DPRK Anniversaries to Be Observed in Thailand

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of the Thai preparatory committee for commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 was held in Bangkok on Jan. 24. The president of the Social Development Coordinating Center of Thailand was elected chairman of the preparatory committee at the ceremony. The preparatory committee set a commemoration period from February to April and decided to organize multifarious functions during the period.

Japan Urged to Settle Its Past Crimes

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- After occupying Korea, the Japanese imperialists set up the "government-general" in Seoul on February 1 one hundred years ago. In this regard, a spokesman for the DPRK Committee for Investigation into the Damage Done by the Japanese Imperialists during Their Occupation of Korea made public a statement on Jan. 31 and stressed that the whole Korean nation would never pardon Japan's past crimes against the Koreans but settle accounts at any cost.
    The statement said:
    On this disgraceful day all Koreans can hardly repress surging indignation at the crimes of the Japanese imperialists who enforced the most brutal colonial rule unprecedented in all ages and imposed immeasurable misfortunes and sufferings upon the Korean nation, occupying Korea for several decades.
    During the Japanese imperialists' 40-odd-year-long brutal colonial rule, more than a million of Koreans were cruelly massacred, at least 8.4 millions of Koreans were taken away to alien lands to be forced to do slavish work and 200,000 Korean women were reduced to sexual slaves for the Japanese army. The Japanese imperialists let the "government-general" cook up a lot of laws to punish or massacre innocent Koreans and plunder all the underground resources of Korea. The crimes of the Japanese imperialists, the long-time sworn enemy, can never be erased even after centuries. However, the Japanese reactionaries are beatifying their colonial history and sharpening a sword for reinvasion to realize their old dream of "greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere" again, availing themselves of the U.S. imperialists' policy of aggression on Korea, far from making an apology and compensation for the nefarious crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against the Korean nation.
    It can never be pardoned as it is a serious challenge to the Korean nation and public opinion at home and abroad.

S. Korean Government Employees' Union Joins in KCTU

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Government Employees' Union decided to join in the south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), according to the south Korean MBC on Jan. 27. The union in a statement noted that its joining in the KCTU is an expression of its will to launch a struggle for changing south Korean society together with the KCTU.
    The MBC said that it brought the KCTU to the first largest confederation of trade unions embracing at least 800,000 unionists.

S. Korean Moviemen Protest against Authorities' Measure

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Moviemen's Measure Committee of south Korea called an emergency press conference on Jan. 26 to protest against the government authorities' submission to the U.S. pressure on trade, according to the south Korean MBC. The organization denounced the authorities' measures for cutting down screen quarter of south Korean films under the U.S. pressure as an "anti-cultural coup" and urged the minister of Finance and Economy and others responsible for this to resign immediately.
    The organization made public its action program.

Russian Ambassador Hosts Reception

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov hosted a reception at the embassy on Tuesday evening in honor of members of the Korean Council of Religionists on the occasion of the New Year Juche 95 (2006). Invited to the reception were Ho Il Jin, chairman of the Korean Orthodox Church Committee, and members of the Korean Council of Religionists. Staff members of the Russian embassy were on hand.
    Speeches were made there.

Ugandan President Supports Kim Jong Il's Songun Politics

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni stressed that he invariably supports the Songun politics of leader Kim Jong Il defending the sovereignty and dignity of Korea. Korea's reunification should be realized by the Korean people themselves as specified by the June 15 joint declaration, he added. He met with the delegation of the Korean Democratic Women's Union headed by Chairperson of its Central Committee Pak Sun Hui on a visit to Uganda at the Presidential Palace on Jan. 27.
    Impressively recalling the fact that he visited Korea in the past and was received by President Kim Il Sung, the Ugandan president said that he would make positive efforts to boost the friendly relations between the two countries.

