April Holidays of DPRK Observed

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Korean book, photo and handicraft exhibitions opened in Russia, Mexico and Ecuador and meetings to remember President Kim Il Sung, seminars, round-table talks, film shows and photo exhibitions took place in Egypt and the Czech Republic between Apr. 1 and 6 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun and the 13th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK. On display in the venues of the exhibitions were works of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and photos dealing with their immortal feats, and books, photos and handicrafts introducing the struggle and national wisdom and skills of the Korean people advancing under the uplifted banner of Songun.
    The attendants of the film shows watched Korean films "Fatherly Leader among Officials", "Kim Il Sung Prize Laureate Grand Gymnastic and Artistic Performance 'Arirang'", etc.
    Hasanul Huq Inu, chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Bangladesh National Socialist Party, in a statement issued on Apr. 10 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun said that the party would support the Korean people in their just cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation and achieving the reunification of Korea to the last.

Protest Letter to Japanese Prime Minister

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- The Swiss Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea sent a letter of protest to the Japanese prime minister on April 5 to denounce the Japanese reactionaries for cracking down on the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). The letter recalled that at the instruction of the security department of the Tokyo Police Agency, the Osaka Prefectural riot police searched six places including the office of the Osaka Prefectural Association of Korean Workers in Commerce in Japan, shops owned by Koreans in Japan and their houses in March and the Japanese authorities have been engaged in a smear campaign against Chongryon over the "abduction issue" already settled. It strongly protested against such actions.
    The letter went on:
    The bestial suppression of Chongryon by the Japanese authorities and police is undisguised fascist terrorism against all the Koreans in Japan and a continuation of the blood-stained history of the Japanese imperialists and militarists in which they suppressed and discriminated against the Koreans.
    This is, at the same time, an act of aggression against the DPRK whose citizens are protected by Chongryon.
    The fascist suppression of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan is an undisguised perfidy to the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration in which the two countries promised to normalize their relations and the assurances made by the Japanese prime minister that Japan would be friendly toward Chongryon and Koreans in Japan so that they may not be exposed to any discrimination.
    The Japanese government repeated such promise at the talks for the normalization of the bilateral relations in February this year.
    We demand the Japanese government stop at once all the discriminative and terrorist acts against Chongryon and Koreans in Japan and honor what it promised to fulfill in the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
    We express full solidarity with Chongryon and Koreans in Japan.

Japan Urged to Make Official Apology for Drafting "Comfort Women"

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- A member of the House of Representatives from the Democratic Party of the United States of America demanded the Japanese government hold itself accountable for the issue of "comfort women" for the Japanese Imperial Army and make an official apology for it, according to the south Korean Internet radio Voice of People on Apr. 7. He said the drafting of "comfort women" for the Japanese Imperial Army committed by the Japanese government in the past was the worst human trafficking in the 20th century and this issue remains a human rights problem at present. The Japanese government, he said, gave an underrated and distorted description of the issue in textbooks, failing to unveil the whole picture of such a war crime, and, as if this is not enough, went the lengths of crossing out the word "comfort women" itself last year, he noted, adding: The Japanese government must hold itself wholly answerable for the issue and bring the younger generation home to it being an anti-human rights crime.
    Japan should declare that it will never let such crime be committed again and fulfill the demand of the United Nations and the international community related to it, he urged.
    The radio said he laid a resolution to this effect before the U.S. congress on Apr. 6.

Public Presentation of Kim Il Sung's Greatness Held

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- A public presentation of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces on the greatness of President Kim Il Sung took place at the April 25 House of Culture on Wednesday on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Present there were Jo Myong Rok, director of the General Political Department of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yong Chun, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, leading officials of the ministry and servicepersons.
    Jo Myong Rok said that Kim Il Sung, regarding it as his maxim to believe in the people as in Heaven, put the position and dignity of the popular masses on the highest level for the first time in history and devoted himself to the work to realize the people's ideal and bring them happiness, always mixing with them all his life.
    Kim Yong Chun said that the army and people of the DPRK has firmly defended the gains of revolution while winning victory after victory in the confrontation with the United States because Kim Il Sung provided the capability for self-defence with his outstanding Songun revolutionary leadership.
    KPA Generals Pak Jae Gyong and Kim Jong Gak made speeches titled "Respected Comrade Kim Il Sung is the great leader who led our revolution to victory under the banner of Juche" and "Respected leader Comrade Kim Il Sung is the sun of humankind always alive in the hearts of all people".
    They said that Kim Il Sung, considering independence as the life and soul in the whole historic course of leading the Korean revolution, shaped the line and all policies our own way and advanced the revolution and construction by relying on the strength of the people.
    They praised him as the world political elder who founded the immortal Juche idea indicating the most correct way of hewing out the destiny of the popular masses and made undying contributions to accomplishing the human cause of independence. They called upon all the servicepersons of the KPA to eternally hold him in high esteem as the sun of Juche, accelerate the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and wage a dynamic struggle for the national reunification and final victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche, tightly holding arms of revolution under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il.

