Tax Regulations for Kaesong Industrial Zone Adopted

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Tax regulations for the Kaesong industrial zone were adopted according to a decision of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK. The decision dated September 18, Juche 92 (2003) consists of 9 chapters and 86 provisions.
    The regulations are aimed to establish a strict taxation order in the Kaesong industrial zone for correct levy and payment.
    Clarified in the regulations are concrete provisions from objects to be taxed to enterprise income tax, individual income tax, property tax, inheritance tax, transaction tax, business tax, local tax, sanctions and complaints.
    Added to the regulations are eight supplements carrying tables of tax rates.

Labour Regulations for Kaesong Industrial Zone Adopted

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Labour regulations for the Kaesong industrial zone were adopted according to a decision of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK. The decision dated September 18, Juche 92 (2003) consists of 7 chapters and 49 provisions.
    The regulations are aimed to establish a strict system and order concerning the employment of manpower needed for business in the Kaesong industrial zone so as to fully ensure business activities and working conditions of employees.
    Stipulated in the regulations are concrete provisions from the principles of employment of labour force to a guarantee for working conditions, payment for the work done and the protection of workers, socio-cultural policy, sanctions and settlement of disputes.

160 Cases of Aerial Espionage in September

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialist bellicose forces perpetrated at least 160 cases of aerial espionage on the DPRK in September by mobilizing strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes with different missions, a military source said. A U-2 high altitude strategic reconnaissance plane committed nearly 20 cases of photographing and electronic espionage on the depth of the DPRK.
    An RC-135 strategic reconnaissance plane made flights from the sky above Tokjok Islet in the West Sea of Korea to the sky above the area east of Hungchon and Sokcho to commit photographing and electronic espionage on all areas of the DPRK while an EP-3 electronic reconnaissance plane spied on the waters off the east and west coasts and the bottom of the sea of the DPRK.
    RC-12 and RC-7B tactical reconnaissance planes flew day and night in the sky above the areas along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to spy on the depth of the DPRK and its major targets.
    Meanwhile, the U.S. imperialists recently launched aerial espionage by a new-type unmanned tactical reconnaissance plane in the sky above the areas along the MDL.

Additional Troop Dispatch to Iraq Opposed in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- A rally reportedly took place near Chongwadae on Sept. 25 to oppose increased military spendings and additional troop dispatch to Iraq under the co-sponsorship of the Democratic Workers' Party, the Men of Opening Peace and Reunification and the Confederation of Trade Unions of south Korea. It was noted at the rally that the profuse military spendings appropriated by the authorities in disregard of the people's living will be used for the U.S. strategy to make a preemptive attack on the DPRK.
    The speakers at the rally denounced the authorities' view that if they accepted the U.S. demand for additional troop dispatch, its stand toward the Korean peninsula would change.
    Meanwhile, the Women's Committee of the Reunification Solidarity for the Implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Peace on the Korean Peninsula held an inaugural rally of a women's movement of declaration against troop dispatch to Iraq and for the achievement of peace on the Korean peninsula in Seoul on Sept. 25.
    A press conference was called to put open questions on the U.S. demand for dispatching south Korean troops to the Iraqi war in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on Sept. 26 under the sponsorship of the Headquarters of the Movement against U.S. and War and for Urging the Conclusion of Non-aggression Treaty between the DPRK and the U.S.

Anniversary of Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace Observed

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- A meeting commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace was held on September 30. The palace founded on Sept. 30, Juche 52 (1963), has successfully fulfilled its honorable revolutionary tasks in the education of the younger generations over the past 40 years.
    A congratulatory letter of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea to the teaching staff of the palace was read out at the meeting. The letter said the palace has briskly conducted various circle and mass activities, upholding the Party's Juche-based policy of extra-mural education for school youth and children to contribute to training them into revolutionary personnel well prepared in political, ideological, technological and cultural attainments.
    The meeting heard a report of Kim In Gyu, general director of the palace, and speeches.

