Gifts to Kim Jong Il from Russian Figures

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with gifts by Sazhi Umalatova, chairwoman of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia, V. P. Yeliseev, chief of the Academy Ensemble of the Interior Unit of the Russian Ministry of Interior, and Solinov, general manager of the Institute of Technical Glass Science of Russia, on the occasion of the New Year. The gifts were separately conveyed to DPRK officials concerned in Russia on Dec. 28 and 29.

Forum in Philippines Supports DPRK

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- A forum took place in Philippines on Dec. 16 last year to support the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The vice-chairman of the Philippines Solidarity Committee for Peace and Reunification in the Korean Peninsula made an opening address and the national chairman of the Association of Science and Technology for Philippine People made a report at the forum. The reporter recalled that the United States has perpetrated moves for aggression against the DPRK, pursuing its hostile policy toward the latter for more than half a century, adding that it has posed constant threat to the DPRK after deploying more than 1,000 nuclear weapons in south Korea. He branded the U.S. as the world's biggest nuclear criminal.
    Other speakers at the forum referred to the might of the DPRK which has defended and glorified its ideology and system, not yielding to the U.S. moves against it, and expressed their resolutions to conduct energetic actions for friendship and solidarity with the Korean people.
    A statement adopted at the forum assailed the U.S. for having pursued its hostile policy toward the DPRK in defiance of the desire of the Korean people for independence, peace and reunification, thus driving the situation on the peninsula to the brink of war. It expressed full support to the Korean people in their struggle to defend their ideology and system and build a great prosperous powerful nation under the banner of the Songun politics of leader Kim Jong Il and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country true to the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. Present there were delegates of 18 organizations of Philippines and anti-war peace activists from different countries.
    A delegation of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with World People was present there on invitation.

New Year's Greetings to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- Congratulatory messages and letters came to General Secretary Kim Jong Il from the Standing Council of the Korean Federation of Workers in Commerce in Japan, the Central Standing Committee of the Korean Youth League in Japan, the Central Standing Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union in Japan, the Central Standing Board of Directors of the Korean Youth Commercial Association in Japan, the Central Standing Committee of the Union of Korean Teachers and School Clerks in Japan, the Standing Council of the Union of Korean Central Education Association in Japan, the Central Standing Council of the Korean Social Scientists Association in Japan, the Korean Human Rights Federation in Japan, the Standing Council of the Korean Amateur Athletic Federation in Japan, the Central Standing Committee of Korean Students Union in Japan, the Korean Association for Peace and Reunification in Japan and other organizations of Chongryon and their affiliated bodies, th e Choson Sinbo Company, the Korean News Service, the Hagu Bookshop, the Kumgang-san Opera Troupe, the Tonghae Ltd, the Kumgang Insurance Company, the Korean Goods Sales Company, the Committee for Promoting Korea-Japan Economic Exchange, the Federation of Joint Economic Venture of Korean Residents in Japan, the Centre for Consulting Marriage of Korean Youth in Japan and other enterprises, various local headquarters of Chongryon, Joson University and Korean schools at other levels and Koreans in Japan on the occasion of the New Year Juche 96 (2007). Greeting the New Year to witness fresh victories and glory to be recorded in the history of the country, they in their messages and letters offered highest glory and warmest congratulations to Kim Jong Il, the brilliant sun of the 21st century and benevolent father of Chongryon and the Koreans in Japan, representing their profound veneration. They wholeheartedly wished him good health for the accomplishment of the cause of Juche and the prosperity and development of the socialist country and for the steady growth and development of the movement of the Koreans in Japan.

Solidarity Actions for Settlement of Issue of "Comfort Women" Called for

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- A news conference was reportedly held in Seoul on Dec. 28 under the sponsorship of human rights activists in south Korea at which speakers called for international solidarity actions for the proper solution to the issue of "comfort women" for the imperial Japanese army. Present there were south Korean victims of the sexual slavery for the imperial Japanese army and human rights activists in Japan and various other countries and regions.
    Speakers at the conference accused Japan of foolishly trying to hide the truth of history and evade its responsibility far from repenting of the criminal sexual slavery enforced by it in the past.
    They vowed to intensify international solidarity activities in order to fully disclose the truth behind the issue of "comfort women" and force Japan to honestly apologize and compensate for the crimes.
    A plan for solidarity actions was made public at the conference.

