Art Performances Given on May Day

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- Performances were given by artistes of national art troupes in parks and recreation grounds of Pyongyang on May 1, a holiday of working people the world over. A performance was given by artistes of the Mansudae Art Troupe at the Recreation Ground on Moran Hill.
    Put on the stage of the performance which began with chorus "May, Month of Victory" were such numbers as male vocal solo "Thunder on Jong Il Peak", "Blue Sky over My Country", "Indeed, It Is a Good World", female vocal solo "Song of Chollima Pioneer" and "General's Family Members" and female quartet "Nilliri of Happiness". The artistes of the Phibada Opera Troupe raised the curtain of their performance with chorus "Song of General Kim Jong Il" and "Song of May Day" at the Recreation Ground in Mangyongdae, warmly congratulating the workers significantly greeting May Day with the pride of creating innovations at factories and working sites. In front of the South Gate at the Recreation Ground in Mt. Taesong the artistes of the State National Art Troupe put on the stage colorful and peculiar numbers reflecting the revolutionary optimism and happy life of the workers in the Songun era. At the Recreation Ground in Rungra Islet the artistes of the National Comedy Troupe put on the stage comedic pieces showing the optimistic and joyful life of the Korean people living and struggling full of conviction of victory despite all ordeals and difficulties.
    At the plaza of the Arch of Triumph the acrobats of the Pyongyang Circus performed physical acrobatics "Rolling Cylinders", "Rope Jumping", jugglery "Wonderful Box" and so on, delighting the working people on the holiday.

Statement of Spokesman for AINDF on May Day

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front (AINDF) issued a statement on May 1, a holiday of the working people the world over, according to Internet site Kuguk Jonson. The working masses in the south of Korea are significantly greeting the 116th May Day, a holiday of the working people, at a time when the massive struggle for labor liberation is being waged more dynamically than ever before under the banner of national independence, the statement said, and went on:
    The working masses in this land have successfully discharged their responsibility and role as the main force of the movement for change in the rigorous and grim struggle to retake the sovereignty of the nation from the outside forces and achieve the genuine labor liberation.
    But they have not yet achieved labor liberation and class emancipation, their cherished desire, and the reunification of Korea, the supreme task of the nation. Workers and other working masses in the south have been mercilessly deprived of national sovereignty, democracy, people's right and vital rights due to the U.S. colonial domination over south Korea for over 60 years.
    The United States is craftily scheming to bring back the dark period of the fascist dictatorship which ruthlessly violated the dignity and vital rights of the people including the working masses, while manipulating the "Grand National Party's" frantic moves to seize power. And it is keen to arrest the trend of the June 15 era toward national reconciliation, unity and reunification, while stepping up the reckless preparations for a war against the north to impose nuclear disasters upon the nation. The reality shows that the people can neither realize the dream of progressive reform nor expect triumphant advance of the June 15 era unless the U.S. domination is terminated and pro-U.S. traitorous forces removed.
    The working masses in this land should put an end to the disgraceful history of the U.S. occupation of south Korea, the root cause of all misfortune and sufferings of the nation.

National Symphony Orchestra Entertains Foreign Diplomats

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- A performance was given by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Moranbong Theatre on May Day. Invited to see the performance were diplomatic envoys and foreign embassy officials and foreign students studying in the DPRK.
    The National Symphony Orchestra, a veteran art troupe representing the musical art of Juche Korea, put on stage the fourth movement "Glory to the General" of the symphonic suit "Long Journey for Songun Leadership", orchestra "Rich Harvest Comes to the Chongsan Plain" and "Swinging Girl" and other famous songs, leaving deep impressions on the audience.
    It also successfully presented the ideological and thematic contents of foreign musical numbers such as the first movement of Shostakovich's 7th symphony "Leningrad." The audience was enchanted by the performance which took them by surprise with rich national flavor blended with the peculiar tone of a combined orchestra. A floral basket was presented to the artistes of the National Symphony Orchestra in congratulation of their successful performance in decorating the significant May Day stage with a rendition high in ideological and artistic plane.

