KCNA detailed report on circumstances of DPRK's withdrawal from NPT

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- If the United States abandons its hostile policy and refrains from nuclear threat, the DPRK may substantiate through a special verification between the two countries that it does not manufacture nuclear weapons. The nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula should be settled peacefully through fair negotiations that call upon both the DPRK and the U.S. to clear each other of their concerns on an equal footing. This is the consistent stand of the DPRK Government.
    The Korean Central News Agency stresses this in a detailed report on the circumstances of the DPRK Government's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was released yesterday.
    On the details of the DPRK's accession to the NPT, the report says:
    The purpose of the DPRK's accession to the NPT was to remove the U.S. nuclear threat to it and, mainly, to satisfactorily solve the power problem with nuclear energy.
    After deciding to regard light water reactors as main means of electricity production in the country, the DPRK had contacts with some developed countries to purchase such reactors, but in vain. None of them responded to our request.
    To begin with, we intended to buy advanced LWRS from western countries such as Canada, Sweden and France but failed to do so due to the U.S. obstruction based on the COCOM.
    So, we had to negotiate with the former Soviet Union on this matter, though its LWR was less advanced than western countries' in technical aspect. At that time, the Soviet Union contended that its offer of nuclear-related technology to the DPRK would be possible only when it acceded to the NPT and signed the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. So, the DPRK prudently examined this matter.
    The DPRK acceded to the NPT on December 12, 1985 for the purpose of ensuring international cooperation in nuclear power industry and, at the same time, removing the nuclear threat to itself and turning the Korean Peninsula into a nuclear-free zone.
    On the circumstances of the delayed conclusion of the safeguards agreement, the report says:
    Even after the DPRK's accession to the NPT, the United States escalated its nuclear threat to the DPRK, making it impossible for the former to sign the SA according to the NPT.
    On Jan. 7, 1992, the South Korean Defence Ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense and the South Korea-U.S. "combined command" jointly declared the discontinuation of the "Team Spirit" joint military exercises. And high-level talks were held between the DPRK and the U.S. on Jan. 22, 1992.
    As conditions and circumstances were created after the United States and South Korea made a verbal promise, the DPRK signed the SA with the IAEA on Jan. 30, 1992.
    The third session of the ninth Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK held on April 9, 1992, approved the SA on "the premise that none of the depositories of the NPT will deploy nukes on the Korean Peninsula and pose a nuclear threat to the DPRK," and the DPRK informed the IAEA of this approval on April 10, the following day.
    The SA between the DPRK and the IAEA thus came into force from April 10, 1992.
    Referring to the details of the DPRK's declaration of its withdrawal from the NPT, the report says:
    After the conclusion of the SA between the DPRK and the IAEA, the United States spread the rumor about "suspected nuclear activities" in the DPRK's graphite-moderated reactor and its related facilities, sparking a "nuclear crisis".
    An agreement was reached between the DPRK and the former Soviet Union on economic and technical cooperation in building nuclear power plants in 1985 after the DPRK's accession to the NPT. But, this agreement was not implemented except a site survey made for the project.
    We, therefore, adopted it as a policy to create a nuclear power industry suited to its specific conditions to live our own way and began developing its own nuclear power technology.
    For the development of its nuclear power industry, the DPRK chose a graphite-moderated type reactor which could be developed not with any other country's raw materials but with its own rich resources and technology.
    Over the past years, the DPRK has honestly fulfilled its commitments under the SA.
    We presented the initial inventory report on nuclear material and design information on nuclear facilities to the IAEA secretariat on May 4, 1992, far ahead of the schedule, which were to be sent until the end of the year under articles 42 and 62 of the SA.
    We also ensured the DPRK visit of the IAEA delegation led by its general director from May 11 to 16, 1992, allowing it to inspect all the nuclear facilities it wished to see and even the objects it considered doubtful.
    We provided full cooperation to the IAEA's ad-hoc inspection team in its activities on six occasions.
    However, the United States and its followers of the IAEA secretariat used such inspections under the NPT and the SA to spy on the DPRK and undermine its socialist system.
