Kim Jong Il Greets State Leaders of Various Countries

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il sent messages of greetings to state leaders of various countries on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 93 (2004). Among them were Amir of Kuwaiti State Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, King of the Kingdom of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah the Second, President and Supreme Commander of Armed Forces of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, King of Morocco Mohamed the Sixth, President and Head of State of Mali Amadou Toumani Toure, President of the Republic of Sudan Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Sri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves.
    Kim Jong Il in the messages extended warm greetings to them on the occasion of the New Year and wished them successes in their work for the development of the countries, expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and those countries would grow stronger.

Prep. Committee Formed in Pakistan

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16, birthday of leader Kim Jong Il was held in Islamabad on January 20. At the ceremony the chairman of the Pakistan-Korea Friendship Association made public the preparatory committee consisting of a secretary and 8 members with Organizing Secretary of the Pakistan Islamic Federation Achim Choudri as its chairman.
    The chairman of the preparatory committee in a speech made a proposal to hold diverse significant friendly and cultural functions to strengthen the ties with the Korean people and deepen friendship on the occasion of the holiday of February and continue this work till the Day of the Sun, birthday of President Kim Il Sung.
    A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the ceremony.

Special Homepage for Celebrating February 16 Opened in Spain

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Spanish Association for Friendship with the Korean People opened a special Internet homepage on January 22 to celebrate February 16, birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. Edited in the homepage was a portrait of Kim Jong Il with letters "Long live the Supreme Commander!" and "2.16, 1942-2.16, 2004" and Korean film picture-accompanied music.

Walking March from U.S. Embassy to Building of GNP Declared in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification reportedly called a press conference in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on Jan. 28 to declare a walking march from the embassy to the building of the south Korean "Grand National Party" (GNP) and said that it would start a vigorous anti-U.S. and anti-GNP campaign this year. Noting that the main obstacles in the way of our nation's advance are the United States and the GNP, the participants in the press conference stated that they decided to make a walking march from the U.S. embassy to the buildings of the GNP and the "National Assembly" everyday till February 7 to disclose and denounce the nature of the U.S. and the GNP.
    A written declaration of the march was issued at the press conference.
    The declaration referred to the fact that the U.S. has imposed political, economic and military pressure and sanctions against the north and is now resorting to such undisguised moves against the north as deploying up-to-date military hardware in and around the Korean peninsula and launching military drills.
    The declaration said that the GNP is making desperate efforts to cover up its irregularities and corruption with the approach of the "general election" and that if the moves of the U.S. and the GNP are left intact it would result in serious consequences.
    After the press conference the participants made a walking march, distributing propaganda literature among citizens and conducting a signature campaign.

Rodong Sinmun on Japan's Overseas Military Operations

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Japan recently dispatched large armed forces of its "Self-Defence Forces" to Iraq, a battle field between the occupation army and the resisting forces. This is a practical measure of the first stage for overseas military operations of the Japanese militarists. Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed commentary today.
    The news analyst continues:
    The wind of militarization is blowing stronger in Japan from the beginning of the New Year and the moves to institute a war-oriented constitution and the dispatch of SDF armed forces to the battle field for aggressive overseas military operations have become undisguised. This is the first grave development ever since the defeat of the Japanese imperialists.
    And this is a prelude to the overseas aggression of the Japanese militarists which may bring immeasurable misfortune and disasters to humankind again in the 21st century.
    The revival of Japanese militarism and overseas expansion moves are evoking great alertness in the surrounding countries and at home and abroad. As the desire and demand for independence and peace are the main trend of the present times, Japan should understand that no one will pardon those enemies going against the trend.
    If the Japanese reactionary ruling quarters, oblivious of this and overheated by the revival of militarism and overseas expansion moves, recklessly run amuck, they would follow in the wake of Tojyo clan, special-class war criminals who were ostracized by history, for launching the war of aggression to realize a foolish dream of the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" in the past.

