Czech Preparatory Committee Formed

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- A Czech preparatory committee for celebrating the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and the liberation of Korea was inaugurated with due ceremony in Prague on July 28. Attending the ceremony were the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and political and public figures.
    The chairman of the Paektusan Czech-Korean Friendship Association was elected chairman of the preparatory committee at the ceremony.
    The committee set the days from July 28 to October 12 as a period of celebrations and decided to organize various political and cultural functions, introduce the achievements made by the WPK and the DPRK through media and express solidarity with the Korean people in their just cause in the period.

Repeal of "Taft-Katsura Agreement" Called for

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- More than 10 legislators from the ruling and opposition parties of south Korea including the Uri Party submitted to the "National Assembly" a resolution demanding the United States and Japan declare the repeal of the "Taft-Katsura Agreement" in connection with the lapse of 100 years since its fabrication, according to the south Korean KBS on July 29. The resolution said that the "agreement" set the stage for the Japanese imperialists' past domination over Korea and the division of the Korean territory.
    It denounced the fabrication of the "agreement" by the U.S. and Japan as a criminal breach of international law as it wantonly encroached upon the rights of a sovereign state.
    It demanded the U.S. and Japan make a formal apology for this and declare the repeal of the "agreement".

Anniversary of Korea's Liberation Celebrated in Different Countries

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- A seminar was held by the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and a lecture and round-table talks took place in Kinshasa, Democratic Congo, from July 21 to 26 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea. Chairman M. Ganjorig and Executive Chairman N. Sarantuya of the Mongolian Mt. Paektu Association for Independent Development, at the seminar said that for every country and nation to value the Juche character and national identity and give full play to patriotism is a vital issue related to the destiny of the country. They noted that the association would conduct positive activities in diverse forms and ways in the future in Mongolia to learn from the experience of the DPRK.
    Otete Gaston Mboyo, chairman of the National Committee of the Genuine Lumumbist Patriotic Party of Democratic Congo, in a lecture praised the undying feats President Kim Il Sung performed by defeating Japanese imperialism and bringing about a great event of the liberation of Korea after embarking upon the road of revolution in his teens. He noted that the feats of the President are shining more brilliantly thanks to leader Kim Jong Il.
    Jean Baptiste Nkoy, general secretary of the People's Rally for Socialism of Democratic Congo, at the round-table talks referred in detail to the fact that the President led the great anti-Japanese war to victory and after the liberation of Korea he founded the Workers' Party of Korea, the regular armed forces and the state and turned the DPRK into a socialist power, thus laying the foundation for the eternal prosperity and progress of the nation.
    Meanwhile, seminars, film shows and photo exhibitions took place in Egypt and Libya on July 25 on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War and the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea.
    Attending the functions were leaders of various political parties, chiefs of organizations, academic figures, members of Juche idea study organizations and organizations for friendship and solidarity with the Korean people and people from all walks of life in those countries.

Anniversary of Independence of Benin Celebrated

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held here on Monday to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the independence of Benin. Present there were members of the Korea-Benin Friendship Association and working people in the city.
    A speech was made before a congratulatory message to the Beninese president was adopted at the meeting.

Reception Given on National Day of Swiss Confederation

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Rudolf Strasser, country director of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to the DPRK, hosted a reception on Monday evening to mark the national day of the Swiss Confederation. Present on invitation were officials concerned and diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here. Speeches were made at the reception.

Reception Given to Mark Army Day of China

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Military Attache of the Chinese embassy here Yang Xilian gave a reception at the embassy on Monday evening to mark the 78th anniversary of the foundation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Present on invitation were Vice-Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Sang Ik, Colonel General of the Korean People's Army Sim Sang Dae, other generals and officers of the KPA and officials concerned and diplomats and military attaches of various foreign embassies here.
    Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe and embassy officials were on hand. Speeches were made at the reception.

