Gifts to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il received gifts from the director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI) and delegations of the Japanese Youth Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, the Mongolia Paektusan Society and the young forces forum of Nepal on a visit to the DPRK on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. The gifts were handed to an official concerned by director general of the IIJI Vishwanath and heads of the delegations.
    He also received a gift from the head of the delegation of a French organization for the study of the Juche idea.

Letter to Kim Jong Il from C.C. of NDFSK

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il received a letter from the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea on April 15, the Day of the Sun. Noting that President Kim Il Sung provided the guiding idea of the times by founding the immortal Juche idea, performed unparalleled exploits in liberating the country and defending the sovereignty of the nation by defeating the two most ferocious imperialist formidable enemies and set a world-wide example of creation and construction by leading the social reform and socialist construction at different stages to victory and turning the north into a powerful socialist state, independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in national defence, the letter added that all this represents the greatest exploits to be specially recorded in human history.
    The president who worked heart and soul for national reunification, always considerate of the people in the south, laid down the wisest line and policy of national reunification and led all the Koreans to the road of independence and unity, providing a solid groundwork for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country, the letter said.
    Pointing out that the cause of Juche started by the president is being creditably carried forward and developed by Kim Jong Il, the letter continued: He most successfully accomplished the cause of perpetuating the memory of the president, thus enabling the people to hold him in high esteem as they did in his lifetime and giving a steady continuity to his revolutionary history. This is the greatest exploit as he paved the way for creditably carrying forward the revolutionary cause and winning an eternal victory.
    The president's last instruction on national reunification is being successfully carried out and the cause of building a prosperous powerful nation is making a leaping advance thanks to the endless journey for Songun guidance made by Kim Jong Il. He is the most outstanding leader of the present era and the bright sun of the 21st century.
    We will decisively foil the U.S. moves to provoke a war and bring earlier the day of independent reunification by further intensifying the movement for reunification through national cooperation under the uplifted banner of the three charters for national reunification and the June 15 joint declaration and thus realize his life-long desire.

Schoolchildren's camping begins

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The first camping this year started at the schoolchildren's camps across the country on the occasion of the day of the sun. A ceremony of receiving campers was held at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Camp on April 15.
    Present at the ceremony were Ryang Man Gil, chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, Choe Yong Gu, secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, and officials concerned and teachers of the camp and campers.
    A report and speeches were made at the ceremony.
    The reporter and speakers said that schoolchildren would enjoy the first-term camping in the place associated with the immortal revolutionary history of President Kim Il Sung.
    They hoped that always remembering the loving care shown by Kim Jong Il for the campers, they would find their days at the camp meaningful, training their bodies and minds and consolidating what they have learned through various activities such as mountaineering and excursion.
    They called on all the campers to earnestly learn from the childhood of the president and Kim Jong Il during the camping and thus become dependable builders of the country, knowledgeable, virtuous and healthy.
    Similar ceremonies took place at the Songdowon International Schoolchildren's Camp, Myohyangsan Schoolchildren's Mountaineering Camp, the Sokam Schoolchildren's Camp, the Sohungho Schoolchildren's Camp, the Kaesong Schoolchildren's Camp, the South Hwanghae Provincial Schoolchildren's Camp and other camps.

Letter to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il received a letter from the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on April 15 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. The letter said that President Kim Il Sung is the eternal sun of Juche, father of socialist Korea and the benefactor who helped the Koreans in Japan to be reborn.
    Noting that all the Chongryon officials and Koreans in Japan significantly commemorating the day of the sun are firmly determined to pave with pride the way for the movement of Koreans in Japan in the new century under the leadership of Kim Jong Il as the president wished in his lifetime, the letter renewed their pledge to more firmly strengthen Chongryon into the single-hearted ranks full of the faith that only victory is in store for the country and the nation and the movement as long as they are under the leadership of Kim Jong Il and unite close broad strata of compatriots on the road of patriotism.
    No matter how tense the international situation may remain due to the imperialists' high-handed practices, we will protect the DPRK, genuine motherland of the Koreans in Japan, to the last and make a tangible contribution to the building of a great prosperous power, the letter concluded.

