Past news

Kim Jong Il Receives Message of Sympathy from Hu Jintao

    Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, received a message of sympathy Friday from Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China. The message says:
    When hearing the sad news that a serious explosion which occurred at Ryongchon Railway Station in North Phyongan Province of your country on April 22 caused big human and material losses, I express deep sympathy to you and, through you, to the families of the victims on behalf of the party and government of China.
    I sincerely hope that the Korean people will surely recover from the losses caused by the accident and put the production and people's living in the afflicted area to normal at an early date under the leadership of you and the WPK.
    The Chinese side has a willingness to provide necessary assistance to this end.

Kim Jong Il Receives Message of Sympathy from Putin

    Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, received a message of sympathy Saturday from V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation. The message says:
    I heard the sad news that a big accident took place at Ryongchon Railway Station, claiming huge casualties and serious destruction.
    I share sorrow with all the friendly people and bereaved families of the DPRK.
    Please convey my profound sorrow and sincere sympathy to the families and relatives of those killed in the disaster and all those who suffered from this accident.

Lebanese President on Relations with DPRK

Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said that Lebanon and the DPRK have long developed the friendly relations and supported and cooperated with each other on the international arena, adding that Lebanon is pleased with this. Kim Pyong Nam, new DPRK ambassador to Lebanon, presented his credentials to the president on April 2

Meeting Held to Extend Thanks to Kim Jong Il

    Tokyo April 24 (KNS-KCNA) -- A meeting of officials of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and Koreans was held in Tokyo Friday to extend thanks to leader Kim Jong Il for the 150th installment of educational aid fund and stipends. So Man Sul, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon, said in his report that the history of educational aid fund and stipends started by President Kim Il Sung is being invariably carried forward by Kim Jong Il and for this benevolent love the national education of Koreans in Japan has been strengthened and developed as a proud model of education of overseas compatriots for the world.
    It is the most important task arising in national education to lay a solid foundation for lifting it to a higher level by defending and developing it, he stressed, and called for frustrating all the moves of the reactionaries at home and abroad and glorifying the 20th Congress of Chongryon as a congress of unity and victors.
    Representatives of different strata took the floor.
    A message of thanks to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the meeting.
    The message says that the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon, holding the banner of patriotism as high as ever, will rouse the whole organization and compatriots in the fight to frustrate at every step the moves of reactionaries at home and abroad against the DPRK and Chongryon and defend and develop Chongryon and national education.

China to Donate Emergency Relief Goods to DPRK

Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- The Chinese government decided to donate emergency relief goods worth 10 million Renminbi Yuan to the DPRK in connection with the wagon explosion that occurred due to carelessness at Ryongchon Railway Station, North Phyongan Province on April 22. The delivery of the relief goods to the spot will start on Sunday.
Governments of many other countries and international bodies and organizations have expressed their willingness to provide humanitarian aid.

