Vietnamese President to visit DPRK
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- President Tran Duc Luong of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will soon pay an official visit to the DPRK at the invitation of President Kim Yong Nam of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.
Kim Jong Il receives senior officials of Chongryon
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received So Man Sul, chairman, and Nam Sung U, vice-chairman, of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) yesterday.
So Man Sul and Nam Sung U offered the highest glory and the warmest congratulations to him, representing the unanimous loyalty and reverence of all the officials of Chongryon and 700,000 compatriots in Japan and wholeheartedly wished him good health on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 70th anniversary of the Korean People's Army.
Kim Jong Il expressed thanks for this and had a warm conversation with them.
He hosted a dinner for So Man Sul.
Asian regional seminar to be held
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- An Asian regional seminar will be held here early in May this year to urge Japan to redress its past.
The seminar will provide an important occasion of laying bare and denouncing the crimes the Japanese imperialists committed after invading Korea and many other countries in Asia and intensifying the international joint campaign to urge Japan to redress its past.
Vice-premier and chairman of capital construction of cabinet appointed
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- The Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly promulgated a decree dated April 29 on appointing Sin Il Nam as vice-premier of the cabinet and chairman of its commission for capital construction.
"Arirang" performance draws capacity audience
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- A mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang" started at the May Day Stadium on April 29, drawing capacity audience.
It was watched by foreigners from more than 20 countries including China, Russia, Japan, Netherlands, Nepal, the United States, Singapore, Pakistan, Australia and Yemen and Koreans overseas and Pyongyangites.
The performers presented fantastic scenes through a good combination of dynamic and enthusiastic gymnastic movements, ever-changing formations, wind instrumental music full of energy and spirit, soft and elegant acrobatic pieces spiced with national flavor, sun-ray and fan dances, Janggo dance and dance turning round decorative tassels.
The audience was greatly excited to see ever-changing fascinating background scenes.
Special stages, large decorations and huge lighting equipment and electronic displays including laser illuminators were used to maximize the artistic effect of the performance.
Foreigners and overseas Koreans were unsparing in their praises, saying that it was great fortune and pride for them to have an opportunity to see "Arirang" that can not be seen in any other country.
"Arirang", which raised its curtain as the masterpiece that enriched the treasure-house of culture and art of humankind in the 21st century, will last till the end of June.
KPA birthday observed
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- The 70th anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army was commemorated in different countries.
Clara Azhibekova, first secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Kirgyzstan, in a press statement released on April 23 said that the KPA founded by President Kim Il Sung is an invincible army whose 70-year-long history is recorded with only victory and glory.
The KPA is fully capable of mercilessly punishing anyone who dares infringe upon the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK.
This invincible might is unthinkable without the guidance of Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il, she added.
Referring to the glorious road the KPA has covered, D. Biswas, general secretary of the central committee of the All-India Forward Block, said on the same day that thanks to Kim Jong Il's unique army-based policy, the Korean people would certainly build a powerful nation and achieve the independent national reunification.
Meanwhile, commemoration meetings were held in Romania, Bulgaria and Norway on April 18 and 19.
At the meetings, speakers noted that the United States cannot have any temerity to provoke the DPRK as it is pursuing the army-based policy shaped by Kim Jong Il and has the invincible KPA.
A congratulatory message to him was adopted at the meeting held in Bulgaria.
Lectures were given in Democratic Congo, Tanzania and Guinea from April 19 to 22.
Lecturers said that the KPA has traversed a road of victory and glory, demonstrating its might as a matchless army, adding that this was only thanks to the commandership of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Anecdotes about President Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- President Kim Il Sung came to know that the then first vice-premier Kim Il was diagnosed as cancer on December 31, Juche 54 (1965).
The president could not calm himself down as he could hardly believe that he would lose a soldier he loved so much.
This prevented him from performing his official duty and making a New Year address. He took a step to send the patient to a country developed in medical science and technology to get accurate diagnosis.
Several minute medical examinations proved that his sickness was not cancer.
Thus his life was prolonged for nearly 20 years.
