Letter to Kim Jong Il from NDFSK Central Committee

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of south Korea (NDFSK) on Thursday, the 56th anniversary of the DPRK. The letter described the foundation of the DPRK as a majestic appearance of the first genuine popular country with the workers and peasants being its masters in the East, once a colony, and a historic event which proclaimed the birth of Juche Korea shining under the sun and stars.
    It noted that over the past 56 years after its birth, the DPRK has covered a proud course of victory and glory, braving all difficulties and trials and working world-startling miracles and signal changes under the distinguished guidance of the greatest persons born of Mt. Paektu.
    The letter pointed out that Kim Jong Il unrolled the effective Songun politics for the first time in the world history of politics and frustrated every move of the U.S. imperialists to isolate and stifle the DPRK, thus fully demonstrating the inexhaustible national strength and the invincible might of Juche Korea.
    It said the DPRK led by him is shedding its brilliant rays as a great country advancing, guided by the Songun idea, and winning victories thanks to the Songun policy and a country of the sun vibrating with his stamina and will of Mt. Paektu.
    The vanguard fighters of the NDFSK and people in the south will deeply enshrine the absolute warship of him, decisively foil the reckless anti-north war policy of the U.S. and its stooges and their moves for isolating and stifling the north through national cooperation under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration and intensify the movement for independent reunification so as to brilliantly decorate 2005, the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation and the 5th anniversary of the joint declaration, as the year of national reunification., it concluded.

Foreign Diplomats Lay Floral Basket before President Kim Il Sung's Statue

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- The economic and commercial councilors' corps here laid a floral basket before the statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill Wednesday on the occasion of the 56th birthday of the DPRK. After laying the floral basket the members of the corps made a bow in humble reverence for the President who devoted his all life to the foundation of the DPRK and its development and the accomplishment of the cause of global peace and independence and made immortal contributions to the development of friendly relations among nations.
    Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters "His Excellency the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung Is Immortal."

Congratulatory Letter to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on Thursday, the 56th birthday of the DPRK. The letter said the foundation of the DPRK was a great national event that opened up a new era of building a sovereign state centered on the popular masses in the Korean nation's history spanning 5,000 years.
    Noting that President Kim Il Sung built Korean-style socialism centered on the popular masses and provided the Korean people with an eternal foundation for an independent life, the letter said his exploits performed for the building of the state are brilliantly recorded in the history of the country.
    It pointed out that leader Kim Jong Il has developed the country founded by the President into Kim Il Sung's Songun Korea consolidated as firm as an invulnerable fortress with the army of Juche, thus opening a new phase of building a Juche-based state.
    The DPRK founded by Kim Il Sung and glorified by Kim Jong Il is like a real mother as it instills into the Chongryon officials and Korean residents in Japan, an alien land, great national pride, confidence, dignity and honor which no other nation can enjoy, it said.
    Noting that the dignity of the country and the nation are ascribable to the great leaders and the genuine happiness and rosy future of the compatriots and their posterity are guaranteed by the prosperity and power of their homeland, the letter continued: This is the unshakable faith that the Koreans in Japan have cherished in the course of patriotic struggles, courageously braving all sorts of ordeal and setting a model of the overseas compatriots movement under the banner of the DPRK.
    Chongryon and the Korean residents in Japan will invariably entrust their destinies to you and devote all their patriotic efforts to the homeland, with the firm belief in the sure victory that they will emerge victorious as long as they are led by you and fully confident of a bright tomorrow of a great prosperous powerful nation.

Joint Appeal of North, South and Overseas Headquarters of Pomminryon

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- The North, South and Overseas Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) made public a joint appeal on September 8, 59 years after the U.S. illegal occupation of south Korea, calling upon the 70 million Koreans at home and abroad to turn out as one in the nation-wide struggle to drive out of this land the U.S. troops who are posing the threat of a nuclear war in south Korea, violating the dignity of the nation and scheming to keep the Korean nation divided forever. There is no reason for the U.S. troops to stay in south Korea in the present era of reunification after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration calling for pooling the efforts of the nation as they have pursued a war and permanent division more than a half century, the appeal said, and went on:
    2005 is the historic 60th anniversary of national liberation and the 60th year of the U.S. military occupation of south Korea. Only when the U.S. troops are driven out of south Korea by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation as early as possible can all the fellow countrymen in the north and south remove the source of a nuclear war and lead a peaceful and happy life.
    The appeal called upon the 70 million Koreans in the north and south and overseas to rally close under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration and drive the U.S. troops out of south Korea through the national cooperation so that the U.S. forces' presence there may not go beyond 60 years.