National Student Basketball Games Held

    Phyongsong, April 12 (KCNA) -- National student basketball games commemorating the Day of the Sun took place in Phyongsong from Apr. 4 to 11. Competing in the games were men and women cagers of 20 odd teams which had proved successful in the preliminaries in the university and college groups. In the games among university teams the men's team of Kim Hyong Jik University of Education and the women's team of Hamhung Teacher Training University No. 2 finished the winners. In the games among college teams the men's team of Hamhung Statistics College and the women's team of Sinuiju Financial Economy College emerged supreme. The teams and players that shared honors in the games were awarded citations, medals and prizes.

Vowing Meetings of Workers and Peasants Held

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Workers, union members and agricultural workers held vowing meetings respectively before the statues of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill of Pyongyang and in Chongsan-ri, Kangso County, South Phyongan Province on Apr. 12 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. The reporter and speakers at a vowing meeting of workers and union members called for launching an overall powerful offensive for a new leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation to contribute to strengthening national defence power as required by the economic construction line of the Workers' Party of Korea in the Songun era and bringing about a new revolutionary improvement at all working sites.
    They called for holding the President in high esteem for all ages and dynamically striving to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, brilliant commander of Songun of Mt. Paektu.
    Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the C.C., the WPK, was present at the meeting. The participants in the vowing meeting of agricultural workers firmly made an oath to bring about an epochal turn in agricultural production true to the behests of the President at the call of Kang Chang Uk, chairman of the C.C., the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea.
    They called upon all agricultural workers to give full play to the revolutionary soldier spirit in implementing the party policy of agricultural revolution true to the behests of the President that "Rice precisely means socialism", speed up the land realignment and waterway projects and do farming well this year to carry through the intention and resolution of the Party to settle the food problem sufficiently.

Reception Given by Cuban Ambassador

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Ruben Perez Valdes, Cuban ambassador to the DPRK, gave a reception on Wednesday on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Present on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Ro Tu Chol, vice-premier of the Cabinet, and other officials concerned. On hand were staff members of the Cuban embassy. The ambassador said that President Kim Il Sung is the great man who devoted his all to carrying out the Korean revolution and the cause of global independence and developing the friendly relations between Cuba and the DPRK. The Cuban people are boundlessly revering him, the ambassador noted.
    The Cuba-DPRK relations have a long historic root, he said, stating that the friendly relations provided by Fidel Castro Ruz and Kim Il Sung are steadily developing day by day under the deep concern of the top leaders of the two countries. He stressed that the Cuban people will make every possible effort to boost the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries as bequeathed by Kim Il Sung. Yang Hyong Sop, speaking next, said that the Cuban friends' joining the Korean people in commemorating the significant Day of the Sun is an expression of deep reverence of the Cuban party, government and people for Kim Il Sung.
    In the period when the moves of the U.S. imperialists to stifle Cuba were utterly unscrupulous, Kim Il Sung took positive steps to defend the Cuban revolution and helped the Cuban people both materially and morally in their socialist construction, he noted.
    The revolutionary cause of Juche started by Kim Il Sung is being successfully carried forward and accomplished by leader Kim Jong Il, he said, stressing that they would actively strive to consolidate and develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Cuba.

