Paek Nam Sun Meets U.S. Congress Delegation

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun had a　talk with a delegation of U.S. congressmen led by Vice-Chairman of the Armed　Services Committee of its House of Representatives Curt Weldon on Jan.　12.

U.S. Congress Delegation Sojourns in Pyongyang

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The U.S. delegation of Congressmen led by　Curt Weldon, vice-chairman of the Armed Services Committee of its House of　Representatives, staying here met with Ri Chan Bok, chief of the Panmunjom　Mission of the Korean People's Army, in Pyongyang today. The delegation visited the Mansudae Art Studio and the Folkcraft　Exhibition.

Seminar on DPRK's Joint New Year Editorial Held in Democratic Congo

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The Group for the Study of Kim Jong Il's Juche Idea and the Youth Group for the Study of the Juche Idea in Democratic Congo held a joint seminar on the joint New Year editorial published in the DPRK on Jan. 5. Nzemba Yangana, chairman of the youth group, and other speakers said that the shining victory and achievements made by the army and people of the DPRK last year are the brilliant fruition of Kim Jong Il's absolute leadership prestige and ever-victorious political ability.
    They expressed belief that the tasks of the Korean people to greet the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and the liberation of the country as great festivals of victors would be successfully carried out under the banner of the great Juche idea.
    All the Korean people will effect a great turn in accomplishing the cause of reunification under the uplifted banner of cooperation for national independence, cooperation for peace against war and cooperation for reunification and patriotism and thus brilliantly decorate this year which marks the 5th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, they stressed.

Joint New Year Editorial Studied Abroad

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- A seminar on the joint New Year editorial of the newspapers of the Workers' Party, the army and the youth league of the DPRK was held by the Ukraine Association for the Study of Songun Policy on Jan. 5. Grigori Shubed, chairman of the association, said that achievements made by the Korean people last year are entirely ascribable to the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il, stressing they would emerge victorious despite the U.S. imperialists' vicious moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK as long as they are united close around him. Similar seminars were held by the Ukrainian Society for the Study of the Juche Idea and the Ukraine-DPRK Friendship Association on the same day.
    That day the Indian Youth Group for the Study of Works of Comrade Kim Il Sung held a reading session on the joint editorial.
    Chairman of the group Balzor Singh Chauhan read the part of the editorial dealing with Korea's reunification. He expressed the hope that all the Koreans would realize the three forms of cooperation--cooperation for national independence, cooperation for peace against war and cooperation for reunification and patriotism--in the idea of "By our nation itself" and thus achieve great success in their movement for national reunification this significant year which marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea.
    The U.S. is the primary target of the Korean people in their struggle for reunification, he noted, demanding it drop the plan to stifle the DPRK and its hostile policy toward the latter.

DPRK Policy of National Reunification and Foreign Policy Supported

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea issued a statement on January 3 in support of the joint New Year editorial published in the DPRK. The committee supported the DPRK's policy of independent national reunification and foreign policy. The joint editorial encourages the forces struggling for peace and reunification of Korea and aspiring after a just and peaceful world, the statement said.
    It called upon the progressive forces to widely introduce the joint editorial in order to help the world people have full understanding of the Korean nation's sufferings resulting from the division and intensify international solidarity with the Korean people in their struggle to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country at an early date.

Socialist Emulation Called for

     Tanchon, January 11 (KCNA) -- The workers of the Komdok Mining Complex challenged all the industrial workers across the country to a socialist emulation of loyalty to carry out this year's national economy plan ahead of schedule and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea which falls in October with brilliant labor achievements. This challenge was made at the meeting of employees of the complex, the nation's leading nonferrous mineral ore producer, held on Tuesday to vow to thoroughly implement the militant tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial. The meeting called upon all the employees to turn out as one in a general onward march for the Songun revolution this significant year which will witness a great turn in the Korean revolution and in the drive to build a great prosperous powerful nation.
    At the meeting miners of Komdok resolved to attain this year's target of mineral production ahead of schedule through a high-pitched drive for increased production while building more promising faces to mine ore with high content rate with the patriotic enthusiasm to make a leaping advance in the efforts to build a rich and powerful country.

