21st April Spring Friendship Art Festival to be held

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The 21st April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be held in Pyongyang with splendour on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung, the most auspicious holiday common to humankind. The festival to take place amid great expectation and interest of the Korean people and the world progressives will prove to be an international art festival making commemorations of the day of the sun more meaningful by fully reflecting the ardent feelings of humankind who hold Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the eternal sun of Juche and trust and follow General Secretary Kim Jong Il as the sun of the 21st century.
    It will bring together more than 70 art and acrobatic groups made up of international and national concours winners and famous artists from at least 40 countries, art troupes of Koreans overseas and artistes at home. Put on stages will be vocal music, instrumental music, dance, acrobatic and other colorful numbers.
    The festival will contribute to the development of friendship and solidarity and cultural exchange and cooperation among peoples and artistes of different countries in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.

Appeal of joint meeting supported

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea issued a statement to the press on March 20 in support of an appeal to the 70 million Koreans which was adopted at a joint meeting of the DPRK Government, political parties and organizations, Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation said. The appeal ardently called upon the 70 million Koreans in the north and south of Korea and abroad to pool their strength under the uplifted banner of the June 15 Joint Declaration reflecting the desire and will of the Korean people so as to preserve the dignity and sovereignty of the nation and peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and achieve national cooperation without fail in the idea of "by our nation itself," the statement said, and continued:
    The NDFSK expresses full support to the appeal, considering it a very just patriotic measure as it reflects the desire and aspirations of all the Koreans to deal with the present crisis that menaces the destiny and prospect of the nation and bring about a new phase of independent reunification under the banner of national cooperation.
    The NDFSK together with all the people who love the country and the nation will push ahead with a vigorous patriotic struggle against the U.S. and bring earlier the day of independent reunification through the cooperation of all Koreans.

Meeting held in Switzerland to congratulate sun of 21st century

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- A meeting to congratulate the sun of the 21st century was held by the Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification on March 15. Martin Lotscher, chairman of the committee, in a speech said that leader Kim Jong Il has successfully carried forward the revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered by President Kim Il Sung.
    Kim Jong Il has pursued his army-based policy of justice with his gifted strategy and matchless grit, smashing the U.S.-led imperialists' moves to stifle the DPRK and wisely leading man-centered socialism in Korea to victory, he said.
    He expressed belief that the struggle of the Korean people for the cause of justice is sure to triumph.
    The Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification will conduct a vigorous movement to support the struggle of the Korean people, he noted.

S. Korean authorities hit for frantic anti-DPRK confrontation racket

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The South Korean authorities should put an immediate stop to the anti-DPRK confrontation they have launched following the lead of the outsiders, mindful that the confrontation with the fellow countrymen in the northern half of Korea will bring nothing beneficial to them, says Minju Joson in a signed commentary today. They proclaimed a "high alert posture" dubbed DRC-2 all over South Korea as part of the confrontation racket against the DPRK which has nothing to do with the Iraqi war, raising a hue and cry over the "possible provocation by the north and alert against the north", timed to coincide with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the paper says, and goes on:
    No one can vouch that the DPRK-targeted Foal Eagle and Rsoi war exercises involving sophisticated nuclear war equipment of the U.S. imperialists will not go over to an actual war against the DPRK any moment.
    It is as clear as noonday that if Yankees ignite a war against the DPRK, the north and south of Korea will turn into a nuclear battlefield, inflicting a nuclear holocaust upon all the Koreans.
    That is why the South Koreans bitterly denounce the saber-rattling of the U.S. aimed to stifle the DPRK and strongly demand that the South Korean authorities not take advantage of it.
    It is clear to anyone that the on-going anti-DPRK confrontation racket will throw serious obstacles to the implementation of the historic June 15 Joint Declaration and adversely affect the inter-Korean relations as a whole.
    The South Korean authorities will have to be held wholly responsible for the ensuing consequences.

