Meeting of regional committee for supporting Korea's reunification held
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Leading officials of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification met on April 24 by way of exchanging telephone messages.
Present there were the chairman, vice-chairmen, secretary general and other leading officials of the committee.
The meeting discussed the matter of implementing the resolution adopted at the Pyongyang joint meeting of organizations for friendship and solidarity with the Korean people and international democratic organizations held in Pyongyang in February last and adopted an action program for its materialization.
Inaugural ceremony of 10th-term Hanchongryon held
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Over 8,000 students under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) held an inaugural ceremony of the 10th-term Hanchongryon at Seoul Industrial University on May 4, according to Seoul-based radio no.1.
That day the authorities deployed mobilized police force of nine companies at the venue.
Opening of Hanchongryon May Festival called for
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) --A joint press conference was reportedly held in Seoul on May 2 with a view to peacefully opening the May festival of South Korean students and opposing the arrest and want list of deputies to Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils).
It was co-sponsored by the all public measure committee for Hanchongryon legal activities and Hanchongryon.
It was said at the press conference that the May festival includes the inaugural ceremony of a new term Hanchongryon as well as lecture meetings and multifarious cultural functions.
A press release called for a stop to such unreasonable suppression as branding Hanchongryon as "an enemy-benefiting organization" and restricting the freedom of ideology and conscience.
The press release declared that people from all walks of life would pool strength against the unreasonable suppression of Hanchongryon to conduct various practical activities such as a meeting of citizens and students, regional campaigns for withdrawal of branding as an "enemy-benefiting organization", a hundred thousand signature campaign and a juridical supporting group's appeal to the un human rights council.
Testimonies to GIS' massacre in Taejon Prison
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- The May 1 issue of the South Korean newspaper Kukmin Ilbo carried an article captioned "Mass Killing in Taejon Prison During Korean War, testimonies made by British war correspondents."
Records of testimonies titled "I was taken prisoner in Korea" and "I saw truth in Korea" written by a journalist of the British Weekly observer and a journalist of the British Daily Worker were discovered and made public by a member of the democratic party in South Korea on April 30, the paper said, and went on:
The journalist of observer in his testimony carried in 1953 wrote that he was taken prisoner in Yongdong, North Chungchong Province, on July 23, 1950 and heard about the truth behind the massacre in Taejon prison from a 72-year-old French father whom he met when he was in custody.
The father, who had witnessed the massacre, told him that just before U.S. forces' retreat South Korean military police brought more than 1,700 "prisoners" in a few trucks, one group over another, and shot them to death. He testified to the fact that the U.S. was involved in the massacre by recalling that a "U.S. military officer was watching it."
The journalist of daily worker whom the journalist of observer said he met in Pyongyang in his book gave a detailed description of the massacre in Taejon Prison.
The former testified to the fact that there were more than 7,000 dead bodies in six large holes in the ground when he went to the vicinity of the prison soon after the massacre. "It was one of the mass killings committed by an order of the U.S. military," he added.
He also asserted that from June 29 to July 3, 1950 more than 1,800 people were killed in Inchon, where a branch of Sodaemun Prison, Seoul, was situated, and at least 1,200 in Suwon. This suggested the possibility of mass killings of inmates of prisons situated in areas north of Taejon.
Korea's army-based policy praised by Ugandan President
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- The Korean people have strengthened their defense capability under the army-based policy of leader Kim Jong Il and now have the might enough to deal a telling blow to the bellicose forces, said Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni when he met with new DPRK ambassador to Uganda Kim Pong Gi, who presented his credentials to him on April 30.
Hoping that Korea would be peacefully reunified in accordance with the north-south joint declaration, he noted that the Ugandan government would value the friendly relations with the DPRK and make positive efforts to further develop the relations.
Holy places enriched with more foreign saplings and flowering plants
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Delegations and delegates of different countries, while staying in Pyongyang to participate in commemorations of the Day of the Sun, visited Mangyongdae, the birthplace of President Kim Il Sung, and the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where he lies in state for perpetuity, and planted many saplings and flower seedlings and sowed flower seeds around his old home and in the arboretum of the palace.
Thanks to these sincere efforts of progressive humankind the landscape of the holy places of the sun turns more beautiful.
Deeply moved to hear the story that Kim Il Sung personally tended the vineyard in his lifetime after creating it near his office for children, Takeo Imoto, delegate of the society for promoting friendship between Japan and Korea, brought with him 1,000 grape vines and planted them around the old home in Mangyongdae.
