Booklet Published in Italy

     Pyongyang, December 12 (KCNA) -- A booklet titled "Outstanding Supreme Commander" was published and distributed to political parties and organizations in Italy on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's assumption of the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army. The booklet said:
    Kim Jong Il was born in the secret camp of Mt. Paektu on February 16, 1942, grew up in the raging flames of the anti-Japanese war for the liberation of the country and the Fatherland Liberation War against the U.S. imperialist aggressors, graduated from Kim Il Sung University and worked at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    He turned misfortune into blessing and adversity into prosperity, responding to the enemies' hard line with a super hard line with his matchless courage, defended the sovereignty of the country and demonstrated the dignity of the nation all over the world.

40th Anniv. of DPRK, Cambodia Diplomatic Relations Celebrated in Cambodia

     Pyongyang, December 12 (KCNA) -- An evening of friendship was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on December 6, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Cambodia. Cambodian Vice-Premier Hor Nam Hong, who is also minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in a speech said that over the last 40 years the two countries have creditably developed the traditional relations of friendship provided by great King Norodom Sihanouk and President Kim Il Sung.
    Cambodia will always remember the disinterested support and assistance of the DPRK given whenever it had a hard time, he stressed.
    The relationship between Cambodia and the DPRK is fraternal one and the two countries have the good traditions of support and cooperation with each other in the international arena, he noted, adding that he will strive to develop the historical relations on good terms.
    The bilateral relations are now favorably developing under the wise leadership of King Norodom Sihamoni and leader Kim Jong Il, he stressed. And a celebration performance was given.
    A dancing party also took place at the function.

Japanese Authorities' Inhumane Action Denounced

     Pyongyang, December 12 (KCNA) -- The Association of Korean Victims of Forcible Drafting and Their Bereaved Families in a statement Saturday sternly condemned, in the name of all the bereaved families and the Korean people, the Japanese authorities for disallowing the entry of bereaved families and those concerned into Japan to see the remains of their late fathers. The statement said that the Korean people as well as the bereaved families are expressing protest and indignation, saying what for the DPRK is showing sincerity to the issue of Japanese victims of abduction despite the Japanese authorities' outrageous attitude and how the damage of the Korean nation can be compared with the damage of a few Japanese victims of abduction.
    It strongly demanded the Japanese authorities fully apologize and compensate for their extra-large crimes against humanity, in which they forcibly took away a great number of Koreans and forced them into toiling sites and the war of aggression to drive them to death in group in the past and covered up the truth behind the victims for over 60 years, and send back their remains to the bereaved families.
    The statement expressed the firm belief that all the world public figures of conscience and organizations valuing justice and human rights would loudly protest and denounce the Japanese authorities' atrocities and behavior against humanity, pay deep concern in the settlement of the issue of the remains of the Korean victims of forcible drafting, an urgent human rights issue, and conduct just solidarity activities to reinstate the honor of the Korean victims at an early date.

RS on Nuclear Issue of S. Korea

     Pyongyang, December 12 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says that the nuclear issue of south Korea, which was recently hushed up by the International Atomic Energy Agency, should be made clear. The nuclear issue of south Korea is a deep-rooted and serious problem as it was sponsored by the authorities, the commentary says, and goes on:
    It was not secret that the Yusin government made it as its policy to develop nuclear weapons in the 1960s-1970s and had secured technical forces and stepped up nuclear armament including the production and preservation of fissionable materials and nuclear war exercises. Scores of years have since passed. It was proved through the recently disclosed tests of nuclear materials that during the time south Korea pushed forward the development of nuclear weapons behind the screen of "threat from the north". Therefore, south Korea has presented itself as the force of nuclear threat which has the main features of nuclear armament including extraction of nuclear materials, production of nuclear bombs, the preservation of nuclear warhead vehicles and preparations for a nuclear war. This is the truth behind the south Korean nuclear issue.
    Its truth has not yet been made clear. But the IAEA tried to put an end to the issue despite the remaining objects of additional inspection to be made for three years, which cannot be overlooked.
    It is ridiculous that the south Korean authorities have shelved the stark nuclear issue and joined in the U.S. moves to stifle the DPRK, clamoring about the "nuclear issue" of the north.
    If the south Korean authorities are really interested in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peaceful reunification of the country, they should not cover up their nuclear issue and join in the outside moves to stifle the north but make clear their nuclear issue and stop developing nuclear weapons at once. Were it not so, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the improvement of inter-Korean relations and regional peace are unthinkable.

