Kim Jong Il Enjoys Joint Performance Given by Russian Art Troupes

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Saturday appreciated a joint performance given by a music troupe of the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory, the Russian Sveshnikov State Academic Chorus, the Russian Kazakh Dance Company and the Russian tap dance group participating in the 23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival. He was received at the theatre by Stanislav Kalinin, head of the a music troupe of the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory, Igor Ivanovich Rayevsky, head of the Russian Sveshnikov State Academic Chorus, Leonid Petrovich Milivanov, head of the Russian Kazakh Dance Company, Vladimir Kirsanov, head of the Russian tap dance group, and Andrei Gennadiyevich Karlov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK.
    Kim Jong Il expressed his thanks to various famous art troupes of Russia for participating in the festival and splendidly decorating its stage with their successful performances. Then he had a warm conversation with them.
    When he appeared in the auditorium, Russian artistes presented a bunch of fragrant flowers to him in unbounded reverence and offered him their thanks.
    Watching the performance together with him were Kim Il Chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces, Choe Thae Bok and Kim Ki Nam, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, senior officials of the Party and the army, leading officials of media organizations and KPA servicepersons.
    Among the audience were heads of the above-said Russian art troupes and the Russian ambassador and staff members of his embassy.
    The performance began with the chorus "Song of General Kim Jong Il." Their repertoire included colorful numbers such as chorus "The Just War", "Song of Ships on the River Volga", male solo of romance by Tchaikovsky "Forest, I Praise Thee," female solo "On Highway", song and dance "Matanya" and "Kazakh Dance", dance "Kalinka", tap dance "We Walk along Moscow", chorus "My Motherland" and Korean songs such as Piano solo "Dear General, Where Are You", chorus "My Native Land."
    In the performance the Russian artistes represented the Russian people's love for their motherland and their optimistic life with high artistry.
    The performance was acclaimed by the audience as it was pervaded with the warm feelings of the DPRK-Russian friendship.
    Kim Jong Il sent a floral basket to the artistes, congratulating them on their successful performance. He had a photograph taken with them.

U.S. Plan to Supply New Type Shells to Its Forces in S. Korea under Fire

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- The U.S. decision to provide M1-A1 Abrams prototype tanks of the second division of its forces in south Korea with buckshot-type shells it developed anew is fraught with great danger, says Rodong Sinmun Sunday in a signed commentary. It says:
    The U.S. moves to ship the shells into Iraq and south Korea simultaneously undoubtedly prove that it seeks to bring the Iraqi situation under its control and launch a war of aggression against the DPRK at the same time.
    The U.S. is paying lip-service to the resumption of the six-party talks and the peaceful solution of the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S.
    However, this is nothing but a false tactics and the U.S. is, in fact, hastening preparations for a war of aggression against the DPRK.
    Toward the end of last year the U.S. stealthily deployed dozens of ATACMS Block 2 and ATACMS Block 1A, latest new type ground to ground missiles, at the second division of its forces in south Korea.
    These irrefutably show that the U.S. is sharpening a sword to invade the DPRK and launch a preemptive attack on it behind scene while loudly talking about the resumption of the six-party talks.
    The situation proves how just it was when the DPRK has increased its nuclear deterrent force in every way, seeing through the U.S. ulterior intention to invade the DPRK.
    If the U.S. triggers a war of aggression against the DPRK the Korean army and people will give vent to their pent-up wrath against the U.S. and deal a thousand-fold retaliatory blow to it. The aggressors will be doomed to be forlorn wandering spirits in face of unpredictably strong nuclear deterrent force of the DPRK.

Korean People's Anti-U.S. Struggle Supported in India

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- The Communist Party of India will boost its relations with the Workers' Party of Korea and positively support the struggle of the Party and the people of the DPRK against the United States. A. B. Bardhan said this when meeting with DPRK Ambassador to the country Han Chang On who paid a congratulatory call on him on April 9 on the occasion of his reelection as general secretary of the National Council of the Communist Party of India. Voices condemning the U.S. imperialists' moves against the DPRK rang out loudly from the recent 19th congress of the CPI, the general secretary noted.

