Korean Reunification Supported by Indian President

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) --India appreciates the successes made by the DPRK in building a new strong society and supports the Korean people's cause of national reunification, said Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam when receiving credentials from DPRK new ambassador e.p. Mun Song Mo on May 7.
    He underscored the need to boost the friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples in various fields.

U.S. Moves to Establish Missile Interceptor Defence System Condemned

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea issued a statement to the press on May 8, castigating the U.S. for pushing ahead with the moves to establish the missile interceptor defence system against the DPRK at a very dangerous stage, according to Kuguk Jonson Internet site. The Bush bellicose group is pushing ahead with the moves to establish the missile interceptor defence system at a time when the six-party talks for the settlement of the nuclear issue are under way, the spokesman said, pointing out this clearly proves that the U.S. preparations for a war against the northern half of Korea have been completed to enter the phase of practice as it is one more grave provocation for preemptive attacks which is little different from the declaration of a war on the north of Korea.
    The U.S. has already worked out the "new operation plan 5026" and stepped up its preparations for a war against the north in the final stage, relocating its troops stationed in south Korea and deciding to withdraw its troops from the joint security area of Panmunjom and the demilitarized zone, the spokesman noted, adding: The U.S. provocation for invasion of the north is the matter of time and the Korean peninsula is in the crisis of a hair-trigger situation in which a war may break out any time.
    The U.S. should completely withdraw nuclear weapons and all other war equipment and troops from south Korea and immediately stop the criminal moves to build the missile interceptor defence system, the spokesman stressed.

Premier Pak Pong Ju Meets Ambassador and Other Chinese Diplomats

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, Wednesday met and had a friendly conversation with Chinese Ambassador Wu Donghe and staff members of the Chinese embassy here at the Mansudae Assembly Hall. Present were Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Ri Yong Sok, vice-chairman of the DPRK Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee, and other officials concerned.
    Expressing in the name of the DPRK government deep thanks to the Chinese party and government for having sent with all sincerity relief goods to victims of the accident in Ryongchon County, the premier said that this help of the Chinese side has greatly encouraged the Korean people in the efforts to recover from the damage.
    The profound sympathy and sincere assistance from the Chinese party and government are one more clear demonstration of the vitality of the DPRK-China friendship sealed with blood, he noted, expressing belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would as ever grow stronger thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, true to the intention of the leaders of the two countries.

Iranian Diplomats Visit Korean Film Studio

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Jalaleddin Namini Mianji, Iranian ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of the Iranian embassy Wednesday visited the Korean Film Studio on the occasion of the week of DPRK-Iran friendship. They laid a bouquet before the statue of President Kim Il Sung in the studio and paid tribute to him.
    They looked round mock-up location street, being briefed on the fact that the studio has been built into a splendid centre of Juche-oriented movie art under the wise leadership of the three generals of Mt. Paektu.
    At the end of their visit the Iranian ambassador said the visit provided them with a good opportunity to know well what deep attention Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il paid to the movie art, hoping that the cultural exchange between the peoples of Iran and the DPRK would be boosted.