U.S. Preparations for Preemptive Nuclear Attack upon DPRK under Fire

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- The Bush hard-line conservative forces have become frantic in their moves to push forward the establishment of the missile defence system (MD) and the modernization of nuclear weapons under the signboard of "security" and "defense". In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says that this poses a big threat to the global peace and security and touches off uneasiness among people. The commentary goes on:
    As the world public rightly put it, the U.S. bellicose forces' hue and cry over the "military threat" from someone is no more than a poor excuse. The "defense" of the U.S. mainland much touted by them is, in essence, nothing but a theory of aggression which calls for bringing down the anti-imperialist independent countries and putting the world under their control. The Bush administration's listing of the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil", a target of its preemptive nuclear attack is little short of a declaration of a war to mount a preemptive nuclear attack upon the DPRK. The Bush forces' frantic pursuance of their hostile policy toward the DPRK would only compel it to further bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence. It is the Korean people's way of counter-action to respond to dialogue with dialogue and war with war. The DPRK's possession of nuclear weapons is for self-defence from A to Z and serves as a powerful shield to defend peace. The U.S. should not misuse the DPRK's measure to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence as a lever for achieving its aggressive purpose.
    The U.S. is free to let loose all sorts of vituperation against the DPRK in a bid to achieve its sinister political and military purpose. This, however, will get it nowhere. The U.S. would be well advised to ponder over the consequences to be entailed by its evermore undisguised policy of aggression and behave with discretion.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Swiss Organization

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the SGS of Switzerland. George Bottomley, head of the SGS delegation on a visit to the DPRK, conveyed it to an official concerned on April 12.

Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Work Marked

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates an article to the 32nd anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "Let Us More Thoroughly Establish the Monolithic Ideological System in the Whole Party and Society." Kim Jong Il in the work published on April 14, Juche 63 (1974) comprehensively deals with the principled issues in more thoroughly establishing the monolithic ideological system of the Party to meet the requirements for modeling the whole society on the Juche idea.
    Recalling that he has energetically led the drive to cement as firm as a rock the single-minded unity of the whole Party and society around President Kim Il Sung, guided by his revolutionary idea, the article goes on:
    The work to establish the monolithic ideological system of the Party has gained in depth and the tradition of unity established in Mt. Paektu has been successfully carried forward under the leadership of Kim Jong Il. As a result, all the servicepersons and people of the DPRK are single-mindedly united around the Party and the leader in thinking and purpose and on the basis of comradeship, guided by the revolutionary idea of the President, and sharing the destiny with them.
    It is the undying feat performed by Kim Jong Il that he consolidated the Party's organizational and ideological foundation for succeeding to the cause of the President, foreseeing the future of the Korean revolution and the cause of independence with his extraordinary ideological and theoretical wisdom and far-sightedness. The last one decade occupies a special place in Kim Jong Il's history of revolutionary activities for carrying forward and accomplishing the revolutionary cause of the President.
    Kim Jong Il led the "Arduous March," the forced march to victory with his unique Songun revolutionary line, the Songun political mode, defending the lifeline of the cause of Juche and glorifying the ever-victorious history of the Korean revolution generation after generation. This immortal history of Songun revolution will shine forever. The immortal feats Kim Jong Il has performed in the struggle to accomplish the revolutionary cause of the President lie in that he has steadily developed and enriched the President's revolutionary idea, the Juche idea as required by the developing revolution.
    Kim Jong Il has provided wise guidance over the work to successfully accomplish the revolutionary cause of the President. He has judiciously steered the work to consolidate the single-minded unity of the revolutionary ranks based on the revolutionary idea of the President and the drive to implement his behests to the letter, laying a firm foundation for the building of a great prosperous powerful nation. Our army and people will surely accomplish the revolutionary cause of the President, holding aloft the banner of Songun under the revolutionary steermanship of Kim Jong Il.

