National Cooperation Urged

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- National cooperation today stands out with great urgency for a progress in the movement for the independent reunification of the country, says Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today. It goes on:
    The United States is throwing grave barriers in the way of Korea's reunification by persistently resorting to moves to stifle the DPRK under the pretext of the nuclear issue with it and is now bringing dark clouds of a nuclear war over the Korean nation.
    National cooperation is the major way for building a structure of confrontation between the Korean nation and the U.S. by practical actions.
    The fanatic nuclear racket of the U.S. imperialists against the DPRK places at risk the destiny of all the Koreans, not that of the people in the north alone. Nationwide fighting ranks must be formed against the U.S. bent on harassing peace, hindering Korea's reunification and inflicting a nuclear holocaust upon the Korean nation. In other words, the structure of confrontation between the Korean nation and the U.S. should be built in the struggle to achieve peace and independent reunification of the nation.
    National cooperation means solving all the problems of the nation related to its destiny and prospect by its concerted efforts, not relying upon outsiders, and keeping pace in this. Through active cooperation all the Koreans at home and abroad can form a strong common front of the nation against the U.S. which is seeking to draw water to its mill, in poking its nose into the internal affairs of the Korean nation and laying stubborn roadblocks in its way. Thus the structure of confrontation between the Korean nation and the U.S. must be built by practical actions.
    National cooperation is the main guarantee for the Korean nation to win in the confrontation with the U.S.
    The driving force in the struggle against the U.S. and war is the Korean nation and its unity is the guarantee for victory. The Korean nation can drive away aggressive outsiders and achieve peace and independent reunification of the nation only when they wage a relentless struggle against the U.S. and war, closely united under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    National cooperation is to reject outsiders and seek reconciliation and unity of all the Koreans. It makes it possible for the Koreans to pool their strength and wisdom and frustrate any moves to cooperate with the U.S. and maneuvers of outsiders against reunification and peace with the mighty force of great national unity.
    National cooperation is immediately great unity and the guarantee for a decisive victory in the struggle against the U.S. and war.
    All the Koreans should build a structure of confrontation between the entire Korean nation and the U.S. by practical actions and win in the confrontation with the U.S. by definitely achieving national cooperation under the banner of the Korean nation-first spirit.

Preparatory Committee Formed in Austria

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- An Austrian preparatory committee was formed in Vienna on Feb.25 to commemorate the Day of the Sun. Max Verworner, chairman of the Society for the Promotion of the Relations between Austria and the DPRK, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee at the ceremony.
    The committee reviewed functions held on the occasion of February 16 and decided to organize diverse functions on the occasion of the Day of the Sun and the 11th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission.

Japanese Authorities Urged to Improve Relations with DPRK

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held by political parties and public organizations of Bangladesh in Dhaka on Feb. 25 to condemn Japan's adoption of the "amendment to the law on foreign exchange". It was attended by Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, Khaalequzzaman Bhuiyan, chairman of the Central Committee of the Socialist Party, Mujahidul Islam Selim, general secretary of Central Committee of the Communist Party, A.F.M. Mahbubl Huq, governor of the Central Committee of the Socialist Party, Dilip Barua, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist), and other leaders of political parties and their members, members of organizations for friendship and solidarity with the Korean people and people from all walks of life. Nuran Nabie, general secretary of the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Association, and other personages in their speeches charged that Japan's "amendment to the law on foreign exchange" is aimed at suffocating, isolating and stifling the DPRK economically.
    They stressed that the progressive political parties and people of Bangladesh would positively support all the countermeasures taken by the DPRK against Japan's moves against it.
    They strongly demanded the Japanese authorities lift the sanctions against the DPRK, though belatedly, with the reasonable way of thinking and fully apologize and compensate the Korean people for the unspeakable damage and sufferings Japan brought to them during its colonial rule over Korea.
    A letter of protest to the chief executive of Japan was adopted at the meeting.
    It stressed that Japan's adoption of the "amendment to the law on foreign exchange" diametrically runs counter to the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration in which both promised to observe international law and refrain from threatening each other's security.
    It urged the Japanese authorities to stop their anti-DPRK moves and opt for improving the relations with the DPRK.

GNP Accused of Patronizing Pro-Japanese Acts

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- The Grand National Party of south Korea on February 27 opposed laying before a plenary session of the National Assembly a special bill on probing the truth behind the pro-Japanese treacheries during the Japanese imperialists' occupation of Korea, which delayed the enactment of the special bill, according to south Korean KBS. The bill was slated to be passed through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly on February 26 and to be laid before the plenary session that day.
    The move of the traitorous party to patronize the pro-Japanese acts is touching off the public criticism.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Russian Army Academy Song and Dance Ensemble

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the Russian Army Academy Song and Dance Ensemble Named after Aleksandrov. Written on the gift are words that "All members of the Russian Army Academy Song and Dance Ensemble Named after Aleksandrov have the honour to present this to Comrade Kim Jong Il, the great leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. February 12, 2004."