Japan's Adoption of Anti-DPRK Law Assailed

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Japan passed amendment to the law on foreign exchange and trade with foreign countries through the House of Representatives on Jan. 28 in a bid to support by law its moves to strangle the DPRK economically and settle the outstanding issues between the DPRK and the U.S. and between the DPRK and Japan in keeping with its intention to stifle the DPRK, says Minju Joson Sunday in a signed commentary. Japan put in the amendment such a phrase as "for peace and security" of Japan. Dismissing this as rhetoric to cover up its unjustifiable and criminal intention and mislead the public opinion, the commentary points out that the amendment was aimed to do harm to the other, not to defend itself.
    The amendment is a joint product of the ruling and opposition parties of Japan which seek to win popularity and find a way out by making such a shocking practical action as a "measure of applying economic sanctions to the north" in an effort to win in the election of members of Councilors slated for mid-year in the partisan interests and strategy.
    The commentary brands Japan's passage of the amendment directly hostile to the DPRK as a violation of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and a politically rash act of bedeviling the improvement process of the DPRK-Japan relations.

Prep. Committee Formed in Spain

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee of the Association for Friendship with the Korean People in Spain was inaugurated with due ceremony on Jan. 19 to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il, the Sun of the 21st Century. The ceremony elected Alejandro Cao de Benos, chairman of the association, chairman of the preparatory committee.
    The committee discussed issues of conducting diverse activities from February to April to praise the wise leadership and immortal exploits of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and widely introduce the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, guided by the Juche Idea.

Special Committee for General Election Formed in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration reportedly held the first operation committee meeting for 2004 in Taejon on January 17. At the meeting a special committee for general election of the Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration was formed and Director of the South Korean Civil Rights Institute Kim Sung Gyo was elected chairman of the special committee.
    The meeting set arrangement of a political climate for implementing the June 15 joint declaration, expansion and strengthening of progressive mass movement forces and degeneration of the Grand National Party into a minority party as the three-point target of the upcoming general election and raised the establishment of anti-GNP joint front as a basic means of victory in the general election.
    The meeting decided to inaugurate headquarters of the general election joint movement for political reform and democracy, headquarters of the movement for the dismantlement of the GNP and veteran group for the promotion of an anti-GNP federation and open an anti-GNP federation website.

Prep. Committee Inaugurated in Poland

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of a preparatory committee was held in Warsaw on Jan. 20 under the sponsorship of the Central Committee of the Poland-Korea Association to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the demise of the great President Kim Il Sung and celebrate national holidays of the Korean people. Tadeusz Bialkowski, First Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the Poland-Korea Association, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee at the ceremony.
    The committee discussed the issues of holding colorful functions to widely introduce the immortal exploits of the President and leader Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the demise of Kim Il Sung, the Day of the Sun, February 16, (birthday of Kim Jong Il), the 40th anniversary of his start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Philippine President on Negotiated Settlement of Nuclear Issue

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- The Philippine government and people maintain the stand that the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S. should be settled through dialogue and negotiations, not through economic blockade against the DPRK, said Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Jan. 26 when she received credentials from new DPRK Ambassador e.p. to Philippines O Song Chol. She said that it is the consistent stand of the Philippine government to further develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in political, economic and trade and other fields.
    Korea should be reunified independently and peacefully in the spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, she noted.
    She hoped that the Korean people would achieve greater success in their endeavors to build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and reunify the country under the unique Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il.

WPK Praised by Mexican Figure

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- Rafael Aguilar Talamantes, chairman of the Socialist Party of Mexico, praised the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) at the closing ceremony of the Second Congress of the party held on January 25. The chairman noted that the WPK, guided by the Juche idea, has waged a vigorous struggle to build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and reunify the country while smashing the U.S. moves to isolate and stifle it.
    Saying that the WPK remains strong as it has the Juche idea, he stressed that his party should apply the idea to working out its strategy and tactics.

