Greetings to President of East Timor
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Xanana Gusmao, President of East Timor, on may 21.
The message extended warm congratulations to him on the proclamation of East Timor as an independent state and his inauguration as its first president.
Unionists of S. Korea on strike
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- Regional and branch trade unions under the (South) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) went on strike on May 22, according to Seoul-based Radio No.1.
Over 600 unionists of 11 work-sites of the "National Federation of Metal Industrial Unions" in Pusan and Ryonsan held a rally demanding cutdown of working hours.
In Ulsan, trade unions of five companies affiliated to the federation went on partial strikes.
In Taegu and North Kyongsang Province, more than 10,000 unionists of 32 work-sites under the federation went out on partial strikes before holding a rally to vow a general strike.
Meanwhile, over 1,000 unionists of metal and chemical work-sites affiliated to the KCTU held union rallies urging sincere response to collective negotiations for wage-hike and the release of arrested union activists.
KCNA urges elimination of Ri Hoe Chang from S. Korean political arena
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- Ri Hoe Chang, a presidential candidate on the ticket of the "Grand National Party" of South Korea, reportedly claimed at a "forum of candidates" on May 22 that article 2, a key point of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, should be abrogated.
This is an expression of his anti-reunification, anti-national intention to write off the main idea and spirit of the joint declaration, a landmark for national reunification.
As known, article 2 of the declaration indicates the target for the fastest and fairest solution to the problem of Korea's reunification, the cherished desire of the nation, and ways of hitting it.
Noting that there is commonness between the north side-proposed low-level federation formula and the south side-proposed commonwealth formula, the declaration calls for working together for the country's reunification in this direction.
This is of weighty historic significance in solving the problem of national reunification as it has defined the common way of reunification for the first time since the country was divided into the north and the south.
The federacy formula is the only way for the Korean nation to solve the problem of reunification most smoothly and peacefully.
Nevertheless, Ri Hoe Chang has unhesitatingly denied it, going against the desire of the fellow countrymen and the trend of the times. Such act fully reveals his true colors as an enemy of the nation and an anti-reunification element.
In fact, he has been opposed to the joint declaration since the very day of its publication. he argued that "the north's assertion was unilaterally accepted, there is nothing to get from the declaration, and it will bear no fruit."
His recent remarks denying the declaration evidently prove that he is an anti-national separatist who has no willingness for the improved inter-Korean relations and reunification.
It is as clear as noonday that there will be nothing but a war between the fellow countrymen if such guys as Ri seeking only division and confrontation instead of reconciliation and unity between the north and the south come to power.
Ri, whose political life is coming to an end as he is a cancer-like element harmful to the country, the nation and reunification, should be eliminated from the political arena in time.
Folk dance "Tondolari"
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- Folk dance "Tondollari" originated in wild onion dance in Pukchong, South Hamgyong Province, Korea.
It is a liberal and optimistic dance to the tune of folk song "Tondollari".
Women used to gather to dance in sandy fields on a stream or river after digging out wild onion (edible plant) in April, which they say developed into dance "Tondollari".
During the period of the Japanese imperialist military rule over Korea the Korean people danced to the tune of folk song "Tondollari" on holidays and other occasions, considering "Tondollari" as meaning that a dawn of liberation breaks in Korea.
Dancers dance separately before forming a big circle, showing dainty movements in group.
The dance has become a popular dance on holidays and commemoration days.
The dance adds zest to people with clear tune, strong and weak, and peculiar rhythmic movements.
New magic theatre appears in DPRK
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- A new magic theatre of the Pyongyang Circus was opened in the DPRK recently.
The theatre has a total floor space of 1,500 square metres. Its opening marks a new occasion in developing magic in the country.
It has made rapid progress since the 1970s.
Leader Kim Jong Il personally met magic creators and magicians on October 25, Juche 60 (1971) and took measures to develop magic on a Juche basis.
As a result, hundreds of magic pieces including "bumper harvest of apples", "flower basket" and "umbrella act" were created to suit the thoughts and sentiment of the Korean people and staged to lead the audience to the artistic world.
DPRK magic pieces were highly estimated at international magic festivals held in different countries.
Korean magicians received top prizes at several Karlovy Vary international magic festivals and DPRK Labour Hero and People's Actor Kim Thaek Song and Jong Ae Sim were twice awarded the title of "king of world magic" and "queen of world magic" by the organizing committee of the festival.
There is a magic class at Pyongyang Circus institute to train future magicians and skilled magicians are selected at national magic festivals held every year.
