Exchange of greetings with Malaysia

     Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, exchanged messages of greetings with Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, King of Malaysia, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Malaysia. Kim Yong Nam in the message of greetings on June 30 expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries which have developed on good terms since the establishment of diplomatic relations would grow stronger in different domains and sincerely wished the king good health and happiness as well as the people of Malaysia prosperity and well-being.
    The King of Malaysia in the message of greetings on June 26 hoped that the close relations between the two countries would further strengthen in the future.

Cambodians pay tribute to Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- The Funcinpec Party of Cambodia sent a basket of flowers to the DPRK embassy in Phnom Penh to commemorate the ninth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's demise Rum Chieng, head of the party delegation visited the embassy on July 8. He laid the floral basket before a portrait of the president there and paid tribute to him.
    The head of the delegation said that the funcinpec party always remembers the deep solicitude shown by the president for King Norodom Sihanouk and itself. The party wholeheartedly wishes leader Kim Jong Il good health and greater success in the noble cause of national defence and reunification, he added.

Memorial services for Kim Il Sung held abroad

     Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Meetings for remembering President Kim Il Sung took place in Italy, India, Benin, Ecuador and Thailand between July 3 and 5. Reports and speeches were made at the meetings.
    The General Secretary of the People's Democracy-Unity Left Wing of Italy in a speech said that Kim Il Sung defeated Japanese imperialism to liberate the country and led the war against an armed invasion of the imperialists to victory and thus defended socialism.
    The Secretary General of the All India Indo-Korean Friendship Association, in a report, referred to the feats of the president for the Korean revolution and the human cause of independence, saying: he was a great saint in the 20th century all people have highly praised as the sun.
    The chairman of the Benin-Korea Amicable Association "Long Live Kim Jong Il, Supreme Leader" said in a speech that the president was the most prominent of prominent leaders and heroes produced by humankind.
    The honorary president of the Voluntad Publishing House of Ecuador said in a speech: Kim Il Sung was father and benefactor of my family. I cannot forget his love and solicitude accorded to my family down through generations.
    Meanwhile, lecture meetings, photo exhibitions and film shows were held in Pakistan, Singapore, Mexico and Libya on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of Kim Il Sung's demise.

Chinese senior officials on Sino-Korean relations

     Beijing, July 11 (KCNA) -- It is the steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to develop the China-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations, said Gu Xiulian, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China. Speaking at a reception given at the DPRK embassy here today to mark the 42nd anniversary of the DPRK-China treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, Gu said: Over the past years, the two parties and governments of China and the DPRK have pushed ahead with their cause of socialist construction, treating on an equal footing, respecting and supporting and complementing each other in the spirit of the treaty. At the same time, they have dynamically propelled the steady consolidation and development of the bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation and made important contributions to defending the peace and stability of China and Korea and, furthermore, the rest of the world, closely cooperating with each other in the international arena.
    The Sino-Korean friendship, which was provided and cultivated personally by the leaders of the old generation of the two countries, has stood the trial of history and has already rooted deep in the mind of the two peoples, she said.
    She expressed belief that the flower of friendship would come into fuller bloom under the guidance of leaders of the two countries and by the joint efforts of the two parties, governments and peoples.
    Meanwhile, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Korea Friendship Association hosted a reception in Beijing on July 10 on this occasion.
    Addressing the reception, president of the people's association Chen Haoxiao said it is of weighty significance in promoting peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia and, furthermore, in the rest of the world to preserve and strengthen the China-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations under the present international situation.

Repression of trade union protested in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- The railway workers union called a press conference on July 8 in protest against the authorities' repression of the strikers, according to MBC of South Korea. On July 7, the national railroad administration announced that it would take disciplinary actions, such as suspension of duties or more, against all those unionists involved in the strike and file a claim for damage, charging that 87 percent of them failed to observe the term of returning to work.
    The union told at the conference that the "government" calling for "return to work first, negotiation next" refuses to have dialogue but cracks down upon the unionists though they went back to work after the general strike.

