Proposal to Hold Meeting Praising Great Persons of Mt. Paektu Supported

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- The Guinea-Korea Friendship Parliamentary Group on Jan. 25 issued an appeal in support of the proposal to hold a meeting praising the great persons of Mt. Paektu. It fully supported the proposal to erect a monument to the three generals of Mt. Paektu in the area of the secret camp in Mt. Paektu to praise the undying feats performed by President Kim Il Sung, anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk and leader Kim Jong Il in the struggle against foreign aggressors and in the nation-building and hold the meeting together with world progressives in the year 2005 which marks the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation.
    The meeting will present an opportunity of not only expressing support to and solidarity with the Korean people in their efforts to build a great prosperous powerful nation and achieve national reunification but demonstrating the faith and will of the peoples of the developing countries to build a new society free from oppression of man by man, it noted.
    The appeal called upon all the organizations of Guinea to turn out in making preparations for the successful opening of the meeting.

Japan Urged to Correct Distorted History Textbook

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- Members of the History Teachers Group of the South Chungchong Provincial Chapter of the south Korean Teachers Union urged the Japanese government to correct the distorted history textbook, according to south Korea's Internet broadcasting service the Voice of People. In January last they visited Japan to lodge a protest with the Japanese government against instigating the ultra-right conservatives to tamper with history textbook. They handed over to the Kumamoto Prefectural Education Committee a letter warning that the use of the above-said textbook would make it impossible for the students to have a correct view on history.
    They also demanded Japan apologize and compensate for the criminal acts it committed against the Korean people during its military occupation of Korea.

Kim Jong Il's Songun Politics Favored

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il's history of revolutionary activities was a course in which he has developed and enriched President Kim Il Sung's idea and glorified his cause. It was a brilliant history of creation in which he has performed enormous feats for the Korean nation and the world people with his distinguished political calibre. Niculae Pavelescu, organizational secretary of the Romanian Working Party, said this in a statement on Jan. 31.
    The statement said:
    Thanks to the unique Songun policy pursued by Kim Jong Il at present, the Workers' Party of Korea has grown into an ever-victorious, iron-willed party, the Korean People's Army developed into an invincible army, the Korean-style socialism centred on the popular masses has made the greatest success in all fields of politics, economy and culture and the Korean people have firmly protected the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation from the pressure and threat of the United States styling itself the "world's only superpower".
    Victory and glory are always in store for the Korean people in the efforts to build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation, achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea and defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country as they are led by Kim Jong Il, it stressed.

Day of Victory in Iranian Islamic Revolution Marked

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- The Korea-Iran Friendship Association sponsored a friendly gathering with staff members of the Iranian embassy here to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the victory in the Iranian Islamic revolution. The gathering took place at the Taedonggang Club for the Diplomatic Corps on Thursday.
    The participants talked about the achievements made by the Iranian people in their efforts to build an independent and prosperous country for the last 26 years since the victory of the revolution and the need to boost the bilateral cooperative relations, deepening the friendship.
    Then, they appreciated an art performance given by schoolchildren.
    Present at the gathering on invitation were Ambassador Jalaleddin Namini Mianji and staff members of the Iranian embassy.
    Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Jon Yong Jin, who is vice-chairman of the friendship association, and members of the association were on hand.

Friendly Gathering with Foreign Diplomats Held

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- The Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries hosted a friendly gathering at the People's Palace of Culture Thursday in honor of officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of different embassies here on the occasion of the New Year Juche 94 (2005). Present on invitation were those foreign diplomats. Also on hand were acting Chairman Mun Jae Chol and officials of the committee and artistes of the State Symphony Orchestra.
    The participants talked to one another about the need to boost the cooperation and exchange in culture and art between the DPRK and the countries represented by the diplomats, deepening the friendship feelings.
    Prior to the gathering, they enjoyed a performance given by the orchestra.

Marchers to Mt. Paektu Vow Loyalty

     Samjiyon, February 3 (KCNA) -- The members of a group of study march of the Ministry of People's Security to the old home of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il in the secret camp of Mt. Paektu held a meeting in front of the home on Thursday to vow to remain true to his Songun idea and leadership. They laid bunches of flowers before the old home where Kim Jong Il was born. Then, in response to the leading call, they made an oath of loyalty, manifesting their rock-firm faith and will to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche started in Mt. Paektu, under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    They expressed the resolution to intensify the activity for people's security with steadfast working-class consciousness and fighting spirit against imperialism, thus smashing the enemy's vicious moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and reliably defending the socialist fatherland.
    Present at the meeting were Vice-Minister Paek Yong Chol and officials of the ministry.

