9th Kimjongilia Festival to Be Held

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The 9th Kimjongilia Festival will be held at the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Exhibition on the bank of the River Taedong in Pyongyang for 10 odd days from February 12, Juche 94 (2005) on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il, the auspicious February holiday. In this period Kimjongilia shows and visits to flower green houses will took place in all provinces.
    It will bring together commissions and ministries of the Cabinet, national institutions and units of armed forces successfully cultivating Kimjongilia, the immortal flower.

Joint New Year Editorial Supported

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Personages of different countries supported the stand of the DPRK clarified in the joint New Year editorial. J.K. Patel, director of the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies of India, expressed belief that in the new year, too the Korean people, single-mindedly united under the banner of the strong Songun policy set out by leader Kim Jong Il, would foil the U.S. imperialistsfs vicious moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and reliably defend the socialist gains.
    The deputy chief of the French Group for the Study of the Juche Idea noted that the year 2005 is an auspicious year which will witness the significant celebration of the 60th anniversaries of President Kim Il Sungfs liberation of Korea and foundation of the Workersfs Party of Korea, adding that the two events were of historic significance as they ushered in a new brilliant era for the Korean nation.
    The chairperson of the Peruvian Association for the Study of Revolutionary Activities of Comrade Kim Jong Suk and the chairman of the Peru National Association for the Juche Idea said that all the Koreans would successfully realize the three forms of cooperation --cooperation for national independence, cooperation for peace against war and cooperation for reunification and patriotism --and open a new phase of independent reunification and record a brilliant page in the history of the movement for national reunification in 2005.
    Meanwhile, the chairman of the Peru-Korea Friendship Institute for the Study of Juche-based Songun Policy and the chairman of the Peru Group for the Study of Kimilsungism resolved to deepen the study of the Juche idea and Songun idea and widely disseminate them and thus make a positive contribution to the Korean people's drive to glorify the year 2005 as a remarkable year.

National Preparatory Committee Formed in Democratic Congo

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- A national preparatory committee to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il, which falls on February 16, was inaugurated in Kinshasa, Democratic Congo on Jan. 7 with due ceremony. At the ceremony speakers referred to the importance and significance of inaugurating the preparatory committee. They called for taking the auspicious day as a good occasion to deeply grasp the immortal exploits Kim Jong Il has performed for the human cause of independence and the validity and vitality of his Songun policy.
    At the ceremony the secretary general of the National Executive Committee of the PeopleĦÇs Party for the Reconstruction and the Democracy of Democratic Congo, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee and Otete Gaston Mboyo, chairman of the National Committee of the Genuine Lumumbist Patriotic Party of Democratic Congo, its vice-chairman.
    The preparatory committee set the period from Jan. 7 to the end of February as a celebration period and discussed a plan for functions to be held in this period.

KCTU Vows to Stand in Van of Struggle for Reunification

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Ri Hye Son, chairperson of the Unification Committee of the (south) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, reportedly held a press conference on January 7 and declared that the KCTU would stand in the van of the struggle to make this year the year of independent reunification. The working class should stand in the van of the reunification movement, Ri said, noting that the unionists would wage a more dynamic struggle for independent reunification with a view to significantly decorating this year, the fifth anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration and the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the country.
    The main task of the KCTU this year is to get the "National Security Law" scrapped, have the decision to dispatch troops to Iraq cancelled and force the U.S. troops out of south Korea, the chairperson said, adding that to this end the confederation would put up a vigorous struggle.

New Posters Appear

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) --New posters powerfully encouraging the efforts of the working people who are hastening the general onward march of this year in response to the joint New Year editorial have appeared in the DPRK. Typical among them are "Let the whole Party and army and all the people unite as one in mind and more strikingly demonstrate the might of Songun!" and "Let us glorify this year which marks the 60th anniversary of the Party's founding as the most proud year to the loud drum-beating of the general onward march of Songun revolution!" These posters show the firm faith and will of the army and people of the DPRK to greet the significant fetes this year as grand festivals of proud victors.
    The posters "Let us concentrate all efforts on successful farming!", "Let us give full play to the vitality of large-scale land rezoning!" call on the agricultural workers to do farming well to reap a bumper harvest of all crops and fruits this year. There are also posters depicting the indomitable fighting spirit and morale of the Korean people and calling for keeping alive the superiority of the nation, frustrating the imperialists' ideological and cultural infiltration and firmly defending the socialist motherland.

Russian Ambassador Hosts Reception

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov hosted a reception at the embassy Thursday evening in honor of the officials of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on the occasion of the New Year Juche 94 (2005). Present on invitation were Vice-Director Pak Kyong Son and officials of the department.
    Staff members of the embassy were on hand.
    Speeches were made there.

