DPRK to Certainly Force Japan to Pay for Crackdown upon Chongryon: KCNA Commentary

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries' suppression of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) has reached an intolerable limit. Visits of officials of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan to their homeland by Ship "Mangyongbong-92" are banned by law, watch and persecution of them have been intensified and the assaults on Korean schools and their students have become pronounced. Japan is swept by a whirlwind of crackdown upon Chongryon and Koreans in Japan.
    The suppression of Chongryon and xenophobia against Koreans in Japan are an intolerable challenge and provocation against the DPRK as they are an extremely grave development, a product of the Japanese authorities' hostile policy towards it.
    As well known to the world, the Koreans in Japan are those who were forcibly taken there by the Japanese imperialists to do slave labor and their descendants.
    Japan is obliged to guarantee the Koreans in Japan their national rights and convenience in their living both in the light of its moral commitment to own responsibility for the crimes committed by it against the Korean people in the past and apologize for them and the requirements of international law which calls for respecting the legal status of foreign citizens and those of humanitarianism.
    The Japanese authorities are despising and persecuting the Koreans in Japan in violation of their rights to maintain political and legal and kindred ties with their homeland through their visits to their homeland, etc. as proud overseas citizens of the socialist country, though they are provided for by international law. Their behavior is unjustifiable as it means that they have abandoned all their commitments.
    The "international convention on putting an end to all forms of racial discrimination" adopted at the UN in 1965 stipulates that any discrimination, rejection and restriction of anyone on account of race and nationality and so on belong to racial discrimination and any organization inciting these practices and those affiliated to it are liable to punishment for being international criminals.
    The international community should hold the Japanese reactionaries hell-bent on the crackdown upon Chongryon and Koreans in Japan wholly accountable for the international crimes and mete out a stern judgment to them.
    The Japanese authorities should stop their moves to achieve the sinister aim sought by their pressure upon the DPRK, taking officials of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan as hostages.
    Their despicable behavior would do the DPRK-Japan relations nothing good but only betray their rude nature and weakness.
    With no machination can they break the faith and patriotic will of the officials of Chongryon and the Koreans in Japan.
    Any provocation and suppression of them are little short of an infringement upon the sovereign rights of the DPRK.
    Should the Japanese reactionaries persist in their anti-Chongryon campaign defying the DPRK's repeated warnings, this will only touch off bitterer anti-Japanese sentiment among the Korean people and add to the debts Japan has refused to pay to them for a long period of time.

Rodong Sinmun on Irresistible Trend of Global Independence

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- The trend of the times towards global independence can never be stemmed no matter how frantically the reactionaries of history may challenge, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. The imperialists have made desperate efforts in the international arena this year to hold in check the onward movement of history but they could not arrest the struggle of the people for independence and peace and their moves to divert the trend of history have met only failure and frustration, the article notes, and goes on:
    The dynamic struggle of the people for independence, progress and peace against the imperialists' military intervention and war moves has been under way worldwide.
    This struggle for independence against imperialism goes to prove that with no desperate efforts can the imperialists halt the onward movement of history and they will not be able to escape an international isolation and a ruin.
    It is a law governing the development of history for the world to go in for independence. What is essential in the struggle of the popular masses for independence is to protect the sovereignty of their country and the dignity of their nation. Sovereignty is what keeps each country and nation alive.
    An independent people should not allow anyone to infringe upon the sovereignty of their country and the dignity of their nation under any circumstances but stand up firm against such practice. This necessity is proven by the fact that the people's struggle for independence and peace has unprecedentedly mounted in the international arena this year and the imperialists, accordingly, stand further isolated and rejected by them.
    It is thanks to the vigorous struggle of the world's progressive forces for independence against imperialism that the movement for global independence has victoriously advanced, meeting the vicious challenges of the reactionaries of history this year.
    The progressive countries of the world have waged a dynamic struggle against the imperialists' military intervention and aggression against other sovereign states, regarding them as an infringement upon their own sovereignty, and check and frustrate the imperialists' high-handed and arbitrary practices and unilateral policy. Various countries have increased their defence capability to cope with the imperialists' threat, blackmail and pressure. As a result, the world's progressive forces have grown stronger, accelerating the process of global independence.
    The progressive people of the world will intensify their struggle under the uplifted banner of independence and peace and surely emerge victorious in the cause of global independence.