S. Korean Women Students Org. Calls for Celebrating Liberation Day as Day of Reunification

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The "National Council of Women Student Representatives" of south Korea reportedly issued a statement titled "Let's celebrate August 15 liberation as August 15 reunification" on July 27. The 60th anniversary of August 15 liberation this year can be called a genuine liberation day only when it is celebrated as August 15 reunification, the statement said, stressing that the Koreans should not allow the presence of the U.S. forces in south Korea to go beyond 60 years.
    The organization will unite more fellow students so that they might participate in the August 15 grand national festival and arouse stronger fervor for reunification among women throughout south Korea centering on the "Paektu-Halla huge group of women's marchers for reunification".
    Calling for holding with splendor the August 15 grand national festival for independence, peace and reunification , the statement underscored the need to successfully stage the festival nationwide so as to celebrate the August 15 liberation as August 15 reunification.

Punishment of GI Criminal Demanded in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The 49th candlelight function to honor the memory of woman Kim Myong Ja who was killed by a U.S. military truck was reportedly held at the plaza of Uijongbu Railway Station, Kyonggi Province, on July 29. Attending there were members of the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification, the Democratic Workers' Party and the south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and students.
    Song Jong Hyon, permanent representative of the All-Citizens Measure Committee for the Solution of the Issue of the U.S. Military Base in the Northern District of Kyonggi Province, said this land does not protect the people, calling upon people from all walks of life to punish the GI criminal and retake the lost independence of the nation by their own efforts.
    Kang Hong Gu, representative of the Emergency Measure Committee for Probing the Truth about the Murder Case by a U.S. Military Truck, called upon the people to bring the killer to justice and fight it out till he is punished.
    The participants shouted "End to all the GIs' crimes in this land", holding candlelights.

Greetings to Macedonian President

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme Peoplefs Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski on the occasion of its national day. Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries will grow stronger in the future, the message sincerely wished the president greater success in his responsible work for prosperity of the nation and well-being of the people.

Greetings to PM of Macedonia

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Vlado Buckovski, prime minister of Macedonia, on the national day of his country. Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would boost in the future, the message sincerely wished him great success in his responsible work for durable security and prosperity of the country.
    Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent to his Macedonian counterpart Ilinka Mitreva a similar message wishing her success in her responsible work for Macedonia's entry into the EU.

Vice-President of S. Korean Red Cross Here

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Ri Se Ung, vice-president of the south Korean Red Cross, and his party arrived here Tuesday. They were met at the airport by Choe Song Ik, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society, and officials concerned.

Fresh Water Fish Breeding Encouraged in DPRK

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Breeding of fresh water fish is encouraged throughout the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Fish farms and spawning ponds under the Pyongyang City Fish Farm Management Bureau have released 80 million fry of fish including carp and gibel in rivers and reservoirs.
    The Sonnae Youth Fish Farm has secured fish fry 6 times those in the previous year and built a new facility with a capacity to hatch millions of fish spawn. The Sariwon City Fish Farm is breeding various kinds of fish stage by stage by cultivating microbes with excrements of domestic animals and grass to suit the ecological features of fresh water fish.
    It has secured breeding fish and raised them in a scientific and technical way to provide over 7.5 million fry to fish farms of several units and release millions in rivers and streams.
    It has also introduced an advanced method of collecting and hatching fish spawn, with the result that it has raised the incubation rate up to 90 percent and produced several million fry.
    The fish farm where Choe Jung Hwa works as manager is breeding various kinds of fish in a scientific and intensive way. It has secured enough fry of fish including carp and catfish and bred catfish by forming shoals and regulating nutrition, light and water temperature in a scientific and technical way to suit their ecological features. The farm has also increased the production of fat fish with a method of cultivating triploid catfish by hydrostatic pressure.
    Catfish farms in Pyongyang and other parts of the country are using a newly-developed assorted feed to raise the weight increasing rate of catfish fry.

