Day of Tree Planting marked

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- March 2 is marked as the Day of Tree Planting every year in the DPRK. Rallies of working people and school youth and children took place at the arboretum of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, in Taegak-ri of Kaechon city, South Phyongan Province, in the area near the monument to the three charters for national reunification, and in Chongsan-ri of Kangso district, Nampho city yesterday to inaugurate the spring tree planting campaign.
    Reporters and speakers at the rallies said that Kim Jong Il laid it down as one of the important tasks for giving full play to the advantages of the best system in the DPRK and stepping up the building of a powerful nation to turn the country into a thick woodland and greenery and has wisely led the drive to implement it.
    They called for planting a lot of trees of good species suited to the soil and climatic conditions in different regions and lifting, carrying and planting young trees with good care in the tree-planting day and month in keeping with the technological requirements.
    Officials and people from all works of life planted hundreds of thousands of trees and flower shrubs including pine-nut tree, thuja, acacia with pink flower and azalea around the meeting places.
    Similar rallies were held in all provinces, cities and counties and units of the KPA three services on the same day.
    Senior officials of the party, the state and commissions and ministries of the cabinet planted trees around the Taegak Youth Dam in Kaechon, South Phyongan Province on the day.
    Present at the rallies were officials concerned, working people of all strata, and school youth and children.

KCNA on sheer sophism of U.S. and Japan

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Nowadays, the CIA is raising a hue and cry over the "missile threat" from the DPRK, claiming that the whole territory of the U.S. is within the North Korean missile range, while Japan Defence Agency is busy taking "emergency measures" to cope with "North Korea's missile test fire." Such campaign was quite frequent in the U.S. and Japan in the past years. But, we can never overlook the present campaign that has been launched at a time when the DPRK-U.S. confrontation is getting extremely acute and a touch-and-go military situation is prevailing on the Korean Peninsula.
    The DPRK's production and deployment of missiles are a matter pertaining to its sovereignty in every respect and they are intended to increase its self-defensive military capability.
    Therefore, they can never be a threat to other countries in any case.
    Nevertheless, the U.S. and Japanese bellicose forces are making much fuss about "missile threat" from the DPRK. This is nothing but a cunning trick to tarnish the image of the peace-loving DPRK, invent a pretext for their preemptive attack on it and justify their establishment of Missile Defence System (MD).
    The U.S. MD is, in essence, aimed to put the DPRK under its military control, contain big powers around the Korean Peninsula and, furthermore, achieve its purpose of turning the world into a U.S.-led unipolar world. So, the MD poses a serious threat not only to the Korean people but to the world people desirous of global peace and security.
    The U.S. is working hard to make the fictitious "missile threat" from the DPRK loom as a potential one in a bid to calm down the condemnation and protest of the unbiased world opinion against the MD and justify it.
    The clamor about "missile threat" can never be tolerated as it reveals the sinister intention of the U.S. and Japanese warhawks who do not want improved relations with the DPRK, still listing it as an enemy, but seek to destroy its system through their preemptive attack.
    Pursuant to its plan for preemptive attack on the DPRK, the United States is now concentrating huge armed forces, including an aircraft carrier, in and around the Korean Peninsula to stage large-scale war exercises such as "Foal Eagle," a replica of the "Team Spirit" joint military drill, and "Rsoi", driving the situation to the brink of a war. This evidently shows the main purpose of the U.S. aggressive policy towards the DPRK.
    The U.S. sometimes shows "carrot" called dialogue and negotiations but it is no more than a window-dressing to cover up its "stick" strategy, which is the core of its Korea policy. That is why it has persistently turned down the DPRK's fair and aboveboard proposal for concluding a non-aggression pact between the two countries.
    Keeping pace with the U.S. moves, the Japanese bellicose forces are taking an active part in the MD. Such action is arousing the DPRK's vigilance as it is in violation of the basic spirit of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration which calls for the settlement of the unpleasant past between the two countries and the establishment of fruitful, political, economic and cultural relations.
    Now that the U.S. and Japanese warhawks are pushing ahead in full swing with the MD threatening the DPRK, we have no option but to further increase our self-defensive military capability.

