Greetings to Tunisian President

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Mar. 19 sent a message of greetings to Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, president of Tunisia, on the national day of the country. The president in the message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger in the interests of the two peoples and sincerely wished the Tunisian president greater successes in his work to build a developed and prosperous new society.

Renunciation of U.S. Hostile Policy towards DPRK Demanded

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Ri Tong Chol, chairman of the International United Confederation of Koreans, on March 14 reportedly made public a statement in support of the statement and the memorandum of the DPRK Foreign Ministry denouncing the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK. The statement said:
    The DPRK-U.S. nuclear issue is an offspring of the Bush administration's extremely hostile policy towards the DPRK and the key to its settlement is the change of the U.S. hostile policy into a policy of peaceful co-existence. It is utterly illogical for the U.S. to argue about the prospect of the resumption of the six-party talks while declaring that it would "seek the overthrow of the system of the DPRK to the very end."
    It is not only quite natural but also worthy of being proud of that the DPRK makes nukes for self-defense when the U.S. threatens it with a preemptive attack while boasting of nuclear predominance.
    No one on this planet would believe that the DPRK's possession of nukes is to strike at the U.S. first. The U.S. should promptly abandon its hostile policy towards the DPRK in conformity with the international atmosphere hoping the resumption of the six-party talks.

Intensive Action Program against Joint Military Drills Issued in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- The Reunification Solidarity of south Korea reportedly held a meeting at the Christian Hall in Seoul on March 15, at which it made public an intensive action program to check RSOI and Foal Eagle, south Korea-U.S. joint war rehearsals. Permanent Chairman of the Reunification Solidarity Han Sang Ryol, Vice-Chairman of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification Kim Kyu Chol, Chairman of the National Reunification Committee of the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils Kim Ji Ha and other speakers called for turnout of all the fellow countrymen in the anti-U.S., anti-war struggle and the struggle for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces.
    Then the intensive action program to check the military exercises was announced.
    The Reunification Solidarity decided to conduct jointly with the People's Solidarity press conferences, rallies, information activities, cultural functions and other events to call a stop to the war games and oppose the visit of U.S. State Secretary Rice in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul, around the U.S. military base in Ryongsan and other places from March 18. It declared that the "ceremony for declaring the 2005 anti-U.S., anti-war struggle" to be held in front of the Ryongsan base on March 20 would be a "ceremony for the start of the anti-U.S., anti-war struggle and the struggle for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea" of the organization this year.

Joint Military Exercises and Rice's Trip to S. Korea Opposed

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- South Korean civic and public organizations on March 18 reportedly waged a fight against the massive joint military maneuvers of the U.S. and south Korean bellicose elements and the south Korean trip of U.S. State Secretary Rice. The Reunification Solidarity, the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification, the Women's Society for Achieving Peace and the Peace and Disarmament Center of the Citizens' Solidarity for Democratic Society called a joint press conference.
    The organizations noted there that the joint military exercises scheduled from March 19 are a grave provocation against the north in their scale, form, etc.
    They declared they would hold "a meeting to denounce Rice's visit to south Korea and urge the stop of the south Korea-U.S. joint military exercises" in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on Mar. 19, wage struggles in different regions and sectors from Mar. 20 with "a meeting to declare the 2005 anti-U.S., anti-war struggle" as the starting point and wage an action on Mar. 21 to check the landing operation drill to be staged in Phohang, North Kyongsang Province, as part of the joint maneuvers.
    At the end of the press conference, Han Sang Ryol, permanent chairman of the Reunification Solidarity, Hong Kun Su, permanent representative of the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification, and others handed a letter of protest addressed to the U.S. government to the U.S. embassy in Seoul.
    The Youth Committee and the Student Committee of the Democratic Workers' Party, the Anti-U.S. Youth League, the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils, the south Korean Council of Youth Organizations and the June 15 Youth and Student Solidarity also held press conferences to denounce the visit of the U.S. state secretary.
    Meanwhile, the Pusan Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration in its statement demanded that Rice retract her remarks terming the north "an outpost of tyranny" and apologize to the Korean nation.

