Korea's reunification supported by Turkish President
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- Turkish President Ahmed Necdet Sezer, when receiving credentials from the new DPRK ambassador to Turkey on May 10, stressed that he and his government would do things favourable to Korea's reunification, saying that the Turkish government is paying deep attention to the issue of the peace on the Korean peninsula and its reunification.
The president hoped that the Korean reunification would be achieved by reconciliation and negotiations between the north and south of Korea, not by outsiders' interference and war.
Anti-DPRK moves slammed
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland denounced the anti-DPRK elements in South Korea for trying to work out a "list of anti-U.S. and pro-north forces".
The "association for liberation" and the "meeting of national assemblymen for establishing national spirit" in South Korea opened to the public a "list of 708 pro-Japanese traitors" on February 28. As a counter-measure, the anti-DPRK forces are trying to work out and open to the public a "list of anti-U.S. and pro-north forces" after forming the "committee for the promotion of the work to open to the public a list of pro-north leftist forces".
The spokesman in a statement issued on May 18 said this is the last-ditch effort of the pro-U.S. and anti-reunification elements to incite the confrontation between the north and the south.
He further said:
The committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland bitterly denounces the moves of South Korea's vicious anti-communist elements to work out the "list of anti-U.S. and pro-north forces", branding this as an unpardonable anti-national and anti-reunification criminal attempt to block the patriotic advance of the South Korean people for the independent national reunification and perpetuate the U.S. imperialists' colonial rule over South Korea and the division of the country.
We express belief that the people from all walks of life in South Korea will firmly unite and carry on their valiant anti-U.S., anti-Japanese patriotic struggle to achieve the independent reunification of the country at an early date by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration.
KCNA refutes U.S. annual report on religion
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- The U.S. commission on religious freedom in an "annual report" on religion groundlessly pulled up the DPRK, claiming that "there is no religious freedom in North Korea."
This is a political interference in the internal affairs of the DPRK as it was prompted by the anti-DPRK hostile moves of the dishonest forces in the U.S. who are keen to foster confrontation, displeased with the process of improving the DPRK-U.S. relations.
As known to all, the DPRK guarantees by law freedom of religion and religious practices and Korean religionists are free to practise religion at churches and family worshipping places.
However, the U.S. is spreading sheer lies about religious practices in the DPRK. This cannot be construed otherwise than a trite ruse intended to tarnish the image of the DPRK and destabilize it.
If the commission is truly concerned about the religious issue, it should do something to straighten out the deplorable religious situation in the U.S. before talking about religious practices in the DPRK.
With nothing can the U.S. deny the fact that Islam and other religions are regarded as heretic and many religionists are subject to constant watch, persecution and crackdown by the authorities there.
In the period of the last Korean War, U.S. forces severely destroyed all religious facilities in Korea and took many lives of Korean religionists. How can the DPRK tolerate accusations made by the U.S. against the DPRK, far from apologizing for the above-said criminal suppression of religion.
The U.S dishonest forces should deeply repent of their behaviour before clamouring about the non-existent religious issue in the DPRK.
WTO secretary general and his party see "Arirang"
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- Francesco Frangialli, secretary general of the World Tourism Organization, and his party appreciated the mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang" at the May Day Stadium yesterday evening.
Among the audience were Ryo Sung Chol, director of the state general bureau of tourism, and other officials concerned and working people in the city.
The guests were deeply impressed with its high ideological value, energetic and dynamic gymnastic movements, fascinating and elegant dances and ever-changing background scenes.
Japan's undisguised plan for reinvasion under fire
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- Nakatani, director general of the Japan Defense Agency, addressing the recent meeting of the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives for adopting a "law on emergency" said generally speaking, all types of situations can be considered as events of "armed attacks," when answering the question as to what type of situation should be judged as an "event of armed attack."
Addressing the same meeting, the Japanese chief executive disclosed that the "self-defense forces" can use force in case of "emergency".
In this regard, Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed commentary:
The Japanese authorities' assertion that the event of "armed attack" involves all types of situations though its definition is ambiguous is intended to undertake undisguised overseas aggression under the pretext of "threat" posed by a certain action.
The Japanese reactionaries look pleased with having set a precedent for dispatching warships of "SDF" overseas under the pretext of "logistic support" for the U.S. troops following the "September 11 incident" in the U.S.
They are now keen to complete arrangements for adopting legislation for overseas aggression and going out for oversea aggression in real earnest.
Japan intends to carry out overseas aggression by joining the U.S. in its "war against terrorism." this is the real purpose of the adoption of the "law on emergency."
There is no doubt that the projected legislation is a "law on wartime mobilization" as it calls for mobilizing all manpower and material resources for aggression and war.
What should not be overlooked is that the Japanese reactionaries are going to adopt the law under the absurd pretext of "attack" from the DPRK. Lurking behind the call made by the Japan defense agency chief for the use of force, claiming that the appearance of a "mysterious ship" etc. should be considered as an event of "armed attack," is their intention to mount a military attack on the DPRK.
Anti-U.S., anti-war and anti-nuke struggle in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- A fierce anti-U.S., anti-war and anti-nuke struggle is going on in South Korea, according to news reports.
A rally to vow an anti-war and anti-U.S. struggle was held on May 11 under the sponsorship of the Seoul reunification solidarity for the implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and the peace on the Korean Peninsula. A resolution titled "let all the people get united as one to wage the second anti-Bush struggle and thus shatter the U.S. moves for nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula and successfully hold the June 15 grand festival for national reunification" was read out at the rally.
