WPK birthday marked
Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- Events took place in different countries to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the 57th birthday of the WPK.
Week of Korean film and photo shows, and book, photo and handicraft work exhibitions, roundtable discussions, friendly gatherings, seminars, lectures and reading sessions were held in Mexico, Britain, Italy, Poland and Uzbekistan between September 24 and October 6.
On display at the exhibition halls were books, photos and handicraft works introducing the undying revolutionary feats of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Addressing the ceremony for opening the week of Korean film and photo shows, the General Secretary of the c.c., Socialist People's Party of Mexico said that Kim Jong Il further strengthened the WPK in keeping with the new requirement of the developing revolution. He has firmly defended Korean socialism while accelerating the building of a powerful nation with his army-based revolutionary leadership, the speaker noted, adding: We should learn from Korea's rich experience in party building.
The managing director of the Uzbekistan-Sinbang Joint Venture Company, in his lecture on the subject of "the Workers' Party of Korea", elaborated on the feats performed by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in party building. Rosy is the future of Korea under the tested leadership of Kim Jong Il, he stressed.
Rally for reunification opens
Kosong, October 13 (KCNA) -- A rally for reunification of youth and students from the north, south and abroad for the implementation of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and the future of the nation was opened in Mt. Kumgang on Oct. 13.
Present at the rally were members of the delegations of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, the Korean Student Committee, the North Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) and representatives of youth and students in the north.
The rally was attended by delegates of the South Korean Preparatory Committee of the Youth Society for Reunification, the Green Youth Solidarity, the Fellowship Society of the National Council of Student Representatives, the Youth Society of the Citizens Federation for Economic Justice, the General Federation of the Christian Student Councils, the Catholic Youth Solidarity for Peace and Reunification and other youth and student organizations under the reunification solidarity for the implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and peace of the Korean Peninsula, the People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation and the seven orders from the south.
Among the attendants were members of delegations of Korean youth and students in Japan, the South Korean Youth League in Japan, the Federation of Korean Youth in China, the Federation of South Korean Youth in Japan and representatives of youth and students overseas.
Addressing the opening ceremony, representatives of youth and students from the north, south and overseas unanimously said that the joint declaration serves as a landmark for the independent reunification of the Korean nation and a reunification programme.
The speakers said that history proved the truth that only when the issue of national reunification is solved by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation without outside interference, can reconciliation and unity of the nation be achieved earlier.
At the ceremony guests of honor from the north and the south made congratulatory speeches and messages of greetings to the rally from different organizations in the north, south and overseas were introduced.
The ceremony was followed by a forum of youth and students for the implementation of the joint declaration.
Before the forum, members of the Korean Children's Union recited in chorus a poem reflecting desire for reunification in congratulation of the rally.
Speakers at the forum called on the young people with the spirit and conscience of the Korean nation to play a vanguard role in the struggle for the implementation of the joint declaration against the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad and unite firm under the banner of the joint declaration, transcending the differences in ideology, social system, political view and religious belief.
After the forum schoolchildren in the north gave an art performance to congratulate the rally.
The rally was more decorated by a football match and sports and amusement games of youth and students for reunification.
The north side hosted a reception in honour of the participants in the rally on Sunday evening.
The rally continues.
U.S. accusation against DPRK refuted
Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- The spokesmen for the Central Committee of the Korean Buddhist Federation and the Korean Chondoist Church Central Guidance Committee separately issued statements on Sunday condemning the United States for pulling up the U.S. over its religious situation.
The spokesman for the c.c., the Korean Buddhist Federation accused the U.S. of blaspheming against religion and suppressing it. He said: during the Korean War, the U.S. committed indelible crimes by mercilessly killing tens of thousands of Buddhists and destroying all the temples. And it is killing many religionists in various parts of the world under the pretext of "combating terrorism."
The spokesman for the Korean Chondoist Church Central Guidance Committee noted that the campaign launched by the U.S. to charge the DPRK with the suppression of religion is nothing but a political plot to attack it over a religious issue.
The U.S. is well advised to stop spreading sheer lies about somebody's "suppression of religious freedom" and honestly apologize to the Korean nation for the crimes it has committed for over a century, he urged.