Chinese Technicians Resolved to Display Sino-Korean Friendship

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The members of the Chinese technical delegation participating in the construction of the Taean Friendship Glass Factory which is taking shape as a symbol of DPRK-China friendship are full of enthusiasm to help toward the development of the friendly relations between the two countries by wrapping up the construction ahead of schedule. Head of the delegation Chui Baoyu said he heartily felt the pride of taking part in the construction of the factory now underway amid the deep concern of respected Hu Jintao and leader Kim Jong Il, expressing the determination to make energetic efforts to build the factory as an edifice of eternal value which might compare favorably with best ones in the distant future by pooling strength with builders of the DPRK so as to live up to the expectation of the leaders and peoples of the two countries.
    Member of the delegation Li Fuqiang said he was deeply impressed by the strivings of soldiers of the Korean People's Army effecting innovations in the construction, stressing that the KPA which takes upon itself both national defense and socialist construction is a true army of the people.
    The construction of the factory, he added, will be a momentous occasion in deepening friendship between the two peoples which has been developing through centuries.
    Member of the delegation Wang Zhiliang stated that the factory would be built in grand style, backed by the friendship and fraternity and warm hearts of the peoples and builders of the two countries to demonstrate to the world the invincibility of Sino-Korean friendship.

Rodong Sinmun Urges Cooperation for Reunification and Patriotism

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Cooperation for reunification and patriotism is a vital requisite to the accomplishment of the cause of national reunification and a sure guarantee for its victory, declares Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It goes on:
    Given this cooperation, national independence and reunification, common prosperity and interests of the nation could be achieved, but, without it, the Koreans would undergo as ever the misfortune and agony of division.
    Cooperation for reunification and patriotism is a powerful weapon which helps strengthen the driving force of reunification and frustrate the interference of outside forces in the affair of reunification.
    Hating reconciliation and unity of the Korean nation, the U.S. pursues a crafty national estrangement policy to curb it. It seeks in this to bar the Koreans from possessing a powerful weapon in the form of unity. If all the fellow countrymen aspiring after reunification got united and cooperated with each other, there would be no impasse unsolvable and no fortress unconquerable in settling the reunification issue.
    Cooperation for reunification and patriotism is a driving force which makes it possible to promote the reunification movement triumphantly through trials and difficulties of all descriptions.
    The "security" of south Korea also can be ensured by embodying the patriotic idea of "By our nation itself" and its economic stability can be guaranteed by this cooperation.
    Cooperation for reunification and patriotism is a mighty force to defend the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation and "cooperation" with outsiders is treacherous "cooperation" bringing subordination, confrontation and division.
    The more the situation within and without gets complicated and the more blatant the anti-reunification divisive forces become in their maneuvers, the closer the reunification forces supporting the June 15 joint declaration and wanting its implementation should get united to pave a wide avenue of independent reunification, breaking through the trials and difficulties with the might of unity.

Joint Meeting with Korean Schoolchildren from Japan

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- A joint meeting was held at the People's Palace of Culture on Tuesday between schoolchildren of Pyongyang and members of the art group of Korean schoolchildren from Japan led by Kim Jong Song. The principal of Samhung Middle School and other speakers at the meeting noted that the dance tale "Strength of Love" and other numbers that the group put on the stage of the New Year performance touched the right chord in the hearts of the audience and delighted the people and schoolchildren of the homeland.
    They said the schoolchildren of the motherland firmly believe that the members of the group would give steady continuity to patriotism.
    The head and members of the group spoke of the love shown by leader Kim Jong Il to them and expressed the resolution of the schoolchildren in Japan to grow up as reliable personnel to shoulder the movement of Koreans in Japan.
    The participants gave a joint performance.

DPRK Minister of Construction and Building-Materials Industries Dies

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Jo Yun Hui, minister of Construction and Building-Materials Industries, who is deputy to the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, died of heart attack at the age of 67 on Jan. 11. The DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and Cabinet issued an obituary of Jo Yun Hui Tuesday.
    According to it, he devoted all his wisdom and energies to augmenting the economic potential of the country, holding important posts in the field of construction for years.

