Banquet Given in Commemoration of 5th Anniv. of June 15@Joint Declaration

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The North Side's Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the North, South and Abroad for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration hosted a banquet at the People's Palace of Culture Wednesday evening in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the historic June 15 joint declaration. Present on invitation were Paek Rak Chong, chairman of the south side's preparatory committee, representatives of the south side, Kwak Tong Ui and Mun Tong Hwan, co-chairmen of the overseas side's preparatory committee, and representatives of the overseas side.
    Among those present were honorary chairmen of the north side's preparatory committee including Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, representatives of political parties and public organizations, officials concerned, the delegation of authorities of the north led by Kim Ki Nam, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, and the delegation of authorities of the south led by Jong Tong Yong, minister of Unification.
    Yang Hyong Sop in a speech said that five years ago the heads of state of the north and the south had a historic meeting for the first time in the history of national division amidst the enthusiastic cheers of all fellow countrymen and gave birth to the June 15 joint declaration, landmark for reunification in the new century, thus opening up a new era of reconciliation and reunification on this land.
    It is the unanimous desire and will of all the Koreans in the north and the south to achieve co-existence and co-prosperity and live as a homogenous nation along the road of independence, peace and reunification opened up by the June 15 joint declaration, he said, adding that all Koreans in the north, south and abroad should turn out to achieve this goal, irrespective of authorities and civilians, ideologies, social systems, factions, affiliation, isms and abodes.
    Yun Jae Chol, co-representative of the south side's preparatory committee, and Kim Su Hae, member of the overseas side's preparatory committee, said in their speeches that at the meeting for national reunification participated in by representatives of the south, the north and overseas sides they could confirm the nation's will to achieve broad-based unity, true to the June 15 joint declaration, despite differing ideologies, political views, religious beliefs and faith.
    The idea of "By our nation itself" reflects the noble intention and will guiding the Koreans to be responsible for the destiny of the nation and to pave the way for reunification, placing this destiny in the center of everything, they noted, calling on them to accomplish the cause of reunification by their own efforts.
    The banquet proceeded in an atmosphere overflowing with compatriotic feelings.
    A performance was given by artistes of the north side.

Memorial Service for Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son Held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Members of the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification, a civic organization, and the Anti-U.S. Youth League held a memorial service in Hyochon-ri of Kwangjok-myon in Yangju, Kyonggi Province, the place where schoolgirls Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son were killed, on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the cruel killing of them by GIs, according to the south Korean MBC on June 12. They honored the memory of the two teenage schoolgirls brutally killed by an armored car of the U.S. troops.
    They expressed bitter anger at the murderers still strutting about in streets of the U.S. as they please, without being punished, calling on the people to force the U.S. forces to quit this land to the last man and give vent to the grudge of the slain girls.

Reckless Remarks of Japanese Minister of Education and Science under Fire

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The south Korean "government" and ruling party accused Nakayama, Japanese minister of Education and Science, of making nonsensical remarks to cover up the crimes committed by Japan in the past, according to south Korean MBC and CBS. A spokesman for the south Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in a commentary on June 13 blasted Nakayama's reckless remarks. The minister at a policy briefing on June 11 asserted that history textbooks for Japanese middle schoolers that passed the screening contained no words of "comfort women", a proof that such words did not exist at all during the Second World War and "it was a problem that textbooks contained the non-existent thing".
    The spokesman expressed strong regret at the irresponsible remarks that once again hurt the dignity and honor of the former comfort women for the imperial Japanese army.
    A spokesman for the Uri Party in a commentary on June 12 noted:
    I can not but feel regret and rage at the senior official in charge of the education of Japan who let loose a string of reckless remarks denying its aggression and atrocities perpetrated in the past, instead of feeling guilty conscience.
    He urged the Japan government to take a proper measure against Nakayama's wrong understanding and behavior.

