Kim Jong Il Sends Reply Message to Putin

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Wednesday sent a reply message to Russian President V. V. Putin. The message said:
    I express deep thanks to you for extending warm congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of my birthday.
    I am convinced that the friendly and cooperative relations between our countries would continue to expand and develop in various fields and sincerely wish you success in your responsible work for the prosperity and stability of the country.

Intensified Anti-GNP Actions Called for

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) --As the "Grand National Party" of south Korea is on the verge of its collapse, Choe Pyong Ryol, its representative, at a recent press conference made a "declaration of capitulation" that he would convene a congress of the party in the near future to resign from the post of representative and serve "as a common Korean." In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says that this is a natural consequence entailed by his criminal acts of swimming against the trend of the times and the people's mindset and another victory won by the south Korean people in their struggle to bring about new politics.
    Noting that the south Korean people, however, should not forget that their struggle for a political reform and anti-GNP struggle are just a beginning, the commentary draws attention to the fact that at the press conference Choe Pyong Ryol, though he made "a suicide bombing declaration", came out with such a "theory of political coloring" that the present regime of south Korea is a "pro-north and anti-U.S. regime" and the present regime in league with the "radical left forces" camouflaged as civic organizations are set to "destroy sound conservative forces."
    It goes on:
    What he said is, in a nutshell, nothing but a political gimmick to paint the GNP's crisis as something caused by its conflict with the authorities and use the confrontation between the progressives and the conservatives as a campaign slogan in the "general election". Though Choe clarified his will to resign from the post of the representative, there will be no change in the GNP's objective and traitorous nature. The GNP gentries are desperately working to tide over its crisis and bring the situation under control through its "congress".
    No chance should be given to the GNP in the "general election". The south Korean people should intensify the on-going anti-GNP struggle to bring this traitorous party to a ruin.

Exploits of Kim Jong Il Will Shine Long

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- An Indian national seminar of the Juche idea on Songun politics and world peace was held in New Delhi on February 14 on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. Vishwanath, director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, in a report extended congratulations and glory to Kim Jong Il on behalf of the followers of the Juche idea all over the world, saying that his birthday is the common holiday of the Korean people as well as the progressive humankind of the world.
    He noted that Kim Jong Il declared the programme of modeling the whole society on the Juche idea on February 19, 1974, which holds a distinguished place in his ideological and theoretical activities, and that his Songun policy is the only just political mode that helps step up the modeling of the whole society on the Juche idea.
    Romesh Chandra, honorary chairman of the World Peace Council, and other prominent figures in their speeches said that the reality of Korea advancing under the banner of Songun in defiance of the imperialist pressure and blackmail proves that the Songun politics is the only just political mode of defending world peace and the sovereignty of a country and a political mode of guaranteeing global independence.
    The exploits of Kim Jong Il in defending socialism and peace and saving human destiny with his Songun politics will shine long in history, they stressed.
    A message of greetings to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the seminar.

Japan's Adoption of Amendment to Law on Foreign Exchange Flailed

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The Finnish Union of Communists sent a letter of protest to the Japanese embassy in the country on February 17 as regards the passage of an "amendment to the law on foreign exchange" through the Japanese House of Representatives. The letter branded Japan's adoption of the amendment as a grave encroachment upon the sovereignty of the DRPK and charged that the adoption of the amendment is entirely for the U.S. interests in Northeast Asia.
    Japan adopted the amendment under the pretext of the nuclear issue, but the DPRK threatens nobody, the letter said, urging the Japanese government to come out to the improvement of DPRK-Japan relations.
    The Finnish National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea and the Finland-Korea Association also sent letters of protest to the Japanese embassy. The letter castigated Japan for resorting to a hostile policy toward the DPRK, following the U.S. It stressed that the Japanese authorities should respect the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and immediately stop their anti-DRPK moves.

Songun Politics Praised

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Niculae Pavelescu, secretary of the Romanian Workers Party, released a statement on Feb. 18 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the declaration of the programme for modeling the whole society on the Juche idea. He said that Kimilsungism formulated by leader Kim Jong Il clarifies the idea, theory and method to realize independence of the popular masses as an integral system of idea, theory and method of Juche.
    Noting that the programme for modeling the whole society on Kimilsungism is being materialized in the DPRK and it is confidently building socialism, guided by the Songun politics based on it, he said that the programme for modeling the whole society on Kimilsungism serves as a guiding idea for the revolution in every country as it is important guidelines for achieving global independence.
    He stressed that the ideological and theoretical exploits Kim Jong Il performed by formulating the revolutionary idea of President Kim Il Sung as Kimilsungism are shining more brilliantly thanks to the Songun politics.

