Joint New Year Editorial issued in DPRK
Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Newspapers Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi today published a joint editorial "Let Us Fully Demonstrate the Dignity and Might of the DPRK Under the Great Banner of Army-Based Policy" on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 92 (2003).
Last year, Juche 91 (2002), was a year of historic victory during which the dignity and might of Juche Korea were fully demonstrated in all domains of the revolution and construction, the editorial says, and goes on:
Last year was a year of unity and grand political festivals which clearly bore witness to the politico-ideological might of our revolutionary ranks.
Our army and people grandly commemorated the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 70th anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army amidst the jubilation of the whole nation. The grand political events of the significant year, 2002, were the revolutionary festivals that fully demonstrated the Korean people's national honor of being blessed with the illustrious leaders generation after generation. They also demonstrated the iron faith and will of our army and people to carry forward the revolutionary traditions of Mt. Paektu forever.
In the course of the hard struggle the great traits of the perfect unity were displayed. The leader of the revolution and all the servicepersons and people breathed the same breath and shared the idea and destiny. No nuclear weapons can break our single hearted unity whereby the leader trusts the army and people and they absolutely worship and follow their leader.
Last year was a proud year during which the authority and might of the DPRK were fully displayed.
It was thanks to the correct foreign policy of our party and its dynamic activities that a favorable phase was opened for the building of a powerful nation and spectacular events took place drawing the attention of the world. The imperialist arbitrary and high-handed practices that struck the whole world with terror could not frighten us nor block our advance.
Last year was a year of changes during which a new leaping advance was made in the building of a powerful nation.
Our people pushed ahead with a bold struggle to mark the greatest holidays of the nation with proud achievements gained in the building of an economically strong country. With the torch of Ranam lit throughout the country a breakthrough was made to bring about a new economic surge and grand nature-harnessing projects including the land leveling and rezoning in South Hwanghae Province and the Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway Project were carried out successfully.
New measures were taken to improve economic management and improve the standard of the people's living as required by the developing reality. It is a precious success registered in giving full play to the advantages of our-style socialism that a broad avenue was paved for the sustainable growth of our economy.
It is the fixed faith enshrined by our people while pulling through the ordeals that our leader, ideology, army and system are best and it is the most just way to build a powerful socialist nation.
All the victories won by our army and people in carrying out the cause of socialism last year are valuable fruition of leader Kim Jong Il's army-based line and his dynamic guidance.
The New Year, Juche 92 (2003), is a year of bold offensive and great change when a general advance should be made toward the high peak of building a powerful nation under the banner of the army-based policy, the editorial says, and goes on:
This year is a meaningful year which marks the 55th birthday of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, our glorious motherland.
To celebrate this anniversary with splendour is an important political work to firmly preserve the exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung, father of socialist Korea, for state building and eternally glorify the revolutionary achievements gained at the cost of blood. It is also a worthwhile patriotic work to encourage the entire party and army and all the people to win fresh victory and display the might of our country, our motherland.
This year's drive to brilliantly adorn the 55th birthday of the DPRK is a worthwhile struggle to comprehensively apply the Juche-based idea and line of giving top priority to the army in all fields of politics, the economy and culture.
We should vigorously step up the general onward movement for the building of a powerful nation under the slogan "Let Us Achieve a Great Victory with the Might of the Army-Based Policy Yhis Year, Which Marks the 55th Birthday of the DPRK".
In order to increase the might of the DPRK, it is important to consolidate the single hearted unity of the party, the army and the people based on the idea of giving top priority to the army as firm as a rock.
Our party's revolutionary idea of giving top priority to the army is the most steadfast idea of independence against imperialism. We should cement the ideological position and class position of socialism as an iron-wall, fully determined to fight against imperialism to the last. We should also heighten the revolutionary vigilance against the imperialists' ideological and cultural poisoning and firmly preserve our ideology, morality and our noble socialist way of life.
If the DPRK's might is to be fully demonstrated under the banner of the army-based policy, it is necessary to bring about a fresh change in the economic and cultural construction.
