Greetings to President of Cote d'Ivoire

     Pyongyang, August 6 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to Laurent Gbagbo, president of Cote d'Ivoire, on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of its independence. The message sincerely wished the president and people of Cote d'Ivoire good fruition in their efforts for peace and stability of the country and national unity, expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would continue to develop favorably.

Greetings to Jamaican Prime Minister

     Pyongyang, August 6 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Pak Pong Ju sent a message of greetings to Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of independence of Jamaica. Expressing the conviction that the friendly and cooperative relations existing between the two countries would continue to grow stronger, the message wished the prime minister and the government of Jamaica success in their work for the prosperity of the country and the welfare of its people.

All-Out Struggle for Independence and Peace Declared in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, August 6 (KCNA) -- The Reunification Solidarity of south Korea reportedly called a press conference on July 27 at which it declared the July 27-August 15 all-out struggle for achieving independence and peace of the Korean Peninsula. A press release read out at the press conference said the situation on the Korean Peninsula is growing tenser due to the U.S. persistent hostile policy towards the DPRK, underscoring the need to intensify the anti-U.S. actions to achieve independence and peace on the peninsula.
    The Reunification Solidarity will set the period from July 27 to August 15 as a period of the all-out struggle and conduct sustained practical actions for achieving independence, peace and great national unity and channel all efforts of the people to the struggle for frustrating the U.S. policy of domination, noted the press release.

Vanguard for Reunification Formed in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, August 6 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification reportedly held a ceremony in Seoul on August 2 to inaugurate the vanguard for reunification at which it called upon the youth and students to dynamically turn out in the anti-U.S. struggle for peace and reunification. Speakers at the inaugural ceremony said through the activities of the vanguard for reunification it would fully disclose the fact that the U.S. is chiefly to blame for escalating the tension on the Korean Peninsula and energetically conduct mass political work and build up public opinion to encourage all people to work hard for national cooperation.
    An action program for the vanguard was made public at the ceremony. It called for conducting an all-people signature campaign demanding a total renegotiation of the plan for the expansion of the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek and checking the conclusion of the south Korea-U.S. FTA, staging actions for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops and holding anti-U.S. meetings in front of U.S. forces bases. Kim Tae Hyong, chairman of the General Student Council of Chosun University was elected leader of the vanguard.

Struggle against Harasser of Global Peace Called for

     Pyongyang, August 6 (KCNA) -- It is the invariable world strategy of the U.S. imperialists to dominate the world by force, observes Rodong Sinmun Sunday in a signed article. It cites concrete facts to prove that after emerging boss of world imperialism in the post-World War II period, the U.S. imperialists defined it as the keynote of its foreign strategy to dominate the world by force and has since perpetrated military intervention and aggression wherever they went. The crimes committed by them against civilians in Iraq after launching a war of aggression against it go to clearly prove that they are the most barbaric and shameless aggressors and disturbers of peace in the modern times, the article notes, and goes on: The U.S. imperialists are becoming evermore undisguised in their moves to disturb peace. Their "anti-terrorism war" is a pronoun of aggression and war aimed at conquering the world by force. They are brazen-faced enough to perpetrate aggression against mankind under the pretexts of "anti-terrorism" and "defence of peace." Any country they consider to be a hurdle in establishing a world order has become a target of their invasion. What is more serious is that they are desperately working to bring a nuclear holocaust to mankind after singling out a preemptive nuclear attack as a basis of their aggressive military strategy. It is prompted by such criminal design that they have stepped up the moves to manufacture ultra-modern and smaller nukes and simplified the procedures for their use.
    They are encouraging and patronizing their allies in the acts of aggression in order to meet their strategic interests.
    They are creating the danger of war and seriously threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula, too.
    The situation on the peninsula remains so tense due to the reckless moves of the U.S. imperialists that a war may break out there any moment.

Meeting in Japan to Settle Issue of Remains of Korean Victims of Forcible Drafting

     Tokyo, August 3 (KNS-KCNA) -- A meeting for settling the issue of remains of Korean victims of forcible drafting was held in Tokyo on July 29 under the co-sponsorship of Japanese public, religious and civic organizations. Satosi Ueski, co-representative of the National Executive Committee of the Meeting for Settling the Issue of Remains of Korean Victims of Forcible Drafting and initiator of the Society for Thinking of War Victims in the Asia-Pacific Region, said in a keynote report that the government should not use the issue of remains, a humanitarian matter, as a diplomatic card but retract its decision to disallow the entry into Japan of a delegation of bereaved families of Korean victims of forcible drafting. As the Japan government is directly to blame for forcible drafting of Koreans, it should officially inform the bereaved families of the discussion on the issue of remains of victims and apologize to them.
    The meeting was addressed by public figures of Japan, Vice-Chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan Ko Tok U who is head of the Central Headquarters of the Korean Side of the Group for Probing the Truth behind the Forcible Drafting of Koreans and representatives of bereaved families of victims of forcible drafting from south Korea. Screened at the meeting was a videotape related to the bereaved families of victims in the northern half of Korea. The meeting adopted a decision to submit a written request to the Japanese government in connection with the issue of remains.