The Korean Magic Association is making arrangements to join the international jugglers association.
Kim Jong Il's hobbies
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- As for my hobbies, I am fond of mixing with the people and soldiers and spending time with them.
I also like books and music. reading and listening to music are a part of my life and a source of inspiration for my work.
This is part of the answer given by leader Kim Jong Il to the questions raised by Itar-Tass of Russia.
Kim Jong Il has always found himself among people regarding it as part of his work and an iron rule since the very beginning of his revolutionary activities.
For about four decades since he started his work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in June, Juche 53 (1964) he has provided field guidance to at least 8,460 units, spending over 4,200 days.
He has devoted those days to talking to soldiers and people and acquainting himself in detail with their living conditions with paternal care. he has shared weal and woe with them.
When officials requested him to have a short rest, he told them that as he was fond of mixing with people, he always travels a lot to do so.
Regarding book as a silent teacher and music as a powerful means of administering politics from his early days he has made reading and listening to music an inseparable part of his life.
He devotedly read over 2,000 books as early as in his middle school days to win the admiration of people. He spends not a single day without reading a book.
Saying music was his first hobby, he created famous songs representing the era. He is fond of listening to the songs sung by people and soldiers, bringing about signal successes in the creative work.
Prevention of nuclear war called for
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- It is a solemn task before the present times to prevent a nuclear war and champion peace, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
It goes on:
A situation where a nuclear war may break out is prevailing in different parts of the world and the human cause of peace is facing a grave challenge due to the moves of the U.S. imperialists to dominate the world by nuclear supremacy.
In order to prevent a nuclear war and preserve peace it is necessary to ban nuclear tests, realize nuclear disarmament and completely eliminate nuclear weapons.
It is urgently required to ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, in particular.
This is of weighty importance in improving the situation in the Asian-Pacific region, defusing the overall international tensions and removing the danger of the global thermo-nuclear war.
Today the Korean Peninsula has become the most dangerous hotbed of nuclear war in the world and the situation there is so tense that a nuclear war may break out any moment.
The Korean Peninsula should be converted into a nuclear-free and peace zone if the danger of a nuclear war is to be removed from there. To this end it is necessary to eliminate all the nuclear weapons from South Korea and foil the moves of the U.S. imperialists for a nuclear war.
The Korean people will unite with the world peace-loving people and strive hard to frustrate the moves of the U.S. imperialists for a nuclear war and defend peace on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia and the world under the banner of peace against nukes.
Rodong Sinmun on torch lit in Ranam
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- The torch of revolution lit by the workers in Ranam in the first year of the new century is a torch calling for new progress and innovation, a banner of struggle and advance in the 21st century and a follow-up of the Kanggye spirit that helped win victory in the "arduous march" and the forced march in the 90s of the last century, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
It goes on:
The Kanggye spirit created in the period of the "arduous march" is the spirit that encourages the people to carry on their struggle full of faith and optimism about sure victory although the path before them is thorny.
This torch represents a torch of revolution in the new century as it fully embodies the intense loyalty to the leader, the core of the Kanggye spirit.
What is essential in holding high the torch of Ranam is the spirit of devotedly defending the leader and devotedly carrying out the tasks given by the WPK in a do-or-die spirit, not merely shouting slogans.
The torch calls on the people to meet the requirements of the Kanggye spirit for boldly breaking through difficulties by their own efforts, believing in their own strength.
The workers in Ranam are possessed of high national pride and faith that Koreans can do anything and conquer any fortress, strong revolutionary enthusiasm and creative style of work to make faster leaping progress to attain higher goals. This is their revolutionary spirit, the embodiment of the Kanggye spirit.
U.S. accusation against DPRK blasted
Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs today gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA as to the United States' recent accusation against the DPRK over the issue of terrorism:
The U.S. department of state in its "annual report on terrorism" released tuesday was so ridiculous as to list again the dprk as a "terrorism-sponsor," absurdly asserting that though the DPRK claims it is opposed to terrorism it has not made any practical effort to combat it.
It is a trite method employed by the U.S. for the pursuance of its "big stick policy" to label those countries disobedient to it as "terrorists".
The "annual report on terrorism" is, in fact, not worth a comment as it was deliberately choreographed by the U.S. now censured and ridiculed by the public for being a kingpin of international terrorism.
The DPRK does not care whether the U.S. lists it as a "terrorism-sponsor" or not because nobody recognizes the label.