Rodong Sinmun on Korean Nation-First Spirit

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- The Korean nation-first spirit is a powerful driving force pushing forward the June 15 era of reunification as it is the idea and sentiment reflecting the unanimous desire and will of the fellow countrymen to demonstrate all over the world the dignity and might of the Korean nation which has five thousand-year-long history, fine culture and proud traditions. Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed article Friday.
    It goes on:
    It is the firm will and faith of leader Kim Jong Il to defend the sovereignty of the country and the nation, achieve independent reunification and demonstrate the dignity of Kim Il Sung's nation all over the world under the banner of the Korean nation-first spirit.
    Only when the fellow countrymen struggle in unity in the spirit of national independence and patriotism with will to defend more precious national independence than life and pave the wide avenue for reunification and independence, can they meet the outrageous challenge of the aggression forces and demonstrate the dignity and honor of a homogeneous nation.
    The Korean nation-first spirit serves as a firm ideological foundation of the struggle to establish national sovereignty, source of nationality, banner of defending the nation and treasure sword of peace and reunification.
    Today when the movement for independent reunification is being accelerated, attitude toward the Korean nation-first spirit is a touchstone distinguishing between patriotism and treachery, between reunification and division and between independence and subordination. All the fellow countrymen should turn out in the nation-wide struggle with their determination and will to make a more contribution to the cause of peaceful reunification on which the destiny and future of the nation rest. A man faithful to the Korean nation-first spirit will lead the precious life of a patriot to be remembered by the country and the nation and a man who disregards and denies it will get only the shame of a traitor.
    Only the spirit serves as a powerful weapon for national independent development and prosperity, the article concludes.

Lecture Given in Tokyo to Mark Anniversary of Chongryon

   Tokyo, May 24 (KNS-KCNA) -- A lecture was given at the Korean Hall in Tokyo on May 24 to mark the 51st anniversary of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). Present there were So Man Sul, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon, Ho Jong Man, its chief vice-chairman, other vice-chairmen, the director of the Research Institute on History of Korean Residents in Japan, its department directors, senior officials of organizations and enterprises and officials of Chongryon in Kanto area.
    The participants watched a video lecture "The National Education, Pride of Chongryon" and a video-tape "Let's Usher in a New Era for the Korean Community in the Idea of 'By Our Nation Itself'".

Movement against Visit to "Yasukuni Shrine" Declared in S. Korea

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- "The south Korean committee for joint actions against the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine" held a rally in Seoul on May 23 to denounce the Japanese authorities for their visits to the shrine, according to south Korean CBS. The organization branded Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the shrine despite opposition at home and abroad as a declaration on the revival of Japanese militarism and a provocation of the conservative forces.
    It declared that it would launch joint actions against the visit to the shrine together with the civic organizations of Japan.

Yaksandongdae Hill, Superbly Beautiful Spot

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- Yaksandongdae hill, situated in Nyongbyon County, North Phyongan Province, the DPRK, is one of the eight scenic wonders in North and South Phyongan Provinces and Jagang Province. The hill is famous for its curious peaks and rocks, thick forest, various kinds of flowers and historical relics.
    The name of Yaksan was derived from the fact that varied medicinal herbs grow and mineral water gushes out in the mountain. And Dongdae means that the hill is in the east of Muju area (Nyongbyon County was once divided into three parts -- Muju, Yonju and Wiju).
    There are such beautiful spots as Jeil Peak, Dongdae and Hakbyoru Cliffs in Yaksandongdae Hill, which is clad with azalea flowers in spring.
    Jeil Peak rises 488 meters above the sea level as the highest one in the hill, from which one can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the surrounding landscape.
    There are many white and curious rocks on Dongdae ranging with Jeil Peak.
    What is marvelous is two tortoises-shaped rocks, which had been formed by weathering over the long geologic eras.
    Inscribed on a cliff of Hakbyoru are the words of "Song of General Kim Il Sung". The name of Hakbyoru was derived from a story that cranes parted with each other on the cliffs.
    Besides, there are such old buildings as the Chonju and Soun Temples on the hill and the Ryuksung Pavilion, Cholong Castle and Nam Gate in its surrounding areas. The historical remains add beauty to the scenic spot.
    Yaksandongdae Hill serves as a cultural recreation ground for working people.

