DPRK Hard Hit by Torrential Rain

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) --Various parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were hard hit by recent torrential rain. In July some areas of the country were struck by downpour several times.
    The downpour in the areas of Kosong and Chonnae on July 4 registered nearly 300 mm and that in the areas of Jongphyong and Pukchang. 200 mm.
    According to information available from the relevant organ, at least 100,000 hectares of paddy and non-paddy fields were submerged or washed away and dwelling houses for more than 1,000 families and public buildings destroyed in over 70 cities and counties of South Phyongan, South Hwanghae, Kangwon, Ryanggang and other provinces from July 1 to 25.
    It is hard to expect any harvest from the fields washed away and silted.
    Harvest in many fields is expected to drop 30 percent.
    And hundreds of sections of roads and railroad beds were destroyed and electric and telecommunication facilities damaged.
    Torrential rain struck Kimhwa, Phyonggang and Cholwon counties from July 16 to the morning of the next day, leaving hundreds of hectares of farmland silted or washed away.
    Pukchang and Unsan counties were hard hit by torrential rain of over 180-200 mm from the night of July 24 to the next dawn that left at least 130 hectares of farmland inundated and caused a landslide which washed away buildings.
    Various fields of the national economy in Ryanggang Province including Hyesan City were hard hit by torrential rain. More than 2,030 hectares of farmland were submerged and many dwelling houses and public buildings destroyed in six cities and counties of the province.
    The railway service is seriously affected by the damage done by the recent torrential rain.
    Hundreds of sections of railways in various places including the northern inland railway section between Manpho and Hyesan and railroads in Pukchang County were blocked by a landslide and railroad beds were washed away to block the normal railway service.
    Officials and working people in Pyongyang and local areas are working hard to recover from the damage as soon as possible.

Kim Jong Il's Work Published in Bangladesh

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il's famous work, published on October 2, 1976, was brought out in booklet in Bangladesh. Noting that this work is of great significance as it elucidates the originality of the revolutionary idea of President Kim Il Sung, its preface underlines its importance in the revolution and construction.
    The releasing ceremony of the work was held in Dhaka on July 24.
    The general secretary of the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Association and other speakers said the President's revolutionary idea formulated by Kim Jong Il gave most correct answers to difficult and complicate questions arising in the revolution and construction as it is true guiding idea, theory and method representing the era of independence.
    They noted that they were publishing Kim Jong Il's work in booklet in response to the desire of the people to deeply study and learn from the revolutionary idea of the President, adding that the work was holding an important place in the history of human thoughts and playing an enormous role in the development of human civilization.
    They called for finding a mighty guideline of the building of a new society by avidly reading the work of Kim Jong Il.

Children Received at Songdowon International Children's Camp

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Joyful camping of schoolchildren from different countries began at the Songdowon International Children's Camp. A ceremony for receiving campers was held on August 1.
    Kil Chol Hyok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, Chae Il Ryong, vice-chairman of the Kangwon Provincial People's Committee, and other officials concerned were present there with schoolchildren's camping groups from China, Russia, Mongolia and Tanzania, camping groups of Korean schoolchildren from China and Russia and host Korean schoolchildren.
    The participants laid a floral basket and bouquets before the statue of President Kim Il Sung at the camp and paid tribute to him.
    The camping flag was hoisted to the bugle call.
    A report and speeches were made at the ceremony which began with the band music of "Song of International Friendship Camping".
    Then followed a parade of the campers.
    The campers will have various activities including maritime and mountain-climbing activities, sports and amusement games and "day of nation" functions during the camping.

DPRK Players Come First at 6th World Junior Taekwon-Do

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- DPRK players came first in total at the 6th World Junior Taekwon-Do Championships held in Malaysia from July 27 to 30. It brought together more than 300 players from 49 countries including Russia, Malaysia, Tajikistan, Japan and the U.S.
    The players of the DPRK carried off 17 gold medals, 2 silver medals, 3 bronze medals and 6 cups.

U.S. Dangerous Arms Build-up under Fire

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- It was reported that the United States would soon deploy a new carrier flotilla made up of nuclear-powered submarines centred on the latest type nuclear-powered carrier "John Stenis" and different types of warships including Aegis destroyer around the Korean peninsula. Minju Joson Sunday in a signed commentary termed this a dangerous arms buildup to mount a preemptive strike at the DPRK as it is aimed to cope with the "emergency" on the Korean peninsula.
    The commentary cited facts to prove that the U.S. has recently massively bolstered the naval and air forces under the pretext of "readjusting" its ground forces stationed in south Korea, pursuant to its new "strategy of preemptive attack."
    The commentary said:
    The U.S. does not seek peace and security on the Korean peninsula but aggression and war. It is a daydream of the U.S. to bring the DPRK to its knees by means of war.
    The DPRK has already made a solemn declaration that it would not remain a passive on-looker to the U.S. frantic arms buildup behind the curtain of the six-party talks and sit idle until the U.S. has wound up its preparations for attack and taken up the offensive position and it mounts a preemptive attack on it.
    The U.S. should immediately discontinue the arms buildup aimed to invade the DPRK.

