Agreement on cooperation between DPRK and Kuwait signed
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- An agreement on cooperation between the DPRK ministry of city management and the Kuwait fund for Arab economic development was signed at the People's Palace of Culture on March 28.
Present at the signing ceremony were Ri Kang Hui, vice-minister of city management, and officials concerned and the delegation of the Kuwait fund for Arab economic development led by deputy director-general Hesham I. Al-Waqayan.
Art performance given in welcome of Indonesian President
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- A music and dance performance was given by the artistes of the Mansudae Art Troupe at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre yesterday in welcome of Megawati Soekarnoputri, President of the Republic of Indonesia.
Present on invitation were Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, her husband Taufiq Kiemas, foreign minister Nur Hassan Wirayuda, minister of state for research, science and technology Hatta Rajasa, minister of state for communications and information Syamsul Muarif and her party and staff members of the Indonesian embassy.
Enjoying the performance together with the guests were President Kim Yong Nam of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun, minister of foreign trade Ri Kwang Gun, minister of culture Kang Nung Su who is chairman of the DPRK information committee, officials concerned and working people in the city.
Put on the stage were colorful music and dances and Indonesian songs.
The performance was acclaimed by the audience for its high ideological and artistic value.
Megawati Soekarnoputri mounted the stage together with Kim Yong Nam and conveyed a floral basket to the performers in congratulation of their successful performance and had a picture taken with them.
Kim Jong Il sends funds to Joson University and Kumgangsan Opera Troupe
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il yesterday sent with loving care funds to Joson (Korean) University and the Kumgangsan Opera Troupe of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).
He sent 132,420,000 yen (a million u.s. dollars) to Joson University of Chongryon in connection with its 1,000-student chorus.
He sent 270 million yen to the Kumgangsan Opera Troupe of Chongryon on a performance tour of the socialist homeland.
The funds sent by him this time after sending educational aid funds and stipends to the compatriots in Japan every year are greatly helpful to Chongryon in its efforts to develop the education of the rising generation and national culture and art.
U.S.-South Korea joint war exercises under fire
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary terms the joint war exercises staged by the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean warmongers a preliminary war and a test nuclear war conducted under the simulated conditions of an attack on the north.
It goes on:
The U.S. strategy is aimed to seize the whole of Korea and carry out its Asian strategy with Korea as a springboard and, furthermore, realize its ambition for world hegemony.
The DPRK is ready to fight a life-and-death battle. The people's army and people of Korea have renewed their firm determination to fight tooth and nail against the u.s. imperialists, their sworn enemy, and force them to pay a thousand-fold high price for the blood shed by Koreans, while watching with vigilance the north-targeted war exercises staged by warmongers at home and abroad.
The U.S. imperialists and the South Korean warmongers are running amuck to ignite a war against the north. But this will bring them to nowhere.
The U.S. imperialists and their stooges are well advised to stop acting rashly. The DPRK will fight a life-and-death battle with the enemy, true to the great army-based policy and certainly emerge victorious.
This revolutionary stand and faith remain unshakable.
Banquet in honour of Indonesian President
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK hosted a banquet in honour of Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the People's Palace of Culture on March 28.
Present on invitation were President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her husband Taufiq Kiemas, foreign minister Nur Hassan Wirayuda and her entourage.
On hand were President Kim Yong Nam of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun and other senior officials.
Kim Yong Nam in a speech said that on her arrival in Pyongyang President Megawati visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay whole-hearted homage to President Kim Il Sung, which fully showed her particular respect and trust in the leadership and the people of Korea and her firm will to further develop the bilateral relations true to the intention of her deceased father and left deep impressions upon the Korean people.
We are very rejoiced over the Korea-Indonesia friendship based on the particularly close friendship between President Kim Il Sung and President Sukarno developing on good terms generation after generation, he said, and continued:
In recent years the Indonesian government and people made great progress in the work to achieve national unity and the political stability of the country under the correct guidance of the president.
The Korean people sincerely hope everything will go well in Indonesia and its government and people signal success in their efforts to defend the territorial integrity and carry out the 10-point program of economic recovery.
