Amnesty to Be Granted

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- A decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was promulgated to grant amnesty on the occasion of the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and the liberation of Korea. The decree dated August 11 says:
    Today the army and the people of the DPRK will celebrate with splendor the 60th anniversaries of the WPK and Korea's liberation on the road of the fruitful drive to glorify the era of the Songun revolution under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il. The two anniversaries will mark the noteworthy political events as they will glorify the undying feats performed President Kim Il Sung and the WPK in building the Party and carrying out the revolutionary cause of Juche and the human cause of independence and powerfully demonstrate the might of the single-minded unity of the Party, the army and the people rallied close around the headquarters of the revolution and the spirit of Songun Korea.
    The Presidium of the SPA of the DPRK decides as follows in order to glorify the two anniversaries as grand political festivals and implement to the letter the benevolent politics, the all-embracing politics of the Party, true to the lifetime intention and cause of Kim Il Sung:
    1. Amnesty shall be granted on the occasion of the 60th anniversaries of the WPK and the liberation of Korea.
    Amnesty shall be proclaimed from September 1, Juche 94 (2005).
    2. The Cabinet and relevant institutions shall take measures to ensure that those who are to be set free on pardon settle down in their work.

Anniversary of Korea's Liberation Celebrated Abroad

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- A meeting took place in Moscow on August 9 under the sponsorship of the Russian public circles on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea. Vladimir Tolstikov, chairman of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK, made an opening address at the meeting, which was followed by a report of Academician Mikhail Tsitarenko, director of the Institute of the Far East of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
    The reporter said that Korean friends and public figures in Russia are significantly marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea. They regard this historic day as a common holiday, he noted, and went on:
    President Kim Il Sung wisely led the anti-Japanese war of the Korean people and liberated Korea, thus emerging one of the greatest politicians of the world. After liberation the President led the building of a new democratic state and the Fatherland Liberation War to victory and wisely steered the postwar rehabilitation and construction and socialist construction, thereby bringing about unprecedentedly great political and socio-economic changes. He is, indeed, the benefactor of the liberation for the Korean people, the sun of the nation and the founder of socialist Korea. Since 2000 the bilateral relations have grown stronger in all fields than ever before. Russia welcomes the positive developments in the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Branding the U.S. military presence in south Korea as an anachronistic act dating back to the Cold War era, he noted Russia has consistently held that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula be settled politically and diplomatically and the peninsula be denuclearized.
    Congratulatory messages to leader Kim Jong Il from various organizations of Russia were adopted at the meeting.
    Meanwhile, a meeting and a seminar were held in Democratic Congo and France and a meeting and a film show in Bangladesh and Nepal on the same occasion.

Commemorative Stamps Issued

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- The Korea Stamp Corporation issued commemorative stamp (one kind of souvenir sheet, two kinds of sheetlets and a kind of separate stamp) on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation. The upper parts of the souvenir sheet, sheetlets and stamp bear letters "Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Korea," "Juche 34 (1945)" and "Juche 94 (2005)". The souvenir sheet which includes a round-shaped stamp bearing the picture of President Kim Il Sung carries words of the first stanza of the immortal revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and depicts Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu.
    The first kind of sheetlet has a round-shaped stamp bearing the picture of the President and stamps dealing with his revolutionary activities in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle in which he founded the revolutionary armed forces of Juche after taking over from Kang Pan Sok two pistols, the legacies left by Kim Hyong Jik, beat back the Japanese imperialists and liberated Korea.
    The second kind of sheetlet contains a round-shaped stamp bearing the picture of the President making a historic speech at a rally held in the liberated country after his triumphal return home. It carries stamps dealing with the historical facts that he met with the workers of the Kangson Steel Works before visiting Mangyongdae, his birthplace, and having an emotion-charged reunion with his grandparents. Separate stamps depict the Arch of Triumph and magnolias standing against the background of the nocturnal sky beautifully decorated with fireworks.

