7th Kimilsungia Festival to Be Held

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The 7th Kimilsungia Festival will be held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the Day of the Sun (birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung) and the 40th anniversary of its appearance as a flower representing the sun. The festival will mark an important occasion of paying highest tribute to Kim Il Sung who performed immortal exploits for the revolutionary cause of Juche and the human cause of independence and demonstrating before the world the might of single-minded unity in Juche Korea where all the servicepersons and people are united close around leader Kim Jong Il.
    The festival to be held at the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Exhibition for ten days from April 13, Juche 94 (2005) will draw personages of political and public circles, delegations and flower fanciers of different countries. It will also involve colorful events including a national scientific seminar on Kimilsungia.
    The festival will be open to the military organs, ministries, national institutions, provincial organizations, servicepersons, working people, school youth and children, overseas Koreans and foreigners who are cultivating the flowers.
    It will encourage the army and people of the DPRK in their heroic struggle to bring about a new surge in the revolution and construction to significantly commemorate the Day of the Sun and greet the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and the liberation of the country as grand festivals of victors in Songun revolution and greatly contribute to deepening the friendship among the world revolutionary people.

Kim Il Sung's Ideological and Theoretical Exploits Praised

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- A seminar entitled "Kim Il Sung was the great leader who performed ideological and theoretical exploits to win the world's admiration" was held at the head office of the Socialist Party of Romania on March 16 in the run-up to the Day of the Sun. Present at the seminar were Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Socialist Party of Romania Vasile Orleanu and Chairman of the Romania-Korea Friendship Association Florentin Oancea who are co-chairmen of the preparatory committee of Romania for commemorating the Day of the Sun, and members of the preparatory committee and different organizations.
    They watched the DPRK film "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung Meets Heads of State and Prominent Figures of Different Countries" prior to the seminar.
    Speakers at the seminar praised President Kim Il Sung as a great thinker and theoretician who founded the Juche idea, a world political elder, an outstanding military strategist and iron-willed commander who defeated two imperialisms in a generation.
    Noting that leader Kim Jong Il has defended socialism and wisely led the building of a great prosperous powerful nation with his Songun politics, they stressed that thanks to him the future of Korea would be brighter along with the august name of the President.

U.S. Urged to Apologize to DPRK

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The United States should apologize for its remarks terming the DPRK part of an "axis of evil" and demanding it "end tyranny" and abandon its hostile policy towards the DPRK, if it truly wants the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of the six-party talks. Vice-Chairwoman of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Committee to Support the Reunification of Korea Alva Chavez who is secretary general of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea urged this in a statement on Mar. 13 supporting the principled stand the DPRK Foreign Ministry clarified in its March 2 memorandum as regards the DPRK-U.S. nuclear issue and the six-party talks.
    She recalled that as soon as Bush came to power, he listed the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil" and one of "targets of preemptive nuclear attack" to browbeat it and, not content with this, designated the government elected by the Korean people as "an outpost of tyranny" and an "object to be totally eliminated."
    The U.S. shameless hostile acts have created such a dangerous situation on the Korean peninsula that a war may break out again any time, she noted, adding that the DPRK's access to nukes was a just self-defensive measure to cope with the U.S. moves for aggression.

U.S.-South Korea War Exercises Denounced

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The U.S.-south Korea large-scale war exercises came under fire in various countries. The Asian Regional Committee to Support Korea's Reunification, the Indian Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification and the All India Indo-Korean Friendship Association made public a joint statement on Mar. 19 denouncing these war drills.
    The statement said that the situation in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia is growing tenser due to the large-scale war exercises, a combination of Foal Eagle and RSOI, launched by the U.S. and south Korean warlike forces.
    It continued:
    These war maneuvers are an outright challenge not only to the Korean people who sincerely hope for peace and security in the peninsula, but to the sincere efforts of the countries concerned and the broad world public.
    The statement strongly demanded an immediate halt to those war exercises and an end to the U.S. forces' presence in south Korea, a main obstacle to Korean reunification, and the withdrawal of those forces and nuclear weapons from it.
    Meanwhile, the Sweden-Korea Friendship Association in a statement on Mar. 17 called upon all organizations and individual figures who love peace to come out against the large-scale war maneuvers of the U.S. and south Korea and the policy of confrontation pursued by the Bush administration on the Korean Peninsula.

