DPRK, China Cooperate in Documentary Field

     Beijing, August 13 (KCNA) -- An agreement on cooperation in documentary field was signed here on Aug. 12 between the DPRK State Archive Bureau and the State Archive Administration of China. Present at the signing ceremony from the DPRK side were members of a delegation of the State Archive Bureau led by Director Jon Song Guk and from the Chinese side were the director general of the State Archive Administration and officials concerned. The agreement was inked by Jon Song Guk and the director general of the Chinese administration.

Book on History of Anti-Japanese Armed Struggle Published

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Book "History of Anti-Japanese Armed Struggle" (enlarged edition) vol. 9 was brought out by the Science and Encyclopedia Publishing House. Recorded in the book are the undying feats President Kim Il Sung performed, wisely leading the struggle to conserve and build up the forces of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, the mainstay of the Korean revolution, train them to be competent political and military cadres and meet the great event of national liberation with full preparations in the historic period from August Juche 29 (1940) to April Juche 34 (1945).
    It explains that the President made a historic report "On Preparing for the Great Event of National Liberation" at the meeting in Xiaohaerbaling, Dunhua County on August 10, Juche 29 (1940), at which he indicated the strategic tasks for the Korean revolution in those days and advanced the new policy of struggle and immediate tasks for their materialization.
    Carried in it are concrete data on the fact that the President wisely led the work to strengthen the international united front against imperialism and fascism while intensifying the actions of the KPRA.
    In this period, the President was held in higher esteem as the center of the leadership of the Korean revolution with the ardent desire and wish of the KPRA members as well as the activists of the old generation and patriotic people from all walks of life and it was a historic event to be specially recorded in the history of the Korean revolutionary movement, the book says.
    It also deals with the facts that the President put forward the tasks for intensifying the political and military activities of small units and groups of the KPRA to step up the preparations for the final decisive battle against Japanese imperialism and led the struggle for their materialization to victory.
    The book describes in detail about the facts that under his wise guidance energetic efforts were made to comprehensively complete the preparations for the party foundation and a drive for preparations for all-people resistance was intensified such as uniting all the anti-Japanese patriotic forces and rapidly expanding organizations for armed uprising.

North Side's Delegation Off to Attend August 15 Grand National Festival

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the north side left here today to participate in the August 15 grand national festival for independence, peace and reunification to be held in Seoul. The delegation consists of a delegation of authorities led by Vice-Chairman Kim Ki Nam of the Committee of the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, a non-governmental delegation led by Chairman An Kyong Ho of the North Side Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the North, the South and Overseas for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration and football players and others.
    Also leaving were a delegation of the General Association of Koreans in China led by Vice-Chairman Cha Sang Bo who is vice-chairman of the Overseas Side's Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions and Honorary Chairman Sok Myong Son of the International United Confederation of Koreans who is honorary chairman of the Overseas Side's Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions.
    They were seen off at the airport by Secretary Kim Jung Rin of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Minister of Culture Choe Ik Gyu, Minister of Public Health Kim Su Hak, Chairman Mun Jae Dok of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, Kwon Ho Ung, head of the north side's delegation to the inter-Korean ministerial talks, Director Kim Yu Ho of the Agency of Service for Overseas Compatriots of Korea, leading officials of public organizations and officials concerned.

Pulikovski and His Party Pay Tribute to Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Konstantin Borisovich Pulikovski, presidential envoy to the Far East Federal District of Russia, and his party laid a floral basket before the statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill here on Sunday. Present at the ceremony of laying the basket were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK Kung Sok Ung and officials concerned and Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov and embassy officials.
    The participants placed the basket of flowers in the name of Pulikovski before the statue and made bows with their deep reverence for Kim Il Sung who performed great exploits for the times and history and made undying contributions to the human cause of independence and the development of the friendly relations between the peoples of the DPRK and Russia.

Rodong Sinmun on Common Idea of Humankind

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Independence is the just idea reflecting the intrinsic nature of the popular masses and the noble international idea which humankind should jointly take hold on and implement, stresses Rodong Sinmun in a signed article Sunday. The article says:
    If one allows the other to do pressure and intervention or acts under the baton of others, failing to keep the independent principle in politics, one will forfeit independence and, after all, it will make a mess of the revolution and construction. This is a serious lesson drawn from the collapse of former East European socialist countries. The Workers' Party of Korea has consistently adhered to and implemented the principles of Juche in ideology, independence in politics, self-support in the economy and self-reliance in national defence in the whole period from the struggle for national liberation to the struggle for building a new country after the liberation, the Fatherland Liberation War, the postwar rehabilitation and construction and the socialist revolution and construction.
    Thanks to the consistent and steadfast independent politics of the WPK, the DPRK could straightly advance along the road of socialism chosen by it, without the slightest vacillation in the rapidly changing situation of the world. The Songun politics of the WPK is the most vivid expression of independent politics. This politics has immensely increased the national power of the DPRK and its influence.
    The imperialists and dominationists are working hard to block the peoples from advancing toward the road of independence but in vain. The 21st century will be a century in which the humankind's idea of independence is carried into practice in all aspects and independent politics becomes the basic political mode of the world. The Korean people will invariably uphold the idea of independence, the banner of Songun to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche and more dynamically struggle to realize the cause of global independence.