National Meeting of Active Mediapersons Held

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- A national meeting of active mediapersons was held at the People's Palace of Culture Wednesday. The meeting reviewed the successes and experience gained in the media activities under the wise leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea and the leader for the last three decades since the publication of Kim Jong Il's work on May 7, Juche 63 (1974) and discussed how to fulfill the mission and role of mediapersons in the efforts to accomplish the Songun revolutionary cause, carrying forward the tradition in which a great revolutionary turn was effected in the newspaper issue, news service and publication in the 1970s.
    Present there were Jong Ha Chol, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, senior officials of the media institutions and exemplary mediapersons from across the country.
    A delegation of mediamen of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan was among those present there.
    Ri Jae Il, first vice-department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, made a report which was followed by speeches by Choe Chil Nam, editor-in-chief of Rodong Sinmun, Cha Sung Su, chairman of the Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee of the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea, and other officials of media institutions.
    The reporter and speakers recalled that Kim Jong Il published the historic work, while successfully carrying forward the idea and tradition of the Juche-based media created by President Kim Il Sung in the crucible of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, and thus provided important guidelines for the building of the media of the WPK.
    They referred to the signal successes made by mediapersons in the efforts to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche in the past three decades, true to the WPK's idea of attaching importance to pen.
    Noting that the might of the WPK's media has been augmented in all aspects and the greatest success achieved in building the revolutionary media, they stressed that this proud reality is the result of the energetic leadership of Kim Jong Il as he has trained the journalists and other mediapersons, the driving force in the press, into champions devotedly defending the leader, firmly equipped with the revolutionary outlook on the leader and the policies of the WPK, and fighters unconditionally carrying out his instructions.
    They called on all the journalists and other mediapersons to put the media activities on a new higher stage as required by the new century under the militant slogan "Let's become ideological standard-bearers glorifying the 21st century as a century of the great victory in the Songun revolution."

National Medical Science and Technology Festival Held

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- The 4th national medical science and technology festival was held here from May 10 to 12. The festival was divided into branches of sanitary and anti-epidemic science, basic medical science, internal medicine, surgery, Koryo medicine and pharmacology.
    Presented at the festival were more than 250 valuable scientific papers on achievements made in scientific researches and practical activities by medical researchers, teachers, doctors and pharmacists from all parts of the country.
    At the departmental symposiums, the participants introduced in detail and exchanged experience on the scientific and technological results that were conducive to carrying into practice the idea of attaching importance to science and technology and policy of preventive medicine of the Workers' Party of Korea and improving the preventive medical care for the working people.
    Drawing deep interests of the participants were research results in putting Koryo medicine, the traditional medicine of Korea, on a new stage, rational methods of diagnosing and treating in time various infectious diseases, experience in actively drawing up-to-date science and technology into clinical treatment and scientific papers on the production of new Koryo medicines.
    The closing ceremony of the festival was held at the Grand People's Study House Wednesday.
    At the ceremony certificates of merits and prizes were awarded to those who distinguished themselves in the festival.

April Holidays Widely Commemorated Abroad

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Functions took place in over 100 countries to commemorate the Day of the Sun and celebrate the 11th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and the 72nd anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army this year. Kim Jong Il received gifts from the president of Pakistan, the Chiclayo Branch of the Peruvian-Korean Institute of Culture and Friendship, the honorary director of the Voluntad Publishing House of Ecuador, Juche idea study organizations and public figures of different countries. He was also presented with floral baskets by the Guinean president, the Political Bureau of the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea, the Palestinian president, the prime minister of Thailand, the first vice-president of the Council of Ministers who is the minister of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba and other state and party leaders, government ministers and figures from all walks of life of many countries.
    President Kim Il Sung was awarded certificates of honorary citizenship by the government of Canar Province of Ecuador and Magdalena del Mar District of Lima City, Peru.
    Kim Jong Il was also presented with certificates of honorary citizenship by Rafael Lara Grajales City of Puebla Province, Mexico, and Magdalena del Mar District of Lima City, Peru.
    Commemoration and celebration functions marking the April holidays were held at least on 1,000 occasions under the sponsorship of over 2,000 political parties, organizations and institutions in more than 100 countries.
    The functions were held in more than 20 forms such as meetings, national seminars, "cultural evenings to commemorate the Day of the Sun", the opening ceremonies of the week of Korean culture, art performances, sports contests, book and photo exhibitions, film shows and lectures.
    Over 600 media of 130 or more countries featured the commemoration and celebration events more than 2,500 times.
    Upwards of 380 newspapers of over 90 countries dedicated articles to the events with portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and over 100 TVs of 50 odd countries made special telecasts of films recording the revolutionary activities of the peerlessly great men.
    At least 100 radios of over 70 countries aired brief histories of revolutionary activities of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and articles on the indomitable might of the KPA and the revolutionary paeans "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong Il" and other Korean songs.

