Pyongyang on New Year's Day

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- The New Year's Day of Juche 96 (2007) has come. From the early morning, streams of the Korean people visit statues of the great President Kim Il Sung, the eternal sun of Juche, with floral baskets and bunches of flowers to make a New Year's bow to him.
    Officers and men of the Korean People's Army, working people of all strata and school youth and children in Pyongyang visit his statue on Mansu Hill with the pride of having adorned the year 2006 with great labor successes. They are full of optimism and firm resolution to perform feats in the hopeful New Year.
    Pyongyang is garbed in festive attire.
    The streets of the city are festooned with such large slogans as "We Extend New Year's Greeting to the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il", "We Sincerely Wish the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il Good Health" and "Let Us Add Brilliance to the Korean-style Socialism with Might of Single-minded Unity" and celebration boards including "New Year 2007" and others. Fluttering on flag poles are the flags of the DPRK.
    Art performances are given in the Pyongyang Grand Theatre, the Pyongyang Circus, the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace and other theatres and films are shown at the Taedongmun and other cinema houses.
    Parks and pleasure grounds are crowded with citizens enjoying the holiday. The newly renovated Okryu Restaurant on the bank of the River Taedong, Chongryu Restaurant on the River Pothong and other public catering establishments and stalls serve different kinds of New Year's Day folk dishes to people.
    The working people of all walks of life, school youth and children in the capital city are hardening their mind to vigorously advance forward toward a new victory under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il this year, too.

Homage Paid to Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Senior party, army and state officials and people from all walks of life visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on Monday to pay homage to President Kim Il Sung on the occasion of the New Year Juche 96 (2007). The senior party, army and state officials, chairpersons of the friendly parties, Cabinet members and leading officials of party, armed forces and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national institutions entered the hall where the statue of the President stands.
    Amidst the solemn playing of "Song of General Kim Il Sung" a floral basket in the joint name of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the WPK Central Military Commission, the DPRK National Defence Commission, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and the DPRK Cabinet was placed before the statue. Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters reading "The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung is immortal."
    The participants paid humble reverence to the statue.
    Then they entered the hall where the President lies in state and paid deep respects to him. They went round orders, medals and certificates of honorary titles presented to the President from the DPRK and different countries, the portrait of the President with sunny smile and bronze relievos in the Mourning Hall, and a train and a car he used during his on-site guidance and visit to foreign countries and during the last period of his life.
    Anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, officials of ministries and national institutions, servicepersons and working people from all walks of life also visited the palace on Monday.
    On the same day the diplomatic corps, the military attaches corps and representatives of international organizations here and overseas Koreans staying in the homeland visited the palace to pay homage to the President on the occasion of the New Year.

Floral Baskets Laid before Statues of Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Baskets of flowers were placed before the statues of President Kim Il Sung on the occasion of the New Year Juche 96 (2007). Servicepersons, working people from all walks of life and school youth and children in Pyongyang visited the statue of the President on Mansu Hill.
    Seen before the statue was a floral basket from Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army.
    Amid the playing of floral basket-laying music, baskets of flowers, as well as bouquets and flowers, were laid before the statue in the name of party, military and power organs, social bodies, ministries, national institutions, KPA units and institutions of different levels, industrial establishments, farms and schools and others in the city. Also placed was a floral basket in the name of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-imperialist National Democratic Front.
    Written on the ribbons of the baskets were such letters as "The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung will live forever" and "The great revolutionary exploits of the respected leader Generalissimo Kim Il Sung will be everlasting!"
    All the visitors made deep bows before the statue in humble reverence for the President.
    Meanwhile, floral baskets were placed before his statues in different parts of the city, including Kim Il Sung University, Kim Il Sung Military University, the Ministry of People's Security, the Korean Film Studio and the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace. The servicepersons, people and school youth and children across the country laid baskets of flowers, bouquets and flowers before the statues of the President in their residential areas to pay respects to him.
    The consul general and members of the Chinese Consulate General and Chinese residents in Chongjin laid the floral baskets before the President's statue in Chongjin to pay homage to him on the New Year's day.