Proper Settlement of Past Urged in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- A preparatory body for the all-people committee for a proper settlement of the past was reportedly inaugurated with due ceremony in Seoul on September 3. The ceremony was addressed by Yun Jong Ok, former chairperson of the Council for the Solution of the Issue of the Volunteers Corps, Ri I Hwa, permanent co-representative of the All-People Committee for Probe into the Truth about Pre- and Post-War Massacre of Civilians and Their Reinstatement, and Ri Su Ho, chairman of the south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
    The settlement of the past should not be delayed any longer, they said, demanding that laws for probe into the past history be instituted at the current regular "National Assembly" session.
    Then, an inaugural declaration was read out.
    The ceremony was followed by a seminar under the title "Tasks and orientation for settlement of past".

Artillery Pieces Donated

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- Artillery pieces "Disabled Soldiers" were donated to a unit of the Korean People's Army with due ceremony on Wednesday on the eve of the 56th anniversary of the DPRK. Members of the Chongryu Disabled Soldiers' Home Work Team in Taedonggang District, Pyongyang, who are working hard in the same spirit and stamina as was displayed in their military service days, donated them for the fourth time, motivated by the single heart to contribute to the strengthening of the KPA.
    The work team members have conducted a brisk drive to assist the army for nearly 20 years, living up to the deep trust and love shown by the Workers' Party of Korea for the disabled soldiers.
    At the ceremony, Ryang Man Gil, chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, made an address of presentation before a certificate of donating the artillery pieces was conveyed to a commander of the relevant KPA unit.

Dancing Party Given in Celebration of DPRK Anniversary

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- A dancing party of young vanguard of the Ministry of People's Security took place on Wednesday to celebrate the 56th birthday of the DPRK. The participants danced dances in humble reverence for President Kim Il Sung, who successfully accomplished the cause of building the state after the liberation of the country and built a socialist powerful state, independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in national defence.
    They merrily danced to the tunes of such songs as "Let's Sing of Our Pride in Being under the Guidance of the General", "Pyongyang Is Best" and "Let's Support Our Supreme Commander with Arms", renewing their determination to remain true to the Songun idea and leadership of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il and discharge the honorable mission and duty as political guardians of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Message of Greetings from Chinese Leaders

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, received a message of greetings on Wednesday from Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of China, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, and Wen Jiabao, premier of the State Council of China, on the occasion of the 56th birthday of the DPRK. The message said:
    We extend sincere congratulations and best wishes to you, and, through you, to the Workers' Party of Korea, the DPRK government and the fraternal Korean people on behalf of the Communist Party of China, and the Chinese government and people on the occasion of the 56th founding anniversary of the DPRK.
    The founding of the DPRK enabled the Korean people to become the master of the country and embark on the bright road of building a new socialist state.
    The Korean people achieved great successes in the drive to carry out the cause of socialist revolution and construction, improve the north-south relations and defend the peace in Northeast Asia under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung, General Secretary Kim Jong Il and the Workers' Party of Korea, drawing the attention of the world people.
    The Chinese people are sincerely rejoiced over this.
    We are watching with great pleasure the steady consolidation and development of the traditional Sino-Korean friendship thanks to the common efforts of the two parties, the two countries and the two peoples.
    We hope to record a new page of Sino-Korean friendship with the Korean comrades by steadily boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties, the two countries and the two peoples according to the spirit of inheriting the tradition, orienting to the future, preserving the good-neighborliness and friendship and strengthening cooperation in the new historic period and under the international situation.
    We wish the DPRK prosperity and its people happiness.

