Kim Jong Il inspects KPA unit
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected KPA unit. no.834 honored with the Title of Kum Song Lifeguard on Thursday.
After being briefed by the unit commander on how the unit was performing its duty, Kim Jong Il went to the servicemen's hall to learn about the brisk revolutionary and class education conducted among soldiers. Then he saw its servicemen undergoing training in sky-high spirit.
Greatly satisfied to learn that all the servicemen have grown to be indomitable combatants courageously fighting for the security of the country and the people, he advanced highly important tasks that would serve as a guideline in increasing the combat capability of the unit in every way.
He also went round cultural and logistic facilities including education room, bedroom, mess, kitchen, subsidiary food store, washroom, laundry, and a mushroom cultivation ground to take warm care of servicemen's living as their real father would do.
He was very pleased to know that the unit is conducting effective political education in the well-built hall and education room and has built all the logistic facilities needed for servicemen's living and provided good dietary conditions to them under a well-organized supply system. He highly appreciated its success.
Pleased to learn that officers of the unit and their wives are successfully observing the "day for soldiers" to show utmost sincerity to them, he said such admirable trait could be displayed only by commanding officers of the KPA who are ready to share life and death, weal and woe with their soldiers like their parents and brothers and sisters.
At the end of the inspection of the unit, Kim Jong Il appreciated a performance given by an art squad of the KPA unit no.966, together with the servicemen of the unit and their families.
He gave the servicemen of the unit an automatic rifle as a gift and posed for a photograph with them.
Accompanying him were KPA vice marshal Pak Ki So, KPA generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee Kim Kuk Thae, Jong Ha Chol and Kim Ki Nam and others.
Book "Among the People" released
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House recently published vol. 62 of "Among the People", a collection of memoirs.
Contained in the book are 23 pieces of reminiscences written by senior party and state officials, servicemen, workers, farmers, scientists, technicians, teachers, men of culture and other people who worked in attendance on President Kim Il Sung for many years.
The book tells about the noble traits of the president from his great ideas and theories, rare leadership ability and noble virtues to personality, free and easy character and simple life.
Among those pieces of memoirs are "leading people to work in the same spirit as displayed in the period of the Chollima grand surge", "graduates from Kim Chaek University of Technology prove their worth", "personally naming a seed of rice", "saying he is very happy to find himself among servicemen", "we live with his beaming smile in mind" and "thinking of how book 'flora of Korea' was produced".
DPRK government gives reception on Day of Sun
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government hosted a reception at the people's palace of culture on Thursday evening to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
Present on invitation were diplomatic envoys and staff members of different embassies and international organizations here.
Vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun, minister of culture Kang Nung Su, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Mun Jae Chol and officials concerned were present.
Yang Hyong Sop in his speech recalled the distinguished feats performed by Kim Il Sung on behalf of the country, the people, the times and history. For the greatness of his idea, leadership and virtues, the president will always live in the hearts of the Korean people and the world progressives as a symbol of justice and victory and as the sun of humankind, the speaker said.
He further said: Under the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il, an outstanding veteran statesman, the Korean people will surely build a prosperous and powerful socialist nation in this land by successfully carrying out the last instructions of Kim Il Sung.
Palestinian ambassador Shaher Mohammed Abdlah who is the doyen of the diplomatic corps noted in his speech that Kim Il Sung liberated the country and brought a rosy future to the Korean people by leading the struggle for Korea's freedom and independence and dedicated all his life to the building of a powerful state and national reunification.
He expressed belief that the friendly Korean people would achieve greater prosperity and reunify the country in a peaceful way, true to the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Collection of Kim Jong Il's works published
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House recently brought out "On Carrying Forward and Accomplishing the Cause of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung", a collection of leader Kim Jong Il's works.
Contained in the book are 12 works, including talks and treatises made by Kim Jong Il from July Juche 83 (1994) to July Juche 88 (1999).
Among them are works dealing with the idea of fully displaying the noble sense of moral obligation to the preceding leader.
Kim Jong Il clarified this idea while successfully realizing the cause of perpetuating the memory of President Kim Il Sung after his unexpected demise.
Some of them carry his unshakable will to exalt the brilliance of the president's ideas and exploits with the steadfast outlook on morality, accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche started by him and build a powerful socialist nation in this land to fully demonstrate the dignity of Kim Il Sung's Korea.
There are also works on Kim Jong Il's idea of realizing national reunification, the lifelong cause and desire of the president, at an early date.
Foreign diplomats visit Kumsusan Memorial Palace
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations at embassies of different countries here yesterday visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where President Kim Il Sung lies in state for perpetuity, on the occasion of the Day of the Sun.
There they paid their deep respects to the president who made immortal contributions to developing friendly relationship among nations and realizing the human cause of independence.
