Memorandum of understanding between governments of DPRK and Australia signed

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- A memorandum of understanding between the governments of the DPRK and Australia on the development of integrated pest management for brassica crops in the DPRK and its improvement in Australia was signed as a part of implementing the memorandum of understanding on joint agricultural research and development program between the governments of the two countries inked here on November 14, Juche 89 (2000).

Prize and commendation certificate awarded to Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- A prize and commendation certificate of the permanent office of Asian and African writers were awarded to President Kim Il Sung. A ceremony of awarding prizes and commendation certificates to the heads of state who performed feats in human history was held in Cairo on May 14 under the sponsorship of the permanent office.
    The secretary general of the office in a speech said that he deemed it an honor to award the prize and commendation certificate to Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people.
    The Korean people, united close around their leader, are displaying its dignity in confrontation with the United States which styles itself the "only superpower" of the world, he said, adding that the DPRK is a model they should follow.
    At the ceremony he handed the prize and commendation certificate to the DPRK charge d'affaires ad interim in Cairo.
    Written on the commendation certificate are letters reading:
    The permanent office of Asian and African writers awards this commendation certificate to H.E. President Kim Il Sung, the founder of the DPRK and the leader of the revolutionary struggle against Japan and the U.S. and the national liberation movement.

Open letter to Bush published in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The All-People Measure Committee For Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son, Schoolgirls Killed By a U.S. Armored Car, reportedly issued an open letter addressed to U.S. President Bush on May 13. Recalling that it is nearly one year since Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son were brutally killed by a U.S. armored car, the letter denounced Bush for having been so shameless and conscienceless as to flee from the responsibility for the murder in this period.
    Bush is threatening everyday to ignite a war on the Korean Peninsula under the pretext of the "nuclear issue of North Korea," the letter said, adding that the South Korean people cannot repress resentment and uneasiness at stories about the threat of war that floated in the United States recently.
    Questioning Bush why he is trying to massacre millions of Koreans, not content with killing the two schoolgirls, the letter demanded a stop to the threat of war on the Korean Peninsula intended to kill millions of Koreans as GIs did Hyo Sun and Mi Son.
    It also demanded Bush punish GI murderers, make an open apology for the killing and totally revise the unequal SOFA.

Reception given by Swiss FM

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Micheline Calmy-rey, chief of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, arranged a reception on Monday, winding up her Korea visit. Present on invitation were Minister Paek Nam Sun and vice-Minister Choe Su Hon of Foreign Affairs, vice-Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam and other officials concerned.
    The party of the chief, Ueli Muller, resident coordinator of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in the DPRK, and staff members of the agency and Felix Abt, representative of the ABB Ltd. Company were on hand.
    The reception was addressed by the two foreign ministers.

U.S. racket for pressure on DPRK under fire

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- U.S. State Secretary Powell at a recent press conference talked about the multilateral nature of a solution to the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula and announced that the U.S. is planning to establish an "allied front" with Japan, South Korea, Australia and other countries and the UN to oppose the DPRK's "nuclear program." Denouncing this, Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed commentary:
    The allied front raised by the U.S. is, in essence, a dangerous attempt to lay siege to the DPRK and destroy it by allied strength in a physical way.
    The U.S. moves to put international pressure on the DPRK instead of dropping its hostile policy toward the DPRK will only result in aggravating the situation. The nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula should be settled through dialogue and negotiations on the principle of equality and impartiality.
    The U.S., though it clamours for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue, actually opts for destroying the DPRK by force.
    The U.S. should not take the new bold proposal advanced by the DPRK at the recent Beijing talks for the settlement of the nuclear issue for an expression of weakness. The U.S. should drop its wrong viewpoint that it may bring the DPRK to its knees only by force.
    A war will be unavoidable in the Korean Peninsula if the U.S. keeps nuclear pressure on the DPRK and military threat and blackmail to it.
    Whether the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula is settled or not depends on whether the U.S. takes a bold decision to drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK or not. The outstanding issues between the DPRK and the U.S. including the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula will be settled if the U.S. gives up its hostile policy toward the DPRK and takes an honest stand toward dialogue, though belatedly.