U.S. Urged to Clearly Understand Reality before Disarmament Talks

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration reportedly released a statement titled "The United States should clearly understand the reality before coming out for disarmament talks" on April 11, which stressed that the press statement issued by a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry on March 31 is an appropriate proposal reflecting the changed reality of the Korean Peninsula. Referring to the detailed facts that the U.S. has posed a serious nuclear threat on the peninsula in violation of the Armistice Agreement, the statement noted that the denuclearization of the peninsula cannot be promoted by the north's unilateral abandonment of its nukes.
    It is the only way for the peace, stability and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula to pull all nuclear weapons and the U.S. troops out of this land, it stated, urging the U.S. to give up its arrogant attitude and come out for the disarmament talks at once.

Kim Yong Nam Greets President of Djibouti

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to Ismail Omar Guelleh on his reelection as president of Djibouti. Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would grow stronger, the message sincerely wished the president and people of Djibouti greater successes in their work for the building of a new society.

Performances Given for Guests of Honour

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Performances of the 23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival were given for guests of honor at the Ponghwa Art Theatre, the Central Workers' Hall, the Yun I Sang Concert Hall and the Pyongyang Circus on April 16. The performances were appreciated by senior officials of the Party and state, officials of the Party and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, heroes and heroines, persons of merit and working people, artistes, youth and students in Pyongyang, overseas Koreans and foreign guests.
    Artistes of different countries and overseas Korean artistes put on the stages songs, dances, instrumental music, acrobatic numbers in high praise of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il.
    The Korean songs sung by foreign artistes including female solo "Cantata to Marshal Kim Il Sung" of the Indonesian Guruh Sukarno Art Troupe, male solo "O, the Leader's Embrace" of the Japan-Korea Musical and Artistic Interchange Society and quartet "I Long for the Sunny Smile" of the Austrian String Band made the audience warmly recollect the noble traits and immortal feats of the President.
    Ardent reverence for Kim Jong Il was represented by many numbers including female solo "Let Us Be the Satellites around the Sun" of the Vietnamese art troupe, female solo "General, Please Don't Travel along the Snow-covered Road in Cold Weather" of the Mongolian art troupe and female solo "There Is Only Our General" of the art troupe of Koreans in Australia.
    Foreign artistes showed their high artistic skill through such numbers as dance "Good Day" of the Chinese Hangzhou Song and Dance Troupe, instrumental quintet "Holiday of Spring" of the Singaporean art troupe, solo "Song on Mary" of the British vocal soloist, dance "Welcoming the Spring" of the Indian Manipuri Dance Troupe, a dance of Egyptian art troupe, solo "Song of Egia Mola" of a Greece vocal soloist, song "Fulgence Bienvenue" of a French vocal soloist, solo of the Cuban music troupe, female solo of the Bulgarian group of famous artistes and male duet of the Armenian group of famous artistes.
    Among the circus number were "Plastic Acrobatics with Lamps" of the Chinese Inner Mongolian acrobatic group, "Aerial Swinging" of the Russian acrobatic group, solo plastic acrobatics "A Pearl in a Shellfish" of the Mongolian acrobatic group and "Turning Rings" of the Swedish acrobatic group and illusionary jugglery "Mystery" of the Portuguese magic group.
    At the end of the performances, senior officials of the Party and state mounted on the stages to present floral baskets to the performers and congratulate them on their successful performances.

Experience of Juche Idea Study Group Delegations Exchanged

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Delegations of groups for the study of the Juche idea staying in the DPRK met to exchange their experience at the People's Palace of Culture on April 16 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. It was attended by Vishwanath, director-general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, and delegations of groups for the study of the Juche idea from different countries.
    On hand were Rim Hoe Song, vice-chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society, and other officials concerned.
    The participants swapped their achievements and experience in the past activities for the study and dissemination of the Juche idea and called for conducting the activities more briskly in the future.