Moves to Perpetuate U.S. Forces' Presence in S. Korea under Fire

     Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) -- The U.S. and south Korea are contemplating the publication of a "future alliance blueprint" calling for the U.S. troops' "continued presence" in south Korea at the 38th "annual security consultative meeting" slated to take place in coming October. Minju Joson today in a signed commentary carried in this regard says: This indicates that the U.S. remains unchanged in its aggressive hostile policy toward the DPRK and the south Korean authorities in their policy of depending on outside forces. The Korean nation can never get rid of the present misfortune and pain nor can it carve out its destiny by itself as long as there remain in south Korea the U.S. troops tasked to implement the U.S. aggressive hostile policy toward the DPRK, the commentary notes, and goes on:
    The south Korean authorities are set to make public a document calling for keeping the U.S. troops in south Korea even after the reunification of the country, toeing to its aggressive hostile policy toward the DPRK. This is an undisguised act of treachery as it is meant to hurt compatriots by means of war.
    They are talking about "security" in a bid to cover up the above-said criminal act, but it is nothing but sophism. The U.S. troops present in south Korea are the harasser of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, their pullback from south Korea would automatically lead to the solution of the issue of "security." Unpardonable are the reckless moves of the south Korean authorities to sacrifice the whole Korean nation, not content with having forced the south Koreans to fall victim to the U.S. troops. The Korean nation will never recognize any document of aggression and treachery to be published by the U.S. and south Korea nor will it allow any foreign forces to trifle its destiny.
    The south Korean authorities would be well advised to come to themselves and give up their treacherous act to leave the destiny of the nation to the aggressors, though belatedly.

Israel's Aggression and U.S. Undisguised Support for It under Fire

     Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary terms Israel's brigandish aggression of Palestine and Lebanon and its mass killings of civilians there an intolerable challenge to the Middle East countries and the international community desirous of the Mideast peace. The commentary blasts the U.S. wrong stance of openly supporting and patronizing Israel and the UNSC's incompetent behavior. Israel does not hesitate to invade other countries and commit mass killings, blatantly challenging the demands of the Middle East countries and the international community because the U.S. is unilaterally supporting and patronizing it from a biased stand, the commentary says, and goes on:
    When Israel began its invasion of Palestine and Lebanon, the U.S. described it as an "exercise of the right to self-defence." This was evidenced by the fact that the U.S. shielded Israel at the UNSC emergency meeting on the above-said aggression. The incompetent behavior of the UNSC also aroused disappointment from the international community. The UNSC, influenced by the U.S., uttered no words critical of Israel's cruel mass killings, thereby betraying its incompetence.
    Israel should immediately halt its reckless military aggression and mass killings and withdraw its troops from Palestine and Lebanon as soon as possible. And if the U.S. truly wants peace in the Middle East, it should discontinue patronizing Israel.

Rodong Sinmun on Defending Peace against War

     Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) -- Sovereignty and peace of countries can be defended and construction of a new independent and peaceful world accelerated only when the peace-loving people of the world firmly unite and turn out in a vigorous struggle for defending peace against war. Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a signed article.
    The U.S.-led imperialists' brigandish armed invasion of sovereign countries is a typical violation of their sovereignty, a vicious harass of peace, the article points out, and goes on:
    Their armed invasion is the most reactionary and anti-popular war crime, state-sponsored terrorism blocking the onward movement of history and exerting misfortune and disasters upon people.
    The struggle for peace against war is a fundamental requirement of defense of sovereignty and a guarantee for prosperity and development. The U.S. imperialists are the very one who harasses peace at present. They are the kingpin of state-sponsored terrorism of the 21st century, the principal criminal of aggression and war.
    When all the progressive people of the world who are interested in peace turn out in the struggle for peace against war under the banner of unity, the U.S.-led imperialist aggression forces dare not run amuck at random and a favorable environment for peace can be created in the international arena.
    The progressive people of the world should not overlook but resolutely reject even a slight infringement upon sovereignty by the imperialists. And they should not do anything helpful to the imperialists' aggression and violation of sovereignty in any case.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from C.C., Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union

     Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) ? General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union. The gift was handed on August 1 to Jang Yong Chol, secretary of the C.C., the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League of the DPRK who is heading its delegation on a visit to Laos, by Sisavath Keobounphanh, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Lao People's Revolutionary Party who is chairman of the C.C., the National Construction Front of Laos and leader of the central mass organizations.
    Sisavath Keobounphanh said the Laos-Korea Youth Friendship Centre has helped the officials of the Lao youth union and the young people know well about the reality of the DPRK advancing under the uplifted banner of socialism and about the greatness of Kim Jong Il leading it to victory and glory with his unique Songun politics and his wise leadership, in particular.
    He referred to the fact that the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union prepared the gift representing the profound respect and reverence for Kim Jong Il and the best wishes for his good health.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rodong Sinmun condena atrocidades israelies defendidas por EE.UU.