GNP's Art of Disguise Will Not Work

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Grand National Party is now going through the motion of changing its name, talking volubly about its "refurbishing". Branding this as an art of disguise, a Rodong Sinmun analyst today says:
    There can be no change and no way out for the GNP, even if it hangs out another signboard without exchanging its traitorous physical quality.
    It must, of course, abandon its grudge at having been elbowed out of "power" which it had kept for decades. But, what the masses demand of it most of all is that it throws away its ugly traitorous physical quality.
    Suffice it to recall that it has changed its signboard six times, but the voices of the people for its overthrow are shaking heaven and earth.
    The GNP is making a desperate bid to preserve its "vested rights," while showing no heed to the people and fellow countrymen, worshipping the United States as God. As long as it remains alive, neither the progressive development of the south Korean society, nor the sovereignty of the nation and the country's peaceful reunification, nor inter-Korean reconciliation and unity can be expected. The only way to the independence, democracy and progress of the south Korean society lies in dissolving the GNP, the party of traitors.
    The south Korean people should intensify the fight to blow up this traitor party, not being deceived by its tricky art of disguise, concludes the commentary.

Rodong Sinmun on Crumbling Unipolar World Strategy

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The strategy of unipolar world is collapsing with Europe appearing on the scene as one polar, states Rodong Sinmun in an article Friday. The author of the article says:
    Last year the European Union (EU) enhanced its independent position and energetically promoted its regional merger and integration, riding on the crest of the surging tide of multipolarization. Against this background is Europe coming on the scene as one polar.
    It should be recalled that the EU recorded two dramatic events last year-- the sharp growth of its members to 25 and the signing of the EU Constitution. And it has pushed forward the founding of an independent rapid reaction force, not depending on the United States and NATO, in a bid to build an independent collective defense system. In May last year the defense ministers of the EU member nations endorsed a concrete plan for the foundation of a rapid reaction force to be deployed in the areas of disputes. It vividly shows the stand and policy of the EU not wanting to remain a "contractor for the U.S." any more, but seeking to fortify its position and role as a polar.
    It is worthy of notice that the EU members did not blindly follow the will and demand of the United States but spoke what they wanted to say on a number of international issues and took measures necessary for their own interests.
    The antagonisms and frictions between the EU and the U.S surfaced more glaringly over economy and trade, in particular.
    The developments in Europe last year provide a striking illustration as to that the independence, merger and integration of Europe is an irresistible flow and, for this reason, the antagonisms and confrontation between the EU and the U.S. will assume greater intensity.

U.S. Congress Delegation Leaves

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The U.S. delegation of congressmen led by Curt Weldon, vice-chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives, left here today after winding up its four-day visit to the DPRK. During its stay, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and met with the DPRK minister of Foreign Affairs and its vice-minister for U.S. affairs and the chief of the Panmunjom mission of the Korean People's Army. At the meetings they had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the pending issues between the DPRK and the U.S., including the nuclear issue and the six-party talks.
    At the meetings, the DPRK side reaffirmed its will to settle the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and negotiations and explained why it has decided to resume the six-way talks after closely following what a policy the second Bush administration would shape. Stressing the need to take a future-oriented approach toward improving the bilateral relations in the new century, instead of repeating the unpleasant past, the DPRK side expressed its stand that the DPRK would not stand against the U.S. but respect and treat it as a friend unless the latter slanders the former's system and interferes in its internal affairs.
    As regards this position, the U.S. congress delegation said it came to know well about the DPRK's stand, expressing the stance that the U.S. does not antagonize the DPRK nor has any intention to invade the DPRK and overthrow its system.
    The DPRK side assured the U.S. side that the DPRK would opt for finding a final solution to all the outstanding issues between the two countries, to say nothing of the resumption of the six-party talks and the nuclear issue, if what U.S. congressmen said would be formulated as a policy of the second Bush administration.
    During its stay the delegation toured different parts of Pyongyang, including Kim Il Sung University, the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Pyongyang Metro, the Mansudae Art Studio, the Korean Stamp Exhibition, the Folkcraft Exhibition and a market in Thongil Street. They expressed thanks for the Korean people's kindness and cordial hospitality.