Japanese Reactionaries' Ambition for Reinvasion Assailed

     Pyongyang, December 12 (KCNA) -- Abe, acting secretary general of Japan's Liberal-Democratic Party, told at a lecture some time ago, with regards to the demand for a stop to the Yasukuni Shrine visit by the chief executive of Japan, that it is his duty bound to express respects and worship for the souls of the departed persons for the country and that the practice of visiting the shrine should be kept by the next-term prime minister. Earlier, Nakayama, minister of Education and Science of Japan, said at a local meeting, in regard to the deletion of the past crimes in the preceding history textbooks: It is very good that such words as "comfort women" for the Japanese army and forcible drafting have been curtailed. Commenting on such remarks of those who are bereft of reason, buoyed up by the fever of reinvasion, Minju Joson today denounces them as an intolerable mockery and insult to the Koreans and other Asian people.
    The news analyst continues:
    Visit to the Yasukuni Shrine and distortion of the past history are all open praise and sympathy with the Japanese imperialists' crime-woven history of aggression. This clearly shows what a reckless phase the Japanese reactionaries' reinvasion ambition for militarist overseas expansion has reached.
    This rash act of the Japanese reactionaries to repeat the past history of aggression is another unpardonable crime of hurting again the remaining bruise of mind of the Koreans and other Asian people.
    If the Japanese reactionaries don't cool down their fever for reinvasion but persist in military expansion overseas, they will be bound to face an irrevocable doom.
    They should squarely look at the reality and come out to the settlement of their crime-woven past, discontinuing such reckless reinvasion moves as digging up their own graves. This is what Japan should do above anything else at present.

International Children's Broadcasting Day Observed

     Pyongyang, December 12 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson Sunday observes International Children's Broadcasting Day. Every year UNICEF set various themes and celebrations of various types to mark the day, says the paper in a signed article, and goes on:
    The day of the year will witness cultural and art dissemination for the protection of children and guarantee of their rights and meetings among children worldwide.
    War and disputes persist in different countries and regions, which have very negative effects on the protection and growth of children.
    Children lose their parents to AIDS prevalent in the world and their safety is exposed to its threat.
    The problem of upbringing and educating the children has successfully been solved under the correct policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the State in the DPRK where the children are called the "king" of the country and growing to be talents responsible for the future of the country. The government of the DPRK will pay more attention to the rights of children and their welfare and boost cooperation with UNICEF and other international organizations.

New Chairman of C.C., UAWK Elected

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The 48th plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK), which was held in Pyongyang Friday, discussed the organizational issues of recalling members of the central leadership of the union or filling vacancies in it. The meeting relieved Sung Sang Sop of the chairmanship of the C.C., the UAWK and elected Kang Chang Uk to replace him.

Indefinite Hunger Strike for Repeal of NSL in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) - 300 representatives of the People's Sit-in Group for Complete Abolition of the "National Security Law", the People's Solidarity for Abolition of the NSL and different regions of south Korea reportedly entered an infinite hunger strike for complete repeal of the evil law in front of the "National Assembly" building on December 6. At the press conference called before the hunger strike speakers charged that the conservative forces including the "Grand National Party" are dead set against the repeal of the evil law in an effort to restore the era of dictatorship in which they used to monopolize power and crack down on the people.
    A press release called upon the people to wage an uncompromising struggle with the conservative forces for the sake of human rights, democracy and reunification and have the NSL scrapped without fail.
    After the press conference the participants went on a hunger strike.

Construction of Taean Glass Factory Makes Successful Progress

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- A concrete frame project on the main production floor of a melting shop was completed at the Taean Friendship Glass Factory now under construction amidst keen interest of the peoples of the DPRK and China. The melting shop can be called the heart of the factory as the first process of glass production will start there.
    The completion of the concrete frame made a breakthrough toward winding up the overall construction of the factory earlier than scheduled.
    Achievements made in the construction of the factory which will record another chapter in the annals of the DPRK-China friendship greatly encourage the Korean people in their dynamic drive to honor their national economic plans for this year with flying colours.