Anniversary of Korea's Liberation Celebrated

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Colorful functions took place in different parts of the DPRK on August 11 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation. A meeting of workers and trade union members was held in Wonsan. Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, delivered a report at the meeting to be followed by speakers. They said that President Kim Il Sung beat back the Japanese imperialists with arms of Songun and achieved the historic cause of national liberation by making long journeys of bloody battles during the hard-fought anti-Japanese war. They stressed the need for all the workers and trade union members to give eternal continuity to the revolutionary history of the President, holding him in high esteem as the father of socialist Korea and the sun of Juche. A seminar of social scientists took place at the Academy of Social Sciences. Speakers deeply explained and proved the undying feats the President performed by leading the anti-Japanese war to a brilliant victory and achieving the historic cause of national liberation under the uplifted banner of Songun and their significance.
    Meanwhile, there were a fashion show of national dresses and sports and amusement games of women from across the country.
    The Ministry of Foreign Trade arranged a film show for members of the economic and commercial councilors corps here at the Taedonggang Club for the Diplomatic Corps. The participants saw a Korean documentary film "For the Liberation of the Country" part 15 which deals with the undying revolutionary feats of the President. Present at the functions were Choe Thae Bok and Kim Jung Rin, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and officials concerned.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Russian Figure

     Moscow, August 10 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by Vladimir Tolstikov, chairman of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation. The chairman conveyed the gift to the DPRK ambassador to Russia on August 9.

Meeting of Young Vanguard Held

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- A meeting of the young vanguard of the Ministry of People's Security was held in front of the old home of leader Kim Jong Il in the secret camp in Mt. Paektu on August 11 to vow their loyalty to Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il. Seen in the venue were flags bearing the portraits of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
    Led by Paek Yong Il, first secretary of the youth league organization of the ministry, the participants took a solemn oath to remain intensively loyal to Kim Jong Il. They declared they would defend the headquarters of the revolution headed by Kim Jong Il at the cost of their lives, safeguard Korean-style socialism centered on the popular masses and the single-minded unity of the revolutionary ranks as firm as a rock and glorify the youth league organization of the ministry as militant ranks which act as one under his leadership and are strong in organizing ability, unity and militancy. All members of the youth league organization of the people's security organs will wage a valiant struggle to shatter the moves of the enemies to isolate and stifle the DPRK and staunchly struggle for the reunification of the country and the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation as the eternal companions and Songun revolutionary comrades of Kim Jong Il, they stressed.
    Attending the meeting were officials of the youth league organization of the ministry and members of the young group for study tour of Mt. Paektu of the ministry. Then the participants in the meeting were briefed on the time-honored home of Kim Jong Il in the secret camp before going round the mementoes preserved there with good care.

Press Conference Held at Russian Embassy

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- A press conference was called at the Russian embassy here on August 11 to mark the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Japanese militarism in the Far East. Present were mediapersons in the city of Pyongyang.
    Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov and embassy officials were on hand. Addressing the conference, Russian Military Attache Igor Pablov recalled that after defeating the fascist German army, the Soviet army declared a war against Japan in August 1945 and took part in the anti-Japanese battles with powerful armed forces. President Kim Il Sung issued an order for the general attack to liberate Korea to the units of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army on August 9, 1945, he said, adding that the KPRA units participated, together with units of the Soviet army, in the final decisive battles to annihilate the Japanese imperialists and won a brilliant victory. We pay tributes to the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters and the veterans of the Soviet army who performed heroic feats in the struggle to liberate Korea on the occasion of the significant day of Korea's liberation, he said.
    Then, answers were given to questions at the conference.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Russian Dancing Troupe

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the visiting Beryozka dancing troupe of Russia. The gift was handed to an official concerned by Mira Koltsova, head of the State Academy Beryozka Dancing Troupe Named after N.S. Nadezhdina, on August 11.