New Organization Formed in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- The "Headquarters of the Movement for National Assembly Election to Judge Outdated Politics in the June 15 Era" was reportedly formed in south Korea on Feb. 27. The headquarters is formed of the Reunification Solidarity, the National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification, the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, the National Federation of Peasants Associations, the Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration, the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils and other organizations of the movement for democracy and reunification.
    The main target of its activity is to achieve independence and reunification in the June 15 era and force the "Grand National Party" out of the political scene.
    The inaugural ceremony of the organization was held in Anguk-Dong, Seoul, that day.
    The speakers, elaborating on the purport of the formation of the organization, said now the people hope for the total dissolution of the GNP, the conservative and corrupt anti-reunification party, and the appearance of a new political force in the June 15 era.
    Therefore, they stated, we are forming this organization to create a new political environment in the June 15 era and to remove the GNP and bring an epochal turn in the course of independent and peaceful reunification jointly with all the people standing behind the joint declaration in the forthcoming national assembly election.
    The declaration published at the inaugural meeting said the headquarters would make efforts to give birth to the 17th "National Assembly" which would promote the peaceful reunification and democratic reforms by waging a movement for dissolving the GNP and voting down corrupt politicians.
    It was stated at the inaugural ceremony that the headquarters would start multi-concurrently "an inaugural ceremony for the judgment of antiquated politics in the June 15 era under the Headquarters of the Movement for the National Assembly Election," the "movement for the removal of the GNP" along with a campaign demanding "National Assembly" endorsement of the implementation of the joint declaration and removal of the "security law" in all parts of south Korea in days ahead.

Japan's Hostile Policy towards DPRK Condemned

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on March 2 on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the historic March 1 Popular Uprising. The uprising was a nation-wide resistance against Japan as it fully demonstrated to the world the indomitable stamina and patriotic fighting spirit of the Korean people in their struggle to regain the dignity of the nation and sovereignty and independence of the country and dealt a heavy blow at the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule, the statement noted, and continued:
    Nearly 60 years have passed since Korea was liberated from the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists. But Japan has not repented of the hideous crimes it committed in the past but is acting a shock brigade in executing the U.S. measures to stifle the DPRK, pursuant to its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
    Recently the Japanese reactionaries passed through the Diet "an amendment to the law on foreign exchange" aimed at applying sanctions against the DPRK and stifling it and are working hard to adopt a "bill banning portcalls of specified foreign ships." This is an unpardonable criminal act adding to their crimes.
    They are persistently pursuing the hostile policy towards the DPRK to implement the U.S. policy to stifle the DPRK. But they should bear in mind they will get nothing by doing so.
    If Japan, oblivious of its bitter past, sets out again on overseas aggression, toeing the US line, it will bring such fatal consequences as the disappearance of Japan, a country of islands, from this earth.
    The Japanese reactionaries had better properly understand the will of the Korean nation to force Japan to redeem its crimes committed against the Koreans generation after generation and stop acting rashly.
    We earnestly call on the south Korean people from all walks of life to dynamically rise up in the sacred anti-U.S. and anti-Japanese resistance to decisively smash the moves of the U.S. and Japanese aggressors for domination, interference, aggression and war through national cooperation in order to defend the peace of the country and bring earlier the day of independent reunification of the nation.

U.S. President's Proposal under Fire

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- U.S. President Bush made a "proposal for non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)" in a recent speech at National Defense University in Washington. Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses this as a sheer fallacy intended to reinforce the U.S.-led "Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)" in a bid to paralyze the function of the present international legal system and realize its ambition for world supremacy.
    It goes on:
    Bush's proposal is aimed to legalize the U.S.-led "marine and aerial blockade system" for the expansion and strengthening of the"PSI" publicized in 2003 and establish such a brigandish system for interfering in internal affairs of other countries as one for "punishing" independent non-nuclear states through the expansion of the sphere of its application.
    The proposal is an unequal proposal based on double standards quite contrary to the UN Charter calling for equality of all countries.
    What should not be overlooked is that the proposal is intended to isolate and stifle the DPRK. The U.S. "PSI" is a measure to isolate and blockade the DPRK in the light of its origin and purpose. The U.S. is working hard to force other countries to follow its hostile policy toward the DPRK, not content with labeling the DPRK's increase of its military power for self-defense as a proliferation of WMD and even banning the export of goods for dual use. The U.S. is sadly mistaken if it thinks it can browbeat the DPRK through the "PSI ."
    If the U.S. sincerely wants the "non-proliferation of WMD" and the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, it should admit its responsibility for having proliferated WMD worldwide and take practical actions to drop its hostile policy to stifle the DPRK, first of all.