Annual Meeting of DPRK-Cuba Solidarity Committee Held

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- An annual meeting of the DPRK-Cuba Solidarity Committee was held Wednesday at the Taedonggang Club for the Diplomatic Corps. Present there were Chairman of the solidarity committee Kim Yong Jin who is minister of Education, Vice-Chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Jon Hyon Chan and members of the solidarity committee.
    Ambassador Ruben Perez Valdes and staff members of the Cuban embassy in Pyongyang were also present.
    The meeting reviewed last year's work of the committee for friendship and solidarity with the Cuban people in their fight to smash the U.S. imperialists' vicious moves for isolating and stifling Cuba and defend the sovereignty of the country and the gains of the revolution. And this year's action program was discussed there.

Struggle against Japan's Ambition for Territorial Expansion Urged

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Asian countries should take join steps to frustrate Japan's shameless moves to grab others' territories and its ambition for territorial expansion, urges Rodong Sinmun in a commentary Thursday. The news analyst says:
    The situation of Northeast Asia is being carried to the extreme pitch of strain by the territorial expansion moves of Japan which has set this as "a year of defending state interests". This is a very ill-boding development predicting that the Asia-Pacific region may turn into a theater of confrontation and military conflicts over territorial issues.
    Japan's "defense of state interests" is, in essence, nothing but a sophism to justify its ambition for territorial expansion. Its designs of territorial aggrandizement now becoming all the more outspoken is chiefly related to U.S. patronage.
    The Japanese reactionaries who are driving the regional situation to a dangerous phase are a cancer-like existence and a source of trouble wrecking peace and security in Northeast Asia. Japan's claim to territories of other countries is an overture of a military conflict and its dispatch of troops to trouble spots is a prelude to continental aggression.
    The situation urges its surrounding countries to be awakened to its moves for territorial expansion and cope with them jointly. Japan is not entitled to participate in the six-party talks as it is seeking territorial aggrandizement and aggravating the situation around it while toeing the U.S. line. It is hard to promote a common development, not to speak of the guarantee of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the Asian region as a whole with Japan openly pursuing territorial expansion left alone

Pak Pong Ju Pays Courtesy Call on Hu Jintao

     Beijing, March 23 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, on an official goodwill visit to China paid a courtesy call on Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People on Mar. 23. Pak Pong Ju conveyed the greetings from leader Kim Jong Il to Hu Jintao.
    Hu Jintao thanked for them and asked Pak Pong Ju to transmit his warm regards to Kim Jong Il.
    Hu Jintao recalled that he had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relations, international and regional issues and shared understanding during Kim Jong Il's China visit last year.
    Kim Jong Il's visit to China put spurs to the development of the traditional bilateral friendly relations and opened a new page in the history of the Sino-DPRK friendly ties, he stressed, and continued:
    China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors linked by the same mountain and river and the warm friendly feelings exist between the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries. It is the consistent policy of the party and government of China to set store by and develop the Sino-DPRK friendly ties.
    The Chinese people are rejoiced at the successes made by the people of the DPRK in the socialist construction under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
    He wished the Korean people greater success in the socialist construction this year marking the 60th anniversary of the WPK.
    On hand were Vice-Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Ro Tu Chol, Chairman of the State Planning Commission Kim Kwang Rin, Minister of Foreign Trade Rim Kyong Man, DPRK Ambassador to China Choe Jin Su, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun, Vice-Minister of Agriculture Kim Hyok Jin, Vice-Minister of Chemical Industry Han Sung Jun and other suite members.
    Present there were Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Dawei and officials concerned.
    The conversation proceeded in a comradely atmosphere.

