Establishment of new international information order called for

    Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegate, speaking at the 24th meeting of the UN Information Committee on April 24, said that imbalance and inequality still exist in the fields of information and news service in the 21st century, too. The establishment of a new and just international information order should be the main target of the international information service in the new century, he noted, and went on: All information services should not be used as a lever to encroach upon the sovereignty of other countries and interfere in their internal affairs.
    It is most important for the un to provide developing countries with more opportunities to take an active part in the international information service aimed at establishing the new and just international information order.
    Meanwhile, the developing countries should increase their information capability and lift their voices through cooperation in the information field.
    He underscored the need for the U.N. to ensure impartiality and objectivity in its information service.

5th Pyongyang International Trade Fair to be held

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- The 5th Pyongyang International Trade Fair will be held from May 6 to 9. The fair, which will bring together over 160 companies from 15 countries and regions, would be an occasion to boost cooperation and exchange among countries in trade, economic, scientific and technological and other different fields.

Representatives of different organizations in north and south meet

    Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Representatives of different organizations in the north and the south to participate in the Asian regional seminar calling for Japan's settlement of its past met at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel on May 2. Present there were chairwoman Hong Son Ok and members of the DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to "Comfort Women for the Army" and the victims of the Pacific War, representatives of the Korean Women's Association for Solidarity with the Asian Women, the DPRK Committee for Investigation into the Damage Done by the Japanese Imperialists During Their Occupation of Korea and the Korean Association of the A-Bomb Victims Against Nukes and for Peace, honorary representative Yun Jong Ok and members of the "Measure Council for the Issue of South Korean Volunteer Corps" and representatives of various non-governmental organizations of South Korea.
    The non-governmental organizations in the north and the south informed each other of their activities calling for Japan's settlement of its past.
    They said that they would use the seminar as an important occasion of demonstrating the fixed will to force Japan to pay a high price for the crimes committed by it against the Koreans and evinced their firm resolve to achieve the reunification of the country by the Korean nation's efforts.

Ideologically strong army

    Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- The Korean People's Army is now fully demonstrating its might as an ideologically strong army. With a deep insight into the importance of ideological work in the army building and activities, Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il has held higher the banner of thought in pursuing the army-based policy.
    In December Juche 83 (1994) he told the commanding officers of the KPA that confrontation with the enemy is the final test of military power as well as ideology and that he advocates the theory of ideology.
    And he said there is a limit to the power of military strike but no limit to ideology, its might is stronger than an atomic bomb and the ideological consciousness of servicemen is the essential of military power.
    Intensified in the people's army were various forms and methods of the ideological work of training all the servicemen to be those strong in ideology and faith.
    Seen at all barracks and drill grounds are the slogans calling for devotedly defending the headquarters of the revolution and letters reflecting the firm will of servicemen to become human bombs.
    Their faith and will bring forth absolute worship for the leader in any adversity.

Famous dance in Korea

    Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- A dance "Bumper Harvest of Apples" is one of the four famous dances in the DPRK. Choreographed in Juche 61 (1972) the dance is still highly acclaimed by audiences for its high ideological and artistic value.
    The dance vividly represents the optimism and joy of rural girls at reaping a rich harvest of apples through a skillful combination of soft and delicate rhythms and masterly, graceful and cheerful shoulder movement.
    Staged to the accompaniment of lyric Pangchang, the dance is rich in its ideological content and high in its artistry.
    The ever-changing stage decor increases the level of representation and artistic skill.

General director of OPEC fund here

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- General director of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fund Y. Seyyid Abdulai and his party arrived here today. They were greeted at the airport by vice-minister of finance Jang Song Il.

Vice-premier of cabinet meets OPEC fund general director

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Jo Chang Dok, vice-premier of the cabinet of the DPRK, met and had a talk with Y. Seyyid Abdulai, general director of the OPEC fund, and his party who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. On hand were officials concerned.

