DPRK Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Urges U.S. to Lift Financial Sanctions against DPRK

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry today gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA as regards the U.S. claim that its financial sanctions against the DPRK have nothing to do with the six-party talks: Recently officials of the U.S. administration vied with each other to make remarks intended to mislead public opinion concerning its financial sanctions against the DPRK. They asserted that these sanctions are a separate issue from the six-party talks, that north Korea's stand toward the issue is a pretext for delaying the talks and that the issue is not a subject of negotiation and it would be all right if the party who conducted illegal acts stop such doing for itself.
    The financial sanctions against the DPRK are an issue directly related to the six-party talks. This is quite understandable to anyone, if he has elementary thinking ability. It is only the United States that pretends not to know about this.
    As far as the six-party talks are concerned, they are aimed at realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. So what is essential here is for the DPRK and the U.S. to move to fulfill their commitments to the denuclearization of the peninsula.
    The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula surfaced because of the hostile policy pursued by the U.S. towards the DPRK, negating its ideology and system while forcing America's ideology and system upon it. Therefore, the key to solving the issue is for the U.S. to renounce its hostile policy towards the DPRK and opt for co-existence with the latter.
    That is why the joint statement of the six-party talks clarifies the principle that the DPRK and the U.S. should respect each other and co-exist in peace with a view to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
    However, the U.S. is applying financial sanctions against the DPRK in an effort to destroy the system in the DPRK by stopping its blood from running. This act is, therefore, in gross violation of the principle of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence laid down in the joint statement. Worse still, such sanctions were imposed upon the DPRK while the six-party talks were under way.
    Bush and high-ranking officials of the U.S. came out one after another to let loose such outcries as "tyranny" and "criminal state". The U.S. only talked about such sanctions before, but after the adoption of the joint statement it put them into practice, pursuing a harsher hostile policy towards the DPRK than ever before.
    Is there any need to have talks under the situation where the U.S. is enforcing such policy? Even if any agreement is reached between the parties concerned, it is likely to be overturned by a person in high authority of the U.S. So, how can such a serious issue as the abandonment of the nuclear program be discussed freely?
    Under the present situation it is illogical to discuss with the U.S., the assailant, the issue of dismantling the nuclear deterrent built up by the DPRK for self-defence.
    This being a hard reality, can the U.S. still claim that its financial sanctions against the DPRK are a separate issue from the six-party talks? After all, the U.S. assertion only betrayed its intention to keep pursuing its hostile policy towards the DPRK regardless of the six-party talks and shift the blame for the stalled talks on to the latter.
    It is an utterly brigandish logic for the U.S. to claim that the financial sanctions are not a subject of negotiation and it would be all right if the party who conducted illegal acts stops such doing for itself.
    We examined the information the U.S. side provided to us, claiming that it was the motive of its application of sanctions. Such things cited by it, however, have never happened in our country.
    Various countries and media, too, commented that the information cited by the U.S. at a "press briefing" lacked credibility.
    Such being hard facts, the U.S. has persistently refused to negotiate with the DPRK while floating baseless fictions which nobody believes. Had the U.S. imposed the above-said sanctions upon the DPRK on the basis of scientific data or facts, there would have been no reason for it to refuse to sit at the negotiating table with the DPRK with a view to probing the truth in a fair and square way.
    The U.S. should lift the sanctions, an obstacle to the six-party talks, and come out for the talks, if it is truly interested in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and hopes for the progress of the talks.

Suppression of Hanchongryon under Fire

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- The People's Solidarity for Abolition of the "National Security Law" reportedly issued a statement on January 5, accusing the security authorities of crackdown on the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon). The security authorities' crackdown is a revelation of their intention to keep labeling Hanchongryon as an "enemy-benefiting organization" and a reflection of their open willing to maintain the evil law as it is, the statement said, and went on:
    Even a number of politicians and legal circles are holding that the reality of describing students in general as reserve detainee on the strength of the "National Security Law" is a matter to be settled at once.
    We strongly request the security authorities once again.
    A written demand for appearance of the 13th-term chairman and other core members of Hanchongryon on unreasonable and anachronistic charges of violation of the NSL should be immediately withdrawn.
    The unreasonable and base action intended to keep the NSL under the pretext of the patriotic activities of students should be stopped.

