Seminars on Kim Jong Il's works held in different countries

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- A seminar on General Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "Giving Priority to Ideological Work is Essential for Accomplishing Socialism" was held by the Egyptian Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea on June 10 on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of his start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. The chairman of the committee said in a speech that Kim Jong Il's work is a library of the ideological work under socialism as it comprehensively systematizes and elucidates the original idea and theory of Juche and a militant weapon for developing the socialist movement in the present times.
    Kim Jong Il set forth the original Songun idea and has firmly defended socialist Korea, the chairman said, and went on: The Korean people single-heartedly rallied around Kim Jong Il are fully demonstrating the might of socialism to the world, bravely smashing the imperialists' moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, true to his Songun leadership.
    The struggle of the Korean people vigorously advancing along the road of socialism chosen by themselves is instilling confidence in victory and courage into the Egyptian people and other progressive people of the world.
    Meanwhile, a seminar and reading session on Kim Jong Il's famous works "Giving Priority to Ideological Work is Essential for Accomplishing Socialism" and "On Some Problems Concerning the Ideological Basis of Socialism" were held by the Kim Il Sung Institute of Agricultural Science in Guinea between May 21 and 29.

Anti-DPRK confab of U.S., Japan and S. Korea under fire

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The United States, Japan and South Korea were reported to have held a meeting of North Korean policy coordinating and monitoring group in Hawaii and made public a press statement on June 13. The statement threatened North Korea, urging it to refrain from aggravating the situation and underlining the need for the three-state coordination on the principle agreed upon at the recent summit talks of South Korea, U.S. and Japan if the situation gets worse.
    They were so ridiculous as to assert that the relations between the DPRK and the international community would depend on whether the former takes immediate verifiable measures to scrap its nuclear weapons program in a perfect and verifiable way or not, as if they had represented the international community.
    This only showed their trite stance of confrontation with the DPRK as they turned away from its just and realistic proposal for settling the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
    In view of the background against which the meeting took place and its proceedings and outcome it sought sinister aims to internationalize the DPRK's nuclear issue, a product of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK, lay an international siege to it and escalate the moves to blockade it and justify them.
    The statement, referring to drug smuggling and counterfeiting of money, said that its participants discussed the issue of cooperating with each other and seeking ways of cooperating with other countries and international organizations to check them. This is part of the ever-more undisguised smear campaign launched by the U.S. and Japan against the DPRK over drug trade.
    All these disturbing developments clearly indicate what do the "further steps" and "stronger measures" peddled by South Korea and Japan under the manipulation of the bush administration really mean.
    They also confirm once again that the DPRK's Songun policy and its increased self-defensive physical deterrent force provide a decisive guarantee for protecting the sovereignty and stability of the country, averting a war on the Korean Peninsula and ensuring peace there.

Russian embassy officials help Korean farmers

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Ambassador Andrei Karlov and officials of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang helped farmers of the Korea-Russia Friendship Kochang Cooperative Farm in harvesting barley, the first crop, yesterday. During a break the guests sang songs and conversed with farmers, deepening the feelings of friendship.
    The ambassador said that he was very pleased to work at the friendship farm and was deeply moved to see the farmers working hard.
    Referring to the fact that the Russia-Korea friendly relations are favorably developing under the deep concern of top leaders of the two countries, he expressed the conviction that the relations would grow stronger in the future, too.
    They handed aid materials to the farm.

Withdrawal of plan to sharply increase "national defence spending" demanded in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration in a statement issued on June 12 demanded the repeal of the plan for an increase in the "national defence spending", according to a news report. Recalling that some days ago the South Korean Ministry of Defence sharply increased the "national defence budget" for the next year with a view to introducing ultra modern military hardware, the statement dismissed this as a treacherous act of yielding to the pressure put by the U.S. upon South Korea to support its "plan for arms buildup". Noting with indignation that the issue of national defence is decided upon according to the will of outsiders, the statement denounced the ministry for supporting the U.S. in its arms buildup, even spending money collected from the people as taxes and strongly demanded the withdrawal of the plan.

Candlelight meeting held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- A candlelight meeting was held at March 1 Park in Kwangjok-Myon of Yangju county, Kyonggi Province on June 12 to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the murder of schoolgirls, according to KBS of South Korea. It was attended by members of the All-People Measure Committee for Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son, Schoolgirls Killed By a U.S. Armored Car, parents of the schoolgirls and over 300 inhabitants there.
    The participants demanded the revision of the unequal SOFA, the punishment of the GI murderers and so on.

