Greetings to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - A floral basket and a message of greetings were sent to leader Kim Jong Il from Colonel Moammer el Gaddafi, leader of the Great September First Revolution of Libya, on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War.
They were conveyed to an official concerned on Thursday by Mahmoud Masoud Amer, acting secretary of the People's Bureau of Libya here.
Spokesman for DPRK foreign ministry on those concerned with plane Yodo
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - A spokesman for the DPRK foreign ministry answered a question put by KCNA in connection with the fact that those concerned with the Japanese plane Yodo recently expressed their will to go back home.
He said:
All those concerned with the plane released a statement on going back home on their own initiative some days ago and are reported to have started to go through necessary formalities.
Nevertheless, one can see strange things happening in Japan aimed to create the impression that the DPRK took this measure on purpose.
Their decision to go back home is their own choice and the DPRK government, therefore, has nothing to do with it.
Irrespective of the background against which the hijacking of the plane took place, the DPRK feels no need to keep the Japanese from going back home. The DPRK only hopes that the matter of their return home would be properly solved according to their will and wishes.
However, as soon as they expressed their will to go back home, the Japanese side lost no time to link it with the DPRK and spread the rumor that it is a measure to woo the U.S. to delist Pyongyang as a "sponsor of terrorism."
The DPRK does not care at all whether it is on the list of "sponsors of terrorism" or not.
It has already stated this more than once.
If the Japanese authorities handle this matter in such a way, they will get nothing from it and, on the contrary, it will make the issue more complicated.
Foreign ministry spokesman on DPRK-U.S. dialogue
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - A spokesman for the foreign ministry of the DPRK today answered a question put by KCNA as regards the issue of the DPRK-U.S. dialogue.
Since the emergence of the Bush administration in the U.S., the DPRK-U.S. dialogue has been at a stalemate.
The DPRK side accepted the U.S. recent proposal to send its special envoy to Pyongyang to explain its stand on the resumption of the dialogue.
Who is to be sent as a special envoy is its own business.
The issue of dispatching the special envoy was cancelled in the wake of the recent West Sea incident but if the U.S. side intends to send a special envoy in future when conditions are created, the DPRK will respond to it from a consistent stand.
Victory day marked
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - A music and dance performance "Song of victors" was given by the Korean People's Army song and dance ensemble at the April 25 House of Culture yesterday in the run-up to the 49th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.
Put on the stage were a mixed small chorus "Long live Generalissimo Kim Il Sung", a male vocal solo and men's pangchang My song resounding in trench", a dance "Brave fighters of Phohang" and other numbers.
They vividly represented the exploits of the heroic Korean People's Army and people who defeated the imperialist allied forces to honorably defend the freedom and independence of the country under the wise commandership of President Kim Il Sung in the last Korean War.
Also put on the stage were numbers which deal with the faith and spirit to annihilate any aggressors to the last man at one blow and accelerate the building of a powerful nation and national reunification under the army-based revolutionary leadership of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il.
That day a performance was given by acrobats of the Korean People's Army circus in celebration of the anniversary.
On the same day, a performance "Let us increase the production of rice to devotedly safeguard the great general in the same spirit as displayed in the 1950s" was given by agricultural working people at the monument to the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War in celebration of the 49th anniversary of the victory in the war.
Day of victory in war marked
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - In the last Fatherland Liberation War the heroic People's Army and people of Korea brought about the beginning of decline for the U.S. imperialists, who boasted of being ever-victorious in their 100-odd-year-long history of wars of aggression.
During the war President Kim Il Sung put forth Juche-based military strategy and unique war methods suited to the specific conditions and topography of the country and commanded major operations and battles.
The People's Army and people defeated the U.S. forces and troops of its 15 satellite countries, defending the freedom and independence of the country with credit.
They will increase the military power of the country in every way under the army-based policy of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il. If the U.S. imperialists ignite a second Korean War, they will wipe out the aggressors at one blow and surely accomplish the historic cause of national reunification.
Report on truth about sunken Japanese ship issued
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - The DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to "Comfort Women for the Army" and the Victims of the Pacific War yesterday issued a report on the truth about the sinking of Taiheimaru, a transport ship of the imperial Japanese army, which has long remained shrouded in the mists.
The report is based on testimonies made by the Koreans who narrowly escaped from death during the incident and the results of investigation.