Struggle against Japan's Revival of Militarism Declared in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- The Promotion Council for Demanding Compensation to the Victims of the Pacific War and the Council for the Solution of the Issue of the Volunteers Corps in south Korea reportedly held the 690th Wednesday rally in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on January 4 and declared to wage a joint solidarity struggle against Japan's moves for revival of militarism with organizations of East Asian countries. Declaring this year as a "year of joint action against Yasukuni", speakers at the rally stated that they would wage a solidarity struggle jointly with anti-Japanese organizations of different countries against the Japanese neo-conservatives' moves to revive militarism and distort history textbooks. They said that they would take a strong counteraction against the Japanese reactionaries' visits to the "Yasukuni Shrine" and distortion of history textbooks in solidarity with the conscientious civic organizations of Japan.
    A joint action program for this year was announced at the rally.

Stepped-up Technological Updating of National Economy Called for

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed article deals with the validity and vitality of the Workers' Party of Korea's policy of carrying out the technological updating of the national economy. The joint New Year editorial stressed the need to tackle the technological updating in all fields and units of the national economy as an important economic strategy, the article says, and goes on:
    The WPK in a scientific policy of carrying out the technological updating of the national economy as required by the developing reality and the new century calls for rapidly developing the economy. The core of the above-said policy of the WPK is to put the national economy on a modern and IT basis by introducing the latest science and technology.
    This policy is a valid one as it makes it possible to give full play to the advantages of the independent national economy and it provides a basic way of revitalizing production and improving the standard of the people's living even under the difficult conditions.
    In order to build economy standing on its own feet without depending on others it is necessary to steadily improve the means of production while developing science and technology. This goes to clearly prove that the technological updating of the national economy precisely represents the lifeline of the independent national economy.
    We still suffer from the shortage of fund and raw and other materials. And it is all the more difficult to build a great prosperous powerful nation given the U.S. imperialists' vicious moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK. Only when we count on the strength of science and technology and conduct technological updating can we increase production with less raw and other materials and improve the standard of the people's living.
    The technological updating of the national economy is an important work to develop the country's science and technology, the article says, stressing that this updating is essential for developing the national economy and putting science and technology on a higher level.

Vigorous General March for Songun Revolution Called for

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Monday editorially calls on all officials, party members and other working people to make a vigorous general march of the new year full of conviction of sure victory and optimism and fully display the invincible stamina of Songun Korea advancing toward a fresh victory and making a leap forward. The confidence and optimism of the Koreans out in the solemn general march true to the joint New Year editorial reflect their absolute conviction of the validity and vitality of the line and policy set forth by the Workers' Party of Korea and their belief in the solid foundation for building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation laid under the Songun banner, the editorial says.
    Calling for waging an unflinching struggle, cherishing the revolutionary faith that we will surely win victory as long as leader Kim Jong Il stands in the van of the Songun revolution, the editorial goes on:
    We should overcome all difficulties and hardships with our unshakable faith cemented through long experience, our firm confidence and pluck that we will certainly win victory as long as there is Kim Jong Il. We should design, map out and push forward all work on the basis of his immortal Songun revolutionary leadership exploits, keeping them as firm guidelines.
    We should make the spirit of revolutionary optimism prevail all over the country, the spirit fully displayed whenever the Korean revolution underwent serious difficulties, and give full play to revolutionary comradeship and the spirit of collectivism in this year's general march to make a great leap forward with great ambition and confidence.
    It is an essential requirement for exalting the honor of victors in this year's general march full of confidence and optimism to follow the revolutionary soldier spirit displayed by the People's Army, the editorial stresses.

