Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry on peaceful solution to nuclear issue

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA on Saturday as regards the DPRK-U.S. dialogue for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula: In order to seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue the DPRK and the United States, the parties responsible for it, should start direct talks.
    As the DPRK is not a signatory to the NPT, there is no ground whatsoever to internationalize the nuclear issue and any attempt to do so would make its solution quite impossible.
    The outcome of the meeting of the UNSC held on April 9 clearly indicated that the nuclear issue is a matter to be settled between the DPRK and the U.S.
    The DPRK's call for direct talks is aimed to confirm whether the U.S. has a political willingness to drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK or not.
    It is possible to solve the issue if the U.S. sincerely approaches the dialogue.
    The U.S. asserts a "multilateral framework" to be participated in by countries around the DPRK but their Korea policy and stand of desiring a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue are clear by and large.
    What matters is the U.S.
    If the U.S. is ready to make a bold switchover in its Korea policy for a settlement of the nuclear issue, the DPRK will not stick to any particular dialogue format.
    The solution to the issue depends on what is the real intention of the U.S.

Message of greetings to Kim Jong Il from Cambodian King

     Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il received a message of greetings on April 7 from Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk. Noting that the eternal great leader President Kim Il Sung is the father and great founder of modern Korea as he founded the immortal Juche idea and led the Korean revolution, thus achieving the independence of the country, the king in the message paid the highest tribute to him on behalf of the people, the national assembly and the royal government of Cambodia, and on his own behalf on the occasion of the significant day of the sun, the 91st birth anniversary of the president.
    The message said:
    We join in significant commemorations to glorify forever the idea and revolutionary feats of Kim Il Sung, the most outstanding statesman and eternal hero who led all his life the beloved motherland to the struggle to defend independence and sovereignty and oppose all sorts of hegemonism.
    He, based on the brilliant Juche philosophy, wisely led the brave Korean people to the struggle to reconstruct the country and achieve all-round rapid progress.
    He always stood firm on the side of all the people aspiring after liberation, independence and the non-aligned movement on all fronts of the struggle for the popular masses and set noble example of solidarity and fraternal unity among all nations and peoples the world over who love freedom and justice.
    Recalling that new great victory has been attained in the struggle for the development of the country and the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il, the supreme leader of the DPRK, who has inherited and developed the cause of Kim Il Sung, the message extended the warmest congratulations to Kim Jong Il, the DPRK government and the Korean people and sincerely wished him more shining success in his historic cause of leading the DPRK.
    It noted with great pleasure that the most precious fraternal friendly relations between the two countries are steadily developing on good terms thanks to his wise leadership.

Large floral basket to DPRK embassy in Phnom Penh

     Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, sent a large floral basket to the DPRK embassy in Phnom Penh on April 8 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters "We Pray for the Immortality of the Great Leader He Kim Il Sung. Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia."
    Deputy Prime Minister Kong Sam Ol visited the DPRK embassy at the head of a delegation of the Royal Ministry of Cambodia and placed the floral basket before the portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on behalf of the king and the queen and paid tribute to them.
    Kong Sam Ol said that the Cambodian people always remember the profound care shown by the president for the King and the Cambodian people.
    The Cambodian people will always make every effort to boost the special friendly ties between the two countries, he added.

U.S. urged to opt for conclusion of non-aggression treaty with north

     Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration in a statement strongly asserted the U.N. should not support the U.S. in its moves to threaten global peace, noting that the un discussion of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is part of the U.S. moves to escalate tensions on the peninsula and start a war. The Iraqi war clearly indicates that the UN is not an international organization contributing to the global peace but a nominal organization incompetent to cope with the U.S. high-handed practices for war, the statement said, and went on:
    As the UN has already lost its competency and mandate in the international community it is unreasonable for it to discuss the DPRK's self-defensive measure of withdrawing from the NPT due to the IAEA's partial attitude.
    The U.S. wooed the U.N. to discuss the "nuclear issue on the north" in a bid to justify its hostile policy toward the north and war moves and shirk its responsibility for ditching the Geneva Agreement.
    The statement demanded the U.S. halt at once its reckless moves to ignite a war against the north despite the world public protest and opt for the conclusion of a non-aggression treaty with the north.