S. Korean authorities' anti-reunification action under fire
Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- Different organizations of South Korea reportedly issued statements Friday denouncing the Ministry of Unification for disallowing 33 students to participate in the meeting of students in the north and the south and overseas for reunification.
Accusing the ministry of this action, the south side's preparatory committee for the meeting termed it an anachronistic splittist operation to weaken forces of the reunification movement.
Noting that this action was in contravention of the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration, the organization demanded its immediate withdrawal.
The reunification solidarity charged that the authorities' "reckless screening system is creating artificial difficulties in the efforts to make the meeting successful." It demanded them stop ignoring the desire of the people for reunification reflected in their shouts of "we are one".
Permanent co-representatives of the solidarity for implementing the south-north joint declaration declared that this action of the authorities would be certainly condemned by the fellow countrymen as it was anachronistic.
Yun Kyong Hoe, acting chairman of the federation of university student councils, stated that this step can never hold in check the grand march of the youth and students to implement the declaration.
Message of greetings to Kim Jong Il adopted
Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- A decision to send a message of greetings to Kim Jong Il in the name of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia (PPUR) and the movement for supporting policies of the president of the Russian Federation was adopted at the plenary meeting of the PPUR in Moscow on October 5.
S. Z. Umalatova, chairwoman of the PPUR, in a speech at the meeting said that under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il the Workers' Party of Korea has achieved great successes on the world political arena.
The message said that the history of the WPK represents an example of services to meet the interests of the people all over the world.
The WPK shared destiny with the Korean people both in the rigorous days of the war and in the period of the post-war rehabilitation and construction and united them as one to implement the tasks to develop the national economy, the message noted, adding: This is a manifestation of the greatest might of the WPK.
Ri Tong Chan's etudes show
Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- An etudes show of Ri Tong Chan opened at the Pyongyang International House of Culture in late September.
On display at the show are some 300 etudes including drawings and sketches.
Ri, director of the Pyongyang Shoes Factory, is well known in the country as an authoritative engineer, competent artist, able writer and erudite person.
Typical of his works are pen sketches "Old Home in Mangyongdae in April" and "Old Home in the Mt. Paektu Secret Camp in the Morning".
His etudes won the top honor at the national contest of etudes held last year. They were printed as a collection of etudes.
His shoes designs of various shapes and colors also won a gold medal at the national industrial art show held in October 1999.
He began contributing articles, poems and other literary works to newspapers and other major publications from 1970, enjoying love from readers for their good expressions and lyricism.
He, 52, is affiliated with the Korean Artists Union and the Korean Journalists Union.
His etudes show continues until mid-October.
Computer-aided diorama "Echo of Paektu"
Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- On display at the gift exhibition of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces is the computer-aided diorama "Echo of Paektu". It is a gift servicemen presented to Kim Jong Il with high respects for him.
The picture shows President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on white horses on Mt. Paektu, the holy mountain of Korea, which is aglow with the sunrise.
Also seen in the picture is "Ode Dedicated to the Bright Star" written by Kim Il Sung in celebration of Kim Jong Il's 50th birthday.
The picture, 10.7 metres long and 3.7 metres high, well portrays the greatness of Kim Il Sung, an invincible iron-willed commander who defeated two imperialisms in one generation, and Kim Jong Il, supreme commander of the revolutionary armed forces of Korea.
Mansudae Overseas Project
Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- The Mansudae Overseas Project (MOP) of Korea has the Korean painting and statue productions made up of thousands of able creators.
It provides different countries with such kinds of service as erecting monuments of various types and designing and making interior and exterior decorations.
It has made a great contribution to building presidential palaces, towers, government parks and many other monumental edifices in more than 20 countries.
In recent years it has successfully designed and built the summit hall of the African Union, scores of guest houses and service facilities and decorated their interior and exterior.
Drawings, Koryo celadon and other ceramics, embroideries, handicrafts and sculptures created by mop are very popular in foreign countries.
MOP is required to dispatch designers, artists and art advisors to other countries to create art works and sponsor art shows.
They also make various kinds of badges, decorations, posters, large computer-controlled electric boards, etc.
It also helps build establishments in cooperation with real estate companies or third country's real estate construction companies under agreements with other countries.