Anti-U.S., Anti-war Actions Sweep S. Korea

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Anti-U.S. and anti-war functions reportedly took place across south Korea including Seoul, Pusan, Changwon, Taejon, Taegu, Jinju and Kwangju on Mar. 20. Members of civic and public organizations who participated in the functions strongly demanded a prompt renunciation of the U.S. hegemonic policy, denouncing its war of aggression in Iraq and the south Korean trip of U.S. State Secretary Rice.
    Over 2,500 members of organizations of the movement for peace against war took part in the "March 20 international action against war" held at Maroni Park, Seoul.
    Speakers there urged the south Korean government to apologize to the international community without delay for its dispatch of troops to Iraq and promptly withdraw those troops and appealed to all the people to turn out in the international action against war to put an end to U.S. occupation of Iraq.
    Read out there was "a resolution of the March 20 international action against war." It warned that the present south Korean government would face a stronger resistance of the anti-war peace movement if it continued to send additional troops to Iraq.
    Rallies and functions of civic and public organizations were held in front of Seoul National University, the U.S. military base in Ryongsan and at other places of the city to declare the anti-war struggle.
    Earlier, the Solidarity for Implementing South-North Joint Declaration staged an anti-U.S. and anti-war information activity in front of Kwanghwamun.

Reactionary and Dangerous Nature of U.S. Aid Disclosed

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Those countries that value independence should clearly see through the reactionary and dangerous nature of the U.S. aid and solve all the problems arising in their social life by their own efforts. Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed article. It goes on:
    The U.S. aid is one of its important means to implement the strategy for world supremacy. It is nothing but dangerous leverage to enslave other countries economically and politically in order to Americanize them.
    The U.S. claims that there is no need to aid any country if there is nothing to benefit from doing so, the interests and demands of the U.S. should strictly be respected and aid should be used as leverage to meet the U.S. strategic interests. This is the main aim and standard pursued by the U.S. in aid.
    Accordingly, U.S. aid always has unacceptable conditionalities. The U.S. forces those countries that depend on or hope for its aid to change their political systems and follow the American political and economic style.
    If they fail to clearly see through the reactionary essence of the U.S. aid and accept it, they will come under the U.S. political and economic yoke, far from finding a solution to problems.
    The developing countries should not be taken in by the U.S. claim that its aid helps other countries achieve socio-economic progress and settle problems but be vigilant against it. Any illusion and expectation for U.S. aid only invite subjugation and national ruin.

New Book "Korean Women Renowned in History" Published

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Historians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have published the book "Korean Women Renowned in History" (two volumes).
    The book deals with the life and activities of some 170 women who distinguished themselves with excellent virtue and prominent talents and earned ill-fame for their misdeeds in the Korean history from the ancient times to modern age.
    Given in the first volume are stories about those in the period from the ancient times to the Koryo period and in the second volume are those in the period from the Ri Dynasty to modern times. The book has been authored on the basis of unofficial records and tales.
    It introduces women who distinguished themselves in the struggle against invaders. Among them are Madam Rokjok of Koguryo who helped General Ulji Mun Dok in defeating invaders, woman warrior Sol Juk Hwa of Koryo who put on man's uniform and fell in a battle, and Kye Wol Hyang, a famous kisaeng of Pyongyang.
    The book also introduces women who earned ill-fame in history. Among such women are Queens of Silla Sondok and Jindok who ushered in foreign forces for the first time in the Korean history, Empress Chonchu of Koryo and Jang Hui Bin who was crafty enough to make scandals in the royal palace in the days of King Sukjong during the Ri Dynasty.
    The book carries stories about the life of Ri Kwan Rin and Ryu Kwan Sun who were famous in the modern history and Kang Kyong Ae, a progressive and able novelist, and anecdotes about them.

Brisk Preparations for New School Year in DPRK

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Preparations for the new school year are going on in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Ministry of Education, with a concrete plan, has organized such work for the betterment of education as making teaching plans well and improving the teaching method and quality of the primary and middle school teachers.
    Various functions such as short courses, model lectures and teaching aids exhibitions were already held in various forms and ways in different parts of the country.
    Efforts have also been made to prepare visual teaching materials, experiments and actual trainings suitable to the students' psychological features.
    The higher educational institutes have worked out new teaching programs reflecting up-to-the-minute technology and science with main emphasis on training excellent scientific and technical personnel and are securing modern experimental facilities and apparatuses at the final stage.
    School-supporters' organizations are also doing their bit.
    Schools are being furnished with new teaching tools, school fixtures and apparatuses and facilities for experiment and practice.

