Congratulations to President of Benin

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on March 25 sent a congratulatory message to Yayi Boni on the occasion of his election as president of Benin. The message expressed the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to develop favorably in the future, too, and wholeheartedly wished the president great success in his responsible work for the peace and prosperity of the country.

Rodong Sinmun on Idea of "By Our Nation Itself"

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- The idea of "By our nation itself" serves as the victorious banner of the patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and great national unity. No force on earth can block the advance of the Korean nation which is energetically conducting the three-point patriotic movement under the banner of "By our nation itself". Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in a signed article.
    It goes on:
    It is the steadfast will of the Korean nation to invariably hold fast to the idea of "By our nation itself".
    The idea correctly reflects the aspiration and interests of the Korean nation and the requirements of the times and clarifies the way for the Korean nation to hew out its destiny. That is why "By our nation itself" is the national idea of universal significance and attractiveness in the struggle for the reunification and prosperity of the country. "By our nation itself" is the idea of independent reunification leader Kim Jong Il expounded at the historic Pyongyang summit and specified in the June 15 joint declaration.
    The idea is evoking great support and sympathy of the whole Korean nation with an extraordinary attraction as it applies the idea of national independence to the settlement of the reunification issue.
    The idea requires the Korean nation to achieve the reunification of the country with its concerted efforts in conformity with its will and interests. The idea intensively reflects the desire and will of the Korean nation for independent reunification. The idea entirely conforms with the independent desire of the Korean nation, the national independent characters of the issue of national reunification and the requirements of the era of independent reunification.
    The idea serves as a powerful ideological and moral weapon which helps the Korean nation achieve the reunification of the country independently. The idea has rapidly enhanced the consciousness of independence on a nationwide scale and instilled the conviction of independent reunification into the hearts of all the fellow countrymen. The idea has opened a turning phase for the north and the south to cooperate with each other and advance along the road of reconciliation, cooperation and independent reunification.

Joint War Maneuvers for Preemptive Nuclear Strike under Fire

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists are staging RSOI and "Foal Eagle" large-scale joint military exercises in south Korea under the simulated conditions of an "emergency" on the Korean Peninsula despite the strong opposition of the public opinion in Korea and other parts of the world. In this regard Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed commentary observes: The on-going war exercises are aimed at threatening and pressurizing the DPRK by force of arms and bringing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. The U.S. is making poor excuses to veil the danger and gravity of this saber-rattling against the DPRK. These war exercises once again clearly indicate that the U.S. loud-mouthed "peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue" and "talks" are nothing but hypocrisy to deceive the public opinion at home and abroad and it is invariably pursuing confrontation and war.
    RSOI and "Foal Eagle" are a test nuclear war, a preliminary war against the DPRK in view of its scale, nature and contents. Nuclear-powered carrier "Abraham Lincoln" is involved in these war maneuvers for the first time. It was active in the military operations against Iraq. Its operation in the East Sea of Korea for the current war maneuvers discloses the real intention of the U.S. imperialists to ignite a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula at any cost.
    These war exercises are fraught with the increasing danger as they started right after the U.S. published the new "national security strategy report" in which it re-clarified the "strategy for preemptive attack" as a state policy.
    Now that the U.S. has revealed its clear objective to seize the DPRK, its dialogue partner, by force of arms at any cost, in violation of the spirit of the September 19 joint statement in which it committed itself to mutual respect and peaceful co-existence the army and people of the DPRK will strongly react to it with their own traditional mode of actions.
    The U.S. should know that a preemptive attack is not its monopoly.