    　Pyongyang, 5 de agosto (ATCC) -- En un comentario individual de este sabado, el diario Rodong Sinmun califico la bandidesca agresion y la matanza que comete Israel en Palestina y el Libano de insoportable desafio a los paises del Medio Oriente y la sociedad internacional, deseosos de la paz regional, y denuncio el injusto procedimiento de Estados Unidos de ampararlas y la conducta irresponsable del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU. Contando con el respaldo y amparo parciales y prejuiciosos de EE.UU., Israel ya no vacila en agredir y cometer genocidios contra otros paises en desafio frontal a la demanda de los paises del Medio Oriente y la sociedad internacional, revela el comentarista y prosigue:
    Pues cuando el pais hebreo inicio la invasion contra Palestina y el Libano, EE.UU. salio en defensa de los israelies calificandola de un supuesto "ejercicio del derecho a la autodefensa".
    Ademas, en una reunion emergente del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU convocada para tratar este tema, EE.UU. tambien abogo parcialmente por el estado sionista. Por su parte, presionado por EE.UU., el Consejo de Seguridad no pudo cuestionar ni en lo minimo los atroces asesinatos por parte de Israel poniendo al desnudo su incompetencia, lo cual produjo una gran decepcion en la sociedad internacional.
    Israel debe parar ahora mismo esa imprudente agresion militar y la matanza de seres humanos y retirar cuanto antes a sus tropas de Palestina y el Libano. A su vez, si EE.UU. desea de veras la paz de esta region, debe dejar de amparar al pais hebreo.

Minju Joson denuncia presencia de tropas yanquis en Sur de Corea

    　Pyongyang, 5 de agosto (ATCC) -- En la "38a reunion consultiva de seguridad anual" que tendra lugar en octubre Estados Unidos y el Sur de Corea tratan de publicar un "diseno azul de la alianza de futuro" que predica la "permanencia indefinida" de las tropas norteamericanas en el Sur de Corea. Esto demuestra que no ha cambiado ni en lo minimo la politica hostil de EE.UU. hacia Corea y la de dependencia de las fuerzas extranjeras de las autoridades surcoreanas. 　Asi senala el periodico Minju Joson en un comentario individual del dia 5 y continua: 　Sin hacer retirar a los uniformados yanquis que ejecutan sobre el terreno la politica de agresion a Corea de EE.UU., la nacion coreana no podra liberarse de las desgracias y sufrimientos de hoy ni forjar de manera independiente su destino.
    　Las autoridades surcoreanas tratan de mantener las tropas norteamericanas en el sur de Corea tambien despues de la reunificacion del pais en acato a la politica norteamericana de agresion a Corea. Esto deviene una abierta intencion de optar metodo de la guerra contra el norte de Corea.
    　A fin de encubrir tal acto criminal, las autoridades surcoreanas esgrimen el pretexto de la "seguridad", que no pasa de ser una sofisteria.
    　Los efectivos norteamericanos ocupantes del Sur de Corea son destructores de la paz de la Peninsula Coreana, con la retirada de estas tropas se solucionara espontaneamente el problema de "seguridad". No sera tolerada jamas la intencion criminal de las autoridades surcoreanas de inmolar a la nacion y sus integrantes en adhesion a la politica agresiva norteamericana.
    　Todos los coreanos no reconoceran el documento de agresion y traicion ni confiaran su destino a las fuerzas foraneas.
    　Las autoridades surcoreanas deben volver en si aun que ahora y desistir del acto traidor de confiar el destino de la nacion a los agresores.

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de una entidad de Laos

    　Pyongyang, 5 de agosto (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dedicara el Comite Central de la Union de la Juventud Popular Revolucionaria Lao (UJPRL). Sisavath Keobounphanh, miembro del Buro Politico del CC del Partido Popular Revolucionario Lao, presidente del CC del Frente de Construccion Nacional de Laos y dirigente de las organizaciones de masas centrales, lo entrego el dia primero al secretario del CC de la Union de la Juventud Socialista Kim Il Sung, Jang Yong Chol, quien preside la delegacion de esta entidad, de visita en ese pais asiatico.
    　En la ocasion el entregador dijo que a traves del Centro de Amistad de la Juventud Laos-Corea, los funcionarios de la UJPRL y otros jovenes de nueva generacion llegaron a conocer bien de la realidad de Corea que avanza con la bandera socialista en alto, en particular, de la noble personalidad y la sabia direccion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il quien con la original politica de Songun (priorizacion militar) conduce Corea a la victoria y gloria y se refirio a que el CC de la UJPRL preparo el presente traduciendo el ardiente respeto y veneracion hacia el y deseandole buena salud.