Ten-day Film Show Opens

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- A ten-day film show opened to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il (February 16). Shown in this period will be Korean documentary films including "February 16, Greatest Holiday of Nation" and "Holding Great Brilliant Commander in High Esteem", which tell about the feats performed by Kim Jong Il leading the Songun revolution. To be screened also are feature films depicting the indomitable struggle of the Korean army and people such as "Battalion Commander of Ridge Chol," "People of Jagang Province" and "Ten Party Members Today."
    An opening ceremony was held at the People's Palace of Culture Tuesday.
    Minister of Culture Choe Ik Gyu made an address at the ceremony.
    At the end of the ceremony the participants watched the documentary film "Bringing about Great Change in Fields on Outskirts of Pyongyang" and the feature film "Bouquet of Dandelion."

Sports Contest for Paektusan Cup Closes

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- The 10th Sports Contest of officials of national institutions for Paektusan Cup, which opened on Jan. 25 to celebrate the auspicious February holiday, closed with due ceremony at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium Tuesday. Officials of the ministries and national institutions fully displayed the staunch fighting spirit, patience and collectivism and sport techniques they have cultivated in ordinary times in various events including basketball, volleyball, tug-of-war and Taekwon-Do.
    The contest was divided into four groups. The teams of the Ministry of Chemical Industry, the Ministry of Commerce, the Mansudae Art Studio, the Koryo Service Guidance Bureau and the Mining Machine Industry Guidance Bureau each came first in team standing.
    The Koryo Service Guidance Bureau placed first in Taekwon-Do, the Ministry of Commerce in tug-of-war, the Taesong General Bureau in table-tennis, the men's team of the Foreign Ministry and the women's team of the Sonbong Guidance Bureau in basketball, the men's team of the Ministry of Land and Environment Preservation and the women's team of the Mansudae Art Studio in volleyball and the Academy of Social Sciences in Korean chess and Yut game.
    Present at the closing ceremony were Secretary of the C.C., Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jung Rin, Vice-Premier of the Cabinet Kwak Pom Gi, officials concerned, officials of ministries and national institutions, sports fans and working people in the city.
    The closing ceremony was addressed by Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea.

Military Attaches Corps Visits Revolutionary Museum

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- The military attaches corps here visited the revolutionary museum of Kim Il Sung University Tuesday with the approach of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. The visitors laid bouquets before the statue of President Kim Il Sung standing on Ryongnam Hill and paid tribute to him before looking round the relics and mementoes on display in the museum.
    They made entries in the visitor's book at the end of the visit.
    Abdullah Hamidi Benam, military attache of the Iranian embassy here who is doyen of the corps, wrote that Kim Il Sung University is of great significance as it is associated with the history of revolutionary activities of Marshal Kim Jong Il.
    Mahmoud Mohamed Osman Atik, military attache of the Egyptian embassy, hoped that all the students of the university would acquire a wealth of knowledge conducive to the Korean revolution.

Visiting Russian Dancing Troupe Gives Its Premiere

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- A premiere was given by the State Academy Beriozka Dancing Troupe Named after N. S. Nadezhdina on a visit to the DPRK at the Ponghwa Art Theatre on Tuesday. Appreciating the premiere were Minister of Culture Choe Ik Gyu, officials concerned, working people and artistes in the city.
    The performance raised the curtain with the chorus "Song of General Kim Jong Il". Its repertoire included the mixed group dance "Vast Plain", female group dance "Chains", male group dance "coachmen", comic dance "Seeing each other with view to marriage" representing the optimistic life and national customs of the Russians.
    The audience was deeply moved by the female group dance "Beriozka" depicting in a peculiar manner people's sentiment in a mild Spring day in Russia through lyric and beautiful movements and the mixed group dance "In memory of defenders of the motherland" reminding the audience of the feats performed by Russian soldiers while courageously fighting against aggressors with ardent patriotism.
    The dancing troupe also staged song and dance "Evening in suburbs of Moscow" and "Kalinka."
    A female singer sang well "Song Devoted to Comrade Kim Jong Il," expressing unbounded reverence for him.
    The performance was highly acclaimed by the audience as it was replete with high praises of the great man and the DPRK-Russia friendship.
    The performance continues.

