Floral Basket-Laying Function Held in Cuba

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- A floral basket was laid with due ceremony before the portrait of President Kim Il Sung at Kim Il Sung Economic Special School in Cuba on Sept. 9 on the occasion of the 57th birthday of the DPRK. Present there were the chairman of the Cuban Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, the principal of the school, personages of various strata, the DPRK ambassador to Cuba and staff members of the embassy in Havana. The participants laid the floral basket before the portrait of Kim Il Sung and paid homage to him.

Dissolution of "Security Investigation Team" Demanded in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The Family Movement for Realizing Democracy and other human rights organizations of south Korea reportedly made public a statement in demand of the dissolution of the "security investigation team" of the Police Office on Sept. 8. The statement charged that 8 billion won is annually squandered as expenses for the activities of the team which has a dense network of investigation throughout south Korea.
    The team should be disbanded as it has been engaged in acts against reunification and people, standing on the first line for the upkeep of the successive regimes.

Rodong Sinmun on Ever-Triumphant Songun Idea

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The Songun idea serves as an all-powerful treasured sword and an eternal banner for the victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche. The principle for making a revolution in reliance upon an army has been the core and starting point of all kinds of the Juche-oriented line and principles, strategy and tactics and leadership methods of the Korean revolution. Rodong Sinmun Friday says this in an editorial article. The Songun idea tested in the rigorous tests of history has demonstrated its vitality as an invincible revolutionary banner in the course of glorifying the new era of the Juche revolution as the era of Songun, the article notes, and goes on: The Songun idea is a great revolutionary philosophy to realize independence.
    The idea is based on the Juche idea ideologically, theoretically and methodologically. It is the idea of prizing arms and attaching priority to the military affairs as it clarifies the position and role of an army in the revolutionary struggle of the popular masses for independence.
    The army takes a key position and plays a decisive role in winning power and firmly defending it and transforming all fabrics of social life in a revolutionary manner, a role no other force can do. Power comes out of the barrel of the gun and is maintained and consolidated by the army. The army is a core force representing the national power. As seen above, an army is essential for revolution.
    An army is not a temporary force for revolution. It is the most precious treasured sword to be tightly held in the whole course of the struggle to achieve independence of the popular masses. Herein lies the essence of the philosophy on the army clarified by the Songun idea.
    An army represents a powerful weapon for national liberation and class emancipation. It serves as the only weapon in the anti-imperialist revolutionary struggle in our era. Attaching importance to the army is the most effective way of achieving independence and carving out the destiny of the popular masses. One can live without candy but not without bullets. The Songun idea serves as a treasured sword for winning a sure victory in the cause of Juche.
    The idea has served as an invincible banner as it has indicated the most correct ways of carrying out all the tasks arising at every stage of the developing revolution in the DPRK.
    It was Songun that created a new history of national liberation from the colonial rule in Korea. The revolutionary army has fully ensured victory in the two serious and complicated social revolutions.
    The Songun politics has served as an invincible treasured sword as it has brought the might of the country to the highest level in its history spanning 5,000 years. The Songun idea represents scientific guidelines as it indicated the master key to strengthening the driving force of the Korean revolution in every way. The idea laid an immovable milestone as it clarified the basic factor of invariably preserving and glorifying the Juche character of the Korean revolution. Only when advancing under the uplifted Songun banner is it possible for all generations to always preserve their revolutionary character. This is the main historical review of the Korean revolution.
    The Songun idea is an eternal banner for winning victory in the Korean revolution. It is necessary to firmly defend the headquarters of the Songun revolution and implement the great Songun idea in a do-or-die spirit and forge ahead, holding higher the banner of anti-imperialist struggle for the victorious advance and final completion of the revolutionary cause of Juche.
    Immensely rosy is the future of Songun Korea as long as there remain the unshakable idea and line of the headquarters of the revolution and there are the strong army and people who uphold them as immutable truth.