It is the fixed will of our party to radically change the appearance of the country and enable the people to live as happily as others in a few years to come. We should put into practice in all aspects leader Kim Jong Il's grand plan for the building of a prosperous and powerful nation, confident of the future of the DPRK.
Proceeding from the fundamental interests of the revolution, we should attach importance to the defence industry and direct primary efforts to it. Efforts should be made to effect fresh innovation in power, coal and metal industries and railway transport, considering these fields as a main link in the efforts to revitalize the national economy. The modernization of light industry should be accelerated to increase the production of quality consumer goods.
In agriculture, the party's policies of bringing about a radical change in seed selection and potato farming and ensuring double cropping should be strictly implemented to significantly increase the agricultural production. It is also important to steadily push ahead with large-scale land realignment projects and build Pyongyang, the capital city of revolution, more magnificently and beautifully to meet the need of the new century.
In order to effect a great surge in socialist economic construction, it is urgent to improve the economic management and rapidly develop science and technology.
We should manage and operate the economy in such a way as to ensure the largest profitability while firmly adhering to the socialist principles. It is essential to acquire advanced technology in earnest and actively introduce ultra-modern science and technology as required by the it era.
If the DPRK's dignity and sovereignty are to be firmly defended, it is important to strengthen our revolutionary armed forces in every way and decisively enhance their militant might and role.
All the officers and men of the people's army should get ready to strike and wipe out any formidable enemy our own way by thoroughly implementing the training-first slogan. They should combat illusion about the enemy and peace and always keep themselves combat-ready. Our people's army will wipe out the imperialist aggressors with unpredictable strike and mercilessly destroy their bulwark if they dare recklessly attack us, pursuant to their "policy of strength".
National defence and aid to the army represent a supreme patriotic work. All the people should do their utmost to increase the national defence capacity, considering the military affair as the most important affair of the state.
We should strengthen and develop our party into an invincible political weapon to accomplish the army-based revolutionary cause of Juche.
All the people should devote themselves to consolidating and developing the socialist system and achieving the prosperity of the DPRK with ardent patriotism.
We should become ardent patriots who value the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the nation more than our life by learning from the noble patriotism of the anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners.
All the party members and other working people should fulfil their duty and obligation as citizens of the dignified DPRK.
The officials, the leading members of revolution, should have stronger anti-imperialist fighting spirit, revolutionary spirit and militancy than anyone else.
The young people should successfully inherit the heroic fighting sprit and trait the preceding generations displayed in the sacred anti-imperialist and anti-U.S. struggle and thus fulfil the important mission they have assumed before the era as a reserve combat unit of the supreme commander.
Our army and people are now fully confident of certain victory and optimistic about the future of the revolution. We will wage a staunch struggle with the indomitable stamina with which we defeated the two imperialisms so as to glorify this year, the 55th anniversary of the DPRK, as a year of great creation and victory in which the spirit of socialist Korea will be strikingly demonstrated.
Referring to the great progress made in the struggle for national reunification last year, the editorial says:
All the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and abroad dynamically advanced, holding high the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. As a result, there took place dramatic events unprecedented in the history of national division.
An atmosphere of reconciliation, unity and reunification ran higher than ever before and exchange and cooperation were boosted between the north and the south.
The June 15 North-South Joint Declaration will as always remain a banner our nation should hold high in the movement for national reunification. The stand and attitude toward the declaration is a touchstone that distinguishes between patriotism and treachery. All the fellow countrymen should uphold the declaration as an invariable landmark for national reunification and bring about a decisive turn in the accomplishment of the cause of reunification with the might of the nation's driving force.
The success or failure of the movement for national reunification depends on how to preserve and implement the idea of "By Our Nation Itself", the basic spirit of the north-south joint declaration. All the fellow countrymen should give further momentum to the movement for national reunification under the uplifted slogan "Let Us Bring Earlier the Independent Reunification by the Concerted Efforts of Our Nation".