Agricultural Front Advances for Fresh Victory

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- The people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have turned out with a great ambition and confidence in the efforts to make a higher leap, in response to the joint editorial issued by Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi on the occasion of the New Year Juche 95 (2006). Surging is the enthusiasm of the officials and working people in the field of agriculture to thoroughly implement the tasks set forth by the joint editorial that put forward agriculture as the main front of the economic construction this year, too, and called for mobilizing and concentrating all the forces on farming once again.
    Minister of Agriculture Ri Kyong Sik said in an interview with KCNA that the ministry has worked out a plan of making a fresh progress in implementing the Workers' Party of Korea's policies of bringing about innovations in seed production, potato and soya bean cultivation and two-crop-a-year farming and is striving hard to implement them.
    The ministry, he added, is focusing efforts on taking steps to decisively increase the grain-cultivation area, acquire new land, reclaim wasteland and raise the fertility of soil. It also pushes ahead with full preparation for finishing the construction of setups of the Taegye Island reclaimed tideland before the start of sowing while carrying on land-rezoning projects.
    Steps are being taken beforehand to plant more high yielding varieties suitable for potato producers in highlands and to protect them against blights and harmful inspects.
    Preparations are being made for making the Kaechon-Lake Thaesong and Paekma-Cholsan Waterways, the gravity-fed ones, pay off and for carrying on in earnest similar waterway projects in the Miru Plain and other parts of the country.
    The officials and working people in the agricultural domain are engaged in farming preparation for reaping a bumper crop this year with a high sense of responsibility for the country's rice granaries.
    Officials and working people of ministries, national institutions and various organs and enterprises at all levels and even housewives are coming out to the countryside, bringing with them large quantities of farming materials and compost, to inspire agricultural working people.
    Thanks to the burning patriotic zeal of the agricultural working people to support the Songun fatherland with rice and the nation-wide sincere assistance, the agricultural front is sure to yield a rich harvest this year, the minister said with emphasis.

Slogans Calling for Higher Leap

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- The people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are all out on the onward march in the new year, upholding the slogans issued by the joint editorial. The editorial puts forward the slogan "Make another leap forward in building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation on the strength of Songun!". The slogan powerfully calls the whole Party, entire army and all the people to new efforts, reflecting the revolutionary pride, great ambition and invincible mettle of the People's Army and people of Korea who have consolidated the foundation for making a higher leap and dashing faster toward the eminence of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation through grave trials.
    The Korean people have won one brilliant victory after another by effecting a great leaping advance and innovation in the socialist economic construction in hearty response to the slogans of the Workers' Party of Korea which set forth the clear-cut fighting targets at various stages of the revolution and construction.
    Last year, too, the army and people strove hard to implement the slogans jointly issued by the Central Committee and Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Party and thus achieved greater successes in the field of economic construction than those that had been made in the recent several years.
    The editorial also advances another slogan "Let us vigorously forward the patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and great national unity under the banner of 'by our nation itself!' that the Korean people should hold high in the national reunification movement this year. Since the publication of the June 15 north-south joint declaration, the movement has entered a new historical turning phase, overcoming big obstacles and difficulties.
    In particular, last year witnessed significant events that opened a new chapter of three-point cooperation--national independence, peace against war and patriotism for reunification. They strikingly demonstrated the great magnetic power and vitality of the idea "by our nation itself". The army and people of Korea are full of the firm resolution to make fresh leaps forward and innovations again this year in the construction of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation under the invariable banner of Songun and open wider the June 15 reunification era through brisk national reunification movement.

Patriotic Movement for Peace against War Guarantees Cause of Reunification

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- All the Koreans should more vigorously advance the cause of national reunification of a new stage under the uplifted banner of "By our nation itself" by carrying through the militant tasks set out in the joint editorial in high spirit from the beginning of the new year. Rodong Sinmun in an article Monday says this.
    It is the most preferential task of the movement for national reunification to defend peace against war, the article says, and goes on: Peace can never be ensured and peaceful reunification is unthinkable without the struggle against aggression and war. All the Koreans should rise up as one in the drive to resolutely frustrate the war provocation moves of the U.S. imperialists so as to firmly defend peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. The struggle for peace against war is not for the security of the north or the south and not for the interests of any individual class or stratum. All the Koreans, irrespective of their residence in the north and the south and overseas, should turn out as one in the struggle to resolutely foil the U.S. moves to ignite a new war for the sake of the country, the nation and their own destiny.
    To join the U.S. in its war provocation moves is an anti-national action of breaking the inter-Korean relations developing favorably in the idea of "By our nation itself" and driving the situation of the Korean Peninsula to the danger of war.
    It is the irresistible trend of the times to pull the U.S. forces out of south Korea. People from all walks of life in south Korea should continue their dynamic struggle until they achieve independence against the U.S. and drive its forces out of south Korea to the last one.