Greetings to Libyan head of State

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on March 1 sent a message of greetings to colonel Moammer El Gaddafi, leader of the Great September First Revolution of Libya, on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the proclamation of Jamahiriya in Libya. The message expressed belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to develop in the future, too, and wished him greater success in his work for building a free and prosperous new society.

Greetings to President of Cyprus

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on February 27 sent a message of greetings to Tassos Papadopoulos on his election as president of Cyprus. Expressing belief that the friendly relations between the two peoples would continue to grow stronger, the message wished him great success in his responsible work for the prosperity of the country and the settlement of the Cyprus issue.

U.S. hostile policy toward DPRK denounced

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Delegates of the Bulgarian Communist Party, the Bulgarian Communist Party (Marxist), the Workers' Party of Bulgaria (communist), the Bulgarian Communist Party (bolshevik), the Bulgarian Communists Union, the Bulgarian Movement for Justice and Humanism, the Romanian Working Party and the Socialist Party of Romania released a joint statement on February 13, denouncing the U.S. moves to stifle the DPRK. The U.S., a possessor of the greatest number of nuclear weapons, was the first to inflict nuclear holocaust upon humankind, turned South Korea into the largest nuclear armory in the far east and has threatened the DPRK by nukes, so that it was compelled to withdraw from the NPT, the statement said.
    The Bush administration in the "state of the union message" disclosed its attempt to isolate and stifle the DPRK under the pretext of its "nuclear issue," thus proving the falsehood of its loudmouthed dialogue.
    Recalling that the U.S. designated the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil" and has systematically violated the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework and other commitments between the DPRK and the U.S., threatening the DPRK with nuclear weapons and blocking the reconciliation between the north and the south of Korea and its reunification, it went on:
    We, out of the desire for peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and the early independent and peaceful reunification of Korea, issue a statement as follows:
    Firstly, we extend full support to the DPRK Government statement, which declared its withdrawal from the NPT for the sovereignty and security of the Korean nation, and strongly demand the U.S. immediately halt its hostile policy to stifle the DPRK by force of arms.
    Secondly, we demand the u.s. immediately accept the DPRK's proposal for concluding a non-aggression treaty and have the DPRK-U.S. talks on an equal footing in an effort to prevent the danger of a war in the Korean Peninsula.
    Thirdly, we thoroughly reject all the attempts to internationalize the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula caused by the U.S. which gave up its duty to implement the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework.
    Fourthly, we strongly demand the U.S. immediately withdraw its troops from South Korea and take hands off the Korean issue, so that the Korean nation may achieve reconciliation, cooperation and peaceful reunification by itself for peace and security in the Korean Peninsula, Asia and the rest of the world.

North-South Joint Academic Symposium held

     Seoul, march 2 (KCNA correspondent) -- A north-south joint academic symposium to probe the truth behind Japan's distortion of the history of Korea took place in Seoul on March 2 on the occasion of the 84th anniversary of the historic March 1 Popular Uprising. The symposium was addressed by prof. and dr. Ju Jin Gu, member of the history society of the north side, Kang Chang Il, professor of Paejae University and director of the Jeju April 3 Uprising Institute of the south side, prof. and dr. Mun Yong Ho, director of the linguistic institute under the academy of social sciences of the north side, and Yun Kyong Ro, professor of Hansong University of the south side, on the subject of "On Japan's distortion of history and the danger of overseas aggression", "the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists is illegal in view of international law", "the historical and philological study of the English title of our country" and "the damage done to the nation under the occupation by the Japanese imperialists as seen by statistical analysis."
    A joint press release was made public at the symposium.
    It said that aggression and murder by Japan in its past imperialist period were the initial criminal acts and the distortion of history denying and concealing those facts is the one more criminal act of impairing the Korean nation and other Asian people.
    The joint press release raised Japan's fabrication of the English name of our country as an important issue, saying that the name of our country had been internationally recognized as "Corea" from the mid-thirteenth century and officially used in our foreign documents, but Japan changed "C" into "K" and "Corea" disappeared from the early 20th century.
    The scholars in the north and the south confirmed that settlement of Japan's past crimes as well as all the trials against the Japanese government and business groups are the process of retaking the dignity of the nation, their claim to damages, the release said, stressing:
    This movement should pool the efforts and wisdom of people who love peace.
    Present at the symposium were history scholars and representatives of religious organizations, reunification movement organizations and public organizations from the north and the south and Seoul citizens.