James Kelly's reckless remarks blasted

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- Some days ago James Kelly, assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, in a senate foreign relations committee hearing described the DPRK's principled stand on the nuclear issue as "the position aimed at pushing the U.S. and North Korea to a bilateral dialogue by blackmailing the U.S. and threatening its friendly and allied states." Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses his remarks as nothing but mud-slinging and vituperation against the DPRK and a revelation of the U.S. sinister intention to internationally isolate and destroy the DPRK at any cost.
    The commentary goes on:
    Needless to say, Kelly made such remarks according to the Bush administration's anti-DPRK nuclear scenario.
    After visiting the DPRK in October last year as a special envoy of the U.S. President, he floated misinformation before the international community that the DPRK "admitted" to what he called "secret nuclear weapons development program." The plot hatched by him against the DPRK over its nuclear issue has brought about such serious consequences as sparking the second nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula and pushing the hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S. to the worst phase.
    As already clarified by the DPRK more than once, the U.S. is chiefly to blame for the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the present nuclear crisis.
    It is the DPRK's stand to settle the present nuclear crisis through the direct talks between the DPRK and the U.S. and conclude a non-aggression treaty.
    The U.S. insistence on the multilateral talks is aimed to shift its responsibility for the nuclear issue onto the international community and increase the international pressure upon the DPRK.
    The U.S. is seriously mistaken if it thinks it can stifle and seize the DPRK through invasion.

Rodong Sinmun on Foal Eagle and Rsoi

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The danger of the frantic Foal Eagle and Rsoi war exercises of the U.S. Forces and the South Korean army is increasing, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary. The news analyst says:
    What remains to be done by the U.S. imperialists after having already rounded off the attack preparations in accordance with their war scenario against the DPRK is to unleash a war. No one can vouch that the saber-rattling will not lead to a war.
    The U.S. seeks to wage a nuclear war and, through it, realize its strategy for domination over Korea.
    The projected U.S. war of aggression will bring nothing but disasters to the Koreans.
    The South Korean hawks' involvement in the war exercises offers a justification for the Yankees' policy of unleashing a war in Korea and encourages them to provoke it.
    The efforts for the prevention of a war and lasting peace in the Korean Peninsula are not merely for the sake of the people in the northern half of Korea. Peace, stability and peaceful national reunification are needed for all the Koreans including those in the north and south of Korea.
    The army and people of the DPRK follow with vigilance the adventurous saber-rattling of the enemies at home and abroad to unleash a war against the DPRK.

World Day of Meteorology observed

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson Sunday dedicates an article to the World Day of Meteorology. The article says:
    The weather all over the world is changing owing to various factors and it will exert a fatal influence on human life and activities in a foreseeable future.
    The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other international organizations and various scientific research centres in the meteorological field have exerted positive efforts including information and technological service to solve the issue of climate change and already made big success in this field.
    The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has taken positive measures to protect the ecological environment and prevent the climate change. As a result, a brisk popular work is now under way to preserve the ecological environment and a great social attention is paid to the weather forecast and work to prevent damage by climate.
    The DPRK government will as always strengthen the relations and cooperation with the WMO in this field.

Landing exercise in Phohang

     Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- The U.S. marines and the South Korean army staged a landing exercise in Phohang on March 21 as part of the frantic joint military manoeuvres dubbed Foal Eagle and Rsoi, foreign media reported. The marines, supported by fighter jets from aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, landed at the coast in amphibious vehicles to occupy positions in pine tree forests before engaging themselves in the war exercises in paddy and non-paddy fields in the vicinity.
    The hawks said the manoeuvres were aimed to make preparations to repel possible infiltration by someone.
    They are staging these large-scale manoeuvres in South Korea in a bid to unleash a new war in the Korean Peninsula, timed to coincide with U.S. military attacks on Iraq, aggravating the situation.

DPRK postpones inter-Korean meeting and contact

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- The chairman of the north side to the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation in a statement on Saturday pointed out that it was compelled to postpone meeting and contact between the north and the south. The South Korean authorities declared a dangerous "high alert posture" dubbed "DRC-2" against the north under the pretext of the Iraqi war, arousing deep concern of all the fellow countrymen desirous of reconciliation, cooperation, peace and reunification, he said, and went on:
    We have made all sincere efforts to defend the peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and implement the June 15 Joint Declaration to the letter so as to promote inter-Korean reconciliation and unity and boost cooperation and exchange between them.
    Contrary to this, the madcap Foal Eagle and Rsoi joint war exercises involving the U.S. ultra modern military hardware and huge armed forces are being staged in South Korea, driving the situation in Korea to the brink of war.
    We cannot but express great surprise and deep regret at those who have created such situation by proclaiming "high alert posture" against the north which has worked hard to defend peace through national cooperation.
    The behavior of the South Korean authorities is a rude perfidy to the dialogue partner and a reckless act of laying an artificial obstacle in the way of contacts and dialogue between both sides.
    Such saber-rattling of one party to dialogue against the other dialogue partner compels us to postpone the second meeting of the arrangement-making panel for inter-Korean economic cooperation and the third contact for marine cooperation under the north-south committee for the promotion of economic cooperation scheduled to take place in Pyongyang from March 26.
    The south side is to blame for this.

