Consultation on investment environment of DPRK held
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- A consultation on investment environment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was held at the Pyongyang international economic technology and infrastructure exhibition on Sept. 17.
Present at the consultation were Kim Yong Sul, chairman of the DPRK Committee for Promotion of External Economic Cooperation, and other officials concerned.
Ronald Unterburger, director of the Munich International Trade Fairs Pte. Ltd. in Germany, delegations and delegates to the exhibition were also on hand.
Speakers expressed conviction that the consultation would provide a useful opportunity for deepening mutual understanding and trust and expanding and developing economic cooperation and exchange among companies.
The participants exchanged views on issues of mutual concern.
The consultation will last till Sept. 19, divided into inter-sector and individual consultations.
Greetings to foreign ministers
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- DPRK foreign minister Paek Nam Sun sent messages of greetings to Leonard She Okitundu, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation of Democratic Congo, James Wambogo Wapakhabulo, minister for foreign affairs and regional cooperation of Uganda, and Andre Bumaya, minister for foreign affairs and regional cooperation of Rwanda, as regards the signing of peace agreements between Democratic Congo and Rwanda and between Democratic Congo and Uganda.
Rejoiced over the conclusion of the agreements, Paek in the messages extended full support to them.
The messages expressed the belief that the agreements would be honestly implemented to greatly contribute to achieving a durable peace and stability in the region and to the overall development of the continent and wished them great success in their responsible work.
Mesozoic fossils at Mt. Taesong
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- There are Mesozoic fossils at the southwestern foot of Mt. Taesong in the suburbs of Pyongyang.
The fossils (shellfish, fin) were formed by the change of the earth's crust 170 million years ago.
The shape of a shellfish fossil is an ellipse of 2-3 cm size.
The fossil stratum with a 10-degree slope stretches straight to the southwest more than 100 m long and 0.4-2 m deep.
It is safely preserved as there are solid rocky strata down and up.
The area where fossils were discovered is a place of typical stratum of Mesozoic fossils of fresh-water animals.
The fossils discovered prove that the area was a small basin in the Mesozoic era and a bog where shellfish, fish and other fresh-water animals and lower plants had grown.
The Mesozoic fossils at Mt. Taesong are of scientific significance in study of fresh-water animals, plants and stratum at that time.
Famous conductor
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- Korean and foreign audiences were deeply impressed by the mass gymnastic and artistic performance Arirang, winner of Kim Il Sung Prize, which was staged at the may day stadium here with great success.
Among those who guided fantastic background scenes of Arirang is Jang Un San.
He is loved and respected by the creative group as he devoted all his creative wisdom and energy to conducting schoolchildren to present ever-changing background scenes and huge letters.
Having attained mastery of gymnastic movements and music, he has always done his best to make the background scenes rhythmic.
He is acknowledged as a talented creator as he conducts so tacitly as to suit the schoolers' mentality.
Acting as chief conductor of background scenes since 1981, he has conducted those scenes of over 20 mass gymnastic displays.
He was acclaimed by the audiences for adeptly conducting background scenes of the mass gymnastic and artistic performance the ever-victorious Workers' Party of Korea, winner of Kim Il Sung Prize, and mass gymnastic display Korea today and several other works. Those scenes were very instrumental in eloquently and truthfully representing their thematic contents.
He was awarded the title of merited sportsman in 1985 and the Title of People's Sportsman in 2000.
He also made significant contributions to creating and guiding mass gymnastic displays in several countries.
Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- Cosmetics "Unhasu" of Korea is popular among the people. Toothpaste and toilet soap in particular are in great demand because of their diverse composition and forms.
The cosmetics are produced at the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory equipped with modern facilities.
The factory with a total plottage of nearly 20,000 square metres in Phyongchon district, Pyongyang, has several production and subsidiary buildings.
It boasts cosmetic, toothpaste and soap workshops, a room for technological preparations, etc.
Over the past 40 odd years it has systematically improved and increased the quality, quantity and variety of cream, perfume, lotion, toilet perfume and other cosmetics.
Cream, lotion, toothpaste, etc. made of Kaesong Koryo Insam (ginseng) have been exported to other countries.
One of every four employees at the factory is a technician or expert.
Ri Jong Song, chief engineer of the factory, said that the factory is now in its prime. Its cosmetics are very popular at home and abroad, he added.
DPRK anniversary marked abroad
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- Meetings were held in Bangladesh, Mexico and Libya from September 5 to 8 to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the DPRK.
At the meetings speakers said that the DPRK founded by President Kim Il Sung covered the road of victory and glory under the banner of the Juche idea for 54 years.
They stressed that they would in the future, too, fully support the Korean people in their struggle to build a powerful socialist nation and achieve national reunification.