"Military alliance" targeted against DPRK under fire

     Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld met with Jo Yong Gil, South Korean "Minister of Defence," in Washington, a few days ago, to promise to continue cooperation for intensified alliance with South Korea, pulling up the DPRK. even after the confab he said that they agreed to further increase the military deterrent force, stressing the need to unite the allied countries based on a strong deterrent force while talking about the "threat of North Korea's nuclear development". Minju Joson in a signed commentary today says this indicates that the United States is keen to intensify "military alliance" with South Korea.
    The news analyst goes on:
    It is by no means the first time that the U.S war hawks vociferated about "unity of allied countries" and "intensified alliance" against the DPRK. It is the invariable ambition of the U.S. imperialists for aggression to conquer the DPRK by force of arms.
    The intensified "military alliance" of the U.S. and South Korea will only result in escalating the threat of a new war, a nuclear war on the Korean peninsula. The U.S. imperialists' moves to intensify the "military alliance" with South Korea will disturb peace in Asia and the rest of the world and inflict nuclear disasters on humankind.
    Such moves of the U.S. war hawks are an unpardonable crime that will cause very dangerous consequences.
    The U.S. imperialists seek to invade the DPRK by driving out the South Korean army as bullet shields, but it is a pipedream.
    If they dare to mount a preemptive attack on the DPRK, they will drink a bitter cup before its self-reliant defense capacities.
    The U.S. is well advised to drop its infeasible policy to stifle the DPRK and honestly come out to the DPRK-U.S. dialogue.

Meeting of voters at constituency no. 649 held

     Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- A loyal meeting of voters at constituency no. 649 took place at the April 25 House of Culture on July 12 to repay the deep trust of supreme commander Kim Jong Il who decided to have his candidacy for the 11th Supreme People's Assembly registered at the constituency. The platform was taken by director of the General Political Department of the Korean People's Army Jo Myong Rok, chief of the general staff of the KPA Kim Yong Chun, Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol, vice marshal of the KPA Jang Song U and senior officials of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces.
    An open letter Kim Jong Il sent to all the voters across the country was read out by Jo Myong Rok.
    General of the KPA Ryo Chun Sok and other servicemen voters made speeches.
    They said that the register of Kim Jong Il as a candidate for the 11th SPA at constituency no. 649 represents his unwavering faith and will to put forward the KPA invariably as the pillar and the main force of the revolution, smash the vicious challenges of the imperialists, firmly defend the Korean-style socialism and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche to the end.
    They said that they would prepare themselves to be a-match-for-a hundred brave fighters, keeping in mind the boundless pride of nominating the supreme commander as a candidate for the 11th spa. They stressed that they would wipe out the aggressors at one blow with the honor of Juche Korea and devote their youth to reunifying the country, if the enemy ignites a war again in this land.
    A resolution was adopted at the meeting.

Japan's moves to bedevil DPRK-Japan relations flailed

     Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- The director general of the Japan defense agency said that if the united states mounts a preemptive attack on North Korea, the "self-defense forces" may take a military response to it and that it is not unconstitutional to mount a preemptive attack on missile launching place of North Korea. The Tokyo metropolitan governor let loose a spate of vituperations against the DPRK that Japan should take a revenge on North Korea for the "issue of kidnapping," North Korea should collapse and Japan may stage a war against North Korea. In this regard Rodong Sinmun runs a signed commentary today, which says:
    Japan has persistently pursued the hostile policy toward the DPRK for scores of years after the war, but it has never resorted to it so frantically as now. This is an unjust behavior that does not conform with the desire and interests of the peoples of Korea and Japan.
    Japan is driving the DPRK-Japan relations to an extreme pitch of tension, which is aimed to avoid its past liquidation. The Japanese reactionaries' persistent raising of the "issue of kidnapping" is, in essence, an attitude that they will ditch the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and evade the liquidation of the past wrongdoings.
    Lurking behind the moves of Japan to bedevil the DPRK-Japan relations is its real intention to attain its wild ambition for reinvasion.
    By nature, what the Japanese reactionaries want is to stage a comeback, not to normalize the DPRK-Japan relations. It is the ambition of the Japanese reactionaries to follow in the wake of samurais who tried to swallow up the whole of Asia after invading and occupying Korea in the past.
    Japan can never avoid the past redress. The Japanese reactionaries' ambition for reinvasion will not be realized. They have nothing to get from worsening DPRK-Japan relations.
    They would be well advised to take a correct option at the crossroads of history whether to improve or worsen the DPRK-Japan relations.