Performances of ASFAF Successfully Go on

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Performances of the 24th April Spring Friendship Art Festival (ASFAF) are going on at different theatres here, drawing capacity audiences. Put on the stages were colorful numbers spiced with rich national flavor, diverse in contents and peculiar in style.
    Artistes of the Moscow State Academy Symphony Orchestra of Russia internationally recognized as a prestigious art troupe made up of famous artistes including people's artistes and merited artistes successfully presented the fourth movement "Glory to General Kim Jong Il" of the symphony suite "Long Journey for Songun Leadership." A baritone of the Kazakhstan famous artistes' troupe who is international concours winner impressively sang the Korean song "Red Snow Falls from the Sky above the City of Iron" with his rich voice.
    A tenor of the Vietnamese artistes' troupe who is international concours winner presented the Korean song "Soldiers Live Near the General" successfully representing the KPA servicepersons' high honor and pride of holding Kim Jong Il as its supreme commander, deeply impressing the audience.
    The Polish troupe of famous artistes consisting of international concours winners put on the stage a male solo "Dreadful Yard" and a female solo "Picture without You". Dancers of the Kiev Dancing Theatre of Ukraine, which participated in the ASFAF several times and received group prize, gold prize and silver prize, staged colorful numbers.
    The Chinese instrumentalists, who successfully performed traditional music pieces, pleasing leader Kim Jong Il during his visit to China in January, presented them again this time to be highly acclaimed by the audience for their refined and delicate rendition and high artistry.
    The fourth movement "We Pledge" of the symphony "Leader Will Be Always with Us" conducted by Ri Jun Mu, head of the troupe of Korean artistes in the U.S. impressively represented the iron-will of the Korean people to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche started by President Kim Il Sung.
    Choe Kyong Ho, popular singer of the troupe of Korean artistes in China, presented a song "Reverence for General" in which he truthfully represented unbounded veneration and ardent desire of the progressive people in our times who highly praise and follow Kim Jong Il as a great man born of Heaven and an ever-victorious Songun brilliant commander.
    Performances continue amid the strong longing and reverence for the President.

Floral Baskets Laid before Statue of Kim Il Sung

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- The economic and commercial councilors corps and officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here laid floral baskets before the statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill on April 13 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. And they made a bow to him in humble reverence.

Kim Yong Nam Meets Russian Guests

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a conversation with a delegation of the Russian International Charity Fund "Protectors of Arts for the Century" headed by its President Oleg Oleinik at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Kim Jin Song, minister of Culture, Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and others and Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK. The head of the delegation extended thanks to leader Kim Jong Il for having made a great contribution to the development of cultural exchange between Russia and the DPRK, noting that he has been deeply respected by the people of the world.

Pyongyang in Festive Mood

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang is decked in festive attire to meet the Day of the Sun, the birthday of President Kim Il Sung (April 15). The Korean people, with a reverence for him, are commemorating the Day of the Sun as a greatest holiday of the nation.
    Fluttering on flag poles in streets, residential quarters and working sites are flags of the Workers' Party of Korea, the DPRK and the April Spring Friendship Art Festival. And posters, streamers and decorations commemorating the holiday have been set up in different parts of the city, making the festive attire more jubilant. Servicepersons, working people of all strata, school youth and children are visiting the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where the President lies in state, Mangyongdae, the cradle of revolution, and revolutionary sites associated with his immortal revolutionary exploits.
    Colorful functions including meetings to remember the President, seminars, exhibitions, lecture meetings and artistic performances are organized in praise of his greatness.
    The 24th April Spring Friendship Art Festival was opened on Monday. A lot of famous art troupes and artistes from foreign countries and regions across the world give performances high in ideological content and artistic value, adding lustre to the holiday.
    The 8th Kimilsungia Festival is going on before full houses on the occasion of the jubilee.
    The 19th International Marathon Race for Mangyongdae Cup took place amid a great interest of people on April 9.
    The fun fairs in different places of the city which started their operation on this occasion are crowded with working people, school youth and children. Various kinds of flower plants are opening flowers, converting Pyongyang into a flower garden as if they reflect the desire of the people to attend the President among flowers.

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra Gives Successful Performances

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Many world-famous art troupes are participating in the 24th April Spring Friendship Art Festival which is going on in Pyongyang before full houses on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Among them is the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, which gives performances at the People's Palace of Culture. It puts on stage the various programs including "Concert for Orchestra" composed by Bartok. It well depicts the concert which demands high playing technique and well-arranged ensemble.
    It also performs the "Glory to the General," the fourth movement of the Korean symphonic suite "Long Trip for Army-based Leadership", which it has specially prepared, to delight the audience commemorating the Day of the Sun. The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, which was formed during the Second World War, is made up with competent conductors and players with high level of playing technique.
    Head and Chief Conductor of the orchestra Pavel Kogan is the People's Artiste of the Russian Federation, winner of the National Prize of the Russian Federation, international concours winner and a full member of the Russian Academy of Arts. The orchestra has participated in the world art festivals on behalf of Russia and made its performances in more than 70 countries including Germany, France and Switzerland, earning fame.

