Gift to Kim Jong Il from Chinese Guest

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the visiting head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China who is also alternate member of the Central Committee of the CPC. Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department, handed it to Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, on Jan. 17.

Surprise Raid on GNP in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Students affiliated with the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils staged a surprise raid on the building of the Grand National Party of south Korea in Youido, Seoul, on Jan. 15, according to a press report. Choe Hang Sop, a student of Kangwon University, and other students occupied the press room of the building and wrote the letters "money party" on the emblem of the GNP, shouting in anger "Dissolve the GNP".
    The GNP greatly alarmed called police to walk away the students.

Fortification of Front of Politics and Ideology Called for

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today editorially calls for launching an all-out offensive to fortify the front of politics and ideology as firm as a rock under the uplifted banner of Songun to overwhelm and knock down the imperialists ideologically and accomplish the cause of socialism of Korean style. This front is always the front of main attack in defending and glorifying socialism and increasing national power in every way, the daily says.
    Recalling that the Workers' Party of Korea has directed biggest efforts to cementing the front of socialist politics and ideology, keeping a tight hold on ideology as the main point in increasing national power from its early days, the daily continues:
    The front of politics and ideology has been immensely strengthened like an impregnable fortress on the road of comprehensively embodying the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    We can say confidently that we have built an impregnable front of politics and ideology to deal a telling blow at any reactionary ideological and cultural poisoning of the imperialists, along with matchless military forces, under the leadership of the WPK. This is the greatest victory without equals that we have achieved under the banner of Songun and wealth of eternal value for defence of the motherland and the prosperity of the Korean nation.
    This all-out offensive to fortify the front of politics and ideology is a worthwhile struggle to powerfully demonstrate the might of the single-hearted unity of our revolutionary ranks with the headquarters of revolution as the hardcore by fully applying the Songun politics and benevolent politics of Kim Jong Il and a fierce offensive to frustrate the persistent ideological and cultural poisoning of the imperialists with the raging storm of Juche and highly display the advantages of Korean-style socialism.
    We should resolutely defend and endlessly glorify the immortal exploits performed by Kim Jong Il in consolidating the front of politics and ideology into an iron wall and strengthen the single-hearted unity of our revolutionary ranks on a new height and deepen ideological education to fortify the front of politics and ideology.

Preparatory Committee Inaugurated in Democratic Congo

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- A national preparatory committee of Democratic Congo was inaugurated by the Democratic Congo-DPRK Friendship and Solidarity Association with due ceremony on Jan. 12 to celebrate the February holiday, birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. Speakers at the ceremony recalled that preparatory committees were formed worldwide on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il every year to significantly celebrate the February holiday. These celebrations proved to be great political festivals proving the greatness of the exploits he has performed, they said.
    At the ceremony Chikez Diemu, secretary general of the National Executive Committee of the People's Party for the Reconstruction and the Democracy of Democratic Congo, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee.
    The committee set a celebration period from Jan. 12 to Feb. 20 and decided to hold colorful functions in the period.

Solidarity Movement Called for

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Guy Dupre, secretary general of the International Liaison Committee for the Reunification and Peace in Korea, released a statement on Jan. 7 in support of the DPRK's joint New Year editorial. It is titled "An important year for a positive settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and peace, a decisive year for the process of reunification between the north and the south and future of the Korean nation." Noting that the nuclear issue would remain a focus of international concern in 2004, too, he said that the leading newspapers of the DPRK in their joint editorial clarified that the nuclear crisis was attributable to the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK to destroy its socialist system and block the independent reunification of Korea.
    The editorial said the U.S. aggressive policy towards the DPRK has only brought confrontation and misfortune to the Korean peninsula and the DPRK's sovereignty and right to existence could have been defended only thanks to the Songun politics pursued by leader Kim Jong Il, he remarked, adding:
    The joint editorial powerfully encourages the Korean people in their struggle for the independent reunification of the country, the cherished desire of the Korean nation, lasting peace on the Korean peninsula and building of a great prosperous powerful nation.
    Warmly welcoming the joint editorial, he said that the International Liaison Committee for the Reunification and Peace in Korea calls upon all the progressive forces of the world to wage a more positive solidarity movement for independent reunification and peace of Korea.

