Minju Joson on DPRK's invariable mode of counter-action

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson Wednesday in a signed commentary said that it is an invariable mode of counter-action of the DPRK to cope with the U.S. imperialists' hard-line policy with the toughest stand. The commentary said:
    What the U.S. needs is not detente on the Korean Peninsula but an extreme pitch of tensions. This is clearly evidenced by the recent U.S. moves concerning the nuclear issue.
    The U.S. seeks to escalate military pressure and offensive against the DPRK on the charge of posing a nuclear and missile threat and, furthermore, bring it to its knees by force.
    As the DPRK has a strong army, it has a strong pluck. If the U.S. tries to settle the issue with the DPRK by force, the DPRK has no idea of avoiding it.

Papers observe Day of Victory of Cuban Revolution

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- Papers here Wednesday in signed articles said the Korean people extended warm congratulations and militant greetings to the Cuban people and sincerely wished them new success in their future struggle on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the victory of the revolution in Cuba. Rodong Sinmun said:
    January 1 is a historic day of victory of the Cuban revolution that brought about a radical turn in the destiny of the Cuban people.
    The Korean people highly praise the Cuban people for invariably holding high the banner of independence against imperialism and of socialism after carving out a road of socialism in the western hemisphere for the first time. They extend firm solidarity to the Cuban people in their just cause.
    The DPRK will make positive efforts to boost the friendly and cooperative relations with the fraternal Cuban people in the new century.
    Minju Joson recalled that the DPRK and Cuba have fully supported and closely cooperated with each other to achieve the common cause, adding that it is the stand of the DPRK Government to boost the DPRK-Cuba friendly relations as required by the new century.

Peaceful solution of "nuclear issue" urged

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- 15 South Korean civic and public organizations including the citizens' solidarity for democratic society and the citizens' network for peace on the Korean Peninsula at a press conference in Seoul on Dec. 30 urged the peaceful solution of the "nuclear issue" through dialogue and negotiations, according to South Korean Yonhap News. The organizations called for creating an all-people organization embracing the "Government," the "National Assembly" and civic and public organizations.

Anti-U.S., anti-war rally held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- Youth and students of South Korea reportedly met at Kyunghee University on Dec. 28 to oppose the united states and war, urge the U.S. to conclude a non-aggression treaty with the north and get the U.S. forces who killed the schoolgirls withdrawn from South Korea. The rally was cosponsored by the south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) and the South Korean Council of Youth Organizations (Hanchong). Ri Sang Gyu, vice-chairman of Hanchong, in an opening address said that it is of weighty significance to hold the rally for the first time in solidarity with the south headquarters of Pomchonghakryon.
    Speeches were made at the rally on the subjects of "The U.S., which violated North Korea-U.S. Geneva Agreement and is chiefly responsible for the nuclear issue, positively respond to the proposal for the conclusion of a North Korea-U.S. non-aggression treaty" and "Let us drive the U.S. Forces who killed two schoolgirls Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son out of this land".
    A solidarity address from the overseas headquarters of Pomchonghakryon was read out at the rally, and then a performance was given by a singing group of the Kwangju and south Jolla Provincial Federation of University Student Councils.
    A joint statement and joint struggle slogans were also published at the rally.
    At the end of the rally the participants thronged to Kwanghwamun where a candle-light demonstration was under way, loudly singing "Anti-U.S. and Anti-War Song" in token of strong anti-Americanism.

Korea in festive attire

     Pyongyang, January 01 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are celebrating the New Year Juche 92 (2003). The capital city of Pyongyang and local towns are decked in festive attire.
    Seen in the cities are "Happy New Year 2003", "Single-Hearted Unity" and other slogans, billboards, wall newspapers, large visual aids and lanterns.
    The major streets of the capital are decorated with flags of the republic, red flags and street lamps with beautiful flowers, neon lamps and decoration bulbs.
    Working people, servicemen, youth and schoolchildren are heading for the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay homage to President Kim Il Sung.
    People lay floral baskets and bouquets before his statues in Pyongyang and local areas.
    New Year celebrations of schoolchildren and workers took place respectively at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium and the house of workers. National and local art troupes are giving colorful art performances at theatres and houses of culture in all areas of the country.
    New feature films are screened at cinema houses and schoolchildren in a winter vacation are enjoying kite flying, top spinning, shuttlecock and other folk amusements and sports games.
    Okryu, Chongryu, Sinhung and other restaurants in the capital and local areas are serving traditional Korean dishes and special food made of pheasant, roe deer, camel, catfish, etc.
    The Korean people are expected to suffer hardships caused by outsiders this year, too.
    But they are observing the New Year's Day, convinced that they will surely win in the cause of socialism with the invincible might of the unity between the people, the leader and the party.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Nigerian President

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Olusegun Obasanjo, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 92 (2003). The gift was handed to an official concerned yesterday by B. S. Ilochi, Nigerian charge d' affaires ad interim to the DPRK.

