Seminars on Juche idea held in different countries

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- Seminars on the Juche idea were held in different countries on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. The Juche Idea Study Society of Delhi, India, held a seminar titled "The August Name of President Kim Il Sung Will Shine Forever with the Juche Idea" on March 31.
    The chairman of the society said in a speech that the Juche idea founded by Kim Il Sung is the progressive idea that indicates the way for all the countries and nations to build an independent, prosperous and new society, completely realize independence of the popular masses and, furthermore, build an independent world. That is why it is the eternal guiding idea of humankind representing our era and future, he said.
    A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the seminar.
    The Juche Idea Study Group of Warsaw, Poland, held a seminar on the Juche idea on March 22.
    Chambogo University in Uganda held a lecture meeting titled "The Human Cause of Independence in the 21st Century and the Juche Idea" on March 27.
    A lecturer said that the concern and expectation of the world for the Juche idea is very great in the new century and the future of the human cause of independence in the 21st century is bright thanks to the Juche idea.

Congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the diplomatic corps here on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 10th anniversary of his election as Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The letter was handed to Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun on Tuesday by Shaher Mohammed Abdlah, Palestinian Ambassador to the DPRK who is doyen of the diplomatic corps. A floral basket and a congratulatory letter were sent to him by the military attaches corps here.
    The floral basket and congratulatory letter were handed to Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, on Tuesday by Yan Jianfeng, military attache of the Chinese embassy who is doyen of the attaches corps.

Grand International Art Festival

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- The 21st April Spring Friendship Art Festival is due to open with splendour in Pyongyang soon on the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The art festival which raised its curtain in Juche 71 (1982) is a grand international one in terms of its content, style and scale.
    The festival which took place 20 times until last year was attended by more than 1,500 famous international and national concours winners and over 12,000 artistes of at least 850 countries and overseas compatriots including the People's and Merited artistes. At least 1,300 performances were given before over 1.8 million working people, youth and students and foreigners.
    "Song of General Kim Il Sung" was a prelude to each art festival. The song was presented by the delegation of the Japan-Korea Musical and Artistic Interchange Society, the "Tiempo Nuevo" Art Troupe of Peru and other artistes of different countries during the festival held in 1982 on the 70th birthday of the president.
    The 20th festival held last year to significantly commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of the president was the largest in the history of the festival.
    The festival brought together more than 100 art troupes from over 50 countries of the world.
    The festival took place with splendour every year to represent the ardent longing and reverence of humankind for the president after his demise.
    The festivals held in the last eight years brought together a total of over 580 organizations and more than 5,600 artistes from at least 330 countries and overseas Korean artistes.
    Artistes and political and public figures of many countries created with sincerity art pieces praising the greatness of the three generals of Mt. Paektu and staged them.
    At least 300 songs were created and presented by them.
    The 21st festival will be attended by over 70 art troupes from at least 40 countries and Korean artistes overseas.