14th National Program Contests Open

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The 14th National Program Contests and Exhibition opened on September 30. In the period of the contests and exhibition there will be competitions in letter and sound recognition programs, mechanical translation programs and Korean chess programs, academic presentations on IT and lectures.
    Pyon Yong Rip, president of the Academy of Sciences, in his opening address said the programming technology in the DPRK was making a leaping progress and largely contributing to developing the national economy in compliance with the requirements of the present century on the basis of a solid scientific and technological foundation of IT industry.
    He called on all the scientists and technicians to achieve valuable results in their researches to help toward lifting the IT technology of the country to the advanced world level at an early date and carrying out technical reconstruction and modernization of the national economy by increasing knowledge and ability and using their brain in response to the Party's intention and the appeal adopted at the meeting of heroes in the Songun era.
    Present at the opening ceremony were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Ro Tu Chol, vice-premier of the Cabinet, officials concerned and programmers.

Implementation of Political Initiative of NAM Called for

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Choe Su Hon, vice-minister of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, who headed the DPRK delegation, addressed the meeting of foreign ministers of the non-aligned countries on September 26. In his speech, he expressed a series of views on taking a common stand of the NAM on important items on the agenda of the U.N. General Assembly.
    Noting that it is important to give priority to raising the position of the NAM in the international arena including U.N. and demonstrate its collective might there, he said that the non-aligned countries should jointly raise and implement in U.N. resolutions adopted at NAM meetings including its recent summits.
    As regards the issue of disarmament, he underscored the need to continue strongly urging the nuclear weapons states set out timetables for unconditionally assuring the non-nuclear countries of non-use of nuclear weapons and dismantling nukes.
    Turning to the issue of human rights, he called for resolutely opposing any extraterritorial moves to impose particular "human rights standards" upon other countries as universally accepted ones and any attempt to use the issue of human rights as a pretext for interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
    Underlining the need for the NAM to conduct positive joint actions to reject unilateral and high-handed acts of constantly threatening world peace and security at the session of the U.N. General Assembly this year, he said that unilateral and high-handed acts are, in essence, aimed to establish a world order controlled by the only superpower.
    In this context he underscored the urgent necessity to thoroughly implement the political initiative of the NAM to regard it as its supreme principle to reject interference in the internal affairs of other countries in the international relations and respect sovereignty. He went on:
    The historic North-South Joint Declaration published on June 15, 2000 is a great programme for national reunification in which the north and the south of Korea promised each other to achieve peace and reunification of the country independently by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation. The DPRK will as ever make all efforts to improve the north-south relations and realize the independent and peaceful reunification of the country by implementing the declaration to the letter.
    The nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S., which draws the world's attention, surfaced as the U.S. administration listed the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil" and a target of its preemptive nuclear attack and ditched the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework. It is, therefore, a precondition for settling the nuclear issue for the U.S. to drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
    The DPRK will invariably remain loyal to the noble idea and objective of the NAM in order to carry cut the lifetime will of President Kim Il Sung who dedicated his great life to the global independence and the growth and development of the NAM and the intention of leader Kim Jong Il, successor to his cause, and do all it can to maintain and realize the common stand and view of the NAM at the U.N. general assembly this year.

U.S. Loudmouthed "Missile Threat" Refuted

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The U.S., which had vociferated that the DPRK would declare nuclear status on the occasion of its 55th anniversary, is now spreading a rumor that north Korea is posing a big threat to the U.S. by developing a new-type long-range ballistic missile. In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a commentary says that lurking behind this diatribe is a U.S. black-hearted design to hype the "missile threat" from the DPRK and thus achieve its sinister purpose.
    By floating the rumor that the DPRK's missiles may strike different parts of the world, the U.S. bellicose forces seek to lure their allies into supporting and cooperating in the efforts to establish the missile defence system (MD) in a bid to secure necessary funds and technology and calm down the international criticism of the MD, the commentary observes, and goes on:
    Another aim of the U.S. is to increase its profits through missile export by forcing other countries to buy more missiles from it.
    The U.S. escalated smear campaign over the "missile threat" from the DPRK is, in the final analysis, aimed to kill two birds with one stone. The U.S. bellicose forces are set to ignite a new war on the Korean peninsula anytime under the pretext of "military threat" from the DPRK.
    The U.S. desperate efforts to achieve its sinister purpose through its undisguised false propaganda about the "missile threat" from the DPRK are nothing but an anachronistic dream.

