Rodong Sinmun on Danger of RIMPAC War Gamble

    Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- The RIMPAC-2006 joint military exercises are overall military operations and a preliminary war aimed to take a preemptive attack on the DPRK in view of their period, contents, characters and scale. Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed article, and goes on:
    The U.S. imperialists described the military exercises as those for guaranteeing "security of sea routes" and countering "terrorism". This is nothing but a sophism to cover up and justify the criminal nature, purpose and danger of the exercises.
    The exercises are part of preparations for a new war in line with the U.S. aggressive Asia strategy and a gamble for the provocation of the second Korean war.
    The U.S. warmongers began to stage the RIMPAC joint military exercises on June 25, when they ignited the Korean war 56 years ago. This clearly suggests that the U.S. imperialists are seeking to provoke a new war again to invade the DPRK instead of drawing due lessons from their defeat in the past Korean war. During the exercises they are practicing comprehensive military operations such as firing of missiles and guns, landing of marines and sweeping of mines. They are attempting to emasculate the war deterrent of the DPRK with large-scale attacks from sea and air and occupy it with ease as they did in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    Participating in the exercises are armed forces of those countries actively following and supporting the U.S. policy of aggression against the DPRK. They have participated almost in all the RIMPAC military exercises and practiced the way of combat activities according to the U.S. military strategy of aggression on the DPRK. When a war breaks out in the Korean Peninsula they will be the first to commit their armed forces to the Korean front.
    As the facts show, the U.S. imperialists are seeking to trigger another Korean war under the pretext of "anti-terrorism" and "peace-keeping" and inveigle multi-national armed forces into the Korean front as they did in the past Korean war. In this way they are trying to realize in the new century their ambition for aggression on Korea which they failed in the 1950s. Herein lies the danger of the joint military exercises.

Special Write-ups Posted on Internet Homepage by Association for Friendship with Korean People

    Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- The Association for Friendship with the Korean People based in Spain posted on its Internet homepage "Seminar on Songun" an article titled "Origin of Songun Idea", a photo of President Kim Il Sung organizing the Down-with-Imperialism Union (DIU) and a photo of his mother Kang Pan Sok handing two pistols associated with the noble intention of his father Kim Hyong Jik over to him. The homepage in the article said that the Songun idea, which was founded by the President and is being successfully carried forward by Kim Jong Il, originated in the two pistols handed down to the President from his father and the programme of the DIU.
    The homepage noted in detail that the President took over the idea "Aim High" and the two pistols from his father and pioneered the road of the Songun revolutionary leadership, while waging the rigorous struggle.

Israel and U.S. Urged to Stop State-sponsored Terrorism

    Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- The Mideast is now standing at the crossroads of war and peace. State-sponsored terrorism of Israel and the U.S. must be stopped to straighten this situation out. Rodong Sinmun Thursday observes this in a signed commentary.
    Israel's barbaric air-raids on Palestine and Lebanon are brigandish state-sponsored terrorism as they wantonly violate the independent rights of the sovereign states, the commentary notes, and goes on:
    Israel's recent military aggression is a replica of U.S. horrendous state-sponsored terrorism perpetrated under the pretext of a "war on terrorism." The barbaric military aggression perpetrated by Israel against Palestine and Lebanon created such a serious situation that a new Mid-east war may break out. The responsibility for this entirely rests with the U.S.
    The U.S. seeks to shift the blame for it on to Syria, deliberately linking the current Mid-east situation to the country. This is aimed to brand anti-imperialist and independent Syria as a "criminal" and stifle it.
    Quite just are the stand of Syria and its efforts to render positive support and encouragement to Palestine and Lebanon in their resistance against Israel's military aggression and achieve Mideast peace.
    The Korean people extend firm solidarity to Syria and bitterly condemn Israel for having perpetrated armed aggression against Palestine and Lebanon under the U.S. patronage and backing.

