Struggle against U.S. and war called for

     Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- In order to remove the danger of war from the Korean Peninsula and create a peaceful atmosphere for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country it is necessary to realize national cooperation to protect the security of the country and achieve the reunification and prosperity of the nation by the concerted efforts of the nation, says Rodong Sinmun Sunday in a signed article. It goes on:
    The Korean nation already experienced a horrible war started by the United States in the 1950s.
    If another war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula it will be much more destructive than the last Korean war.
    The Korean nation can never be a victim of the U.S. strategy for Asian domination. The whole Korean nation should resist the U.S. war moves in a do-or-die spirit.
    All the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas should firmly unite as one to resolutely smash the U.S. moves for a war of aggression in order to protect the destiny of the nation and the future of a reunified country.
    The grim reality in which the nation stands at the crossroads of a war or peace and reunification or national extermination calls on all Koreans to launch a patriotic struggle for peace against the U.S. and war.
    Whoever loves the nation and peace should turn out in a struggle to prevent war and save the destiny of the nation, irrespective of one's abode.
    All the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas will unite close as one and decisively foil the U.S. moves for a war of aggression and thereby achieve the peace of the country and its independent and peaceful reunification.

Anniversary of diplomatic ties between DPRK and Iran observed

     Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting took place in Tehran on April 13 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Iran. It was attended by officials of the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the DPRK Ambassador to Iran and embassy officials.
    Speeches were made at the meeting.
    Bansure Sharif, deputy director of the General Bureau for East Asia Affairs of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a speech said that the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries have developed on good terms for the last three decades and stressed the need to boost the ties.

Annual meeting of Sweden-Korea Friendship Association held

     Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- An annual meeting of the Sweden-Korea Friendship Association was held in Stockholm on April 12. The meeting reviewed the work of the association and decided to more positively introduce Korea through the magazine "Korea-Information" and the Internet homepage of the association and others to suit the present situation.

Imperialists' ideological and cultural poisoning under fire

     Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The imperialists are resorting to ideological and cultural poisoning, the craftiest method of aggression, while perpetrating open military intervention, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It goes on:
    The imperialists' ideological and cultural poisoning is a crafty and vicious method of aggression, interference and domination without gunfire.
    They are disseminating bourgeois ideology and culture among other things among other countries through movies, radio and TV broadcasting and computer network.
    The United States is operating broadcasting stations in its mainland and different parts of the world. "Voice of Free Asia" has a main role to play in its propaganda.
    The aim of "Voice of Free Asia" is to benumb people's independent consciousness and revolutionary spirit and create an illusion about the United States in a bid to overthrow the social systems established in other countries.
    The imperialists are also keen on the ideological and cultural poisoning through bourgeois publications, economic "cooperation", visits, religions and others.
    These are meant to serve their sinister purpose of "globalization".
    They are massively infiltrating reactionary ideology and culture into other countries, calculating that they can easily achieve by means of culture what they cannot do with nuclear weapons, etc. counting much on the "globalization" of culture.
    A struggle against the ideological and cultural poisoning is a struggle to preserve independent consciousness of a nation and accelerate the building of a new society and an important part of the anti-imperialist struggle in the present times.
    It is possible to firmly defend independence and sovereignty and successfully carry out the revolution and construction only when imperialists' military aggression and their ideological and cultural poisoning are frustrated.

Japan urged to behave itself

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- The Japanese chief executive cited a threat from North Korea as a reason for his support to the U.S. Iraqi war and the director general of the Japan Defense Agency talked about "missile threat" from North Korea. Commenting on this, Rodong Sinmun today says that the DPRK poses neither nuclear threat nor missile threat to any country.
    The news analyst continues:
    However, the Japanese reactionaries have escalated anti-DPRK smear campaign since the outbreak of the Iraqi war, taking advantage of the hostile policy toward the DPRK pursued by the U.S., its master.
    Their provocative outbursts that it is not in violation of Japan's constitution to mount preemptive attacks on missile-launching sites in North Korea and Japan should take revenge upon North Korea are indicative of their moves for military confrontation with the DPRK.
    Like master, like man, the Japanese reactionaries are working hard to stage a comeback to Korea with the U.S. Iraqi war as a momentum. They are going mad, bereft of reason obsessed with fever for the reinvasion of Korea. But they only look pity and ridiculous.
    We warn Japan that it will have to pay a very high price if it continues behaving without discretion fostering confrontation with the DPRK in line with the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK.

Philippine President on friendly relations with DPRK

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- The government and people of Philippines attach great importance to the friendly relations with the DPRK and positively appreciate the friendly and cooperative relations favorably developing in the new century on the basis of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of Philippines, said this when meeting with DPRK Ambassador to Philippines Jo In Chol who paid a farewell call on her on April 12. The president said that the government and people of Philippines would make efforts to continue to successfully develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in the future, too.
    She warmly hailed shining successes made in the DPRK under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il. The Philippine government and people wish the Korean people greater success in their efforts to build a great prosperous power and reunify the country, she added.