5th Kimilsungia Festival to open

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- The 5th Kimilsungia Festival will open in Pyongyang on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the birthday of President Kim Il Sung. The festival will be held at the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia exhibition from April 11, Juche 92 (2003) under the sponsorship of the organizing committee of the Kimilsungia festival.
    Ministries, national institutions, organs of armed forces and all other units across the country, individual working people who are cultivating Kimilsungia, overseas compatriots, foreign flower experts and fans will participate in the festival the festival will decorate the April holiday, the birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, as a flower festival praising the great man and contribute to exchanging scientific and technological achievements and experience gained in cultivating and disseminating Kimilsungia.

KCNA urges Japan to honor spirit of DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- The director general of the Japan Defense Agency and other high-ranking officials of the Japanese government let loose sophism that the DPRK's "nuclear issue" is the biggest factor of threatening the peace and stability in Asia and the Japan-U.S. security pact provides a deterrent force. These remarks are nothing but a cynical ploy to tarnish the image of the DPRK which has consistently striven on the international arena to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of Asia.
    It is ridiculous of Japan to talk about the DPRK's "nuclear issue" while stepping up in real earnest its nuclear weaponization to convert Japan into a nuclear power.
    Japan has for scores of years pushed forward its research with a view to having access to nuclear weapons since 1967 and has stepped up its policy to go nuclear in a premeditated way.
    Japan has stockpiled plutonium at nuclear power plants enough to manufacture thousands of nuclear warheads.
    High-ranking officials of Japan openly called for possessing nuclear weapons.
    It goes without saying that it is not the DPRK's "nuclear issue" but the Japanese reactionaries' moves to become a nuclear power, that pose a big threat to peace and stability in the region.
    However, Japan is persistently talking about "nuclear threat" from the DPRK. Lurking behind this is a sinister aim of Japan to play the role of a shock brigade in internationalizing the "nuclear issue" of the DPRK in a bid to realize its ambition to emerge a military power and overseas expansion with the strong backing of the U.S.
    It is the invariable wild ambition of Japan to establish its unchallenged domination over Asia through the tightened U.S.-Japan military nexus, toeing the U.S. line.
    Being keen to reinvade Asia, Japan actively took part in overseas military actions under the pretext of "logistic support" to the U.S. military operation for retaliation in the wake of September 11 incident and in the U.S.-led multi-national joint naval exercises, the biggest-ever annual exercise in Asia. It also came first to support the on-going U.S. attack on Iraq.
    Recently it is attempting to threaten the DPRK militarily while staging joint military exercise with the U.S.
    Japan should drop its old dream of the "Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" and its ambition for reinvasion of Korea. It should do what it should do to remain true to the spirit of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration for the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of Asia.

Dangerous U.S.-Japan military nexus under fire

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- The U.S. is reportedly contemplating the strengthened anti-DPRK cooperation system by plugging Japan into an aerial espionage against the DPRK. The U.S. recently requested Japan to let airborne warning and control plane e-767 of its air "self-defence force" to fly above waters off the Korean Peninsula to watch it under the pretext of "ensuring security" of the U.S. electronic reconnaissance plane monitoring the DPRK's moves.
    Disclosing this fact the March 20th issue of Tokyo Shimbun said the introduction of the ASDF's airborne warning and control plane equipped with a system of sharing information with u.s. reconnaissance planes and warships would actually mean U.S.-Japan joint operation.

KCNA on only solution to nuclear issue of Korean Peninsula

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- Nearly five months have passed since a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement containing a proposal for settling the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula through conclusion of a non-aggression treaty between the DPRK and the United States. After the publication of the statement on October 25 last year political and public figures of the world have demanded the U.S. accede to DPRK-U.S. direct dialogue at an early date, positively supporting the DPRK proposal as a most principled and realistic one for the settlement of the nuclear issue.
    Furthermore, congress, and political figures and the press of the U.S. are asserting that there is no other way than direct talks if the U.S. administration is to resolve the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way.
    The mandarins of the bush administration, however, are insisting on "multilateral talks" only despite strong demand of the international community that they come out to the DPRK-U.S. direct talks with the political intention to give up their hostile policy toward the DPRK.
    Their insistence is no more than a subterfuge to avoid the practical settlement of the issue in defiance of the demand of the international community, while pattering that the issue of the Korean Peninsula should be certainly solved in a peaceful way as it is a "serious international issue" concerning peace and security in the Korean Peninsula as well as East Asia and the rest of the world.
    If the U.S. is really willing to settle the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula for world peace and security as it advertises to the international community, it should accede to the DPRK-U.S. direct talks as soon as possible. This is the only way of settling the issue.