Anniversary of DPRK-China treaty marked

     Chongjin, July 11 (KCNA) -- The Chinese consul-general in Chongjin hosted a reception on Friday evening to mark the 42nd anniversary of the conclusion of the DPRK-China treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. Present on invitation were vice-chairman of the North Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee Choe Ki Dok and officials concerned.
    Staff members of the Chinese consulate-general were present there.
    Speeches were made at the reception.

Feats of President Kim Il Sung lauded

     Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) -- Meetings for remembering President Kim Il Sung took place in Germany, South Africa, Uganda, Austria and Poland on July 2 and 4. At the meeting, the chairman of the C.C., the Communist Party of Germany said that the president built powerful socialism in Korea and performed immortal exploits for the Korean and the world revolution.
    The Minister of State in the Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment of Uganda said that not only the Korean people but the Ugandan people always remember the president because his idea serves not only as the eternal guiding idea of the Korean people but as the idea cherished by the world's progressives. He lives in our hearts for his great and immortal feats, the minister said, adding that they could never forget his noble and great traits.
    We sincerely hope that the Korean people will reunify the country at an early date under the guidance of Kim Jong Il, successor to the revolutionary cause of the president, he said.
    The head of the Mazowse Song and Dance Troupe of Poland referred to the fact that the troupe had the honor of being received by the president and hoped that the Korean people would achieve national reunification as soon as possible.

Unity of world progressive forces called for

     Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) -- The international situation today proves that it is impossible to defend the sovereignty of the country and the nation, to say nothing of the building of an independent new society unless the anti-imperialist independent forces of the world unite close and wage a vigorous struggle against the imperialists' ever-more undisguised arbitrary and high-handed practices and their moves for domination, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It goes on:
    It is an intrinsic nature of a human being and a requirement for life to live and develop independently. It is a historic task to be fulfilled through a very difficult and hard struggle to wipe out imperialist and dominationist forces and accomplish the cause of global independence.
    All the progressive forces of the world should closely unite as the imperialists are not willing to quit the international arena of their own accord.
    What is most important for achieving the unity of the anti-imperialist independent forces is to maintain independence.
    The unity of the forces in the true sense of the word is unthinkable without adhering to the principle of independence. The U.S. imperialists are the major target of the united struggle of the anti-imperialist independent forces.
    It is necessary for the world progressive forces to build up their own military strength to closely unite and successfully wage the struggle against the imperialist and dominationist forces.
    One can not maintain independence and behave on one's own principle in the international arena if one lacks strong military power.
    It is the consistent policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK to strengthen unity with the world progressives. The DPRK will do all it can do to achieve unity with the world progressive forces and give a strong impetus to building an independent and new world under the uplifted banner of unity no matter how complicated the situation may be and what obstacles may lie in their way.

U.S. unreasonable stand under fire

     Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) -- U.S. State Secretary Powell at a recent interview with a TV reporter blustered that the U.S. would not reward someone's bad behavior, creating impression that the U.S. call for North Korea's "scrapping of its nuclear program before dialogue" and its "multilateral talks" are commanding broad-based support from the international community. His remarks come under fire by a signed commentary of Minju Joson today. His recent remarks only go to clearly prove that the Bush administration, in fact, does not want a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, the commentary observes, and goes on:
    The U.S. is only repeating its call for North Korea's "dismantlement of its nuclear program before dialogue", while keeping mum about its hostile policy toward the DPRK. This can not but be an extremely unilateral and brigandish logic intended to attain its sinister aim.
    The same holds true for the issue of multilateral talks. The DPRK is not opposed to that format of talks. The DPRK's stand to hold the DPRK-U.S. talks before the multilateral talks is quite just as it is prompted by its deep study of the essence and the nature of the issue and its analysis of them.
    The U.S. must know this, of course.
    The assertion that bad behavior would not be rewarded made by the U.S. in reference to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula only discloses its foolish attempt to shift its responsibility onto the DPRK and seek a plausible pretext for stifling the DPRK with nukes. This diatribe, however, will get it nowhere.
    As the DPRK government has clarified more than once, its building up of a nuclear deterrent force is not aimed to get any quid pro quo from the U.S. but is a just self-defensive measure to defend the sovereignty and the dignity of the country to cope with the U.S. ever-more undisguised policy to stifle the DPRK.
    The U.S. should face up to the reality, roll back its unreasonable assertions and immediately buckle down into solving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula in a peaceful way. This will do the U.S. good, too.

