Friendly Meeting with Staff Members of Indian Embassy Held

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting with staff members of the Indian embassy here was held on Jan. 26 on the occasion of the Day of the Republic of India. Present on invitation were Rich Pal Singh, Indian ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of the embassy.
    Jon Yong Jin, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is vice-chairman of the DPRK-India Friendship Association, and other officials concerned were on hand.
    Its participants saw an Indian documentary film and deepened the friendship, stressing on the need to boost the friendly relations between the DPRK and India.

DPRK Ambassador to Singapore Appointed

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- Ji Jae Suk was appointed as ambassador e. p. of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Republic of Singapore, according to a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.

Rodong Sinmun on U.S. Aggressive Doctrine

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- The Iraqi situation proves that Bush's one-state hegemony is impracticable and fated to go bankrupt, Rodong Sinmun says in a signed article today. It continues:
    Bush's aggressive doctrine clashes head on with the desire of humankind and the trend of the times. This is the first factor of the inevitability of the bankruptcy of Bush's one-state hegemony. The key point of Bush's one-state hegemony is that all the countries must be obedient to the United States, or perish. It, in essence, negates the sovereignty of other countries and nations and life of humankind. The U.S. has made the world people its enemy.
    Bush's one-state hegemony has stumbled upon the tough rebuff of his allies. This is the second factor of its bankruptcy. The U.S. war against Iraq served as a catalyzer accelerating the breakaway of its allies from it and driving the alliance between the U.S. and Europe to an acute confrontation.
    The U.S. strong-arm practices and unilateralism are speeding up the process of isolation and ruin of the "only superpower."
    Bush's aggressive doctrine has become a target of criticism and rebuff even inside the U.S. This is the internal factor of the bankruptcy of Bush's one-state hegemony.
    The U.S. soldiers taken to the war of aggression in Iraq have been disintegrated morally in psychological oppression and agony. The Bush administration is squandering a ridiculous amount of state funds in Iraq. 87 billion U.S. dollars have been marked off in fiscal 2004 for combat spending in Iraq. The budgetary deficit is expected to jump to more than 500 billion U.S. dollars in fiscal 2004 owing to the administration's fabulous military expenditure. This budgetary deficit will impose heavy tax burdens on the shoulders of the American people.
    Bush dreaming of "world's emperor" reminds the world people of Don Quixote of modern type.

U.S. Move to Build Its Embassy Premises in Historical Site under Fire

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the History Society of the DPRK Monday issued a statement denouncing the ever-more undisguised pressure of the U.S. upon the south Korean authorities to offer the site of Toksu Palace in Seoul as a plottage for its embassy premises and their base pro-U.S. treacherous move to yield to it. The statement said:
    Toksu Palace in Seoul is one of the precious historical and cultural relics as it was built in the period of the rule of King Songjong of the Ri Dynasty and had been used as a royal palace several times.
    The U.S. plan to construct its embassy premises in the site of Toksu Palace is an act of aggression little short of the Japanese imperialists' setting up of their "government-general" in the heart of Seoul in the past.
    The U.S. should discontinue vandalizing cultural treasures of the Korean nation and withdraw from south Korea at once.
    The U.S. vandalization of national heritages of Korea, that started with the exhumation of Prince Namyon's tomb, is going beyond its tolerance limit. Today the south Korean historians and people are strongly protesting against the U.S. move to build its embassy premises in the site of Toksu Palace, denouncing it as a "wanton violation of the nation's sovereignty."
    Nevertheless, the south Korean authorities are hatching a plot to offer the site to the U.S., talking about the "alliance with the U.S." and "promise." They should stop the anti-national criminal act of allowing the U.S. imperialist aggressors to vandalize precious cultural relics of the nation.
    The statement expressed expectation that the south Korean historians and people from all walks of life would hold high the banner of our nation-first spirit and turn out as one in the patriotic struggle to firmly protect the national cultural treasures of Koreafrom the vandalism of the aggressors and the sycophantic traitorous forces subservient to them.

DPRK's Stand for Negotiated Settlement of Nuclear Issue Supported

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, president of Uganda, said the DPRK's stand to settle the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogues is just and the United States should drop the nuclear clamour against it. He met on Jan. 25 the DPRK delegation led by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on a visit to his country.
    Stating that the stand of Uganda supporting the reunification of Korea was always unequivocal, he said Uganda would consistently support the Korean people in their efforts for the reunification of the country.
    Stressing that the divided Korean nation, a homogeneous nation, should be reunified into one, he evinced the belief that when all the Korean people in the north and the south join their efforts the reunification of the country would certainly be achieved.
    Expressing thanks to leader Kim Jong Il for paying deep concern to the development of relations with Uganda, carrying forward the policy of President Kim Il Sung, he said he would as ever show special attention to the development of relations with the DPRK.

