Past news

Kim Jong Il visits Simwon Temple

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il went round the Simwon Temple, an ancient historic cultural relic. Located in Sangyang-ri, Pakchon county, North Phyongan Province, the temple is a precious cultural relic which bears witness to the high architectural art and distinguished artistic talent of our ancestors.
    The more than 1,000 years old temple still retains its former glory thanks to the correct policy of the WPK on preserving historic cultural relics.
    Being briefed on the historic relic, Kim Jong Il acquainted himself in detail with how relic is preserved and managed, going round the exterior and interior of the temple including the Pogwang Shrine.
    Saying that the Simwon temple is of great significance as a national treasure as the attractive gold-painted building, beautiful flower-pattern doors and other valuable historic relics are preserved there in their former glory, he noted that more people should be given the chance to see them.
    There are many historic artifacts everywhere in Korea with a 5,000-year-long history and brilliant culture, he said, adding:
    This is a pride of the Korean nation.
    To preserve and manage well historic cultural relics associated with the resourcefulness and talents of the Korean people and intensify education in these relics is of weighty importance in firmly preserving the Juche character and national identity and instilling patriotism into people, he said, stressing the need for all fields to wage a vigorous drive to properly preserve the precious national cultural heritage and thus bolster the pride and self-confidence of the people as members of the Korean nation.
    Noting that all the historic cultural relics are precious cultural treasures of the country, he specified tasks to be fulfilled to preserve and manage them.
    He was accompanied by Kim Phyong Hae, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the WPK, secretaries Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Ki Nam and Kim Yong Sun and first vice department directors Jang Song Thaek, Ri Je Gang and Choe Chun Hwang of the WPK Central Committee.

Certificate of honorary doctor and medal awarded to Kim Jong Il

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il was awarded the certificate of honorary doctor and a medal of Alas Anas University of Peru. An awarding ceremony took place at the university on Feb. 7.
    At the ceremony a resolution of the university on awarding the certificate of honorary doctor and the medal to Kim Jong Il was read out and the president of the university handed them to the DPRK Ambassador.
    The president said that they deemed it the greatest honor and pride to present the certificate of honorary doctor and medal to Kim Jong Il, who is the great thinker and theoretician and most outstanding statesman of the era, carrying the boundless respect and reverence for him.
    The university will in the future make a positive contribution to developing the friendship and exchanging culture with the Korean people, cherishing the pride and honor of having Kim Jong Il as honorary doctor, he stressed.

Floral baskets to Kim Jong Il from Japanese personages

Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- Representative of the Ehime, Japan, Institute for Modern Korean Studies Takashi Nada, president of the Ichihara Society for Korean Studies in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, Koske Tokida and representative of the Japan "Love and Peace" Fusatoshi Fujisawa sent floral baskets to Kim Jong Il on Feb. 11 on the occasion of his birthday. Letters "Best Wishes for Food Health of His Excellency Great General Secretary Kim Jong Il" are written on the ribbons hanging on the floral baskets.

U.S. "secret operation" against S. Korean people assailed

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) issued a statement on Feb. 8 denouncing the U.S. vicious "secret operation" to quell the South Koreans' daily mounting anti-Americanism. Referring to the fact that the U.S. Defense Department recently worked out a "secret propaganda program" to quell at any cost the mass anti-American struggle waged by South Koreans from all walks of life, the statement dismissed this as a thrice-cursed interference and a sinister plot to suppress the people's just struggle to protect sovereignty and vital rights.
    It goes on:
    Since its occupation of South Korea the U.S. has instigated the pro-U.S. stooges to paint it as a "liberator", a "protector" and an "apostle of peace." It is now desperately working to check the anti-U.S. advance of the South Korean people through anti-north nuclear racket and a crafty "secret operation." This is, however, nothing but a pipedream.
    Their anti-U.S. struggle spreading like a prairie fire represents an irresistible trend of the times. The U.S. should face up to the reality, immediately stop the "secret operation" aimed at holding in check the Koreans' vigorous anti-U.S. advance and pull back its aggression troops from South Korea without delay.