U.S. Scenario for Preemptive Nuclear Attack on DPRK under Fire

     Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- The U.S. is the biggest nuclear criminal and the world people's common enemy threatening the existence of humankind. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article. Recalling that the U.S. secretly deployed nuclear weapons in Iraq, the article cites facts to prove that the U.S. is chiefly to blame for having created the danger of a nuclear war and spread nukes and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
    The article goes on:
    The U.S. warlike forces depend much on nukes in its bid to establish world domination. The U.S. branded those independent countries, not obedient to it, as "dangerous forces" and "rogue states" and intends to use nukes against them any time. This indicates that any country that falls out of its favor is likely to be under the U.S. nuclear attack. The U.S. warmongers are threatening that they would make a preemptive nuclear attack on the DPRK without any warning. They are spending a huge amount of funds to develop smaller nukes to be used in another Korean war. The U.S. imperialists intend to use the nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula as a prelude to all the wars of aggression to be fought in the future which will be nuclear ones.
    The U.S. imperialists' undisguised moves for a nuclear war serve as catalyzer for escalating the nuclear arms race worldwide and creating the danger of a thermonuclear war.
    The Korean people are further bolstering up the self-defense capability to cope with their evermore frantic moves to launch a nuclear war to the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. attempt at a preemptive nuclear attack on the DPRK is bound to go bust.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rodong Sinmun califica a EE.UU. de criminal nuclear perversisimo

     Pyongyang, 9 de enero (ATCC) -- Estados Unidos es el criminal perversisimo y enemigo comun de todos los pueblos del mundo que ponen en peligro la existencia de la humanidad. Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 9.
    Al referirse a que ese pais americano emplazo de modo disimulado las armas nucleares en el territorio iraqui, el articulo revela a base de los datos reales que el Tio Sam es el promotor que crea el peligro de guerra nuclear y autor de la proliferacion de las armas nucleares y de exterminio masivo y prosigue: Las fuerzas belicosas norteamericanas depositan gran esperanza en las armas nucleares para realizar su ambicion de heguemonia mundial. Tildan de "fuerzas peligrosas" y "Estados bribones" a los paises independientes para usar en cualquier momento los artefactos nucleares contra estos. En fin de cuentas, esto demuestra que EE.UU. puede asestar el ataque nuclear a todos los paises que no le son del agrado.
    Los maniacos de guerra norteamericanos dicen que daran sin "advertencia previa" el primer ataque nuclear contra la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. Destinan enormes fondos a desarrollar los miniartefactos nucleares aplicables en la guerra coreana. Los imperialistas norteamericanos pretenden valerse de las armas nucleares primero en la guerra que desaten en la Peninsula Coreana y usarlas despues tambien en todas las demas guerras agresivas que desencadenen en el futuro.
    Tales maniobras de guerra nuclear, que se tornan cada dia mas abiertas, aceleran la carrera armamentista nuclear y crean el peligro de la guerra termonuclear.
    Al respecto el pueblo coreano consolida mas que nunca sus fuerzas autodefensivas.
    EE.UU. no podra evitar fracaso en su intento de asestar el primer ataque nuclear a la RPDC.

