Balderdash of S. Korean Foreign Ministry under Fire

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification in a statement on May 12 reportedly demanded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of south Korea properly see through the nature of the situation, though belatedly, and drop its pro-U.S. diplomacy without delay. The north successfully unloaded the spent fuel rods from the pilot nuclear plant and clarified its stand that it would take further necessary steps to increase its nuclear arsenal for the defensive purpose of coping with the prevailing situation, with a main emphasis on developing the self-reliant nuclear power industry, the statement said, and went on:
    As soon as this position was made public, the ministry lost no time to release a commentary in which it let loose such balderdash as "it was a measure to strain the situation in contravention of the process to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula" and "the north should return to the six-country talks without delay". This is nothing but a rash act of the diplomatic authorities of this land diametrically running counter to the common interests of the nation.
    Whenever the situation got strained over the north's nuclear issue, the ministry asked the U.S. chiefly accountable for it to have "negotiation" and "consultation" but pointed an accusing finger at the north where compatriots live.

Anti-U.S., Anti-War Rally Held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Reunification Solidarity and the People's Solidarity of south Korea reportedly held an anti-American and anti-war rally in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on May 13. At the rally, the permanent representative chairman of the Reunification Solidarity, the chairman for external cooperation of the south Korean Council of Youth Organizations and other speakers charged that the aim of the south Korean visit of the U.S. state assistant secretary is to press the government to apply sanctions against the north, sever the relations with the north and stir up a war atmosphere.
    The U.S. should bear in mind if it ignites a war recklessly regarding the south Korean people as a weak nation of the past, this will only precipitate its destruction, the speakers warned, and continued:
    The U.S. should withdraw its hostile policy and plan for a preemptive attack on the north if the north's nuclear issue is to find a peaceful solution.
    The south Korean people from all walks of life regard Uncle Sam as the root cause of all evils wrecking peace on the Korean Peninsula and the north as their partner, they noted, declaring that the Koreans would smash the U.S. moves to unleash a war on the peninsula through national cooperation. The participants in the rally handed a letter of protest to the U.S. embassy.

Central House for Working-class Education Draws Endless Stream of Visitors

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The number of visitors to the Central House for Working-class Education is now on a steady increase as the U.S. and Japan have gone to extremes in their moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK. The house is visited by at least 2,500 servicepersons and working people on a daily average.
    On display at the house are specific materials and evidence proving how brutally the U.S. imperialists and the Japanese reactionaries and other class enemies massacred Koreans, how savagely they looted rich natural resources of Korea for centuries and how frantically they are working to spark the second Korean War, still imposing the pain resulting from the national division upon the Korean people.
    According to data available, more than 1.44 million servicepersons and people from all walks of life have visited this house since its opening in July Juche 91 (2002).
    Among them are at least 310,000 servicepersons, over half a million workers, over 50,000 farmers, more than 210,000 office-workers and over 270,000 youth and students.
    The visitors vow to remain true to the Songun politics of the Workers' Party of Korea, having grasped once again the truth that the aggressive and predatory nature of imperialism can never change.

Anniversary of May 18 Kwangju Popular Uprising Commemorated in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Commemorative events were held in Kwangju and other parts of South Jolla Province on May 15 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the May 18 Kwangju Popular Uprising, according to KBS and CBS of south Korea. The event of a "grand rally of Kwangju citizens and people of South Jolla Province" and a people's rally for inheriting the spirit of May 18 were held in front of the provincial government.
    The event and rally sponsored by the Preparatory Committee for the Functions involved an exhibition showing the course of the uprising which was a fierce anti-U.S., anti-fascist struggle for democracy and an art performance honoring the memory of those who fell in it. Meanwhile, seven civic and public organizations including the Reform Solidarity of Kwangju and South Jolla Province adopted a declaration of peace in Northeast Asia on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Kwangju Popular Uprising.
    The organizations in the declaration noted that the tension is being screwed up to a higher pitch and peace is under threat in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia due to Japan's current moves to seize Tok Islet and its distortion of history. They called for defending peace in Northeast Asia by inheriting the spirit of May 18 symbolic of democracy and human rights.
    A lot of people visited the cemetery in Mangwol-dong, Kwangju, where the souls of those who fell in the uprising were resting in peace.
    On the same day, a big rally for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces and against war was held in Kwangju to mark the anniversary. Its participants strongly demanded that the United States dismantle the missile bases in south Korea and pull back its forces at once.

