Friendly Gathering Held at Chinese Embassy

     Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- A friendly gathering between women of the Chinese embassy here and Korean women officials took place at the embassy on Tuesday evening on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the International Women's Day. Present on invitation were Chairperson Pak Sun Hui and Vice-Chairperson Ri Yong Hui of the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, Hong Son Ok, vice-chairperson of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and women officials.
    The wife of Ambassador Wu Donghe and women of the Chinese embassy were on hand. The participants watched a Chinese documentary film "Symphonic Poem of China". Then speeches were made at the meeting.
    The speakers said that the DPRK-China friendship is steadily developing under the deep care of leader Kim Jong Il and President Hu Jintao. They underscored the need to boost the exchange of visits and cooperation between the women's organizations of the two countries.
    The participants in the gathering talked to one another about achievements made by the women of the two countries in boosting the bilateral friendly relations.

Moves for Expansion of U.S. Military Base Assailed

     Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- Functions for checking the expansion of the U.S. military base took place in Phyongthaek in Kyonggi Province, south Korea, on March 5 under the sponsorship of the All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the U.S. Military Base in Phyongthaek, according to a press report. Present there were members of civic and public organizations including the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, the (south) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the south Korean Federation of Peasants Associations and the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils and residents in Phyongthaek, at least 800 in all.
    The inaugural ceremony of the Phyongthaek All-People Measure Committee and the first all-people meeting were held in Taechu-ri, Phyongthaek City.
    Kim Ji Thae, permanent co-representative of the committee, Kim Chong Il, secretary general of the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification, and other speakers said that the government is undergoing procedures for obtaining land to additionally offer a vast area of 3.49 million phyong to the U.S. as sites for its military base according to the unconstitutional agreement on the transfer of the base. This is an act of destroying the cradle of the residents in Phyongthaek and seriously threatening the peace on the Korean Peninsula as the real intention of the U.S. forces relocation is to mount a preemptive attack on the north, they noted.
    They declared that residents in Phyongthaek and civic and public organizations formed the Phyongthaek all-people measure committee to check the south Korea-U.S. unreasonable attempt.
    The participants marched toward the U.S. military base, shouting "We will not yield even single phyong of land cultivated by the sweat of our brow to the U.S." and other slogans with placards opposing the expansion of the U.S. military base in hands.
    They held the 186th candlelight rally for checking the expansion of the U.S. military base around the K-6 U.S. military base.
    The participants in the rally demanded the total withdrawal of the U.S. forces, chanting the slogan "No expansion of U.S. military base".

U.S. Reckless Military Maneuvers under Fire

     Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- The United States is planning to stage RSOI and Foal Eagle joint military exercises in south Korea from March 19 to 25 in the wake of its joint anti-submarine drill staged in the East Sea of Korea with south Korea. It is also pushing forward the deployment of two latest Aegis destroyers in its military bases in Japan. The reality indicates that the U.S. has no willingness to co-exist with the DPRK but seeks to "bring down" its system by force of arms only, says Rodong Sinmun Wednesday in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    The U.S. warhawks defined the DPRK as an "outpost of tyranny" after designating it as part of an "axis of evil", which was prompted by their heinous aggressive policy to topple the independent country, come what may.
    The U.S. imperialists are becoming evermore undisguised in their ambition to stifle Korean style socialism centred on the popular masses, the life and soul of the Korean people and their cradle, by force of arms and dominate the whole of Korea, and its danger is growing day by day. Under such situation the army and the people in the DPRK are interpreting with vigilance the U.S. warhawks' remarks that they will neither attack nor invade north Korea as camouflaged peace rhetoric and a crafty move to disarm and stifle it with ease and stepping up the thorough political, ideological and military preparations to cope with them.
    For the U.S. to roll back its hostile policy toward the DPRK is the only way of averting a catastrophic war on the Korean Peninsula.
    The U.S. would be well advised to discontinue its reckless military actions to threaten and invade the DPRK, abandon its hostile policy toward the latter and thus show its will to co-exist with the latter in practice.