DPRK-Cambodia Inter-governmental Plan Inked

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A 2005-2007 plan for cultural exchange between the governments of the DPRK and Cambodia was signed at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Sunday. Present at the signing ceremony from the DPRK side were Jon Hyon Chan, vice-chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned and from the opposite side members of the Cambodian government cultural delegation led by Prince Sisowath Kulachad, secretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art and the charge d'affaires of Cambodia here. The plan was inked by Jon Hyon Chan and Sisowath Kulachad.

Pulikovski and His Party Arrive

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Konstantin Borisovich Pulikovski, presidential envoy to the Far East Federal District of Russia, and his party arrived here on Sunday for a visit to the DPRK to attend the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation. They were met at the airport by Vice-Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Yon Hyong Muk, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kung Sok Ung and officials concerned and Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov and embassy officials.

All-out Anti-U.S. Resistance for Independence Called for

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland and the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland Sunday issued a joint statement earnestly calling upon all political parties, all groupings and people from all walks of life to turn out in the sacred anti-U.S. resistance for independence to drive out of south Korea the U.S. imperialist aggressor troops, the root cause of misfortune and pain the Koreans have undergone, and get rid of the U.S. domination and subjugation. The statement says:
    The U.S. has persistently blocked the Korean people's cause of national reunification and committed hair-raising killings, outrages and plunder against the Koreans, keeping south Korea under its occupation for the last six decades and frantically pursuing its "two Koreas" policy. This is unpardonable.
    The U.S. military presence in south Korea and colonial domination over it are the root cause of all sorts of misfortune and pain all the Koreans have undergone. Now is the time for all the fellow countrymen including south Koreans to establish national sovereignty throughout Korea under the banner of independence.
    "Let's not allow the U.S. military presence in south Korea to go beyond 60 years!" "Let's put an end to the century-long foreign domination over south Korea and establish national sovereignty!" These are the slogans for the south Koreans in their present struggle and an immediate fighting task before the Korean people. All the Koreans at home and abroad should unite close in the idea of "By our nation itself" and terminate the U.S. military presence in south Korea and bring the second August 15 to the Korean Peninsula just as they put a period to the Japanese imperialist colonial rule under the uplifted banner of national liberation.

U.S. Lawmakers Urged to Opt for Shaping Policies Helpful to Reunification of Korea

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The World Conference in Support of the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea held here on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation adopted a letter to the U.S. Congress Sunday. It says:
    The question of Korean reunification has not yet been solved though 60 years have passed. The blame for this entirely rests with your Congress which has supported and tolerated the one-sided and high-handed policy of the successive U.S. administrations towards the DPRK.
    U.S. congressmen should make a bold decision, ponder over the serious consequences to be entailed by the anachronistic policy of the present U.S. administration and boldly opt for shaping policies helpful to the reunification of Korea.
    The U.S. congressmen should, at the same time, deeply reflect upon the immeasurable misfortune and pain resulting from national division imposed by the U.S. upon the Korean people and apologize for them.
    In order to achieve durable peace on the Korean Peninsula the U.S. congressmen should work for replacing the present unstable armistice mechanism with a peace-making one, normalizing the relations with the DPRK and immediately withdrawing the U.S. troops from south Korea, the biggest stumbling block lying in the way of the reunification of Korea.
    If the U.S. Congress continues overlooking the unilateral policy pursued by the present U.S. administration toward the DPRK as now, it will face stronger protest and denunciation from the international community.
    It is our sincere hope that the U.S. congressmen will lend their ears to the just voices of the international community and opt to work out right policies.