According to the report, the Japanese imperialists, regarding islands north of Kuril islands, which are called Cchishima islands in Japanese, as an important military and strategic vantage for defending the Japan proper towards the end of the Pacific War, worked out a plan to build airports there and exerted every possible effort for their completion.
At that time there were at the construction site of the Otaru military base in Hokkaido, Japan, young and middle-aged Koreans who had been forcibly taken there from Kangwon and Hwanghae Provinces of Korea in May 1944.
One day in July 1944, the Japanese imperialists put more than 1,000 of them on board of Taiheimaru and locked the door of its hold in a bid to take them to the military base construction site on Kuril islands.
Various kinds of military supplies were so massively stockpiled in the hold that it had to be partitioned into several compartments where Koreans could hardly sit on the cargo and they were allowed to go in and out only through holes made on the ceiling.
A mere wreckage of its sides or bottom might claim many human lives.
On its voyage in the morning of July 9 1944 the ship was hit by two torpedoes fired by a U.S. submarine in the waters off Kuril islands before its sinking.
655 of those Koreans aboard the ship were killed.
According to more information available, 15 transport ships belonging to the imperial Japanese army were attacked by U.S. submarines and sunken or damaged while heading out for north of Kuril islands in 1943. It has been disclosed that from march to June 1944 alone 9 transport ships were destroyed in the waters around the islands including the sinking of Nitsirenmaru which left 1,934 people killed and Fushimimaru which was also sent to the bottom of the sea to claim 594 lives.
It is not difficult to guess that the then imperial Japanese army might have put many young and middle-aged Koreans aboard those transport ships and many of them might have been buried in the sea when they sank.
Charging that the Japanese government is obliged in view of the international law to admit its state responsibility for the death of many Koreans aboard Taiheimaru and take a practical measure for compensation to them, the report raised the following demands:
Firstly, the Japanese government should make a thorough probe into the truth about the sinking of the former imperial Japanese army's transport ship Taiheimaru and immediately make public its results.
Secondly, the Japanese government should admit state responsibility for this incident and make an official apology and full compensation to all those Koreans who fell victim to the incident after being drafted to Japan and their bereaved families.
Thirdly, the Japanese government should take a practical measure to find out the remains of those Koreans killed and bury them in their native villages or places near the abodes of their families.
Fourthly, the Japanese government should take an appropriate measure to ferret out all criminals involved in the incident and punish them according to their crimes.
Strategic line for Korea's future
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - The army-based policy is a strategic line of the Workers' Party of Korea in building a powerful nation and accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche, Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed article.
It goes on:
The policy serves as the most scientific and revolutionary strategic line for the future of the country.
A powerful nation of Juche is the target of the army-based revolutionary line and the matchless People's Army is a driving force to attain the target.
Its scientific accuracy, revolutionary character and invincible vitality are that it sets as a way of making revolution to make revolutionary ranks as an elite with the most revolutionary and organized People's Army as the model and raise the leading role of the army to push ahead with socialist cause as a whole.
The policy serves as a strategic line for training the people as those responsible for a powerful nation of Juche, an eternal line for defending the country and nation and a line for building a powerful nation.
All the young men and women across the country regard it as their highest honour to join the People's Army and discharged servicemen have wrought miracles and performed feats in major domains for building a powerful nation. This is a true picture of the era in which the army-based policy is pursued it clearly shows the bright future of the country.
The DPRK will as ever pursue the army-based policy for independence.
Hall arranged for class education
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - A hall for class education has been arranged in the run-up to the day of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.
Displayed in a chronological order are over 2,070 photos, data and evidence showing crimes of the U.S. and Japanese imperialists and class enemies.
The exhibits bear witness to the crimes committed by the two imperialisms from the first days of their aggression on Korea.
Drawing the attention of visitors are evidence proving the imperialists' aggression of Korea and their atrocities, which were carried in the U.S., Japanese and British publications.
The hall serves as an effective center for comprehensive class education the biggest in scale, style and content.
Foreign diplomats visit various places
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here Thursday visited the National Art Exhibition observing the month of anti-U.S. joint struggle (June 25-July 27).
The guests looked round art works depicting the immortal exploits of President Kim Il Sung who led the Fatherland Liberation War to a brilliant victory and the spirit and will of the People's Army and people of Korea to wipe out any aggressors at a single blow.