KCNA urges Japan to behave with discretion

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- Unusually noisy war outcries against the DPRK are heard from Japan after the outbreak of the U.S. Iraqi war. Naoto Kan, representative of the Japanese Democratic Party, was reported to have asserted, referring to the counter-action in case of emergency, at a seminar in Sapporo on April 5 that Japan should leave the nuclear deterrence to the U.S. and the main job of the self-defence forces is to counter other forms of attacks except nuclear one.
    He also said that there is a call in the diet for destroying such a country as North Korea as early as possible.
    What should not be overlooked is that his outcries are timed to coincide with the assertion made by Ishiba, director general of Japan Defence Agency, calling for making a preemptive attack on the DPRK. An endless string of war outcries in Japan calling for containing the DPRK by force indicates what a dangerous phase the Japanese reactionaries' attempt to stage a comeback to Korea has reached.
    By counter-action in case of emergency they mean a contingency on the Korean Peninsula, i.e. the second Korean war. Japan put into orbit two spy satellites and decided to deploy more aegis warships of its maritime self-defence force in waters off the Korean Peninsula, saying that North Korea may take actions to focus the attention of the international community and may launch a missile while the U.S. Iraqi war is under way.
    The chief cabinet secretary of Japan even blustered that the strengthened Japan-U.S. tie-up will prove effective in deterring the threat from North Korea.
    Such unprecedentedly reckless military moves of Japan can not but arouse the DPRK's high vigilance as they indicate that Japan is in the process of rounding off its moves to cope with the emergency on the Korean Peninsula at its final stage.
    The Japanese reactionaries have long worked hard to revive militarism through the world's second biggest military spending . They are now keen to make a good use of the Iraqi war and the situation in its surrounding countries for seizing an opportunity to reinvade Asia.
    Japan openly supported state-sponsored terrorism against Iraq perpetrated by the U.S., which is massacring Iraqi people in wanton violation of the UN Charter and defying the world people's opposition to the war. Japan's such loyalty to its master lays bare the sinister intention sought by the Japanese reactionaries to hold their unchallenged position in Asia with ease.
    Japan is turning to the right and is getting militarized at such a rapid tempo that the call for destroying the DPRK, a legitimate sovereign state, is heard in the diet. This is a clear indication of the gravity of the situation.
    The Japanese reactionaries seem to have lost their reason under the impact of the Iraqi war launched by their master.
    Japan's attempt to contain the DPRK under the pretext of coping with the emergency, timed to coincide with the nuclear crisis sparked by the U.S. on the Korean Peninsula, will only precipitate its self-destruction.
    Japan should behave with discretion, clearly mindful that it is also within the striking range of the DPRK.

New embroideries

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang Embroidery Institute has made more than 40 pieces of embroidery from the beginning of the year. Among them are double-sided pieces of embroidery "Kimilsungia" and "Kimjongilia" (60x40 cm), "Azalea" (140x66 cm) and "Lake Samji in Autumn" (95x130 cm).
    The six-part embroidery "Peasants' Life", each part being 144 centimeters long and 58 centimeters wide, depicts customs of peasants in old times.
    "Manmulsang of Mt. Kumgang" shows a part of scenic beauty of the famous mountain in Korea and "Magnolia" embroidered on red cloth represents the national flower.
    "Ryongwang Pavilion in Winter", "Horse on Grassland", "Rose" and many other pieces are peculiar in content and style. The fancyworks made by the institute greatly interest local and foreign visitors to the institute and very popular among customers.
    The institute also accepts orders for embroidery.

Splendid fruition of Songun politics

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- The tenth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's assumption of office as Chairman of the National Defence Commission is being celebrated grandly in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. On this anniversary, the Korean servicemen and people recollect the imperishable exploits he has performed for the military buildup of the country. It is his invariable faith and will that only when importance is given to the military affairs, is it possible to build a powerful economy and provide the people with a happy life, independent and creative.
    In the 1990s he hardened his will to smash the imperialists' efforts to isolate and stifle the country and defend the destiny of socialism with arms.
    In the period when the country was at crossroads of life and death, he began pursuing the Songun politics on January 1, Juche 84 (1995), regarding it as the basic mode of the state politics.
    He inspected many army units in frontline areas including Mt. Osong and Mt. Taedok and all other areas of the country to steadily strengthen the army as an invincible one steadfast in ideology, faith and will and equipped with powerful offensive and defensive means.
    Giving importance to the military affairs definitely guarantees the development of the national economy.
    With the Songun leadership, he has not only put the country's military power on the highest level but also paved the way for the building of a powerful economy.
    In the period from 1995 to 2001 he gave on-site guidance to 1,300 units, covering some 116,700 kilometres.
    Last year he spent 79 days in visiting 207 army units and industrial establishments to inspire the servicemen and people in the efforts for the defence of the country's sovereignty and the development and prosperity of the nation.
    Under the Songon leadership of the brilliant commander, the first satellite was launched successfully by the Korean people themselves, great achievements have been made in land development and nature-remaking projects and modern factories and enterprises have appeared in different parts of the country.