Kim Jong Il's Birthday Celebrated Worldwide

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- Celebrations have been held in various countries on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. The chairman of the Youth Group for the Study of the Juche Idea of Democratic Congo in a lecture said that Kim Jong Il has brought about a great change in building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and significantly raised the international prestige of the country with the Songun politics while overcoming all difficulties on the principle of attaching priority to military affairs.
    The chief of the French Group for the Study of the Juche Idea at a seminar noted that Kim Jong Il has performed great feats in all fields including politics, ideology, military affairs and economy by putting everything into practice in line with the idea of President Kim Il Sung.
    The chief of the Group for the Study of the Juche Idea of Poland at a film show said that Kim Jong Il is a great leader of the people, indeed, adding that the future of Korea is rosy as he wisely leads the Korean people.
    The manager of the Homs Electrical Factory in Libya, expressed his envy at the Korean people who are guided by Kim Jong Il, saying that the Libyan people highly praise and respect the great leader of the Korean people who has the U.S. imperialists under his thumb.
    Screened at the film shows were the Korean films "Native House in Mt. Paektu Preserved to Its Former Glory", "They Were Always Together in the Way for the People" and "The Respected Comrade Kim Jong Il Is the Great Thinker and Theoretician".
    A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at a seminar held in France.
    Meanwhile, a joint seminar on his Songun politics was held under the co-sponsorship of the Addis Ababa Group for the Study of the Juche Idea, the Group for the Study of the Juche idea at the Tulubolo Senior Middle School of Ethiopia and a fitness club affiliated to the International Taekwon-Do Federation on Jan. 21.

Seminars on Kim Jong Il's Works Held Abroad

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- A joint seminar on leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "The Juche Philosophy Is an Original Revolutionary Philosophy" was held in Mexico on Jan. 23. The chairman of the Mexican Committee for the Study of Kimilsungism noted that the Juche idea fathered by President Kim Il Sung comprehensively clarified the position and role of man in the world which the preceding theories failed to explain, underscoring the need to learn from the Juche idea.
    The chairman of the Mexican Institute for the Study of the Juche Idea said that the Juche idea is a great guiding idea in the present times as it is flawless in terms of theory and practice. The DPRK is a great country as it is guided by the Juche idea, he added.
    Meanwhile, a seminar on Kim Jong Il's famous work "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction" was held by the Kim Jong Il Group for the Study of the Juche Idea of the Democratic Congo on Jan. 19.

Prep. Comm. for Citizens' Solidarity in 2004 Gen.Election Holds Press Conference

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- The Preparatory Committee for Citizens' Solidarity in 2004 General Election held a press conference on January 27 and decided to conduct a defeating campaign in application and election, according to south Korean KBS. It set irregularities and corruption, violation of election law and human rights abuses as a standard of defeat in election with the approach of the general election and declared that it would conduct a campaign for defeating National Assembly members according to it.
    It said that to this end it would inaugurate the Citizens' Solidarity in 2004 General Election involving civic and public organizations across south Korea on February 3 and open to the public the first list of those to be defeated among incumbent members of the National Assembly to conduct a defeating campaign.

KCNA Blasts U.S. Arms Buildup

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- The U.S. was reported to have contemplated spending 425 billion US dollars as a military budget for the year 2004. This is all-time high, when recalling that the U.S. annual military expenditure was 342.4 billion US dollars on an average in the period of the Cold War.
    The U.S. defense spending for 2004 is staggering as it envisages spending at least 1 billion US dollars a day and 43.37 million US dollars per hour except the expenses for its operations in Iraq.
    The U.S. military expenditure has steadily swollen in recent years and is likely to further increase in the future.
    According to information released by the U.S. Department of Defence, the U.S. defence budget is expected to show an annual increase of about 20 billion US dollars and exceed the level of 500 billion US dollars till 2010 and account for a half of the total military spending in the world.
    This stepped-up arms buildup of the U.S. can not but be a military threat to the whole world as it is aimed to serve its purpose of military intervention, terrorism and war against other countries.
    The U.S. policy of unlimited arms buildup is designed to meet its strategic purpose of retaining its military supremacy, stifling those countries which incur its displeasure and seizing the regions of major natural resources and military strategic importance in a bid to establish an American style order of strength in the world and build its unipolar world.
    The U.S. policy of arms buildup serves as a factor of stoking fervour to increase military spending among other countries.
    The U.S. is well advised to give up its policy of strength based on an adventurous strong-arm theory, going against humankind's desire for global peace and stability.