Then they looked round orders and medals he received from different countries, the mourning hall, and a train and a car he used for field guidance and foreign tour and in the last period of his life.
Reunification champions awarded Title of DPRK Hero
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Title of the DPRK Hero was conferred on the former unconverted long-term prisoners who are known as indomitable patriotic champions of reunification.
They struggled heroically behind bars for scores of years to keep their conscience and obligation as revolutionary soldiers with intense loyalty to the party and the leader and steadfast confidence in the victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche.
A ceremony of awarding the title took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall yesterday.
Present there were vice-president Yang Hyong Sop of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, officials concerned, former unconverted long-term prisoners and their family members.
A decree of the spa presidium was read out before the Title of the DPRK Hero as well as gold star medal and national flag order first class was conferred on 63 former unconverted long-term prisoners.
KCNA assails Japan's distortion of history
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Japanese authorities officially approved "modern history of Japan," a history textbook for junior high schoolers which grossly distorted and justified Japan's history of aggression and crimes, despite the international community's strong protest and denunciation. This is a crime unprecedented in history.
What should not be overlooked is the fact that Japanese venal historians marked Tok islet, an inalienable part of Korea's territory, as "Takeshima" in the textbook and absurdly asserted that the DPRK is demanding dominium over "Takeshima" though it belongs to Japan. They went the length of writing about the theory of "Mimana Miyake" in the book while deleting such hideous crimes as crimes related to the "comfort women for the army."
This goes to clearly prove that the textbook is a retrogressive revision of the present history textbooks for junior high schoolers which describes the issue of Tok islet as an "outstanding" one.
The fact that Tok islet is an inalienable part of the territory of Korea admits of no argument and the theory about "Mimana Miyake" claimed by Japan is the height of folly.
It was written in textbooks that Japan kept Mimana, the southern part of Korea, under its control for hundreds of years since the 4th century after establishing the "Japanese administrative office" there. But this was proved to be a forgery by the results of study conducted by historians in the north and south of Korea and fair-minded Japanese historians long ago.
Of course there are in Japan men of intellect who can see through the essence of history and politicians who are concerned about the serious consequences to be entailed by the distortion of history. Then how can such practices as tampering with history be committed with the official approval of the government authorities?
Lurking behind this is a sinister aim sought by the right-wing conservative politicians of Japan to cover up Japan's shameful past crimes and imbue the younger generation with the militarist idea in a bid to drive them to overseas aggression.
The Japanese authorities can never evade the historical, political and moral responsibilities for this despicable distortion of history.
Withdrawal of "joint land management plan" demanded
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification was reported to have released a statement on April 6, strongly demanding the withdrawal of the "joint land management plan."
Charging that the South Korea-U.S. military alliance has entered the phase of strengthening all measures to keep the U.S. military bases in the Korean Peninsula for an indefinite period, the statement noted that the plan is aimed at the overall redeployment of U.S. forces for their permanent presence in the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of the MD.
Calling for driving the U.S. troops out of South Korea and reunifying the country by the concerted efforts of the Korean people through the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration, it stressed that cooperation between compatriots is the only way out for the Korean people.
Ten-day film shows open
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Ten-day film shows were opened on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 70th anniversary of the Korean People's Army.
They will be open from April 11 to 25. screening at all the cinema houses and halls across the country are documentary and feature films showing the immortal revolutionary exploits the president performed on behalf of the times, the revolution, the country and the nation, and his distinguished leadership ability and noble virtues.
Also screening are scores of documentary and feature films showing the revolutionary activities and army-centered leadership exploits of Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il who made tireless efforts to develop the KPA into an invincible army, the main force for the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche.
A national opening ceremony was held yesterday at the People's Palace of Culture.
Present there were Jong Ha Chol, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and others.
Opening ceremonies were also held in provinces.
TV forum held to commemorate Day of Sun
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A TV forum "Patriotic Life" was arranged at the April 25 House of Culture yesterday to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
Present there were senior party and state officials, officials of party and power organs, ministries and national institutions, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, former unconverted long-term prisoners, those associated with the revolutionary activities of the president, heroes and heroines, persons of distinguished service and working people in the city.
Performers spoke highly of the greatness of Kim Il Sung who performed immortal exploits on behalf of the country, the people, the times and history, leading the revolution and construction to victory with his outstanding ideo-theoretical activities and energetic guidance.
He was the leader of the people unprecedented in history, who turned Korea into the socialist homeland of Juche and made the Korean people the most proud and happiest people, they said.
Recalling with deep emotion the days of struggle and merits when they were building a socialist land of bliss, independent, self-supporting and self-reliant in national defence, in this land under his leadership, they stressed that his revolutionary life would remain long in history with the century.
