Preparatory Committee Formed in Syria

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of the Syrian Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 was held in Damascus on Jan. 16. Present there were personages from various circles including the deputy general secretary of the Socialist Unionist Party of Syria and members of the People's Assembly of Syria.
    The ceremony elected Deputy General Secretary of the Party Adnan Ismail chairman of the preparatory committee and head of its Information Department Shukri Shaihani secretary general of the preparatory committee.
    The preparatory committee set a commemoration period from Jan. 17 to Apr. 30 and decided to organize colorful functions in the period.

DPRK's Holidays to be Commemorated in Poland

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of the Polish Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 was held in Warsaw on Jan. 16. On display in the venue of the ceremony were famous works of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and Korean books and photos introducing Songun Korea.
    Apoloniusz Golik, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Poland-Korea Association, addressing the ceremony, said that the Day of the Sun and Feb. 16 are common holidays not only for the Korean people but for the world progressive people. He underscored the need to widely introduce the noble revolutionary life of Kim Il Sung dedicated to the Korean and world revolution and the undying feats of Kim Jong Il who has led the cause of independence against imperialism to a victory with his outstanding Songun politics in this significant year marking the 80th anniversary of the "Down-with-Imperialism Union" formed by the President.
    He called for extending full support and solidarity to the Korean people in their indomitable struggle to build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and achieve the reunification of the country while frustrating every move of the imperialists to isolate and stifle the DPRK.
    The ceremony elected Tadeusz Bialkowski, first vice−chairman of the Central Committee of the Association, chairman of the preparatory committee. The preparatory committee decided to organize colorful functions including a meeting, round-table talks, a film show and a photo exhibition in various parts of Poland in the period of commemorations of the Day of the Sun and Feb. 16.

DPRK Holidays to Be Commemorated in Guinea

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- The Guinean preparatory committee to commemorate the Day of the Sun and February 16 was formed with due ceremony at the head office of the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea on Jan. 6. Sekou Konate, general secretary of the party, said at the ceremony that it is not only because of the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation between the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea and the Workers' Party of Korea but because of the priceless ideological and theoretical feats performed by President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il in the development of Guinea and the struggle of other developing countries for independence that the party inaugurates the preparatory committee to commemorate those holidays every year and joins the Korean people in the significant commemoration of the holidays.
    He underlined the need to use the significant commemoration of those holidays as occasions of helping the Guinean people grasp the ideas and theories conducive to their unity, consolidating the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and boosting the bonds established between the two countries in accomplishing the common cause of independence.
    The ceremony elected the general secretary of the party chairman of the preparatory committee.
    The preparatory committee decided to organize multifarious functions on those occasions.

Joint New Year Editorial Supported in Mexico

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- Ten political parties and organizations in Mexico including the Socialist Party, the People's Socialist Party, the Socialist Popular Party and the Mexican Institute for the Study of the Juche Idea released a joint statement on Jan. 14 in support of the joint New Year editorial issued by the newspapers of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean People's Army and the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League. The statement hailed the ways for reunification set forth in the joint editorial as the most just and realistic ways as they represent the desire of all the Korean people and the reality of the Korean Peninsula. Holding that Korea should be reunified in line with the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo and in the idea of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, the statement expressed full support for the Korean people in the dynamic patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and overall national unity under the banner of "By our nation itself".
    It demanded the U.S. stop standing in the way of Korea's reunification and pull back its troops from south Korea at once, calling on the governments of all countries in the world to support the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.

Struggle of Korean People Supported

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- Niculae Pavelescu, vice-chairman of the Left United Party of Romania, said that his party will always stand by the Korean people striving to build socialism and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country under the Songun politics and positively support their struggle. In a statement titled "The Songun politics of Comrade Kim Jong Il is invincible" published on Jan. 18 on the occasion of February 16, he said: Thanks to the Songun politics, the DPRK is winning victories one after another in political and military confrontation with the U.S. and bringing a beam of hope to the world people aspiring after justice and peace.
    Witnessing the victorious struggle of the Korean people, we have come to realize that the Songun politics is a mighty political mode that firmly guarantees the prosperity of socialist Korea yesterday, today and tomorrow and that should be held faster to as long as the imperialists remain in the world. He expressed the conviction that as long as there is the Songun politics pursued by leader Kim Jong Il, the Korean people's struggle will be invincible.

