Russian Ambassador hosts reception

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Andrei Karlov, Russian Ambassador to the DPRK, hosted a reception at his embassy on Tuesday evening on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the conclusion of the agreement on economic and cultural cooperation between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. Present there on invitation were Ri Kwang Gun, Minister of Foreign Trade, Kung Sok Ung, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jon Myong Guk, vice-Minister of Forestry, Jo Chan Gu, vice-Minister of Culture, Hong Son Ok, chairperson of the DPRK-Russia Friendship Association who is also vice-chairperson of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned. Staff members of the Russian embassy were on hand.

Japan urged to stop acting rashly

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Japan is stepping up the joint research into the ballistic missile defense technology with the United States under the pretext of a "missile threat from North Korea", while contemplating the introduction of the interceptor missile system from the U.S. to make up a "vacuum" to be created before its actual deployment. In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says:
    The Japanese reactionaries' hue and cry over the "missile threat" from the DPRK only compels the DPRK to heighten its vigilance as it betrays their reckless intention not to redress Japan's past crimes but reinvade the DPRK, still considering the DPRK as an "enemy".
    The DPRK's missile program is of purely peaceful nature and does not pose a threat to anyone. It is the DPRK's legitimate exercise of its sovereign right to go ahead with its missile program of peaceful nature. The DPRK's armed forces show no mercy to those provoking it but it does not use force against anyone who does not hurt it.
    If Japan is friendly toward the DPRK, it does not need to fear the DPRK's missile program and its efforts to increase its defence capability at all.
    Japan is in a great hurry to introduce the U.S. interceptor missile system not because of the "missile threat" from the DPRK.
    It is the black-hearted intention of the Japanese reactionaries to realize their wild ambition for reinvasion of Korea by taking advantage of the U.S. policy to isolate and stifle the DPRK.
    If they act without discretion, bereft of reason, they will suffer an irrevocable setback. If Japan, unaware where it stands, keeps acting recklessly, toeing the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK, it will have to pay dearly for it. The Japanese reactionaries are well advised to behave with decorum, properly assessing the situation.

Army-based policy introduced and studied on world-wide scale

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- The world progressive people are admiring Kim Jong Il for his extraordinary wisdom, distinguished political ability and immortal exploits and widely introducing and studying his army-based policy. In a matter of two months of the year nearly 200 press media of at least 50 countries introduced in detail the uniqueness, validity and immortal vitality of his army-based policy.
    The Prensa Latina of Cuba, the Portuguese paper O Publico, the Italian magazine La Voce, the Indonesian state TV broadcasting and many other media carried special write-ups under "peculiar political mode of leader Kim Jong Il," "army-based policy and single hearted unity" and other titles as well as his portraits and photos of his revolutionary activities.
    Radios of Laos, Guinea, Poland and Peru said that thanks to the army-based policy the DPRK has been able to display its might to the world as a dignified country, political power, military power and a socialist fortress with external authority and prestige which no big power may match and nothing can break down.
    Hundreds of seminars, photo exhibitions and film shows on his army-based leadership exploits were held in different countries in February.
    The great traits and distinguished army-based leadership exploits of Kim Jong Il were highly praised at a joint seminar of Italian political parties and organizations, a joint seminar of delegates of political parties from Balkan countries and seminars held in Russia, Tanzania, Mexico and many other countries.
    The Ugandan President said that the army-based policy should be accepted by African countries and that he would strengthen the Ugandan army so as to guarantee the sovereignty and security of the country.
    The Indonesian President said that she would increase state concern and investment in order to strengthen and develop the army into the army of the nation, the fighting army and the army of people.

U.S. hardline conservatives' remarks under fire

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- U.S. hardline conservatives were recently reported to have claimed that "it is the misguided behavior for North Korea to threaten the U.S." and "it would be difficult for North Korea to get its security guaranteed and economic aid and the like". In this regard Minju Joson today in a signed commentary says:
    This whole string of anti-DPRK remarks are nothing but rigmaroles of those keen to stifle the DPRK. They are quite unrealistic and illogical.
    The U.S. hardline conservatives' assertion that North Korea poses a threat to the U.S. is sheer sophism which reminds one of a thief crying "stop the thief" and which can convince no one.
    We would like to strongly demand once again the U.S. hardline conservatives clearly understand the socialist system in the DPRK and behave with decorum.
    This system is not the kind of which they think. It is foolish of them to contend that the socialist system in the DPRK can exist only under their protection or with their aid.
    Ours is Korean-style socialism centered on the popular masses chosen and built by the Korean people under the banner of the great Juche idea.
    Our socialism remains indestructable as long as there are the great army-based policy and single-hearted unity. This is the unshakable faith and courage of the servicemen and people of the DPRK.
    The U.S. hardline conservatives' attempt to destroy this socialism is as foolish an act as trying to sweep the sea with a broom.
    The U.S. is well advised to clearly face up to the reality and behave with decorum.

Special plants discovered in Korea

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) --Over the past ten years gnaphalium ruricolum, saussurea parvialata, smilax pumila and many other special plants have been discovered in Korea. Gnaphalium ruricolum belongs to the asteraceae family. The annual plant has a short and straight root.
    It blooms at the ends of branches in July or August and seeds get ripe in August or September.
    Smilax pumila, belonging to the smilacaceae family, is a perennial plant. It, with a thick and deep root, is good for preventing landslides.
    White-yellow flowers open in late April and fruits get dark blue and ripe in may.
    Antennaria nigritella, a perennial plant, grows in northern and central areas of Korea.
    Its stalk is 40-60 centimeters high and capitate flowers open in July or August.
    Antennaria insulensis, filifolium koreanum and saussurea spodochroa are also among the newly discovered special plants growing in different parts of the country.