CPRF Raps at GNP's Treacheries

     Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- The Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland published information bulletin No. 860 Tuesday. Recalling that a "special bill" probing the truth behind pro-Japanese treacheries committed during the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule over Korea was scheduled to be laid before a plenary session of the "National Assembly" of south Korea on Feb. 27 but it ended abortive owing to the opposition of the Grand National Party, the information bulletin says:
    The GNP's opposition to the deliberation of the "special bill" at the plenary session of the "National Assembly" is an intolerable criminal act of openly trampling upon the anti-Japanese patriotic spirit of the south Korean people and their desire to ferret out to the last man the traitors who sold off the dignity and interests of the country and the nation as stooges of the Japanese imperialists and make them face a stern judgment by history.
    The GNP is opposed to the probe into the truth behind pro-Japanese treacheries because it, a group of pro-U.S., pro-Japanese elements and their descendants, would be the first to be brought to justice of history and sternly judged by the nation in case the bill passed through the NA.
    The GNP's abuse of the NA as a theatre for trampling underfoot the people's anti-Japanese patriotic spirit fully reveals its true colors as a traitorous political party without an equal in the world.
    The south Korean people cannot live in peace and the country and the nation cannot get rid of disgrace and disaster with such group of traitors as the GNP left alone. The people from all walks of life in south Korea should build a fiercer flame of the struggle against the GNP they have already started and totally cut off the lifeline of the traitorous party that does so harm but not any good to the country and the nation.

Day of Tree Planting Marked

    @Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- A spring tree-planting campaign has started across the country on the occasion of the Day of Tree Planting. Working people in Pyongyang, school youth and children, agricultural workers, members of the Korean Democratic Women's Union and employees of the Ministry of Railways held rallies in the Arboretum of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, in front of the Monument to Party Founding and the Revolutionary Site on Munsu Hill and in all the provincial seats, cities and counties including Janghung-ri, Sukchon County, and Sungho District on March 2 to speed up the drive to turn the country into a thick woodland and greenery through a vigorous mass tree-planting campaign true to leader Kim Jong Il's far-sighted plan of land construction.
    Present at the rallies were senior officials of the Party and the state Kim Yong Nam, Pak Pong Ju, Yang Hyong Sop, Kim Jung Rin and others, Chairman of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party Kim Yong Dae, members of the Cabinet, officials of the ministries, national institutions and working people's organizations, working people from all walks of life and school youth and children.
    Reporters and speakers there recalled that President Kim Il Sung together with Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese war hero, climbed the Moran Hill to unroll far-reaching plan for turning the mountains of the country beautiful on March 2, Juche 35 (1946) and personally planted a tree on Munsu Hill in next spring to kindle the torch of the movement to create forests across the country.
    They referred to the fact that Kim Jong Il planted two pine-nut trees on Mt. Jangja in the period of the hard-fought war, visualizing the future of the triumphant motherland with noble patriotism and outlook on the generations to come. He has wisely led the drive to turn the mountains and rivers of the country into thicker foliage and turn its land into a socialist land of bliss in every period and stage of the development of the revolution, they noted.
    They called upon all the officials and other working people and school youth and children to display patriotism and dedication in the spring tree-planting drive with intense loyalty and a high sense of responsibility to successfully implement Kim Jong Il's far-sighted plan of land construction.
    At the end of the rallies, senior officials of the Party and the state and the participants planted with good care various species of trees and flowers including pine-nut tree, Sabina, azalea and acacia with pink flower.
    Meanwhile, units of the three services of the Korean People's Army and the military academies at all levels held servicepersons' rallies that day to vow to thoroughly implement Kim Jong Il's instructions to successfully conduct the spring tree-planting campaign and the movement to protect land and environment.
    Present at the rallies were Jo Myong Rok, director of the General Political Department of the KPA, Kim Il Chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces, senior officials of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, generals, officers, servicepersons and employees.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il inspecciona la Unidad No. 252 del EPC

