Austrian Committee for Remembering Kim Il Sung formed
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- A Committee for Remembering President Kim Il Sung was inaugurated in Vienna on May 22.
At the inaugural ceremony Max Verworner, chairman of the society for the promotion of the relations between Austria and the DPRK, was elected chairman of the committee.
The committee discussed a program of different functions to be held in the capital city and local areas.
Korea's reunification supported
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Slovak President Rudolf Schuster, when receiving credentials from new DPRK ambassador to his country Pak Hyon Bo on May 23, said that Slovakia expresses full support to the Korean people in their efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula and its reunification.
Referring to the development of the friendly relations between the two countries, the president stressed that the two countries have good experience in having supported and cooperated with each other in the international arena including the U.N.
Ri Hoe Chang urged not to run for presidency
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The reunification solidarity for the implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and peace on the Korean Peninsula and the "National Federation of University Gazette Correspondents" reportedly issued statements on May 24, denouncing Ri Hoe Chang for his anti-reunification remarks.
The solidarity in a statement said his remarks that the second article of the joint declaration should be repealed betray his ulterior intention to deny the joint declaration and not to implement it.
The statement condemned him as a pro-American traitor who is not interested in national reconciliation and reunification, currying favour with the U.S.
The federation in a statement urged him not to run for presidency but to retire from the politics.
The joint declaration is the only hope for reunification and the federation will respect it thoroughly and strive to implement it, the statement said.
Repressive actions against pro-reunification organization protested
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The solidarity for implementing the south-north joint declaration reportedly released a statement on May 25 condemning the police and the "Grand National Party" for blocking a press conference aimed at denouncing the anti-reunification remarks made by Ri Hoe Chang.
Recalling that the chief of the Yongdungpho Police Station sent policemen in to block a press conference on May 24 at the request of the GNP and walked away its participants, the statement dismissed this outrage as "tyrannical actions against reunification and democracy as they were designed to ditch the joint declaration, a landmark of reunification."
Branding the police authorities and the GNP as the "forces standing in the way of democracy and reunification", the statement held that national reunification cannot be achieved unless such forces are brought to justice.
We will never pardon the GNP and the chief of the Yongdungpho Police Station for suppressing the just activities for democracy by riot police, though a spate of anti-reunification remarks were made by the party, the statement said.
The statement declared that the solidarity would conduct a more vigorous struggle to implement the June 15 joint declaration and uncompromisingly fight against the anti-reunification moves to defile and ditch the joint declaration, in solidarity with all social organizations.
Introduction of U.S.-made fighters opposed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- A "meeting urging the withdrawal of the selection of F-15K fighters" was reportedly held in Seoul on May 25 under the sponsorship of the "National People's Solidarity" grouping more than 40 organizations including the (South) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the "National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification", the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils with members of the organizations, students, workers, poor people, etc. attending.
So Kyong Won, permanent adviser to the Council for National Reconciliation and independent reunification, asserted that "South Korea should not buy F-15Ks at any cost."
A resolution read out at the meeting said that the outcome of the negotiations held by the "defence ministry" with the U.S. turned out to be nothing but a ruse to calm down the public opinion opposed to the former's selection of fighters, yielding the latter's pressure, and demanded an immediate stop to the moves to introduce F-15Ks.
Later the headquarters of the movement for return of the U.S. military base in Ryongsan held the 7th citizens meeting to seek the return of the military base, voice opposition to the "national assembly" approval of the "joint land management plan" and frustrate the moves for a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.
Russian ensemble gives its premiere
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The Ensemble of the Red Flag Far Eastern Military District of the Federal Armed Forces of Russia on a visit to the DPRK gave its premiere at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre on May 28.
Seeing it were servicemen of the Korean People's Army and working people in the city.
The ensemble raised the curtain with immortal revolutionary paeans "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong Il." through such songs as "Just Battle", "Katsusha", "Suburbs of Moscow in the Evening," "Kalinka," etc. The performers impressively depicted the Russian people's warm love for their motherland and their traditional way of life.
They also put on the stage an orchestra and chorus "we sing of red flag far eastern military district", song "military district no. 1" and ballet "soldier is always soldier" which represented the life of the soldiers in the district.
The performance proceeded in an atmosphere overflowing with DPRK-Russia friendship. It ended with the song and dance "our friendship will be ever-lasting."
S. Korean police's suppression under fire
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The South Korean police ruthlessly cracked down upon a press conference scheduled to be held by the "reunification solidarity" in front of the building of the "Grand National Party" on May 24 to lash out at Ri Hoe Chang for his remarks defiling the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, according to a news report.
The police walked away the secretary general of the "reunification solidarity" and seven others and took away seven members of the "reunification solidarity" who protested against the suppression.
On hearing the news soon, those related to the "nationwide special committee for probing the truth behind the GIS' mass killings of civilians" gathered in front of the building of the "GNP" before holding a press conference.
At the press conference O Jong Ryol, permanent chairman of the "National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification", read out a letter of protest which charged that the reckless remarks made by Ri Hoe Chang about the second point of the joint declaration were outbursts that could never be made by a politician and they were by no means a "misstatement".
