36th Rally for Peace and Disarmament in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 30 (KCNA) -- The People for Achieving Peace and Reunification reportedly held the 36th rally for peace and disarmament in front of the building of the Ministry of National Defense of south Korea on May 25. Permanent Representative Hong Kun Su, addressing the rally, vehemently denounced the U.S. troops' murder and torture in Iraq and demanded the 17th National Assembly withdraw the plan to dispatch young people to Iraq as bullet shields of the U.S. troops.
    Ri Kyong A, head of the peace and disarmament team, said that the government is overheated in drastically increasing military expenditure to be involved in the U.S. missile defense system and that the government should immediately stop arms buildup threatening peace on the Korean peninsula.
    Kim Chong Il, head of the U.S. troops affairs team, charged that it is fabulous for the government to provide astronomical expenses and transfer sites for the relocation of the U.S. troops stationed in south Korea, part of the new U.S. military strategy. He called upon all the people to come out in the struggle against the unreasonable demand and pressure of the U.S. A written protest read out at the rally strongly demanded the authorities withdraw the decision on the troop dispatch to Iraq, stop the moves to introduce weapons and renegotiate the transfer of the U.S. military base from Ryongsan.

President of Democratic Congo Expresses Solidarity with Korean People's Struggle

     Pyongyang, May 30 (KCNA) -- Joseph Kabila, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressed firm solidarity with the Korean people in theirstruggle for achieving prosperity and progress of the country, rallied close around leader Kim Jong Il, when receiving credentials from the new DPRK ambassador e. p. on May 26. He wished the Korean people a greater success in their struggle to achieve peaceful reunification of the country under the banner of national independence and to solve the DPRK-U.S. nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue.
    The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have long developed and democratic Congo will further boost cooperative relations with the DPRK in different fields in the future, too, he added.

Ethiopian President Refers to Friendly Relations with DPRK

     Pyongyang, May 30 (KCNA) -- Girma Woldegiorgis, president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, hoped that the friendly and cooperative relations between Ethiopia and the DPRK would continue to expand and develop in different domains as in the past, when meeting DPRK ambassador O Nam Jung, who paid a farewell call on him on May 26. He said he was pleased that the sturdy and diligent Korean people were firmly defending the sovereignty and dignity of the country under the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il.

Unity for Abolition of Security Law Called for in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 30 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification reportedly made public a statement on May 24, calling for unity for the abolition of the Security Law. The statement charged that it is an unjustifiable anti-national, anti-reunification criminal act that the public security authorities sentenced the secretary general of the Reunification Solidarity to penal servitude on the charge of being a spy in defiance of oral proceedings of the defendant and the defense counsel at a trial on the same day.
    An end should be put to the Security Law, which has been notorious as a ruling means of the military dictatorial regime for over 50 years, the statement pointed out, stressing: We will no longer pardon all sorts of anti-human rights, anti-reunification acts committed on the strength of the SL.
    It called upon all the pro-reunification patriotic forces to struggle in unity for the abolition of the Security Law irrespective of differences in ideology, political view, religion, class and social standing and without distinction of age or sex.
    The government authorities should abrogate the SL, an evil law of the times, implement the June 15 joint declaration and immediately release all the prisoners of conscience without any condition, the statement emphasized.

Work of Kim Jong Il Published in Venezuela

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "On Thoroughly Establishing the System of Party Leadership" was published in booklet by the Communist Party of Venezuela Publishing House. The work, brought out on April 28, Juche 68 (1979), elaborates on issues arising in firmly ensuring the party's leadership over the revolution and construction including the issue of establishing the revolutionary trait of unconditionally accepting and carrying out decisions and instructions of the Workers' Party of Korea to the letter and the issue of establishing steel-strong revolutionary discipline whereby the whole party acts as one.

Songun Policy of DPRK Hailed

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The Songun policy pursued by the DPRK leadership, the policy focused on strengthening the armed forces, is a very just one as it guarantees the prosperity and happiness of the Korean people, said Abdullah Mohammed, director general for cultural planning and festival of the Ministry of Culture of Egypt, when interviewed by the KCNA correspondent in Cairo on May 23. He took part in the 22nd April Spring Friendship Art Festival at the head of the folk-dance troupe of Egypt.
    What impressed me most during my Korea visit was that the Korean people firmly united as one were forging ahead, decisively meeting the challenges of outside forces, he noted, and continued:
    The stubbornness, perseverance and strong will of the Korean people single-heartedly united around the leader are the source of the strength to foil the sanctions and pressure of the imperialists including the U.S.
    Saying that Korea's division, a product and a continuation of the U.S. colonial policy, is something abnormal, he stressed Korea should be reunified without fail.