     Pyongyang, 3 de marzo (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea, inspecciono la Unidad No. 252 del EPC que recibio el titulo de Septimo Regimiento de O Jung Hup. Le acompanaron 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.
    Tras enterarse del estado de cumplimiento del deber de la Unidad, el Comandante Supremo, guiado por el jefe de la Unidad, recorrio la sala de historia de esta.
    Evaluo altamente las proezas de la Unidad diciendo que esta, condecorada con la "Orden Kim Il Sung" de honor y laureada con los titulos de Guardia de Corps Kumsong y de Septimo Regimiento de O Jung Hup, es una orgullosa unidad de larga historia y tradicion de lucha que se ponia siempre a vanguardia de apoyar la direccion de nuestro partido mediante el Songun (priorizacion militar) sirviendo de ejemplo en los ejercicios combativos y politicos y demostrando el impetu y el coraje heroico del EPC en los lugares de la construccion socialista.
    En la Casa de Militares se entero detalladamente del estado de educacion politica e ideologica para los militares.
    Se mostro muy satisfecho al informarse de que con motivo del Dia de Reforestacion todos los militares de la Unidad se incorporaron unanimemente a la plantacion de arboles, y senalo que el EPC debe ponerse a la vanguardia en la labor de cubrir de verdor el territorio patrio socialista.
    El Dirigente se fotografio junto a los oficiales y soldados de la Unidad.
    Acto seguido, inspecciono una subunidad Bandera Roja Dos Veces de las Tres Revoluciones perteneciente a la citada Unidad.
    Al recorrer el campo e instalaciones de entrenamiento de la subunidad, se entero detalladamente del estado de cumplimiento del programa de ejercicio.
    Se mostro muy complacido de que esta subunidad, al cumplir permanentemente los ejercicios valiendose de las instalaciones de entrenamiento ya acondicionadas excelentemente, formo a todos los oficiales y soldados como combatientes listos a pelear a solas contra cien enemigos y capaces de cumplir satisfactoriamente la mision combativa en cualquier condicion dificil e indico las tareas programaticas que sirven de guia para fortalecer la combatividad de la Unidad.
    Seguidamente, recorrio la sala de educacion, el dormitorio, el comedor, la cocina, el deposito de alimentos subsidiarios y otros lugares para prodigar profunda atencion a la labor y vida de los militares.
    Presencio la funcion artistica de los militares de una compania de esa subunidad.
    Obsequio los binoculos, la ametralladora y el fusil automatico a los militares de esta y se fotografio junto a estos.

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de conjunto artistico de Rusia

     Pyongyang, 3 de marzo (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera el Conjunto Artistico Academico Alexandrov del Ejercito de Rusia. En el presente se leia: "Al camarada Kim Jong Il, gran Dirigente de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, en nombre de todo el personal del Conjunto Artistico Academico Alexandrov del ejercito de Rusia. El 12 de febrero del 2004".

Vocero del CRPP condena la politica hostil a Corea de Japon

     Pyongyang, 3 de marzo (ATCC) -- El vocero del Comite por la Reunificacion Pacifica de la Patria (CRPP) publico el dia 2 una declaracion dedicada al 85 aniversario del Levantamiento Popular del Primero de Marzo. El Levantamiento Popular del Primero del Marzo fue una resistencia antijaponesa pannacional que demostro a todo el mundo el espiritu indoblegable y la voluntad patriotica del pueblo coreano en lucha por la dignidad de la nacion, la soberania e independencia del pais y que dio un golpe demoledor a la dominacion colonial del imperialismo japones, senala la declaracion y continua:.
    Ya han transcurrido cerca de 60 anos desde cuando Corea se libro del yugo de dominacion colonial del imperialismo japones. Pero, este pais isleno, lejos de reflexionar sobre su pasado lleno de crimenes, persigue vilmente la politica hostil a Corea y sirve de brigada de choque en las maquinaciones de EE.UU. para aplastar a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea.
    Recientemente, los reaccionarios japoneses han cometido otros actos criminales imperdonables tales como la aprobacion en la dieta del llamado "proyecto de enmienda de la ley de canje de divisas" encaminada a ejercer la sancion y aplastamiento a la RPDC y el intento de fraguar el "proyecto de la ley de prohibicion de la entrada de los determinados barcos extranjeros en los puertos japoneses".
    En adhesion a las maniobras de aplastamiento a Corea de EE.UU., ellos persiguen vilmente la politica hostil contra la RPDC. Pero deben darse clara cuenta de que no podran ganar nada de ello.
    Si Japon vuelve a tomar el camino de la agresion a ultramar en sumision a EE.UU. sin sacar leccion de su pasado amargo, no podra evitar una consecuencia tragica que es la desaparicion de una vez para siempre de este pais isleno en el orbe.
    Los reaccionarios japoneses deben actuar con prudencia al ver con acierto la voluntad de la nacion coreana de saldar cuenta, de generacion en generacion, de los crimenes cometidos contra la nacion coreana.
    La declaracion exhorta calurosamente a los habitantes de distintos sectores del Sur de Corea a levantarse vigorosamente en la sagrada lucha por frustrar las maniobras de dominacion, intervencion, agresion y guerra de los imperialistas yanquis y japoneses, a traves de la cooperacion nacional, a fin de preservar la paz del pais y adelantar la reunificacion independiente de la nacion.