At least 190 Cases of U.S. Aerial Espionage Committed in January

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialist warmongers have committed more than 190 cases of round-the-clock aerial espionage against the DPRK in January, according to military sources. Involved in them were strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes with various missions based in south Korea and overseas. On Jan. 30 "U-2" flew over forefront areas to spy on the depth of the DPRK. And "RC-135", "E-3" and "P-3" also committed espionage against the whole area of the DPRK, its targets in areas along the Military Demarcation Line, its seas and their bottom.
    The cases of espionage committed by those planes totalled more than 40 in January.
    Meanwhile, ten tactical reconnaissance planes including "RC-7B", "RC-12" and "RF-4C" made shuttle flights over the areas from Tokjok Islet to Phochon and from Phochon to Sokcho Islet to spy on the front and the coastal areas of the DPRK on Jan. 20, nine from Jan. 13 to 15 on a daily average, eight on Jan. 6, 26 and 27 every day.
    Such aerial espionage clearly shows the U.S. imperialists' black-hearted design to mount a sudden preemptive attack on the DPRK anytime as they did to seize Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. Accused of Impeding Peace, Reunification and Cooperation of Korean Nation

     Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- The United States is a wicked disturber of peace and reunification of Korea and national cooperation as it is keen to bedevil the favorably developing inter-Korean relations and bar the implementation of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration by driving the situation on the Korean peninsula to an extreme pitch of tension, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. The article recalls facts that the U.S. hatched a plot to perpetuate the division of Korea into two parts and instigated the south Korean separatist forces for its realization in the 1970s.
    It goes on: Early in the 1990s, a series of high-level talks took place between the north and the south and an "agreement on reconciliation, non-aggression and cooperation and exchange between the north and the south" and "joint declaration on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" were adopted at the talks. The United States, however, has left no means untried to hamper the process of reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south and that of peace on the Korean peninsula. The U.S. imperialists fabricated the "nuclear suspicion" of north Korea and kicked up a frantic anti-DPRK campaign. The U.S. instigated some elements of the International Atomic Energy Agency to threaten the DPRK with "special inspection". It brought up the "nuclear issue" on the Korean peninsula for discussion at the U.N. and had an unjust resolution on applying sanctions against the DPRK adopted there. This resulted in totally freezing the hard-won north-south dialogue which had produced some results and blocking the implementation of the north-south agreement and the joint declaration on denuclearization. The U.S. is kicking up a nuclear racket again and persisting in its moves against the DPRK and reunification though the Koreans are striving hard to glorify the era of independent reunification ushered in by the adoption of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il inspecciona la Unidad No. 493

     Pyongyang, 31 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea (PTC), Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional (CDN) de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea, inspecciono la Unidad No. 493 del EPC. Recorrio la sala de historia que muestra la orgullosa trayectoria de la Unidad.
    Senalo que esta es una unidad de larga historia con las brillantes proezas acumuladas en la sagrada lucha por defender las conquistas socialistas logradas a costa de sangre por el pueblo coreano y recalco que la Unidad debe mantener invariablemente y llevar adelante sus gloriosas tradiciones de lucha.
    Recibio el parte de la situacion del jefe de la Unidad y se entero de los detalles del estado de cumplimiento de su deber. Se mostro muy satisfecho de que los militares de la Unidad, con el ardiente patriotismo y el firme espiritu de lucha antiimperialista, hicieron de todas las zonas operacionales una inexpugnable fortaleza y cumplen con responsabilidad el servicio de guardia e indico las tareas programaticas que sirven de guia para fortalecer por todos los medios la combatividad de la Unidad.
    En la Casa de Militares se entero de los detalles del uso de los medios de cultura y educacion y del trabajo politico e ideologico.
    Senalo que, bajo la direccion del PTC mediante el Songun, se logro un nuevo viraje en los rasgos politicos e ideologicos y en el estilo de lucha del EPC y se fortalecio extraordinariamente su combatividad y poderio, y recalco que para nosotros es un gran orgullo contar con estas grandes fuerzas revolucionarias dotadas con el espiritu de defender al Lider a costa de la vida.
    En la sala de leccion militar vio un ejercicio tactico de los miembros de mando.
    Acto seguido, recorrio la sala de educacion, dormitorio, comedor, cocina, bano, deposito diario, sala de elaboracion de alimentos subsidiarios y otras instalaciones de cultura, educacion e intendencia.
    Se fotografio junto a los oficiales y soldados de la Unidad.
    Le acompanaron Yon Hyong Muk, vicepresidente del CDN de la RPDC; Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae y Pak Jae Gyong, generales de ejercito del EPC; y Ri Yong Chol, miembro de la Comision Militar Central del PTC y primer subjefe de departamento del CC del PTC.