KPA to Take Necessary Measure against U.S. Unilateral Action

    Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army released the following statement Sunday: On April 13 the south Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff formally announced that the south Korean army would take over the guard duty in the Joint Security Area (JSA) in Panmunjom so far performed by the U.S. forces and even the Oryonggye post, the last U.S. forces' post in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) handed over to it.
    On April 11 the commander of the U.S. forces in south Korea made a similar statement at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
    The KPA side and the U.S. forces side have ensured the security in the JSA in Panmunjom for the last more than 50 years since the ceasefire in accordance with the Armistice Agreement and the agreement made in the subsequent period.
    The U.S. forces side, however, announced all of a sudden that it would completely withdraw its forces from the JSA and DMZ and deploy there soldiers of the south Korean army, which is neither a signatory to the AA nor a member of the "allied forces", in disregard of the AA and points agreed upon between the two sides.
    The U.S. is massively shipping ultra-modern arms and equipment into south Korea and staging war exercises against the DPRK one after another, while putting all sorts of unreasonable pressure upon it under the pretext of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, the issue of its own making.
    The U.S. decision to take even its small force out of the JSA in Panmunjom and DMZ against this backdrop indicates that the U.S. preparations for a preemptive attack upon the DPRK are under way at a final phase.
    As facts tell, the gravity of the unilateral measure taken by the U.S. forces side without any consultation with the KPA side, a signatory to the AA, lies not in taking the small force out of the JSA and DMZ but in giving up its status as a signatory to the AA through this action.
    By deliberately backing off the implementation of the agreement on security in the JSA and the headquarters' area in Panmunjom the U.S. side made it impossible to ensure telephone communication and contact between the liaison officers, the last means of contact between the two sides, and the security for talks between the two sides.
    By replacing the U.S. troops in Panmunjom by south Korean troops, the U.S. side seeks to give up the implementation of the AA related to the maintenance and management of DMZ set up as a buffer zone to prevent the recurrence of a war and the agreement on repair and reconstruction and security of the JSA. This clearly reminds one of the criminal act the U.S. side committed by appointing a general of the south Korean army, which is neither a signatory to the AA nor part of "UN forces", as a senior member of the U.S. side to the Military Armistice Commission ten years back and paralyzing all functions of the bodies to supervise the implementation of the AA.
    The disturbance of the order and security in the JSA in Panmunjom and the suspension of the contact and communication between the two sides in this area due to the U.S. side's unilateral step would have a serious impact on the preservation of the armistice in Korea and this would push the situation to a very grave phase of tension.
    The U.S. side, however, is set to totally give up its obligation in disregard of the AA and the agreed points which have been implemented over the last more than half a century and even the practice long observed by the two sides. This situation prompts the KPA side not to allow such a thing as failure to fulfill what it wants to do, bound to the AA and the agreements between the two sides, and compels it to take whatever strong measure to protect its own security.
    Now that the U.S. side is expected to give up its status as a signatory to the AA to achieve its aim, the KPA side will comprehensively examine the issue of security in the headquarters' area in the DMZ and in the joint security area, all the provisions of the AA related to security necessary for ensuring telephone communication between the two sides, contact between liaison officers and talks between the two sides in the area and the points agreed upon between the two sides and go into prompt action when necessary to take measures for protecting the security and interests in this area.
    The U.S. side should not forget that both the DPRK and the U.S. are technically at war in an unstable state of armistice as they have not yet settled the belligerent relationship.
    The U.S. is seriously mistaken if it thinks things will go on in Korea as it wishes as it is apt to expect from other countries.

Sympathy to Kim Jong Il from Pakistani President

Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Saturday received a message of sympathy from Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan. The message says he could hardly repress deep sorrow upon hearing the news that a heavy toll of human lives was taken by a train accident in the DPRK and this big loss of lives is a very unfortunate and sad thing.
In the name of the Pakistani government and people and in my own name, I express deep condolences to the DPRK government and people and profound sympathy to the bereaved families, the message says.

Message of Sympathy to Kim Jong Il from Syrian President

Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, received a message of sympathy from Syrian President Bashar Al Assad Saturday. The Syrian president in the message says he heard with deep sorrow the news that dozens of friendly Korean people were killed and tens of others wounded in a railway accident in the DPRK.
He, in the name of the Syrian Arab people and in his own name, extended sincerest condolences to Kim Jong Il and the victims to the accident and wished the wounded an early recovery, the message noted.

Sympathy from Russian Foreign Minister

Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Saturday sent a message of sympathy to his DPRK counterpart Paek Nam Sun. The message expressed deep condolences to him as regards the railway accident that claimed huge casualties and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and relatives.

S. Korean Delegation Visits Different Places

    Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the South Korean Red Cross led by its President Ri Yun Gu visited different places of Pyongyang. Members of the delegation visited the Red Cross General Hospital of Korea to hear from the director the explanation about its history, management and treatment before going round the combined operating room and various examination rooms.
    They also visited the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace to see various rooms for hobby groups. Then they went to the Grand People's Study House and King Tongmyong's Mausoleum.
    The delegation also visited the Kim Jong Suk Nursery, Changgwang Kindergarten, the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital and other places and made a sightseeing tour of Moran Hill.
    Meanwhile, the delegation gave a reception for the members of the Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society on April 23.