Ugandan government delegation here

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The Ugandan government delegation headed by Kintu Musoke, senior adviser to the president, arrived here on Tuesday. The delegation was greeted at the airport by Kung Sok Ung, DPRK vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned.

Folk dance suite presented

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The participants of the 21st April Spring Friendship Art Festival enjoyed the folk dance suite "Song of Seasons" at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre on Tuesday. Among the audience were members of the organizing committee of the festival and Pyongyangites.
    The performance was applauded by the audience for its high ideological value and artistic merits.

Reception given for participants of April Spring Friendship Art Festival

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly hosted a reception for the participants of the 21st April Spring Friendship Art Festival at the People's Palace of Culture on Tuesday evening on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. Present on invitation were foreign delegations and delegates, artistes and overseas Korean artistes participating in the festival.
    Present there were premier of the DPRK cabinet Hong Song Nam, vice-President of the SPA Presidium Yang Hyong Sop, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Jong Ha Chol, chairman of the festival organizing committee Jang Chol, Minister of Culture Kang Nung Su, chief secretary of the cabinet Jong Mun San, chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee Ryang Man Gil, vice-chairmen of the festival organizing committee and officials concerned.
    A speech was made there.

Solution to Korean nuclear issue depends on U.S. attitude

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today comments on the fact that most of member states of the un security council opposed the U.S. stand at its closed meeting held on April 9, asserting that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula should be peacefully settled between the DPRK and the U.S. The news analyst says:
    The outcome of the meeting represents a relatively fair and objective assessment of the two conflicting stands of the DPRK and the U.S. on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.
    The nuclear issue is a matter between the DPRK and the U.S. in every sense and it, therefore, can be settled peacefully only through the DPRK-U.S. dialogue.
    It is possible to settle the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula if the U.S. sincerely gives up its hostile will and honestly approaches dialogue.
    The present reality urgently requires the U.S. to drop its unreasonable and wrong assertion as early as possible and opt for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.
    The DPRK will not stick to any particular dialogue format if the U.S. has a will to make a brave switchover in its policy toward the DPRK to settle the issue.
    A solution to the issue hinges on what is the real intention of the U.S.

Greetings to Syrian President

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA)--General Secretary Kim Jong Il today sent a message of greetings to Bashar al Assad, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Arab Socialist Baath Party and President of Syria, on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of its independence. The message extended warm congratulations to the president and, through him, to the friendly Syrian government and people on this occasion.
    Since the independence the Syrian people have achieved many successes in the struggle to defend the sovereignty of the country and the nation and build prosperous Syria under the correct leadership of the party, the message said, adding:
    The Korean people always extend full support to the president and the people of Syria in their just cause to achieve the progress and modernization of the country, retake the occupied Arab territories including Golan Heights and seek a fair and comprehensive solution to the Mid-East problem.
    The message expressed belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger and develop and wished the president good health and happiness.

Kim Jong Il enjoys art performance of KPA Merited Chorus

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il together with servicepersons, enjoyed an art performance given by the KPA Merited Chorus "the Song of Korea Sung Through Generations" on April 15, the Day of the Sun. Among the audience were chief of the KPA General Staff Kim Yong Chun, Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Yong Sun and Kim Ki Nam and senior officials of the party and the army.
    Put on the stage were famous songs "Green Pine Standing on Nam Hill", "the Song of Korea", "Nostalgia", "Dear General, Where are You", "Korea, I will Glorify Thee" and other chorus numbers.
    The performers truthfully represented the high national pride and the strong self-confidence of the Korean people blessed with the illustrious leaders generation after generation and the proud path of victory and glory they have covered under the wise leadership of President Kim Il Sung, father of socialist Korea. They also clearly manifested the firm faith and will and militant mettle of the army and people to devotedly defend the headquarters of the revolution, holding higher the red flag of the revolution despite whatever difficulty and ordeal, and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche, true to the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    The audience was deeply impressed by the performance great in ideological value and artistic merits.
    Kim Jong Il expressed great satisfaction at the successful performance given by the artistes of the chorus replete with the revolutionary spirit of Mt. Paektu and that of soldiers. He expressed expectation and belief that they would more powerfully encourage the army and the people in their sacred struggle to eternally glorify the immortal revolutionary exploits of the president.