Mongolian Committee Supporting Inter-Korean Joint Declaration Formed

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- The Mongolian Committee Supporting the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration was inaugurated with due ceremony in Ulan Bator on Nov. 16. Ch. Surenjav, chairman of the Mongolia-Korea Friendship Society, was elected chairman of the committee at the ceremony.
    He said that the inauguration of the committee was aimed to powerfully encourage the Korean people in their efforts to ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and achieve the reunification of the country by themselves.
    The committee decided to stage diverse events in support of the Korean people's cause of reunification.

KCTU Meets for General Strike

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) held a meeting to vow to enter into a general strike in front of the building of the "National Assembly" in Seoul on Nov. 15, according to CBS of south Korea. It brought together at least 3,000 unionists.
    At the meeting speakers urged the authorities to make clear their stand on the four-point demand including an opposition to the revision of the labor law and legislation for guaranteeing the rights of the part-time workers.
    If the authorities turn down these demands, the unionists would enter into a general strike from Nov. 22 as scheduled, they warned.
    Meanwhile, the Freight Workers Solidarity of the Transport Workers and Stevedores Union decided to join the KCTU in its general strike.

Friendly Gathering Held at Cuban Embassy

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- A friendly gathering took place at the Cuban embassy here on Nov. 20 on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the Korean Democratic Women's Union. Present there on invitation were Pak Sun Hui, chairwoman of the Central Committee of the union, and officials of the union.
    Women of the embassy were on hand.
    The participants watched a Cuban documentary film before talking to one another on the need to boost the friendly relations between the women's organizations and women of the two countries and singing songs, deepening the friendship.

S. Korean Organization Vows to Take Van in All-People Turnout

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- The Preparatory Committee of the Youth Action for Independence and Peace of south Korea reportedly called a press conference in Seoul on Nov. 17 and declared that the youth would take the lead in the all-people turnout. The speakers at the press conference said the committee would set Nov. 18 as "day of youth action for independence and peace" and conduct a signature campaign for checking the conclusion of south Korea-U.S. "Free Trade Agreement," a movement for declaring independence and peace, a stage performance on the theme of peace against war and other events that day.
    They said it would demand of the authorities a stop to U.S. sanctions against the DPRK and the moves to sign FTA and total renegotiation on the plan to expand the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek.
    They stated that the youth would stand at the head of the struggle and certainly carry the all-people turnout to a success on Nov. 22.
    The press release read out at the press conference noted that the people's independence, peace and vital rights are facing a grave threat owing to the U.S. dominationist policy involving all the political, economic and military domains of south Korea.
    It called on all the young people who love and desire peace and independence on the Korean Peninsula to pool their efforts in the fight against the U.S.

Struggle for Peace against War Called for in S. Korea

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) --The Federation of Movement Organizations of the Korean Nation consisting of 80 organizations in south Korea reportedly held a meeting on the history of national independence in Seoul on Nov. 17, 101 years after the fabrication of "Ulsa (1905) Five-Point Treaty" by the Japanese imperialists. A joint appeal made public at the meeting denounced Japan, which forced unbearable misfortune and pains on the Korean nation in the past, for driving the situation of the Korean Peninsula to the crisis of a war, pursuant to the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK, while getting more undisguised in its moves to revive militarism, obsessed by a wild ambition to realize its old dream of the "greater east Asia co-prosperity sphere."
    For peace on the Korean Peninsula it is necessary to check the Japanese authorities' moves to revive militarism and stage a comeback to Korea and foil the south Korean flunkeyist conservative forces' dependence on outsiders, the appeal said.
    It called on all the people to turn out as one in the struggle for peace against war under the banner of "By our nation itself" and vehemently make a grand march for national independence and reunification.