"Mindan's" Unilateral Nullification of May 17 Joint Statement under Fire

    Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- The unilateral nullification of the May 17 joint statement by the "ROK Residents Association in Japan" (Mindan) is nothing but a move to torpedo the process of reconciliation launched by the Korean community in Japan, a product of the alienation strategy of the forces opposed to the reunification of the Korean nation. Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed commentary. It goes on:
    This is an intolerable perfidy and anachronistic challenge to the desire and aspiration of the Koreans in Japan to put an end to the tragedy in which compatriots have lived separated and hostile to each other even in an alien land and achieve unity and reunification.
    The joint statement reflects the strong expectation and desire and ardent patriotic will of all Koreans in Japan to see Chongryon and "Mindan" to contribute to the reunification and prosperity of the country by swimming with the strong trend whereby all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas are heading for reconciliation, unity and reunification in the spirit of "By our nation itself".
    To settle the issue of Koreans in Japan presents itself as an important national issue in view of the historical background against which they were compelled to settle there and of their present conditions. What is most urgent at present is to achieve reconciliation and unity among the Korean community in Japan. The Koreans in Japan under Chongryon and "Mindan" are subject to national humiliation there. Then, why should they remain hostile to each other, in stead of turning to each other for help? It is painful, indeed, for the "Mindan" to have declined the opportunity of reconciliation provided with so much effort. Those who declared the joint statement invalid and those who instigated them to do so should think twice over their national conscience and behave themselves.
    Those who go against the nation and reunification contrary to the demand of the national history and the desire of the fellow countrymen are bound to be judged by history.
    "Mindan" should stop playing into the hands of the Japanese reactionaries and anti-reunification conservative forces to hurt the compatriots, and lend an ear to the unanimous voices of the whole nation, though belatedly, and retract at once its unreasonable decision to scrap the May 17 joint statement of Chongryon and Mindan.
    All Koreans will closely follow the future attitude of "Mindan".

Rodong Sinmun on Korean People's Self-Respect

    Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- It is the sentiment of self-respect and pluck of the Korean people exalted and hardened by the might of Songun never to exchange the dignified system and happy life in the DPRK for anything but defend them to the bitter end and display them all over the world at whatever cost, declares Rodong Sinmun in an article Thursday, a summary of which follows: The Korean people's sense of self-respect has reached the highest plane in the present times in which the Songun politics of Kim Jong Il has been incorporated in realities on an overall scale.
    The temperament of the Korean people with a strong sense of self-respect is represented in that they never allow the interference and pressure of outside forces, but fight with their last ounce of strength in defense of national dignity and sovereignty and that they carry on the revolution and construction their own way.
    It also finds manifestation in making a higher and faster leap forward, full of far-reaching ambition and confidence.
    The army and people of the DPRK place the dignity and sovereignty of the nation above their lives.
    The U.S. imperialists are displaying increasing frenzy in their anti-DPRK moves. The army and people of the DPRK are all astir in the fighting spirit to destroy the enemies, while keeping a sharp watch at their every move. It is the will and pluck of the army and people of the DPRK to sweep away the aggressors out of this land to the last man, whoever they may be, by giving vent to the long pent-up resentment of the nation, if they dare invade even 0.001 mm of the land of the socialist country.
    The army and people of the DPRK strong in the sense of self-respect will never read other's face in any case. They will steadily build the worthy socialist new life their own way, holding high the banner of Songun with rock-firm faith in their cause in the future.

Old Book "Maechon's Records"

    Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- There is a national classical book "Maechon's Records". The six-volume book was written by Hwang Hyon, a scholar and writer, who was active in the closing years of the Ri Dynasty (1392 - 1910). The book, written in a diarial form, contains records of historical facts and individual figures in the period from 1864 to 1910. Maechon was the pen name of Hwang Hyon.
    He was born in Kwangyang County, South Jolla Province, in 1855.
    He won the first place in the state examination in 1888. But he refused to enter upon a wild political career, went back to his home town and was devoted to reading.
    Unable to control his wrath at the occupation of the country by the Japanese imperialists, he committed suicide on September 10, 1910, after leaving four poems.
    Among a lot of data are records of a scramble for power between Taewongun, father of King Kojong, and Queen Min, the strong-arm politics of Queen Min and her relatives on the mother's side, the Kapsin Coup D'etat, the Kapo Reform, the Ulmi Incident, "Emissary Incident in Hague", the Kapo Peasant War, the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, fabrication of the "Ulsa Five-point Treaty", treacheries of pro-Japanese bureaucrats and tax extortion of people.
    The book details the internal situation and international relations of the then Korea embracing political, economic, military, cultural and external fields.
    "Maechon's Records" serves as a valuable old book which is of importance in the study of the modern history of Korea.

Buddhist Masses for Reunification Held

    Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- Buddhist masses to defend peace against the U.S. and war and pray for the reunification of the country were held at temples across the DPRK Thursday on the lapse of 140 years since the United States infiltrated the USS Sherman into Korea on an aggressive mission. Present at the masses were office-bearers of the Central Committee of the Korean Buddhist Federation and its provincial, city and county committees, resident priests of the temples, monks and Buddhists.
    The rituals were followed by speeches.
    The speakers said:
    The U.S. imperialists who had nourished ambitions to invade Korea from long ago sent the USS Sherman in July 1866 to invade Korea. After the liberation of Korea on August 15, 1945 they occupied south Korea under the mask of "liberator" and perpetrated ceaseless provocations to invade the north. Finally, in June 1950, they launched a war of aggression against the northern half of Korea, during which they ruthlessly killed a great many innocent civilians and destroyed peaceful towns and villages, schools, hospitals and even temples. They are still committing murder, plunder and moves for aggression and war in south Korea. They are really the sworn enemy of the Korean people.
    The speakers strongly denounced the U.S. for staging mad-cap RIMPAC-2006 joint military exercises targeted against the DPRK, trampling underfoot the earnest desire of all the Koreans for peace and reunification.
    They called on all the Buddhists in the north and the south of Korea and abroad to unite in Dharma-minded concord in accordance with the idea of "By our nation itself" to resolutely foil the maneuvers of the U.S. and its followers to ignite a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. They also urged them to actively turn out in a practical action to bring earlier peace and reunification to the country.
    Written prayers for the reunification of the country were read out at the masses.

