General Offensive for Building Socialist Economic Power Called for

    Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Sunday in a signed article calls for waging a vigorous general offensive for building a socialist economic power, holding aloft the slogan of self-reliance. Self-reliance has been a source of strength that helped build a strong self-supporting national economy on this land and remains an invariable mode of struggle in socialist economic construction, the article says, and continues:
    It, first of all, is a steadfast revolutionary stand to settle all issues arising in the socialist economic construction by one's own efforts in a responsible manner under any circumstances.
    It is necessary to independently solve any problem with one's own technology and resources, believing in one's own people on the principle of self-reliance. This is a sure guarantee for success in building a socialist economic power.
    Self-reliance serves as a mode of struggle in making a leaping advance in building an economic power despite of challenges and obstructions of the imperialists and reactionaries.
    It is necessary to depend on the might of the single-mindedly united people and the tremendous potential of our self-supporting economy under the uplifted revolutionary banner of self-reliance. Herein lies the master key to frustrating the vicious sanctions and blockade of the imperialists and reactionaries and achieving a victory in the offensive for the building of an economic power.
    Self-reliance represents a traditional work style and an invariable mode of struggle for the building of the economic power which has been consistently maintained by the Workers' Party and people of the DPRK in the revolution and construction.
    Self-reliance at present means relying on one's efforts on the basis of modern science and technology. Science and technology are a powerful engine for building a great prosperous powerful nation. Self-reliance based on modern science and technology alone can serve as a mode of struggle for the building of the economic power.
    The self-reliance practiced at present means self-reliance for ensuring profitability on a nation-wide scale.
    The above-said self-reliance is aimed at lightening the burden of the state and enabling the country and its people to substantially benefit from it.

Continued Actions against Expansion of U.S. Military Base in Phyongthaek Called for

    Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- The 855th candlelight rally was reportedly held by members of civic and social organizations including the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, the All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the U.S. Military Base in Phyongthaek, the Reunification Plaza and residents of Taechu-ri and Todu-ri, Phyongthaek City, Kyonggi Province, in Taechu-ri on Jan. 3. Speakers at the rally rapped some media for recently spreading misinformation that the inhabitants of the area of Phyongthaek planned for the expansion of the U.S. military base agreed to move to other area.
    Flaying media for floating false stories about "a dramatic settlement" and "a total agreement" and the like despite the fact that representatives of inhabitants of Phyongthaek area are negotiating with the "government" over the issue of the expansion of the U.S. military base, they asserted that they are quite contrary to the fact.
    The will of the residents of Phyongthaek to fight against the expansion of the U.S. military base remains unchanged, they declared, calling on all the people to pool efforts to carry on their actions against the expansion of the U.S. military base.

New Documentary Film Produced

    Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- The Korean Documentary and Scientific Film Studio has recently produced a documentary film "Sincere Help to Army." The film truthfully represents the sincere devotion made by the Korean people to assisting the army, true to the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    The film has scenes showing a great many families sharing kindred feelings with soldiers and people of different social standings who find the worth of their living in helping the army, regarding it as their most beautiful tradition to help the army, those deeply respecting the war veterans who courageously fought during the war and taking good care of honored disabled soldiers to enable them to keep the flowers of revolution on the road of Songun as they did when they were soldiers and the admirable deeds and proud features of young people in various parts of the country leaving to different posts for defending the country, deeming their service in the army as their greatest honor in the Songun era.

U.S. Hostile Policy towards DPRK Rapped in Belarus

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- The Third Meeting of the Belarus-DPRK National Friend Association Named after Kim Il Sung took place in Minsk on Dec. 29 last year. The meeting reviewed the work of the association and adopted a new statute and elected the new leadership of the association with V. Chikin as its chairman and Shukolinikov its secretary general.
    A statement adopted there vehemently denounced the United States for its vicious hostile moves against the DPRK and extended full support to the Korean people in their efforts to achieve the independent development and peaceful reunification of the country under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    Extending full support to the principled stand of the DPRK toward the six-party talks, the statement called on all the peace-loving people and states and international organizations to strongly demand the United States take its hands off Korea.