Rodong Sinmun Calls for Displaying Spirit of Self-reliance

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Self-reliance is an eternal strategy for building a prosperous powerful nation, and it is a way of victory that makes it possible to fully demonstrate the honor and dignity of Songun Korea and the might of the Korean-style socialism. Rodong Sinmun stresses this in an editorial today.
    Noting that the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance serves as the lifeline for building a great prosperous powerful nation, the editorial says:
    As for the building of a great prosperous powerful nation, it is a drive to build a prosperous socialist country in this land by our army and people themselves and with the efforts, technology and resources of the DPRK.
    There can be no other best way than self-reliance for us in the present gigantic drive to bring about the heyday of overall socialist development. The ongoing general march for the Songun revolution is just a march of self-reliance.
    To highly display the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance is an important work to preserve and glorify the Korean people's traditions of heroic struggle forever. It is an important task laid down in the joint editorial for this year to bring about the heyday of overall development of Korean-style socialism by making a higher leap full of great ambition and confidence.
    We should effect a new surge in all fields of economic construction true to the intention and plan of the Workers' Party of Korea and, to this end, give fuller play to the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance.
    It is most important to have firm confidence in our might and our inexhaustible political, military and economic potentials which have been built up in the protracted and glorious course of the Korean revolution.
    All fields and units should strictly adhere to the principle of self-reliance based on modern science and technology.
    Economy means increased production, and it is self-reliance to maximize production and economy.
    The Party members and other working people should economize valuable resources, raw materials and funds of the nation as much as possible and make an effective use of them with a high degree of consciousness that they are masters of the country and performers of production, so as to produce and construct more. They should live and work in the same revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and strenuous efforts as was fully displayed in the period of the great surge of Chollima after the war.

Colorful Events Held Abroad

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- A round-table talk was held by the People's Rally for Socialism of Democratic Congo, a meeting by the Central Committee of the Poland-Korea Association and a lecture and a film show by the Indian Youth Group for the Study of Works of Comrade Kim Il Sung on Mar. 17 and 19 on the occasions of the Day of the Sun and the 13th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. General Secretary of the People's Rally for Socialism of Democratic Congo Jean Baptiste Nkoy at the round-table talk praised President Kim Il Sung as the outstanding thinker and politician who set an example of independent politics based on the immortal Juche idea and a peerlessly great man who attracted all the people with his extraordinary personality.
    He highly praised the Songun politics of Kim Jong Il, brilliant commander of Songun, who has developed the Korean People's Army into an invincible army strong in ideology and faith to defend socialism and pave the way for building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    Chairman of the Central Committee of the Poland-Korea Association Andrzej Kozlowski in a speech at a meeting noted in detail that Kim Il Sung is enjoying the absolute support and trust of all the Koreans and unbounded laudation from the world people for his immortal exploits for the Korean revolution and the cause of global independence.
    He spoke highly of the undying leadership exploits of Kim Jong Il who has wisely led the struggle of the Korean people to build a great prosperous powerful nation and reunify the country while frustrating the U.S. persistent moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK with his unique Songun politics.

Mother Factory of Machine-Tool Building Industry

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Huichon in Jagang Province is not a big city in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. But it has been famous for the mother factory of the machine- tool building industry in the country. Over the last 50-odd years since its foundation the Huichon Machine-Tool Factory has developed to be a leading machine-tool building base, making a positive contribution to modernizing the technical equipment of different sectors of the national economy. It, the mother factory of the county's engineering industry, has all machine-building processes including milling machine workshop and lathe-assembling workshop and manufactures latest machine-tools. Its history is associated with the leadership exploits of the peerlessly great men, President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. The President went to Huichon in March Juche 40 (1951) when the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950-July 1953) was at its height to choose the site of the factory and solve the problems arising in its construction.
    He visited the construction site again in February Juche 42 (1953) and indicated the orientation and ways of construction in detail and instructed officials that it should be built in a perspective way to suit the mother factory of the engineering industry after the victory in the war.
    Under his great care, the workers of the factory succeeded in making the first lathe by their own technology and efforts after the war. They, on the basis of the experience, turned out more than 10,000 machine tools of various kinds in a year in the early 1970s. Leader Kim Jong Il visited the factory in June Juche 87 (1998) and highly appreciated the workers there, saying that they, who were keenly aware of its mission, were firmly defending socialism. In October that year, he called at the factory again and saw highly efficient and quality machine tools made by them with great satisfaction. The workers of the factory are registering signal successes in production every day, bearing deep in mind the immortal feats performed by the great leaders in the development of the machine-building industry.