National fine arts production

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The Korean Painting Production of the Mansudae Art Studio was formed in March Juche 62 (1973). Over the past three decades it has created tens of thousands of art works including those on the themes of revolutionary activities of the three generals of Mt. Paektu and landscape paintings.
    In this period, it has brought about a radical change in the content and form of Korean painting, the main painting style of the national fine arts.
    In recent years, the production has drawn a large picture of President Kim Il Sung with a broad smile on his face, Korean paintings "Mt. Chilbo in Autumn" and "Waves of Sea Kumgang" and many other masterpieces which are illustrative of the development of the Juche-based fine arts.
    Thousands of Korean paintings presented by the production won popularity at more than 300 art exhibitions held at home and abroad.
    The Korean paintings "evening glow over Kangson" and "Kosong people giving aid to the front" were awarded gold medals at the international art show held in Italy in 1979 and water-color paintings "Mt. Paektu" and "Waves" special prizes at the world watercolour competition in 1990.
    A special prize went to the Korean painting "Peace" at the international anti-war art show held in Poland in 1985 and a gold medal to the Korean painting "Mt. Kumgang in Summer" at the international art exhibition held in Dalian, China.
    The production has people's and merited artists and many other competent artists well known at home and abroad.

All Koreans urged to remain true to inter Korean joint declaration

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Inter-Korean dialogues and contacts are taking place on the principle of national independence and the Koreans from all walks of life are joining their efforts and raising the same voices despite their differing ideologies under the banner of "by our nation itself". This is the real picture in the era of independence and reunification in which the nation is bound to emerge victorious thanks to the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article. Referring to the astonishing events and stirring realities on this land the nation has witnessed in the movement for national reunification over the last three years since the publication of the joint declaration, the article goes on:
    The more reckless the U.S. imperialists become in their moves to chill the desire of Koreans for independence and reunification and bring a nuclear holocaust to the Korean Peninsula, the stronger faith and will the Koreans will have to creditably carve out the future of the country and the nation on their own, regarding national independence as their life and soul.
    The desire to achieve reconciliation, unity and reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation is running high all over the country.
    No matter how desperately the U.S. may work to start a nuclear war it cannot break the fixed will of the Koreans to achieve independence and reunification by rejoining the severed blood ties of the nation by its concerted efforts, optimistic about the victory of the era of independence and reunification.
    The joint declaration serves as a landmark of patriotism as it encourages the nation to sail to the final destination of reunification in the spirit of great national unity under the uplifted banner of independence, despite any adverse wind raised by outsiders and such snags as flunkeyism and treachery.
    The nation has yet a thorny way to go as there are many trials and difficulties in its way of national reunification.
    But no force on earth can stop the 70 million Koreans from vigorously advancing under the banner of the joint declaration.

U.S. warned of catastrophic consequences of its blockade operation against DPRK

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The move of the Bush group to lay an "international siege network" and conduct a blockade operation against the DPRK is a deliberate and premeditated one to ignite a war on the Korean Peninsula. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    The DPRK will take an immediate physical retaliatory step against the U.S. once it judges that its sovereignty is infringed upon by Washington's blockade operation.
    Explicitly speaking, the DPRK's physical retaliatory step against the U.S. blockade operation include all possible means and ways a sovereign state can take and it is limitless. Nobody can vouch that this blockade operation will not lead to such a serious development as an all-out war.
    In case a war breaks out between the DPRK and the U.S. the frontline will not be confined to the Korean Peninsula only but every place where aggressors are stationed will be the target of the DPRK's strike.
    In this regard the DPRK can not but serve a warning to Japan, too. In case a war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula it will immediately spill over into Japan as the territory of Japan is used as a U.S. base of aggression against the DPRK and Japan is fully involved in the U.S. policy to isolate and stifle the DPRK.

Rodong Sinmun on greatness of Kim Jong Il's leadership

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a signed article to the 39th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. The article deals with the greatness of his leadership in glorifying the DPRK as an invincible power. The nearly 40-year-long history of his leadership over the WPK and the revolution represents the proud history of the DPRK which has recorded victory and glory only despite all sorts of rigorous trials and tempests, the article says, and continues:
    It is the greatness of his leadership that he demonstrated the dignity of the DPRK as a powerful country with single-hearted unity which can not be broken by any nuclear weapons.
    He converted the country into a militarily powerful country that no formidable imperialist enemies dare provoke, brought about miracles and innovations in all fields of socialist construction and ushered in the golden days of prosperous country.
    Thanks to his wise guidance the WPK has developed into an invincible revolutionary party, Kim Il Sung's party, and the Korean People's Army into an invincible revolutionary army that has inherited the spirit of Mt. Paektu and prepared itself politically and ideologically and in military technique.
    Our army and people will extol the immortal exploits and history of Kim Jong Il who has glorified the DPRK as the most dignified country of Juche and the invincible power in the world with his great idea and energetic leadership.