Korean People's Greatest Holidays to Be Commemorated in Peru

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- The Peruvian National Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 was formed with due ceremony in Lima on Jan. 2. The ceremony elected Secretary General of the Peruvian-Korean Institute of Culture and Friendship Yuri Cesar Castro Romero, Chairman of the New Left Movement of Peru Alberto Moreno Lohas, Chairman of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru Genaro Ledesma Izquieta, General secretary of the Peruvian Communist Party Lenan Raffo Munoz, General secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru Victor Oliva Miguel, General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Peru Luis Mateo Munoz, President of the General Kim Jong Il Peruvian Amicable Institute Jose Antonio Gamarra Puertas who is chairman of the National Association of Writers and Artists of Peru, Chairman of the Peruvian Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea Tani Baler Lopera and Chairwoman of the Tomasa Titu Conde Maita Women's Association P. Romero co-chairpersons of the preparatory committee.
    It fixed the period from February to April as a commemoration period and decided to organize diverse political and cultural events in the capital and local areas during the period.

DPRK's Joint New Year Editorial Supported in Indonesia

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- Indonesian figures made public statements on Jan. 3 in support of the joint editorial of Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi titled "Usher in a Great Heyday of Songun Korea Full of Confidence in Victory." The chairman of the Maritime Transport Workers Union of Indonesia said that the Korean people have preserved socialism of their style despite difficulties as they are single-mindedly rallied around their leader.
    Charles David, chairman of the Indonesian Federation of Transport Trade Unions, noted that the joint New Year editorial of the DPRK called on all Koreans to turn out as one in the drive to implement the tasks for attaching importance to the nation, preserving peace and realizing unity with confidence and optimism about a bright future of a reunified country so as to usher in a heyday of the cause of independent reunification.
    Recalling that the joint editorial called upon the entire Korean nation to resolutely frustrate the military pressure, war drills and arms buildup threatening the nation, he fully supported the call as it is in line with the three principles of Korean reunification.

Provincial Mass Rallies Held

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- Mass rallies were held in South Hamgyong, North Phyongan and South Phyongan Provinces on Jan. 5 to effect a fresh surge in the building of a great prosperous powerful nation by pushing ahead with the Songun revolution in response to the joint editorial for this year. They were attended by leading officials of the Workers' Party of Korea and power bodies, economic institutions and working people's organizations, labor innovators, working people of different circles and youth and students in the provinces.
    At the rallies reporters and speakers said that the joint New Year editorial serves as a militant banner arousing the whole Party and army and all the people to the drive to further glorify the immortal revolutionary exploits President Kim Il Sung performed by starting the cause of building a socialist power of Juche and laying an eternal foundation for accomplishing it and demonstrate the might of the country where all servicepersons and people are single-mindedly united around the Party.
    They evinced their resolutions to bring about a fresh boost in the efforts to improve the standard of people's living and develop the economy this year under the leadership of the Party, bearing deep in mind the intention of Kim Jong Il to successfully materialize the plan of the President for building a rich and powerful country.
    Noting that building an economic power is an urgent demand of the Korean revolution and social development at present and a worthwhile historic cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation in all aspects, they called for conducting an offensive in economic construction this year in response to the Party's militant call and thereby making contributions to turning Songun Korea into a people's paradise.

Japs' Foolish Bid for Permanent Membership of UNSC Ridiculed

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- Voices asserting permanent membership of the UNSC are again heard from among the Japanese authorities. This is nothing but an impudent act of political dwarfs, a reckless behavior of Japs keen on overseas expansion, oblivious of their responsibility for redressing Japan's past crimes. Rodong Sinmun today observes this in a signed commentary. It says: This island country has neither settled its past nor shaken off the ill-fame of a war criminal state. Yet, it is working hard to hold a responsible post at the UN. This is as ridiculous an act as behaving erratically, forgetful of where it stands.
    Japan is bereft of independence. It expresses its view on any issues arising in the international arena without its own viewpoint or judgement. It behaves without any principle, reading the face of its senior ally the U.S. before saying anything and echoing its utterances to please it. This is the mean diplomatic posture of the land of Japs. How can the international community allow such country to sit on the UNSC mandated to handle such important international issues as war and peace.
    Japan would be well advised to bear in mind that the permanent membership of the UNSC is not the post which anyone can hold as one wishes and it is not something that can be sold or bought nor is it the post obtainable with the backing of a big country.
    There is the proverb "One may point at a star but not pull at it." Japs had better properly know where they stand and honestly reflect on and redress its crime-woven past before the Korean and other Asian peoples as demanded by the times and their mind-set in order to win trust of the international community.

