Letter Presented to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- A letter was presented to leader Kim Jong Il by Reggie Ranatunge, director-general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, and Harish Gupta, secretary general of the institute, on April 8 on behalf of the participants in the Asian regional seminar on the Juche idea. The seminar provided its participants with an opportunity to clearly realize that the global peace, prosperity and happiness of humankind can be achieved and guaranteed only when sincere efforts are made for economic development, social justice and democracy, the letter said, adding that they were unanimous in understanding that the Juche idea and the Songun politics indicate a true way of attaining the above-said great goals.
    The letter continued:
    The Juche idea and the Songun politics serve as a key to helping the people win social justice, something they could not enjoy worldwide and also show the way for individuals to make progress.
    The Juche idea is a man-centered philosophy instilling the inviolable dignity and pride into the people and providing them with an equal status.
    It also helps them conduct independent, creative and conscious activities to exercise their dignity and rights, aware of their duty.
    The Juche idea and the Songun politics help the people of all social standings unite as an integral whole.
    The Juche philosophy regards independence as a common idea. The letter said they are convinced that Korea would be surely reunified in the near future under the dynamic and wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.

New Trade Union Inaugurated in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The Government Employees' Union of south Korea was inaugurated in Seoul on April 12, according to the south Korean KBS. The inaugural declaration read out at the inaugural ceremony held on the same day said that the organization would conduct activities for the rights of government employees including the elimination of the discriminations in the matters of level of their positions and types of their occupation and restructuring.

Asian Regional Seminar on Juche Idea Held in India

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- An Asian regional seminar on the Juche idea was held in India on April 8. It was attended by Director General of the International Institute of the Juche Idea Vishwanath, Honorary President of the World Peace Council Romesh Chandra, Director General of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea Reggie Ranatunge, and delegations from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Mongolia and Japan, and leading officials and members of Juche idea study groups and people from different walks of life in India.
    Also present there was a delegation of the Korean Social Scientists Society. Congratulatory speeches were made at the seminar.
    Speakers highly praised President Kim Il Sung for his undying feats performed for the cause of global independence and leader Kim Jong Il for his Songun leadership exploits. They stressed that it is only the Juche idea that indicates the way of ensuring genuine independent development and wellbeing of the popular masses, economic progress, social justice and democracy under the present complicated situation. A keynote report and speeches were made at the seminar. The reporter and speakers said that the immortal Juche idea provides the popular masses with genuine democracy. Underscoring the need for the Asian nations to develop their independent national economies, opposed to the imperialists' moves for "globalization," obstacles to their independent progress, they called for boosting cooperation among Asian countries for democracy, economic development and social justice.
    The seminar adopted a declaration, which said the DPRK has not fallen victim to the U.S. sinister plots as it has followed the Songun policy set out by Kim Jong Il. Asian countries should unite close to frustrate the wicked design of the imperialist forces, the declaration said, and went on:
    The Juche idea study organizations under the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea declare that they will deepen the study of the Juche idea and the Songun politics and apply them to actual conditions of their countries.
    Reiterating our will to more fervently follow the Juche philosophy and the Songun politics, we extend solidarity to the Korean people and express belief that Korea will surely be reunified in the near future.
    A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the seminar.

Floral Basket to DPRK Embassy in Guinea

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Guinean President Lansana Conte sent a floral basket to the DPRK embassy in Guinea on April 13 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. It was placed before a full-length portrait of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il by the adviser of the Presidency for the personnel affairs. That day, a delegation of the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea headed by General Secretary Sekou Konate visited the DPRK embassy on the occasion of the Day of the Sun and the 13th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission.

Foreign Figures Issue Statements on Day of Sun

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Wahid Al Uksouri, chairman of the Misr Arab Socialist Party of Egypt, and Andy Brooks, general secretary of the Central Committee of the New Communist Party of Britain, released statements respectively on April 10 and 11 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. The former recalled that President Kim Il Sung had extended support, material and moral, to the Egyptian people in their struggle to restore the lost territory and said the Party and the government of the DPRK were standing behind the Arab people as ever in their cause of justice to regain the legitimate rights.
    Today the Arab people are greatly inspired by the struggle of the Korean people against the arbitrariness of the United States and for defense of the sovereignty of the country and national dignity, he said, adding:
    Under the Songun policy of leader Kim Jong Il, the DPRK is advancing unswervingly along the road chosen by it.
    Andy Brooks in his statement said President Kim Il Sung was a great revolutionary who devoted his all to the prosperity of the country and happiness of the people. Noting that the cause of Kim Il Sung is being successfully carried forward to accomplishment by Kim Jong Il, he expressed the conviction that the Korean people rallied close around Kim Jong Il would achieve great successes in the struggle for the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and national reunification.