Kim Jong Il's China Visit Hailed

    Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- Papers here today say that leader Kim Jong Il's China visit will be recorded with brilliance forever in the history of the DPRK-China friendship. Rodong Sinmun editorially stresses that his historic China visit clearly testifies to the indestructibility and invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship and offered a historic occasion in laying a strong foundation for developing the friendship generation after generation.
    The editorial continues:
    During his visit Kim Jong Il paid tribute to the new collective leadership of the Communist Party of China including Comrade Hu Jintao, deepened friendship and confidence in it and provided a new landmark for developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and China.
    Kim Jong Il noted that he would exert fresh efforts to inherit the tradition of close cooperation between the two parties and the two countries and steadily boost the bilateral friendly relations.
    Hu Jintao said that China's new collective leadership sets great store by the Sino-DPRK friendship fostered with care by the leaders of the elder generations of the two countries and expressed its position to steadily boost it.
    Kim Jong Il's China visit encouraged the Korean people in their drive to build a great prosperous powerful nation and in their courageous struggle to defend socialism with persevering will and conviction of sure victory and greatly contributed to ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula and the rest of Asia.
    Both sides unanimously agreed to maintain their stand to seek a peaceful negotiated settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, promote with joint efforts the process of the six-way talks and contribute to the eventual peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue.
    Kim Jong Il's China visit was, indeed, a historic event as it opened up a new chapter in strengthening and developing the DPRK-China friendship and consolidating the unbreakable unity between the two parties and the two peoples.
    The paper notes that the new collective leadership of China has made great successes in accomplishing the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics by uniting all the Chinese and leading them, guided by the thought of "Three represents" and on the principles of "People first and governance for the people".
    It goes on:
    The Chinese people are now working hard to attain the strategic target of building a comprehensively well-off society by the year 2020 according to the decision made at the 16th Congress of the Communist Party of China.
    The Korean people fully support the fraternal Chinese people in their effort to achieve socialist modernization and the reunification of the country.
    The Chinese Party and people's sincere support to the just cause of the DPRK encourages the Korean people.
    The Workers' Party of Korea and the people of the DPRK will make positive efforts to let the DPRK-China friendship demonstrate its tremendous vitality on a new higher stage full of vigor and viability in the new century, too.
    Minju Joson in an editorial expresses the belief that the DPRK-China friendship will grow stronger and develop in accordance with the desire and will of the two parties and the two peoples in the future, too.

U.S. Military Firing Range in Maehyang-ri to Close Off

    Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- The south Korean "Ministry of National Defence" recently clarified that it agreed with the U.S. military side to close off the firing range in Maehyang-ri, Hwasong County, Kyonggi Province and concluded a "plan for implementation" of it. The inhabitants in Maehyang-ri have suffered serious damage by noise. Terming it a victory won by the inhabitants, the All-People Measure Committee for the Closure of the U.S. Military Bombing Ground in Maehyang-ri and other related organizations and south Koreans from all walks of life who waged an undaunted struggle demanding the closure of the firing range, a signed commentary of Minju Joson today says:
    The U.S. military firing range in Maehyang-ri was set up in 1951 when the Korean war was raging and it has since been officially operated according to the south Korea-U.S. "Status of Forces Agreement." Therefore, its inhabitants have waged a staunch struggle to get rid of the sufferings and disaster caused by war exercises staged by the U.S. imperialist aggressors there and win reparations for them.
    Shortly ago, inhabitants in Maehyang-ri filed a law suit in a court against the authorities in order to force them to pay reparations for the damage done by noise in areas around the firing range. The court passed a final decision demanding them pay consolation money to them.
    The U.S. military bases in south Korea are a hotbed of crimes, environmental pollution and a base from which to start a war of aggression against the DPRK.
    The controversial firing range is expected to close off next year thanks to the staunch struggle waged by the south Koreans including Maehyang-ri inhabitants. But the U.S. is demanding south Korea provide another firing range.
    The south Korean authorities and the U.S. should dismantle all the U.S. military bases in all parts of south Korea including Kunsan, Tongduchon, Taegu, Ryongsan and Phyongthaek and withdraw the U.S. imperialist aggressor troops from south Korea.