World Day of Water observed

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today observes the World Day of Water. It says:
    The UN declared this year a Year of World Water (fresh water).
    This is aimed to help the governments and peoples of various countries know better about the value of water resources and the gravity of water shortage, each country establish a new way of thinking in managing and consuming water, shape a new strategy and develop latest technology and, at the same time, take an active part in the drive to conserve water resources.
    The DPRK has directed great efforts to the safe use of water on the basis of a comprehensive estimation of the water resources in the country.
    Last year the DPRK completed many waterway projects including the Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway Project of eternal value, solving the water problem in the areas concerned.
    This opened up a bright prospect of completely solving the water problem in the DPRK.

Organization for study of Juche idea formed in Thailand

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- An organization for the study of the Juche idea was formed in Bangkok on March 15. Songchit Pullarp, adviser to the president of the senate and director of the training department of the social development coordinating center of Thailand, in a speech at the inaugural ceremony that the Juche idea founded by President Kim Il Sung and enriched by leader Kim Jong Il is the most justifiable and original idea that indicates the road of the era and history, adding that the Thai people should deeply study the Juche idea and apply it to practice.
    Songchit Pullarp was elected chairman of the organization at the ceremony.
    A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the ceremony.

Greetings to Pakistani President

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Saturday sent a message of greetings to Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, on the occasion of the Day of Pakistan, auspicious holiday of the Pakistani people. Expressing belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger, the message sincerely wished the president and people of Pakistan greater success in the work for the development and prosperity of the country.

DPRK fully ready to retaliate against any U.S. military action

     Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists sparked the second nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula in a planned and deliberate manner in a bid to aggravate the situation there and isolate and stifle the DPRK at any cost by charging it with "nuclear weapons development." Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article.
    Referring to the U.S. motive, the article says:
    Through the second nuclear crisis the U.S. sought, above all, to bedevil the improved relations between the north and the south of Korea and between the DPRK and Japan and strain the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a bid to keep the U.S. Forces in South Korea for an indefinite period.
    The U.S. caused the second nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula with an eye to find a pretext for scrapping the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework and evade its responsibility for the delayed LWR construction.
    The strategic aim sought by the U.S. in the crisis is to invade the DPRK by force under the pretext of its "nuclear issue" and destroy man-centred Korean-style socialism as it encourages the world progressives.
    The U.S. has escalated the DPRK-targeted war moves, while talking about "dialogue" and "peace". The U.S. belligerent forces are making endless war outcries after taking military measures, crying out for a sort of "attack" on the DPRK.
    Timed to coincide with this, the U.S. imperialists launched together with the South Korean military north-targeted adventurous Foal Eagle war exercise which is going on in combination with Rsoi from March 19.
    The final objective of the U.S. criminal moves is to provoke the second Korean war. There must be a train to ignite the war.
    The second nuclear crisis is just to serve this purpose.
    The U.S. is creating the impression that it is exerting "efforts" to render "assistance" to the DPRK. But this is nothing but a political gimmick to build up public opinion in favor of the U.S. before launching a war.
    The DPRK and the U.S. are technically at war. This situation is inching close to an explosive phase.
    The U.S. aggressive nature and its ambition to invade Korea remain unchanged.
    A war may break out in Korea any moment as its danger is becoming real.
    As no U.S. method would work on the DPRK, Washington seems to opt for starting the second Korean war.
    The army and the people of the DPRK are heightening their vigilance and keeping themselves fully ready to cope with the U.S. belligerent forces' reckless nuclear showdown aimed to carry out its strategy to isolate and stifle the DPRK. It is the unshakable principled stand of the DPRK to reciprocate the good faith and react to the hard-line with the toughest stand.
    Invariable is the DPRK's principled stand to conclude a non-aggression treaty through direct talks with the U.S. on the principle of impartiality, equality and confidence and peacefully settle the second nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula. The DPRK has no place to step back and nothing to concede to the U.S. The DPRK does not avoid any showdown with the U.S.
    It is fully ready to counter any military actions of the U.S. against the DPRK.
    The DPRK has the army-based policy, the most treasured sword, single-hearted unity more powerful than any nuclear weapon and strong self-defensive power. They are our life and soul and a master key to all our victories.