U.S. Fabrication of Sheer Lie Related to DPRK's Nuclear Program Uncovered

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- A recent issue of the U.S. newspaper Washington Post disclosed a shocking fact that in a bid to escalate pressure on Pyongyang the U.S. government offered to south Korea, Japan and other countries a fraud information that north Korea exported raw substances for nuclear weapons to Libya. Rodong Sinmun here Sunday carries a signed article in this regard.
    It says:
    Upon hearing the news south Koreans are complaining that the U.S. provision of fraud information related to the north's nuclear program to its friendly countries is a crucial plan shaking diplomatic cooperation. This reveals once again that the U.S. information is based on fiction and fabrication.
    The American history has been that of aggression, war and plunder and fabrication of information and plot-breeding are the trite method peculiar to it.
    The White House committed the invasion of Iraq on the basis of the fraud information premeditated and fabricated by it beforehand.
    What is peculiar in the U.S. fabrication of information and plot-breeding is that it uses dissident forces, those opposed to the political system in those countries incurring its displeasure and political exiles to fabricate sheer lie.
    In recent years the U.S. has taken Iran's construction of an atomic power station under an agreement on nuclear energy between Iran and Russia as a good opportunity to intensify its hostile policy toward Tehran.
    It is not hard to imagine what the U.S. has sought when it spread a story about Iran's secret nuclear test and forced Tehran to open it to the public and dismantle uranium enrichment facilities and accept IAEA's inspection of them.
    The U.S. warlike forces try to apply this method to the DPRK. The hard-line conservatives of the U.S. have noisily talked about "suspicious underground nuclear facilities" in the DPRK in a bid to spy out military secrets.
    The U.S. is gravely mistaken if it thinks that its clumsy fabrication of fraud information may work everywhere.
    The U.S. imperialist aggressors resort to the gangster-like logic that strength only wins justice. Those countries which value sovereignty and strive for national dignity and prosperity should heighten vigilance against the U.S. imperialists' more pronounced cruel fabrication of sheer lies and plot-breeding and channel due efforts into strengthening their self-reliant national defence capacity to cope with the moves.

Greetings to Zimbabwean President

     Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Sunday sent a message of greetings to Robert G. Mugabe, president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the republic. The message said that the Korean people are sincerely rejoiced over the great achievements made by the government and people of Zimbabwe for 25 years in their struggle to defend the sovereignty of the country and achieve national unity and economic prosperity despite all sorts of challenges.
    Reaffirming the stand to boost the long-standing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, the message wished the president good health and success in his responsible work.

Letter to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il Friday received a letter from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on the occasion of the 93rd birth anniversary of Generalissimo Kim Il Sung. The letter noted that April 15, Juche 1 (1912) is a great auspicious day to eternally shine in the history of the country and human history as it was the day the great sun of the nation rose in Korea and the new era of humankind, the Juche era, began.
    Today all the Chongryon officials and Koreans in Japan commemorating the birth anniversary of the generalissimo are fully determined to uphold Kim Jong Il's leadership with loyalty true to the behests of Kim Il Sung, the letter said, and continued:
    We will meet the 50th founding anniversary of Chongryon with splendor as an auspicious national event of Koreans in Japan and make it a turning point in putting the movement of Koreans in Japan on a higher stage.
    True to the important instructions of Kim Jong Il, we will put greater spurs to the eight-month movement for carrying out the decision of the 20th Conference of Chongryon and go deep among masses of compatriots from all walks of life in order to conduct actions for developing national education and preserving the national identity, protect the national rights and life of the compatriots and consolidate the mass foundation of Chongryon.
    We will intensify external activities in view of the prevailing situation, positively contribute to the building of a great prosperous powerful nation in the homeland and actively join in the nationwide struggle to achieve the country's reunification, holding aloft the banner of three forms of cooperation this year which marks the fifth anniversary of the publication of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.