Kim Yong Nam greets chairman of Chongryon CSC

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a New Year message to So Man Sul, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon (The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan). The message extended warm congratulations and compatriotic greetings to the chairman, all other officials of Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 92 (2003).
    Last year Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan cemented the single- hearted unity of their ranks and further increased the patriotic driving force including new generation and gained signal successes in protecting democratic national rights and life of compatriots, the message noted.
    It called on Chongryon and compatriots in Japan to make a tangible contribution to the work for the independent reunification of the country and strengthen the friendly bonds with the Japanese people to create favorable circumstances for implementing the historic DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration to the letter.

Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on Wednesday on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 92 (2003). The message said that last year was a year of proud progress when Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan traversed the road indicated by Kim Jong Il for Chongryon and the movement of Koreans in Japan to follow in the 21st century. It was also days of struggle when they frustrated the frantic anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon moves of reactionary forces inside and outside Japan, it noted.
    Greeting the new year under the rapidly-changing situation, all the Chongryon officials and compatriots are filled with the unshakable resolve to devotedly defend and strengthen and develop the Chongryon organizations and bring about a fresh surge in the movement of Koreans in Japan in hearty response to Kim Jong Il's highly important teachings, it said.
    The message said they would glorify this year as a year of epochal turn and fresh victory in the activities of Chongryon and the community of Koreans in Japan and their patriotic movement for the nation.
    It further said:
    In the New Year, we will defend the homeland, work hard for its prosperity and development, make a tangible contribution to the nationwide movement to open the door of the reunification by our nation itself under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and strengthen friendship and solidarity with the Japanese people for the implementation of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.

Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from NDFSK

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on Wednesday on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 92 (2003). The message said that last year was a year of excitement when the will of Kim Jong Il for the great army-based policy was fully displayed while steering the trend of the times to draw the world people's attention to Juche Korea and admiration and praise for him, General of Mt. Paektu, shook heaven and earth.
    Kim Jong Il's visit to the Far Eastern Region of the Russian Federation and the publication of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration were a striking demonstration of his high international prestige and a special event that brought a new turn in political situation on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the world, it noted, and went on:
    You resolutely smashed the U.S. desperate anti-DPRK nuclear racket and firmly defended the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the nation with your invincible army-based policy.
    You, the lodestar of national reunification, encouraged all the Koreans in the north and the south and overseas to the implementation of the historic June 15 Joint Declaration to provide an admirable reality in which they jointly work to achieve unity and reunification by the nation itself.
    We will stage an overall confrontation against the U.S. to open up a decisive phase for the anti-U.S. struggle and further accelerate the advance for great national unity under the banner of the joint declaration to bring about a new turn in national reunification.

Respects paid to Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Senior party, state and army officials, servicepersons of the Korean People's Army and people from all walks of life visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay respects to President Kim Il Sung on the occasion of the hopeful New Year, Juche 92 (2003). The palace was visited by senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea, the state and the army, chairpersons of the friendly parties, leading officials of the party, armed forces and power organs, social organizations, ministries and national institutions.
    Put up on both sides of the statue of Kim Il Sung at the palace were flags of the WPK and the DPRK and colors of the KPA and the guards of honor of the KPA three services lined up there.
    Amid the playing of the immortal revolutionary hymn "Song of General Kim Il Sung", a floral basket in the joint name of the Central Committee of the WPK, the Central Military Commission of the WPK, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and the DPRK Cabinet was laid before the statue.
    Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters reading "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung Is Immortal".
    The visitors paid deep respects to the president, looking up to his statue.
    They entered the hall where the president is preserved in state to make a bow to him in humble reverence.
    They looked round the orders and medals the president received from the DPRK and different countries, the portrait of him with sunny smile in his face and bronze relievos in the mourning hall, a train he used during his on-site guidance and foreign visits and a car he used during the last period of his life.

Schoolchildren's New Year celebration held

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- The schoolchildren's celebration of the New Year, Juche 92 (2003) was held at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on Dec. 31, Juche 91 (2002). Present together with schoolchildren were senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea, the state and the army, chairpersons of the friendly parties, members of the DPRK Cabinet, officials of the party, armed forces and power organs, social organizations, ministries and national institutions.
    Also present were the chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea and overseas compatriots staying in the socialist homeland.
    Diplomatic envoys from different countries and staff members of embassies here were invited to the celebration.
    In the stadium hall the senior officials of the party, the state and the army looked round various models and visual aid materials showing the great achievements under the army-based policy of Kim Jong Il, the proud successes gained by the Korean people under the leadership of the WPK in Juche 91 (2002) and the happy life of the schoolchildren.
    The schoolchildren's New Year celebration "The Blessed New Year's Day" began amidst the playing of the song of best wishes.
    Put on the stage were colorful numbers including a song and dance "The Eternal New Year's Day Blessed by the Generalissimo", a dance and narration of Korean schoolchildren in Japan "We Have the Prop of Our Minds", a vocal quartet and chorus "The Minds Wishing for Father Kim Jong Il's Comfort" and a chorus and dance "Let's Glorify Our Country of Army-Based Policy".
    The performers successfully depicted the iron faith and will of the Korean people working hard to build a powerful socialist nation rallied close around the WPK and the happiness of the schoolchildren across the country who are growing without nothing to envy more with the blessed New Year's day handed down generation after generation under the care of the WPK.