Friendly Gathering with Chinese Diplomats

     Beijing, February 2 (KCNA) -- The DPRK embassy in Beijing arranged a friendly gathering with officials of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday on the occasion of the New Year. Wu Dawei, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of China, said at the gathering that the Korean people had made a new development in all the work by self-reliance and fortitude under the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il and the Workers' Party of Korea.
    Noting that the two sides had further deepened mutual understanding by stepping up contacts of various forms, he said: All this is a result of joint efforts made by the two sides and constitutes a good foundation for a more successful work this year.
    The bilateral relations will develop still further in the New Year, he said, hoping that the Korean people would continue to make a brisk progress in the building of a great prosperous powerful nation.

S. Korean Authorities' Cooperation with U.S. in Its War Moves Blasted

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- A few days ago, the south Korean Ministry of National Defense announced a "plan for the transfer of the U.S. forces base in south Korea" in which south Korea would take back 1.15 million phyong of land in Seoul and offer instead 3. 49 million phyong of land for a new U.S. military base or more than treble that till the end of this year and cover the stupendous expenses for this transfer. Commenting on this, papers today observe that the ministry's signing of the plan at the end of the humiliating negotiations with the U.S. is as dangerous an act as providing the U.S. imperialist warmongers with a torch to ignite a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula at any cost.
    A news analyst of Rodong Sinmun says:
    The reduction and relocation of the U.S. forces in south Korea are now under way as the core and a main part of the adventurous military strategy of the U.S. bellicose forces aimed to comprehensively reorganize the U.S. forces in south Korea under the pretext of coping with the "threat from the north" and round off their preparations for a war against the north.
    Offering land and money for the transfer of the U.S. military base is tantamount to helping its aggressor forces in their moves for a war against the north.
    The action taken by the south Korean military to cooperate with the U.S. in its preparations for a war against the north, swallowing up disgrace, is an intolerable challenge to the desire and will of all the fellow countrymen to realize cooperation for national independence, cooperation for peace against war and cooperation for reunification and patriotism in the idea of the "By our nation itself" so as to open up a new phase of independent reunification and record a brilliant page in the history of the movement for national reunification.
    Minju Joson urges the south Korean authorities to stop supporting and getting involved in the moves of the U.S. for a war against the north, retract their treacherous promise to offer land for U.S. forces' bases and join the fellow countrymen in their struggle for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops and their military bases from south Korea.

South Side's Preparatory Committee Inaugurated

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- A south side's preparatory committee for a joint function of the people in the south, the north and overseas to implement the June 15 joint declaration was reportedly inaugurated with due ceremony in Seoul on January 31. The preparatory committee comprises 43 advisors, 17 permanent advisors, honorary representatives and permanent representatives, over 60 co-representatives and others. It involves delegates of organizations of the reunification movement including the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, the Reunification Solidarity and the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils and political, social and religious figures.
    Paek Rak Chong, honorary professor of Seoul National University who is a permanent representative, and Presbyter Pak Yong Gil, permanent representative of the Council for Embracing National Reunification who is an honorary representative, in their speeches said the south side preparatory committee should show its looks making utmost efforts to implement the joint declaration to the entire nation and all the people of the world, come what may.
    An inaugural declaration and an appeal to the 70 million fellow countrymen were read out at the ceremony.
    The declaration stated that the preparatory committee would make every possible effort to clear away the war danger hanging over the Korean Peninsula and achieve peace this year which marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea (August 15) and the 5th anniversary of the joint declaration.
    The appeal said the preparatory committee would implement the joint declaration holding it aloft with all sincerity so as to pave the way for reunification by the efforts of the Korean nation.
    It called on all the Koreans to get together on June 15 and August 15 and raise a loud voice of patriotism and peaceful reunification so that it may resound through the whole country. It said the international community should be informed of the will of the Korean nation aspiring after national reconciliation and cooperation and peace of humankind.

