Floral Baskets Sent to DPRK Embassies

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The Malaysian People's Movement sent a floral basket to the DPRK embassy in Kuala Lumpur on June 16 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 general managers of the Bapamko Company and another company of Indonesia separately sent floral baskets to the DPRK embassy in Jakarta on June 17 and 18.

Portrait of Kim Il Sung Hung at Head Office of Mexican Political Party

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- A portrait of President Kim Il Sung was hung with due ceremony at the head office of the Workers' Party of Mexico on June 15. The participants of the ceremony hung the portrait on the front wall of the meeting hall of the building and laid a floral basket before the portrait.
    Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, coordinator (leader) of the National Executive Committee of the Workers' Party of Mexico, in a speech said that the whole life of the President was a life of the great revolutionary who devoted his all to the Korean revolution and the human cause of independence.
    Noting that Kim Il Sung was the only leader who provided the world revolutionaries with an effective ideological and theoretical weapon and indicated a right way of struggle to them despite the complicated international situation, he said that the President set an example to be followed by the world revolutionaries in struggle and he was a beacon of hope for them.
    The Workers' Party of Mexico firmly believes that the Workers' Party of Korea would surely realize the desire of the President under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, he stressed.

Bulgarian President on Relations with DPRK

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- Bulgaria has paid attention to developing its relations with the DPRK. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said this when receiving credentials from Jo Sung Ju, DPRK ambassador e.p. to Bulgaria, on June 16.
    The president said the two countries have the traditions of good relations, expressing belief that the bilateral relations would grow stronger in the interests of the two peoples.

Reparations to Victims of A-bombs Demanded in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- 74 lawmakers from the Uri Party and the Democratic Workers' Party of south Korea submitted to the National Assembly a resolution requesting the government to take a positive action for Japan's payment of reparations to the victims of A-bombs, according to the south Korean CBS. In the resolution they recalled that the government has not yet settled the issue of reparations to the victims of A-bombs in the south Korea-Japan "agreement," urging it to make possible efforts including renegotiation for a solution to the issue, though belatedly.
    They also requested the government to make a specific inquiry into the actual condition of the A-bomb victims and their children including their health and take immediate measures to provide them with conditions for their medical treatment and living.

Korea's Reunification Free from Foreign Interference Supported

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- Korea's reunification will be achieved on the basis of the north-south joint declaration. Let the Korean people achieve the reunification of their country by their own efforts free from foreign interference!
    The Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Independent and Peaceful Reunification said this in a statement made public on June 12 on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    The statement noted that the north-south summit took place and the north-south joint declaration was published as leader Kim Jong Il has strictly abided by the principles laid down by President Kim Il Sung, while conducting energetic activities for reunification.
    The north-south joint declaration serves as a great banner for the Korean people in their drive to achieve the reunification of the country in the idea of "By our nation itself" and in accordance with the three forms of cooperation for national independence, peace against war and reunification and patriotism, the statement said, and continued:
    If the north-south joint declaration is to be implemented and the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea achieved, the U.S. should withdraw its forces and nukes from south Korea and the south Korean authorities discontinue the cooperation with outsiders and pursue the policy of national independence.

Struggle of Korean People for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration Supported

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The New Communist Party of Britain, the British Association for the Study of Songun Policy, the U.S. Group for the Study of Songun Politics, the U.S. Solidarity Committee for Supporting the Struggle of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front and the South Korean People, the Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Independent and Peaceful Reunification, the Association for Friendship with Korea which has its branches in different countries, the U.S. branch of the association and the North American Committee against Zionism and Imperialism made public a joint statement on June 15 on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. The statement said:
    We extend full support to all the Korean people in their struggle to implement the north-south joint declaration, a milestone of reunification, upholding the great Songun policy.
    The Songun policy serves as the only treasured sword for protecting the dignity and sovereignty of the Korean nation and achieving peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.
    We strongly demand the U.S. immediately withdraw its forces from south Korea because they have hampered the implementation of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, spoiled the atmosphere of reconciliation, unity and reunification between the north and the south and posed a great threat to the peace and security of the world and discontinue its hostile policy towards the DPRK and moves to provoke a new war. The south Korean authorities should stop following the outsiders, repeal the "National Security Law," an anti-reunification law, at once, and unconditionally release the detained pro-reunification patriots.
    We will conduct more vigorous activities to support the Korean people in their struggle to implement the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration in solidarity with the progressive forces of all the countries which value the peace and security of the world and support Korea's reunification.