For Spanish-speaking people

ataque armado de ee.uu. a irak es una grave violacion a la soberania

     pyongyang, 22 de marzo (atcc) -- a la pregunta de un reportero de la agencia telegrafica central de corea formulada en relacion con que ee.uu. inicio el ataque militar a irak, el vocero del ministerio de relaciones exteriores de la republica popular democratica de corea respondio el dia 21 como sigue: el dia 20 por la madrugada ee.uu. inicio por fin un ataque militar a irak en menosprecio de la unanime demanda de la sociedad internacional.
    tal ataque armado es un grave acto de violacion a la soberania de irak.
    este acto se extendio sistematicamente a la guerra partiendo de la demanda del desarme por la inspeccion.
    la misma demanda unilateral sobre el desarme de un estado soberano viene a ser un flagrante atentado a la soberania de este.
    el atentado a la soberania de un pais por el ataque militar es la maxima expresion de la violacion al derecho de su pueblo.
    los paises que en el pasado preconizaban ruidosamente la "defensa de los derechos humanos" participan esta vez directamente en el ataque armado o lo toleran.
    tal "logica de la fuerza" y la hipocresia perturban el orden internacional y amenazan gravemente la paz y la seguridad de la region del medio oriente y el resto del mundo.
    el gobierno de la rpdc se opone a la guerra.
    el acto belico de violacion a la soberania y los derechos humanos de un estado independiente no se puede justificar por nada en ningun caso.
    el acto coercitivo de ee.uu. contra irak y los actos de preparacion belica que desarrollan en la peninsula coreana ee.uu. y sus fuerzas satelites nos obligan a conocer a las claras que debemos hacer mas disponiendo de todo lo que este a nuestro alcance para la defensa justa.

japon no debe traicionar el espiritu de la declaracion corea-japon de pyongyang

     pyongyang, 22 de marzo (atcc) -- en los ultimos dias el director general de la agencia de defensa y otros funcionarios de alto rango del gobierno de japon dijeron que el "problema nuclear" de la republica popular democratica de corea es el "mayor factor que amenaza la paz y la seguridad de asia" y que el "tratado de seguridad japon-estados unidos es la fuerza de detencion". estas sofisterias no pasan de ser vil artimana encaminada a entenebrecer de todas maneras la imagen de la rpdc que se esfuerza consecuentemente en la arena internacional para la paz y la seguridad de la peninsula coreana y el resto del asia.
    es de veras ridiculo el que japon que da impulso a su armamento nuclear y su empresa de convertirse en una potencia nuclear hable del "problema nuclear" de la rpdc.
    durante decenas de anos a partir de 1967 japon ha promovido activamente el estudio para proveer de armas nucleares y ha impulsado planificada y politicamente el armamento nuclear.
    en las centrales atomo-electricas de japon esta acumulada la suficiente cantidad de plutonio para fabricar miles de ojivas y los altos funcionarios del gobierno insisten abiertamente en la necesidad de poseer las armas nucleares.
    huelga decir que el "problema nuclear" de la rpdc no constituye amenaza alguna y que precisamente las maquinaciones de los reaccionarios japoneses encaminadas a convertirse en una potencia nuclear constituyen hoy una gran amenaza para la paz y la seguridad de esta region.
    sin embargo, japon habla de continuo de la "amenaza nuclear" de la rpdc y asi sirve de brigada de choque a ee.uu. en sus maniobras encaminadas a internacionalizar el "problema nuclear" de la rpdc para, de este modo, lograr cueste lo que cueste su ambicion de convertirse en potencia militar y de expansion al ultramar bajo el activo amparo de ee.uu.
    japon tiene la invariable ambicion de realizar su dominio monopolista sobre asia por medio de lisonjear a ee.uu. y fortalecer su alianza militar con este.
    japon, tambien despues de los "atentados del 11 de septiembre" con la ambicion de nueva agresion a asia, desplego activamente sus acciones militares en ultramar so pretexto de "apoyo logistico" a la operacion de represalia militar de ee.uu. participo activamente en los ejercicios maritimos multinacionales de mayor envergadura en asia que se desarrollan anualmente bajo el mando de ee.uu. y esta vez se puso a la vanguardia de apoyar a este pais en su ataque a irak.
    en estos dias desarrolla ejercicio conjunto con ee.uu. tratando de ejercer amenaza militar sobre la rpdc.
    japon debe abandonar su antiguo sueno de "esfera de coprosperidad de gran asia oriental" y su ambicion de nueva agresion a la rpdc y debe cumplir su deber segun el espiritu de la declaracion corea-japon de pyongyang para preservar la paz y la seguridad en la peninsula coreana y el resto de asia.