Therefore, 1966 was recorded in the history of the DPRK as a year with no New Year address in the lifetime of the president.
It was on May 25, Juche 63 (1974) that the president gave on-site guidance to South Hwanghae Province and called a consultative meeting to discuss the construction of dwelling houses in the countryside.
Saying that 1,000 dwelling houses should be built in Oguk-ri, Anak county, to change its appearance, the president gave detailed instructions on location of a new village, shape of the dwelling houses, internal structures and heating system.
And he said that he would be the master of the project.
He personally formed a labour force for construction and took measures to provide necessary equipment and materials.
And when the project began he acquainted himself with the construction at any time and took necessary measures. He came to the spot on September 5 that year to solve knotty problems.
Thus Oguk-ri was turned into an "ideal village" with 1,300 dwelling houses, public service facilities, a nursery, a kindergarten and a hospital in one year.
Selenium medicines produced in DPRK
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang pure breed pharmaceutical factory succeeded in manufacturing selenium medicines and foodstuffs good for health.
Typical of them are selenium yeast tablet, selenium amine and selenium caesal piniaceae tea.
Selenium being their main ingredient of these medicines draws keen interest of people. Selenium is known as no. one agent of essential micro-nutrient good for health.
A selenium yeast tablet and a selenium amine tablet each contains 0.15 mg and 0.02 mg of selenium while one gram of selenium caesal piniaceae contains 50 mg of selenium.
Medicines and foodstuffs made of selenium are efficacious for treating cancer in its early period and after operation, senile infirmities such as arteriosclerosis, cerebral thrombosis and obesity, lowing enzymes during active period and treating chronic hepatitis, heart troubles including angina pectoris and myocardial infraction and such male genital gland malfunction as prostate gland disorders. They are also good for growth.
They are free from contraindication and sideeffect and their clinic efficacy is 86 in case of cancer treatment in its early period, 85 in case of chronic hepatitis, 80 in case of heart troubles, 87 in case of prostate gland disorders and 90 in case of senile troubles.
River greatly helpful to nation's economic progress
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- The 450.3 km long River Taedong is one of the five longest rivers in Korea.
Having its source in the Mt. Rangrim range, the river flows through South Phyongan Province and Pyongyang and then between Nampho and north and south Hwanghae provinces and empties into the West Sea of Korea, with 620 large and small tributaries merging into the river.
Its basin covers 20,247 km2.
The River Taedong and its basin are greatly conducive to developing the country's economy and improving the people's living standard.
The basin is the nation's leading timber producer and abounds in coal, zinc, gold, iron and other underground resources.
Situated in the basin of the river are the capital city of Pyongyang and other modern cities and hundreds of centers of the ferrous and non-ferrous metal industries, the machine-building industry, the power industry, the chemical and building-material industries and the light industry.
Extending there are Pyongyang, Ryonggang, Kindung and other plains.
The water of the River Tedong is widely used for the industry, agriculture and cities in vast areas of South Phyongan Province and north and south Hwanghae provinces.
The West Sea Barrage, the Mirim Barrage, the Ponghwa Barrage, the Songchon Barrage and the Sunchon Barrage were built across the river to prevent flood damage in the basin and develop the river transport.
After the building of the West Sea Barrage tens of thousands of tons-class ships ply to Nampho Port.
Rest homes and sanatoria appeared in scenic spots and parks, pleasure grounds, swimming pools, boating grounds and angling sites were arranged in different places.
The River Taedong and its basin are reminiscent of the epitome of Korea.
Joint press release on talks between DPRK-Japan Red Cross organizations
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- A joint press release on the talks between the Red Cross organizations of the DPRK and Japan was published in Beijing today.
The joint press release says:
Talks between the DPRK Red Cross Society and the Japan Red Cross Society were held in Beijing from April 29 to 30, 2002.
Present at the talks on the DPRK side was the delegation of the DPRK Red Cross Society led by section chief Ri Ho Rim and on the Japanese side was the delegation of the Japan Red Cross Society led by section chief Hiroshi Higashiura.
Also on hand were officials concerned of the two governments.
The talks took place in a sincere and cooperative atmosphere.
