Function Held in Cuba

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- A function for laying a floral basket before a portrait of President Kim Il Sung on a wall of the building of the Organization of Solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAL) was held in Cuba on December 30 on the occasion of the New Year.
    Present there were officials of the OSPAAL, the DPRK ambassador to Cuba and staff members of the embassy.
    The participants placed the floral basket before the portrait of the President and paid tribute to him.
    Humberto Hernandez, secretary-general of the Executive Secretariat of the organization, addressing the function, expressed solidarity with the Korean people in their just struggle to smash the moves of the U.S. against the DPRK.

Moves to Seek Passage of "Alternative Bill on NSL" under Fire

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- 14 leading members of the Uri Party in a statement on December 30 denounced the negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties on the issue of abolishing the "National Security Law" (NSL), according to south Korean MBC. Accusing the Uri Party and the Grand National Party of working hard to pass the alternative bill on the NSL in collusion, the statement said this is nothing but a political charade aimed at instituting another evil law.
    If those parties railroad the "alternative bill" through the National Assembly, it will be so shameless an act as betraying the history and going against even the most elementary etiquette towards human beings, the statement noted.

Results of S. Korean Authorities' Unreasonable Negotiations on Rice Flailed

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The Democratic Workers' Party of south Korea vehemently condemned the results of the government's unreasonable negotiations on rice, according to south Korean MBC. It charged that the government decided to inform the World Trade Organization of the results of negotiations which calls on south Korea to increase the compulsory import of rice, terming this an act of deceiving peasants and yielding to other country's pressure.
    Meanwhile, the "National Federation of Peasants Associations" held a press conference in front of the government building on December 30, demanding the authorities renegotiate the rice market opening.
    At the press conference speakers urged the authorities to renegotiate all issues, branding their rice negotiations as closed-door ones.

U.S. Scheme to Deploy New-type Missile Assailed

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of south Korea released a statement on Dec. 29 with regard to the sinister scheme of the United States to deploy in south Korea a new-type missile capable of penetrating underground for aggression on the north. The criminal aim of the U.S. in this is to destroy underground military facilities of the north by a preemptive strike and thereby neutralize its means of war deterrent and attain the goal of war against the north without difficulty, the statement said, and went on:
    This makes it all the clearer that the call for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue and the resumption of the six-party talks made by the U.S. so often is no more than gimmicks intended to round off preparations for a war against the north pursuant to its robber-like doctrine of preemptive attack.
    Having deployed PAC-3 in Kwangju, south Korea, as a link in the whole chain of the aggressive missile defense system, the U.S. is now going to ship in the newly developed missile capable of destroying underground facilities.
    This proves convincingly that it is now stepping into the last stage in its harebrained moves to start a war in Korea, come what may.
    The U.S. is going to throw the Korean nation into a terrible holocaust of nuclear war by deploying the new-type missile and starting a war against the north, no matter what the cost. The Koreans should thwart and frustrate the U.S. plan to deploy the new-type missile with close national cooperation.

Economic Policy for People Urged in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification on December 29 reportedly published a statement titled "Government, immediately enforce an economic policy for saving the people". It recalled that Kim Chun Bong, a worker of the Hanjin Heavy Industry, protested the government's suppression of labor with death at the dawn of December 27.
    His death was a tragedy caused by the government's disregard of people's living and reforms, the desire of the people, and obviously murder, the statement said, and stressed:
    The government must resolutely break with the U.S. policy of "neo-liberalism" at once.
    A shortcut to a stop to social catastrophe is for the government to be awakened and repeal part-time job system and enforce an economic policy for saving the people.

Do Not Dream of Unilateral "Disarmament": Rodong Sinmun

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Ranking officials of the United States are vociferating about the need to "disarm" the DPRK by "collective pressure". Commenting on this, a Rodong Sinmun analyst Wednesday says:
    It is nonsensical for the U.S. to urge the DPRK, which has been in hostile relationship and technically at war with it for over half a century, to accept the unilateral demand for "disarmament". The army and people of the DPRK will never lay down their arms unless the U.S. abandons its policy of aggression on the DPRK.
    The U.S. "disarmament" doctrine is a sophism aimed to hamstring and destroy the armed forces of the DPRK. And it is a war doctrine intended to make a surprise preemptive attack on the DPRK after gaining the military upperhand.
    There is not the slightest change in the basic stand of the United States not to co-exist with the DPRK. The U.S. seeks to disarm the DPRK ideologically, morally and militarily and then swallow it up as it did Iraq.
    The DPRK has no alternate but to answer this strong-arm policy of the U.S. with increased self-defense capabilities.
    Self-defense capabilities are the life and soul of the DPRK and attaching importance to arms is the core of its Songun policy. Apart from arms, is it impossible to think of the nation's sovereignty, right to existence and dignity. The DPRK will give full play to the might of its self-defense capabilities under the banner of Songun.
    The U.S. should never dream of the DPRK's unilateral "disarmament".

