Rallies held to vow to frustrate U.S. moves

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Rallies were held in north and South Phyongan provinces and Kaesong city on January 12 and 13 to support the DPRK Government's statement on its withdrawal from the NPT. At the rallies the government statement was read out and representatives of all strata made speeches.
    They noted that the statement is a just measure for defending the national dignity and sovereignty as it reflects the unanimous will and demand of the Koreans.
    They accused the U.S. of instigating the IAEA to launch an anti-DPRK campaign after listing the DPRK as part of "an axis of evil" and as a target of its preemptive nuclear attack.
    The Korean people have the strong will and gut to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists and the national power for self-defence to wipe out any aggressors, they said.
    Noting that the Korean people are vigorously advancing along the road of army-centered revolution, united close around Kim Jong Il, the illustrious general born of Mt. Paektu who leads any huge enemy forces by the nose, they stressed: This single-hearted unity and do-or-die will can never be broken by any atomic bomb. The U.S. imperialist aggressors had better properly judge their rival and stop acting rashly.

Kim Jong Il inspects 207 units last year

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il gave field guidance to 207 units along the defence line and in various domains of the national economy, spending 79 days on the way of long journey last year. He inspected 120 units and sub-units of the Korean People's Army from the forefrontline to a post on a remote islet to train the people's army as an invincible and matchless army and fully demonstrate the dignity and might of the DPRK.
    His guidance inspired the army to fully demonstrate the might of the revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu in the gigantic drive to defend Korean-style socialism and pave a wide avenue for the building of a powerful nation.
    Kim Jong Il ceaselessly visited socialist construction sites across the country last year.
    Among them were hydro power stations in Thaechon and Anbyon, Giant Machine-Building Bases in Ryongsong, Rakwon and Huichon, Non-Ferrous Mineral Producing Centers in Tanchon area, the Scientific Research Institute in Hamhung, the land realignment project in South Phyongan Province and the Kumjingang Power Station and the dam construction site of Hungbong Hydro Power Station.
    Greatly encouraged by his on-site guidance, the army and the people of the DPRK waged a high-pitched drive to glorify last year as a year of unity when the politico-ideological might of the revolutionary ranks was fully demonstrated and a year of great change when a fresh leaping advance was made in the building of a powerful nation.

More meetings to vow to carry out plan for building powerful nation

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Employees of the Pyongyang Thermal-Power Complex, the Hukryong Coal Mine, the Chollima Steel Complex, the Rakwon Machine Complex, the June 4 General Rolling-Stock Works and other factories and enterprises in different parts of the country held meetings one after another to vow to carry out the militant tasks set forth in the Joint New Year Editorial. Eeporters and speakers at the meetings called for putting Kim Jong Il's grand plan for building a prosperous and powerful nation into practice by accelerating the general advance for building a powerful nation under the uplifted slogan "Let us achieve a great victory with the might of the army-based policy this year, which marks the 55th birthday of the DPRK".
    Noting that the present situation strained by the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK requires all the people to harden their readiness to defend the red flag to the last in the do-or-die spirit and their indomitable will to brace themselves up thousand times .
    In any adversity, they called for increasing the production in the spirit of wiping out the arrogant U.S. imperialists. Meanwhile, members of the Union of Agricultural Workers and the Korean Democratic Women's Union also held meetings to carry through the militant tasks set forth in the joint editorial.

Rodong Sinmun on DPRK's withdrawal from NPT

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The DPRK Government's recent decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was a self-defensive measure for safeguarding the whole nation against the U.S. reckless moves to stifle the DPRK and the partial behaviour of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), follower of the U.S. Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed commentary today.
    The DPRK Government's measure is the only proper choice for the interests of the whole Korean nation, the commentary says, and goes on:
    It is none other than the U.S. that has aggravated the situation compelling the DPRK to withdraw from the treaty.
    Uneasy about the progress of the independent reunification movement in the Korean Peninsula, the Bush administration has deliberately and systematically scrapped the DPRK-U.S. Agreement and led the situation of Korea to extremes.
    Dancing to the tune of the U.S., the IAEA adopted an anti-DPRK "resolution," which is a clear proof that the Bush war-like group has finally decided to provoke a war of aggression against the DPRK though it talks about "dialogue" and "security ensurance."
    It would be foolish for the DPRK to sit idle with folded arms under this situation. moreover, it can never remain a passive onlooker because the U.S. is going to inflict nuclear holocaust upon the Korean nation to exterminate it.
    At this crucial juncture when its dignity and security are exposed to threat, any country that has pluck and strength will have to make such a decision.

