Sojourn of group of Jeju islanders from S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The visiting group of Jeju islanders from South Korea toured Pyongyang and various local areas.
They went to Mangyongdae and the revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt. Paektu to look round historical relics preserved well in the old home of President Kim Il Sung in Mangyongdae and the native home of leader Kim Jong Il in the secret camp on Mt. Paektu. They also visited the Samjiyon Grand Monument.
They toured the area of Mt. Myohyang.
At the International Friendship Exhibition they looked round gifts the two leaders received from progressives of many countries of the world and South Koreans and overseas compatriots. They also saw historical relics and remains on Mt. Myohyang.
They visited King Tangun's Mausoleum and King Tongmyong's Mausoleum and toured the area of Moran Hill.
They also visited the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Arch of Triumph, the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, the Mansudae Art Studio, the Pyongyang metro and enjoyed a performance given by the Pyongyang circus.
DPRK girl wins title in Asian weightlifting championships
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Girl Ri Song Hui came first in the first Asian weightlifting masters championships in Qatar. In the 58 kg competition she lifted 130 kg in the jerk and 100 kg in the snatch, thus placing first in the two lifts and in total.
S. Korean students organization vows anti-U.S. and anti-war struggle
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Yun Kyong Hui, a spokesperson for the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), and Pak Kong Gi, chairman of the national reunification committee of the Seoul district federation of university student councils, held a press conference in Seoul on May 11, entering an anti-U.S. and anti-war death-defying hunger strike for a successful June 15 grand festival for national reunification and for the legalization of Hanchongryon, according to a news report.
According to a press release, ten universities in Seoul are now participating in the hunger strike and 12 universities are separately launching a signature campaign and a fund-raising campaign for newspaper.
The hunger strikers raised their demands including an immediate renunciation of the U.S. hardline policy toward the north, an obstacle lying in the way of implementing the June 15 joint declaration, and the removed of its threat of nuclear war from the Korean Peninsula, the withdrawal of the label of the "enemy-benefiting" organization of Hanchongryon and the guarantee of the legitimate activities of the deputies to the 10th-term Hanchongryon.
Anti-U.S. and anti-war struggle called for in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Chairman of the General Student Council of Chosun University Hwang Kwang Min who is chairman of the 11th-term Kwangju and South Jolla Provincial Federation of University Student Councils, issued an appeal for struggle on May 10, according to a news report.
The appeal called for certainly realizing the strong desire of the Kwangju Uprisers who fought against the United States and for national reunification 22 years ago after occupying the provincial office in Kwangju.
It called for putting spurs to the implementation of the joint declaration and successfully holding the June 15 grand festival for national reunification to check the U.S. war moves and reunify the country without fail.
KCNA calls for withdrawal of "principal enemy" phraseology
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The South Korean "Ministry of National Defence" in a "white paper on national defence for 2002" reportedly announced that it would keep using the phraseology of the "principal enemy" against the north.
The ministry keeps using the anachronistic phraseology of the "principal enemy," claiming that a perfect security posture should be maintained through the assertion of the "principal enemy" conception and the importance of vital security should not be downplayed by a political theory.
This cannot but touch off accusations by the fellow countrymen as the South Korean military authorities are persistently clinging to the old conception of confrontation, going against the trend of the times calling for the withdrawal of the "principal enemy" phraseology.
This phraseology diametrically runs counter to the spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration that calls for settling the issue of the country's reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation.
What merits a more serous attention is that the South Korean military authorities are still regarding the fellow countrymen in the north as the "principal enemy" at a time when there is the prospect of improving the temporarily frozen inter-Korean relations after the April 5 joint press release was published.
They do not deal with the north, their dialogue partner, with compatriotic feelings but brand it as their "principal enemy." yet, they call for dialogue with the north and discussion on reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south.
This can convince no one.
Their moves cannot be interpreted otherwise than deliberate and intentional plots to declare invalid the April 5 joint press release that had been agreed upon with much effort.
Branding the fellow countrymen in the north as the "principal enemy" is a very dangerous anti-national act to lead again the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the pitch of tensions.
No successful implementation of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration can be expected unless the "principal enemy" phraseology fostering confrontation and war between the fellow countrymen is withdrawn.
U.S. smear campaign against DPRK under fire
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The hawkish group of the U.S. military is claiming that the DPRK's "development of missiles and export of missile technology" are posing a "threat" not only to the pacific region but to all other parts of the world, asserting that the DPRK is "developing all types of missiles including weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles" and "exporting missile technology."
In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary observes:
No one will believe the piffles let loose by the hard-line conservatives of the U.S. about "threat" from the DPRK.
It is the strategic aim of the U.S. to put the whole of Korea under its control and use it as a springboard from which to expand its domination over the Asia-Pacific region in a bid to realize its unchallenged domination over the world.
To attain this aim the U.S. hawkish group is directing the sharp edge of its attack to the DPRK after declaring it as its "principal enemy."
The row over "threat from North Korea" raised by the U.S. hard-line conservatives is nothing but a smear campaign aimed to get out of the deplorable position into which the U.S. has been thrown by the ever-increasing demand of the South Koreans for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, perpetuate the U.S. forces' presence in South Korea and justify its policy to stifle the DPRK by force of arms.
This attempt of the U.S. is nothing but a pipe dream.
Koguryo tombs
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Toguryo tombs are the precious treasure of the nation, which shows the fine culture of the Koguryo Dynasty (227 b.c.-668 A.D.) known as a strong country in Korean history.