That day Violeta Goodridge Culzac, charge d'affaires ad interim, and staff members of the Cuban embassy here visited the oun revolutionary site on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War and the 49th anniversary of the Cuban people's July 26 armed uprising.
After being briefed on the fact that leader Kim Jong Il participated in the military camping there in Juche 51 (1962), they looked round historic materials, buildings and training sites with keen interest.
Anniversary of attack on Moncada barracks observed
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - Papers here today warmly congratulate the Cuban people on the 49th anniversary of the attack on Moncada barracks by resistance fighters of Cuba.
A signed article of Rodong Sinmun says:
The gun report of the revolution at the Moncada barracks taught the truth that the armed enemies should be defeated with arms and the victory of the revolution can be achieved only with arms.
Though the attack on Moncada barracks failed, the Cuban revolutionaries and resistance fighters firmly took arms of revolution and carried on the arduous armed struggle under the leadership of Fidel Castro to defeat the oppressors and bring a free and new society where people are masters of power.
The Cuban people have smashed every move of the U.S. imperialists against Cuba and defended socialism in the spirit of Moncada while accelerating the revolution and construction.
Confident of the justness and victory of their cause through the revolutionary practice, they are now maintaining their faith in socialism without vacillation though the U.S. imperialists' anti-Cuba moves are intensified.
The Moncada spirit and faith in socialism are kept deep in their mind.
The Korean people highly estimate the achievements made by the Cuban people in the struggle to defend the sovereignty of the country and socialism and extend full support and solidarity to their just cause.
Minju Joson says that the just cause of the Cuban people started with the gun report in Moncada will surely emerge victorious.
KCNA assails GNP's moves to scuttle Mt. Kumgang tour
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - The Grand National Party of South Korea has become all the more undisguised in its moves to scuttle Mt. Kumgang tour.
Presidential candidate Ri Hoe Chang and other ultra-right conservatives are calling for an immediate stop to Mt. Kumgang tour under the absurd pretext of the recent armed clash in the West Sea and describing it as an unilateral drain on resources for the north.
These disturbing remarks lay bare their criminal intention to chill the Koreans' desire for reunification and incite inter-Korean confrontation.
The Mt. Kumgang tour that began as part of non-governmental cooperation is the nation's noble undertaking reflecting the Koreans' unanimous desire for national reconciliation, unity and reunification and the South Koreans' wishes to tour the world-famous Mt. Kumgang.
The tour has become all the more brisk even since the recent armed clash. There are varieties of souvenirs for tourists and a large number of tourists enjoy swimming in the recently-opened beach near Mt. Kumgang while local schoolchildren's camping is at its height.
This is a clear proof of the validity and vitality of the North side's compatriotic measure to realize the South Koreans' wish to tour the mountain. And this has become an irresistible trend of the times.
However, GNP and other ultra-right conservatives launched an all-out campaign to torpedo the tour after the occurrence of the incident, going against this trend. This only glaringly reveals their treacherous nature.
What should not be overlooked is that they are talking nonsense that "money paid to the North for the tour of Mt. Kumgang was diverted to a military purpose" and "it was used for making shells." ri kept mum when GIs drove an armored car over middle schoolgirls in broad daylight, killing them, pretending to be ignorant of the fact that South Korea spends billion dollars for the upkeep of the U.S. forces in South Korea every year.
It is the height of folly for him to talk about somebody's "diversion of fund to a military purpose".
It is as clear as noonday that through this campaign against the Mt. Kumgang tour, the GNP seeks to nullify the June 15 north-south joint declaration, the landmark of national reunification, totally derail inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, cut off the channel of dialogue and pursue only confrontation and war.
Ri works hard to win in the presidential election by misleading the public opinion with his call for a war. But this is nothing but a daydream.
The Korean nation will certainly force Ri, a cancer-like existence in the way of peace and reunification, and other right-wing conservatives to pay for their crimes.
Inter-Korean agreement hailed
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - Papers here today support the agreement adopted by the National Reconciliation Council of the North side and the South Korean Headquarters for the Promotion of Joint National Functions in 2002 at the Pyongyang working-level talks.
The five-point agreement includes an article that both sides agreed to have a meeting for national reunification in Seoul on the occasion of the August 15 national liberation anniversary and the North side agreed to send a delegation of representatives from all walks of life to it.