Kimjongilia Shows Open

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- Kimjongilia shows opened at the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces and the Ministry of People's Security on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. On display at the show of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces are Kimjongilias in full bloom presented by officials and employees of the ministry's Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia greenhouse, servicepersons of Pak Myong Hun-led unit of the Korean People's Army, and officials, teaching staff, cadets and employees of Kim Il Sung Political University and the April 25 House of Culture.
    The Ministry of People's Security sponsored the 8th Kimjongilia Show amid the deep interest of people's security persons and servicepersons of the Korean People's Security Forces.
    Inaugural ceremonies of the shows were held on Tuesday. Minister of People's Security Ju Sang Song and KPA General Pak Jae Gyong were among those present there.

National Seminar on Kim Jong Il's Songun Revolutionary Feats Held

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- A national seminar on leader Kim Jong Il's undying Songun revolutionary feats was held at the People's Palace of Culture on Tuesday. It was attended by Choe Thae Bok and Jong Ha Chol, secretaries of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the Cabinet, officials concerned, officials of central and local party and administrative and economic bodies and working people's organizations, party cadre-training centers, officials in the fields of science, education, press and preservation of revolutionary relics. Presented at the seminar were six papers explaining in depth the greatness of the Songun politics of Kim Jong Il, who has led the struggle for the defence of socialism and the building of a great prosperous powerful nation to victory by creditably putting into practice the idea and line of the Songun revolution advanced by President Kim Il Sung, and the leader's immortal Songun revolutionary feats.
    Kwak Pom Gi told about the undying feats Kim Jong Il has performed by ushering in a new era of the Juche revolution, praising his history of revolutionary leadership as a history of victory and glory in which he has led the Korean revolution along the road of victory under the banner of Songun.
    Ji Ki Son, president of Kim Il Sung Military University, noted that Kim Jong Il is the greatest-ever commander and an ever-victorious, iron-willed commander who has wrought military miracles unprecedented in human history with his do-or-die spirit and matchless grit.
    Ri Thae Nam, chief secretary of the South Phyongan Provincial Committee of the WPK, said: The greatness of Kim Jong Il's leadership finds its expression in the fact that he put forward the People's Army as a main force of the revolution and cemented the single-minded unity of the army and the people around the headquarters of the revolution in every way, thus laying a solid politico-ideological position of socialism. This greatness also finds its manifestation in the fact that he has markedly augmented the nation's overall power based on the military potential, thus turning the country under Korean-style socialism into an indestructible socialist power.
    Kim Sang Rok, director of the Institute for International Studies, said that over the past decade Kim Jong Il has smashed every high-handed and arbitrary practice of the U.S. with his distinguished political caliber and the matchless military power and by the force of single-minded unity and won a great victory, instilling the conviction in the future into progressive humankind.
    Jon Kyong Nam, president of University of National Economics, noted that Kim Jong Il has energetically steered the drive to build a great prosperous powerful nation with his noble patriotic devotion and tireless efforts, thus unrolling a great history of epochal changes in the country.

Sports Tournament for Paektusan Cup Opens

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- The Sports Tournament for Paektusan Cup opened on the threshold of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. Players of sports groups in Pyongyang and local areas will compete in 10 events including football, basketball, wrestling, ice hokey, skiing to be held in Pyongyang, Samjiyon and other areas.
    Its opening ceremony took place at the Basketball Gymnasium in Chongchun Street, Pyongyang, on Tuesday.
    Present there were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, officials concerned and sportspersons and working people in the city.
    Addressing the ceremony, Mun Jae Dok, chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, hoped that the tournament would be held successfully thanks to the efforts of all the players and coaches well aware of their mission and honor of being sportspersons in the era of Songun.
    The ceremony was followed by a men's basketball match between the April 25 Sports Group and the Chobyong Sports Group.

