Joint New Year Editorial Hailed

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Harish Gupta, secretary general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, made public a statement on Jan. 10 in support of the joint New Year editorial of the newspapers of the Party, the army and the youth league of the DPRK. Recalling that the DPRK achieved great successes in all fields glorifying the Songun era despite all sorts of hardships and ordeals under the tested and wise guidance of Kim Jong Il in 2005, he stressed in the statement that the achievements are a victory of the Songun policy which helped the Party, the army and the people achieve perfect single-minded unity.
    He wished the DPRK brilliant successes in all fields including politics, economy and culture in 2006. Affirming that Asian regional adherents of the Juche idea and the Songun idea fully support Kim Jong Il, he expressed the firm belief that nothing can stop the onward movement of the Korean people.

Preparatory Committee Inaugurated in Romania

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of the Romanian Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Day of the Sun and Celebrating Feb. 16 was held at the building of the Socialist Party of Romania on Jan 9. Speakers at the ceremony said that they would organize colorful functions on the occasion of the Day of the Sun and the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il this year, too. Availing themselves of this opportunity, they said, they would make a deep study of the originality of the Songun politics pursued by Kim Jong Il and the advantages of Korean-style socialism and extend positive support and solidarity to the Korean people in their struggle for independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.
    Vasile Orleanu, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Romanian Socialist Party and chairman of the Romanian National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee at the ceremony.
    The preparatory committee set a period of commemoration and celebration from Jan. 10 to Apr. 15 and decided to organize colorful functions including meeting, seminar, lecture, film show and photo exhibition in the period.

Internet Homepage in Philippines Named "Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il E-Library"

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The Philippines-DPRK Friendship Society named its Internet homepage "Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il E-Library". A naming ceremony was held in Manila on Dec. 20 last year.
    Nelia Sancho, executive chairman of the friendship society, declared that the Internet homepage was named "Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il E-Library". Referring to the circumstances and purpose of naming after the peerless great men, the executive chairman introduced works of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il, mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang", Korean film "Answer of Korea" and materials showing efforts of the Korean people to build a great prosperous powerful nation and achieve national reunification which were posted on it.

KCTU Checks U.S. Ambassador's Round-table Conversation with Journalists

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) checked a round-table conversation with journalists of the U.S. ambassador in Seoul on Jan. 12, according to the south Korean KBS. The U.S. ambassador was scheduled to have a round-table conversation with Internet journalists at the building of the south Korean Internet Journalists' Association.
    The KCTU castigated the U.S. ambassador for making reckless remarks slandering the north as a "criminal regime" and strongly opposed his call on the association.
    He could not appear in the venue owing to the fierce protest of the KCTU and had to give up his schedule.

U.S. Chiefly Accountable for Having Totally Scrapped DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The United States can never evade its responsibility for having totally scrapped the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework (AF) and delayed the settlement of the nuclear issue in a deliberate manner. Rodong Sinmun Monday observes this in a signed commentary. It goes on:
    Some officials are spreading misinformation that the DPRK is to blame for the end of the unsuccessful construction of the light water reactors (LWRs), while demanding it "compensate" for this.
    The main spirit of the AF called on both sides to respect each other's sovereignty and create reconciliation and trust in order to put an end to the hostile relations between them and, furthermore, ensure peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and other parts of Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world. The LWR project, a key point of the AF, was considered to be a guarantee for terminating the hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S. and finding a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Under the AF the U.S. was committed to providing two LWRs to the DPRK by the year 2003 in return for the latter's freeze of nuclear facilities and supplying 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to it every year till their construction is completed. The U.S. also gave the DPRK assurances that it would not threaten the latter with nukes.
    The U.S., however, has not fulfilled any commitment under the AF. The Bush administration categorically refused to implement the AF and has systematically perpetrated premeditated acts of totally scrapping official documents signed between the DPRK and the U.S., unreasonably asserting that a series of agreements including the AF signed by the preceding regime with the DPRK are "beneficial" to it only, while being harmful to the U.S. interests and prestige.
    It is quite nonsensical for some politicians to urge the DPRK to "compensate" for the unsuccessful end of the LWR construction in stead of holding the U.S. chiefly accountable for the abrogation of the AF.
    It is the DPRK that has to claim compensation for the loss caused by the suspension of the LWR project.
    Whoever is concerned about the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula should properly know who stands for the denuclearization of the peninsula and who persistently blocks it.