U.S. massive arms buildup under fire

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- The U.S. air force present in South Korea was put in a "semi-war" state to cope with "contingency" and the U.S. command in South Korea issued a decision to extend for six months the stay of thousands of soldiers in South Korea even after the expiry of their service term against the backdrop of the deployment of more aggression forces in and around the Korean Peninsula. Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed commentary in this regard.
    It says:
    This clearly proves that the U.S. imperialists' moves to provoke a new Korean war have entered a dangerous phase.
    The U.S. is making absurd pretexts to justify its military moves.
    It is all the more ridiculous for the U.S. to try to create the impression that its massive arms buildup has nothing to do with the "nuclear issue" of the DPRK.
    The peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and arms buildup can never go together.
    It was the U.S. calculation that it could attain its criminal goal with ease by spawning and internationalizing the "nuclear issue" of the DPRK. It even worked out a plan to use force in case its original plan fails and has pushed forward it.
    The U.S. is turning to the use of force, its second option, now that its plan to put political and diplomatic pressure on the DPRK is bound to go busted.
    The army and the people of the DPRK will never show any mercy to those who dare invade their country. The U.S. should stop running amuck just like a puppy knowing no fear of the tiger.

Egyptian Ambassador gives reception

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- Egyptian Ambassador to the DPRK Ahmed Ramy gave a reception at the embassy on February 11 in the run-up to the birthday of Kim Jong Il. The ambassador, addressing the reception, said that Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean people's army, who was born in Mt. Paektu, is carrying forward the revolutionary cause of Juche started by President Kim IlSsung and wisely leading the revolution and construction and the efforts for national reunification.
    The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries provided by President Kim Il Sung and President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak are developing on good terms under the great care of Kim Jong Il, he said, adding: the Egyptian government fully supports the efforts of the Korean people for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country.
    Vice-President Yang Hyong Sop of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly in his reply said that the birth of Kim Jong Il was a great fortune of Kim Il Sung's nation and a historic event that provided a sure guarantee for carrying forward the revolutionary cause of Juche.
    Kim Jong Il ushered in a new era of the army-based revolution with his unique philosophy of arms to lay a foundation of eternal value for the building of a powerful nation and preserve socialism, yang said.
    The relations between the DPRK and Egypt are traditional relations of friendship and cooperation provided by Kim Il Sung and Mohamed Hosni Mubarak and other successive leaders of egypt, he said, adding: we will, in the future, too, work hard to boost the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation in various fields.

Anecdote about Kim Jong Il

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited a naval unit in March Juche 87 (1998). In a bedroom he found that beds were placed in a way that the wall would be the first to be seen by seamen when they woke up.
    He told commanding officers of the unit that beds should be repositioned so that they could see the sky of the homeland when they opened their eyes in the morning.
    He then said that the seamen, seeing the sky of the homeland, would feel good and deeply cherish feelings of love for the country and the pride of fighting to defend it.

"Biography of Comrade Kim Jong Il" vol. 2 published

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- "Biography of Comrade Kim Jong Il" vol. 2 was brought out by the Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House. This book is a biography of a peerlessly great man dealing with the glorious revolutionary history and great personality of Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century.
    Kim Jong Il has performed revolutionary exploits to shine long in the history of the country through his energetic ideological and theoretical activities and great revolutionary practices, while carrying forward the revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered by President Kim Il Sung.
    The book was compiled by the history institute of the central committee of the WPK.
    The part of the book from its chapter 16 to chapter 30 deals with the revolutionary activities and major leadership exploits performed by Kim Jong Il in the historical period from Juche 63 (1974) to the late 1980s.
    The part of the book from chapter 16 to chapter 21 tells about how he was elected successor to the president and led the new historical struggle to model the whole party and society on the Juche idea.
    The book from chapter 22 to chapter 26 deals with the revolutionary activities he conducted from the days he was preparing the 6th congress of the WPK to the late 1980s.
    Chapter 27 to chapter 30 of the book are devoted to the leadership exploits he performed for the socialist cultural construction, the work of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, national reunification and the cause of global independence from the latter half of the 1970s to the late 1980s.

NDFSK representative on mindset of S. Koreans

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- Chief Pak Kwang Gi of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea had an interview with domestic and foreign reporters here yesterday in the run-up to the birthday of Kim Jong Il. Elaborating on the fervent reverence of the South Korean people for Kim Jong Il, brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu, who is pursuing the army-based policy, he said:
    The South Korean people deeply trust and defend Kim Jong Il's army-based policy, prompted by their ardent worship of him.
    The U.S. is resorting to all sorts of anti-north propaganda over the recent "nuclear crisis", but the South Koreans are opposing the war moves of the U.S. and supporting the stand of the north on the issue.
    The worship of a great man and confidence in the great strength lead to a great practice.
    Anti-Americanism for independence running high throughout South Korea is shaking the U.S. colonial ruling system to its very foundation.
    The era indicates that the day of the final victory of national independence is sure to come when imperialist outsiders are driven out of this land thanks to the great army-based policy, the invincible treasured sword for national defence and reunification.
    He sincerely wished Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century and lodestar of national reunification, good health.
    The participants saw a videotape dealing with South Koreans' worship for Kim Jong Il.