The participants expressed the conviction that Kim Il Sung would be always alive in the hearts of the Korean and the world people and the future of Korea shining with the august name of the sun would be rosier under the guidance of Kim Jong Il.
Kumsusan Memorial Palace
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the sacred temple of Juche, is situated in the northeastern part of Pyongyang.
The palace is a time-honoured holy place where President Kim Il Sung was energetically working for the Korean revolution and the world revolution for a long time.
The Kumsusan Assembly Hall was converted into the sacred temple of Juche and opened in Korea on July 8, Juche 84 (1995), the first anniversary of his death, according to the unanimous intention and desire of all the people to preserve him in state in perpetuity.
The palace was spruced up with ultra-modern scientific and technological successes with a view to keeping him lying in state as in his lifetime.
The grandeur of the sacred temple of Juche are embossed with a hall where his statue stands, a hall where he lies in state in perpetuity, a grand staircase 18 metres high, the mourning hall, a hall where a car used by him during the last period of his life and a train used during his field guidance are preserved and others.
Besides, there are an outside corridor nearly 1,000 metres long, a plaza of nearly 100,000 square meters, a granite fence hundreds of meters long, a stone gate, a thick forest grown for scenic beauty and an arboretum of 100 hectares.
The Kumsusan Memorial Palace is a product of the unbounded loyalty and noble moral obligation of leader Kim Jong Il to the president.
Kim Il Sung will always be alive in the hearts of humankind along with the sacred temple of Juche.
Commemorative coins issued
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly promulgated a decree on April 3 on issuing commemorative coins "Comrade Kim Il Sung, Our Eternal Sun" on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The decree said:
Kim Il Sung is the founder of socialist Korea and the eternal sun of Juche.
He devoted his all to the freedom and independence of the country, people's happiness and bright future of humankind for 70 years since he embarked on the road of the revolution in his early years. He performed immortal feats for the times, the revolution, the country and the people.
The Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, reflecting the unanimous desire and will of the Korean people and servicemen, approves the issuance of the commemorative coins "Comrade Kim Il Sung, Our Eternal Sun," their sizes, the explanation of its picture and composition.
The gold coin has the image of the president on its front, its upper part framed with letters "Comrade Kim Il Sung, Our Eternal Sun" and its lower part framed with magnolias, the national flower of the DPRK. Seen on its back is the national emblem of the DPRK and its upper part is inscribed with letters "The Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" and its lower part explains weight, purity, face value of the coin and has letters "Juche 91 (2002)".
The size of the gold coin is 35 mm in diameter and the face value is 700 won. It is pure gold.
The explanation of the picture on the silver coin is the same with that about the gold coin. Its size is 40 mm in diameter and its face value is 10 won. It is pure silver.
Greetings to Portuguese prime minister
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Jose Manuel Durao Barroso upon his appointment as Portuguese prime minister.
Extending congratulations to him on his appointment, the message sincerely wished him success in his responsible work.
Meanwhile, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun sent a similar message to Antonio Martins Da Cruz upon his appointment as foreign minister of Portugal.
Greetings to Angolan President
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, President of Angola, on April 6.
The message said:
Pleased to hear news that a peace agreement was concluded in Angola recently, I extend congratulations to the president, the government and the people of Angola.
The conclusion of the agreement thanks to the positive and consistent efforts of the Angolan government is an important event which put an end to the 27-year-long civil war in Angola and achieved durable peace.
The message sincerely wished the president greater success in his responsible work to rehabilitate the war-devastated country as early as possible and achieve national unity, stability and people's happiness.
Talks held between delegations of WPK and BCP
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Talks between the delegations of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the Brazilian Communist Party were held here today.
At the talks both sides informed each other of their parties' activities and exchanged views on the need to develop the friendly ties between the two parties and a series of issues of mutual concern.
Present at the talks were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, and officials concerned and members of the delegation of the Brazilian Communist Party led by vice-president of its central committee Jose Reinaldo Carvalho.
Meeting held to vow loyalty
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A meeting of the young vanguard was held at the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the sacred temple of Juche, today to vow loyalty on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
More than 50,000 young people participated in the meeting.
Present there were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and functionaries of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League.
A report by Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of its central committee, was followed by speeches.
The reporter and speakers said that at this time the day of the sun is commemorated as the greatest holiday of the nation all the young people are fully determined to glorify the immortal revolutionary life and feats of Kim Il Sung forever and carry forward and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche generation after generation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
They declared that all the youth would become passionate fighters who remain loyal to Kim Jong Il with revolutionary faith and obligation, cherishing the absolute belief in the excellence of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
They renewed the pledge to consolidate the youth league as a steel-strong organization devotedly defending the leader and the single-heatedly united ranks of human bombers as required by the new century, and thus demonstrate the honour of being the most dynamic reserve combat unit and the vanguard of Kim Jong Il.