Rodong Sinmun on "By Our Nation Itself"

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- "By our nation itself," the great proposition of national reunification laid down in the historic June 15 joint declaration, is the basic idea of the patriotic movement for independent reunification, for peace against war and for great national unity, declares Rodong Sinmun Tuesday in a signed article, excerpts from which read: The idea of "By our nation itself" is the ideological and moral strength which elbowed out the era of north-south confrontation and definitely turned the movement for national reunification into a nationwide patriotic movement. It is dynamically inspiring all the members of the Korean nation to the accomplishment of the cause of independent reunification.
    The patriotic movement for independent reunification is a movement for achieving the country's reunification independently by pooling the efforts of the Korean nation, rejecting outside forces. It demands that the whole nation give priority to the nation's dignity and interests and struggle with the view and morale of attaching importance to the nation and in the Korean nation first spirit. It is the main substance of this movement to frustrate the domination and interference of outside forces and put an end to the treacheries of the traitorous forces teaming up with them, giving fullest scope to national self-respect.
    The patriotic movement for peace against war is a movement to achieve a stable peace and peaceful reunification, clearing away dark clouds of war carried over the Korean Peninsula by outside forces. This movement is a patriotic struggle of justice for the Korean nation aspiring after peace and reunification to closely unite and firmly defend peace and security and drive the U.S. imperialist aggressor troops out of south Korea. It can score a proper success only when the banner of "By our nation itself" is held high.
    The patriotic movement for great national unity is a movement for all the Koreans to get united for national reunification, irrespective of differences in idea and ideology, system and party and political affiliation, and further tighten solidarity and alliance among organizations of reunification movement. It can have a powerful impetus only when it is guided by the idea of "By our nation itself." This movement must uphold "By our nation itself" as its basic idea.
    "By our nation itself" is, indeed, the main idea and vitality of the patriotic movement for independent reunification, for peace against war and for great national unity and it is the banner of victory glorifying the present June 15 era of reunification. The whole nation should accelerate with redoubled vigor the three-point patriotic movement under the uplifted banner of "By our nation itself" as indicated by the joint New Year editorial.

S. Korean Authorities Castigated for Voting for UN "Resolution on Human Rights in North Korea"

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- The south Korean authorities' vote for a UN "resolution on human rights in north Korea" raised by the U.S. is an unjustifiable and unpardonable provocation against the nation as they joined in the outsiders' moves to slander and hamstring the DPRK, says Rodong Sinmun Tuesday in a signed commentary. The daily denounces their vote for the vicious moves of the U.S. imperialists to internationalize the "human rights issue" of the DPRK as chiming in with the foreign forces' moves to harm the fellow countrymen.
    It goes on:
    If the south Korean authorities take account of inter-Korean relations and the June 15 joint declaration, they dare not raise their fist at the fellow countrymen, joining outsiders in a third-rate plot.
    The fact proves that the south Korean authorities place importance on the foreign forces, not on the nation and pursue cooperation with them, not with the nation. Therefore, they unhesitatingly threw away humanitarian work between the fellow countrymen, pursuant to the U.S. sanctions and pressure upon the DPRK and joined in collective sanctions. This time they openly joined the U.S. in its human rights racket against the DPRK.
    However hard the U.S. and its followers try to threaten someone with the worn-out "human rights issue", they can never tarnish the image of the Korean-style socialist system centered on the popular masses.
    The U.S. and its follower the south Korean authorities had better stop such a reckless farce at once and do their own business.

New Textbooks and Reference Books off Press

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- A lot of new textbooks and reference books were published to improve the educational contents and methods in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Publishing Bureau of the Ministry of Education has compiled the textbooks to suit the pedagogical requirements and to develop the intelligence of students in a more positive way.
    More than 30 kinds of textbooks with improved contents have been brought out in the field of the general education this year.
    Such reference books as "Elements of Logic", "Exercises of Logic" and "Music" have also been issued.
    Textbooks and reference books for higher education were also compiled with contents suitable to the requirements of the IT industry.
    Meanwhile, Kim Il Sung University has printed tens of kinds of books including those on the immortal leadership exploits performed by the peerlessly great persons and reference books on natural sciences.

One-act Drama "Okdongnyo" Created

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- The State Theatrical Company has created and put on the stage a one-act drama "Okdongnyo" (precious daughter) recently. In October last year, Hwang Son who came from south Korea to view the mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang", gave birth to a pretty daughter in Pyongyang. The news infinitely delighted the fellow countrymen who desired eagerly national reunification.
    She is the first baby of south Korea who was born in the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital since its opening. The Korean people blessed her future, calling her Okdongnyo for reunification produced by the June 15 era.
    The drama "Okdongnyo" based on the real fact ardently says that the reunification of the country is the long-cherished desire of the Korean nation which brooks no further delay.
    The creative staff of the company completed the drama within three months by displaying collective wisdom and enthusiasm.
    From the first debut, the drama which is full of sentiment and will of the whole nation to achieve the country's reunification without fail under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration touches the heartstrings of the audience.
    The work won the first place in the recent National Drama Festival for its bright aspect, deep emotional influence and great cognitive and instructive significance.

