Philippine Solidarity Committee for Korean Reunification Formed

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Philippine Solidarity Committee for Peace and Reunification on the Korean Peninsula was inaugurated at the National University of Philippines in April. At the inaugural ceremony Rafael Mariano, chairman of the Peasants Movement, was elected chairman of the committee.
    The chairman in his speech underlined the importance and significance of the formation of the committee and made public its action program.

Kuwaiti Emir on Friendly Relations with DPRK

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah referred to friendly and cooperative relations of Kuwait with the DPRK when he was receiving credentials from Ho Jong, new DPRK ambassador to Kuwait, on May 11. Rejoicing over the favorably developing relations between Kuwait and the DPRK, he expressed the hope that the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties would grow stronger.

Korean People's Revolutionary Cause Supported

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Gassan Abdul Aziz Osman, secretary general of the Al Ahd al Watani Party of Syria, Mahmoud Al-Abrashi, president of the People's Assembly of Syria, Safwan Koudsi, general secretary of the Syrian Arab Socialist Union Party, and Abdullah Al-Ahmar, deputy general secretary of the Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, separately met Kim Pyong Nam, DPRK ambassador e.p. to Syria, who paid courtesy calls on them on May 5, 10 and 11. On the occasions, the Syrian party and assembly leaders expressed deep respect and reverence for leader Kim Jong Il and full support to the Korean people in their struggle to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the nation.
    They said they would boost the friendly and cooperative relations between the parties and peoples of the two countries and promised stronger support to and solidarity with the Workers' Party of Korea and the people of the DPRK.

GIs' Human Rights Abuse Flailed

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The (south) Korean Federation of Women's Organizations, the Council for Solving the Issue of Volunteers' Corps, the Women's Society for Peace, the Sisterhood Society and other women's organizations of south Korea reportedly called a press conference in Seoul on May 12 to denounce U.S. soldiers' anti-human right war crimes and demand the withdrawal of south Korea's decision on troop dispatch to Iraq. The speakers at the press conference said Bush should be brought to the court of human rights for having fostered and connived at brutal sexual maltreatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops and their crimes against humanity.
    Stating that young people must never be sent to the battlefield in Iraq where all manner of dastardly crimes were being committed, they urged the National Assembly not to fail to retract the decision on troop dispatch to Iraq.
    Former "comfort women" for the Japanese Imperial Army who were present at the press conference said they could never tolerate the violence and sexual maltreatment against woman by U.S. troops, and declared: "We denounce the anti-human right nature of the Iraqi war and all the wars which reduce women to sex slaves."
    The joint statement read at the press conference voiced opposition to all forms of war that give rise to anti-human right violence against women, children and prisoners, strongly demanding a fundamental policy for protecting the human rights and measures for restoring the victims to their original status in the POW issue, punishment of those responsible, stop to the war and an immediate withdrawal of the planned dispatch of troops to Iraq which would mean siding with anti-human right violence.

Withdrawal of Decision on Troop Dispatch to Iraq Urged

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Barbarous and nasty manhandling of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. imperialist aggression troops are being disclosed in an unbroken chain these days, creating quite a stir in the international community. It must not go unnoticed that these beastly barbarities are not committed by a few brutes of the occupation forces but are organized crimes committed on the instructions of the occupation authorities.
    A news analyst of Rodong Sinmun Monday says in this connection:
    It would be an act challenging the entire Korean nation, human conscience and justice for the south Korean authorities to send their young people to Iraq when the cursed murder of Iraqi civilians and manhandling of prisoners by the U.S. imperialists have become a target of protest and denunciation, looming up as a grave problem on the international scene.
    It has become clear that the U.S. war against Iraq is a war of aggression without any justification and, to cap it all, the inhuman maltreatment of prisoners by the occupation troops has been brought to the open to call forth protest and denunciation not only in Iraq but all over the world. It is self-evident where the troop dispatch would lead under this situation.
    The south Korean authorities and political circles, responding to the demand of the whole nation, should promptly abandon the planned troop dispatch to Iraq which would invite unpredictable sacrifices and worldwide denunciation and should retract the decision on troop dispatch itself The election to the 17th "National Assembly" in south Korea clearly showed what doom awaited the traitors estranged from public sentiments.
    It is high time the south Korean authorities and political parties made a right option, squarely facing up to the trend of the times and public feelings.