Kim Jong Il Receives Message from Putin

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a message of greetings from V.V. Putin, president of Russia, on Sept. 4 on the occasion of the 56th founding anniversary of the DPRK. The message says:
    I extend heartfelt congratulations to you on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of the DPRK.
    September 9, 1948, was a significant day when the DPRK, a new sovereign state, appeared on the world map.
    Up to date since its foundation, the tradition of friendship and mutual respect and confidence as well as the border has linked our two countries.
    Russia supports the constructive efforts of your country to achieve its stability and prosperity, raise its international prestige and achieve reconciliation between the north and the south of Korea.
    I believe that the Russia-Korea relations would continue to grow strong for the well-being of the two peoples based on the solid foundation of the treaty on friendship, neighborliness and cooperation.
    I wish you good health and success in your responsible state activities and the friendly DPRK people peace and prosperity.

Concert Given to Celebrate 56th Birthday of DPRK

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- A concert took place at the Moranbong Theatre on Sept. 8 in celebration of the 56th birthday of the DPRK. It began with symphony suite "Long Journey for Songun Leadership" performed by artistes of the National Symphony Orchestra.
    The performers truthfully represented with refined and enthusiastic rendition the undying revolutionary feats leader Kim Jong Il has performed by protecting the DPRK's dignity and sovereignty and exalting the national honor after opening a new history of the great Songun politics.
    Then followed the first movement "Long Live Generalissimo Kim Il Sung" of the symphony "The Leader Will Always Be with Us" that gripped the hearts of the audience.
    Its repertoire included orchestras "Arirang" and "Rich Harvest Comes to the Chongsan Plain." They clearly depicted the DPRK, once eclipsed on the world map, fully demonstrating its might as the homeland of Juche as it holds the great men born of heaven in high esteem as the sun of .the nation and the leader of the revolution.
    The concert was appreciated by senior officials of the Party, the state and army, chairpersons of the friendly parties, members of the Cabinet, officials of the ministries and national institutions, persons of merits and labor innovators.
    Also among the audience were overseas compatriots on a visit to the socialist homeland including a congratulatory group of Koreans residents in Japan to celebrate the 56th birthday of the DPRK.
    Present on invitation were foreign diplomatic envoys here and foreign guests.

Greetings to Tajik President

     Pyongyang, September (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Thursday sent a message of greetings to Emomali Rakhmonov, president of Tajikistan, on its national day. The message wished the president greater success in his work for the country's prosperity and expressed belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would develop on good terms in the interests of the two peoples.

Floral Tribute Paid to President Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA)-- Floral baskets were laid before statues of President Kim Il Sung on the occasion of the 56th birthday of the DPRK. Seen standing before the statue of the President on Mansudae Hill was a floral basket sent by leader Kim Jong Il.
    Placed there amid the playing of the floral basket-laying music were floral baskets in the name of party and military organs, power bodies, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, units of the Korean People's Army and organs at various levels, industrial establishments, farms and schools, etc. in Pyongyang, bouquets and flowers.
    Floral baskets in the name of the Pyongyang Mission of the National Democratic Front of south Korea and overseas compatriots were also laid there.
    The participants paid tribute in reverence to the President who performed immortal exploits on behalf of the country and its people, the times and the revolution.
    Floral baskets were placed before statues of the President at Kim Il Sung University, Kim Il Sung Military University, the Ministry of People's Security and the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace and other places in the city.
    Servicepersons of the KPA and people in various parts of the country laid floral baskets, bouquets and flowers before statues of the President in their places before paying tribute to him.
    Floral baskets were placed before the statue of the President in Chongjin, North Hamgyong province, by various delegations from Northeastern areas of China on Thursday.

Homage Paid to President Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- Senior officials of the Party, the state and the army, servicepersons and people from all walks of life visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on Thursday to pay homage to President Kim Il Sung on the occasion of the 56th birthday of the DPRK. Amid the solemn playing of the immortal revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Il Sung" a floral basket was laid before the statue of the President in the joint name of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Central Military Commission of the WPK, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and the DPRK Cabinet.
    The senior officials of the Party, the state and army paid high tribute to the statue of the President before paying homage in humble reverence to him who lies in state.
    The chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the National Democratic Front of south Korea visited the palace.
    The diplomatic corps and the military attaches' corps here, the congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan for celebrating the 56th anniversary of the DPRK, the Chinese art troupe, overseas Koreans and foreign guests also visited the palace today to pay homage to him.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il recibe mensaje de felicitacion de Putin