Performance Given by State Symphony Orchestra for Festival Participants

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The participants in the 24th April Spring Friendship Art Festival appreciated a performance given by the State Symphony Orchestra at the rebuilt Moranbong Theater on April 17. The orchestra put on the stage movement No. 4 "Glory to the General" of the symphony suite "Long Journey for Songun Leadership", the orchestral music "Rich Harvest Comes to the Chongsan Plain", "Arirang", "A Girl on a Swing" and other famous musical pieces. The audiences were deeply moved by the fascinating presentation of foreign repertoires including movement No.1 of Shostakovich’s 7th symphony "Leningrad". Foreign artistes presented bouquets to the artistes of the orchestra, congratulating them on their successful performance.

Experience Swapped among Foreign Juche Idea Study Delegations

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Delegations of Juche idea study organizations from different countries met at the People's Palace of Culture here on Monday to exchange experience. Present at the meeting were a delegation of the Russian Youth Association for the Study of the Songun Policy, a delegation of the Mongolian Mt. Paektu Association for Independent Development, a delegation of the Ukrainian "Treasured Sword of Songun" Association for the Study of the Juche Idea, a Japanese delegation for commemorating the Day of the Sun, a Norwegian delegation for the study of the Juche idea, and a Spanish delegate for the study of the Juche idea.
    Members of the Korean Social Scientists Society were on hand. The participants exchanged achievements and experience they had gained in their activities to study and disseminate the Juche idea in past years and called for intensifying these activities.

Joint Friendly Gathering of Delegations of Juche Idea Study Groups

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Members of delegations of the Juche idea study groups from different countries had a joint friendly gathering on Monday. It was attended by the visiting delegations and delegate of Juche idea study organizations in different countries.
    On hand were members of the Korean Social Scientists Society, including Vice-Chairman Rim Hoe Song.
    The participants noted that the immortal Juche idea, fathered by President Kim Il Sung, has been developed and enriched by leader Kim Jong Il. And they expressed their will to intensify the study and dissemination of the Juche idea, with the honor of being its followers.
    They sang "Nostalgia", a celebrated masterpiece, and other songs in praise of the great men and enjoyed multifarious sports and amusement games, deepening friendship.

Cambodian King Pays Courtesy Call on Kim Yong Nam

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni paid a courtesy call on Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, at the People's Palace of Culture on April 17. He was accompanied by his suite members and Cambodian Ambassador to the DPRK Chhorn Hay. Present there were Vice-Premier of the Cabinet Ro Tu Chol, Minister of Culture Kim Jin Song, Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il, DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia Choe Han Chun and Vice-Chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee Kim Jae Gon. Kim Yong Nam had a conversation with Norodom Sihamoni in a friendly atmosph

Cambodian King Feted

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly hosted a reception at the People's Palace of Culture on April 17 in honor of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on an official visit to the DPRK. Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the SPA, in a speech at the reception said that the DPRK visit of the Cambodian king is an expression of the firm will of the king and the people of Cambodia to value and steadily develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and greatly encourages the Korean people in their vigorous drive to step up the building of a great prosperous powerful nation and the cause of independent national reunification. The Korean people will make positive efforts for the development of traditional relations of friendship with the Cambodian people and extend support to the Cambodian people in their efforts to achieve the peace and stability of the country and the unity of the nation, he noted.
    Highly praising the king for devotedly striving for the prosperity of the country and the well-being of the people, true to the intention of the great king, he sincerely wished the king greater success in his future work.
    The Cambodian king in a speech expressed his wholehearted admiration at the fact that leader Kim Jong Il who is carrying forward the cause of President Kim Il Sung has built great Korea into a country most developed in all fields and provided an excellent basis for the reunification of the country as required by the Juche idea. The king expressed his full support to the righteous line set forth by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, supreme leader of the Korean people, to peacefully reunify the country. The continued mutual visits of the high-ranking leaders of the two countries century after century have further strengthened the bilateral ties of great friendship and unity and cooperation in various fields in the common interests of the two peoples, he said, adding that the cooperative relations between the two countries will make an affirmative contribution to the stability and development of the region and the world. Present on invitation were suite members of the king, Cambodian Ambassador to the DPRK Chhorn Hay and embassy officials.
    On hand were Ro Tu Chol, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Kim Jin Song, minister of Culture, Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Choe Han Chun, DPRK ambassador to Cambodia, Kim Jae Gon, vice-chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, and officials concerned.
    A performance was given by the artistes of the Mansudae Art Troupe at the reception.