Cambodia Supports Peaceful and Fair Settlement of Nuclear Issue

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The Kingdom of Cambodia has consistently supported the struggle of the Korean people and expressed belief that the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula would be solved peacefully and fairly. Acting Head of State of Cambodia Chea Sim, president of the Senate and chairman of the Central Committee of the People's Party of Cambodia, said this on July 30 when meeting with the delegation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry headed by its Vice-Minister Kim Yong Il on a visit to Cambodia.
    He noted that the friendly relations between the two countries are excellent ones as they are based on the close relationship between President Kim Il Sung and King Norodom Sihanouk.
    Recalling that he could not forget the day he had the honor of being received by the President, he stressed that the great successes the Korean people have made in socialist construction overcoming difficulties in recent years are the fruition of the correct and just line and policies of leader Kim Jong Il.

Korean People's Just Cause Supported

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The world progressive parties are positively supporting the just cause of the Workers' Party of Korea as it guarantees their victory and future. We will as ever invariably support the just cause of the Korean people.
    Bishnu Bahadur Manandar, general secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (United), said this on July 28 when receiving the DPRK Ambassador to Nepal Jon Song Myong who paid a farewell call on him.
    He noted that the WPK led by Kim Jong Il is a beacon of hope and a sourceof confidence and inspiration for all the world progressive parties.

Kim Jong Il Sends Wreath to Bier of Choe Hyong Gwan

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Il sent a wreath to the bier of Col. General of the KPA Choe Hyong Gwan, deputy to the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on August 1, expressing deep condolences over his death.

Anti-U.S., Anti-War Struggle Called for

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) --The Koreans are now living in the era when they are working hard to achieve reunification under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. This is the era of independent reunification as they are set to settle the issue of reunification of the country by their concerted efforts, responsible for it. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article.
    It goes on:
    All the Koreans should devote their patriotic enthusiasm to the efforts to glorify the era of independent reunification, feeling proud of the fact that the history of confrontation between the north and south of Korea is being replaced by that of reunification and the process of reconciliation is making progress.
    The most urgent task facing the Korean nation in its efforts to successfully fulfill its responsibility and duty as a driving force in the era of independent reunification is to conduct a vigorous anti-U.S., anti-war struggle.
    After listing the DPRK as "part of an axis of evil" and a target of its nuclear preemptive attack the U.S. warmongers have massively amassed armed forces of aggression in and around south Korea under the pretext of the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S. and ceaselessly staged large-scale war exercises under the simulated conditions of a real war against the DPRK, threatening the destiny of the Korean nation.
    For the Koreans to emerge victorious in the struggle against U.S. and war, all of them should overcome difficulties with transparent spirit of national independence and strong awareness that they should in any case defend the peace of the country and the security of the nation in a responsible manner.
    This is the most fundamental position and stand the era of independent reunification requires all the Koreans responsible for it to have.
    The Koreans in the north and the south and overseas should turn out as one to achieve national cooperation and build in practice the structure of the Korean nation's confrontation with the U.S. on the Korean peninsula, well aware that only the might of the nation united under the banner of national independence serves as powerful weapon capable of frustrating the U.S. criminal moves to launch a war of aggression against the DPRK, defending national sovereignty and peace and protecting the era of independent reunification. The article calls for firmly preserving the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and speeding up the work to implement it.
    All the Koreans in the north and the south and overseas should turn out as one in the struggle to glorify the era of independent reunification, the era which promises reunification and prosperity of the country, the article concludes.