S. Korean Unification Ministry's Anti-north Moves Assailed

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The south Korean authorities have conspired with the United States and its followers in the operations to allure and abduct DPRK citizens on their foreign trips and take them to south Korea after painting them as "defectors from the north". This time they faked up an "alternative phraseology for defectors from the north" and fabricated even the "law on the protection of residents from north Korea." This is nothing but a revelation of their intention to commit organized abduction of north Koreans in the future, too. A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said this in a statement Friday. The statement said:
    The Ministry of Unification in south Korea shaped a domestic policy to replace the phraseology "defectors from the north" by "new settlers" on Jan. 8. In this regard the boss of the ministry remarked that the ministry has the idea to use new alternative phraseology meaning "new area to settle down and hope" because the phraseology of "defectors from the north" gives a negative meaning. He even clarified that the proposal for using a formal phraseology in the "law on the protection of residents from north Korea" would be considered after studying the "public opinion."
    The DPRK is exalting its dignity with Songun politics. It, therefore, can not but be a serious insult and challenge to it to paint as "a new area to settle down" the south Korean land where national sovereignty is violated under the occupation of foreign aggression troops and such leftovers of the old era as the "National Security Law" and the "Grand National Party" still remain.
    This is nothing but an undisguised provocation against the patriotic appeal the DPRK has made to achieve cooperation for national independence, cooperation for peace against war and cooperation for reunification and patriotism with a view to opening up a new vista of independent reunification this year.
    The ministry's improper behavior once again reveals the double-dealing tactics of those who have an axe to grind while talking about "reconciliation and cooperation".
    It would be hard to expect any improvement in the inter-Korean relations if the south Korean authorities keep inciting confrontation with the north, their dialogue partner, while negating its ideology and system and sowing the seed of distrust and discord as now.
    The north will never remain an on-looker to the ministry's act of supporting the U.S. in its hostile policy toward the DPRK to bring it down while inciting discord and confrontation among the fellow countrymen, far from working for inter-Korean reconciliation, cooperation and national reunification.
    The south Korean authorities would be well advised to behave with discretion, clearly understanding that confrontation with the DPRK will get them nowhere.

DPRK Seething with General Onward March

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- A wave of the general onward march for the Songun revolution has been sweeping all over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from the first days of the new year. The agricultural sector, the main front of socialist economic construction this year, is in higher spirits than ever before.
    Meanwhile, the fields of electricity, coal, metal industries and railways are taking the lead in effecting a great upsurge.
    On January 3 alone, more than 15,000 vehicles were mobilized to transport 600,000 tons of manure and 1,380,000 pieces of medium and small-sized farming tools to farms across the country. In Hamhung City that day, some 400,000 officials and working people were out to assist rural communities.
    Even housewives have joined the helpers in Pyongyang and other parts of the country every day.
    Meetings for effecting a great upsurge in the building of a great prosperous powerful nation have been held in different areas, units and sectors. All the Korean people are now determined to mark the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and the country's liberation as grand festivals of victors.
    Art agitation activities are brisk in economic sectors throughout the country.

Powerful Assistance to Agriculture

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The whole Party and country and all the people are rendering assistance, labor and material, to the rural communities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in response to the call of the joint New Year editorial released by the leading newspapers of the country. Ministries and natinonal institutions stand in the van of the assistance.
    The State Planning Commission provided a large quantity of materials including fertilizer, various kinds of small farm implements and rubber tube to the Porim Co-op Farm in Onchon County, South Phyongan Province and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications 5,000-odd square meters of vinyl sheets, over 50 tractor accessory parts of five kinds and other materials to the Tokje Co-op Farm in Phyongwon County.
    The Ministry of Railways is making up trains in a rational way so as to concentrate efforts on the transport of farming materials to different areas.
    People of provinces, towns and units have turned out in assistance to the countryside. Pyongyang mobilized more than 1,100 trucks and 560 tractors to carry tens of thousands of tons of compost and hundreds of thousands of small farming tools to co-op farms in its suburbs.
    North Hwanghae Province supplied 137,000 pieces of medium and small-size farming implements and 70,000-odd tons of compost to co-op farms in the province. Similar assistance was rendered to rural communites in South Hamgyong, North Phyongan and Kangwon Provinces, too.
    Rim Myong Chan-led unit of the Korean People's Security Forces drove more than 100 lorries loaded with farming materials to various farms.
    Priority is given to the production of equipment and materials needed for farming at the Kum Song Tractor Plant, the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and many other industrial establishments.