It is in full accord with the aspirations and wishes of the two peoples to extensively develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation provided by the preceding leaders and it will positively contribute to the common prosperity and progress of the region.
Megawati Soekarnoputri in a speech said that the friendly relations forged between the peoples of the DPRK and Indonesia have a long history. She expressed the belief that the relations would be further developed in the future, too.
The Korean people are making efforts to maintain independence in politics, the economy and national defence, upholding the idea of the great leader, she said, and went on:
We will strengthen cooperation in the international arena to keep bilateral relations on good terms even in adversity and strive to build a fair and peaceful world together with developing countries on the principle of mutual respect and non-interference in other's internal affairs.
She expressed thanks to the DPRK for supporting the Indonesian people in their efforts to achieve sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Expressing belief that the DPRK's brisk activities for regional security and progress would give a strong impetus to all countries of the world, the Asia-Pacific countries in particular, she said that she is rejoiced over the admission of the DPRK to the ASEAN forum.
The banquet proceeded in an atmosphere overflowing with friendly feelings.
Pyongyang international commodity exhibition to be held
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- The 5th Pyongyang international commodity exhibition will be held in the DPRK in coming may.
Applications for participation have already been made by at least 240 companies of scores of countries and regions including Russia, China, Japan, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand and Singapore.
On display at the exhibition will be products in all fields including industry, agriculture and ultra-modern technology. It will give manufacturers, traders, chambers of commerce and industry, non-governmental trade associations and their associated companies and commercial councillors of various embassies here opportunities to promote cooperation and trade.
It will be sponsored by the DPRK international exhibition agency, the only institution in the country to organize that kind of exhibition.
The agency will hold the Rason international trade exhibition in June and the Pyongyang international economic and technological exhibition in September.
It has sponsored at least 380 commodity exhibitions held at home and abroad over the last 40 odd years, thus boosting the relations of cooperation and exchange with enterprises and companies in different countries.
Episode of noble humanity
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- There is an episode about a dismissed manuscript among many stories about noble humanity in the Korean society.
A daughter of a returnee from a foreign country had been unable to walk for several years. so, she was admitted to the north Hwanghae provincial people's hospital to have her legs cured.
The patient was expected to undergo the first operation at the end of repeated consultation among doctors.
Upon hearing the news, her father rushed to the hospital only to be very much surprised to see what happened outside of the operation room. It was crowded with many people who were vying with each other to donate their bones, flesh and blood to his daughter.
This was something beyond his imagination. He was so touched by this scene that he wrote a story about it on the spot and sent it to the provincial newspaper office. but the manuscript was sent back with a cold reply that it was not worth publicity.
He could not tolerate this behavior. He could not understand the assertion of the office that the happening was not worth reporting though it was a most striking manifestation of human conscience, sense of obligation and morality. He was more deeply moved to see a pile of manuscripts at the editorial department.
There were stories about a doctor who cut conjunctivas from himself and his daughter and transplanted them to a blind and young men and women who devoted their lives to save their revolutionary comrades and volunteered to be life-long partners of disabled soldiers of the special category.
It was hard for him to believe everything he saw and heard.
Many stirring happenings wherever he went in the motherland prompted him to write a note "my motherland where angels live."
Book "Secret of Prime of Life at Sixty"
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- A book "Secret of Prime of Life at Sixty" was published in the DPRK.
The book has six parts: mental power unlimited. Human body and energy not inborn. diet. Though man has the same ear, eye, mouth and nose. Take care of oneself. Natural benefits not gift.
The first part proves that the top secret of the prime of life at sixty lies in the unlimited energy and strong mental power and optimism come from the power of the will.
Under hundreds of such subtitles as "for one to be in good health one should build up one's physical strength and pay attention to diet", "consciousness depends on functioning of sensory organs", "natural remedies good for all forms of medical treatment", "age of 100 is not a matter of distant future", etc., it introduces medical knowledge and common sense related to health which everyone wants to know.
The book also deals with folk remedies for various kinds of diseases and methods of hand and foot massage that everyone can do by oneself.
The author of the book is prof. and dr. Ryu Sik, vice-director of Namsan hospital, who is highly reputed in the medical circle of the DPRK.