National Cooperation against U.S. Called for

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) reportedly issued an appeal on May 11 calling on the students to launch a bold struggle against the U.S. domination and interference in order to open a new chapter for independence, democracy and reunification. Calling for bringing about a turning phase in the movement for independent reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation, the appeal said:
    Let us solidarize with the People's Action against the Troop Dispatch to Iraq and people from all other walks of life in the actions to check the troop dispatch to Iraq, stage an all-people movement for peace on the Korean peninsula and demonstrate the nation's will on June 12, the day of an all-people action.
    Let's step up the grand march for independent reunification under the uplifted banner of the June 15 joint declaration.
    It is our consistent fighting orientation for this year and steadfast will to pave wide avenue for independent reunification through the building of the structure of the Korean nation's confrontation with the U.S. and thus significantly greet the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea.
    It called upon Hanchongryon to display the enthusiasm and spirit as a new generation struggling for independent reunification and demonstrate the might of the vanguard in the movement to achieve national cooperation against the U.S. on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration.

Meeting for Repeal of SL Held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The People's Meeting for the Repeal of the "Security Law" in south Korea on May 13 reportedly held a meeting of people for the repeal of the SL to greet the first anniversary of one-man demonstration. Present there were victims of the SL and their families.
    Kwon O Hon, chairman of the Society for Supporting Prisoners of Conscience of the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy, Pak Sok Un, permanent chairman of the Executive Committee of the National People's Solidarity of south Korea, and others spoke there.
    Explaining the reason why the SL should be abolished, they dismissed the law an unrealistic evil law as it listed the north as an "anti-state organization" though many south Koreans travel there after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.
    It is a shame to talk about human rights, reunification and democracy without repealing the SL, they said, calling for achieving without fail the goal through a nationwide struggle at a time when there mature subjective and objective conditions for the repeal of the evil law.
    A statement demanding the abolition of the SL was read out at the meeting.

New Drug for Angina Pectoris Developed

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- A drug to treat angina pectoris, which has been regarded as an incurable disease in the world, has been developed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It is Astragalus Drug for Angina Pectoris developed by Ri Song Suk, a section chief of the Academy of Koryo Medical Science. Its ingredients are astragalus and other natural Koryo medicinal materials.
    It is efficacious for all kinds of angina pectoris.
    From five to seven days after angina pectoris patients began taking the drug, their spasm starts to stop and within 30 to 40 days, the patients recover their health completely. There is not reoccurrence of the case. The drug also lowers blood pressure and improves lipid metabolism disorder.
    The efficacy rate is above 90 percent. It, which is also efficacious for myocardial infarction sequela, has no side-effect.
    The drug has been taken by an increasing number of angina pectoris patients.

Message of Greetings to King of Norway

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on May 17 sent a message of greetings to King Harald V on the occasion of the national day of the Kingdom of Norway. Extending warm congratulations to the king and the people of Norway, message sincerely wished the people progress and prosperity.

Message of Solidarity to Cuban Foreign Minister

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of solidarity to Cuban Foreign Minister Pelipe Perez Roque as regards the new measure for sanctions applied by the Bush administration against Cuba. Extending full support and militant solidarity to the Cuban government and people in their struggle against the U.S. new measure, Paek Nam Sun in the message once again assured his Cuban counterpart that the Korean people would always stand by the Cuban people in their efforts to accomplish the common cause of socialism.

Solidarity Message to Syrian Foreign Minister

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of solidarity to Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al Shara as regards the Bush administration's recent enactment of a law to impose sanctions against Syria. Strongly demanding the U.S. immediately lift the sanctions applied against Syria under the pretext of a "war against terrorism," the message extended full support and solidarity to the Syrian people in their struggle to foil the U.S. and other hostile forces' moves to stifle Syria and defend the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation.

Kim Yong Nam Meets Out-Going Thai Ambassador

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and conversed with Thai Ambassador e. p. to the DPRK Don Pramudwinai, who paid a farewell call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Monday. On hand were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Yong Il and staff members of the embassy.

Paek Nam Sun Meets Thai Ambassador

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun met and had a talk with Thai Ambassador e. p. to the DPRK Don Pramudwinai, who paid a farewell call on him on Monday.