Minju Joson on plutonium reported missing in Japan

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today, commenting on plutonium reported missing in Japan despite international surveillance and control, says that Japan has already set nuclear armament as its most important state affair and strategic target for its future destiny and pushed it ahead in secret. It goes on:
    Now Japan has the capacity of producing nuclear weapons, means of nuclear delivery, the securing of raw materials and all others needed for nuclear armament.
    It is the last thing for Japan to get rid of international surveillance and control. If this is done, Japan is about to produce nuclear weapons at once.
    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to blame for losing its watch and control over Japan.
    The IAEA betrayed its unreasonable act of applying double-standards by cooperating in the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK, while clamouring about the DPRK nuclear activities which do not pose any problem.
    The general director of the IAEA, instead of drawing a lesson from the incident, obstinately patronized Japan, saying that the IAEA recognizes that nuclear substance was not sent elsewhere from the factory.
    As long as the IAEA applies double-standards in handling the nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula and Japan, the present problem will never be settled.

Youth and students and unionists vow loyalty to Kim Jong Il

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- Rallies of youth and students and unionists in Pyongyang were held on Feb. 11 on the occasion of the February Holiday to vow to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche true to the army-based leadership of Kim Jong Il. A rally was held in the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace with more than 50,000 youth and students attending.
    A report was delivered by Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, to be followed by speeches. The reporter and speakers vowed to trust and follow Kim Jong Il only to the last and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche that started on Mt. Paektu through generations.
    The rally called on the youth to demonstrate before the world the honor of being a reserve combat unit of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il and vanguard and shock brigade in building a powerful nation in all fields of the national economy.
    A rally of members of the trade unions was held in the plaza of the monument to party founding. Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the central committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, made a report which was followed by speeches.
    The rally underlined the need for all the union officials and members to take Kim Jong Il's army-based idea and line as a maxim of their life and struggle and unchangeable truth and strengthen all the unions into loyal ranks of revolutionary comrades true to the army-based policy and militant ranks ready to give a steady continuity to the tradition of Mt. Paektu. Present at the rallies were secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jung Rin and others.

U.S. urged to stop moves for arms reinforcement

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters of the national alliance of youth and students for the country's reunification reportedly issued a statement on Feb. 9 as regards the U.S. moves for drastic reinforcement of armed forces around the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. design for reinforcement of armed forces is part of preparations for a war against the DPRK after a war against Iraq, the statement said, and went on:
    A war on the Korean Peninsula will inevitably lead to a nuclear war and a war for exterminating the nation.
    The threat of a war on the Korean Peninsula is coming from the United States.
    We urge the United States to immediately drop the dangerous plan for reinforcement of armed forces and respond to the proposal for concluding a non-aggression treaty between the DPRK and the U.S. This is the only way to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula.
    If the United States dose not respond to our demand, it will face a nation-wide resistance and sustain a miserable defeat.

7th Kimjongilia Show opens

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- The 7th Kimjongilia Show was opened in Pyongyang today on the occasion of Kim Jong Il's birthday. Large posters were seen standing in front of the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia exhibition, its venue.
    Put on display in the hall were more than 17,000 potted Kimjongilias presented by ministries of the cabinet, national institutions, armed forces organs and working people from all walks of life from all provinces, foreign guests and overseas Koreans.
    Seen on the stands were slogans and letters reading "Long live General Kim Jong Il, the Sun of the 21st Century", "Highest Glory to Respected General Kim Jong Il", "Peerlessly Great Man", "Army-Based Leadership" and "Devoted Defence", etc.
    The opening ceremony was attended by vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, Secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea Jong Ha Chol and others.
    It was also attended by a delegation of the Yanji city landscape and greening management office of china, a delegation of the "Dandong Kimjongilia Hot House" of China, a delegation of the Dandong Jianyuan Trade Company of China and a delegation of the international environmental television group and a delegate of the Berlin Botanical Garden of Germany.
    Vice-Premier Kwak Pom Gi, chairman of the DPRK Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Federation, addressing the ceremony said that Kimjongilia is an immortal flower that represents the personality of Kim Jong Il as a great man and a flower of the sun best loved by the Korean people. It is the highest pride of the Korean nation and the desire of humankind to widely cultivate and propagate the flower, he added.
    He reiterated the need for the participants to swap achievements and experience they gained in cultivating and propagating the flower during the exhibition period and strengthen exchange and cooperation in the field.

