questionnaire urged the authorities and the U.S. troops to probe the case and take measures for its restoration and for prevention of recurrence.
Torchlight of Ranam flaring up all over country
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- The working people and agricultural workers in the DPRK have turned out as one to bring about a great improvement in production and construction in response to the torchlight of Ranam, a flame of Korea in the era of the army-based policy.
The officials and workers of the Ranam coal mining machine complex accepted the demand of the Workers' Party of Korea as a supreme order and carried out any target by themselves in the transparent spirit of devotedly defending the leader.
Leader Kim Jong Il highly praised them for their fighting spirit and manner of work and led the whole country to step up the revolutionary advance of the new century following the torchlight of ranam.
Meetings were held at the Musan Mining Complex, the Unryul Mine, the Ryongsong Machine Complex, the Komsan Farm in Sukchon county, South Phyongan Province, and many other units on Nov. 25.
At the meetings reporters and speakers said that the torchlight of Ranam represents the unshakable determination of Kim Jong Il to build a powerful country of Juche in this land at any cost and the unanimous desire of the people and army of Korea.
They called for bringing about a revolutionary turn in building an economic power, holding aloft the slogan "Let us follow the Ranam workers' spirit of devotedly defending the leader and devotedly implementing the leader's instructions"
New colleges established
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- The college of information science and technology and the college of engineering science and technology were established at Kim Chaek University of Technology, the highest seat of training scientists and technicians in the DPRK.
The colleges will exert efforts to increase the use of computers in teaching technological subjects as required by the era of the information industry.
Close academic links between the two colleges in the fields of information science and mechanical engineering will help train more intellectuals necessary to develop the nation's science and technology and modernize and pep up the national economy.
More colleges are expected to appear at the university in the future.
Improved inter-Korean ties called for
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- Only when the relations of mistrust and confrontation between the north and the south are replaced by those of trust and reconciliation is it possible to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country by the concerted efforts of the whole nation, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
It says:
The history of the national division that has lasted over half a century teaches a lesson that the confrontation and mistrust between the north and the south only resulted in such misfortune as continued division and a war.
Whoever truly wants national unity and reunification should meet the need of the era for national independence and reunification ushered in by the publication of the north-south joint declaration.
Those who depend on foreign forces and pursue "cooperation" with them, betraying the nation and ignoring its driving force are fated to be forsaken by the compatriots.
The north-south relations can be turned into those of trust and reconciliation and a phase of independent reunification can be opened only when everyone joins efforts with fellow countrymen from the stand of national independence, a patriotic stand, and comes out against outside forces.
It is a prerequisite for improving the inter-Korean ties to put an end to the political and military confrontation between the north and the south.
Such practices inciting misunderstanding and mistrust between the north and the south and obstructing national reconciliation and unity should not be allowed.
Accusing the ultra-rightist anti-reunification forces in South Korea of finding fault with the June 15 joint declaration and putting a brake on the process to improve the north-south relations, the article notes:
If this is allowed to go on, it is impossible to improve the ties between the north and south nor is it possible to achieve national unity and reunification.
Senior officials of DPRK meet Chinese delegation
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, and Paek Nam Sun, minister of foreign affairs, separately met and had talks with the delegation of the Chinese Foreign Ministry led by its vice-minister Li Zhaoxing today.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Lao delegation
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the national organization for the studies of politics and administration of Laos (NOSPA).
It was handed to Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, by its vice-president Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, who is leading the visiting delegation.
Greetings to chairman of Bulgarian Socialist Party
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on Nov. 21 sent a message of greetings to Georgi Parvanov, chairman of the supreme council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, on his victory in the presidential election.
In the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two countries would further expand in the idea of independence, peace and friendship, he wished him a greater success in his responsible work.