Anti-U.S. Rally in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The 79th Anti-U.S. Rally was reportedly held in the city of Phyongthaek, Kyonggi Province of south Korea, on April 11. Attending it were residents and members of such civic and public organizations as the All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the U.S. Military Base in Phyongthaek, the Phaengsong Town Measure Committee against the Expansion of the U.S. Military Base, the Anti-U.S. Youth Society, and the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification.
    Speakers at the rally stated that all the people would get united to do farming in Phyongthaek this year, too, against the land expropriation of the Defence Ministry and check the expansion of the U.S. military base without fail. A resolution was read out at the rally. It recalled that on April 7 the ministry cut off waterway to paddy and non-paddy fields designated for the expansion of the U.S. military base and destroyed farm land and instigated the public security authorities to whisk away a large number of residents struggling in defence of Phyongthaek. The moves of the U.S. and its followers to expand the military base are an unjustifiable act of wrecking the existence of residents and peace of the Korean Peninsula, and the people's struggle for defence of Phyongthaek is a righteous and just act for safeguarding lives and peace, the resolution said.
    The ministry should stop at once the land expropriation moves, though belatedly, and the public security authorities should apologize to the people for their unilateral violence and promptly set free the arrested members of human rights and civic organizations, it urged.

Japanese Government Urged to Unconditionally Extradite Criminals

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) --The Japanese right-wing forces are very busy with their moves to build legal and institutional mechanisms to apply sanctions against the DPRK, persistently pulling up it over the "issue of abduction". Rodong Sinmun today observes in a signed commentary in this regard: The Japanese reactionaries are rattling the nerves of the DPRK by crying out for increasing pressure upon it over the "issue of abduction," pursuant to the U.S. hostile policy towards it. This is prompted by Japan's invariable intention to isolate and suffocate the DPRK at any cost.
    If the Japanese ultra-right conservatives persist in their anti-DPRK campaign over the "abduction issue" as now, keen to toe the U.S. line, the situation will go beyond control. The DPRK would like to re-clarify that what Japan should do before anything else today is to redress such crimes as the abduction of Koreans and forcible drafting of them perpetrated by the Japanese imperialists in the past and settle the issue of DPRK citizens abducted by Japan in recent years. The Japanese government should not persistently raise the "abduction issue" which had already found a solution but take prompt measures for unconditionally extraditing those criminals to whom warrants for arrest were issued by the DPRK and preventing the recurrence of similar cases.

Russian Artistes Perform for Guests of Honor

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- A performance was given for guests of honor by the art troupe of the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory and the Moscow State Academy Symphony Orchestra of Russia in the 24th April Spring Friendship Art Festival at the Ponghwa Art Theatre on Monday. Appreciating the performance were Kim Yong Nam, Pak Pong Ju, Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop, Kim Ki Nam and Kim Jung Rin, officials of the party and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, educational, cultural and media institutions and working people.
    Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov and the staff members of the embassy were among the audience.
    The art troupe of the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory put on the stage a glee of an immortal masterpiece "Nostalgia".
    The Russian artistes successfully presented with unique and rich voice and perfect ensemble a solo and a chorus of the Korean songs "May the Motherland Prosper" and "Blue Sky over My Country".
    The audience was struck with deep impression when they presented choruses "My Motherland" and "Rye Field," a glee "Glory" from the opera "Ivan Susanin" composed by Glinka and the first and fourth movements of a string orchestra "Serenade" composed by Mozart and other numbers.
    The artistes of the Moscow State Academy Symphony Orchestra presented with refined rendition the Korean song "Arirang" loved by the Koreans with an orchestra, delighting the audience.
    The symphony orchestra impressively staged the fourth movement "Glory to the General" from the symphony suite "Long Journey for Songun Leadership," winning the acclaim of the audience.
    It also staged orchestra "Bokaliz" composed by Rakhmaninov, "Polonez" from the opera "Eugene Onegin" composed by Tchaikovsky, "Interlude No. 5" from ballet "Raimond" composed by Glazunov, deeply impressing the audience.

Greetings to Tenth Congress of CPV

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a message of greetings to the 10th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Apr. 18. The message expressed the belief that the congress would serve as an important occasion in boosting the leadership ability of the party and in bringing into play the patriotism and the spirit of unity of the whole party and the army and all the people to build prosperous socialist Vietnam.
    Expressing the conviction that the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two parties and the two peoples would grow stronger in conformity with their common desire, the message wished the congress success in its work.

