Headquarters inaugurated to implement joint declaration in S. Korea
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- An inaugural meeting of the headquarters of the solidarity for implementing the south-north joint declaration of South Korea was reportedly held at Hongik University on May 28 to promote the June 15 grand festival for national reunification.
Rev. Kang Bui Nam in a declaration said that the south-north joint declaration serves as a landmark for national reunification and a declaration of national independence and great national unity as well as a reunification programme common to the Korean nation which enables its members to achieve reunification by their own efforts.
The declaration said that the headquarters would conduct diverse practical activities to stage the grand festival and undertake anti-U.S., anti-war and anti-nuke struggle and a dynamic campaign to eliminate anti-reunification forces including Ri Hoe Chang as its immediate tasks.
Art pieces created by former unconverted long-term prisoners
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- On display at the national art exhibition of the Pyongyang fine art festival which opened on April 13 to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung were several paintings and calligraphic pieces contributed by Ri Kyong Chan, Choe Ha Jong, An Yong Gi, Kim Un Hwan, Choe Son Muk and Yang Jong Ho, former unconverted long-term prisoners.
Attracting eyes of visitors were their calligraphic pieces written with brush in a peculiar style and the Korean painting "tiger on Mt. Paektu." through these works they represented their faith that every February and April they greeted while serving tens of years-long terms in solitary prison cells, their hands and feet bound to chains, were springs of faith and will for them.
They began to learn how to draw paintings and make calligraphy to remain true to their idea, conscience and sense of obligation for scores of life in jail secluded from society.
Having no brush and paper, they had to put their fingers into water to write any letters on the floor.
After their release from prison, they tried to draw and do calligraphy but nobody paid attention to them in the South Korean society.
Whatever painting and calligraphy they produced were not recognized as they lived under constant watch.
It was not until they came into the care of the DPRK that they could improve their lot and keep their talents in full bloom.
The Workers' Party of Korea provided them with all conditions and facilities so that they might draw paintings and produce calligraphy and saw to it that their works were displayed at national exhibitions.
The ages of the above-said former unconverted long-term prisoners average 72.
They are active as members of the Korean painters union.
New varieties of fabrics produced
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- The Nyongbyon and Pakchon silk mills in North Phyongan Province have begun producing new varieties of fabrics.
Officials, technicians and workers of the silk corporation of the ministry of light industry and those mills pooled their wisdom and efforts and solved scientific and technological problems arising in designing and dyeing new fabrics and updating looms, thus succeeding in trial production.
Their new products are gem velvet and tetoron ramie.
Gem velvet is multi-patterned fabrics printed with six colors including gold, silver, blue, purple, etc. and the quality of tetoron ramie of different colors and patterns is better than silk ramie.
The quality of those goods has reached the world level and there is a good prospect for their production, according to experts.
Leader Kim Jong Il gave on-site guidance to those mills on June 21, Juche 89(2000).
Russian military delegation feted
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of the People's Armed Forces hosted a reception in honor of the visiting delegation of the Far Eastern Military District of the Russian Federal Armed Forces led by col. Gen.Yuri Yakubov, commander of the district, on Friday.
In his speech at the reception, general of the Korean People's Army Pak Jae Gyong said that the DPRK-Russia friendship is developing on a new higher stage on the basis of the close relationship forged between the top leaders of the two countries.
He hoped that the delegation's visit would be helpful to invigorating the development of the DPRK-Russia military ties as a whole, including cooperation with the far eastern military district, as intended by the two top leaders.
We are pleased to note that everything is going well in Russia, our friendly neighbour, under the leadership of President Vradimir Putin, he said, sincerely hoping for fresh achievements in the building of powerful Russia.
In his reply Yuri Yakubov said the traditional friendship between the Russian and Korean peoples and armies has been sealed in blood. We highly estimate these friendly relations, he added.
Hoping for further development of the bilateral relations, he said this would be helpful to ensuring regional stability and peace.
President Putin and the people of Russia will support the leadership of the DPRK in its efforts to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula and reunify it, he declared.
He hoped that the Korean people and the KPA would make new achievements in their endeavour to increase the national defence capability and develop the economy under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
A performance was given at the reception by artistes of the KPA song and dance ensemble.
U.S. commits air espionage against DPRK
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialist aggressors committed over 180 cases of air espionage against the DPRK in may by massively mobilizing strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes of different missions, military sources reported.
At around 7:10 of May 31 U-2 was sent to the sky above the forefront area to spy on strategic targets in the DPRK. On the 30th, EP-3 based in Japan made flight in the sky above Tokjok Islet, Yangphyong and Yangyang areas from around 8:30 to 10:15.
On the 2nd and the 10th, E-3, an early warning plane from an overseas base, made shuttle flights in the sky above Tokjok Islet, Chunchon and Yangyang areas to spy on the northern half of Korea.
The espionage by U-2 and E-3 in May totaled more than 30 cases.
The U.S. imperialists let eleven tactical reconnaissance planes on the 17th, nine on the 23rd and eight on the 18th and the 30th each make shuttle flights in the skies above Kanghwa Islet-Phochon and Phochon-Sokcho areas to spy on the frontline and coastal areas of the DPRK. Among those planes were RC-7B, RC-12 and RF-4C.
Remarks of Ri Hoe Chang condemned
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued information bulletin no. 817 yesterday accusing traitor Ri Hoe Chang of making reckless remarks against the DPRK.
