Japan Urged to Redeem Its Past Crimes

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The most urgent task facing Japan at present is not to be hectic in its bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council but truly repent of its past crimes and redeem them as early as possible, observes Rodong Sinmun Friday in a signed article. Recalling that Japan sponsored a "gathering of the group of states supporting Japan" in New York at the end of last year in a bid to get permanent membership of the UNSC, the article goes on:
    The issue of Japan's becoming a permanent member of the UNSC is by no means a matter to be settled by holding a "gathering".
    Japan is listed in the UN Charter as an "enemy state".
    The Japanese imperialists invaded Korea, China and other Asian countries and inflicted awful misfortune and disasters upon their people in the past.
    Japan has not yet shaken off the ill-fame of being an "enemy state" and remains a target of curse, denunciation and caution of all people due to its wrong stand and attitude toward its past history of aggression.
    The Japanese militarists are rushing headlong into overseas aggression, not for peace. In case Japan sits on the UNSC, it may unhesitatingly launch aggression and war in various parts of the world and bring misfortune and disasters to humankind under the pretext of "coping with threat" and "ensuring peace" by abusing the authority of the UN as a political and military power.
    Japan is considered as a country without faith and principle worldwide. It is quite self-evident that such a country as Japan which follows the United States like a shadow and serves it without independence is not entitled to become a permanent member of the UNSC.
    Japan would be well advised to behave itself properly, clearly understanding how the world treats and approaches it.

Shameful Sycophantic Act of S. Korean Dictatorial Regime Revealed

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- It has been disclosed that the dictatorial regime of south Korea asked the Japanese side to pay a ridiculously small amount of compensation to the Korean victims of forcible drafting in the period of the Japanese imperialist colonial rule at seven rounds of "south Korea-Japan talks" from 1951 to 1965, according to MBC of south Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of south Korea on January 17 opened to the public some of the diplomatic documents related to the talks, succumbing to the strong demand of the people of different social strata to reveal the details of the course of the humiliating talks.
    According to the diplomatic documents, the then south Korean authorities asked Japan to pay 200 US dollars to each living victim and 1,650 US dollars to each dead one of 1,032,000 victims who had been mobilized by force as workers, soldiers and civilians in the military service under the Japanese imperialist rule. These were a too negligible amount.
    As for the expression of the compensation claim, the Japanese side at the talks persisted in the use of the term "economic cooperation fund".

Secret Letter of Emperor Kojong Opened to Public

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- South Korean MBC reported that a secret letter of Emperor Kojong informing the international community of the unlawfulness of the "Ulsa Treaty" was opened to the public 100 years after it was written. According to the broadcasting, Emperor Kojong handed a secret letter addressed to the British government to Story, the then British journalist in Seoul, right after the treaty was faked up by the Japanese imperialists by force.
    The letter with the imperial seal states to the effect that "the emperor did not sign the treaty and he would not transfer the sovereignty of the country to Japan".
    It is reportedly said this secret letter was found and made public by a girl student of a high school Kwon Min Ju who is an immigrant to the United States. She found the book "Tomorrow of the East" in which the British journalist pieced together the behind-the-scenes story about the fabrication of the "Ulsa Treaty" and published a translated edition of the book titled "Secret Letter of Emperor Kojong". The book carries a copy of the Emperor's letter and gives a vivid description of Japan's intrigues and arbitrariness surrounding the faking up of the "treaty."

Crackdown upon S. Korean Patriot under Fire

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The south Korean prosecution authorities arrested 80 years old Ri Jong Rin, honorary chairman of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, and staged a fascist trial of him on Jan. 17 after subjecting him to constant psychological pressure and crackdown on the charge of violating the "National Security Law" (NSL). The Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland in information bulletin No. 894 on Thursday branded this fascist action against the aged pro-reunification patriot as another unpardonable criminal act against reunification as it is aimed to chill the nation's cherished desire for reunification and lay a stumbling block in the way of implementing the June 15 joint declaration.
    What Ri has done despite his advanced age is that he has made devoted efforts to pave a wide avenue for independent reunification in unity with the reunification movement organizations in the north and overseas, prompted by his strong desire for the reunification of the country, it noted, and went on:
    It is anachronistic that the south Korean authorities incriminated the patriotic activities for reunification in the era after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration by invoking the NSL, a leftover of the old era of confrontation, which should have already been thrown into the dumping ground of history. It is also an intolerable act against humanity that they threw the old man behind bars though he requires absolute rest due to his ailment.
    If the south Korean authorities truly respect the main spirit of the joint declaration and want the improved inter-Korean relations, they should not take to prison such pro-reunification patriotic figures as Ri Jong Rin on charge of being "outlaws" but show their will to achieve national cooperation by rightly estimating their reunification movement and guaranteeing people from all walks of life the freedom to discuss the issue of national reunification and conduct activities for it.

