Week of DPRK-Iran Friendship Opens

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- An inaugural meeting of the week of the DPRK-Iran friendship was held at the Chollima House of Culture here Monday. Ri Won Il, minister of Labour who is chairman of the DPRK-Iran Friendship Association, in his address said that the Korean and Iranian peoples have closely cooperated with each other in the struggle for independence against imperialism after opening the excellent ties of friendship long ago. The Iranian government and people have achieved great successes in the efforts to protect the gains of the Islamic revolution, achieve durable peace and stability in the area of Persian Gulf, accelerate economic construction and improve the standard of the people's living under the leadership of Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of the Islamic revolution of Iran, and Seyed Mohammad Khatami, president of Iran, he noted, adding;
    The people of the DPRK will as ever make positive efforts to boost the friendly and cooperative relations with the Iranian people in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.
    Jalaleddin Namini Mianji, Iranian ambassador e. p. to the DPRK, in a speech said that the DPRK visit by Seyed Ali Khamenei in May 1989 marked a great event in developing the relations between the two countries.
    The bilateral relations have grown stronger despite the undisguised dominationist and unilateral policy the U.S. has pursued after listing Iran and the DPRK as parts of an "axis of evil" and targets of its preemptive nuclear attack, he noted.
    Recalling that under the leadership of Kim Jong Il the Korean people have conducted a vigorous drive to build a great prosperous powerful nation despite all sorts of difficulties, he hoped that the government and people of the DPRK would achieve greater success in all fields.
    Iran fully supports the Korean people in their struggle to reunify the country independently free from interference of foreign forces, he stressed.
    At the end of the meeting the participants saw an art performance given by members of the art group of the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace.
    Present on invitation were staff members of the Iranian embassy here.

Pilgrimage Movement for Defence of Tok Islet in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Members of the Headquarters of the People's Movement for Society entered a pilgrimage movement for the defence of Tok Islet in connection with the fact that a right-wing organization of Japan attempted to land in the islet, according to the south Korean KBS. They in a statement on May 5 said that they could not repress surging indignation at the Japanese right-wing organization's attempt to land in Tok Islet, calling for clearly showing to the world through a resolute action that the islet is part of the Korean territory.
    They conducted the pilgrimage activities in defence of Tok Islet from Jumunjin of Kangrung, south Korean Kangwon Province, through Sokcho and Samchok, Uljin and Phohang, North Kyongsang Province, and up to Pusan.

KCNA Blasts Japanese LDP Heavyweight's Anti-DPRK Remarks in U.S.

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Abe, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, made reckless remarks against the DPRK, when meeting with some high-ranking officials of the Bush administration during his recent junket to the U.S. It was a visit of a servant aimed to be closeted with his master over ways of stifling the DPRK and garner support for Japan's hostile policy towards it.
    Before them Abe zealously supported the U.S. in its unilateral assertion that the DPRK should "scrap its nuclear program first," the stumbling block in the settlement of the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S. He, at the same time, again raised the issue of "abducted Japanese" and asked the U.S. to back Japan in its efforts to seek the Diet's passage of a "bill on banning the entry of specified foreign ships," aimed to apply economic sanctions against the DPRK.
    Needless to say, the U.S. was pleased with this behavior of Abe who represents the special class pro-U.S. forces.
    Rice, special assistant to the U.S. president for national security, and Kelly, assistant secretary of State, actively supported the intention of Japan, a junior ally of the U.S., to tighten economic sanctions against the DPRK, terming Japan's plan very effective and such option significant.
    This indicates that the dialogue with the DPRK touted by the U.S. and Japanese reactionaries is nothing but hypocrisy and they are clinging to a sinister move to isolate and stifle the DPRK behind the curtain of dialogue, pursuant to an extremely hostile policy toward the DPRK.
    It is well known that the U.S. has used the Japanese reactionaries as a shock brigade in laying an "international siege" to the DPRK. During Abe's American trip the U.S. disclosed its intention to retain a tighter grip on Japan and egg it on to an all-out showdown with the DPRK.
    Echoing Abe's hue and cry over the issue of "abducted Japanese" which had already been solved with the publication of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and with which Washington has nothing to do, American officials uttered the U.S. understands Japan's stand and the "issue of abduction" should be settled at the six-party talks. This reveals the U.S. ulterior design to use Japan as an advance party in its stand-off with the DPRK.
    Looking back on history, one may know that the Japanese reactionaries are accustomed to meeting their interests with the backing of big countries. This time, too, they seek to implement their Asia policy for aggression, backed by the U.S., and isolate and stifle the DPRK politically and economically and thus lay a stronger springboard from which to stage a comeback to Korea.
    He is known to be an ultra right-wing element who cried out for a "preemptive attack" upon the DPRK last year. But the fact that he hatched an undisguised plot to hurt the DPRK even in the U.S. goes to prove that what he remarked was by no means his personal view.
    The Japanese reactionaries should think twice over the disastrous consequences to be entailed by the confrontation with the DPRK before dancing to the tune of the U.S.
    Japan has already adopted the economic sanctions against the DPRK as a state policy by seeking the Diet carriage of "amendment to the law on foreign exchange." It seems to calculate it can pressurize the DPRK as it pleases if the "bill on banning the portcalls of specified foreign ships" is adopted. This is, however, a daydream.
    The DPRK will regard any form of sanctions against the DPRK as a declaration of war and will promptly take a corresponding self-defensive measure when it judges its sovereignty has been infringed upon.
    The U.S. and Japanese reactionaries are well advised to bear in mind that their drop of the anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK would do them good either.