National Meeting Marks 60th Anniversary of Korea's Liberation

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A national meeting took place at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on Sunday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation. Attending it were senior party, state and army officials, chairpersons of the friendly parties, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, leading officials of working people's organizations, citizens and overseas compatriots.
    Present on invitation were foreign delegations and delegates and including various delegations of Russia on a visit to the DPRK, diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here and foreign guests. Kim Yong Nam, politburo member of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, made a report at the meeting.
    The reporter stressed that the liberation of Korea is a cause of national history accomplished by President Kim Il Sung, a peerless patriot and national hero for the century, and his most precious and brilliant exploit in the history of the Korean people's protracted revolutionary struggle for independence.
    The President led the armed struggle and the overall Korean revolution always to victory with Juche-based revolutionary idea and line, unique strategy and tactics and superb commanding art to wipe out the Japanese imperialist colonial rule and achieve the historic cause of national liberation in August Juche 34 (1945), he said, and went on: The historic victory of national liberation is a vivid evidence of the President's Juche idea that the independence of the country and the nation and victorious revolution are guaranteed by the powerful driving force of the revolution and the army, the lifeline, and the absolute truth of the Songun leadership and the might of certain victory. The liberation of the country marked a historic milestone in putting the revolutionary struggle of the popular masses in the era of independence on a new higher stage as it provided a correct guiding idea, revolutionary forces and method of struggle with which to pave the way of achieving the victory in the revolution for national liberation against imperialism under the banner of Juche, the banner of Songun, and made the first breakthrough in the imperialist colonial system in the world.
    The army of the former Soviet Union joined in the final offensive operation of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army for the liberation of Korea to give valuable assistance. The Korean people will always remember the feats of the officers and men of the former Red Army who shed their blood in battles to defeat the Japanese imperialist aggressor troops in Korea.
    With the liberation of the country the Korean people put a period to the nearly half a century-long colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists and retook the sovereignty of the nation and a broad avenue for building an independent and prosperous, new Korea was opened ahead of the Korean people.
    It was thanks to the President's idea and leadership that after the liberation Korea witnessed a man-centred socialist country where the people enjoy an independent and creative life as genuine masters of the state and society, a big harmonious and happy socialist family where all the members of the society help and lead each other forward and bring the common idea into full bloom, firmly united as one in mind and purpose around the Party and the leader, and socialism has become the life and soul of the Korean people.
    A century ago, Korea had to be disgraced as a ruined nation owing to the exhausted national power. But, it is now shining as a politically, ideologically and militarily strong country in the world. The credit for this goes to leader Kim Jong Il who is glorifying the President's revolutionary idea and exploits down through generations. All the Party members, servicepersons and the people should protect the headquarters of the revolution headed by Kim Jong Il politically and ideologically and at the cost of their lives and build up the politico-ideological and socialist working class positions as firm as a rock.
    He stressed the need to channel big sustained efforts into the strengthening of the People's Army and solve all the problems arising in the revolution and construction on the principle of attaching importance to military affairs and putting military affairs above anything else.
    At present we are faced with an important task to mobilize the entire strength increased under the great Songun politics for building an economic power of the 21st century at an early date, the reporter said, calling upon all the Party members and other working people to give full play to the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance in every worksite and bring about a revolutionary surge of Songun on all fronts of socialist economic construction with a high degree of consciousness of citizens to contribute to the prosperity of the country of Juche and burning patriotic zeal.
    We will hold fast to the three charters for national reunification laid down by the President and realize the three forms of cooperation--national independence, peace against war and reunification and patriotism--under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration to achieve the independent reunification of the country without fail, the reporter stated. We are now in acute showdown with the imperialist reactionaries, he noted, adding: The army and people of the DPRK will mercilessly smash the moves of the enemies to isolate and stifle the DPRK any time and finally conclude the stand-off with the United States.
    We constantly maintain the stand on the peaceful negotiated settlement of the nuclear issue and will continue to work hard for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, he said.
    The reporter expressed the resolution to strive to decisively foil the U.S. imperialists' ambition for world supremacy and their brigandish state terrorism in firm solidarity with the world people advocating independence, protect peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world, boost the friendly and cooperative relations with all the countries that respect the sovereignty of the DPRK and build an independent, peaceful and friendly, new world.

UN Urged to Play Positive Role for Korea's Reunification

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The World Conference in Support of the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea held here on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation adopted a letter to the UN secretary general Sunday. It says:
    The U.S. is still clinging to the vicious hostile policy towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and throws a wet blanket over the enthusiasm of the Korean people for reunification by putting a brake on the favorably developing inter-Korean relations under the pretext of "nuclear issue."
    The U.S. and its allies are abusing even the name of the UN for achieving this purpose. Regretfully enough, the UN adopted a resolution calling for the dismantling of the "UN Command" and the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea several decades ago but it has not yet been implemented. Moreover, the UN has turned its face away from the undisguised hostile policy of the U.S. to stifle the DPRK, its legitimate member. The UN, prompted by its mission, should play a positive and active role in solving the question of Korea's reunification in conformity with the Korean people's desire for reunification.
    The UN should deter the U.S. from pursuing the hostile policy towards the DPRK aimed at isolating and stifling the sovereign country contrary to the UN charter and come out against the U.S. plan to mount a preemptive nuclear attack on it and all attempts to threaten the process of peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. The UN should, at the same time, render positive support to the Korean people in their just struggle to get the U.S. forces withdrawn from south Korea and reunify the country independently in line with the spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    The letter expressed the expectation that the UN secretary general would exercise due influence on the UN to ensure that it conducts fairer and more just activities for a solution to the issue of Korea's reunification.

