Japanese authorities' allegation dismissed
Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry in an answer given to a question put by KCNA assailed the Japanese authorities for groundlessly linking the DPRK with the recent sinking of an unidentified ship.
He said:
Some days ago, the Japanese authorities used force of arms to sink a ship in other country's territorial waters with the mobilization of many patrol boats and planes under the pretext of chasing an "unidentified ship."
No matter what details of the incident are, Japan's open military action committed beyond its territorial waters proves that Japan's moves for remilitarization and overseas expansion have reached a very perilous phase.
What should not be overlooked is that the Japanese authorities are groundlessly linking the DPRK with the incident in a bid to mislead public opinion. This is an unpardonable smear campaign against the dignified DPRK.
The DPRK is compelled to maintain the highest degree of vigilance against a series of plots hatched by the Japanese authorities to escalate their anti-DPRK campaign.
The DPRK will take relevant countermeasures depending on the future attitude of Japan toward the incident.
Amnesty to be granted in DPRK
Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- The presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) promulgated a decree dated Dec. 13 on declaring an amnesty on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The decree says:
"The presidium of the SPA of the DPRK makes the following decision to fully implement the benevolent policy of the Workers' Party of Korea true to the intention of the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung in his lifetime and his cause to the run-up to his 90th birth anniversary, the greatest jubilee of the nation and the common holiday of humankind:
1. An amnesty shall be granted for those sentenced to reform through labor for committing crimes against the country and people on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung.
2. The amnesty shall take effect from January, Juche 91 (2002).
3. The cabinet and institutions concerned shall take practical steps to enable those set free to work and live in normal conditions."
Return of U.S. military base called for
Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- Members of the headquarters of the movement for demanding the return of the U.S. military base in Ryongsan and citizens held a meeting in front of the base on Dec. 22, at which they demanded a halt to the construction of apartment houses in the base now under way and the return of the base, according to Seoul-based MBC.
They said that promoting the construction of apartment houses in the base openly reveals the intention to abrogate the agreement on returning the base and permanently keep the U.S. troops there.
First anniversary of diplomatic relations between DPRK and UK marked
Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- A film show was held at the Chollima House of Culture yesterday on the occasion of the first anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Present there were Jon Yong Jin, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and chairman of the Korean Committee for Friendship with the British People, other officials concerned, working people in the city and James Edward Hoare, charge d' affaires ad interim of the UK embassy here, staff members of the embassy and British guests working in the DPRK.
The participants saw a British feature film.
Meanwhile, a British film was screened at the Pyongyang International Cinema House on Dec. 25 and 26.
Reception given by Cuban ambassador
Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- A reception was given by Cuban ambassador to the DPRK Esteban Lobaina Romero at the embassy yesterday on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the victory in the Cuban revolution.
Present on invitation were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Pyon Yong Rip, minister of education and chairman of the DPRK-Cuba Solidarity Committee, and other officials concerned.
Saying that the Cuban people were very thankful to the fraternal Korean party, government and people for having long expressed support, militant solidarity and friendship, the ambassador in a speech said that the two countries are comrades-in-arms who are standing in the same trench against the common enemy.
He expressed the belief that the Korean people, upholding the revolutionary idea of President Kim Il Sung, would achieve greater success in their efforts to reunify the country and build a powerful nation under the wise guidance of leader Kim Jong Il.
Choe Thae Bok in a speech said that the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government are extending positive support and firm solidarity to fraternal Cuban people in their just cause of firmly maintaining the revolutionary principle and defending the socialist achievements and wished them greater success in the future.
It is our invariable stand to steadily boost the friendly and cooperative ties with socialist Cuba, he said, expressing belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Cuba would grow stronger in the new century, too.
Sports tournament for Osandok Cup closes
Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- The sports tournament for Osandok Cup, which was opened on Dec. 20 on the occasion of the 84th birth anniversary of the anti-Japanese heroine Kim Jong Suk, closed.
Sportsmen and sportswomen of the Amnokgang Sports Group and the April 25 Sports Group showed excellent sports technique in the basketball and badminton matches.
A closing ceremony took place at the weightlifting gymnasium in Chongchun Street yesterday.
Day of Socialist Constitution observed
Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- It is only the Korean people in the world who enjoy a dignified life as independent people generation after generation thanks to the best socialist constitution and socialist system, say papers here today in editorials dedicated to the day of the constitution.
After the promulgation of the Socialist Constitution the Korean people came to have a powerful weapon for strengthening the people's power and accelerating Socialist Construction, and bring about great changes in the state and social life and political, economic, ideological and cultural aspects, Rodong Sinmun says, and goes on:
It is the great pride of the Korean people to have the Kim Il Sung constitution which provides a legal guarantee for further strengthening the DPRK' government, firmly defending the socialist system and accomplishing the socialist cause of Juche under any situation.
The people enjoy true democratic freedom and rights and lead a revolutionary life after joining the political organizations in the people-centered socialist society of Korean style. And every independent-minded man is growing strong possessed of creative ingenuity and high qualifications under the best socialist educational system.
The Korean people will never forget the immortal exploits President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il performed by establishing the best socialist system and glorified it but shine to them generation after generation.
Minju Joson notes that the Kim Il Sung constitution is the highest charter reflecting the revolutionary moral obligation as it firmly protects immortal exploits Kim Il Sung performed in the nation-building and a powerful weapon for accomplishing the socialist cause of Juche under the great army-centered leadership of Kim Jong Il.