Seminars and lectures were held in Dhaka and by the Portugal-Korea Friendship Association, the Guinean Group for the Study of Kimjongilism, the Guinean Society for the Study of the Juche Literary Idea and the Society for the Study of the Juche Philosophy of Conakry University in Guinea from Sept. 5 to 9.
Speakers at the functions said that the DPRK is developing into an ideal country under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il, evoking great admiration of the world progressives.
They noted that the DPRK, thanks to his powerful army-based policy, is firmly defending socialism despite imperialists' moves to stifle it.
Letters to him were adopted separately at the meeting and the seminar held in Bangladesh.
Ostrich restaurants attract visitors
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- Several ostrich restaurants have appeared in different parts of the DPRK recently attracting visitors.
Typical of them are the Yonphung Restaurant on the bank of the Pothong River and the roast ostrich restaurant in Chukjon-dong in Kwangbok Street.
The restaurants serve a variety of highly nutritious and spicy ostrich dishes including roast ostrich, panbroiled ostrich, ostrich egg dish, castella made of its eggs and fried ostrich cooked with bread and tomato juice.
These dishes are popular among visitors as they contain much less cholesterol than any other meat and are rich in various kinds of vitamin and mineral substance.
An increasing number of Koreans and foreigners are visiting the restaurants equipped with modern catering facilities.
Measures have been taken in the DPRK to massively breed ostrich through big investment.
Greetings to prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Denzil Douglas, prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of its independence.
Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries would continue to develop in the future, too, the message wished the prime minister and the government greater success in their work for prosperity of the country and wellbeing of the people.
Inter-Korean working contact for joint survey of Imnam dam held
Kosong, September 18 (KCNA) -- An inter-Korean working contact for a joint survey of the Imnam dam was held at Mt. Kumgang resort from Sept. 16 to 18 under an agreement reached at the 7th north-south ministerial talks.
At the contact both sides shared the view that the survey is of weighty significance in promoting reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south and improving inter-Korean relations.
The sides each advanced proposals and had an in-depth discussion on them. They agreed to consult in detail the issues raised at the next contact.
Ground-breaking ceremonies for projects of reconnecting rail and road links held
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- Ceremonies of starting the projects of reconnecting rail and road links in the east and west coastal areas simultaneously took place at Kumgangsan Youth Railway Station in Kosong county and Kaesong railway station today.
Present at the ceremony in the east coastal area were premier of the DPRK cabinet Hong Song Nam, chairman of the state planning commission Pak Nam Gi, minister of railways Kim Yong Sam, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland An Kyong Ho, head of the north side to the inter-Korean ministerial talks Kim Ryong Song, chairman of the Kangwon Provincial People's Committee Ko Jong Dok and other officials concerned.
Russian Ambassador to the DPRK A. G. Karlov and embassy officials were on hand.
Also there were director of Hyundai Asan of the south side Kim Yun Gyu and his party staying in Mt. Kumgang.
Present at the ceremony in the west coastal area were vice-premier of the cabinet Kwak Pom Gi, minister of land and environmental preservation Jang Il Son, first vice-chairman of the State Planning Commission Pak Chang Ryon who is chairman of the north side to the north-south committee for the promotion of economic cooperation, and chairman of the Kaesong City People's Committee Kim Il San.
Kim Yong Sam and Jang Il Son delivered reports at the ceremonies.
The reporters said that the projects of reconnecting rail and road links between the north and the south in the east and west coastal areas are a clear demonstration of the great vitality of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and mark a historic event to terminate the tragedy of national division that has lasted more than half a century and rejoin the nation's severed ties.
They called for finishing the projects in the shortest possible time as they draw attention of all the compatriots in the north and the south and overseas and the world so that the whistle of the train for reunification may blow across Korea as early as possible.
Karlov said in his congratulatory speech that reconnecting inter-Korean rail and road links is greatly conducive to ensuring peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region including the Korean Peninsula and it is a practical progress toward the reunification of the peninsula, the desire of all the Korean people.
Then, the participants took up shovels, breaking the ground.
Kim Yong Nam meets with Koreans in Japan
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a talk with the congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan to participate in celebrations of the 54th birthday of the DPRK led by Pak Jae Ro, vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today in an atmosphere overflowing with compatriot feelings.
DPRK government delegation leaves for Vietnam
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- A DPRK government delegation led by vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces (PAF) Kim Yang Jom left here for Vietnam today.
The purpose of the delegation's visit is to bring home the remains of fighters of the Korean People's Army who died heroic deaths while participating in the anti-U.S. war of the Vietnamese people in the noble spirit of internationalism.
The delegation was seen off at the airport by vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces Jong Chang Ryol and other officers concerned, Ambassador Do Thi Hoa and military attache Nguyen Van Chau of the Vietnamese embassy here.