    Some of the IAEA secretariat systematically conveyed the results of the IAEA's inspections of the DPRK to the U.S., which, under the pretext of what the IAEA called "inconsistency", demanded a "special inspection" of DPRK's military objects, complicating the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.
    The U.S. invited the IAEA general director to a U.S. House of Representatives joint hearing on July 22, 1992, to inform it of the DPRK's nuclear program, while urging him to conduct a "special inspection" or "surprise inspection" of the DPRK.
    Raising a hue and cry over the "suspected nuclear development" in the DPRK, the U.S. instigated some of the IAEA secretariat and certain member nations of the agency to adopt at the February, 1993, meeting of the IAEA board of governors an unreasonable "resolution", which called for an inspection of the DPRK's military facilities that have nothing to do with nuclear activities.
    Timed to coincide with the adoption of this "resolution", the U.S. resumed the already suspended "Team Spirit", again seriously threatening the DPRK's sovereignty and right to existence.
    Talks between the DPRK and the U.S. were held to discuss the "nuclear issue" at the former's request, but came to a rupture due to the long-standing hostile relationship and distrust between the two countries.
    Under the prevailing situation, the DPRK proclaimed a semi-war state to defend the sovereignty and security of the country and decided to withdraw from the NPT on March 12, 1993 to protect its supreme interests.
    It also took a measure of withdrawing from the IAEA on June 13, 1994 as the June 10, 1994, meeting of its board of governors adopted a resolution on the suspension of the agency's cooperation with the DPRK, calling for opening its military objects under the pretext of the "nuclear issue".
    On the DPRK's unique status, the report says:
    The DPRK's sincere efforts to prevent the outbreak of a war on the Korean Peninsula and ensure regional peace and stability and the world peace-loving people's strong demand compelled the United States to come out to the negotiating table for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue of the peninsula.
    The DPRK-U.S. joint statement was adopted on June 11, 1993, after several rounds of the bilateral negotiations.
    In the statement, the U.S. promised not to use force including nukes against the DPRK nor threaten it with them but respect its sovereignty and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs.
    And the DPRK decided to temporarily suspend the effect of its withdrawal from the NPT as long as it considers necessary.
    The DPRK had thus been placed in a unique status as regards its relations with the NPT.
    This unique status was also recognized by the United States and the IAEA secretariat.
    After the publication of the DPRK-U.S. joint statement, three-phased talks took place between the two countries and they resulted in the adoption of the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework on October 21, 1994 which called for a fundamental solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
    The report elaborates on how the DPRK's withdrawal from the NPT on which it had declared a moratorium took effect. It says: The U.S. had no will to implement the AF from the beginning and has systematically violated the AF, calculating that the DPRK would collapse.
    It has not honored its commitment to provide LWRs to the DPRK. The key point of the AF is the U.S. provision of LWRs to the DPRK in return for its freeze on nuclear facilities.
    The U.S. deliberately delayed its conclusion of a contract on the provision of light water reactors to the DPRK, urging it to receive South Korean type LWRs.
    As a result, the agreement on the provision of LWRs between the DPRK and the U.S.-led Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) was concluded on December 15, 1995, almost 8 months after April 21 of the same year, the last day pointed out in the AF.
    Only site preparation has been made in the project of the LWRs which the U.S. committed itself to provide to the DPRK by 2003 under the AF.
    Due to the U.S. delayed provision of LWRs the DPRK suffered a huge loss of electricity and underwent a grave economic crisis which led to the present situation where even its right to existence is seriously threatened.
    The U.S. has not sincerely honored its legal commitment to annually supply 500,000 tons of heavy oil to the DPRK in compensation for the energy loss caused by its freeze on graphite-moderated reactors and their related facilities until no. 1 light water reactor power plant is completed in line with paragraph 2 of article 1 of the AF.
    At the DPRK-U.S. New York talks held in March 2000 the DPRK side suggested the U.S. to compensate for the loss of electricity caused by the delayed provision of the LWRs.
    On November 14 last year the U.S. decided to stop supplying heavy oil to the DPRK from December, thus abandoning the last commitment it had been honoring under the AF.