Fine art exhibition opens

     Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- An exhibition of the Songhwa Art Studio is going on at the Pyongyang International House of Culture on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. On display are at least 60 pieces of fine art works including Korean paintings, oil paintings, sculptures and calligraphic works.
    Among them oil painting "Mangyongdae, Cradle of Revolution", Korean painting "Flower of the Sun," calligraphic work "the Day of the Sun Is a Holiday Common to Humankind" and other works truthfully represent the Korean people's profound reverence for Kim Il Sung and their revolutionary enthusiasm to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche that started on Mt Paektu, true to his noble intention.
    On display there are art pieces depicting Kim Jong Il's greatness and the revolutionary advance stepped up by the Korean people in the new century, each of them being a noble man and a comrade sharing idea and destiny with Kim Jong Il.
    Also seen in the exhibition are art works showing the beautiful scenery of the country and other works encouraging the party members and other working people in their struggle to carry out the party's line and policy.

Anniversary of Russian Association For Friendship With DPRK marked

     Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Moscow on April 8 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK. In his report at the meeting, secretary of the association Petrov noted the achievements and experience gained by the association over the past years have shown that the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation historically established between Russia and the DPRK and the two peoples are the solid and precious relations that nothing can break.
    The reporter said:
    Our association will do its utmost to further deepen the friendship between the two peoples while having close relationship and contacts with the DPRK-Russia Friendship Association in keeping with the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations favorably developing these days.
    It will as ever fully support the just struggle of the fraternal Korean people in their dynamic advance to build a great prosperous socialist power and accelerate the reunification of the country while smashing the moves of the U.S. imperialists to isolate and stifle the DPRK.
    Then, congratulatory speeches were made by several personages of Russia.

U.S. urged to stop increasing danger of war in Korea

     Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article terms the U.S. imperialists a ferocious harasser of global peace. Events harassing the world peace and endangering its security have always happened whenever the U.S. paid lip-service to protecting peace and ensuring security of the world, the article says, and continues:
    The iraqi war launched by the U.S. imperialists has put the world peace and stability in a great peril. The U.S. provoked wars in various parts of the world in the past just as it did against Iraq, disturbing the global peace and stability.
    The U.S. is now keen to ignite another Korean war after concluding the Iraqi war.
    Recently the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean warhawks staged large-scale foal eagle and Rsoi joint military exercises.
    A large carrier fleet including Carl Vinson capable of mounting a preemptive attack manoeuvred in the waters off South Korea and in its vicinity and scores of fighter-bombers have been deployed on Guam island.
    The U.S. left some of its troops involved in the war exercises in South Korea, talking about the DPRK's "possible military action" with the Iraqi crisis as a momentum.
    This poses a grave threat to the peace on the Korean Peninsula and the danger of a war is becoming real.

Kim Jong Il sees performance of servicemen's family art group

     Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il together with servicemen, yesterday appreciated an artistic performance given by the KPA unit 324 servicemen's family art group which participated in the 6th contest of servicemen's family art groups. Seeing the performance with him were KPA generals and secretaries of the WPK Central Committee Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Ki Nam and Kim Yong Sun.
    The repertoire included chorus "Mangyong Hill is Best", an Oungum-accompanied song "Bright Moon in My Motherland", an instrumental music and song "Kitchen Car Runs", and a folk vocal solo "Songun Nilliri".
    In the performance full of the revolutionary spirit and vigor, the group loudly sang of the high pride and self-confidence of servicemen's wives training themselves to be reliable woman revolutionaries under the loving care of supreme commander Kim Jong Il, and of their worthwhile life full of optimism and joy. The performers also fully demonstrated the rockfirm faith and will, the revolutionary stamina and indomitable spirit of the servicemen's wives determined to devotedly safeguard the headquarters of the revolution and surely achieve the final victory of the Korean revolution together with their husbands out in the sacred cause for the defence of the country.
    After the performance, Kim Jong Il acknowledged the enthusiastically cheering performers and spectators and congratulated the group on its successful performance.
    He noted with great satisfaction that the members of the group well represented their life and emotion in artistic works and successfully gave a performance of high ideological and artistic value.
    Through the six contests of servicemen's family art groups, the cultural attainments of servicemen's families have been remarkably enhanced and this evidently proves the validity and vitality of the WPK's literary and art policy on popularizing the arts, he said. Then, he advanced highly important tasks that would serve as guidelines in further developing the popular art activities.