Resolution of World Conference for Korea's Reunification

     Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A resolution was adopted at the World Conference in Support of the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea to express the unshakable will to more vigorously wage the solidarity activity in support of the reunification of Korea. The conference took place in Pyongyang on Aug. 13 and 14.
    The resolution said that they will positively conduct on a worldwide scale the drive to support and defend the Songun politics of leader Kim Jong Il, which gives an impetus to reunification and reliably ensures peace on the Korean Peninsula. It is necessary to support the Songun politics as the most important link in the solidarity movement for Korea's reunification, it said, and went on: We will organize committees for supporting the Songun politics and conduct a dynamic campaign to widely introduce and support it.
    We will conduct brisk activities for supporting the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, the great programme and milestone of Korea's reunification, and the Korean people's struggle to realize the three forms of cooperation.
    We also resolve to organize on a worldwide scale various campaigns to disclose and frustrate maneuvers of the U.S.-led anti-reunification forces that obstruct the implementation of the joint declaration and the realization of the three forms of cooperation.
    We will enthusiastically wage a struggle for withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea and to demand an apology and compensation for all crimes the U.S. has committed on the Korean Peninsula and resolutely wage a struggle to bring the U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK to an end and to frustrate the moves of the U.S. to provoke a new war that gravely threaten peace on the peninsula. The resolution expressed the determination to continue solidarity activities with the conviction that the Korean people's just cause of reunification will be achieved without fail till the day when a peaceful, prosperous reunified country is built on the Korean Peninsula.

Militarist Japan Has No Future

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- Japan has a record of most hideous war crimes as it provoked many bloody wars against other countries in the past. Its history is woven with wars and plunder of other countries, as evidenced by the Imjin war it started against Korea in 1592 under the absurd pretext of "opening the way to Ming Dynasty."
    In order to invade sovereign states Japan fabricated "treaties" with no legal validity by brigandish methods and indiscriminately killed and abducted innocent civilians in the occupied areas.
    In this period it savagely looted natural resources and cultural treasures in the regions under its occupation. After the Second World War it was severely punished by the international community and registered in the UN Charter as an enemy state. Japan is the only country that has neither apologized nor repented of its past crimes though it is 60 years since its defeat, far from compensating for them.
    Japan is ridiculous enough to readvocate its plan for the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" which it had used as a political basis for igniting the "Pacific War". It is explaining this as the main reason why it has denied its acts of aggression. It has gone the lengths of painting its war of aggression as a "war for liberation". It has long beautified its war of aggression.
    Even after its defeat Japan refused to admit that it was a defeated nation and a criminal state and refrained from using the word "surrender".
    In the wake of its defeat Japan worked hard to conceal its past crimes. It was aimed to instill into all members of the Japanese society the extreme national egoist view on history that they should not feel guilty of war crimes at all and help Japan remain in the international area a normal state, not a war criminal state.
    Japan is, however, an abnormal country whose ugly image remains unimproved. The present political system in Japan is of Rightist nature, extremely militarist nature reminiscent of the era of Empire.
    Rightist conservative forces whose goal is to militarize Japan form the main forces of its political circle.
    These militarist forces are directly exercising increasing influence on shaping policies. Japan's political circle which identifies militarism with its mental mainstay is focusing all its efforts on infusing it into all members of the society. It is the main job of the political, public, cultural, academic and press and other circles of Japan to arm the Japanese with the militarist idea.
    Meanwhile, high-ranking officials of the Japanese government and its conservative forces unhesitatingly visit the "Yasukuni Shrine" under the pretext of "paying homage to the war dead." Burning incense there, they call back the departed soul of militarists and urge Japanese to learn from their "spirit." All the provocative moves of Japan such as distorting history and beautifying it which arouse concern and vigilance among Asian countries are prompted by the wild ambition of its Rightist forces to realize militarization.
    It is the supreme policy goal of Japan to wind up its militarization for overseas aggression.
    Since its defeat Japan has consistently pursued militarization. After the demise of the Cold War it adopted a military strategy for preemptive attack. Japan began reorganizing the military machine in violation of the present constitution banning the possession of the army after the war. It is now working in the direction of centralizing the military structure.
    After the adoption of a series of war laws, Japan regained the right to participate in a war and the right to belligerency, paving the way for overseas aggression. The "Self-Defense Forces"(SDF) have grown strong both in quality and in numerical strength. The ground, marine and air SDF have been built into mobile strike forces for offensive equipped with latest military hardware.
    The SDF war preparations have been, in fact, wound up as huge potentials are already in place for meeting the wartime demands for war equipment and military materiel. Japan completely lost the criteria of independent politics long ago. Japan's politics is characterized by its submission and flattery towards the United States.
    Japan's foreign policy is focused on garnering support from the superpower. No wonder, there are comments even inside Japan that its government does not have its own policy and independent diplomacy except its practice of toeing the U.S. line.
    Japan has long pursued its diplomatic policy of toeing the U.S. line, going under the U.S. security "umbrella", away from Asia. Japan has neither reason nor principle. The international community, therefore, views Japan as an untrustworthy country. It acts without any faith, grossly reneging on the commitments made by it before other countries as if nothing had happened.
    This was clearly illustrated by Japan's stand and viewpoint on the implementation of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
    Japan has never moved to fulfill its commitments since the publication of the declaration. It has persistently peddled the "abduction issue" which had been already settled while talking about "people's sentiment". Furthermore, it brought the "abduction issue" to the six-party talks aimed to settle the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, creating complexity in the way of discussion. Its behavior was only criticized and derided by the participants in the talks.
    Such outcries as "Japan may start a war against north Korea" and "Japan should make a preemptive strike against the missile bases in north Korea" are now heard from Japan.
    It is quite natural for Japan to be called a "political dwarf" and "politically minor country" which does not know where it stands.
    August 15 marks the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Japan.
    It is a crucial occasion for Japan in the light of the historical review and from a future-oriented viewpoint.
    However, Japan remains unchanged in its state appearance and political nature. If there be any, it still remains the only shameless state which has not redressed its past crimes for the last six decades and it has militarized all the fields of the state, thus emerging a "country capable of igniting a war" from a "country incapable of waging any war" and, furthermore, a fascist state in the East gravely threatening once again peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world in the 21st century. Militarist Japan has no future as it is rushing headlong into aggression and war.