Pak Pong Ju Meets Jia Qinglin

     Beijing, March 23 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Pak Pong Ju on an official goodwill visit to China had a friendly talk with Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at the Great Hall of the People on March 23. Present there were Vice-Premier Ro Tu Chol, Chairman of the State Planning Commission Kim Kwang Rin, Minister of Foreign Trade Rim Kyong Man, DPRK Ambassador to China Choe Jin Su, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun, Vice-Minister of Agriculture Kim Hyok Jin, Vice-Minister of Chemical Industry Han Sung Jun and other suite members.
    On hand were Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Dawei and other officials concerned.
    Pak Pong Ju conveyed greetings from leader Kim Jong Il to Jia Qinglin.
    After expressing thanks for this, Jia asked Pak to convey his greetings to Kim Jong Il. Steadily consolidating and developing the Sino-Korean friendly relations accords with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is beneficial to the peace and stability of the region, he noted, stating that the Chinese people would further develop the friendly ties between the two countries in a spirit of inheriting tradition, facing the future, continuing good neighborliness and enhancing cooperation.

DPRK Delegation Leaves for Laos

     Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea led by its Chairman Choe Thae Bok left here on March 24 to visit Laos and participate in the 112th general meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to be held in Philippines. It was seen off at Pyongyang Railway Station by Kang Nung Su, vice-chairman of the SPA, Chanpheng Sihaphom, Lao ambassador to the DPRK, and Guan Hwabing, charge d' affaires ad interim of the Chinese embassy here.

For Spanish-speaking people

Suenan voces de elogio a Kim Il Sung en Rumania

     Pyongyang, 24 de marzo (ATCC) -- Con motivo del Dia del Sol (15 de abril, cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung) tuvo lugar el dia 16 en la sede del Partido Socialista de Rumania un seminario intitulado "Kim Il Sung es el gran Lider con grandes hazanas ideo-teoricas que admiran al mundo". Asistieron al foro el presidente del Consejo Supremo del PSR, Vasile Orleanu, y el titular de la Asociacion de Amistad Rumania-Corea, Florentin Oancea, copresidentes del Comite Preparatorio para el Dia del Sol, y otros miembros de este e integrantes de varias organizaciones.
    Los participantes vieron el documental coreano "El gran Lider, camarada Kim Il Sung se reune con presidentes y personalidades ilustres extranjeros".
    Al intervenir en el seminario varias personalidades alabaron que el Presidente es gran ideologo y teorico que concibio la idea Juche, veterano politico de talla mundial, destacado estratega militar y general insigne que derroto a los dos imperialismos en su generacion.
    A continuacion, refirieron que el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, con la politica de Songun (priorizacion militar), defiende el socialismo y conduce sabiamente la construccion de una gran potencia prospera y subrayaron que gracias a el, el futuro de Corea sera mas brillante como lo sera tambien el nombre del Presidente Kim Il Sung.

Se efectuara VII edicion del Festival de Kimilsungias

     Pyongyang, 24 de marzo (ATCC) -- Con motivo del Dia del Sol (15 de abril, cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung), el XII Festival de Kimilsungias tendra lugar a partir del 13 de abril del 94 (2005) de la Era Juche, durante 10 dias, en la Exposicion Permanente de Kimilsungia y Kimjongilia en esta capital. El certamen que se desarrolla en homenaje al dia de nacimiento del Presidente y el 40 aniversario de la aparicion de esta flor inmortal en el mundo servira de un motivo importante para rendir tributo al Presidente quien acumulo imperecederas hazanas ante la causa revolucionaria del Juche y la de la independencia de la humanidad y exaltar a todo el mundo el poderio de Corea del Juche donde el ejercito y el pueblo estan unidos monoliticamente en torno al Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    En la ocasion participaran personalidades de los circulos politicos y sociales, delegaciones y aficionados a la floricultura de varios paises del mundo. Durante ese periodo se desarrollaran el simposio nacional sobre kimilsungias y otras actividades.
    Tomaran parte tambien las instituciones de las Fuerzas Armadas, ministerios, organos centrales, entidades provinciales que cultivan la flor del Sol, militares, trabajadores, jovenes y ninos escolares, coreanos residentes en ultramar y extranjeros quienes la cultivan individualmente.
    La presente edicion hara significativa la fiesta de abril, estimulara vigorosamente la lucha heroica de nuestro ejercito y pueblo que producen nuevo auge en la revolucion y construccion para celebrar el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del Partido y de la restauracion de la patria como un gran festival de los triunfantes en la revolucion del Songun (priorizacion militar) y contribuira activamente a profundizar la amistad y la fraternidad con los pueblos revolucionarios del mundo.