Korea National Music and Dance Institute

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- The Korea National Music and Dance Institute is a reliable center for carrying on in a unified way the work of studying and preserving materials on national music and dance and carrying forward national music and dance. The institute, founded on May 26, Juche 35 (1946), has covered a proud path of its development under the wise leadership of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il over the last six decades.
    The President solved the issues arising in the organization and management of the institute and instructed officials that the tradition of the Korean music is the beautiful folk song melody. And he wisely led the work for finding and arranging the heritage of national music including folk songs sung among people.
    Kim Jong Il advanced the tasks and clear-cut ways for carrying forward the national music in a number of works and talks including the work "We Should Properly Preserve and Develop Fine Features of Our Folk Songs".
    The institute has published several-ten kinds of books including "Development of Korean Folk Songs after Liberation," "Common Knowledge on Folk Music" and "Explanation on Singing Method of Folk Song." It also discovered 700-odd songs in the enlightenment period and brought out the "Collection of 600 Songs in the Enlightenment Period." Along with this, it has discovered, represented and preserved some 300 folk song and 40 dance pieces in the form of recorded tape, video-tape and music and dance notation.
    Besides, it has published the "National Music Dictionary" with folk musical art works and 1,500-odd vocabulary words such as vocabulary, figures and data, and put it into computer multimedia.
    Officials and researchers of the institute widely introduced the fluorescing Korean national art in the international arena including "The World Conference on Korean Study" and " Shenyang, China, International Academic Seminar."

Telephone Message to Head of S. Side Delegation to Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- Kwon Ho Ung, head of the north side's delegation to the inter-Korean ministerial talks, Friday sent the following telephone message to Ri Jong Sok, chief delegate of the south side's delegation: We sent notice to your side on May 24, informing it of our stand in connection with the circumstances that made it impossible to conduct the north-south trial train operation as scheduled amidst the attention and expectation of people at home and abroad.
    Your side, however, set in motion authorities, those concerned of ruling and opposition parties, "experts on north Korean affairs" and media to create impression that the north side was to blame for the failure to conduct the trial train operation. Your side went the lengths of even sending a "notice" to our side in a bid to shirk off the responsibility for it.
    I am compelled to clarify once again our side's stand on the failure to conduct the trial operation.
    The blame for the failure to have that trial operation entirely rests with your side.
    It was mainly because your military totally sidestepped the solution of pending issues, priorities in ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula.
    Your side will not deny the fact that it is a vital matter directly linked with the destiny of the nation to take a military step for guaranteeing peace under the present situation that the U.S. moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK have reached the extremes and huge armed forces of both sides are standing in acute confrontation with each other.
    As our side has stressed several times on various occasions including the general-level military talks, the primary task for guaranteeing peace on the Korean Peninsula at present is to correctly fix a sea boundary urgent for preventing military clashes in the waters of the West Sea.
    The two military clashes in the waters of the West Sea which caused many casualties and drove the inter-Korean relations into deadlock in the past period clearly show that a solution to this matter presents itself as the most urgent issue in the inter-Korean relations.
    But the military of your side evaded the settlement of the issue for the groundless reason despite our repeated proposals and patient efforts, thus keeping the north and the south from taking security steps in any field.
    What we cannot but take a serious view of is that the ultra-right conservative forces of the "Grand National Party" of your side held a "ceremony" of burning the flag of the DPRK, a dignified symbol of our state, in front of Kwanghwamun of Seoul and in Phyongthaek while taking issue with our side in a far-fetched way just a few days before the trial train operation between the north and the south which was scheduled as an experimental work for inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation.
    This unpardonable serious provocation was openly committed in broad daylight at the tacit connivance of your police authorities.
    This most serious provocation against our side compels us to interpret it as a clear confirmation in practice of your side's lack of will to get reconciled and cooperate with our side.
    The development was so serious that your side dared not make public it and has kept it under wraps.
    We take note of the fact that such provocative incidents took place whenever the inter-Korean relations made progress, and express deep regret at such most reckless and dangerous provocation of your side, an indication of its disregard and insult to its dialogue partner.
    We cannot but call to account such clumsy attitude taken by your side as talking about the issue of providing "raw materials and other supplies for light industry" and "materials for railways," when arguing about the blame for the failure to conduct the trial train operation.
    Your side should be responsible for what it has said.
    We have so far lived our own way and will go this way in the future, too.
    We hold that if your side is to question who is to blame for the abortive trial train operation, it should take to task nobody but the military authorities of your side and the ultra-right conservatives of the "Grand National Party" and should be bold enough to properly settle their crimes.
    Availing myself of this opportunity, I strongly urge your side to honestly apologize for such crime as defaming our national flag and sternly punish those responsible for it.