Colorful Functions Held

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- A lecture, meeting, ceremonies of opening Korean book, photo and handicraft exhibition and week of film show and photo exhibition, seminars and film shows were held in Peru, Austria, Nepal, Thailand and France 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 and the 5th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. Participants of the film shows watched Korean film "The Respected Comrade Kim Jong Il Is the Great Thinker and Theoretician" and other Korean films.
    Felix Fernandez Lopez, international secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru, in a lecture said that the last 41 years since Kim Jong Il's start of work at the WPK Central Committee is a history of a preeminent leader of the people and a revolutionary which helped the revolutionaries of the whole world know well about his greatness as a master of politics, idea and leadership.
    The chairman of the Council of Commercial Bank of Peru, addressing an opening ceremony of the Korean book, photo and handicraft exhibition, said he hoped that the exhibition would offer the Peruvians an opportunity to have deeper understanding of the great leaders of the Korean people who built socialist Korea from scratch and of the hard-working, creative and talented Korean people.
    Subash Kaji Shrestha, chairman of the Study Forum for Self-Reliance of Nepal, in a speech at a meeting lauded Kim Jong Il as the greatest statesman in the 21st century. It is one of his greatest feats that he has strengthened and developed the WPK into the Party of President Kim Il Sung in name and reality, the speaker said.
    Thomas Losh, chief of the Group of Youth for the Study of Kim Jong Il Juche Idea in Vienna, and other speakers stressed that thanks to the Songun politics pursued by Kim Jong Il, the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration has been steadily implemented despite the obstructive moves of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad.
    Jean Marie Lambret, chief of the French Group for the Study of the Juche Idea, in a speech referred in detail to the Songun leadership exploits performed by Kim Jong Il, adding that thanks to his energetic guidance the WPK will shine forever as the glorious party of Kim Il Sung.
    Congratulatory messages to Kim Jong Il were adopted at functions held in Nepal and France.

Removal of War Criminal's Statue Urged

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- MacArthur, who was said to have performed "feats" in the "Inchon landing operation" during the last Korean war, is a war maniac and chieftain of aggression as he brought untold misfortune and sufferings to the Korean nation, and his statue in "Freedom Park" of Inchon should be destroyed. Minju Joson today demands this in a signed commentary.
    Actions for removing the statue are going on in south Korea with the approach of June 25 when the U.S. imperialists unleashed a war for aggression against the northern half of Korea, the commentary notes, and says:
    This is an eruption of resentment and curses of the south Korean people who have been subject to all sorts of maltreatment and insult by the U.S. for 60 years as it has been wrongly regarded as a "benefactor".
    The south Korean people are still undergoing immeasurable misfortune and calamity due to the U.S. troops present in south Korea who fully inherited the aggressive and predatory nature and bestiality of MacArthur.
    But, their struggle of justice will terminate the 60-year-long domination and intervention of the U.S. imperialists and remove his statue.

Suppression of Stall Keepers Accused in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- A meeting of street stall keepers across south Korea was reportedly held in Youido, Seoul, on June 10 to denounce the south Korean authorities for suppressing them. The meeting was attended by at least 8,000 stall keepers.
    Kim Hung Hyon, co-representative of the south Korean Federation of Stall Keepers Unions, at the meeting assailed the authorities for mobilizing hooligans of the evacuation team to forcibly remove stalls and brutally suppress their keepers. He bitterly denounced the authorities for bringing double or treble sufferings to them by invoking an evil law which commits the evacuees to paying all the expenses incurred by the evacuation campaign.
    Noting that his organization would solidarize with all the civic and social bodies in their actions for an end to the suppression of the stall keepers, the abolition of the evil law and the disorganization of the evacuation team, he declared these actions will go on unless their demands are met.
    At the end of the meeting, the participants staged a demonstration as far as the building of the south Korean National Assembly and sent letters of protest to the Human Rights Committee of south Korea, Chongwadae, the Ministry of Self-governing Administration and the National Assembly.

Cuban Embassy Officials Help Korean Farmers

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Ambassador Ruben Perez Valdes and officials of the Cuban embassy here helped the DPRK-Cuba Friendship Hwasong Co-operative Farm in Ryongsong District, Pyongyang, in field work on June 15. While looking round the history room, the visitors were briefed on the farm which was associated with the leadership exploits of President Kim Il Sung and then weeded maize fields together with farmers who were hastening the immediate farm work.
    At the break they conversed and sang songs with farmers, deepening friendly feelings. The ambassador said the friendly relations between the two countries were growing stronger day by day under the deep care of Fidel Castro Ruz and leader Kim Jong Il.
    He wished the farmers sizable fruits in agricultural production this year.