Message of Sympathy to Russian President

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Monday sent a message of sympathy to V. V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation, in connection with terrorism in Chechnya that took lives of not a few people including its president. The message said: Upon hearing shocking sad news that terrorism that occurred in the Chechen Republic took lives of not a few people including its president, I express profound sympathy and consolation to you and, through you, to the victims and their bereaved families.
    The moves of Chechen terrorists to destabilize the situation in Russia and disturb its security have gone extreme but nothing can quell the Russian people's desire to build a stable and peaceful society.
    The DPRK which considers it as an invariable principle to oppose all forms of terrorism bitterly denounces the brutal terrorist act in Chechnya and sincerely hopes that Russia will eradicate the aftermath of terrorism at an early date under your leadership.

U.S. Human Rights Abuses in Iraq under Fire

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Bestial atrocities committed by the U.S. forces in Iraq glaringly reveal the true picture of the U.S.-style "defence of human rights" as they are the most hideous human rights abuses beyond human imagination, says Minju Joson today in a signed commentary. Those human rights abuses that can be seen only in the medieval age are a wanton violation and a challenge to the publicly recognized international law, universally accepted ethics and common sense related to civilization, the commentary says, and goes on:
    What matters is that those monstrous acts are premeditated and organized crimes committed by the Bush administration.
    An internal investigative report released by the U.S. military recently clearly proved that those crimes were committed by the order given by the CIA and other intelligence institutions of the military.
    It can not but be a big shame and tragedy for the world to have such a hideous group of human rights abusers as the Bush administration. The world conscientious progressives who love justice and respect human rights should join efforts and mercilessly punish this group so as to prevent the recurrence of such monstrous human rights abuses. And they should never allow those forces to deliberately encourage such human rights abuses, slandering those anti-U.S. and independent countries and currying favor with the U.S., while shutting their eyes to the U.S. human rights abuses and dancing to its "human rights ballad."

U.S. Infringement upon Iraqi Prisoners' Rights Blasted

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- GIs' violation of Iraqi prisoners' rights deserves a stern punishment, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary. The world public charges that these human rights abuses were not crimes perpetrated by individuals but organized monstrous crimes, the commentary notes, and goes on:
    The U.S. troops in Iraq are treating Iraqi POWs like animals. This once again clearly shows to the world that the United States is the world's worst violator of human rights as it has wantonly violated international laws such as "Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in Wartime" and "Geneva Convention on the Treatment of POWs" and perpetrated acts diametrically contrary to the universally accepted ethics and common sense related to civilization.
    Such human rights abuses by GIs in Iraq teach a serious lesson to the world community.
    Some countries are pulling up such anti-U.S. independent countries as the DPRK over "the issue of human rights," shutting their eyes to the U.S. hideous human rights abuses, and fawning up the U.S., toeing its line. This is nothing but a criminal act of deliberately encouraging the infringement upon human rights as it is prompted by a sinister political intention.
    But for the U.S. invasion of Iraq, such worst violation of human rights as ill-treatment of POWs would not have occurred. Had the Iraqi people defended their country through a life-and-death struggle, they would not have suffered such shame and tragedy as today.
    The Iraqi situation teaches a lesson that for the protection of human rights it is necessary to defend the national sovereignty. It hardens the determination of the army and people of the DPRK to increase its deterrent force strong enough to beat back aggression.
    Those countries and forces that respect human rights should join efforts and counter with just human rights offensive the hypocritical "human rights campaign" of the United States and the West.

