DPRK-Japan Pyongyang declaration hailed
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The European Union welcomed the DPRK-Japan summit talks and Pyongyang declaration.
Prodi, president of the EU commission, in a statement on Sept. 18 said that the declaration adopted at the DPRK-Japan summit talks shows that an important progress has been made for reconciliation and normalization of relations between the two countries and that it is a great contribution to peace and security in Northeast Asia.
The declaration provides a foundation for establishing diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Japan, he said.
Noting that the event on the Korean Peninsula -- the start of the projects of reconnecting rail and road links between the north and south of Korea-- is also an inspiring thing, he reaffirmed the policy of the EU to support peace and reconciliation between the north and the south of the Korean Peninsula.
Solana, foreign policy chief of the EU, in a statement released on the same day said that the DPRK and Japan agreed to normalize the bilateral ties. He said the DPRK-Japan summit talks would be an important occasion to ease the tensions on the Korean Peninsula and ensure the stability of the region.
Meanwhile, Denmark, the chair-country of the EU, on Sept. 19 welcomed the DPRK-Japan summit talks, saying reconciliation and normalization between the two countries are what not only their peoples but the international community hope for.
Australian FM welcomes DPRK-Japan summit meeting
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- Alexander Downer, foreign minister of Australia, released a statement on Sept. 18 as regards the DPRK-Japan summit meeting and the ground-breaking ceremony for reconnecting the rail and road links between the north and south of the Korean Peninsula in the east and west coastal areas.
He in the statement welcomed the result of the DPRK-Japan summit meeting held on Sept. 17.
Recalling that Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signed the declaration which set forth a framework for normalizing the bilateral ties, he hoped that such developments would contribute to securing peace and stability in Northeast Asia and bringing about greater reconciliation and cooperation between the north and south of Korea.
Welcoming the ground-breaking ceremony for reconnecting the rail and road links in the east and west coastal areas, he said that linking of traffic network would be another phase for cooperation and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula and an important step for confidence-building. He hoped that the June 15 joint declaration and other agreements reached between the north and the south of Korea would be sincerely implemented.
Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry on situation in Palestine
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- It is an intolerable interference in the internal affairs of Palestine and an insult to its people for other countries to demand it change its leadership and regime for the mere reason that it incurs their displeasure in the international relations, said a spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an answer given to the question raised by KCNA on Sept. 26 as regards the deteriorating situation in Palestine.
He said:
Israel mobilized tanks and bulldozers to siege Arafat's office building and cut it off from the outside world and destroyed all the buildings in the district of the headquarters of the Palestinian national authority except his residence under the pretext of the suicide bomb attack on Sept. 19.
Israel's such military attack is a grave challenge to the efforts of the international community for the earlier settlement of the mid-east issue as it is another pressure upon Arafat. If the mid-east issue is to be settled comprehensively and fairly, Israel should unconditionally withdraw from all its occupied Arab territories.
DPRK praised for contributing to world peace
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- Guy Dupre, secretary general of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea, was interviewed by a reporter of radio France Internationale on September 18 as regards the recent situation of the Korean Peninsula.
He said that important events took place one after another in the Korean Peninsula recently and much progress was made in inter-Korean relationship. This shows the process of reconciliation and cooperation, which began with the adoption of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, is being brought to concrete fruition, he said.
Kim Jong Il had talks with Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang declaration, he stressed.
He expressed concern over the U.S. stubborn pursuance of hostile policy towards the DPRK while describing it as part of "an axis of evil" and urged the bush administration to stop interfering in Korean affairs, replace the Korean Armistice Agreement with a peace agreement and withdraw its troops from South Korea.
He congratulated the DPRK on its recent great contribution to peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world and hoped for early reunification of Korea.
World Day of Tourism observed
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government will continue paying deep concern to the development of tourism to promote friendship and cooperation with peoples of different countries and to make the Korean people fully enjoy an affluent and modern life, says Minju Joson in a signed article on Friday to mark the World Day of Tourism.
The DPRK has fulfilled its responsibility and role as a member state of the world tourism organization since it joined the organization in 1987, the paper says, and goes on:
Korea, which has been well known in the world for its beautiful mountains and rivers from olden times, is visited by many tourists from other countries every year.
It is blessed with famous tourist resorts.
Pyongyang, Kaesong, Nampho, Ryongmun cavern, mounts Paektu, Kumgang, Myohyang and Chilbo, Kuwol, and towns and scenic spots have turned into world-famous tourist resorts.
KCNA calls for solving issue between DPRK and Japan from broad perspective
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The top leaders of the DPRK and Japan had a historic meeting in Pyongyang on Sept. 17, making a significant breakthrough in improving the bilateral relations.
It was, indeed, a landmark event that the talks took place between the two top leaders and the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang declaration was published.