First performances of 21st April Spring Friendship Art Festival given

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The first performances of the 21st April Spring Friendship Art Festival were given before capacity audience at the Mansudae Art Theatre, the Pyongyang Grand Theatre, the Central Youth Hall, the Ponghwa Art Theatre and other theatres in the capital on Friday. Performers highly praised President Kim Il Sung as the sun of Juche and a peerlessly great man and sang of the faith and will of humankind to hold Kim Jong Il, the great sun of the 21st century, in high esteem.
    They also put on the stage songs of independent life and artistic numbers of strong national identity to strengthen the bonds of friendship between countries and decorate the festival brilliantly.
    The performances were appreciated by leading officials of ministries and national institutions, members of the organizing committee of the festival, officials concerned and artistes, working people, youth and students in the capital.
    Among the audience were diplomatic envoys and embassy officials, foreign guests and overseas Koreans.
    Performances proceeded with overflowing feelings of friendship and solidarity between foreign and overseas Korean artistes and the Korean people.
    Meanwhile, acrobats from different countries raised the curtain of their premiere at the Pyongyang Circus Theatre.

Rodong Sinmun on cornerstone of Songun policy

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- President Kim Il Sung was a peerlessly great man who provided an eternal cornerstone of the Songun revolutionary cause with his brilliant far-sightedness and his Songun revolutionary leadership exploits will be immortal along with the victorious advance of the revolutionary cause of Juche, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It goes on:
    Kim Il Sung was so far-sighted as to lay a firm military foundation for the independent development of the country and the prosperity of the nation, considering it as a fundamental principle for the revolution to attach importance to the army.
    All the feats performed by the president serve as a firm foundation of the Songun policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and a precious boon.
    His Songun revolutionary leadership that originated from the forest of Mt. Paektu and the feats performed by him in the whole course of the Korean revolution are the great revolutionary legacy he bequeathed to the people.
    His idea and line of attaching importance to the army and military affairs provided a basis of the Songun policy of the WPK.
    The Juche-oriented idea and theory of attaching importance to the army enunciated by the president serve as precious guidelines that helped the Songun line and theory of the WPK become guidelines in the new century.
    It was the greatest feat performed by him on the road of the Songun policy that he successfully solved the issue of succession to the cause of army building and the leadership.
    The foundation of the Songun policy enforced by Kim Jong Il was provided by the president from long ago.
    The brilliant victory won by the servicemen and people of the DPRK in defending socialism represents a great victory of the Songun policy of Kim Jong Il who has successfully carried forward and developed the president's Songun revolutionary exploits relying on the powerful military foundation provided by him.

Young vanguard vows loyalty

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Members of the young vanguard met before the statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill on Friday to vow loyalty on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, his birth anniversary. They took a loyal oath, led by Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of the central committe of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League.
    They vowed to become ardent followers of the Songun idea and absolute defenders and implementers of the Songun policy, regarding Kim Jong Il's Songun revolutionary line as a maxim in their life and struggle and immutable truth.
    They will devotedly defend the socialist country, true to the Songun policy of the party, they noted, and went on:
    Once Kim Jong Il gives us an order, we, five million young people will become human bombs and wipe out the U.S. imperialists on this land, thus demonstrating the might of Songun-based Korea to the world.
    They also pledged themselves to make a breakthrough on all fronts of the national defence industry and economic construction in the same spirit of devotedly defending the country as displayed in the 1950s and the same spirit as displayed during the "arduous march" in the 1990s and build many edifices in the Songun era and thus fulfil their duty as pioneers of the new century.
    On the same day a meeting of members of the Korean Democratic Women's Union to vow loyalty and their grand chorus "Song of Sun Will Last Forever" took place in front of the Tower of the Juche Idea to commemorate the Day of the Sun.

U.S. double standards accused

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- How the DPRK approaches Japan's spy satellites depends on its decision and it is not an issue that allows the united states to meddle in it. Minju Joson today says this in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    After Japan's launch of spy satellites the U.S. Ambassador in Seoul recently "warned the DPRK not to take any provocative measure" and U.S. deputy secretary of State Armitage talked about U.S. protection of Japan while raising a hue and cry over the "DPRK's new missile test".
    This only betrays the double standards applied by the U.S. as regards the missile issue.
    The U.S. is seizing every opportunity to paint Japan's launch of spy satellites as a counter-measure taken against the DPRK's self-defensive measures in a bid to secure a leverage to increase the international pressure upon Pyongyang and realize its ambition for domination.
    The U.S. is keen to get something by applying the double standards as regards Japan's launch of spy satellites but it is a day-dream. This behaviour will only heighten the vigilance of the DPRK.