A spokesman for the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) in a resolution issued on May 12 called for setting days from April 19 to May 18, the period of the anti-U.S., anti-war actions for peace for the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration, as the period of the campaign to smash the U.S. imperialists' moves for a nuclear war and adorn the June 15 grand festival for national reunification with victory and cheers.
On May 13 the anti-U.S., anti-war and anti-nuke death-defying hunger strike group for a successful June 15 grand festival for national reunification and for the legalization of Hanchongryon made public an "appeal to all the people."
The appeal called upon the people to get united to oppose the arrogant U.S. colonial rule and smash its moves for a nuclear war.
Meanwhile, the south headquarters of the national alliance of youth and students for the country's reunification on May 14 published a joint slogan to be put up in the period of "anti-U.S., anti-war actions for peace for the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration" which was adopted in the north, the south and abroad.
The joint slogan called upon all the youth and students at home and abroad to turn out in an all-out struggle to glorify this year as a year of promoting unity and reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation and frustrating the U.S. imperialists' moves to provoke a new war.
Inheritance of spirit of Kwangju Popular Uprising called for
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- The propaganda department of the central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea issued an "article to all people" on May 16 on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the heroic Kwangju Popular Uprising, according to Seoul-based radio "Voice of National Salvation."
The heroic Kwangju Popular Uprising was a historic watershed in making a switchover from the anti-fascist struggle for democracy to the anti-U.S. struggle for independence and a historic event recorded in the modern history of the liberation movement of people in the east as the largest revolutionary struggle, the article said, and continued:
After the Kwangju incident, the South Korean people shouted anti-U.S. slogans, breaking with worship and flunkeyism towards America and resolutely denying the territorial and national division forced upon them by the U.S. imperialists. However, they have not yet been freed from the shackles of the U.S. colonial slavery nor achieved their cherished desire for independence, democracy and reunification.
Owing to the vicious moves of the U.S. war hawks and the conservative forces, a touch-and-go situation where a nuclear war may break out anytime is prevailing in the Korean peninsula and the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration is facing a grave challenge.
The article called for carrying forward the noble spirit of the Kwangju Popular Uprising to open up a fresh phase of independent national reunification this year under the uplifted banner of the joint declaration.
Nanny goat brings forth six kids
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- A nanny goat brought forth a litter of six kids in the household of Kim Kwang Gi, head of the fruit workteam of the Hwagok Cooperative Farm in Phanmun county, Kaesong.
The family has raised a goat of a fine breed with care for the last five years.
The goat bred its three kids in the first year, four kids next year and four kids last year.
In April this year it brought forth a litter of six kids.
The kids were in good health, each weighing 3.3-3.5 kg at the time of birth. They are now growing well.
Anniversary of Kwangju Popular Uprising observed
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- 22 years have passed since the Kwangju Popular Uprising in South Korea.
On May 18, 1980, patriotic people in Kwangju rose up in a popular uprising, infuriated by the South Korean military fascists' challenge to the people's aspiration after democracy on May 17 under the wirepulling of the U.S. imperialists. They had defended the city for ten days.
The uprising was quelled by bloody suppression and at least 5,000 patriots were killed and many innocent people were wounded in that period.
Rodong Sinmun in a singed article says:
The U.S. was chiefly responsible for the brutal crackdown upon the uprising. But it has not yet admitted its responsibility but pursued a policy of occupation of South Korea.
The U.S. military presence in South Korea has been harmful to the socio-political life of the South Korean people and national reunification. Inestimable is the damage they have suffered due to the U.S. imperialist aggression forces in South Korea.
The U.S. is leaving no means untried to obstruct the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration.
Reality goes to clearly prove that the U.S. is a heinous aggressor and the sworn enemy of the Korean people as it seeks to meet its interests at the sacrifice of the Korean nation and it is impossible to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula and national security and achieve the reunification of the country unless an end is put to the u.s. policy of military occupation of South Korea.
The departed soul of martyrs in Kwangju calls upon the South Korean people to launch an anti-U.S. struggle.
The South Korean people will surely turn out in a massive struggle for independence and national reunification against the U.S. and thus punish the aggressors and traitors and force them to pay a thousand times for the blood shed by the Kwangju Uprisers.
S. Korean authorities' suppression of Hanchongryon condemned
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- A press conference was held at Konkuk University in Seoul on May 13 prior to an "open lecture given by the chairman of the tenth-term South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), according to news reports.
A press release written by the chairman of Hanchongryon charged that the warrant for arrest of the chairman and spokesman for Hanchongryon issued by the prosecution is an intolerable act of labeling the tenth-term Hanchongryon as an "enemy-benefiting" organization without any legal judgment.
The press release termed this action the green light to a whirlwind of wholesale arrest of the deputies to the tenth-term Hanchongryon. It threatened to wage an all-people struggle for the withdrawal of the labeling of Hanchongryon as an "enemy-benefiting" organization and a stop to the police search for deputies on the want list.
A "letter to fellow students" written by the chairman of Hanchongryon was read out at the lecture.
Aid materials donated to DPRK by Switzerland
Sariwon, May 18 (KCNA) -- Frozen beef was donated by the Swiss federal goverment to the DPRK in humanitarian aid with due ceremony in Sariwon today.
Present there were Ri Yong Sok, vice-chairman of the DPRK Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committe, and other officials concerned, Rudolf Danecker, deputy director of the Swiss agency for development and cooperation of the federal department of foreign affairs, on a visit to the DPRK and Ulich Muller resident coordinator of the agency here, and the visiting aid delegation of Switzerland.
Speeches were made there.
The relevant documents were exchanged between Rudolf Danecker and Ri Yong Sok.
This offer of the aid materials to the DPRK by the Swiss federal goberment will encourage the Korean people in their efforts to recover from the damage done by natural disasters.