A French professor presented white dahlia and white lily to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, saying that they represent the hardworking and cheerful Korean people building a powerful socialist nation through creative endeavours under the tested leadership of Kim Jong Il, a staunch champion of independence.
Russian and Chinese delegations presented several white birch and aspen trees and a variety of flower shrubs carrying their best wishes while figures of Mongolia and other countries contributed a variety of rare plants.
Tens of thousands of rare plants and flower shrubs from different parts of the world are growing in the holy places.
Famous book on Korean revolutionary movement
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- The book "brief history of Korean revolutionary movement overseas" was published in South Korea after the liberation of the country. Its author is Choe Il Chon. He was the first Korean to write about President Kim Il Sung's revolutionary activities and the history of his anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle.
The book makes an exhaustive review of the anti-Japanese struggle waged by the Korean people overseas including Manchuria during the Japanese imperialists' military occupation.
The book, on the basis of rich materials, logically proves that the 20-year-long anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle organized and led by Kim Il Sung was a heroic war of resistance that culminated in realizing the cherished desire of the Korean nation for the liberation of the country and the president was the great sun who indicated the road for the Korean nation to follow.
Though the book was printed on recycled papers, it created a lively response among public circles and people in South Korea. As the number of the copies of the book could not meet the readers' demand, many students and other young people copied its full text to read it avidly.
The president wrote in his reminiscences "with the century" that it was something astonishing to write such book in Seoul ridden with political confusion and disorder after the liberation of the country.
Famous revolutionary opera in DPRK
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- 30 years have passed since the creation of the revolutionary opera "Tell the Story, Forest," one of the five famous revolutionary operas in the DPRK.
Set in the period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle, the opera truthfully depicts Choe Pyong Hun, an underground operative of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, carrying out his revolutionary duty under the disguise of a "village headman" in the service of the Japanese imperialists.
Enduring all sorts of insulting and contemptuous remarks made by villagers against Choe for being a "running dog" of Japs, he creditably carries through his revolutionary tasks at the risk of his life.
It vividly represents the steel-strong faith and steadfast will of a revolutionary.
The opera is highly estimated as a masterpiece of eternal value as it makes a good combination of stanzaed songs, the main means of representation, pangchang, dances, Juche-based orchestra and Korean painting-based three-dimensional stage decor and ensures an uninterrupted flow of scenes of the opera.
The opera is still very popular among the theatre-goers.
S. Korean "foreign minister's" reckless remarks under fire
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary denounces Choe Song Hong, South Korean "minister of foreign affairs and trade", for making reckless remarks snubbing the consistent stand and sincere efforts on the part of the DPRK for improved inter-Korean relations.
The commentary says:
Choe Song Hong, not content with speaking ill of the compatriots in the north, the dialogue partner, before his master Yankees, did not bother to commit treachery. this laid bare his criminal intention to block the north-south dialogue, displeased with the process of improving the inter-Korean relations.
Though he is known to be a career diplomat, he did not to hesitate to let loose a spate of such rubbish falsifying truth, slinging mud at compatriots and inciting confrontation and conflict. This bespeaks that he is no more than a political prostitute.
What he said does not represent his personal view. This naturally raises a question as to whether the South Korean authorities have a true will to have dialogue and cooperation with the north and develop the inter-Korean relations or not.
The South Korean authorities are to blame for Choe's reckless remarks. If such anti-reunification element as Choe is allowed to remain in office, he will not be of any help to national unity and reunification.
The South Korean authorities should clarify their stand on whether they need the sycophantic traitor more than the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. The north will closely watch their attitude and stand.
S. Korean authorities responsible for postponing for inter-Korean meeting
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- The north side delegation to the committee for the promotion of north-south economic cooperation issued a statement today holding the South Korean authorities responsible for making it impossible for the second meeting of the committee to open as scheduled.
A joint press release agreed upon by the north and south on April 5 said that the second meeting of the committee would be open in Seoul on May 7.
The north side has made every arrangement to hold the meeting on a date agreed in the press release so as to make the meeting bear a good fruit. But South Korean minister of "foreign affairs and trade" Choe Song Hong made reckless remarks intended to hamstring the implementation of the joint press release even in the U.S., the statement says, and continues:
His behavior is a very grave provocation as it intentionally dismissed the joint press release agreed upon between the North and South of Korea and hindered dialogue and cooperation between fellow countrymen.
In this regard, our side stated that the South Korean authorities, if they truly want progress in the north-south relations in the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration, should apologize for such behavior and take a responsible and understandable step for it.