Full Play to Might of Single-minded Unity Called for

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today editorially calls for bringing about a greater leap forward in building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation with the might of single-minded unity, rallied close around the headquarters of the revolution. It further says:
    The Korean people should make this year a significant year of glorifying the history and tradition of the single-minded unity of the DPRK and powerfully demonstrating the faith and will of its servicepersons and people to successfully accomplish the cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation of Juche.
    The on-going general march of the Songun revolution is a continuation of the march based on the single-minded unity which started in the forest of Mt. Paektu. And it is a proud one for bringing about an unprecedentedly great surge in the building of a great prosperous powerful nation by carrying forward the sacred history and tradition of the Korean revolution which has won one victory after another with the might of unity.
    It is necessary to put spurs to the general march of Songun revolution once again by giving full play to the inexhaustible might of single-minded unity of the Party, the army and the people around the headquarters of the revolution, thereby letting Korean-style socialism fully display its advantages in political, military, economic, cultural and all other fields.
    Underscoring the need to give full play to the might of unity of the whole Party and army and all the people in thinking and purpose based on the Songun idea, the editorial notes that all the servicepersons and people should be encouraged to display their might as ranks devotedly defending and implementing the Songun idea and Songun revolutionary theory of leader Kim Jong Il on the road of revolution despite rain and snow.
    It calls on the whole Party and army and all the people to turn out as one to conduct a bold and all-out offensive with the might of the single-minded unity and thus bring about a new surge in building a great prosperous powerful nation.

Anti-U.S., Anti-Japanese Struggle Called for

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- All the Koreans will certainly give vent to their grudge pent-up for centuries through a nationwide anti-U.S., anti-Japanese struggle. Minju Joson today says this in a signed commentary in connection with the lapse of a century since the Japanese imperialists set up the "Residence-General in Korea". It goes on:
    The crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists, the sworn enemy of the Korean nation, since they enforced a heinous colonial rule over Korea can never be forgotten no matter how much water may flow under the bridge and the serious wounds inflicted by them upon the Koreans can never be healed. Japan must honestly apologize and compensate to them for the indelible crimes committed by it against them for more than 40 years of its occupation of Korea.
    It is none other than the U.S. that has encouraged behind the scene the Japanese reactionaries in their moves for reinvasion. The U.S. consented to and zealously backed the Japanese imperialists' aggression against Korea through the "Taft-Katsura Agreement" in the past. At the end of the Second World War the U.S. occupied south Korea by force of arms and has since enforced a colonial rule over it, helping Japan revive militarism and driving it as a shock force for realizing its ambition for world domination.
    All the Koreans in the north, the south and overseas who love the country and the nation should firmly unite and intensify the anti-U.S., anti-Japanese struggle.
    The south Koreans have an important role to play in that struggle. South Korea is now under the U.S. military occupation and the Japanese reactionaries have stretched out their tentacles of reinvasion to it. The south Koreans from all walks of life should, therefore, turn out as one in the anti-U.S., anti-Japanese struggle because they have suffered from the U.S. and Japanese aggressors more than any others.

Further Momentum to Cause of National Reunification Called for

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- It is of weighty significance that the joint New Year editorial called for making it a tradition to grandly commemorate June 15 when the historic north-south joint declaration was adopted as the "Day of by our nation itself." Rodong Sinmun Wednesday says this in a signed article. Noting that June 15 is a meaningful day as it is of landmark significance in accomplishing the cause of national reunification, the article goes on:
    To make it a tradition to grandly commemorate June 15 as the "Day of by our nation itself" offers an important occasion in increasing the might of the driving force of the nation in every way.
    All the Koreans from different walks of life in the north and the south and abroad are the driving force for national reunification which is directly responsible for the movement for national reunification. The cause of national reunification can meet the challenge of anti-reunification forces and make a victorious advance only when the driving force of the nation is strengthened and its role increased.
    For all the Koreans to jointly mark June 15 is also significant in injecting increased vitality into the movement for national reunification. When June 15 is marked as the "Day of by our nation itself" this will help the Koreans grasp the new great significance of this idea and participate in the movement for reunification as guided by it to fulfil their commitment as a master. Then the cause of national reunification will gain in dynamism. It is the unshakable faith and will of all the Koreans at home and abroad to achieve the historic cause of national reunification and prosperity through national concord and great unity as early as possible.
    The Koreans in the north and the south and abroad will achieve the cause of reunification as early as possible, guided by the idea of "By our nation itself".

