U.S.-Japan Joint Naval Exercise under Fire

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Martin Lotscher, chairman of the Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, issued a statement on Nov. 1 denouncing the U.S.-led frantic "joint naval exercise" staged in Tokyo Bay, Japan. He said the exercise was not a normal naval maneuver but a war game to invade the DPRK, pursuant to the "preemptive attack strategy" of Bush. The U.S., jointly with Japan, is working round the clock in its preparations for a war to invade socialist Korea behind the scene of the six-party talks, he added, and went on:
    The U.S. is trying to inveigle Japan still deeper into its war moves and bring the DPRK to its knees through naval blockade coupled with a smear campaign against the DPRK such as the adoption of the "North Korean Human Rights Act". The DPRK has taken determined counter measures including the increase of its military deterrent in order to defend the sovereignty and security of the country and the nation from the criminal moves of the U.S. imperialists and their followers for a war of aggression.
    We bitterly condemn the criminal war game of the U.S. and Japan for aggression and unconditionally support the DPRK's counter measures, he stated.

Rodong Sinmun Calls for Victoriously Winding Up This Year's Work

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Monday editorially calls for energetically striving to victoriously wind up the work of this year. This year is a significant year which has recorded events to be always remembered in the noble chronicle of the Juche revolution, declares the editorial, and continues:
    The army and the people of the DPRK boundlessly faithful to the party's leadership launched a vehement offensive from the beginning of this year's work.
    Through the endeavors of this year the tradition of the ever-victorious Korean revolution has been steadfastly carried forward and the unity of the party, the army and the people in mind with the headquarters of the revolution as the core has grown ever stronger, as hard as steel, and all the people have been prepared as revolutionary soldiers of the Songun era who will share life and death with leader Kim Jong Il to the end.
    And they convincingly proved it was entirely right that they have unwaveringly advanced along the road of Juche opened by President Kim Il Sung under the great banner of Songun and made a breakthrough for a new advance to build a great prosperous powerful nation.
    All the victories and achievements this year are entirely the brilliant fruition of the distinguished idea and leadership of Kim Jong Il, an experienced and tested statesman and a great strategist.
    All the party members and working people should keep the present high spirit in upsurge and strenuously wage the final charge, thereby fully displaying the spirit and traits of the revolutionary soldiers of the Songun era in unconditionally carrying to completion the tasks set forth by the party, not in words, but with a do-or-die resolution.

KCNA Blasts S. Korean Authorities' Political Plot

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Choe Song Yong, chairman of the "Association of Families of North Korean Abductees," an anti-north plot breeding organization, recently let loose a string of rubbish about the so-called "issue of abduction " by the north, according to south Korean MBC. He was shameless enough to tell the following sheer lie: Old woman named Ri Ju Im, who had been "abducted" by someone and taken to the north during the last Fatherland Liberation War, wished to return to south Korea from long ago. She succeeded in crossing to Dandong, China from Sinuiju by a smuggling boat on Oct. 4. She was admitted to a hospital there due to worsening myocardial infarction and bronchitis on Oct. 14. But on Oct. 25 she was "abducted" by a "special operative of the north" from the hospital before putting her under virtual house arrest at a Chinese company in Dandong. He urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of south Korea to start negotiations with the Chinese government for her early return to south Korea.
    Meanwhile, an official of the Ministry made the claim an established fact even before probing the truth about the case. He went the lengths of pledging himself to do his best to bring Ri back through "diplomatic negotiations" with the Chinese government.
    This is, to all intents and purposes, nothing but a foolish and mean political farce and an anti-national crime of those hostile to the north as it is aimed to tarnish the international authority and image of the dignified DPRK and create psychological confusion within its society in a bid to destroy its unbreakable unity.
    What the above-said organization claimed does not deserve even a passing note as it is made up of those who are steeped in bitterness and consciousness of confrontation with the north to the marrow of their bones.
    But the north is compelled to clarify truth because even the south Korean authorities are involved in the smear campaign.
    Ri Ju Im, 73 if she is alive, studied at the nurse course of Seoul Medical University after the liberation of the country. After joining the volunteers corps during the Korean war she bravely fought against the U.S. imperialists.
    She graduated from Pyongyang Medical University in the north as she wished and worked at the Tongrim County People's Hospital in North Phyongan Province. Afterwards, she led a happy life with her children and died of an incurable disease at an advanced age on Oct. 13 last year.
    In her lifetime anti-north plot-breeding organizations of south Korea conducted "a secret operation" to lure her into "defecting" to the south.
    But it proved futile due to her stubborn refusal.
    This being a hard fact, the above-said organization used the dead woman for its despicable false propaganda only to provoke the world people's laughter.
    What should not be overlooked is the promise made by the south Korean authorities as regards the ridiculous farce staged by the above-mentioned organization before making any confirmation.
    It is a customary method employed by the south Korean authorities to stage a ridiculous charade by painting the dead as a living person to attain their political aim.
    Last year the south Korean authorities floated the story that Kil Jae Gyong, former vice-director of a department of the C. C., the Workers' Party of Korea, "sought asylum in the U.S." only to suffer bitter shame because he lies in state at the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery in Sinmi-ri after his death.
    The latest fabricated case of abduction of Ri suffices to indicate what extent the moves of the anti-north elements and the south Korean authorities have reached.
    This smear campaign goes to clearly prove that the south Korean authorities' much talk about "new era of inter-Korean relations," "national reconciliation and unity" and "cooperation for national prosperity" is nothing but hypocrisy and they have an axe to grind.
    The north can never remain a passive onlooker to the political farce orchestrated by the south Korean authorities, timed to coincide with the evermore undisguised U.S. plots against the DPRK.
    The south Korean authorities should make a proper apology to the north.

