S. Korean students demand conclusion of DPRK-U.S. non-aggression treaty

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- Students under the south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification held a press conference at the Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul on Jan. 6 to demand immediate conclusion of a DPRK-U.S. non-aggression treaty, according to MBC of South Korea. They said that the conclusion of a non-aggression treaty between the DPRK and the U.S. is vital for peace and reunification and surely necessary for removing a war crisis from the Korean peninsula.
    To this end, they stated, they will wage a hunger sit-in strike, signature campaign and propaganda activity in front of the cathedral for 20 days till Jan. 25.

Floral basket laid before Kim Il Sung's portrait

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- A ceremony for laying a floral basket before a portrait of President Kim Il Sung was held by the organization of Afro-Asian Latin American peoples solidarity on December 30, 2002, on the occasion of the New Year. Present at the ceremony were the secretary general and the official in charge of Asian affairs of the executive secretariat of the organization, the DPRK Ambassador to Cuba and officials concerned.
    After placing the floral basket, the participants made a bow.

Joint New Year Editorial hailed

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- The vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) released a statement on Jan. 4 in support of the Joint New Year Editorial on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 92 (2003), according to Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation. The joint editorial called upon all the fellow countrymen to bring about a decisive turn in the accomplishment of the cause of national reunification with the might of the nation's driving force, prevent the danger of a new war on the Korean Peninsula and support and defend the army-based policy under the uplifted banner of the June 15 joint declaration this year, he said.
    Calling for upholding the joint declaration as an invariable landmark for national reunification and accelerating the grand march of independent national reunification, he went on:
    Stand and stance toward the joint declaration is a touchstone that distinguishes between patriotism and treachery.
    We will wage the struggle together with the 70 million Koreans in the main spirit of the joint declaration under the 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.
    This year, too, we will thoroughly reject the anti-national moves to seek "cooperation" with outside forces, always attach importance to the common interests of the nation and break through all sorts of difficulties and trials with the might of great national unity based on the idea of national independence and patriotism.
    The undisguised U.S. moves to stifle North Korea mean a whirlwind seeking to stifle all the 70 million nation and the threat of a "preemptive nuclear attack" against North Korea is a vicious nuclear war move aimed to exterminate the Korean nation. The NDFSK and patriotic people of all strata will escalate the anti-U.S. resistance.
    The NDFSK will fully support the army-based policy and strive together with the whole nation to pave the way for independent national reunification with the concerted efforts of our nation under the banner of the joint declaration.

KCNA accuses U.S. of increasing danger of nuclear war in Korea

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- There is an increasing danger of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula due to the U.S. criminal policy toward the DPRK. The U.S. is deliberately spreading a false rumour about the DPRK's "nuclear issue", in particular, in a bid to vitiate the atmosphere of inter-Korean reconciliation and unity and foster confrontation among Koreans.
    The U.S. has stood in the way of Korean reunification for more than half a century after occupying South Korea by force. It is impossible to carry out the urgent task of the nation to avert a war and defend peace on the Korean Peninsula unless the moves of the U.S. to perpetuate Korean division and sow the seeds of discord among the Koreans are thoroughly frustrated.
    An atmosphere of reconciliation, unity and reunification between the north and the south is now running higher than ever before in the wake of the publication of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. Therefore, there is neither a reason nor conditions for the Koreans to stand in confrontation, escalate the tensions and harass peace on the Korean Peninsula.
    The Joint New Year Editorial issued on the occasion of the New Year, 2003 said that there exists only confrontation between the Korean nation in the north and the south and the U.S. at present.
    The "nuclear issue" that renders the situation on the Korean Peninsula strained is a product of the U.S. strategy to dominate the world whereby it is working hard to bring a holocaust of a nuclear war to the Korean nation, calling for a preemptive nuclear strike after deploying lots of nuclear weapons in and around South Korea.
    It is plain to everyone that if a nuclear war breaks out in Korea it will bring catastrophic disasters to the Koreans in both parts of Korea. They should, therefore, pool their efforts and condemn and frustrate the U.S. nuclear policy for aggression and its racket of a nuclear threat so as to find a fundamental solution to the nuclear issue.
    All the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should have a correct understanding of the structure of confrontation on the Korean Peninsula, remain vigilant against the U.S. imperialists' reckless moves for a war and deal deadly blows at Yankees by their concerted efforts.