S. Youth and Students Urged to Take Van in Realizing Three Forms of Cooperation

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification on January 29 reportedly issued an appeal titled "Let us devote our youth to opening a new phase of independent reunification under the uplifted banner of cooperation for national independence, cooperation for peace against war and cooperation for reunification and patriotism." The appeal called upon the youth and students to fulfill their vanguard role in the strivings to realize cooperation for national independence for totally settling account with the United States under the slogan "Let us not allow U.S. military occupation to continue more than 60 years!" and thus drive the U.S. forces out of this land.
    The youth and students should further strengthen the triangular solidarity of the south, the north and overseas, ostracize the foreign forces which put a brake on the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration and the traitors to the nation and anti-reunification forces including the Grand National Party following their lead and get the "National Security Law," their lifeline, scrapped totally, it stressed.
    Declaring that the final victory belonged to the youth and students, the appeal said: Let us all, as befits the vanguard for national reunification, wage an active struggle to realize the three forms of cooperation in conformity with the idea of "By our nation itself" and make this year a year of greatest jubilation ever known in the national history and proudly enter the venue of the grand festival of independent reunification as victors.

New Stamps Issued in DPRK

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- The Korea Stamp Corporation has issued an individual stamp and a sheetlet consisting of six stamps in celebration of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il (February 16). Printed on the stamps are words "In Celebration of the Birthday of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il" and "February 16".
    The individual stamp figures Kimjongilia against the background of Jong Il Peak.
    Seen in the sheetlet is a large folding-screen Korean painting "216 peaks around Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu". The painting shows picturesque sceneries of the myriad-shaped peaks seen from the lake side, with Janggun, Hyangdo, Haebal and other main peaks included.
    The face value of the individual stamp is 3 won and the sheetlet 50 won.

Signal Economic Successes Made in First Month

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- The people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have made a great success in socialist economic construction in the first month of the year through the efforts for implementing the tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial. Pronounced is the success registered in the agricultural sector, the main front of the socialist economic construction in 2005.
    As of January 31 the plan of the compost production was carried out in the main with the Ministry of Agriculture as a whole.
    The compost production and transport, the production of Hukbosan-branded fertilizer and carpeting fields with humus soil were fulfilled at 104, 110, 115 and 170 percent respectively throughout the country as against the same period of last year.
    The goal of the compost production has already been hit in Pyongyang, South Hwanghae, South Hamgyong and Kangwon Provinces.
    Farm machines and implements have been secured and repaired in a planned way.
    All sectors and units of the country ranging from army units, ministries and national institutions to residential neighbourhood units have turned out in helping the socialist rural communities. On January 3 alone, they sent more than 600,000 tons of compost and 1,380,000-odd pieces of various farm implements to co-op farms across the country. Meanwhile, a number of coal mines under the Ministry of Electricity and Coal Industries have overfulfilled their monthly production plans.
    A rapid progress has been made in the construction of large-scale hydro-power stations. 1,500,000 and 220,000-cubic-meter blasts were successfully carried out at the construction sites of the Samsu and Wonsan Youth Power Stations respectively.
    Signal achievements were also made by power producers including the Pukchang and Pyongyang Thermal-power Complexes.
    The Musan Mine Complex conducted a 150,000-cubic-meter blast so as to increase the concentrated iron ore production and the Songjin Steel Complex has increased the iron and steel production 1.5 times every day that in the end of last year.
    The monthly plans were fulfilled far ahead of schedule at the Sunchon and Hoeryong Coal Mining Machine Plants. Such achievements have also been reported from many units including the Pyongyang Coal Mining Machine Plant, Jonchon Rock-drill Factory and Tongrim Electric Appliance Factory under the Mining Machine Industry Guidance Bureau and enterprises under the Ministry of Forestry.

KPA Navy Command Once Again Warns S. Korean Military

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- The Navy Command of the Korean People's　Army in a press release Friday once again warned the south Korean military　authorities over the intrusion of a battleship of the south Korean forces　into the waters of the north side in the West Sea of Korea this day. The press release said:　
    At around 7:55 a.m. Friday the ship perpetrated a grave military　provocation by intruding deep into the territorial waters of the north side　south of Kuwol Hill.
    This is an outright challenge to the north and a reckless military gambling　intended to test the patience of the KPA seamen as it was deliberately　perpetrated by the south Korean military to escalate tension in the West　Sea.
    The south Korean military authorities should know well that should they　keep infiltrating their battleships into the sensitive waters while　insisting on the bogus "northern limit line" this may entail unpredictable　consequences any moment.