Liquidation of Past Demanded in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- The All-People Committee for the Proper Liquidation of the Past reportedly called a press conference for "the declaration of a struggle to fully achieve a law on the proper liquidation of the past" in Seoul on Nov. 2, demanding that the political quarters buckle down to a comprehensive liquidation of the past. The declaration read out at the press conference noted that the conservative forces including the Grand National Party were shunning the liquidation of the past because they sought to defend their interests, swimming against the trend of the times towards the settlement of the grudges of the people who had to die tragic death at the hand of the power in the past.
    When a new society should be sought, not a step forward can be made without properly clarifying numerous scandals and murder cases distorted and concealed by the dictatorial power in the past, said the declaration.
    Vowing to fight undauntedly against the political forces trying to avoid a proper liquidation of the past and distort its real nature, it urged the ruling party get to work for a comprehensive liquidation of past and all the political circles demanding the liquidation cooperate with each other for a democratic reform.
    All the conscientious forces and bereaved families of those who fell in the fight for democracy and democratic organizations should rise up in the campaign for the institution of a law for the proper liquidation of the past, it stressed.

Abolition of "NSL" Urged

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Women and human rights organizations released declarations on Nov. 3 in demand of the abolition of the "National Security Law" in front of the National Assembly building in Youido, Seoul, where members of civil and social organizations of various circles of south Korea were staging an indefinite sit-down strike to demand the abolition of the evil law, according to a press report. Thirty-six organizations under the Women's Action for the Abolition of the NSL including the Women's Society for Peace and the south Korean Federation of Women's Organizations published a women's declaration after staging a performance exposing the heinous and unjust nature of the law and showing their will to get it torn up at all cost.
    Criticizing the Uri Party for misrepresenting the nature of the abolition of the NSL by its argument for "replenishment of the law" and "alternate legislation", those organizations in the declaration stated in the name of the women that they would make more energetic efforts for the repeal of the evil law and achievement of democracy.
    The Joint Conference of Human Rights Organizations consisting of 32 bodies including the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy called a news conference under a large placard reading: "The security law and human rights cannot co-exist. Totally abolish the security law".
    The declaration of human rights champions released at the news conference demanded that the NSL instituted for the power of the divisive forces be scrapped right away.
    Noting that many people were suffering from the evil law at that moment, it stated they would support the indefinite sit-down strike being stated by human rights organizations in front of the National Assembly building and take an active part in the movement for the repeal of the evil law.