Meeting of Hanchongryon Emergency Measure Committee Held

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A meeting of the Emergency Measure Committee of the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) for the release of the Hanchongryon chairman, the withdrawal of the label of enemy-benefiting, the complete repeal of the "National Security Law" and the dissolution of the Grand National Party was reportedly held in Seoul on January 14. The meeting was attended by new chairmen of general student councils elected at all universities under Hanchongryon in 2005 and other students.
    Speakers at the meeting bitterly denounced Chosun Ilbo, Chungang Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo and other conservative media for highlighting the misinformation in the run-up to the trial of Hanchongryon Chairman Paek Jong Ho that "a document on the Juche idea was found in the office room of the chairman of the General Student Council at University for Foreign Studies he attended.
    They charged that it was a deliberate action taken by those conservative forces hell bent on stamping out Hanchongryon.
    They strongly demanded the authorities immediately abolish the NSL, set free the Hanchongryon chairman and stop witch-hunt style suppression of Hanchongryon.
    A letter addressed to the Hanchongryon chairman was read out at the meeting.
    At the end of the meeting its participants conducted information activities, distributing literature among citizens.

Memorial Service for Late Rev. Mun Ik Hwan

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A memorial service on the 11th anniversary of the death of Rev. Mun Ik Hwan was reportedly held in Namyangju City, Kyonggi Province of south Korea, on January 15 under the sponsorship of the Late Spring Commemoration Council of the Late Rev. Mun Ik Hwan for Embracing National Reunification. The function brought together family members of Rev. Mun, Permanent Representative of the Reunification Solidarity Han Sang Ryol, Chairman of the Association of Supporters for Prisoners of Conscience under the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy Kwon O Hon and other democratic figures.
    Speakers there said the devoted efforts of Rev. Mun for national reunification were cherished in the mind of the people and called for making this year marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the country and the fifth anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration the year of national reunification without fail to gratify his desire.
    The organization announced that it would open a photo exhibition on Rev. Mun Ik Hwan at the exhibition hall of the Commemoration Council of the Movement for Democracy and other events from January 18 to 22.

Meeting for Withdrawal of U.S. Troops Held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A solidarity meeting against the U.S. and war for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea was reportedly held in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on Jan. 15. Speakers at the meeting said that the Korean nation can neither be free from the threat of a nuclear war nor expect progress of the nation as long as the U.S. forces are present in south Korea.
    Aegis destroyers are deployed in the East Sea of Korea on a permanent basis and a "PAC-3" unit is also deployed at Kwangju Airport, they said, calling upon the people to foil the U.S. moves to bolster its armed forces for war.
    The Solidarity Council for the Withdrawal of the U.S. Troops declared that it would conduct positive information activities against the U.S. and war among people every Saturday in the wake of this meeting.
    Prior to this the participants staged a demonstration while distributing literature demanding the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea among people.

Military Urged to Ponder over Consequences to Be Entailed by Escalating Tension

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The south Korean military authorities should ponder over the serious consequences to be entailed by the military tension mounting in the West Sea of Korea and bring the situation under control without delay. A spokesman for the Navy Command of the Korean People's Army urged this in his answer given to the question raised by KCNA Friday.
    He recalled that the south Korean military authorities recently infiltrated battleships into the waters of the north side in the West Sea of Korea one after another, straining the situation there. The cases of their intrusion numbered 28 this month, he added, and continued:
    On Jan. 17, 18 and 21, they committed such military provocation as infiltrating battleships into the waters south of Kuwol Hill of the north side.
    Each time the intrusion was made the Navy of the KPA served warning over walkie-talkie available aboard warships of both sides, demanding they quit there at once. But the south Korean army seriously got on the nerves of seamen of the north side by making such provocative reply as "it does not recognize those waters."
    Meanwhile, the south Korean military authorities are letting media spread the nonsensical story about the "north's intrusion."
    These disturbing moves indicate that the south Korean military authorities are pushing the situation to the danger line as they are so keen on preserving the illegal "northern limit line" that they are unable to look ahead even a bit.
    As the two sides stand in confrontation with each other with arms, any foul provocative behaviour on the part of one side against the other side is bound to touch off resentment and any act going beyond its limit is bound to spark a skirmish.
    The U.S. imperialist warmongers want to see this to happen.
    Such act of dancing to their tune, utterly indifferent to the noble idea of the June 15 joint declaration and the points agreed upon at the inter-Korean general-level military talks can be perpetrated only by the group of sycophantic traitors.