U.S. obstructions to Korean reunification under fire

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists are escalating the tensions on the Korean Peninsula in a bid to chill the daily growing desire of the Korean nation for reconciliation, unity, reunification, hamstring the implementation of the north-south joint declaration and thus bring the inter-Korean ties back to those of confrontation, says Minju Joson today in a signed commentary. It continues:
    The U.S. imperialists recently instigated the International Atomic Energy Agency to escalate the tensions on the Korean Peninsula. This resulted in vitiating the atmosphere of inter-Korean reconciliation and gravely challenging the nation's cause of reunification.
    The DPRK's sovereignty and dignity are jeopardized and peace and security are wrecked on the Korean Peninsula, rendering the situation extremely tense. This is attributable to the hard-line policy pursued by the U.S. to stifle the DPRK.
    We will frustrate all vicious moves on the part of the U.S. imperialists, firmly defend our sovereignty, dignity and system and wage a more vigorous struggle to achieve the independent reunification of the nation in close unity with the fellow countrymen in the south and abroad.

KCNA accuses U.S. of mocking at UN and international community

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The U.S. is scoffing at the UN and the international community over the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the IAEA and some countries are acting its spokesman and servant dancing to its tune. The U.S. is working hard to internationalize the nuclear issue of the DPRK in a desperate bid to misrepresent the cause of the issue and the responsibility for it and create the impression that it is the issue between the DPRK and the international community. Through this it seeks to cover up its criminal moves that spawned the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and craftily evade its responsibility for the solution of the issue.
    That is why the U.S. describes the DPRK's withdrawal from the NPT as a "violation" of its commitments under international law and a "challenge" to the international community and advertises its unilateral assertion as the common view of the international community. This is, however, sheer sophism.
    It is none other than the U.S. that has systematically violated the NPT and reduced it to a dead document.
    The U.S. as a depository committed itself not to use nukes against nor threaten with them non-nuclear states that acceded to the treaty but has wantonly violated its commitment.
    This caused a nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula in 1993 and, therefore, it could be settled only through negotiations between the DPRK and the U.S. responsible for the issue.
    Nevertheless, the Bush administration took a negative approach toward what was achieved in improving the DPRK-U.S. relations during the time of the preceding administration and once again escalated nuclear threat to the DPRK.
    While systematically violating the official agreement reached between the DPRK and the U.S., the administration stopped the supply of heavy oil, the only commitment which had been implemented, thus totally breaking the basic promise made by the two sides for the solution of nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
    As seen above, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula surfaced because of the nuclear threat posed by the U.S., the assailant, to the DPRK, the victim, and this is an issue of bilateral nature that can be solved by the parties concerned peacefully through negotiations.
    A public opinion was built up on the international arena on this issue to create the impression that this is an international issue of universal significance related to the fate of the NPT in the past.
    It was because the IAEA served as a tool for carrying out the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK after discarding its principle of impartiality as an international organization.
    This was also attributable to the wrong thinking and mode of action on the part of some countries that blindly followed the U.S. stand, reading its face and currying favor with it because they gave priority to their unilateral interests and relations with the U.S., the only "superpower" in the world.
    This tendency should be eradicated without fail as it is quite contrary to international justice and the genuine desire and will of humankind for peace, security and stability of the world.
    Otherwise, the UN and the international community will continue to serve the purpose of meeting the U.S. unilateral interests, giving it the chance to fish in troubled waters, and then they will be unable to represent the genuine interests and desire of sovereign states and people to defend national independence, dignity and sovereignty.
    The UN and the international community are called upon to reject and check the U.S. high-handed and arbitrary practices in order to observe justice and equality in international relations and establish a fair international order.

