Commemorative Medal Instituted in Peru

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- A "commemorative medal of the General Kim Jong Il Peruvian Amicable Institute" was instituted in Peru on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. The medal bears the august name of the leader against the background of the sun and its rays. Engraved on it are the designation of the Peruvian institute, the national flags of the DPRK and Peru and the peoples of the two countries, their hands clasped.
    A ceremony of awarding medals to members of the institute was held in Lima on May 12.
    Jose Antonio Gamarra, president of the institute, addressing the ceremony, said that it is great pride and honor of the institute to go by the august name of Kim Jong Il who was born in Mt. Paektu and is praised by the people all over the world. The leader's outstanding idea and exploits and his greatness serve as the sun rays indicating the path to be followed by humankind, he added.
    He said that the medal reflects the desire of the members of the institute to help the Peruvians benefit from the rays of the great sun.

Korean Judoists Prove Successful

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- DPRK women judoists won a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2005 Asia Judo Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on May 14 and 15. An Kum Ae placed first in the 52 kg category, while Kim Myong Ok came second in the 48 kg category and Kim Ryon Mi in the 78 kg category.

RS. Calls for Accelerating General March for Songun Revolution

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- The on-going general march for the Songun revolution is a dynamic onward movement started in our era under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il and an all-people movement to bring about a decisive turn in the building of a great prosperous powerful country, says Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed article. It continues:
    This march constitutes a great onward movement in our era to occupy a high peak of a great prosperous powerful nation in all fields of politics, military affairs, economy and culture under the banner of the Juche idea, the banner of the Songun idea.
    We have greeted an exciting era when we are working hard to reach the high eminence of the great prosperous powerful nation on the basis of the solid political, military and economic foundations that have been reinforced despite difficulties.
    It is possible to bring earlier the morrow of a prosperous and powerful nation to the land only when all the people effect a great surge on all fronts of socialist construction with strong patriotic enthusiasm and in the spirit of an indefatigable struggle.
    They have the Party's correct line and policies for economic construction, a heroic tradition and spirit whereby they pulled through with optimism all sorts of adversities during the "Arduous March" and examples of creation and construction instrumental in advancing faster for higher goals. No fortress is unconquerable for us when the might of the single-minded unity and the revolutionary soldier spirit are given fullest play and all the potentials are tapped for economic, scientific and technological development.
    The general march for the Songun revolution is a revolutionary general offensive to achieve a final victory in the stand-off with the U.S. and the struggle to defend socialism.
    We have the politico-ideological might and the matchless military muscle consolidated in every way in the course of the Songun revolution and a solid economic foundation, its core being the national defence industry. Only when the whole Party and army and all the people bravely turn out in the revolutionary offensive under the banner of Songun, can they smash the U.S. imperialists' offensive to stifle the DPRK and achieve a shining success in the building of the great prosperous powerful nation.
    The general march for the Songun revolution calls for countering the U.S. imperialists' reckless moves for a war with decisive and merciless military strikes, their political and diplomatic pressure with the toughest counter-action, their attempt at the reactionary ideological and cultural poisoning with a revolutionary ideological offensive and their economic sanctions with a great surge in socialist construction and thus victoriously concluding the struggle to defend socialism from the U.S. Herein lies the great significance of this march.
    The destiny of our country and nation hinges on this march in the 21st century. Only when all the servicepersons and people dynamically stage this new revolutionary march, full of conviction of sure victory, can they scale the high goal of the great prosperous powerful nation.

U.S. Blatant Blackmail Denounced

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- The People for Achieving Peace and Reunification (Phyongthongsa) in south Korea reportedly held a press conference in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on May 19 to hit out at the blatant blackmail of the United States over "strategic flexibility". A press release was read out at the press conference, which said:
    As can be seen in the OPLANs 5027, 5029 and 8022, the "help" of the United States is wholly designed to reduce the Korean Peninsula to a theater of nuclear war. We categorically refuse its blackmail, a ridiculous sophism. The U.S. plan to turn its forces in south Korea into "Asia-Pacific task forces" is intended to secure military supremacy in the region. Utterly harmful is "alliance" with the U.S. which is accustomed to resort to blackmail, hell-bent on seeking hegemony.
    The withdrawal of the U.S. forces is the main prerequisite to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia. We once again demand the U.S. renounce forthwith its pressure over the "strategic flexibility" of the U.S. forces, stated the press release.
    After the press conference, the participants handed a letter of protest to the U.S. embassy.