Cooperation between the compatriots is a short cut to reunification. We should place the common interests of the nation above anything else, subordinate everything to them and achieve the great national unity in the idea of national independence and patriotism. The anti-national moves to seek "cooperation" with outside forces, blinded by greed for power and comfort should be thoroughly rejected.
It is an urgent national task to avert the danger of war and preserve peace on the Korean Peninsula at present. There is neither reason nor condition for the fellow countrymen to strain the situation and disturb peace against the fellow countrymen as the north and the south are heading for reconciliation, unity and reunification. It can be said that there exists on the Korean Peninsula at present only confrontation between the Koreans in the north and the south and the United States. The United States is now becoming all the more frantic in its moves to stifle the DPRK, openly clamoring about a preemptive nuclear attack on it.
This is spoiling the atmosphere of reconciliation between the north and the south and posing a grave threat to peace. All the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should approach the reckless and vicious war moves of the U.S. imperialists with high vigilance and deal a telling blow at them by the concerted efforts of the whole nation. The U.S. bellicose elements should clearly know that their strategy to dominate Korea is a pipe-dream, stop the provocative and military pressure and withdraw their aggression forces from South Korea without delay.
The great army-based policy is a policy of attaching importance to the nation as it is aimed to defend the sovereignty of the whole nation and a patriotic policy for its common prosperity. Whoever is concerned for the destiny and future of the nation should support and defend the army-based policy and remain true to it with ardent patriotism whether they be in the north and the south and abroad.
A very bright prospect is in store for the DPRK that has adorned its flag with great victories only.
We are sure to win as long as there are the invincible revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu and the steel-strong single-hearted unity of the party and the people. Under the banner of the great army-based policy our army and people will glorify forever the proud history and traditions of our republic that has always emerged victorious in the confrontation with imperialism.
Sportspersons honored
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of awarding citations to sportspersons of merits took place at the People's Palace of Culture on Dec. 30.
At the ceremony woman weightlifter Ri Song Hui was awarded a watch bearing the august name of President Kim Il Sung, the Title of DPRK Woman Labour Hero, a Gold Medal (hammer and sickle) and National Flag Order First Class.
The same watches were conferred upon woman marathoner Ham Pong Sil, Jo Song Ok and 17 other women footballers and commendations of Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, upon Ri Song Gun, vice department director of the sports federation, and four coaches including Pak Hye Jong.
Titles of People's Sportsperson were granted to Kim Hyon Hui, Im Yong Su, Ri Jong Hyang, Kim Hae and 10 other marathoner, table-tennis players, gymnast, weightlifter and boxers and their coaches.
Honorary titles and orders and medals were awarded to many athletes, coaches and officials.
Gifts from Kim Jong Il were handed to weightlifter Ri Song Hui and coach Pak Hye Jong.
Present at the ceremony were Kim Yun Hyok, secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Pak Myong Chol, chairman of the Korean Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, and others.
Japan urged to show good faith
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today in a signed commentary flails Japan's perfidious attitude toward the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
It is pointed out in the declaration that Japan apologizes to the Korean people for bringing them huge damage and pain in the past and the unpleasant past between the DPRK and Japan would be redeemed. It calls for settling outstanding issues between the DPRK and Japan and cooperating with each other in the efforts to preserve and strengthen peace and stability in Northeast Asia, the commentary says, and continues:
However, Japan has backpedaled on its promise with the DPRK from the outset and went the length of turning away from the commitment it made to settle its past, a key article of the declaration.
The ultra-right conservative forces in Japan have kicked up an anti-DPRK row over the issue of a few kidnapped Japanese, while shelving such hideous state-sponsored crimes against the Korean people as forcibly drafting millions of Koreans, reducing hundreds of thousands of Korean women to sexual slaves for the imperial Japanese army, massacring Koreans under its policy of exterminating the Korean nation and limitlessly plundering cultural wealth and natural resources from Korea.