Premiere of Russia's Beryozka Dancing Troupe

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- The visiting Beryozka dancing troupe of Russia gave its premiere at Ponghwa Art Theatre here on Friday in the run-up to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea. The State Academy Beryozka Dancing Troupe named after N. S. Nadezhdina, well-known to the world as a renowned artistic organization of Russia, visited the DPRK in February to give significant performances in celebration of the Korean people's holiday.
    With the friendly feelings of the Russian people, the dancing troupe raised the curtain of its performance with chorus of the immortal revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Jong Il."
    It put on the stage colorful numbers such as mixed group dance "Holiday Dance," men's group dance "Carters" and trio dance "Humorous Dance" which reflect the optimistic life of the Russian people.
    Women's group dance "Beryozka" superbly represented the noble mental world of the Russian people who ardently love their motherland. Mixed group dance "In Memory of the Defenders of the Motherland", which deals with the struggle of the Soviet soldiers who displayed massive heroism and matchless self-sacrifice spirit in the just war against the aggression of fascist Germany, was acclaimed by the audience for its high ideological and artistic value.
    The performers also put on the stage songs and dances "The Suburbs of Moscow in the Evening" and "Kalinka," well-known to the Korean people. At the climax of the performance, "Song Devoted to Comrade Kim Jong Il" by a female vocal soloist solemnly resounded through the hall.
    A floral basket was conveyed to the performers in celebration of their successful performance.
    The performance was appreciated by Minister of Culture Choe Ik Gyu, officials concerned, working people in the city and Ambassador Andrei Karlov and staff members of the Russian embassy here.
    The performances will continue.

North-South Military Working Talks Held

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- The fourth north-south military working talks took place at the Thongil House in the north side of Panmunjom Friday to discuss the issue of implementing the agreement reached at the north-south general-level military talks. The north side recalled that huge propaganda means, remains of the Cold War that had been used in fostering mistrust, discord, confrontation and tension between the fellow countrymen for more than 40 years in the past, have been removed so that they cannot be directly used for psychological warfare and information activities against the opposite side. It is one more precious fruition gained in implementing the June 15 joint declaration, a landmark for national reunification and a great programme for great national unity, stressed the north side.
    The north side said that there were some problems from which to draw lessons in the process of removing the propaganda means.
    The north side noted that the south side proposed to discuss schedule concerning the third general-level military talks to be held at Mt. Paektu.
    The north side said that it is not suitable to hold the general-level military talks whose focus is on easing military tension now that the south side seeks to launch the Ulji-Focus Lens 05 joint military exercises, large-scale nuclear war exercises against the north, together with the U.S. from August 22 to September 2 despite its proposal to discuss the schedule of the military talks.
    The north side clarified its stand to discuss the schedule, watching the follow-up moves of the military authorities of south Korea.
    Both sides shared the view on sincerely implementing the agreement already adopted at the general-level military talks and keeping themselves from resuming propaganda activities or installing propaganda means in the areas along the military demarcation line.