Pak Pong Ju Meets Delegation of Russian Company

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Pak Pong Ju met with the delegation of the GAZPROM Company of Russia headed by Chairman of its Management Aleksei Miller, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today and had a friendly talk with it. On hand were Jong Chol Yun, vice-minister of Oil Industry, and Kim Yong Jae, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, and other officials concerned and Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK.

Field Guidance, Source of Victory

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il has given field guidance to the Rakwon Machine Complex and various other economic establishments, inspiring the Korean people in the general onward march for the Songun revolution. His field guidance always instills confidence in victory and optimism into the mind of the servicemen and people and serves as the source of strength for working great miracles.
    The Songun revolutionary leadership he has continued from the first day of Juche 84 (1995) encouraged the servicemen and people who had been in deep sorrow over the demise of President Kim Il Sung to turn out to create the revolutionary soldier spirit and the Kanggye spirit and light the torch of Songgang.
    It was in January 1998 that he visited Jagang Province. In hard winter days he guided on the spot the work in many industrial establishments without rest.
    Though officials accompanying him earnestly asked him to have a rest, he continued his on-the-spot guidance.
    Inspired by this, the army and people started to operate one factory after another, constructed minor power stations, modern chicken and catfish farms in different parts of the country and completed a vast land rezoning in a short span of time, thus laying a solid foundation for building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    Through what have been done in the country in difficult days, the Korean people have keenly realized that his energetic revolutionary activities bring earlier the victory of the Korean revolution.
    Greatly inspired by his uninterrupted field guidance from the beginning of the year, the army and people are striving hard to effect a revolutionary upsurge to celebrate the 60 anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and the liberation of the country as grand festivals of victors.

Russian Company Delegation Winds Up Its Visit to DPRK

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The delegation of the GAZPROM Company of Russia led by Chairman of its Management Aleksei Miller flew back home Friday after winding up its 2-day visit to the DPRK. During its stay the delegation visited Mangyongdae where there is the old home of President Kim Il Sung and the Tower of the Juche Idea and laid a wreath in the name of the chairman of the company's management before the Liberation Tower.

Gift to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by Aleksei Miller, chairman of the management of the Russian GAZPROM Company. It was handed today to Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, by the chairman of the management.

Kim Jong Il Inspects KPA Unit

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected KPA Unit 929. Kim Jong Il acquainted himself with the unit's performance of duty before watching soldiers of the unit in military training.
    He set forth the tasks to be fulfilled to increase the combat capability of the unit, greatly satisfied to see all the commanding officers and men of the unit trained into a-match-for-a hundred fighters.
    He learned about its military technical training while looking round military lecture rooms.
    He underscored the need to steadily intensify the training so that all the servicepersons may acquire a-match-for-a hundred combat capability to successfully undertake any operational duty.
    He familiarized himself in detail with the ideological work conducted among servicepersons, going round a servicemen's hall, an educational room, a broadcasting room, a photo studio and other entertainment and educational facilities.
    The reality today when all units hum with the charge of loyalty requires appealing information service and agitation replete with higher spirit and stronger enthusiasm than ever before, he said, calling for fully applying the anti-Japanese guerrilla style of political work to conduct more effective ideological work to grip the hearts of servicepersons.
    He took deep care of the living of servicepersons, looking round a bedroom, a mess hall, a kitchen, a wash-cum-bath-house, none-staple food stores and other logistic facilities.
    Seeing every store full of a variety of grains and materials for subsidiary food produced in the fields cultivated as a side-line job, he noted that this praiseworthy change represents a feat which can be performed by the People's Army which has upheld the Party with the sweat of its brow and contributed to the prosperity and development of the country with ardent patriotism.
    He underlined the need for the society to conduct a strenuous drive to learn from the revolutionary soldier spirit and thus bring about a fresh change in all fields.
    He gave the servicepersons of the unit a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as gifts and had a photo session with them.
    He was accompanied by KPA Generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de director general de compania rusa

     Pyongyang, 21 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera el director general de la Compania "GAZPROM" de Rusa, Alexei Miler, de visita en Corea. El visitante lo entrego el dia 21 al primer ministro del Consejo de Ministros de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Pak Pong Ju.