U.S. urged to stop threatening Syria

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- The U.S. is threatening, pressurizing and blackmailing Syria, groundlessly charging that it has provided Iraq with military supplies and it will be held responsible for the ensuing consequences. Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed commentary in this regard.
    It says:
    The Syrian government in statements of the Foreign Ministry and its spokesman dismissed the U.S. threat to Syria as a trick to cover up its setbacks in the Iraqi war and clarified Syria's principled stand to stand by Iraq and support it.
    The measure taken by Syria is an independent one to be supported and hailed by the world. It is in line with the UN Charter and the humanitarian spirit for Syria to support Iraq whose people are being killed in cold blood by the military attacks perpetrated by the U.S. in violation of the UN and international law.
    The U.S. military operation against Iraq is a serious state-sponsored terrorism and an infringement upon its sovereignty and human rights. The U.S. thinks it may destroy a sovereign state with its allies as it pleases so as to attain its aim of world domination but other countries should not be allowed to support the victim. What a gangster-like logic.
    The DPRK extends solidarity to Syria, estimating its principled stand and measure as positive ones for justice and peace.
    The U.S. unreasonable pressure, threat and blackmail against Syria will only invite world criticism and denunciation. The U.S. is well advised to stop its anti-Syria campaign.

Chief of NDFSK Pyongyang mission interviewed

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- Pak Kwang Gi, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) was interviewed in Pyongyang on April 8 by Korean and foreign reporters on the occasion of the 91st birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 10th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK. He noted that the South Koreans highly praise the immortal feats performed by the president for the country and the nation, the times and humankind, praying for his immortality, and their unbounded reverence for him is growing stronger.
    The South Koreans are looking up to Kim Jong Il who is successfully carrying forward the cause of the president as the sun who pursues the Songun policy, he said, and continued:
    The South Koreans highly praise the greatness of Kim Jong Il as he, inheriting Kim Il Sung's idea of attaching importance to the army, fathered a new Songun political mode and provided a sure guarantee for holding the president in high esteem for all ages by performing immortal exploits in pursuing the Songun policy. They actively support the policy.
    They are now all out in a struggle to create a new history of independent reunification under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century, blessed with the leader generation after generation.
    Recalling that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is very complicated and it is reaching a danger line, he said that if the U.S. opts for igniting a war considering North Korea as Iraq, it will not escape a miserable defeat as the north has strong military muscle it has built up under Kim Jong Il's Songun policy.
    The Korean nation will emerge victorious in the confrontation with the U.S. and the U.S. and its followers are bound to sustain setbacks so long as there are Kim Jong Il, the might of the Songun policy and the June 15 joint declaration. This is our unshakable will, he added.

Reckless remarks of Tokyo metropolitan governor assailed

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- Shortly ago Tokyo metropolitan governor Shintaro Ishihara, crying out for Japan's rearming, let loose a spate of reckless remarks that "Japan should take revenge upon North Korea" over the kidnapping issue and "North Korea will come to know that it will meet the same fate as Iraq's" as regards the nuclear issue. Rodong Sinmun Wednesday terms this as a fit of a lunatic who does not distinguish sky from earth as well as the four cardinal points.
    It says:
    We do not know on whom Ishihara counted while behaving so recklessly. It is better to let him lie on a bed of a mental hospital.
    What we would like to say explicitly is that his reckless remarks are not a slip of the tongue but a revelation of the Japanese reactionaries' ambition for reinvasion of the DPRK and an undisguised agitation for a war.
    Ishihara's accusation against the DPRK is no more than barking at the moon. If Japanese reactionaries persist in the rash acts to hurt the sentiment and self-confidence of the DPRK, it will only harden the determination of its army and people to take revenge upon Japan and encourage them to wipe out the group of militarists including Ishihara to the last man.
    It is pity and disgrace for Japan that such lunatic as Ishihara is still on the political arena of Japan.