U.S. hostile policy towards DPRK bound to fail

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The Songun policy of the Workers' Party of Korea is a new and original political mode based on the ever-victorious Juche idea and it provides a sure guarantee for accomplishing the cause of reunification of the country and promoting the process of national reconciliation and reunification, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It goes on:
    Without strong self-defensive military power, it is impossible to defend the peace and security of the country.
    The Songun policy indicates the only way of foiling the moves of the U.S. imperialists to realize their ambition for domination at the sacrifice of the Korean nation and defending the nation.
    No attempt to threaten the security of the Korean nation will be tolerated within the sphere of self-defence pursuant to the Songun policy.
    The armed forces of the DPRK are out-and-out self-defensive forces. It is speeding up the advance for the building of a great prosperous power and the independent and peaceful reunification with the Songun policy as a weapon.
    Nevertheless, the U.S. is making much ado about the threat from the DPRK. It is a deliberate move of those displeased with the reconciliation and reunification of the Korean nation to block the reunification process.
    The Songun policy makes it possible for the DPRK to emerge victorious in any confrontation with the U.S.
    Our reunification movement can make a vigorous advance only when all Koreans resolutely stand up against the U.S. imperialists' moves against reunification under the uplifted banner of the Songun policy.
    The Songun idea is a strong spirit of offensive as it calls for staunchly fighting to protect one's dignity and self-esteem in any case and it is based on the revolutionary stand that one should be ready to die.
    The U.S. imperialists' hostile policy toward the DPRK is bound to go bankrupt and the peace of the Korean Peninsula and the security of the nation will surely be guaranteed as long as the great Songun policy is enforced.

Youth seminar held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Council of Youth Organizations (Hanchong) held a youth seminar on eradicating the leftover of the Japanese imperialists and restoring the English spelling of Corea at the hall of the Christian House on May 13. Speeches were made under the titles "significance of the campaign for retaking the English name of Corea viewed from the changed civilization", "historic background against which the English spelling of Corea was changed into Korea and the vicious nature of Japanese imperialism", etc.
    Recalling that the Japanese imperialists notified the world's big powers by king's order in 1910 that the English spelling of Corea should be changed into Korea, speakers described this as Japan's intrigue to oppress Korea.
    They noted that the campaign for restoring the English spelling of Corea is of weighty significance in eradicating the Japanese imperialists' leftover, checking Japan's moves for militarization and from the viewpoint of reunification.
    Various small gatherings of Hanchong are needed to stage the above-said campaign, they said, stressing the need for its regional organizations to conduct such campaign in various forms in combination with seminars, a cyber campaign, a campaign for protecting Tok islet and a campaign to have the sea off the east coast of Korea marked as the East Sea of Korea on the map.

Sheet to break ultraviolet rays developed

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Chaek University of Technology has succeeded in developing a new kind of sheet to break ultraviolet rays. When nanoscale powders from metal oxides are mixed with organic solvent and applied to any object, they form a thin sheet on the surface to absorb and reflect ultraviolet rays.
    The original color of printed materials coated with this sheet can be preserved well for scores of years.
    Its rate of cutting ultraviolet rays and transmitting light is more than 96 percent.
    The sheet will widely be used in developing the economy and preserving historic relics and remains.
    It was highly appreciated at the first national nanotechnology presentation held in March 2003.

Mt. Taesong

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Mt. Taesong is one of the eight scenic spots in Pyongyang. There are six peaks including Kuksa, Somun, Jangsu and Jujak, and many historic relics dating back to the period of Koguryo (277 b.c.-668 a.d.) on the mountain.
    Among the relics are 9,284 meter-long mountain walls, sites of reservoirs, ponds and storehouses, the ruined Anhak royal palace at the foot of the mountain, groups of tombs and 20 ruined fort gates.
    The 200 meter-long wall on Somun peak, pavilion on Jangsu peak, Kwangbop temple, etc. are also kept in their origin.
    A recreation ground covering more than 2,000 hectares has been built on Mt. Taesong.
    There is a revolutionary martyrs cemetery on Jujak peak for anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, the first generation of the Korean revolution, who dedicated themselves to the struggle for the liberation of the country.
    The Central Zoo, the Central Botanical Garden, a fun fair, shops, restaurants, soft drink stands and other catering facilities are located in the mountain.
    Also in the mountain are a 16 kilometer-long loop motorway, artificial reservoirs, ponds and falls and a minor power station.
    Various folk games and functions are held every year on the occasion of folk holidays and major international commemoration days in front of the Nam gate of the fort.

Swiss FM leaves

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Micheline Calmy-rey, chief of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, and her party left here today. They were seen off by Choe Su Hon, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, other officials concerned and Ueli Muller, resident coordinator of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in the DPRK.