Japan Urged Not to Turn Deaf Ear to Demand of Times

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- Japan will find itself further disadvantaged, if it continues to deny and distort its past crimes, turning a deaf ear to the demand of the times, warns Rodong Sinmun in an article Tuesday. It is the demand of the public sentiments today not to connive at the crimes of the Japanese imperialists in their past aggression, especially their crimes in drafting "comfort women" for the Imperial Japanese Army and not to allow Japan to repeat those crimes through the settlement of its past, notes the author of the article, adding: The U.S. Congressional Research Service recently made public a report on the "comfort women" issue, which we may construe as one reflecting this trend of the times. The Japanese militarists do not so much as admit their crimes concerning the "comfort women," though it is past 60 years since their defeat, but are shameless enough to distort the fact, the article says, and goes on:
    They have not yet shaken off their past dream of aggression. It is the ideological view deeply rooted in their minds to ride on the back of Korea and other Asian countries and rule them again. The Japanese reactionaries are totally striking out materials about the "comfort women" for the Imperial Japanese Army from the history textbooks, driving for the revision of the "Pacifist Constitution" and massive bolstering of armed forces for aggression and coming out with the claim to Tok Islet. All these reveal their wild ambition for reinvasion.
    Those who refuse to admit their crimes and feel no responsibility for them are bound to repeat them or commit bigger crimes. Now Japan is behaving like this. The Japanese reactionaries are resorting to crafty tricks to play down and gloss away their past crimes and escape from the responsibility for them, peddling the ware of "abduction issue" which has already been settled. On the other hand, they are persisting in the anti-DPRK smear campaign and driving the DPRK-Japan hostile relations to the extremes under preposterous pretexts. Their negation of their past crimes and malicious hostile acts against the DPRK maximize the resentment of the Korean people against Japan.
    No illusion should be harbored about Japan. It is the unshakable will of the Korean people to count up the past crimes of Japan. The Korean people will regard as moves for the second invasion of Korea the Japanese reactionaries' distortion and total denial of the crimes of the Japanese imperialists in committing aggression on Korea including the "comfort women" issue and settle account with them up to the bitter end.

Joint Gathering of Working People on May Day

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- A joint gathering of working people in Pyongyang took place at the pleasure ground in Mt. Taesong on Monday to commemorate May Day. The gathering was attended by Kim Song Chol and Won Hyong Guk, vice-chairmen of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and workers and union members of different factories and enterprises in Pyongyang. Present were a south Korean delegation of labor movement organizations jointly headed by Chief Vice-Chairman of the south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Yun Yong Gyu and Chief Vice-Chairman of the Federation of south Korean Trade Unions Yu Jae Sop, foreign guests and overseas Koreans.
    Speeches were made there.
    Mun Sok Nam, chairman of the Pyongyang City Committee of the GFTUK, said that all the workers and union members should discharge their responsibility and role in building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation, holding high the red flag. He called for consolidating solidarity between workers in the north and the south and advancing hand in hand in implementing the June 15 joint declaration. Yu Jae Sop and Yun Yong Gyu called upon workers in the north and the south to take the lead in the movement for national reunification, saying that all the fellow countrymen should achieve independence, peace and great unity of the nation for the reunification of the country.
    Then a performance was given by artistes of the State National Art Troupe. The repertoire of the performance, which began with chorus "General Kim Il Sung Is Our Sun", included chorus "Song of May Day", female folk solo "Only One Mind", Kayagum ensemble "Let's Sing of Our Pride in Being under the Guidance of the General", dance "Dancing with Janggo" and mixed duet "Arirang for Reunification". And there were sports and amusement games.
    Rhythmic exercise and Taekwon-do for health were performed first. Then participants were divided into "Taesongsan" and "Taedonggang" teams and held colorful sports and amusement games including Korean map-puzzle, running with a ball between foreheads and a tug of war.
    As the games surged into high tide, workers of the north and the south ran and ran together with a single mind to take the lead in the struggle to achieve national reunification, the cherished desire of the Korean nation.
    When series of songs of reunification, "Let's Meet Again" and other wind music pieces were played by the women's brass band of the Ministry of People's Security, all the participants responded with applause.