KCNA refutes U.S. sophism about DPRK's decision

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Some of the international community are reported to have made such unreasonable remarks as expressing "serious concern" and "regret" over the DPRK's decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The U.S. President, Vice-President and other senior U.S. officials let loose a whole string of sheer sophism misrepresenting the nature and cause of the grave situation.
    As the U.S. is to blame for spawning the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and driving it to the worst phase, there is no need for the international community to "worry" about the decision.
    The DPRK Government has already clarified that though the DPRK withdraws from the NPT, it has no will to produce nuclear weapons and its nuclear activities will be confined to the production of electricity at the present stage.
    If the U.S. had not listed the DPRK, a sovereign state, as part of an "axis of evil" and a target of its preemptive nuclear attack in wanton violation of the NPT and the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework (AF), such a crisis would not have occurred.
    The U.S. talk about the DPRK's "admission of its nuclear development" is nothing but a product of the despicable premeditated plot hatched by the U.S. bellicose elements.
    The U.S. is seriously mistaken if it calculates the DPRK will remain a onlooker to the situation where the U.S. adopted it as its policy to overthrow the DPRK's system and mobilized even the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a dirty political servant, to isolate and stifle it.
    While frantically stepping up its preparations for a war of aggression against the DPRK, the U.S. unilaterally stopped the supply of heavy oil to it and thus abandoned even its last commitment that had been fulfilled under the AF, causing an enormous loss of electricity to the DPRK and creating the most acute shortage of electricity in the country.
    This compelled the DPRK to defreeze its nuclear facilities.
    It is an inviolable legitimate right of a sovereign state to withdraw from the NPT to develop its independent nuclear power industry under the present situation where its supreme interests are seriously infringed upon by the U.S.
    Ours is a people of strong will who put into practice anything they determined to do. Even if the worst thing happens, they have nothing to fear.
    Some countries and media are so foolish as to describe the step taken by the DPRK as "brinkmanship". But it is not "brinkmanship".
    The DPRK regards any U.S. sanctions against it as a declaration of a war and is fully combat-ready to cope with it.
    It is the unshakable will of the Korean people that if the ten million-strong army and people unite as one and fight in a do-or-die spirit, they can surely emerge victorious.
    If the U.S. politicians value the interests and future of their country, they had better properly understand the DPRK's resolute stand and stop going reckless.

KCTU decides to launch campaign against GI killers

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The (South) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) reportedly held on Jan. 7 the first meeting of its central executive committee at which it decided to stage a "campaign of displaying family placards denouncing murder of two schoolgirls." It declared that prompted by the necessity to continue the campaign condemning the GIs who killed two schoolgirls and undertake a struggle for national independence among broad strata of people, it decided to distribute 1m20cm family placards reading "total revision of sofa. No war" and "bring Hyo Sun and Mi Son to life" among the families of the unionists and would launch an intensive and continuous campaign of displaying the placards from the end of January.
    Meanwhile, the Hyundai Motor Workers Union in Ulsan made and distributed 900 family placards last December, evoking a lively response among the unionists.

U.S. anti-DPRK policy under fire abroad

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK was condemned abroad. The Tanzania-DPRK Friendship Association and the Tanzanian National Coordinating Committee of the Juche Idea Study Groups in a joint statement on Jan. 4 urged the U.S. to drop its hostile policy towards the DPRK and conclude a non-aggression treaty with the DPRK. The U.S. should not hinder the inter-Korean reconciliation and reunification but withdraw its troops from South Korea and stop interfering in the internal affairs of Korea, it said, and pointed out:
    The U.S. designated the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil" and a target of its preemptive nuclear attack, delayed the building of light water reactors and stopped providing heavy oil. This is a clear breach of the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework and a provocative encroachment upon the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK.
    The Bulgarian Group for the Study of the Juche Idea in a statement on Jan. 2 said the U.S. is more undisguised in nuclear threat against the DPRK and that threatening a non-nuclear weapon state with nuclear weapons is a wanton violation of the NPT.
    The statement noted that the DPRK has an inviolable right to develop and produce all kinds of modern weapons in order to defend its sovereignty and security from the U.S. increasing threat of aggression and nuclear attack.