Anti-DPRK outbursts of Japan Defense Agency chief assailed

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Director general of the Japan Defence Agency Ishiba in an annual meeting blustered that Japan would neither be frightened by a threat of terrorism from the DPRK nor yield to a threat and blackmail. He also cried out for increasing the defence capacity of Japan allegedly to cope with the DPRK's "nuclear weapons program" and the development of long-range missiles. His recent outbursts are part of Japan's anti-DPRK smear campaign intended to fan up the anti-DPRK sentiment now growing in the Japanese society, says Minju Joson today in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    Ishiba's talk about the DPRK's non-existent "threat of terrorism" and "threat and blackmail" is a link in the whole chain of premeditated and deliberate moves on the part of the Japanese ultra-right reactionaries to attack the DPRK and reduce the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration to a dead document so as to evade its commitment to redeem its past and keep the bilateral relations from warming up.
    His outbursts are just the echo of the assertions made by the U.S. pursuing the policy of stifling the DPRK with nukes.
    It is an unchanged ambition of the Japanese reactionaries to join the U.S. in its moves for a war of aggression in a bid to step up the conversion of Japan into a military power aimed at realizing overseas expansion and stage a comeback to Korea.
    The Japanese militarist fanatics' attempt to provoke the DPRK with such nonsense is as foolish an act as inviting misfortune.
    The army and the people of the DPRK are fully determined to force Japan to pay for its crimes in the past a thousand times.
    Once an opportunity presents itself they will not miss the chance but vent their pent-up grudge against it.
    The Japanese reactionaries are well advised to ponder over their suicidal act.

DPRK Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea appointed

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Hwangbo Ung Bom was appointed as DPRK Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, according to a decree of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.

Principled matters to be abided by in promoting inter-Korean economic cooperation

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Head of the delegation of the north side Pak Chang Ryon, chairman of the north side to the north-south committee for the promotion of economic cooperation who is first vice-chairman of the State Planning Commission, in his keynote speech made at the 5th meeting of the committee opened here today clarified the principled matters the parties concerned with the north-south economic cooperation should abide by in promoting the economic cooperation in the future. He said that both sides should cooperate with each other and promote reconciliation and cooperation in the basic spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration, no matter what others may say and how the surrounding environment may change.
    He continued:
    The north and the south should, among other things, regard the basic spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration as unshakable guidelines in promoting the economic cooperation between the two sides.
    The two sides should greatly value the common idea of "by our nation itself" and energetically push ahead with economic cooperation through national cooperation no matter what great challenges they may face at home and abroad.
    Both sides should maintain the stand of keeping faith in economic cooperation.
    It is very important for them to wipe out the mutual misunderstanding and distrust and deepen confidence to keep faith in economic cooperation.
    He expressed the expectation that the two sides will successfully discuss and solve the issues raised by pooling wisdom and energy and thus make the current meeting bring good results to the fellow countrymen as it has been opened at a significant juncture when the nation will observe the third anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration.
    He advanced a series of proposals for economic cooperation including the issues of reconnecting the rail and road links, the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone and the issue of preventing flood damage along the River Rimjin.
    He dismissed the south side's attitude taken as regards the "joint statement" worked out with the U.S. as a perfidious act of running counter to the basic spirit of the joint declaration and an improper act of actively following its policy to stifle the DPRK militarily and economically.
    The south side should bear in mind that the inter-Korean relations will be put at the lowest ebb and the south side will sustain an unspeakable disaster if it turns to confrontation, talking about "nuclear issue" and "additional measures," he said, adding:
    The attitude taken by the south side as regards the "joint statement" is now arousing great disappointment and concern at home and abroad.
    We express deep regret at this and hold that there should be an understandable clarification of it from the south side.
    The head of the delegation of the south side made a keynote address at the meeting.
    North side advanced a draft agreement of the current meeting.
    The meeting continues.

Kim Jong Il enjoys art performance

     Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il on Tuesday enjoyed an art performance given by art groups of servicemen's families of KPA units 762 and 671 that participated in the sixth contest of art groups of KPA servicemen's families. Among the audience were chief of the KPA general staff Kim Yong Chun and KPA generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong and general officers.
    Their repertoire included colorful numbers of various genres such as a chorus "thanks to generalissimo Kim Il Sung" and "the father is on the front", a dialogic poem "a legend about love connected with the road of Songun ", a vocal solo "we wish you general a happy journey", a poem and story-telling "he was a serviceman's family member" and a singing in unison and story-telling "we shall enjoy happiness when we follow the road of Songun".
    In their revolutionary and militant performance they loudly sang of their worthwhile life full of optimism and joy and powerfully demonstrated the unshakable faith and will, revolutionary stamina and indomitable spirit of the servicemen's families to devotedly defend the headquarters of the revolution and dedicate themselves to the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche shoulder to shoulder with their husbands who are performing their sacred mission to defend the country, tightly holding rifles to annihilate the enemy.
    Their performance was highly acclaimed by the audience for its great ideological value and artistic merits.
    Kim Jong Il highly praised and thanked them for their successful performance, greatly pleased with their splendid performance truthfully representing the revolutionary, militant and optimistic life.
    Admirable, indeed, are the spiritual world, fighting spirit and way of life of the servicemen's families as they are leading a militant life fully confident of and optimistic about future, he said, adding that it is a great pride of our party and people to have a big contingent of dependable women revolutionaries born in the Songun era.
    He noted that the six contests of the art groups of servicemen's families successfully held amid the expectation and concern of our army and people strikingly demonstrated the validity and vitality of the party's literary and art policy on popularizing arts and the proud feature of a new culture created in the Songun era.
    Saying that art activities are of very weighty importance in establishing the revolutionary and militant spirit and way of life, he advanced highly important tasks to be fulfilled to further strengthen and develop the mass art activities.