Russian Ambassador Hosts Reception

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov hosted a reception at the embassy Tuesday evening on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. Present on invitation were Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Hong Son Ok, vice-chairperson of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is chairperson of the Korea-Russia Friendship Association, Hong So Hon, deputy to the SPA and chairman of the Korea-Russia Friendship Parliamentary Group, Kung Sok Ung, Kim Yong Jae, Kim Jong Sik and officials concerned.
    Staff members of the Russian embassy were on hand.
    Andrei Karlov in his speech said that the signing of the treaty between the two countries helped boost the Russia-Korea friendly relations and contributed to achieving peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world.
    A series of meetings and talks between Russian President Putin and Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il were important events in developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, he said.
    Noting that the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations would grow stronger in the future, he wished the Korean people greater success in building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    Choe Thae Bok in his reply speech said that the signing of the treaty five years ago was an event of great significance in developing the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
    The Korea-Russia friendly and cooperative relations have grown stronger thanks to the historic meetings between the top leaders of the two countries in Pyongyang and Moscow and the adoption of the DPRK-Russia Joint Declaration and the Moscow Declaration, Choe noted, adding that it is the consistent stand of the DPRK to boost these relations.
    He hoped that the Russian people would register greater success in their work to increase the defense capability of the country, achieve social stability and economic progress and build powerful Russia under the leadership of President Putin this year which marks the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Iranian Ambassador Hosts Reception

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- Iranian Ambassador to the DPRK Jalaleddin Namini Mianji hosted a reception at the embassy Tuesday evening on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the victory in the Iran Islamic Revolution. Present on invitation were Jong Yong Su, minister of Labor who is chairman of the Korea-Iran Friendship Association, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, officials concerned and diplomatic envoys of various countries and representatives of international organizations here.
    On hand were staff members of the Iranian embassy.
    Speakers at the reception referred to the great successes made by the Iranian people in their efforts to increase the defense capability of the country, achieve socio-economic progress and ensure regional peace and stability, resolutely shattering the imperialists' moves for 26 years since the Iran Islamic Revolution.
    They stressed the need to boost the friendly and cooperative relations in various fields between the DPRK and Iran which were forged through the common struggle for independence against imperialism.

Japan Termed Wicked trickster

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries staged an anti-DPRK burlesque disclosing photos of Korean man and woman, whom they painted as "Japanese abductees by north Korea" only to come to an end like curses coming home to roost. Commenting on this, Minju Joson today notes that Japan pulled up the DPRK over the "abduction issue" only to suffer shame internationally.
    The paper says:
    It was confirmed in Japan on June 2 last year that Japanese man named Yoshikazu Saita, who had been reported to have been "abducted by north Korea", resides in Tokyo at present. In August the fate of a Japanese woman teacher, who had been supposed to be "abducted by north Korea", was confirmed when one of the killers testified to the fact that she was murdered by Japanese gangsters 26 years ago.
    If the Japanese reactionaries are truly interested in destinies and rights of inhabitants, they should pay much more attention to how to prevent such human rights abuses in their own country. In particular, they should apologize and compensate for the forcible drafting of Koreans, the worst crimes committed by Japan against humanity in the past, and pay attention to the prevention of reoccurrence of similar abuses of people.
    The Japanese reactionaries are ill-famed for their crafty nature. No cunning burlesque staged by them to hurt someone can draw anyone's attention. On the contrary it will be little short of disgracing themselves.
    The Japanese reactionaries had better stop acting rashly, pondering over the miserable consequences to be entailed by their anti-DPRK smear campaign.

Fifth Anniversary of Signing of DPRK-Russia Treaty Marked

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- Papers here today mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-Russia Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation. Minju Joson in a signed article says that the conclusion of the treaty indicated a clear goal and principle of developing the friendly relations between the two countries and provided a solid foundation and legal guarantee for boosting the bilateral relations in any storm and stress.
    It also helped strengthen the unity of the anti-imperialist independent forces in the worldwide struggle against imperialism and dominationism and for global peace and security, it says, and goes on:
    The bilateral relations are developing on good terms in conformity with the expectations and desire of the two peoples.
    The Korean and the Russian people found concrete ways of boosting cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other fields and took practical steps to register successes.
    The Korean people are very pleased with the fact that everything is going well in Russia to meet the desire of the people and national interests.
    It is the common desire of the two peoples to glorify their friendship down through generations.
    The government and people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will as ever remain true to the spirit of the treaty and make every possible effort to boost the friendly and cooperative relations with the Russian people.

