U.S. criticized for listing DPRK as part of "axis of evil"
Moscow, August 29 (KCNA) -- President of the Russian Federation Putin criticized the U.S. for listing the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil" when interviewed by reporters in the Far Eastern region, according to the Russian newspaper Vladivostok on August 27.
He said:
The DPRK is our neighbour. It is not the success of the U.S. for it to have listed this country as an "axis of evil", because it is not flexible. The international community is now interested in normalizing relations with the DPRK.
Withdrawal of U.S. troops from S. Korea urged
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- We call upon the Finnish government to demand the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea for the peaceful reunification of Korea in the international arena and support the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo on the basis of recognizing the two different systems.
The central committee of the for peace and socialism-the communist workers' party of Finland said this in a letter sent to the prime minister after discussing the situation on the Korean Peninsula at a meeting of its political committee on August 20.
The letter called upon the Finnish government to demand the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea and support the peaceful reunification of Korea.
The nearly 50 year-long presence of the U.S. Forces in south Korea and military threat to the DPRK are rendering the situation on the Korean Peninsula strained and disturbing Korea's reunification.
Arirang and "axis of evil"
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- The U.S. vociferating about an "axis of evil" turned out to be a miserable funeral march as the great symphony Arirang rang through Pyongyang.
Ri Jin Song, a south Korean freelancer, said this in an article titled "'Arirang' and 'axis of evil.'"
The mass gymnastic and artistic performance Arirang is a symbol of beauty, human civilization and human peace, he said, and went on:
The performance was the climax of beauty as all its sections and scenes reflected ardent respect for their leader, noble patriotism and optimism about future.
The performance was a mega hit because gymnastics is combined with dances, it is a combination of music, fine art and circus and all styles of arts created by humankind are perfectly blended with each other.
The north prepared such a great feast of peace as Arirang performance and opened its gate to the whole planet, showcasing the strong desire of the people in the north to live in a free and peaceful new century.
It is nonsense to term the north where angel-like people live "evil." A real "axis of evil" is the U.S. which is the source of decadent and inhuman ideology and culture.
The dramatic change of "Arirang" of tears into "Arirang" of happiness represents the history of victory of the army. The army in the north is a symbol of peace whereas the army in the U.S. is a symbol of aggression and plunder.
The 21st century will surely be prosperous thanks to independence and beautiful thanks to peace because there are Pyongyang where Kim Jong Il turns the axis of the earth by dint of the army-based policy, the north praised by the world people as the centre of good and the homeland of justice for defending the destiny not only of one nation but the world.
Trip of U.S. undersecretary of state to S. Korea opposed
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- The headquarters of the people's movement for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, the solidarity for implementing the south-north joint declaration, the council for national reconciliation and independent reunification and the Seoul district federation of university student councils on Wednesday reportedly called a press conference against the south Korea visit of U.S. undersecretary of state John Bolton.
The press release distributed at the conference said that the trip of Bolton, a notorious hardliner of the Bush administration towards north Korea, is aimed to force its policy of war on the south Korean authorities.
It stressed that the tour of Bolton can never be allowed as he makes tough remarks toward north Korea with no ground and increases tensions and creates a war crisis on the Korean Peninsula.
On the same day the southern Seoul district federation of university student councils in a statement said that it is dead-set against his south Korea visit designed to find a pretext to ignite a war in the Korean Peninsula.
Over 200 cases of aerial espionage against DPRK
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialist bellicose forces committed over 200 cases of aerial espionage against the DPRK in August, according to a military source.
Involved in them were strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes of different missions.
Among them nearly 50 espionage flights were made by strategic reconnaissance, command and patrol planes.
The U-2 high-altitude strategic plane made shuttle flights in the sky above Tokjok island, Phochon and Sokcho area around 7 a.m. August 29 to spy on the strategic targets in the DPRK.
Meanwhile, they staged large-scale war exercises in the air above south Korean areas, creating an atmosphere of war against the DPRK.
More than 900 fighter bombers, assault planes, command planes, transports and special operation planes were involved in the drill from August 27 to 28.
All these espionage flights and aerial war exercises clearly prove that the U.S. imperialists' ambition to bring the DPRK to its knees by force of arms remains unchanged.
Anti-north war exercises flailed
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- The Ulji Focus Lens joint military exercises go to clearly prove that the U.S. imperialists' intention to invade the DPRK by force of arms and put it under their control and the treacherous nature of the south Korean warmongers remain unchanged, says Minju Joson today in a signed article.