Criminal Act of S. Korean Security Authorities Denounced

     Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification reportedly published a statement on March 4 condemning the south Korean security authorities for walking off Kim Song Il, chairman for the Country's Reunification of the 12th-term south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon). The statement says:
    Fellow countrymen from the south and the north of the country and abroad have gathered at one place to lift up loud voices of great national unity for the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration, at a time when all the people have turned out in a relentless fight for a new society without the "National Security Law". Present there is the chairman for the Country's Reunification of the 13th-term Hanchongryon.
    Yet the security authorities whisked away another patriotic-minded student.
    This outrage is an unpardonable crime against the time and public sentiments.
    They should throw into jail cohorts of the "Grand National Party" which is trampling underfoot the people's will of democratic reform and driving people's livelihood into catastrophe, not students devoting themselves to reunification and patriotism.

RS. on Movement for Tripartite Solidarity and Three Forms of Cooperation

     Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- A few days ago an inaugural ceremony of the preparatory committee for joint functions of Koreans in the north, the south and abroad took place in Mt. Kumgang, a picturesque mountain of Korea, to implement the June 15 joint declaration and its first meeting was held, at which an inaugural declaration and a joint press release were adopted. The preparatory committee is a permanent nationwide solidarity organization of the reunification movement which groups political parties, organizations and public figures of all circles in the north, the south and abroad, the first of its kind ever since the division of the country.
    The formation of the committee is a national historic event making it possible to pave a wide avenue of national reconciliation, cooperation, peace and reunification, regardless of differences in idea and ideology, political view, religious belief, class and social stratum, political affiliation and region, says Rodong Sinmun Wednesday in a signed commentary.
    Declaring that the people in the northern half of Korea warmly support the formation of the preparatory committee, the commentary goes on:
    It was agreed upon at the first meeting of the preparatory committee to hold grand reunification functions and meetings of organizations of all strata for reunification on significant occasions. This is a judicious option to orient the minds and strength of the fellow countrymen to the successful fulfillment of national historic tasks facing them this year.
    The basic mission of the preparatory committee in the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration is to closely unite all the fellow countrymen under the banner of the joint declaration and pave a broad way of reunification, placing the common interests of the nation before anything else.
    All the Koreans in the north, the south and abroad should accept the spirit of the preparatory committee, which raised the anchor for reunification and patriotism, as the requirement of national history and turn out on a nationwide scale in the struggle for reunification and patriotism and thus give full play to the patriotic spirit and invincible might of the Korean nation creating a new history of national unity and a new era of independence and reunification.

New Kind of Medicine for Hepatitis Developed in DPRK

     Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- The Branch Academy of Biology under the Academy of Sciences in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has developed a new kind of medicine for hepatitis. Made by the traditional method of Koryo Medicine and after over twenty years of research based on modern science, it is very efficacious for acute and chronic hepatitis, cholestatic hepatocirrhosis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, alcoholic and toxic hepatopathy as well as acute and chronic gastritis.
    It was proved through clinical experiments by many hospitals in Pyongyang and local areas including the hospital attached to Pyongyang University of Medicine that more than 90 percent of patients were recovered from hepatitis in some twenty days in case of acute hepatitis and in thirty days in case of chronic.
    Researchers say the tablet has a great detoxification power.
    The result of its application to those patients who could hardly stop drinking shows that its effect is little different from that on those who did not drink.
    A pill of this medicine taken after a drink neutralizes alcohol regardless of its amount. With this medicine 10-20 days are enough for a long-tern indigeston.
    With no side-effect, it is good for the protection of the liver and stomach.
    The medicine obtained a state patent in Juche 93 (2004).