For Spanish-speaking people

kim jong il inspecciona subunidad de la unidad no. 292 del epc

     pyongyang, 20 de mayo (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 inspecciono el dia 19 una subunidad de la unidad no. 292 del epc situada en la zona del frente. el comandante supremo fue acogido sobre el terreno por los jefes de la subunidad.
    luego de enterarse del estado de cumplimiento del deber de la subunidad presencio el entrenamiento de los militares.
    se mostro muy satisfecho de que todos los militares de la subunidad estan preparados como excelentes combatientes e indico las tareas programaticas que sirven de guia para fortalecer aun mas la combatividad de la unidad.
    al recorrer la sala de educacion, dormitorio, comedor, bano, deposito diario y otros lugares atendio cordialmente con amor paternal la vida de los militares.
    expreso gran conviccion de que los militares de la subunidad, empunando firmemente las armas de la revolucion, defenderan seguramente la patria socialista y se fotografio junto a estos.

otorgados premio y diploma de condecoracion a kim il sung

     pyongyang, 20 de mayo (atcc) -- fueron otorgados al presidente kim il sung el premio y el diploma de condecoracion de la oficina permanente de escritores afro-asiaticos. tuvo lugar el dia 14 en el cairo bajo el auspicio de esta oficina una ceremonia para otorgarlos a los jefes de estado quienes realizaron las hazanas en la historia de la humanidad.
    el secretario general de dicha oficina, en su discurso, senalo que es una gloria otorgar el premio y el diploma de condecoracion a su excelencia kim il sung, gran lider del pueblo coreano.
    agrego que el pueblo coreano solidamente unido en torno al dirigente kim jong il ostenta su dignidad enfrentandose resueltamente a ee.uu. que se autodenomina de la "unica superpotencia" del mundo y destaco que corea es un modelo de que deberan aprender.
    en la ceremonia fueron entregados al encargado de negocios a.i de la rpdc en egipto el premio y el diploma dirigidos al presidente.
    en el diploma se lee: la oficina permanente de escritores afro-asiaticos otorga este diploma de condecoracion a su excelencia el presidente kim il sung, fundador de la republica popular democratica de corea y dirigente de la lucha revolucionaria y del movimiento de liberacion nacional contra japon y ee.uu..

nombrado el embajador de la rpdc en guinea ecuatorial

     pyongyang, 20 de mayo (atcc) -- el presidium de la asamblea popular suprema de la republica popular democratica de corea promulgo un decreto sobre el nombramiento de hwangbo ung bom como embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la rpdc a acreditarse en la republica de guinea ecuatorial.

seminario de jovenes del cojs

     pyongyang, 20 de mayo (atcc) -- el "consejo de organizaciones de jovenes de sudcorea"(cojs) efectuo el dia 13 en el salon de reuniones de la "casa de cristianos" el "seminario de jovenes para la liquidacion de los remanentes del imperialismo japones y el rescate del nombre nacional corea en silaba inglesa". en la ocasion hubo intervenciones bajo titulares de:
    "significado del movimiento por el rescate del nombre corea visto por el viraje de la civilizacion", "el proceso historico del cambio del nombre nacional y la barbaridad de los imperialistas japoneses", etc.
    los oradores revelaron que "los imperialistas japoneses dictaron en 1910 un decreto imperial anunciando a las potencias mundiales anotar korea" y que el cambio de corea por korea fue una artimana de japon para reprimir corea.
    dijeron que "el movimiento por el rescate del nombre corea reviste un gran significado en la liquidacion de los vestigios del imperialismo japones, la detencion de la militarizacion de japon y la aspiracion a la reunificacion".
    agregaron que "los encuentros de pequenos tamanos del cojs tienen que desplegar el movimiento por el rescate de la denominacion corea" y subrayaron la necesidad de desplegarlo en distintas formas.