Film Show Held

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- A film show was held under the sponsorship of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries on Monday on the occasion of the week of the DPRK-Iran friendship. Present there on invitation were Iranian Ambassador to the DPRK Jalaleddin Namini Mianji and staff members of his embassy here.
    Present were Jon Yong Jin, vice-chairman of the committee who is vice-chairman of the DPRK-Iran Friendship Association, and other officials concerned.
    The participants saw an Iranian feature film.

7th Pyongyang Internat'l Commodity Exhibition Opens

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The 7th Pyongyang International Commodity Exhibition opened at the Three Revolution Exhibition Monday. The opening ceremony was attended by officials concerned and delegations of the DPRK and from different countries and regions.
    Diplomatic envoys of China, Russia and Syria and staff members of different embassies here were also present there.
    Rim Kyong Man, minister of Foreign Trade, made a congratulatory address which was followed by an opening speech by Ri Su Dok, director of the Korean International Exhibition Corporation.
    The speakers said that the exhibition would offer an occasion of boosting the friendship and cooperation among countries and people, promoting common progress and prosperity and intensifying multi-faceted exchange, cooperation and trade in keeping with the desire and demand of humankind.
    They hoped that the participants in the exhibition would achieve great success through wide-range contacts and diverse trade.
    They said that the DPRK would strive hard to strengthen friendship and solidarity and develop cooperation and exchange with all the countries that are friendly to the DPRK in the idea of independence, peace and friendship, and promote common interests and prosperity of the world people.
    Prior to the ceremony, the participants laid floral baskets before a photograph of President Kim Il Sung standing with leader Kim Jong Il in the exhibition hall before paying tribute to them.
    They went round equipment and materials for the fields of power, metal, light industry and agriculture, electronic products, a variety of daily necessities and other exhibits presented by companies in the DPRK, China, Syria, Thailand, Italy, Malaysia and Taipei, China.
    A reception was held at Yanggakdo International Hotel Monday evening in connection with the opening of the exhibition.

Senior DPRK Officials Meet Polish Delegation

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Chae Thae Bok, chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly conversation with a delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland led by Vice-Minister Boguslaw Zaleski at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on May 17. It was also met by Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun.

Kim Jong Il Inspects Rakwon Machine Complex

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, gave field-guidance to the Rakwon Machine Complex. He was accompanied by First Vice Department Director Ju Kyu Chang and Vice Department Director Mun Myong On of the Central Committee of the WPK.
    He looked round the large mosaic depicting President Kim Il Sung among workers of Rakwon newly erected in the compound of the complex and the room devoted to the revolutionary history.
    After seeing historic materials and relics on display in the room, he said that the complex has a fine tradition of struggle. He underscored the need to intensify the education through the room so as to let all its employees to always cherish the President's unbounded love and trust deep in their hearts and devote themselves to the implementation of his behests.
    Kim Jong Il watched various types of new machines manufactured at the complex.
    He learned in detail about the mechanism and efficiency of the new machines and the principle of their operation. Watching them at operation, he expressed great satisfaction over the modern efficient machines the officials, workers and technicians of the complex have contrived and manufactured in a short span of time by devoting all their wisdom and enthusiasm.
    He familiarized himself in detail with the technical equipment and production, going round various production processes including the heat treating shop, the youth shop and the Sin Pho Hyang cast iron shop.
    He was greatly pleased to learn that the complex has steadily increased its production capacity and brought about a new change in the cultured practice in production by effectively carrying out the technical modernization of all production processes including the successful realization of automation of the heat treating shop true to the WPK's idea of attaching importance to science.
    He looked round entertainment and welfare facilities of the complex including the bath house, sauna and beauty salon.
    He set forth important tasks facing the complex, noting that it occupies an important place in the drive to accomplish the WPK's cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    He highly praised the workers of Rakwon for their feats, saying that it has done a lot of work in a recent few years including the laying of a solid material and technical foundation for bringing about an epochal turn in production through the successful technical modernization of the production processes and the manufacture of highly efficient good quality machines through wide application of new technology.
    He underscored the need for the complex to keep concentrating its efforts on the technical modernization based on the latest technology in order to increase the manufacture of modern machines to meet the requirements of the new century and thus put the production processes including the casting process on a modern and precision basis.
    He also called for steadily raising the level of guidance to the production to improve the management and operation of the complex in line with the principle of profitability, while paying deep attention to the supply service for the workers.
    He once again set the goals to be hit by the complex in the near future and indicated concrete tasks and ways to do so.