Struggle for National Reunification Called for

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The Reunification Solidarity for the Implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Peace on the Korean Peninsula in south Korea reportedly held a meeting in Seoul on May 24 at which it expressed the will to launch a more valiant struggle for the reunification of the country. Present there were Ra Chang Sun, chairman of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, O Jong Ryol, permanent chairman of the National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification, Jong Kwang Hun, permanent representative of the National People's Solidarity, members of civic and public organizations and youth and students.
    Speeches were made at the meeting.
    Han Yang Won, chairman of the National Religious Council, underlined the need for the Reunification Solidarity to further strengthen it and conduct brisk activities to realize the cherished desire of the nation.
    Pak Sun Gyong, honorary representative of the Reunification Solidarity, expressed the hope that next year which will mark the lapse of 60 years since the division of the nation would be a new occasion in bringing earlier the reunification, calling upon all the people to make positive efforts to this end.
    Han Sang Ryol, permanent representative of the Reunification Solidarity, said: We will certainly bring the day we go to Seoul Railway Station to buy a ticket for the Pyongyang-bound train.

South Organizing Committee for National Meeting Inaugurated

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The Headquarters for the Promotion of a Joint National Function consisting of the Seven Orders, the People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation and the Reunification Solidarity reportedly held a press conference in Inchon and declared the inauguration of the South Organizing Committee for opening a "meeting of our nation marking the fourth anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration". The meeting will be jointly opened by different civic and public organizations in Inchon.
    An inaugural declaration read out at the press conference said that the meeting would contribute to carrying forward the nation's spirit of independence which has a long history of 5,000 years, developing the history of reconciliation and cooperation started by the joint declaration and speeding up national reunification.
    The declaration called upon the people of all social standings desirous of national reconciliation and peaceful reunification to extend warm support to the joint national function and take an active part in it.
    At the press conference the schedule and program of the function were made public.

Acquittal of Pro-Reunification Activist Demanded

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification in south Korea reportedly issued a statement on May 24 demanding the acquittal of Min Kyong U, secretary general of the Reunification Solidarity. The south Korean prosecution authorities sentenced him to four years in prison and three years of suspension of qualification on the charge of "espionage" at the final trial on May 24.
    The verdict made by the court is a grave challenge to the nation and the era, the statement said, demanding the south Korean authorities stop at once the rash action swimming against the strong trend of history, repeal the charge against him and apologize to the nation.
    It called for a death-defying struggle for the acquittal of Min and abolition of the Security Law in order to realize the independent reunification, the desire of the whole nation.

More Regulations on Operation of Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone Adopted

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea adopted three more regulations related to the operation of the Mt. Kumgang tourist zone in May following April. "The Regulation on Establishing and Operating the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone Management Institution," "The Customs Regulation for the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone" and "The Regulation on Entry and Exit, Stay and Residence in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone" were adopted according to the April 29 decisions.
    "The Regulation on the Management of Foreign Currency Holdings in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone," "The Regulation on Advertising Business in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone" and "The Regulation on Labor in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone" were also adopted according to the decisions dated May 6, Juche 93 (2004).
    A total of eight regulations on the operation of the world famous Mt. Kumgang tourist zone have so far been adopted: two last year and six this year.
    "The Regulation on the Management of Foreign Currency Holdings in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone" has 18 articles, which are aimed to establish a strict order for the management of foreign currency holdings and contribute to a smooth circulation of foreign currency in the zone.
    It is applied to enterprises and individuals using foreign currency in the tourist zone. Belonging to the category of enterprise are enterprises and their branches, business offices, office rooms and individual businessmen in the tourist zone and to that of individuals compatriots from the south and overseas and foreigners staying and residing in the tourist zone.
    The regulation deals with the amount of foreign currency, kinds of circulating currency, standard currency, business of investment banks, taking in and out of foreign currency, remittance of foreign currency, etc.
    "The Regulation on Advertising Business in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone" has 22 articles. It is designed to establish a strict order for advertising business in the tourist zone and provide convenience to business activities.
    The regulation deals with the advertising business management institution, means and contracts for advertising, things banned from advertising, sanctions, etc.
    "The Regulation on Labor in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Zone" has 7 chapters and 49 articles. They are aimed at establishing a strict system and order for hiring and managing labour force needed for enterprises in the tourist zone and fully ensuring the management activities of enterprises and providing good conditions to employees in their work and life.
    The regulation provides for hiring manpower in the north and the south and overseas and foreigners, enforcing 48 hour work per week and paying them wages, extra allowance, premium and bonus for the work done.
    It also deals with labor protection, social and cultural measures, sanctions, settlement of disputes, etc.