The U.S. imperialists, after putting up the signboard of dialogue, want the DPRK to slacken its vigilance and frantically step up their preparations for an armed invasion behind the scene, the article says, and continues:
It is entirely attributable to the DPRK which has built up national defence capacity under the banner of army-based policy and has kept itself fully ready with high vigilance against them that the anti-north war exercises did not develop into a real war.
If the U.S. truly hopes for peace, security and reunification on the Korean Peninsula, it should stop such anti-north war exercises and prove it in practice by withdrawing its troops from south Korea.
The south Korean warmongers are also advised to stop committing such treachery as standing in confrontation with fellow countrymen while acting as henchmen of foreign forces and opt for independent national reunification though belatedly to meet the desire and aspiration of the nation.
Greetings to Uzbek President
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on August 28 on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of its independence day, the national holiday of its people.
Kim in the message wished the president and people of the country great success in their work for stability and prosperity of the country and expressed belief that the good ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would grow stronger.
Congratulations to senior Libyan officials
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Premier Hong Song Nam sent a message of greetings to Embarak Abdullah al-Shamekh, Libyan secretary of the General People's Committee, on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the victory in the Great September First Revolution in Libya.
In the belief that the good relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow stronger, the message wished him fresh success in his work for building independent and prosperous Libya.
Meanwhile, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun sent a similar message to Abdulrahman Mohamed Shalgham, Libyan secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation, on this occasion.
Greetings to Moammer El Gaddafi
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to colonel Moammer El Gaddafi, leader of the Great September First Revolution of Libya, on August 28 on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the victory in the Great September First Revolution in Libya.
Kim in the message expressed belief that the good ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms and wished the leader and people of Libya greater success in their work for building independent and prosperous Libya under the slogan of "Jamahiriya".
KCNA on U.S. call for sanctions against DPRK companies
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- The United States reportedly made a decision to impose sanctions against some companies of the DPRK under the pretext of the DPRK's transfer and sale of missile technology.
The recent decision is little short of another declaration of confrontation with the DPRK as it is a direct product of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK.
It is a commitment of the U.S. under the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework (AF) to lift its economic sanctions against the DPRK.
However, it has consistently put sanctions against the DPRK, far from implementing it.
The DPRK has built socialism and stood on its feet despite the U.S. continued sanctions, blockade and moves to isolate and stifle it.
For the DPRK which has laid a solid foundation of independent national economy the sanctions called for by the U.S. are nothing new or surprising.
What merits attention is the fact that the U.S. made such decision under the pretext of the DPRK's transfer and sale of missile technology.
The missile issue of the DPRK allows no linkage with sanctions.
The U.S. Persistent misrepresentation of the DPRK's missile program for a peaceful purpose proves that it does not trust the DPRK and its hostile policy toward the DPRK still remains unchanged.
What should not be overlooked is that it took the measure of imposing sanctions against the DPRK though it is talking about dialogue with it.
The DPRK-U.S. dialogue can prove successful only when mistrust is wiped out and mutual confidence is built on the principles stipulated at the DPRK-U.S. joint statement and the AF.
However, the U.S. has gone the length of calling for sanctions against the DPRK, not trusting it but taking a hostile approach toward it. This is a clear indication that it is not interested in dialogue and the improved bilateral relations but keen on confrontation only.
The U.S., after listing the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil," seeks to tarnish its image as a peace-loving country by falsifying the truth in a bid to isolate and stifle it. But this is nothing but a pipedream.
No matter how hard the U.S. tries to use sanctions as a trump card, it will only invite derision and criticism of the Koreans and other people of the world and stoke up anti-U.S. sentiment.
U.S. state undersecretary's anti-DPRK remarks under fire
Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry answered a question put by KCNA today as regards U.S. undersecretary of state John Bolton's recent vituperation against the DPRK.
Bolton during his recent trip to south Korea made malignant accusations against the DPRK, saying that it has the most powerful offensive biological weapon program on earth, it is posing a threat by developing weapons of mass destruction and smuggling missiles and their technologies and that it must accept a nuclear inspection.
Known as a standard-bearer among the notorious hard-line hawks of the Bush administration Bolton never opens his month without making anti-DPRK remarks, bereft of reason. Therefore, his recent outbursts do not deserve even a passing note.
But if there is any security issue over which the U.S. should worry, it is entirely attributable to the Bush administration's hostile policy toward the DPRK.
The DPRK clarified more than once that if the U.S. has a will to drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK it will have dialogue with the U.S. to clear the U.S. of its worries over its security.
This principled stand of the DPRK over the bilateral dialogue remains unchanged and the ball is in the court of the U.S. side.