U.S. Troop Pullout from S. Korea Demanded

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) and the Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration reportedly called a news conference in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on June 11 and strongly demanded the pullback of the U.S. forces from south Korea. Song Hyo Won, chairperson of Hanchongryon, Kim Ji Ha, its national reunification chairperson, and Ri Kyu Jae, chairman of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, at the news conference recalled that Hanchongryon and the Solidarity had demanded several times from April that the U.S. ambassador to south Korea and the commander of the U.S. 8th Army be present at an "open forum on the war crisis of the Korean Peninsula and the issue of the U.S. forces stationed in south Korea", and said they should appear in the forum and explain the reason for the stay of the U.S. forces in south Korea.
    Stating that they are intending to turn a revealing searchlight at the forum on the true colors of the U.S. forces which have laid a stumbling block in the way of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation and committed unceasing war moves and lots of crimes in this land, they urged the U.S. side to give a sincere answer to its participation in the forum.
    An open questionnaire to the U.S. ambassador and the U.S. 8th Army commander read out at the news conference urged the U.S. to explain the reason why it has ceaselessly worked out such war scenarios as "CONPLAN 8022-02" while saying in public it is willing to have dialogue with the north and make clear its position in the deployment of Stealth fighter-bombers in south Korea.
    The questionnaire demanded of the United States an explicit answer with regard to its specific stand toward the pullback of the U.S. forces and the dismantlement of its military bases and the reason why it is desperately obstructing Korea's reunification.
    At the end of the news conference the participants handed to the U.S. embassy the questionnaire and over 2,500 warning letters from Chunchon, Phyongthaek, Kwangju and other areas.

Kim Jong Il Sends Thanks to Farmers and Helpers

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il sent thanks to all the agricultural workers who have successfully carried out the spring farm work and to the servicepersons, blue-collar and white-collar workers, students and dependent family members who have assisted agriculture materially and morally through a general turnout in supporting farms. The Workers' Party of Korea set the agricultural front as the main front in socialist economic construction this year and called upon the whole Party, state and people to render labor and material assistance to the rural districts, focusing and mobilizing all efforts in doing good farming.
    The agricultural officials and workers had made substantial preparations for farming from the outset of the year, true to the Party's policy of agricultural revolution. The weather was unfavorable and a lot of things fell short of the need, but they successfully ensured the farm work including the growing of rice seedlings and transplanting as required by the Juche-based farming method.
    The servicepersons, blue-collar and white-collar workers, students and dependent family members who turned out in response to the Party's call for general mobilization in rice-transplanting rendered sincere assistance in farming, thus making a significant contribution to the completion of rice-transplanting in the most suitable time in the main areas across the country and the qualitative progress of overall farming in good time.
    The agricultural workers and supporters to the rural districts all over the country once again demonstrated the true advantages of the Korean socialist system by displaying a high degree of beautiful traits of collectivism in the Songun era in the period of the farming campaign.
    The proud successes registered in spring farming this year are a precious fruition of the wise leadership of the WPK. And they are manifestation of the steadfast spirit of devotedly defending the leader and the spirit of devotedly carrying through his policy displayed by the army and people who remain loyal to the Songun idea and leadership of Kim Jong Il and noble patriotism of all the agricultural workers and supporters determined to bring an autumn of bountiful crops to the country without fail.
    And this is a demonstration of the might of the single-minded unity of the army and people of the DPRK who rise up like a mountain at the call of the Party and successfully fulfill its appeal, ready to go through fire and water, and convincing proof of the validity and vitality of the Party's policy in setting the agricultural front as the main front of socialist economic construction this year.

