Demolition of concrete wall demanded
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- In order to properly solve the issue of national reunification, the nation's cherished desire, the north and south of Korea should defuse political and military confrontation and tensions and remove all sorts of hurdles including the concrete wall lying in the way of reunification, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The existence of the concrete wall is in contravention of the basic spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration in which they vowed to independently reunify the country by the concerted efforts of the nation, the article says, and goes on:
As early as in the 1970s at the instigation of the U.S. imperialists the former South Korean military dictators built a concrete wall extending 240 kms from the east to the west in the area of the south side along the military demarcation line. This wall is symbolic of national division and confrontation.
This cancer-like existence blocks national reconciliation and cooperation.
The South Korean authorities' intention to keep the concrete wall defying the unanimous demand of the entire nation for its removal means opposing national reconciliation, unity and reunification and revealing a criminal attempt to seek a way out in their showdown, and war against the DPRK like former military dictators.
There are more than 200 countries in the world. But Korea is the only country where there is a concrete wall besecting the homogeneous nation.
An attitude towards this issue is a touchstone which distinguishes between a stand towards reunification and a stand towards division and between an attitude towards dialogue and an attitude towards confrontation.
Just talking about reconciliation, unity and cooperation between the north and the south of the country while trying to keep this wall is an empty talk and a mockery of the nation desirous of reunification.
It is an unevadable responsibility for the South Korean authorities to pull down the concrete wall.
If the South Korean authorities are truly willing to reunify the country independently through reconciliation and cooperation with the north in the spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, they should pull down the wall without delay.
Korean people's struggle supported abroad
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Korea should be independently reunified by the concerted efforts of the Korean people, who are responsible for national reunification, without any foreign forces' interference. We will extend positive support to the Korean people's struggle for national reunification and make active efforts to further develop the relations with the Workers' Party of Korea.
The national chairman of the Brazilian Communist Party, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Paraguay, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Peru (Red Motherland) and the national leader of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) said this when meeting with the DPRK ambassador to Peru who is the delegate of the WPK to the 10th Congress of the Brazilian Communist Party from Dec. 9 to 12.
They stressed that the army-centered policy pursued by leader Kim Jong Il is the most just political mode meeting the requirements of the current international situation and herein lies the secret of the successes made by the DPRK in firmly defending and glorifying socialism.
Reception at Russian consulate general
Chongjin, December 28 (KCNA) -- The consulate general of the Russian Federation in Chongjin today arranged a reception on the occasion of the New Year Juche 91 (2002).
Present on invitation were Hong Sok Hyong, chief secretary of the North Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and officials concerned.
Consul general of Russia Arkadi Lavrov and staff members of the consulate general were on hand.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Floral basket to Kim Jong Il from military attaches corps
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- The military attaches corps here presented a floral basket and congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il, supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, on the occasion of the New Year Juche 91 (2002).
The floral basket and congratulatory letter were handed to an official concerned by military attache of the Chinese embassy here Yan Jiangfeng, who is the doyen of the corps, on Dec. 28.
And congratulatory letters and gifts from the Cuban, Vietnamese and Iranian military attaches were conveyed to an official concerned.
Army-based policy of WPK studied and disseminated abroad
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Political and public figures and progressives of many countries are speaking highly of the validity and might of the army-based policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and making positive efforts to learn from it.
In the first year of the new century alone, seminars were held with the attendance of high-ranking officials of the Nepalese and Peruvian governments, leaders of political parties and prominent figures of all circles of the countries and more than 350 seminars, lectures and roundtable conversations on the army-centred policy in over 60 countries including Russia, India, Pakistan, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Italy, Tajikistan, Austria, Guyana and Colombia.
Joint seminars of left-wing political parties on the validity and vitality of the army-centered policy took place in Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Madagascar, Dominica and Guyana.
Seminars titled "Unique Political Mode of General Kim Jong Il", "Army-Centered Policy is All-Powerful Treasured Sword", "Powerful Nation and Army-Centered Line", etc. were held by at least 80 political parties including the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia, the Hungarian Workers' Party, the People's Democratic Party of Nigeria, the National Congress of Sudan, the National Movement of the Genuine Lumumbist Combatants of Democratic Congo, the United Party of Struggle of Madagascar, and the Socialist Party of Peru.
Figures of all circles of various countries were unanimous in highly praising the army-based policy as the invincible political mode, unique and most perfect in the world history, the strategic line of socialist construction and all- powerful sword which guarantees the victory of the socialist cause.
Reparation for damage caused by U.S. troops called for
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Choe Sung Hwan, chairman of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), issued a statement on Dec. 22 denouncing the U.S. troops for failing to make compensation to builder Jon Tong Rok who had been wounded by their high-tension line, according to a press report.
In the accident in July he was heavily wounded. his limbs were cut off and he was rendered hard of hearing.
The recent accident was little short of an act of murder which could be committeed only by the U.S. troops, the statement said, and went on: We cannot tolerate the South Korea-U.S. "status of forces agreement" which threatens the life and property of the people and causes crimes of the U.S. troops.
Hanchongryon, together with the joint measure committee for settling the issue of Jon Tong Rok, the victim of the U.S. troops' high-tension line, will inform all the people of the barbarity of the U.S. troops and wage a dynamic struggle till the U.S. troops have made an apology and reparation and left this land.
International Taekwon-do instructor
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- 43-year-old Pak Hyok Chol, an International Taekwon-do instructor, is the 7th grade player.
He contributed to the DPRK team's victory in the match over the Italian team which challenged the former in Juche 71 (1982). The latter came first at the European Taekwon-do championships.
He showed well the special movements at the worldwide exhibition matches, thus winning the admiration of Taekwon-do practitioners of different countries.
He trained many practitioners as instructor in Peru in 1986 and 1989, Vietnam in 1991 and 1992 and Austria in 1996 and 1999.
Pyongyang Koryo Hotel
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang Koryo Hotel is situated in Changgwang Street of Pyongyang.
The hotel is the 45-storied twin-tower buildings.
Its total floor space is more than 84,000 square meters and it is 140 meters high.
It has hundreds of rooms which can accommodate 1,000 people, several restaurants, banquet halls, conference halls, cinema houses, amusement halls and revolving restaurant.
It also has particular outdoor and indoor gardens and modern service facilities.
It was commissioned in August Juche 74 (1985).
Kim Jong Il sends wreath on death of Ryom Jae Man
Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il sent a wreath expressing deep condolences over the death of Ryom Jae Man, member of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The wreath was placed before his grave in the patriotic martyrs cemetery today.
Ryom died at the age of 72 on Dec. 27, Juche 90 (2001).
He worked at important posts of central and local party, administrative and economic institutions.