Spokesman for Panmunjom Mission of KPA Releases Statement

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army Saturday issued the following statement in connection with the U.S. forces' projected joint military exercise "Ulji Focus Lens-05" in south Korea: The U.S. forces side on Aug. 10 was so arrogant as to inform the DPRK side of its plan to stage joint military exercise in south Korea from Aug. 22 to Sept. 2. The projected military exercise is a large-scale war exercise in the true sense of the word as it will be participated in by the U.S. forces present in south Korea and huge reinforcements from the U.S. mainland and overseas and hundreds of thousands of south Korean troops. It is in wanton violation of the preamble and the Paragraph 13 c and d of the Armistice Agreement.
    The planned joint war maneuver assumes increasingly grave nature as it is scheduled to take place at a time when the U.S. has carried out the relocation of its forces in south Korea after working out a new operation plan for preemptive attack on the DPRK and a vast "arms buildup plan" that called for spending 13 billion US dollars is being implemented at its final phase.
    Multi-faceted dialogue is making brisk headway between the north and the south and the enthusiasm of all Koreans to wipe out the long-standing misunderstanding and distrust and promote the process of reconciliation and cooperation through it is running high on the Korean Peninsula in hearty response to the slogan of "By our nation itself," guided by the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration and the six-party talks for a peaceful solution of the nuclear issue are in high gear. This large-scale saber rattling to be staged against the DPRK against this backdrop is nothing but a gross violation of peace as it stuns the world and infuriates its people.
    It is not hard to guess what the U.S. side seeks through this war drill. Its brigandish aim is to wind up its preparations for preemptive attack on the DPRK and drive the situation on the peninsula to an extreme pitch of tension in a bid to block the positive process of reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south and force the DPRK to accept the unjust demands raised by the U.S. at the six-party talks.
    It is quite unjustifiable for the U.S. side to stage a provocative war exercise under the simulated conditions of an all-out war against the DPRK with huge forces and the latest war hardware involved.
    The U.S. side's arrogant action only bars the KPA from expecting anything from the dialogue with the U.S. and reinforces its correct judgment that it is the only way of defending the country and its sovereignty and system to build up deterrence for self-defence.
    The KPA side is fully ready to respond to a war in kind any time.
    It will closely follow the U.S. side's war exercise with a high degree of vigilance and take a prompt decisive countermeasure, once deemed necessary.

Congratulations to Fidel Castro Ruz

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il, together with Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a congratulatory message to Fidel Castro Ruz, president of the Council of State, today on the occasion of his 79th birthday. The message sincerely wished him greater success in his responsible work for the socialist cause and the well-being of the people and good health and happiness.

President of Washington Times Corporation Here

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- President of the Washington Times Corporation Joo Dong Mun arrived here Saturday. He was accompanied by Pak Sang Gwon, managing director of the Pyonghwa General Motor Corporation who is secretary general of the World Peace Federation. They were greeted at the airport by Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and officials concerned.

Russian Delegation Arrives

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- A delegation of war veteran lawmakers of Russia led by Vasilii Klyuchenok, first vice-chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, arrived here Saturday. It was greeted at the airport by an official concerned and the Russian ambassador to the DPRK.