Rodong Sinmun on Revolutionary Line and Policies of WPK

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The line and policies of the Workers' Party of Korea for building a great prosperous powerful nation serve as a banner of sure victory based on the Songun idea of Juche. Rodong Sinmun says this in a by-lined article today.
    It goes on:
    The Songun idea of Juche crystallizes the fundamental principles of the Korean revolution which was pioneered by arms and has emerged victorious and the precious guidelines of party, state and army building in the Songun era and indicates a straight shortcut to social transformation, nature remaking and human remoulding in the 21st century.
    The idea serves as a starting point, a basic cornerstone of all the line and policies of the Party in the Songun era. The line and policies strengthening the revolutionary army into an invincible army and making revolutionary ranks an elite one with it as the main force, giving priority to the development of national defence industry while simultaneously developing light industry and agriculture and opening a new history of Songun revolutionary culture are the banner of struggle guaranteeing a victorious advance for building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    It is the staunch policy and stand of the Party to counter the aggressive moves of the U.S. imperialists and reactionaries with a merciless military strike, their vicious offensive to isolate and stifle the DPRK with revolutionary economic strategy and their despicable psychological warfare with a powerful ideological battle. The policy and stand instill the conviction of victory into the army and people of Korea all out in building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    The line and policies of the Party for building a great prosperous powerful nation serve as an invincible weapon based on the revolutionary zeal and creative power of the army and the people.
    It is the great pride of the Party to have such army and people who have unchangeable confidence in the justness and victory of the socialist cause, revolutionary optimism that they break through trials, always cheerful although their path is thorny and the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance that they create something out of nothing and faith can move even a mountain.
    The signal successes in all fields of politics, military affairs, economy and culture and the might of the DPRK as a powerful country of Songun clearly prove how just and viable the revolutionary line and policies of the Party are, the article concludes.

Struggle for Settlement of Past Called for

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The drive for the settlement of the past in south Korea represents acute confrontation between progressive and conservative forces and between pro-reunification patriotic forces and anti-reunification traitorous forces, says Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed article. Calling on the south Koreans to unite as one in order to win a victory in this drive for the nation and justice, the article goes on: The drive is one to put an end to the outsiders' domination and interference and retake the usurped dignity and sovereignty of the nation. The south Koreans from all walks of life should keep the flaring flame of the struggle for independence against the U.S. to put an end to its cursed occupation and rule. All the crimes of the U.S. imperialists who have infringed upon the sovereignty and democracy of the south Korean people and inflicted all sorts of misfortune and disaster upon them while instigating the fascist dictatorial regimes to confrontation and war with the north during their 60 odd-year long occupation of south Korea should be settled without fail.
    The drive for the settlement of the past is a struggle to settle accounts with all the crimes the successive fascist dictators and traitors related to the "Grand National Party" have committed following the evil habit of flunkeyism, treachery and fascist dictatorship against reunification. The crimes committed by those traitors from the Syngman Rhee regime framed up by the U.S. imperialists in south Korea right after Aug. 15 liberation of Korea, the "Yusin" dictatorial regime, the fifth and the sixth republics to the "civilian government" were anti-people, anti-national and anti-reunification treacheries which can never be pardoned. The repetition of the past can never be checked unless the wrong past is liquidated. The drive for the settlement of the past in south Korea is one to ostracize the GNP, a traitorous political party.
    It is impossible to realize the long-cherished desire of the south Koreans to liquidate the fascist dictatorship and materialize democratic politics as long as the GNP, the descendent of the successive traitorous regimes that had committed all sorts of anti-people and anti-national crimes, regarding flunkeyism, treachery, fascism and division as their way of existence, is left intact. If the GNP comes to power in south Korea it would be impossible to check the repetition of such a medieval age of darkness as that of "Yusin" dictatorship, much less expecting any progress in the movement for national reunification. All the parties, factions and people of all social standings in south Korea desirous of progress, patriotism and reunification should closely unite and solidarize to wage a joint struggle and take a joint action for the settlement of the past to the last and thus build an independent and democratic new society free from domination, treachery and fascism in south Korea without fail.