Chinese Women's Delegation Here

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- A Chinese women's delegation headed by Gu Xiulian, vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China and president of the All-China Women's Federation, arrived here on Tuesday. It was met at the airport by Pak Sun Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, officials concerned, Wu Donghe, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of the embassy.

Successful Stands of Flower Festival

     Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- Many flower stands, which have been arranged with rich content and in unique forms, are catching the eyes of the visitors to the on-going 8th Kimilsungia Festival. In particular, the crowd always gathers before the stand of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, which is displayed on the first floor of the festival venue.
    The square-shaped stand resembles to a horizontal model board. Taking the rear part of the stand is the picturesque Mangyongdae in April where various kinds of flowers are in full bloom. Seen there are Mangyong Hill where President Kim Il Sung trained his body and mind in his childhood and a stream of people visiting the native home surrounded with flowers.
    In the central part of the stand, a Korean map is depicted with immortal Kimilsungias. And standing both sides of its map are a model of the autographic monument inscribed with the letters "Kim Il Sung 1994. 7.7." written by the President in a document related to national reunification and a model of the Monument to the Three Charters for National Reunification.
    In the front part of the stand there is a rainbow bearing the letters "Reunification 6.15" flanked by two sculptures showing two women pouring the water of Mt. Paektu and Mt. Hanna into one.
    The stand resembles to a large art work decorated in harmony with Kimilsungias and various kinds of flowers and plants. It makes the people recollect the immortal feats the President performed in the efforts for accomplishing the reunification cause. Conspicuous are the stands of the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Light Industry and the Kyonghung Guidance Bureau. The Ministry of Public Health adorns its stand with an anion water generator containing clear water of the Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu and is bringing the immortal flowers into full bloom.
    The stands of 25 organizations of overseas Koreans and 79 foreign organizations including the diplomatic missions and non-governmental organizations in the DPRK reflect well the reverence of the world progressive people for the President, a peerless great man.
    Kathrin Rebecca Turner, an actress of the famous art troupe of Australia, went round the flower festival while attending the 24th April Spring Friendship Art Festival. Charmed by the flower festival, she said that at the flower exhibition, she came to know more clearly the greatness of President Kim Il Sung and he would live long in the minds of the Korean people.

Darmstadt Chorus Popular with Audience in Art Festival

    Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The Darmstadt Chorus of Germany has done its bit at the successful 24th April Spring Friendship Art Festival held in the DPRK. The chorus, headed by Wolfgang Seeliger, is famous not only in Germany but in the world.
    It fully displayed its high standard of artistic ability at the festival, too, touching the heartstrings of the audience.
    It sang well famous classical and modern music pieces of Germany and the Korean song "Native Place in Spring" in chorus without an accompaniment. The nearly 30-year old chorus placed the first in several international concours including "Let the people sing" and audience prize concours.
    Making it a rule to convey vivid music, it is characterized by a unique and vivacious sound resonance.
    In particular, it successfully depicted most of its musical works in chorus without an accompaniment.
    The head of the chorus told KCNA that it would participate in the next April Spring Friendship Art Festival with new works of higher standard.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rodong Sinmun denuncia alboroto de reaccionarios japoneses

    　Pyongyang, 18 de abril (ATCC) -- Las fuerzas ultraderechistas de Japon se ajetrean para inventar los aparatos juridicos e institucionales encaminados a aplicar "sancion" a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea acusandola obstinadamente del "problema del secuestro". 　El diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 18 revela que los reaccionarios japoneses, en adhesion a la politica hostil de EE.UU. a la RPDC, irritan de tal manera el sentimiento del pueblo coreano con la invariable intencion de aislarla y asfixiarla.
    　Si las fuerzas ultraderechistas japonesas siguen comportandose de esta manera, llevaran la situacion a una fase muy critica, advierte el comentarista y continua: 　Lo que Japon debe resolver primero es el problema del secuestro y arresto forzado perpetrados por los imperialistas japoneses en el pasado y del semejante acto contra los ciudadanos de la RPDC cometido en los ultimos anos. El gobierno japones no debe portar el ya resuelto "problema del "secuestro" sino tomar de inmediato medidas pertinentes tales como la extradicion incondicional de los criminales para los cuales la RPDC emitio ya la orden de arresto, y la prevencion del resurgimiento de tales casos.