Hand-Knitted Goods in Great Demand

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Quality hand-knitted goods produced in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have enjoyed popularity at various international commodity fairs. The demand for the goods reflecting the fine hand-knitting skill of Korean women is ever increasing at foreign markets. Om Jong Hwa, manager of the Knitted Goods Export Company under the Rungrado General Trading Corporation, said this in an interview with KCNA.
    The goods of various colors and different shapes are soft and comfortable and convenient to wear.
    Most of the woollen sweaters are embroidered with flowers and other decorations.
    Catching the eyes of people are women's sweaters decorated with sunflower patterns, children's sweaters of different colors and single-color sweaters for the aged.
    The company has steadily improved models and quality of their products to suit the developing trend of knitted wears, hobbies and tastes of people according to their ages, sexes.

Messages of Greetings to Cambodian Prime Minister and For. Minister

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Hun Sen, prime minister of the royal government of Cambodia, on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of its independence. Expressing the belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will continue to develop on good terms, the message wished him greater success in his responsible work.
    Meanwhile, Paek Nam Sun, foreign minister of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Hor Nam Hong, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia.

Kim Yong Nam Greets Cambodian King

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Norodom Sihamoni, king of Cambodia, on Nov. 8 on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of its independence. The message extended the warmest congratulations to the king and the friendly Cambodian people on the occasion.
    The message said that the Cambodian people have achieved great successes in carrying out the cause of defending the independence and sovereignty of the country and developing national economy, true to the noble patriotic intention of the Great King of Cambodia Norodom Sihanouk.
    In the belief that the excellent friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries provided by President Kim Il Sung and the Great King of Cambodia Norodom Sihanouk would grow stronger in the future, it sincerely wished the king good health and happiness and greater success in his noble work for the prosperity of the country.

DPRK Delegations Leave for Different Countries

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry led by Vice-Minister Kim Yong Il today left Pyongyang to visit China. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League led by Secretary Jang Yong Chol left here for Laos.

KCNA Lambastes LDP's Anti-DPRK Moves

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan at a meeting of "Headquarters for measures to settle the issue of abduction by north Korea" on Nov. 5 approved an interim report submitted by a team for mock test for applying economic sanctions against north Korea, which calls for economic sanctions at five phases. The party also confirmed its policy to demand the reexamination of such issues as exempting the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and its related facilities from fixed property tax and subsidizing its related institutions apart from the economic sanctions. The Japanese ultra-right reactionary conservatives have manipulated the party to take such measures for applying economic sanctions against the DPRK at a time when the inter-governmental working talks between the DPRK and Japan are fast approaching. Such moves have aroused deep apprehension as to the prospect of the bilateral relations and compelled the DPRK to think over the adverse impact such moves will have on the results of the talks as they hamstring the effort to improve the bilateral relations.
    The relations between the two countries are fraught with serious discord as the ultra-right conservative forces of Japan are pushing the bilateral ties to the phase of crisis quite contrary to the spirit of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
    This is entirely attributable to the hostile policy the ultra-right reactionary forces of Japan have pursued with extreme bitterness toward the DPRK.
    They are persistently raising unimportant issues in dealing with the issues of bilateral relations and working hard to institute such domestic laws as one calling for economic sanctions against north Korea, an infringement upon the sovereignty of the DPRK. This is an extreme provocation against it.
    The DPRK has already demanded the immediate disbandment of the team for mock test for sanctions, branding the deceptive and arrogant mode of effective pressure sought by it as a deliberate move to bedevil the hostile relations between the two countries. However, the ultra-right reactionary forces of Japan have persistently insisted on the one-sided hostile policy toward the DPRK, calling for tougher sanctions against the DPRK and escalating its moves against Chongryon.
    If these things are allowed to go on, they may lead to a dangerous situation in the relations between the two sides and it will be hard to expect any improvement in the bilateral relations.
    Whether the DPRK-Japan relations make a U-turn in the direction of their normalization to meet the expectation of the international community and the wishes of the two peoples in the new century or keep to the road of abnormal confrontation entirely depends on Japan's attitude.

Kim Il Chol Meets Indonesian Defence Ministry Delegation

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Vice-Marshal of the Korean People's Army Kim Il Chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the Defence Ministry of Indonesia headed by Maj. General Sudrajat, director general for Defence Strategy, on Monday. Present were generals and officers of the KPA and the Indonesian ambassador e. p. to the DPRK. On the occasion the head of the delegation said that the friendly and cooperative relations between Indonesia and the DPRK are developing day by day and expressed the belief that the relations would grow stronger in the future, too.