National Seminar Held on Exploits Performed by Three Generals in Leadership over Youth Movement

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- A national seminar on the exploits performed by the three generals of Mt. Paektu in the leadership over the youth movement took place at the April 25 House of Culture Monday on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League. Presented at the seminar were six papers that made a profound scientific and theoretical explanation of the undying leadership exploits performed by the three generals of Mt. Paektu in pioneering, strengthening and developing the Korean youth movement.
    The floor was taken by Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter Kim Ok Sun, Kim Jong Suk, editor-in-chief of Minju Joson, Kim Yong Sik, first secretary of the Committee of the Korean People's Army of the Youth League, and others.
    Speakers at the seminar noted that President Kim Il Sung who established the glorious tradition of the Juche-oriented youth movement in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle laid down the line of building the popular and monolithic youth organization even under so difficult and complicated situation right after the liberation of Korea and proclaimed the foundation of the Democratic Youth League to the world on January 17, Juche 35 (1946).
    Recalling that Kim Il Sung gave a genuine origin to the Juche-oriented youth movement, set an example of world historic significance in building revolutionary youth organizations and strengthened and developed the youth league to be an organization intensely loyal to the Party and the revolutionary cause, they stressed that his revolutionary exploits would shine forever.
    They explained the immortal leadership feats Kim Jong Il has performed by putting up the slogan "Love the Youth!" and placing the work of the youth league on a new higher stage as required by the developing revolution.
    Pointing out that Kim Jong Il was the first in history to formulate the idea and theory of the youth movement based on the revolutionary outlook on the leader, they noted that he made sure that the youth league was renamed the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League and has strengthened and developed it into the youth organization of the President, the reliable ranks of members of the young vanguard of Songun by providing wise leadership and showing profound care for it.
    The path of victory and glory covered by the youth league is closely associated with the undying exploits performed by anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk who performed distinguished feats in establishing the glorious revolutionary tradition of the Korean youth movement and energetically led the work of the youth league after liberation, they added.
    They called upon all the officials of the youth league and other young people to resolutely uphold and glorify the undying exploits performed by the three generals of Mt. Paektu in developing the Korean youth movement and accomplish generation after generation the revolutionary cause of Juche that started in the Paektu forest, true to the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    Present at the seminar were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, participants in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the youth league and members of the delegation of Korean youths and students in Japan and the delegation of the Youth Federation of Korean Nationals in China.