Important Days of DPRK Observed

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Meetings, lectures, film shows and music appreciation meetings took place in Mongolia, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, India, the Czech Republic and the Philippines between Dec. 16 and 24 in 2006 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's assumption of the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army and the 89th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk. On display in the venues of functions were photos showing the immortal exploits of the three generals of Mt. Paektu, the might of the KPA and the achievements made by the Korean people.
    Attending them were personages from different social standings, members of organizations for friendship and solidarity with the Korean people and Juche idea study groups and peoples of those countries.
    Participants of the film shows watched "Brilliant History of Great Leadership", "The Korean People's Army, Steel-like Ranks" and other Korean films. The director of an Indonesian company in a lecture said that Kim Jong Il has developed in depth President Kim Il Sung's idea of attaching importance to the military affairs to pursue the unique Songun policy and defended the dignity of the country and the nation and socialism with the might of Songun.
    The Songun policy serves as an inspiring banner for the peoples struggling for the dignity of their countries and nations and global peace and security, he noted. The chairman of the Juche Idea Study Society of Delhi, India, said at a film show that the strategy and grit of Kim Jong Il help the DPRK make its history of always winning victories in the confrontation with the U.S. Under his wise leadership the KPA will reliably defend the security of the country and the people and more highly display its might.
    Congratulatory messages to Kim Jong Il were adopted at the meeting and music appreciation meeting held in Mongolia and the Philippines.

Anniversary of Victory of Cuban Revolution Marked

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- The Korean people extend warm congratulations and militant salute to the Cuban people on the 48th anniversary of the victory of revolution and send full support and solidarity to their just cause, says Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed article. The victory of revolution in Cuba marked an epoch-making event that brought about a fundamental turn in the history of the Cuban people, the article says, and goes on: The Korean people highly praise the achievements made by the fraternal Cuban people in their efforts to defend and advance socialism.
    The Korean and Cuban peoples are geographically far away from each other but they have close linkage of friendship. The parties and peoples of the two countries have closely supported and cooperated and strengthened solidarity in their efforts for independence and socialism against imperialism. The friendship and unity between the two peoples have grown stronger in their joint struggle against imperialism. The Korean people are pleased to have the Cuban people as comrade-in-arms and close friends in the anti-imperialist struggle and will work hard to further develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with the Cuban people. They wholeheartedly wish the Cuban people greater success in their future endeavors to defend the country, revolution and socialism and achieve the independent progress and prosperity of the country. The just cause of the Cuban people is sure to be accomplished.

Congratulatory Message to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on Monday on the occasion of the New Year Juche 96 (2007). The message noted that last year the people in the homeland fully demonstrated the grandiose might of Juche Korea under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il to strike the whole world with admiration.
    You accomplished the great cause of turning our homeland into a nuclear weapons state guaranteeing peace of the Korean Peninsula and its people's happiness for all ages with your far-sightedness, matchless pluck and outstanding Songun revolutionary leadership, the message stressed, and went on:
    We will further strengthen the Chongryon organization, giving priority to the ideological work in face of the evermore vicious suppression of it by the enemies in Japan and abroad, so as to resolutely preserve it with the might of the patriotic ranks rallied as one.
    We will build up Chongryon as ranks of patriot loyal subjects who believe in and follow you to the last and train the new generations to be ardent patriots sharing destiny with the socialist homeland and reliable successors to the patriotic cause. We will dynamically conduct the all-out struggle for demanding voyage of Ship Mangyongbong-92 which links Koreans in Japan to the homeland, bravely frustrating the moves of the Japanese authorities and reactionaries.
    We will make a tangible contribution to building a great prosperous powerful nation and realizing the cause of reunification in step with the general march for Songun revolution of the people in the homeland and the three-point patriotic movement of the entire nation advancing under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration. We will energetically conduct the external work as demanded by the prevailing situation to rally the forces supporting our just struggle as many as possible and build up public opinion for supporting and realizing the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.

Greetings to Chairman of Chongryon CSC

     Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to So Man Sul, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, Monday on the occasion of the New Year. Kim Yong Nam in the message said that last year Chongryon commemorated with splendor the 60th anniversary of the enforcement of the middle education system of the Koreans in Japan as a great event of the Korean community by vigorously conducting the patriotic movement with the united efforts of the officials of Chongryon and other compatriots. It strengthened its organizations at all levels and rallied more compatriots of different circles including the rising generations, thus laying a solid foundation for pushing ahead with the movement of Koreans in Japan generation after generation, he noted, adding:
    Chongryon officials and other Koreans in Japan firmly protected the Chongryon organization, the achievements of their patriotic movement and the democratic national rights of the Koreans from the unprecedentedly vicious and persistent persecution and suppression of the reactionaries in Japan and abroad and registered great achievements in carrying out all the patriotic tasks including national reunification. The message stressed the need to make this year a significant year of struggle and merit in further consolidating the mass foundation of the Chongryon organization and carrying forward and developing the movement of Koreans in Japan. It further said:
    Chongryon should courageously frustrate the Japanese right-wing reactionary forces' anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon moves with the might of single-minded unity, firmly defend the Chongryon organization and protect the life and rights of the Koreans in Japan in every way. And it should greatly contribute to the worthwhile patriotic cause for achieving the prosperity of its homeland and the independent reunification of Korea.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il rinde tributo a Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, 1 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea (EPC), junto con los cuadros acompanantes, rindio tributo al Presidente Kim Il Sung ante su estatua y cuerpo en el Palacio Memorial Kumsusan en ocasion del Ano Nuevo 96 (2007) de la Era Juche. Figuran entre ellos Kim Yong Chun, jefe del Estado Mayor General del EPC y Kim Il Chol, ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas Populares, quienes son miembros del CDN de la RPDC y vicemariscales del EPC, asi como los miembros de mando operacional de la Comandancia Suprema del EPC.