School Renamed after DPRK Hero

     Jongju, December 10 (KCNA) -- Songnam Middle School in the city of Jongju, North Phyongan Province of the DPRK, was renamed Kim Ki Bong Middle School. Kim graduated from this school before joining the Korean People's Army. He died a heroic death after unhesitatingly covering with his body a grenade on the point of explosion to save his many comrades-in-arms during a military drill in February last. Leader Kim Jong Il put forward him as the first DPRK Hero in the new century and saw to it that his alma mater was named Kim Ki Bong Middle School and his bust was erected there.
    A ceremony took place today on the spot to name the school Kim Ki Bong Middle School and unveil the bust of the hero.
    Kim Phyong Hae, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, addressing the ceremony, said that all the working people, teaching staff and students should learn from the noble mental world of the hero, who set a good example of revolutionary comradeship, and thus remain true to Kim Jong Il's revolutionary Songun leadership.

Trend of Independence Irresistible

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- Nothing can stem the trend of the international situation towards independence, says Rodong Sinmun Saturday in a signed article. Noting that the international situation this year is characterized by the intensified criminal moves of the U.S. imperialists to hold in check the historic advance of humankind for independence, progress and peace, the article recalls that the U.S. has focused its efforts on the reorganization and redeployment of its forces overseas in accordance with its strategy for world domination in the new century and the "strategy for combating terrorism".
    The article goes on:
    The redeployment of the U.S. forces overseas was mainly aimed to prepare and round off the multi-faceted military operation to escalate the "war against terrorism" worldwide. The U.S. applied diverse methods to this war involving military option, operation to realize regime change, economic sanctions, blockade and an operation to create confusion.
    This year progressive humankind has vigorously advanced along the road of independence and peace despite vicious challenges and obstructions of international reactionary forces.
    This year the Iraqi resistance forces have ceaselessly staged military actions in various parts of the country to drive out the U.S. occupation forces and many countries shunned or opposed the U.S. "war against terrorism," aware of its injustice.
    What merits attention is that those countries which had dispatched troops to Iraq in support of the U.S. "war against terrorism" took measures to pull their forces from there one after another.
    Europe, strongly reacting to the U.S. arbitrary practices and unilateralism, pushed ahead with the regional integration and put spurs to the building of a multi-polar world. The developing countries have dynamically advanced along the road of independent development in a bid to ensure the security and prosperity of the region by their concerted efforts despite the challenge of imperialists keen to realize the "globalization."
    This is evidenced by the establishment of the Council for Peace and Security of the African Union and the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the Southern Common Market and the Andes Community of Nations.
    It has become a trend of the times that the world supports and follows the policy of attaching importance to the military affairs, the Songun politics, and applies it to building up self-defensive capability and augmenting the state power. This is a main review of the international situation this year.
    Witnessing this trend, the world revolutionary people came to know well who is the enemy of independence and peace and what they should do to defend the destiny of their countries and nations and accelerate the process of global independence. They are called upon to unite as one to decisively frustrate the U.S. imperialists' high-handed practices, unilateral policy and their "strategy for war against terrorism" and take the initiative to foil whatever moves for aggression by force of arms.
    This year the DPRK has reacted to the U.S. imperialists' reckless war moves and pressure with its strong self-defensive measures, thus demonstrating the mettle and might of the country pursuing the Songun policy to the whole world, the article concludes.

Japanese Authorities' Action to Disallow DPRK Delegation's Entry under Fire

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The Korean Measure Committee for Compensation to "Comfort Women" for the Japanese Army and Victims of Forcible Drafting in a statement on Dec. 10 denounced the Japanese authorities for the inhuman action taken to disallow the entry of some members of the DPRK delegation into Japan to participate in the memorial service for the Korean victims of the forcible drafting and a meeting to be held in Tokyo on Saturday. The Tokyo group for probing the truth about the forcible drafting of Koreans invited bereaved families and those concerned with the dead in the DPRK to a memorial service and meeting to pay homage to at least 1,100 Korean victims of the forcible drafting who are entombed at Yutenji temple in Tokyo with no one to take care of and probe the truth behind the damage done to them. The invitation of them was, therefore, of very humanitarian and ethical nature.
    The statement said: This time, the Japanese authorities employed an underhand method in handling this issue: They allowed the entry of only two bereaved family members of victims while rejecting the entry of other members concerned. They did so for fear of the public protest and denunciation they are bound to face if they block the entry of the whole delegation.
    It was the calculation of the authorities that the visit of the delegation to Japan could hardly take place as those aged bereaved families alone would not be able to make a trip there, unable to speak Japanese, and then they would be able to attain their objective and evade responsibility for it.
    Clear is the aim sought by the authorities in disallowing the DPRK delegation's entry.
    The Japanese reactionaries are more desperately working to hype the issue of abduction of Japanese than ever before in a bid to infuse hostility towards the DPRK into the Japanese and create a social atmosphere for winding up the building of the foundation to turn Japan into a military power.
    If the bereaved families and those concerned in the DPRK were allowed to visit Japan against this backdrop, they would tell how the Japanese imperialists abducted, took away and killed millions of Koreans and even refused to send their remains back to their country. Then this might hurt the "Japanese feelings" they have so far created for militarization. This was what the Japanese reactionaries feared most.
    The action taken by the Japanese authorities once again clearly revealed their true intention not to admit their responsibility to reflect on their past crimes and apologize and compensate for them.
    We will counter such anachronistic and self-righteous attitude through strong actions to disclose and denounce the crimes committed by Japan against humanity in the past. We will actively join the world progressive forces in a more vigorous movement demanding Japan's liquidation of its past.