Probe into Truth behind Killing of Civilians to Be Made in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- The Committee for Correcting Past History for Truth and Reconciliation in south Korea reportedly held a news conference on April 25 at which it decided to conduct a survey of massacres of civilians. At the news conference the committee said that more than 380 cases of massacres of different types and scopes have been raised. It clarified that it would probe the truth about those cases, asserting that more than 360 civilians were killed by the U.S. forces' bombing of the Kokgye Tunnel in Tanyang County, North Chungchong Province on Jan. 20, 1951, the biggest massacre committed in a day.
    It will start probing the truth behind several cases of killings of civilians, including killings committed before the outbreak of the Korean war, massacre of those suspected of evading compulsory labor, and massacre of those related to the Association of Persons Protected for Public Peace, the committee held.

Rodong Sinmun Calls on Korean Nation to Defend Peace

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- The defender of peace, the very one who prevents war in the Korean Peninsula is the Korean nation itself, Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article says, calling upon the whole Korean nation to rise up in the struggle to defend peace against war. To defend peace against war is the most urgent task of the whole Korean nation at present, the article says, and goes on:
    Anyone cannot defend peace in our stead and peace does not come of its own accord if it is wanted. Peace in the Korean Peninsula should be defended by our nation itself in any case. It is too clear that in case a war is ignited by the U.S. imperialists in this land, it would turn into a nuclear war sweeping over the north and the south. Accordingly, the north and the south cannot be different and overseas Koreans cannot be excepted in the struggle to defend peace against war in the Korean Peninsula. Any Korean who worries about the destiny of the nation should do his best irrespective of his residence to condemn and foil the U.S. moves for a war of aggression on Korea. When all the Koreans in the north and the south and overseas fulfill their responsibility and role as the master in the struggle to smash the U.S. warmongers' moves for a war of aggression, the peace of the Korean Peninsula and the security of the nation will be defended and the movement for national reunification will make a successful advance. The whole Korean nation should surely materialize national cooperation in the struggle for peace against war. All the fellow countrymen should save the nation from the obtaining grave situation and defend the peace of the country with the concerted efforts of the nation, transcending the difference of ideology, idea, political view and religious belief, class and strata, in the idea of "By our nation itself", the main spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    Our Songun politics is the most creditable guarantee for defending the dignity and sovereignty of the nation, preventing war and keeping peace. All the fellow countrymen should have national pride and firm pluck here and make positively support and defend the great patriotic Songun politics benefiting any member of the Korean nation.

Japan Urged to Behave Itself

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) --Japanese reactionaries are vying with each other to vociferate about the "abduction issue" these days. This comes under fire by a signed commentary of Minju Joson today. It says:
    Some days ago, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe asserted that "Japan is standing for the settlement of the abduction issue on the basis of the fundamental way of thinking supported by dialogue and pressure" and "it is necessary to increase the pressure upon north Korea". Japanese Foreign Minister Aso also solicited this or that country for cooperation in the efforts to settle the "abduction issue".
    Presumably, the "abduction issue" is regarded as a yardstick estimating the ability, qualification and popularity of politicians in the political camp of Japan. The reason can be explained by the fact that the tricksters seized by the greed for power going under the masks of politicians consider the "abduction issue" as something useful for achieving their sinister political purpose and have deliberately hyped up it to this end. As already known, the "abduction issue" had already found its settlement thanks to the sincere approach and efforts of the DPRK government.
    It is the calculation of the Japanese reactionaries that should they deem the "abduction issue" as settled, this will mean losing a justification for having used it as an important lever for wresting power.
    By stepping up their policy of pressure upon the DPRK over the "abduction issue" they seek to gain popularity among Japanese and garner their support and come to power come what may. The DPRK does not care whether they are locked in a factional or sectarian strife for the assumption of power. However, the DPRK will never allow them to persistently use the "abduction issue" for their smear campaign against it while engaging themselves in a scramble for power over.
    Japan is still abducting citizens of the DPRK in the area bordering on China in broad daylight, not yet away from its bad habit of abducting people.
    The DPRK will certainly force the Japanese reactionaries to pay dearly for all the crimes Japan committed against it including the "abduction issue". The DPRK urges Japan once again to behave itself with reason.