Floral Baskets Laid before Statues of Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- Floral baskets were laid before statues of President Kim Il Sung today by people and servicepersons across the country on the lunar New Year's Day. Servicepersons, Pyongyangites and school youth and children in the city visited the statue of the President on Mansu Hill.
    Seen standing before the statue was a floral basket sent by 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.
    Placed before the statue of the President amidst the playing of the floral basket-laying music were baskets of flowers in the name of the Party, military and power bodies, social organizations, ministries, national institutions, KPA units, scientific, educational, cultural and art, public health and media organs, industrial establishments, farms, universities and schools and bouquets of flowers.
    Floral baskets were also laid before the statues of the President at Kim Il Sung University, Kim Il Sung Military University, the Ministry of People's Security and the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace and in various parts of the city.
    Meanwhile, working people and school youth and children in various parts of the country laid floral baskets, bouquets and flowers before his statues in their residential areas.

Messages of Greetings Exchanged between DPRK and Russian FMs

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and his Russian counterpart S. Lavrov exchanged messages of greetings on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-Russia Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighborliness and Cooperation. In his message Paek said over the last five years the treaty has made an important contribution to the qualitative and fresh development of the bilateral relations.
    He expressed belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Russia would as ever expand in various fields in conformity with the desire of the two peoples and their mutual interests and wished the Russian foreign minister success in his responsible work.
    In his message the Russian foreign minister said that the treaty provided a new phase for boosting the friendly relations between the two countries and laid a solid basis for mutually beneficial political, economic, cultural and scientific cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK.
    The last five years witnessed close cooperation in activating the political contacts at the top and high levels between the two countries, expanding the bilateral trade and economic relations and seeking ways of settling urgent international issues and normalizing the situation on the Korean Peninsula, he said.
    On the significant occasion the Russian foreign minister wished his DPRK counterpart success in his responsible work for the well-being of the Korean people.

S. Korean Defector Interviewed

     Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- Kim Ki Ho who defected to the northern half of Korea was interviewed here on February 8 by domestic and foreign mediapersons. Kim, 60, had served as an employee at a U.S. army unit in south Korea for nearly 30 years.
    At the press conference he said he came over to the northern half of Korea not by any impulse but because he was unable to remain a passive on-looker to all sorts of highhandedness, outrages and atrocities committed by GIs in south Korea. That was why he came to bitterly hate the U.S. and think that its forces should be forced out of south Korea, he said, and continued:
    Through various channels I came to know well that in the northern half of Korea the people enjoy a worthy life as masters of society and, in particular, the DPRK under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il is standing firm against the U.S. which styles itself the "only superpower" in the world. This renewed my resolution to come over to the north with the firm determination to contribute to the struggle to force GIs out of south Korea and reunify the country.
    Referring to the embezzlement of funds by a superior officer of the U.S. army, he said the Yankees expelled him in a bid to cover up their crime when he attempted to lay bare this scandal.
    The U.S. loudmouthed "reduction" and "relocation" of its forces in south Korea are nothing but an artifice to conceal its aggressive aim to make a preemptive strike at the north, he said.
    He cited concrete facts he witnessed in his unit to prove that the U.S. used the "reduction" and "relocation" as a pretext for its massive shipment of all types of latest war equipment into south Korea.
    The U.S. has talked much about the "six-way talks" over the "nuclear issue," asserting that "it has no intention to invade the north", but it is aimed to cover up its aggressive nature, he noted, warning that one should not be taken in by such trick of the U.S.
    The anti-Americanism of the south Korean people has gained momentum in the wake of the June 15 joint declaration, he said.
    He expressed the conviction that the mindset of the south Korean people following leader Kim Jong Il and supporting his Songun policy will grow stronger as the days go by and national reunification will come true thanks to this policy.