Japanese media accused of missing point of issue

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post recently in an article accused some Japanese media of missing the point of the issue. Criticizing some Japanese media for departing from the principle of objectivity and impartiality in reporting the issue of kidnapping, the article said:
    The Japanese media only seek to serve the purpose of inciting the nationalist sentiment toward North Korea, failing to keep balance in reporting.
    Even in using expressions they just repeat the assertion of the right-wingers that it is quite natural for those who were kidnapped to return home for permanent residence because they are Japanese.
    That is, they do not care about the fact that some of those on hometown visit wish to go back to North Korea.
    The article strongly condemned the Japanese media for keeping mum about the behavior of the Japanese authorities, who keep detaining in Japan those on hometown visit, refusing to send them to the DPRK in violation of the DPRK-Japan agreement, and the atrocities Japan committed against the Korean people during its past colonial military rule.
    Recalling the facts that the journalists who had visited Pyongyang to have an interview with a daughter of Megumi Yokota were described as stooges of North Korea and an editor of a magazine who carried an appeal of a husband wishing his wife to come back to Pyongyang was criticized for meeting the propaganda purpose of Pyongyang, the article urged Japanese media to observe the principle of objectivity and impartiality.

New Year's anti-U.S. resolution released in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification reportedly released an anti-U.S. resolution for the New Year on Jan. 3. The strong anti-U.S. resistance of the people last year dealt a telling blow at the arrogant U.S. and pro-U.S. conservative forces and the inter-Korean dialogue and various forms of reunification functions that got brisk day by day demonstrated the spirit of independence reflected in "By Our Nation Itself" to all the Koreans and the whole world, the resolution noted, and continued: In the New Year, too, the youth and students together with anti-U.S. candle-light demonstrators will hold high the torch of independence against the U.S. standing in the van of the movement for national independence and reunification.
    A turning phase will be opened for independent reunification when the Korean nation unites as one to smash the U.S. nuclear war moves against the north and create lasting conditions for peaceful reunification through the conclusion of the DPRK-U.S. non-aggression treaty.
    The murder of the two schoolgirls convinced the youth and students of the imperialist nature of the United States. Afire with the strong spirit of national independence, they will drive out the U.S. and reunify the country under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration. This is the wholehearted call of the youth and students and the voice of the Korean nation.
    The resolution called on the youth and students to launch all-people anti-U.S resistance for 2003.

Pyongyang Taehung Fur-Tanning Factory

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang Taehung Fur-Tanning Factory produces various kinds of furs. It, with a 50-year-long history of fur tanning, produces such quality fur goods as wall carpets, bedcovers, hats and overcoats.
    In particular, wall carpets and bedcovers made of various fur mosaics are in great demand for their good processing.
    Large quantities of fur goods made by the factory with leather of wildcat, fox, raccoon dog and other wild and domestic animals have been exported to China, Germany, France, Czech Republic and other countries.
    The factory is located in Songhwa-dong, Sadong district, Pyongyang.

Dolmens discovered in Korea

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- Dolmens have newly been discovered in Kuso-ri, Sunan district, Pyongyang. The nine dolmens were distributed some 350 meters in a mountain ridge and valley east of the Ri seat in the shape of great bear.
    Their rectangle and elliptic stone covers are three meters long, two meters wide and 0.4 meter thick.
    The chambers of coffins are different in size. They are 1.6-2.3 meters long, 0.8-1.2 meters wide and 0.45-1.12 meters high.
    Found inside the dolmens were 20 odd pieces of various stone tools, earthenware, etc.
    The shapes of the dolmens and the relics tell that the dolmens date back to the period of ancient Korea.
    The discovery of the dolmens proves in a scientific way that Pyongyang, proud of a long history, has been the cradle and center of the Korean nation's culture from thousands of years ago.