Kim Yong Nam Meets Heads of Foreign Delegations

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday met and had friendly talks with heads of delegations of Juche Idea study organizations from different countries including Vishwanath, director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, on a visit to the DPRK at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. On hand were officials concerned including Rim Hoe Song, vice-chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society.

Round-Table Talks Arranged in China on Day of Sun

     Beijing, April 13 (KCNA) -- The China Association for International Friendly Contact arranged round-table talks titled "President Kim Il Sung and the Sino-Korean Friendly Relations" in Beijing on Tuesday on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. A vice-president of the association said at the round-table talks that Kim Il Sung personally founded the Party, the state and the army of the DPRK, devoted all his efforts to the Korean revolution and construction and performed immortal exploits for the independent and peaceful reunification of the nation.
    He continued:
    The President fought shoulder to shoulder with the Chinese comrades in the period of the anti-Japanese war and gave strong support and assistance to China in the period of the Chinese liberation war, leading the young DPRK.
    Leader Kim Jong Il sets great store by the development of the Sino-Korean friendly relations, true to the will of Kim Il Sung, and visited China several times in recent years, reaching a lot of common understanding with new Chinese leaders in the efforts to boost the bilateral ties.
    The traditional Sino-Korean relations will surely record a new and more brilliant chapter in the spirit "inheriting the tradition, facing up to the future, building good neighborly friendship and strengthening cooperation" thanks to the concerted efforts of the two parties and governments and peoples under the common care of General Secretary Hu Jintao and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he noted, affirming that the association would as ever contribute to steadily boosting the Sino-Korean friendly relations.
    A counselor and a director of the association and a director of the Beijing Association for International Friendly Contact stressed the exploits performed by the President for the development of the friendly relations between the two counties and the director of the Centre for Korean Peninsula
    Studies of the Institute for World Development under the State Council and a researcher at the Institute for Modern International Relations evinced their resolution to work for the development of the Sino-DPRK friendship generation after generation.

Letter to Kim Jong Il from AINDF

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a letter from the Central Committee of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front on Friday on the occasion of the Day of the Sun and the 12th anniversary of his election as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. The letter said that President Kim Il Sung founded the immortal Juche idea, an acme in the history of human thought, ushering in a new era, the era of Juche, in the development of a new history, in which the oppressed and maltreated working masses emerged masters of the world.
    The President was a benefactor of national liberation as he defeated the Japanese imperialists with arms and saved the country and the nation, a legendary hero who waged a great war against the U.S., bringing about the beginning of a downhill turn for U.S. imperialism, and father of socialist Korea of Juche, as he successfully accomplished the cause of building the Party, the state and the army and leading the social changes at the two stages and socialist construction to victory, converting the DPRK into a powerful nation, independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defence, the letter noted, and continued:
    Kim Jong Il has foiled an offensive of the imperialists to stifle the Republic and firmly protected the destiny of the country and the nation with his unique Songun politics unprecedented in the world history of politics and performed such miracles and feats as turning adversity into favorable conditions and misfortune into blessing and launching a dynamic drive to build a great prosperous powerful nation.
    It is also the brilliant fruition of your Songun politics that the historic meeting in Pyongyang, the first of its kind in the history of national split, and the June 15 joint declaration brought about the era of independence and reunification and the DPRK enjoys the daily rising international position as it is demonstrating its might as an ideologically and politically invincible country and a military power.
    We will bring about a radical turn in the struggle for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea to end its domination and subjugation and accomplish the cause of independent reunification this significant year, the 60th anniversary of national liberation and the 5th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration, holding aloft the banner of the three forms of cooperation for national independence, peace against war and reunification and patriotism, and thus record a brilliant page in the history of the movement for national reunification, the letter said.