Message of thanks to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) --Kim Jong Il received a message from the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on April 16 thanking him for sending educational aid fund and stipends to the children of Koreans in Japan. Considerate of the children of Koreans in Japan, he sent a large amount of educational aid fund and stipends again though homeland is in acute confrontation with the United States, the message said, stressing that Kim Jong Il is, indeed, a benevolent father leading the Koreans and their children in Japan with warm care.
    We extend highest glory and warmest thanks to you for having shown all sorts of fatherly love and solicitude for the development of democratic national education of the children of the Koreans in Japan, the message noted, and continued:
    The central standing committee of Chongryon renews its determination to further strengthen and develop the movement of Koreans in Japan as a model of the movement of overseas compatriots in the new century. We will make fresh progress in the patriotic movement.

Anti-U.S., anti-war committee formed in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of the South Korean Committee of Students Struggle Against War, the U.S. and the opening of market and for greeting May Day was reportedly held in Youido, Seoul, on April 12 with many students attending. A declaration adopted at the ceremony referred to an action program of the organization, saying that it would devote the month of April to conducting actions against war, the U.S. and "globalization" by the concerted efforts of all the forces of the student movement.
    At the end of the ceremony the students joined in the meeting titled "Day of International Joint Action for Peace against War".
   

Anti-U.S. solidarity meeting held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- The 43rd anti-U.S. Solidarity Meeting reportedly took place in Seoul on April 15 to demand the withdrawal of the decision to dispatch troops to the Iraqi war and the total revision of the unequal South Korea-U.S. "status of forces agreement" and "mutual defence treaty". It was attended by members of civic and public organizations including the people's action for the revision of the unequal South Korea-U.S. "Status Of Forces Agreement", the council for national reconciliation and independent reunification, the All-People Measure Committee for the Closure of the U.S. Bombing Range in Maehyang-ri, the Solidarity for the Return of U.S. Military Bases, the headquarters of the Movement for the Return of the U.S. Military Base in Ryongsan and the young friends in the era of reunification.
    At the meeting speakers called for vigorously advancing along the road of anti-U.S. struggle, opposing the war and the troop dispatch.
    They accused the U.S. and the authorities of handling at their "joint consultation" the issues of transferring the U.S. military base in Ryongsan and repositioning of the U.S. second division in their favor. They underlined the need to totally revise the "SOFA" and "Mutual Defence Treaty".
    A resolution adopted at the meeting said that the authorities decided to dispatch troops to the Iraqi war, yielding to the U.S. pressure. It urged the government to withdraw the decision immediately if it does not want to be sternly judged by history for participating in the disgraceful war of genocide.

"Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il E-Library" opens in Egypt

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- The Egypt-Korea Friendship Association opened "Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il E-Library" at its internet homepage on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. Seen on the first page of the e-library are photos of the three generals of Mt. Paektu.
    Also input there are famous works of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and Korean books.

Reception given by Iranian military attache

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- Abdullah Hamidi Benam, Iranian military attache here, hosted a reception at the embassy on Friday evening on the occasion of the Army Day of Iran. Present on invitation were Kim Yang Jom, vice-Minister of the People's Armed Forces, and generals and officers and officials concerned.
    Present at the reception were Jalaleddin Namini Mianji, Iranian Ambassador to the DPRK, and embassy officials.
    Speeches were made at the reception.

Japan urged to put its commitments into practice

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegate to the 59th meeting of the UN commission on human rights referring to the issue of women's rights and violence against them on April 10 urged Japan to take measures to put into practice the apology for its past crimes and commitments it made in the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration. Japan committed crimes related to "comfort women" for the imperial Japanese army against 200,000 Korean women and many other Asian and European women by exercising administrative and military power pursuant to its wartime state policy. These were most hideous crimes against humanity in history.
    He continued:
    A special rapporteur at the meeting stressed the need for the Japanese government to admit its legal responsibility for the crimes, recognizing that the organization and operation of "comfort women" system was a violation of international legal duty. But Japan adamantly refused to admit its legal responsibility for them, insisting on its far-fetched assertion that "rape committed during a war is neither a war crime nor a crime against humanity."
    Though the special rapporteur demanded Japan deal with the historical facts about the "comfort women" for the imperial Japanese army in its textbooks to raise the social awareness of the issue, it deleted serious crimes including the system of "comfort women" for the imperial Japanese army from history textbooks and approved at the examination those books which distorted and justified its crime-woven past. Worse still, high-ranking officials and politicians of Japan keep visiting the "Yasukuni Shrine" despite international community's strong protest and denunciation.
    All these facts are a clear indication of the Japanese authorities' stand and attitude not to admit its past atrocities as crimes. They also clearly prove that Japan has no willingness to sincerely put into practice the admonition given by the rapporteur reflecting the just demands of victims.
    The assailants and their offspring may easily forget their past crimes but victims and their descendants will never forget the damage and pain inflicted upon them, he noted, adding that it is an unavoidable urgent legal responsibility of Japan to settle its past crimes.

First vice-chairman of DPRK NDC to visit China

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- First vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Jo Myong Rok will visit the People's Republic of China from April 21 to 23.