Kim Jong Il Meets Participants in Meeting for General March of Songun Revolution

     Pyongyang, February 4 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the　Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, met and congratulated the　participants in the Meeting for the General March of the Songun Revolution. When he appeared in the photographing site, the participants broke into　enthusiastic cheers of hurrah. They extended warm welcome and highest glory　and deepest thanks to him, carrying the unbounded reverence and intense　loyalty of all the servicepersons and people to him.
    He acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the participants of the meeting　and extended warm greetings to them.
    Accompanying him were senior party, state and army officials, Kim Yong Nam,　Jo Myong Rok, Pak Pong Ju, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Il Chol, Ri Yong Mu, Jon Pyong　Ho, Choe Thae Bok, Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Jung Rin, Kim Ki Nam, Jong Ha Chol and　Choe Yong Rim, and chief secretaries of the provincial committees of the WPK　and chairmen of the provincial people's committees.
    Kim Jong Il warmly congratulated the participants of the meeting, who have　dynamically advanced the WPK's revolutionary cause of Songun through their　heroic drive, remaining intensely loyal to the Party and the leader, and had　a photo session with them.
    He expressed the expectation and belief that they would make a breakthrough　toward a fresh advance by displaying patriotic devotion and thus glorify　their honor of being pace-setters in the general march of the Songun　revolution.

For Spanish-speaking people

RPDC: Sellos por el 16 de febrero

     Pyongyang, 4 de febrero (ATCC) -- En estos dias, la Editora de Sellos de Corea edito una variedad del sello individual y un papel enterizo de 6 sellos dedicados al cumpleanos (16 de febrero de 1942) del Dirigente Kim Jong Il. Los nuevos sellos conllevan las letras de "Conmemoracion del nacimiento del gran Dirigente, camarada Kim Jong Il" y "El 16 de febrero".
    En el trasfondo del sello individual se perfila el pico Jongil con una Kimjongilia por delante.
    El papel enterizo describe la pintura al estilo coreano en forma de gran biombo "216 picos vistos desde el lago Chon del monte Paektu" que ofrece un panorama maravilloso de las colinas principales divisadas desde el lago Chon del Paektu, sagrado monte de la revolucion, incluidas las Janggun, Hyangdo y Haepal y las otras cotas perifericas de mil colores.
    Tienen 3 y 50 wones de valor nominal, respectivamente.

Encuentro de amistad para funcionarios de embajadas

     Pyongyang, 4 de febrero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del ano nuevo 94 (2005) de la Era Juche, el Comite Coreano de Relaciones Culturales con el Extranjero ofrecio el dia 3 en el capitalino Palacio Cultural del Pueblo un encuentro de amistad con los funcionarios encargados de asuntos culturales y de amistad de las embajadas de varios paises en Corea. Estuvieron presentes el presidente interino Mun Jae Chol y otros funcionarios del citado comite y artistas de la Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Corea. Los participantes profundizaron sentimiento de amistad departiendo sobre el problema de ampliar y desarrollar la cooperacion y el intercambio entre los paises en las ramas de cultura y arte.
    Antes del encuentro, presenciaron una funcion de la Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional.

Encuentro de amistad con miembros de embajada de Iran

     Pyongyang, 4 de febrero (ATCC) -- La Asociacion de Amistad Corea-Iran ofrecio el dia 3 en el Club Taedonggang para el Cuerpo Diplomatico un encuentro de amistad con los miembros de la Embajada de la Republica Islamica de Iran en Corea, con motivo del 26 aniversario del triunfo de la Revolucion Islamica de este pais. Los participantes profundizaron sentimiento de amistad hablando de los exitos que el pueblo iranio ha logrado durante los 26 anos pasados que datan de tal victoria en sus esfuerzos por construir un pais independiente y prospero y sobre el problema de desarrollar aun mas las relaciones de cooperacion entre los dos paises.
    Acto seguido, vieron una funcion artistica de ninos escolares.
    Al evento fueron invitados el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario, Jalaleddin Namini Mianji, y otros miembros de la sede diplomatica. Estuvieron presentes Jon Yong Jin, vicepresidente de la Asociacion de Amistad Corea-Iran y del Comite Coreano de Relaciones Culturales con el Extranjero y otros miembros de dicha asociacion.