Keynote Report at World Conference for Support to Korea's Reunification

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- The World Conference in Support of the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea was opened here Saturday. Secretary General of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea (CILRECO) Guy Dupre delivered a keynote report at the conference. Elaborating on the struggle waged by the Korean people for the country's reunification, he suggested measures to be taken to fully support the Korean people's cause of reunification by pooling efforts of the anti-imperialist independent forces of the world desiring peace and progress. He noted that the U.S. military occupation of south Korea after the Japanese imperialists' defeat at the Second World War divided Korea into the north and the south, thus protracting the national division suffered by the Korean people up to now. President Kim Il Sung put forward the most reasonable and fair proposals for the national reunification from time to time and devoted all his life to realize this patriotic cause, the reporter said, and went on:
    Today the Korean people are struggling more vigorously to achieve the independent reunification of the country under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il and the reunification movement is entering a new phase in Korea.
    With a bold patriotic decision, he took the initiative to arrange the meeting between leaders of the north and the south in 2000 for the fist time after Korea was divided, making possible the publication of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, in which three principles for national reunification are applied.
    The publication of the joint declaration is an event of special importance in the history of the movement for Korea's independent and peaceful reunification. After the publication of the joint declaration, hundreds of joint functions took place between the north and south, and talks, contacts and exchanges of various levels have further expanded, making the era of reconciliation and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula irreversible, and the reunification movement is developing into a nationwide one.
    Such historic change in the reunification movement of Korea is a proud result brought about by the firm attitude and consistent policy of the DPRK which strives to reunify Korea, free from the intervention of the outside forces.
    Stressing that it is none other than the United States that is obstructing peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula, the reporter further said: In 1948 the U.S. instigated its followers to fabricate a separate "government" in south Korea. Since that time on, it has pursued anti-reunification maneuvers to perpetuate Korea's division until now.
    After various high-level talks between the north and the south of Korea in early 1990s which resulted in the adoption of the "Agreement on Reconciliation and Non-Aggression, Cooperation and Exchange between the North and South" and the "Joint declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula", the U.S. laid hindrance in every possible way and fabricated the "nuclear issue" of the Korean Peninsula, raising frantic anti-DPRK rackets.
    Even now, the Bush administration intensifies political, economic and military pressure on the DPRK and instigates the separatist forces of south Korea to obstruct the reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south, therefore attempting to prevent the Korean people from advancing along the road to reunification under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. The responsibility of the "nuclear crisis" on the Korean Peninsula claimed by the U.S. totally lies on the U.S. side.
    Recalling that the CILRECO and regional organizations for supporting Korea's reunification have launched various campaigns on a wide scale to frustrate maneuvers of the U.S. and anti-reunification forces in Korea for the last 30 years, the reporter referred to tasks for conducting the international solidarity movement on a higher stage in keeping pace with the favorable atmosphere created on the Korean Peninsula. He said:
    What is most important here is to launch a campaign for supporting the struggle of the Korean people to reunify the country true to the spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, in which the unanimous desire of the entire Korean nation is reflected. All the solidarity organizations should extend support to and solidarity with the Korean people in their struggle to achieve Korea's reunification by the Korean nation itself free from the interference of outside forces and to realize the national unity and cooperation, the basic guarantee for reunification, and reveal and frustrate the maneuvers of the conservative forces including the United States to obstruct the independent reunification of Korea.
    They should join in the struggle to get the American troops withdrawn from south Korea and to put an end to the U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK. They should conduct more brisk activities to give a clear understanding to the international community that converting the armistice mechanism into peace mechanism is the primary issue for securing peace on the Korean Peninsula. The reporter underlined the need to vigorously launch campaigns to put pressure on the U.S. government so that it normalizes relationship with the DPRK and comes to the negotiation table with the DPRK for settling the "nuclear issue" on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way.
    All solidarity organizations must expand their ranks and intensify their activities in every respective country, thus enabling the movement for supporting the Korean people's struggle to take place on a worldwide scale, he stressed.

World Conference Opens in Pyongyang

     Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- The World Conference in Support of the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea opened in Pyongyang with splendor Saturday on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea. The conference was co-sponsored by the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea (CILRECO), the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People and foreign organizations for friendship and solidarity with the Korean people.
    It will discuss the tasks and ways for realizing the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea by checking and frustrating the moves of the U.S. and the anti-reunification forces and boosting the solidarity of the world progressive people. Attending the conference are delegations and delegates of international democratic organizations and organizations for peace against war including CILRECO, the World Peace Council, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, the Women's International Democratic Federation and the International Action Centre and delegations and delegates of the regional and national friendship and solidarity organizations in Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Oceania.
    President of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers Jitendra Sharma made an opening address.
    Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, in his congratulatory speech extended warm congratulations to all those participating in the conference to voice invariable support and solidarity for the Korean people in their just cause for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country. He said that the Korean people would always join efforts with the world progressive people in the struggle to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and build an independent, new world.
    Alberto Moreno, general secretary of the New Left Movement of Peru, D. Chahilgan, president of the Mongolian Federation of Peace and Friendship Organizations, and Kamal Hyder, vice-president of the World Peace Council and general secretary of the Bangladesh Peace Council in their congratulatory speeches wished the conference success, noting that it would provide an occasion of helping put an end to the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.
    Guy Dupre, secretary general of CILRECO, made a keynote report which was followed by a supplementary report by Mun Jae Chol, chairman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People.
    The opening ceremony was followed by a plenary meeting.
    The floor was taken by Robert Sharvaeng, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists for Supporting the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration who is honorary president of CILRECO, Mohammed Arif, general secretary of the British Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, Alejandro Rosales Sanchez, chairman of the Mexican Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, and others. To replace the armistice system with a peace one on the Korean Peninsula is one of the basic issues for the peaceful settlement of the Korean issue, they said, urging the U.S. to pay due attentions to the just call of the DPRK on establishing the peace system and respond to it.
    The conference will continue.