DPRK Governmental Economic Trade Delegation Leaves for China

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- A DPRK governmental economic trade delegation headed by Rim Kyong Man, minister of Foreign Trade, Saturday left here to visit China. It was seen off at the Pyongyang Railway Station by Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam and Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe.

Greetings to President of Burkina Faso

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to Blaise Compaore, president of Burkina Faso, on the occasion of its national day. The message wished the president greater success in his work for the development and prosperity of the country, expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries will grow stronger in the future.

Protocol Signed between DPRK and China

     Beijing, December 10 (KCNA) -- A protocol of the 40th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the DPRK and China was signed here today. Present there from the DPRK side were members of the DPRK government scientific and technological delegation led by Ri Ui Gu, vice-president of the Academy of Sciences, and from the Chinese side were Wu Zhongze, vice-minister of Science and Technology, and officials concerned.

Kim Jong Il Inspects KPA Air Force Unit

     Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, inspected KPA Air Force Unit 854. He was greeted on the spot by commanding officers of the unit.
    He went round a room for the education in the revolutionary history and the room devoted to the history of the unit, guided by the commander of the unit.
    The unit has many historic relics of the revolution as it was given field guidance by President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on several occasions.
    Seeing historic relics and mementoes associated with giant foot prints of the President, Kim Jong Il recollected with deep emotion the leadership exploits of the President associated with the history of the unit's development.
    The unit has produced many recipients of state orders including scores of heroes of the Republic.
    Kim Jong Il underscored the need to intensify the education of servicepersons through the room devoted to the history of the unit which vividly shows the history of its development.
    He dropped in at an operation commanding room of the unit to acquaint himself with the unit's performance of its duty.
    He was greatly satisfied to learn that the servicepersons of the unit are always following the imperialists' moves for aggression with heightened revolutionary vigilance and fully prepared to courageously repel any enemy's attack any time.
    He looked round new comprehensive welfare service facilities built by the unit.
    He praised the commanding officers for having done good for the servicepersons, greatly pleased with fact that the unit has built on its own a welfare service complex having all facilities including a bath house, a sauna and a barber's and making a good use of them.
    Then he learned about the unit's management and the politico-ideological education of the servicepersons, going round the servicemen's hall, a library, a mess hall and a daily provision store and an education room, a bedroom and a washroom of a company of the unit and other places.
    He expressed satisfaction over the fact that the unit has provided good living conditions to its servicepersons by sprucing up the compound of the barracks and building modern entertainment and logistic facilities and conducting the effective ideological education of the servicepersons in diverse forms and ways.
    All units of the KPA in the era of Songun have taken on fresh looks by focusing their efforts on increasing their combat capability and improving their management, he noted, adding that this signal turn is a precious fruition of a high revolutionary spirit, militancy and a strong sense of organization and discipline peculiar to the KPA.
    He had a photo session with the servicepersons of the unit.
    He was accompanied by KPA Generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il inspecciona compania de Unidad No. 5848 de EPC