Meanwhile, pro-U.S. conservative forces in Japan, taking advantage of the U.S. anti-DPRK "nuclear racket", have openly followed the Korea policy of the U.S. administration intended to isolate and stifle it.
Now that Japan is backtracking from its commitments in the declaration and kicking up an anti-DPRK row, active as a shock brigade of the U.S. "nuclear racket," improvement and development of the DPRK-Japan relations can hardly be expected.
If Korea and Japan are truly to be friendly neighbors, Japan should make a sincere approach to the settlement of those issues agreed upon in the declaration. Japan should take practical measures to settle its past with an honest stance.
U.S. warmonger's hysteria ridiculed
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld recently said "The U.S. is perfectly capable of taking military action against Iraq and North Korea at the same time and capable of decisively winning all, should that ever be necessary".
In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says:
His bellicose outbursts clearly prove that the bush group's statement that "The U.S. has no intention to fight a war against North Korea" was sheer hypocrisy and a poor farce to cover up its aggressive nature.
After completely pulling out of the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework, the U.S. is frantically escalating the international nuclear racket to stifle the DPRK under the pretext of "North Korea's promotion of its nuclear program" in a bid to use it as a pretext to ignite a war of aggression.
The U.S. is stepping up the preparations for a war against the DPRK, persistently turning aside the latter's constructive proposal for concluding a non-aggression treaty. The U.S. has frequently committed aerial espionage against the DPRK. All this is reminiscent of alarming moves on the eve of a war.
But the U.S. should properly know who is its rival.
If the enemy invades even an inch of the inviolable territory of the DPRK, the people's army and people of the DPRK will wipe out the aggressors to the last man.
44th anniversary of victory of revolution in Cuba marked
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held here on Monday in commemoration of the 44th anniversary of the victory of the revolution in Cuba.
Invited to the meeting were Cuban Ambassador to the DPRK Esteban Lobaina Romero and embassy officials.
Present there were Pyon Yong Rip, Minister of Education who is chairman of the Korea-Cuba Solidarity Committee, Ri Jin Su, vice-chairman of the central committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, officials concerned and working people in the city.
Speeches were made at the meeting.
A solidarity message to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples was adopted at the meeting.
10 big events in Pyongyang in 2002
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Kang Min Jong of the Institute for North Korean Studies in South Korea issued an article titled "10 big events in Pyongyang in 2002", according to radio Voice of National Salvation from Seoul.
He singled out the following 10 big events in Pyongyang in 2002:
The first. The "meeting to congratulate the sun of the 21st century" was held in Mt. Paektu on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. The second. Grand commemorations were held on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The third. Kim Jong Il met with the president's special envoy of the south side, once again paving a broad avenue for reunification.
The fourth. Kim Jong Il sent his autographic message reading "Let us name the baby girl Chuk Bok as she was born amidst the blessings of the people of the whole country" to Ri Jae Ryong, a former unconverted long-term prisoner who turned almost 60, when his daughter was born. The fifth. 100,000-strong mass gymnastic and artistic performance Arirang was presented from April to August, creating a great sensation. The sixth. In August Kim Jong Il paid a visit to the Far Eastern Region of Russia, evoking worldwide response. The seventh. Ground-breaking ceremonies took place in September to reconnect rail and road links between the north and the south of Korea.
The eighth. The Japanese Prime Minister visited Pyongyang and the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration was published. The ninth. The Pyongyang beauty cheering group attended the 14th Asian Games, raising "Pyongyang wind." The tenth. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK in a statement announced its decision to lift the freeze of its nuclear facilities and immediately resume their operation and construction to generate electricity to cope with the obtaining situation.
Greetings to Slovenian President
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Janez Drnovsek on his election as President of the Republic of Slovenia.
Expressing belief that the relations between the two countries would develop on good terms in the future, too, the message wished the president great success in his responsible work for the prosperity of the country.
Greetings to President of Sudan
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, President of Sudan, on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of its independence.
The message expressed belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger in the future, and wished the president and people of Sudan greater success in their work for peace, stability and prosperity of the country.