Anti-DPRK War Outcries of Commander of U.S. Forces in S. Korea Blasted

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Laporte, commander of the U.S. forces in south Korea, when interviewed by American media recently, disclosed that the United States is "modifying its military strategy in the direction of depending on ultra-modern weapons to cope with the possible outbreak of military conflict with north Korea." Rodong Sinmun Friday says this in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    Multi-faceted dialogues and cooperation are now brisk between the north and the south of Korea and the six-way talks are under way to settle the nuclear issue and put an end to the military confrontation for the purpose of building confidence. The reckless remarks made by him against this backdrop, hinting at setting out a new military strategy, cannot be construed otherwise than a revelation of the U.S. design to chill the atmosphere of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation and provoke a war of aggression on the Korean Peninsula at any cost.
    What is ridiculous is his assertion that "though the main concern of the six-way talks is focused on north Korea's nuclear capability but its conventional weapons still remain a threat that should not be ignored". He did not bother to talk nonsense that "he is aware of north Korea's massive stockpiling of chemical weapons and its biological weapons are under constant test."
    While paying lip-service to "dialogue" and "peace," the U.S. is pushing forward in real earnest its work to round off the preparations for a preemptive attack on the DPRK, whetting its sword for aggression behind the scene.
    The noisy false propaganda launched by the U.S. to charge the DPRK with the spread of weapons of mass destruction is nothing but a plot to create an international environment for mounting a preemptive nuclear attack on it. Herein lies a sinister aim of the U.S. to list the DPRK as a "dangerous state" by inventing a variety of fictions such as stories about "chemical and biological weapons".
    The ever-increasing danger of war on the Korean Peninsula urgently demands the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea.
    The United States would be well advised to stop making much ado about "threat of aggression against the south" from somebody, an old fiction, and quit south Korea as early as possible, taking with it its aggression troops.

All Koreans Called upon to Devotedly Work for National Reunification

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The basic spirit of the joint slogans issued by the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the WPK is to build an independent and prosperous powerful reunified nation on this land of three thousand-ri as soon as possible through the concerted efforts of the Koreans true to the last instructions of President Kim Il Sung for national reunification. Rodong Sinmun today observes this in a signed article. These slogans fully reflecting the noble patriotic will and line of the Party for the reunification of the country and the nation serve as a banner of struggle and victory as they inspire all the fellow countrymen to the struggle for national reunification, the article notes, and goes on:
    The noble patriotic will of the Party to achieve national sovereignty and exalt the dignity and honor of the nation is expressed in the joint slogans. For the Koreans nothing is more patriotic than working hard to establish sovereignty as their national sovereignty has been violated by foreign forces due to the division of the country that has lasted for the last six decades. For the 70 million Koreans to struggle for national reunification is the most patriotic one and the most vivid manifestation of love of their country and the nation.
    Whoever cherishes patriotic desire and will should work heart and soul for national reunification, linking one's own destiny with that of the country and the nation. This was called for by the joint slogans.
    They also reflect the unshakable conviction of the Korean people to accomplish the cause of national independence true to the last instructions of the President and their fixed will to build a powerful reunified nation on this land without fail under the banner of "By our nation itself."
    Whoever has done nothing for national reunification, indifferent to it, cannot be fair and square before the country and the nation. Whoever having the blood and soul as a Korean should find the worth and pride of leading a genuine life in working for national reunification, a road of patriotism, and devote everything to the sacred cause of reunification as required by the joint slogans.

Kwak Pom Gi Meets Chinese Delegation

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Vice-Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Kwak Pom Gi met and had a friendly talk with a delegation of the China State Electric Network Corporation headed by its President Liu Zhenya at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Friday. On hand were Minister Ju Tong Il and Vice-Minister Sin Yong Song of Electricity and Coal Industries and Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe and staff members of the Chinese embassy here.