Stirring Reality of Era of Independent Reunification

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Past five years have been proud years when the cause of national reunification has made a dynamic progress on the orbit of national independence under the banner of "By our nation itself" and eventful successes have been made in the nation's struggle for independence against outsiders and in the movement for independent reunification, declares Rodong Sinmun Thursday in a signed article. The publication of the historic June 15 joint declaration has opened a new era of independent reunification unprecedented in the nation's history of division and brought about a dramatic turn in its movement for national reunification, the article says, and goes on:
    The principle of "By our nation itself" and national independence have become to be firmly maintained in the nation's work for reconciliation, unity and reunification. This is one of the most important achievements.
    The idea of "By our nation itself" has helped the nation firmly maintain the principle of national independence in the north-south relations and in the struggle for reunification. The establishment of the principle of "By our nation itself" and that of independence has given a strong impetus to the attainment of hitherto unknown successes and miracles in inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation and in the movement for independent reunification.
    There were incited in south Korea in the past days antagonism and confrontation psychology against the fellow countrymen in the north and the flunkeyist idea of worshiping and depending on the United States was widespread. In the era of reunification after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration a dramatic change has taken place in the south Koreans' psychology toward the fellow countrymen and their awareness of independence against the U.S. has been immensely enhanced under the influence of the spirit of the era such as "By our nation itself".
    There have been turns and twists due to obstructive moves at home and abroad but multi-faceted dialogues, contacts, exchanges and cooperation have grown in depth and scope between the north and the south, inter-Korean functions for reunification have been held with splendor on the common fetes of the nation and unity and solidarity between organizations of reunification movement have been boosted.
    All the achievements and miraculous reality witnessed in the past five years are a striking manifestation of the validity and the tremendous vitality of the June 15 joint declaration, the landmark of independent national reunification.

U.S. History of Aggression and War Can Never Be Concealed

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The U.S. chief executive in a recent radio address claimed that the United States had never fought to conquer other countries in history but fought to "liberate" them. And he vowed "war on terrorism" and "continued spread of freedom" in the world, declaring that the U.S. is now engaged in a new war against the enemy menacing world peace and security. Commenting on this, a Rodong Sinmun analyst Thursday says:
    The argument and logic of the U.S. chief executive on the war are a downright distortion of truth. None of it agrees with historical facts.
    Historical facts and hard realities lay bare the aggressive crimes of the U.S., no matter what word jugglery it may employ to beautify and justify its history of aggression and policy of war.
    Entering the new century, the U.S. warlike quarters are forcing "crusade expeditions" of modern version to crush sovereign states with arms, paying no heed to international law and the United Nations.
    The bellicose nature of the U.S. imperialists is standing out in all its nakedness on the Korean Peninsula today. The U.S. trigger-happy elements frequently put their heads together over a war against the DPRK. They are reorganizing their aggression forces in south Korea to cope with "a contingency" on the Korean Peninsula and even staging mock exercises of dropping nuclear warheads while massively shipping ultra modern military equipment into south Korea.
    As long as the U.S. imperialists remain alive, the world can never be tranquil and there can be no end to aggression and war bringing misfortunes and disasters to the people.
    The world is sure to keep a tab on the anti-historical and anti-human crimes of the U.S. in destroying peace and barring the development of human civilization.