Remains of Son Won Thae Buried in Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The remains of Son Won Thae were buried in the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery in Sinmi-ri on the outskirts of Pyongyang with due ceremony on Friday. Son Won Thae was a patriot and a revolutionary comrade-in-arms whom President Kim Il Sung always remembered. Attracted by the personality of Kim Il Sung as a great man, Son held him in high esteem as a savor and the sun of the nation.
    The President often invited him, a resident in the United States, to visit his homeland. He warmly received Son at all times as his comrade in the days of the Association of Korean Children in Jilin and showed profound loving care for him.
    Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, in a farewell address noted it was the desire of Son to contribute to the prosperity of the country built by the President and glorified by leader Kim Jong Il with his Songun guidance and to the accomplishment of the cause of reunification.
    Kim Ki Nam noted that Kim Jong Il showed such deep care as seeing to it that the remains of Son were buried in the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery.
    Son's remains were buried in a grave amidst the playing of a dirge.
    His relatives and participants in the ceremony spread earth on the remains.
    Amid the playing of the wreath-laying music, a wreath from Kim Jong Il was placed before the grave.
    Laid before his grave were wreaths in the name of the History Institute of the WPK Central Committee, the Revolutionary Relics Bureau, the Agency of Service for Overseas Compatriots, the Korean Revolution Museum and Pyongyang City People's Hospital No. 3 and bunches of flowers.

Kim Jong Il Gives Field Guidance to Rakwon Machine Complex

     Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, gave field guidance to the Rakwon Machine Complex. He first went round the new room for the education in the revolutionary history built by the complex.
    He said that the complex has a lot of important historic relics specially recorded in the revolutionary history of President Kim Il Sung and boasts a precious tradition of struggle.
    The workers of Rakwon are, indeed, the heroic workers who have taken the lead in defending the Party and the leader for a long period from the days of the war when they contributed to the victory in the war by producing hand grenades in the spirit of self-reliance up to this date when they are successfully producing various types of large modern machines, he noted, underscoring the need to continue upholding, preserving and burnishing this tradition of praiseworthy struggle in the future, too.
    He watched new various types of machines manufactured at the complex.
    After learning about the mechanism, performance and principles of operation of the new machines including excavators and oxygen plant, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the officials, workers and technicians of the complex have successfully invented and manufactured efficient machines in a short span of time through their creative ingenuity and cooperation and, in this course, put the technology at the complex on a higher level.
    Looking round production processes including the hydraulic apparatus shop, he was greatly pleased to learn that the complex has conducted an effective technical updating of all production processes, true to the WPK's idea of attaching importance to science and thus steadily raised the production capacity and brought about a new turn in the cultured practice in production.
    He set forth tasks to be fulfilled by the complex, noting that it has an important role to play in the socialist economic construction.
    Underlining the need to pay primary attention to the technological updating in order to completely change the appearance of the complex as required by the new century, he called for successfully winding up in a brief span of time the projects now underway including the modernization of the casting shop and putting overall technology including hydraulic technology on a higher level as early as possible.
    He was accompanied by Kim Phyong Hae, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the WPK, Jon Pyong Ho, secretary of its Central Committee, and Ri Yong Chol and Ju Kyu Chang, first vice department directors of its Central Committee.

For Spanish-speaking people

Cuba avanza bajo la bandera del socialismo

     Pyongyang, el primero de enero (ATCC) -- El diario Rodong Sinmun inserto en su edicion del dia primero un articulo dedicado al 46 aniversario del triunfo de la Revolucion Cubana. El primero de enero de 1959, al cabo de una dificil lucha armada, el pueblo cubano, bajo la direccion del maximo dirigente de la Revolucion Cubana Fidel Castro Ruz, logro por fin el triunfo de la revolucion derrocando el poder dictatorial proyanqui de Batista, senala el rotativo y prosigue:
    Esto fue un acontecimiento de suma importancia que trajo un cambio trascendental en la historia del pueblo cubano.
    Despues del triunfo de la revolucion, bajo la correcta guia del Partido Comunista de Cuba encabezado por Fidel, el pueblo cubano impulso victoriosamente la causa del socialismo frustrando las brutales maniobras anticubanas de EE.UU.
    En diciembre del ano expirado, en la Mayor de las Antillas se desplegaron macro-ejercicios militares "Bastion-2004". En esta ocasion, ademas de la potencialidad militar de Cuba, fueron demostradas la posicion y la voluntad revolucionarias del ejercito y el pueblo de la isla de defender fidedignamente la Revolucion Cubana e impulsar activamente la causa del socialismo.
    El pueblo coreano aprecia mucho al pueblo cubano que avanza con la bandera del antiimperialismo, la independencia y el socialismo en alto y se solidariza firmemente con su justa causa.
    Los pueblos de Corea y de Cuba son companeros de armas revolucionarios que luchan por una meta comun e intimos amigos. Las relaciones de amistad entre ambos paises se estrechan dia a dia.
    En lo adelante tambien, el pueblo coreano realizara ingentes esfuerzos por fortalecer y desarrollar las tradicionales relaciones de amistad y cooperacion con el hermano pueblo caribeno.
    El pueblo coreano envia calurosa felicitacion y saludo combativo al hermano pueblo cubano que festeja el 46 aniversario del triunfo de la Revolucion y le desea de todo corazon nuevas victorias en su ulterior lucha.