Choe Thae Bok Meets Honorary President of Socialist International

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, met and had a conversation with Honorary President of Socialist International Guy Spitaels, former president of the Belgian Socialist Party (Wallon), and his party on May 2.

Solar Heat Widely Used in DPRK

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- A great effort has been channeled into the work of effectively using solar heat in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Many solar factories, greenhouses and fish farms have been built in recent years. In Haeju City, South Hwanghae Province, more than 90 solar Hukbosan fertilizer factories have newly been constructed. They save 50 percent of fuel compared with the existing Hukbosan fertilizer factories.
    Thousands of solar greenhouse buildings have mushroomed in different parts of the country in a few years. Industrial establishments and rural communities are constructing solar vegetable greenhouses of various sizes and shapes to suit their actual conditions.
    The Koksan County Food Administration in North Hwanghae Province produces ten kinds of vegetables with only solar heat in a greenhouse covering some 410 square meters.
    A laboratory of an educational institution has built a solar fish farm, where it is engaged in researches into breeding freshwater fishes and is raising fry. The walls of the fish farm are under the ground except the light-accepting plane, so its heat loss is low and indoor temperature ensured well.
    The farm is also breeding ornamental fishes including goldfish, Lebistes reticulatus.

New Remedy for Vitiligo Developed

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- The Hospital attached to Pyongyang University of Medicine in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has developed a new remedy for vitiligo. The new remedy is to take a stratum of basal cells from normal skin and transplant to the focus by the method of traditional Koryo medicine. The advantage is that the remedy leaves no scar and requires short time while treating a wide region at a time. The clinical trials show that it cures vitiligo in about 30 days with 98 percent of cure rate.
    The remedy can be applied anywhere as its apparatus is simple to operate and it does not need drug treatment.

Certificates of Honorary Citizens to Three Generals of Mt. Paektu

     Pyongyang, May 2 (KCNA) -- A ceremony for conveying certificates of honorary citizens of Yantzaza, Zamora Chinchipe Province, Ecuador to the three generals of Mt. Paektu was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Tuesday. Present at the ceremony were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Jon Hyon Chan, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned. On hand were Benito Suquisupa Ramon, mayor of Yantzaza, and his party on a visit to the DPRK.
    The certificates were conveyed to Yang Hyong Sop.