U.S. Design to "Overthrow DPRK System" Ridiculed

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The U.S. war-thirsty hardliners let loose a war blast crying for "perfect deterrent to north Korea" and "Korean war without warning." This revealed again the heinous design of the United States for a war against the DPRK lurking behind the curtain of the talks. Ridiculing the U.S. scheme to "disarm" the DPRK and "overthrow" its system as a foolish dream, a Rodong Sinmun analyst Tuesday says: The outcry of the Bush group for a solution to the nuclear issue through "talks" is a link in the chain of a beguiling psychological warfare to divert the sharp eyes of the DPRK from the U.S. and disintegrate its army and people ideologically and mentally, having rounded off all necessary military preparations according to their war scenario against it.
    The U.S. is keen on creating a chance to spark the second Korean war, after designating the DPRK as the principal enemy and an object of a preemptive nuclear attack, not as a dialogue partner.
    Up till now the Bush administration regarded the six-party talks as a leverage to gain time for the completion of preparations for the second Korean war. This is proved by the fact that its pressure upon and blackmail to the DPRK have increased and the situation of the Korean Peninsula raced faster to the brink of war with each round of talks. The U.S. only seeks to "disarm" the DPRK and "overthrow" its system. The reality makes the DPRK note with pride how correct and judicious it was for it to have fortified the defenses and built nuclear deterrent in the past, tightening the belt.
    Our nuclear weapons are a reliable shield to defend the country's sovereignty and peace and a guarantee for victory.
    These days the U.S. warlike forces, with every nerve on the alert, are raising a terrific hue and cry over "nuclear test scheme" of the DPRK. This is nothing but a scream of those who are scared by its formidable military power.
    Fully prepared to cope with any option of the enemy, the DPRK will go straight its own way, without the slightest vacillation.

U.S. Hit for Destroying Nuclear Non-Proliferation System

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The United States can never cover up its true colors as the criminal destroying the nuclear non-proliferation system nor can it shake off the responsibility for this, says Minju Joson in a signed commentary Tuesday. Noting that the NPT is now facing the danger of collapse, it goes on:
    The nuclear weapon states should speed up the process of nuclear disarmament and, at least, make it clear that they would not use nukes against the political independence and territorial integrity of the non-nuclear states in the spirit of the treaty.
    The United States, however, has so far pursued a policy of nuclear buildup, not nuclear disarmament, and gravely threatened the sovereignty of the non-nuclear states with nukes. And it must not go unnoticed that it has persistently sought an absolute edge in strategic attack weaponry over other big powers, regarding the increase and modernization of nuclear forces as the key point of its strategy for global domination The U.S. is the very one which has not only increased nuclear weaponization and threatened other countries but also fostered worldwide nuclear proliferation. Now a strong demand for the abolition of U.S.-made tactical nukes, a product of the Cold War era, is being voiced in Germany, but the U.S. is turning a deaf ear to it. Its stand is the same with the more than 1,000 nuclear weapons deployed on the Korean Peninsula.
    But this is not the whole story. It has directly supported the nuclear weaponization of Israel and tacitly connived at and fostered the bid of Japan for nuclear armament. Having stockpiled plutonium more than necessary, Japan is contemplating to operate a plant extracting enough plutonium to make 1,000 odd nuclear warheads a year. This is creating quite a stir worldwide, but the U.S. is feigning ignorance of this.
    As shown above, the U.S. is not only the ringleader of nuclear proliferation but also the real nuclear criminal who gives rise to a nuclear arms race destroying the worldwide nuclear non-proliferation system itself and the danger of a nuclear war.