DPRK wins team title of 13th World Taekwon-do Championships

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) --The DPRK won the team title of the 13th World Taekwon-do Championships which was held in Greece from June 12 to 15. The DPRK boys and girls carried off 21 gold medals, 2 silver medals, 1 bronze medal and 10 cups. The DPRK players came first in the men's and women's team pattern competitions, the men's and women's team sparring matches and the women's team demonstration sports.
    A prize presentation ceremony was held at the closing ceremony of the 13th World Taekwon-do Championships on June 15.
    Medals were awarded to the DPRK players who gave a good accounts of themselves at the championships, a trophy cup to the DPRK, trophy cups to the men's and women's teams of the DPRK and technical prizes to Pu Song Min and Ro Hyon Hwa.
    Participating in the championships were Taekwon-do players from 75 countries and regions.

International meeting for peace held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- An international Peace Meeting for Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula was reportedly held in Phaju city, Kyonggi Province of South Korea on June 15 under the sponsorship of the People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation and the headquarters of the Movement of the Unity of All Koreans. It was attended by inhabitants there, over 900 representatives of different organizations who went there from Seoul by train and more than 50 foreigners.
    Speeches were made and a peace declaration was read out at the meeting.
    Noting that the war crisis on the Korean Peninsula diametrically runs counter to the June 15 joint declaration and the desire of humankind for peace, the declaration said. We will continue holding international meetings for peace on the Korean Peninsula to be attended by peace-loving figures in the south and the north and the rest of the world.

Grand Festival for National Reunification held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The Grand Festival for National Reunification to mark the 3rd anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration was held at the memorial hall for Paekbom in Seoul on June 15 under the sponsorship of the preparatory committee of the headquarters for promoting the joint national functions in 2003, according to a news report. It was attended by more than 700 members of different organizations and at least 50 foreigners who came to Seoul to participate in the international peace conference for peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
    At the festival the speakers called upon the Koreans to clear the sky over Korea of the dark clouds of war and open up a new era of independence, peace and national co-prosperity through national cooperation and by the concerted efforts of the nation, saying that upholding the June 15 joint declaration leads to patriotism.
    Conveyed there were a recorded congratulatory letter of Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the North Side's Preparatory Committee for the June 15 Grand Festival for National Reunification, messages of greetings from the general federation of trade unions of Korea, the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, the union of agricultural workers of Korea, the Korean Democratic Women's Union, the Korean Council of Religionists and the Overseas Preparatory Committee for the Grand Festival for National Reunification addressed to the festival.
    An appeal to the 70 million Koreans was read out there.
    A congratulatory performance was given by chorus for one Korea, etc.
    The first June 15 Marathon contest for reunification, the international seminar to mark the 3rd anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration, a press conference to denounce conservative press for distorting the June 15 joint declaration, etc. took place in Seoul and other parts of South Korea on the same day.

World day of preventing desertification and drought marked

     Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- Today is the world day of preventing desertification and drought. A rapid desertification of soil decreases its fertility, making it impossible for plants to grow and water resources are running out. The resultant pollution of ecological environment and decrease of agricultural production are seriously threatening the human existence.
    Minju Joson today in an article dedicated to this day says that the theme for this year is the management of water resources and desertification.
    It continues: Different countries of the world have paid attention to planting trees and creating greens, etc. so as to prevent the desertification of soil and its adverse effect and made a huge investment in them.
    Those in the desertified regions are working hard to rehabilitate the devastated land and water resources while expanding cooperation and exchange in a bid to prevent the desertification of soil.
    It is a state policy of the DPRK to properly manage and use soil and make an effective use of water resources. As a result, soil desertification is prevented and land realignment projects to make a reasonable use of soil are making brisk headway in the country.
    The DPRK will exert sustained energetic efforts to properly protect and use land in close touch with international organizations.