5th Kimilsungia Festival opens

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The 5th Kimilsungia Festival was opened with due ceremony in Pyongyang on Friday on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. Exhibited at the festival are at least 5,500 Kimilsungias bloomed by working people of all strata, servicemen and schoolchildren across the country.
    Also on display are Kimilsungias from foreign countries and foreign embassies in Pyongyang.
    Present at the opening ceremony were Hong Song Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop and officials concerned.
    Also present were foreign delegations and guests who have come to the DPRK to participate in the festival and overseas Koreans staying in the socialist homeland.
    Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the DPRK cabinet, who is chairman of the organizing committee for the festival, made an opening address.
    He said that from this year the traditional Kimilsungia show would be Kimilsungia festival, a great international political festival participated in not only by the Korean people but also by many countries, international organizations, friendship organizations, and overseas Koreans.
    He noted that carved in a natural stone sign board of the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia exhibition are the names of foreign floricultural, political, public and academic figures who distinguished themselves in breeding flowers of the sun and making them famous flowers and words they praised the great man.
    Read out at the ceremony was a congratulatory message to the organizing committee for the Kimilsungia festival sent by the Indonesian President.
    Vice-Minister of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia Sri Hastanto made a congratulatory speech.
    Participants looked round the festival hall wonderfully decorated with Kimilsungias and Kimjongilias and other colorful rare flowers.

Majority of UNSC members stand for peaceful solution to Korean nuclear issue

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- A closed meeting of the UN Security Council was held on April 9 to discuss the DPRK's "nuclear issue". At the meeting, only the United States and one more country worked hard to have the UNSC adopted a resolution on forcing the DPRK to retract its withdrawal from the NPT.
    But most of member countries of the UNSC opposed the stand of the U.S., asserting that the nuclear issue should be peacefully solved between the DPRK and the U.S. The meeting thus ended up without adopting any document.

New stamps issued

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- The Korea Stamp Corporation has issued commemorative stamps on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, birthday of President Kim Il Sung (April 15). Oone of them is "Commemoration of President Kim Il Sung's Birthday". It shows Mangyongdae, the birthplace of Kim Il Sung, and Kimilsungia.
    Its stock number is 4268 and the size is 51mmx39mm. The denomination is 3 won.
    In the center of the 120 won souvenir sheet "Order Awarded to President Kim Il Sung" is a picture of the president being with Fidel Castro Ruz, after being awarded an order by him. Seen in the background of the sheet are a world map, Kimilsungia and the order of Jose Marti (Cuba).
    The stock number of the stamp is 4273 and the size is 108mmx90mm.
    Four stamps portray orders awarded to President Kim Il Sung -- Order of Suhbaatar (Mongolia, January 1953), National Order of Grand Cross (Madagascar, October 1985), Order of Lenin (USSR, May 1987) and Order of Playa Giron (Cuba, April 1987).
    Their stock numbers are 4269-4272 and denominations are 12, 35, 70 and 140 won. And their size is 42mmx64mm

Kim Jong Il inspects KPA unit

     Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Supreme commander Kim Jong Il Friday inspected unit 205 of the Korean People's Army. He was greeted by KPA generals and commanding officers of the unit on the spot.
    After being briefed on the history of the unit, he dropped in at the operation commanding room to hear a report on the situation from the commander of the unit and learn in detail about the performance of its duty.
    In the room for lectures on operations he watched staff officers in tactical training.
    He highly appreciated the successes made by the officers and men of the unit, greatly satisfied to learn that they have got a mastery of combat and technical equipment and acquired a great ability to command operations through strenuous and effective training.
    Our officers and men have cultivated the tremendous faculty of winning certain victory in the glorious days of covering the road of victory while working miracles in history despite any storm and stress under the uplifted banner of the Songun policy, he said, stressing: No force on earth can match this might of the people's army.
    Then he took warm care of the living of soldiers with paternal care, looking round a servicemen's hall, a library, an education room, a bedroom, a mess and other entertainment and logistic facilities.
    It is very gratifying that all the units of the KPA including this unit are taking warm care of the soldiers as their real parents would do, he said. This is one of the beautiful traits that can be displayed only in our army that has achieved a strong unity between officers and men and that between superiors and subordinates.
    He spared time to see an art performance given by the soldiers of a company under the unit.
    After seeing the performance replete with dynamism and optimism, a clear indication of the noble spiritual world of the servicemen of the unit, he expressed great satisfaction at the revolutionary militant life of the company soldiers.
    He gave the servicemen of the unit a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as gifts and had a picture taken with them.

