Trade union of public service workers formed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The preparatory committee for the trade union of public service workers held an inaugural ceremony of the trade union in Seoul on March 16, Seoul-based Radio No. 1 reported.
The organization elected Ri Jong Chon who is chairman of the north Jolla provincial council of workshops of public service workers the first chairman of the trade union and vowed to strive for the reform in the overall social life including politics.
Signing of "investment agreement" opposed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The people's action opposing investment agreement and the world trade organization in South Korea reportedly held a joint meeting in Seoul on March 15 to frustrate the signing of the South Korea-Japan-U.S. "investment agreement".
The organization groups the solidarity for social progress, the "Korean Confederation of Trade Unions", the "National Federation of Peasants Associations", the International Solidarity and Information Policy Centre, the People's Federation of Medical Service and other democratic and public organizations, the "National Council for Solidarity with Students", the "National Council of Student Representatives" and the student action solidarity.
The participants said that the signing of the "investment agreement" will pose a great threat to the South Korean people's rights to labor and environment and spark the second financial crisis as it is intended to fully ensure the free investment of transnational capital in South Korea by the United States, Japan and Europe.
They vowed to conduct a "one million-people signature campaign" as part of an all-people struggle for checking the signing of the "investment agreement" and energetically conduct various forms of actions including a press conference, meeting and the publication of a "600 man declaration" to be made jointly with Japanese organizations.
Joint military exercises opposed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The measure committee for the release of the detainees related to the occupation of the U.S. chamber of commerce and industry and sit-in strike, the council for national reconciliation and independent reunification and the solidarity for implementing the south-north joint declaration reportedly co-sponsored a meeting in Seoul on march 16 opposing the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and demanding the release of the detainees.
The participants said that the joint military exercises, a combination of "Rsoi" and "Foal Eagle," to be staged from March 21 will be participated in by more than 500,000 troops.
They questioned with indignation "how can such war maneuvers led by those forces keen to ignite a war be of defensive nature."
They noted:
National independence and cooperation are the basic spirit of the June 15 joint declaration. Yet, the authorities defined fellow countrymen as the "enemy" and are going to stage war exercises in "cooperation" with outsiders.
This should not be allowed to happen.
They referred to the unreasonable act of the authorities who accused the detainees involved in the righteous struggle of being "terrorists," and called on them to put an end to the interference in the internal affairs of South Korea by the U.S. keen to ignite a war for money-making and release the detainees as early as possible so that they may return to their families.
Prior to the meeting, students made information service for citizens.
Reception given by Russian ambassador
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- Russian ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov gave a reception at the embassy last evening on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-Russia agreement on economic and cultural cooperation.
Present on invitation were Kim Yong Sam, minister of railways, Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of foreign affairs, O Kwang Hong, vice-minister of power and coal industries, Kim Yong Jae, vice-minister of foreign trade, Jo Chan Gu, vice-minister of culture, JonYyong Jin, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is chairman of the DPRK-Russia Friendship Association, and other officials concerned.
Staff members of the Russian embassy were present.
Speeches were made at the reception.
Farce of anti-reunification traitors in S. Korea
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- Some time ago Ri Hoe Chang and his clan of the "Grand National Party" of South Korea instigated assemblymen of the "united liberal democrats" to hold a "supporters' evening" on the subject of the socalled conservatives' start of action, revealing their greed for power and going so far as to slander the dignified political system of the DPRK.
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article denounces their farce as an open challenge to the South Korean people aspiring after peace of the country, security of the nation and independent reunification against the U.S. and a provocation to the DPRK.
The news analyst says:
Ri is a political philistine who has no interest in the destiny of the country and the nation but greed for a gay life and power.
The "supporters' evening" farce proved his greed for power.
Out of their black-hearted desire to curry favor with the U.S. and come into power they praised as an "apostle of peace" the U.S. ruling quarters who made dangerous bellicose remarks about the "axis of evil" and "nuclear attack" in an effort to make the Korean nation a victim of a nuclear war, defiled the patriotic champions of reunification as "psychiatric patients" and slung mud at the political system in the north.