Kim Yong Nam Meets Government Delegation of Democratic Congo

     Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with a government delegation of the Democratic Republic of Congo led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Raymond Ramazani Baya at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Monday. On hand were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon and officials concerned.
    On the ocasion the head of the delegation said that he would actively strive to further develop the long-standing relations of friendship between the two countries.
    Songun policy enforced by leader Kim Jong I l is the most just political mode, he said, adding that they would continue to support the Korean people in their struggle for reunification.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de ministro ugandes de Defensa

     Pyongyang, 8 de noviembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera Amama Mbabazi, ministro de Defensa de la Republica de Uganda, de visita en Corea. El visitante lo entrego a Kim Il Chol, ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas Populares y vicemariscal del Ejercito Popular de Corea.

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de personalidad indonesia

     Pyongyang, 8 de noviembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera Sudrajat, director general para la estrategia de defensa del Ministerio de Defensa de la Republica de Indonesia, de visita en Corea. El visitante lo entrego a un funcionario coreano.

Conversaciones entre cancilleres de Corea y Congo

     Pyongyang, 8 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Tuvieron lugar el dia 6 en el Palacio de los Congresos Mansudae las conversaciones entre Paek Nam Sun, ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, y Raymond Ramazani Baya, ministro de RR.EE. y Cooperacion Internacional de la Republica Democratica del Congo. En la ocasion ambas partes informaron de las situaciones de sus respectivos paises e intercambiaron opiniones sobre el problema de desarrollar aun mas las relaciones de amistad entre los dos paises y una serie de problemas de interes mutuo.

Rodong Sinmun tilda de agresoras a tropas yanquis en Sur de Corea

     Pyongyang, 8 de noviembre (ATCC) - Hace algunos dias, el portavoz de la sede de la Organizacion de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) volvio a anunciar que los uniformados norteamericanos ocupantes del Sur de Corea no son "tropas de la ONU" sino las "fuerzas de la coalicion" al mando de EE.UU. Sin embargo, la autoproclamada "Comandancia de la ONU" hizo una declaracion erronea de que "en caso de la quiebra del Acuerdo de Armisticio y de la aparicion de las hostilidades, los paises signatarios de dicho acuerdo de 1953 se reorganizaran en una coalicion" y "seguira desempenando el papel de las fuerzas del mantenimiento de la paz de la ONU".
    Con respecto a esto, el diario Rodong Sinmun inserto en su edicion del dia 7 un articulo individual que senala como lo siguiente:
    EE.UU. es el unico pais que pinta a sus tropes estacionadas en el suelo surcoreano de los "Cascos Azules".
    Pero, en realidad, las fuerzas norteamericanas acampadas alli son un rebano de agresores, estranguladores de la soberania y la democracia y perturbadores de la paz, que se pusieron ilegalmente los "Cascos Azules".
    Los imperialistas norteamericanos maniobraron perversamente para perpetuar la division de Corea y desatar una nueva guerra en la Peninsula Coreana. En este contexto, estropearon siniestramente la ejecucion de los proyectos del gobierno de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea sobre la reunificacion de Corea y desarrollaron freneticamente los ejercicios militares para la Guerra de agresion con la movilizacion de sus tropas en el Sur de Corea agravando asi intencionalmente la situacion de la Peninsula Coreana.
    En particular, la banda de Bush actua freneticamente para tender un "cerco internacional" contra la RPDC y aislarla y aplastarla de todas maneras pretextando una supuesta "amenaza nuclear y de misiles" de esta.
    A pesar de que han pasado varias decadas desde la aprobacion de la resolucion de la ONU sobre la retirada de las tropas yanquis del Sur de Corea, EE.UU. no la ha cumplido todavia.
    De hecho, los EE.UU. son enemigos acerrimos de la independencia y la paz que no reparan en medios y metodos para llevar a efecto su politica de guerra de agresion.
    Las fuerzas belicosas lideradas por Bush justifican la ocupacion militar del Sur de Corea y la politica de aplastamiento a la RPDC con la supuesta "amenaza nuclear" de esta, lo cual deviene un serio desafio a la justicia y la paz.