KCNA Refutes Japan Education Minister's Remarks

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The Japan educational circle has been taking the lead in covering up Japan's ambition for territorial expansion and tampering with its crime-woven history. Minister of Education and Science Nakayama in a dialogue with citizens in Shizuoka Prefecture on June 11 asserted the need to teach schoolchildren that Tok Islet is part of Japan's territory, adding that it is most important to teach them where its territory is located.
    He even went the lengths of uttering that "it is a problem that textbooks contained words of 'comfort women for the Imperial Japanese Army' that had not existed in the period of the Second World War at all."
    All what he remarked is nothing but sheer sophism.
    He asserted several times in the past that Tok Islet belongs to Japan, previous history textbooks were very self-tormenting and it is very good that the use of such words as "comfort women" and "forcible drafting" has shrunken in recent days. He came under domestic and foreign criticism for these outbursts.
    It should not be overlooked, therefore, that he repeated such reckless remarks.
    Given the fact that the educational boss of Japan assumes the post of the chief of the "Society for Thinking Future and History Education of Japan", a group of ultra rightists, of his own accords, it is hard to simply interpret his remarks as his personal view.
    Education is an important field related to the future of a country.
    A minister of education should have taken the future of his country into consideration in every case and should have been prudent in his behavior, mulling over its relations with other countries.
    However, Nakayama's remarks cannot be considered as ones made by an educational chief but as the outbursts let loose by a mouthpiece or a trumpeter for right-wing hardliners of Japan.
    He might be either a political charlatan or a blind man.
    His ministry has been engaged in the distribution of distorted history textbooks in collusion with ultra-right forces advocating ultra-nationalism.
    Tok Islet has been known as an inalienable part of the territory of Korea generation after generation.
    It has been scientifically proven that the islet is part of Korea's territory from historical, geographical and international legal points of view. Japan's alleged dominion over the islet is an unreasonable, far-fetched and brigandish claim.
    The Japanese reactionaries' moves to grab the islet are a wanton violation of the sovereignty of Korea as they reveal their ambition to stage a comeback to it.
    By continuing to peddle the issue of Tok Islet formally or informally, Nakayama is encouraging the Japanese reactionaries in their bid to turn the issue of "dominion" over Tok Islet into "an international issue" and make the islet an object of dispute to be recorded in history.
    The crime related to the "comfort women" for the imperial Japanese army also left an indelible blot on the history as it was a hideous crime against humanity unprecedented in the world history of wars.
    It was only the imperial army of Japan that lured and abducted foreign women and took them to battlefields in an organized manner and enforced sexual slavery upon them to satisfy the carnal desire of its soldiers.
    No one can refute such crimes committed by the Japanese militarists during the Second World War including the crimes related to the sexual slavery.
    Nakayama's behavior is not simply related to the issue of recognizing history. It was the deliberate act to serve the Japanese reactionaries' political purpose.
    He has no future of Japan in mind as a reactionary negating history in a bid to hide Japan's crimes committed during the Second World War and improve his image through his role in the move to grab Tok Islet.
    Japan's option to hide its past crimes is little short of adding to its crimes.
    This apparently means big misfortune not only for Japan but for other Asian nations.

Kim Yong Nam Meets Representatives of South and Overseas Sides

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today met and had a compatriotic talk with Chairman Paek Rak Chong of the South Side's Preparatory Committee and Co-Chairmen Kwak Tong Ui and Mun Tong Hwan of the Overseas Side's Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the North, South and Overseas for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration and other representatives participating in the grand festival for national reunification to mark the 5th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration at the Mansudae Assembly Hall. On hand were An Kyong Ho, chairman of the north side's preparatory committee, and officials concerned.

Grand Festival for Reunification Closes

 joint declaration closed today. The three-day festival in the time-honored city of Pyongyang where the joint declaration was adopted drew representatives of the authorities and non-governmental organizations of the north and the south and the delegation of overseas compatriots for the first time since the country's division.
    They expressed their will to pool efforts and bring about a new phase in the movement for independent and peaceful reunification in the idea of "By our nation itself".
    They evinced their pledge to consolidate the success of the festival and strenuously conduct the movement for reunification till November on which will fall the centenary of the fabrication of the "Ulsa Five-Point Treaty" this year which marks the 60th anniversary of the country's liberation and thus glorify this year as a meaningful year of a turning point in the movement for national reunification.
    A closing ceremony took place at the Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium on the bank of the River Pothong in Pyongyang.