U. S. Move for Military Supremacy in Asia-Pacific Blasted

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The moves of the U. S. imperialists to reorganize their troops in south Korea into a "wide regional task force" are reckless acts for paving the way for their military intervention and war against other countries of the Asia-Pacific region, says Rodong Sinmun Tuesday in a signed article. It goes on:
    The above-said moves are designed to expand the sphere of their operation to the Asia-Pacific region and build a structure for military aggression and domination in this region.
    It is an invariable intention of the U. S. warlike forces to maintain and consolidate their military supremacy in this region, put military pressure over the countries in the region and create an atmosphere favorable for establishing an order of world domination.
    It is in the pursuit of such aim that they are busy with the moves to reorganize the U.S. forces in south Korea into forces for preemptive strike and into a "wide regional task force."
    These moves are part of the moves to establish the U. S.-led world domination order to cope with the changed world situation and the relations of forces. The danger of the moves lies in that through them the U.S. imperialists seek to expand the sphere of operation of their troops in south Korea to the Asia-Pacific region as required by the aggressive doctrine of preemptive attack and mount preemptive attacks on the countries in this region. This brings to light the criminal intention of the U.S. warhawks to retain their hold on the Korean Peninsula as a strategic vantage point and establish military supremacy in this region.
    The U.S. loudmouthed "reduction" and "relocation" of its troops in south Korea is nothing but a ruse to deceive the world community.

Congratulations to Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister of the DPRK Paek Nam Sun sent a congratulatory message to Mohamad Bjaoui upon his appointment as Minister of State and Foreign Minister of Algeria. Expressing the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would grow stronger, the message wished him success in carrying out his new duty.

Baby Milk Produced by New Method

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Pyongyang Children's Foodstuff Factory in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is turning out baby powdered milk by a new method. The main ingredient of the milk for babies under the age of two is maltodextrin made by starch liquefaction ferment. The new production method has been developed by technicians of the factory and scientists of the Grain Processing Institute under the Branch Academy of Light Industry Science.
    They have found out a highly active bacterial strain producing liquefaction ferment and raised its activation 10 times that of existing one. They also have established a process for producing such strain of bacteria.
    The liquefaction ferment, which was introduced instead of malt, makes maltodextrin a chief component of the saccharified liquid. It prevents powder from adhering to desiccator.

Resources of Koryo Medicines Increase

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Great efforts have been made to create resources for Koryo medicines in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with a long history of traditional medicine. The government has set April and May in spring and September and October in autumn as periods for cultivating medicinal herbs every year. The work is conducted through a nationwide campaign.
    In spring this year tens of thousands of hectares have been created to cultivate more than 60 kinds of medicinal herbs and trees suitable to the constitutional features of the Korean people.
    Several species of trees including lime tree and Aronia melanocarpa were planted in North and South Hwanghae and South Phyongan Provinces and Korean rhubarb in Ryanggang Province.
    People of North Hamgyong Province planted medicinal trees in over 50 hectares of fields for ten days and those in surburb districts of Pyongyang medicinal herbs in all idle areas.
    This year insam (ginseng) plots have been expanded and latest scientific and technological successes introduced in its cultivation in Kaesong area famous for insam good for health of people.
    Meanwhile, vine herbs including lycium chinese have been planted along fences of residential quarters and industrial establishments across the country and dogberry and peony trees along village and factory roads. Medicinal herb plots and medicinal tree forest have appeared at schools at all levels, too.

Greetings to President of Democratic Congo

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Monday sent a message of greetings to President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the liberation of the country. He in the message sincerely wished the president and the people of Congo greater successes in their work to defend the peace and sovereignty of the country, expressing the conviction that the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation would further develop.