U.S. Escalated War Moves against DPRK Assailed

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson Tuesday in a signed commentary denounces the U.S. for escalating its moves to start a war against the DPRK. The U.S. transferred its forces to the areas of Osan and Phyongthaek from the areas along the Military Demarcation Line. 10 of the operation duties of the U.S. forces are being devolved upon the south Korean forces in a premeditated manner, the commentary observes, and goes on: For instance, "the duty of commanding and controlling a big fire battle," a vital one, and other operation duties have already been transferred to the south Korean forces. The U.S. is contemplating the handover of reserve war supplies stockpiled in south Korea.
    The evermore undisguised moves of the U.S. for a war against the DPRK are intended to tide over the ever-worsening crisis at home and abroad. The army and people of the DPRK do not want a war but are ready to wipe out the aggressors at a single stroke if they invade even an inch of the sky, the land and the sea of their country. This is their unshakable will.
    The U.S. should properly know who its rival is and immediately stop its adventurous moves to launch a war against the DPRK. This would also do the U.S. good.
    Ours is the June 15 era of reunification in which all the Koreans are advancing shoulder to shoulder under the banner of "By our nation itself". However, the south Korean military authorities are rushing headlong into anti-north confrontation, backed by the U.S., quite contrary to the trend of the era towards national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
    The south Korean military authorities' involvement in the U.S. moves for a war against the north is as foolish an act as jumping into fire with faggot on their own back.

Permission of U.S. Forces' "Strategic Flexibility" Protested

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- The People for Achieving Peace and Reunification and the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification in south Korea reportedly called a press conference in Seoul on Jan. 20 in protest against the permission of the "strategic flexibility" of the U.S. forces in south Korea and intensification of "alliance" for aggression. A press release read out at the conference, referring to the fact that a "strategic dialogue for partnership of alliance" was held between the U.S. and the south Korean authorities, vehemently condemned the result of the "dialogue" which will substantially threaten peace in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia and do serious harm to the destiny of the Korean nation.
    The U.S. and the south Korean authorities officially agreed to allow the "strategic flexibility" of the U.S. forces stationed in south Korea on which debates have been made so far, the press release said, adding that this means extending the sphere of their activity to Asia-Pacific and leaving south Korea to the mercy of U.S. forces as an advance base for their overseas aggression.
    It bitterly denounced the U.S. for hatching a plot to inveigle the south Korean army into a war of aggression worldwide and boost its aggressive "alliance" with south Korea.
    All the people aspiring after peace of the Korean Peninsula will wage a more dynamic struggle for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea, it noted, demanding the minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other officials related to the subservient agreement against the nation resign at once. At the end of the conference representatives of the organizations handed a written protest to the ministry.

Ultra-Right Conservatives' Vandalism under Fire in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- 17 south Korean human rights organizations including the Solidarity Meeting of Organizations to Honor Memory of Martyrs for the Nation and Democracy reportedly made public a statement on January 18 denouncing the ultra-right conservatives for their vandalism of desecrating the grave of Kim Nam Sik, former permanent advisor to Thongil News. Recalling that on Jan. 15 they perpetrated such rowdyism as painting black his gravestone in Namyangju City, Kyonggi Province, finding fault with the words of "pro-reunification patriot" inscribed on it, the statement noted with towering indignation that this was by no means accidental but carefully prearranged vandalism.
    It demanded severe punishment of those who committed such inhuman atrocities.

Japan's Quest for Regional Military Supremacy Blasted

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- Japan decided to launch two spy satellites this year in a bid to use them and those two already on orbit for putting the DPRK under its intensive watch and additionally deploy even an unmanned U.S.-made reconnaissance plane in Japan. Minju Joson today observes in a signed commentary in this regard: This is a clear indication that Japan is hell bent on the moves to neutralize the DPRK's self-reliant defence capability and bolster its capability for a preemptive attack on the latter.
    Japan regards it as an essential requirement for acquiring the capability to mount a preemptive attack to develop the missile defence system. This is clearly evidenced by the recent remarks made by the director-general of the Japan Defense Agency that Japan's possession of two Aegis equipped with "standard-3 interceptor missiles" would make it possible to defend its archipelago.
    What should not be overlooked is the fact that Japan is citing "threat from China" as a pretext for further strengthening the system of its military cooperation with the U.S. in a bid to expand its sphere of military activities without limit.
    It is the intention of Japan to offer its military facilities including ports and airfields to the U.S., considering even a dispute to occur not only on the Korean Peninsula but in the far away Taiwan Straits as an "emergency in areas surrounding Japan." It has already begun laying a legal groundwork for doing so.
    This goes to prove that Japan is keen to acquire an unchallenged position in the Asia-Pacific region by realizing a military nexus and cooperation with the U.S. and, furthermore, dominate this region.
    Japan's policy for military supremacy aimed at conquering Asia and putting it under its control should be checked and frustrated without fail, the commentary concludes.