Japanese Chief Executive's Claim to Tok Islet Denounced in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- The Tok Islet Fellowship Society held a rally in front of Thapgol Park, Seoul on Jan. 12 denouncing the Japanese chief executive's claim to Tok Islet, according to south Korean KBS. Branding Japan's assertion that "Tok Islet belongs to Japan" and its disturbance of south Korea's publication of stamps carrying the islet as a challenge to the dignity and sovereignty of the Korean nation, the society demanded the authorities strongly react against this.
    After the rally, the society conveyed a letter of protest to the Japanese embassy.

Anti-War Peace Demonstration of Koreans in U.S.

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Korean residents in the U.S. reportedly staged an anti-war peace demonstration in Los Angeles on Jan. 14. The paraders displayed pictures of a protest action of presidium members of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification who were on a hunger strike against troop dispatch and bitterly denounced the U.S. for its acts of aggression.
    They said Bush must be made to lose this year's presidential election, accusing the U.S. administration of its war policy.
    They showed their nerve, chanting the slogans "The U.S. must stop its aggression on Iraq" and "Withdraw the U.S. troops from Iraq immediately."

Friendly Meeting with Chinese Party Delegation

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- The International Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea yesterday hosted a friendly meeting with the members of the visiting delegation of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Present there on invitation were the members of the delegation led by Wang Jiarui, alternate member of the CPC Central Committee and head of the International Liaison Department, ambassador Wu Donghe and officials of the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang.
    Ji Jae Ryong and Kim Thae Jong, vice department directors of the Central Committee of the WPK, and officials concerned were on hand.
    Speeches were made.
    The participants deepened friendly feelings, conversing with each other on further developing the friendly relations between the parties and peoples of the DPRK and China.

U.S. Talk about Any Change in DPRK Dismissed as Ridiculous

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) --It is ridiculous of the United States to expect a certain change from the DPRK and it is an expression of its ignorance of the DPRK, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary. The U.S. had better drop its day-dream and have a realistic sound way of thinking, it urges.
    This is reaction to the recent unreasonable remarks made by officials of the U.S. administration that the DPRK violated its commitments over the nuclear issue and speculative reports spread by the U.S. in a bid to link the recent developments in some Mideast countries to the DPRK.
    The commentary goes on: It is quite ridiculous of the U.S. to talk about the DPRK's violation of commitments despite the DPRK's constructive stand to solve the nuclear issue. The commentary cites facts to prove how the U.S. backpedalled its commitment toprovide light water reactors to the DPRK, a basic issue of the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework.
    It goes on:
    The DPRK has advanced a series of constructive proposals to settle the nuclear issue. But the U.S. has thrown obstacles in the way of finding a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue by persistently insisting that the DPRK scraps its nuclear program first.
    Underlying the U.S. hue and cry over violation of commitments is a sinister aim to disarm the DPRK with ease.
    The same aim is pursued by the U.S. in seeking to orchestrate the same developments in the DPRK as what happened in some Mideast countries while shelving the solution to the nuclear issue between the DPRK and U.S. on the basis of its brigandish logic. What happened in those countries has nothing in common with the DPRK. The DPRK never does such a foolish thing without any principle as unfolding an umbrella looking up to blue sky simply because other countries do so.
    The United States and some of its allies assert the U.S. may give "written security assurances" to the DPRK after it is disarmed.
    Their assertion is little short of forcing the DPRK to drop arms and enjoy peace as slaves. The army and people of the DPRK will as ever firmly maintain its principle of national independence under the banner of Songun and get fully ready to cope with any situation and development.