    This compelled the DPRK to restart its nuclear facilities, which had been frozen under the AF, to make up for a vacuum created in power generation due to the U.S. decision to stop supplying heavy oil to the DPRK.
    According to article 2 of the AF, the DPRK Government decided to lift the measures whereby the U.S.-made goods were restricted from entering into the DPRK and the U.S.-flagged trading vessels were banned from entering ports in the DPRK when involved in the DPRK's trade with other countries from mid-January, 1995, three months since the adoption of the AF. But the U.S. lifted only part of such symbolic sanctions applied against the DPRK in travel, telecommunications, finance and passage of territorial air but did not take any substantial measures to ease sanctions in such fields as trade and investment barrier.
    Under article 3 of the AF the U.S. is committed to give the DPRK formal assurances against the use or threat of nukes.
    On 1993 when the DPRK-U.S. talks were under way for a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. worked out a "new operation plan 5027" for a preemptive nuclear attack on it behind the curtain of the dialogue and systematically stepped up its preparations to put it into practice to stifle the DPRK.
    From early in 1995 "Foal Eagle 95", "Hoguk 96", "Rimpac 98", "Hwarang 98", "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military exercises and other nuclear war exercises targeted against the DPRK were frantically staged on the land, sea and in the air in all parts of South Korea almost everyday every year.
    In February 1997 the U.S. moved depleted uranium shells from its Okinawa base to South Korea to deploy them there for an actual war and on June 8 that year it issued "an interim report" on the reexamination of the "U.S.-Japan defence cooperation guidelines" in Honolulu.
    In January 1999 the U.S. Defense Secretary and the chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff flew into South Korea to hold the 20th meeting of the "military commission" and the 30th "annual security consultative meeting" with South Korean brass hats at which they released a joint statement. In that statement they claimed that the DPRK remained a constant threat to their national interests and they would strongly retaliate against the DPRK with nukes and all other means in case of emergency.
    No sooner had the authorities of the Bush administration taken office than they adopted it as their policy to stifle the DPRK by force and put the already started bilateral talks in total stalemate.
    Bush went the lengths of letting loose vituperation against the supreme leadership of the DPRK and dubbed the DPRK "part of an axis of evil" in his "state of the union message" delivered at the congress on January 30, 2002.
    A particular mention should be made of the fact that the Bush administration even went the lengths of listing the DPRK as a target of its preemptive nuclear attack, thus totally destroying the foundation of the AF and wantonly violating the basic spirit of the NPT.
    In the wake of the Pyongyang visit of the U.S. President's special envoy early in October last year the Bush administration groundlessly pulled up the DPRK, asserting that it has pushed ahead with its nuclear program in violation of the AF, and blustered that there would be no bilateral talks and that would adversely affect the DPRK-Japan and inter-Korean relations unless the DPRK scraps its program.
    The U.S. insisted on the brigandish assertion that the DPRK should receive nuclear inspection though it was stipulated in article 4 of the AF and in point 7 of the confidential mouth under the AF that the DPRK would receive it only after turbine, generator and other non-nuclear parts of LWRs are delivered to it, thus driving the situation to a phase worse than what was early in the 1990s.
    The U.S. again instigated the IAEA on Jan. 6 this year to adopt an anti-DPRK "resolution" in the wake of the similar one on Nov. 29 last year.
    The U.S., which openly scrapped the AF, instigated even the IAEA to internationalize its moves to stifle the DPRK, thus putting into practice its declaration of a war against the DPRK.
    This compelled the DPRK to withdraw from the NPT, which is being misused as a tool for implementing the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK, in order to protect its sovereignty and right to existence.
    As seen above, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is a product of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and, therefore, it is an issue to be settled between the DPRK and the U.S. through negotiations.
    The conclusion of a non-aggression treaty between the DPRK and the U.S. would provide the only realistic way of fundamentally solving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and peacefully settling the obtaining grave situation.
    If the U.S. signs the treaty and legally assures the DPRK of its non-aggression including the non-use of nukes, the DPRK can also clear the U.S. of its security concerns.
    Though the DPRK pulled out of the NPT its nuclear activities will be limited to peaceful purposes including power generation at the present stage.