Kim Jong Il recibe carta de participantes en un simposio

    　Pyongyang, 18 de abril (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio una carta que le dirigieran el dia 8 el director general Reggie Ranatunge y el secretario general Harish Gupta, del Instituto Regional Asiatico de la Idea Juche, en representacion de los participantes en el Simposio Regional Asiatico sobre la Idea Juche. 　La misiva senala que este foro les sirvio para entender unanimemente que es posible lograr y garantizar la paz y el bienestar del mundo y la felicidad de la humanidad cuando se realicen sinceros esfuerzos por el desarrollo economico, la justicia social y la democracia y que la idea Juche y la politica de Songun (priorizacion militar) devienen el camino para alcanzar esas grandes metas, y prosigue:
    　Ambas cosas constituyen la llave para conquistar la justicia social que los pueblos no pudieron alcanzar a escala mundial y conceden a los individuos las posibilidades del desarrollo.
    　La idea Juche, siendo la filosofia humano-centrica, inspira a las personas la dignidad y el orgullo intraspasables a otros y les afianza una posicion igualitaria. 　Tambien, les instruye de modo que trabajen de manera independiente, creadora y consciente para ser fieles a sus obligaciones y ejercer la dignidad y sus derechos. 　Ademas, la idea Juche y la politica de Songun aseguran la unidad monolitica entre las masas populares de distintas capas.
    　Segun la filosofia jucheana la independencia resulta el unico ideal comun. 　La carta concluye expresando la conviccion de que gracias a la dinamica y sensata guia del Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Corea sera reunificada sin falta en un futuro cercano.

El Presidium de APS ofrece banquete en honor de Norodom Sihamoni

     Pyongyang, 18 de abril (ATCC) -- El Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea ofrecio el dia 17 en el Palacio Cultural del Pueblo un banquete en honor del rey de Camboya, Norodom Sihamoni, de visita oficial en Corea. Kim Yong Nam, presidente del Presidium de la APS, en su brindis, dijo que la presente visita a Corea del rey camboyano constituye una expresion de la firme voluntad del rey y el pueblo de Camboya de apreciar, consolidar y desarrollar incesantemente las tradicionales relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los dos paises y un gran estimulo al pueblo coreano que avanza a pasos firmes para adelantar la construccion de una gran potencia prospera y realizacion de la causa de reunificacion independiente de la nacion. Apunto que tambien en el futuro, el pueblo coreano se esforzaria activamente por desarrollar las tradicionales relaciones de amistad con el pueblo camboyano y enviara apoyo y respaldo a los esfuerzos del pueblo camboyano por lograr la paz y la estabilidad del pais y la unidad de la nacion.
    Dio alta evaluacion a los abnegados esfuerzos del rey por la prosperidad del pais y el bienestar del pueblo en acato al proposito del gran rey y le deseo sinceramente aun mayores exitos en su labor ulterior.
    Norodom Sihamoni, en su discurso, expreso sincera admiracion de que Su Excelencia el Mariscal Kim Jong Il, quien lleva adelante la causa de Su Excelencia el Generalisimo Kim Il Sung, hizo de gran Corea un pais mas desarrollado en todos los dominios conforme a la demanda de la idea Juche y preparo una excelente base para la reunificacion del pais.
    Subrayo que Camboya apoya cien por ciento la justa linea que presentaron el Generalisimo Kim Il Sung y el Mariscal Kim Jong Il, supremo Dirigente del pueblo coreano, para reunificar por via pacifica el pais.
    Dijo que las visitas reciprocas de los altos dirigentes del Reino de Camboya y la RPDC que han venido realizandose de siglo en siglo hicieron situar a una etapa mas alta los lazos de la gran amistad y solidaridad y la cooperacion en varios dominios entre los dos paises conforme a los intereses comunes de ambos pueblos y subrayo que las relaciones de tal cooperacion contribuiran positivamente a la estabilidad y desarrollo de la region y el resto del mundo.
    A la comida fueron invitados los acompanantes del rey, el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario Chhorn Hay y otros miembros de la sede diplomatica en Corea. Estuvieron presentes el viceprimer ministro del Consejo de Ministros Ro Tu Chol, el ministro de Cultura Kim Jin Song, el vicecanciller Kim Yong Il, el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de Corea en Camboya Choe Han Chun, el vicepresidente del Comite Popular de la Ciudad de Pyongyang Kim Jae Gon, y otros funcionarios.
    En el banquete se ofrecio una funcion de los miembros del Conjunto Artistico Mansudae.