Inter-Korean working contact held
Kosong, August 4 (KCNA) - The working contact of representatives of the north and the south was held in Mt. Kumgang between August 2 and 4 to make arrangements for the seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks.
This contact marked an important occasion in invariably preserving and implementing the historic June 15 inter-Korean joint declaration to the letter and improving the overall inter-Korean ties on the track of reconciliation, cooperation and reunification.
At the contact both sides recognized the fact that the north and the south are at the crucial juncture in the efforts to continue implementing the joint declaration and the April 5 joint press release, its follow-up, and decided to issue a joint press release after reaching an agreement on taking positive steps to resume the deadlocked authorities-to-authorities talks at an early date and thus bring the north-south relations back on track and promote reconciliation, unity and cooperation.
Joint press release on inter-Korean working contact issued
Kosong, August 4 (KCNA)- A joint press release on the working contact of representatives for making arrangements for the seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks was issued in Mt. Kumgang Sunday.
The press release says:
A working contact of representatives of the north and south sides for making arrangements for the seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks took place in Mt. Kumgang between August 2 and 4, 2002.
At the contact the representatives reconfirmed the will to implement the historic June 15 joint declaration and, on this basis, discussed practical issues related to opening the talks and have reached the following agreement:
1. Both sides agreed to open the seventh north-south ministerial talks from August 12 to 14, 2002.
2. Both sides agreed to have the talks in Seoul according to the turn.
3. Both sides decided to discuss and solve the following issues at the talks:
The issue of opening the second meeting of the north-south committee for the promotion of economic cooperation to discuss issues of economic cooperation including the relinking of railways and roads between the north and the south, the construction of an industrial zone in Kaesong and prevention of flood in the areas along the River Rimjin, as already agreed upon between the two sides opening the second round of authorities-to-authorities talks to pep up Mt. Kumgang tourism, the issue of dispatching an economic study group of the north side and the issue of recommending the military authorities of each side to resume the talks between the military authorities of the north and the south as well as the issue of deciding upon the agenda to implement the April 5 joint press release the issues of opening the fourth round of the north-south red cross talks and arranging the fifth reunion of separated families and relatives in Mt. Kumgang.
4. Both sides agreed to ensure the north side's participation in the 14th Asian Games in Pusan and the south side agreed to render facility and active cooperation to it.
5. Both sides decided to actively help each other to ensure the successes of the August 15 meeting for national reunification in Seoul and the September football matches to be organized at a non-governmental level.
Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Russia visit marked
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - The DPRK-Russia Moscow declaration, a declaration of independence in the 21st century and a banner of defending peace, is an authoritative and important international document as it clearly indicates overall principles and orientation of DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations and the sound development of the international relations, and serves as an engine greatly encouraging people's struggle for independence, peace and development, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article marking the first anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's official Russia visit.
It is of tremendous significance that Kim Jong Il together with putin signed the DPRK-Russia Moscow declaration which reflects identical views and stands of the two countries, it says, and goes on:
The declaration now serves as a banner encouraging the world independence and peace loving forces in their struggle against the imperialist, dominationist and anti-peace forces keen to upset the strategic equilibrium and stability of the world and establish unchallenged domination over it.
In the declaration Russia expressed understanding and support for the DPRK's stand to make the U.S. troops quit south Korea and implement the June 15 north-south joint declaration. This greatly encourages the Korean people in their efforts to reunify the country and achieve lasting peace through the nation's concerted efforts.
The adoption of the Moscow declaration officially affirms before the world community the will and stand of the two countries to develop the DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations in all fields and vigorously push ahead with the historical cause of ensuring global peace and security and building a new just world structure in the new century.
The Korean people are convinced that the traditional DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations will grow stronger in the future, too, in the spirit agreed upon between the top leaders of the two countries and the joint declarations signed by them.
Implementation of Kim Il Sung's instructions for national reunification called for
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - It is the way of achieving the reunification of the country, the nation's cherished desire, to steadfastly glorify as its heritage the exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung in leading the movement for reunification and give a steady continuity to the history of his leadership over the movement generation after generation. Rodong Sinmun Sunday says this in an editorial dedicated to the fifth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "Let us carry out the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's instructions for national reunification."