"Evening of Praying for Peaceful Reunification" held in S. Korea

     Seoul, March 2 (KCNA correspondent) -- An "evening of praying for peaceful reunification" was held in Seoul on march 2 on the occasion of the 84th anniversary of the historic March 1 Uprising. Present on the north side were members of the delegation to the March 1 National Meeting for Peace and Reunification led by Jang Jae On, chairman of the Korean Council of Religionists, and on the south side were representatives of the seven orders, the Reunification Solidarity, the People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation and many other organizations and Seoul citizens.
    On behalf of the south side, Pak Yong Gil, permanent advisor of the People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation and permanent advisor of the Meeting for Embracing National Unification, made a congratulatory speech and on behalf of the north side, Jang Hye Myong, director of the "literature for reunification", recited his own poem "live, unashamed and upright."
    Representatives of the north and the south gave a performance of folk songs, songs during the enlightenment period, and songs and dances on the theme of reunification.
    Then the participants spread a sea of candles with one mind to carry forward the intention of the patriotic forerunners who laid down their lives in the struggle for the liberation of the country and the patriotic martyrs who devoted their youth and lives to national reunification.
    Meetings of representatives of religious organizations, reunification movement organizations, public organizations in the north and the south took place on Sunday.
    Representatives of the north side's religious organizations visited religious facilities of the south side and held a joint prayer meeting, joint divine service, joint mass and other religious ceremonies for praying for peace and reunification with religionists of the south side.

U.S. smear campaign against DPRK blasted

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- A few days ago, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Tenet said at the hearing of the senate armed services committee that North Korea is likely to test-fire "Taephodong No. 2" missile, adding that the missile is more dangerous as North Korea possesses nuclear warheads that can be fixed to it. And White House spokesman Fleisher claimed that the North Korean missile is almost capable of directly striking the United States.
    Meanwhile, the Japan Defense Agency is busy taking "emergency measures" to cope with it, asserting that it is natural for Japan and U.S. to test missiles to intercept ballistic missiles.
    In this connection, Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed commentary:
    The U.S. much ado about the DPRK's "missile threat" is aimed to accelerate the establishment of its criminal MD under the pretext of the threat.
    The U.S. stepped-up MD is, in essence, designed to retain its military edge and put the world under its military control.
    The DPRK's missiles make aggressors tremble with fear but serve the people as a powerful shield in the struggle for peace.
    It is not United States but the DPRK which is exposed to the missile threat.
    The DPRK may be invaded by aggressors overnight unless it increases its self-defence capability to cope with the U.S. military offensive. That is why the DPRK is giving top priority to boosting the defence power though it compels it to cut down its investment in economic construction and the work for improving the standard of the people's living.
    The U.S. smear campaign is always accompanied by its military moves for aggression.
    The U.S. cynical ploy to justify and accelerate the criminal MD under the pretext of the DPRK's "missile threat" can never cut ice with anyone.

Anecdote about Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) --President Kim Il Sung, who was passing through Sunchon, visited a farmhouse one day in Juche 39 (1950) when the hard-fought Fatherland Liberation War was going on. In a conversation with the housewife, he acquainted himself with the living conditions of the family and learnt that her husband, who had been a cell chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, was killed by enemies during the U.S. imperialists' temporary occupation of the area.
    He, feeling sorry to heart that, said nothing for a while. He then told an official accompanying him to bring cakes prepared for his meal to her children.
    Leaving the house at the small hours, he asked the official "what did we give the children?"
    The official could give no answer to the president, who was sorry to give too small to them in deep grief and spend too short time with them.
    He told the official that he was always worried about orphans and the state should bring them up with parental affection.
    Thanks to his deep care, measures were taken in January 1951 in the thick of the war to bring up and educate children of fallen fighters, guerrillas and patriotic martyrs and other war orphans at government expense and a regular system for children ranging from nurseries to technical schools was established throughout the country.