For Spanish-speaking people

Maniobras de EE.UU. para guerra de agresion al Norte de Corea

    Pyongyang, 20 de julio (ATCC) -- Si se tiene en cuenta el plazo, contenido, caracter y dimension del ejercicio militar conjunto "Rimpac-2006", resulta evidente que esto es una operacion militar general y una guerra preliminar para el ataque preventivo a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. 　Asi comienza un articulo individual publicado hoy en el diario Rodong Sinmun y prosigue:
    　Sin embargo, los imperialistas norteamericanos lo califican de un entrenamiento para garantizar la "seguridad de vias maritimas" y "hacer frente al terrorismo" a fin de encubrir y justificar su caracter criminal, objetivo y peligrosidad.
    　El "Rimpac-2006" deviene un eslabon de los preparativos de una nueva guerra segun la estrategia agresiva de los imperialistas norteamericanos sobre Asia, especialmente, de la segunda guerra coreana.
    　Los belicistas estadounidenses lo iniciaron justamente el 25 de junio, dia en que desataron la guerra coreana hace 56 anos.
    　Este hecho insinua que los yanquis tratan de desencadenar otra guerra para ocupar a la RPDC en lugar de sacar la leccion de su derrota en la pasada guerra coreana.
    　Durante el simulacro los uniformados norteamericanos ejercitan las acciones de operacion militar general, inclusive el disparo de misiles, canoneo, desembarco de infanteria de marina y desminado.
    　Pues los imperialistas gringos intentan neutralizar las fuerzas disuasorias de guerra de la RPDC y tomarla facilmente mediante el ataque maritimo y aereo de gran envergadura como lo hicieron en Afganistan e Irak.
    　Toman parte en la maniobra militar tambien los paises que siguen y apoyan activamente la politica norteamericana de agredir a la RPDC.
    　Participando casi en todas las ediciones anteriores del simulacro, estas fuerzas satelites practicaron las modalidades de combate segun la agresiva estrategia militar de EE.UU. contra la RPDC. Ellas seran primeras, ademas del imperio, en despachar a sus tropas al frente coreano cuando se desate una guerra en la Peninsula Coreana..
    　Como demuestran los hechos, los imperialistas norteamericanos pretenden introducir las fuerzas multinacionales al frente de Corea al igual que en la pasada guerra coreana, tras desatar una guerra so pretexto del "antiterrorismo" y "mantenimiento de la paz". De esta manera, intentan realizar a toda costa en el nuevo siglo su ambicion de ocupar a la RPDC, que no pudieron satisfacer en la decada de los 50 del siglo pasado. He aqui la gravedad y la peligrosidad del "Rimpac-2006".

Pueblo coreano se caracteriza por la alta dignidad nacional

    Pyongyang, 20 de julio (ATCC) -- El pueblo coreano no desea cambiar con nada su regimen y vida, signados de alta dignidad y felicidad, y esta decidido a defenderlos a toda costa y hasta las ultimas consecuencias y exaltarlos. He aqui la dignidad y el temperamento del pueblo coreano forjado y robustecido con el poderio del Songun (priorizacion militar). Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 20 y continua:
    El orgullo nacional del pueblo coreano ha llegado a su apogeo en la epoca actual en que se materializa globalmente la politica de Songun del Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    El temperamento de los coreanos reside en no permitir ni en lo minimo la intervencion y la presion de las fuerzas foraneas sino en luchar hasta el fin para defender la dignidad y la soberania nacionales y se manifiesta en impulsar a su manera la revolucion y la construccion.
    Tambien, consiste en sus esfuerzos por saltar mas alto y avanzar mas rapido con gran aspiracion y conviccion en si mismos.
    El ejercito y el pueblo de Corea aprecian mas la dignidad y la soberania de la nacion que su propia vida.
    Ellos observan atentamente cada movimiento de los imperialistas norteamericanos que hoy andan mas enloquecidos que nunca por la campana anti-RPDC.
    　Si cualesquier agresores invaden, aunque una pulgada, el territorio de la patria socialista, aquellos aniquilaran por completo a los invasores al explotar el gran resentimiento nacional.
    Como el ejercito y el pueblo de Corea se caracterizan por el fuerte orgullo nacional, no pediran en ningun caso una ayuda a alguien. En el futuro tambien, firmemente confiados en su causa, crearan incesantemente una nueva y digna vida socialista al estilo coreano bajo la bandera de la magna politica de Songun.

