Kim Jong Il inspects KPA unit

    Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected KPA unit no. 851 in the eastern sector of the front on Monday. At the forward command post, he learned in detail about the topographical conditions and the deployment of forces before being briefed on the situation by the commander of the unit.
    Looking down for a long while over the defence theatre firmly guarded by the proud units which have always won victories in the acute confrontation with the enemies, he said: the revolutionary cause of Juche and the socialist motherland are sure to win as the frontline areas of the country are firmly defended by reliable soldiers who, taking arms tightly in their hands, are ready to make a long journey of revolution to the last under the guidance of the party, always remaining intensely loyal to it.
    The unit's duty is very important, he said, advancing the tasks that would serve as guidelines in increasing the unit's combat capability in every way and cementing the defence line as firm as rock.
    He was reported about the noble self-sacrificing spirit displayed by servicemen of the unit.
    Being briefed on the moving deeds of many servicemen of merited service, he praised them as true revolutionaries and patriots and highly appreciated their noble spirit. Among those servicemen were platoon leader Kim Tae Jin, who joined in the army to repay the warm benevolence shown by the party and motherland for his father, who wandered about in Japan before being repatriated to the homeland to lead a genuine life, and remained faithful to the revolution until the last moments of his life.
    Then, Kim Jong Il visited a battery under the unit and saw a training of servicemen and the families of their officers in fire service.
    Our army and people have turned the whole country into an impregnable fortress by successfully carrying out the WPK's military line for self-defence aimed at making the entire army a cadre army, modernizing the entire army, arming all people and turning the whole country into a fortress, he said, adding: no force on earth can match such army and people.
    He also went round various places including an education room, bedroom, daily provision store, washroom and barrack compound of the battery under persimmon trees to take warm care of servicemen's living with paternal love.
    Then, he saw an art performance given by soldiers of the battery.
    Greatly satisfied to see its servicemen leading a revolutionary and militant life as brave and stalwart artillerymen, he congratulated them on their successful performance.
    He gave the soldiers of the battery a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as gifts and posed for a picture with them.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Italian party delegation

Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of the People's United Democracy-Left Wing of Italy. The gift was handed to an official concerned by Michele Capuano, general secretary of the party who is heading the delegation.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from British political party

Removal of aftermath of Cold War era urged

    Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- The United Nations should take an appropriate measure to rapidly straighten out the abnormal situation, where its name and flag have been abused for over 50 years, to meet the demand and desire of the new century for genuine peace and security. A DPRK delegate made this call on October 7 when agenda item "report of the special committee on strengthening the Charter of the United Nations and its role" was discussed at the 6th committee meeting of the 57th UN General Assembly.
    The present reality in the new millennium calls for paying due attention to removing the aftermath of the Cold War era, the delegate said, and went on:
    The name and flag of the United Nations are still being abused against its will in the Korean Peninsula.
    There is no legal ground for the "UN Forces" to remain in South Korea not only in view of the UN Security Council's resolution but also in the light of the relationship between the UN and the "UN Command".
    Any forces serving for the interests of a power instead of implementing the idea of the UN can never be called "UN Forces".
    UN sanctions do not serve the purpose of finding a fair solution to issues but are used to attain political aims of some countries, far away from the avowed purpose and principles of the UN, he pointed out, and further said:
    Such strong measures as application of sanctions and use of force should be approved by not only the security council but also the un general assembly. This is essential for reflecting the will of many UN member nations in imposing sanctions and minimizing its negative role.
    If the UN is to decisively increase its major role in international relations, all its member nations should respect and honestly implement the UN Charter, reject unilateral practices and ensure equality.

DPRK delegation leaves for China

Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegation led by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, left Pyongyang today for an official goodwill visit to the People's Republic of China. The delegation consists of minister of city management Choe Jong Gon, Minister of Culture Kang Nung Su, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Yong Il, vice-chairperson of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Hong Son Ok and others.
The delegation was seen off at the airport by Kim Yun Hyok, secretary of the SPA Presidium, other officials concerned and Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe.