Study Organization Formed in Ukraine

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of a society for the study of the Songun politics was held in a city of Donetsk Region, Ukraine on Feb. 5. At the ceremony the chairman of the society was elected and a report titled "The reality of the Songun politics in the DPRK and its historic justness" was made by the chairman.
    The ceremony discussed the issue of strengthening the solidarity with the Korean people.
    A letter to leader Kim Jong Il was adopted at the ceremony.

Chinese Ambassador Hosts Reception

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Wu Donghe, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, yesterday hosted a reception at the embassy on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the signing of the agreement on cultural cooperation and the agreement on air transportation between the DPRK and Chinese governments. Present on invitation were Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Sim Tong Gol, vice-minister of Culture, Kim Pong Hyon, vice-director of the General Civil Aviation Administration, and officials concerned.
    Also on hand were staff members of the Chinese embassy and members of the Mission of the Chinese Civil Aviation.
    Speeches were made there.

Policy of Discrimination against Part-time Workers Denounced in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The "Federation of Korean Trade Unions" held a workers' rally in front of the building of "Kukmin Bank" in Youido, Seoul on Feb. 15 with more than 1,000 workers attending to demand the authorities withdraw their policy of discrimination against the part-time workers, according to south Korean MBC. The organization demanded the authorities make the part-time jobs in the public field full-time, enact a law banning the discrimination against the part-time jobs and guarantee three rights to labor to the specially hired workers.
    Branding the self-immolation committed by Pak Il Su, a worker of the Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. on Feb. 14 as a social tragedy caused by the policy of discrimination against the part-time workers, the organization declared that it would wage a powerful struggle to put an end to the discrimination.

Meeting of National Alliance Held

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The 14th Meeting of the Co-chairmen of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) was held by facsimile covering the north, the south and overseas. The meeting reviewed the movement conducted by Pomchonghakryon last year and discussed the action program for 2004.
    It was noted at the meeting that Pomchonghakryon played a vanguard role in turning anti-U.S. for independence and national cooperation into an irresistible trend of the times by waging a vigorous anti-U.S. struggle to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the nation and peace together with broad strata of youth and students.
    And it was stressed at the meeting that Pomchonghakryon should actively arouse youth and students in the movement to build in practice the structure of Korean nation-U.S. confrontation by further strengthening national cooperation against the U.S. and support and defend Songun politics, the weapon for defending the Korean nation, cherishing national dignity and pride under the banner of our nation-first spirit.
    The meeting called for developing in depth the three-party solidarity of youth and students in the north, the south and overseas to a higher stage and waging a vigorous struggle for the legalization of the South Headquarters of Pomchonghakryon and the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils.
    A joint resolution was adopted at the meeting

Message of Sympathy to King of Morocco

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Wednesday sent a message of sympathy to Mohamed VI, king of Morocco. Upon hearing the sad news that a strong earthquake that hit Morocco caused much loss of life and materials, he in the message expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the king and, through him, the victims and their bereaved families.

FM Meets New Zimbabwean Ambassador

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, foreign minister of the DPRK, met and had a talk with Christopher H. Mutsvangwa, new Zimbabwean ambassador to the DPRK, who paid a courtesy call on him today.

Meeting of Ideological Workers Opens

     Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- A meeting of ideological workers of the Workers' Party of Korea opened at the April 25 House of Culture today. The meeting will review the successes and experience gained in the information and agitation of the Party to model the whole society on the Juche idea under the wise guidance of leader Kim Jong Il in the last period and discuss the tasks to be fulfilled to further deepen and develop the ideological work of the Party as required by the Songun era.
    Present at the meeting were Kim Yong Nam, Yon Hyong Muk, Choe Thae Bok, Jong Ha Chol, Kim Ki Nam, Kim Jung Rin and chief secretaries of the Provincial Party Committees, senior officials of Party and military organs, working people's organizations and press institutions and ideological workers in various fields.
    Kim Yong Nam, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, conveyed a congratulatory letter of the C.C., WPK to the participants in the meeting.
    The letter said that a vigorous drive has been waged to model the whole society on the Juche idea over the last three decades under the wise leadership of the WPK to make great progress and success in all fields of the revolution and construction.
    It underscored the need for the ideological workers of the Party to contribute to powerfully arousing the whole Party and army and all the people to the struggle to defend the country and to achieve the prosperity of the nation, true to the Songun policy of the Party.
    At the meeting Jong Ha Chol, secretary of the C.C., WPK, delivered a report to be followed by speeches.
    The meeting goes on.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il envia telegrama de respuesta a Putin

     Pyongyang, 26 de febrero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, envio el dia 25 un telegrama a Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, presidente de la Federacion Rusa, en respuesta a su mensaje de felicitacion en ocasion del 16 de febrero. El telegrama senala:
    Expreso mi profundo agradecimiento por la felicitacion y votos cordiales que envio usted con motivo de mi cumpleanos.
    Convencido de que las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre nuestros dos paises seguiran ampliandose y desarrollandose en varios sectores, deseo de todo corazon a usted exitos en su labor responsable para la prosperidad y la estabilidad del pais.