For Spanish-speaking people

inaugurado v festival de kimilsungias

     pyongyang, 12 de abril (atcc) -- con motivo del dia del sol (cumpleanos del presidente kim il sung), quedo inaugurado el dia 11 en esta capital el v festival de kimilsungias, en el cual estan exhibidas mas de 5 500 unidades de kimilsungias que cultivaron los trabajadores de distintos sectores del pais, militares del ejercito popular, jovenes y ninos escolares. tambien, figuran las kimilsungias enviadas por extranjeros y las embajadas de varios paises en corea.
    en el acto, estuvieron presentes hong song nam, choe thae bok, yang hyong sop y otros funcionarios, las delegaciones de varios paises y los huespedes extranjeros al presente festival, asi como los coreanos en ultramar que permanecen en la patria socialista.
    el vicepremier kwak pom gi, presidente del comite organizador del festival de kimilsungias pronuncio un discurso de apertura. el orador dijo que la exposicion de kimilsungias que venia efectuandose tradicionalmente cada ano llego a tener lugar con mas amplitud desde el ano en curso como un festival de kimilsungias y como un gran festival politico internacional en el cual participen tanto el pueblo coreano como numerosos paises, organizaciones internacionales, entidades de amistad y coreanos residentes en ultramar.
    se refirio a que en las tablas de piedra natural de la exposicion permanente de kimilsungia y kimjongilia fueron grabados los nombres de las personalidades de los circulos floriculturales, politicos, sociales y cientificos de varios paises quienes contribuyeron especialmente a crear las flores de sol y convertirlas en las de talla mundial y sus letras de elogio a los grandes hombres.
    acto seguido, se dio lectura al mensaje de felicitacion de la presidenta de la republica de indonesia dirigido al comite organizador del festival.
    sri hastanto, viceministro de cultura y turismo de indonesia pronuncio un discurso de felicitacion.
    terminado el acto, los participantes recorrieron con gran emocion el lugar del festival adornado fascinantemente con kimilsungias, kimjongilias y otras flores maravillosas.

primera jornada de xxi festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera

     pyongyang, 12 de abril (atcc) -- se ofrecieron el dia 11 en el teatro de arte mansudae, el gran teatro de pyongyang, la casa central de la juventud, el teatro de arte ponghwa y otros teatros de esta capital las funciones de la primera jornada del xxi festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera. en las escenas, los ejecutantes elogiaron altamente al presidente kim il sung como sol del juche y gran hombre sin par y cantaron en tono elevado la conviccion y la voluntad de la humanidad de enaltecer al dirigente kim jong il como gran sol del siglo xxi.
    con las canciones de la vida independiente y las piezas de fuerte matiz nacional, fortalecieron los lazos de amistad entre los paises y adoraron hermosamente las escenas de festival.
    las vieron los funcionarios directivos de los ministerios y organos centrales, los miembros del comite organizativo del festival y otros interesados y artistas, trabajadores y jovenes y estudiantes de esta capital. asi como representantes diplomaticos y miembros de las embajadas de varios paises en corea, huespedes extranjeros y coreanos en ultramar.
    las funciones transcurrieron en un ambiente desbordante de sentimientos de amistad y solidaridad entre los artistas de varios paises y coreanos en ultramar y el pueblo coreano.
    el mismo dia, los acrobatas de varios paises del mundo dieron su primera funcion en el circo de pyongyang.

constituidos comites preparatorios por fiestas de corea

     pyongyang, 12 de abril (atcc) -- con motivo de las fiestas significativas de abril de la republica popular democratica de corea fue constituido el dia 6 en londres el comite preparatorio. como presidente del comite fue electo dermot hudson, vicepresidente de la asociacion britanica de amistad con corea y jefe del grupo britanico de estudio de la idea juche-obras de camarada kim jong il.
    por otra parte, fue constituido el dia 2 el comite preparatorio por la fiesta de abril de la rpdc en el partido comunista de alemania.
    como presidente del comite fue electo hans wauer, vicepresidente del cc de este partido.
    el comite discutio y decidio divulgar ampliamente las inmortales hazanas revolucionarias del presidente kim il sung y del dirigente kim jong il, la superioridad del regimen socialista de corea y la lucha del pueblo coreano por lograr la reunificacion del pais y desarrollar diversos actos por las efemerides de abril.