Greetings to Lebanese President

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Tuesday sent a message of greetings to Emile Lahoud, President of Lebanon, on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of its independence. The message wished the Lebanese President and people greater success in their efforts for the country's stability, reconstruction and development.

Delegation of SPA Back Home

    Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK headed by Chairman Choe Thae Bok Tuesday came back home after participating in the 7th Assembly of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace held in Iran and winding up an official visit to Iran. It was greeted at the airport by Kang Nung Su, vice-chairman of the SPA, and Jalaleddin Namini Mianji, Iranian ambassador to the DPRK, and embassy officials.

For Spanish-speaking people

ATCC comenta represion de reaccionarios japoneses a Chongryon

    Pyongyang, 21 de noviembre (ATCC) -- En estos dias, se torna mas temeraria que nunca la campana represiva a la Chongryon (Asociacion General de Coreanos Residentes en Japon), lanzada por los reaccionarios japoneses. Se prohibio por la ley la visita a la patria (Republica Popular Democratica de Corea) de los funcionarios de la Chongryon y otros coreanos radicados en el pais isleno a bordo del barco "Mangyongbong-92" de la RPDC y se redoblan la vigilancia y el hostigamiento a los mismos.
    Ademas, se reportan numerosos casos de ataque contra las escuelas coreanas y sus estudiantes.
    En fin, azota a todo el archipielago japones el oleaje de represion a la Chongryon y los coreanos radicados en Japon.
    Esa coreano-fobia es un acontecimiento sumamente peligroso que se produjo por la extremada politica hostil de las autoridades japonesas a la RPDC, siendo una provocacion imperdonable y desafio frontal a esta.
    Como ya es conocido por todo el mundo, los coreanos referidos son quienes fueron trasladados en contra de su voluntad a Japon por los imperialistas japoneses para los trabajos de esclavitud y sus descendientes.
    Tanto en vista a la obligacion moral de recompensar los crimenes del pasado contra el pueblo coreano como a la luz del derecho internacional y la demanda humanitaria de respetar la posicion juridica de los ciudadanos extranjeros, Japon tiene el deber de asegurar los derechos nacionales y brindar las facilidades de vida a los coreanos radicados alli.
    Sin embargo, al mostrarse infieles a todas esas obligaciones, las autoridades japonesas violan hasta el derecho de los coreanos residentes en Japon, que les corresponde en virtud de la ley internacional, a mantener las relaciones politico-juridicas y sanguineas con la RPDC visitando la tierra natal como un digno ciudadano de la patria socialista. Tal conducta de desprecio y acoso contra ellos nunca sera justificada.
    Segun la "convencion internacional sobre la eliminacion de discriminacion racial de todo tipo", aprobada en 1965 en la ONU, la discriminacion, la exclusion y la restriccion de cualquier tipo por la diferencia del linaje sanguineo y la nacionalidad son actos de discriminacion racial, y las organizaciones y sus integrantes que las promueven son criminales internacionales.
    La sociedad internacional debe cuestionar esos crimenes internacionales de los reaccionarios japoneses en contra de la Chongryon y los coreanos y castigarlos duro.
    Las autoridades japonesas deben parar esa sucia jugada para ejercer presion a la RPDC acosando a los funcionarios de la Chongryon y otros coreanos en Japon.
    Tal procedimiento tan virulento afectara las relaciones con la RPDC y mostrara la groseria y la vulnerabilidad de si mismas.
    Cualesquier maniobras de los reaccionarios japoneses no podran doblegar la fe y la voluntad patrioticas de los funcionarios de la Chongryon y los coreanos residentes en Japon.
    La provocacion y la represion contra estos significan el atentado a la soberania estatal de la RPDC.
    Si los reaccionarios japoneses siguen en su campana anti-Chongryon desoyendo la reiterada advertencia de la RPDC, incrementaran el sentimiento antijapones del pueblo coreano y la deuda historica de Japon a la primera.