Headquarters of anti-U.S. movement inaugurated

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The headquarters of the movement against the U.S. and war and for the conclusion of a non-aggression treaty between the north and the united states was reportedly formed by the South Korean anti-U.S., anti-war and anti-nuke joint council on Jan. 11. The joint council that has waged an anti-U.S. struggle since it was formed in June last year declared that it would reorganize the council for the purpose of intensifying the anti-U.S. and anti-war struggle to cope with the crisis of war sparked by the Bush administration on the Korean Peninsula over its "nuclear issue" from the outset of the New Year.
    The headquarters groups the solidarity for implementing the south-north joint declaration, the headquarters of the people's movement for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from South Korea, and the solidarity for reunification movement of the youth and students for the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration (14 bodies including the south headquarters of the national alliance of youth and students for the country's reunification, the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils, the Young Men's Christian Association and the Young Buddhist Association.)
    The HQ held that the Korean nation will be exterminated and the country will go to ruin unless the U.S. madcap "nuclear racket" and war moves and its obstructions to the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration are checked and frustrated.
    It also declared that it would wage diverse struggles such as rally, information activities and publication of literature for masses under the slogans "No U.S. nuclear war moves against north, the conclusion of a non-aggression treaty between the north and the U.S. and the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, killers of the schoolgirls," while firmly supporting the sit-in hunger strike at Myongdong Cathedral called by the national alliance of youth and students for the country's reunification and escalating the anti-U.S. struggle in solidarity with various organizations.

U.S. frantic moves to stifle DPRK under fire

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Recently the bush group spread a rumor that some economic difficulties in the DPRK are attributable to its wrong policy. Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses it as a shrill cry of those who are upset by the might of the DPRK dynamically advancing to speed up the building of a powerful nation under the banner of the army-based policy. The commentary goes on:
    Temporary economic difficulties in the DPRK were caused by the blockade policy persistently pursued by the U.S. for over 50 years.
    Right after the foundation of the DPRK, the United States set up the "COCOM" and has since controlled the export to the DPRK and its trade. It has massively brought its aggression troops to South Korea and frequently committed dangerous war exercises and armed provocations, constantly aggravating the situation on the Korean Peninsula. This has hamstrung the DPRK's efforts to push ahead with the economic construction and improve the people's living standard.
    It is beyond doubt that but for the U.S. persistent obstructions, our economy would have advanced faster than now and the living standard of our people would have improved remarkably.
    The DPRK Government's step to withdraw from the NPT is an expression of our steadfast will and pluck to foil the U.S. imperialists' economic blockade and moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK. Any increased U.S. pressure on the DPRK only hardens its people's will to speed up the building of an economic power.
    The U.S. imperialists should lend an ear to the just voice of the international community and immediately drop its anachronistic economic sanctions and hostile policy to stifle the DPRK before imprudently interfering in its internal affairs.

DPRK, too, has option

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- If the U.S. and its followers respond to the DPRK's recent exercise of its option with new sanctions, blockade and pressure offensives, it will exercise the second and third corresponding options, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. Saying that no one can estimate what they would be, the article continues:
    The DPRK Government's measure to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a manifestation of its legitimate option.
    The DPRK has so far showed the utmost self-control and patience, warning the U.S. against pursuing the hard-line policy to stifle the DPRK.
    There is a limit to its patience and self-control . By making the bold political decision to withdraw from the NPT, the DPRK put its option into practice. This showed to the world once again that the DPRK does not play on words but practices what it says.
    The DPRK's option is guaranteed by its powerful military capacity.
    It is its unshakable revolutionary stand and mode of independent counteraction to respond to a hard-line with the toughest one and to a bullet with a shell.
    The U.S. should not unilaterally exercise an option, facing up to the option of the DPRK.

18th National Scientific, Technical Festival

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The 18th National Scientific and Technical Festival has begun in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Introduced at the festival are achievements made last year in the sectors of it and up-to-the-minute technologies and in the efforts for putting the national economy on a modern and scientific basis.
    The festival of institutions and enterprises already began on January 5 and the festival of cities and counties (districts) will be held from January 25 to February 5.
    The festival of provinces (municipalities) will take place in the latter half of February and the central festival from April to early may.
    The national festival will greatly contribute to widely disseminating latest scientific and technical achievements and modernizing the national economy.