Provocative Rsoi flailed

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- The U.S. and South Korean warhawks started Rsoi, a new South Korea-U.S. joint military drill, today while staging a provocative Foal Eagle war exercise in full swing. The U.S. imperialists decided to resume the espionage flight against the DPRK by use of RC-135 strategic reconnaissance plane and hurled stealth fighter bombers into the war exercises. The evermore reckless saber-rattling of the U.S. imperialists is, in a nutshell, a premeditated move to mount a preemptive nuclear attack on the DPRK.
    Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed commentary.
    The news analyst goes on:
    Adventurous war exercises which are little short of a test nuclear war against the DPRK are going on and aerial espionage on it is being escalated at a time when an aircraft carrier, strategic bombers, stealth fighters and other nuclear attack means are being amassed in and around South Korea. This alarming development can never be overlooked as it cannot be interpreted as a mere military threat to the DPRK or a demonstration of U.S. military muscle.
    The United States is painting North Korea as a "dangerous state" while vociferating about its nuclear issue. As shown, it is none other than the U.S. that seeks to unleash a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula and disturbs the peace in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world.
    The U.S. has steadily soured the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula while turning aside the DPRK-U.S. direct dialogue and the proposal for concluding a non-aggression treaty between them, the only solution to the nuclear issue. It admits of no argument that the ulterior aim sought by the U.S. in that move is to ignite a nuclear war against the DPRK.
    The U.S. frantic war exercises targeted against the DPRK are intolerable acts of aggression.
    Any attempt of the U.S. to mount a nuclear attack on the DPRK will meet a merciless retaliation by its powerful means.

Greetings to Tunisian Prime Minister

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Hong Song Nam Wednesday sent a message of greetings to Mohamed Ghannouchi, Prime Minister of Tunisia, on the occasion of the 47th National Day. The message sincerely wished the prime minister and the government greater success in the work to build a highly developed national economy.
    Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a similar message to his Tunisian counterpart Habib Ben Yahia.

Greetings to Tunisian President

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Wednesday sent a message of greetings to Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of Tunisia, on the occasion of its 47th National Day. The message extended warm congratulations to the president and, through him, to the government and people of Tunisia on this occasion.
    Expressing belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger to meet the needs and desire of the two peoples, the message sincerely wished the president greater success in the work to build a developed and prosperous new society.

Paek Nam Sun meets special envoy of UN Secretary General

     Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun Wednesday met and conversed with Moris Strong, special envoy of the UN Secretary General, and his party.

For Spanish-speaking people

japon debe actuar con prudencia

     pyongyang, 19 de marzo (atcc) -- en estos dias japon da acicate al estudio comun de la tecnica de defensa antimisil balistico con ee.uu. bajo el pretexto de la "amenaza de misiles de norcorea", por una parte y por la otra, maniobra para introducir el sistema de misil antibalistico de ee.uu. pretextando el "espacio" hasta cuando tal tecnica se lleve a la ubicacion practica. los reaccionarios japoneses acusan a la republica popular democratica de corea de la "amenaza de misiles" y asi revelan su intencion de eludir la liquidacion del pasado y emprender la nueva agresion a la rpdc definiendo a esta como antes como "enemigo". por ello mantenemos la alta vigilancia.
    asi senala el periodico "rodong sinmun" en un comentario individual de hoy y continua:
    nuestro programa de misiles de caracter puramente pacifico no amenaza a nadie. promover este programa es un ejercicio del legitimo derecho independiente de la rpdc. nuestras fuerzas armadas son despiadadas a quienes nos agredan, pero no amenazan a quienes no nos toquen. si japon no trata con hostilidad sino con amistad a la rpdc, no tendra motivo alguno por el cual se preocupe por el programa de misiles y el fortalecimiento del poderio de defensa nacional de ella. japon se apresura para introducir el sistema de misil antibalistico de ee.uu. y esto no se debe a la "amenaza de misiles" de la rpdc.
    los reaccionarios japoneses se proponen lograr su ambicion de nueva agresion a corea en adhesion a la politica de ee.uu. encaminada a aislar y aplastar la rpdc.
    al actuar imprudentemente perdiendo el juicio podran sufrir gran reves.
    deben volver en si y juzgar con acierto la situacion.

"minju joson" refuta peroratas de fuerzas ultraconservadoras

     pyongyang, 19 de marzo (atcc) -- en estos dias, las fuerzas ultraconservadoras de ee.uu. dicen: "la amenaza de norcorea a ee.uu. es una conducta erronea" y "norcorea no podra recibir la garantia de seguridad y la asistencia economica" tratando de danar la imagen de la republica popular democratica de corea. estas palabras irreales e ilogicas no pasan de ser charlatanerias de quienes intentan aplastarla.
    asi senala el periodico "minju joson" en un comentario individual de hoy y continua:
    sus palabras no pasan de ser una sofisteria bandidesca de un ladron que se desganita gritando "ladron"
    advertimos una vez mas solemnemente que las fuerzas ultraconservadoras de ee.uu. deben tener correcta comprension sobre el regimen socialista de la rpdc y actuar con prudencia.
    las citadas fuerzas creen imbecilmente que el regimen socialista de la rpdc puede existir solo bajo la proteccion y el apoyo de su pais.
    el socialismo coreano es el socialismo centrado en las masas populares optado y construido por el pueblo coreano bajo la bandera de la gran idea juche.
    nuestro ejercito y pueblo tienen la firme conviccion de que nuestro socialismo es indestructible mientras existen la gran politica de priorizacion militar y las fuerzas unidas monoliticamente.
    es estupida la idea de las fuerzas ultraconservadoras de ee.uu. de aplastar el socialismo coreano. ee.uu. debe conocer correctamente la realidad y actuar con prudencia.