Title of Generalissimo Shining with Army Leadership Exploits

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- President Kim Il Sung was awarded the title of generalissimo on April 13, Juche 81 (1992). The title is associated with the immortal exploits performed by the President who wrought military miracles in the 20th century.
    He, who embarked on the road of revolution in his early years, founded the first revolutionary armed forces in Korea with the two pistols handed down by his father as wherewithal and declared a war against the one million-strong troops of the Japanese imperialists.
    He fought the anti-Japanese war in the many-folded difficult conditions beyond imagination without any stable rear and modern military hardware. He, however, defeated the Japanese imperialists with protean and superb war tactics such as the "Art of Shrinking the Earth" and the "march tactic one thousand miles at a run" to bring the joy of liberation to the Korean people.
    The U.S. imperialists started the three year-long Korean war to overthrow the young Democratic People's Republic of Korea in its cradle by mobilizing troops of its 15 satellite countries. He also defeated the enemies which were superior in numerical strength and military technique with his extraordinary military strategy and unique war tactics unheard-of in the world history of wars and won the great victory in the Fatherland Liberation War.
    The President had strengthened the Korean People's Army as an invincible revolutionary army to beat back any formidable enemy at one stroke and consistently increased the defence capacity of the country to convert the whole country into an impregnable fortress. He thus frustrated the persistent new war provocation moves of the U.S. imperialists and reliably defended the security of the country and the people. It was a long-cherished desire of the Korean people to award the title of generalissimo to the President who led the two revolutionary wars to victory in one generation to promote the prestige and glory of the DPRK and laid a solid foundation to firmly guarantee the revolutionary cause of Juche with arms.

Russian Delegation Arrives

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Russian Youth Association for the Study of the Songun Policy led by its Chairman Mikhail Panchenko arrived here today.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Mongolian Delegation

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the Mongolian delegation for commemorating the Day of the Sun on a visit to the DPRK. The gift was handed to an official concerned by B. Baigalmaa, executive chairman of the Mongolia-Korea Friendship Society who is leading the delegation.

KPA Servicepersons' Solemn Oath-Taking Ceremony Held

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- A solemn ceremony of servicepersons of the three services of the Korean People's Army took place at the square of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on April 13 to pay high tribute to President Kim Il Sung and vow loyalty to Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. All the participants respectfully made a salute towards the portrait of the President. KPA Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok, director of the General Political Department of the KPA, said in a speech that all the servicepersons of the three services of the KPA pay highest tribute and offer eternal glory to the President on the significant occasion of the Day of the Sun.
    He noted that they would always uphold and follow with loyalty Kim Jong Il who is the great defender of the country and the nation and serves as a banner of all victories and glory and devotedly defend the headquarters of the revolution led by him just as the O Jung Hup-led 7th Regiment did.
    The KPA will firmly equip itself with a Juche-oriented view on war and round off the preparations to go into action as required by the situation of the revolution where the U.S. imperialists have become evermore undisguised in their moves to stifle the DPRK so as to implement the last instructions of the President for national reunification without fail, he noted.
    All the participants made a firm pledge to fully ensure the victory in the revolutionary cause of Juche with the invincible military force under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il, firmly convinced that they would always emerge victorious as long as they are led by him.
    They loudly shouted revolutionary and militant slogans including "Kim Jong Il" and "devoted defence" and sang in chorus song "We Will Defend the Headquarters of the Revolution with Our Lives".
    Then followed a march past of the servicepersons.
    Among those present there were KPA Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun, chief of the KPA General Staff, KPA Marshal Ri Ul Sol, KPA Vice Marshals Kim Ik Hyon, Ri Jong San, Pak Ki So, Kim Ryong Yon and Ri Ha Il and leading officials the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces.

Remains of More Martyrs Buried

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Remains of more martyrs who performed feats in the sacred struggle for the prosperity and development of the country and the victory of the socialist cause were buried in the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery. Among them were former General Officers of the Korean People's Army Choe Hyong Gwan, Ri Tong Ho and Ri Se Hwan, former Secretary General of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yun Hyok, former Vice Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Mun Myong On and former KPA officer Hyon Ju Yong.
    They also included Candidate Academician and Professor Jong Ryol Mo who was an anti-Japanese patriotic martyr and researcher at the Academy of Social Sciences, former Presidium Member of the C.C., the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland Jong Tu Hwan, former Councilor of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party Song Se Chang, Academician, Professor and Doctor Kim Si Jung, former Advisory Teacher at Kim Il Sung Higher Party School, People's Artiste Choe Chang Un, former advisor to the KPA Song and Dance Ensemble, and People's Artist Ho Kum Jong, former composer at the Mansudae Art Troupe.
    Burial ceremonies were held on Apr. 12 and 13.
    Present there were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., the WPK, Song Yong Su, deputy director of the History Institute of the C.C., the WPK, officials concerned and bereaved families.
    The attendants laid wreaths and bouquets before the graves of the martyrs before observing a moment's silence in memory of them.