Kim Jong Il's Leadership, Key to Victory

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The servicepersons and the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are steadfastly advancing along one road of revolution, overcoming every manner of trials and hardships. The seasoned leadership of Kim Jong Il guarantees that the Korean revolution has emerged victorious without any slightest vacillation, going through the storm and stress of history.
    President Kim Il Sung, in his lifetime, said with conviction that Kim Jong Il was the symbol and the future of Juche Korea and the revolutionary cause of Juche would win victory after victory under his guidance.
    His great Songun idea lighting the way for realizing the independence of the popular masses, extraordinary commanding art making it possible to defeat any formidable enemy and the creative power turning impossibility to possibility and creating thing out of nothing are the source of victory for the Korean army and people.
    The last ten-odd year history of Songun revolution is brilliantly adorned with the tested leadership of Kim Jong Il, who has wrought world-startling miracles through thick and thin.
    He has developed in depth the Songun idea fathered by the President to be a mode of politics in our era, thus providing the army and people with the valuable sword of certain victory with which they can firmly defend the socialist fatherland from the imperialist enemies and push ahead with the revolution.
    It is thanks to his Songun idea and politics that the DPRK has successfully stood against the outrageous nuclear blackmail of the imperialists and turned into an impregnable fortress with strong self-defensive nuclear deterrent.
    With his outstanding leadership he met enemies' hard-line with super one and always drove them into the defensive, winning victory after victory. Under his leadership hundreds of thousands of hectares of arable land were rezoned to suit the features of the socialist country, totally eliminating the centuries-long feudal remnants. And monumental edifices including the Taean Friendship Glass Factory and Paekma-Cholsan Waterway have been built in different parts of the country.
    In particular, last year witnessed greater successes than those in the recent few years in the field of economic construction. This eloquently proves the fact that the realization of his intention of building a great prosperous powerful nation is not a matter of the distant future.
    The army and people of the DPRK, who have laid a solid foundation for the building of a great prosperous powerful nation and won only victory under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il, took a big step toward greater victory this year.

Central Jewel Handicrafts Company

     Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- Craft and art works created by the Central Jewel Handicrafts Company of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are popular in foreign countries. The company, founded in Juche 74(1985), is made up of qualified creators and artists.
    They have produced works such as jewel, stone, wood and ceramic craftworks, glass beads and Korean paintings high in artistic and aesthetic value by making use of fine traditional craftsmanship and technique to suit the modern aesthetic taste.
    Among them are porcelains with flower vases as the main, treasure boxes, white and light gem necklaces, craftworks reflecting various kinds of animals. They vividly show the elegant emotion and beautiful living custom of the Korean nation.
    Their 1,000-odd art works including "At the well", "Mt. Kumgang in moonlight", "Mt. Kumgang in October", "Manphokdong" and "Mt. Jangsu" were appreciated by visitors at local and international art work exhibitions and fairs.
    Especially glass bead craftworks have found their way to European countries including Italy and its craft and art works to China and various other countries.
    The company is producing handicraft works colorful in content and form and making goods to order to meet ever increasing demand. And it also is striving to deliver their products to the consumers as early as possible.

For Spanish-speaking people

EE.UU. es quebrador del Acuerdo Basico con la RPDC

    @Pyongyang, 16 de enero (ATCC) -- El diario Rodong Sinmun inserto en su edicion del dia 16 un comentario individual que va como sigue: En estos tiempos, circula en algunas partes del mundo un absurdo rumor de que la responsabilidad por la ruptura total de la construccion de reactores de agua ligera recae sobre la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y hasta suenan voces demandando a esta alguna "recompensacion" por el respecto. Pero, es EE.UU. quien invalido completa e intencionalmente el Acuerdo Basico concertado con la RPDC y dilata la solucion del problema nuclear. Lo clave de ese documento estriba en que ambas partes deben acabar con las relaciones de hostilidad y preservar la paz y seguridad de la Peninsula Coreana, la region de Asia y Pacifico y el resto del mundo al respetar reciprocamente la soberania de su contraparte y dar un clima de reconciliacion y confianza.
    La construccion de dichos reactores, punto medular del acuerdo, significaba la garantia para acabar con las relaciones hostiles RPDC-EE.UU. y solucionar por via pacifica el problema nuclear de la Peninsula Coreana.
    Segun el acuerdo, EE.UU. debio construir para la RPDC los 2 reactores hasta 2003 y suministrarle anualmente 500 mil toneladas de aceite pesado hasta que se complete la construccion a cambio de que la segunda congelara sus instalaciones nucleares. Ademas, dio a la RPDC la garantia de no amenazarla con las armas nucleares.
    Sin embargo, EE.UU. no ha cumplido debidamente ni uno de los puntos acordados de ese documento.
    Al insistir erroneamente en que el Acuerdo Basico y otros concertados por el anterior ejecutivo con la RPDC solo "benefician" a esta y perjudican los intereses y autoridad de EE.UU., la administracion Bush rehuso abiertamente su ejecucion. Luego, comenzo a quebrar premeditada y sistematicamente todos los documentos oficiales entre ambos paises.
    Entonces, resulta absurdisima esa demanda de "recompensacion" por parte de la RPDC porque EE.UU. es quebrador del citado acuerdo basico y la primera tiene todo derecho a pedir la remuneracion de las perdidas por el cese de la construccion de reactores de agua ligera.
    Los que se interesen en la solucion del problema nuclear de la Peninsula Coreana deben distinguir correctamente quien desea la desnuclearizacion de la zona y quien la impide obstinadamente.