Greetings to Fidel Castro Ruz
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il together with Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Tuesday sent a message of greetings to Fidel Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC), President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the victory in the revolution in Cuba.
The message says:
We extend warm congratulations to you and, through you, to the CPC and the Government and the people of Cuba on behalf of the WPK, the Government and the people of the DPRK on the occasion.
We highly praise the fraternal Cuban people for reliably defending the gains of revolution and protecting the dignity of the nation, frustrating the anti-socialist moves on the part of hostile forces at home and abroad with a revolutionary offensive under your correct guidance.
We take this opportunity to express our conviction that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries will continue to grow stronger in the struggle to defend socialism and build a just and new world and sincerely wish you good health and greater success in your responsible work.
Greetings to Yasser Arafat
Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Tuesday sent a message of greetings to Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the start of the Palestinian revolution.
The message extended warm congratulations to the president and, through him, to the friendly Palestinian people.
Extending firm support and solidarity to the Palestinian people in their just cause to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and sacred places and build a sovereign state with Kuds as its capital, the message wished the president greater success in his work.
Kim Jong Il deluged with congratulatory messages and letters
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received over 7,000 congratulatory messages and letters from prominent figures and people from all walks of life of the world on the important occasions this year.
The congratulatory messages and letters that came to him on his birthday included those from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Russian President, Fidel Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the C.C., the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, and other heads of parties, states and governments of different countries, the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Secretary General of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea and other prominent figures.
He also received many congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of his election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the 9th anniversary of his election as Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the 57th anniversary of the WPK and the 70th anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army, the 57th anniversary of the liberation of Korea, the 54th anniversary of the DPRK and on other occasions.
They expressed firm belief that the Korean people would achieve greater successes in the grand revolutionary march to build a powerful nation under the army-based revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il.
U.S. aerial espionage against DPRK in December
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists committed 190 cases of aerial espionage against the DPRK in December, according to military sources.
Involved in it were high-altitude strategic reconnaissance planes, electronic reconnaissance planes, commanding planes and tactical reconnaissance planes of various missions.
U-2 high-altitude strategic reconnaissance plane spied on the DPRK while making shuttle flights in skies above Tokjok islet, Phochon and Sokcho of South Korea on Dec. 28. On Dec. 25 ep-3 electronic reconnaissance plane flew above areas southeast of Suwon, Hoengsong and Kangrung, spying on coasts and seabed of the DPRK after making a sortie from an overseas base.
Timed to coincide with the aerial war exercises committed by the U.S. 7th Air Force present in South Korea from Dec. 16 to 19, E-3 commanding plane spied on major military targets in the forefrontline areas of the DPRK.
From Dec. 3 to 27 RC-12 and RC-7b tactical reconnaissance planes made flights to spy on major military targets of the DPRK in areas along the military demarcation line.
On Dec. 27 the U.S. imperialists mobilized f-16 fighter bombers and a-10 assault planes to stage an air battle drill, a close air support exercise, a drill of detecting aerial targets and a drill of striking land targets in skies above Woeyon islet, Anmyon islet, Phyongchang and Wonju.
The U.S. mobilized more than 1,800 planes in aerial war exercises targeted against the DPRK in December, much more than those involved in November.
Kim Yong Nam sends message of sympathy to V. Putin
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of sympathy to Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on Sunday in connection with a truck bomb attack on the building of the Chechnya administrative office that claimed big human and material losses.
The message strongly condemned extremists for their inhuman terrorism and extended deep sympathy and consolation to the victims and the bereaved families.
Reiterating the invariable stand of the DPRK Government on opposing all forms of terrorism and any support to them, the message wished the president and people of Russia successes in their work for the socio-political stability of the country.
Kim Jong Il sends floral basket to Cuban embassy
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il today sent a floral basket to the Cuban embassy here on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the victory of the revolution in Cuba.
It was handed to Cuban ambassador to the DPRK Esteban Lobaina Romero.