Demolition of Concrete Wall Urged

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- The British Association for the Study of Songun Policy and the British Friendship Society with Korea issued a joint statement on Jan. 17 demanding the demolition of the concrete wall. The wall standing in the area of the south side of the Korean Peninsula is an obstacle to Korea's reunification, a symbol of national division and a leftover of the Cold War, the statement said, and went on:
    Many years have passed since the end of the Cold War but the U.S imperialists and the south Korean authorities and the pro-U.S. conservatives have maintained the concrete wall so far.
    Its existence diametrically runs counter to the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
    The wall is of no validity to exist as it is a physical barrier bisecting the Korean Peninsula. It is used only in fixing the division of Korea and threatening the Korean people aspiring after reunification.
    We strongly urge the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean authorities to demolish the monstrous wall at once.

New Songs Created

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- New songs of high ideological and artistic value have been created this year to inspire the servicepersons and working people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the general onward march of the Songun revolution. The songs that laud the great Songun revolutionary guidance of Kim Jong Il touch the heartstrings of the people.
    The song "Indelible Footmarks" contains the ideological content that the footmarks imprinted by Kim Jong Il on the path of virgin snow and ice-covered cliff path while pushing his military jeep will remain long in the minds of the people in the efforts for building a great prosperous powerful nation. There is the song "Road to Front Associated with Comradeship". It says in an appealing melody that he continues his inspection tour of frontline units in spite of the rain or snow and shows ardent love and comradeship, sharing roast potatoes with darling soldiers on a steep mountain pass. The song "View of Snow-covered Jong Il Peak" lyrically describes that the beautiful frostwork on the trees of Jong Il Peak capped with snow in February when the people auspiciously celebrate his birthday, is the pride of Korea and the people bearing the scenery in their minds look up to and follow the great man.
    "Song of General Onward March of Songun Revolution" reflects the will of the soldiers and people of the DPRK to advance forward vigorously along the road of the Songun revolution, going through all trials and difficulties under the leadership of Kim Jong Il. And the song "Our Army, Our People" reflects the will of the servicepersons and people to keep the traditional beautiful trait of assisting the army and helping the people in fuller bloom. These songs also powerfully arouse the army and people to the general advance in the new year.
    Many other songs including "To Mother" and "What can I do for Motherland?" contain the determination of the soldiers to live a brilliant life in defence of the leader and motherland. They let the soldiers and people be aware of their mission assigned by the times.

U.S. Moves to Provoke Second Korean War Assailed

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- The intensified U.S.-Japan alliance, the moves to establish the Missile Defence System, the setting up of a department in charge of north Korea for collection of information within the U.S. State Intelligence Agency, video shows on warfare under the simulated conditions of the outbreak of a war between the DPRK and the U.S. and the spread of video games are a prelude to the second Korean war, says Rodong Sinmun Tuesday in a signed commentary. Disclosing the recent very ill-boding military moves of the U.S. imperialists against the DPRK, the news analyst goes on:
    Their call for peace is nothing but a camouflaged peace trick to mislead public opinion at home and abroad, benumb the Koreans' enmity and put into practice the U.S. strategy for a preemptive attack. It is by no means fortuitous that they are recklessly whetting a sword for aggression on the DPRK, timing to coincide with the racket of sanctions against it after reneging on the September 19 joint statement.
    It is a judgment by public opinion at home and abroad that the U.S. imperialists will not bother to preempt an attack on the DPRK as they have thrown away even international agreement like a pair of old shoes to realize their ambition for aggression.
    There is a proverb saying "Return fire for fire and favor for favor".
    The Korean army and people are sharply following the moves of the U.S imperialists, keeping themselves fully ready to beat back the enemies' attack at a single stroke. The U.S. imperialist warhawks will never go scot-free if they ignite a war in the sacred land of Korea.

Full Play to Might of Politico-Ideological Position of Korean-style Socialism Called for