Kim Jong Il junto con Kim Yong Nam felicita a Fidel Castro Ruz

    Pyongyang, 1 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea (PTC) y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea (RPDC), junto con Kim Yong Nam, presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema, envio el dia 31 un mensaje de felicitacion a Fidel Castro Ruz, Primer Secretario del Comite Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba (PCC) y Presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros de la Republica de Cuba. .El mensaje senala en particular:
    .Con motivo del 48o aniversario del triunfo de la Revolucion Cubana, en nombre del PTC, el gobierno y el pueblo de la RPDC, enviamos una calida felicitacion a Usted y, por su conducto, al Partido Comunista de Cuba, el gobierno y el pueblo de la Republica de Cuba.
    .Durante los 48 anos posteriores al triunfo de la revolucion, el pueblo cubano, bajo la correcta direccion del PCC encabezado por Usted, defendio honrosamente la patria, la revolucion y las conquistas del socialismo frustrando tajantemente la brutal sancion, el bloqueo y las maniobras de agresion de los imperialistas norteamericanos .El pueblo coreano se regocija sinceramente de todos los exitos logrados por el hermano pueblo cubano en la construccion del socialismo y en el futuro tambien enviara irrestricto apoyo y solidaridad a la justa causa del pueblo cubano para salvaguardar con firmeza la soberania del pais y el socialismo.
    .$B!!.(BAprovechamos esta oportunidad para expresar la conviccion de que las camaraderiles relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los partidos, los gobiernos y los pueblos de los dos paises se fortaleceran y se desarrollaran incesantemente en la lucha comun por el victorioso avance de la causa del socialismo y le deseamos de todo corazon a Usted la recuperacion pronta de su salud y al pueblo cubano mayores exitos en sus trabajos.

Cestos de flores ante estatuas de bronce de Kim Il Sung

    .Pyongyang, 1 de enero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del Ano Nuevo 96 (2007) de la Era Juche, fueron colocados cestos de flores ante las estatuas de bronce del Presidente Kim Il Sung. .Los oficiales y soldados del Ejercito Popular, trabajadores de distintos estratos, jovenes y ninos escolares en esta capital acudieron a la estatua de bronce del Presidente en la colina Mansu.
    .Estaba puesto alli un cesto de flores enviado por el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea.
    .Mientras se interpretaba la musica de la ocasion, fueron depositados cestos, ramos y ramitas de flores a nombre de los organismos del partido, las fuerzas armadas y el Poder, organizaciones de masas, ministerios, organos centrales, unidades del EPC, instituciones a todos los niveles, empresas, fabricas, granjas y escuelas en la capital. .Ademas, se veia un ejemplar a nombre de la sucursal del Frente Democratico Nacional Antiimperialista en Pyongyang.
    .En las cintas de cestos se leian: "El gran Lider, camarada Kim Il Sung sera inmortal", "!Seran inmortales las grandes hazanas revolucionarias del estimado Lider, Generalisimo Kim Il Sung!", etc.
    Luego, los conglomerados rindieron tributo al Presidente. Igualmente, fueron puestos cestos de flores ante las estatuas de bronce erguidas en la Universidad Kim Il Sung, la Academia Militar General Kim Il Sung, el Ministerio de Seguridad del Pueblo, los Estudios Cinematograficos de Corea, el Palacio de Ninos y Escolares de Pyongyang y otras partes de la capital.
    En tanto, los oficiales y soldados del EPC, habitantes, jovenes y ninos escolares en diversos lugares del pais ofrendaron cestos, ramos y ramitas de flores ante las estatuas de bronce del Presidente erigidas en sus respectivas localidades y le rindieron homenaje. Ese dia, ante la estatua de bronce del Presidente en la ciudad de Chongjin de la provincia de Hamgyong del Norte depositaron cestos de flores el consul general y otros integrantes del Consulado General de la Republica Popular China acreditados en la homonima ciudad y los chinos residentes en esta.