CPRF secretariat flails U.S. moves for aggression and interference
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) in its information bulletin no. 832 issued on Dec. 30 denounced the U.S. moves for aggression and interference.
The bulletin says:
The U.S. has systematically breached and scrapped the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework (AF) while pursuing a hostile policy toward the DPRK for the past one year.
Its anti-DPRK hostile moves reached their extremes with theU.S. president's special envoy Kelly's visit to Pyongyang from Oct. 3 to 5 as a momentum. On Nov. 14 the U.S. adopted a decision to stop supplying heavy oil to the DPRK which had been under way under the AF and actually halted its delivery from December. on Dec. 6 it held the U.S.-South Korea "annual security consultative meeting" to discuss the ways of taking military sanctions against the DPRK.
Shortly after that, it openly committed piracy against the DPRK trading cargo ship which was on its voyage in the open sea under a legal trading contract.
This year the U.S. staged more frantic war exercises targeted against the DPRK.
This is clearly evidenced by the joint military exercises staged in all parts of South Korea from March 21 to 27. The exercise was a combination of the exercise dubbed "reception, staging, onward movement and integration," an annual event from 1994, and the foal eagle joint military exercise that started from 1961.
The U.S. can provoke a new Korean war anytime and no one can predict when the anti-DPRK war exercises staged in and around South Korea may develop into an actual war.
Whenever inter-Korean relations favorably developed and a phase favorable for Korea's reunification opened, the U.S. put a brake on the process.
When the mine clearing in the demilitarized zone reached a final phase in November to reconnect the rail and road links according to the agreement between the north and the south, the U.S. obtrusively meddled in the work and raised the issue of getting "permit of the military armistice commission," delaying the projects to reconnect the rail and road links. This lashed the whole Korean nation and world conscience into fury.
When the first meeting of the law-making panel for inter-Korean economic cooperation opened in Seoul, the U.S. put unreasonable pressure on the South Korean authorities to render it fruitless. It did so under the pretext of the statement issued by a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry denouncing the U.S. decision to stop the supply of heavy oil to the DPRK.
The fellow countrymen in the north and the south can no longer tolerate the U.S. moves for aggression and interference, the bulletin noted, demanding the U.S. imperialist aggressors quit South Korea without delay.
U.S. intervention in issue of inter-Korean relations flayed
Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the North Side's Delegation to the Committee for the Promotion of North-South Economic Cooperation issued a statement today denouncing the United States for its obstructions to the scheduled overland tour of Mt. Kumgang and ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone.
Recalling that the U.S. put pressure on the South Korean authorities not to adopt a tentative agreement on providing a military guarantee for the traffic on temporary roads in the districts under the control of the north and the south in the east and west coastal areas at the inter-Korean military working-level talks, the statement dismissed this as a high-handed act of interfering in the internal affairs of Korea unacceptable to anyone.
It goes on:
The U.S. is laying artificial obstacles in the cooperation between Koreans, blatant intervention that cannot be justified with anything.
The United States is persistently hamstringing the development of inter-Korean relations and bringing the situation of the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a war, grossly violating the Korean nation's right to existence and sovereignty.
The North Side's Delegation to the Committee for the Promotion of North-South Economic Cooperation scathingly denounces such intentional and deliberate attempts of the U.S. on behalf of businessmen in the north and the south of Korea and all other fellow countrymen.
The U.S. should be held entirely accountable for its behavior, which barred the adoption of a tentative agreement between the north and the south on providing a military guarantee for traffic on temporary roads in east and west coastal areas under the control of the north and the south and made it impossible to reconnect inter-Korean road links and hold a ground-breaking ceremony of the Kaesong Industrial Zone towards the end of this year.
The U.S. should know that South Korea is no longer a "tranquil backyard" for it.
The U.S. imperialist aggression troops present in South Korea, who obstruct even inter-Korean cooperation and exchange under the helmets of "UN Forces", should withdraw from there without delay. And the U.S. intervention and obstruction to the improvement of inter-Korean relations must be terminated at once.