U.S. Moves for New War Flailed

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- The Youth Committee and the Student Committee of the Democratic Workers' Party of south Korea reportedly called a press conference in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on May 19 and sharply denounced the U.S. moves to provoke a new war. Stating that national cooperation is the only way out for the Koreans, the speakers at the press conference warned that no U.S. moves for a war would be allowed. A press release was read out at the press conference.
    The crisis of war has of late grown as never before on the Korean Peninsula, it said, urging the U.S. to give up its hostile policy toward the north and make a policy switchover to peaceful co-existence.
    The south Korean government should clearly see that the way of achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula lies in national cooperation, not in diplomatic policy dependent on the U.S., and make energetic efforts to improve the inter-Korean relations, it urged.

World Will Judge Nuclear Criminal

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- Delegates of non-nuclear states to the NPT Review Conference in New York noted that the treaty is gradually being reduced to a dead letter and the responsibility for this rests with the United States which intentionally neglects the fulfillment of its commitments to the treaty and threatens world peace and security with undisguised nuclear blackmail. Noting that delegates of non-governmental organizations of various countries to the conference demanded the United States be sharply called in question for applying double standards in implementing the NPT, Rodong Sinmun today in a commentary says:
    Former chief of the UN weapon inspection team in Iraq Blix said the U.S. itself did not seriously approach the provisions of the NPT but breached them, and expressed concern, saying he felt the structure of the international community pulled down by this.
    Ex-President of the United States Carter singled out the U.S. as the principal criminal in the collapse of the NPT and criticized it as one chiefly to blame for the crisis of the NPT going to pieces.
    The sinister scheme of the U.S. to turn the conference into a rally against the DPRK and Iran has proved futile.
    A serious view must be taken of the U.S. policy of double standards in the nuclear issue. Japan has stockpiled plutonium enough to make 4,000 nuclear weapons with the patronage and connivance of the U.S. Israel has made more than 200 nuclear weapons by hastening its nuclear armament in secrecy with the patronage, connivance and cooperation of the U.S. If the U.S. had a fair stand, it should have called in question the nuclear armament of Japan and Israel.
    It is self-evident that the U.S. application of double standards makes it impossible to correctly implement the NPT and impartially settle the nuclear issue. If the U.S. continues to apply double standards, the NPT will be reduced to a square peg in a round hole. The day will surely come when the world will judge the U.S., the most dangerous nuclear criminal.

Reactionary Nature of U.S. Style "Democracy" Disclosed

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- Fifteen years have passed since President Kim Il Sung published a famous work "Let Us Bring the Advantages of Socialism in Our Country into Full Play" on May 24, Juche 79 (1990). The work explains the intrinsic character of Korean socialism based on the Juche idea and its advantages, and tasks and ways to give full play to it.
    And it clearly expounds the issues of principle the DPRK government should adhere to in the efforts for national reunification and in international relations.
    The validity and vitality of the work have been fully proved in this period.
    The imperialists have further intensified the anti-socialist activities and the Korean revolution has been faced with indescribable trials and difficulties. Capitalism has come again in some socialist countries and the enemies have taken this opportunity to concentrate attack on the DPRK.
    The ever-intensified moves of the imperialists to isolate and stifle the DPRK and the natural disasters for several consecutive years compelled the Korean people to an "Arduous March" and the forced march.
    The DPRK government, however, has been consolidated still further as a genuine one for the people and the most advanced and viable socialist one enjoying absolute support from the popular masses.
    Through the history and the present situation of the country, the Korean people have clearly realized how farsighted and just the ideas and theories put forward by the President in the work are and how great their power is.
    Juche has been established thoroughly in the construction of socialism and the unity in mind of the revolutionary ranks has strengthened in every way in the teeth of the moves of the imperialists to start another war and their intensified economic blockade and ideological and cultural infiltration.
    The entire Korean people are now striving hard to build a rich and powerful socialist country, closely united around the Workers' Party and government of Korea under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.