Negotiation on Transfer of U.S. Military Base Opposed in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- A news conference was reportedly called in front of the building of the south Korean "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade" on Jan. 14 under the co-sponsorship of the People for Achieving Peace and Unification (Phyongthongsa), the Council for National Reconciliation and Independent Reunification (Jathonghyop) and the Democratic Workers' Party to oppose the humiliating negotiation on the transfer of the U.S. military base in Ryongsan. Speeches were made by Kim Phan Thae, director of the Action Department of Jathonghyop, and Ryu Ji Hun, chairman of the General Student Council of Korea University.
    Recalling that Chongwadae recently drew the final conclusion that the negotiation on the transfer of the U.S. military base in Ryongsan had been a mistaken one after a special inspection of the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade" and the "Ministry of National Defense" with regard to the negotiation from November last year, they said this made it plain that the negotiation was fundamentally wrong.
    Urging the "government" to make an open apology to the people, they strongly opposed the 6th "consultative meeting for designing the future policy of south Korea-U.S. ally" scheduled in the United States for the transfer of the military base in Ryongsan.
    A press release was read out at the news conference.
    The participants went to the Inchon International Airport to hold a press conference for "the over-all replacement of the members of the negotiation delegation and suspension of the contact on the transfer of the military base in Ryongsan".
    Hong Kun Su, permanent representative of Phyongthongsa, stated: "We demand the suspension of the negotiation and if the negotiation delegation ignored the demand of the people, it would never be pardoned."

Choe Thae Bok Meets Vietnamese Ambassador

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and had a talk with Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Do Thi Hoa who paid a farewell call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Monday.

Joint Appeal Issued

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- A joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK held in Pyongyang Monday ardently called upon all the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas to pave a wide avenue for independent national reunification through national cooperation under the banner of the Korean nation-first spirit. The Korean nation-first spirit represents a banner all the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas should hold aloft now that the U.S. interference and moves for aggression to prevent the inter-Korean relations from making progress and stem the trend of national reconciliation and reunification are carried into extremes, the appeal said, and continued:
    The Korean nation-first spirit is the main national spirit and serves as an inexhaustible source as it makes it possible for the nation to withstand any outsider pressure. It is necessary to root out any illusion about the U.S., which infringes upon the nation's dignity and right to existence, and national nihilism.
    National cooperation indicates a basic way of taking practical actions to build the structure of the Korean nation's confrontation with the U.S. and also serves as a master key to victory.
    Cooperation with the U.S. means cooperation against the north and one intended to perpetuate the division, the appeal noted, calling for heightening vigilance against cooperation with the U.S. keen to invade the north and achieving inter-Korean cooperation to cope with the U.S. moves to estrange Koreans from each other.
    The appeal said:
    "Let us pave a wide avenue for independent reunification through national cooperation under the banner of our nation-first spirit!" This is a slogan of the movement for national reunification the Korean nation should hold up this year.
    It also called upon all the Koreans to turn out in the anti-U.S. patriotic struggle to protect the well-being and peace of the nation, thoroughly implement the June 15 joint declaration, positively support and uphold the Songun policy.