Kim Il Sung Awarded Order "Gold Star of Protector of Arts"

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- President Kim Il Sung was awarded order "Gold Star of Protector of Arts", the highest commendation of the Russian International Charity Fund "Protectors of Arts for the Century." A ceremony of conveying the order took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Kim Jin Song, minister of Culture, Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and others.
    On hand were members of the visiting delegation of the fund headed by its President Oleg Oleinik and Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK. Yuri Kovelenov, chairman of the Experts Council of the fund, in his speech said that the world people respect Kim Il Sung as the most prominent statesman as he made a great contribution to the accomplishment of progressive mankind's cause of independence.
    Speaking next, its President Oleg Oleinik said that they had the honor of conveying the jeweled order "Gold Star of Protector of Arts" conferred upon Kim Il Sung, the great leader and eternal President of the DPRK, on behalf of the Steering Council of the fund, adding that this is in high recognition of the undying exploits performed by Kim Il Sung. The order and its certificate, "Gold Knife of Protector of Arts" and "Good-Natured Angel", a statuette symbolic of protectors of arts of the century were conveyed to Kim Yong Nam at the ceremony.

Kimilsungia Festival Opens

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- The 8th Kimilsungia Festival was opened here in a grand style. On display in the venue of the festival are lots of potted Kimilsungias, the flower of the sun, cultivated by military organs, the commissions and ministries of the Cabinet, national institutions, Pyongyang Municipality, servicepersons, working people, school youth and children, foreign embassies here, friendship organizations, public organizations and individuals of foreign countries, overseas Koreans and Chinese residents in the DPRK.
    An opening ceremony took place at the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Exhibition on Thursday.
    Present there were Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop and Kwak Pom Gi, members of the Cabinet, leading officials of the ministries, national institutions and working people's organizations, officials concerned, servicepersons, working people and school youth and children.
    Also present there were the Indonesian cultural delegation, the delegation of Koreans in Japan and other delegations of overseas Koreans, the delegation of the Japanese Society for Loving Kimjongilia, foreign and regional delegations and delegates of the Society for Supporting the Propagation of the Immortal Flower and staff members of the Indonesian embassy here.
    Kang Nung Su, chairman of the Korean Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Committee, in an opening address said that the current festival is of greater significance as it is open on the occasion of the first anniversary of "Kimilsungia Is an Immortal Flower Blooming in the Hearts of Humankind in the Era of Independence", a famous work of leader Kim Jong Il possessed of the noblest sense of moral obligation towards President Kim Il Sung.
    He said that the army and people of the DPRK would make the festival a festival of flowers praising the President boundlessly revered by all people as a great man, a grand political festival which will demonstrate the spirit of all the servicepersons and people dynamically advancing to reach a high eminence of a great prosperous powerful nation under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    He stressed the need to boost the exchange and cooperation in cultivating and propagating Kimilsungia and thus bring the flower of the sun into fuller bloom in Korea and various other countries.
    Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia Sri Hastanto who is heading the Indonesian cultural delegation made a congratulatory speech. He said that the event in which President Sukarno named a newly bred flower Kimilsungia and presented it to President Kim Il Sung as a gift during his visit to Indonesia is always remembered by the peoples of the two countries. He expressed the conviction that the bilateral friendly relations would grow stronger in the future.
    At the end of the opening ceremony its participants went round the festival.