10th north-south ministerial talks proposed

     Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- The head of the north side to the north-south ministerial talks today sent a telephone message through Panmunjom to the chief delegate of the south side as regards the 10th talks. In the message the head of the north side put forward a proposal to have the 10th north-south ministerial talks in Pyongyang from April 27 to 29, stressing the need to resourcefully settle the issue of inter-Korean relations by the nation itself through national cooperation.

For Spanish-speaking people

conmemorado el 40 aniversario de publicacion de obra de kim il sung

     pyongyang, 19 de abril (atcc) -- tuvo lugar el dia 18 en el palacio cultural del pueblo un acto por el 40 aniversario de la publicacion de la obra clasica del presidente kim il sung "para intensificar la labor docente-educativa en el instituto superior". se trata del discurso resumen del presidente pronunciado el 18 de abril del 52 (1963) de la era juche en la reunion de los jefes de departamentos del comite central del partido del trabajo de corea.
    en el acto participaron choe thae bok, secretario del cc del ptc, pyon yong rip, ministro de educacion, kim kyong ho, primer secretario del cc de la union de la juventud socialista kim il sung, y otros funcionarios.
    el informe de la ocasion estuvo a cargo de ri kwang ho, jefe de departamento del cc del ptc quien dijo:
    el presidente kim il sung al considerar la labor docente como un problema fundamental que decide la perspectiva de la revolucion y el destino futuro de la nacion publico la obra clasica "para intensificar la labor docente-educativa en el instituto superior" dilucidando asi la idea de educacion original y abriendo una nueva epoca del desarrollo de la ensenanza socialista.
    el dirigente kim jong il, al prestar siempre una profunda atencion al desarrollo de la educacion del pais, defiende firmemente y lleva adelante la idea y las inmortales hazanas de direccion del presidente y dirige de manera entusiasta de modo que la educacion del juche se desarrolle incesantemente.
    todos los funcionarios y maestros de todos los institutos superiores deben operar un nuevo viraje en la labor docente-educativa para formar excelentemente a los jovenes estudiantes de nueva generacion como fidedignos sucesores de la causa revolucionaria del juche y fervientes patriotas llamados a hacerse cargo del futuro de la patria y asi contribuir activamente a la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    tambien, al apoyar activamente la idea y la direccion del dirigente deben lograr una gran innovacion en la labor docente y educativa de los planteles conforme a la demanda de la epoca del songun.
    con anterioridad, los participantes escucharon por grabadora la obra.

acto de premiacion para participantes en festival artistico

     pyongyang, 19 de abril (atcc) -- tuvo lugar el dia 18 en esta capital el acto de premiacion para los participantes en el xxi festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera. se otorgaron los premios colectivos al coro del conservatorio tchaikovsky estatal de moscu de rusia, la compania academica de danza krasnoyarsk estatal "mikhail godenko" de siberia de rusia, el conjunto artistico de china y los conjuntos artisticos de coreanos residentes en japon y china, los premios individuales a 66 artistas, el premio artistico a 34, el al merito a 13 y el de creacion a 7.
    se entregaron diplomas, copas, los premios en efectivo y de oro y plata.

clausurado el xxi festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera

     pyongyang, 19 de abril (atcc) -- quedo clausurado el xxi festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera que venia efectuandose solemnemente desde el dia 10 en esta capital con motivo del dia del sol. fue un festival artistico internacional que reflejo en un gran cuadro epico el sentimiento de infinita veneracion al presidente kim il sung, quien acumulo inmortales hazanas ante la epoca y la humanidad, la fervorosa aspiracion de la humanidad progresista a enaltecerlo para siempre y la firme voluntad de todos los pueblos de adorar y seguir infinitamente al dirigente kim jong il, sol del siglo xxi.
    tuvo lugar el dia 18 el acto de clausura en la casa cultural "25 de abril".
    participaron los artistas de varios paises y los coreanos residentes en ultramar quienes participaron en el festival, las delegaciones y delegados de varios paises al vi simposio estetico sobre la epoca actual y arte nacional.
    tambien, estuvieron presentes hong song nam, primer ministro del consejo de ministros de la republica popular democratica de corea, yang hyong sop, vicepresidente del presidium de la asamblea popular suprema y otros funcionarios.
    asistieron ademas los representantes diplomaticos y miembros de las embajadas de varios paises en corea huespedes extranjeros y coreanos residentes en ultramar.
    en el acto se entregaron premios a los participantes en el festival.
    fue aprobada una carta de agradecimiento de los participantes en el festival al dirigente kim jong il.
    se dio lectura al mensaje de agradecimiento del presidium de la aps de la rpdc a los participantes en el festival.
    las palabras de clausura estuvieron a cargo de jang chol, presidente del comite organizador del festival quien dijo que este fue un gran certamen artistico comun de la humanidad que mostro plenamente la inteligencia y el talento de los artistas de varios paises del mundo y acentuo que los participantes en el festival demostraron la invariable voluntad de reforzar las relaciones culturales entre los paises, naciones y artistas y desarrollar la cultura y el arte de la humanidad.
    en el futuro tambien el festival artistico de amistad abril en primavera continuara siendo un prestigioso certamen artistico internacional.
    al termino del acto se ofrecio la funcion conjunta de los participantes en el festival.