Rodong Sinmun insiste en liquidacion de pasado en Sur de Corea

    @Pyongyang, 16 de enero (ATCC) -- La lucha por la "liquidacion del pasado" en el Sur de Corea es la aguda confrontacion entre el progreso y el conservatismo, entre el patriotismo y la traicion y entre las fuerzas de la reunificacion y las de la anti-reunificacion. Para lograr la victoria en dicha lucha para la nacion y la justicia, los habitantes surcoreanos deben unirse monoliticamente. Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 16 y continua:
    La "liquidacion de los asuntos pasados" en el Sur de Corea es la lucha por poner fin al dominio e intervencion de las fuerzas foraneas y rescatar la soberania y dignidad nacionales arrebatadas.
    Los habitantes de distintos estratos del Sur de Corea deben avivar las llamas de la lucha por poner fin a la abominable dominacion ocupacionista de EE.UU. Deben ser liquidados todos los actos criminales de los yanquis que mas de 60 anos de la presencia de sus efectivos en el territorio patrio azuzaron a los sucesivos "gobiernos" de dictadura fascista a la confrontacion con la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y a las maniobras belicas, pisotearon la soberania y la democracia de los habitantes surcoreanos y acarrearon toda clase de desgracias y desastres a la nacion coreana.
    La "liquidacion del pasado" es la lucha por saldar cuenta general de los crimenes que los dictadores fascistas y traidores oriundos del "partido Hannara" perpetraron habitualmente contra la reunificacion de la nacion coreana.
    Los delitos que cometieron en el pasado los traidores desde el "gobierno" de Syngman Rhee que inmediatamente despues del 15 de agosto los EE.UU. fabricaron en el Sur de Corea hasta el "poder" dictatorial de "renovacion", los poderes de la "quinta y sexta republica" y el "civil" son actos antipopulares, antinacionales y anti-reunificacion. Sin liquidar el pasado criminal es imposible impedir la reedicion de tal pasado.
    La "liquidacion del pasado" en el Sur de Corea es la lucha por eliminar el "partido Hannara", traidor a la nacion.
    Al dejar intacto al "partido Hannara" que es descendiente de los sucesivos "gobiernos" traidores que, al tomar por modo de subsistencia el servilismo a las grandes potencias y la traicion, el fascismo y la division, perpetraron crimenes antipopulares y antinacionales, es imposible lograr el anhelo secular de los habitantes surcoreanos de liquidar la dictadura fascista y realizar la politica democratica. Si el "partido Hannara" toma el poder en el Sur de Corea, no se podra impedir la reedicion de la epoca de oscurantismo medieval analoga a la de dictadura de "renovacion" ni esperar el avance del movimiento por la reunificacion de la patria.
    Todos los partidos, agrupaciones y habitantes de distintos estratos del Sur de Corea anhelosos del progreso, el patriotismo y la reunificacion deben unirse y solidarizarse firmemente para librar hasta el fin la energica lucha de "liquidacion del pasado" y asi convertir sin falta el Sur de Corea en una nueva sociedad independiente y democratica exenta del dominio, el fascismo y los actos de traicion.