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today editorially calls on all the people to deeply cherish the honor and pride of living and making revolution in the ideologically and politically powerful state, holding Kim Jong Il in high esteem as the great leader, and consolidate the politico-ideological position of Korean-style socialism as firm as a rock and thus fully demonstrate the might of Songun Korea. Korean-style socialism is socialism making a long drive on a solid political and ideological basis, the editorial notes, and goes on: Thanks to the Workers' Party of Korea, the work of modeling the whole party, army and society on the Juche idea has been carried out at the highest level and the unity and cohesion of the revolutionary ranks have grown steel-strong.
    The significant celebrations of the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and Korea's liberation last year provided opportunities of strikingly demonstrating the invincibility of the politico-ideological foundation of Korean-style socialism. The whole party and army and all the people are dynamically advancing, firmly armed with the great Juche idea, the Songun idea and united close around the headquarters of the revolution headed by Kim Jong Il. This is a proud picture of Korean-style socialism.
    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Down-with-Imperialism Union founded by President Kim Il Sung.
    When all the people consolidate the politico-ideological position of Korean-style socialism as firm as a rock in hearty response to the joint New Year editorial, this will help eternally glorify the immortal exploits the President performed by building invincible socialism that has weathered out any storm and stress. It is a sacred work for further augmenting the DPRK's self-reliant defence capability and state economic potential as required by the era of Songun to significantly increase the might of politico-ideological position of Korean-style socialism.
    Only when the politico-ideological position remains strong, is it possible to keep the military position invulnerable and dynamically push forward the economic construction.
    The editorial calls on all the people to unite closer around the headquarters of the revolution and powerfully demonstrate their revolutionary spirit of regarding socialism as their lifeblood through their general march this year.

Further Momentum to Patriotic Movement Called for

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- The patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and overall national unity embodies the three principles of national reunification and represents a way of conducting a patriotic struggle for implementing them, says Rodong Sinmun Tuesday in a signed article. The three principles of national reunification -- independence, peaceful reunification and the great national unity -- constitute a cornerstone of national reunification as they elucidate the fundamental principles and ways of solving the problem of national reunification by the concerted efforts of the Koreans in line with the will and interests of the nation. They, at the same time, serve as a great programme for reunification common to the nation, which the north and the south confirmed in the July 4 joint statement and solemnly declared internally and externally, the article says, and goes on: The patriotic movement for independent reunification represents a practical action to thoroughly preserve and embody the principle of national independence. As stressed in the joint editorial, the patriotic movement for independent reunification calls for solving all problems arising in accomplishing the cause of reunification by putting the dignity and the interests of the nation above all as guided by the idea of "By our nation itself", making the Korean nation-first spirit of attaching importance to the nation prevail wherever Koreans reside and letting the strong hurricane of independent reunification rage across the land.
    The patriotic movement for peace against war represents a struggle to create a precondition for peaceful reunification.
    The validity of this movement lies in that it calls on all the Koreans to turn out in the struggle to resolutely foil the U.S. imperialists' moves to provoke a new war, reliably defend peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and completely remove the root cause of war from this land through a nationwide struggle for the pullback of the U.S. forces from south Korea.
    Now that the idea of "By our nation itself" has become an idea dominating the era, the movement for national reunification is being converted into a nationwide movement pushed forward by all the Koreans irrespective of ideology, system, political faction and affiliation.
    The patriotic movement for overall national unity serves as an effective means of injecting vitality into the cause of national reunification that has entered a new stage. Koreans can surely solve any problem arising in the cause of reunification when they turn out as one, steadily stoke the atmosphere of reconciliation and unity and boost the unity and solidarity among the organizations of the reunification movement.
    Specific ways of achieving national reunification may alter according to the changing situation. But its fundamental principle will never change and the Korean nation will surely accomplish the cause of national reunification on that basis.

Credentials Presented to Kim Yong Nam by Palestinian Ambassador

     Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- Mohammad Shahta Zarab, Palestinian ambassador e. p. to the DPRK, presented his credentials to Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and a staff member of the Palestinian embassy here. After receiving the credentials, Kim Yong Nam had a talk with the Palestinian ambassador.

For Spanish-speaking people

Preludio de la provocacion de segunda guerra coreana

    　Pyongyang, 24 de enero (ATCC) -- El fortalecimiento de la alianza Estados Unidos.-Japon contra la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, el establecimiento del Sistema Antimisiles, la creacion de un departamento encargado de "asuntos del Norte de Corea" en la CIA para la activacion de la "recoleccion de informaciones" y la exhibicion de las peliculas sobre la guerra y la difusion de los games electronicos que suponen el estallido de la guerra entre la RPDC y EE.UU. devienen un preludio de la provocacion de la segunda guerra coreana. Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 24 y prosigue:　
    En estos momentos, los imperialistas estadounidenses dan insolitos movimientos militares contra la RPDC.
    La "paz" de que habla el Tio Sam no pasa de ser una artimana para inducir en error la opinion interna y externa, debilitar el concepto del pueblo coreano de encaramiento con el enemigo y llevar a la practica su estrategia de ataque preventivo.
    　No es casual que EE.UU., luego de traicionar el contenido de la declaracion conjunta del 19 de septiembre emitida en la cuarta ronda de conversaciones a 6 bandas, aplica la sancion contra la RPDC y afila el cuchillo de agresion al Norte de Corea.
    EE.UU., que ignora hasta el acuerdo internacional para realizar su ambicion de agresion, podra emprender sin escrupulos el ataque preventivo contra la RPDC. Estima asi la opinion interna y externa. 　Hay un proverbio que dice: Al puno con el puno, al cuchillo con el cuchillo.
    El ejercito y el pueblo de Corea estan dispuestos a frustrar de un golpe cualquier ataque de los enemigos y observan con alta vigilancia las maquinaciones de estos. Si los belicistas yanquis desatan la guerra en el territorio sagrado de nuestra patria, no podran salir ilesos.