Greetings to Bulgarian President

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday sent a message of greetings to Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on the occasion of the National Day of Bulgaria. He in the message expressed conviction that the bilateral relations would continue to develop on good terms and wished the president and people of Bulgaria success in their work for the prosperity of the country.

Greetings to Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bulgaria

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Hong Song Nam sent a message of greetings to Simeon Saxcoburgotski, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, on its National Day. Expressing the belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Bulgaria would grow stronger and develop, the message wished him greater success in his work for the well-being of people.
    Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to his Bulgarian counterpart Solomon Passi on the same occasion.

For Spanish-speaking people

seul: seminario conjunto cientifico norte- sur

     seul, 2 de marzo (corresponsal de la atcc) -- con motivo del 84 aniversario del levantamiento popular del primero de marzo tuvo lugar el dia 2 en esta ciudad el seminario conjunto cientifico norte-sur para esclarecer el verdadero aspecto de la tergiversacion de la historia de corea por japon. en el seminario el prof. y dr. ju jin gu, miembro de la asociacion de historiadores de la parte norte de corea:
    kang chang il, profesor de la universidad paejae y director del instituto de resistencia "3 de abril" de la isla jeju de la parte sur: el prof. y dr. mun yong ho, director del instituto de linguistica de la academia de ciencias sociales de la parte norte y yun kyong ro, profesor de la universidad de hansong de la parte sur hicieron uso de la palabra bajo los titulos "sobre las maniobras de tergiversacion de la historia por japon y la peligrosidad de su agresion al ultramar", "la dominacion colonial del imperialismo japones contraviene al derecho internacional", "observacion historica y linguistica sobre la anotacion en ingles del nombre de corea" y "danos sufridos por la nacion coreana bajo la ocupacion del imperialismo japones, vistos por las estadisticas".
    en el seminario fue publicado el comunicado conjunto.
    el documento senala que la agresion y la masacre de japon perpetradas en el periodo imperialista es el primer crimen y la tergiversacion de la historia para negar y encubrir tal hecho es el segundo crimen cometido contra el pueblo coreano y los demas pueblos de asia.
    presenta como uno importante la anotacion en ingles del nombre de corea al senalar que despues de mediados del siglo xiii el nombre de nuestro pais fue reconocido internacionalmente como "corea" que se anoto oficialmente en los documentos exteriores nuestros, pero japon cambio "c" por "k" y asi la inscripcion "corea" desaparecio desde principios del siglo xx.
    los historiadores del norte y el sur confirmaron que la liquidacion del pasado de japon y todo el juicio contra el gobierno y las empresas de japon son un legitimo derecho que debemos ejercer a japon y el proceso de rescatar la dignidad de la nacion y este movimiento debe unir la fuerza y la inteligencia de todas las personas amantes de la paz subraya el documento.
    en el seminario participaron los historiadores, representantes de diversos sectores del norte y del sur de corea particularmente de las entidades religiosas, organizaciones del movimiento por la reunificacion y otras entidades sociales, y los ciudadanos de seul.