Meeting of Officials in Trade Field Held

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- A meeting of officials in the trade field was held at the People's Palace of Culture Friday. At the meeting Jong Ha Chol, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, conveyed a congratulatory message of the WPK Central Committee to the workers, technicians and officials in the sector of trade.
    The message highly praised the officials, workers and technicians in the trade field for carrying out in a responsible manner their revolutionary tasks true to the policies of the WPK and making positive contributions to the efforts for the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people.
    A reporter and speakers said at the meeting that President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il put forward the tasks and ways of foreign trade field so that it may further strengthen the political, military and economic might of the country and contribute to improving the people's living standard and have led the foreign trade to be improved steadily.
    Kim Jong Il, holding high the banner of Songun during the "arduous march" and the forced march in particular, took steps to open new foreign markets and improve the trade methods through bold trading activities despite the vicious economic blockade moves of the imperialists, they stressed.
    They underscored the need to conduct the trading activities to suit the change of foreign markets and the trend of trade development, make an effective use of the already built processing trade bases, harbor trade bases and service bases and make foreign trade multilateral and diverse from a Juche-orientated stand.
    The management activities of the enterprises should be improved steadily, a variety of light industry goods and processing goods be increased and their quality be improved constantly, they noted.
    They called upon all the officials and working people to bring about a new turn in foreign trade, full of conviction and optimism, so as to make genuine contributions to improving the people's living standard and building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation.

Second Meeting of International Solidarity Council Held

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The second meeting of the International Solidarity Council for Demanding Japan's Liquidation of the Past was held in Seoul on May 21 and 22. Present there were the DPRK delegation led by Hong Son Ok, chairperson of the DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to Comfort Women for the Japanese Army and Victims of Forcible Drafting, delegations and delegates of organizations for demanding postwar compensation and defending human rights and overseas compatriots organizations from various countries and regions including China, Japan, Philippines, Taipei of China and south Korea and citizens of all social standings in Seoul.
    The meeting took place, divided into a plenary meeting and subcommittee meetings.
    At the plenary meeting a report was made by the co-representative of the Headquarters of the Movement for Correcting Japanese History Textbooks in south Korea who is co-chairman of the organizing committee of the meeting.
    The reporter, referring to the achievements made by the international solidarity movement for demanding Japan's liquidation of the past, underscored the need to further strengthen international solidarity for the restoration of human rights of the victims and genuine peace and reconciliation in Asia and launch a more active movement to cope with the moves of Japan to turn to the right which are becoming all the more undisguised in the new century.
    Heads of delegations and delegates from various countries and regions in their speeches at the meeting said that during the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule the Korean peninsula suffered the largest damage as it was the cradle of the enforcement of the system of "comfort women" for the Japanese army and the fountainhead of its execution. They denounced the Japanese imperialists for seeking an extravagant purpose to obliterate the Korean nation through the sexual enslavement of the Korean women.
    The ever more undisguised moves of the Japanese reactionaries to distort history are aimed to instill into the Japanese people the idea that there is no need to feel guilty consciousness of the crimes committed by their country against humankind in the past and make a state compensation and reparation for them, so as to evade the liquidation of the crime-ridden past and revive militarism, they stressed.
    Discussed at the subcommittee meetings held, divided into the issue of the "comfort women" for the Japanese army, the issue of forcible drafting and the issue of Japan's distortion of history, were practical measures to further enhance the role of the International Solidarity Council and make the Japanese authorities liquidate the past crimes.
    A statement related to the future activities of the council was adopted at the meeting.
    Outlined in the statement was the issue on conducting activities to bring Japan's past human rights violation to the international tribunal and an international signature campaign for demanding the Japanese authorities' liquidation of the past.
    It also pointed to the issues of jointly investigating and exposing the damage caused by the criminal acts of the Japanese imperialists in Asia, conducting the activities of demanding the Japanese government survey, collect and return remains of victims dispersed in different parts of Asia, the activities to foil the moves of the Japanese ultra-right forces to militarize Japan and distort history and the activities of positively assisting the victims' litigation of compensation being held in different parts of the world against the Japanese government and enterprises.
    Noted in the statement were the issues of strongly demanding the Japanese government make a clear reflection and apology for the past crimes in the process of establishing the DPRK-Japan diplomatic relations, investigate and open to the public the human rights abuses case by case and take steps to make compensation for them and conducting the activities of demanding the revision of the south Korea-Japan "basic treaty" in which an article of Japan's apology is not specified.
    The meeting heard victims' oral evidence of the past crimes of Japan and saw a video show.
    During the meeting delegations and delegates of Korean organizations from the north and the south and abroad and victims held an exchange gathering to express their vow to wage a joint struggle to get an apology and compensation for the monstrous human rights abuses from Japan.