Joint Declaration for Peace against War Adopted

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Organizations in the north, the south and overseas agreed upon making energetic efforts for peace against the U.S. war moves and adopted a joint declaration Sunday. The declaration demanded the Bush administration immediately abandon the hostile policy and war preparations against the DPRK it has intensified under the pretext of the nuclear issue and sincerely approach the dialogue and negotiation from the stand of peaceful co-existence.
    A prompt stop should be put to the U.S. policy of preemptive attack which is getting more undisguised and is linked to the beefing up of ultra-modern weapons by the relocation of the U.S. forces in Japan and south Korea, it urged, and went on:
    Availing itself of the U.S policy of aggression, Japan is becoming more outspoken in its maneuvers for militarist right deviation while working for the distortion of its past history, the seizure of Tok Islet and the revision of the pacifist constitution. All this is geared to the preparations for aggression.
    The south Korea-U.S. joint military maneuvers are drills for an actual war, which are the violation of the Armistice Agreement banning the shipment of reinforcing troops and arms from outside and an open threat to the DPRK. The military exercises must be stopped at once.
    If the U.S. truly wants dialogue and negotiation, it should stop the massive exercises for a preemptive attack and express its will to abandon the hostile policy towards the DPRK.
    We cannot allow outsiders to threaten the sovereignty and vital right of the Korean nation by illegally interfering in its internal affairs.

Anti-U.S. Actions Called for

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) --An anti-U.S. struggle is a primary common task to be waged by the Koreans for national dignity and interests and peace and reunification of the country. They should, therefore, frustrate the U.S. policy to stifle and isolate the DPRK and its moves to start a nuclear war by concerted efforts. Rodong Sinmun Monday observes this in a signed article. The article goes on:
    The anti-Japanese struggle represented patriotism in the last century as it was the struggle to liberate the usurped country but now the anti-U.S. struggle represents patriotism because it is the struggle to reunify the divided country and nation.
    It is a very just and patriotic struggle for protecting the dignity, interests and welfare of the nation to put an end to the U.S. criminal policy of occupation of south Korea.
    Due to the U.S. high-handed interference and arbitrary practices and reckless moves for a new war, the process to develop the inter-Korean relations and the movement for independent reunification have hit a snag and a tense situation has been created on the Korean Peninsula.
    All Koreans in the north and the south and overseas are the driving force in the fierce struggle against the U.S. and its might lies in their unity.
    Even U.S. nuclear weapons will not prove effective when all Koreans pool their efforts and wage a dynamic joint struggle to frustrate the U.S. moves of confrontation and war against reunification.
    All the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and overseas should intensify their sacred anti-U.S. struggle to protect the national dignity and honor so that they may not suffer any longer such disgrace as seeing the national sovereignty and dignity being infringed upon and pave a wide avenue for their independent development, concludes the article.

"Anti-Secession Law" of China Supported

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Monday runs a signed commentary titled "Just Measure for Country's Reunification and Territorial Integrity," which reads in full: China recently took a momentous measure for the reunification of the country and its territorial integrity. As already reported, the "anti-secession law" aimed to prevent the "independence of Taiwan" was adopted at the third session of the 10th National People's Congress of China on March 14.
    It is fully supported and welcomed by Chinese at home and abroad as it reflected the principled stand consistently pursued by China to achieve the peaceful reunification of the country by utmost sincerity and efforts and the unanimous demand and will of all the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity against "Taiwan independence".
    It is the keynote of the law to promote the peaceful reunification of the country and defend peace and stability in the Taiwan-Strait region, the national sovereignty and territorial integrity and fundamental interests of the Chinese nation by opposing and restraining the secessionist activities of "Taiwan independence" forces. The adoption of the law is another great achievement and progress in the struggle of the Chinese people to check the "independence of Taiwan" and attain the reunification of the whole country as it legally guarantees and codifies the country's reunification and sovereignty and territorial integrity.
    The Korean people fully support this momentous measure. Russia, Syria and other countries and international community expressed understanding, sympathy and support to the adoption of the law.
    Its adoption is an entirely just step. Therefore, no one is entitled to take exception to it. The "Taiwan independence" forces and some forces including the United States, however, are taking issue with it and manifesting opposition to it.
    A tiny number of separatists calling for the "independence of Taiwan" leave no stone unturned to oppose and distort the law with malice and mislead and deceive the Taiwanese. They are crying themselves hoarse for further damaging the cross-Taiwan Strait relations, while stirring up hostile feelings toward the continent.
    This is a very wrong deed.
    In this regard, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China issued statements denouncing the "Taiwan independence" forces for decrying the law and clarified once again the principled stand of the Chinese government toward the Taiwan issue.
    The Taiwan issue is a domestic issue of China up to the hilt. Yet, the United States is recriminating China, expressing "concern" and "regret" over its adoption. This is an unjustifiable act of openly interfering in the internal affairs of China.
    The master of China's question is the Chinese people and only they have the right to settle it. The open interference of the U.S. in the domestic issue of China is an expression of its hegemonism and arrogance. It is contrary to the international law and norms governing international relations including the U.N. Charter.
    China is showing a tough rebuff to the untenable interference of the U.S. in its internal affairs. Recently, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China decisively refuted the U.S. charge over the measure, stressing that the law would promote the peaceful reunification of the country and help toward maintaining the stability of the relations across the Taiwan Straits and the Asia-Pacific region.
    Unshakable are the stand and will of China to fulfill the law and achieve the complete reunification and territorial integrity of the country.
    The efforts of the Chinese people to prevent the "independence of Taiwan" and achieve the reunification of the whole country and territorial integrity will be further intensified.

