Thorough Implementation of Tasks Laid down in Joint New Year Editorial Called for

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- Let us all carry on the dynamic drive for implementing the tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial as intended by the Workers' Party of Korea and thus successfully conclude the work for this year and achieve signal results in the efforts to materialize Kim Jong Il's grandiose plan for the building of a great prosperous powerful nation. Rodong Sinmun today says this in an editorial.
    It goes on:
    The militant tasks set forth in the joint editorial represent the high requirements of the revolutionary development on the way to the high eminence of a great prosperous powerful nation and can be successfully carried out only through a stubborn and strenuous struggle of all the people.
    All the fields and all the units should strictly review how far they have gone in their efforts to attain their goals one by one so that they may implement to the letter the militant goals laid down in the joint New Year editorial and effectively and minutely organize the work for carrying through those assignments.
    All the forces should be mobilized and concentrated on the farming without let-up to reap a good harvest. The workers in all the fields of national economy including electric power, coal and metal industries and railway transportation should redouble their efforts to bring about a fresh economic surge. Sustained vigorous efforts should be directed to major construction objects including the reconstruction and renovation in main streets of Pyongyang, construction of large hydro-power stations and land alignment. Scientists and technicians should attain without fail their goals to modernize the national economy and put it on a new scientific and technological basis. All the Party members and other working people should make positive efforts to boost the production with increased zeal and steadily improve the quality of products by fully meeting the needs of technical processes and norms.
    The Party members and other working people of the units honored with the on-the-spot guidance given by Kim Jong Il should take the lead in implementing the tasks set forth in the joint editorial.
    It is necessary to continue giving full play to the heroic fighting spirit and ardent patriotic devotion in the drive to implement the tasks set forth in the joint editorial.
    The editorial calls for fully displaying the revolutionary soldier spirit in the efforts to thoroughly implement the tasks and pulling through difficulties with the might of unity so as to effect signal collective innovations in every part of the country.

Strict Application of Idea of "By Our Nation Itself" Urged

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- "By our nation itself", the basic spirit of the June 15 joint declaration agreed upon by the north and the south of Korea and supported by all the Koreans, is an idea common to the nation that all its members should uphold and apply in the way of national reunification. Rodong Sinmun stresses this in a by-lined article on Tuesday.
    The people in the north and the south of Korea are of a homogeneous nation who has lived with the same blood and language, building a brilliant culture in one territory for thousands of years. They should be reunited as a community bound together by common destiny, the article says, and goes on:
    The principle of national independence should be firmly maintained in the development of the north-south relations. The cause of Korea's reunification should be realized by its nation itself according to the independent will and demand of the nation with it as the master. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the north-south relations strictly on the basis of the principle of national independence, regarding it as their lifeline.
    It is also important to develop the inter-Korean relations by means of national cooperation. Only steady north-south national cooperation based on the idea of "By our nation itself" can prevent the danger of a new war in the Korean Peninsula and bring about a decisive phase in the improvement of the north-south relations and the reunification of Korea.
    It is a dangerous factor worsening the situation and endangering the inter-Korean relations to stage joint military exercises with outsiders against the other party, while singing the ballad of peace on the Korean Peninsula. However, the south side is now staging joint military exercises against fellow countrymen, reading outsider's face and cooperating with it under its pressure, failing to take the stand of national cooperation, and thus driving the situation of Korea to catastrophic phase.
    In order to remain true to the idea of "By our nation itself", it is urgent to remove the barriers of confrontation in system existing within the nation at an early date. Legal mechanism is an obstacle to removing confrontation and distrust between the north and the south and developing their relations in accordance with the idea of "By our nation itself". There still remains in south Korea the "National Security Law", and such practices are witnessed as judging ideological realms of society and the north-south relations with the NSL as a yardstick.
    The idea of "By our nation itself" laid down in the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration is the key to the improvement of the inter-Korean relations and solution of the problem of national reunification.