Koguryo tombs, following the tomb type of ancient Korea, show well the unique structural style and developed architecture that could never be seen in neighboring countries at that time.
Among stone-cabin earthen tombs, mural paintings were found in over 90 tombs.
Typical of them are mural paintings inside the Mausoleum of King Tongmyong in Pyongyang, the Mausoleum of King Kogukwon in Anak county, South Hwanghae Province, the three tombs of Kangso and the tomb of Tokhung-ri in Kangso district, Nampho city.
Depicted on the ceilings of the tombs are the sun, the moon and stars, art works on dreamy themes and pretty patterns.
Seen on the walls of the tombs are pictures of splendid buildings, the life of Koguryo people in their houses, their hunting, battle, singing and dancing, fantastic animals including blue dragon and white tiger and colorful decorative patterns.
These are important materials in studying the political system, economic activities and military power at that time.
Done by the Korean painting method they still preserve their original colours.
Stamp "Arirang" published
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The Korea Stamp Corporation recently published five sheets of stamps on the mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang".
Printed on the stamps is "Arirang" logo and depicted there against the background of the May Day Stadium are different scenes of the performance showing the dignity and pride of the Korean nation.
Among them is a stamp depicting the young communists through whom it shows the Korean people, who left their native places, singing the song "Arirang" in tears in the period of the Japanese imperialists' military occupation of Korea, are embarking upon the road of struggle under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung, holding him in high esteem as the lodestar of the nation.
There are stamps depicting the Korean people demonstrating the national dignity, singing the songs "Arirang for powerful nation" and "reunification Arirang" and stressing that national reunification is the cherished desire of the nation whose realization brooks not a moment's delay.
The face value of each stamp ranges from 10 Jon to 20, 30, 40 Jon and one Won.
Songdowon Tourist Hotel
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The Songdowon Tourist Hotel is located in the center of Songdowon, Wonsan city, Kangwon Province, known as a scenic spot.
Songdowon thick with pine-trees has a picturesque scenery.
The Songdowon Hotel with a total floor space of 150,000 m2 has more than 100 rooms and over 380 beds.
It has begun serving foreign visitors from Juche 68 (1979).
Here all conditions are provided for the convenience of the visitors.
There are several big and small restaurants capable of serving at least 500 at once. Conspicuous at the restaurants are dishes made of fresh fishes of the east sea. In particular, a terrapin soup wins popularity among visitors for its special efficacy in normalizing blood pressure, preventing debility and senility, treating post-confinement diseases, recovering vitality and increasing sexual function.
Mud treatment efficacious for treating diseases is also drawing much attention of the tourists.
Rodong Sinmun on army-based policy
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- No aggression forces can harass the peace in Korea and the security of the Korean nation as long as there is the army-based policy of leader Kim Jong Il who is leading the people's cause of independence in reliance upon the powerful armed forces, says an article of Rodong Sinmun today.
It says:
The army-based policy aimed to defend the peace of the country and the security of the nation reflects Kim Jong Il's noble patriotic idea and will.
The great army-based policy is a patriotic policy to protect the revolution and the nation from the enemy's challenges. It serves as a great banner redoubling the people's politico-ideological awareness and indomitable spirit to fight for the country and the nation going through thick and thin. It is the basic spirit of the army-based policy that it is possible to defend the country and the nation, ensure peace and achieve reunification only when the army remains strong.
The Korean people's Army today is demonstrating its might as a matchless army in terms of its ideological and moral readiness to defend the security of the nation at the cost of its lives and its combat capability to wipe out at a single blow those who try to infringe upon the dignity and the sovereignty of the DPRK.
This army-based policy also reflects the revolutionary stand and staunch anti-imperialist fighting spirit of those who brave death.
The idea of giving priority to the army represents a firm spirit of attack to protect the dignity and pride of the country under any circumstances and it is based on the death-defying revolutionary stand.
Saying that the vitality of the army-based policy aimed to guarantee the peace of the country and the security of the nation represents the might of the steellike single-hearted unity of the DPRK, the article concludes that the inexhaustible strength of the DPRK emanates from the strong single-hearted unity of the whole society.
Chinese delegation sees performance "Arirang"
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The visiting delegation of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament saw the mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang" at the May Day Stadium Tuesday evening.
Seeing the performance were the members of the delegation headed by He Luli, vice-chairwoman of the standing committee of the national people's congress of China and president of the Chinese people's association for peace and disarmament, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe and staff members of his embassy.
Also among the audience were chairman Mun Jae Chol of the Korean National Peace Committee and other Officials concerned and working people in the city.
The performance was enthusiastically applauded by the audience for its high ideological and artistic value, fascinating dances, cheerful and dynamic gymnastic movements, ever-changing background scenes and wonderful effects of stage properties.
Hong Song Nam meets Swedish ambassador
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, met and had a talk with new Swedish ambassador to the DPRK Paul Beijer who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
On hand was vice-minister of foreign affairs Choe Su Hon
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Chinese delegation
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the head of the delegation of the Chinese people's association for peace and disarmament.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by head of the delegation He Luli, vice-chairwoman of the standing committee of the national people's congress of China and president of the association.
Greetings to President of Democratic of Congo
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to major general Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of its liberation.
In the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and the DRC would develop on good terms in the interests of the two peoples, the message sincerely wished the president and the people of the DRC greater success in the work for preventing the division of the country and achieving national reconciliation and unity.
WTO secretary general arrives
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- Francesco Frangialli. secretary general of the world tourism organization, and his party arrived here today.
The DPRK government gave a reception in honor of the secretary general of the organization and his party this evening.