Reorganization of U.S. Second Division under Fire

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) --The U.S. Second Division, the main force of its forces in south Korea, has been reorganized into a "future-oriented division" capable of carrying out long-range operations with "strategic flexibility". Terming this a very dangerous development, Rodong Sinmun Wednesday brands it as a military provocation driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula to confrontation and war, not peace and reunification. The analyst says:
    The U.S. has carried out earlier than scheduled the reorganization plan for bolstering the combat capability of its forces in south Korea and staged inaugural ceremonies one after another, declaring its completion. This is another intolerable challenge to the sincere efforts of the DPRK to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula, indicating that the U.S. scheme of military attack on the DPRK has become all the more undisguised. The U.S. has been loudmouthed about peace on the Korean Peninsula but the reality proves that its true intention is to realize the strategy to dominate the DPRK by force. It is a trite method employed by the U.S. to hamstring the Korean nation's cause of reunification by escalating tension on the peninsula.
    The reorganization of the U.S. Second Division clearly proves once again that the U.S. does not pay heed to south Korea's will and interests to gratify its own interests.
    With the reorganization of the division to be inveigled into long-range operations, the involvement of south Korea in the whirlpool of international armed conflicts and regional disputes has become a reality, not remaining possibility.
    The U.S. should stop at once its reckless provocations threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and interfering with its reunification.

S. Korean Farmers Call General Strike

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- A general strike of farmers was simultaneously staged across south Korea on June 20 in protest against the government's pro-U.S. sycophantic negotiations for the opening of the rice market, according to a news report. The general strike was participated in by at least 30,000 farmers in 91 cities and counties from Cholwon County, south Korean Kangwon Province, to Namjeju County, Jeju Province.
    Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life refused to work and declared the suspension of operation to stage a solidarity strike at agricultural markets, more than 240 combined rice-processing sites, shipment grounds and other places in different parts of south Korea.
    In this regard, the Federation of Peasants Associations of south Korea held a "rally for the June 20 general strike of farmers for nullifying the negotiations on rice market and blocking the passage of the bill on opening the rice market through the National Assembly" in Seoul.
    Mun Kyong Sik, chairman of the federation, in a speech bitterly criticized the government for having conducted humiliating negotiations to open the rice market on which hinges the existence of the farmers, yielding to the U.S. unreasonable demand. More than 100,000 farmers will gather in Seoul to wage a struggle on June 28 unless the government takes understandable measures, he warned.
    A resolution read out at the rally declared that the general strike of an unprecedented scale staged by farmers across south Korea is aimed at meting out a historic judgment to the government which conducted the sycophantic and traitorous closed-door negotiations on rice market, mocking at the 3.5 million farmers and betraying the people. It is also designed to protect the rice, which keeps the Korean nation alive, and thus defend the food sovereignty by themselves, it noted, and continued:
    The farmers will struggle to the last against the opening of rice market which would do harm to the health and life of the people and threaten their existence.
    Meanwhile, members of the Emergency Committee for Measures for Blocking the Passage of Bill on Opening Rice Market through the "National Assembly", which groups major organizations of farmers including the National Federation of Peasants Associations, the Federation of Agricultural Managers of south Korea, the National Federation of Women Peasants Associations and the Association of Catholic Farmers, had a press conference in front of the building of Kukmin Bank in Youido, Seoul, before launching a hunger sit-in strike.

National Sports Games of School Youth and Children Open

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The 31st National Sports Games of School Youth and Children for Jongilbong Prize were opened. The games will draw at least 4,000 boys and girls selected in each province. Divided into the middle school and primary school groups, the participants will compete in various events including football, table-tennis, track and field, Taekwon-Do and rhythmic gymnastics.
    An opening ceremony was held at the Basketball Gymnasium in Chongchun Street on Tuesday.
    Present there were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education, Mun Jae Dok, chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, officials concerned and school youth and children in Pyongyang.
    An opening speech by Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, was followed by a Taekwon-Do exhibition performance by school youth and children in Pyongyang.