U.S. Defense Secretary's anti-DPRK remarks refuted

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave an answer to a question put by KCNA today as regards remarks terming the DPRK a "terrorist regime" made by U.S. Secretary of Defence Rumsfeld. The spokesman said:
    Shortly ago, Rumsfeld slandered the DPRK, calling it "terrorist regime" all of a sudden for no reason.
    Such utterances draw our attention as they were made against the backdrop of the u.s. military reinforcement of aggression around the Korean Peninsula targeted against the DPRK.
    It is a stark fact that the DPRK has nothing to do with terrorism and has consistently maintained the stand of opposing any form of terrorism, which was admitted by the U.S. administration authorities in the past.
    The United States declared an "anti-terrorism war" to the world and is now sparking a war wherever it goes.
    Under this situation, the U.S. Secretary of Defense listed the DPRK as "a terrorist regime". This means that the united states has internally designated the DPRK as the next target of its "anti-terrorism war".
    The reason why the U.S. refused to accept the DPRK Government's proposal for the conclusion of a non-aggression pact between the two countries is getting clearer as the days go by.
    The U.S. again raised the hackneyed charge of being a "terrorist regime" in a desperate attempt to mount a military attack on the DPRK at any cost. But this only proves that no pretext for attack can be found in the DPRK Government's principled stand and measure related to the nuclear issue.
    It has become clearer that the U.S. is seeking to stifle the DPRK by force under any pretext and this makes more obvious where the DPRK should go.

Kim Jong Il receives congratulatory message and gifts from Putin

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message and gifts from Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation. A ceremony of conveying the message and gifts took place at the Russian embassy here on Feb. 12.
    Kim Jong Il was present there.
    The Russian Ambassador read out the congratulatory message and conveyed three gift horses to Kim Jong Il, upon the authorization of Putin.
    Then Kh. A. Amerkhanov, vice department director of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, who is chief escort for the gifts, explained them to Kim Jong Il.
    Kim Jong Il extended deep thanks to Putin for sending the kind message and the gifts associated with his sincerity and asked the Russian official to convey his cordial regards to the president before seeing the gift horses.
    At the end of the ceremony Kim Jong Il had a picture taken with the embassy officials and those who escorted the gift horses.

Kim Jong Il attends reception given by Russian Ambassador

    Pyongyang, February 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il attended a reception given by Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Gennadievich Karlov on Feb. 12 at his invitation. Kim Jong Il was greeted by the ambassador and other diplomats of the embassy.
    He expressed thanks for the invitation and had a conversation with them in a cordial atmosphere overflowing with friendship.
    Present at the reception were chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army Kim Yong Chun, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Yong Sun and Kim Ki Nam, first Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Sok Ju, KPA generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong and first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee Jang Song Thaek.
    The Russian Ambassador to the DPRK and other diplomats of the Russian embassy and those who escorted gift horses.
    The reception proceeded in an amicable atmosphere.
    A specially prepared conspicuous art performance was given by lovely children and staff members of the embassy at the reception.
    The performance was acclaimed by the audience.

For Spanish-speaking people

kim jong il visita templo simwon

artimana de agresion de ee.uu. en etapa de practica

    pyongyang, 12 de febrero (atcc) -- en estos dias estados unidos concentra enormes fuerzas armadas agresivas en la peninsula coreana y su contorno, por una parte y por la otra, la fuerza aerea norteamericana estacionada en sudcorea esta entrada en el "estado de alsrta de guerra" para "hacer frente al estado de emergencia eventual" y la comandancia de las tropas yanquis ocupantes de esta parte publico una decision de congelar durante los 6 meses el traslado al pais natal de miles de efectivos que terminaron el plazo de servicio militar. esto insinua que las maniobras de ee.uu. tendentes a provocar una nueva guerra en corea entran en una peligrosa etapa de practica.
    senala asi el diario "rodong sinmun" en un comentario individual de hoy y continua:
    ee.uu. enumera pretextos para justificar tales movimientos militares.
    lo mas taimado es que ee.uu. dice absurdamente como si la presente medida de aumento armamentista "no tuviera que ver directamente con el problema nuclear de norcorea".
    la solucion pacifica del problema nuclear de la peninsula coreana y la medida del aumento armamentista no pueden coexistir jamas.
    nuestro ejercito y pueblo no perdonaran jamas a los que se atreven a tocar la rpdc. los imperialistas yanquis deben actuar con prudencia.