Ten-day Film Show Opens

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of opening the ten-day film show to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea was held at the People's Palace of Culture here on August 11. Present were Jong Ha Chol, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, officials concerned, creators and artistes of the moviedom and working people in the city.
    Minister of Culture Choe Ik Gyu made an opening address at the ceremony. Then, the participants saw a documentary film "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il Gives On-site Guidance to the Work of Different Fields" (January-May, Juche 94) and a newly-released feature film "A Girl in Valley with Springs."
    Screened at cinemas and houses of culture across the country during the film show will be documentaries and feature films dealing with the brilliant revolutionary life and undying feats of President Kim Il Sung and the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il who is carrying forward and accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche started on Mt. Paektu.
    Among them are documentaries "The Leader Is the Great Father of Our People," "The Fatherly Leader among Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Fighters" and "The Fatherly Leader among Officials," which impressively show the revolutionary history of the President.
    There are also documentaries "To Hold the Fatherly Leader in Higher Esteem," "Under the Care of the Great Brilliant Commander" and "Effecting a Great Turn with Songun Revolutionary Leadership," which show the great revolutionary history of Kim Jong Il. Among the feature films are "Star of Korea," "The Sun of the Nation" and "The Forest Sways," which depict the glorious revolutionary history of the President who devoted his whole life to the liberation of the country and its prosperity and development and the revolutionary feats of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
    Besides, there are "Five Guerrilla Brothers," "Rhododendron," "Wolmi Island," "My Happiness," "Airman Kil Yong Jo," "Legacy" and other feature films reflecting the heroic feats performed by the army and people of the DPRK in the annals of the Korean revolution as well as their noble mental world.

Appeal to World People

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- An appeal to the world people for building an independent, peaceful and friendly, new world was adopted at the meeting held on Thursday to watch the sunrise over Mt. Paektu with an attendance of the participants in the Meeting Dedicated to the Great Persons of Mt. Paektu. In the appeal representatives of international democratic organizations and friendship and solidarity organizations of different countries stressed the need to know better about the revolutionary life of the three generals of Mt. Paektu and conduct more brisk activities to introduce the great feats performed by them in accomplishing the human cause of independence.
    They also called upon the progressive organizations and personages of all countries to add fuel to the flames of the international solidarity movement for supporting the Korean people in their Songun cause to check the imperialists' anachronistic ambition for world supremacy and gangster-like state terrorism and defend justice and peace. The appeal said that the peace-loving people and progressive figures from all walks of life in all countries should have a good understanding of all the peaceful stand and policies of the DPRK for the reunification of the country and the regional security and conduct more vigorous activities for supporting them.
    It called for extending full support to the Korean people in the tireless struggle to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country by the concerted efforts of the whole nation under the banner of the historic June 15 joint declaration.

Int'l Solidarity with Korean Youth Called For

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- An appeal was adopted at the international forum on solidarity with the Korean youth in their struggle for the independent reunification of their country held on Aug. 9 as part of the events of the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students now under way in Caracas. The appeal noted that the world progressive youth and students participating in the 16th WFYS express full support and solidarity with the youth and other people of Korea in their struggle to achieve the country's reunification by their concerted efforts.
    It hailed and supported the three principles for national reunification--independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity--, the 10-point programme of the great unity of the whole nation and the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo laid down by President Kim Il Sung as the most fair and aboveboard and realistic programme for achieving Korea's reunification as early as possible and called for boosting the solidarity with the youth other people of Korea in their efforts to realize it.
    Welcoming and supporting the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration adopted in Pyongyang thanks to the noble patriotic will and bold decision of leader Kim Jong Il as a firm milestone of Korea's reunification, the appeal called for sending full support and solidarity to the youth and other people of Korea in their efforts to successfully achieve the three forms of cooperation for national independence, peace against war and reunification and patriotism in the spirit of "By our nation itself" this year marking the fifth anniversary of the publication of the joint declaration and thus bring about a new phase for the independent reunification of Korea.
    It sternly denounced the U.S. administration's anachronistic hostile policy towards the DPRK, a policy going against the process for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula and world peace, and called for launching a worldwide movement to force the Bush administration to unconditionally stop all the military exercises for aggression going on in and around the peninsula and withdraw its forces and destructive weapons from south Korea at once.
    The appeal strongly denounced the Bush administration's acts of sparking a new arms race and bringing the dark clouds of a nuclear war with a hue and cry over the "nuclear threat" from the DPRK as dangerous and inhumane criminal actions to upset the global strategic balance and carry out its strategy for world supremacy and stressed the need to intensify the struggle against these acts.