Anniversary of June 15 Joint Declaration Marked in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- A grand festival for national reunification was reportedly held at the plaza in front of Pusan Railway Station on June 19 under the sponsorship of the Pusan Regional Headquarters of the South Side's Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the south and the north and overseas to implement the June 15 joint declaration. Prior to the grand festival, members of 16 civic and social organizations, citizens and youth and students, at least 900 in all, gathered at the plaza and held colorful functions including drawing paintings on the theme of reunification and throwing balloons containing water at the boards on which ugly faces of anti-reunification elements were drawn.
    Speakers at the festival called upon all the Koreans to move ahead to implement the joint declaration, noting that the formation of the June 15 Joint Committee reflected the will of the fellow countrymen to build a reunified country at an early date, true to the joint declaration.
    Honorary Representative of the Pusan regional headquarters So Sang Gwon, who visited Pyongyang as a delegate to the June 15 grand festival for national reunification, said that though it rained on the day of the opening ceremony for the grand festival, he was greatly excited to march from the Chollima Statue to the Kim Il Sung Stadium. All of us were very thankful to all the compatriots in the north for having warmly welcomed the south side's delegations despite heavy rain, he added.
    An art performance was given and a video tape on which the days the historic Pyongyang summit took place and the June 15 joint declaration was published in June 2000 are recorded and others were shown at the festival.
    Functions took place on Wolmi Islet on June 18 to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the publication of the joint declaration under the co-sponsorship of the Inchon Regional Headquarters of the South Side's Preparatory Committee and the Inchon Ilbo. Those functions were attended by over 500 members of civic and social organizations, citizens and youth and students in Kyonggi Province and Inchon.

Guarantee of Rights of Part-time Workers Demanded in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification reportedly demanded the authorities ensure the rights of the part-time workers. The headquarters in its statement on June 17 said the death of Kim Thae Hwan, chief of the Chungju Regional Branch of the Federation of south Korean Trade Unions, who was active for the rights of the part-time workers and was killed by a truck, was a murder committed by the employers who ignored the vital rights of the irregular workers.
    Urging a stern punishment of the employers and those concerned who were evading responsibility, the statement demanded the government substantially ensure the three rights of labor of the part-time workers.

Russian Artistes Perform in Pyongyang

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The State Academic Moiseyev Dance Company of Russia on a visit to the DPRK gave a performance at the Ponghwa Art Theatre on June 21 before a capacity audience. It was appreciated by Kwon Hyok Bong, vice department director of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, and officials concerned and artistes and working people in the city.
    Among the audience were Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of the embassy here.
    The dance company, which had given two successful performances in Samjiyon, staged that day colorful dance pieces it had sincerely prepared.
    Through the dance "Guerrillas" well-known to the Korean people presented for dozens of times the performers truthfully represented the courageous battles fought by the heroic people of the former Soviet Union against the aggressors in the period of the Patriotic War to meet the ideological and thematic needs of the work.
    They also successfully represented the militant and optimistic life of the seamen of Russia in the dance suite of the fleet of Russia "Apple" through their perfect ensemble and with refined dancing skill and dynamic dance rhythm. The company also staged dances of different countries and nations.
    They included Moldovan drollery dance "Tabakeraska" impressively depicting the old men who wish to see their youth to return while watching a girl at a washing site and Nanai folk game "Wrestling of two children." These numbers created merry laughter among the audience for the unique and high artistry of the performers.
    "Gaucho", "Kopak", "Finnish Polka Dance" and "Chinese Ribbon Dance" and other dance pieces were warmly acclaimed by the audience for having vividly represented the optimistic life and national customs of peoples in different countries.
    The performers staged a Korean dance to the delight of the audience. The performance continues.

President of Philippine Senate to Visit DPRK

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- Franklin M. Drillon, president of the Senate of the Philippines, will soon visit the DPRK at the invitation of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.

Workers' Meeting Held in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of south Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) held a national workers' meeting in Chungju on June 18 on the death of Kim Thae Hwan, chief of the Chungju Regional Branch of the FKTU, hit by a truck in the midst of a demonstration, according to the south Korean KBS. Present at the meeting were delegates of at least 100 labor and civic and public organizations, including Chairman of the KCTU Ri Su Ho and Chairman of the FKTU Ri Yong Duk, and over 6,000 unionists of the two labor organizations.
    The participants demanded the government authorities thoroughly probe into the truth behind the incident and take immediate measures for the problem of the employed workers.