Rodong Sinmun on reminiscences of Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today runs an editorial with the approach of the tenth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's reminiscences.
His reminiscences is the eternal treasure of the Korean revolution in which the glorious revolutionary history of the peerlessly great man is crystallized, the editorial says, and goes on:
It gives a vivid description of the noble revolutionary career of the president, an outstanding statesman and an invincible and iron-willed commander who devoted his life of over 80 years to the prosperity of his country and people and led the Korean revolution to invincible victory and of the history of the Korean revolution in the 20th century which brought about a noteworthy change in the world.
The reminiscences serves as a militant banner which encourages the Korean people to live and fight as the eternal soldiers and disciples of the president.
The memoirs of the peerlessly great man is of perpetual vitality.
It is the greatest honor and pride of the Korean people to take the president's reminiscences as a textbook of revolution in their struggle.
Since the Korean people have armed themselves with the revolutionary idea and spirit of the president and worked the way he did, they could overcome the hardships of the "arduous march" in the 1990s and have the honor of the victors.
The Korean people have made a deep study of his memoirs to follow his noble revolutionary traits, establish a true outlook on revolution and life, acquire his revolutionary mode and step up the building of a powerful nation.
They have much to do with a view to building a powerful nation and hardships and difficulties are still lying in their advance.
But they will build a powerful nation without fail in the near future as they create and change everything the way he did.
The editorial calls upon them to bear deeper in mind the great national honor and belief that their leader is the best and realize and exalt his noble feats and experience of the army-centred revolutionary leadership through the study of his memoirs.
Road network improved
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- North Hamgyong Province, in the northern tip of Korea, has recently been channelling greater efforts into road construction. Some 400 km of road has been newly laid out in recent years and around 640 km has been upgraded. With more than 80 per cent of the area being mountainous and most parts rising over 500 m above sea level, all the plans for new roads have been based on careful geographical study and calculation of amount of work, followed up by detailed measures.
Four kilometres of new road has appeared in the counties of Musan and saeppyol respectively.
One of the province's greatest achievements lies in having turned Mt. Chilbo, one of the nation's celebrated mountains, into an excellent recreational ground for the people. a tourist road stretching 100 kilometres connects Yombun Revolutionary Site with Mt. Chilbo, and an extra 68 km of road was newly built, along which are more than 80 culverts, 440-odd water tanks and a total of 23,240 metres of railing for the convenience of the sightseers.
A total of 640 km of roads, including a 200-km road between Kim Chaek and Chongjin and a 280-km road between Musan and Rason, have been widened 3-5 m additionally and upgraded in quality.
A simultaneous afforestation campaign has radically improved the appearance of the areas surrounding the roads, with millions of trees being planted.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Indonesian President
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il today received a gift from Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Present there were her husband Taufiq Kiemas, foreign minister Nur Hassan Wirayuda, minister of state for research, science and technology Hatta Rajasa, minister of state for communications and information Syamsul Muarif, secretary of the state and the cabinet Bambang Kesowo, Indonesian ambassador to the DPRK Buchari Effendi and others.
Megawati Soekarnoputri explained the gift to Kim Jong Il.
After seeing the gift he thanked for it.
Kim Jong Il meets President Megawati Soekarnoputri
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il today met Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri on an official goodwill visit to the DPRK.
Kim Jong Il warmly welcomed president Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to the DPRK and had a talk with her in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
He had a photograph taken with her and her party.
Megawati's sojourn in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her party were shown round different parts of Pyongyang today.
The president went to the Mangyongdae schoolchildren's palace. She first dropped in at the rooms for Kayagum and accordion hobby groups where she congratulated their members on the presentation of excellent artistic talent.
At the rooms for calligraphy and embroidery hobby groups children presented her with a calligraphic piece 'welcome" and a piece of embroidery "Kimilsungia-kimjongilia" made by them.
The guests enjoyed a performance given by art circle members at the palace theatre. The president mounted the stage to convey a floral basket in congratulation of their excellent performance and posed for a photograph with them.
The president presented a souvenir to the palace.
They inspected the Mansudae Art Studio.
And they enjoyed a performance given by the merited chorus of the Korean people's army in the name of the DPRK National Defence Commission at the Mansudae Art Theatre.