Japan's Claim to Tok Islet under Fire

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- The claim to Tok Islet, part of the inviolable territory of the Korean nation, made by Japan while distorting the aggressive and unethical past history clearly proves that Japan singled out the Korean Peninsula as the primary target of its operation to realize its ambition for overseas expansion and is watching for a chance to stage a comeback to it. A spokesman for the DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to Comfort Women for the Japanese Army and the Victims of Forcible Drafting said this in a statement on Mar. 20. Recalling that the Shimane Prefectural Assembly of Japan on Mar. 16 passed the motion calling for instituting Feb. 22 as "Takeshima Day" through its plenary session and the Japanese reactionaries are escalating their moves to grab the islet, talking about the "issue of Takeshima stamp", "inspection of Takeshima" and "drill for a surprise attack on the islet", it went on:
    The islet is part of the inviolable territory of Korea from the historical and geographical point of view and in the light of international law and the issue of dominion over the islet, therefore, can never be a matter to be discussed between the DPRK and Japan.
    Japan came to know about the existence of the islet in the East Sea of Korea more than 1,000 years later than the Koreans. It is, therefore, a wanton encroachment upon the sovereignty of the territory of the Korean nation and a grave provocation to it for Japan to claim dominion over the islet.
    What is more serious is that Japan is working hard to tamper with its past history of aggression, far from apologizing and compensating for the monstrous crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against humanity after illegally occupying Korea.
    The Japanese reactionaries would be well advised to halt at once their move to seize the islet, bearing in mind that they would get into hot water if they seek to reinvade Korea, oblivious of the bitter lesson taught by their defeat.

U.S.-S. Korea Military Exercises Assailed

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- The U.S.-south Korea large-scale war exercises, a combination of RSOI and Foal Eagle, are, to all intents and purposes, a product of their criminal attempt to invade and stifle the DPRK by force, says Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed commentary. What should not be overlooked is that the on-going war exercises are a test war to implement the U.S. imperialists' second Korean war scenarios which had already been modified and rounded off, the commentary observes, and goes on:
    Due to the U.S. moves to topple the system in the DPRK and stifle it the danger of a war is rapidly increasing on the Korean Peninsula and the situation inching close to the point of explosion.
    The prevailing situation is so dangerous and tense that any accidental case may spark an all-out war.
    The army and people of the DPRK do not wish to see the deteriorating relations with the U.S. or any military standoff with it but never beg for dialogue or peace.
    They will deal telling blows at the U.S. imperialist aggressors with self-defensive military capacity they have built up for scores of years should the aggressors ignite a nuclear war of aggression against the DPRK despite the opposition of the Koreans and other peace-loving people of the world.
    The Korean people have showed utmost patience and magnanimity. Therefore, the second Korean war to be launched by the U.S. imperialists will offer the Korean people a final chance to give vent to their pent-up grudge against the U.S.

Greetings to Namibian President

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Independence of Namibia. Referring to the fact that the diligent Namibian people have achieved many successes in the work for the stability and development of the country through a protracted struggle waged for the last 15 years under the leadership of the Southwest Africa People's Organization since its independence, the message hoped everything would go on well in the future.
    Expressing the belief that the excellent friendly and cooperative relations and solidarity between the two countries would continue to grow stronger in all fields, the message sincerely wished the president and the people of the country greater success in their work for the national unity and prosperity of the country.