Reception Given at DPRK Embassy in Beijing

     Beijing, April 13 (KCNA) -- A reception was given at the DPRK embassy in Beijing on April 13 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Ismail Amet, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said in his speech that President Kim Il Sung performed immortal exploits as founder and leader of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean People's Army and the DPRK by making distinguished efforts to achieve the national independence and development of the DPRK, defend peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and realize the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.
    Noting that the Korean people have made new steady achievements on the three fronts-- politics and ideology, anti-imperialism and military affairs and economy and science--, united close around the Workers' Party of Korea headed General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he sincerely hoped that the Korean people would continue to achieve new and greater success in their cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation, developing external relations and achieving the independent and peaceful reunification. He continued:
    President Kim Il Sung made a great contribution in his lifetime by working heart and soul to steadily boost the Sino-Korean friendly and cooperative relations. General Secretary Kim Jong Il has attached utmost importance to the development of the Sino-Korean relations, true to the intention of the President.
    The Chinese people are convinced that the Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations will surely grow stronger and develop and the flower of the Sino-Korean friendship bloom more beautifully by the joint efforts of the two parties, governments and peoples under the deep care and guidance of General Secretary Hu Jintao and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Reception Given to Commemorate Day of Sun

     Moscow, April 13 (KCNA) -- A reception was given at the DPRK embassy in Moscow on April 13 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Present there on invitation were Aleksandr Alekseyev, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and leading officials of ministries including the Ministry of National Defence, deputies to the State Duma of Russia, leading officials of political parties and organizations and personage of various circles.
    The participants first laid a floral basket and bouquets before a life-size picture of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and paid homage to them.
    The Russian vice-minister of Foreign Affairs said in his speech at the reception that they knew well about what a great contribution Kim Il Sung made in history of the development of the relations between Russia and the DPRK.
    He went on:
    The fraternal Korean leadership guided by Kim Jong Il is making efforts to further strengthen the friendly and traditional relations between Russia and the DPRK, developing the line of Kim Il Sung.
    The overall work for boosting the relations between Russia and the DPRK conforms to the interests of the two peoples and states.
    The treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK signed in February 2000 and top-level agreements reached in Pyongyang, Moscow and Vladivostok serve as the solid foundation for boosting the Russia-DPRK relations and are of weighty importance in the efforts for security and peace in Northeast Asia under the present complex situation.
    We will make sustained efforts together with the Korean friends to ensure the stability and development in the region and make the fair realization of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
    Such stand will always be maintained as it is the official stand of the Russian government.

Japan Urged to Admit Its Crimes Related to Sexual Slavery

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The Consultative Council for International Solidarity Demanding Japan's Liquidation of its Past issued a statement on April 7 as regards the serious debate on the issue of Japan's liquidation of its past during the discussion on the agenda item 12 (women's human rights) of the 61st meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights. The council in its statement fully supported the speeches made by delegates from the north and the south of Korea during the above-said discussion.
    The statement requested the commission to demand the Japanese government honestly accept the recommendation of a UN special raporteur on violence against women and admit its legal responsibility for the sexual slavery enforced for the imperial Japanese army.
    Noting that it is more than a decade since the issue of the "comfort women" for the imperial Japanese army was brought up for discussion at the UN, the statement said the international community recognized that the sexual slavery for the imperial Japanese army was a serious act of violating international law and demanded the Japanese government make a formal apology and legal compensation for it to the victims.
    The statement declared that the council would conduct a vigorous international campaign for Japan's liquidation of its past.

Order and Medals Awarded to Adherents to Juche Idea

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of awarding an order and medals of the DPRK to adherents to the Juche idea on a visit to the DPRK was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Friday on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Rim Hoe Song, vice-chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society, officials concerned, Vishwanath, director-general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, and members of delegations of the Juche Idea study organizations from different countries.
    After a decree of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly was conveyed Friendship Order Second Class was awarded to Stanislav Dobek, head of a Polish delegation for the study of the Juche idea, and Friendship Medals to six adherents to the Juche idea for supporting the Korean people in their struggle to build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation of Juche and national reunification and working hard to study and disseminate the greatness of the Songun politics of the Workers' Party of Korea and the immortal Juche idea in humble reverence for President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il.

