China presents meteorological equipment to DPRK
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- China presented aerological observation equipment to the DPRK hydro-meteorological service according to a voluntary aid plan of the world meteorological organization.
Wu Donghe, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of the embassy delivered equipment on the spot on Oct. 22.
Present there were Ko Il Hun, director of the hydro-meteorological service, and officials concerned.
The participants looked round the presented equipment.
Wu Donghe said that the Sino-Korean friendship has grown stronger as the days go by under the concern of Jiang Zemin and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and the friendly feelings are deeply kept in the mind of the two peoples.
The party, government and people of China value the Sino-Korean friendship and will make all their efforts to develop it still further, he said.
Cooperation in the field of meteorology between the two countries constitutes an important part in the development of friendly relations, he said, expressing belief that the relations would develop on good terms in the future.
Vietnamese army delegation feted
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- The General Political Department of the Korean People's Army Tuesday hosted a reception in honour of the visiting delegation of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army.
KPA general Pak Jae Gyong in a speech said that the army and people of Vietnam are working hard to achieve socio-political stability and unity, industrialize and modernize the country and build a revolutionary, regular, elite and modernized defense capacity under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.
He noted that supreme commander Kim Jong Il's cordial talk with Vietnam President Tran Duc Luong in may last was an epochal event that opened a bright vista for the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in the new century.
Head of the delegation le van dung, director of the general political department of the Vietnam People's Army and secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in a speech expressed thanks to the Korean people and armed forces for material aid and moral support to the socialist cause of Vietnam and its cause of reunification.
He voiced belief that the Korean people and armed forces will gain a greater success in firmly defending and building socialism under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by Kim Jong Il.
Pothonggang Hotel
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) --The Pothonggang Hotel is located on the bank of River Pothong in Ansan-dong, Phyongchon district, Pyongyang.
Some 30 years ago, President Kim Il Sung saw the block plan and miniature of the hotel and indicated ways of building the hotel in a peculiar way. He showed up at the construction site several times and solved problems arising in the project.
He, who visited the construction site again on October 22, Juche 61 (1972), named it Pothonggang Hotel.
The construction of the hotel was completed in December 1972 amid his deep concern.
The hotel covers about 99,000 square metres. Its floor space is some 38,000 square metres.
The hotel consists of the 9-storied main building and one-storied Ansan restaurant. It can accommodate some 320 persons.
The hotel, equipped with all necessary facilities, offers guests every convenience.
Ju Tong Chol, famous inventor
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- The Institute of Super Plastic Precision Materials of the Faculty of Machine Materials of Pyongyang University of Mechanical Engineering has made a good job in researches into various kinds of tools and moulds.
The chief of the institute is Ju Tong Chol, an associate professor and a bachelor of science.
He is an authority in the field of tool materials and a good hand at invention.
During his 15-year-long career as a teacher, he has made tremendous achievements in scientific researches, contributing to the development of science and technology in the country.
He won the top honor for more than ten times at national scientific and technical festivals and presentations of science and technologies.
Super-plastic high-strength carbide alloy, up-to-date material invented by nano-technology, won the gold medal at the 7th national exhibition of inventions and new technologies. It drew particular interests of experts at the exhibition.
The alloy was made without cobalt, wolfram and other rare metal but its serviceable life is 3-4 times the existing one.
The production process of auto pistons also came first in the 16th national scientific and technical festival.
The process is based on the method of making materials by stamping forging and press, not by cutting tools.
Besides, tens of his inventions have been highly estimated in academic circles.
National Medicines Examination Center
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- The National Medicines Examination Center, established in Juche 49 (1960), plays an important role in developing public health service in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
It analyses newly developed or export and import medicines and approves their production and usage.
It has several sections equipped with modern facilities.
In recent years, it has allowed 530 kinds of medicines developed throughout the country to be used for preventive and curative medical service.
It has also succeeded in developing a method of examining musk, wild insam (ginseng), etc. and various kinds of Koryo medicines and western medicines efficacious for diarrhea, brain metabolism and cerebral-arteriosclerosis.
Anecdotes about Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- It happened in mid-march Juche 48 (1959) when President Kim Il Sung visited a factory of honoured disabled soldiers in North Hamgyong Province.
While acquainting himself with the living conditions of disabled soldiers and their families, he met a widow of a fallen soldier and took measures to send her children to an academy for studying.
Before leaving the factory, he invited all the disabled soldiers and their families and other employees of the factory to have a picture taken with him.
He told the disabled soldiers to take seats next to their spouses and chose their seats. But the woman hesitated to take a seat.
Seeing her in an awkward position, he told her to take a seat next to him to pose for a photo.
Sshe was so impressed by his meticulous loving care that she could not keep back her tears.
Joint press release on 8th inter-Korean ministerial talks published
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- The 8th inter-Korean ministerial talks which were opened in Pyongyang on October 19 closed on Tuesday.
At the talks the two sides reached an important agreement through sincere discussions on the proposals which had been presented with the common stand and will to honestly implement the historic June 15 joint declaration.
A joint press release on the 8th inter-Korean ministerial talks was published at the talks.
According to the press release, the two sides positively estimated the inter-Korean relations for developing on good terms these days in the basic spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and reached the following agreement to make sustained efforts to implement the declaration and solve the outstanding issues:
1. The north and the south shall make joint efforts to ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula in the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration and actively cooperate with each other to seek negotiated settlement of all the issues including the nuclear issue.