He demanded the elimination of Ri from the political arena and the withdrawal of his appointment as a "presidential candidate". He threatened to wage a vigorous struggle against the "GNP" and Ri Hoe Chang unless such demands are met.
Halt to suppression of Hanchongryon called for
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The South Korean prosecution issued warrants for arrest of the chairman of the 10th-term Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils) and its spokesman and are keen to crack down on it after labeling it as an "enemy-benefiting organization". This is a very unreasonable behavior.
Minju Joson says this in a signed commentary today.
The news analyst goes on:
The programme set forth by Hanchongryon and its activities conducted to carry it out can in no way be a target of suppression as they reflected the aspiration and demand of the South Korean people.
However, the South Korean "security" authorities are calling into question the activities of Hanchongryon for independence and democratization of society and national reunification and raising a whirlwind of suppression. This is prompted by their ulterior intention to keep South Korea under the domination of outside forces and perpetuate the division of the country.
The "security" authorities are intensifying the suppression of the hardcore members of Hanchongryon, the vanguard of the one million fellow students of South Korea, after labeling it as the "enemy-benefiting organization", and laying an obstacle in the way of implementing the north-south joint declaration, a declaration for national independence and reunification. These anti-national and anti-reunification acts are intolerable.
Hanchongryon will not yield to any suppression but achieve its sacred cause by the concerted efforts.
The South Korean authorities should withdraw the label of the "enemy-benefiting organization" attached to Hanchongryon, guarantee the freedom of its activities and discontinue the suppression of the patriotic students.
Appearance of Chongchon River basin changes beyond recognition
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The River Chongchon originates in Mt. Rangrim in the northwestern part of Korea and empties into the West Sea.
Chongchon means clean water in Korean.
It is 217 kilometers long and its basin covers 9,552.6 square kilometers.
There are many famous beauty spots in the basin such as Mt. Myohang, Paekryong Grand Cavern, Lake Yonphung called "a sea surrounded by mountains", Paeksang Pavilion in Anju and Yaksandongdae in Nyongbyon.
There stands the International Friendship Exhibition, a treasurehouse praising great men, in Mt. Myohyang, one of the five famous mountains in Korea.
There is also Lake Yonphung, an artificial reservoir that has its source in the river.
Rest homes and camping centers are found on the shore of the lake.
The river basin abounds in cultural and historical relics and monumental edifices such as Cholong fortress in Nyongbyon, Nam Gate, Ryuksung Pavilion, Chonju Temple, Soun Temple and Hyangsan Barrage.
Modern cities and villages, industrial establishments and cooperative farms were built in the River Basin.
Anju city appeared in the 1970s. High-rise buildings of different styles stand in rows in the city.
The River Basin is a main silk producer of the country.
Varieties of silk such as figured satin and Kuryongdan silk in Nyongbyon, brocade in Pakchon and heavy silk in Anju are very popular at home and abroad.
Manwol Pavilion
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Manwol Pavilion is the site of the royal palace of Koryo (918-1392), the first unified state in Korea.
It is situated in Kaesong which was the capital of Koryo.
Its name originated in the word "pavilion" where men of the palace used to look at the moon.
The royal palace was erected in 919 and its area was 1,250,000 square metres.
The palace consists of the residence of the king and public offices.
The residence is about 390,000 square metres wide.
The central architectural structure of the palace was on heights.
There are sites of different buildings.
In the west there were buildings where the king managed state affairs and lived and in the east a building where the crown prince lived.
It is noteworthy that the constitution of the royal palace and plottage of buildings were identical to the remains of the royal palace of the Koguryo dynasty.
Manwol Pavilion is the precious cultural relics showing the creative talents of the Korean nation in the reign of the Koryo dynasty.
Peculiar wooden handicraft
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Wooden handicraft on the theme "our revolution that started with songs will triumph with songs" on display at the gift exhibition of the ministry of the people's armed forces is winning admiration of visitors.
It was carved on the root of a 400-odd-year old linden tree. It is 3m tall and 2.16m wide.
It reflects the people's praise of the great policy on music pursued by the Workers' Party of Korea and the servicemen's absolute worship of supreme commander Kim Jong Il.
Carved on it are the words of "Song of River Amnok" President Kim Il Sung sang when crossing the River Amnok with a great aim to win the country's liberation and other songs he personally created.
The handicraft also depicts the young communists who are holding the president in high esteem as the center of the unity, composing and singing the song "star of Korea" and the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters who are picturing to themselves the liberated country, singing the song "nostalgia." It also portrays servicemen holding a frontline concert with musical instruments made of empty cartridges in a pit during the Korean War and people who have turned out in the postwar rehabilitation and construction, loudly singing "song of rehabilitation."
And it vividly depicts the performance by the merited choir of the Korean People's Army.
Seeing the handicraft peculiar in ideological content and representation, Kim Jong Il highly appreciated it, saying it contains all the famous songs of Korea and it is wonderful.