Cultivo de soya en Corea

     Pyongyang, 26 de febrero (ATCC) -- En estos tiempos, se promueve activamente el cultivo de soya en la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. La soya es una de las importantisimas plantas indispensables para la vida alimenticia del pueblo coreano.
    Desde la antiguedad, nuestro pueblo elaboraba con soya alimentos de alto valor nutritivo, entre otros, la pasta, salsa, cuajada, aceite, soya molida, brotes de soya, y los utilizaba ampliamente en su vida alimenticia. En los ultimos anos, ha producido hasta la leche de soya para suministrarla normalmente a los ninos de la guarderia y jardin infantiles y los escolares de la primaria y la secundaria.
    En los campos de todas las localidades, se llevan adelante con ahinco los preparativos agricolas para sembrar este ano mayor cantidad de soya y asi solucionar el problema de aceite y desarrollar la ganaderia y piscicultura.
    Los trabajadores agricolas de la provincia de Hwanghae del Norte, para lograr un gran salto en el cultivo de esta planta beneficiosa, prepararon semillas de optima calidad, ya transportaron abonos a las parcelas e hicieron perfectamente el trabajo de reparacion y mantenimiento de las maquinas agricolas y equipos de irrigacion.
    Por otra parte, la provincia de Hwanghae del Sur aumento mas de dos veces el area para el cultivo de soya en comparacion con el ano pasado y, anteponiendo la produccion de tuberia de riego, tomaron otras medidas tales como construccion de canales y embalses artificiales.
    Las granjas cooperativas de los distritos de Kangnam, Junghwa y del municipio de Sungho y otras de la ciudad de Pyongyang definieron como terrenos adecuados las parcelas muy fertiles y favorables a la irrigacion y terminaron todos los preparativos necesarios. Ahora se empenan en producir la sembradora de soya, trilladora y otras maquinas agricolas.
    Los campos de las provincias de Phyong-an del Sur y del Norte, de Hamgyong del Sur y del Norte y de Jagang ya dieron toque final a los preparativos del cultivo de esta planta leguminosa y aguardan un tiempo apropiado.

Clausurado VIII Festival de Kimjongilia

     Pyongyang, 26 de febrero (ATCC) -- Quedo clausurado el dia 25 el VIII Festival de Kimjongilia, inaugurado el dia 14 en esta capital. Durante la presente edicion la visitaron cerca de un millon de personas, entre otras, los cuadros directivos del partido, el Estado y el ejercito, funcionarios de los ministerios y organos centrales, trabajadores de distintos sectores, oficiales y soldados del Ejercito Popular de Corea, jovenes y ninos escolares, huespedes extranjeros y coreanos en ultramar.
    Por otra parte, mas de 15 partidos politicos y entidades de varios paises del mundo, incluyendo el Consejo Ejecutivo del CC del Partido Comunista (Marxista) de Bulgaria y la Liga Popular de Bangladesh hicieron llegar telegramas de felicitacion al Comite Organizador del Festival.
    El acto de clausura tuvo lugar en la Exposicion Permanente de Kimilsungia y Kimjongilia.
    Estuvieron presentes el primer ministro del Consejo de Ministros, Pak Pong Ju, y otros cuadros del partido y el Estado.
    En la ocasion se publico el resultado del examen de la octava edicion.
    Fueron otorgados el premio maximo de la inmortal flor a 48 unidades, entre otras, el Ministerio de las Fuerzas Armadas Populares, el Ministerio de la Industria Metalurgica y Mecanica y el Ministerio de Comunicaciones, el premio excelente de la misma flor, a 34 unidades y el de merito de la misma flor a 5 unidades.
    Ademas, fueron otorgados los premios maximo, excelente, de merito y de trabajo de la imperecedera flor, a 49 militares, trabajadores y estudiantes, y el premio maximo de la misma flor a dos chinos en Corea que participan cada ano con las kimjongilias cultivadas con esmero.
    Kang Nung Su, presidente del Comite Coreano de Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia pronuncio un discurso clausural.