Kim Jong Il receives gift from Iranian military commander
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, received a gift from Mohammad Salimi, military commander of Iran, on the occasion of his birthday.
Abdullah Hamidi Benam, military attache of the Iranian embassy here, handed the gift to an official concerned on Feb. 15.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon CSC
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on Feb. 16, his birthday.
The message said that the Chongryon central standing committee extends the highest glory and the warmest congratulations to him on his birthday, carrying intense loyalty and deepest respect of all the officials of Chongryon and 700,000 compatriots in Japan.
Noting that he has performed undying feats for the Korean revolution and global independence, the message said: Through your energetic ideo-theoretical activities and indefatigable leadership, you have made Juche Korea shine all over the world as an ideologically, politically and militarily invincible power.
Saying that he indicated the way for Chongryon and the movement of Koreans in Japan to follow in the new century and has wisely led them while showing deep love for them, it stressed:
All the honour and happiness the officials of Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan enjoy today are a brilliant result of your wise leadership and benevolent love and solicitude.
Filled with confidence and pride of being overseas citizens of Juche Korea, we will resolutely smash the repressive moves of the enemies in and outside Japan, firmly defend Chongryon and bring about a new surge in the patriotic activities.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from NDFSK
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on Feb. 16, his birthday.
The message said that the NDFSK central committee extends the highest glory and the warmest congratulations to him on his birthday, carrying the unanimous best wishes and intense loyalty of the vanguard fighters and patriotic people from all walks of life in South Korea.
Your birth was an appearance of another great sun that would lead the Korean nation to a bright future, and it was a great historic auspicious event which certainly promised a successful inheritance and accomplishment of the cause of Juche started on Mt. Paektu, the message said.
Referring to the great immortal exploits he has performed for the country, the nation, the times and the history with his distinguished political ability and through his energetic activities, it said:
With clairvoyant wisdom and bold patriotic decision you provided the June 15 south-north joint declaration, a great reunification programme in the 21st century, and opened up a turning phase for national reunification for the first time in the history of division by leading the nationwide struggle for the country's reunification.
We will more vigorously conduct the nationwide struggle for implementing the joint declaration to the letter under the uplifted slogan "reunify the country by the united efforts of our nation" and thus bring about a new turn in the movement for national reunification.
Foreign diplomats visit various places
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here visited the 6th Kimjongilia show on Feb. 15 on the occasion of leader Kim Jong Il's birthday.
After visiting the show, councillor of the Polish embassy Stanislaw Skowron wrote in the visitor's book that the visit offered an opportunity to clearly realize how ardently the Korean people are holding leader Kim Jong Il in high esteem and following him.
Ali Abdallah Shaban, councillor of the people's bureau of Libya, wished Kim Jong Il good health and the friendly Korean people progress and prosperity on the occasion of his birthday.
Earlier, those officials visited an exhibition of photos on the sunrise on Mt. Paektu, a holy mountain of revolution, part of the "meeting to congratulate the sun of the 21st century."
Meanwhile, the representatives of international organizations, delegations and delegates of various regions and countries, who participated in the "meeting to congratulate the sun of the 21st century", yesterday visited the 6th Kimjongilia show.
First term of camping begins
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The year's first-term camping began with due ceremony at the Jangjasan children's union camp yesterday on the occasion of the auspicious February holiday.
Mt. Jangja in Jagang Province at the northern tip of Korea is a time-honored place associated with the great footsteps of leader Kim Jong Il.
The campers will train their body and mind through study, march on snow-covered path, skiing and other sports activities, folk games and artistic activities.
Reception given to mark birthday of leader Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries gave a reception at the People's Palace of Culture yesterday evening in celebration of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
Present on invitation were representatives of international organisations and delegations and delegates from various regions and countries who participated in the "meeting to congratulate the sun of the 21st century."
Vice-president Yang Hyong Sop of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, addressing the reception, expressed heart-felt thanks to the guests for their successful holding of the "meeting to congratulate the sun of the 21st century," authorized by the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government.
The meeting more significantly decorated the February holiday and increased the pride and joy of the Korean people celebrating the holiday, he said, expressing expectation and conviction that the guests would in the future, too, express full support to the Korean people in the building of a powerful socialist nation and the struggle to reunify the country independently and in a peaceful way.
Honorary chairman Reggie Ranatunge of the Asian Regional Committee to Support Korea's Reunification in his reply extended the warmest congratulations and best wishes to Kim Jong Il on his birthday, representing the unanimous desire of the participants in the meeting.
It is an honor and fortune of the Korean people and the world progressives to have such a great leader as Kim Jong Il, he said.
He expressed the determination to hold him in high esteem as the sun of humankind and work harder to build a new world, independent, peaceful and prosperous.
February holiday celebrated in DPRK
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The Korean people have significantly celebrated auspicious February 16, the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
That day, Pyongyang, provincial seats, cities and county seats, factories, enterprises and co-op farms were festively decorated.
People's singing and joy were heard from across the country.
Slogans and letters reading "Congratulations On February 16" and "Glory to General Kim Jong Il, Son of Mt. Paektu" were displayed and party flags, DPRK flags and red flags were seen fluttering in every part of Pyongyang.
Working people from all walks of life, school youth and children visited the Korean Revolution Museum, the Jangsan Revolutionary Site, the 6th Kimjongilia show, the national fine art exhibition to celebrate February 16 and others.
Art performances were given at the theatres in the capital and in local areas.
Loyal concerts and sports and amusement games took place at the factories and enterprises, on co-op farms and in schools and construction sites.
The youth and students in Pyongyang held a splendid dancing party at Kim Il Sung square with large attendance.
A string of fireworks fizzled over the square and it turned into a veritable sea of dancers.
As the songs including "Fortune of Korea" and "February Means Spring" reverberated far and wide there began a Janggo dance and calisthenic performance adding to the festivity.
Senior party and state officials and leading officials of the c.c., the Workers' Party of Korea, the commissions and ministries of the cabinet and national institutions and working peoples' organizations joined the young dancers.
Parks and pleasure grounds in the city also turned into veritable seas of dancers and flowers.
International figure skating festival closes
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The 11th international figure skating festival for Paektusan Cup that opened here on Feb. 15 on the occasion of February 16, the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il, closed today.
Through the festival skaters from various countries exchanged their successes and experience, deepening their friendly feelings.
A closing ceremony was held at the ice rink.
Present there were senior party and state officials including Hong Song Nam, premier of the cabinet, working people in the city and foreign guests.
Present on invitation were overseas compatriots on a visit to the homeland.
Prizes were awarded to successful skaters at the ceremony.
Prize for the best performance was awarded to Ekaterina Davydova (Russia) and Andrei Bukin (Russia), technical prize to Joanne Carter (Australia) and Han Jong In (DPRK) and creative prize to Igor Bobrin (Russia).
Then followed an exhibition presentation of Korean and foreign skaters who displayed high skill in the festival.
Surprise demonstration staged against Bush's visit
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Students under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) staged a surprise demonstration against Bush's South Korea visit in Sejong Street, Seoul, on Feb. 15, according to the Seoul-based CBS.
They burnt four stars and stripes, shouting the slogans "War means destruction of whole nation", "We resolutely oppose war monger Bush's South Korea visit", "U.S. should give up its hostile policy towards north", etc.
They scattered at least 300 leaflets carrying the letters "We can not bear to see Bush setting foot on this land. Students under Hanchongryon are resolutely opposed to bush's South Korea visit."
Meanwhile, other students hanged a placard opposing Bush's visit on a wall of a building opposite to the scene of the demonstration.