Choe Thae Bok meets German delegation

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the German-Korean parliamentary friendship group led by chairman Hartmut Koschyk, member of the German bundestag, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. On hand were Ri Jong Hyok, chairman of the Korea-Germany parliamentary friendship group, other officials concerned and the German ambassador to the DPRK.

Treaty and agreements between DPRK and Vietnam inked

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- A treaty on legal cooperation in civil and criminal cases between the DPRK and Vietnam, an agreement on the prevention of double taxation and evasion of taxes on income, an agreement on marine transportation, an agreement on the encouragement and protection of investment and an agreement on trade between the governments of the DPRK and Vietnam and an agreement on barter trade between the ministries of foreign trade of the DPRK and Vietnam were signed here today. Present at the signing ceremony on the DPRK side were Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and officials concerned and on the Vietnam side were Tran Duc Luong, President of Vietnam, and his party.
The treaty and agreements were inked by Kim Pyong Ryul, chief justice of the DPRK central court, Jang Song Il, vice-minister of finance, Ra Tong Hui, chief of staff of the Ministry of Land and Marine Transport, and Kim Jong Gi, vice-minister of foreign trade, authorized by the DPRK government and by Nguyen Dinh Loc, minister of justice, Lai Quang Thuc, vice-minister of planning and investment, Phan The Minh, vice-minister of transport, and Phan The Rue, vice-minister of commerce, authorized by the government of Vietnam.

Talks held between Kim Yong Nam and Tran Duc Luong

    Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Talks were held between Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Tran Duc Luong, Vietnamese President, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. At the talks, both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, which were forged on the basis of the close relationship between the preceding leaders, as required by the new century and a series of matters of mutual concern and reached a consensus of views on the issues discussed.
    The Korean side pointed out that in hearty response to the army-based revolutionary line of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean people are stepping up the dynamic advance to build a Juche-oriented powerful nation, firmly confident of their just cause and its victory and full of optimism, and underlined the consistent stand maintained by the DPRK in the struggle to accomplish the cause of the independent national reunification as early as possible.
    It expressed its support and solidarity with the Vietnamese people's efforts to build prosperous and modern socialism.
    The Vietnamese side praised the Korean people for achieving the signal successes in socialist construction despite all difficulties and trials in the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance, holding aloft the banner of the Juche idea under the wise guidance of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by leader Kim Jong Il.
    It extended full support to the Korean people's just struggle for national reunification and expressed belief that the Korean people would put an early end to the sufferings resulting from national division and reunify the country independently and peacefully in the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
    Present at the talks on the Korean side were foreign minister Paek Nam Sun, minister of foreign trade Ri Kwang Gun, DPRK ambassador to Vietnam Ri Hong and officials concerned.
    Present on the Vietnamese side were foreign minister Nguyen Dy Nien, chief of the presidential office Nguyen Canh Dinh, minister of justice Nguyen Dinh Loc, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK Do Thi Hoa and other suite members.
    The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.

Vietnamese President meets DPRK SPA chairman

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong met chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Choe Thae Bok at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of foreign affairs, and other officials concerned.
Chief of the presidential office Nguyen Canh Dinh, minister of justice Nguyen Dinh loc, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK Do Thi Hoa and other suite members were also present there. The president had a talk with the chairman in an atmosphere overflowing with friendship.

Talks held between DPRK and Vietnam foreign ministers

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Talks between DPRK foreign minister Paek Nam Sun and Vietnam foreign minister Nguyen Dy Nien were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present at the talks on the DPRK side were Ri Hong, DPRK ambassador to Vietnam, and officials concerned and on the Vietnam side some members of the president's party.
The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.

Kim Yong Nam meets German delegation

    Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the German-Korean parliamentary friendship group led by chairman Hartmut Koschyk, member of the German bundestag, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. At the meeting the head of the delegation said that he got deep impressions of the DPRK while visiting its different places.
    He referred to the favorably developing cooperative relations between the two countries.
    Present there were Ri Jong Hyok, chairman of the Korea-Germany parliamentary friendship group, and German ambassador to the DPRK Doris Hertrampf.