Time-honored Floor Heating System

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Hot-water and electricity have been widely introduced in ondol (floor heating system) of dwelling houses in cities and rural areas including Pyongyang, Kanggye City of Jagang Province and Taehongdan County of Ryanggang Province in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The heating systems provide the people with good living environment. They are an application of the scientific and technical development to the ondol housing custom. The Korean people have created and developed their peculiar ondol-heating system from the time when they settled down in this land.
    Ondol is suitable for the living custom of the Korean people. The ondol sites found out in ancient relics, house-sites belonging to the period of the kingdoms of Koguryo and Palhae and historical records of the Kingdom of Koryo prove that ancestors of the Korean nation had lived in ondol houses from the olden times. The custom was created in the time of Tangun Korea, the first state in Korea's history, and widely introduced in the time of three Kingdoms.
    Ondol, which heated one part of the floor at the first, had gradually developed into ones heating several parts in accordance with the climate conditions and requirements of life. And it heated the whole area of the floor in the period of Koryo. President Kim Il Sung, who treasured the inherent housing custom, instructed officials long ago that the floor heating system should be laid even in multi-storied apartments. Leader Kim Jong Il, who always pays deep attention to the issue of heating dwelling houses, has wisely led the introduction of hot-water and electric heating systems in city and rural dwelling houses.

Japan Government Urged to Extradite Those Wanted to DPRK

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of People's Security Monday answered a question raised by the KCNA as regards the issue of warrants for the arrest of those who were involved in the abduction of DPRK citizens. The spokesman said:
    Under the manipulation of U.S. and Japanese intelligence and plot-breeding bodies and right-wing conservative forces, anti-DPRK organizations and individuals abducted our citizens in broad daylight in the guise of a "non-governmental organization" under the pretext of "humanitarianism".
    We regard this as a grave infringement upon our national sovereignty and safety of citizens, part of the plot to overturn our system.
    Accordingly, the ministry issued warrants of arrest for members of a Japanese "non-governmental organization" such as Fumiaki Yamata, Hiroshi Kato, Takayuki Noguchi and Ri Yong Hwa as the first step according to the relevant articles of the DPRK criminal law and the criminal procedure law.
    They wire-pulled behind the scenes the operations of luring and abducting citizens of the DPRK including those who returned to their homeland from Japan and their children and Japanese women in the DPRK or were directly involved in them. The ministry will take necessary steps for this in the areas where the DPRK's sovereignty is exercised and where cooperation in this respect is possible, demanding through a diplomatic channel the Japanese government extradite the above-said criminals, the spokesman stressed.