IAEA urged not to follow U.S. anti-DPRK policy

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article denounces the United States and its followers for letting loose a string of vituperation against the DPRK, upset by its step taken to withdraw from the NPT. Recalling that the director general of the IAEA, who is a henchman and a mouthpiece of the U.S., talked about "obedience" and the like, in a bid to apply the partial and unreasonable double standards of the IAEA and the NPT to the DPRK again, the article says:
    The DPRK cannot but take a serious view of this.
    If the NPT is to be one based on impartiality and equality, it should be applied to all signatories on an equal footing without discrimination. But the NPT is characterized by serious discrimination and partiality of the nuclear states against non-nuclear states.
    The IAEA is acting such a puppy as dancing to the tune of the U.S., departing from the principle of impartiality which it should regard as its life and soul. The man in charge of an international organization should study the issue properly and deal with it from a fair stand. However, the director general of the IAEA is siding with the U.S. with prejudice and taking issue with the DPRK for no reason in a bid to fan up the atmosphere of international pressure. This goes to clearly prove that the IAEA has been totally reduced to a shock brigade and a henchman executing the U.S. policy to isolate and stifle the DPRK.
    The U.S. and the IAEA should not forget the lesson drawn from their "nuclear racket" against the DPRK in the 1990s but clearly understand its revolutionary will and strength.
    The vituperation and high-handed offensive against the DPRK will only lash it into greater fury and compel it to take the toughest countermeasure.
    The U.S. should admit the responsibility for the present developments and drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK. The IAEA should refrain from doing such unreasonable things as applying the partial and double standards to the DPRK by toeing the U.S. line.

Potato production on increase

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- Potato production has been increased in Korea. In recent years a good harvest of high-grade potatoes has been reaped in Taehongdan and Paekam counties in Ryanggang Province, Rangrim county of Jagang Province, Jangjin county of South Hamgyong Province, Pyongyang and other areas of the country.
    Taehongdan county, one of the country's main potato producers, has introduced a comprehensive mechanization in potato production in keeping with the scientific and technical requirements of the potato farming and built a modern potato processing factory and new potato seed farms to steadily increase the potato production More than 770 potato seed storehouses were built in North Hwanghae Province and potato tissue-cultivating factories reconstructed on a modern basis in Rangrim and Jangjin counties and other areas.
    The academy of agricultural science has cultivated high-yielding seed potatoes proof against cold, diseases, drought and humidity. They have also made scientific and technical achievements such as the method of producing potatoes and cultivating potato tissues with liquid fertilizer, the method of increasing the fertility of soil and the method of producing virus-free seed potatoes, and introduced them in all potato producers.
    Kim Jong Il visited Taehongdan and Samjiyon counties several times and highly appreciated the tremendous achievements they made in potato production under difficult conditions. And he gave tasks to improve the people's living as early as possible by doing potato farming well to suit the country's geographical features.

Farming preparations going well in Korea

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- Agricultural working people of Korea are now busy preparing the new year's farming, true to the Workers' Party of Korea's policy of seed improvement, advanced potato farming and two-crop-a-year farming set forth in the Joint New Year Editorial. Farmers in Ryanggang Province, Jangjin and Pujon counties of South Hamgyong Province, the country's main potato producers, have applied several dozen tons of compost to fields every day.
    Those of Yonbaek, Ongjin and other plains of South Hwanghae Province have applied large quantities of compost to plots and fields to suit their soil conditions, while preserving well high-yielding seeds in a scientific and technical way.
    Cooperative farms in South Phyongan Province, Nampho city and other areas have expanded land for double cropping and mobilized tractors, oxcarts and all other means of transport to carry compost to fields.
    Rural communities throughout the country have filled irrigation reservoirs with water more than 90 percent for this year's farming.

Anecdote about Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- Early in the morning in mid-June, Juche 91 (2002) General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited a farm with some officials. Going round wheat and barley fields, he gave officials important tasks to increase grain production and cultivate mountains and fields to suit the features of the socialist society.
    After inspecting another unit, he went to the Taedonggang Beer Factory.
    Looking round the production processes, he was very satisfied with the modern factory capable of fully supplying fresh beer to people in all seasons.
    He finished his on-the-spot guidance to the beer factory nearly at lunchtime. But he headed for the Pyongyang Daily Necessities Factory.
    He dropped in at the modernly-equipped toothbrush workshop of the factory and called for boosting quality toothbrushes. Leaving the factory, he told the officials accompanying him to take some rest, and he continued his tireless inspection tour for the development and prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people.