National Day of PRC Observed

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate articles to the 54th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. The foundation of the PRC marked a landmark event as it made a beginning of socialism in the history of the Chinese people, the articles say.
    Rodong Sinmun says that the Chinese people have are making energetic endeavours to accelerate the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, true to the spirit of the 16th party congress and the main idea of the "three represents" under the leadership of the Communist party of China with Hu Jintao as its general secretary.
    The paper goes on:
    The Chinese government has channelled efforts into the work to consolidate the socio-political stability, strengthen the unity among nationalities and reunify the whole country.
    China has pursued an independent and sovereign foreign policy to ensure peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world and develop its relations with different countries.
    The DPRK and China are close neighbors sharing a border with rivers in between and their peoples are linked with each other by strong friendly bonds.
    The DPRK-China friendship is long-standing as it was established in the common struggle against imperialism long ago and has grown stronger, standing all tests of history.
    Today this friendship is favorably developing under the deep care of the leaders of the two countries.
    Strengthening and developing the friendship is beneficial for the revolution and construction in the two countries and in line with the trend of the development of international relations in the new century.
    The traditional friendship with deep historical roots will grow stronger thanks to the joint efforts of the two peoples in the future, too.
    Minju Joson expresses belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and China will make more signal progress in the future thanks to the joint efforts on the part of both sides.

Repeal of S. Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty Called for

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The south Korea-U.S. mutual defense treaty signed under the U.S. coercion is the most aggressive, unequal and disgraceful military treaty as it justifies the permanent presence of the U.S. troops in south Korea and their war moves and brigandish and high-handed practices, say papers here today in their commentaries. The history of the U.S. military presence in south Korea that has lasted for half a century since the signing of the treaty is laced with acts of aggression, plunder, and murder and crimes, a signed commentary of Rodong Sinmun says, and goes on:
    The cause of national reunification that started with the division of the country still remains unaccomplished owing to the U.S. policy of division and the anti-reunification war moves of the U.S. imperialist aggression troops in south Korea, its executors.
    The U.S. troops have done in south Korea nothing but countless man-killings, robbery, rape and other crimes. They engineered such horrible bloodbath as the Kwangju massacre and drove an armored car over schoolgirls Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son to death.
    The U.S. is now forcing south Korea to dispatch troops to Iraq, which has touched off protest of the south Korean people. This is another brigandish and arbitrary action taken by the real ruler over south Korea on the strength of the unequal U.S.-south Korea relationship stipulated in the south Korea-U.S. mutual defense treaty.
    The U.S. shameless arbitrary practices are no longer tolerable. The U.S. should clearly understand the demand of the Korean nation and the times, stop justifying the permanent presence of its troops in south Korea under the anachronistic treaty, repeal the aggressive military treaty and withdraw its aggression troops from south Korea.
    Minju Joson says that the south Korean authorities, mindful that the nation is closely watching them, should abrogate all the unequal and shackling treaties and agreements signed with the U.S. and demand the U.S. troops pull out of south Korea.

Japan Urged to Redress Past Wrongs

     Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) There is no change in the stand and principle of the DPRK that the improvement of relations between the DPRK and Japan is unthinkable unless Japan redresses its past wrongs, declares Minju Joson in a signed commentary today. It further says:
    If Japan truly want the improvement of its relations with the DPRK, it should make an honest apology and compensate for its past crimes, not raising a hue and cry over the issue of abduction that was already settled through the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
    Over one year has passed after the signing of the declaration, a powerful political document which can help toward normalizing and improving the relations between the two countries. But things have taken a downward turn today. And Japan is fully to blame for this.
    In persistently bringing forward the issue of abduction already clinched through the declaration Japan is prompted by the sinister intention to evade redressing its past wrongs at any cost with it as an excuse.
    The improvement of relations between the DPRK and Japan is not a present given by one side to the other.
    If Japan persists in the shameless sophistry that the issue of abduction should be settled first, shelving its past crimes, the relations between the two countries will not be improved any time.
    Japan should open to the public the truth of the brutal crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in the past and make an apology and a sincere compensation, thus redressing them.

Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace 40 Years Old

     Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) ? Forty years have passed since the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace, one of the comprehensive centres of extra-mural education for schoolchildren, was founded. Since it was established on Sept. 30, Juche 52 (1963) more than 758,000 schoolchildren have participated in its circle activities.
    The palace has 200 odd circle rooms, a theatre, a library, a gymnasium and other facilities for mass activities.
    It has produced over 140,000 reserve scientists and technicians, 230,000 or more reserve artists and 70,000 odd reserve sportspersons and there are among them Labour Heroes and Heroines, doctors, People's Artists, People's Actors and Actresses and People's Sportsmen and Sportswomen.
    They briskly conducted activities of congratulatory groups of the Korean Children's Union and schoolchildren's art propaganda teams to encourage soldiers of the People's Army, working people and school youth and children to heroic exploits.
    Over 210,000 foreigners have visited the palace.

Speech of Head of DPRK Delegation

     Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- Choe Su Hon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs who is heading the DPRK delegation, addressed the foreign ministers meeting of the Group of 77 on September 25. He reaffirmed that the DPRK government would as ever remain faithful to the noble purpose and mission of the group of 77 to establish a new international economic order based on justice, equality and impartiality. He said the member states of the group should bend joint efforts to make the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly show proper concern to the sustained development of the developing countries.
    Noting that their sustained development is not merely a technical or business-like work but, in essence, a political issue, he said: The national economy of developing countries is seriously handicapped by the undisguised unilateralism and, especially, indiscriminate acts of military aggression against countries of the south.
    The UN should serve as the hub in dealing with the issue of loans for development and the loans should be granted in the form of cooperation in development to promote economic growth of the developing countries without political strings attached.
    The group of 77, he said, should show their firm collective will to bar the unfavorable influence of "globalization" and establish fair international economic relations at the 58th session of the UN General Assembly.
    The group should incessantly initiate and realize new projects based on the achievements and experiences gained in south-south cooperation to actively contribute to the economic growth of the developing countries.
    He called for honestly implementing the action program for south-south cooperation and projects initiated at the South Summit and further strengthening unity of the collective, thus blocking the course of marginalization of the developing countries in the present international economic relations and achieving sustained development.