DPRK to Remain Unchanged in Its Stand toward Six-Party Talks

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- The "reward for freeze" should be taken up as a major agenda item at the working group meeting of the six-party talks. This principled stand of the DPRK remains unchanged, says Minju Joson today in a signed commentary carried as regards the opening of the meeting for the settlement of the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S. in Beijing on May 12. The DPRK side advanced the proposal of "reward for freeze" at the last round of the six-party talks as the first-phase measure for the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue. The proposal is the most realistic and flexible proposal for peacefully settling the nuclear issue as the present relations between the two countries were taken into full consideration, the commentary says, and goes on:
    The proposal commands unanimous understanding and support from those countries concerned and many countries of the world as it is part of the DPRK's sustained efforts to make a positive contribution to the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue between the two countries and the development of the overall situation on the Korean peninsula and the rest of the world.
    The DPRK will participate in the meeting to discuss the proposal of "reward for freeze" to all intents and purposes.
    If the U.S. turns aside this and takes the meeting as an opportunity to insist on its assertion that the DPRK should make CVID, that will entail very serious consequences.
    The DPRK is of the view that there would be no need for it to sit with the U.S. at the negotiating table if the U.S. seeks to force the DPRK, not a defeated country, to accept its absurd demand, talking about "irreversible and the like."
    The DPRK will participate in the meeting with patience and magnanimity but the efforts made by the DPRK side alone would not be enough to make the meeting fruitful.
    Everything depends on the U.S. attitude. If the U.S. seeks to waste time, insisting on its old assertions as it did at the last round of the talks, that will only result in throwing hurdles in the way of the six-party talks for the settlement of the nuclear issue, to say nothing of scuttling the meeting itself and the U.S. will be held fully responsible for its improper behavior.
    The U.S. would be well advised to see how the world goes by and make a proper option with discretion.

Kaesong Jewel Art Studio

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- The Kaesong Jewel Art Studio is located at the foot of Mt. Songak in Kaesong, a time-honored cultural city of Korea. It, with the floor space of some 2,470 square meters, has fine art, jewel, ceramic, woodwork and other creation rooms.
    It, which was founded in early Juche 71 (1982), is putting main emphasis on producing Koryo ceramics and fur craftworks by carrying forward the traditions of the Koryo period.
    Popular in local and foreign markets are its products such Koryo celadon as various types of vases, kettles and tea cups, two-sided fur craftworks and jewel pictures.

U.S. Smear Campaign against DPRK Accused

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland today issued a statement condemning the United States for recently conducting smear campaigns slandering the dignified DPRK in a bid to adopt a "bill on freedom for north Korea" at the Congress. The United States held such a burlesque against the DPRK in Washington on April 28, allegedly the "day of freedom for north Korea", as an "interview with defectors from north Korea", a "demonstration in protest against the situation of human rights in north Korea" and "prayers for people in north Korea" with some reactionaries of the compatriotic community and defectors, the statement said, and went on:
    The U.S. brought together such scum of human beings, calling them "representatives" of the Korean people and clamored about "freedom" and "human rights" in an effort to mislead the public opinion. This is an unpardonable infringement upon the sacred sovereignty of the DPRK and an insult to its people.
    It is obvious why the U.S. is now getting over-heated in slandering the DPRK.
    As the U.S. policy toward the DPRK to stifle it over the "nuclear issue" has been foiled, driven into a tight corner at home and abroad, the U.S. hardline conservatives are making so desperate efforts to prevent the prestige of the DPRK from increasing in the international community and find a pretext for pressure.
    The U.S. smear campaign with a handful of defectors betrays its weakness.
    The U.S. should clearly know that the wilder it runs to impair the image of the DPRK and stifle it, the more the U.S. will stand isolated and rejected by the international community and go to ruin itself.
    The U.S. should squarely see the trend of the times and behave with discretion and unconditionally stop all hostile action against the great national unity and cooperation between the north and the south on the Korean peninsula.