Kim Jong Il Enjoys Performance Given by Russian Artistes

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, together with servicepersons of the Korean People's Army enjoyed an art performance given by the Russian State Academic People's Chorus Named after M.E. Pyatnichki on a visit to the DPRK on Thursday. He was greeted at the theatre by Aleksandra Permyakova, head of the chorus, and Andrei Karlov, Russian Ambassador to the DPRK.
    He expressed thanks to the artistes of the chorus for pleasing and encouraging the Korean people through their enthusiastic performance and had a warm conversation with them.
    The chorus with a long history raised the curtain with chorus and dance "In the Glass City." Its repertoire included such colorful numbers as chorus "Far Away", "Oh, Thick Fog" and "Vast Land of Siberia," male chorus "When Fighting in Battlefield", female chorus "In My Stable", female solo and chorus "Swan in Reed Field", instrumental music "Music of Saratov Folk Song", instrumental trio "Russian Masque" and dances "By Side of a Stream" and "Mixed Dance of Vologda".
    The performers truthfully represented the Russian people's love of their motherland and optimistic life with high artistry.
    Kim Jong Il congratulated them on their successful performance.
    Among the audience were KPA Generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong and Councilor of the NDC of the DPRK Kim Yang Gon.

Pyongyang International Scientific and Technological Book Exhibition to Be Held

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- The 5th Pyongyang international scientific and technological book exhibition will be held at the Three-Revolution Exhibition from June 4 to 6. It will bring together at least 30 organizations from ten odd countries and international organizations. Displayed there will be noteworthy books and information on the latest science and technology in different fields including IT, nano technology, electronic engineering and biological engineering. In this period the participants will have opportunities of listening to lectures introducing latest scientific and technological achievements and swapping experience.

CPRF Spokesman on Failure to Conduct Trial Train Operation

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- The south side was wholly to blame for the failure to conduct the trial train operation as the south Korean military totally sidestepped the solution of pending issues, priorities in ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula. The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said this in a statement issued Friday slamming the south Korean authorities for unhesitatingly conducting a smear campaign against the north over the failure to have the trial train operation Thursday.
    The statement said:
    What is most urgent for guaranteeing peace on the Korean Peninsula at present is to correctly fix a sea boundary for the purpose of preventing military clashes in the waters of the West Sea.
    Precisely for this reason the north proposed this issue at the general-level military talks held before the north-south trial train operation and has made every sincere effort to this end.
    But the military side of the south evaded the settlement of the issue for a groundless reason despite our repeated proposals and patient efforts, thus making it impossible for the north and the south to take security steps in any field.
    The trial train operation could not be conducted also because of an unpardonable provocation of the ultra-right conservative forces of the "Grand National Party" of the south against the north.
    They staged such rowdyism as torching the flag of the DPRK, a dignified symbol of our state, in broad daylight at the tacit connivance of the south Korean police authorities with the trial train operation between the north and the south just around the corner as an experimental work for inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation.
    We cannot but take to task such clumsy attitude taken by the south Korean authorities as talking about the issue of providing "raw materials and other materials for light industry" and "materials for railways," when arguing about the blame for the failure to conduct the trial train operation.
    We hold that if the south side is to question who is to blame for the abortive trial train operation, it should take to task nobody but the bellicose forces of its military and the GNP ultra-right conservatives and properly settle their crimes.