Japan Democratic Party's Anti-DPRK Racket under Fire

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The Japan Democratic Party on Nov. 25 last year held a meeting of the headquarters for the settlement of the abduction issue of the party at which it decided to introduce to the Diet session slated to take place this month a "bill on north Korean human rights" of Japanese brand urging the DPRK to improve its human rights performance. Minju Joson Wednesday in a signed commentary says the Japanese ultra-right reactionary forces' intention to adopt a law of the same nature as that of "the North Korean Human Rights Act" in the U.S. is little short of a declaration of a war as they reveal an intention to take direct part in implementing the U.S. policy of confrontation with the DPRK and thus play a part in overturning the system in it.
    The news analyst continues:
    Those reactionary forces are persisting in their moves to stifle the DPRK, raising a hue and cry over the abduction issue though it had been already settled through the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration. Why? Through this they seek to bring down the system in the DPRK in collusion with the U.S. and evade the responsibility for compensating for the crimes committed by Japan in the past come what may, instead of redeeming them.
    Another aim sought by them is to dramatize the abduction issue in a bid to stir up people's sentiment and use it for improving their image and thus create conditions favorable for grabbing power.
    They try to do harm to the dignified and strong socialist system of the DPRK. This is as foolish an act as trying to sweep the sea with a broom. The DPRK is following Japan's every move with a high degree of vigilance.
    The DPRK re-clarifies its stand that if Japan finally opts for an all-out showdown with the DPRK, it has no alternative but to take a corresponding physical counter-action. The Japanese ultra-right reactionaries are well advised to behave themselves, mindful of the serious political and physical consequences to be entailed by their reckless anti-DPRK racket.

White-bellied Black Woodpeckers Grow in Number

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The number of white-bellied black woodpecker has increased in the Mt. Myolak area, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The bird, found out in Kyonggi province for the first time in the summer of 1886, had inhabited in the area south of Mt. Songak and Mt. Chonma in Kaesong, Korea and in Tsushima, Japan. But the environmental deterioration and random fowling compelled it to disappear in Japan from October 1920. And it was hard to see the bird even in Korea. The DPRK government took a step to protect and propagate the bird in Juche 41 (1952) during the hard-fought Korean War, and designated the bird found in Mt. Songak as a natural treasure in 1956.
    In September 1969 the DPRK Cabinet issued an ordinance on protecting and propagating white-bellied black woodpecker and the areas of Phyongsan and Rinsan Counties in North Hwanghae Province and Pongchon County in South Hwanghae Province were designated as reserves for the bird.
    This made it possible to increase the number of the bird, which had been once on the brink of extinction.
    It has been living in the Mt. Myolak and Singye areas in North Hwanghae Province far north of the original habitat.

DPRK in General Onward March

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have turned out as one in the general onward march to mark the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and national liberation as victors of the Songun revolution this year. The agricultural sector, the main front of socialist economic construction this year, takes the lead in the general onward march.
    Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture have set right soil for right crops and secured seeds of high-yielding varieties which require less amount of fertilizers and are resistant to drought, blight and harmful insects in close contact with provincial, city and county officials concerned. And they have worked out a bold plan to more than double the bean cultivation acreage.
    They, with detailed measures to do potato, bean and two-crop farming, are striving hard to increase quality organic fertilizer and bio-compost and to raise the level of mechanized work in farming.
    The farmers are all out in the preparation for farming and the entire Party, whole country and all the people are powerfully assisting the socialist countryside.
    The workers of the Musan Mining Complex successfully carried out the blasting for blowing 150,000 ton earth on the New Year's Day to open a broad vista for increased iron ore production.
    The Songjin Steel Complex on the first day of the year produced iron and steel 1.5 times the daily result in the end of the previous year.
    Signal successes have been reported from power producers across the country including the Pukchang Thermal-power Complex and the Pyongyang Thermal-power Complex.
    The scientists of the Hamhung Branch under the Academy of Sciences are making redoubled efforts to solve scientific and technical issues arising in building a carbonate soda production process with a capacity of tens of thousands of tons, a process producing salt in an industrial way and a process of manufacturing catalytic agent pushing ahead with a drive to build a great prosperous powerful nation.
    The servicepersons are full of firm determination to discharge their mission and role as the standard-bearers of the Songun revolution.

DPRK Government Decides to Render Emergency Relief Aid

     Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) - - The government of the Democratic People's　Republic of Korea decided to render emergency relief aid amounting to　150,000 U.S. dollars as regards the strong quake and tsunami that occurred　in the waters off Sumatra Island of Indonesia on December 26 last year,　causing huge material losses to Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri　Lanka, Maldives and other countries. The government and people of the DPRK express deep condolences and sympathy　to the governments and peoples of the afflicted countries and hope that the　aftermath of the quake and tsunami will be eradicated and the living of　their peoples return to normal as early as possible amidst the international　concern.