However, the South Korean authorities have failed to do so though many days have passed since the demand was made, thus making it impossible for the planned second meeting of the committee for the promotion of the north-south economic cooperation to open as scheduled.
They should own due responsibility for it.
We will continue to wait for their responsible step.
Kim Yong Nam meets FIFA president
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today met and had a talk with a delegation of FIFA led by president Joseph Blatter at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
Present there were minister of foreign trade Ri Kwang Gun who is chairman of the Korean Football Association, and Jang Ung, vice-chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission who is member of the IOC.
The delegation arrived here today.
CPC delegation arrives
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Communist Party of China led by Jia Qinglin, member of the political bureau of the central committee and secretary of the Beijing City Committee of the CPC, arrived here today.
It was greeted at the airport by Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Pak Kyong Son, vice department director of the WPK C.C., Jang In Su, secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee of the WPK, officials concerned and Uu Donghe, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of the Chinese embassy.
Hong Song Nam meets OPEC fund general director
Pyongyang May 6 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, met and conversed with general director.
Seyyid Abdulai of the organization of petroleum exporting countries fund and his party that paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present there were Kang Kyong Uk, vice-minister of agriculture, Jang Song Il, vice-minister of finance, and other officials concerned.
5th Pyongyang International Trade Fair opens
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- The 5th Pyongyang International Trade Fair was open at the Three Revolution Exhibition with due ceremony today.
Present at the opening ceremony were Ri Kwang Gun, minister of foreign trade, Kim Jong Gi, chairman of the DPRK committee for the promotion of international trade, and officials concerned.
Also present were the delegations and delegates of the DPRK, China, Russia, Cuba, Singapore, Italy, Belarus, Britain, Thailand, Australia, Germany, Syria, Sweden, Indonesia, Japan, and Taipei of China who came here to participate in the fair.
Victor Brovchenkov, director general of the Russian Convest Company, Ronald Unterburger, director of the Munich International Trade Fairs Pte Ltd. in Singapore, Enzo Ragazzi, director general of the Italian Otim Company, diplomatic envoys and commercial councillors of different countries here and embassy officials were also on hand.
At the ceremony Ri Kwang Gun made a congratulatory speech and Ri Su Dok, director of the Korean International Exhibition Corporation, an opening speech.
The speakers said that the fair will mark an important occasion in developing solidarity and friendly and cooperative relations among the countries and the peoples in conformity with the desire and wishes of humankind in the new century.
The participants laid floral baskets before a photograph of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il standing together in the main hall of the fair and paid tribute to them.
Then they looked round the exhibits.
A reception was given this evening in connection with its opening.
S. Korea's much ado about "danger of Mt. Kumgang Dam" refuted
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Ministry of Land and Environmental Protection of the DPRK today released a statement dismissing much ado about the "danger of Mt. Kumgang Dam" made in South Korea as a premeditated provocation to the north as it is a gross falsification of fact.
Some media in South Korea are now crying that the dam of the Anbyon Youth Power Station may "collapse," claiming that they obtained a U.S. satellite picture. And the authorities are getting vociferous about an "emergency measure", "dispatch of a fact-finding group" and "need to examine a plan to reinforce" the "dam of peace."
Recalling that the DPRK built the dam of the Anbyon Youth Power Station to be a monumental edifice of eternal value, the spokesman continues:
The security of the dam is fully guaranteed both in scientific and technological aspects as it was built as the strongest dam structure in the history of Hydraulic Power Station construction.
The outcries made in South Korea over "collapse" and "danger", a sheer lie based on the "satellite picture" provided by outsiders, clearly indicate that the ongoing smear campaign is prompted by a criminal intention to bring the north-south relations back to those in the period of confrontation at the instigation of the foreign forces who are displeased with the improving inter-Korean relations.
The ministry of land and environmental protection of the DPRK bitterly denounces the separatists at home and abroad for working hard to damage the dignity of the DPRK, spread misinformation and incite confrontation with the north among the South Koreans over the issue of the dam which belongs to the sovereignty of the DPRK.
This issue was raised at a time when a new stumbling block is lying in the way of implementing the April 5 joint press release owing to the unreasonable attitude of the south side. Lurking behind this is a sinister intention of the ultra-right conservative forces in South Korea who are keen to invite outsiders to interfere in the nation's affairs and increase cooperation with them.
The South Korean authorities are well advised to stop such unreasonable acts as throwing more obstacles in the way of implementing the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and the April 5 joint press release by raising a hue and cry over the non-existent issue.