National Meeting Marks Day of KPA

    Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- A national meeting took place at the April 25 House of Culture here today to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army. Present were senior Party, state and army officials, servicepersons of the KPA, people from all walks of life, the chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea and overseas Koreans.
    Present on invitation were diplomatic envoys of different countries, members of the military attaches corps here and foreign guests.
    Yon Hyong Muk, vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, made a report.
    He said:
    The foundation of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army by President Kim Il Sung on April 25, Juche 21 (1932) was an event to be specially recorded as it marked an occasion of a fundamental change in carving out the destiny of the Korean people and advancing the revolution.
    After brilliantly accomplishing the historic cause of founding the revolutionary armed forces of Juche, the President energetically led the struggle to develop the People's Army to be a model revolutionary army in the era of independence and an invincible army.
    He set out the man-centered theory of army building, thus shattering the "weapon is all-powerful theory" that had historically been recognized as an absolute axiom in the military field, and formulated the fundamental principle of building the revolutionary armed forces based on the decisive role played by the servicepersons in military activities.
    The President's idea and theory of building the revolutionary armed forces are the revolutionary idea and theory he set out, guided by the idea of giving priority to arms and military affairs based on the revolutionary principle of Juche that the army of the revolution guarantees its victory.
    Herein lie the greatness and tremendous vitality of his idea and theory of building the army.
    Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il has successfully carried forward and developed the President's cause of building the army. He set it forth as the primary task of the revolution to train the People's Army as an invincible revolutionary army and has wisely led the struggle to carry it out.
    He advanced the theory of modeling the whole army on the Juche idea, a theory of building army centering on the leader, providing an immortal programme for building the revolutionary armed forces in our era as it comprehensively indicates the general goal, duty, fundamental principle and ways of building the revolutionary army in the service of the cause of socialism.
    He has pursued the unique Songun politics in the 1990s, bringing about a new drastic turn in increasing the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK.
    The Korean People's Army has grown to be a matchless fortress and shield defending the sovereignty of the country and socialism, the reporter said, adding that it has turned into matchless combat ranks possessed of strategy and tactics peculiar to the country and equipped with offensive and defensive means powerful enough to wipe out any formidable enemy at a single stroke backed by the independent and modern national defence industry.
    We have exerted utmost efforts to increase the military force under the banner of Songun and thus built up a war deterrent force strong enough to destroy any new type weapon and operational means and immediately beat back any surprise aggression by imperialists. We feel highly proud of this, the reporter declared.
    He called for implementing the Songun idea and the Songun revolutionary line of the WPK to augment the combat ability and might of the KPA in every way.
    He underscored the need to firmly establish revolutionary commanding system and military trait whereby all the servicepersons move as one by the order of the supreme commander and convert the KPA into the strongest army in the world in terms of political and ideological preparedness and military muscle.
    Referring to Kim Jong Il's recent unofficial visit to China which helped strengthen the international solidarity with the Korean revolution, the reporter said that the army and the people of the DPRK would firmly preserve and glorify the shining successes and exploits he performed with his farsightedness through his energetic external activities.
    The situation on the Korean peninsula has reached a serious phase due to the hostile policy of the U.S. imperialists and the moves of the Japanese reactionaries against the DPRK, the reporter said, and continued:
    All the servicepersons and people of the DPRK are following the U.S. hypocritical talk about dialogue with vigilance and getting fully ready to effectively counter the enemy provocations in any circumstances.
    If the U.S. warhawks and the Japanese reactionaries finally ignite a war of aggression despite our repeated warnings, the army and the people of the DPRK will give vent to the wrath of the nation that had been pent up century after century and use the military deterrent force it has built for decades to deal merciless and inescapable crushing blows at them and thus emerge victorious in the confrontation with the U.S. and Japan.