It said:
On May 23 Ri Hoe Chang addressing a meeting claimed that it is reasonable and natural to term the rival principal enemy as the north and the south have "double structure meaning bilateral relations of confrontation and negotiating partners for peace."
This clearly reveals his anti-national and anti-reunification nature and his view on confrontation in the era of the Cold War as he does not regard the compatriots in the north as a partner with whom to work for reunification.
His insistence on the anachronistic "conception of principal enemy" goes to clearly prove that he seeks only confrontation and war, not reconciliation and unity between the north and the south and peace and peaceful reunification of the country.
His utterance is an unpardonable treacherous move to bring the dark clouds of war to hang over the heads of the nation, going against the trend of the times.
The "conception of principal enemy" means "war logic" and "theory of unification by force of arms."
It is as clear as noonday that if such confrontation fanatic and warmonger as Ri Hoe Chang comes to power the inter-Korean relations will be brought back to those in the period of confrontation and our fellow countrymen will not escape horrible disaster of war.
Ri is a stumbling block lying in the way of peace and peaceful reunification of the country.
The South Korean people from all walks of life should dynamically turn out in the struggle to eliminate from the political arena Ri Hoe Chang, traitor to the nation and warmonger who does not hesitate to drive the country and the nation to destruction to gratify his greed for power.
"Arirang" performance praised
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- Heads of delegations of foreign political parties were greatly excited to see the mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang," profound in its content and vast in its scale and fantastic in its representation beyond human imagination.
Jorgen Petersen, head of the delegation of the Communist Party of Denmark (Marxist-Leninist), said that he once again keenly realized how strong the organization and unity of the Korean youth and children are, when seeing a series of fascinating scenes presented by over 100,000 performers moving as one. It is the greatest honour and pleasure in my life to have enjoyed such extravaganza, he noted, adding:
While seeing the performance I knew well that such excellence of human culture and arts can be created only under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Yos Son, head of the delegation of the People's Party of Cambodia, said that the performance is the greatest masterpiece beyond human imagination. It is, indeed, a successful work truthfully representing Korea in the past tormented by ordeals and prospering Korea today.
Valery Garev, head of the delegation of the Party of Communists of the Moldovan Republic, said that he felt as if he was in a dreamland each time performers presented a fascinating scene. Watching this performance one can know well how high the Korean people's artistic talents are.
Claudio Campos, head of the delegation of the October 8 revolutionary movement of Brazil, had this to say:
The performance "Arirang" can be created and staged only in the DPRK, a country of Juche. It really baffles human imagination.
It is a pity that I cannot find proper words enough to describe the scale and elegance of the performance.
While seeing the "Arirang" performance, I deeply felt once again how great the immortal revolutionary exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung, the peerlessly great man in the 20th century, are.
No force on earth can match the might of the Korean people singleheartedly united around Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century.
Great national unity called for
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article says that whoever truly wants national reunification should join the ranks of those working for great national unity to achieve independence and reunification.
The article notes:
National reunification is the supreme goal of the nation and it is its firm will to achieve the historic cause of the country's reunification at an early date.
The cause of national reunification is the cause of national independence.
The Korean nation was divided by foreign forces against its will. They still seek to perpetuate the division and confrontation between Koreans. This requires the Korean nation to achieve the country's reunification only by its own efforts.
It is the lesson taught by the history that it is possible to attain the goal of the country's reunification only when the Koreans pool efforts.
The adoption of the June 15 joint declaration was an epoch-making event which marked a landmark for national reunification.
But the course of implementing the declaration is by no means a smooth sailing. obstructive moves of the U.S. are laying obstacles in the process of improving the inter-Korean relations and march for reunification.
The reality proves that the nation should harbor not a slightest illusion about U.S. imperialism but jointly react to the U.S. policy of domination over the Korean Peninsula and it is possible to preserve the June 15 joint declaration and achieve the country's reunification only through reconciliation and unity of the whole nation.
No force on earth can break the national unity and hold in check the nationwide movement advancing under the banner of national independence and patriotism.
Humanitarian aid to DPRK from Germany
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- Over 7,000 tons of frozen beef was donated by the government of Germany to the DPRK in humanitarian aid with due ceremony at Nampho Port today.
Present there were Ri Yong Sok, vice-chairman of the DPRK Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee, and other officials concerned, Gert Suthaus, charge d'affaires ad interim of the German embassy here, staff members of the embassy and members of the visiting aid delegation of Germany led by Christoph Burk, adviser to the association of technical cooperation of Germany.
Speeches were made there.
The relevant documents were exchanged between Gert Suthaus and Ri Yong Sok.
The German government's sincere humanitarian aid to the DPRK will encourage the Korean people in their efforts to recover from the damage done by natural disasters that have lasted for several consecutive years and contribute to the development of the relations between the two countries.
International Children's Day observed in DPRK
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- A friendly joint meeting of women and children in Pyongyang and foreign women and children was held at the Taesongsan fun fair in Pyongyang today on the occasion of the 52nd International Children's Day.
Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and others.
Present on invitation were wives of diplomatic envoys and foreign women and children.
After enjoying the rhythmic gymnastics of children, the participants deepened friendly feelings, playing sports and amusement games such as pinning red stars along the route taken by leader Kim Jong Il, a ball-kicking race and tug of war.
An art performance was given by children at the meeting.
The participants enjoyed the holiday at amusement facilities.
Meanwhile, the International Children's Day was significantly marked in different parts of the country.
Tajik delegation here
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- A Tajik parliamentary delegation led by speaker of the lower house of the parliament Sairulo Hairuloyev arrived here today.