Polonia: Comite de recordacion y Comite Preparatorio de dias de Corea

     Pyongyang, 31 de enero (ATCC) -- El acto constitutivo del Comite de Recordacion del 10 aniversario del Fallecimiento del Presidente Kim Il Sung y el Comite Preparatorio de las Fiestas Nacionales del Pueblo Coreano tuvo lugar el dia 20 en Varsovia bajo los auspicios del Comite Central de la Asociacion Polonia-Corea. Como presidente del Comite fue electo Tadeusz Bialkowski, primer vicepresidente del CC de esta Asociacion.
    El Comite preparatorio discutio el problema de organizar variadas actividades para dar a conocer ampliamente y llevar adelante las inmortales hazanas del Presidente Kim Il Sung y del Dirigente Kim Jong Il con motivo del 10 aniversario del fallecimiento del Presidente, el Dia del Sol (15 de abril), la fiesta de febrero (16 de febrero) y el 40 aniversario del inicio del trabajo del Dirigente en el CC del Partido del Trabajo de Corea.

Espana: Comite preparatorio por el Sol del Siglo XXI

     Pyongyang, 31 de enero (ATCC) -- La Asociacion de Amistad con Corea en Espana constituyo el dia 19 el Comite Preparatorio por el Sol del Siglo XXI. Como presidente del Comite fue electo Alejandro Cao de Benos, presidente de la Asociacion.
    El Comite decidio desplegar de febrero a abril diversas actividades para elogiar la sabia direccion e inmortales hazanas del Presidente Kim Il Sung y del Dirigente Kim Jong Il y divulgar ampliamente la realidad de Corea en que se ha materializado la idea Juche.

Vocero del MINREX de Corea denuncia a Japon

     Pyongyang, 31 de enero (ATCC) -- El portavoz del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea publico el dia 30 una declaracion de denuncia en relacion con que el dia 29, la camara de representantes de Japon aprobo por fin el "proyecto de enmienda de ley de canje de divisas". La maligna ley, enmendada esta vez, estipula que en caso necesario, este pais isleno puede interrumpir las remesas y el comercio con la RPDC bajo el pretexto de preservar la "paz y la seguridad de Japon", y tomar a solas medidas de sanciones contra la RPDC sin que se logren la resolucion de la ONU o el acuerdo internacional.
    Este procedimiento extremado es una flagrante violacion a la Declaracion Corea-Japon de Pyongyang en que ambos paises se comprometen a observar el Derecho Internacional y a dejar de cometer acciones que amenacen la seguridad de la otra parte, senalo el vocero y continuo:
    Al justificar esta vez por ley nacional las sanciones economicas contra la RPDC, Japon lleva las relaciones bilaterales a una fase imprevisible.
    La situacion se torna mas grave.
    Debido a esta enmienda, la paz y la estabilidad del Nordeste Asiatico llegaran a una coyuntura catastrofica, y la situacion de la Peninsula Coreana, afectada por el problema nuclear RPDC-EE.UU., se agudizara todavia mas.
    Ahora el gobierno y los partidos en poder de Japon esperan cierta concesion de alguien al decir que la "aprobacion de la presente enmienda dara un inmensurable golpe psicologico y economico al Norte de Corea."
    Japon comete gran estupidez y equivocacion.
    La RPDC, en toda su trayectoria historica, siempre tomo por vida la soberania nacional y nunca admitio la presion de otro pais para abandonar el principio y tolerar la obediencia esclavista.
    Es una idea muy ingenua esperar que la RPDC se mueva por la presion de un pais criminal como Japon.
    Japon cometio acciones tan siniestras e infieles que perjudican a si mismo.
    La RPDC no se quedara jamas con brazos cruzados sino tomara contramedidas necesarias ante la posicion de Japon que aun hablando de su participacion en las conversaciones de 6 partes, se propone llevar a la practica su politica hostil a la RPDC atentando gravemente la soberania de esta.
    Tenemos un temperamento de responder a la represalia con la represalia y a la dureza con la sobredureza.
    Japon debe asumir la entera responsabilidad de todas las consecuencias que emanen de sus insensatas maquinaciones.