EE.UU. debe justipreciar a su contraparte

    　Pyongyang, 24 de enero (ATCC) -- El periodico Minju Joson inserto en su edicion del dia 24 un comentario individual que va como sigue: En estos dias, Estados Unidos da acicate a sus maquinaciones de agresion al Norte de Corea.
    El imperio traslada a sus tropas de la zona de la Linea de Demarcacion Militar a la zona de Osan y Phyongthaek y, al mismo tiempo, transfiere de manera planificada al ejercito surcoreano las diez tareas operacionales de sus tropas. Ya fueron transferidas varias de ellas, en particular, la de "mando y control sobre el combate de tiros de gran dimension", llamado "punto medular". El Tio Sam tambien trata de entregar al ejercito surcoreano los materiales belicos de reserva acumulados alli.
    Las recrudescentes maquinaciones de EE.UU. tendentes a desencadenar una guerra de agresion al Norte de Corea parten del objetivo de remediar la agravante crisis interna y externa, pero, es una ilusion vana.
    No deseamos la guerra, pero es firme la determinacion del ejercito y el pueblo de Corea de aniquilar de un solo golpe a los invasores que se atreven a invadir aunque sea un pedacito nuestro territorio, cielo y mar.
    El Tio Sam, para si mismo, debe justipreciar a su contraparte y poner de inmediato fin a su aventurera intencion de provocacion de guerra de agresion al Norte de Corea.
    Ahora vivimos la epoca de reunificacion del 15 de Junio en que todos los coreanos avanzamos hombro con hombro bajo la bandera de "entre nosotros, los connacionales". Pero, las autoridades militares del Sur de Corea contravienen a la tendencia de la epoca a la reconciliacion, la unidad y la reunificacion de la nacion, tomando el camino de confrontacion con sus coterraneos en adhesion al intento de EE.UU.　
    Ellas no deben cometer estupidez de lanzarse con pajas al fuego en adhesion a las maquinaciones norteamericanas de provocacion de guerra de agresion al Norte de Corea.

Minju Joson revela intencion de Japon de tomar hegemonia militar

    　Pyongyang, 24 de enero (ATCC) -- Japon decidio lanzar este ano dos satelites de reconocimiento para realizar la vigilancia concentrada sobre la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea con el sistema de 4 satelites incluyendo los dos ya lanzados y ubicar adicionalmente hasta avion de reconocimiento sin piloto de fabricacion norteamericana. 　Esto demuestra que Japon hace desesperados esfuerzos por neutralizar la capacidad autodefensiva de la RPDC e intensificar su capacidad de ataque preventivo contra esta.
    　Asi senala el rotativo Minju Joson en un comentario individual del dia 24 y prosigue:
    　Japon considera el desarrollo del sistema antimisiles como requisito imprescindible para proveer de la capacidad de ataque preventivo. Lo prueba el hecho de que recientemente el director general de la Agencia de Defensa del pais isleno dijo que la defensa del archipielago japones basta con dos buques Aegis cargados de "misiles antibalisticos Standard-3".
    　Lo que no se puede pasar por alto es que Japon trata de ampliar indefinidamente el radio de accion militar con el metodo de intensificar el sistema de cooperacion militar con EE.UU. so pretexto de la "amenaza de China".
    　El pais-isla se propone ofrecer a EE.UU. sus instalaciones militares incluyendo puertos y aeropuertos al reconocer como "situacion del contorno" hasta el supuesto conflicto en el Estrecho de Taiwan para no hablar de la Peninsula Coreana y desde ahora prepara la base juridica para este fin. 　Esto prueba que Japon trata de ocupar la posicion hegemonica sobre la region de Asia-Pacifico partiendo de la intencion de realizar la cooperacion militar con EE.UU. y, a la larga, de senorear en esta region.
    　Hay que detener y frustrar sin falta la politica de heguemonia militar de Japon para apoderarse de Asia.