Three-point Cooperation for National Reunification

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The joint New Year editorial sets forth the slogan "Let's advance under the banner of cooperation for national independence, peace against war, and patriotism for reunification!" This slogan reflects the June 15 joint declaration, which solemnly declared at home and abroad the will of the Korean nation to solve the issue of the country's reunification independently by its concerted efforts.
    Now a grave situation has been created on the Korean peninsula by the internal and external separatists' obstructions.
    The U.S. is blocking the improvement of the north-south relations and obstructing the independent reunification of the nation, forcing the south Korean authorities to pursue the policy toward the north under its control.
    Chiming with the United States' anti-reunification moves, the south Korean ultra-right conservatives have aggravated the inter-Korean relations with reckless confrontation with the north.
    Pak Kyong Chol, vice department director of the Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, told KCNA that the present situation urges the Koreans to strengthen the three-point cooperation--national independence, peace against war and patriotism for reunification.
    All the fellow countrymen should, with the consciousness of national independence, root out flunkeyism, reject foreign interference in the efforts for the country's reunification and realize cooperation for national independence, he said, and continued: What is the main point in the cooperation for peace against war is the anti-U.S. struggle.
    Ringing out are voices calling for putting an end to the U.S. military presence in south Korea through a nation-wide struggle for peace against war under the slogans "Let us no longer allow the nearly-60-year-long U.S. occupation" and "Let our nation live together without the U.S."
    The reunification of the country is the highest expression of patriotism for the nation. Those, with the spirit and same blood of the nation, should join the patriotic struggle for reunification and render a tangible contribution to the cause.
    The Korean nation should make positive efforts for the three-point cooperation, which will open a new phase for its reunification under the idea of "By our nation itself."

Students Enjoy Winter Vacation

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Students are enjoying their winter vacation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. There are one hundred and scores of schoolchildren's palaces, youth halls and children's halls across the country. Every day a lot of school youth and children visit them where they are acquiring general knowledge of basic sciences and are cultivating sports, dance, music, fine art talents according to their tastes.
    At the Grand People's Study House and schoolchildren's palaces in different parts of the country, many students are engrossed in studying computer technology with an ambition to become standard-bearers in the era of IT industry.
    Students, sensitive to new things and strong in enterprising spirit, frequently gather to express what they learned in books and films.
    The school youth league and children's union organizations organize colorful activities including visit to revolutionary battle and historic sites, museums and exhibition halls and get-togethers with heroes to firmly equip them with the revolutionary traditions of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    University students visit rural communities and industrial establishments to give art performances, thus greatly inspiring working people in their efforts for implementing tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial.
    Squares, playgrounds, rivers and lakes are animated with children enjoying skating, sledging and top spinning and playing folk amusement and sports games.

Kim Jong Il Sends Wreath to Bier of Jo Yun Hui

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il sent a wreath today to the bier of Jo Yun Hui, minister of Construction and Building-Materials Industries, who is deputy to the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, expressing deep condolence over his death.

Congratulations to Chief of Palestinian National Authority

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday sent a congratulatory message to Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on his election as the chief of the Palestinian National Authority. Expressing belief that friendship and solidarity between the two countries would grow stronger in the future, too, the message wished him success in his work to win back the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people.

Congratulations to Romanian President

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Traian Basescu on his election as president of Romania. Expressing belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms in the interests of the two peoples in the future, too, the message sincerely wished the president success in his responsible work for the stability and prosperity of Romania.

Pak Pong Ju Congratulates Romanian Prime Minister

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Pak Pong Ju sent a congratulatory message to Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on his appointment as prime minister of Romania. The message sincerely wished him great success in the performance of his responsible new duty for the economic development of the country and the wellbeing of the people. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a similar message to Mihai Razvan Ungureanu on his appointment as foreign minister of Romania.
    Expressing belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples would more favorably develop, the message sincerely wished him great success in his work for the country's entry into the EU and the elevation of its international prestige.