Coastal Environment Improved in DPRK

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The coastal environment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a maritime nation, has been bettered as the days go by. The government has directed many efforts to providing a clean environment to the people, thus creating beautiful coastal scenery and better environment.
    The country has such institutional mechanisms as the Law on Forestry, Law on Fishery, Law on Water Resources and Law on Preventing Sea Pollution. It has more than a thousand nature-protection reserves such as natural, plant, animal and aquatic resources reserves. Among them are over 60 sea reserves including the Ongjin aquatic resources reserve and the West Sea Barrage natural park. The sizes of coastal residential quarters including Wonsan, Hamhung, Haeju and Nampho have been set properly and coastal towns have dispersed on a small or medium scale to protect well coastal environment and the water quality.
    A lot of sanatoriums and rest homes have been built on the east coast including Sinpho, Majon, Sokhu, Hongwon, Kyongpho and Mt. Chilbo as the transparency of water there is 8-10 meters and chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand are 3 milligrams per a liter.
    In the coastal economic development such as building of industrial establishments and ports and reclamation of tideland, the primary attention has been directed to their influence on environment.
    In particular, a new perspective blueprint for land development has been drawn up in 2004 and it is being implemented on a full scale, thus laying a foundation to provide a better coastal environment.
    An intensive campaign for preserving and managing the coastal environment has been conducted in each period of the general mobilization for land construction. This year a vast acreage of wind break belt with halo-tolerant plants has been created in the west coastal areas including Onchon County, South Phyongan Province, and Yomju County, North Phyongan Province, and a several-hundred-meter-long breakwater built in Sinpho City, South Hamgyong Province.
    With the establishment of a well-organized system for observing the coasts and territorial waters of the country, coastal environment and pollution are under regular observation and necessary steps taken.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Mongolian Delegation

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the visiting delegation of the Mongolian Mt. Paektu Association for Independent Development. It was conveyed to an official concerned by G. Bold, executive chairman of the Darhan Ol Provincial Branch of the association who is heading the delegation.

Choe Thae Bok Meets Swedish Ambassador

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a talk with outgoing Swedish Ambassador to the DPRK Paul Beijer at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Tuesday.

DPRK Men and Women Footballers Beat Japanese Teams

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- DPRK men and women football teams trounced their Japanese rivals for the East Asian Cup 1-0 each.

Kim Jong Il Inspects Command of Large Combined Unit of KPA and Its Unit

     Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected the command of the large combined unit and Unit 615 honored with the title of Kum Song Lifeguard of the KPA situated in the forefront area in the central sector of the front. He was accompanied by KPA Generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong.
    He was greeted on the spot by the commanding officers of the large combined unit. He was briefed on the performance of the unit's duty by the commander of the unit. Expressing satisfaction over the fact that the officers and men of the unit have thoroughly implemented the military line of the WPK, thus consolidating the military bulwark of Korean style socialism as firm as a rock, he set forth the highly important tasks which would serve as guidelines in further increasing the militancy of the unit and turning the defence theatre into an invulnerable fortress.
    After inspecting the command, he enjoyed a performance given by the art squad of the large combined unit at the servicemen's hall together with the officers and men of the unit and their families.
    He then inspected KPA Unit 615 honored with the title of Kum Song Lifeguard. After being saluted, he went round the room dedicated to the history of the unit, conducted by its commander.
    He highly praised the exploits performed by the unit honored with the field guidance given by President Kim Il Sung several times. The meritorious unit has displayed matchless patriotic devotion and popular heroism for the Party and the leader, the country and the people up to this date since the days of the hard-fought Fatherland Liberation War, performing distinguished feats in the war and in the struggle to defend the forefront of socialism and producing at least 30 heroes of the Republic including 16 heroes of Phohang and many recipients of state orders, he noted.
    He dropped in at the operation study room to learn in detail with the training of the commanding officers of the unit. There he set forth tasks to be fulfilled to increase the unit's combat capability in every way.
    Going round the servicemen's hall and other entertainment facilities and logistic facilities, he got familiar with the political and ideological education and the management of the unit.
    He met with soldiers Kim Sin Hyok and Kim Sin Il, twin brothers, who went to the forefront from Pyongyang.
    Then he moved on to the duck farm built by the unit.
    He put forward the tasks to be fulfilled to boost the duck production, saying that the farm should operate at its fullest capacity to pay off profusely. He had a photo session with the servicepersons of the unit.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rodong Sinmun comenta lucha por eliminar estatua de McArthur