DPRK Directs Efforts to Land Management

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Great efforts have been channeled into the land management in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Kwang Ju, a section chief of the Central Forestry Designing and Technology Institute under the Ministry of Land and Environment Conservation, was interviewed by KCNA on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought which falls on June 17.
    He said:
    Today the content to combat desertification comprises not only the dry areas but also all the lands degenerated by forest destruction.
    Land management has been raised as a pressing issue in the DPRK, a mountainous country which has limited arable land, no more than 17 percent of the territory, and thick population.
    In particular, the climate changes by abnormal high temperature phenomenon on the globe have brought about natural disasters such as landslide, flood, submersion and drought to the DPRK, too. For the recent ten-odd years, the country has had more than 1.5 million hectares of forest and not a small acreage of cultivated lands destructed or degenerated.
    The DPRK government has formulated policies to manage land well and to make an effective use of it. And the sustained land management is guaranteed in the DPRK by various laws including the land law, environment protection law, land designing law, forest law and water resources law.
    It has set up months of general mobilization for land management every spring and autumn to arouse all the people in the land management campaign such as afforestation, river improvement and land rezoning.
    As a result, over 130,000 hectares of forest have been created and hundreds of kilometers of rivers and streams improved every year.
    The land rezoning projects have been undertaken according to annual plans as a state affair, with the result that some 293,700 hectares of paddy and non-paddy fields have been turned into large standardized fields and the arable land expanded over the last 7 years.
    For a few years following the completion of the Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway Project, gravity-fed channels extending 280-odd kilometers have been built, creating a safer environment for agricultural production.
    Along with this, the work for putting the management and utilization of land resources on a scientific and IT basis has been undertaken.
    Regular work for analyzing soil of each plot and surveying land erosion is carried on throughout the country once with an interval of 4-5 years.
    The DPRK, a member nation of the Convention to Combat Desertification, will strengthen the international cooperation in the efforts to realize the sustained land management, Kim Kwang Ju stressed.

Festival Participants Enjoy Opera "Kumgang"

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Representatives of the north, the south and overseas sides participating in the grand festival for national reunification to mark the fifth anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration Thursday appreciated opera "Kumgang" staged by south Korean artistes at the Ponghwa Art Theatre. The performance was watched by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, and Ryu Mi Yong, chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Korean Chondoist Chongu Party, who are honorary chairpersons of the North Side's Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the North and the South and Overseas to Implement the June 15 Joint Declaration, and An Kyong Ho, chairman of the North Side's Preparatory Committee, and leading officials of political parties and social organizations, officials concerned and working people in the city.
    Among the audience were members of the delegation of the south side led by Chairman of the South Side's Preparatory Committee Paek Rak Chong, the delegation of Hyundai Asan and the overseas side's delegation led by Co-Chairmen of the Overseas Side's Preparatory Committee Kwak Tong Ui and Mun Tong Hwan.
    The opera against the background of the Kapo Peasant War showed the struggle of the Korean people against foreign forces' invasion and feudal bureaucrats' exploitation and oppression.

Delegation of Authorities of South Side Visits Various Places

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The delegation of authorities of the south side led by Minister of Unification Jong Tong Yong, which is participating in the grand festival for national reunficaiton marking the fifth anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration, today visited the Tokhung-ri Tomb and the Kangso Three Tombs, relics of the Koguryo Dynasty, recorded as the world heritage of culture. Members of the delegation were briefed on relics of the Koguryo Dynasty which have been well preserved thanks to the Workers' Party of Korea policy of preserving national culture and on the unearthening of the tombs and mural paintings in tombs. And they looked round the mural paintings representing part of developed culture of contemporary society.
    Earlier, the delegation visited the Pyongyang Metro and the Mansudae Art Studio.

Russian Dance Company Here

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The State Academic Moiseyev Dance Company of Russia headed by Director Elena Scherbakova arrived here today. It was met at the airport by Kwon Hyok Bong, vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, and officials concerned and Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK.

Sports and Amusement Games for June 15 Prize Held

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Volleyball and sports amusement games for the June 15 Prize were held at the Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium on the bank of the River Pothong in Pyongyang Thursday. Participating in the games were representatives of authorities and non-governmental organizations of the north and the south and representatives of the overseas side attending the grand festival for reunification to mark the anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration. The games proceeded amidst the enthusiastic cheering by people from all walks of life and students in Pyongyang.
    The participants in the games were divided into "Uri" and "Hana" teams.
    The players of both teams gave a good account of themselves in the games, pooling their skills and wisdom as Koreans and displaying team spirit.
    Supporters seemed to breathe the same breath with the contesters. They broke into enthusiastic cheers, beating drums and gongs as if to shake the gymnasium whenever points were scored. They loudly chanted slogans "We are one", "By our nation itself", "National reunification", etc.
    While the games were under way, acrobats staged exciting and breath-taking numbers including "Foot Trick" and "Cylinder Rolling" and interludes to the delight of the spectators.
    Then followed colorful sports and amusement games such as man and woman running in a ring while kicking an oval ball, blindfolded player running to the turn and coming back to the sound of wooden clappers made by another player of the same team, man and woman running with a ball between their backs and tug-of-war.
    At the end of the games, the representatives of the north and the south and overseas sides danced to the tune of the song "A Reunification Train Runs."