Kim Jong Il Gives Field Guidance to Pukjung Machine Complex

     Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, visited the Pukjung Machine Complex and encouraged the workers in their production drive for the new year. He was accompanied by Kim Phyong Hae, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the WPK, Jon Pyong Ho, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Ri Yong Chol and Ju Kyu Chang, first vice-department directors of its Central Committee.
    Going round the heat treatment shop, the casting shop, the processing shop and other production processes which have undergone changes beyond recognition, he encouraged the workers there who were working spectacular miracles in their drive from the outset of the year to greet the 60th anniversaries of the Party founding and the liberation of the country as the greatest festivals of proud victors in the history of the Party and the country.
    After acquainting himself in detail with the modernization and production performance at the complex, he set forth tasks to be fulfilled by the complex, noting that it plays an important role in the development of the nation's shipbuilding industry.
    In order to develop fisheries and marine transport in the country sea-bound on three sides it is necessary to produce more efficient engines needed for modern fishing boats and cargo ships, he noted.
    He underscored the need to steadily push ahead with the work to put the complex on a modern and scientific basis and, at the same time, briskly introduce new technology in order to increase the production of modern machines.
    Noting that the economic development, the increase of the defense capability and the improvement of the people's living standard are guaranteed by science and technology, he called for energetically pushing forward the technological updating of national economy on the basis of modern science and technology, true to the WPK's policy of attaching importance to science.
    It is important to thoroughly establish Juche in putting the production processes on a modern and scientific basis, he said, adding that to this end it is necessary to carry out the technological updating of the complex in a manner favorable for its operation in keeping with its actual conditions.
    He called on the officials of the complex to manage and operate it on the basis of a scientific management and business strategy to firmly adhere to the principle of profitability in production.
    Saying that the officials, workers and technicians of the complex have a strong resolution, a high ambition and fervent enthusiasm, he underscored the need for its party organization to organize the work to implement the Party policy and actively galvanize the masses into action through a political work in order to realize them.
    He expressed the expectation and conviction that the workers of Pukjung would creditably perform their mission and role as standard-bearers and a shock force in carrying through the Party's economic policy.

For Spanish-speaking people

Llaman a la emulacion socialista a todos los obreros del pais

     Tanchon, 11 de enero (ATCC) -- Los obreros del Complejo Minero de Komdok emitieron un llamamiento a sus homologos de las fabricas y empresas de todo el pais a hacer la "emulacion socialista de fidelidad dedicada al 60 aniversario de la fundacion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea" para cumplir con antelacion el plan de la economia nacional de este ano y acoger asi la significativa fiesta de octubre (fundacion del PTC) con los brillantes exitos laborales. El llamamiento fue aprobado el dia 11 en el acto de los empleados del Complejo, que es una gran base productiva de minerales no ferrosos, para materializar cabalmente las tareas combativas presentadas por el editorial conjunto de este ano.
    En el acto se dio enfasis en que todos los empleados deben incorporarse activamente a la marcha general por la revolucion segun el Songun (priorizacion militar) de este ano en que se registraran grandes cambios en la Revolucion Coreana y el cumplimiento de la causa de construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    Se hizo hincapie en que los mineros de Komdok, con la patriotica decision de producir un viraje en la construccion de una patria prospera, deben buscar mayor numero de galerias de extraccion de minerales de alta ley y alcanzar sin falta y con anticipacion la meta de extraccion de minerales de este ano mediante la intensa lucha por el aumento de la produccion.