KCNA describes U.S. as greatest threat to world peace

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- One third of the Canadian population in an opinion poll conducted by a newspaper of the country singled out the United States as the greatest threat to the world peace, according to VOA. The U.S. formally pulled out of the ABM treaty, a "cornerstone for the world strategic stability," last year, thus sparking a new nuclear arms race. The U.S. still refuses to ratify the 1996 comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. Moreover it worked out a "strategy of preemptive nuclear strike" in violation of the spirit of the NPT, the strategy which calls for preemptive nuclear strikes at those countries which are considered to be threats to it or disobedient to it.
    The U.S. has become more undisguised in its high-handed and brigandish aggression against various countries of the world under the pretext of "anti-terror war", particularly against those countries advancing along the road of independence against the U.S., with the "September 11 incident" as a momentum.
    The U.S. is escalating its threat of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula, straining the situation in Northeast Asia.
    Since the end of the Cold War the U.S. has further strengthened its military alliance with Japan. It has encouraged the overseas dispatch of Japan's "self-defence forces" (SDF). Even "Aegis" vessels of the "SDF" are now involved in the U.S. operation in the Indian Ocean under the pretext of the "anti-terrorism war."
    The U.S. totally scrapped the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework after singling out the DPRK as part of "an axis of evil" and a target of its preemptive nuclear attack and it brought up the DPRK's "nuclear issue" again in a bid to internationalize it. This is a serious move to derail the process of peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula and unleash a new Korean war at any cost.
    The U.S. is kicking up a war racket worldwide, ballyhooing about some sort of "threat." It is not aimed at serving the purpose of "preventive strategy" for peace but at achieving its imperialistic ambition for world domination as early as possible without fail by taking advantage of its strategic superiority in the post-cold war period to its best ability.
    That is why deep concern is voiced over the U.S. high-handed and arbitrary practices and war racket and anti-U.S., anti-war demonstrations are frequent even in U.S. allies. It is not accidental that even Canadians who are free to travel the U.S. without visa term the U.S. the greatest threat to the world peace.

Development of national defence industry called for

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- The Workers' Party of Korea considers it as an important requirement for economic construction in the era of the army-based policy to attach importance to the national defence industry and direct primary efforts to it. This is the most just policy to defend the sovereignty and vital right of the country and the nation and dynamically accelerate the building of a powerful nation. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article. It goes on:
    Giving importance to the national defence industry is an essential requirement for augmenting the overall power of the nation and creating favorable conditions for the development of economy and paves the way for bringing about a great surge in the socialist economic construction through the full play of the might of the foundation of the self-supporting economy. The only way of foiling the enemy moves to stifle the DPRK militarily and economically and creating favorable conditions for economic construction is to build up arms and develop our revolutionary armed forces to be invincible.
    It is the firm faith and will of the Workers' Party of Korea to defend socialism and accomplish the cause of revolution with arms.
    When he strong foundation of the socialist self-supporting national economy is turned to good account, it is possible to provide the people with conditions for an affluent and highly civilized material living and cultural entertainment despite the present economic difficulties.
    In order to give fullest play to the might of the foundation of the self-supporting economy it is necessary to keep our unique economic structure viable and make a rational use of it.
    The DPRK's economic structure puts main stress on heavy industry and national defence industry. And the heavy industry and national defence industry play very important roles in its economy. This is the characteristic feature and advantages of our economy based on the independent line of the WPK.
    Giving importance to the national defence industry and developing it is of weighty importance in developing the latest science and technology and promoting the development of other fields of economy.

U.S. urged not to misjudge DPRK

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- The U.S. destroyed Afghanistan as it pleased but the DPRK is not Afghanistan and the U.S. will never be allowed to touch even a blade of grass and a tree there. Yun Song Sik, permanent member of the consultative council of former South Korean politicians in the north for the promotion of peaceful reunification, said this when interviewed by KCNA on Jan. 22. warning the Bush administration against its bid to internationalize the moves to stifle the DPRK, he said: The U.S. imperialists' armed spy ship "Pueblo" which is floating on the River Taedong where the U.S. pirate ship "General Sherman" was sent to the bottom of the river. Recalling that the U.S. provoked the DPRK several times as evidenced by the "Pueblo" and acute confrontation between the DPRK and the U.S. over the nuclear issue early in the 1990s, he continued:
    The U.S. sustained only bitter defeats because it misjudged the DPRK which never allows its sovereignty to be infringed upon.
    The U.S. had better properly know about the DPRK and correct its wrong understanding of the DPRK if it does not want to meet self-destruction.

Presentation of credentials by new Rwandan Ambassador

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- Joseph Bonesha, newly-appointed Rwandan Ambassador to the DPRK, presented his credentials to Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. After receiving the credentials, the president had a talk with the ambassador.
    On hand was Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kung Sok Ung.