National Exhibition of Invention and New Technology Goes On@Successfully

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The 8th National Exhibition of Invention and New Technology is going on successfully at the Three-Revolution Exhibition in Pyongyang, visited by a large number of people including technicians and experts. The exhibition, which opened on July 22, will continue until August 15. On display at the exhibition are real things, models, diagrams and CDs showing more than a thousand inventions and new technologies developed by scientists, technicians and other working people of 40-odd ministries and national institutions, and their affiliated organizations and enterprises.
    Some 80 exhibits are drawing particular attention of scientists and technicians in the fields of IT and up-to-the-minute science and technology. Among them are automatic designing and processing program "Kangguk" 6.0, a method of controlling flood in the River Taedong, apparatus for measuring low-radioactive beta rays, micro-welder for solar battery and functional nano film ultraviolet cut-off.
    At least 60 exhibits are seen in the wings of power and coal industries.
    Conspicuous among them are a method of lighting an anthracite boiler with burning lignite and a backward coal hewing method using a bundle of props.
    The Chollima-2000 tractor, a method of making caustic soda with sulphate of soda and other exhibits presented by technicians of metal, machine-building and chemical industries, too, are catching eyes of experts.
    The Chollima-2000 tractor is 2.2 times higher than the Chollima tractor (28HP) in the plowing capacity and economizes 30 percent of fuel.
    Besides, achievements made in the fields of light industry, agriculture, construction, building-materials, electronics and automation, post and telecommunications, land and environment, and public health are also displayed at the exhibition.
    The exhibition is characterized by a wide-ranging technical exchange.
    Officials, scientists and technicians from different sectors exchange modern technical information and achievements with each other.
    A model lecture and a public presentation of scientific and technological papers will be held during the period of the exhibition.

DPRK Make Preparation for International Martial Arts Games

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Preparations for the first International Martial Arts Games are being made with support of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The organizing committee has done its best to make the games a grand gathering where martial arts players from many countries across the world can exchange their nations' martial arts techniques and expand their cooperation and ties.
    Sub-committees in charge of general affairs, invitation, matches, functions, communications, advertisement, etc. have already started their work.
    The Secretariat of the International Martial Arts Games Committee has worked out programs to organize matches of all events, an exhibition performance and model matches in close relation with six international martial arts leagues.
    The badge symbolizing the games and animal emblem were already made. And the games flag, posters, cups, medals and song are also being made at the final stage.
    The Taekwon-Do Hall and six other gymnasiums on the Chongchun Street have been reconditioned for the games.
    Great efforts have also been channeled into the preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies, visit of players to different places of Pyongyang, joint meetings and various functions.
    The Youth Hotel and Sosan Hotel are making themselves ready to welcome the players and other participants from more than 50 counties and regions.

Greetings to Macedonian President

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday sent a message of greetings to Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski on the national day of the country. Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would continue to favorably develop, the message sincerely wished him great success in his responsible work for the prosperity of the country and the welfare of the Macedonian people.

Greetings to Macedonian Prime Minister

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Pak Pong Ju sent a message of greetings to Macedonian Prime Minister Hari Kostov on the occasion of its national day. The message wholeheartedly wished him great success in his responsible work to achieve solid stability and economic progress of the country.

Greetings to Foreign Minister of Macedonia

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to Ilinka Mitreva, foreign minister of the Republic of Macedonia, on the national day of the country. Expressing support to the efforts of Macedonia which desires entry into the European Union, the message sincerely wished him greater success in his responsible work for enhancing the external position of the country.

Kim Yong Nam Calls on Norodom Sihanouk

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday visited the state guest house where Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk stays. On hand were Choe Su Hon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Hong Son Ok, vice-chairwoman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and other officials concerned.
    Kim Yong Nam was greeted there by King Norodom Sihanouk, Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Norodom Yuvaneath who is advisor to the king, Kong Sam Ol, deputy prime minister in charge of the Royal Palace, and Cambodian Ambassador to the DPRK Oum Mannorine.
    The president conversed with the king in a warm and friendly atmosphere before hosting a luncheon for him.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il se reune con Norodom Sihanouk

     Pyongyang, 2 de agosto (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, visito el 31 de julio la residencia en Jangsuwon de Su Majestad Norodom Sihanouk, rey de Camboya, de visita en Corea. Estuvieron presentes Su Majestad la reina Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, y otros acompanantes, y el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario del Reino de Camboya en Corea, Oum Mannorine.
    El rey entrego presente al Dirigente y le agradecio sinceramente por la hospitalidad dispensada durante su permanencia en Corea.
    El Dirigente sostuvo charla cordial y amistosa con el rey.

Kim Jong Il envia ofrenda floral ante feretro de difunto Choe Hyong Gwan

     Pyongyang, 2 de agosto (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea, envio el dia primero una ofrenda floral ante el feretro del difunto Choe Hyong Gwan, diputado a la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y coronel general del EPC, en senal de profundo pesame por su fallecimiento.

Jugadores coreanos ocupan primer lugar en campeonato mundial

     Pyongyang, 2 de agosto (ATCC) -- Los jugadores de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea ocuparon primer lugar en la clasificacion general del VI Campeonato Mundial de Juniores Taekwondoistas efectuado del 27 al 30 de julio en Malaysia. En el presente certamen participaron mas de 300 jugadores de 49 paises, entre otros, Rusia, Malaysia, Tadjikistan, Japon y Estados Unidos.
    Los coreanos se adjudicaron 17 medallas de oro, 2 de plata, 3 de bronce y 6 copas.