2nd candle-light demonstration in New York

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- The second all Koreans' candle-light demonstration took place in New York on Dec. 31 under the co-sponsorship of the New York branch of the American Federation for Independence, Democracy and Reunification and the New York Regional Youth Organization, according to a news report. The demonstration was attended by at least 200 Korean residents in New York and New Jersey, Korean students, progressive Americans and foreign activists.
    Choe Kwan Ho, executive chairman of the federation, gave an account of the significance of the demonstration, which was followed by speeches of foreign activists from Puerto Rico, Philippines, etc., expressing solidarity with the Korean nation's struggle for independence against the U.S.
    A statement was released, which said that the candle-lights demanding the punishment of GI murderers, personal apology of bush and total revision of the unequal South Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement are blazing to burn away the darkness of submission.
    Although arrogant Bush is turning down this just demand and resorting to a deceptive trick to blow out the candles, our candlelights will flame up until the bush government yields to the demand for the dignity and independence of our nation, said the statement.
    The participants marched around the downtown Manhattan, disseminating anti-U.S. propaganda bills and shouting slogans.
    After the 40-minute candle-light demonstration they gathered again and expressed their vow to achieve the independent reunification by the concerted efforts of the nation in the New Year, 2003

GIs' crimes condemned

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued information bulletin no. 833 on Jan. 7 denouncing the U.S. Forces present in South Korea for their ceaseless crimes. At dawn of Jan. 4, two GIs from the U.S. military base in Chunchon city, South Kangwon Province did damage to two cars parked in front of a restaurant in the city.
    On the New Year's day, a GI in Chunchon city destroyed a windowpane of the telephone shop run by a South Korean. At the night of Dec. 31 last year, a soldier of the first battalion of the 72nd tank unit of the U.S. second army division assaulted a woman in Posan-dong, Tongduchon city, for no reason.
    These crimes are an undisguised mockery and challenge to the South Korean people all out in resistance, shouting the slogans "Bring Hyo Sun and Mi Son to Life" and "Punish GI Murderers", the information bulletin said, and continued:
    The South Korean people put up anti-U.S. resistance last year, giving vent to their towering grudge and wrath at the man-killers U.S. imperialists. But the U.S. aggression forces are perpetrating ceaseless shuddering crimes despite their anti-U.S. resistance.
    The South Korean people should bear in mind that they can never escape from misfortune and sufferings as long as the U.S. aggression forces are present in South Korea and replace candles for anti-U.S. actions by torches of struggle so as to escalate their anti-U.S. resistance.

Candle-light meeting and demonstration held in Seoul

     Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- A candle-light meeting and demonstration denouncing the GIs' murderers sponsored by the All-People Measure Committee For Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son, Schoolgirls Killed By a U.S. Armored Car reportedly took place at Kwanghwamun, Seoul on Jan. 4 with at least 500 citizens and students attending. Kim Chong Il, joint executive chairman of the all-people measure committee, said at the meeting that the police authorities are hatching a sinister plot to brand the peaceful candle-light meeting and demonstration as "violence" and taking a strong counter-measure. And he dismissed this as ridiculous.
    At the end of the meeting, its participants staged a demonstration singing militant songs and shouting slogans "No War", "For Peace", "Revise SOFA", etc, in front of Kwanghwamun and the Sejong House of Culture.
    The police authorities sent police buses to block the roads in the area of Kwanghwamun and seal off various places in a desperate bid to block the meeting.