U.S. Much Publicized Efforts for "Peaceful Solution" to Nuclear Issue Dismissed

     Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA on Sept. 29 as regards the U.S. recent much publicized efforts for a "peaceful solution" to the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S.: Officials of the U.S. administration tried hard on a number of occasions to create impression that it was striving to solve the nuclear issue peacefully and preparing a "new proposal" for the next round of the six-way talks.
    But quite contrary to the rumour, the U.S. authorities have not yet manifested its will to make a switchover in its policy toward the DPRK and are still insisting on their assertion that the DPRK should scrap its nuclear program first.
    This clearly indicates that the U.S. does not truly want a "peaceful solution" to the nuclear issue but is keen on deceiving the world public aspiring after a fair and early solution to the nuclear issue, covering up its preparations for military invasion of the DPRK and proving successful in the ongoing presidential election campaign.
    As far as the peaceful solution to the issue is concerned, the DPRK has made sincere efforts to seek a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue, making every possible concession. One example of this was that the DPRK advanced a landmark bold proposal for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula at the six-way talks in Beijing.
    But the U.S. only insisted on its assertion that the DPRK should scrap its nuclear program first and demanded it move first, shunning all its efforts and reasonable proposals.
    This is the problem.
    It is an unreasonable way of thinking unacceptable to anyone for one warring party to demand the other party come out their hands up.
    If the U.S. interprets such unilateral assertion as a "peaceful solution," it will only lead to a war.
    The U.S. has further escalated the international "blockade and pressure" upon the DPRK, talking about "maritime inspection exercise" and "human traffic" since the six-way talks in Beijing. It is preposterous, indeed, for the U.S. to talk about a "peaceful solution".
    This only proves that the Bush administration has no political will to abandon its hostile policy towards the DPRK.
    It was confirmed that the U.S. does not wish to co-exist with the DPRK in peace but tries to use the six-way talks as a leverage to completely disarm the latter. This compels the DPRK to discard any interests or expectation for the talks.
    As already clarified, the DPRK has not made any promise regarding the next round of the six-way talks.
    The DPRK is taking practical measures to steadily beef up the nuclear deterrent force as a just self-defensive means to repel the U.S. nuclear preemptive attack and ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region according to the decision of the 1st Session of the 11th Supreme People's Assembly.
    This is the most reasonable measure to ensure peace.
    The DPRK's nuclear deterrent force was built to cope with the U.S. nuclear threat. It is not meant to attack others but to protect itself under any circumstances.
    The U.S. demand that the DPRK dismantle its nuclear deterrent force first under this situation will only lead to a war.
    This is clearly evidenced by the Iraqi situation.

Pyongyang Seminar for Probing Truth behind Incident of "Ukishimamaru"

     Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang Seminar for probing the truth behind the incident of "Ukishimamaru" was held at the People's Palace of Culture on Monday. On August 22, 1945, "Ukishimamaru" was reported to leave Japan for Pusan, Korea with thousands of Koreans driven for forced labour on board. But it sailed southward along the coastline of Japan and suddenly sank in the waters off Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, on August 24 that year, taking their lives. Present at the seminar were delegations of the north, south and overseas sides including members of the DPRK Committee for Investigation into the Damage Done by the Japanese Imperialists during Their Occupation of Korea and a Japanese representative.
    Hong Son Ok, chairperson of the DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to Comfort Women for the Japanese Army and the Victims of Forcible Drafting, made a keynote speech at the seminar.
    She said that the whole course from the time when "Ukishimamaru" was ordered to sail for Pusan to its end is full of inconsistency and suspicion.
    Noting that the testimonies made by survivors and information available through the investigation and discovery made so far suggest that the incident was not an unforeseen accident caused by a mine but a premeditated explosion of the ship deliberately carried out by the military authorities of Japan, she explained the following reasons to say so: First. "Ukishimamaru" left Ominato, Japan with the permission of the Japanese government and by its order.
    Second. Boarding of Koreans on it and its departure were forcibly carried out by the Japanese military.
    Third. It left for Maizuru Port, not for Pusan, from the outset.
    Fourth. The sea route to Maizuru Port was safe as it was free from mines.
    Fifth. If it were an explosion by a mine, there should have been some phenomena in the wake of the explosion, but nothing happened or everything turned out to be abnormal.
    All these facts prove that "Ukishimamaru" sank when the explosives planted into the ship went off according to the carefully worked out plan for blasting, the reporter said.
    The Japanese government has not conducted even an elementary investigation into the incident of "Ukishimamaru", stubbornly denying its responsibility for it though half a century has passed since the end of the war. But thanks to the sincere efforts made by some organizations concerned and progressive figures and testimonies by survivors of the disaster, some aspects of the case have been disclosed to lay a foundation of clarifying the whole truth about the incident. The reporter went on: We will seek the settlement of this incident to the end and, for this purpose, strongly demand the Japanese government as follows:
    First. The Japanese government should thoroughly probe and clarify the whole aspect of the "Ukishimamaru" incident and open to the public as it was.
    Second. The Japanese government should admit its state responsibility for the incident and make an apology and compensation to the victims and their bereaved families in the name of the state.
    Third. The Japanese government should ferret out all the criminals involved in the incident and punish them according to their responsibilities.
    Fourth. The Japanese government should find out the remains of all those killed in the incident, identify them and take practical measures to safely send them to Korea.
    In order to have all these demands met it is important for the organizations and figures in the north and the south and overseas and victims and their bereaved families to pool their strength and wisdom and wage a powerful solidarity struggle. It is particularly important to bring the crimes committed by Japan against humankind in the past including the "Ukishimamaru" case to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and other international organizations in a bid to let the international community know about them and build public opinion critical of them.
    The report was followed by speeches made by Kong Myong Song, a section chief of the History Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences, who is permanent member of the DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to the Comfort Women for the Japanese Army and the Victims of Forced Drafting, Jon Jae Jin, chairman of the Association for Probing the Truth behind the Blasting of "Ukishimamaru", Hong Sang Jin, director of the Secretariat of the Central Headquarters of the Koreans Side to the Group to Probe the Truth behind the Forced Drafting of Koreans, other representatives of the north and the south and overseas and Yuka Anzako, Japanese delegate.
    They cited concrete facts to disclose the truth behind the explosion of the ship and accused the Japanese government of evading a probe into the case though 58 years have passed since the incident.
    Then its participants heard testimonies made by those who were forcibly drafted from the north and the south of Korea.
    They looked round photos exposing Japan's past crimes and a list of 427,129 Koreans out of those who were forcibly taken to Japan, which was newly surveyed and discovered by the investigation group.
    A series of documents were adopted at the seminar.
    A letter to the acting U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights urged his office to take actions of asking the UN Commission on Human Rights to organize and dispatch an international fact-finding group to fully probe and clarify the truth of the "Ukishimamaru" incident and demand the Japanese government take a measure of probing the truth of the incident and make an apology and compensation to the victims.
    It also requested the office to exercise its influence upon the Japanese government to respect the resolutions and recommendations adopted by the UN and various international organizations as regards Japan's past crimes and take practical measures for their implementation.
    A letter to the Japanese government demanded as follows:
    First. The Japanese government should take measures in various aspects to probe and clarify the truth of the incident that remains buried into oblivion, and fully open to the public the results of the investigation.
    Second. The Japanese government should make sincere efforts to identify those killed in the incident and deliver their remains to Korea.
    Third. The Japanese government should strictly punish by law those responsible for the incident on the basis of what has been investigated and confirmed and sincerely apologize to the victims and their bereaved families and make a compensation understandable to them.
    Fourth. The Japanese government should stop at once all sorts of hostile acts toward the Koreans, the victims, feeling guilty conscience and responsibility as an assailant, and take a practical step to respect and implement the basic spirit of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration in which it promised to redress its past.
    A joint statement of organizations in the north and the south and overseas expressed the firm will to carry on the struggle to the last in order to probe the truth of the "Ukishimamaru" case and wrest an apology and compensation from the Japanese government.

Achievements in Geological Survey

     Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has registered successes in prospecting underground resources. According to the data available at the State Natural Resources Development Department of the Ministry of Extractive Industries, the yearly plan of geological survey was carried out at 100.9 percent, that of boring at 113 percent and that of tunneling at 119 percent as of August 31. Fields of tens of sorts of minerals including rare metals and coal have been found out in different areas and put on the list of the development projects.
    The South Phyongan and South Hamgyong provincial prospecting complexes have found out high-caloric coal fields and confirmed large coal deposits through detailed prospecting.
    The Ryanggang Provincial Prospecting Complex has systematized the geological features of areas in a scientific way and secured deposits of rare metals.
    Some geological prospecting teams and cave prospecting teams have discovered new spas and natural caverns to open a vista for building tourist resorts there.