Greetings to Lao Revolutionary Party

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea today sent a message of greetings to the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of the party. The message said that the party has victoriously led the struggle of the Lao people to consolidate the independence of the country and build a prosperous new society, opposed to imperialism, over the last 50 years since its foundation.
    It referred to the fact that the Lao people have made great successes in their efforts to achieve social stability and economic development despite all challenges and difficulties, united close around the party headed by Khamtay Siphandone.
    Expressing the belief that the excellent friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and two peoples would continue to grow stronger in the future, too, the message wished the Lao party greater success in the work for its strengthening and development and the prosperity of the country.

Glass Factory Construction, Token of Korea-China Friendship

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- The construction of the Taean Friendship Glass Factory is progressing apace as a token of friendship between the peoples of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China. The construction of the main production buildings including melting and foundry grounds has been carried out at 85 percent with the assembling of steel structures and auxiliary projects at 65 percent with the completion of the concrete tamping of the sand-selecting process building and the industrial water-purifying ground. And trees have been planted and roads paved in the compound.
    The construction is progressing as planned, though weather conditions are unfavourable, thanks to the efforts of servicepersons, builders and Chinese technicians to further develop the friendly bond provided by Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK Kim Jong Il and President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao.
    The leading officials of the project, in close contact with the Chinese technicians, are promoting the construction in a scrupulous and qualitative way.
    The Chinese government has sent more than 8,000 tons of materials and equipment of several dozen kinds including steel structures, pipes for water supply and drainage and fire-bricks in four installments.
    Ministries, national institutions and other establishments have sent to the construction site large quantities of materials and goods needed for the project and the Chinese ambassador to the DPRK sent aid goods to the constructors some time ago.
    The related projects are also being pushed ahead. Now the fifty percent of the construction of the factory has been carried out.

Water Resources Conserved in DPRK

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Various activities are being conducted in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the occasion of the World Day of Water (March 22). Water is one of the crucial issues which draw public interest because they challenge humankind in the 21st century.
    With the approach of this day, the Central Committee of the DPRK Natural Conservation Union has launched a campaign to inform people of the importance of water in human life and its conservation and management through mass media.
    Some days ago, the union sponsored a joint seminar of the Water Protection Association and the Forest Conservation Association on measures and ways for scientific and rational management and effective utilization of the River Taedong basin. It was participated in by scientists, researchers, teachers, officials of administrative and economic bodies and relevant experts.
    The DPRK adopted the Water Resource Law long ago and has consistently adhered to the principle of letting no drop of water emptying into the sea without use.
    Efforts are concentrated on river improvement projects during the period of general mobilization for land management in spring and autumn so as to make an effective use of all the water resources as drinking, industrial and irrigation water.
    Man-made reservoirs and large and minor hydro-power stations have been built in different parts of the country to enrich the water resources of the country.
    What is noteworthy in recent years is the construction of artificial rivers.
    The self-running Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway has brought 100-million cubic meters of water from the River Taedong as irrigation and industrial water over the last two years since its construction. And the Paekma-Cholsan Waterway project will soon be completed to irrigate fields in the northwestern part of the country.

Japan's Reckless Moves to Reinvade Korea Assailed

     Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Association of Korean Victims of Forcible Drafting and Their Bereaved Families issued a statement on Monday in which he bitterly denounced the Japanese reactionaries for working hard to reinvade the DPRK in a foolish bid to realize the old dream of the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere." He slashed the Japanese reactionaries for having made far-fetched assertion that Tok Islet, part of the inviolable territory of Korea, belongs to Japan.
    He branded their moves to embellish the unprecedented blood-stained history of aggression of Japan as a wanton infringement upon the dignity and the sovereignty of the Korean nation, an intolerable insult to those Koreans who were killed by the Japanese imperialists and their bereaved families and a serious provocation against the whole Korean nation.
    The Korean nation will never pardon the Japanese reactionaries' reckless moves, he said, urging them to properly understand the mounting anti-Japanese sentiment of all the Koreans and stop rash acts.
    He extended support and encouragement to the south Koreans from all walks of life in their dynamic struggle against the Japanese reactionaries' moves to seize Tok Islet and carry distorted contents in the history textbooks backed by the U.S. and expressed conviction that they would stage a more vigorous struggle against outsiders including Japan.