16th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Close

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The 16th north-south ministerial talks came to a close Friday. At the talks both sides had a sufficient exchange of opinions on the issues of taking practical measures for refraining from practices to save faces and terminating the hostile relations in the inter-Korean ties and removing the barriers in the field of economy and implementing the points agreed upon at the 15th north-south ministerial talks. They reached an agreement on a series of issues at the end of an exhaustive discussion.
    A joint press release of the 16th inter-Korean ministerial talks was made public. The press release says:
    The 16th inter-Korean ministerial talks were held here from Sept. 13 to 16. At the talks both sides hailed the successful holding of the June 15 Pyongyang Grand National Festival for Reunification and the August 15 Seoul Grand National Festival with the delegations of both sides' authorities attending. They discussed new practical proposals to develop the inter-Korean relations in the idea of "By our nation itself" on the basis of the above-mentioned success and agreed upon the following points: 1. The north and south agreed to take steps to institutionally promote national reconciliation and unity, away from all face-saving practices absolutizing their own ideology and system in the inter-Korean relations, in the idea of "By our nation itself." In this regard, both sides agreed to discuss and implement the practical measures to do away with the outdated conception and practices antagonizing fellow countrymen on the basis of recognizing and respecting each other's ideology and system and develop the inter-Korean relations on a new basis.
    2. The north and south agreed to make positive efforts to ensure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and actively seek practical ways to stop hostile military actions posing threat to the other in conformity with the June 15 era. They shared the understanding that the talks between the military authorities should be opened and decided to recommend this to each other's military authorities. 3. They agreed to take measures for promoting the common interests and prosperity of the nation and the uniform and balanced development of the national economy and substantially pursue the bilateral economic cooperation.
    a. The north and south agreed to take positive measures to remove barriers standing in the way of investment and mutual accommodation between fellow countrymen. b. The north and south agreed to discuss and undertake cooperation projects required by them such as the second phase development of the Kaesong Industrial Zone, flood control in the River Rimjin, science and technology and health service at the 11th meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation and through relevant working-level contacts.
    4. They shared the understanding of the importance of the joint compilation of the "Large Korean Dictionary" and decided to give positive backing to the work. 　5. The north and south agreed to actively push forward the work to settle the issue of separated families and relatives and other humanitarian undertakings. a.The north and south agreed to arrange the 12th reunion of separated families and relatives early in November and the second video meetings within this year. b.They agreed to continue consultations about the issue of confirming the fate of those reported missing during the Korean war and settle it at the inter-Korean Red Cross talks.
    6. The north and south agreed to hold the 17th inter-Korean ministerial talks on Jeju Island from Dec. 13 to 16 this year.

Kim Jong Il Gives On-the-Spot Guidance to Industrial Establishments

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, gave on-the-spot guidance to the Ryongsong Machine Complex and the Hungnam Pharmaceutical Factory. He was greeted on the spot by Hong Song Nam, chief secretary of the South Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK, Kim Phung Gi, chairman of the South Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee, and leading officials of the complex and the factory. The first leg of his guidance was the Ryongsong Machine Complex. He first went to the room devoted to the history of the complex. Looking back with deep emotion upon the glorious course of development covered by the complex, he said thanks to the profound care of President Kim Il Sung the Ryongsong Machine Complex turned into the nation's leading machine-building centre and a "mother plant" begetting more plants. The undying feats performed by the President will shine for all ages with the glorious history of the complex, he added. He dropped in at No. 1 Machine Shop to acquaint himself with the production and watch newly manufactured compressors.
    He highly praised the feats performed by the workers of Ryongsong, noting it is a great success that they have built modern compressors by their own efforts and technology in a short span of time.
    Strongly backed by many giant machine plants including the Ryongsong Machine Complex, the DPRK could successfully realize the socialist industrialization in such a short span of time and augment its economic potential at a high rate and dynamically push ahead with the building of a great prosperous powerful nation, he said, and went on: This goes to prove the validity and great vitality of the WPK's unique economic line on giving priority to the development of heavy industry with the machine-building industry as its core, while simultaneously developing light industry and agriculture. He set the goals to be attained by the complex in a few years to come and indicated tasks and ways to do so.
    The second leg of his inspection was the Hungnam Pharmaceutical Factory. He went round the monument to the on-the-spot guidance given by President Kim Il Sung and the room devoted to the history of the factory.
    Under the wise leadership and meticulous care of the President the factory could cover the road of progress as a mother factory in the nation's pharmaceutical industry, he noted, adding that the people should always remember the benevolence the President showed for them, while working heart and soul for them all his life. He learned about the equipment and production at the factory, going round its interior including compounding shops and the industrial experiment station. He underscored the need to channel great efforts into the production of medicines so that the people may fully benefit from the free medical service. What is most important in the production of medicines is to boost the production of household medicines always required by people in their life, he noted, underlining the need to pay primary attention to this matter.
    Calling for developing in depth the work to put the production of Koryo medicines on a scientific and industrial basis, he urged the technicians and workers in the field of pharmaceutical industry to steadily raise their scientific and technical level and, at the same time, sufficiently secure basic raw materials for the production of medicines. He stressed the need to provide the best sanitary conditions and establish the highest level of cultured practice in production as the factory turns out medicines related to people's life and indicated ways to do so.
    He set forth tasks to be fulfilled to reconstruct it on modern lines. He was accompanied by Kim Ki Nam, Pak Nam Gi and Ju Kyu Chang.