Greetings to Chinese Party and State Leaders

     Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Pak Pong Ju, premier of the Cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Chinese leaders on Sept. 30. It was sent to Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Wen Jiabao, prime minister of the State Council of China, on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Over the last 54 years since the founding of the PRC the resourceful and diligent Chinese people have achieved successes drawing the world's attention through their strenuous efforts to build a modern socialist power in the vast land of China under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the message said.
    The message sincerely hoped that the Chinese people would achieve shining success in the efforts to attain the high goal of the socialist modernization drive set at the 16th party congress under the leadership of the CPC with Hu Jintao as its general secretary. The message continued:
    To continue favorably developing the traditional DPRK-China friendship is not only in line with the desire of the two peoples but is greatly conducive to defending peace and stability in the region.
    In the belief that the DPRK-China friendship will grow stronger and develop in the spirit agreed upon at meetings and talks between the leaders of the two countries we wholeheartedly wish the PRC prosperity and your people happiness.

S. Korean Delegations Here

     Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- The south side's delegation led by Kim U Jon, chairman of the Liberation Society of south Korea, arrived here today to participate in the joint national function to commemorate the Foundation Day of Korea at the invitation of the Council for the Reunification of Tangun's Nation. The delegation consists of representatives of various public organizations including the National Religious Council, the Federation of National Movement Organizations and the Tangun Society and figures of religious, academic and cultural circles.
    The delegation was greeted at the airport by Chairperson Ryu Mi Yong and members of the Council for the Reunification of Tangun's Nation and officials concerned.
    A working woman presented a bouquet to the head of the delegation.
    The head of the delegation issued an arrival statement at the airport.
    Noting that the severed national ties are being rejoined as the air, land and sea routes between the south and the north are opened, the statement expressed the belief that the gap between compatriots in mind will be narrowed down before long.
    A delegation for the preview of the south Korean film "Arirang" led by Ju Su Do also arrived here today.

For Spanish-speaking people

Mexico y Congo Democratico: simposios sobre obras de Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, el primero de octubre (ATCC) -- Los simposios sobre las obras clasicas del Dirigente Kim Jong Il: "El Partido del Trabajo de Corea es el partido del gran Lider camarada Kim Il Sung" y el primer capitulo de "El socialismo es ciencia" tuvieron lugar los dias 19 y 26 de septiembre en la Reunion Popular por el Socialismo de Congo Democratico (RPSCD) y en el Instituto Mexicano de la Idea Juche, respectivamente. Jean Baptiste Nkoy, secretario general de la RPSCD y otros oradores se refirieron al contenido principal de la obra y subrayaron que la orgullosa historia e inmortales hazanas, exitos y experiencias del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, dilucidados en la obra, sirven de un precioso manual y de una guia programatica en la labor y las actividades de su partido.
    Juan Campos Vega, segundo secretario del Partido Popular Socialista y presidente del Instituto Mexicano de la Idea Juche destaco que no solamente deben estudiar profundamente las obras del camarada Kim Jong Il sino tambien divulgarlas ampliamente entre los pueblos.

XIV Concurso y Exhibicion de Programas

     Pyongyang, el primero de octubre (ATCC) -- Quedaron inaugurados el 30 de septiembre el XIV Concurso y Exhibicion Nacional de Programas. Tendran lugar esta vez un concurso de programas de cognicion de letras y fonetica, traduccion por maquina y ajedrez coreano, un simposio cientifico y una conferencia del sector de la tecnica de informatica.
    Pyon Yong Rip, presidente de la Academia de Ciencias, en su discurso inaugural, senalo que hoy la tecnica de programas de la RPDC conoce un desarrollo vertiginoso y se asienta la firme base cientifico-tecnica de la industria de informatica, que contribuye activamente a desarrollar la economia nacional conforme a la demanda del nuevo siglo.
    Subrayo que todos los cientificos y tecnicos, al desplegar la batalla de conocimientos, de capacidad y de cerebro conforme al proposito del Partido y el llamamiento del Congreso de Heroes de la Epoca del Songun deben hacer llegar cuanto antes la tecnica de industria de informatica al nivel avanzado del mundo y lograr los valiosos exitos de investigacion que contribuyan a realizar la reconstruccion tecnica y la modernizacion de la economia nacional.
    En el acto inaugural participaron Choe Thae Bok, secretario del CC del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, el viceprimer ministro Ro Tu Chol, y otros funcionarios y los creadores de programas.