The editorial calls on all the Koreans in the north and the south and overseas to turn out in a sacred struggle to implement the President's instructions.
It goes on:
It is the firm determination of Kim Jong Il to carry out the President's instructions for national reunification and accomplish this historic cause in our generation. All the Koreans are called upon to remain true to Kim Jong Il's idea of national reunification and leadership and unite as one under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration to dynamically push forward the movement for national reunification.
All the Koreans should vigorously advance along the road of reunification, regarding the great preposition "by our nation itself" as the maxim of their lives and struggles, censure any act detrimental to the declaration as treachery and decisively shatter it.
Noting that a struggle for peace against the U.S. and war today is a pressing task the implementation of which is related to the life of each member of the nation, the editorial observes: all the Koreans should react to the U.S. imperialists' brigandish strategy to dominate the whole of Korea and their moves for war with fierce anti-U.S. actions and foil their every machination against the reunification of the country. It is necessary to thoroughly isolate the anti-reunification forces in south Korea and frustrate in good time their sycophantic treacherous acts to serve foreign forces.
It is also necessary to heighten the vigilance against the U.S. imperialists' moves to sow the seeds of discord among Koreans and obstruct their movement for reunification such as the recent shocking West Sea incident and consolidate the foundation of national reunification through cooperation between compatriots under any circumstances.
More facts about U.S. use of germ weapons in Korea disclosed
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - Our group's investigation into the U.S. forces' barbaric germ warfare was aimed to get more facts about it and call to task Japan involved in it, said Masataka Mori, head of the Japanese group to probe damage done by the U.S. forces' germ warfare during the Korean War, when interviewed by KCNA here yesterday at the end of its investigation in the DPRK.
In the press interview the head of the group disclosed the facts that the U.S. obtained data on germ weapons from unit 731 of the Japanese imperial army as part of its preparations for a war in Asia and, on this basis, unleashed a war in Korea and used germ weapons, cruelly killing innocent people.
Noting that Japan cooperated with the U.S. in every way during the Korean War, he said that without this cooperation the U.S. would not have been able to wage a protracted war in Korea.
He went on:
The testimonies made by victims, materials about facts and evidence obtained by the group this time confirmed the correctness of the results of the investigations made by fact-finding groups of the International Democratic Lawyers Association, the International Alliance of Women and other organizations into the U.S. germ warfare earlier.
Japan is also to blame for Korea's division into the north and the south as it followed the U.S. policy towards Asia.
But for Japan's military occupation of Korea, the Korean nation would not have been split into two.
It is in this sense that Japan committed double or treble crimes against the Korean people.
We will carry on the positive activities to expose more facts about barbaric germ warfare committed by the U.S. forces and force the government to compensate for Japan's past crimes.
The U.S. troops' criminal germ warfare will meet bitterer world-wide condemnation in the future.
Withdrawal of U.S. troops from S. Korea urged
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - Rallies and lectures were held in Cuba, Austria, Peru, Mexico, Bulgaria, Nepal, Libya and Uzbekistan between July 23 and 27 in the month of anti-U.S. joint struggle (June 25-July 27).
Speeches were made at the rallies.
Jose manuel, vice-chairman of the Cuban committee for supporting Korea's reunification, in a speech fully supported all the DPRK's proposals for peaceful reunification of the country.
Urging the U.S. to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Korea at once and withdraw its troops from south Korea totally and unconditionally, he expressed the conviction that Korea would certainly be reunified thanks to the indomitable will of all the Korean people.
Amik Sherchan, president of the Central Committee of the United People's Front of Nepal, in a speech said that it is leader Kim Jong Il who is holding aloft the banner of socialism and guiding it to victory despite the imperialist allied forces' repeated threat and blockade. The DPRK will shine forever as a fortress and beacon of the world progressives who love justice and peace, he added.