"By Our Nation Itself", Idea for Peace and Reunification

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Monday in an article says that "By our nation itself," which is deeply engraved on the hearts of all the Koreans at home and abroad, is the most proper idea of the June 15 era for the existence and development of the Korean nation. Noting that uniting the strength of the Koreans is the basic way for removing the danger of a war and achieving a durable peace on the Korean Peninsula and realizing national reconciliation and reunification, the author of the article goes on:
    There are 70 million Koreans in the north and the south of the Korean Peninsula having vital interests in peace. When the Koreans pool strength and wisdom, it is quite possible to check and frustrate outside forces' moves to provoke a war.
    The Korean nation, though bisected by outside forces, has already been closely united in idea on the road to peace against war for its common desire for peace. No outside force can match the united strength of the Korean nation all out to defend its life and destiny.
    When the Koreans, who oppose aggressive outside forces and love peace, fight hand in hand, peace on the Korean Peninsula can well be consolidated.
    However frantically the outside forces may run about to provoke a war on the peninsula, peace can be defended, if the Korean nation, the master of this land, stands against them in unison and fight them with national cooperation. The reunification of the country can be achieved in the common interests of the nation only when the outside forces are decisively rejected and the compatriots in the north and the south directly concerned with it sit down knee-to-knee and explore the way.
    However desperately outside forces may interfere, the way will be opened, provided those concerned with reunification pool their will and wisdom and cooperate with each other. This is clearly proved by the brilliant achievements made in the development of the inter-Korean relations and the movement for the country's reunification after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.
    Peace and reunification, the basic conditions for the existence and development of the Korean nation, are firmly guaranteed by the might of "By our nation itself," the basic idea of the June 15 era of reunification. This idea is the most reasonable mode of existence of the Korean nation today when outside forces are past control in their moves of aggression and anti-reunification.
    When the Koreans unite their strength, there is nothing to fear and beyond their reach. All the Koreans in the north and the south should invariably preserve and apply the idea of "By our nation itself," holding fast to it as the motto for shaping the destiny of the nation and the lifeline of the movement for the country's reunification.

20th Anniv. of S. Korean Students' Occupation of "American Cultural Service" Marked

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Pyongyang Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of south Korean students' occupation of the "American Cultural Service" in Seoul. Students of Seoul National University and other universities in south Korea occupied the "American Cultural Service" in Seoul in May Juche 74 (1985) when the anti-American sentiment was rapidly mounting in south Korea on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Kwangju Popular Uprising. They read out a statement strongly demanding an apology of the U.S. for the massacre in Kwangju and then stubbornly waged the struggle for 4 days, chanting nanti-American slogans.
    Their just struggle brought great fear and uneasiness to the U.S. imperialists and marked an important occasion in escalating the anti-American struggle for independence in south Korea.
    Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, said in his report at the meeting that the occupation of the "American Cultural Service" in Seoul was an eruption of the pent-up grudge and anger of the south Koreans against the U.S. imperialist aggressors and a great deed which powerfully demonstrated the aspiration and indomitable will of the south Korean students to put an end to the U.S. military presence and win national dignity and sovereignty.
    He went on:
    It is imperative to more furiously flare the flame of the anti-American struggle and dynamically wage the nationwide struggle for smashing the Japanese reactionaries' moves to distort history and grab Tok Islet and anti-DPRK racket in order to put an end to the outsiders' aggression, interference, domination and subjugation against the Korean nation and achieve independent and peaceful reunification of the country.
    The reporter laid stress on glorifying the honour of the standard bearers and vanguard fighters, carrying forward the proud tradition with which the south Korean students demonstrated the resources and courage of youth in the struggle for independence against the U.S., for democracy against fascism and for national reunification.
    Present at the meeting were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party, and others.