For peace of the country, security of the nation and independent and peaceful reunification of the country, such trouble-makers as Ri's clan should be removed at an early date.
The South Korean people will decisively smash the anti-national, anti-reunification and bellicose offensive of the pro-U.S. reactionary conservative forces with a nation-wide struggle against the U.S. and for independent reunification.
U.S. black-hearted intention to dominate Asia under fire
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The U.S. is egging the Japanese reactionaries on to come out for overseas expansion as evidenced by request made by it to the Japanese government to extend the period of the "nonmilitary operation of the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) in wake of the recent U.S.-Japan joint military exercises.
In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says:
The U.S. seeks to escalate the U.S.-Japan joint military exercises and get the SDF deeply involved in the "anti-terrorism war". This is intended to use the SDF as a shock brigade in its invasion of Korea and realise its ambition to dominate the Asia-Pacific region.
The DPRK is made the first target of the U.S. attack aimed to establish military domination over Asia.
It is the contention of the U.S. warmongers that only when they conquer Korea can they put Asia under their full military domination.
They seek to use the Japanese reactionaries in igniting a new Korean War.
After listing the DPRK as a member of the "axis of evil" the U.S. is working hard to stifle the DPRK by force of arms in cooperation with the Japanese reactionaries.
The U.S. warmongers are keen to ignite a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula in conspiracy with the Japanese reactionaries.
The people's army and people of Korea will mercilessly punish those who dare encroach upon the sovereignty of the DPRK.
The U.S. and Japanese reactionaries should bear in mind that they will not be able to come off unscathed if they foolishly attack the DPRK, misjudging its strength.
Glorifying tradition of giving priority to army called for
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in an editorial calls for steadfastly defending and eternally glorifying the tradition of giving priority to the army established in Mt. Paektu under leader Kim Jong Il's army-based guidance to bring earlier the ultimate victory of the revolution of Juche.
This tradition comprehensively represents the great army-based idea and theory, leadership exploits and experience of the three generals of Mt. Paektu and serves as the most valuable revolutionary treasure of Kim Il Sung's nation, which is decisive of the victory of the revolution of Juche, the editorial says, and goes on:
The give-priority-to-the-army tradition in the Korean revolution was established by President Kim Il Sung in Mt. Paektu.
This is a tradition of directing utmost efforts to the army building, considering arms as the most powerful means for the victory of revolution, and a tradition of winning one victory after another as it makes it possible to overcome grave difficulties and push ahead vigorously with the overall cause of revolution in reliance upon revolutionary armed forces.
The tradition has been successfully carried forward and developed by Kim Jong Il.
His great leadership finds its expression in the fact that he laid down the army-based line as the guiding line of revolution for the victory of the cause of independence and adopted the army-based policy as the main political mode of socialism.
His wise leadership provided to glorify the tradition lies in that he built up the driving force of the revolution with the people's army as a model and is ushering in a new era of national prosperity with the people's army as a main force.
The social foundation of the DPRK is growing strong and a fresh leaping advance is now being made in the building of a powerful nation. The credit for this goes to Kim Jong Il who has successfully carried forward and developed the tradition.
The social foundation of the DPRK will always remain solid and a powerful nation will surely emerge earlier than expected as long as the tradition is given steady continuity.
People free from taxes
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The people of the DPRK were the first in the world to be free from all taxes.
President Kim Il Sung proposed tasks to abolish unpopular tax system of the Japanese imperialists and establish instead a fair tax system in the 10-point programme of the association for the restoration of the fatherland published in 1936 in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle.
After the liberation of the country the president led the people's government to successfully carry out the task.
Measures were taken to systematically reduce taxes several times to abolish taxes phase by phase.
Taxation began to gradually lose its meaning in socialist construction as the foundation of the independent national economy grew stronger and the level of the working people's ideological consciousness rose.