9th North-South Ministerial Talks open

     Seoul, January 22, (KCNA correspondent) -- The 9th inter-Korean Ministerial Talks were opened in Seoul today. Present at the talks from the north side were the members of the delegation led by Kim Ryong Song, chief councillor of the DPRK Cabinet, and suite members and from the south side were the members of the delegation with Jong Se Hyon, Minister of Unification, as chief delegate and suite members.
    The head of the north side and the chief delegate of the south side made keynote addresses at the talks.
    The spokesman for the north side's delegation was interviewed by media persons. He briefed them on the address of the head of the north side.
    According to him, the head of the delegation of the north side said through the current talks both sides should give a refreshing clear message to all the fellow countrymen who are watching the attitude and option of the authorities in the north and the south toward the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. He clarified the following principled stand of the north side toward the talks:
    First, both sides should invariably hold fast to the historic joint declaration as a landmark for reunification common to the nation.
    How to approach the joint declaration is a touchstone distinguishing between patriotism and treachery.
    Second, both sides should prevent the danger of war and defend the peace of the country and the security of the nation through national cooperation to cope with the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula.
    The danger of war threatening the peace on the Korean Peninsula at present was not created by any part of Korea but by outside forces.
    The DPRK's withdrawal from the NPT is a legitimate self-defensive measure taken to cope with the U.S. moves to stifle the DPRK and the unjust behavior of the IAEA toeing the U.S. line.
    The outside forces' disturbance of peace will bring disasters not only to the north but to the south.
    Third, both sides should firmly abide by the principle of independence for the common prosperity of the nation and continue to put into practice the issues agreed upon between the north and the south.
    Cooperation for the implementation of the joint declaration has been brisk on a new higher stage since the 7th inter-Korean ministerial talks.
    Important undertakings for the common interests of the nation and the balanced development of the national economy including the projects for reconnecting the East and West Coastal Rail and road links and the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone have reached the phase of full-dress implementation.
    But all these undertakings for cooperation are now seriously hamstrung by the obstructions on the part of the outside forces who do not want the Koreans to pool their efforts.
    We should more dynamically push ahead with all the undertakings for cooperation now under way after having already agreed upon them despite outsiders' escalating intervention and pressure and thus demonstrate to the world the proud appearance of the Korean nation going united. The talks continue.

S. Korean delegation here

     Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- A south side delegation arrived here today by air to participate in the second meeting of the panel for the reconnection of north-south rail and road links.

Third North-South Red Cross Working Contact held

     Mt. Kumgang, January 22 (KCNA) -- The third North-South Red Cross Working Contact took place at Mt. Kumgang Resort from Jan. 20 to 22. At the contact both sides discussed such humanitarian issues as the issue of setting up a meeting place in Mt. Kumgang and the issue of the sixth reunion of separated families and their relatives and published the following agreement:
    A meeting place of separated families and their relatives shall be set up in the area in front of Jopho village in Onjog-ri, Kosong county, Kangwon Province and a design for its construction be made jointly by the north and the south.
    The plottage and workforce for its construction shall be provided by the north side and its material and equipment by the south side.
    The construction of the meeting place shall be completed within one year and its ground-breaking ceremony be held jointly by the north and the south on the spot within April.
    The sixth reunion of separated families and their relatives shall take place at Mt. Kumgang Resort between Feb. 20 and 25.
    Technical issues such as the scope of the reunion and its procedures shall be solved according to precedent.
    The north and the south shall continue to arrange the reunion of separated families and their relatives under an agreement even before the construction of the meeting place is completed.
    The issue of missing persons during the Korean War, the issues of confirming the whereabouts of separated families and their relatives and expanding their correspondence and pushing ahead with this work and other issues shall be discussed and settled after the sixth reunion of separated families and their relatives and the ground-breaking ceremony.
    The fourth north-south red cross working contact shall be held at Mt. Kumgang Resort in late April.