At the talks both sides discussed a series of humanitarian matters including an investigation into the whereabouts of those missing and the hometown visit of Japanese women in the DPRK, and confirmed as follows:
1. The Japanese side informed the DPRK side of the results of the former's investigation so far conducted into whereabouts of Koreans, who have been listed as missing before 1945, at the latter's request, and decided to continue making an in-depth investigation in cooperation with a relevant government organ in the future, too and quickly inform the DPRK side of its results.
2. The DPRK side decided to make an in-depth investigation into the whereabouts of those missing, requested by the Japanese side, in cooperation with central and local Red Cross organizations and a relevant organ, seek a way of intensifying it and inform the Japanese side of its results quickly and take a necessary step.
3. The two sides agreed to arrange the fourth hometown visit of Japanese women in the DPRK around this summer.
In this regard, the DPRK side decided to take into consideration hope of their relatives in Japan.
4. Both sides agreed to hold next round of talks around June and set their specific date later.
They also agreed to have a working consultation between the Red Cross organizations from both sides, if necessary.
KPA vice marshal on people's defence forces of the DPRK
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) --A parade of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards held on the occasions of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 70th birthday of the heroic Korean People's Army fully demonstrated to the world the invincible might of the people's defence forces in the DPRK which grew strong under the leadership of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and the appearance of army-based Korea, a country self-reliant in defense, where all people are under arms and all parts of the country have turned into an impregnable fortress, says an article titled "invincible might of people's defence forces trained by three generals of Mt. Paektu" dedicated by vice marshal of the Korean People's Army Kim Ik Hyon to Rodong Sinmun today.
The founding of the worker-peasant red guards and the young red guards was a shining victory of Kim Il Sung's military idea of self-defense in which the Juche idea was applied to the military field. It was a historic event that made it possible to further strengthen an all-people, nationwide defense system so as to consolidate the defences of the country as firm as an iron-wall, the article says, and continues:
The people's defence forces in the DPRK have achieved the greatest success in history under the army-based revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il. They are now performing great exploits in the struggle for national defence and the building of a powerful socialist nation, holding a rifle in one hand and a hammer or sickle or a writing brush in the other.
The people's defence forces fully equipped with modern offensive and defensive means have tremendous capability to wipe out any enemy on their own and creditably defend their hometowns and working places.
No force on earth can match the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK as they were founded under the care of the three generals of Mt. Paektu and fight, inspired by Kim Jong Il's idea, faith, pluck, gut and strategy.
If the enemy dares encroach upon even a blade of grass and a tree of the DPRK its people's defence forces will turn out as one alongside the Korean People's Army in the sacred war to annihilate the enemy and honorably defend the leader, the idea, the cause and the system of the DPRK and achieve the historic cause of national reunification without fail.
Koizumi's visit to "Yasukuni Shrine" assailed
&nabsp; Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- Papers here today denounce the Japanese Prime Minister for visiting the "Yasukuni Shrine" on April 21.
His visit is a sheer blatant challenge to the Asian people and human conscience demanding Japan's redress for its past crimes and opposing its moves for militarism and overseas expansion, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed commentary.
The news analyst goes on:
What is more serious is that his visit was timed to coincide with the frantic moves to adopt the militarist "laws on emergencies".
Afraid of protest and denunciation at home and abroad, the Japanese chief executive clamored about the timing of the visit and its form. But this is nothing but a foolish ruse to conceal his true colors.
No sooner had he paid "tribute" to the war criminals in the "shrine" than he expressed "understanding" and hope for "peace" and "friendship". This was sheer hypocrisy.
The Japanese authorities are well advised to have a correct understanding of the Korean and other Asian people's painful wounds and grievance against Japan, refrain from getting on their nerves and act with discretion.
A news analyst of Minju Joson dismisses Koizumi's visit to the "shrine" as a grave challenge to the peace and desire of humankind opposed to Japan's militarism.
KEDO delegation here
Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- A KEDO delegation arrived today by air to participate in the negotiations of high-level experts for the implementation of the agreement for the provision of light water reactors signed between the DPRK and KEDO.