For Spanish-speaking people

Vocero de MINREX condena sanciones de EE.UU. contra Cuba y Siria

     Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- A la pregunta de un reportero de la Agencia Telegrafica Central de Corea formulada en relacion con que en los ultimos dias EE.UU. arrecia medidas de sancion contra Cuba y Siria, el portavoz del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea respondio el dia 16 como sigue: EE.UU. dio a conocer el dia 6 nuevas medidas de sancion contra Cuba so pretexto de acelerar la "transicion democratica" de este pais isleno y adopto el dia 11 similares medidas contra Siria segun la "ley de liquidacion de contabilidad en Siria" so pretexto de que este "apoya al terrorismo".
    Estas medidas de sancion contra los dos paises constituyen una flagrante violacion a la soberania del Estado independiente y la revelacion del brutal despotismo unilateral e ignorancia a la Carta de la ONU y otros principios y reglamentos de ley internacional.
    La administracion Bush se halla interna y externamente en un aprieto por la brusca ampliacion de la resistencia antiyanqui en Irak y la revelacion de los verdaderos aspectos de vejamen a los prisioneros por los uniformados norteamericanos en esa nacion persica. Por eso, actua desesperadamente para debilitar el vigor antiyanqui que se lleva con el paso de los dias en el mundo y mejorar la desfavorable situacion a si mismo para las elecciones presidenciales.
    Por eso, esa administracion aprobo sucesivamente las sanciones contra los paises arriba mencionados con el objetivo de apartar el foco de la opinion publica del mundo dirigido a Irak y proveer de votos en pro de los judios en su territorio y la reaccion cubana-americana.
    Pero, el Tio Sam se equivoca grandemente.
    Con tal sancion y bloqueo o con un apoyo a los contrarrevolucionarios, EE.UU. no podra doblegar la decision del pueblo cubano de defender el sistema socialista escogido por si mismo ni arrodillar al pueblo arabe de Siria decidido a mantener su derecho independiente contra la presion de las fuerzas extranjeras y solucionar justamente el problema del Medio Oriente.
    El pueblo coreano envia entero apoyo y solidaridad a la justa causa del pueblo cubano que defiende firmemente el socialismo con la fe en la justeza de su causa y del pueblo sirio para salvaguardar la soberania del pais y la dignidad nacional.
    Los actos provocativos de esta superpotencia contra Cuba y Siria dan graves lecciones a la sociedad internacional.
    La belicosidad adiestrada del actual grupo de Bush no tiene limite.
    Para colmo, a medida que se pierda la esperanza en su triunfo en las elecciones, la administracion Bush se valdra de todos los medios para armar escandalos sensacionales en el mundo.
    Ahora, el ejercito y el pueblo de Corea observan con alta vigilancia los movimientos de EE.UU. y estan preparados enteramente para rechazar de un solo golpe en cualquier tiempo y lugar la invasion de los enemigos yanquis.
    La administracion Bush, al ocuparse de agresiones y arbitrariedades, creara solo la situacion desfavorable para si misma.

CRPP se refiere a "rechazamiento al proyecto de destitucion"

     Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- El dia 14, el "Tribunal Constitucional" del Sur de Corea aprobo la "resolucion" de rechazar el "proyecto de destitucion del presidente" aprobado coercitivamente en la "asamblea nacional" por las fuerzas conservadoras pronorteamericanas. En la informacion No.870 fechada 15, el Secretariado del Comite por la Reunificacion Pacifica de la Patria (CRPP), al senalar que, de hecho, esta decision es la sentencia no del "Tribunal Constitucional" sino de la poblacion surcoreana, puntualiza que esto vuelve a demostrar claramente que en el Sur de Corea no se pueden tolerar por mas tiempo la dominacion colonial de EE.UU. y los actos proyanquis y serviles a las grandes potencias de las fuerzas conservadoras y que no se puede detener con nada la voluntad y la aspiracion del pueblo a la independencia, la democracia y la reunificacion.
    Luego de referirse al hecho de que EE.UU. y las fuerzas ultraconservadoras del Sur de Corea desataron el 12 de marzo una rebelion politica llamada la "destitucion del presidente" en el Sur de Corea, la informacion continua:
    La furiosa llama de la lucha contra la "censura al presidente" que se atizaba en todo el territorio surcoreano trajo un prodigio sin precedente: el triunfo de las fuerzas reformistas progresistas y la derrota de las fuerzas conservadoras, y llevo al fracaso el proyecto de la "destitucion" del presidente" fraguado por EE.UU. y las fuerzas entreguistas.
    A traves del presente incidente volvio a fracasarse la conspiracion del Tio Sam dirigida a estructurar el "poder" conservador proyanqui en el Sur de Corea.
    La realidad demuestra que en la parte Sur de la Peninsula Coreana ha pasado la epoca en que ese pais norteamericano y las fuerzas conservadoras proyanquis actuaban a su antojo.
    Hoy en dia, lo mas caduco en el Sur de Corea es la ocupacion militar y la dominacion colonial de EE.UU., que constituyen traba que impide el desarrollo social de esa parte, fuente de todas las desgracias y sufrimientos del pueblo y obstaculo fundamental de la reunificacion de la nacion coreana.
    EE.UU. debe actuar con prudencia al tomar en cuenta clara la corriente de la opinion de la poblacion surcoreana y hacer retirar de inmediato sus tropas agresivas dando fin a su dominacion e intervencion en la parte Sur de la Peninsula Coreana.

Vocero de CC de PCHCH condena a EE.UU. por violacion de DDHH

     Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- Es un oprobio y verguenza del pueblo surcoreano el envio de efectivos a Irak por la coercitiva demanda de EE.UU. porque precisamente ahora el mundo protesta y denuncia la masacre de civiles y vejamen a los prisioneros iraquies por los efectivos norteamericanos. Asi declaro el dia 15 el vocero del Comite Central del Partido Chondoista Chong-u (PCHCH) en relacion con los actos de violacion de derechos humanos que los uniformados agresores yanquis perpetran en Iraq provocando gran indignacion en el mundo y continuo:
    Los barbaros que sienten placer en desnudar a las personas para formar con estas un "piramide humano" y en perpetrar toda clase de fechorias que haran ruborizar hasta a los animales y que sienten maximo regocijo en la matanza humana son justamente los efectivos agresores norteamericanos.
    Las atrocidades inhumanas de estos son horrorosos actos criminales que contravienen enteramente a la justicia, la etica y la ley internacional y desafio frontal a la conciencia humana.
    Los actos criminales que los efectivos yanquis perpetraron durante un ano de su presencia en Iraq son insignificantes si se comparan con las barbaridades que cometieron estos gringos contra nuestros compatriotas durante cerca de 60 anos de su permanencia en el Sur de Corea.
    Como es posible comparar la barbara matanza sangrienta que las tropas agresoras norteamericanas perpetraron en Sinchon y otras partes del norte de Corea durante el periodo de la guerra coreana con lo sufrido de otros paises? ?
    Como se puede comparar los crimenes nunca perdonables de las fieras yanquis anidadas en el Sur de Corea con los actos de violacion de DDHH que cometieron contra otras naciones
    No bastando con lo que ha hecho hasta ahora en el Sur de Corea al acarrear innumerables desgracias y sacrificios a nuestra nacion, ahora EE.UU. llega a punto de imponer el envio de efectivos surcoreanos a ese pais persico que constituye trampa de muertes y crimenes cavada por si mismo.
    Los partidos politicos surcoreanos deben considerar un maximo oprobio la decision de envio de efectivos a Iraq adoptada en el XVI periodo de la "Asamblea Nacional" y purgar tal delito en el XVII de esta. Todos los chondoistas del Sur de Corea deben saldar cuenta general de los crimenes de los agresores yanquis y levantarse energicamente en la sagrada lucha antiyanqui para hacer el 2005 en que se cumplen los 60 anos de la ocupacion de Surcorea por las tropas norteamericanas un ano de la retirada total de estas del territorio surcoreano.

Filipinas: Comite de solidaridad por reunificacion de Peninsula Coreana

     Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- Quedo constituido en abril pasado en la Universidad de Filipinas el Comite de Solidaridad de Filipinas por la Paz y la Reunificacion en la Peninsula Coreana. Como presidente del Comite fue electo Rafael Mariano, presidente del Movimiento Campesino.
    El presidente, en su discurso, se refirio a la importancia y significacion que tiene la formacion del Comite de Solidaridad y publico un plan de actividades de este.