For Spanish-speaking people

la salida del tnpn es la justa medida autodefensiva

     pyongyang, 22 de enero (atcc) -- la agencia telegrafica central de corea (atcc) hizo publica el dia 21 una informacion detallada en relacion con que el gobierno de la republica popular democratica de corea anuncio la retirada del tratado de no proliferacion nuclear (tnpn). la informacion esta compuesta de los siguientes subtitulos: "detalles del ingreso en el tnpn", "detalles de la dilacion de la concertacion del convenio de salvaguardia", "detalles de nuestra decaracion de la retirada del tnpn", "nuestra posicion especial" y "detalles de poner en vigencia la validez de la retirada del tratado, suspendida provisionalmente".
    segun la informacion detallada, el objeto del ingreso de la republica popular democratica de corea en el tnpn fue para eliminar la amenaza nuclear de ee.uu. y, en particular, solucionar satisfactoriamente el problema de electricidad del pais utilizando la energia atomica.
    partiendo de la finalidad de realizar la cooperacion internacional en el sector de la industriade energia nuclear y, al mismo tiempo, eliminar la amenaza nuclear contra nuestro pais y convertir la peninsula coreana en la zona desnuclearizada, ingresamos el 12 de diciembre de 1985 en el tnpn.
    para concertar el convenio de salvaguardia segun este tratado, propusimos a ee.uu. la retirada de las armas nucleares norteamericanas de sudcorea, la eliminacion de la amenaza nuclear de ee.uu. contra nuestro pais, la promesa de garantia legal de la seguridad para nosotros, la inspeccion simultanea, etc.
    nuestra insistencia fue juta y se amplio la opinion internacional en apoyo a ella. por eso, ee.uu. acepto nuestras propuestas.
    puesto que en 1991 y 1992 ee.uu. y sudcorea anunciaron de palabra la retirada de las armas nucleares tacticas de corto alcance de las bases terrestres y navales, publicaron la "declaracion de desnuclearizacion" y la "declaracion de ausencia de las armas nucleares" y proclamaron el cese del simulacro conjunto militar "team spirit", firmamos el 30 de enero de 1992 el convenio de salvaguardia con la organizacion internacional deenergia atomica (oiea).
    despues de firmado el convenio de salvaguardia nuclear entre la rpdc y la oiea, ee.uu. difundio un rumor de la supuesta "sospecha" sobre las actividades nucleares en nuestro reactor moderado de grafito y otros equipos conexos creando asi una "crisis nuclear".
    la razon por la cual optamos el reactor moderado de grafito es que este reactor es simple en lo tecnico y usa como combustible el uranio natural que requiere menor fondo y mano de obra y que tenemos una condicion favorable para escoger facilmente el grafito que se usa como moderador.
    en el pasado ejecutamos sinceramente el deber segun el convenio de salvaguardia pero, ee.uu. y algunos sectores del secretariado de la oiea que siguieron ciegamente a aquel abusaron de la inspeccion segun el tnpn y el convenio de salvaguardia con la oiea para espiar el interior de nuestro pais y aplastar nuestro regimen socialista.
    la inspeccion de la oiea sobre nuestro pais fue realizada desde el principio no por los estatutos de esa entidad internacional y el convenio de salvaguardia, sino por la manipulacion de ee.uu.
    algunas capas del secretariado de la oiea entregaron sistematicamente a ee.uu. el resultado de la inspeccion sobre la rpdc, y bajo el rotulo de la "sospecha del desarrollo nuclear" de la rpdc ee.uu. azuzo algunas capas y paises miembros del secretariado de l oiea a aprobar en febrero de 1993 en la reunion del consejo de administracion de la organizacion la injusta "resolucion" de inspeccionar los objetos militares que no tienen nada que ver con nuestras actividades nucleares.
    como resultado, se vieron frustrados a cada paso por ee.uu. los esfuerzos de la rpdc por desarrollar la industria de energia atomica que posibilita resolver el problema de energia electrica del pais y por eliminar la amenaza nuclear en la peninsula coreana por medio de ingresar en el tnpn desde mediados de la decada de los 80 y concertar el convenio de salvaguardia nuclear.
    frente a la situacion creada, la rpdc entro en el estado de alerta de guerra para defender la soberania y la seguridad del pais y tomo el 12 de marzo de 1993 la medida de retirarse del tnpn, para mantener su interes supremo.