For Spanish-speaking people

IV conversaciones de trabajo entre militares de Norte y Sur de Corea

    @Pyongyang, 13 de agosto (ATCC) -- Tuvieron lugar el dia 12 en el Pabellon Thong-il de la parte Norte enclavado en Phanmunjom las IV conversaciones de expertos militares del Norte y el Sur de Corea para pasar revista a la ejecucion del acuerdo dado en las conversaciones castrenses a nivel de general entre ambas partes. En esta ocasion, el delegado de la parte Norte recordo que un gran numero de medios propagandisticos, que como secuelas de la Guerra Fria sembraban durante mas de 4 decenios la desconfianza, discordia, confrontacion y tension entre los coterraneos, fueron eliminados y no pueden servir mas para la guerra psicologica y actividades propagandisticas directas sobre su contraparte. Esto es otro valioso fruto dado en el curso del cumplimiento de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio, jalon de la reunificacion de la patria y magno programa de la gran unidad nacional, recalco. Sin embargo, hubo algunos problemas en esa labor, de los cuales debemos sacar ciertas lecciones, asevero.
    Pese a que la parte Sur propuso el debate de la agenda de la 3a ronda de conversaciones militares a nivel de general en el monte Paektu, por otra parte decidio desarrollar del 22 de agosto al 2 de septiembre con EE.UU. las maniobras militares conjuntos "Ulji Focus Lens 05" para ejercitar una guerra nuclear de gran envergadura contra la parte Norte. En estas circunstancias es inoportuno proponer el debate sobre la agenda de esas conversaciones que tienen por su objetivo principal el alivio de tension militar, revelo.
    Entonces, la posicion de la parte Norte es proceder a dicho debate segun el movimiento posterior de las autoridades militares surcoreanas, concluyo.
    En esta cita, ambas partes coincidieron en ejecutar fielmente el acuerdo dado en las conversaciones militares a nivel de general, dejar de reanudar las actividades propagandisticas en la region de la Linea de Demarcacion Militar y de reinstalar los medios para este fin.

Declaracion de portavoz de Representacion de Phanmunjom

    @Pyongyang, 13 de agosto (ATCC) -- En relacion con que la parte norteamericana trata de librar el simulacro militar conjunto "Ulji Focus Lens-05" en el Sur de Corea, el portavoz de la Representacion del Ejercito Popular de Corea en Phanmunjom publico el dia 13 la siguiente declaracion: El pasado 10 de agosto, la parte norteamericana informo atrevidamente a la parte Norte que lo desarrollaria desde el 22 de agosto hasta el 2 de septiembre en el suelo surcoreano.
    Este ejercicio es, al pie de la letra, una maniobra belica de gran envergadura en que participaran las tropas norteamericanas ocupantes del Sur de Corea, numerosos efectivos de refuerzo llegados de EE.UU. y de ultramar y cientos de miles de uniformados surcoreanos violando siniestramente el prologo y los renglones C y D de la clausula 13 del Acuerdo de Armisticio.
    Para colmo, este simulacro coincide con que EE.UU. trazo un nuevo plan operacional para asestar el primer ataque a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, realizo la reubicacion de sus tropas en el Sur de Corea y se lleva a cabo en su etapa final el "plan de aumento armamentista" de gran envergadura estimado en 13 mil millones de dolares. He aqui precisamente su gran peligrosidad.
    Ahora, en la Peninsula Coreana se realiza animadamente el dialogo de varios conductos entre el Norte y el Sur bajo la consigna de "Con las fuerzas unidas de la nacion coreana" de acuerdo con el espiritu de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio, crece en este proceso el fervor de todos los coreanos de eliminar el malentendimiento y la desconfianza acumulados durante mucho tiempo y acelerar el proceso de reconciliacion y cooperacion y se desarrollan las conversaciones a 6 bandas para solucionar por via pacifica el problema nuclear. Por tanto, tales maniobras militares de EE.UU. devienen una perturbacion siniestra a la paz y causan un gran espanto al mundo e indignacion a la gente.
    Es obvio el objetivo del ejercicio belico en cuestion.
    EE.UU. trata de dar toque final a los preparativos para el primer ataque a la RPDC y agravar extremadamente la tension de la Peninsula Coreana para asi detener el proceso de reconciliacion y cooperacion que se desarrollan favorablemente entre el Norte y el Sur y alcanzar con la fuerza su injusta demanda en las conversaciones a 6 bandas. En ningun caso podra ser justificado el ejercicio belico provocativo que la parte norteamericana realiza suponiendo la guerra total contra la RPDC mediante la movilizacion de enormes fuerzas armadas y pertrechos belicos de punta. La arrogante actitud de EE.UU. le obliga a nuestro ejercito a descifrar su esperanza en el dialogo con EE.UU. y demuestra que es mil veces justo el criterio de nuestro ejercito de que solo el fortalecimiento de las fuerzas autodefensivas es el unico camino para defender el pais, la soberania y el regimen.
    La parte del EPC esta lista a responder a la guerra con la guerra en cualquier momento.
    Observara con alta vigilancia el alboroto de ejercicio belico de la parte norteamericana y tomara de inmediato fuertes contramedidas cuando lo considere necesario