Pak Pong Ju Meets Italian Guests

     Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, today met and had a friendly talk with President of the Birindelli Law Company of Italy Luca Birindelli and his party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il agradece a agricultores y ayudantes al campo

     Pyongyang, 16 de junio (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il agradecio a todos los trabajadores agricolas que aseguraron con exito las faenas agricolas primaverales, a los oficiales y soldados del Ejercito Popular de Corea, obreros, oficinistas, estudiantes y familiares dependientes quienes incorporados generalmente a la labor de apoyo al campo, asistieron sinceramente a las faenas agricolas tanto en lo material como en lo espiritual. El Partido del Trabajo de Corea fijo el sector agricola como el frente clave de la construccion economica socialista de este ano y llamo a todo el partido, todo el pais y todo el pueblo a concentrar y movilizar todas sus fuerzas para labrar bien la tierra y ayudar al campo en lo laboral y material.
    En acato a la orientacion del partido sobre la revolucion agricola, desde comienzos del ano en curso los funcionarios del ramo y los agricultores realizaron hacendosamente sus preparativos para la labranza. Pese a las adversas condiciones climaticas y la escasez de muchos materiales, aseguraron exitosamente la cria de posturas de arroz y el trasplante de estas segun exigen los metodos agricolas jucheanos.
    Respondiendo al llamamiento del partido a la movilizacion general al trasplante de posturas de arroz, los oficiales y soldados del EPC, obreros, oficinistas, estudiantes y familiares dependientes ayudaron sinceramente las faenas agricolas y contribuyeron enormemente a finalizar en su tiempo mas apropiado el transplante de posturas en mayor parte de arrozales del pais y a la marcha cualitativa de las faenas agricolas en su conjunto segun lo previsto.
    Durante la temporada de intensas labores campestres, los trabajadores agricolas y ayudantes de distintas localidades del pais dieron pruebas del noble colectivismo de la epoca del Songun (priorizacion militar) y pusieron de manifiesto una vez mas la autentica superioridad del sistema socialista de nuestro pais.
    Estos orgullosos exitos devienen un producto de la sabia direccion del PTC y la expresion del firme espiritu del ejercito y el pueblo de Corea -quienes apoyan con fidelidad la idea y la direccion del Dirigente mediante el Songun- de defender a costa de la vida al lider y ejecutar a riesgo de vida las lineas del partido y del noble patriotismo de todos los agricultores y ayudantes deseosos de producir cueste lo que cueste abundantes cosechas en la tierra patria.
    Ademas, significan la demostracion del poderio de la unidad monolitica del ejercito y el pueblo quienes saben sumarse a gigantes oleajes para materializar satisfactoriamente todo lo que mande el PTC aun en medio de cualesquier dificultades. Al mismo tiempo, constituyen una muestra de la justeza y vitalidad de la orientacion del partido que fijo el sector agricola como el frente clave de la construccion economica socialista de este ano.

Es imposible ocultar la historia de agresion y guerra de EE.UU.