Kim Jong Il Inspects KPA Navy Unit

    Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, inspected Unit 406 of the KPA Navy. Conducted by the commander of the unit, he went round the monument to the on-the-spot guidance of President Kim Il Sung, the room for the education in the revolutionary history and the room dedicated to the history of the unit. Thanks to the wise leadership and meticulous care of Kim Il Sung who exerted all efforts for the founding of the naval force and worked heart and soul for its strengthening and development till the last moments of his life, the navy of the DPRK has grown to be a matchless force, he said, noting that the undying revolutionary feats performed by Kim Il Sung in the Juche-based navy building will shine long in the annals of the country.
    After acquainting himself with the unit's performance of duty, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that its servicepersons have turned their naval port into an impregnable fortress to beat back any surprise invasion of the U.S. imperialist aggressors in time and prepared themselves to be navy men who cherish the spirit of devotedly defending the leader, the spirit of becoming human bullets and bombs and the self-blasting spirit as their unshakable faith.
    Then he took deep care of the living of the seamen, going round the entertainment and educational and supply service facilities of the unit.
    No details escaped him, ranging from beds for seamen to processing, storing and taking care of non-staple food and their tastes. He appreciated the efforts made by the commanding officers of the unit, pleased to learn that they have provided the servicepersons with good living conditions, bearing in mind the teaching of the President that supply service precisely means a political work. Calling for paying special attention to the living of the seamen as they live in a rough sea in all seasons, he stressed the need for all the commanding officers to show warm love for the soldiers and take care of them as their real parents would do so that they may not feel any slightest inconvenience in their living.
    He enjoyed an art performance given by seamen.
    He had a picture taken with them.
    He also inspected a sub-unit of the unit.
    He acquainted himself with its servicepersons' performance of duty before watching them in training.
    He underscored the need for the servicepersons to put the training on a scientific and fruitful basis, saying that only when they undergo an effective combat training can they acquire peculiar and superb tactics, high marksmanship and specialized military technique.
    Then he went round an education room, a bedroom, a mess hall, a wash-cum-bath house, a barber's, a daily provision store and various other places of the sub-unit. He gave its servicepersons a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as gifts and had a photo session with them.
    He was accompanied by KPA Generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong and Vice Department Director of the Central Committee of the WPK Hwang Pyong So.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rodong Sinmun denuncia maniobras de ataque preventivo de EE.UU.

    Pyongyang, 13 de abril (ATCC) -- Las fuerzas conservadoras intransigentes de Bush impulsan el establecimiento del sistema antimisiles y la modernizacion de las armas nucleares so pretexto de la "seguridad" y la "defensa", lo cual constituye una gran amenaza a la paz y la seguridad del mundo y causa preocupacion de los pueblos. Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 13 y continua:
    Como califica justamente el mundo, la "amenaza militar" de alguien, de que hablan los maniacos yanquis de guerra, no pasa de ser un absurdo pretexto. La "defensa" del territorio norteamericano a que se refieren ellos es, en su esencia, la teoria de agresion para eliminar a los paises independientes antiimperialistas y tomar una hegemonia militar en el globo terraqueo.
    La administracion Bush definio a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea como "eje del mal" y blanco de primer ataque nuclear. Esto constituye precisamente la declaracion de guerra para darle el ataque preventivo nuclear. Si el poder de Bush se recurre como ahora a la politica hostil a la RPDC, esta se vera obligada a tomar el camino para fortalecer mas la fuerza de detencion nuclear autodefensiva. Responder con el dialogo al dialogo y con la guerra a la guerra es el modo de enfrentamiento del pueblo coreano.
    La posesion de las armas nucleares de Corea es para la autodefensa y un potente escudo para preservar la paz. EE.UU. no debe aprovechar tales medidas de autodefensa como palanca para lograr su objeto agresivo.
    El imperio acusa a la RPDC a fin de alcanzar su malsano objeto politico y militar, pero, no lo realizara jamas.
    EE.UU. debe reflexionar de las consecuencias que emanen del fortalecimiento de la politica de agresion contra la RPDC y actuar con prudencia.