For Spanish-speaking people

kim jong il felicita a exmilitares heridos en el dia del sol

     pyongyang, 16 de abril (atcc) -- el dirigente kim jong il, secretario general del partido del trabajo de corea, presidente del comite de defensa nacional de la republica popular democratica de corea y comandante supremo del ejercito popular de corea, felicito el dia 15 a los exmilitares heridos de la fabrica de articulos plasticos de uso diario de exmilitares heridos de hamhung en el dia del sol. le acompanaron kim yong chun, jefe del estado mayor general del epc, kim il chol, ministro de las fuerzas armadas populares, kim kuk thae, kim ki nam y kim yong sun, secretarios del cc del ptc y otros funcionarios dirigentes del partido y el ejercito.
    el dirigente, al recorrer la lapida, objetos y materiales historicos, recordo con piedad la historia de amor del presidente kim il sung por los exmilitares heridos.
    al recorrer el recinto y los talleres bien ordenados se entero de los detalles del trabajo y la vida de los exmilitares heridos.
    dijo que todos los talleres de la fabrica se mantienen limpios y rebosan del impetu revolucionario y anadio que esto es un fruto del espiritu militar revolucionario que late fuertemente en el corazon de los exmilitares heridos.
    estimulo cordialmente a los veteranos exmilitares heridos quienes participaron en la guerra de liberacion de la patria y senalo que los exmilitares heridos quienes lucharon dedicando su juventud y vida para el partido, el lider, la patria y el pueblo son las personas merecedoras de un trato excepcional.
    dijo que la fabrica de articulos plasticos de uso diario de exmilitares heridos de hamhung es una planta importante que ocupa una gran porcion en la produccion de articulos de consumo popular e indico las tareas programaticas que sirven de guia en la administracion y gestion de la fabrica.
    el dirigente kim jong il, junto con los exmilitares heridos y sus familiares, presencio la funcion de los miembros del grupo artistico de la fabrica.
    dijo que los exmilitares heridos que lucharon derramando la sangre por la patria deben destacarse tambien en la construccion socialista y expreso la gran esperanza de que sigan invariablemente el unico camino de la revolucion.

actos por el dia del sol

     pyongyang, 16 de abril (atcc) -- tuvieron lugar el dia 15 diversos actos dedicados al dia del sol. los trabajadores de distintos sectores, jovenes estudiantes y miembros de la union de mujeres democraticas de corea ofrecieron funciones de coral en la plaza kim il sung de esta capital y frente a las estatuas de bronce del presidente kim il sung en las ciudades de kanggye, wonsan, phyongsong y haeju.
    los ejecutantes cantaron las hazanas del presidente quien construyo sobre esta tierra una potencia socialista y un paraiso del pueblo y el orgullo nacional y la dignidad de nuestro pueblo que hace la revolucion bajo la orientacion del dirigente kim jong il.
    los funcionarios y trabajadores de las provincias de ryanggang y hamgyong del sur y la ciudad de kaesong efectuaron las reuniones de recitacion de poesias, canciones y charlas, narraciones sobre las nobles virtudes y oratoria.
    por otra parte, en todas las provincias, ciudades, distritos, fabricas, empresas, granjas cooperativas y escuelas tuvieron lugar funciones artisticas, juegos de deporte y recreacion y veladas dedicados al dia del sol.
    se ofrecieron las funciones artisticas de los ninos escolares en los palacios de ninos y escolares de mangyongdae y de pyongyang.
    tuvieron lugar las veladas de los jovenes y estudiantes por el dia del sol en la plaza kim il sung, las provincias, ciudades y distritos.