Chairperson of Hyundai Group and Her Party Here

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Hyon Jong Un, chairperson of the Hyundai Group of south Korea, and her party arrived here Tuesday. Kim Yun Gyu, president of Hyundai Asan, was included in her party.
    They were warmly greeted at the airport by Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and other officials concerned with compatriotic feelings.

Polish Embassy Officials Visit Revolutionary Site on Mt. Ryongak

     Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Polish Ambassador to the DPRK Wojciech Kaluza and embassy officials visited the Revolutionary Site on Mt. Ryongak Tuesday on the occasion of the Constitutional Day of Poland. Being briefed on the fact that the revolutionary site associated with the immortal footprints of the three generals of Mt. Paektu has been built into a leisure time resort for the people, the guests looked round the revolutionary mementoes and historic relics with keen interest.

All Koreans Render Assistance to Ryongchon

     Ryongchon, May 11 (KCNA) -- All the Koreans are rendering powerful assistance to Ryongchon County in its efforts to recover from the damage. Officials and employees of the Secretariat of the Cabinet, the Ministry of Construction and Building-Materials Industries, the Ministry of Metal and Machine-Building Industries, the Ministry of Light Industry, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Land and Marine Transport, the Pyongyang General People's Service Bureau, the Academy of Medical Science, the Red Cross General Hospital of Korea, Kim Il Sung University, the Grand People's Study House and many other units procured materials needed for rehabilitation and all sorts of daily necessities with sincerity. Generals and officers of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces and people's army units and their families carried relief materials on scores of trucks.
    South Phyongan Province, South Hwanghae Province and South Hamgyong Province have sent quantities of food, building materials and daily necessities, etc. to Ryongchon County while officials, working people, youth and students of North Hwanghae Province and North Phyongan Province are taking an active part in the relief campaign, considering the rehabilitation project as their own.
    Arriving in the county one after another are relief materials carrying ardent desire of people from across the country to contribute even a little to doing away with the aftermath of the accident and bringing stable life to the residents in the county at an early date.

For Spanish-speaking people

Casa de creacion de artesanias de joyas de Kaesong

     Pyongyang, 11 de mayo (ATCC) -- Esta Casa esta enclavada al pie del monte Song-ak de la ciudad de Kaesong, urbe de gran importancia historico-cultural de Corea. Fue fundada a principios del 71 (1982) de la Era Juche y tiene 2 mil 470 metros cuadrados de superficie util. Cuenta con varias salas de creacion, entre otras, las de creacion de bellas artes, de artesania de joyas, de porcelana y el taller de carpinteria y crea principalmente porcelanas Coryo y artesanias de plumas haciendo vigentes las tradiciones historicas de la epoca de Coryo. Las porcelanas de verdeceladon de Coryo como floreros, teteras, tazas de varias formas, productos artesanales de pluma de doble rasero y pinturas con polvos de piedras preciosas, que produce dicha casa de creacion, atraen a los huespedes internos y externos.

Sur de Corea: campana de gira por defensa de la isla Tok

     Pyongyang, 11 de mayo (ATCC) -- Segun la radio "KBS" del Sur de Corea, los miembros pertenecientes a la direccion del movimiento popular por la sociedad de amplia participacion entraron en una campana de gira por la defensa de la isla Tok en relacion con que una entidad derechista de Japon intento el desembarco a la isla arriba mencionada. Los miembros, en su declaracion fechada 5, senalaron que no pueden aguantar la indignacion irrefrenable al intento de desembarco de la entidad derechista de Japon a la isla Tok y subrayaron que es preciso tomar medidas resueltas al respecto y mostrar claramente a todo el mundo que la isla Tok es la tierra de Corea.
    Este dia, ellos, partidos de Jumunjin de la ciudad de Kangrung de la provincia de Kangwon del Sur de Corea, desarrollaron las actividades para la defensa de la isla Tok dando una gira por Sokcho, Samchok, Uljin y Phohang de la provincia de Kyongsang del Norte y hasta por Pusan de la provincia de Kyongsang del Sur.

Viaje mendigante de Abe y taimada intencion de EE.UU.