Torch of Songgang Demonstrates Might of Unity

     Pyongyang, March 9(KCNA) -- The torch of Songgang is blazing up in the Korean people's general onward march of Songun revolution, inspiring them to a new great revolutionary upsurge. The torch, which was kindled by the workers of Songgang (Songjin Steel Complex) during the "Arduous March" and the forced march as the first signal of normalization of production in the industrial field, fully demonstrated the Korean people's unbreakable unity in mind.
    It was on March 9, Juche 87 (1998) that leader Kim Jong Il visited the complex, one of the nation's major steel producers, to kindle the torch.
    In those days the DPRK had been suffering the worst difficulties in production and construction due to the imperialists' persistent economic sanctions and their moves to isolate and stifle the country, with natural disasters continued for years.
    The complex, too, had suffered the lack of electricity and raw materials for steel production.
    That day Kim Jong Il said that it was imperative to inspire the entire people to a great revolutionary upswing to overcome the difficulties, defend the country and build a great prosperous powerful nation.
    He expressed great confidence in the workers of the complex, mentioning that they should take the lead in the efforts for a fresh upswing as steel makers did in supporting the Workers' Party of Korea with increased steel production whenever the Korean revolution underwent difficulties.
    After the visit he has encouraged the Songgang workers to take the lead in production throughout the county and sent thanks to them on over 20 occasions for their achievements.
    Greatly inspired by this, they put the production on a normal basis and completed a new method of steel production by themselves. Some time ago they manufactured a large-sized oxygen separator and constructed minor power stations, dwelling houses, lodging house, cultural house, duck farm, underground refrigerator, etc. in different parts of the complex.
    The workers across the country, following their example, turned out as one in carrying out many large projects including the Kwangmyongsong Saltern, Youth Hero Motorway, large-scale land-rezoning and natural-flow waterway. Such a thing can be done only in the DPRK where the leader trust in and deeply love the people, while the people, closely united in mind, deeply revere the WPK and the leader.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il visita embajada de Rusia

     Pyongyang, 9 de marzo (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea visito el dia 8 la Embajada de la Federacion Rusa en Corea a peticion del embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario Andrei Gennadiyevich Karlov. Le acogieron el embajador y otros funcionarios directivos de la sede diplomatica. El Dirigente agradecio por la amable invitacion de Karlov, departio con este en un ambiente cordial y amistoso y se fotografio con los miembros de la embajada.
    El embajador ofrecio una recepcion, a la cual fueron invitados el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, el primer ministro del Consejo de Ministros de la RPDC Pak Pong Ju, el jefe del Estado Mayor General del EPC y miembro del CDN de la RPDC Kim Yong Chun, el vicepresidente del CDN de la RPDC Yon Hyong Muk, el secretario del CC del PTC Kim Ki Nam, el primer viceministro de Relaciones Exteriores Kang Sok Ju y otros funcionarios.
    Alli, estuvieron presentes los miembros de la embajada rusa.
    La recepcion transcurrio en un ambiente amistoso.
    En la ocasion los ninos de la sede diplomatica ofrecieron una funcion artistica preparada especialmente, la cual arranco ovaciones de los participantes.

Kim Jong Il recibe medalla de Rusia

     Pyongyang, 9 de marzo (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea, recibio la Medalla Conmemorativa del Aniversario 60o del Triunfo de la Gran Guerra para la Patria que le dirigiera el Presidente de la Federacion Rusa, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Tuvo lugar el dia 8 una solemne ceremonia de entrega de la citada medalla.
    En el acto participo el Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    Le acompanaron el primer ministro del Consejo de Ministros de la RPDC Pak Pong Ju, el jefe del Estado Mayor General del EPC y miembro del CDN de la RPDC Kim Yong Chun, el vicepresidente del CDN de la RPDC Yon Hyong Muk y el primer vicecanciller Kang Sok Ju.
    Tambien estuvieron presentes el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario Andrei Gennadiyevich Karlov y otros diplomaticos oficiales de la sede diplomatica rusa en Corea.
    Por el encargo, Karlov entrego al Dirigente la citada medalla.
    Ninos de la embajada rusa le obsequiaron un ramo de flores fragantes felicitando su recibo de dicha medalla.
    El Dirigente expreso su agradecimiento al Presidente ruso por haberla otorgado.