Greetings to Syrian President

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Saturday sent a message of greetings to Bashar Al-Assad, president of Syria, on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of its independence. Noting that the Korean people know well that after the independence, the Syrian Arab people have achieved great successes in the work to defend the sovereignty of the country and dignity of the nation and build a developed and modern society and highly appreciate them, the message said that the Korean people always extend support and solidarity to the Syrian Arab people in their just cause to defeat the ceaseless pressure and threat of outside forces, ensure peace and security in the region and fairly and comprehensively settle the Mideast issue.
    The message sincerely wished the friendly Syrian Arab people greater progress and prosperity and expressed expectation and conviction that the excellent friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to grow stronger in the future, too.

"Room Dedicated to the Reading of Comrade Kim Il Sung" Arranged in Its Original State in China

    Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- A "room dedicated to the reading of Comrade Kim Il Sung" of Jilin Yuwen Middle School situated on the bank of Songhua River in Jilin, China was arranged to retain its former glory in the 1920s on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Jilin Yuwen Middle School was set up in a place noted for its scenic beauty and good environment in 1917. It trained many famous figures and intellectuals.
    President Kim Il Sung conducted his revolutionary activities while studying at the school from January, Juche 16 (1927) to Autumn, Juche 18 (1929).
    The president was admitted to the second year class of the school on January 17, Juche 16 (1927). Elected chief of the school library twice, he studied hard Marxist-Leninist classics such as "The Capital" and read many revolutionary novels including "Mother" and "Blessing" and progressive novels based on the reality in those days, sitting up all night.
    He made a deep inquiry into new strategic and tactical problems related to fulfilling the historic mission of the working class through his energetic study. This course meant the course in which he brought to maturity the guiding idea, theory and method on the Korean revolution.
    The party and government of China decided to name the classroom where the President studied a "room dedicated to the reading of Marshal Kim Il Sung" in 1953 and then a "room dedicated to the reading of Comrade Kim Il Sung."
    Over the last more than half a century since then, officials of the Chinese party and government, party and power organs of Jilin Province and Jilin City and teachers, staff members and students of the school and Koreans in China have done the work to repair and take better care of the room on several occasions including 1985, 1997 and 2003. This year the People's Government and different organs in Jilin City and Koreans in China paid deep attention to the work of keeping the room in its original state, attaching utmost importance to it.
    Thanks to their efforts, the floor and walls of the room were arranged in their original state and the room was equipped with modern facilities for permanently preserving the revolutionary historic materials of the President and gifts sent by him and leader Kim Jong Il to the school.
    Saying that the room arranged in its original state thanks to the sincere efforts of the peoples of the DPRK and China is a precious historic site associated with the revolutionary feats of the President, a room good for the education in the revolutionary tradition and patriotism, a centre for moral education in Jilin Province and a holy place for glorifying the Sino-Korea friendship, the officials of the school are taking care of the room with all sincerity.
    The room which will always stand in the flower garden of the Sino-Korea friendship is now visited by Chinese from all walks of life and foreigners.

Congratulations to Queen of Denmark

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Saturday sent a congratulatory message to Queen Margrethe the Second on her birthday, the national holiday of Denmark. The message wished her good health and happiness and Danish people welfare and prosperity.

Greetings to Syrian Prime Minister

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Muhammad Nazi Otri, prime minister of Syria, on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of its independence. The message sincerely wished him and the Syrian government greater success in the work to build a modern and developed Syria.
    Meanwhile, DPRK Minister of Foreign Affairs Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to his Syrian counterpart Farouk Al-Shara on the same occasion.

Gifts to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received gifts from Vishwanath, director-general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, a delegation of the Organization for the Study of the Juche Idea of Thailand led by its Chairman Songchit Pullarp and a Japanese delegation for commemorating the Day of the Sun headed by Hiroyuki Kasai, member of the Saitama Prefectural People's Council for Japan-Korea Friendship and Solidarity, on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Gifts were handed over to an official concerned.