     Pyongyang, 11 de diciembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea, inspecciono una compania de Doble Bandera Roja de Tres Revoluciones de la Unidad No. 5848 del EPC. Se trata de la compania que sirve de prototipo a todo el ejercito en la administracion de la unidad y en las actividades del grupo artistica.
    El Comandante Supremo, tras hacer conocimiento del estado de cumplimiento del deber, se mostro muy satisfecho de que los militares de la compania defienden con firmeza su puesto siempre en estado tenso y de movilizacion e indico las tareas que se presentan para el fortalecimiento de la combatividad de la compania.
    Acto seguido, recorrio la sala de educacion, el dormitorio, el comedor, la cocina, el bano, el deposito de alimentos subsidiarios, el lugar de descanso al aire libre y otros lugares. Se entero en detalle de los pormenores del conjunto de labor y vida de los soldados y dio ensenanzas minuciosas.
    El Dirigente se mostro muy regocijado de que los oficiales acondicionaron bien la compania que sirve de casa de los soldados, y les ofrecieron excelentes condiciones de vida y elogio sus esfuerzos.
    Subrayo que esta compania en apoyo a la politica de Songun del PTC se destaca en todos los aspectos, particularmente en el entrenamiento combativo-politico, la administracion de la unidad y el trabajo de cultura masiva y califico de altos sus exitos.
    El Comandante Supremo dejo a los militares de la compania binoculos y fusil automatico como recuerdo y se fotografio junto a ellos.
    Le acompanaron los generales de ejercito del EPC Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae y Pak Jae Gyong.

Electo presidente del CC de la UTAC

     Pyongyang, 11 de diciembre (ATCC) ? Tuvo lugar el dia 10 en esta capital la 48 sesion plenaria del Comite Central de la Union de Trabajadores Agricolas de Corea (UTAC), en la cual se abordo el problema de organizacion referente a la revocacion y la eleccion suplementaria de miembros del organo de direccion central de la union. El pleno destituyo al presidente del CC de la UTAC, Sung Sang Sop, por motivo del asunto relacionado con el trabajo y eligio a Kang Chang Uk como nuevo presidente.

Denuncia actitud antihumanitaria de autoridades japonesas

     Pyongyang, 11 de diciembre (ATCC) -- El Comite Coreano de Medidas pora la Indemnizacion a las "Consoladoras" de las Tropas Japonesas y Victimas de Arresto Forzado hizo publica el dia 10 una declaracion denunciando a las autoridades japonesas que no permitieron la entrada en Japon de la delegacion de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea a la reunion y el acto de recordacion a las victimas coreanas por el arresto forzado a efectuarse el dia 11 en Tokio. El presente acto y reunion implican el caracter humanitario y etico y los auspicia el grupo de Tokio para el esclarecimiento de verdaderos aspectos del arresto forzado de coreanos al invitar a familiares de victimas y otros interesados a fin de consolar el alma de mas de mil cien restos coreanos desamparados en el templo Yutenji de Tokio y esclarecer sus verdaderos aspectos.
    Esta vez las autoridades japonesas permitieron el acceso a Japon a dos familiares de los difuntos, al conocer que de no dar licencia a todos los miembros de la delegacion seran objeto del repudio y protesta de la opinion publica del mundo.
    Ellas se propusieron alcanzar su malsano objetivo y evadir su responsabilidad a base del calculo de que seria imposible componer delegacion con los familiares de victimas de avanzada edad ignorantes del idioma japones.
    Hoy los reaccionarios japoneses exageran al extremo el problema del secuestro japones para inculcar el sentimiento hostil a Corea a los japoneses y valiendose de tal clima social se proponen asentar la base para la conversion de su pais en una potencia militar.
    Bajo tal circunstancia cobraron miedo de que nuestros familiares y otros interesados revelaran sin duda alguna sus crimenes antieticos de secuestro, arresto y asesinato a millones de coreanos y no devolucion hasta de sus restos mortales y de que todo esto ejercera influencia negativa sobre el "sentimiento del pueblo" necesario para la militarizacion de su pais.
    He aqui el objetivo de no haber permitido el acceso a Japon de la delegacion de la RPDC.
    A traves del presente caso las autoridades japonesas volvieron a poner al desnudo su verdadera intencion de no reconocer su deber de hacer reflexion ni de asumir la responsabilidad ni de pedir disculpa ni tampoco de hacer indemnizacion por sus crimenes del pasado.
    La RPDC respondera a la actitud anacronica y egoista de las autoridades japonesas con las categoricas actividades de denuncia y revelacion a los crimenes antieticos de Japon cometidos en el pasado y, en activa solidaridad con las fuerzas progresistas del mundo, desarrollara el dinamico movimiento en demanda de la liquidacion del pasado criminal de Japon.