Animated Cartoon Film Hall Popular with Schoolchildren

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- A lot of schoolchildren on winter vacation visit the hall of the Korean April 26 Cartoon Film Studio in Pyongyang everyday to watch animated cartoons. Now on the screen are several pieces of long cartoon films including "A Boy Defeats Robbers" and newly released animated films "Story on Traffic Order"(serial films), "Cho Tong and His Father", "Three Ant Brothers" and "Newly Acquainted Friend".
    The animated films give the versatile knowledge of things and phenomena to children and also lessons that they should be possessed of kind and beautiful moral characters from younger days in humorous way. They are very popular among children for their successful depiction suitable to their psychology. The hall annually shows more than 400 pieces of animated films including "The Hedgehog Beats the Tiger", "Prince of Hodong and Princess of Raknang" and "Blue Springwater" (three parts) and "A Squirrel and a Hedgehog", "The Clever Racoon Dog" and "The Tinkling of a Bell" which are under serial creation.

Preparations for Day of Sun and February 16 Brisk Abroad

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Brisk activities are being conducted abroad to commemorate April 15, the birthday of President Kim Il Sung, and to celebrate February 16, the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il, auspicious holidays. Following the formation of a Ugandan national preparatory committee for commemorating April 15 and celebrating February 16 on December 24 last year, similar committees have been organized one after another in Mongolia, India, Syria, Tajikistan, France, Denmark, Austria, Ecuador and many other countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
    A declaration adopted at the ceremony for forming the Nepalese preparatory committee stressed: It will be significant events to auspiciously celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong Il and pay the highest tribute to Kim Il Sung, who performed immortal exploits for the cause of humankind emancipation, on the occasion of his birthday, the Day of the Sun.
    It called upon the friends of all countries to mark the birthdays as the most auspicious international holidays.
    Renowned political and public figures of foreign countries were elected chairpersons of the preparatory committees. Among them are the deputy prime minister of Cambodia who is concurrently minister of the Royal Palace, the minister of state for the Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment of Uganda, the vice-president of the Senate of Nepal, the chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Bangladesh, the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Socialist Party of Romania and the deputy general secretary of the Socialist Unionist Party of Syria.
    The inaugural ceremonies set the celebration periods and worked out programs for colorful functions. They will adopt congratulatory messages and letters to Kim Jong Il, hold rallies, lectures, round-table talks, film shows, photo exhibitions and have mass media carried special write-ups.

DPRK-Japan Inter-governmental Talks to be Held

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The DPRK-Japan inter-governmental talks for the normalization of bilateral relations are to be held in Beijing from Feb. 4. The talks will discuss pending issues of mutual concern including issues related to Japan's settlement of its past, the security issue and the abduction issue.

Officials of DPRK Visit Polish Embassy to Offer Condolences

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and the Bureau of Diplomatic Corps Affairs today paid visits to the Polish embassy here to express condolences over the casualties caused by a tragic accident that took place in Katowice. The visitors made entries in the mourner's book.

Message of Sympathy to Polish President

     Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of sympathy to Polish President Lech Aleksander Kaczynski over the casualties caused by a tragic accident that took place in Katowice. In the message Kim expressed deep condolences to the president and, through him, to the victims and their bereaved families and hoped that the wounded would recover as quickly as possible.

For Spanish-speaking people

Tendran lugar conversaciones RPDC-Japon

    　Pyongyang, el primero de febrero (ATCC) -- Se efectuaran desde el 4 de febrero en Beijing las conversaciones intergubernamentales entre la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Japon para la normalizacion de las relaciones bilaterales. 　En ellas ambas partes trataran todos los problemas referentes a la liquidacion del pasado, la seguridad y otros pendientes de interes mutuo como el secuestro.