KCNA Blasts U.S. Insidious Move for Supremacy in Asia-Pacific

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- The "trilateral security dialogue" of the United States, Japan and Australia took place in Sydney some days ago. The "dialogue", the first of its kind on the foreign minister-level, drew attention of the world public as it was an assembly of the U.S. and its allies.
    The choice of Sydney as the venue of the "dialogue" can be explained by the on-going scramble of big powers to hold supremacy in Asia-Pacific and the geographical and military strategic importance of Australia.
    In order to gain an unchallenged military edge in the region, the U.S. has pursued the strategy to contain China by laying a siege to it whereby to link the "triangular military alliance" of the U.S., Japan and south Korea, the "triangular relations" of the U.S., Japan and India and the "triangular alliance" of the U.S., Japan and Australia. As public opinions view, the "trilateral security dialogue" is a link in the chains of the strategy to contain China.
    The main thrust of the U.S.-sponsored "dialogue" was to define China as the biggest "threat " to its strategy for world supremacy as China's influence is daily growing in the international arena politically and economically and label it "an undesirable force" in a bid to lay a foundation for building a military alliance aimed at implementing its policy for containing China.
    Washington attempted to build a NATO type military bloc in the Asia-Pacific region and discussed the way of forming the "four-nation maritime alliance" by plugging even Britain into the "triangular alliance".
    No wonder, there is growing concern that the "dialogue" was nothing but a move to knock into shape an alliance of big powers in the region and if it is allowed, it will scuttle the process of ASEAN dialogue and endanger the regional peace and security. A "joint statement" demanding north Korea unconditionally and immediately return to the six-party talks was adopted at the "dialogue" and the U.S. attempted to establish a cooperation system against the DPRK with the "dialogue" as leverage. This compels the DPRK to heighten vigilance against them.
    This goes to prove that the above-said "dialogue" was a meeting to form the U.S.-led "tripartite security consultative mechanism" in the region and deter the DPRK and China.
    What should not be overlooked is the fact that Japan is busy with shuttle diplomacy to establish the "triangular framework", a new Cold War-type alliance the U.S. is keen to form in Asia-Pacific.
    Japan is deeply involved in the U.S. strategic moves to use the former as a lever for establishing its domination over the region and a shock force for invading East Asia. In the first few months of the year alone the U.S. advanced a series of "triangular framework" proposals including "trilateral dialogue and security cooperation framework" grouping the U.S., India and Japan.
    The fact that Japan is involved in the U.S. stepped-up "triangular military alliance," "triangular relations" and "triangular alliance" clearly indicates what phase its consciousness of toeing the U.S. line has reached.
    Lurking behind this behavior of Japan is a foolish attempt to emerge a military power with the U.S. backing at any cost and hold supremacy in Asia-Pacific. Japan used to cite "threat from north Korea" to justify its moves to turn itself into a military power.
    Nowadays it is raising a hue and cry over "threats from north Korea and from China" and vociferating about the need to bolster up its armed forces to cope with those threats. The above-said "threats" touted by Japan are nothing but a subterfuge to step up its moves to convert it into a military giant and hold supremacy in Asia and thus realize its old dream of " the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere". The above-said moves of Japan are nothing but reckless acts to strain the situation in Asia and spark off a fresh arms race.
    There is a military alliance between the U.S. and Japan and between the U.S. and Australia. Japan and Australia dispatched their troops to Iraq and are involved in the PSI.
    In case the "trilateral security dialogue" is put on a regular basis, there is no guarantee that it will not lead to the formation of a "triangular military alliance." It is as clear as noonday that this development will embolden Japan in its moves for continental aggression.
    Japan's ambition for hegemony is arousing high caution among the Asians.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il inspecciona la Unidad no. 3406 del EPC

    　Pyongyang, 27 de marzo (ATCC) -- El Comandante Supremo Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, inspecciono la Unidad no. 3406 del Ejercito Popular de Corea. Tras informarse del cumplimiento del deber de la unidad, paso revista a los materiales y equipos tecnicos de combate y presencio un entrenamiento de los militares. Se mostro muy contento de que al acondicionar bien las salas de leccion tecnica y de ejercicios y entrenar con asiduo, todos los oficiales y soldados llegaron a dominar perfectamente los equipos tecnicos de combate y adquirieron alta capacidad de mando y gran combatividad.
    Luego indico las tareas para fortalecer mas la combatividad de la unidad. Hoy dia, el ejercito y el pueblo de Corea se alzan como un furioso oleaje a la sagrada batalla antiyanqui con vehemente odio e incontenible animo de venganza hacia los agresores norteamericanos, asevero el y ratifico que en este mundo no hay nadie que pueda doblegar la fuerza de nuestra unidad monolitica inquebrantable con ningun tipo de armamentos.
    Valoro altamente el hecho de que aprendiendo con afan el espiritu y el estilo del cuidado de las armas que tuvieron los ex combatientes revolucionarios antijaponeses, los uniformados de la unidad mantienen como pupilas de sus ojos los materiales y equipos tecnicos de combate y cumplen satisfactoriamente sus deberes con una firme decision de salvaguardar a costa de la vida la felicidad del pueblo y el sistema socialista de nuestro pais centrado en las masas populares.
    Presto mucha atencion al trabajo y la vida de ellos recorriendo varios lugares como la sala de educacion, el dormitorio, el comedor, el bano, el deposito de alimentos subsidiarios, el descansadero al aire libre, etc.
    Es muy loable que al organizar hacendosamente la vida economica, en esta unidad fueron preparadas magnificas condiciones de vida para los soldados, califico y exigio a todos los comandantes prestar mayor atencion a la intendencia. Dejo como recuerdo a los uniformados de la unidad binoculos, ametralladora y fusil automatico y se fotografio junto a estos.
    Le acompanaron los generales de ejercito del EPC Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae y Pak Jae Gyong y el subjefe de departamento del CC del PTC Hwang Pyong So.