Anti-U.S. Patriotic Struggle Called for

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- For the Korean people to open a broad avenue for national reunification this year it is necessary, above all, to direct the efforts of the nation to the struggle against the U.S. imperialists and a nationwide anti-U.S. patriotic struggle is a common task of all the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today. It goes on:
    The history of the struggle of the Korean people for national independence and reunification is precisely one of the struggle against the U.S. that is blocking it.
    The U.S. has resorted to reckless nuclear war moves against the DPRK to endanger the destiny of the Korean nation and worked hard to obstruct the movement of the Korean people for national independence and reunification, infringing upon their sovereignty and meddling in the issue of the Korean nation.
    The north and south of Korea have fought hand in hand for the independent development and prosperity of the nation through the efforts for reconciliation and reunification ever since the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    The U.S. is keen to serve its purpose of aggression and interests, not caring about whether the Korean people remain divided and whether they suffer a nuclear holocaust.
    For the Koreans to survive and prosper it is imperative to fight against the Yanks.
    The joint New Year editorial calls upon the whole nation for putting into a reality the Korean nation's confrontation with the U.S. and intensifying the struggle for independence against the U.S. aggression and intervention.
    All the Koreans in the north and south of Korea and abroad should turn out as one in a vigorous anti-American struggle to protect their dignity and destiny.

Old Art Works Discovered in Korea

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- 176 pieces of art works dating back to the 19th century were discovered some time ago in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. They were drawn by a private artist, Kim Jun Gun, who was active in the latter half of the 19th century.
    His figure and genre paintings of various themes drawn with Indian ink and water colors give a good understanding of the social life in that period.
    His works are characterized by the portrayal of each process of agricultural production in a minute way and depiction of different types and activities in a simple way.
    The art works on economic life are abundant in their objects and concrete in content and description.
    Some of his art works deal with not only the cultural and emotional life of the people in that period but also the common and detailed aspects of their life and customs.
    What is noticeable is that the titles of his works were written in Korean.
    His works have been introduced from long ago to European countries including France, Germany and Britain.
    The works, illustrative of the Korean people's distinguished wisdom and talents, are the nation's valuable cultural heritage conducive to the art development in the country.

Preparatory Committee Inaugurated in Czech Republic

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee was formed with due ceremony in Prague on Jan. 19 to celebrate the February holiday, the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il, and commemorate the Day of the Sun. The ceremony elected Miroslav Stepan, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, Jiri Jarka, chairman of the Paektusan Czech-Korean Friendship Association, and Jaroslav Kafka, chairman of the Czech Group for the Study and Application of the Juche Idea as co-chairmen of the preparatory committee.
    The committee discussed issues of holding colorful functions in various parts of the country on the occasions.

KCNA on DPRK's Sincere Approach towards "Abduction Issue"

     Pyongyang, January 27 (KCNA) -- Japan is perfidiously behaving, misinterpreting the DPRK's magnanimous approach towards the "abduction issue." The DPRK side clarified its principled stand on the issue and expressed its sincere attitude towards the handling of issues including the matter of families of abductees when meeting Japanese Dietmen in Beijing in December last year.
    This was part of the DPRK's sincere efforts for the permanent reunion of abductees and their families.
    It was by no means fortuitous that the international community was unanimous in commenting that the DPRK was certainly ready to settle the abduction issue including the repatriation of families of abductees.
    Nevertheless, the Japanese reactionaries are deliberately creating difficulties and obstacles in the way of solving the issue while describing the DPRK's good faith and efforts as "cheap publicity" and as "something not worth any comment" in a bid to mislead public opinion.
    The Japanese reactionaries pretend to be sympathetic with "abductees" but, in fact, are keen to continue using the "abduction issue" for the political purpose of their campaign against the DPRK.
    This behaviour is intolerable.
    Explicitly speaking, the DPRK has done all it can as regards the "abduction issue".
    It sincerely approached the issue with great magnanimity. It explained in detail how it surfaced and handed to the Japanese side all the copies of necessary documents within the limit of possibility from a humanitarian viewpoint. It also realized the visit of survivors to their hometowns. It was against this backdrop that the DPRK had the Beijing contact and it reflected its invariable stand to terminate the DPRK-Japan hostile relations.
    Japan reneged on the intergovernmental agreement on the "issue of abduction" in the past and dismissed the DPRK's good-will proposal as "worthless" this time. The DPRK can not but doubt Japan's real aim sought in persistently raising this issue.
    It is needless to say that Japan seeks to internationalize the issue of "abduction" in a bid to defame the international image of the DPRK and thus conceal its crimes committed in the past.
    Japan is vociferating only about the "issue of abduction", turning aside from the issue of victims of the "sexual slavery" for the imperial Japanese army and forcible drafting, the most monstrous human rights abuses. Such despicable behavior of Japan should be dealt with at the United Nations.
    It is the DPRK's stand that the UN should handle Japan's past crimes, that is, the human rights abuses it committed before the foundation of the UN.
    If the issue is not satisfactorily solved despite its DPRK's sincere efforts, Japan will have to be fully accountable for this.