"Notas de Maechon" - clasico patrimonio

   Pyongyang, 20 de julio (ATCC) -- Entre los patrimonios culturales nacionales del pueblo coreano se encuentra la obra clasica "Notas de Maechon" (de 6 tomos). Se trata de una coleccion de notas que Hwang Hyon, cientifico y literato de la etapa final de la dinastia de los Ri (1392-1910), escribio en forma de diario desde 1864 hasta 1910 sobre los hechos historicos y las figuras renombradas.
    　Como su apodo fue Maechon, el titulo de su obra puede interpretarse como "Notas de Hwang Hyon".
    Hwang (1855-1910) nacio en el distrito de Kwangyang de la provincia de Jolla del Sur.
    Aunque en 1888 aprobo ocupando el primer lugar en notas de examen para elegir a funcionarios feudales de rango inferior, no quiso dedicarse a la politica turbulenta de aquel entonces y retorno a la tierra natal donde se entrego unicamente al estudio. Pero, impotente de aguantar la indignacion por los imperialistas japoneses que ocuparon a Corea, dejo cuatro piezas poeticas como testamento y se suicido el 10 de septiembre de 1910.
    El libro reflejando la historia martirizada de aquel periodo contiene muchos datos, tales como, la disputa por el poder entre Taewongun, padre del rey Kojong, y su nuera-reina Min, el ejercicio del poder por esta y los parientes de linea materna, el golpe de estado Kapsin, la reforma Kap-o, el incidente Ulmi, el "suceso del emisario secreto en La Haya", la guerra de campesinos Kap-o, la guerra entre la dinastia de los Ching y Japon, la guerra entre Rusia y Japon, el refugio del rey en el consulado de Rusia, la invencion del "Tratado de cinco puntos Ulsa", el acto vendepatria de los funcionarios feudales projaponeses, datos sobre algunas personalidades y la incautacion de impuestos a los habitantes.
    Son mas amplios y concretos que otros registros historicos estos datos, que abarcan la situacion interna y las relaciones internacionales, todos los sectores de politica, economia, asuntos militares, cultura y relaciones exteriores de Corea de aquel tiempo.
    Por su gran valor historico para el estudio de la historia moderna de Corea, el libro deviene un precioso patrimonio clasico de la nacion coreana.

Budistas de la RPDC se pronuncian por la reunificacion de la patria

    Pyongyang, 20 de julio (ATCC) -- En ocasion del 140 aniversario de la intrusion a Corea del barco pirata norteamericano "Sherman", tuvieron lugar el dia 20 en varios templos de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea los "actos de budistas por la lucha antiyanqui, por la paz antibelica y por la reunificacion de la patria". En las ocasiones participaron los clerigos del Comite Central de la Federacion de Budistas de Corea y de los comites provinciales, urbanos y distritales de la misma, sacerdotes jefes, monjes y creyentes.
    Tras ceremonias, hubo intervenciones y se dio lectura a la oracion por la reunificacion de la patria.
    Los imperialistas norteamericanos, que desde hace mucho tiempo abrigaban la ambicion de agredir a Corea, a mediados del siglo 19, especificamente en julio de 1866, mandaron al barco "Sherman" invadir las aguas jurisdiccionales coreanas y despues de la liberacion del 15 de agosto de 1945, ocuparon el suelo surcoreano haciendose el "libertador" y cometieron ininterrumpidamente acciones provocativas para desatar la guerra contra el Norte de Corea, recordaron los oradores y prosiguieron:
    　Tras desatarla por fin en junio de 1950, mataron despiadadamente a un gran numero de civiles inocentes y destruyeron las calles y aldeas pacificas, escuelas, hospitales y hasta los templos.
    　Estos enemigos jurados se divierten hasta hoy en el Sur de Corea con matanza, pillaje, agresion y maniobras belicistas.
    Ademas, EE.UU. libra freneticamente el temerario ejercicio militar conjunto "Rimpac-2006" para ensayar la guerra de agresion al Norte de Corea pisoteando la unanime voluntad de toda la nacion coreana que desea ansiosamente la paz y reunificacion.
    Todos los budistas del Norte, el Sur y en ultramar, unidos firmemente bajo el ideal de "entre nosotros, los connacionales", deben tomar acciones practicas para detener y frustrar las maniobras belicas de EE.UU. y sus fuerzas satelites, que intentan desatar una nueva guerra nuclear en la Peninsula Coreana, y para preservar la paz y adelantar la reunificacion del pais.