Nuevas consignas llaman a registrar grandes saltos

    　Pyongyang, 9 de enero (ATCC) -- En la actualidad, el pueblo coreano acelera con vigor la marcha de ano nuevo en pleno acato a las consignas presentadas en el editorial conjunto de los periodicos Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun y Chongnyonjonwi. 　La consigna "!Demos con el poderio del Songun un nuevo salto en la edificacion de una gran potencia socialista prospera!" refleja el orgullo, dignidad, gran ambicion e invencible espiritu del ejercito y el pueblo de Corea que han echado mas firme el cimiento capaz de dar un salto mas alto y marchar con mas rapidez hacia la cumbre de una gran potencia socialista prospera superando perversas dificultades.
    　El pueblo coreano, en pleno acato a las consignas que presentaron las claras metas de lucha en los anales, produjo grandes saltos e innovaciones en la construccion de la economia socialista y anoto solo grandes victorias.
    　En el ano pasado, el ejercito y el pueblo de Corea desplegaron la lucha por materializar las consignas conjuntas del Comite Central y la Comision Central Militar del Partido del Trabajo de Corea publicadas con motivo del 60o aniversario de la fundacion de esta entidad politica y lograron los exitos mas grandes que los hechos durante los ultimos anos en la construccion economica.
    　La otra consigna "!Libremos con pujanza los tres movimientos patrioticos por la reunificacion independiente, por la paz contra la guerra y por la gran unidad nacional bajo la bandera ´entre nosotros, los connacionales´!" es la que debe mantener este ano el pueblo coreano en el movimiento por la reunificacion de la patria.
    　Desde cuando se publico la Declaracion Conjunta Norte-Sur del 15 de Junio, el movimiento por la reunificacion de Corea entro en el periodo de nuevo viraje en la historia superando grandes obstaculos y dificultades.
    　Sobre todo, los significativos sucesos del ano pasado que abrieron una nueva era mediante las tres cooperaciones: la independencia nacional, la paz contra la guerra y el patriotismo por la reunificacion fueron una clara manifestacion de extraordinaria atraccion y vitalidad del ideal "Entre nosotros, los connacionales".
    　El ejercito y el pueblo de Corea estan rebosantes de ardiente entusiasmo de crear una vez mas tambien este ano saltos e innovaciones en la edificacion de una gran potencia socialista prospera enarbolando invariablemente la bandera del Songun y desplegar activamente el movimiento por la reunificacion de la patria para hacer brillar la epoca de la reunificacion del 15 de Junio.

Frente agricola responde al llamado de editorial conjunto

    　Pyongyang, 9 de enero (ATCC) -- En respuesta al llamado del editorial conjunto del ano nuevo 95(2006) de la Era Juche de los periodicos Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun y Chongnyonjonwi, el pueblo coreano se ha levantado energicamente para dar un salto mas alto, lleno de gran esperanza y conviccion. 　Es firme la determinacion de los funcionarios y otros trabajadores agricolas tendentes a materializar cabalmente las tareas del editorial conjunto de movilizar y concentrar otra vez todas las fuerzas en la agricultura tomandola como frente de prioridad en la edificacion economica. 　El ministro de Agricultura Ri Kyong Sik dijo a un reportero de la Agencia Telegrafica Central de Corea como sigue:
    　El ministerio trazo un plan operacional para registrar un nuevo avance en la materializacion de las orientaciones del Partido del Trabajo de Corea: mejorar las variedades agricolas, producir una revolucion en el cultivo de papas y promover dos cosechas anuales y la produccion de soya, y dirige la labor para su realizacion.
    　Toma medidas para aumentar considerablemente la superficie de cultivo de cereales y concentra las fuerzas a obtener nueva tierra cultivable, roturar la tierra no cultivada y elevar la fertilidad de la tierra.
    　Sigue impulsando activamente el arreglo de tierra y hace preparativos para terminar antes del periodo de la siembra la construccion de la red de la estructura interna de marisma de la isla Taegye.
    　Toma de antemano las medidas para sembrar mayor cantidad de las variedades de alto rendimiento propicias a los lugares de produccion de papas en las zonas montanosas y prevenir los danos a causa de las enfermedades e insectos nocivos.
    　Organiza las labores para dar mas efecto a los canales de corriente natural Kaechon-Lago Thaesong y Paekma-Cholsan y para acelerar la obra de canal a nuestro estilo en todos los lugares incluyendo la de la llanura Miru.
    　Los funcionarios y otros trabajadores agricolas se entregan a los preparativos del cultivo de este ano con la renovada disposicion de producir un nuevo avance en la produccion agricola al hacer con esmero todas las faenas agricolas.
    　Tanto los funcionarios y trabajadores de los ministerios, organos centrales, organismos y empresas a todos los niveles como los miembros de las unidades de vecinos entregaron a las granjas gran cantidad de insumos agricolas y abonos de calidad estimulando a los trabajadores agricolas que se han levantado en los preparativos del ano nuevo.
    　Por el gran entusiasmo patriotico de los trabajadores agricolas de apoyar con cereales la patria del Songun (priorizacion militar) y por el sincero apoyo de todo el pais resonara sin falta el canto de triunfo en el frente agricola.