Anti-North Moves of U.S. and GNP under Fire

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity of Youth and Students for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration reportedly made public a statement titled "We condemn the U.S. and the Grand National Party (GNP) for advocating the south-north confrontation" on Oct. 19. Some time ago, the U.S. state secretary and ambassador in Seoul, displeased with the inter-Korean economic exchange and cooperation, openly pressurized the south Korean "government" to take an anti-reunification position.
    The statement accused the GNP of faithfully playing the role of a south Korean branch of the Republican Party in the U.S., dancing to the tune of the U.S. state secretary and ambassador.
    The U.S. and the GNP should reflect on and apologize for their anti-peace and anti-reunification behavior, the statement held, urging the U.S. to immediately halt its interference in the internal affairs of south Korea aimed at disturbing peace and blocking reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
    It expressed the determination to join the people from all walks of life in the actions against the U.S. and the GNP in order to foil the U.S. sanctions and pressure upon the north and defend the peace on the peninsula.

Release of Protesters against Expansion of U.S. Military Base Demanded

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- The Family Movement Council for Realizing Democracy of south Korea reportedly held a Thursday rally in Seoul on Oct. 19 in demand of the release of participants in the struggle against the expansion of the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek now under arrest. The speakers at the rally recalled that the authorities arrested Kim Ji Thae, chairman of the Phaengsong-up measure committee against the expansion of the U.S. military base, on the charge of the violation of the infamous "National Security Law" and were scheming to keep him in custody even by putting off the trial.
    Noting that the authorities detained Ro Su Hui, co-chairman of the south Korean Alliance for Democracy and Reunification, and five other activists on Oct. 13, they said their "offenses" were no more than protesting against the unjustifiable act of the authorities in grabbing the land of civilians.
    They demanded an immediate release of the protesters against the expansion of the Phyongthaek base, branding their arrest by the authorities as "a mean act reminiscent of the outrages in the days of dictatorship."

Anti-DPRK War Exercises Assailed

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Tuesday raps at the United States which is getting more hysteric in posing military threat to the DPRK and staging war exercises by instigating bellicose forces of Japan and south Korea. The analyst says:
    The U.S. imperialist aggression troops in south Korea and the south Korean marines began "joint landing exercises" on Oct. 19 and ground and naval forces of south Korea more than 12,000 strong are to be hurled into "landing operation exercises" in Phohang today. And the U.S plans to form a large fleet and stage a joint war rehearsal in early November against the DPRK involving "sea search" in the East Sea of Korea together with the Japan maritime "Self-Defence Force".
    In staging very provocative war games against the DPRK while driving the situation to the extreme phase of confrontation and war through unprecedented maneuvers of sanctions and blockade, the U.S. and its followers seek to put military pressure on the DPRK and bring it down. For this criminal purpose the U.S. imperialists have long resorted to sanctions and military aggression against the DPRK.
    This is, however, a pipe dream that can never come true.
    And it is a hare-brained folly leading to self-destruction for the Japanese and south Korean pro-U.S. warlike forces to join in the dangerous play with fire, dancing to the drum-beating of the U.S. imperialists in the anti-DPRK racket with daggers in their belts.
    The U.S., Japanese and south Korean warlike forces should no more run amuck but immediately stop the provocative war exercises, pondering over the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by their saber-rattling.

Famous Ongjin Spa

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- There is a famous spa in Ongjin Township of Ongjin County, South Hwanghae Province of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It was found out towards the end of the 1400s. The temperature of the spa water is 100 degrees centigrade, which is hottest out of spas in the country.
    It is a slightly alkaline sodium chloride-radon spa. More than 1,500 cubic meters of water comes up naturally out of the ground a day.
    There are over ten spa springs in the township. The component and content of their water are similar.
    Spa No. 2 is for hospital's use. The total amount of mineral matters is 5.1 grams per liter, out of which metasilicic acid is 141.67 milligrams per liter and radon 270 Bq.
    It has chloride ion of 2,907.72 milligrams, sodium ion of 1,609.3 milligrams and calcium ion of 301.6 milligrams per liter as its main ion components.
    The spa is very good for blood circulation, metabolism, antiinflammation, desensitization, sedation, pain-killing, and vegetative nervous-blood vessel control.
    It is also efficacious for the patients suffering from chronic gastritis (potent for low-acid), chronic coloenteritis, chronic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, neuralgia, neuritis, chronic osteoarthritic diseases caused by different reasons, traumatism and aftereffect of the operation, first and second stage of hypertension, eczema, psoriasis, prurigo, hives and some women's diseases.
    The Ongjin spa is also of a great economic value.
    Industrial establishments and co-op farms in surrounding area are heated by the spa water.
    There is a large-scale swimming pool in the township to use the spa.
    The spa, registered as a natural monument in the country, is under state protection.