Kim Yong Nam Greets Eritrean President

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday sent a message of greetings to Issaias Afewerki, president of Eritrea, on the occasion of its 14th national day. Wishing the Eritrean president and people greater success in the work to build a developed and prosperous, new society, the message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger in their mutual interests.

Kim Yong Nam Meets Czech Speaker of Chamber of Deputies

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with Lubomir Zaoralek, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Monday. On hand were Vice-Chairman of the SPA Kang Nung Su, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kung Sok Ung and officials concerned and Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ivan Langer and deputies, and Czech Charge d'Affaires here Miroslav Podhajsky and others.

Korean Cameramen's Union Delegation Leaves for China

     Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Korean Cameramen's Union led by Choe Kyong Guk, director and editor-in-chief of the Foreign Languages Publishing House, who is chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Cameramen's Union, left here for China today to arrange a photo exhibition on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the unofficial visit of leader Kim Jong Il to China. It was seen off at Pyongyang Railway Station by Ri Hui Won, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of the Unions of Literature and the Arts of Korea, and other officials concerned and Zhang Yongwen, cultural councilor of the Chinese embassy here.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il presencia funcion de esposas de oficiales del EPC

     Pyongyang, 23 de mayo (ATCC) -- El Comandante Supremo 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 presencio, junto con los oficiales y soldados del Ejercito Popular de Corea, una funcion artistica de esposas de oficiales de las Unidades No. 526 y 583, participantes en el VIII Concurso de Grupos Artisticos de Esposas de Oficiales del EPC. Las ejecutantes pusieron en la escena varias piezas de distintas formas, entre otras, el coro "Dia del Sol, fiesta primaveral", el dialogo y cancion "Una grata foto de recuerdo", el solo femenino "Siempre nos mantenemos imperturbables", la cancion y dialogo "Querida casa de mi tierra natal", la cancion con el tambor "Marchamos a todo galope con el impetu de Chollima", el drama poetico "Haremos de nuestros esposos continuadores de la defensa decisiva", la poesia y coro "Defendamos el socialismo".
    El Comandante Supremo se mostro muy satisfecho de que las ejecutantes dieron la magnifica funcion poniendo en la escena las piezas que convienen a la aspiracion y el sentimiento de nuestro pueblo revolucionario y que reflejan sensiblemente la politica del partido y evaluo altamente su exitosa funcion. Senalo que las esposas de oficiales crecieron como las combatientes que se hallan en la primera linea de defensa de la patria junto con sus esposos y destaco que gracias a estas y otros habitantes revolucionarios poseedores del espiritu revolucionario de los militares, quienes unidos con una sola idea y voluntad defienden esta tierra, nuestra patria es una fortaleza inexpugnable.
    El Concurso de Grupos Artisticos de Esposas de Oficiales realizado exitosamente 8 veces en medio de la esperanza y atencion de nuestro ejercito y pueblo demostro fehacientemente la justeza y vitalidad de la orientacion del partido para popularizar el arte y el orgulloso aspecto de la cultura militar revolucionaria creada en la epoca del Songun (priorizacion militar), recalco el Dirigente y extendio agradecimiento a todas las miembros de grupos artisticos que contribuyeron a hacer reinar en toda la sociedad el impetu revolucionario al participar en el certamen con un gran entusiasmo.
    Vieronla tambien los secretarios del Comite Central del PTC Choe Thae Bok y Kim Ki Nam y el primer subjefe de departamento del CC del PTC Ri Jae Il, los generales de ejercito Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae y Pak Jae Gyong, oficiales y soldados del EPC.