For Spanish-speaking people

Japon debe oir la demanda de la epoca

    　Pyongyang, 2 de mayo (ATCC) -- Si Japon sigue desatendiendo la demanda de la epoca y tergiversando y negando sus crimenes del pasado, caera en una situacion mas desfavorable. 　Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual insertado en su edicion del dia 2 y prosigue:
    　Los crimenes agresivos del pasado de los imperialistas japoneses, especialmente el caso criminal relativo a las "consoladoras" de las tropas niponas no deben ser tolerados jamas y se debe lograr que mediante la liquidacion del pasado criminal, Japon deje de repetir los crimenes perpetrados en el pasado. Lo exige hoy la opinion publica. El informe del departamento de investigacion del congreso norteamericano sobre el problema de las "consoladoras" refleja tal corriente de la epoca. 　Los imperialistas japoneses ni siquiera quieren reconocer los hechos criminales relativos a las "consoladoras" de sus tropas hasta hoy a mas de 60 anos de su derrota tergiversandolos descaradamente.
    　Todavia no se liberan de su conciencia agresiva del pasado. Los militaristas japoneses tienen la arraigada ambicion de volver a apoderarse de Corea y otros paises asiaticos. 　Para realizar esta ambicion de nueva agresion tachan en los manuales de historia los datos relativos a las "consoladoras" de sus tropas, enmiendan la "constitucion de paz", aumentan en gran medida sus fuerzas armadas agresivas e insisten en la "posesion" de la isla Tok.
    　Es natural que los elementos, incapaces de reconocer sus crimenes perpetrados en el pasado y de sentir la responsabilidad de este respecto, los repiten o perpetran los delitos aun mayores. Ahora Japon actua perversamente para eludir su responsabilidad del respecto esgrimiendo de continuo el ya resuelto "problema del secuestro", por una parte y por la otra lleva a la peor fase sus relaciones hostiles con la RPDC inventando absurdos pretextos. Todo esto centuplica la indignacion del pueblo coreano hacia ese pais-isla.
    　No hay que abrigar ilusion alguna sobre Japon. El pueblo coreano tiene la firme determinacion de ajustar estricta cuenta de los crimenes perpetrados por Japon en el pasado. El pueblo coreano considera como una maniobra para la nueva agresion a Corea la tergiversacion y la negacion total a los crimenes de agresion de los reaccionarios japoneses incluido el problema de las "consoladoras" de las tropas japonesas.

Obreros coreanos celebran el 116o aniversario del Primero de Mayo

    　Pyongyang, 2 de mayo (ATCC) -- Los trabajadores de distintas localidades del pais celebraron el dia primero significativamente el 116o aniversario del Dia Internacional de los Trabajadores. 　Saltaban a la vista las consignas "!Viva el Primero de Mayo, fiesta de los trabajadores de todo el mundo!", "Glorifiquemos mas el socialismo al estilo nuestro con el poderio de la unidad monolitica", "Levantemonos para construir una patria poderosa" y otras en las avenidas capitalinas y las calles de todas las provincias, ciudades y distritos, ataviadas con la bandera nacional y las rojas.
    　Los trabajadores capitalinos se dieron cita en el Parque de Atraccion de Mangyondae, el Parque Juventud de Kaeson y en las zonas de recreo en la colina Moran, el monte Taesong y la isla Rungra y otros lugares donde se divirtieron con la gimnasia ritmica masiva, Taekwon-do para la salud, Sirum (lucha tradicional coreana), el juego con Yut (juego tradicional coreano) y otras disciplinas deportivas y recreativas. 　Futbol, baloncesto y lucha de cuerda fueron disciplinas que acogieron mayor numero de los espectadores.
    　Mientras tanto, en el Complejo Termoelectrico de Pukchang, la Mina de Carbon Juventud 8 de Febrero de Jikdong, el Complejo de Fundicion de Hierro Kim Chaek, las Fabricas Textiles de Sinuiju y de Sariwon y otras fabricas y empresas en distintas localidades se desarrollaron la funcion de coro, el baile en masas, los juegos deportivos y de diversion, el concurso de platos nacionales, etc.
    　En tanto, los obreros del Complejo de Maquinaria de Ryongsong ofrecieron una funcion de coro en que actuaron seis mil personas.
    　Ellos reflejaron en el coro y danza "Mayo de victoria", el coro femenino "Nuestro Lider", la recitacion de poesia y coro "Iremos con gran fe" y otras piezas el heroico temperamento y la voluntad revolucionaria de la clase obrera de Corea de impulsar vigorosamente la construccion de una gran potencia prospera con un proyecto ambicioso y gran optimismo.
    　De otro lado, 5 mil trabajadores de la Fundicion de Metales no Ferrosos de Munphyong tomaron parte en la funcion de coro "Cancion de unidad de la clase obrera dedicada al General padre".
    　En la zona de diversiones del monte Jongbang y otros parques y lugares de recreo enclavados en todas partes del pais se distinguian los trabajadores pasando agradables momentos de su dia.