rpdc fortalecera su poderio autodefensivo - comentario de atcc -

     pyongyang, 3 de marzo (atcc) -- en estos dias la agencia central de inteligencia de ee.uu. habla ruidosamente de que "todo su territorio esta al alcance de misiles de norcorea" y la agencia de defensa de japon hace bulla apresurandose en tomar "medida de emergencia" frente al "lanzamiento de misil de norcorea". no podemos estar con los brazos cruzados ante el rumor de la "amenaza de misiles" de la rpdc que particularmente, dentro de ee.uu. y japon se divulgan en gran medida en este tiempo en que se agudiza al extremo el enfrentamiento entre la rpdc y ee.uu. y es muy tirante la situacion militar de la peninsula coreana.
    la produccion y ubicacion de misiles de la rpdc siendo cuestion que pertenece estrictamente a la soberania son para fortalecer el poderio autodefensivo. por tanto en ningun caso puede constituir una amenaza a otro pais.
    pero, los belicistas de ee.uu. y japon difunden ruidosamente rumor de "amenaza de misiles" de la rpdc para entenebrecer la imagen de esta amante de la paz, procurar un pretexto de ataque anticipado a ella y justificar el establecimiento del sistema de defensa antimisiles, que persigue, en su esencia, un objetivo agresivo: aplastar militarmente a la rpdc, aventajarse a las potencias circunvecinas, y unipolarizar el mundo. esto constituye una gran amenaza para el pueblo coreano y la humanidad deseosa de la paz y la seguridad del mundo.
    para calmar, cueste lo que cueste, la censura y la condenacion del mundo a su establecimiento del sistema de defensa antimisiles y justificarlo, ee.uu. teje artimana para hacer un hecho consumado de rumor de "amenaza de misiles" de la rpdc. difunden esta teoria los belicistas norteamericanos y japoneses porque definen invariablemente como su enemigo a la rpdc y no desean mejorar sus relaciones con esta tratando de eliminar con el ataque anticipado al regimen de ella. no podemos tolerar de ninguna manera tal intencion malsana.
    ahora, ee.uu. segun su plan de ataque adelantado a la rpdc, emplaza enormes fuerzas armadas agresivas incluido el portaaviones en la peninsula coreana y su contorno y tratan de desarrollar el ejercicio "aguilucho" y el "ejercicio de refuerzo para el tiempo de guerra" que son la reedicion de "team spirit" para llevar la situacion al borde de la guerra, lo que revela la esencia de su politica de agresion a corea.
    ee.uu. blande a veces la "zanahoria" del "dialogo" y las "negociaciones" que en todo caso, no pasan de ser una tactica de camuflaje para encubrir su estrategia de "garrote" y se opone de todo trance a la equitativa propuesta de la rpdc de concertar el tratado de no agresion porque es fundamental la estrategia de "garrote" en su politica con respecto a corea.
    tambien, los belicistas japoneses que en adhesion a tal artimana de ee.uu. se entregan con frenesi al establecimiento del sistema de defensa antimisiles en desacato al espiritu principal de la declaracion corea-japon de pyongyang de liquidar el desagradable pasado entre ambas partes y de establecer las fructiferas relaciones politicas, economicas y culturales, y de ello tenemos gran precaucion.
    hoy que los belicistas norteamericanos y japoneses se entregan activamente al establecimiento del sistema de defensa antimisiles contra la rpdc, fortaleceremos aun mas nuestro poderio autodefensivo.

no podra encubrir con intriga verdadera naturaleza

     pyongyang, 3 de marzo (atcc) -- hace poco, el director de la agencia central de inteligencia (cia) tenet, en una audiencia de la comision militar del senado norteamericano, dijo que hay la posibilidad de que la republica popular democratica de corea podra lanzar de ensayo el misil "taephodong-2" y anadio que es mas grande su peligrosidad porque ella tiene hasta la ojiva nuclear capaz de cargarse en el misil. tambien, el vocero de la casa blanca fleischer senalo que el misil de norcorea se acerca paso a paso al nivel capaz de atacar directamente al territorio norteamericano.
    la agencia de defensa de japon dice que es debido el ensayo de interceptacion de misil balistico japon-ee.uu. y arma un alboroto para preparar las "medidas urgentes".
    asi senala el periodico "rodong sinmun" en un comentario individual de hoy y subraya que ee.uu. habla ruidosamente de la "amenaza de misil" de la rpdc para acelerar el establecimiento de su criminal sistema de defensa antimisiles bajo tal pretexto.
    tales maquinaciones de ee.uu. son, en su esencia, para mantener la supremacia militar y dominar militarmente al mundo, senala el comentario y continua:
    nuestro misil sera el ser terrible para los agresores, pero servira de un escudo poderoso para los pueblos que luchan por la paz.
    el objeto de la amenaza de misil no es ee.uu. sino la rpdc.
    si la rpdc no fortalece las fuerzas autodefensiva frente a las maniobras del ataque militar de ee.uu., los agresores yanquis podran conquistarla de una vez.
    el alboroto intrigante de ee.uu. precede siempre a la accion militar agresiva.
    no surtira efecto la artimana de ee.uu. tendente a justificar y acelerar el establecimiento del criminal sistema de defensa antimisiles so pretexto de la "amenaza de misil" de la rpdc.