U.S. hostile policy towards DPRK under fire

    Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- James Kelly, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, behaved as if he were an "inspector" during his visit to Pyongyang. Terming his demeanor extremely high-handed and arrogant, papers here today in signed commentaries declare that if the United States wants improved DPRK-U.S. relations it should drop its wrong tactics to put pressure upon the DPRK and arrogant attitude toward it.
    They dismiss as nonsensical stories about some sort of "progress" made in improving the DPRK-U.S. relations through the visit of the special envoy of Bush floated in the United States.
    Rodong Sinmun says:
    The special envoy's visit to Pyongyang confirmed the fact that the U.S. administration keeps pursuing a hardline and hostile policy aimed to bring the DPRK to its knees by force and high-handed practice instead of working for the DPRK-U.S. dialogue.
    It is the consistent stand of the DPRK to solve issues through dialogues and negotiations.
    But the DPRK has no idea of having dialogue with those who are keen to disarm it and destroy the Korean-style socialist system centered on the popular masses. The United States seems to gain something through gun-boat diplomacy even in the present times as it did in the last century.
    But it should know that this anachronistic viewpoint and method can never work on the DPRK.
    The United States is making strategic and historic mistakes with a wrong conception of its rival.
    If the U.S. foreign policy makers persistently pursue the hardline and hostile policy towards the DPRK, swayed by their hard-headed way of thinking and stand toward it, the DPRK-U.S. relations will never improve.
    The prospect of solving the issue of the DPRK-U.S. relations depends on the attitude of the United States.
    Minju Joson says that the DPRK will take all possible steps to cope with the U.S. invariable hardline and hostile policy towards it under the uplifted banner of army-based policy as required by the present situation.

Friendly meeting with Italian guests

    Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting with members of the visiting delegation of the People's United Democracy-Left Wing of Italy was held at the Taedonggang Club for the diplomatic corps yesterday. Invited to the meeting were members of the delegation led by general secretary of the party Michele Capuano.
    Present there were the vice-chairman of the Korea-Italy Friendship Association and other officials concerned.
    Participants saw an art performance and conversed with each other, deepening friendly feelings.

Clothes exhibition

    Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- An exhibition of clothes presented by public service establishments throughout the country was held in Pyongyang recently. Many of the exhibits were national costumes.
    Korean costumes based on classical designs and modern style have beautifully embroidered and decorated sleeves and skirt hems.
    Children's rainbow-striped dresses and clothes for the first birthday drew particular attention of women for the trinkets, vests, hats and purses attached onto them.
    Birthday dresses, turumagi (Korean-style topcoat), trousers and coats for old men were popular for their classical beauty.
    A purply jogori (Korean-style jacket) with a white collar strip and black chima (skirt) also gained popularity as women's everyday dress.
    The exhibition marked an important occasion in inheriting and developing national costumes.

Minor power stations pay off

    Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- A large number of medium and small-scale power stations have been constructed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Recently, several minor power stations have been put into operation in Jagang, south Phyongan and other provinces.
    Janggang county built Janggang Power Station no. 5 on the River Puk to sufficiently supply electricity to industrial establishments in the county.
    The Jonchon Coal Mine Power Station has appeared on the River Jangja so that electricity needed for the coal output in Jonchon county has fully been supplied.
    Hwaphyong county built the Hwaphyong Army-People Power Station on the River Jasong, while Nyongwon county, South Phyongan Province, constructed Songryonggang Youth Power Station no. 1 on the River Songryong, a branch of the River Taedong.
    The newly-built power stations guarantee additional provision of electricity to local factories, enterprises, farms, forestry stations and coal mines and supply electricity for heating of hospitals, nurseries, kindergartens and hundreds of dwelling houses.

Message of sympathy to Indonesian President

Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday sent a message of sympathy to Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri in connection with the recent bomb attack in Bali, a tourist city of Indonesia, that claimed lives of hundreds of people. Kim Yong Nam expressed deep sympathy and consolation to the president and, through her, to the Indonesian government and people.
The message explicitly clarified the principled stand of the DPRK government to oppose all forms of terrorism and expressed belief that the president and government of Indonesia would eliminate the aftermath of the incident and bring the situation and the living of the people in the afflicted area to normal at an early date.

DPRK sports delegation returns

Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- The DPRK sports delegation led by Pak Myong Chol, chairman of the National Olympic Committee, returned here today after participating in the 14th Asian Games. The delegation was greeted 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, and officials concerned, sportspersons and working people in the city.
At the Asiad DPRK players bagged 9 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 13 bronze medals. Ri Song Hui set a new world record in the women's weightlifting, Ham Pong Sil placed first in the women's Marathon race and its teams came first in the women's football matches and in the team standing of women's table-tennis competitions.