Embajador cubano ofrece una recepcion por el Dia del Sol

   　Pyongyang, 13 de abril (ATCC) -- El embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica de Cuba en Corea, Ruben Perez Valdes, ofrecio el dia 12 una recepcion en ocasion del Dia del Sol (15 de abril, cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung). Fueron invitados Yang Hyong Sop, vicepresidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema, Ro Tu Chol, vicepremier del Consejo de Ministros, y otros funcionarios coreanos.
    Tambien estuvieron presentes los miembros de la sede diplomatica cubana. Al hacer uso de la palabra, el embajador cubano dijo que el Presidente Kim Il Sung es el gran hombre quien dedico todo lo suyo en aras de la Revolucion Coreana, el cumplimiento de la causa de la independencia del mundo y el desarrollo de las relaciones de amistad entre Cuba y Corea y anadio que es respetado infinitamente por el pueblo cubano.
    Prosiguio que las relaciones bilaterales tienen raices historicas y destaco que hoy dia, los vinculos de amistad preparados por el companero Fidel Castro Ruz y el Presidente Kim Il Sung se fortalecen y se desarrollan cada dia mas bajo la profunda atencion de los maximos dirigentes de los dos paises.
    Subrayo que el pueblo cubano hara ingentes esfuerzos por ensanchar las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los dos paises de acuerdo con el legado del Presidente Kim Il Sung.
    Le siguio en intervenir Yang Hyong Sop quien senalo que los amigos cubanos conmemoran con el pueblo coreano el muy significativo Dia del Sol, lo cual constituye un testimonio de la alta consideracion del partido y el gobierno de Cuba hacia el Presidente Kim Il Sung.
    Recordo que cuando se tornaban mas brutales las maniobras de los imperialistas norteamericanos para aplastar a Cuba, el Presidente adopto activamente medidas para salvaguardar la Revolucion Cubana y ayudar en lo material y espiritual la construccion del socialismo del pueblo cubano.
    La causa revolucionaria del Juche, iniciada por el, la lleva adelante el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, destaco el orador y ratifico que Corea se esforzara activamente por consolidar y desarrollar las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion con Cuba.

Cuerpo de Agregados Militares ofrece banquete

   　Pyongyang, 13 de abril (ATCC) -- El Cuerpo de Agregados Militares acreditado en Corea ofrecio el dia 12 un banquete con motivo del XIII aniversario de la eleccion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il como Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. 　A la comida fueron invitados generales y oficiales del Ejercito Popular de Corea y estuvieron presentes los miembros de dicho Cuerpo.
    　En la ocasion hubo discursos.

Simposio del MINFAP sobre gran personalidad de Kim Il Sung

    Pyongyang, 13 de abril (ATCC) -- En ocasion del Dia del Sol (15 de abril, cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung), tuvo lugar el dia 12 en la capitalina Casa Cultural 25 de Abril un simposio del Ministerio de las Fuerzas Armadas Populares (MINFAP) sobre la gran personalidad del Presidente Kim Il Sung. Participaron en la ocasion Jo Myong Rok, jefe de la Direccion Politica General del Ejercito Popular de Corea, Kim Yong Chun, jefe del Estado Mayor General del EPC y otros cuadros directivos del MINFAP, oficiales y soldados.
    Jo Myong Rok dijo que el Presidente, al tomar como maxima Iminwichon (idea de considerar al pueblo como cielo), hizo situar por primera vez en la historia en el nivel supremo la posicion y la dignidad de las masas populares y dedico todo lo suyo a la realizacion del ideal y la felicidad del pueblo tomando en toda su vida el "tren hacia el pueblo".
    　Kim Yong Chun senalo que gracias al poderio autodefensivo preparado por la direccion del Presidente sobre la revolucion mediante el Songun (priorizacion militar), el ejercito y el pueblo de Corea pudieron lograr victoria tras victoria en la confrontacion con los yanquis y defender firmemente las conquistas de la revolucion. A continuacion, los generales de ejercito del EPC Pak Jae Gyong y Kim Jong Gak intervinieron con los temas: "El estimado camarada Kim Il Sung es el gran Lider quien condujo por el camino del triunfo la revolucion coreana bajo la bandera del Juche" y "El estimado lider, camarada Kim Il Sung es el Sol de la humanidad que vivira siempre en el corazon de todos los pueblos".
    Los oradores dijeron que en el proceso historico de la direccion de la Revolucion Coreana el Presidente presento como vida la independencia, trazo a nuestra manera todas las lineas y politicas y llevo adelante la revolucion y la construccion apoyandose en las fuerzas del pueblo.
    Elogiaron al Presidente como veterano de la politica mundial que al crear la inmortal idea Juche ilumino el camino mas correcto de la forja del destino de las masas populares e hizo aporte inmortal al cumplimiento de la causa de independencia de la humanidad. Enfatizaron que todos los oficiales y soldados del EPC deben enaltecer eternamente al Presidente como Sol del Juche, tomar firmemente el fusil de la revolucion bajo la direccion del Comandante Supremo Kim Jong Il sobre la revolucion mediante el Songun y luchar tenazmente por construir lo mas pronto posible una gran potencia socialista prospera y lograr la reunificacion de la patria y el triunfo final de la causa revolucionaria del Juche.