pais mas amenazante para la paz mundial - comentario de atcc -

     pyongyang, 22 de enero (atcc) -- segun la radio voa, un periodico canadiense dio a conocer el resultado de encuesta sobre la opinion publica segun el cual un tercio de su poblacion estigmatizo a ee.uu. como el pais mas amenazante para la paz mundial. el ano pasado ee.uu. anulo oficialmente el tratado sobre misiles antibalisticos que se llamaba la "piedra angular de la estabilidad estrategica del mundo" causando una nueva carrera armaentista nuclear.
    se opone hasta la fecha a la ratificacion del tratado de prohibicion del ensayo nuclear comprensivo aprobado en 1996 y, en desacato al espiritu del tratado de no proliferacion nuclear, trazo la "estrategia de ataque nuclear anticipado" de aplastar a los paises que amenazan ee.uu. y no obedecen a este pais.
    en particular, bajo el pretexto de la "guerra contra el terror" motivada por el "incidente del 11 de septiembre" perpetra mas abiertamente los actos agresivos contra varios paises del mundo, especialente a los que avanzan por el camino antiyanqui y por la independencia.
    ee.uu. exacerba tambien la situacion del nordeste asiatico y arrecia la amenaza de la guerra nuclear en la peninsula coreana.
    despues del fin de la guerra fria, intensifica mas las relaciones de la alianza militar con japon y, so pretexto de la "guerra antiterrorista", instiga a japon a despachar sus "fuerzas de autodefensa" al ultramar y en estos dias movilizo hasta el buque eagis de estas "fuerzas" en el cumplimiento de operacion en el oceano indico.
    ee.uu. califico la rpdc como "eje del mal" y objeto de ataque nuclear anticipado y rompio por completo el acuerdo basico concertado con ella. esta vez, volvio a salir con el "problema nuclear" de la rpdc para internacionalizarlo, lo que es una grave amenaza para destruir el proceso de paz y reconciliacion en la peninsula coreana y desatar a toda costa una nueva guerra coreana.
    en la actualidad, ee.uu. habla ruidosamente de la supuesta "amenaza" y arma una campana de guerra en el ambito mundial, lo que no es para la "estrategia preventiva" por la paz sino para satisfacer de todas maneras en el periodo mas corto su ambicion imperialista de la hegemonia mundial aprovechando al maximo su superiordad estrategica ocupada despues del fin de la guerra fria.
    por lo tanto, tambien los paises aliados de ee.uu. se preocupan mucho por la arbitrariedad, el despotismo y el alboroto belico de ee.uu. y se intensifican las manifestaciones antibelicas y antiyanquis e incluso la poblacion canadiense que viaja a ee.uu. sin visa estigmatiza a este como el mas amenazante pais a la paz mundial.

sofismas de rice - comentario de atcc -

     pyongyang, 22 de enero (atcc) -- rice, consejera de la casa blanca paa la seguridad nacional, comparecida el dia 19 ante la radio nbc, dijo que el problema nuclear de la peninsula coreana no es el asunto entre la republica popular democratica de corea y los estados unidos sino entre los paises de la region del nordeste asiatico. tal palabra de rice no pasa de ser un engano para evadir la responsabilidad de ee.uu. que, al anular unilateralmente el acuerdo basico concertado con la rpdc, engendro el problema nuclear de la peninsula y para aislar en lo politico y diplomatico a este pais mediantela internacionalizacion de este problema.
    ee.uu., al derogar dicho acuerdo, creo una dificultad de energia electrica en la rpdc e hizo salirse este pais del tratado de no proliferacion nuclear (tnpn). esto es el hecho historico irrefutable.
    el tnpn no es un convenio para asegurar el monopolio de las armas nucleares de ee.uu. sino para preservar la paz y la seguridad del mundo.
    puesto que ee.uu. definio a la rpdc como "eje del mal", la incluyo en el blanco de ataque nuclear anticipado, violo flagrantemente el tnpn y abrogo realmente el acuerdo basico concertado con la rpdc al interrumpir el ofrecimiento de aceite pesado a esta, no pudimos menos que tomar contramedida para defender la seguridad nacional, lo cual es una razon logica.
    si ee.uu. no hubiera atentado la soberania, el derecho a la existencia y la dignidad de la rpdc ni amenazado gravemente el interes supremo de esta no habria surgido tal situacion como hoy.
    ahora, la sociedad internacional e incluso hasta el circulo politico de ee.uu. condenan la belicosa y extremada politica de la administracion bush que ha acarreado una crisis nuclear a la peninsula coreana.
    esta vez, rice solto tal disparate para lograr su vil proposito convirtiendo el ofensor en el danado y viceversa.
    la imparcial norma de la solucion del problema nuclear de la peninsula corsana reside en que en las negociaciones con la rpdc, ee.uu. elimine todas las amenazas contra nuestro pais, desista de impedir desarrollo economico y le de el aseguramiento de la seguridad mediante la concertacion de un tratado de no agresion.
    ee.uu. no debe enganar por mas tiempo la sociedad internacional para evadir su responsabilidad.