Gigov, secretary general of the Bulgarian Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, in a speech said that the U.S. should pull its aggression troops out of south Korea at once, drawing a serious lesson from the last Korean War.
Lectures on the day of the Korean people's victory and other titles were given in Uzbekistan and Libya.
Lecturers said that the Korean people's army has won only victory and demonstrated its honour since its birth. They warned that if the bush administration ignites the second Korean War, it will drink a bitter cup of defeat as it did in the past.
Memorial services held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - Memorial services took place across south Korea on July 31, the 49th day after the murder of south Korean schoolgirls by gis, according to a news report.
A memorial service was held at the village hall in Hyochon-ri, Kwangjok-myon, Yangju county, Kyonggi Province, with the All-people Measure Committee for Shin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son, Schoolgirls Killed by the U.S. Armored Car, the bereaved families and other persons attending.
The participants demanded the withdrawal of the U.S. Forces from south Korea and an apology from the U.S. President.
The Taegu-North Kyongsang Provincial Joint Measure Council for Shin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son, Schoolgirls Killed by the U.S. Armored Car held a memorial service and conducted a signature campaign. The council groups more than 50 organizations in Taegu city and North Kyongsang Province.
It held a rally denouncing the GIs' killings in front of barracks of a U.S. unit, burning the stars and stripes.
The committee for the promotion of the memorial service on the 49th day after the death of schoolgirls killed by armored car held a memorial service in the plaza of Taejon railway station, at which it demanded a thorough probe into the truth about the murder.
Memorial services were also held in Masan city of south Kyongsang Province and Suwon of Kyonggi Province.
Unceasing U.S. war exercises
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - The Second Division of the U.S. Forces, the main force of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces in south Korea, announced that it would stage field mobile drills in Popwon of Phaju city, Kyonggi Province and Joksong-myon, etc from August 3 to 10, according to Radio No. 1 from Seoul.
Similar war drills will reportedly be conducted in Yangju and Tongduchon areas with over 1,000 troops, tanks and airplanes involved.
Earlier in July, the U.S. imperialist aggression forces together with the south Korean army carried out a south Korea-U.S. joint biological and chemical unit exercise against terrorism.
Ri Hoe Chang's war outcries slammed
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - The south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification on July 31 made public a statement titled "We strongly denounce anti-reunification war moves of Ri Hoe Chang of the Grand National Party", according to a news report.
Recalling that the GNP in a commentary attacked the DPRK's stand toward the armed clash in the West Sea and asserted that the real intention of the north's proposal for talks was doubtful, the statement dismissed these outbursts as unpardonable as they are intended for a war against the 70 million fellow countrymen.
It demanded the GNP stop all acts to chill the atmosphere of nationwide reconciliation and unity for the success of the August 15 meeting for national reunification.
The reunification solidarity for the implementation of the June 15 south-north joint declaration and peace on the Korean peninsula in a statement on July 29 said that Ri Hoe Chang, a presidential candidate of the GNP, at a meeting of party officials on July 27 put a brake on the wheel of the ministerial talks, letting loose a spate of vituperation that the south-north relations should not be used for such a political purpose as exerting influence on the presidential election.
The ministerial talks should be held to implement the historic June 15 joint declaration, the statement said, demanding Ri Hoe Chang withdraw his remarks immediately.
Korea's reunification supported
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) - All the members of the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the people of Peru will extend firm solidarity to the fraternal Korean people in their efforts to reunify the country in the future too.
Roberto Carvonel, international secretary of the party, said this in a statement on July 29 on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's work "Let us carry out the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung's instructions for national reunification".
He noted that President Kim Il Sung put forward the three principles of national reunification, the 10-point programme for the great unity of the whole nation and the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo, the highly important guidelines to reunify the country divided by foreign forces, and wisely led the Korean people's struggle for the reunification of the country.
Saying that Kim Jong Il indicated specific orientation and ways of carrying out Kim Il Sung's instructions for national reunification and has wisely led all the Korean people to achieve the cause of reunification, he stressed that the Korean people would certainly achieve the reunification of the country under Kim Jong Il's leadership.