DPRK and Nigerian FMs Exchange Messages

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and his Nigerian counterpart Oluyemi Adeniji exchanged messages of greetings on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Paek in the message expressed belief that the friendly and cooperative relations would grow stronger as discussed and agreed upon at the recent second meeting of the joint committee in Abuja, noting with great pleasure that those relations are favorably developing on good terms in the common desire and interests.
    Reaffirming support to the efforts of the friendly Nigerian government for the stability and prosperity of the country and progress and peace of the African continent and the stand it has maintained on the democratization and reform of the U.N., the message wished his Nigerian counterpart success in his work.
    Adeniji in the message reaffirmed the stand of the Nigerian government and people supporting the will of the DPRK government and people to build a great prosperous powerful nation under the seasoned leadership of Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, reunify the country peacefully according to the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.
    It expressed hope that the excellent bilateral relations that happily exist between the two countries would continue to develop in the interests of the two peoples.

DPRK Foreign Minister Congratulates His Indian Counterpart

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a congratulatory message to K. Natwar Singh on his appointment as foreign minister of the Republic of India. In the message he sincerely wished the new Indian foreign minister happiness, good health and great success in his work, expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will continue to favorably develop in the future.

Relief Goods Donated to DPRK

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Relief goods were sent to the DPRK by various countries and international organizations in connection with the explosion at Ryongchon Railway Station in North Phyongan Province. Emergency relief goods came to the DPRK from China, Russia and Syria at the end of April. In May relief goods including medicines, medical apparatuses and daily necessaries were sent to the DPRK by governments, organizations, institutions, enterprises and individuals of various countries including Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, Greece, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, France, Finland, Poland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Austria, the U.S.A., Canada and Australia. Those things were also donated to the DPRK by international and regional organizations including the UN Office for the Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children¡Çs Fund, the World Food Program, the United Nations Population Fund, and the European Union.
    Various kinds of relief goods came from overseas compatriot's organizations including the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, organizations and compatriots from all walks of life in different countries and regions.

KCNA Refutes Misinformation about "Illegal Sale of Uranium Hexafluoride"

     Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- The New York Times on May 22 carried a false story that north Korea sold weapon grade uranium to Libya in early 2001 and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently obtained clear evidence that it was provided by north Korea. There has been, in fact, no deal in enriched uranium between the DPRK and Libya.
    The U.S. much ado about the DPRK¡Çs illegal sale of uranium hexafluoride is a sheer fabrication. It is nothing but a despicable political plot to charge the DPRK with the proliferation of nuclear substance and a foolish attempt to tarnish the international image of the DPRK and dodge daily mounting worldwide criticism and denunciation over the nuclear issue.
    It is widely known that the U.S. was rejected at the 2nd round of the Six Way talks and the meeting of the working group of the talks when it raised the fiction of the "enriched uranium program," while pressurizing the DPRK to accept CVID.
    It is beyond doubt that the U.S., much upset by this, spread such rumor in a bid to charge the DPRK with "nuclear proliferation" and make the "enriched uranium program" sound plausible.
    The U.S., ill-famed for lies and deceptive tricks, egged the IAEA, its tool, on to hatch a new plot to pressurize the DPRK to admit its "enriched uranium program". This is absolutely intolerable.
    The smear campaign launched by the U.S. on the basis of the fiction of "illegal sale of uranium hexafluoride," not content with spreading worldwide the rumor about the DPRK¡Çs nonexistent "enriched uranium program," clearly indicates that the U.S. has become most desperate in pursuing its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
    Another sinister aim sought by the U.S. in this smear campaign is to raise again the fiction of "enriched uranium program" at the next round of the six way talks and force the DPRK to admit it in a bid to deliberately throw an obstacle to the talks.
    The U.S. is sadly mistaken if it thinks it can put international pressure upon the DPRK under the pretext of "illegal sale of uranium hexafluoride" and the like in an attempt to force it to disarm itself.
    The DPRK will increase its capability for self-defence in every way under the uplifted banner of Songun no matter what others may say.

