U.S. hegemony opposed
Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- Rolf Hagel, chairman of the Communist Party of Sweden, said, when meeting with DPRK ambassador to his country Son Mu Sin on Jan. 11, that the U.S., displeased with the independent policy of the Workers' Party of Korea, is increasing the danger of war on the Korean peninsula.
The Communist Party of Sweden is opposed to the U.S. hegemony and always extends solidarity to the WPK and the Korean people in their struggle, he noted.
Friendly meeting hosted by Foreign Ministry
Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The Foreign Ministry of the DPRK arranged a friendly meeting yesterday evening on the occasion of the New Year Juche 91 (2002).
Invited to the meeting were diplomatic envoys of Poland, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden and Britain here and members of the aid organizations of European countries in the DPRK.
Present there were vice-minister of foreign affairs Choe Su Hon and other officials concerned.
The participants underscored the need to boost the friendly and cooperative relations.
Folk song "Arirang"
Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- Folk song "Arirang" is part of the precious Korean cultural heritage.
The folk song has been handed down with Korean history, becoming popular, full of national feelings and soul.
The folk song reflects the historic destiny of the nation century after century.
"Arirang" has been varied from old times.
Arirang is said to have one hundred stories because it has a hundred music, a hundred derivations of the word and a hundred legends.
Typical of them are 12 Arirangs including "Jindo Arirang," "Milyang Arirang" and "Yongchon Arirang."
Their themes and contents are diverse.
"Arirang," different in local areas, sings of the happiness, sadness and hope of the Korean nation.
"Arirang" is characterized by the true reflection of the feelings of contemporary society as a song of love, a farewell song, a song of friendship, a song of intention, etc.
It is easy to sing, popular and perfect in artistic refinement.
"Arirang" is often sung by the people at home and abroad, demonstrating its great artistic vitality.
A mass gymnastic and artistic performance on the theme of "Arirang" is being created in the DPRK as a masterpiece.
The mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang" will open in April.
KCNA on U.S. argument about possible "crisis" in Korea
Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The director of the Institute for Asian Studies of the U.S. Heritage Foundation pulled up the DPRK, asserting that there may be a "crisis" on the Korean peninsula anytime.
The foundation is a "think-tank" exercising an influence on the policy-making of the u.s. republican party. So, it is by no means fortuitous that the director negatively predicted any development of the DPRK-U.S. relations for this year and even caviled at the humanitarian assistance of the world community to pyongyang.
This evidently betrays the U.S. insidious intention to isolate the DPRK from the international community and stifle it and fully reveals its design to sacrifice anybody for meeting its own interests.
As already known, any "crisis" on the Korean peninsula was entirely due to the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK.
By peddling the story about the possible "crisis" on the Korean peninsula the U.S. seeks to invent a pretext for the implementation of its new world strategy based on "priority to Asia" and establish its unchallenged domination over the A1ia-Pacific region.
The Korean peninsula is the main target of the Bush administration's new military strategy in the new century.
The tense situation is prevailing on the Korean peninsula, a strategic stronghold in the Asia-Pacific region, owing to the U.S. interest in world domination.
The U.S. is now escalating its hardline policy to stifle the DPRK, shifting the blame for the worsened DPRK-U.S. ties and inter-Korean relations on to the DPRK and frequently clamouring about transparence and reciprocity.
It is foolish enough of the U.S. to dream up the fiction of the "crisis" on the Korean peninsula as part of its campaign to isolate the DPRK from the world community.
If those experts of the heritage foundation are far-sighted, they should know better who is their opponent, away from their wicked intention to build up a public opinion about the possible crisis on the Korean peninsula.
Koryo Museum
Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- 50 years have passed since Koryo Museum was established in January Juche 41 (1952).
Koryo is the first unified state in Korea.
The museum is situated in Kaesong, which was the capital city of Koryo.
It was founded in the period of war decisive of the destiny of the country and the nation in Korea.
Its total floor space was 400 square meters at that time.
At present the museum has several buildings with a floor space of 1,500 square meters and wide area surrounding them.
Displayed there are more than 1,000 pieces of historic relics.
In its main exhibition hall there are historic relics showing the foundation of Koryo and the history of its development including an old map of Kaesong.
Exhibited there are also metal types developed for the first in the world, Buddha from the Jokjo temple estimated as one of the excellent relics listed as a national treasure dating back to the Koryo dynasty and relics showing the development of metal workmanship, architecture, sculpture and painting.
The museum serves as not only a treasure house of Koryo culture but also a research centre.
The museum is conducting an academic study and the work of discovering and collecting historic relics in the vicinity of Kaesong.
New varieties of metal materials for medical treatment developed
Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- New varieties of metal materials were developed in the DPRK to promote health care.
They include metals for artificial articulation, bone fixing and symphysis.
They are made of chrome, nickel, iron, molibden, silicon, manganese and titan.
metal material for artificial articulation has 570-800 mpa in solidity and 28-44 per cent in elasticity.
The amount of its erosion is 0.03 mg /cm3 in each 0.5 per cent of hydrochloric acid-ringer and 1 per cent of salty water and 0.06 mg/cm3 in 20 per cent of caustic soda water.
This is enough to fully satisfy the medical requirement.
These materials can be used for making artificial dipole thighbone, knee and arm articulations.
The above-said materials are not harmful to human bodies.
People called upon to work in fighting spirit displayed in 1950s
Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today editorially calls for turning out in a general onward march to glorify this year as a year of a new surge in building a powerful nation in hearty response to the slogan of the Workers' Party of Korea "Let us live and work in fighting spirit displayed in 1950s"
The indomitable fighting spirit came into being in the 1950s when the country faced the most rigorous difficulties decisive of the destiny of the revolution, the editorial says, and goes on:
The army and people of the DPRK turned out as one in a war to defeat the U.S. imperialists in a do-or-die spirit to work world-startling military miracles and waged the great Chollima drive from the war debris. The fighting spirit is still most valuable as it came into being in the life-and-death fight and the army and people performed the most brilliant feats despite the worst adversity.
It is a living example of the noble spirit to be followed by the revolutionary people in building and protecting socialism.
It is, indeed, a proud spirit of defending the red flag, the basic spirit of the revolutionaries of Juche type.
It is very instrumental in fully demonstrating the dignity of Kim Il Sung's nation before the world under the banner of Juche.
It is the motive force to effect a leap forward and innovations as it enables us to advance faster and attain higher goals in order to bring bright future of a powerful nation.
The slogan "Let us live and work in fighting spirit displayed in the 1950s" reflects the noble will of leader Kim Jong Il who is invariably carrying forward the brilliant history of establishing Juche created in the lifetime of President Kim Il Sung. Also vibrant in the slogan are the vim and vigor of Juche Korea making uninterrupted innovations and advance.
Secretaries of WPK central committee meet new Chinese ambassador
Pyongyang, January, 17 (KCNA) -- Secretaries Choe Thae Bok, Jong Ha Chol and Kim Ki Nam and vice-department directors Ji Jae Ryong and Pak Kyong Son of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea met and conversed with Wu Donghe, new Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, who paid a courtesy call on them today.
Present there were officials concerned and staff members of the Chinese embassy here.