Wise Leadership for Solving Socialist Rural Question

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Wednesday dedicates a signed article to the 15th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's celebrated work "Let Us Thoroughly Implement the Theses on the Socialist Rural Question". Clarified in the work are realistic problems in successfully solving the rural question in the country including the matter of realizing overall irrigation, mechanization, electrification and extensive use of chemicals on a high level in all the rural areas by energetically stepping up the rural technical revolution, and drastically improving the living conditions of farmers so as to reduce distinctions between town and countryside. The validity and vitality of the work have been patently proved in the practices for building the socialist countryside in the past, the article says, and goes on:
    Leader Kim Jong Il set forth the policy of agricultural revolution to successfully carry into reality the President's idea of rural building and has wisely led the work for its implementation.
    The leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea to implement the theses on the socialist rural question is revolutionary leadership to defend the immortal exploits performed by Kim Il Sung in the building of the socialist countryside and successfully realize his far-reaching plan and desire.
    Under the tireless guidance of Kim Jong Il bringing the President's lifelong wish into a brilliant reality, epoch-making changes have taken place for rezoning the land of the country as befits the land of socialist Korea and the Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway, a unique Korean-style gravity-fed waterway, has been completed to solidify the foundation of agricultural production. The advantages of the socialist rural management system have been displayed and a broad avenue has opened to carry out the agricultural technical revolution on a higher stage in the course of the work to carry out the policy of agricultural revolution set forth by Kim Jong Il.
    The WPK's leadership in the implementation of the theses has been a wise leadership which has consolidated in every way the political and ideological position of the socialist countryside in our country by giving priority to the ideological revolution in the countryside and an inspiring banner effecting a radical turn in agricultural production and fully solving the food problem by the efforts of the home people itself.

15th North-South Ministerial Talks Open

     Seoul, June 22 (KCNA Correspondent) -- The 15th North-South Ministerial Talks were opened in Seoul today. The talks were addressed by the head of the north side and the chief delegate of the south side.
    Chief Cabinet Councilor of the DPRK Kwon Ho Ung, head of the north side, said: We are the companions who should travel by the same reunification boat called "By our nation itself" and reach the destination of a reunified country. To this end we should discard the outdated conception and head for cooperation and help on the basis of the bilateral recognition and respect as members of the same nation.
    He put forward the north side's proposals for the settlement of practical pending issues, underscoring the need for the north and the south to make the talks a beneficial dialogue for substantially solving issues.
    He stressed, first of all, the need to reconfirm the idea of "By our nation itself", the basic spirit of the June 15 joint declaration, and thoroughly embody it in the inter-Korean relations.
    Then he emphasized the necessity for the north and the south to significantly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the country as a common occasion to promote national reconciliation and unity. In this regard he proposed to dispatch important delegations of the authorities to the August 15 national joint functions to be held in Seoul, arrange the reunions of separated families and relatives at Mt. Kumgang resort and let other separated families and relatives meet with each other facing TV cameras as early as possible on the occasion of the liberation day and stop all forms of smear broadcasting against the other side.
    Then he called on the north and south authorities to directly confirm the illegality and invalidity of the "Ulsa Five-Point Treaty" and jointly cope with Japan's moves to invade Tok Islet and distort history in school textbooks on the occasion of the centenary of the Japanese imperialists' fabrication of the treaty.
    Underlining the need to boost the cooperation between the north and the south to make it substantial on the principle of promoting compatriotism, humanitarianism and prosperity common to the nation, he proposed to form a north-south committee for cooperation in agriculture with vice-ministers as its co-chairmen so as to boost cooperation in agriculture, create a panel for cooperation in fisheries including joint fishing in the West Sea and open talks on cooperation in fisheries as part of inter-Korean cooperation.
    Minister of Unification Jong Tong Yong, chief delegate of the south side, referred to the fact that the joint declaration which calls on the south and the north to have exchange and cooperation and settle the issue of reunification independently, while co-existing with each other in peace is being implemented in a concrete manner.
    On the basis of this success, the south and the north should put an end to the Cold War, make peace firmly settle on the land and achieve the prosperity common to them, he said.
    He put forward a series of proposals reflecting the south side's stand.