Kwangmyongsong Saltern on East Coast

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- The Korean people have wrought epoch-making miracles with an indomitable will, saying that he who says something is impossible is not speaking Korean. Among such miracles is the Kwangmyongsong Saltern on the east coast of the country which started production in October Juche 88 (1999).
    The ground-breaking ceremony of the saltern took place in 1996 when the people had to undergo grave hardships owing to the frantic anti-DPRK rackets launched by the U.S.-led imperialist allied forces.
    The situation was so serious, but the DPRK rose up and performed such a historical miracle on the east coast.
    People of South Hamgyong Province, overcoming many-fold difficulties, blasted two mountains whole and extracted more than three million cubic meters of earth and stones to build tens of kilometers of dam along the sea-shore.
    Also they removed reed roots in over 50 hectares of mud field and constructed waterways and setups with success.
    The Kwangmyongsong Saltern was followed by the construction of various salt farms on the east coast, bringing about a new change in the solution of salt problem in the country.
    In particular, the saltern, with an annual production capacity of tens of thousands of tons, is greatly contributing to the development of the country's chemical industry and the local industry and fully meeting the demand of the people for salt.
    The Korean people, with the firm will that when the Party is determined we can do anything, will certainly build a great prosperous powerful nation, working a miracle after another.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Bangladeshi Friendship Organization

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea. The gift was handed to the DPRK ambassador to Bangladesh by Nuran Nabie, chairman of the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee, on Oct. 18.

Congratulations to Swedish PM and FM

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a congratulatory message to Fredrick Reinfeldt on his appointment as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden. Paek Nam Sun, minister of Foreign Affairs, sent a similar message to Carl Bildt on his appointment as foreign minister of Sweden.

Important Days of DPRK Observed in Democratic Congo

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- A meeting, a seminar, a reading session and other celebrations took place in Kinshasa from Oct. 8 to 16 on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea and the 80th anniversary of the Down-with-Imperialism Union (DIU). Displayed in the venues of the functions were photos showing the feats performed by President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in leading the party building and pictures introducing the might of the WPK demonstrating its dignity as invincible combat ranks.
    The deputy general secretary of the People's Rally for Socialism of Democratic Congo, addressing a meeting, referred to the historic significance of the formation of the DIU and the proud course of the WPK in which it has always emerged victorious, holding high the banner of Songun for a long period by inheriting the tradition of the DIU.
    The chairman of the Group for the Study of Kim Jong Il Juche Idea of Democratic Congo in a speech said that the practical experience of socialist Korea proves that the Juche idea is, indeed, the only scientific idea guiding the human cause of independence.
    The chairman of the Group for the Study of the Juche Idea of University of Kinshasa in a speech highly praised Kim Jong Il for having successfully carried forward and developed the Songun idea of Kim Il Sung. The Songun idea, the Songun politics and past, today and tomorrow of socialist Korea would be unthinkable without Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the chairman stressed.
    The participants in the functions watched "For the Liberation of the Country" and other Korean films.

DPRK Praised

    Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- Rose Najjemba Muyinda, chairperson of the Ugandan National Women's Council, who paid a visit to the DPRK some days ago said that everything in the DPRK serves the popular masses and the rising generation. The DPRK is, indeed, a genuine society where the people have become a master, she noted. She keenly felt that the leaders of Korea are the great persons who have devoted their all to the prosperity of the country, the happiness of the people and the rising generation who would take the future of the country on their shoulders, she said, and went on:
    One of the greatest feats performed by the great persons is that they have built and consolidated the wonderful socialist system. Another feat is that they have made sure that the history and traditions created by the Korean people are defended and glorified.
    The brilliant revolutionary life and undying feats of President Kim Il Sung are always remembered thanks to HE Kim Jong Il.
    My visit to the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong helped me know better about the exploits performed by Kim Jong Suk in the struggle. She was an anti-Japanese war hero who embarked upon the road of revolution in her early days and devoted her all to the liberation of the country.
    I could deeply feel the warm loving care shown by the great leaders of Korea for the people and the total dedication made by them wherever I visited.
    She gave the following impressions of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital and the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace she visited:
    Seeing the bright faces of the children full of immense happiness, I was convinced of the bright tomorrow of socialist Korea, the great country.
    The socialist system in the DPRK is excellent, indeed, as all the policies are being pursued for the popular masses.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rodong Sinmun denuncia ejercicios de EE.UU., Japon y Sur de Corea