For Spanish-speaking people

Visita de orientacion del Dirigente llama a crear proezas

     Pyongyang, 27 de enero (ATCC) -- Las noticias de que este ano el Dirigente Kim Jong Il no cesa de realizar visita de orientacion a una fabrica alimenticia en construccion y las unidades del Ejercito Popular de Corea, estimulan al pueblo coreano a acelerar la marcha de la construccion de una gran potencia prospera. La incansable visita de orientacion que realiza el Dirigente abriendose paso por entre la tormenta de nieve de enero de cada ano sirve de fuerza motriz que estimula a los militares y otros habitantes de Corea a crear nuevas proezas.
    En enero del 84 (1995) de la Era Juche, a pocos meses desde cuando el pueblo coreano sufrio el gran duelo nacional y en que el destino del pais y el pueblo estaba en peligro, el Dirigente visito al puesto Tabaksol (pinitos) con la bandera del Songun (priorizacion militar) en alto, infundiendo asi una gran fuerza y coraje a los coreanos sumergidos en la tristeza.
    Cuando todo era escaso y dificil, pese al frio penetrante, dirigio sobre el terreno en enero de 1998 varias unidades de la provincia de Jagang para hacer reinar en todo el pais el gran espiritu de Kanggye.
    Los habitantes de Corea, con una indoblegable decision, construyeron las centrales de mediano y pequeno tamanos en distintas partes del pais y pusieron en funcionamiento las fabricas inactivas impulsando con optimismo el curso de la "marcha penosa" y la marcha forzada.
    Los cientificos coreanos, al guardar en lo profundo de sus corazones las instrucciones del Dirigente, quien al visitar en enero de 1999 la Academia de Ciencias dijo que la ciencia y la tecnica son la fuerza motriz para la construccion de una gran potencia prospera, registraron innovaciones en la investigacion cientifica y asi lograron en un corto tiempo muchos exitos de investigacion de materia de punta, entre otros, la modernizacion del sistema de produccion y la obtencion de un buen resultado en el clono de la celula vegetativa del conejo.
    Al enterarse de las noticias de las actividades revolucionarias del Dirigente quien en enero de 2000 dirigio sobre el terreno el acondicionamiento territorial y la labor del dominio de la industria de la provincia de Phyong-an del Norte, los habitantes de esta provincia y los trabajadores de todo el pais se levantaron como un solo hombre y lograron grandes transformaciones en la labor para la mejora de la vida del pueblo, entre otras, la renovacion de la fisonomia del terreno nacional propio del socialismo, la construccion de modernas granjas avicolas y la normalizacion productiva de las fabricas de industria ligera.
    El pueblo coreano, al seguir con alma los pasos de orientacion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il que no cesan tambien en enero de este ano, desarrolla una gran ofensiva general para hacer del 2004 un ano de orgullosas victorias.

Descubiertas 176 piezas de bellas artes del siglo 19

     Pyongyang, 27 de enero (ATCC) -- Ultimamente, en Corea se descubrieron 176 piezas de bellas artes del siglo 19 que llaman la atencion del sector de la ciencia de la historia y las personas. Los cuadros de generos y figuras humanas de diversos temas pintados con tinta china y acuarela dan profundos conocimientos de la vida social de aquel entonces.
    Las obras fueron creadas por Kim Jun Gun, pintor popular de la segunda mitad del siglo 19.
    En estas el autor selecciono los temas independientes, por el proceso de cultivo, de todas las actividades productivas agricolas de las personas de aquel entonces tratando de describirlas concretamente, y expreso de modo sencillo distintas formas y acciones.
    Las obras que tienen por temas la vida economica son ricas en sus objetos y concretas en el despliegue del contenido y en el estudio de la vida.
    Sus obras dan a conocer ampliamente las costumbres de vida de las personas de aquel tiempo. Lo que llama la atencion es que los titulos de las piezas estan escritos en coreano.
    Ya hace mucho tiempo que las pinturas de Kim Jun Gun se divulgaron ampliamente en Francia, Alemania, Inglaterra y otros varios paises europeos.
    Sus cuadros muestran la sobresaliente inteligencia y talento del pueblo coreano y como tal constituyen preciosas riquezas culturales que contribuyeron activamente al desarrollo de bellas artes del pais.