2. The north and the south shall let the ministerial talks push forward the construction of the eastern and western coastal railways and roads simultaneously and rapidly.
Both sides shall link the eastern coastal railway and road to the area of Mt. Kumgang and the western coastal railway and road to a Kaesong industrial zone at the first phase.
Both sides shall rapidly promote the project for relinking the eastern coastal railways and the south side shall ceaselessly and rapidly push forward the project for linking the south side's section of railroad leading to Kangrung.
3. The north and the south shall discuss at the panel for the construction of the Kaesong industrial zone the issue of its ground-breaking ceremony within December and other working issues related to the construction and set up an office concerned of the south side in the zone when it is built.
4. The north and the south shall have a working contact of those concerned at Mt. Kumgang resort within November to adopt a marine transport agreement on marine cooperation including the passage of civilian ships of both sides and their safe sailing in territorial waters of each side.
5. The north and the south shall discuss the issue of adopting an agreement on the transit of persons and freight transport of each side at the time the inter-Korean railways and roads are relinked.
6. The north and the south shall have a working contact at Mt. Kumgang resort at an early date to discuss the issue of allowing fishermen in the south side to use part of the fishing ground in the east sea of the north side.
7. The north and the south shall build the Kumgangsan House for the reunion of the separated families and relatives at an early date and actively help red cross organizations confirm the whereabouts of those missing during the war.
8. The north and the south shall hold the 9th inter-Korean ministerial talks in Seoul in mid-January 2003.
Polish diplomats help DPRK farmers
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- Polish Ambassador to the DPRK Wojciech Kaluza and members of the polish embassy helped farmers of the Korea-Poland Friendship Jangsuwon Co-Op Farm in Samsok district, Pyongyang, in harvesting on Oct. 22.
They brought in rice sheaves with the farmers and during a break, they talked with farmers, deepening the feelings of friendship.
The ambassador said that he was deeply moved to see the farmers working hard to boost agricultural production.
The diplomats delivered aid materials to the farm.
South side's delegation to inter-Korean talks leaves
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- The south side's delegation to the 8th inter-Korean ministerial talks led by chief delegate Jong Se Hyon, Minister of Unification, left here today.
The delegation was seen off at the airport by north side's delegates.
Greetings to Zambian President
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa on Monday on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of independence of the country.
The message wished the president and the people of Zambia greater success in their work for the country's stability and prosperity, expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between Korea and Zambia would steadily develop on good terms.
DPRK Taekwon-do players leave for Seoul
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- An exhibition team of the Korean Taekwon-do committee led by its chairman Hwang Pong Yong left Pyongyang today to perform in Seoul.
The team was seen off at the airport by Pak Myong Chol, chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission (PCSGC), Jang Ung, president of the International Taekwon-do Federation who is first vice-chairman of the PCSGC, Kim Yong Sok, vice-chairman of the Korean Taekwon-do committee, officials concerned, Taekwon-do instructors and players.
Kim Jong Il inspects KPA unit
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, yesterday inspected unit no. 507 of the KPA in the central sector of the front.
The first leg of his field guidance was a power station with a large capacity built by the unit.
He said the army, true to the party's call for building minor power stations on a large scale, has built modern power stations in different parts of the country and, as a result, greatly benefits from them. He underscored the need to push ahead with the building of minor power stations so as to realize the electrification at all units on a higher level.
Then he went to the artillery battery under the unit.
He saw the servicepersons training in their fire-arm service.
Much pleased to see the whole crew of the battery grown to be a-match-for-a-hundred combatants capable of repulsing any invasion of the enemies, he congratulated them upon their successful training.
He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the commanding officers of the unit have provided their soldiers with good living conditions. He called for paying a special attention to the living of the precious soldiers who are devotedly defending the forefront of the country.
He enjoyed an art performance given by the servicepersons of the battery.
He said that all the companies should develop popular art with front-line musical instruments and national musical instruments as the servicepersons of the battery do.
He met Sin Chin Song, Sin Wui Gyong and Sin Tae Song, triplets serving in the same unit and highly praised them for standing guard over the country with rifles in their hands.
Saying that our people are devoting themselves to the defence of the country because they regard it as the most vivid expression of patriotism, he noted that the country will always emerge victorious as the idea of giving importance to the army prevails there.
He gave the servicemen of the battery a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as souvenirs and had a photo taken with them.
Then he acquainted himself in detail with the unit's performance of duty.
He put forward important tasks which would serve as guidelines in increasing the combat capability of the unit in every way.
He recalled that the unit registered spectacular results in many battles during the past fatherland liberation war and has performed proud labor feats in socialist construction, adding that the noble self-sacrificing spirit displayed by the servicemen for the sake of the country would shine forever.
He posed for a photograph with officers and men of the unit.
That day he gave on-site guidance to the farm of KPA unit no. 549.
He was greatly satisfied to learn that the unit is providing a sufficient quantity of delicious and nutritious subsidiary food to the soldiers. he highly appreciated their success.
He underscored the need for the whole society to earnestly learn from the servicemen's revolutionary trait and way of living.
He was accompanied by Ri Yong Mu, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, KPA general Hyon Chol Hae and colonel general Ri Pyong Sam, secretaries Kim Kuk Thae and Kim Ki Nam and first vice department directors Ri Yong Chol, Jang Song Thaek and Choe Chun Hwang of the C.C., the WPK.