RPDC seguira de cerca la actitud de EE.UU., dice portavoz del MINREX

     Pyongyang, 23 de mayo (ATCC) ? Coincidiendo con el reciente contacto entre Corea y Estados Unidos en Nueva York, las figuras encumbradas de la administracion del segundo pronuncian una tras otra palabras impactantes a la primera. Con respecto a ello, un reportero de la Agencia Telegrafica Central de Corea formulo una pregunta a un portavoz de la cancilleria de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea quien le dio el dia 22 la siguiente respuesta: El pasado dia 13, un representante del Departamento de Estado norteamericano visito la representacion permanente de la RPDC ante la Organizacion de las Naciones Unidas con sede en Nueva York para comunicar oficialmente la ya conocida posicion de EE.UU. de reconocer a la RPDC como "Estado soberano" y la "ausencia de la voluntad de invadirla".
    Coincidiendo con este contacto, entre los altos funcionarios de la administracion norteamericana cunden nuevas palabras malvadas y amenazantes a la RPDC.
    En particular, el pasado dia 15, Hadley, asesor especial de la Casa Blanca para la seguridad nacional, cuando hablaba de supuestas "medidas de castigo" a la RPDC, ratifico que la estrategia norteamericana sigue consistiendo en "presionarla".
    En ese sentido, en una conferencia de prensa del dia 16, la secretaria de Estado norteamericano Rice articulo otras palabras por el estilo como "no permitir el empeoramiento de la actual situacion de confrontacion" y "llevar el problema de la RPDC a la ONU puede ser una opcion".
    Es invariable la posicion de nuestro pais de mantenerse en su meta de desnuclearizar la Peninsula Coreana y solucionar el problema a traves del dialogo y las negociaciones.
    De ahi que hasta la fecha vinimos dando pruebas de nuestra maxima paciencia por la marcha exitosa de las conversaciones y adoptamos una posicion de controlarnos en todo lo posible.
    Si es verdad que EE.UU. quiere solucionar el problema a traves de las conversaciones a 6 bandas, tendra que moverse para preparar en la practica las condiciones y el clima favorables al reinicio de esta cita.
    A decir francamente, nos ponen confusos tales chismes que suenan justamente cuando estamos examinando seriamente la posicion norteamericana informada en ese contacto neoyorquino en vinculacion con el acto verbal de la administracion Bush.
    Seguiremos de cerca la actitud norteamericana y cuando llegue el tiempo oportuno avisaremos oficialmente nuestra posicion a la parte norteamericana a traves de la misma via de contacto.

El mundo sentenciara al criminal nuclear

     Pyongyang, 23 de mayo (ATCC) -- Los delegados de los paises desnuclearizados participantes en la conferencia para revisar la ejecucion del Tratado de No Proliferacion Nuclear (TNP) que esta en marcha en Nueva York de Estados Unidos subrayaron que el TNP se convierte en letras muertas por EE.UU. que se muestra negligente en la ejecucion de su obligacion segun los puntos del tratado y amenaza la paz y la seguridad del mundo mediante abierto chantaje nuclear. Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 23 y prosigue:
    Los delegados de las organizaciones no gubernamentales de varios paises sostuvieron que hay que someter a la dura critica al pais estadounidense que aplica la pauta de doble rasero en la ejecucion del TNP.
    El ex jefe del grupo de la ONU para la inspeccion de armas de Iraq, Blix, dijo que "el mismo EE.UU.
    infringe gravemente los reglamentos del TNP" y anadio que esto da impresion de que se desmorona la estructura de la comunidad internacional".
    El ex presidente estadounidense, Carter, califico a EE.UU. de "culpable principal del rompimiento del TNP" y dijo que recae sobre este pais la responsabilidad principal por la crisis de anulacion en que se halla el TNP.
    Se ve frustrado el siniestro intento del Tio Sam de convertir la citada conferencia de la ONU en un lugar de denuncia a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea e Iran.
    Lo grave es que el imperio practica la politica de doble rasero en el problema nuclear. Bajo el amparo de este pais norteamericano, Japon posee tal cantidad de plutonio capaz de elaborar 4 mil armas nucleares e Israel tambien acelero en confidencia el armamento nuclear y ahora produce y conserva mas de 200 unidades. EE.UU. debe tomar una justa posicion para cuestionar el armamento nuclear de estos dos paises.
    Es obvio que mientras que EE.UU. aplica la pauta de doble rasero, no podra ejecutarse correctamente el TNP ni solucionarse imparcialmente el problema nuclear.
    Vendra sin falta el dia en que el mundo sometera al juicio al archi-criminal nuclear Estados Unidos.