Drama "The Fog Hanging Low Over the Motherland Is Breaking Away"

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The revolutionary drama "The Fog Hanging Low Over The Motherland Is Breaking Away" has been performed again with a large attendance after many years. Originally, the drama, recast by the state drama troupe, was created in Juche 49 (1960).
    It covers the period from the autumn of 1936 when President Kim Il Sung advanced into the Changbai area, leading the main unit of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army to early June next year, a few days before he organized the Pochonbo Battle.
    It shows distinguished intelligence and superb tactics of the president, an outstanding military strategist who smashed the Japanese imperialists' vicious moves to check the KPRA unit's advance into Korea by massing huge forces in border areas.
    The drama gives a profound truth that the destiny of the Korean nation was shaped by arms and arms are the only thing to defend the destiny of the nation.
    It enjoys great acclamation from audience for its three-dimensional belt stage arts, solid composition, combined music, talented performance of actors and actresses and philosophical lines.

DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam appointed

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Pak Ung Sop was appointed as DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam, according to a decree of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.

Special envoy of UN Secretary General arrives

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Moris Strong, special envoy of the UN Secretary General, and his party arrived here today by air.

President of S. Korean Hyundai Asan here

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Jong Mong Hon, president of the Hyundai Asan of South Korea, and his party arrived here today. They were greeted with compatriotic feelings at the airport by Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and other officials concerned.

For Spanish-speaking people

kim jong il dirigio sobre terreno 207 unidades en el ano pasado

     pyongyang, 14 de enero (atcc) -- el dirigente kim jong il dirigio sobre terreno los 79 dias en el ano pasado 207 unidades de la linea de defensa de mil ri y varios sectores de la economia nacional. el dirigente visito 120 unidades y subunidades del ejercito popular de corea desde el frente avanzado hasta el puesto de la isla apartada para formar al ejercito popular como invencible ejercito y ostentar la dignidad y el poderio de la republica popular democratica de corea.
    asi el ejercito popular ha podido manifestar sin reserva el poderio del ejercito revolucionario del monte paektu en la solemne lucha por defender el socialismo coreano y abrir el ancho camino para la construccion de potencia prospera.
    el dirigente visito ininterrumpidamente tambien lugares de la construccion socialista en todas partes del pais.
    entre ellos estan las centrales hidroelectricas de thaechon y anbyon, las grandes bases de construccion de maquinas de ryongsong, rakwon y huichon, las bases de la produccion de minerales no ferrosos de la zona de tanchon, la base de la investigacion cientifica de hamhung, el lugar de arreglo de la tierra de la provincia de phyong-an del sur, la central hidroelectrica kumjingang, el lugar de construccion del dique de la central hidroelectrica hungbong, etc.
    nuestro ejercito y pueblo, infinitamente inspirados por la direccion sobre terreno del dirigente, se levantaron como un solo hombre e hicieron del pasado un ano de unidad que manifesto con vigor el poderio politico-ideologico de nuestra fila revolucionaria y el ano de cambios que registro un nuevo salto en la construccion de potencia prospera.

18 festival nacional de ciencias y tecnicas

     pyongyang, 14 de enero (atcc) -- en corea quedo iniciado el 18 festival nacional de ciencias y tecnicas. el presente festival se efectua por el metodo de publicar los exitos logrados el ano pasado en la industria de informatica, el sector de tecnica de punta d l pais y en la realizacion de la modernizacion y la fundamentacion cientifica de la economia nacional.
    el festival de organos y empresas de ciencias y tecnicas ya se inicio a partir del 5 de enero y el festival de las ciudades y los distritos (municipios) se realizara del 25 de enero al 5 de febrero.
    el festival de las provincias (ciudades subordinadas directamente al centro) se efectuara en la segunda quincena de febrero y el festival central, de abril a principios de mayo.
    el presente festival nacional hara un gran aporte a divulgar ampliamente los adelantos de ciencias y tecnicas y modernizar la economia nacional.