Rodong Sinmun critica a las autoridades surcoreanas

    Pyongyang, 21 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Recientemente, las autoridades surcoreanas se declararon en favor del "proyecto de resolucion de derechos humanos del Norte de Corea" que Estados Unidos sometio a la votacion en la ONU. Asi se incorporaron a la inveterada conspiracion del imperio contra la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y cometieron un acto provocativo antinacional nunca tolerable y justificable. Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 21 y continua:
    Si las autoridades surcoreanas dan importancia a las relaciones Norte-Sur y la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio, no podran adherirse a la grosera intriga de las fuerzas extrajeras en contra de sus connacionales.
    Es verdad que las autoridades surcoreanas no dan importancia a la nacion sino a las fuerzas extranjeras, no buscan la cooperacion con la nacion sino con estas. Haciendo eco del alboroto de sancion y presion de EE.UU. cometieron el acto de abandonar hasta la labor humanitaria con el Norte de Corea y se incorporaron en la sancion colectiva contra este y esta vez a la campana norteamericana de "DDHH" contra la RPDC.
    Avanza la caravana mientras el perro ladra a la luna. EE.UU. y las fuerzas seguidoras con tal farsa caduca de "DDHH" no podran afectar la imagen del regimen socialista coreano centrado en las masas populares.
    EE.UU. y las autoridades surcoreanas deben desistir de tal farsa y arreglar primero el asunto suyo.

Encuentro de amistad en embajada cubana por 61o aniversario de UMDC

    Pyongyang, 21 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar el dia 20 en la Embajada de la Republica de Cuba en Corea un encuentro de amistad dedicado al 61o aniversario de la fundacion de la Union de Mujeres Democraticas de Corea. Al acto fueron invitadas la presidenta del Comite Central de esta entidad femenina, Pak Sun Hui, y otras funcionarias de la misma.
    @Ademas, estuvieron presentes las mujeres de la embajada cubana.
    Tras ver un documental cubano, las participantes profundizaron la amistad hablando del problema de fortalecer las relaciones entre las organizaciones femeninas y las mujeres de los dos paises y entonando canciones.

Es indetenible la tendencia de la epoca a la independencia

    Pyongyang, 21 de noviembre (ATCC) -- El desafio desesperado de los reaccionarios de la historia es incapaz de detener la tendencia de la epoca a la independencia. Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 21 y continua:
    Este ano en la escena internacional recrudecieron las maniobras de los imperialistas encaminadas a detener el movimiento del avance de la historia, pero cobro auge la lucha de los pueblos por la independencia y la paz. Asi las maniobras de los imperialistas no pudieron evitar el fracaso y el reves.
    Se desenvolvio en el ambito mundial la lucha de los pueblos contra la intervencion militar y las maniobras belicas de los imperialistas y por la independencia, el progreso y la paz.
    Esta lucha contra el imperialismo y por la independencia demuestra que, por mucho que se desesperen, los imperialistas no pueden detener el movimiento del avance de la historia ni evitar el aislamiento internacional y la ruina.
    El que el mundo toma el camino de la realizacion de la independencia es la ley de desarrollo de la historia.
    Lo principal en la lucha de las masas populares por la independencia es la defensa de la soberania del pais y la dignidad de la nacion. La soberania es la vida del pais y la nacion.
    Los pueblos independientes no toleran jamas que sea violada su soberania y atentada su dignidad sino luchan implacablemente por defenderlos. Lo prueba el hecho de que este ano en la escena internacional cobro auge mas que nunca la lucha de los pueblos por la independencia y paz y asi los imperialistas se ven aislados y repudiados aun mas.
    Este ano el movimiento por la realizacion de la independencia en todo el mundo avanza con pujanza frustrando desafios de los reaccionarios de la historia gracias a la incorporacion masiva de las fuerzas progresistas del mundo a la lucha contra el imperialismo y por la independencia.
    Los paises progresistas del mundo libraron energicamente la lucha por oponerse a la intervencion militar y la agresion de los imperialistas a los estados soberanos considerandolas como violacion a la soberania de si mismos, y por detener y frustrar la arbitrariedad, el despotismo y la politica unilateral de los imperialistas. Varios paises del mundo fortalecieron su poderio de defensa nacional para hacer frente a la amenaza, chantaje y maniobras de presion de los imperialistas. Como resultado se fortalecieron las fuerzas progresistas del mundo y se acelero la realizacion de la independencia en todo el mundo.
    Los pueblos progresistas del mundo lograran sin falta la victoria de la causa de verificacion de la independencia en todo el mundo enarbolando la bandera de la independencia y de la defensa de la paz.