For Spanish-speaking people

kim jong il recibe mensaje de felicitacion del cc del fdns

     pyongyang, el primero de enero (atcc) -- el dirigente kim jong il recibio el dia primero un mensaje de felicitacion del comite central del frente democratico nacional de sudcorea con motivo del ano nuevo 92 (2003) de la era juche. el mensaje senala:
    el 91 de la era juche fue un ano conmovedor en que la gran voluntad de priorizacion militar del dirigente se manifesto mas que nunca y oriento con vigor la corriente de la epoca, concentrando la atencion de las personas del mundo en corea del juche y haciendo que la alabanza y el elogio de todos los pueblos a usted, general del monte paektu estremecieron la tierra y el cielo.
    la visita del dirigente a la region del lejano oriente de rusia y la publicacion de la declaracion corea-japon de pyongyang fueron una poderosa demostracion de su elevada autoridad internacional y un evento especial que trajo un nuevo viraje en la situacion politica de la peninsula coreana y el resto del mundo.
    con la invencible politica de priorizacion militar, el dirigente frustro resueltamente el desesperado alboroto nuclear de ee.uu. contra la rpdc y defendio firmemente la soberania y la dignidad de la patria y la nacion.
    el gran general, estrella salvadora de la reunificacion de la patria, llamo a todos los coreanos del sur, el norte y en el ultramar a la ejecucion de la historica declaracion conjunta del 15 de junio y asi desplego una majestuosa realidad en que los coreanos van logrando con sus fuerzas propias la unidad y la reunificacion.
    desplegaremos la batalla de enfrentamiento total contra ee.uu. para abrir una coyuntura decisiva de la sagrada lucha antiyanqui y aceleraremos la marcha de gran unidad nacional bajo la bandera de la declaracion conjunta del 15 de junio preparando asi una nueva era de la reunificacion de la patria.

yasser arafat hace llegar cesto de flores a la estatua de bronce kim il sung

     pyongyang, el primero de enero (atcc) -- con motivo del ano nuevo 92 (2003) de la era juche, el presidente del estado de palestina, yasser arafat, hizo llegar un cesto de flores a la estatua de bronce del presidente kim il sung en la colina mansu. shaher mohammed abdulah, embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de palestina en corea lo deposito el dia primero.
    en la cinta del cesto se lee: "su excelencia el gran lider kim il sung sera inmortal".

acto por el ano nuevo 92 (2003) de la era juche de los ninos escolares

     pyongyang, el primero de enero (atcc) -- tuvo lugar el 31 de diciembre en el palacio de deportes de pyongyang el acto por el ano nuevo 92 (2003) de la era juche de los ninos escolares. participaron junto con los ninos escolares los cuadros dirigentes del partido, el estado y el ejercito, los presidentes de los partidos amigos, los miembros del consejo de ministros, los funcionarios de los organismos del partido, las fuerzas armadas y el poder, las organizaciones sociales, los ministerios y los organos centrales.
    tambien, estuvieron presentes el representante del frente democratico nacional de sudcorea en pyongyang y los coreanos residentes en el ultramar quienes permanecen en la patria socialista.
    fueron invitados los representantes diplomaticos y otros miembros de las embajadas de varios paises y huespedes extranjeros en corea.
    en el hall del palacio los cuadros dirigentes del partido, el estado y el ejercito recorrieron varios modelos y objetos graficos que muestran las proezas de priorizacion militar del dirigente kim jong il, orgullosos exitos que el pueblo coreano logro en el 91 (2002) de la era juche bajo la direccion del partido del trabajo de corea y aspectos felices de los ninos escolares.
    en medio de la interpretacion de la cancion de voto se ofrecio el "bendito primer dia del ano nuevo", acto por el ano nuevo 92 (2003) de la era juche de los ninos escolares.
    traduciendo los sentimientos de fidelidad de todo el pueblo e integrantes de la nueva generacion del pais, los ninos escolares rindieron saludo de ano nuevo al dirigente kim jong il quien con la gran direccion de priorizacion militar ilumino el camino de la construccion de potencia socialista y hace mas esplendido el futuro de la patria.
    en la escena se pusieron diversas piezas entre otras la cancion y danza "es eterno el primer dia de ano nuevo en medio de la bendicion del generalisimo", la narracion coreografica de los ninos escolares coreanos residentes en japon "tenemos el pilar en el alma" y el cuarteto y coro "deseamos buena salud del padre", el coro y danza "exaltemos nuestro pais de priorizacion militar", etc.
    los ejecutantes reflejaron excelentemente la ferrea conviccion y la voluntad del pueblo coreano que unido firmemente en torno al partido del trabajo de corea avanza vigorosamente para la construccion de potencia socialista y los aspectos felices de los ninos escolares de todo el pais que crecen, sin envidiar nada en el mundo, con el bendito primer dia de ano nuevo que se celebra anualmente en el regazo del partido.