Choe Thae Bok Meets Syrian Delegation

    Pyongyang, May 26 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, met and conversed with a delegation of the Revolutionary Youth Union of Syria led by Chairman Adnan Arbash at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Friday. The head of the delegation said that during his stay in Korea he witnessed successes achieved by the Korean people in socialist construction under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il. The indomitable struggle of the Korean people against the imperialists' pressure gives great encouragement to the Syrian people, he pointed out.
    The friendly relations between Syria and the DPRK are developing under the deep concern of the leaders of the two countries, he noted, adding that he would make positive efforts for the development of the relations between the two youth leagues in the future.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il ve funcion de esposas de oficiales de unidades no. 287 y 567

    Pyongyang, 26 de mayo (ATCC) -- El Comandante Supremo Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, presencio una funcion de grupos artisticos de esposas de militares de las Unidades No. 287 y No. 567 del EPC, participantes en el IX Concurso de los mismos. ? Las ejecutantes pusieron en la escena el coro "Cancion de fidelidad" y otras diversas piezas, entre otros, solo, recital poetico, musica instrumental de Janggo (tambor coreano), coro y narracion, coro de cancion folclorica, poesia y narracion y drama.
    　A traves de la funcion, ellas cantaron en un tono altisonante la vida orgullosa y digna de si mismas que en el regazo afectuoso del gran General crecen y luchan como fidedignas revolucionarias y propagandistas interinas del Songun y manifestaron su ferrea conviccion y voluntad, la disposicion revolucionaria e indomable espiritu de defender a costa de la vida a la Direccion de la Revolucion y apoyar con fidelidad la sagrada causa del Songun junto con sus esposos uniformados.
    El Comandante Supremo se mostro muy satisfecho de la excelente funcion de alto nivel ideo-artistico que reflejo de modo veridico los importantes problemas socio-politicos que se presentan en la labor y la vida de los seres humanos de la epoca del Songun, y evaluo de alto el exito de la funcion.
    　El Concurso, que se realizo en 9 ocasiones, comprueba la justeza y vitalidad de la linea literario-artistica del PTC sobre la masificacion de actividades artisticas y demuestra el aspecto orgulloso de la nueva cultura creada en la epoca del Songun, subrayo y dirigio un cordial saludo a todas las ejecutantes y a otros familiares de oficiales quienes las ayudaron en todo lo posible.
    　Luego, presento las tareas que serviran de guia en el desarrollo de las actividades artisticas populares y masivas.
    　Le acompanaron en verla los generales de ejercito del EPC Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae y Pak Jae Gyong y otros generales, los primeros subjefes de departamento del CC del PTC Ri Yong Chol, Ri Je Gang y Ri Jae Il, el consejero del CDN de la RPDC Kim Yang Gon y otros cuadros.

Idea de "nuestra nacion es la mejor" conduce el pueblo a la reunificacion

   Pyongyang, 26 de mayo (ATCC) -- La idea de "nuestra nacion es la mejor" refleja la unanime aspiracion y voluntad de exaltar la dignidad y el poderio de la nacion coreana que tiene la historia de cinco milenios, la cultura excelente y las tradiciones gloriosas y orienta la epoca de reunificacion del 15 de junio. 　Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 26 y prosigue:
    　Defender la soberania del pais y la nacion, lograr la reunificacion independiente de la patria y exaltar a todo el mundo la dignidad de la nacion de Kim Il Sung constituye la ferrea voluntad y conviccion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    　Todos los coreanos podran exaltar la dignidad y el orgullo de la nacion homogenea rechazando los brutales desafios de las fuerzas agresivas solo cuando luchen unidos dando prueba de espiritu patriotico y de independencia nacional con la decision de defender la independencia de la nacion mas preciosa que la vida y allanar un ancho camino de la independencia y la reunificacion.
    　La idea de "nuestra nacion es la mejor" deviene una firme base ideologica de la lucha por el establecimiento de la soberania nacional, fuente para poner de pleno manifiesto la nacionalidad, bandera de la defensa de la nacion y medio para la paz y la reunificacion.
    　Hoy que se promueve el movimiento por la reunificacion independiente, la actitud sobre la citada idea deviene un cartabon que distingue el patriotismo de la traicion, la reunificacion de la division y la independencia de la subyugacion. Todos los coreanos deben levantarse como un solo hombre con la determinacion de contribuir mas que nadie a la causa de reunificacion pacifica de que dependen el destino y el futuro de toda la nacion.
    　Quienes son fieles a la idea de "nuestra nacion es la mejor" disfrutaran de alto honor del patriota que estara gravado en la memoria de la patria y la nacion, pero, quienes la niegan o la rehusan experimentaran solo la verguenza del traidor.
    　De veras la idea de "nuestra nacion es la mejor" es la poderosa arma para el desarrollo independiente y la prosperidad de la nacion.