More groups for study of Juche idea formed

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- The Juche idea founded by President Kim Il Sung is shining as the immortal guiding idea indicating the road of the new century as well as the 20th century for its truth, scientific accuracy and validity. According to data available, more than 110 groups for the study of the Juche idea were inaugurated in different countries in last 9 years from August Juche 83 (1994) to March Juche 92 (2003). Among them are the Youth Forum for Self-Reliance Studies in Nepal, the Pakistan Society for the Study of Independence, the Firenze Group for the Study of the Juche Idea in Italy, the Romanian Group for the Study of the Juche Idea, the Egyptian Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea and the Ecuadorian Group of Young Soldiers of Juche.
    Groups for studying and applying the Juche idea, the recognized guiding idea indicating the road of our era, the era of independence, are on the increase on a worldwide scale.

Floral basket to Kim Il Sung's statue

     Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, sent a floral basket to the statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the anniversary of his birth. Shaher Mohammed Abdlah, Palestinian Ambassador to the DPRK, placed the floral basket before his statue and made a bow today.
    Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters " The Great Leader Kim Il Sung Will Be Immortal".

For Spanish-speaking people

mas de 110 organizaciones nuevas de estudio de la idea juche

     pyongyang, 9 de abril (atcc) -- la idea juche creada por el presidente kim il sung, por su veracidad, cientificidad y justeza, sirve de la inmortal idea directriz que indica el camino a seguir por el nuevo siglo para no hablar del siglo 20. segun una estadistica, desde agosto del 83 (1994) de la era juche hasta marzo del 92 (2003) de la era juche fueron constituidos nuevamente mas de 110 organizaciones de estudio de la idea juche en varios paises de los 5 continentes, entre ellas, la sociedad de estudio de la autoconfianza de la juventud de nepal, la asociacion de estudio de la independencia de pakistan, el grupo de estudio de la idea juche de firenze de italia, el grupo de estudio de la idea juche de rumania, el comite de estudio de la idea juche de egipto y el circulo ecuatoriano de jovenes soldados del juche.
    el numero de organizaciones que estudian y materializan la idea juche, idea directriz reconocida que ilumina el camino a seguir por nuestra epoca, la de independencia se aumenta de continuo en escala mundial.

gran festival artistico internacional

     pyongyang, 9 de abril (atcc) -- se acerca el dia de apertura del xxi festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera que se efectuara solemnemente en esta capital con motivo del dia del sol (cumpleanos del presidente kim il sung). este festival estrenado el 71 (1982) de la era juche es un gran festival artistico internacional tanto en vista de su contenido como a la luz de su formula y tamano.
    hasta el ano pasado participaron en el certamen mas de 12 mil artistas de mas de 850 paises en total, entre ellos mas de 1 500 premiados de concursos internacionales y nacionales, actores del pueblo y los benemeritos, y artistas coreanos en ultramar, quienes ofrecieron funciones en mas de 1 300 veces, y las presenciaron mas de 1 800 000 trabajadores, jovenes, estudiantes y huespedes extranjeros.
    el preludio del festival fue la "cancion del general kim il sung" que pusieron en escena en ocasion del 70 aniversario del nacimiento del presidente los artistas de varios paises del mundo entre ellos la delegacion de la sociedad nippo-coreana del intercambio de musica y arte y el conjunto artistico "tiempo nuevo" del peru.
    el xx festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera del ano pasado que conmemoro con gran significacion el 90 aniversario del nacimiento del presidente fue un acto mas solemne en la historia del festival, efectuado con la participacion de mas de 100 organizaciones artisticas de mas de 50 paises de los 5 continentes del mundo.
    aun despues del fallecimiento del presidente el festival siguio anualmente con gran exito en medio de ardiente anoranza y memoria hacia el.
    durante los 8 anos pasados mas de 5 600 artistas de mas de 580 organizaciones procedentes de mas de 330 paises, en total, y artistas coreanos en ultramar, participaron en el festival.
    los artistas y las personalidades de los circulos politicos y sociales de numerosos paises crearon con sinceridad las obras concernientes a la noble personalidad de los 3 generales del monte paektu e hicieron brillar la escena.
    el numero de las canciones creadas por ellos llega hasta el ano pasado a mas de 300.
    en el presente festival participaran mas de 70 conjuntos artisticos de mas de 40 paises y artistas coreanos en ultramar.