This agreement is in line with the spirit of the June 15 north-south joint declaration, it reflects the stand and will of all the fellow countrymen to solve the issue of national reunification independently by the Korean nation's efforts under the banner of national independence.
The news analyst of Rodong Sinmun says:
The movement of national reunification of the Koreans has developed into the reunification movement involving all political parties and people from all walks of life in the North, South and overseas under the banner of the joint declaration.
When the significance of the historic Pyongyang summit and the publication of the North-South joint declaration and the support for and will to implement the joint declaration are reaffirmed at the grand August 15 meeting for national reunification, this will give a strong impetus to the growth of the movement of national reunification to be the movement of all the Koreans.
The Korean people of the same blood should be mindful of the mission before the era and the nation and turn out as one in the patriotic movement for reunification to open a decisive phase of independent reunification.
Bush's open apology urged
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - Students under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils staged a surprise demonstration in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul in the daytime of Wednesday to denounce the gi criminals for killing south Korean girl students, Seoul-based Radio No.1 said.
They scattered literature demanding the withdrawal of U.S. forces from south Korea and an apology from President Bush, while throwing eggs at the embassy premise.
At the same time students scattered over 200 sheets of literature reading "We denounce the U.S. troops in south Korea for flouting our people by covering up the truth about the killing of girl students and trying to gloss over the case" after hanging a large placard demanding "open apology from President Bush and probe into the truth behind the killing of girl students" on a roof of a building next to sejong cultural center opposite to the U.S. embassy.
Transfer of jurisdiction over GI criminals urged
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - The measure committee of Mindan-lining Koreans in Japan for probe into the killing of schoolgirls by the U.S. armored car issued a statement on July 19 demanding the transfer of jurisdiction over GI criminals to the South Korean side. Mindan is the South Korean Residents Association in Japan.
The statement said that they decided to inaugurate the measure committee, determined to join the compatriots in South Korea in the struggle to punish the GI criminals.
Demanding the U.S. troops transfer the jurisdiction to the South Korean government and punish those responsible for the crime and urging the U.S. forces and the South Korean government to form a joint investigation group to probe the truth behind the case, the statement declared that it would solidarize with Koreans at home and abroad and struggle on till its demands are met.
Withdrawal of U.S. troops from south Korea urged
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - Indian, Bulgarian and Mexican people urged the U.S. to renounce its anti-DPRK policy and withdraw its aggressor troops from south Korea at once.
At rallies held to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the Korean people's victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, they said the Korean people's victory in the war proved the truth that though the country is small the people can win victory over aggressors if they fight bravely, aware that they are masters of the country and power.
The ralliers bitterly denounced the U.S. as the author of the Korean War, aggressor and the Korean people's sworn enemy who divided the Korean nation into two.
They also expressed conviction that the Korean People's Army, which is demonstrating its might as an invincible one, would discharge its historic mission of defending the Korean revolution.
Diverse activities in month of anti-U.S. joint struggle
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) - Diverse activities are under way in the DPRK in the month of anti-U.S. joint struggle (June 25-July 27).
Meetings were held in various parts of the country on June 25, the day of anti-U.S. imperialist struggle.
Speakers at the meetings were unanimous in saying that the Korean War provoked by the U.S. imperialists 52 years ago was a war of aggression to turn Korea into their permanent colony and a savage war to massacre people.
Denouncing the U.S. imperialists for imposing the tragedy of national division upon the Korean people for over half a century, they vowed to take revenge upon the U.S. imperialists a thousand times if they provoke another war in Korea.
Screened in different parts of the country are documentary films such as "The Fatherland Liberation War" and "The U.S. imperialists, the sworn enemy of the Korean people" and feature films including "Defenders of Height 1211", "Wolmi Island", "No going back" and "Only order for us".
Various forms of meetings including rallies and poet recital of servicemen, youth and students are taking place in different parts of the country condemning GIs' crimes including the Pamnamu-gol in Wonam-ri, Sinchon county, and the monument to the sinking of the U.S. pirate ship General Sherman to vow to take revenge upon the U.S. imperialists.
Meetings with war heroes and heroines and veterans and with victims of atrocities committed by the U.S. imperialists are under way to heighten anti-U.S. sentiment.
A new poster "the U.S. imperialists, don't forget your shameful defeat" has been produced.