DPRK proves successful in East Asia juvenile table-tennis championships
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The DPRK came first in men's and women's team events in the 11th East Asia juvenile table-tennis championships in Osaka, Japan, from August 15 to 16.
The men's team beat the Macao, Japanese (team B) and Chinese teams 3:0 and, in the finals, the Japanese team a 3:0. The women's team defeated the Mongolian and Chinese Taibei teams 3:0, Japanese team a 3:1 and the Chinese team 3:0 in finals.
In men's singles Ri Chol Song finished first, Jon Myong Song second and Ri Kang Hyon third and in women's singles Ri Kum Hwa second and Song Hye Ryon third.
Revival of Japanese militarism under fire
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Over 200 members of the "Association of South Korean Survivors of Forcible Drafting by the Japanese Imperialists" held a rally in Seoul on Thursday to denounce Japan for its moves to revive militarism, according to Seoul-based CBS.
They said that Japan is going to revive militarism, far from repenting of its past crimes.
They demanded Japan make a sincere apology and compensation for the drafting.
KCNA holds U.S. fully accountable for loss of electricity in DPRK
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- As already reported, KEDO started ground concrete tamping some time ago for the construction of light water reactors (LWRs) to be provided by the United States to the DPRK by 2003 under the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework.
In this connection the U.S. administration is unreasonably claiming that the DPRK should accept nuclear inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and if not, the U.S. cannot provide LWRs to the DPRK.
What should not be overlooked is the fact that officials of the U.S. administration are asserting that the DPRK's demand for compensation for the loss of electricity caused by the delayed construction of LWRs is "groundless."
This is a shameless assertion intended to evade its responsibility for the delayed construction of LWRs and force the DPRK to unilaterally implement the agreed framework.
As the DPRK has already clarified, the issue to which the DPRK and the U.S. should pay greatest attention is not an issue of nuclear inspection but the issue of how to preserve the agreed framework and settle the matter raised owing to the delayed implementation of the agreed framework.
The core issue of the agreed framework is the U.S. provision of LWRs to the DPRK in return for its nuclear freeze and this should be implemented strictly on the principle of simultaneous action.
But the U.S. started the ground concrete tamping for the construction of the LWRs only recently and the LWR construction which had been initially expected to be completed by 2003 is unlikely to be finished even by 2008.
The DPRK-U.S. agreed framework stipulates that after a considerable part of the LWR project is carried out the DPRK shall negotiate with the IAEA and implement the safeguards accord on nuclear inspection. Accordingly, the issue of nuclear inspection is to be settled automatically depending on the progress made in the LWR construction.
However, this construction is much delayed owing to the U.S. unilateral non-compliance with the agreed framework. As a result, the DPRK has suffered a huge loss of electricity, which has seriously affected its overall economy.
Had the DPRK developed its independent nuclear power industry, not bound to the agreed framework, it would have been certain to create the nuclear energy generating capacity of 2 million kw by 2003 and would not have suffered such an acute shortage of power.
It is widely known that the United States has deliberately delayed the construction of LWRs since its outset by enacting even a law intended to hamstring it at congress under various pretexts.
It is a publicly recognized international norm that the loss caused by non-compliance with an agreement in inter-state relations should be compensated for by the party that is to blame for it.
It is a hard fact that the point of the agreed framework calling for the completion of the LWR project by 2003 has been delayed.
The U.S. should, therefore, meet the DPRK's demand for compensation for the loss of electricity. It would be quite proper for the U.S. to do so in view of international law and from the moral point of view.
Korea's first paper Jobo
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Jobo, the first paper of Korea, is a precious cultural treasure of the country.
Recorded in the government diary of March 1520 is an issue concerning the publication of the paper.
The daily, published by the Ri dynasty (1392-1910), helped officials have interest in the feudal politics and understanding of nature and society.
Edited in the daily were orders of the king, opinions of government officials on the government's policies, appointments and dismissals, reports to the king, agricultural news, foreign news, queer incidents, rare natural phenomena, etc.
It is almost the same with present-day newspapers in edition.
The paper was 35 cm in its width. Its length was up to contents.
The paper lasted until November 1894.
Sanatoria renovated in DPRK
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Sanatoria in various parts of the DPRK are being renovated.
More than 10 sanatoria have been renovated recently to match local environment and features. Facilities have been updated to make the best use of natural conditions for treatment.
The Kim Jong Suk sanatorium came to operate more spas and facilities including rooms for tepid water treatment and treatment in sand and water.
New rooms for physio-treatment and treatment through physical exercise, several sick wards and a two-storied building have appeared at the Songchon Onjong sanatorium.
Various facilities and equipment have been updated at the Talchon sanatorium for honored disabled soldiers and Kangso and Naegok spa sanatoria to intensify researches and improve medical service.
A variety of medical appliances have been provided to other sanatoria to give them face-lifting.
Many working people benefit from free health care at the renovated sanatoria.
Man's position and role clarified by Juche idea
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The Juche idea successfully clarified the issue of man's position and role in the world on the basis of the philosophical principle that man is the master of everything and decides everything.
Man being the master of everything means that he is capable of dominating the world.
Man is a product of the evolution of the material world but he is a special being that exists while dominating this material world.
Man is not blindly bound to the law governing nature but positively cognizes, harnesses and transforms nature to make it serve him.
Spheres of nature dominated by man are limited historically, but man steadily expands them, according to the increasing ability of his cognition and practice.
It is only man that transforms and develops society.
Social development is, in essence, the development of human beings and the spheres of man's domination over it are steadily expanding according to the increase of man's ability of cognition and practice.
Man decides everything. It means that he plays a decisive role in transforming nature and society.
Man incessantly increases the spheres of transforming nature and society according to the increase of his creative ability.