IC Credit Card Introduced in DPRK

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The North East Asia Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has introduced IC credit card. In order to modernize its settlement business, the bank has issued credit cards for the first time in the country with the help of the Information Technology Center No. 626. The IC card ensures the safety of the data registered in it. And it is impossible to counterfeit it so as to prevent money from being lost.
    Six kinds of currencies can be deposited in a card at a time. With this card, one can exchange money instantly without going to a money exchange booth. A card can be shared by several persons (family members, relatives, friends, etc.). The bank enjoys popularity among depositors.

Multimedia "Korean Fine-Art Reflecting History"

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- A computer multimedia program "Korean Fine-Art Reflecting History" (1-2 vols.) has been recently produced by Kim Chaek University of Technology in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "In Search of Unknown Old Calligraphies" (Vol. 2) is got interested among calligraphers and overseas Koreans in particular.
    It introduces more than 300 pieces of calligraphies created during the Ri Dynasty. The multimedia contains calligraphies written by kings of the Ri Dynasty and over 70 scholars, military officers and politicians famous in the history from the 15th to the early 20th century. It also carries modern Korean versions of the calligraphies written in Chinese characters. The multimedia consists of three parts -- two parts according to times and names and a part of general knowledge of calligraphy. The first two parts give works, brief history and anecdote of each calligrapher so as to give a general notion of the creator to people.
    The part of general knowledge of calligraphy briefly explains about seal character, ornamental seal character, cursive writing, semicursive style of Chinese penmanship and printed style of writing to promote the understanding of the viewers. An overseas Korean resident said that it is worthy of a national treasure which makes Koreans have pride of ancestors' resourcefulness and talents and understanding of the history of calligraphic development.

Third Korean Wrestling Tournament for "Grand Bull Prize" Closes

     Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The 3rd National Korean Wrestling Tournament for "Grand Bull Prize" which opened on September 14 on the occasion of Hangawi, a Korean folk holiday, closed on Friday in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Thirty wrestlers selected across the country competed in the preliminary and semi-final contests to decide 4 players for the finals.
    Son Kwang Guk of Pyongyang placed first at the final to win the grand bull (902 kg), gold bell, gold medal and certificate.
    Mun Jong Rim of Kangwon Province and Jo Myong Sam of North Phyongan Province placed the second and third respectively. They were awarded silver and bronze medals as well as relevant certificates and prizes.
    Meanwhile, in the team contests held on September 14, Pyongyang came first, North Phyongan Province second and Kangwon Province third.
    Certificates were conferred on the winning provinces and medals and prizes on their players.