In the past Japan made its postwar settlements in relations with other countries, but has pursued a hostile policy toward the DPRK for more than half a century, evading its responsibility to do so.
This caused the distrust and misunderstanding between the two countries to reach extremes and unpleasant incidents to happen.
Some individuals in the DPRK are known to have wilfully allured and abducted some Japanese in the 1970s and the 1980s and internal measures to have been taken to prevent the recurrence of such case.
The top leaders agreed to prevent all the past regrettable things from happening again and provided a precious opportunity of putting an end to the vicious cycle of distrust and misunderstanding and building confidence.
This is the result of the political decision made by the two top leaders to deal with the issue of the relations between the DPRK and Japan whose solution was handicapped by the complicated past and settle it from a broad perspective.
Nevertheless, some forces in Japan are displeased with such positive developments.
They are busy with a big campaign to overstate emotionally the issue of those who died during their long stay here among the abducted Japanese and incite hostility toward the DPRK. Their death cannot but be great sorrow to bereaved families and the DPRK government is known to have done its best to alleviate their grief.
But what matters here is that the Japanese side's excessive row over this issue may lead the situation to that beyond control.
There are bereaved families of several million young and middle-aged Koreans whose whereabouts are not yet known though over half a century has passed since they were forcibly taken to Japan in the past and those of hundreds of thousands of Korean women who had their chastity violated after being forced into sexual slavery for the imperial Japanese army. They are now undergoing unbearable sorrow and pain.
This horror story of history is not comparable to the issue of several Japanese. arguing over the two issues, standing in confrontation, carried away by emotion, would entail unpredictable consequences.
Basic foodstuff production on increase
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- Production is going up at basic foodstuff factories in different parts of the country to improve the standard of the people's living.
In recent three years 16 modern basic foodstuff factories were built or rebuilt on an expansion basis in Pyongyang, Jagang Province, North Phyongan Province and South Hamgyong Province and other provinces, cities and counties.
All production processes at these factories are equipped with the latest technology and the production of tasty and nutritious basic foodstuffs is on a steady increase to meet people's demand.
Kim Jong Il visited a newly built basic foodstuff factory and the Sakju foodstuff factory rebuilt on an expansion basis in North Phyongan Province. Looking round modern production processes at the factories, he solved all the issues arising in the management and operation of the factories ranging from technical equipment, production and supply of raw materials to packing, sanitation and environment.
These factories have put production on a normal track, thus playing a big role in improving people's diet.
Second batch of DPRK sportspersons leaves for Pusan
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The second batch of DPRK sportsmen led by Pak Myong Chol, chairman of the National Olympic Committee, left here Friday to participate in the 14th Asian Games.
The delegation was seen off at the airport by Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the cabinet, Ryang Man Gil, chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, officials concerned, sportsmen and working people in the city. A cheer group also left.
Premiere given by MBC art troupe
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The art troupe of the MBC of South Korea raised the curtain for "the Pyongyang special art performance of MBC for 2002" at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre today.
Ri Mi Ja, famous singer of South Korea, presented songs belonging to the period of enlightenment such as "touch-me-not", "talk about native village" and "sorrow of stranger", folk songs and her favorite songs.
The audience was deeply impressed to listen to her singing of "Song of Monggum-Pho" and other exciting songs which reflect national emotion and love of the fellow countrymen and show her artistic talent.
As the performance reached a climax when the artistes of the north and the south sang the song "let's meet again" together with the performer, the audience joined them in singing the song of reunification with warm applause, expressing the will to dynamically accelerate the march for national reconciliation, unity and reunification under the banner of the historic June 15 joint declaration.
Her performance was acclaimed by the audience.
Among the audience were Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Sun, chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, Kang Nung Su, minister of culture, officials concerned, creators, artistes and working people in the city.
Kim Jung Bae, president of the MBC of South Korea, and his party and others saw the performance.
Kim Yong Nam meets some members of MBC art troupe
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, today met leading members, Ri Mi Ja and other singers of the art troupe of the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation of South Korea led by its president Kim Jung Bae.
Present there were Kang Nung Su, minister of culture, and officials concerned.
Conversations proceeded in a compatriotic atmosphere.
2nd batch of DPRK sportspersons arrives in Pusan
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The second batch of DPRK sportspersons arrived in Pusan of South Korea to participate in the 14th Asian Games.
The delegation was met at the airport by chairman of the organizing committee for the 14th Asiad Jong Sun Thaek, chairman of the South Korean Olympic Committee Ri Yon Thaek, and officials concerned.
Members of citizens organizations in Pusan welcomed the delegation with compatriotic feelings along the route around the airport, carrying the Korean Peninsula flags and welcome placards and chanting slogans such as "national reunification".