     Pyongyang, 9 de septiembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea recibio un mensaje de felicitacion que le dirigiera el dia 4 el Presidente de la Federacion Rusa, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, con motivo del 56 aniversario de la fundacion de la RPDC. El mensaje es lo siguiente:
    Le felicito de todo corazon en ocasion del 56 aniversario de la fundacion de la RPDC.
    El 9 de septiembre de 1948 es un dia muy significativo en que aparecio Corea en el mapa mundial en calidad de un nuevo Estado soberano.
    Durante todo el tiempo desde la fundacion hasta la fecha, las tradiciones de amistad, respeto mutuo y confianza unen a nuestros dos paises junto con la frontera en comun.
    Rusia apoya esfuerzos constructivos de su pais por lograr la estabilidad y el bienestar y elevar el prestigio de la RPDC en el ambito internacional y conseguir la reconciliacion entre el Norte y el Sur de Corea.
    Estoy convencido de que las relaciones Rusia-Corea continuaran fortaleciendose en lo adelante tambien por el bienestar de los pueblos de ambos paises a base de los solidos cimientos sentados por el tratado sobre la amistad, buena vecindad y cooperacion.
    Deseo a Usted buena salud y exitos en sus responsables actividades ulteriores del Estado y al amistoso pueblo de la RPDC la paz y la prosperidad.

Llaman a levantarse en lucha por retirar de Sudcorea a tropes yanquis

     Pyongyang, 9 de septiembre (ATCC) -- En occasion del 59 aniversario de la ocupacion ilegal del Sur de Corea por EE.UU, las direcciones del Norte, el Sur y ultramar de la Alianza Pannacional por la Reunificacion de la Patria hizo publico el dia 8 un llamamiento conjunto exhortando a los 70 millones de coreanos en el interior y el exterior del pais a levantarse como un solo hombre en la lucha nacional por sacar de esta tierra a las tropas norteamericanas que al crear el peligro de una guerra nuclear, violan la dignidad nacional y se proponen dividir perpetuamente en dos partes a la nacion coreana. El documento subraya que en la epoca actual de reunificacion del 15 de Junio en que nuestra nacion reune sus propias fuerzas no hay ningun motivo de estacionarse en el Sur de Corea los yanquis que impusieron durante mas de medio siglo la guerra y la division a aquella, y prosigue:
    El 2005 devendra un ano historico e ignominioso al mismo tiempo por ser el 60 aniversario de la restauracion de la patria y de la ocupacion del Sur de Corea por las tropas gringas. Solo cuando toda la nacion coreana, con sus fuerzas unidas, retire lo mas pronto posible a los uniformados yanquis del Sur de Corea, podran eliminar para siempre la fuente de la guerra nuclear y viviran pacifica y dichosamente.
    Los 70 millones de coreanos en el Norte, el Sur y en ultramar deben unirse firmemente bajo la bandera de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio para retirar sin falta con las fuerzas de cooperacion nacional a las tropas norteamericanas antes de llegar a los 60 anos de la ocupacion de Sudcorea por estas.

FGSC apoya movimiento por derogacion de "ley de seguridad"

     Pyongyang, 9 de septiembre (ATCC) -- El portavoz del Comite Central de la Federacion General de los Sindicatos de Corea dio a la publicidad el dia 8 una declaracion que va como sigue: La FGSC apoya enteramente y se solidariza con la justa lucha de los obreros surcoreanos por abrir el periodo de la reconciliacion y la reunificacion de la nacion coreana derogando la "ley de seguridad". Al mismo tiempo, denuncia categoricamente a un punado de elementos anti-reunificacion que se oponen a la voluntad de los habitantes y a la corriente de la epoca.
    La actitud y la posicion sobre la abolicion de esta maligna legislacion devienen hoy la principal pauta que distinguira el patriotismo de la traicion a la patria y la reunificacion de la anti-reunificacion.
    Por lo tanto, ausentarse en la lucha por el particular a sabiendas de que la todavia vigente "ley de seguridad" esta perjudicando a toda la nacion coreana no consuena con la verdadera posicion o actitud de las personas que viven la epoca de la reunificacion del 15 de Junio.
    Los tipejos que pusieron escollos en el saneamiento de relaciones Norte-Sur y la realizacion de la reunificacion de la patria oponiendose obstinadamente a la abolicion de la ley en cuestion
    nunca podran pisar el territorio de la RPDC, inclusive el monte Kumgang.