Papers observe day of liberation
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Papers here today editorially observe the 57th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's accomplishment of historic cause of liberating the country.
Rodong Sinmun says that liberation of Korea from the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists 57 years ago was a brilliant result of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle organized by the president and a historic event that brought about a radical turn in the destiny of the Korean nation.
It goes on:
Our homeland is Kim Il Sung's Korea which came to shed its rays all over the world as it held him in high esteem and our nation is Kim Il Sung's nation as it was reborn and came to demonstrate its dignity thanks to him.
The dignity and position of our country which was liberated and built by the president have risen higher than ever before thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
It is the firm faith and will of Kim Jong Il to build a powerful socialist nation on this land and achieve national reunification without fail and thus glorify the 21st century as a century for Kim Il Sung's Korea.
He is confidently leading the Korean revolution along the road of army-based revolution with his fixed will to firmly defend and glorify with the help of the army the country which was liberated by the president by force of arms.
His army-based policy should be firmly upheld to defend and glorify the exploits performed by the president in achieving national liberation and building the country and glorifying them and provide a sure guarantee for building a powerful socialist nation on this land and achieving national reunification.
Minju Joson says the future of Korea is bright as it is holding the president in high esteem as the eternal sun of Juche and advancing under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
The paper calls on the Korean people to vigorously advance under the banner of army-based revolution and achieve the prosperity of the country and demonstrate the dignity and honor of Kim Il Sung's Korea and the heroic spirit of Kim Il Sung's nation.
Reception given on anniversary of Korean liberation
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Oleg Dabydov, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy here, gave a reception at the embassy on Wednesday evening on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of Korean liberation.
He said in his speech that the Russian and Korean peoples always look back upon the historic events in August 1945, adding that Japan's military occupation of Korea was terminated by the heroic struggle of the Soviet army and the anti-Japanese fighters of Korea.
The mutual visits of President V.V. Putin and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the top leaders of the two countries, and their meetings and talks gave a new and strong impetus to developing the relations between the two countries, he said, and went on:
The development of the Russia-DPRK relations is in line with the desire and interests of the two peoples and conducive to the peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world.
The Russian people are supporting the DPRK's line of building a powerful nation and are pleased to see the international prestige of the DPRK rising.
Russia hopes that through the implementation of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration the tensions would be eased on the Korean Peninsula and it be reunified independently and peacefully free from any interference of foreign forces.
Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, said in his speech that President Kim Il Sung achieved the historic cause of Korea's liberation by leading the anti-Japanese war to victory, adding that this was a great event that brought about the rebirth of our nation and a radical turn in its prosperity and development.
The Korean people pay high tribute to the officers and men of the Soviet army who devoted their precious blood and lives, fighting shoulder to shoulder with our revolutionary forerunners in the sacred war to crush the Japanese imperialists and liberate the country and look back upon their feats with deep emotion, he said, and went on:
The DPRK-Russia relations of friendship and cooperation have been put on a new higher stage thanks to the close relationship and deep concern of the two leaders. The Korean people sincerely wish the friendly Russian people new success in the work for the social stability and economic prosperity under the leadership of Putin.
Present there on invitation were minister of foreign trade Ri Kwang Gun, vice-chairwoman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Hong Son Ok, who is also chairwoman of the DPRK-Russia Friendship Association, and other officials concerned. Officials of the Russian embassy and members of the delegation of the Amur regional administration of the Russia Federation were present at the reception.
Meanwhile, Arkadi Lavrov, consul general of the Russian Federation in Chongjin, gave a reception on August 14 on the same occasion.
Kim Jong Il sends message to Putin
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a message of greetings to Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin today on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of Korean liberation.
The message says:
I extend warm greetings to you and the government and people of Russia on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of Korean liberation.
The DPRK-Russia relations are now steadily developing on good terms in the spirit of our meeting in Moscow last year and the joint declaration and in keeping with the aspiration and desire of the two peoples.
I express belief that the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation which have entered a new phase will expand and develop in various fields.
I sincerely wish you greater success in your responsible work to build powerful Russia and the Russian people prosperity and wellbeing.
Kim Jong Il to visit Russia
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il will visit the Far Eastern region of the Russian Federation late in August.
Greetings to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il today received a message of greetings from Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of Korean liberation.
The message says:
I extend warmest congratulations to you on the occasion of the day of Korean liberation, the national holiday.
We remember well the events in the past and cherish the memory of the participants in the battles fought to liberate Korea.
Russia has consistently supported the efforts of the DPRK for national reconciliation and the reunification of Korea and wish the Korean people new success in the socio-economic development.
We are confidently looking into the future on the basis of the long-standing tradition that unites us, boosting the relations with the DPRK on the basis of the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation and in the spirit of the declarations signed by us in Pyongyang and Moscow.
Commemorating the day of Korea's liberation with you, I would like to wish you good health and new success in your future work for the wellbeing of the Korean people.
I am confident that your forthcoming visit to Russia will contribute to consolidating the Russia-DPRK friendly relations and consolidating the peace and security in Asia.