Greetings to King of Norway

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Tuesday sent a message of greetings to Norwegian King Harald V on the occasion of the national day. The message extended warm congratulations to the king and took this opportunity to wish him good health and happiness as well as the people of Norway prosperity.

Yang Hyong Sop Meets New Egyptian Ambassador

     Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK Yang Hyong Sop met and had a conversation with Moustafa Mohamed Ahmed Al Hatter, new Egyptian ambassador to the DPRK, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.

For Spanish-speaking people

VIII exhibicion internacional de mercancias de Pyongyang

     Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- Quedo inaugurada el dia 16 la VIII edicion de la exhibicion internacional de mercancias de Pyongyang en la Exposicion Permanente de las Tres Revoluciones de esta capital. En el acto estuvieron presentes el vicepremier del Consejo de Ministros de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea Ro Tu Chol y otros funcionarios coreanos, delegaciones y delegados de varios paises y regiones del mundo, los representantes diplomaticos y miembros de las embajadas de varios paises en Corea.
    El ministro de Comercio Exterior, Rim Kyong Man, al hacer uso de la palabra de felicitacion, dio calurosa bienvenida a las citadas delegaciones y delegados participantes en el certamen y enfatizo que en lo adelante tambien la RPDC hara ingentes esfuerzos por fortalecer la amistad y solidaridad y desarrollar la cooperacion e intercambio con todos los paises que tratan con amabilidad a Corea conforme al ideal de la independencia, la paz y la amistad y conseguir los intereses comunes y prosperidad entre los paises y los pueblos.
    El titular de la Agencia Coreana de Exposiciones para el Exterior, Ri Su Dok, en su discurso de apertura, dijo que la presente edicion contribuira a realizar satisfactoriamente el intercambio, la cooperacion y las transacciones comerciales multilaterales entre los paises y deseo que las delegaciones y delegados de varios paises y regiones que toman parte en el certamen logren magnificos exitos a traves de amplios contactos y diversas transacciones comerciales.
    Los participantes vieron productos de acero, electricos y electronicos, maquinas herramientas, articulos petroquimicos, equipos avicolas, medicinas, productos agroquimicos, abonos quimicos, alimentos, articulos de uso diario, etc.
    exhibidos por las companias de Corea, China, Malasia, Tailandia, Holanda, Rumania, Suecia, Gran Bretana, Italia y Taipei china.

Reorganizacion de tropas yanquis para supremacia militar

     Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- Las maquinaciones de EE.UU. encaminadas a reorganizar sus tropas ocupantes del Sur de Corea como las "fuerzas moviles a regiones abarcadas" devienen un proceder imprudente para producir la intervencion militar y acarrear una nueva guerra en la region de Asia-Pacifico. Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual insertado en su edicion del dia 17 y continua:
    Tales complots parten del fin de extender su ambito de operacion mas alla de la Peninsula Coreana, o sea, a toda la region de Asia-Pacifico, emprender agresion militar en esta region y establecer un sistema de dominacion sobre esta.
    Los belicistas estadounidenses persiguen el invariable objetivo de mantener la supremacia militar en la region de Asia-Pacifico, ejercer presion militar sobre los paises regionales y preparar un ambiente favorable para el establecimiento del orden de dominio al mundo.
    Para este fin tratan de reorganizar sus tropas ocupantes del suelo surcoreano en las fuerzas de ataque preventivo, "fuerzas moviles a regiones abarcadas". Esto es un eslabon de sus maquinaciones para establecer el orden de dominio monopolista al mundo conforme a la situacion internacional y las correlaciones de fuerzas cambiadas.
    Tal reorganizacion refleja la intencion criminal de las fuerzas belicistas estadounidenses de tomar la Peninsula Coreana por un nudo estrategico y lograr la superioridad militar en la region de Asia-Pacifico.
    La "reduccion" y la "reubicacion" de las tropas estadounidenses ocupantes del Sur de Corea no pasan de ser una artimana para enganar la opinion publica del orbe.