Joint Meeting of Government, Political Parties and Organizations in DPRK Held

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- A joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations was held at the People's Palace of Culture Monday. The meeting was attended by Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the Cabinet, senior officials of the government, political parties and organizations in the DPRK and officials concerned.
    The meeting discussed the agenda item "On paving a wide avenue for independent reunification through national cooperation under the banner of our nation-first spirit!."
    Yang Hyong Sop in his report called for more energetically pushing forward the movement for national reunification this year as indicated in the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and holding aloft the slogan "Let us pave a wide avenue for independent reunification through national cooperation under the banner of our nation-first spirit!"
    This patriotic slogan is evoking lively repercussion and enthusiastic support among the 70 million Koreans as it indicates the way of taking practical actions to build the structure of the Korean nation's confrontation with the U.S. and building a thriving and reunified country on this land by pooling the nation's wisdom and strength, he said, and went on:
    The U.S. is very upset by the Korean nation's efforts to solve its own issues by the concerted efforts of Koreans and it, therefore, is pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula to a very dangerous phase. All this goes to prove that the confrontation over the nuclear issue in Korea is a confrontation between justice and injustice, between forces standing for peace and those standing against peace and between pro-reunification forces and separatists, i.e. confrontation between the Koreans not only in the north but in south Korea and the U.S.
    All the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas should be proud of the nation's advantages and actively turn out to protect its dignity. The nation should give full play to its high national self-esteem and demonstrate its strong stamina to the U.S. which has brought only shame and disasters to it.
    All the Koreans should place the nation's interests above anything else and achieve national cooperation for peace and reunification without fail from the stand of depending on the nation's strength and unshakable will.
    All the Koreans should turn out in an anti-U.S. sacred struggle to protect the well-being of the nation and the peace of the country.
    They should implement the June 15 joint declaration to the letter and accelerate the cause of national reunification. It is also necessary for the nation to support and uphold the great Songun policy in order to pave a wide avenue for independent reunification through national cooperation this year.
    Stressing the need to focus on implementing these five tasks to take practical actions to build the structure of the Korean nation's confrontation with the U.S. and pave a wide avenue for independent national reunification under the banner of our nation-first spirit this year the reporter courteously proposed on behalf of the joint meeting to hold nationwide meetings in Pyongyang, Seoul, Mt. Kumgang and other places to be agreed upon on national holidays and anniversaries common to the north and the south this year to pave a wide avenue for independent reunification through national cooperation.
    The floor was taken by Kim Yong Sam, minister of Railways, Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and Ri Myong Won, secretary of the C.C., the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League.
    They called on the north and the south to put the interests common to the nation above anything else no matter what others may say and maintain the principle and stand of solving all the issues in reliance upon the nation's efforts and steadily improve the inter-Korean relations in the idea of "By our nation itself".
    All the Koreans in the north and the south should turn out in a sacred struggle to foil the U.S. moves to provoke a nuclear war by the concerted efforts of the nation, they urged.
    An appeal to the 70 million Koreans was adopted at the meeting.
    The appeal noted that the confrontation on the Korean peninsula today is not just a confrontation between the north and the U.S.,adding the confrontation between the whole Korean nation and the U.S. is becoming a reality.
    It continued:
    All Koreans should uphold the slogan of the movement for national reunification "Let us pave a wide avenue for independent reunification through national cooperation under the banner of our nation-first spirit!"
    All the Koreans should turn out in an anti-U.S. patriotic struggle to achieve national cooperation and protect the well-being and peace of the nation from the U.S. moves to estrange Koreans from each other. They should implement the June 15 joint declaration to the letter and thus accelerate the cause of national reunification and actively support and uphold the great Songun policy.

Kim Jong Il Meets Chinese Delegation

     Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Monday met the visiting delegation of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China led by Wang Jiarui, head of the department who is alternate member of the Central Committee of the CPC. Present there were Ji Jae Ryong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Wu Donghe, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.
    Wang Jiarui conveyed congratulations of leading officials of the Chinese party and state including Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC and president of China, and Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, to Kim Jong Il on the lunar New Year's Day.
    Kim Jong Il expressed thanks for this and asked him to transmit his New Year greetings to Hu Jintao, and Jiang Zemin and other leading officials of the Chinese party and state. He had a warm and friendly talk with Wang Jiarui.
    Kim Jong Il hosted a dinner in honor of the guests.
    The dinner proceeded in an amicable atmosphere.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de jefe de Departamento de Enlace

     Pyongyang, 19 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente del Wang Jiarui, miembro suplente y jefe del Departamento de Enlace Internacional del Comite Central del Partido Comunista de China de visita en la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. El visitante lo entrego el dia 17 a Kim Ki Nam, secretario del CC del Partido del Trabajo de Corea.