Kim Jong Il Sends Message of Greetings to Syrian President

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Saturday sent a message of greetings to Bashar Al-Assad, general secretary of the Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party and president of the Syrian Arab Republic, on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of its independence. Noting that since its independence the Syrian Arab people under the leadership of the Baath Arab Socialist Party have achieved great successes in the work to develop and modernize the country for 59 years, the message said that the Korean people will fully support the Syrian Arab people in their just cause to defend the country's sovereignty and security and comprehensively and fairly settle the Mideast issue despite all kinds of pressure and threat of outside forces in the future, too.
    Expressing the belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger, it sincerely wished the Syrian government and people greater progress and prosperity.

International Art Festival

     Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Famous art troupes and celebrated artistes from many countries are taking part in the 23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival in Pyongyang. More than 110 of them are international and national concours winners.
    Included in the Russian State Academy Ensemble Named after Sveshnikov are People's Actor and Prof. Igor Raevski, head and chief conductor of the ensemble, and 14 international concours winners and merited artistes. The Chinese Hangzhou Song and Dance Ensemble consists of a national first-class artiste and other national prize winners.
    The Austrian string orchestra consists of international concours winners.
    Most of the artistes are international and national concours winners in the Vietnamese art troupe, Moldavian music troupe and Italian group of famous artistes.
    Among those who are popular in the festival are a Ukrainian international national instrument concours winner, a singer of Greece, a Japanese soloist and a British singer who are international prize winners.
    The April Spring Friendship Art Festival is an international festival and art Olympics where famous artistes gather from many countries to fully display their artistic talent by singing and playing music pieces praising President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and the world's famous songs.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il envia mensaje de felicitacion al presidente sirio

     Pyongyang, 16 de abril (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea envio el dia 16 un mensaje de felicitacion a Bashar Al Assad, Secretario General del CC del Partido Socialista del Resurgimiento Arabe y Presidente de la Republica Arabe de Siria con motivo del 59 aniversario de la independencia de este pais. El mensaje senala que durantes los 59 anos despues de lograda la independencia, el pueblo arabe de Siria, bajo la direccion del Partido BAAS, ha logrado muchos exitos en la labor para el desarrollo y la modernizacion del pais.
    Agrega que en lo adelante tambien el pueblo coreano dara irrestricto apoyo a la justa causa del pueblo siriaco para defender la soberania y la seguridad del pais frente a la amenaza y la presion de todo tipo de las fuerzas foraneas y solucionar de manera global y comprensiva el problema del Oriente Medio.
    Expresa conviccion de que las tradicionales relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los dos paises se fortaleceran y se desarrollaran aun mas y formula sinceros votos por el progreso y la prosperidad mas grandes para el gobierno y el pueblo de Siria.

Actividades por el Dia del Sol

     Pyongyang, 16 de abril (ATCC) -- Como colofon de las actividades por el Dia del Sol (15 de abril, cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung), en horas nocturnas del dia 15 tuvo lugar la velada de los jovenes y estudiantes capitalinos en la plaza Kim Il Sung. La velada iniciada con la cancion "Cantemos del Dia del Sol" llego a su climax con las melodias de la "Cancion de Mangyongdae", "Mariscal Kim Jong Il es nuestro padre", "Fortuna de Corea", "Cantemos de la unidad entre los militares y civiles", etc.
    Entre los grandes oleajes de bailarines se distinguian tambien huespedes extranjeros y coreanos residentes en ultramar.
    Por otra parte, este dia, los miembros de circulos artisticos del Palacio de Ninos y Escolares de Mangyongdae y el de Pyongyang ofrecieron funciones en sus sedes.
    En sus variados programas los ninos y escolares reflejaron el gran encanto de si mismos por haber acogido el jubiloso Dia del Sol y su decision de prepararse como continuadores de la revolucion que se encargaran del futuro de Corea del Songun (priorizacion militar).
    En estas actividades estuvieron presentes los cuadros del partido, el Estado y el ejercito, presidentes de partidos amigos, vicepresidentes del Presidium del CC de la Asociacion General de Coreanos Residentes en Japon (Chongryon).
    Entre los invitados figuraban los coreanos residentes en ultramar de visita en la patria socialista, representantes diplomaticos y otros miembros de las embajadas de varios paises y huespedes extranjeros.
    De otro lado, en todas las localidades del pais se llevaron a cabo reuniones de miembros de entidades de masas para jurar la fidelidad, encuentros de recuerdo del Presidente, foros de presentacion de nobles rasgos de el, encuentros musicales en recordacion del Presidente, mega-coros y otras variadas funciones de festejo.