For Spanish-speaking people

Declaracion conjunta de Norte, Sur y ultramar

     Pyongyang, 21 de marzo (ATCC) -- Las entidades del Norte, el Sur de Corea y en ultramar acordaron hacer esfuerzos activos por rechazar las maquinaciones belicas de Estados Unidos y preservar la paz y aprobaron el dia 20 una declaracion conjunta. La administracion Bush debe abandonar de inmediato su politica de hostilidad a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, que se lleva a la practica so pretexto del problema nuclear, y sus preparativos de guerra contra esta y participar con sinceridad en el dialogo y negociaciones partiendo de la posicion de coexistir por via pacifica con el Norte de Corea, senala el documento y prosigue:
    Debe ser frenada ahora mismo la politica de ataque preventivo de EE.UU. que se torna mas abierta por la reubicacion de sus tropas ocupantes de Japon y del Sur de Corea y por el aumento de los artefactos sofisticados.
    En adhesion a esta politica de agresion de EE.UU., Japon tergiversa la historia del pasado criminal y trata de arrebatar la isla Tok y enmendar la constitucion pacifista, haciendo mas abierta la derechizacion militarista. Todo esto forma parte de sus preparativos de agresion.
    El simulacro militar Sur de Corea-EE.UU. es de hecho un ejercicio de guerra, una violacion al Acuerdo de Armisticio que estipula la prohibicion de la entrada de las tropas y armamentos desde afuera y una abierta amenaza a la RPDC. Tal ejercicio militar debe ser frenado inmediatamente.
    Si el pais estadounidense desea de veras el dialogo y negociaciones, debe poner fin a los ejercicios militares de gran envergadura que se desarrollan para asestar ataque preventivo contra la RPDC y aclarar la voluntad de renunciar su politica de hostilidad a esta.
    No podemos permitir la intervencion injusta de las fuerzas foraneas en los asuntos internos de nuestra nacion y la amenaza de estas a la soberania y el derecho a la vida de la nacion.

Denuncia a reaccion japonesa por su intento de usurpacion de isla Tok

     Pyongyang, 21 de marzo (ATCC) -- El vocero del Comite Coreano de Medidas por la Indemnizacion a las "Consoladoras" de Tropas Japonesas y Victimas de Arresto Forzado hizo publica el dia 20 una declaracion que senala en particular: Ahora Japon tergiversa su historia del pasado de corte agresivo y antietico e insiste en la "posesion" de la isla Tok que pertenece a la sagrada tierra de Corea, lo cual demuestra a las claras que este pais isleno toma la Peninsula Coreana por primer objeto de su ambicion de expansion a ultramar y acecha una oportunidad para realizarla.
    La asamblea del departamento de Shimane de Japon aprobo por fin el dia 16 en su sesion plenaria el llamado "proyecto de mocion" para fijar el 22 de febrero como "dia de la isla Tok" y los reaccionarios japoneses activan su ajetreo para arrebatarla a traves de "edicion de sello alusivo a esta isla", "Inspeccion por esta", "Ejercicio de ataque sorpresivo a ella" y otras acciones por el estilo.
    Tanto en el punto de vista historico y geografico como a la luz del derecho internacional, la isla Tok pertenece a la tierra coreana y por lo tanto el problema de "posesion de esta isla" no puede ser un punto de discusion entre Corea y Japon.
    Japon se entero de la existencia de esta isla un milenio mas tarde que Corea.
    La insistencia en la "posesion" de esta es una flagrante violacion a la soberania territorial de Corea y una grave provocacion a esta.
    Lo que resulta mas grave es que Japon se ajetrea para tergiversar su historia agresiva del pasado en vez de pedir disculpa e indemnizar por su illegal ocupacion a Corea y archi-crimenes antieticos.
    Los reaccionarios japoneses deben darse clara cuenta de que si se atreven a extender de nuevo sus garras de nueva agresion a Corea en vez de sacar lecciones de su amarga derrota, caeran en un atolladero sin salida, y poner de inmediato fin a su acto de usurpacion de la isla Tok.