Torchlight Event Held in S. Korea against FTA

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- A torchlight cultural event against the south Korea-U.S. FTA was reportedly held in Seoul on Dec. 27 to see 2006 out under the sponsorship of the Headquarters of the All-People Movement for Checking the South Korea-U.S. FTA. Speakers at the event recalled that people of all social standings last year solidarized with each other in the strenuous struggle against the FTA.
    Noting that the FTA is a noose of U.S. aggression and plunder, they declared that actions against the conclusion of it are to protect the people's lives, culture and sovereignty.
    They stated that drawing on the experience gained through their actions in the year, they would intensify their actions against the FTA by the concerted efforts of the people in 2007, too.

Outcries of Commander of U.S. Forces in S. Korea Blasted

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- The commander of the U.S. forces in south Korea was recently reported to have cried out for "strengthening the posture to cope with the wartime situation." This indicates that the U.S. imperialists are invariably pursuing their wild ambition to launch military invasion of the DPRK as it was an open war agitation. Rodong Sinmun today observes this in a signed commentary. By the "posture to cope with the wartime situation" he meant the readiness to launch the second Korean war, the commentary notes, and goes on:
    It is well known that the U.S. forces in south Korea are nothing but a shock force and an advance party of the U.S. imperialists for invading the DPRK and, furthermore, for holding military supremacy in Asia.
    The U.S. bellicose forces' talk about "cutback" of the U.S. forces in south Korea and "redeployment of forces" is nothing but a charade aimed at concealing their aggressive aim. In recent years the U.S. has massively forward-deployed nuclear strike means and other war hardware in south Korea, Japan and other regions of Asia-Pacific. They are also busy with the moves to boost the operation commanding ability and the capability for preemptive strikes for a war of aggression against the DPRK. To this end they have staged madcap reckless military exercises in south Korea and in its vicinity in preparation for another Korean war.
    They are egging south Korea on to join in the moves to establish the missile defence system in a dangerous bid to launch military aggression against the DPRK. They are, at the same time, deliberately coiling up the tension on the Korean Peninsula to carry out their scenario for aggression. The U.S. loudmouthed "dialogue" is nothing but sophism intended to slacken the vigilance of the servicepersons and people of the DPRK against it.
    Should the U.S. bellicose forces dare launch aggression against the DPRK, its servicepersons and people will decisively beat back their invasion with tremendous war deterrence and firmly defend the dignity of the nation and the sovereignty of the country. The U.S. would be well advised to cogitate about the serious consequences to be entailed by its military option against the DPRK.

Kim Jong Il Enjoys Art Performance Given on Occasion of New Year

     Pyongyang, January 2 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il enjoyed an art performance given by the Merited State Chorus of the KPA on the occasion of the New Year. He was accompanied by senior cadres of the WPK Central Committee and commanding officers of the KPA.
    The chorus, an honorable recipient of "Kim Il Sung Order," put on the stage "Our Leader Will Always Be with Us", "Song of the Korean People's Army" and other songs. Its performance replete with the militant spirit sang high praises of the proud path covered by the Korean revolution and successfully represented the firm faith and will of the army and people of the DPRK to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche started in the forests of Mt. Paektu.
    The performance deeply impressed the audience as it truthfully reflected the sky-high spirit of the servicepersons and people advancing like the wind towards fresh victory with redouble courage.
    Kim Jong Il highly appreciated their successful performance, expressing great satisfaction over the fact that the artistes of the chorus staged a splendid performance representing the faith and will of the DPRK and the revolutionary soldier spirit. He expressed great expectation and conviction that all the creators and artistes of the chorus would conduct more dynamic revolutionary art activities to fully demonstrate the might of the militant art unit in the worthwhile struggle in the new year, too.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rodong Sinmun critica al comandante yanqui en el Sur de Corea