     Pyongyang, 16 de junio (ATCC) -- Recientemente, el mandatario norteamericano, al pronunciar un discurso radial, senalo que historicamente Estados Unidos nunca guerreo para conquistar a otro pais sino para "emanciparlo". Hoy dia, EE.UU. "esta en la nueva guerra con el enemigo que amenaza la paz y la seguridad" del mundo, dijo y reitero la decision de "seguir con la guerra antiterrorista" y "perseguir la difusion de la libertad" en todo el mundo. La insistencia y la logica del mandatario norteamericano con respecto a la guerra constituyen la tergiversacion de la verdad y los hechos historicos. Por mucho que EE.UU. trate de embellecer y justificar su historia de agresion y su politica de guerra, los hechos historicos nunca seran alterados.
    Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual insertado en su edicion del dia 16 y continua:
    En el nuevo siglo los belicistas yanquis perpetran sin escrupulos la "cruzada" de cuno moderno para aplastar con las fuerzas armadas a los Estados soberanos en desacato a los derechos internacionales y la autoridad de la ONU.
    La naturaleza belicosa de EE.UU. se pone mas al desnudo hoy en la Peninsula Coreana.
    Esos maniacos de guerra libran frecuentemente simulacros de guerra de agresion al Norte de Corea y, para hacer frente al "tiempo de emergencia" de la Peninsula Coreana, reorganizan sus tropas invasoras ocupantes del Sur de Corea, introducen alli gran cantidad de pertrechos militares sofisticados y libran hasta el simulacro de lanzamiento de ojivas nucleares en el suelo surcoreano.
    Mientras existe el imperialismo yanqui, el mundo no podra estar tranquilo ni evitar la agresion y guerra que acarrean desastres y calamidades a la humanidad.
    El mundo saldara cuenta sin falta de los crimenes anti-historicos y anti-eticos de EE.UU. que perturba la paz e impide la civilizacion de la humanidad.

Actos en el marco del gran festival dedicado al 15 de Junio

     Pyongyang, 16 de junio (ATCC) -- Tuvieron lugar el dia 15 varios actos en el marco del gran festival por la reunificacion nacional que se efectua en esta capital con la presencia de delegados nortenos, surenos y de ultramar en conmemoracion del 5 aniversario de la publicacion de la historica Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio. En el Palacio Cultural del Pueblo se efectuo un acto comun de las autoridades del Norte y el Sur.
    Al intervenir en esta ocasion, Kim Ki Nam, vicepresidente del Comite por la Reunificacion Pacifica de la Patria (CRPP) y jefe de la delegacion de autoridades del Norte, senalo la necesidad de lograr la cooperacion estrecha de las autoridades del Norte y el Sur, encargados directos de la ejecucion de la Declaracion Conjunta, para llevar adelante las relaciones de ambas partes y ponerse al frente de la gigantesca marcha de los compatriotas por la reunificacion.
    Su homologo sureno Jong Tong Yong, quien es ministro de Reunificacion, en su discurso de conmemoracion, dijo que las autoridades de ambas partes despacharon esta vez sus delegaciones lo cual es para volver a demostrar al interior y exterior su voluntad de ejecutar la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio y anadio que el Sur y el Norte deben aprovechar la ocasion para profundizar la confianza entre ambas partes.
    El mismo dia, como eslabon del gran festival se efectuaron los encuentros por capas y ramas:
    obreros, campesinos, jovenes estudiantes, mujeres, profesores, politicos, etc. en distintos lugares de esta capital y localidades y se monto una exhibicion de fotos del Norte, el Sur y ultramar en la Casa Cultural 25 de Abril.
    En los encuentros se hizo balance de los exitos y experiencias logrados en el movimiento por la reunificacion de 5 anos posteriores a la publicacion de la Declaracion Conjunta y se discutieron los problemas de detener y frustrar las maniobras de las fuerzas foraneas encaminadas a la intervencion y provocacion de una nueva guerra, fomentar la reconciliacion y unidad nacionales y fortalecer la cooperacion entre el Norte y el Sur mediante la unidad pannacional bajo la bandera del ideal de "Con las fuerzas unidas de la nacion coreana".
    En el encuentro de los jovenes estudiantes del Norte y el Sur efectuado en la Casa Central de la Juventud fue aprobado un manifiesto de fijar como periodo del movimiento por la independencia nacional del 13 de junio al 8 de septiembre en que se cumplen los 60 anos desde cuando las tropas norteamericanas ocuparon el Sur de Corea y desarrollar una lucha pertinente.
    Por otra parte, los participantes en el festival presenciaron la opera nacional "Relato sobre Chun Hyang" representada por los artistas del Conjunto Artistico Nacional.