Demandan a Japon reconocer su responsabilidad por esclavitud sexual

     Pyongyang, 16 de abril (ATCC) -- El Consejo de Solidaridad Internacional en demanda de la liquidacion del pasado criminal de Japon emitio el dia 7 una declaracion en relacion con que se entablo una discusion muy seria acerca del problema de la liquidacion del pasado criminal de Japon durante el debate sobre el parrafo 12 (Derechos humanos de mujeres) de la agenda del 61o periodo de sesiones de la Comision de DDHH de la ONU. Segun el documento, esta entidad internacional apoya totalmente las intervenciones de los delegados del Norte y el Sur de Corea hechas en esta ocasion y pide a la Comision de DDHH de la ONU que demande al gobierno japones aceptar con sinceridad las recomendaciones de la relatora especial de la ONU sobre la violacion contra las mujeres y reconocer su responsabilidad juridica por la esclavitud sexual implantada para el viejo ejercito japones.
    Ya pasaron 10 anos -prosigue el documento- desde que el problema de "consoladoras para las tropes japonesas" fue sometido a la consideracion de la ONU.
    Al reconocer que la esclavitud sexual deviene flagrante violacion del derecho internacional, la sociedad internacional vino demandando al gobierno japones pedir disculpa de manera oficial a las victimas y hacerles remuneracion debida en orden juridico, recuerda.
    El CSI seguira desplegando en el ambito internacional el movimiento por la liquidacion del pasado criminal de Japon, asegura la declaracion.

Festival primaveral ostenta talentos artisticos de talla internacional

     Pyongyang, 16 de abril (ATCC) -- Entre los participantes en el XXIII Festival Artistico de Amistad Abril en Primavera, que tiene lugar en estos dias en esta capital, figuran renombradas entidades artisticas y mas de 110 premiados en los concursos nacionales e internacionales y actores estrellas de muchos paises. El Coro Academico Nacional Shveshnikov de Rusia esta presidido por el prof. Igori Raepski quien es director en jefe y actor del pueblo e integrado por 14 premiados en concursos internacionales y actors benemeritos. Y el Conjunto de Musica y Danza de Hangzhou de China lo integran el actor de primera categoria de este pais y otros artistas valorados de excelentes en varios festivales y concursos artisticos nacionales.
    El Conjunto Musical de Instrumentos de Cuerda de Austria esta compuesto por los premiados en concursos internacionales; el Conjunto Artistico de Vietnam, el Conjunto Musical de Moldova, el Conjunto de actores famosos de Italia, integrados en su mayoria por los premiados en concursos nacionales e internacionales.
    Tambien se ven el ejecutante de Ucrania, premiado en un concurso internacional de instrumentos nacionales, los solistas de Grecia e Inglaterra y el ejecutante de Japon, todos premiados en concursos internacionales.
    Ellos demostraron con excelencia sus altos talentos artisticos describiendo con probada destreza conforme al contenido de las obras las canciones coreanas "Mi tierra natal", "Cielo azul de mi pais", etc, la rusa "Olas del Amur", la folclorica de Italia "Oh, mi sol", la pieza "Habanera" de la opera "Carmen" del compositor frances Bizet, la danza china "Matiz de la juventud", etc.
    Es digno de llamarse festival de primera clase del mundo y "Olimpiada artistica" el Festival Artistico de Amistad Abril en Primavera en que los actores de fama mundial demuestran sin reserva sus talentos artisticos en los himnos de elogio a los grandes hombres sin pares, quienes disfrutan de infinita veneracion y confianza de todo el mundo, y en las famosas obras mundiales.