    Pyongyang, 24 de octubre (ATCC) -- En coligacion con las fuerzas belicosas de Japon y del Sur de Corea, Estados Unidos ejerce la amenaza militar y desarrolla los ejercicios belicos contra la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. @Senala asi el rotativo Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual insertado en su edicion del dia 24 y prosigue:
    Desde el pasado dia 19, las tropas estadounidenses ocupantes del Sur de Corea y la unidad marina del Sur de Corea desplegaron "ejercicios combinados de desembarco" y el dia 24, se efectua en Phohang un "ejercicio de operacion de desembarco" con la incorporacion de mas de 12 mil efectivos de las fuerzas terrestres y navales del Sur de Corea. Ademas, a principios de noviembre, EE.UU. va a formar una flota de gran envergadura para desarrollar junto con las "fuerzas navales de autodefensa" de Japon una "inspeccion maritima" y otros simulacros conjuntos contra la RPDC.
    @EE.UU. y sus fuerzas entreguistas recrudecen la sancion y bloqueo contra la RPDC llevando la situacion a la peor fase de confrontacion y guerra y al mismo tiempo, despliegan los muy provocativos ejercicios belicos contra la segunda para ejercer la presion militar sobre esta y derrocarla.
    Pero, esto es una vana ilusion.
    Las fuerzas belicistas proyanquis de Japon y el Sur de Corea se juntan a los ejercicios belicos de EE.UU. contra la RPDC. Pero, esto no pasa de ser un proceder imprudente que adelanta solo su autodestruccion.
    Las fuerzas belicosas de EE.UU., Japon y el Sur de Corea deben actuar con prudencia al reflexionar de las consecuencias funestas que emanen de sus temerarios ejercicios belicos y cesarlos ahora mismo.

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de entidad bengali de amistad con Corea

    Pyongyang, 24 de octubre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera el Comite de Amistad y Solidaridad Bangladesh-Corea en ocasion del 61o aniversario de la fundacion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea. @El presidente de esta entidad Nuran Nabie lo entrego el dia 18 al embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario coreano en su pais.

Salina Kwangmyongsong en la costa orienta

    Pyongyang, 24 de octubre (ATCC) -- El pueblo coreano, con la voluntad indoblegable de que si hay algo imposible esto no es la palabra coreana, crea milagros seculares que escapan la imaginacion del ser humano. Entre tales prodigios figura la Salina Kwangmyongsong, construida majestuosamente en octubre del 88 (1999) de la Era Juche a la orilla del Mar Este de Corea.
    Se dio la primera palada a la obra de construccion de la gigante salina en 1996 cuando el pueblo coreano pasaba por severas pruebas debido a freneticas campanas de Estados Unidos y otras fuerzas aliadas imperialistas contra la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea.
    Los habitantes de la provincia de Hamgyong del Sur, sobreponiendose con valentia a multiples dificultades y obstaculos, removieron dos montes enteros equivalentes a mas de 3 millones de metros cubicos de tierra y piedra para levantar el dique de decenas de kilometros de eterna duracion a orilla del mar.
    Por otra parte, arrancaron de raiz los juncos del pantano de mas de 50 hectareas y realizaron sin desperfecto la obra de canal y red de infraestructuras.
    Por los esfuerzos abnegados de los trabajadores que avanzan con energia hacia una gran potencia prospera socialista se construyo en un corto tiempo la magnifica Salina Kwangmyongsong que es una de las mas grandes del pais en su dimension y cantidad productiva.
    La Salina con capacidad de produccion anual de decenas de miles de toneladas contribuye grandemente al desarrollo de la industria quimica del pais y la industria local de la provincia y a cubrir satisfactoriamente la demanda del pueblo.
    El pueblo coreano, con firme conviccion de que si decide el Partido lo cumplimos, construira ciertamente susodicha potencia creando siempre milagros.