For Spanish-speaking people

Simposio central sobre hazanas de Kim Jong Il mediante el Songun

     Pyongyang, 9 de febrero (ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar el dia 8 en el capitalino Palacio Cultural del Pueblo el simposio central acerca de las inmortales hazanas revolucionarias del Dirigente Kim Jong Il mediante el Songun (priorizacion militar). Al foro asistieron los secretarios del Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea Choe Thae Bok y Jong Ha Chol, el vicepremier del Consejo de Ministros Kwak Pom Gi, funcionarios de los organismos centrales y locales del partido, la administracion y la economia, las organizaciones de masas, los centros de formacion de cuadros del partido, los sectores de ciencia, educacion, prensa e informacion y reliquias historicas de la revolucion.
    En el debate fueron publicadas las 6 tesis que explican profundamente la grandeza de la politica de Songun e inmortales hazanas revolucionarias del Dirigente Kim Jong Il mediante el Songun, quien materializa brillantemente la idea y la linea revolucionarias del Songun del Presidente Kim Il Sung y conduce a la victoria la lucha por la defensa del socialismo y la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    Kwak Pom Gi, en su disertacion, senalo que la historia de direccion del Dirigente sobre la revolucion es una trayectoria llena de victorias y glorias en que ha conducido siempre a la victoria la Revolucion Coreana bajo la bandera del Songun y explico sobre las inmarcesibles hazanas del Dirigente quien ha abierto una nueva epoca de la Revolucion del Juche.
    El rector de la Universidad Militar Kim Il Sung, Ji Ki Son, en su tesis, explico que el Comandante Supremo Kim Jong Il es el destacado general simpar e invencible comandante de acero, quien con su decision de vida o muerte y su coraje sin igual creo milagros militares sin precedentes en la historia humana.;
    El Dirigente presento al ejercito popular como grueso de la revolucion y fortalecio mas y mas la unidad monolitica del ejercito y el pueblo cuyo centro es la Direccion de la Revolucion, asi que ha preparado una base ideo-politica potente del socialismo, fortalecido el poderio del pais en su conjunto y convertido el socialismo coreano en una invencible potencia socialista. He ahi la grandeza de la direccion del Dirigente, dijo el secretario responsable del Comite del PTC en la provincia de Phyong-an del Sur, Ri Thae Nam.
    El presidente del Instituto de Asuntos Internacionales Kim Sang Rok, al presentar su tesis, subrayo que durante los ultimos 10 anos pasados el Dirigente, a base de su extraordinaria capacidad politica, las invencibles fuerzas armadas y la unidad monolitica, frustro todas las arbitrariedades y despotismos de EE.UU. y dio con grandes victorias a los pueblos progresistas la conviccion sobre el futuro radiante.
    El rector del Instituto Superior de Economia Nacional, Jon Kyong Nam, apunto que el Dirigente, con su noble abnegacion patriotica e incansables esfuerzos, dirigio energicamente la lucha por la construccion de una gran potencia prospera y abrio en esta tierra una nueva era de grandes transformaciones.
    El director del Secretariado del Comite por la Reunificacion Pacifica de la Patria, An Kyong Ho, en su disertacion, destaco que el Dirigente conduce a la victoria con el poderio del Songun la lucha de nuestro pueblo por la reunificacion independiente de la patria.

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de presidente de entidad peruana

     Pyongyang, 9 de febrero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera con motivo de su cumpleanos (el 16 de febrero) el presidente del Instituto Cultural y de Amistad Peruano-Coreano, Angel Castro Lavarello, junto con su familia. El titular peruano lo entrego el dia 5 al embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de Corea en su pais.
    En la ocasion el dijo que el regalo refleja el alma ardiente de sus familiares que desean buena salud a Su Excelencia Kim Jong Il quien sigue sin descanso la visita de orientacion sobre el terreno aun en tiempos frios nevados en aras de la felicidad del pueblo coreano.
    Subrayo que ellos mismos haran en adelante tambien todo lo que este a su alcance para apoyar a Su Excelencia Kim Jong Il quien lleva adelante fielmente la causa del Presidente Kim Il Sung.