Pak Pong Ju realiza visita protocolar a Hu Jintao

     Beijing, 23 de marzo (corresponsal de ATCC) -- El primer ministro del Consejo de Ministros de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea Pak Pong Ju, de visita oficial y de amistad a la Republica Popular China, hizo el dia 23 en el Gran Palacio del Pueblo una visita protocolar a Hu Jintao, Secretario General del Comite Central del Partido Comunista de China y Presidente de la RPCh. En esta ocasion, el visitante transmitio a Hu Jintao el saludo del Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    Hu Jintao lo agradecio y rogo al visitante que reciprocara su cordial saludo.
    Luego el mandatario chino se refirio a que durante la estancia del Dirigente Kim Jong Il en China el ano pasado, sostuvo un profundo intercambio de opiniones sobre las relaciones bilaterales y los problemas internacionales y regionales y llego a la comprension mutua con el.
    La visita a China del camarada Kim Jong Il -prosiguio- impulso el desarrollo de las tradicionales relaciones de amistad entre ambos paises y escribio una nueva pagina de la historia de estos vinculos.
    China y Corea son dos vecinos en armonia que se limitan con montanas y rios y entre los partidos, gobiernos y pueblos de los dos paises existe profundo sentimiento de amistad, remarco.
    El partido y el gobierno de China mantienen invariablemente su orientacion de dar importancia a las relaciones de amistad entre ambos paises y desarrollarlas, reafirmo. El pueblo chino se contenta de los exitos que logra el pueblo coreano en la construccion del socialismo bajo la direccion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea encabezado por el camarada Secretario General Kim Jong Il, apunto.
    Por ultimo, el estadista chino deseo mayores exitos al pueblo coreano en su construccion del socialismo en este ano en que se cumple el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del PTC.
    Por la parte coreana, estuvieron presentes el viceprimer ministro Ro Tu Chol, el presidente del Comite Estatal de Planificacion Kim Kwang Rin, el ministro de Comercio Exterior Rim Kyong Man, el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de Corea en China Choe Jin Su, el viceministro de Relaciones Exteriores Kim Hyong Jun, el viceministro de Agricultura Kim Hyok Jin, el vicetitular de Industria Quimica Han Sung Jun y otros acompanantes.
    Por la china, participaron el canciller chino Li Zhaoxing, el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de China en Corea Wu Donghe, el viceministro de Relaciones Exteriores Wu Dawei y otros funcionarios.
    La platica transcurrio en un ambiente camaraderil.

Reunion anual ordinaria del Comite Coreano de Solidaridad con Cuba

     Pyongyang, 24 de marzo (ATCC) -- La reunion anual ordinaria del Comite Coreano de Solidaridad con Cuba tuvo lugar el dia 23 en el Club Taedonggang para el Cuerpo Diplomatico. Estuvieron presentes el ministro de Educacion y presidente del Comite Coreano de Solidaridad con Cuba (CCSC) Kim Yong Jin, el vicepresidente del Comite Coreano de Relaciones Culturales con el Extranjero Jon Hyon Chan y los miembros del CCSC.
    Participaron el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica de Cuba en Corea, Ruben Perez Valdes y otros miembros de la sede diplomatica.
    La sesion hizo balance de la labor del citado Comite en el ano pasado para la amistad y la solidaridad con el pueblo cubano que lucha energicamente por defender la soberania del pais y las conquistas de la revolucion frustrando siniestras maniobras de los yanquis encaminadas a aislar y aplastar a Cuba y discutio el plan de actividades para este ano.