Visita de orientacion de Kim Jong Il adelanta triunfo de revolucion

     Pyongyang, 21 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, realiza desde los primeros dias de este ano una visita de orientacion al Complejo de Maquinaria de Rakwon y otras varias unidades de la economia nacional estimulando al pueblo coreano en la marcha general por la revolucion mediante el Songun (priorizacion militar). Su visita de orientacion infunde el optimismo y la fe en la victoria al ejercito y el pueblo y sirve de fuente de fuerza que les empuja a crear milagros sorprendentes.
    El Dirigente, con su incesante direccion sobre la revolucion mediante el Songun iniciada a principios de enero del 84 (1995) de la Era Juche, dio animo de levantarse al ejercito y el pueblo sumergidos en gran tristeza por el fallecimiento del Presidente Kim Il Sung, hizo crear el espiritu revolucionario de los militares y el de Kanggye y avivo la antorcha de Songgang.
    En enero de 1998 visito la provincia de Jagang en el norte del pais donde pese al frio muy intenso, dirigio sobre el terreno varias fabricas y empresas sin tomar un momento de descanso.
    Cuando los funcionarios le rogaban que tomara un momento de descanso al Dirigente quien pasaba todo el dia en el camino de la direccion sobre el terreno, el dijo que no era la marcha forzada el trabajar con suficiente comida, sueno y descanso y tomo la delantera de la marcha ardua. El ejercito y el pueblo estimulados infinitamente por su abnegada conducta, con la consigna de "!Vamos sonrientes aunque el camino es espinoso!" en alto, volvieron a poner en funcionamiento una tras otra las fabricas paradas, levantaron por doquier centrales de medianos y pequenos tamanos, modernas granjas avicolas y fabricas de siluro, completaron en corto lapso del tiempo el arreglo de la tierra de gran envergadura, asi que echaron firmes bases para la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    A traves de sus experiencias de aquel tiempo en que se preparaba el futuro radiante de la patria prospera aun en medio de severas pruebas, el pueblo coreano se cercioro de que las dinamicas actividades revolucionarios del Dirigente adelantan el triunfo de la Revolucion Coreana. El ejercito y el pueblo, estimulados infinitamente por las actividades revolucionarias del Dirigente quien desde los primeros dias de enero del ano Nuevo da nobles huellas de la direccion sobre el terreno, avivan el fervor de un gran auge revolucionario para celebrar el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y de la restauracion de la patria como gran festival de los triunfadores no visto en la historia.

Rodong Sinmun demanda liquidacion del pasado criminal de Japon

     Pyongyang, 21 de enero (ATCC) -- Hoy en dia, la maxima tarea primordial para Japon no es afanarse por convertirse en el pais miembro permanente del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU, sino arrepentirse de su pasado criminal y expiarlo. Senala asi el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual insertado en su edicion del dia 21 y prosigue: El pais isleno patrocino a finales del ano expirado en Nueva York la llamada "Reunion del grupo de los paises que apoyan a Japon" con la intencion de conseguir la calificacion de un pais miembro permanente del CS de la ONU. Pero, con tal cita no puede lograr su proposito.
    Japon esta registrado en la Carta de la ONU como "pais enemigo".
    En el pasado, los imperialistas japoneses extendieron tentaculos de agresion a Corea, China y otros paises asiaticos y acarrearon enormes desgracias y sufrimientos a los pueblos de esta region.
    Por la erronea posicion sobre su historia de agresion, hasta la fecha Japon no se quita la mala reputacion de "pais enemigo", siendo objeto de repudio y condenacion de todo el mundo.
    Los militaristas japoneses se precipitan por el camino de la agresion al extranjero.
    Cuando Japon ocupe la posicion del pais miembro permanente del CS de la ONU, actuara como una potencia politica y militar y, bajo el rotulo de "enfrentarse con la amenaza" y "preservacion de la paz", abusara del poder de la ONU para cometer sin escrupulosidad las maquinaciones de agresion y guerra y acarrear desgracias y desastres a la humanidad.
    Todo el mundo califica a Japon de un pais desleal e indeciso. Es muy obvio que nunca puede ser pais miembro permanente del CS de la ONU tal pais como Japon que se entrega docilmente a Estados Unidos.
    El pais isleno tiene que tomar en consideracion la evaluacion del mundo sobre si mismo y actuar con prudencia.