Patients Airlifted from Ryongchon

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- A helicopter flew for patients of the damaged area in Ryongchon County. A lot of patients wounded in an unexpected accident at Ryongchon Railway Station have been carried to the North Phyongan Provincial People's Hospital, Sinuiju City People's Hospital No.1 and other medical institutions in the province. Doctors have hurled themselves into strained treatment for the recovery of the patients.
    However the conditions of six patients including primary and middle school pupils and an honored disabled soldier did not take a turn for the better.
    Leader Kim Jong Il who had taken all measures to remove the aftereffects of damage as quickly as possible and provide the residents a stabilized life, upon receiving a report about them, showed warm care so that they were urgently airlifted to a central hospital to be treated.
    The helicopter carrying the patients arrived in Pyongyang Wednesday afternoon.
    Now the patients are undergoing an intensive medical treatment at the Kim Man Yu Hospital.

Sinister Aim of U.S. Deceptive "Reduction" of Armed Forces Disclosed

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists' plan for the reduction of their armed forces means a plan to reorganize and beef up their armed forces as it is aimed to maintain and strengthen their military position in the Asia-Pacific region and to more effectively enforce their policy of strength, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article carried in connection with the U.S. announcement that it would cut down some of its forces in the region in a few years to come. It goes on:
    The U.S. ruling quarters asserted that they would not reduce their forces in the Asia-Pacific region but steadily increase them. But they are talking about the cutback of some of them these days. Lurking behind this is a sinister aim.
    U.S. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said that despite a change in the strength of the U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific region the defense capability would grow stronger. His remarks suggest that even in case some of the U.S. forces are reduced, main U.S. combat forces and their modern war means will remain in the region and, on the contrary, they will be bolstered qualitatively.
    U.S. President Bush advocated a "policy of attaching importance to the Asia-Pacific region" in a bid to establish an armed domination and control over the region. Pursuant to this policy, the U.S. is steadily increasing the operation capability of its aggression forces under the pretext of reorganization and reduction of its forces in this region.
    The article cites facts to prove that the U.S. forces in south Korea are being equipped with modern hardware and its forces in Hawaii, Guam and Japan are also being bolstered.
    The U.S. reactionary ruling quarters are raising a hue and cry over "nuclear threat" and "missile threat," while advertising the U.S. forces cutback plan. This is nothing but a crafty artifice to permanently keep its aggression forces in this region. The real threat to the peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region comes from the U.S. conducting ceaseless war exercises of various forms, keeping a lot of nuclear weapons and huge aggressor forces there.
    If the U.S. truly wants peace in this region, it should stop talking about someone's non-existent "threat" but reexamine its anachronistic strategy of strength and drop it.

Kim Yong Nam Meets Chairperson of Hyundai Group and Her Party

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met Hyon Jong Un, chairperson of Hyundai Group of south Korea, and her party and president of Hyundai Asan Kim Yun Gyu and talked with them in a compatriotic atmosphere at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and officials concerned.

Anniversary of Opening of DPRK-Nepal Diplomatic Ties Marked

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held at the Chollima House of Culture on Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Kingdom of Nepal. Present at the meeting were Jon Yong Jin, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is chairman of the DPRK-Nepal Friendship Association, officials concerned and working people in the city.
    Jon made a congratulatory speech there.
    The participants saw a documentary film introducing Nepal before looking round photos showing its history and culture.

Choe Thae Bok Meets Member of Federal Assembly of Germany and His Party

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Thursday met and had a friendly talk with Johannes Pflug, member of the Federal Assembly of Germany from the Social Democratic Party, and his party. Present there were officials concerned and the German ambassador e. p. to the DPRK.

Diplomatic Relations Established between DPRK and San Marino

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- A joint communique on establishing diplomatic relations between the DPRK and San Marino was issued on Thursday. According to it, the DPRK and San Marino decided to open diplomatic relations at ambassador level on the basis of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, prompted by the common desire to boost the friendly relations between the two countries.
    The ambassadors of the two countries to Italy signed an agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 13, 2004.