Inter-Korean ministerial talks close

     Seoul, July 12 (KCNA correspondent) -- The 11th inter-Korean ministerial talks which were opened in Seoul closed on July 12. At the talks both sides sincerely discussed the issues and proposals on the agenda with a stand and will to firmly preserve and implement to the letter the June 15 Joint Declaration, a landmark of national reunification.
    A joint press release of the 11th inter-Korean ministerial talks was published at the talks.
    According to it, the north and the south expressed concern over the situation prevailing on the Korean peninsula and agreed to cooperate with each other in the efforts to peacefully settle the nuclear issue in a proper way of dialogue, sharing the understanding that it is necessary to work together to preserve peace and security on the peninsula.
    The north and the south agreed to cooperate with each other to have the 8th reunion of separated families and relatives at Mt. Kumgang resort and hold a ground-breaking ceremony of the reunion center at Mt. Kumgang resort on the occasion of Hangawi (harvest moon day).
    The north and the south agreed to cooperate with each other in the efforts to make the on-going economic cooperation bear fruits as early as possible and hold the sixth meeting of the north-south committee for the promotion of economic cooperation in Seoul from august 26 to 29, 2003.
    The north and the south agreed to examine the issue of forming the north-south panel for social and cultural cooperation. It was agreed that the panel would discuss cooperation and exchange in social, cultural, sports and other fields and examine the issues raised by both sides including a stop to smear broadcasting towards the other party.
    The north and the south agreed to render positive cooperation to non-governmental organizations in their efforts to hold functions celebrating the August 15 Liberation Day this year, in an atmosphere of reconciliation and cooperation.
    The north and the south agreed to hold the 12th inter-Korean ministerial talks in Pyongyang from October 14 to 17, 2003.

Kim Jong Il sends open letter to all voters

     Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent an open letter to all the voters across the country on July 10. The letter says:
    I have been nominated as a candidate for deputy to the 11th Supreme People's Assembly at the electorate meetings held at all the constituencies across the country amid the high political enthusiasm of the servicemen and people. This is a manifestation of all the voters' absolute support and trust in our party and a clear indication of the revolutionary stamina and indomitable will of our army and people advancing along the road of victory under the banner of Songun, guided by the party.
    I express heartfelt thanks to all the voters of the country for your deep trust placed in me. I will devote myself to the people and the happiness of the posterity, true to the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung's idea "believing in the people as in heaven" in the future, too, and thus live up to the deep trust of our servicemen and people.
    Under the DPRK law on the election of deputies to people's assemblies at all levels, a candidate is to be registered only at one constituency. So, I have decided to have my candidacy registered at constituency no. 649.
    The DPRK is the glorious socialist motherland of Juche which was built by comrade Kim Il Sung, father of socialist Korea, and our people defended at the cost of blood and have burnished through heroic struggles under the guidance of the party and the leader.
    The election to be held under the tense situation with the 55th anniversary of the founding of the republic off will be a historic grand political festival which will demonstrate the vitality of our Songun policy and the might of the single-hearted unity and the dignity and power of our socialist motherland remaining unshaken in any storm and stress. All the voters should participate in the election as one for the grandeur and prosperity of their country and the strengthening and development of the people's government and thus glorify their high honour as citizens of the republic and fulfil their civic obligations.
    It is my belief that all the officers and men of the people's army and people will make more dynamic endeavours for the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and the independent and peaceful reunification of the country full of confidence and optimism, true to the Songun leadership of the party.