Rodong Sinmun denuncia ejercicios de ataque nuclear de EE.UU

    　Pyongyang, 27 de marzo (ATCC) -- Pese a la unanime oposicion de la opinion interna y externa, los imperialistas norteamericanos desarrollan en el suelo surcoreano el "ejercicio combinado de refuerzo en el tiempo de guerra" y el simulacro "Aguilucho" de gran envergadura suponiendo el "tiempo de emergencia" de la Peninsula Coreana. 　Su finalidad es para ejercer amenaza y chantaje militares sobre la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y llevar al borde de la guerra la situacion de la Peninsula Coreana.
    　Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual insertado en su edicion del dia 27 y prosigue:
    　Estados Unidos esgrime pretextos miserables para encubrir la gravedad y la peligrosidad de ambos ejercicios.
    　Los ejercicios en cuestion demuestran que la "solucion pacifica del problema nuclear" y las "conversaciones" de que habla el imperio son para enganar la opinion interna y externa y Estados Unidos persigue solo la confrontacion y la guerra. 　Por su envergadura, caracter y contenido los presentes simulacros son la guerra preliminar de prueba nuclear para atacar a la RPDC.
    　Los yanquis incorporan por primera vez en estos ejercicios militares el portaaviones de propulsion atomica "Abraham Lincoln" que antes habia tomado parte en la operacion militar contra Irak. Su aparicion en el mar Este de Corea para el simulacro militar da prueba fehaciente de que ellos tienen la invariable ambicion de desatar a toda costa la guerra nuclear en la Peninsula Coreana.
    　Los presentes simulacros revisten mas peligrosidad porque se desarrollan inmediatamente despues de publicado el "informe de estrategia para la seguridad estatal" en que EE.UU. fijo como su politica estatal la "estrategia de ataque preventivo". 　Puesto que se hizo evidente la intencion de EE.UU. de ocupar con las fuerzas a la RPDC, contraparte del dialogo, en detrimento del espiritu de la Declaracion Conjunta del 19 de septiembre que estipula el respeto mutuo y la coexistencia pacifica, el ejercito y el pueblo de Corea se le enfrentaran categoricamente con su tradicional modo de combate.
    　El imperio debe darse clara cuenta de que el ataque preventivo no es la posesion exclusiva de si mismo.

Rodong Sinmun critica la evasion de liquidacion del pasado por Japon

    　Pyongyang, 27 de marzo (ATCC) -- El diario Rodong Sinmun inserto en su edicion del dia 26 un articulo individual que senala en particular: Los reaccionarios japoneses eluden obstinadamente la liquidacion del pasado criminal con unos pretextos injustos, lo cual constituye una muestra coherente de sus maniobras de confrontacion con la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, que tienen su genesis en el punto de vista militarista.
    No existe ningun argumento que de razon a esa cinica artimana de los reaccionarios japoneses para eludir la responsabilidad por el respecto.
    Sin embargo, ellos vinculan absurdamente este asunto con el supuesto "problema del secuestro", que fue escandalizado para mellar la imagen de la RPDC y conseguir cierta concesion de esta en la solucion de los problemas pendientes entre ambos paises. La cruenta campana desatada contra la RPDC con el citado problema deviene una premeditada provocacion para entorpecer la solucion de la liquidacion del pasado criminal y llevar las relaciones bilaterales a la confrontacion.
    El establecimiento de las relaciones diplomaticas entre ambos paises no es materia de regateo politico ni perjudica los intereses de una parte para beneficiar a la otra. Por eso, la RPDC no piensa hacerlo obligando a Japon que no lo quiere. Los reaccionarios japoneses ponen como requisito de la normalizacion de relaciones bilaterales el "problema del secuestro", que ya resulta inutil para discutir. Esta postura no significa la voluntad de mejorar las relaciones con la RPDC sino un gesto de enemistarse hasta el final con esta y una malintencionada maniobra para fomentar la confrontacion y agravar la situacion.
    La RPDC no desea empeorar las relaciones con el pais-isla.
    Pero, se ve obligada a tomar una fuerte contramedida, ya que los japoneses la calumnian hostilmente e intensifican sus maniobras para agredirla de nuevo. La enloquecida campana de confrontacion con la RPDC es un acto suicida que arruinara al propio pais isleno.