Congratulations to Malian Prime Minister

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Pak Pong Ju sent a congratulatory message to Ousmane Issoufi Maiga on his appointment as prime minister of Mali. In the message he expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger in the future and wished the Malian prime minister great success in his responsible work for socio-economic development of the country.

Chairperson of Hyundai Group of S. Korea and Her Party Leave

     Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Hyon Jong Un, chairperson of Hyundai Group of south Korea, and her party and Kim Yun Gyu, president of Hyundai Asan, left here on Thursday. They were seen off by Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and officials concerned.
    During their stay the chairperson and her party had working discussions on the issues of reenergizing tour of Mt. Kumgang and stepping up the construction of the Kaesong industrial zone with officials concerned of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, the National Economic Cooperation Federation and the General Bureau for Central Guidance to the Development of the Special Zone. They also visited the Mansudae Art Studio, the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, the Pyongyang Metro and other places.

For Spanish-speaking people

Reunion Nacional de Activistas de Dominio de Prensa e Informacion

     Pyongyang, 13 de mayo (ATCC) -- La Reunion Nacional de Activistas del Dominio de Prensa e Informacion tuvo lugar el dia 12 en el Palacio Cultural del Pueblo. La reunion hizo balance de los exitos y las experiencias logrados en la labor de prensa e informacion bajo la sabia direccion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea (PTC) y el lider durante los 30 anos que datan de la publicacion de la obra del 7 de mayo del 63 (1974) de la Era Juche por el Dirigente Kim Jong Il y discutio el problema de cumplir la mision y el papel de los periodistas y hombres de la palabra en el cumplimiento de la causa revolucionaria del Songun (priorizacion militar) llevando adelante las tradiciones de la decada de 1970 acumuladas al hacer la revolucion en los periodicos, servicios de informacion y demas publicaciones. Participaron en ella el secretario del CC del PTC Jong Ha Chol, los funcionarios directivos del dominio de prensa e informacion, los destacados periodistas y hombres de palabra de todo el pais.
    Tambien, estuvo presente la delegacion de funcionarios de esta rama de la Asociacion General de Coreanos Residentes en Japon.
    Presento el informe Ri Jae Il, primer subjefe de departamento del CC del PTC, e intervinieron los funcionarios del ramo, entre otros, el redactor jefe de la Editora del periodico Rodong Sinmun Choe Chil Nam, y el presidente del Comite Nacional de Radio y Television de Corea Cha Sung Su.
    Los oradores dijeron que el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, quien lleva adelante con exito la idea y la tradicion de prensa e informacion del Juche creadas por el Presidente Kim Il Sung en el fragor de la Lucha Revolucionaria Antijaponesa, publico la historica obra del 7 de Mayo del 63 (1974) de la Era Juche preparando asi la guia programatica de la construccion de la prensa del PTC.
    Durante los 30 anos pasados, nuestros periodistas y hombres de palabra, inspirados grandemente en la idea del partido de dar importancia al pincel, -apuntaron- lograron orgullosos exitos en los esfuerzos por cumplir hasta el fin la causa revolucionaria del Juche.
    Senalaron que la brillante realidad de hoy en que se fortalece en todos los aspectos el poderio de la prensa de nuestro Partido y se registra el pleno auge en la construccion de la prensa revolucionaria se debe a la dinamica direccion del Dirigente quien formo a los periodistas y hombres de palabra, fuerzas principales de las actividades de prensa e informacion, como vanguardistas de la defensa a ultranza al lider y ejecutores cabales armados estrictamente con la concepcion revolucionaria del lider y la politica del partido.
    Destacaron que todos los periodistas y hombres de palabra, al enarbolar la bandera combativa de ser vanguardistas ideologicos para hacer del XXI el siglo de gran triunfo de la revolucion del Songun, deben profundizar y desarrollar aun mas en una etapa mas alta la labor de prensa e informacion conforme a la demanda del nuevo siglo.