Deben realizar cooperacion mediante patriotismo por reunificacion

     Pyongyang, 12 de enero (ATCC) -- El diario Rodong Sinmun inserto en su edicion del dia 12 un articulo individual que senala en particular: La cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion es una demanda vital para la realizacion de la causa de reunificacion de la patria y garante seguro de su victoria. De realizarla, se haran realidad la independencia nacional, la reunificacion, la prosperidad e intereses comunes de la nacion. En el caso contrario, nuestra nacion seguira sufriendo desdichas y dolores de la division.
    La cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion es una poderosa arma para reforzar las fuerzas subjetivas de la reunificacion y frustrar la intervencion de las fuerzas extranjeras en el problema de la reunificacion.
    EE.UU. desagrada la reconciliacion y la unidad de nuestra nacion y practica sutilmente la politica de discordia nacional para llevarlas al fracaso con el objetivo de lograr que deje de valerse de la poderosa arma que es la unidad.
    Si todos los coreanos aspirantes a la reunificacion se unen y cooperan, no habra problemas insolubles ni fortaleza inconquistable en materia de reunificacion.
    La cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion es la fuerza motriz que posibilita el avance victorioso del movimiento por la reunificacion pese a toda clase de pruebas y contratiempos.
    La "seguridad" del Sur de Corea reside en la materializacion del ideal del patriotismo: "Con las fuerzas unidas de la nacion" y su estabilidad economica tambien en la cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion.
    Esta cooperacion es la poderosa fuerza para defender la soberania del pais y la dignidad de la nacion, pero la "cooperacion" con las fuerzas extranjeras es la "cooperacion" vendepatria que trae la subyugacion, la confrontacion y la division.
    Cuanto mas complicada es la situacion interna y externa y mas virulentas las maniobras de las fuerzas divisionistas anti-reunificacion, tanto mas firmemente deberan unirse las fuerzas de reunificacion del 15 de Junio para allanar un ancho camino de la reunificacion independiente sobreponiendose a las pruebas y contratiempos.

Tres cooperaciones motivaran abrir nueva fase para la reunificacion

     Pyongyang, 12 de enero (ATCC) -- El diario Rodong Sinmun inserto en su edicion del dia 12 un articulo individual que senala en particular: La cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion es una demanda vital para la realizacion de la causa de reunificacion de la patria y garante seguro de su victoria. De realizarla, se haran realidad la independencia nacional, la reunificacion, la prosperidad e intereses comunes de la nacion. En el caso contrario, nuestra nacion seguira sufriendo desdichas y dolores de la division.
    La cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion es una poderosa arma para reforzar las fuerzas subjetivas de la reunificacion y frustrar la intervencion de las fuerzas extranjeras en el problema de la reunificacion.
    EE.UU. desagrada la reconciliacion y la unidad de nuestra nacion y practica sutilmente la politica de discordia nacional para llevarlas al fracaso con el objetivo de lograr que deje de valerse de la poderosa arma que es la unidad.
    Si todos los coreanos aspirantes a la reunificacion se unen y cooperan, no habra problemas insolubles ni fortaleza inconquistable en materia de reunificacion.
    La cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion es la fuerza motriz que posibilita el avance victorioso del movimiento por la reunificacion pese a toda clase de pruebas y contratiempos.
    La "seguridad" del Sur de Corea reside en la materializacion del ideal del patriotismo: "Con las fuerzas unidas de la nacion" y su estabilidad economica tambien en la cooperacion mediante el patriotismo por la reunificacion.
    Esta cooperacion es la poderosa fuerza para defender la soberania del pais y la dignidad de la nacion, pero la "cooperacion" con las fuerzas extranjeras es la "cooperacion" vendepatria que trae la subyugacion, la confrontacion y la division.
    Cuanto mas complicada es la situacion interna y externa y mas virulentas las maniobras de las fuerzas divisionistas anti-reunificacion, tanto mas firmemente deberan unirse las fuerzas de reunificacion del 15 de Junio para allanar un ancho camino de la reunificacion independiente sobreponiendose a las pruebas y contratiempos.

Kim Yong Nam congratula a Mahmud Abbas

     Pyongyang, 12 de enero (ATCC) -- El presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, envio el dia 10 un mensaje de felicitacion a Mahmud Abbas, presidente del Comite Ejecutivo de la Organizacion para la Liberacion de Palestina, por su eleccion como presidente de la Autoridad Nacional Palestina. El remitente expresa conviccion de que las relaciones de amistad y solidaridad entre los dos paises continuaran fortaleciendose y desarrollandose tambien en el futuro y le desea al destinatario exitos en su labor para rescatar los derechos nacionales legitimos del pueblo palestino.