Kim Yong Nam and Megawati Soekarnoputri Exchange Greetings

    Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong Nam and Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri exchanged messages of greetings on April 16 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Kim Yong Nam in his message said that the two countries have invariably consolidated and developed the friendly and cooperative relations provided by President Kim Il Sung and President Sukarno for the past 40 years. The Indonesian president's visit to the DPRK in March 2002 in particular was an event of great significance in boosting the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations in conformity with the requirements of the new century, he said.
    Expressing the belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger in the future, too, he wished the president good health and happiness as well as greater success in her responsible work.
    Megawati Soekarnoputri in her message said that the relations between the two countries have steadily developed since the official establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964. She expressed the belief that the governments of the two countries would find opportunities for new cooperation in the cause of progress and peace when they are faced with the challenge of the 21st century.

S. Korean Red Cross Delegation Leaves

Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- The delegation of the south Korean Red Cross led by its President Ri Yun Gu left here today. It was seen off at the airport by Choe Song Ik, permanent member of the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society of the DPRK, and officials concerned.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il recibe telegrama de condolencia de Hu Jintao

    Pyongyang, 25 de abril (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, recibio un telegrama de condolencia que le dirigiera el dia 23 Hu Jintao, Secretario General del Comite Central del Partido Comunista de China y presidente de la Republica Popular China. El telegrama senala:
    Al enterarme de una noticia sorpresiva de que el 22 de abril ocurrio en el distrito de Ryongchon de la provincia de Phyong-an del Norte una grave perdida humana y material debido a un gran accidente de explosion, en representacion del partido y el gobierno de China le manifiesto profunda condolencia a Vd. y, por su conducto, a los familiares de los danados.
    Tengo esperanza y confianza en que el pueblo coreano, bajo la direccion de usted y del PTC, recuperara cuanto antes las perdidas ocasionadas por el presente accidente y restablecera lo mas pronto posible la orden normal de la produccion y la vida de la region damnificada.
    La parte china tiene la voluntad de ofrecerle ayuda necesaria para ello.

Kim Jong Il recibe telegrama de condolencia de Putin

    Pyongyang, 25 de abril (ATCC) -- Al Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea le hizo llegar el dia 24 un telegrama de condolencia el presidente de la Federacion Rusa V. Putin. El telegrama senala:
    Me entere con alma triste de la noticia de un tremendo accidente en la estacion ferroviaria de Ryongchon que ocasiono mucha perdida humana y gran destruccion.
    Comparto la tristeza junto con todos los habitantes amistosos de la RPDC y los familiares de los muertos por el accidente.
    Ruego transmita mi profunda condolencia y sincera simpatia a los familiares y parientes de las victimas y a todos los danados por tal accidente.

Kim Jong Il recibe telegrama de condolencia del presidente sirio

Pyongyang, 25 de abril (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, recibio un telegrama de condolencia que le dirigiera el dia 24 Bashar al-Assad, presidente de la Republica Arabe de Siria. El remitente senala que ha recibido con gran tristeza la noticia de que por un grave accidente ferroviario en Corea resultaron muertos decenas de habitantes coreanos amistosos y heridos decenas de estos.
Expresa, a nombre del pueblo arabe de Siria y de si mismo, profunda condolencia al destinatario y a las victimas y desea a los heridos sus recuperaciones rapidas de la salud.

Kim Jong Il recibe telegrama de condolencia de presidente pakistani

Gobierno chino decide ofrecer gratis materiales de socorro a RPDC

Pyongyang, 25 de abril (ATCC) -- El gobierno de la Republica Popular China decidio ofrecer gratuitamente los materiales de socorro urgente por valor de 10 millones de yuanes en renminbi en relacion con el accidente de explosion de vagones ocurrido el pasado 22 en la estacion ferroviaria de Ryongchon de la provincia de Phyong-an del Norte que se debio a la negligencia. Tales materiales de asistencia llegaran desde el dia 25 al mismo lugar.
Ahora, los gobiernos de muchos paises, organizaciones y entidades internacionales expresan de continuo la disposicion de brindarnos la asistencia humanitaria.