For Spanish-speaking people

actual estructura de enfrentamiento de la peninsula coreana

     pyongyang, 8 de enero (atcc) -- debido a la criminal politica de ee.uu. con respecto a la republica popular democratica de corea se vuelve a arreciar el peligro de guerra nuclear en la peninsula coreana. en particular, ee.uu., al tergiversar de manera intencional el "problema nuclear" de la rpdc, se propone destruir un ambiente de la reconciliacion y la unidad entre el norte y el sur de corea e incita a los coreanos al enfrentamiento.
    sin rechazar estrictamente las maniobras de escision y discordia nacional de ee.uu., que obstaculiza durante mas de medio siglo la reunificacion de corea tras ocupar con las fuerzas armadas a sudcorea, no es posible solucionar la inminente tarea nacional destinada a prevenir la amenaza de guerra y preservar la paz en la peninsula coreana.
    hoy que con la publicacion de la historica declaracion conjunta norte-sur del 15 de junio se eleva sin precedente el ambiente de la reconciliacion, la unidad y la reunificacion entre el norte y el sur, no existe en la peninsula ninguna razon ni condicion de enfrentarse entre los connacionales, agravar la tension y perturbar la paz.
    el editorial conjunto de nuestros periodicos "rodong sinmun", "joson inmingun" y "chongnyon jonwi", publicado con motivo de ano nuevo 2003, senalo que en la actualidad la estructura de enfrentamiento de la peninsula coreana es la nacion coreana del norte y el sur contra los estados unidos.
    el "problema nuclear" que hace tensa la situacion de la peninsula fue surgido por la estrategia de heguemonia mundial de ee.uu. que tras emplazar numerosas armas nucleares en surcorea y su contorno, se pronuncia por el ataque nuclear adelantado y maniobra para acarrear la catastrofe de la guerra nuclear a la nacion coreana.
    es obvio para todos que en caso de estallar la guerra nuclear, toda la nacion coreana del norte y del sur sufrira una calamidad destructiva. por lo tanto, para solucionar radicalmente el problema nuclear es preciso que todos los coreanos del norte y del sur deben unirse para frustrar la agresiva politica nuclear y campana de amenaza nuclear de ee.uu.
    todos los coreanos del norte, el sur y en el ultramar deben tener una correcta comprension sobre la estructura de enfrentamiento de la peninsula coreana, observar con alta vigilancia las imprudentes e intrigantes maniobras belicas de los imperialistas norteamericanos y asestarles el contraataque resuelto con la fuerza unida de la nacion.

perder el foco del problema

     pyongyang, 8 de enero (atcc) -- el periodico de hong kong "south china morning post" inserto un articulo titulado "perder el foco del problema". el articulo censura algunos medios de prensa de japon que carecen de la objetividad y la imparcialidad en la divulgacion sobre el problema del secuestro y continua:
    los medios de prensa de japon pierden el equilibrio en la informacion y persiguen solo el objetivo de inculcar el sentimiento nacionalista contra norcorea haciendose eco de la expresion de las fuerzas derechistas que insisten: "es natural que los secuestrados japoneses regresen definitivamente a su pais".
    no les importa el que quieren regresar a norcorea varias personas de entre quienes estan de visita en su tierra natal.
    el articulo critica fuertemente a las autoridades japonesas que en desacato al acuerdo con la rpdc no devuelven a norcorea a los visitantes a su tierra natal y a los medios de prensa de japon que guardan silencio ante las atrocidades que su pais perpetro contra los coreanos durante el periodo de la dominacion colonial militar del pasado.
    y se refiriere a los hechos de que los medios de prensa de japon estigmatizan como lacayo de norcorea a los periodistas que visitaron a pyongyang para encontrarse con la hija de megumi yokoda, como colaborador de la propaganda de pyongyang a un redactor de una revista que divulgo la exhortacion de un esposo a su esposa a regresar de japon a pyongyang y exige que dichos medios observen la objetividad y la imparcialidad en la informacion.