Architectural festival to be held

     Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) -- The third "May 21 Architectural Festival" will take place here late in July. The festival will include a prize contest for designing monumental edifices to be built to thoroughly implement the tasks set forth in leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "Theory of Architectural Art" and a grandiose plan of the Workers' Party of Korea, an exhibition of blueprints for constructing city and county seats as required by the new century, a national symposium on architecture and construction and national lectures on the modernization of architectural designing and other events.

Greetings to President of Sao Tome and Principe

     Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) --Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Thursday sent a message of greetings to Frederique De Menezes, President of Sao Tome and Principe, on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of its independence and the proclamation of its Democratic Republic. The message wished the president, government and people of Sao Tome and Principe greater success in their work for the prosperity of the country and expressed belief that the relations between the two countries would steadily grow stronger.

For Spanish-speaking people

kim jong il envia mensaje abierto a los electores de la rpdc

     pyongyang, 12 de julio (atcc) -- el dirigente kim jong il envio el dia 10 un mensaje abierto a todos los electores de la republica popular democratica de corea. el mensaje senala:
    me recomendaron como candidato para diputado a la asamblea popular suprema en las asambleas de los electores de todos los distritos electorales del pais entero para presentar los candidatos a diputados a la xi legislatura de la aps que tuvieron lugar en medio de elevado entusiasmo politico de todos los oficiales y soldados del ejercito popular y los habitantes. esto es una expresion del absoluto apoyo y confianza de todos los electores en nuestro partido y constituye una muestra fehaciente del impetu revolucionario e inflexible voluntad del ejercito y el pueblo de corea que, bajo la direccion del partido, con la bandera del songun en alto, avanzan por el camino de triunfo.
    expreso de todo corazon mi agradecimiento a todos los electores del pais entero por haberme manifestado la alta confianza. al mantener la idea de iminwichon (idea de considerar al pueblo como el cielo) del gran lider, camarada kim il sung me consagrare en el futuro tambien por el pueblo y la felicidad de las generaciones venideras y, de esta manera, respondere a la alta confianza de los oficiales y soldados del ejercito popular y los habitantes.
    decidi registrarme como candidato al diputado en el distrito electoral no. 649 para las elecciones de los diputados a xi legislatura de la aps porque segun la ley de eleccion de los diputados a las asambleas populares a todos los niveles de la republica popular democratica de corea un candidato para diputado debe registrarse en un distrito electoral.
    la rpdc es la gloriosa patria socialista del juche que fundo el gran lider, camarada kim il sung, fundador de la corea socialista, y que nuestro pueblo, bajo la direccion del partido y del lider, ha defendido con la sangre y ha hecho brillar mediante la lucha heroica.
    las presentes elecciones de los diputados a la aps que se realizaran bajo la severa situacion en el periodo significativo en que acogemos el 55 aniversario de la fundacion de la republica seran un gran festival politico de significado historico que manifestara el poderio de nuestra politica de songun (priorizacion militar) y de la unidad monolitica y mostrara sin reserva la dignidad y el aspecto majestuoso de nuestra patria socialista que no vacila ante cualquier tempestad. para la prosperidad de mi pais y mi patria y para el fortalecimiento y el desarrollo del poder popular todos los electores deben participar activamente como un solo hombre en las elecciones de los diputados a la aps para hacer brillar el alto honor del ciudadano de la republica y cumplir con el deber civico.
    creo que todos los oficiales y soldados del ejercito popular y los habitantes, llenos de la conviccion y el optimismo, apoyaran enteramente la direccion del songun del partido y haran ingentes esfuerzos por la construccion de una gran potencia prospera socialista y la reunificacion independiente y pacifica de la patria.

rusia decide ofrecer alimentos a la rpdc

     pyongyang, 12 de julio (atcc) -- el gobierno de la federacion rusa decidio ofrecer a la republica popular democratica de corea los alimentos por valor de 10 millones de dolares a traves del programa mundial de alimentos(pma). tal decision es estimulante y contribuira al desarrollo de las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los dos paises.