     Pyongyang, 11 de mayo (ATCC) -- Recientemente, Abe, secretario en jefe del Partido Democratico Liberal de Japon, hizo una visita a EE.UU. donde se encontro con unos funcionarios de alto nivel de la administracion Bush para denigrar a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. Fue una humillante visita de sumision para discutir con su amo americano el medio de aplastar la RPDC e implorar un apoyo a ese respecto.
    En esa ocasion, Abe dio apoyo entero a la insistencia unilateral de EE.UU. en la "renuncia nuclear, primero" que constituye el obstaculo fundamental de la solucion del problema nuclear entre la RPDC y EE.UU. y, al volver a mencionar el "problema del secuestro de japoneses", pidio el apoyo del segundo al ajetreo de aprobacion del "proyecto de ley de prohibicion de la entrada de los barcos extranjeros determinados en los puertos japoneses" en la dieta de Japon, enderezado a aplicar sancion economica a la primera.
    Rice, asistente especial del presidente para la seguridad nacional, y Kelly, asistente del secretario de Estado "apoyaron" activamente la posicion de su aliado subalterno al decir: "es muy eficiente el plan de Japon" y "tal opcion reviste significado".
    Esto demuestra que el "dialogo" con la RPDC de que hablan los reaccionarios de EE.UU. y Japon no pasan de ser una hipocresia y que detras de la cortina de las conversaciones ellos recurren a vil artimana para aislar y aplastar a la RPDC segun su extremista politica hostil a esta.
    Es bien de notoriedad que hasta la fecha EE.UU. utilizaba a los reaccionarios japoneses como brigada de choque para la formacion de la "red de cerco internacional" contra la RPDC. Esta superpotencia trata de valerse de reciente viaje de Abe para aprovechar con mas eficiencia a Japon y empujar a este a la confrontacion total con la RPDC.
    Historicamente, los reaccionarios japoneses persiguieron sus intereses llevando a cuestas a los grandes paises. Esta vez tratan de establecer la politica de agresion a Asia y aislar y aplastar politica y economicamente la RPDC bajo el abrigo de esa superpotencia para asi consolidar con mas firmeza el trampolin de la nueva agresion a Corea.
    Ellos no deben bailar al son que le toca EE.UU. sino reflexionar ante todo en la consecuencia funesta que emane de su confrontacion con la RPDC.
    La RPDC considerara una declaracion de guerra la sancion de cualquier indole a si misma y tomara de inmediato las medidas autodefensivas pertinentes en el caso de que sea violada aun en lo minimo su soberania.

Rodong Sinmun denuncia a EE.UU. archiviolador de DDHH

     Pyongyang, 11 de mayo (ATCC) -- El acto de violacion de los derechos humanos (DDHH) por las tropas norteamericanas contra los reos de la prision iraqui debe ser juzgado severamente. Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 11 y continua:
    La opinion publica del mundo estigmatiza el presente acto como perverso crimen organizado.
    Tal acto de los efectivos estadounidenses demuestra nitidamente a la faz del mundo que EE.UU. que trata a las personas como a los animales es el archiviolador de DDHH en el mundo, contraproducente con la "convencion de Ginebra sobre la proteccion de civiles en el tiempo de guerra" y la "convencion de Ginebra sobre el trato de prisioneros de guerra" y con la etica universal de la humanidad y los conocimientos elementales civicos.
    El acto de violacion de DDHH de las tropas norteamericanas ocupantes de Irak da serias lecciones a la sociedad internacional.
    Ciertos paises toleran los tremendos crimenes de violacion de DDHH cometidos por EE.UU. y so pretexto de "DDHH" acusan a los paises antiyanquis e independientes como la RPDC, obedeciendo y adulando asi a esa superpotencia, lo que parte del malsano motivo politico, y, en fin, es proceder criminal que promueve intencionalmente la violacion de DDHH.
    Si EE.UU. dejaba de agredir a Irak y el pueblo iraqui con la lucha decisiva defendia firmemente su pais, no habria tal acto de violacion de DDHH como mal trato de presos, la ignominia y la tragedia como las de hoy.
    La situacion de Iraq hace mas firme la decision del ejercito y el pueblo de Corea de defender la soberania para DDHH y de tener para eso la poderosa fuerza de detencion para hacer frente a la agresion.
    Los paises y las fuerzas de respeto a DDHH deben unir sus fuerzas para responder con la justa ofensiva de DDHH al hipocrita "alboroto de DDHH" de EE.UU. y los paises occidentales.