For Spanish-speaking people

rpdc: actos simultaneos de budistas norte-sur por reunificacion de patria

     pyongyang, 17 de junio (atcc) -- con motivo del 3 aniversario del historico encuentro entre los maximos dirigentes del norte y el sur de corea en pyongyang y la publicacion de la declaracion conjunta norte-sur del 15 de junio, los actos simultaneos de budistas norte-sur para la ejecucion de esta declaracion y para la reunificacion de la patria tuvieron lugar el dia 15 en los templos de distintas partes de la republica popular democratica de corea. en los actos participaron los eclesiasticos del comite central, los comites de las provincias, ciudades y distritos, de la federacion de budistas de corea, los jefes, bonzos y creyentes de los templos budistas correspondientes.
    se efectuaron ceremonias. pronunciaron discursos y se dio lectura a las palabras de oracion.
    los oradores senalaron que cuando se eleva mas que nunca la aspiracion de todos los coreanos a la reunificacion con motivo del 3 aniversario de la publicacion de la historica declaracion conjunta del 15 de junio, se celebran los actos simultaneos y agregaron que todos los budistas, bien conscientes de la mision y el deber de ser duenos y encargados de esta causa nacional, deben levantarse activamente en esta sagrada lucha.
    la publicacion de la declaracion conjunta fue un punto de viraje que puso fin al pasado manchado por la division y el enfrentamiento y dejo abierta una nueva epoca de la reconciliacion y la unidad de la nacion, dijeron los oradores y expresaron la firme disposicion de todos los budistas del norte y el sur de corea y en ultramar tendentes a unirse firmemente bajo el espiritu de "con las fuerzas unidas de la nacion coreana" y a levantarse activamente en lucha practica por frustrar las abiertas maquinaciones de provocacion de nueva guerra de los imperialistas yanquis y sus fuerzas satelites y preservar la paz y la seguridad del pais.

conciliabulo de ee.uu. japon y corea del sur - comentario de atcc -

     pyongyang, 17 de junio (atcc) -- segun informaciones, ee.uu., japon y corea del sur sostuvieron en hawai una "reunion del grupo de coordinacion y control de la politica con respecto a corea del norte" e hicieron publica el dia 13 una "declaracion de prensa". en el documento amenazaron a la rpdc al "urgir a esta a dejar de agravar la situacion" y al decir: "de empeorarse la situacion sera necesaria la coordinacion de los tres paises a base de los principios acordados en las recientes conversaciones cumbre de corea del sur, ee.uu. y japon". fingiendo ser representantes de la sociedad internacional dijeron descaradamente: "las relaciones entre la comunidad internacional y la rpdc se decidiran por la toma urgente de las medidas verificadoras para poner fin, con el metodo completo y posible de inspeccion, al plan de armas nucleares".
    asi eluden el proyecto justo y real de la rpdc para la solucion del problema nuclear de la peninsula coreana y manifiestan su invariable posicion de confrontacion con esta.
    en una palabra, dicha reunion, tanto a la luz de su fondo como en vista a su proceso y resultado, fue un conciliabulo en que manifestaron oficialmente la intencion de internacionalizar el problema nuclear producto de la politica hostil de ee.uu. a la rpdc, formar la red de cerco internacional contra esta, arreciar las provocativas maniobras de bloqueo y justificarlas.
    ellos senalaron en la declaracion que habian discutido las "medidas para la cooperacion entre si y la con otros paises y organizaciones internacionales" para detener el "narcotrafico y la "falsificacion de billetes". esto no se puede concebir al margen del hecho de que ee.uu. y japon intensifican como nunca sus maquinaciones de provocacion contra la rpdc acusando a esta de "droga".
    la actual situacion demuestra bien que son las "medidas adicionales" y "las mas poderosas" de que habla la administracion bush, al manipular a sudcorea y japon.
    tambien, prueba una vez mas que nuestra politica de songun (priorizacion militar) y el fortalecimiento de la fuerza de detencion fisica autodefensiva son una garantia decisiva para defender la soberania y la estabilidad del pais, detener la guerra y preservar la paz en la peninsula coreana.

"rodong sinmun" se refiere a operacion de bloqueo de ee.uu.

     pyongyang, 17 de junio (atcc) -- el diario "rodong sinmun" en un comentario individual de hoy senala que las fuerzas belicosas de bush forman una "red de bloqueo internaiconal", contra el norte de corea, lo que es un complot de provocacion intencional para desatar una nueva guerra en la peninsula coreana. en caso de que la soberania de la republica popular democratica de corea se ve violada por la operacion de bloqueo de ee.uu., le respondera de inmediato con represalia fisica al respecto, senala el comentario y continua:
    en la medida de represalia fisica de la rpdc contra la operacion de bloqueo de ee.uu. estan abarcados todos los medios y metodos que pueda tomar el estado soberano. no hay ninguna garantia de que el bloqueo de ee.uu. no se desarrollara en tal grave caso como la guerra total. una vez estallada la guerra entre corea y ee.uu. esta no se limitara a la peninsula coreana sino la rpdc atacara a todos los lugares donde estan anidados los agresores.
    en la ocasion la rpdc advierte a japon que si estalla la guerra en la peninsula coreana, esta podra expandir de inmediato al pais isleno porque este se ha utilizado como la base de ee.uu. para agredir a corea y se ha incorporado activamente a la politica de ee.uu. tendente a aplastar a la rpdc.