State assistance to the rural economy and the allocation of state funds for the working people's living increased in all aspects and, accordingly, they became more devoted to the state and the society. Taking this situation into account, he completely abolished agricultural tax in kind in Juche 55 (1966).
The historic law "on completely abolishing the tax system" was promulgated at the third session of the fifth Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on March 21, Juche 63 (1974).
The law took effect from April 1 that year.
This meant the realization of the centuries-old desire of the people to be free from tax burden.
Withdrawal of report on "nuclear posture" urged
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The reunification solidarity for the implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and peace on the Korean Peninsula reportedly issued a statement on March 13 under the title "U.S. that worked out the report on the nuclear posture, give up all its hegemonistic ambition for war."
All the peace-loving people of the world and the 70 million Koreans express towering resentment at the U.S. plan for a nuclear war of aggression and warn the U.S., the statement said, and went on:
The 70 million fellow countrymen who support the joint declaration and want peace on the Korean peninsula and the reunification of the nation will never remain a passive onlooker to the U.S. moves to perpetuate the division of the nation after working out the plan to bring about a holocaust of a nuclear war.
The Korean nation will sooner or later thoroughly shatter the U.S. moves for a war on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. interference in its internal affairs and the U.S. plots to foil the joint declaration.
It will also make all efforts to implement the joint declaration, the short cut to the peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula, and demonstrate the future of the prospering nation to the world.
Poman fish-breeding farm
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The Poman fish-breeding farm is situated in Poman-ri, Sohung county, North Hwanghae Province. Poman village made its appearance as an enchanted land by the side of the Pyongyang-Kaesong motorway.
The farm was commissioned on December 24, Juche 89 (2000).
It covers an area of 300,000 square meters and its fish-breeding area is over 210,000 square meters.
It has 70 fish ponds of various sizes, rooms for spawn collection and incubation rooms.
It has a spring from which 650 liters of water gushes out per second. Its total area is 870 square meters. The temperature of water is 12 degrees centigrade in winter and 13 degrees centigrade in summer. It is very ideal for rainbow trout farming.
It breeds rainbow trout, carp and silver carp according to water levels.
Its annual production capacity is hundreds of tons.
It also has a protein habitat and quite big duck and pig stays.
Leader Kim Jong Il gave on-site guidance to the farm on July 11 last year and highly praised it as an impeccable one.
Renowned Korean surgeon
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- Ryu Sik is a renowned surgeon of Korea.
A graduate from Hamhung University of Medicine, he works as vice-director of the Namsan Hospital.
He performed his first surgical operation at the age 24. He has successfully performed some 7,000 simple and difficult operations over the last 40 odd years.
He operated on a woman who had been crippled for 30 years to make her stand on her feet and walk, and miraculously cured a patient who had remained unconscious for 36 days.
He is an author of many medical books and reference textbooks helpful to the development of the medical science and promotion of people's health. They include over ten books, more than 40 theses and articles on his experience such as "reference book on surgery."
He authored such popular books as "health and diet," "way to become centenarians" and "the secret of longevity."
He helped four medical workers become doctors of medicine and ten masters of medical science.
In April 1997 he was awarded the title of merited doctor.
Professor and doctor Ryu Sik is devoting himself to health care with warm love for people, fully aware that he is a protector of human lives.
More electricity
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex has recorded an additional output of 150,000 kw electricity. This has been made possible thanks to a project to reinforce generating lines.
The successful project enabled the complex to increase the capacity of each generator.
It was carried out while fulfilling the planned targets for power generation.
The success the complex has attained in increasing power generation was made possible by the active participation of workers at the electricity and turbine repair workshops and creative collaboration between workers and technicians, allied to careful management.
Not content with this success, the complex is now focusing its efforts on achieving a further increase in production in order to play its part in the efforts to build a powerful nation.
Credentials to Kim Yong Nam
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, received credentials from Tomas Smetanka, new Czech ambassador to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present was Choe Su Hon, vice-minister of foreign affairs.
After receiving credentials, Kim Yong Nam conversed with the ambassador.