As man alone changes the world to meet his demand, he is the main factor of deciding everything and also plays a decisive role in carving out his destiny.
As the Juche idea newly clarified man's position and role, he became the first to recognize himself as the master of his destiny and capable of transforming nature and society and shaping his destiny.
Message of sympathy to Austrian Federal President
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Flood hit various parts of Austria, causing casualties and a great material loss.
In this regard, Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of sympathy to Thomas Klestil, Federal President of Austria, on Friday.
In the message Kim expressed deep sympathy and consolation to the president and, through him, to the people in the afflicted areas, upon hearing the sad news.
He hoped for success in the work of the president and the government of Austria to recover from flood damage as soon as possible and bring the living of the people in the afflicted areas to normal.
Message of sympathy to German chancellor
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, sent a message of sympathy to Gerhard Schroder, chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Upon hearing the sad news that different parts of Germany were hit by torrential rain and flood that caused big human and material losses, I extend deep sympathy and consolation to the chancellor and, through you, to the German government and people in the afflicted areas, the message said.
It expressed belief that the government and people of Germany would recover from the flood damage and bring the living of the people in the afflicted areas to normal as early as possible.
Joint press release on DPRK-Japan Red Cross talks
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- A joint press release on talks between red cross organizations of the DPRK and Japan was made public here on Monday.
The press release reads:
Talks between the DPRK Red Cross Society and the Japan Red Cross were held here on August 18 and 19.
Present at the talks were a delegation of the DPRK Red Cross Society headed by department director Ri Ho Rim and a delegation of the Japan Red Cross headed by department director Hiroshi Higashiura.
Government officials concerned were also on hand from both sides.
The talks took place in a sincere and cooperative atmosphere.
Both sides discussed the investigation to know whereabouts of missing persons, hometown visit of Japanese women in the DPRK and other humanitarian issues and confirmed as follows:
1. The Japanese side carried out an investigation into the whereabouts of Koreans reported missing before 1945 at the request of the DPRK side and informed the latter of the whereabouts of three Koreans and the fact that one of them is alive in Japan at present.
Both sides agreed to take an immediate measure to provide convenience so that they can reunite with their families and relatives.
The Japanese side agreed to continue to rapidly inform the DPRK side of the results of the in-depth investigation to be conducted in cooperation with a government institution concerned.
2. The DPRK side explained that Red Cross branches at all levels in Pyongyang and localities are carrying out broader-based and in-depth investigation into the whereabouts of missing Japanese at the request of the Japanese side in close cooperation with the Ministry of the People's Security and departments concerned of the people's committees.
The DPRK side informed the Japanese side of the confirmation of whereabouts of six of those missing persons proposed by the latter in the last round of the talks.
It also decided to speed up such investigation into the whereabouts of the missing persons in future and inform the Japanese side of its results rapidly and take appropriate measures for it.
During its stay in Pyongyang, the Japanese side met officials of an organ involved in the investigation and exchanged views on this matter.
3. Both sides agreed to arrange the fourth hometown visit of Japanese women in the DPRK in late October on the basis of the list of visitors presented at the current talks.
4. Both sides agreed to cooperate with each other in close touch and have a working-level consultation, if necessary.
It was decided to determine a detailed plan for the next round of the talks as soon as possible.
DPRK-Japan Red Cross talks
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Red Cross organizations of the DPRK and Japan agreed to ensure the fourth hometown visit of Japanese women in the DPRK late in October.
The agreement came at the talks between the two Red Cross organizations held here on August 18 and 19.
At the talks the Japanese side confirmed that three persons were identified during the investigation into Koreans who missed before 1945, and informed the DPRK side that one of them still lives in Japan.
The DPRK side informed the Japanese side that six of the missing Japanese proposed by the Japanese side at the last talks were identified.
10th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's work marked
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held at the People's Palace of Culture today to mark the 10th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's famous work "Let Us Realize The Country's Reunification Independently Through The United Effort Of The Whole Nation".
The work published on August 19, Juche 81 (1992) comprehensively lays down a principle, detailed tasks and ways to achieve the country's reunification.
Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, said in his report at the meeting that the work serves as a historic work and a great patriotic programme for reunification as it clarifies ways of expanding and developing the movement for the country's reunification relying on the driving force of the nation.
He went on:
General Secretary Kim Jong Il, who is successfully carrying out the president's instructions for national reunification, arranged with his great patriotic decision the historic Pyongyang meeting and provided the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, thus ushering in a new era of the movement for reunification, a movement to solve the issue of reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation. As a result, the movement for national reunification has been put on a new higher stage nationwide.
The short cut to independent national reunification in the new century lies in firmly defending and implementing the historic joint declaration.
Those who truly respect the declaration and want its implementation should not rely on foreign forces displeased with the Korean reunification and pursue "cooperation" with them but join hands with the fellow countrymen to achieve the country's reunification independently by the concerted efforts of the nation.
The joint military exercise Ulji Focus Lens now under way in south Korea is a product of the u.s. moves to throw wet blanket over the atmosphere of reconciliation, unity and cooperation between Koreans and deliberately strain the situation on the Korean peninsula.
If the DPRK-U.S. relations are to improve, the united states should have a proper approach and stand on the DPRK. It should respect the sovereignty of its dialogue partner, give up its anachronistic hostile policy towards the DPRK and sincerely implement its commitments and duties as the party directly responsible for the Korean issue.
In south Korea there should be no such things rattling the nerves of the dialogue partner as talking about the "principal enemy" and "cooperating" with foreign forces and staging joint military exercises against the north after reaching an agreement with it.
All the Koreans in the north and the south and overseas should undertake a more vigorous struggle to firmly defend and implement the declaration so as to achieve the cause of national reunification, the greatest desire of the nation, without fail, Choe stressed.