For Spanish-speaking people

Es invencible la causa revolucionaria de Juche bajo bandera de Songun

    　Pyongyang, 16 de septiembre (ATCC) -- El diario Rodong Sinmun inserto en su edicion del dia 16 un articulo de redaccion, que senala en particular: 　La idea del Songun (priorizacion militar) es un remedio y la bandera de la eterna victoria de la causa revolucionaria del Juche. El principio de la revolucion basada en las fuerzas armadas deviene el nucleo y el punto de partida de las jucheanas lineas, principios, estrategias, tacticas y metodos de direccion de la revolucion coreana. 　Esta idea probada en las severas pruebas de la historia exalta su poderio de una invencible bandera revolucionaria haciendo una nueva epoca del Songun de la revolucion jucheana.
    　La idea del Songun es la gran filosofia revolucionaria para la realizacion de la independencia.
    　Su base ideo-teorica y metodica radica en la idea Juche. La idea del Songun aclara la posicion y el papel de las fuerzas armadas en la lucha revolucionaria de las masas populares por la independencia.
    　Las fuerzas armadas desempanan la posicion medular y el papel decisivo en la conquista y defensa del poder y en la transformacion revolucionaria de todas las esferas de la vida social. El poder se conquista, se mantiene, se consolida y se desarrolla por las fuerzas armadas. Estas constituyen el nucleo del poderio nacional. Por tanto podemos decir que las fuerzas armadas son lo fundamental en la revolucion. 　Estas no son un medio de caracter temporal en la revolucion sino un remedio universal que debe apoyarse permanentemente en todo el proceso de la lucha por realizar la independencia de las masas populares.
    Y devienen una poderosa arma para lograr la liberacion nacional y clasista y unica arma de la lucha revolucionaria antiimperialista de nuestra epoca. 　Dar prioridad a las fuerzas armadas es un poderosisimo medio para la realizacion de la independencia y la forja del destino de las masas populares. Podemos vivir sin bombones, pero, no sin las balas.
    　La idea del Songun aclara la mas correcta manera de resolver todas las tareas que se presentan en cada etapa del desarrollo de nuestra revolucion. 　Por esta idea se creo una nueva historia para la liberacion nacional de colonia en nuestro pais.
    　Las fuerzas armadas aseguraron la victoria en la aguda y complicada revolucion social de dos etapas.
    　La politica de Songun coloco la posicion de nuestra patria a una cima mas alta en la historia de cinco milenios.
    　La idea del Songun es una guia cientifica que aclara el medio fundamental para reforzar por todos los medios las fuerzas subjetivas de nuestra revolucion y es un jalon que indica el factor principal para mantener el caracter jucheano de la revolucion coreana.
    　Al avanzar con la bandera del Songun en alto es posible mantener de generacion en generacion el caracter de nuestra revolucion. Esto es un balance historico de nuestra revolucion.
    　La idea del Songun es la bandera de victoria siempre de la revolucion coreana. Para lograr el avance victorioso y la culminacion de la causa revolucionaria del Juche se debe defender ferreamente la direccion de la revolucion mediante el Songun, materializarla cabalmente la gran idea de Songun y enarbolar la bandera de la lucha antiimperialista. 　Es radiante el futuro de Corea del Songun con la firme idea y la linea de la Direccion de la Revolucion y con la firme disposicion del gigantesco contingente de militares y habitantes que las aceptan como verdad.

Rodong Sinmun comenta palabras agresivas de Laporte

    　Pyongyang, 16 de septiembre (ATCC) -- Hace algunos dias, Laporte, comandante de las fuerzas norteamericanas ocupantes del Sur de Corea, dijo en una rueda de prensa que EE.UU. "enmienda su estrategia militar en direccion de apoyarse en las armas sofisticadas para hacer frente al posible conflicto armado con el Norte de Corea". Al respecto, el diario Rodong Sinmun publico en su edicion del dia 16 un comentario individual que senala en particular:
    En estos tiempos, el Norte y el Sur de Corea activan por diferentes canales el dialogo y la cooperacion y, por otra parte, se celebran las conversaciones a 6 bandas para solucionar el problema nuclear entre la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y EE.UU., acabar con la confrontacion militar y construir relaciones de confianza entre ambos paises.
    Por lo tanto, el recien pronunciamiento agresivo de Laporte se traduce en un intento de quebrar el clima de reconciliacion y cooperacion entre ambas partes de Corea y de provocar a toda costa una guerra de agresion en la Peninsula Coreana. Lo ridiculo del caso es que Laporte conjeturo absurdamente que "pese a que ahora la optica de las conversaciones a 6 bandas se enfoca a la capacidad nuclear del Norte de Corea, sus armas convencionales siguen siendo una amenaza no menospreciable" y "el Norte de Corea tiene almacenada una gran cantidad de armas quimicas y experimenta sus armas biologicas".
    Aunque aparentemente EE.UU. aboga por el "dialogo" y la "paz", detras de la cortina acelera en la etapa crucial sus preparativos para dar golpe preventivo a la RPDC. Al mismo tiempo, lanzo una bulliciosa campana propagandistica para tildar a la RPDC del "peligrosisimo pais criminal de armas de exterminio masivo" y crear asi un clima internacional favorable al ataque preventivo nuclear contra esta. Como parte de esta intriga, difunde mentiras por el estilo como "poseedora de armas quimicas y biologicas".
    Pero, en realidad, la creciente amenaza belica en la Peninsula Coreana reafirma lo apremiante que resulta la retirada de las tropas gringas del suelo surcoreano. Por eso, EE.UU. debe sacar cuanto antes a sus tropas del territorio surcoreano en lugar de proseguir su anticuada campana publicitaria sobre la "amenaza de invasion al Sur de Corea" por alguien.