Japan Urged to Redeem Its Past Crimes

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- All the bitter grudge-bearing women of Korea will surely give vent to the pent-up hatred and resentment against Japan and force it to pay a dear price for its past crimes. A spokeswoman for the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union Friday declared this in a statement issued on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the defeat of the Japanese imperialists.
    The misfortune and pain the Japanese imperialists imposed upon the women and other people of Korea for more than 40 years of their occupation of Korea were the most hideous and inhumane state-sponsored crimes that baffled human imagination and the crimes they have committed over the last 60 years since the liberation of Korea are unprecedentedly monstrous crimes, the statement noted, and continued: The barbaric sexual abuses the Japanese imperialists perpetrated against 200,000 Korean women after hurling them into the shambles of war of aggression are still touching off bitter indignation among the Koreans and other progressives. Nevertheless, Japan is seriously insulting the Korean women by describing the hair-raising sexual slavery forced upon the then Korean women as "prostitution." It is brazen-faced enough to claim that the issue of the "comfort women" was a fabrication. It is also justifying visits to the "Yasukuni Shrine," painting its past war of aggression and crimes as "liberation" and "merits."
    Japan is a war criminal state which committed so many crimes against the world and humankind.
    It should redress its past crimes without fail, clearly understanding how the world approaches it and what strong will the Korean women have.

gArirangh Ready to Be Performed

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- The grand mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang" has been successfully re-depicted to celebrate the 60th anniversaries of the Workersf Party of Korea and the liberation of Korea. Its creators have paid deep attention to enhancing its ideological and artistic value in the re-depiction, with the result that they have already completed all acts and scenes and are now giving finishing touches to the preparation of the performance. The performers who are working people, youths, students and artistes have perfected rhythmic movements demanding a high sports and artistic skill through their repeated practice defying the unfavorable weather.
    Schoolchildren have completed in three dimensional and rhythmic way such difficult scenes of the background as forest, flowers and fireworks, which demand congruence, discipline, swiftness and accuracy.
    Various kinds of settings have been prepared on a high level of artistic depiction. The large slide projector operation apparatus, vast screen and other projecting and illuminating equipment have been tested to successfully ensure the performance of the work.
    May Day Stadium, the venue of the performance, has been beautifully decorated. The presentation of Arirang, which well reflects history of the Arirang nation on a high sports and artistic standard to meet the ever-rising emotional requirement of the people, will brilliantly adorn the 60th anniversaries as a grand festival of victors.

Tributes to Fallen Soviet Soldiers Paid in Korea

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- Wreaths were laid before the cemetery of fallen Soviet soldiers in Hungnam, South Hamgyong Province, the monument to the fallen soldiers of the Soviet army in Wonsan, Kangwon Province, the statue of the Soviet soldier in Nampho, South Phyongan Province, and the liberation tower in Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea. Present at the wreath-laying ceremonies were secretaries and concurrently vice-chairpersons of the above-said provincial people's committees and officials of the city people's committees, working people in cities and Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov and embassy officials.
    Amidst the playing of wreath-laying music, wreaths, together with bouquets, were placed before the cemetery, monument, statue and the liberation tower in the name of power bodies, working people's organizations, people's security organs, universities and industrial establishments in the provinces and cities and the Russian ambassador and embassy officials.
    Written on the ribbons of the wreaths were words "Glory to the fallen soldiers of the Soviet army!"
    The participants observed a moment's silence in memory of the soldiers of the Soviet army who fell in the battles for the liberation of Korea and looked round the cemetery, monument, statue and liberation tower.