Efficacious Medicines, Drinks Made in DPRK

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- Products of the Sogyong 1 Trade Corporation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are popular among people. They are manufactured on the basis of Koryo medicine and latest successes made in molecular biology. They give youthful vigor to people by raising their immunity.
    Beyond the limitations of other medicines which are applied to treat only some parts of human body, Unicolon controls the central nerve's lower part, thus guaranteeing a long life in good health.
    Kangjonghwan is a tonic giving vitality to whole body. It is made with 10-odd kinds of rare medicinal materials including Kaesong Koryo Insam (ginseng), clove buds and Schizandra chinensis and natural organic elements extracted from chlorella.
    They were granted patents of the DPRK.
    The corporation also produces various kinds of health drinks including chlorella nucleic acid spirits.

DPRK Committee for National Economic Cooperation to Be Set Up

     Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- A decree of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly on setting up the DPRK Committee for National Economic Cooperation was promulgated. The decree dated June 22 said that the SPA Presidium of the DPRK decided to set up the DPRK Committee of National Economic Cooperation to rev up the north-south economic cooperation in the idea of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, a reunification programme common to the Korean nation.

For Spanish-speaking people

Mexico: acto de colocar retrato de Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, 22 de junio (ATCC) -- El Partido del Trabajo de Mexico (PTM) coloco el dia 15 un retrato del Presidente Kim Il Sung en el salon de reuniones de la sede de su entidad. Los participantes en el acto depositaron un cesto de flores ante el retrato.
    El coordinador (lider del partido) de la Comision Ejecutiva Nacional del PTM, Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, en su discurso, dijo que toda la vida del Presidente fue la de un gran revolucionario quien dedico todo lo suyo a la revolucion coreana y a la causa de la independencia de la humanidad.
    Destaco que en el mundo no existio un lider igual al Presidente, quien aun en medio de la situacion internacional tan compleja, dio a los revolucionarios del mundo una clara arma ideo-teorica y les indico un correcto camino de lucha y anadio que de veras, para estos el Presidente represento el modelo de lucha y faro de la esperanza.
    Subrayo que el PTM esta convencido de que bajo la direccion del camarada Kim Jong Il el Partido del Trabajo de Corea realizara sin falta todo lo que aspiraba el camarada Kim Il Sung.

Acto provocativo de EE.UU. amenaza la paz, denuncia Rodong Sinmun

     Pyongyang, 22 de junio (ATCC) -- Se conocio que la segunda division, grueso de las tropas norteamericanas ocupantes del Sur de Corea, se reformo como una "unidad de futura generacion" que con su "flexibilidad estrategica" puede realizar hasta las operaciones a larga distancia. Esto es un acontecer muy peligroso y un acto de provocacion militar que lleva la situacion de la Peninsula Coreana a la confrontacion y guerra.
    Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 22 y prosigue:
    EE.UU. cumplio con anticipacion su plan de reorganizacion para el aumento de combatividad de sus tropas ocupantes del Sur de Corea y abrio las "ceremonias de fundacion de nuevas unidades" declarando la culminacion de esa reforma. Esto es un desafio imperdonable a los sinceros esfuerzos de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea por la preservacion de la paz en la Peninsula Coreana. Al mismo tiempo, demuestra que se hace mas abierto el intento de EE.UU. de lanzar una invasion armada a la RPDC.
    Aunque el Tio Sam esta acostumbrado a pronunciar la frase "paz para la Peninsula Coreana", la realidad comprueba que su intencion verdadera es ejecutar su estrategia de dominar a toda Corea por via militar.
    Es un metodo rutinario de EE.UU. estropear la causa de la reunificacion de la nacion coreana agravando la situacion en la Peninsula Coreana.
    En tal sentido, la reforma de la segunda division yanqui demuestra claramente que EE.UU. no toma en consideracion la opinion e intereses del Sur de Corea para defender los suyos.
    Por la adaptacion de las tropas yanquis estacionadas alli para la operacion a larga distancia, ya pasaron de una posibilidad a la realidad los peligros de que el Sur de Corea pueda caer en la voragine de conflictos armados internacionales y litigios regionales. EE.UU. debe abstenerse de inmediato de sus imprudentes actos provocativos que amenazan la paz y obstaculizan la reunificacion de la Peninsula Coreana.