Miembros de Embajada de Iran visitan estudios cinematograficos

     Pyongyang, 13 de mayo (ATCC) -- Con motivo de la semana de amistad Corea-Iran, el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica Islamica de Iran, Jalaleddin Namini Mianji, y otros miembros de la sede diplomatica visitaron el dia 12 los Estudios Cinematograficos de Corea. Ante todo, los huespedes depositaron un ramo de flores ante la estatua de bronce del Presidente Kim Il Sung erguida en el recinto y le rindieron tributo.
    Acto seguido, escucharon explicaciones sobre el hecho de que bajo la sabia direccion de los 3 generales del monte Paektu los estudios cinematograficos se convirtieron en un excelente centro de cinematografia jucheana y recorrieron calle de rodaje exterior.
    Terminada la visita, el embajador dijo que pudo constatar bien que el Presidente Kim Il Sung y el Dirigente Kim Jong Il siempre prestaron gran atencion al sector de arte cinematografica y expreso esperanza de que se fortaleciera mas el intercambio cultural entre los pueblos de Iran y Corea.

Mas de 100 paises conmemoraron efemerides de abril de Corea

     Pyongyang, 13 de mayo (ATCC) -- En mas de 100 paises tuvieron lugar en abril los actos por el Dia del Sol (cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung), el 11 aniversario de la eleccion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il como Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y el 72 aniversario de la fundacion del heroico Ejercito Popular de Corea. Al Dirigente le dirigieron presentes el presidente de la Republica Islamica de Pakistan, la sucursal de Chiclayo del Instituto Cultural y de Amistad Peruano-Coreano, el director honorario de la Editorial "Voluntad" del Ecuador, las organizaciones de estudio de la Idea Juche de varios paises y las personalidades de distintos sectores. Le hicieron llegar tambien los cestos de flores los jefes de Estado y los partidos politicos, ministros de gobiernos y personalidades de distintos sectores de numerosos paises, incluidos el presidente de Guinea, el Buro Politico del Partido por el Progreso y la Unidad de Guinea, el presidente del Estado de Palestina, el premier de Tailandia, el ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias quien es el primer vicepresidente del Consejo de Ministros de Cuba.
    El gobierno de la provincia de Canar del Ecuador y la municipalidad de Magdalena del Mar de la ciudad de Lima de Peru otorgaron al Presidente Kim Il Sung titulos de ciudadano honorario, la ciudad de Rafael Lara Grajales del estado de Puebla de Mexico y la citada municipalidad de la ciudad de Lima de Peru invistieron al Dirigente Kim Jong Il con diplomas de ciudadano honorario.
    Los actos por esas efemerides de abril se realizaron en mas de mil ocasiones, auspiciados por mas de 2 mil partidos politicos, organizaciones y organos de mas de 100 paises.
    El numero de clases de actividades llega a mas de 20, entre ellas, mitin, simposio nacional, "noche de cultura por el Dia del Sol", acto inaugural de la semana de cultura de Corea, funcion artistica, juegos deportivos, exhibicion de libros y fotos, proyeccion filmica y conferencia.
    Mas de 600 publicaciones de mas de 130 paises dieron a conocer bajo grandes titulares en mas de 2 mil 500 veces tales actividades conmemorativas.
    Mas de 380 periodicos de mas de 90 paises insertaron los articulos conmemorativos junto con los retratos del Presidente y el Dirigente y mas de 100 TV de mas de 50 paises transmitieron especialmente los documentales alusivos a las actividades revolucionarias de los grandes hombres simpar.
    Entre tanto, mas de 100 radios de mas de 70 paises emitieron las biografias de actividades revolucionarias del Presidente y el Dirigente y los articulos referentes al poderio invencible del Ejercito Popular de Corea, los inmortales himnos revolucionarios "Cancion del General Kim Il Sung" y "Cancion del General Kim Jong Il" y otras canciones coreanas.