Korean Farm Renamed DPRK-Belgium Friendship Farm

     Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of renaming the March 3 Farm the DPRK-Belgium Friendship Farm was held on the spot Friday. Present there were officials concerned and officials and agricultural workers of the farm.
    On hand were members of the visiting delegation of the Solidarity Committee "Korea Is One" of Belgium headed by its Secretary General Catherine Dijon.
    The farm was renamed the DPRK-Belgium Friendship Farm before speeches were made.
    Aid materials sent by the solidarity committee were conveyed at the ceremony. Then the participants enjoyed an art performance given by schoolchildren and kindergarteners and exchanged conversations with farmers, deepening the friendship. The guests looked round a clinic, a kindergarten, houses and fields of the farm.

For Spanish-speaking people

Decreto de amnistia de la APS de RPDC por fiestas

    @Pyongyang, 12 de agosto (ATCC) -- El Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea promulgo el dia 11 un decreto de la amnistia por el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y de la restauracion de Corea. El documento senala:
    Dentro de unos dias, el ejercito y el pueblo de Corea conmemoraran solemnemente el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del PTC y de la restauracion de la patria en el curso de su valiosa lucha por glorificar la epoca de la revolucion del Songun (priorizacion militar) bajo la sabia orientacion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    Ambas efemerides devendran acontecimientos politicos de especial significado que haran brillar las inmortales hazanas acumuladas por el Presidente Kim Il Sung y el PTC en la construccion del partido y el cumplimiento de la causa revolucionaria del Juche y la de la independencia de la humanidad y exaltaran el poderio de la unidad monolitica del partido, el ejercito y el pueblo en torno a la Direccion de la Revolucion y el impetu de la Corea del Songun.
    Para celebrar ambas fiestas como grandes festivales politicos y materializar consecuentemente la politica abarcadora y la de beneficios populares del PTC, que cumple satisfactoriamente el proposito y la causa del Presidente, el Presidium de la APS de la RPDC aprueba la siguiente resolucion:
    Primero, Se aplicara una amnistia por el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del PTC y de la restauracion de Corea. La amnistia entrara en vigor a partir del primero de septiembre del 94 (2005) de la Era Juche.
    Segundo, el Consejo de Ministros y otros organos correspondientes tomaran medidas necesarias para que los excarcelados a merced de la amnistia puedan vivir y trabajar en tranquilidad.

Portavoz de UMDC demanda liquidacion de crimenes de Japon

    @Pyongyang, 12 de agosto (ATCC) -- La portavoz de la Union de Mujeres Democraticas de Corea (UMDC) hizo publica el dia 12 una declaracion con motivo del 60 aniversario de la derrota del imperialismo japones. Todas las mujeres coreanas cobraran sin falta el precio sobre los crimenes de Japon con el vehemente odio e indignacion, senala el documento y continua: Durante mas de 40 anos de su ocupacion de Corea, los imperialistas japoneses acarrearon desgracias y dolores a las mujeres y otros habitantes coreanos, lo cual fueron crimenes estatales mas siniestros y anti-eticos que superan la imaginacion del ser humano. Y los crimenes cometidos durante los 60 anos despues de la restauracion constituyen actos descarados sin precedentes.
    Las barbaridades de los imperialistas japoneses, que llevaron a 200 mil mujeres coreanas a los lugares de guerra agresiva y se entregaron a violacion sexual, causan hasta hoy la gran indignacion del pueblo coreano y la humanidad progresista. Pero, Japon insulta a las mujeres coreanas describiendo como "prostitucion" la vida de esclava sexual obligada a nuestras mujeres y dice descaradamente que es "falso" el problema de "consoladoras" para tropas japonesas.
    Ademas este pais-isla embellece la guerra agresiva y las barbaridades criminales del pasado como "emancipacion" y "meritos" y legaliza la visita al "santuario Yasukuni". Japon es un pais criminal de guerra que cometio grandes crimenes ante el mundo y la humanidad.
    El pais isleno debe saber bien como el mundo lo trata y cual es la voluntad de las coreanas y liquidar sin falta sus crimenes del pasado.