CIPOCIJ insiste en abolicion del pasado criminal de Japon

    　Pyongyang, el primero de febrero (ATCC) -- El portavoz del Comite de Investigacion de las Perdidas a causa de la Ocupacion de Corea por los Imperialistas Japoneses (CIPOCIJ) emitio el 31 de enero la siguiente declaracion: El primero de febrero del ano en curso es el centenario de la instalacion del "gobierno general" en Seul por los imperialistas japoneses. Este dia de ignominia nacional, todos los coreanos estan indignados al tope por los crimenes de los imperialistas japoneses quienes les afligieron indecibles desgracias y sufrimientos al practicar la mas brutal dominacion colonial, sin precedente en la historia, durante varios decenios de su ocupacion a Corea. Durante mas de 4 decenios de dominacion colonial, mas de un millon de coreanos fueron masacrados, mas de 8 millones y 400 mil, sometidos al trabajo de esclavitud en la tierra foranea y 200 mil coreanas, convertidas en esclavas sexuales del viejo ejercito japones.
    Nunca seran borrados de la memoria de los coreanos los crimenes de esos enemigos jurados (imperialistas japoneses) quienes emitieron a traves del "gobierno general" numerosos decretos para asesinar y ejecutar a los inocentes coreanos y saquear todos los recursos naturales subterraneos de Corea. Sin embargo, hoy dia, en lugar de disculparse e indemnizar esos crimenes cometidos en el pasado contra la nacion coreana, los reaccionarios japoneses elogian su historia de dominio colonial a Corea y se adhieren a la politica norteamericana de agresion a esta para llevar a la realidad su ambicion de agredirla de nuevo y de implantar la "esfera de co-prosperidad de gran Asia oriental".
    Es nunca perdonable tal procedimiento de Japon que resulta un grave reto a la nacion coreana y la opinion publica interna y externa. Toda la nacion coreana nunca dejara en el olvido el pasado criminal de Japon y ajustara la cuenta de ello sin falta.

Hay que aplacar rencor con la lucha antiyanqui y antijaponesa

    　Pyongyang, el primero de febrero (ATCC) -- El periodico Minju Joson inserto en su edicion del dia primero un comentario individual dedicado al centenario del establecimiento de la "gobierno general de Corea" por los imperialistas japoneses, en el cual senala que toda la nacion coreana debe aplacar el rencor anegado en sangre con la lucha nacional antiyanqui y antijaponesa. 　Seran imborrables para siempre los crimenes que cometieron los imperialistas japoneses al aplicar la cruel dominacion colonial de mas de 40 anos contra la nacion coreana. Por eso, Japon debe pedir disculpa sincera y hacer indemnizacion debida por el respecto.
    　Asi senala el comentario y continua:
    　Es precisamente EE.UU. el que instiga a los reaccionarios japoneses que afilan el cuchillo de nueva agresion. En el pasado aprobo y amparo activamente la agresion a Corea de los imperialistas japoneses a traves del "convenio Taft-Katsura". Despues de la Segunda Guerra Mundial ocupo con las fuerzas armadas el suelo surcoreano y aplico la dominacion colonial mientras resucito el militarismo japones para usarlo como brigada de choque a fin de realizar su ambicion de hegemonia mundial.
    　Todos los coreanos del Norte, el Sur y en ultramar que aman el pais y la nacion deben avivar, unidos firmemente, la llama de lucha antiyanqui y antijaponesa.
    　En esta empresa los surcoreanos ocupan una porcion importante. El suelo surcoreano lo ocupa Estados Unidos con las fuerzas armadas y los reaccionarios japoneses tambien extienden sus garras de nueva agresion a este. Los habitantes surcoreanos, danados mas que nadie por los invasores norteamericanos y japoneses, deben levantarse con audacia en la lucha antiyanqui y antijaponesa.