    @Pyongyang, 2 de enero (ATCC) -- Hace poco, el comandante de las tropas norteamericanas ocupantes del suelo surcoreano subrayo la necesidad de "mejorar la disposicion para los tiempos de guerra" de estos uniformados, lo que significa una abierta agitacion a la guerra y, al mismo tiempo, demuestra la invariable ambicion de los imperialistas norteamericanos de agredir con las fuerzas armadas a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea. Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual de este martes y continua:
    La "disposicion para los tiempos de guerra" significa precisamente el estado de alerta para la segunda guerra coreana.
    Como es conocido por todos, las tropas norteamericanas en cuestion constituyen la brigada de choque de Estados Unidos para agredir a la RPDC y, a la larga, tomar la heguemonia militar en la region asiatica.
    La "reduccion" y la "reubicacion" de ellas, de que hablan tanto los belicistas norteamericanos, no pasan de ser una farsa para encubrir su objetivo de agresion. En los ultimos anos, EE.UU. ubico de manera concentrada en el Sur de Corea, Japon y otras regiones de Asia y el Pacifico los medios belicos, inclusive los de golpe nuclear. Tambien, se esfuerza desesperadamente por elevar la capacidad de mando operacional y de golpe preventivo de esos uniformados para la guerra de agresion a la RPDC. Para ello, desarrolla freneticamente en el territorio surcoreano y sus periferias los aventureros ejercicios militares destinados a provocar una nueva guerra coreana. En ese contexto, los belicistas yanquis instigan al Sur de Corea al establecimiento del sistema antimisil.
    A fin de realzar su ambicion de agresion, agravan intencionalmente la ya tirante situacion de la Peninsula Coreana.
    Por otra parte, el imperio habla del "dialogo" para atenuar la vigilancia a si mismo del ejercito y el pueblo de Corea.
    Si las fuerzas belicistas norteamericanas se atreven a invadir a la RPDC, el ejercito y el pueblo de esta las aniquilaran despiadadamente empleando el poderoso disuasivo de guerra y defenderan firmemente la dignidad de la nacion y la soberania del pais. EE.UU. debe reflexionar seriamente de las nefastas consecuencias que tendra su opcion militar contra la RPDC.

Rinden homenaje a Kim Il Sung en Cuba por el Ano Nuevo 2007

    .La Habana, 31 de diciembre (ATCC) -- Con motivo del Ano Nuevo, tuvieron lugar los dias 28 y 29 de diciembre del ano pasado las ceremonias del homenaje al Presidente Kim Il Sung en la Organizacion de Solidaridad de los Pueblos de Asia, Africa y America Latina (OSPAAAL) y el Instituto Economico Kim Il Sung, de Cuba. En estas ocasiones, participaron el jefe del departamento politico y otros funcionarios de la OSPAAAL, el presidente del Comite Cubano de Apoyo a la Reunificacion de Corea y el director, los profesores y empleados del instituto mencionado y el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario coreano y otros miembros de la embajada coreana en Cuba.
    Tras depositar cestos de flores ante retratos con amplia sonrisa del Presidente Kim Il Sung, los reunidos le rindieron homenaje.
    El secretario general de la OSPAAAL dijo que es un gran honor para ellos (funcionarios de esta entidad) depositar el cesto de flores ante el retrato del Presidente y deseo que el pueblo coreano logre mayores exitos tambien en el Ano Nuevo en su lucha por la construccion del socialismo y la reunificacion de la patria bajo la orientacion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Il recibe presentes de personalidades rusas

    .Pyongyang, 2 de enero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del Ano Nuevo, el Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presentes que le dirigieran la presidenta del Partido por la Paz y la Unidad de Rusia S. Z. Umalatova, el jefe del Conjunto Artistico Academico Nacional de la Unidad Interior del Ministerio del Interior V. P. Yeliseyev y el gerente general del Instituto Tecnologico de Ciencias de Vidrio, Solinov. .$B!!.(BLos presentes fueron entregados por separado los dias 28 y 29 de diciembre del ano pasado a los funcionarios coreanos acreditados en Rusia.