For Spanish-speaking people

Depositado cesto de flores ante retrato de Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, 5 de enero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del ano nuevo, los funcionarios de la Organizacion de Solidaridad de los Pueblos de Asia, Africa y America Latina (OSPAAAL), el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario y otros miembros de la sede diplomatica de Corea en Cuba depositaron el 30 de diciembre del ano expirado un cesto de flores ante el retrato del Presidente Kim Il Sung colocado en la sede internacional y le rindieron tributo. En la ocasion, el secretario general de la OSPAAAL, Humberto Hernandez, expreso la solidaridad con la justa lucha del pueblo coreano por frustrar las maquinaciones anti-RPDC de los Estados Unidos.

EE.UU. no debe sonar con desarme unilateral de la RPDC

     Pyongyang, 5 de enero (ATCC) -- Altas personalidades de Estados Unidos hablan de "desarmar" a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea mediante la "presion colectiva". Es absurdisima la demanda de EE.UU. sobre el desarme unilateral de la RPDC que mas de medio siglo se halla en estado de relaciones hostiles y de guerra con este imperio. Nuestro ejercito y pueblo no depondran jamas sus armas mientras EE.UU. no renuncie su politica de agresion a ella.
    Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 5 y prosigue: Tal teoria de "desarme" siendo una sofisteria para debilitar y descomponer nuestras fuerzas armadas deviene una teoria de guerra de agresion para lanzar el ataque preventivo a la RPDC mediante la supremacia militar.
    EE.UU. no demuestra ni en lo minimo la voluntad de cambiar de la posicion principal de no coexistir con la RPDC, sino trata de desarmarla tanto en lo ideo-espiritual como en lo militar y ocuparla como hizo a Irak. Tales medidas coercitivas de EE.UU. nos obligan a fortalecer el poderio de autodefensa nacional que es nuestra vida. Dar importancia a las fuerzas armadas es el nucleo de nuestra politica de Songun. Al margen de estas no podemos pensar en la soberania, la dignidad y el derecho a la existencia.
    La RPDC demostrara sin reserva el poderio de autodefensa nacional con la bandera del Songun en alto.
    EE.UU. no debe sonar con el desarme unilateral de la RPDC.

Marcha del Songun rebosante de confianza y optimismo

     Pyongyang, 5 de enero (ATCC) -- El pueblo coreano emprendio la marcha del Songun (priorizacion militar) del ano nuevo rebosante de confianza y optimismo. Hizo balance del ano pasado con el orgullo de triunfadores y se ha levantado como un solo hombre para glorificar este ano en que se cumple el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y de la restauracion de la patria con los significativos eventos de victoria de la revolucion mediante el Songun.
    En el sector agricola, frente principal de la construccion economica socialista de este ano, se libran intensas labores para acumular grandes hazanas no vistas en la historia.
    Los funcionarios del Ministerio de Agricultura, en estrecha coordinacion con los de las provincias, ciudades y distritos, determinaron con acierto los terrenos apropiados al cultivo de plantas y proveyeron las semillas de alto rendimiento que necesitan poca cantidad de abonos y resisten bien a la sequia, el frio e insectos nocivos, en particular se propusieron la audaz meta de aumentar mas de dos veces la superficie sembrada de soyas.
    Tomaron medidas detalladas para el cultivo de patatas, soyas y doble cosecha en un ano e impulsan activamente la labor de aumento de produccion de abonos organicos y biologicos de optima calidad y la de proporcion de mecanizacion.
    Los trabajadores agricolas, con la alta conciencia de duenos de la agricultura, se levantan energicamente en las faenas de preparacion del cultivo de este ano y todo el partido, todo el pais y todo el pueblo brindan activo apoyo a la economia rural socialista. Los obreros del Complejo Minero de Musan hicieron el primer dia laboral del ano nuevo con exito la voladura de 150 mil toneladas abriendo asi una segura perspectiva para aumentar ininterrumpidamente la produccion del mineral de hierro concentrado. El Complejo de Acero de Songjin produjo 1.5 veces materiales de hierro y acero que el producto diario del fin del ano expirado.
    Estan muy entusiasmados los obreros de los Complejos Termoelectricos de Pukchang y de Pyongyang y otras plantas electricas.
    Los cientificos de la filial de Hamhung de la Academia de Ciencias van resolviendo los problemas cientifico-tecnicos, que se presentan para crear el proceso de produccion de carbonato de soda con capacidad de decenas de miles de toneladas y el de produccion de sal por el metodo industrial y perfeccionar los procesos de produccion de catalizador de gran importancia en la economia nacional, los obreros de la Fabrica de Acero de Pyongyang y los constructores del Canal Paekma- Cholsan y otros del pais aceleran la marcha para la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    Los oficiales y soldados del Ejercito Popular de Corea estan llenos de alta determinacion de cumplir con su mision y papel de abanderados de la revolucion del Songun. Ryu Chol Gom, oficial del EPC, dijo: "En activo apoyo a la politica de Songun del Comandante Supremo Kim Jong Il nos comprometemos a ser pilar de la revolucion mediante el Songun tambien en esta marcha general para celebrar los eventos jubilosos de este ano como un gran festival de triunfadores frustrando con el puno de justeza la "politica de fuerza" de los arrogantes imperialistas yanquis".