Exhorta a desarrollar movimiento de solidaridad con Corea

     Pyongyang, 19 de enero (ATCC) -- En apoyo al editorial conjunto de los periodicos del partido, el ejercito y la juventud de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea publicado con motivo del ano nuevo 2004, Guy Dupre, secretario general del Comite Internacional de Enlace para la Paz y la Reunificacion en Corea hizo publica el dia 7 la declaracion intitulada "Ano importante para la solucion positiva del problema nuclear y la paz de la Peninsula Coreana, ano decisivo para acelerar el proceso de la reunificacion Norte-Sur y el futuro de la nacion coreana". Senalo que tambien en el ano 2004 el problema nuclear sera un foco internacional y anadio que el editorial conjunto de los periodicos principales de la RPDC publicado con motivo del Ano Nuevo aclara que esta crisis nuclear surgio por la politica hostil de EE.UU. a Corea para estrangular el sistema socialista implantado en Corea y obstaculizar la reunificacion independiente de Corea.
    El editorial conjunto enfatiza que la politica de agresion de EE.UU. a Corea acarreo solamente la confrontacion y las desgracias a la Peninsula Coreana y que segun la politica de Songun (priorizacion militar) del Dirigente Kim Jong Il, sera posible defender la soberania y el derecho a la existencia de la RPDC.
    El editorial conjunto estimula energicamente la lucha del pueblo coreano por la reunificacion independiente del pais, deseo nacional, la paz permanente de la Peninsula Coreana y la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    El secretario general evaluo altamente el editorial conjunto y exhorto en nombre del CIERECO a todas las fuerzas progresistas del mundo a desarrollar mas energicamente el movimiento de solidaridad con la reunificacion independiente y la paz de Corea.

Acrobacia de nivel supremo en el mundo

     Pyongyang, 19 de enero (ATCC) - Desde el 20 de diciembre de 2003 hasta el 12 de enero de 2004 se efectuo en la capital de Italia el XX Festival Internacional de Acrobacia de Roma. En el festival participaron los acrobatas procedentes de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Rusia, China, Italia, Alemania, Canada, EE.UU y otros numerosos paises del mundo.
    La pieza "Vuelo en la barra fija aerea" del Conjunto Circense de Pyongyang, que participo en el festival, se adjudico el "Premio Presidencial de la Republica" de Italia, premio supremo del festival por una nueva y tipica forma de acrobacia aerea y por la tecnica de punta penetrada del impetu valiente.
    Paolo Pristo Pino, presidente del Comite del Festival hablo de que durante la visita a Corea realizada en 1982 tuvo honor y felicidad de ser recibido en audiencia por el gran Lider, Presidente Kim Il Sung y continuo:
    El arte de Corea, particularmente la acrobacia aerea esparce sus brillos en la escena mundial del circo, lo cual se debe a la gran y genial direccion del Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional Kim Jong Il, gran maestro en el arte.
    Nosotros decidimos otorgar el "Premio Presidencial de la Republica", premio supremo del festival, a la pieza de la RPDC que mostro una acrobacia tipica nunca vista en el circo de otro pais del mundo y la habilidad de punta que no puede realizar ningun acrobata de otros paises.
    Liana Orfei, directora general de la funcion del festival dijo que es una lastima no definir otro premio mas grande que el Premio Presidencial y senalo que gracias a la acrobacia de la RPDC el Festival Internacional de Acrobacia de Roma esparcira sus brillos a todo el mundo.
    Tambien, la funcion del Conjunto Circense de Pyongyang de visita en China suscita una gran repercusion entre diversas personalidades de este pais.
    Este conjunto ofrecio exitosamente su funcion en varias ciudades de las provincias chinas de Anhui y Guangdong.
    Por otra parte, el pequeno grupo del Conjunto Circense de Pyongyang gano la popularidad de los espectadores en la funcion conjunta de circo internacional ofrecida en Alemania.