IMDNC acoge su 60 aniversario

    Pyongyang, 26 de mayo (ATCC) -- El Instituto de Musica y Danza Nacionales de Corea es una confiable base artistica encargada de coordinar los trabajos para investigar, conservar y desarrollar los materiales de esta rama. Despues de fundado el 26 de mayo del 35 (1946) de la Era Juche, ha coronado su sexagenaria trayectoria con orgullosos progresos gracias a la sensata guia del Presidente Kim Il Sung y el Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    Al aclarar de modo concreto todos los problemas que se presentan en la organizacion y la operacion de la entidad, el Presidente enseno que las canciones con tonalidad folclorica y elegante melodia constituyen lo tradicional de la musica coreana y dirigio sabiamente el hallazgo y el ordenamiento de las mismas existentes solo en la memoria de los habitantes y otros patrimonios musicales nacionales.
    A su vez, en sus numerosas obras y conversaciones, el Dirigente indico a las claras las tareas y los medios para desarrollar la musica nacional y dirigio esta labor de manera pormenorizada.
    Con anterioridad, el instituto redacto decenas de libros, tales como, "La politica musical del General y su cualidad musical", "Desarrollo de canciones populares de Corea despues de la liberacion", "Conocimientos de referencia sobre la musica folclorica", "Explicaciones del metodo de entonacion de canciones populares" y "Coleccion de 600 canciones del periodo de la ilustracion", que fue editada seleccionandolas de entre mas de 700 ejemplares de igual periodo.
    Ademas, descubrio y reprodujo mas de 300 cantos populares y mas de 40 piezas de danza, lo cual posibilito conservarlos y usarlos en forma de cintas de audio y video, pentagramas y notas coreograficas.
    En particular, compilo el "Diccionario de la musica nacional" con mas de mil 500 vocablos presentando obras musicales folcloricas, terminos musicales, musicos famosos y otros datos y logro programarlo en multimedia.
    En la "Conferencia Mundial de Coreanologia", "Seminario Academico Internacional de Shenyang, China" y en otros escenarios internacionales, los funcionarios e investigadores de esta entidad dieron a conocer ampliamente el arte coreano en pleno florecimiento.

Monte Yaksandongdae

   Pyongyang, 26 de mayo (ATCC) -- En el distrito de Nyongbyon de la provincia de Phyong-an del Norte de Corea se encuentra el monte Yaksandongdae que es uno de los "ocho paisajes celebres de las provincias occidentales del Norte". Es un lugar famoso con los picos y rocas de formas curiosas, el bosque frondoso y toda clase de flores que abren sus petalos en todas las estaciones y los vestigios.
    Se llama el Yaksandongdae (monte medicinal y monte oriental) por su abundancia de plantas y aguas medicinales y estar situado al este de Muzu.
    Tambien es famoso por azaleas primaverales donde hay el pico Jeil (mas alto), Dongdae, Hakbyoru y otros lugares pintorescos.
    Desde el pico Jeil parecido a un sombrero puesto al reves puede admirar el paisaje de la periferia.
    Esta incrustada la "cancion del General Kim Il Sung" en el despenadero llamado Hakbyoru, donde segun leyenda se despiden las ciguenas.
    Ademas, hay los templos Chonju y Soun que demuestran las facultades creadoras y la maestria artistica de los antepasados y en su contorno hay Ryuksungjong, Cholongsong, la puerta Nam y otras ruinas historicas.
    Hoy dia, el Yaksandongdae sirve de un mejor lugar de descanso cultural para los trabajadores.