For Spanish-speaking people

Venezuela: obra de Kim Jong Il en folleto

     Pyongyang, 29 de mayo (ATCC) -- La Editora del Partido Comunista de Venezuela dio a luz en folleto la imperecedera obra clasica del Dirigente Kim Jong Il "Para reforzar el sistema de direccion del Partido", publicada el 28 de abril del 68 (1979) de la Era Juche. La obra dilucida concretamente los problemas que se presentan para garantizar con firmeza la direccion del Partido sobre la revolucion y la construccion, entre otros, el de establecer un ambiente revolucionario de aceptar incondicionalmente y materializar cabalmente las decisiones y ordenes del partido y el de implantar la ferrea disciplina revolucionaria de que todo el partido actue como un solo hombre.

Simbolo de la amistad Corea-China en nueva etapa

     Pyongyang, 28 de mayo (ATCC) -- La tradicional amistad Corea-China se fortalece y desarrolla cada dia mas en medio de la profunda atencion de los dirigentes de los dos paises. La historica visita a China del Dirigente Kim Jong Il en abril de 2004 y otros varios encuentros entre los dirigentes de ambos paises realizados en los ultimos anos constituyeron eventos trascendentales en el desarrollo de las relaciones bilaterales de amistad y cooperacion.
    Aun en medio de la compleja situacion internacional, Corea y China se apoyan y cooperan activamente y desarrollan las relaciones bilaterales en todas las esferas politica, economica, cultural, etc.
    El nuevo colectivo de direccion central de China encabezado por Hu Jintao como secretario general aprecia mucho la tradicional amistad con la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y presta una gran fuerza a consolidarla y desarrollarla. Lo demuestra bien la decision del gobierno chino de ofrecer gratuitamente una fabrica moderna de vidrio a la RPDC.
    El gobierno chino lo decidio con motivo de la visita de la delegacion estatal de China presidida por Wu Bangguo, presidente del Comite Permanente de la Asamblea Popular Nacional efectuada en octubre de 2003.
    Esta realidad estimula mucho al pueblo coreano enfrascado en la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    Los grupos de observacion de expertos de los organismos correspondientes de ambos paises hacen sustancialmente todos los preparativos para el particular incluyendo la definicion del solar de la planta.
    Ambos paises acordaron efectuar el primero de julio de 2004 la ceremonia inaugural de construccion de la citada fabrica.
    Esta, siendo uno de maximos simbolos de la amistad Corea-China, contribuira realmente a la construccion economica del socialismo y a la mejora de la vida del pueblo coreano.
    Las tradicionales relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los dos paises se fortaleceran y desarrollaran de continuo poniendo de manifiesto su inagotable vitalidad en el campo mas alto tambien en lo adelante.

Materiales de socorro a Ryongchon

     Pyongyang, 29 de mayo (ATCC) -- En relacion con el accidente de explosion en la estacion ferroviaria de Ryongchon de la provincia de Phyong-an del Norte, varios paises del mundo y organizaciones internacionales hicieron llegar a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea materiales de socorro. A finales de abril pasado, China, Rusia y Siria enviaron con urgencia materiales de socorro y desde principios de mayo hasta la fecha los gobiernos, entidades, organismos, empresas y personalidades individuales de varios paises, entre otros, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapur, Cambodia, Tailandia, Japon, Grecia, Noruega, Holanda, Dinamarca, Alemania, Hungria, Suiza, Suecia, Checo, Francia, Finlandia, Polonia, Irlanda, Gran Bretana, Austria, Estados Unidos, Canada y Australia, la Oficina de Asuntos Humanitarios de la ONU, la Federacion Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y la Medialuna Roja, la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud, el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia, el Programa Mundial de Alimentos, el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para las Actividades de la Poblacion y otras organizaciones internacionales mandaron medicinas, aparatos medicos, articulos de uso diario y otros materiales de socorro.
    Tambien la Asociacion General de Coreanos Residentes en Japon (Chongryon) y otras organizaciones y entidades de coreanos y compatriotas de distintos sectores en varios paises y regiones despacharon los materiales de socorro de todo genero.