    @Pyongyang, 2 de agosto (ATCC) -- En estos dias, los habitantes surcoreanos de diferentes estratos luchan intensamente por eliminar la estatua de bronce de McArthur erigida en Inchon. Con respecto a esto, el diario Rodong Sinmun publico en su edicion del dia 2 un comentario individual que senala como sigue:
    McArthur fue el caudillo del ejercito agresor que comando directamente las operaciones militares contra el pueblo coreano, inclusive el desembarco a Inchon, durante la pasada guerra coreana que provoco EE.UU. en la decada de 1950 del siglo pasado.
    Precisamente fue el quien dirigio casi todos los horrendos genocidios reportados durante esa guerra.
    Pero, la estatua de este asesino nunca perdonable fue levantada sobre el suelo donde reposan los restos mortales de los surcoreanos ultimados tragicamente por el mismo, hecho que resulta el insulto mas grande a la nacion coreana.
    Quienes provocaron la guerra contra otras naciones y asesinaron sin piedad a civiles inocentes son criminales de guerra que deben ser enjuiciados por la historia. Sin embargo, pretextando la "identidad del Estado", el "Partido Hannara" y otras fuerzas conservadoras proyanquis de pesima calana se oponen a la lucha por deshacer la estatua en cuestion y hasta instigan a los pandilleros a usar violencia contra los manifestantes.
    Esta lucha del pueblo coreano deviene tambien un eslabon de la batalla por acabar con la ocupacion militar y dominacion colonial de EE.UU. sobre el Sur de Corea y defender la dignidad y la soberania nacional.
    Por lo tanto, hay que volar la estatua de ese enemigo jurado de la nacion coreana.

Peligrosidad y nocividad de penetracion ideo-cultural burguesa

    @Pyongyang, 2 de agosto (ATCC) -- La ideologia, la cultura y el corrupto modo de vida burgueses son los mas reaccionarios y antipopulares que representan y defienden los intereses de la clase capitalista y reflejan la posicion clasista y el modo de vida de esta y constituyen el mas pernicioso veneno ideologico que convierte a los hombres en invalidos espirituales y morales. Senala asi el rotativo Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual insertado en su edicion del dia 2 y prosigue:
    Los contagiados con la ideologia y cultura burguesas abandonan su conviccion revolucionaria y desagradecen al partido y al lider. Ocasionan el desmoronamiento del poder, el ejercito y el pueblo, y, a la larga, pierden la capacidad de defender a la Direccion de la Revolucion.
    La ideologia y cultura burguesas son venenos que carcomen y adormecen la conciencia revolucionaria y la clasista de las masas populares. Los empapados con esas sienten renuencia a hacer revolucion y a trabajar y llevan una vida ociosa con la vision politica empanada y la depravacion ideologica y espiritual y, a la larga, caen en el lodazal de la contrarrevolucion y seducidos por los enemigos.
    La nocividad de la penetracion ideologica y cultural burguesa consiste en que esta da deformacion a la vida cultural sana de la gente.
    De suprimirse la cultura nacional, la gente perdera su nacionalidad, caera en el nihilismo y escudrinara la intencion de otros paises para seguir sin son ni son a estos. La otra nocividad de tal penetracion reside en que esta frena el desarrollo de la cultura nacional de otros paises para impedir la superacion cultural de la gente. La penetracion ideologica y cultural burguesa ejerce influencia muy nociva particularmente sobre los jovenes.
    En tal circunstancia, los paises progresistas y que hacen la revolucion deben poner con mas seguridad el mosquitero para impedir la penetracion ideologica y cultural burguesa.

Nace comite preparatorio de Checo para efemerides de Corea

    @Pyongyang, 2 de agosto (ATCC) -- Quedo constituido el 28 de julio en Praga el Comite Preparatorio de Checo para el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea (PTC) y de la restauracion de Corea. En la ceremonia constitutiva participaron el secretario general del Comite Central del Partido Comunista de Checoslovaquia y otras personalidades de los circulos politico y social.
    Como presidente del comite naciente fue electo el presidente de la Asociacion de Amistad Checo-Corea Paektusan.
    El comite fijo del 28 de julio al 12 de octubre como ciclo de festejo y decidio organizar variadas actividades politico-culturales, dar a conocer ampliamente a traves de publicaciones los exitos logrados por el PTC y la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y expresar solidaridad con la justa causa del pueblo coreano.