GNP's Attempt to Grab Power Disclosed

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement Saturday in connection with the recent disclosure of a strategic document on the next-term "presidential election" worked out by the Grand National Party of south Korea that sparked off a great furor in south Korea. The document calls for making an ideological analysis of why the present "government failed in the state administration" in a bid to woo the electorate to move against "progressive and left forces", the statement said, and went on:
    The document also calls for training a 300,000-strong "conservative vanguard unit" involving religionists, businessmen, lawyers and members of general university student councils and civic organizations with the GNP as a main player for the purpose of rallying the right-wing conservative forces and thereby waging "a widespread movement for spreading conservative value." It claims this is aimed at making the "right-wing movement" develop into "a mainstream mass movement".
    This clearly proves once again how desperately the GNP and other ultra-right conservatives are working to usurp power in a bid to keep south Korea from opting for progressive reforms and stem the trend of the June 15 era of reunification.
    The GNP is now putting up the so-called signboard of "ideological confrontation" but, in actuality, it seeks to seize power by using ruthless ultra-right hooligans just as the military fascist elements did in the past.

Young People Turn Out in Response to Joint Editorial

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) - The young people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are registering successes in working sites in response to the call of the joint New Year editorial for ushering in a heyday of Songun Korea full of confidence in victory. The members of the Paektusan Songun Youth Shock Brigade fulfilled their first day assignment in the preparatory work for covering the waterway tunnel with concrete at 150 percent in the revolutionary solider spirit and introduced various new methods in the muck transportation.
    Young workers in the fields of power, coal-mining and metal industries and rail transport, the four pilots of the national economy, are boosting actual production through a dynamic mass technical innovation drive with a firm resolve to brilliantly adorn this year in which they will greet the 80th anniversary of the formation of the Young Communist League of Korea.
    Those in the field of the power industry are considerably raising the daily production of electricity and hot-water as compared with that of the previous month.
    In particular, youth in the Heat Production Workshop under the Pyongyang Thermal Power Complex are making every effort to operate boilers on normal track, saying that the steam production is precisely the production of electricity.
    Young coal-miners throughout the country are also overfulfilling their daily production quotas, braving all the bottlenecks and difficulties.
    Young smelters of the Chollima Steel Complex, Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex and Songjin Steel Complex are distinguishing themselves in shortening the melting time and increasing the quantity of molten iron per charge and the rounds of tapping per shift from the beginning of the year. Young people of the West Pyongyang Service Brigade of Engine and other units of rail transportation solved in time the issues arising in operation and repair of engines by putting emphasis on the enhancement of the actual working ratio, thus contributing to easing strain on rail transport.
    Resolved to become heroes and patriots who will be lauded by the people for their merits for the Party and the country, the young people of Korea are accomplishing feats, giving full play to youthful stamina.

U.S. Imperialist Aggression Forces Commit Air Strike Exercise

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- Strategic bombers of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces staged a DPRK-targeted madcap air strike exercise on Jan. 5, according to a military source. At around 8 a.m. that day Guam-based nuclear capable B-52s flew into the sky over south Korea in pair formations, after being refueled in flight by KC-135.
    The bombers were involved in the frantic ground target bombing exercise under the simulated conditions of striking major targets in areas of the DPRK in coordinated operation with formations of F-16s and A-10s belonging to the U.S. Seventh Air Force in south Korea with Jik islet and the firing range in Sangdong as their operational theatre.
    The above-said exercise staged by the U.S. imperialists with the mobilization of those strategic bombers from the outset of the year clearly indicates that they are set to ignite an adventurous nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.

Letter of Protest to Japanese PM

    Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- The Indian "Tupah Amaru" Movement and the World Peace Council, non-governmental organizations, sent a joint letter to the Japanese prime minister on Dec. 28 last year in protest against the Japanese authorities' suppression of Koreans in Japan. The Koreans in Japan are either those who were forcibly taken by the Japanese imperialists or their descendants, the letter said, adding that the Japanese government is obliged to protect their rights and guarantee their safety.
    Accusing the Japanese authorities of ordering the imposition of tax payment upon the facilities related to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and instructing the police to conduct a search operation against the organizations under it for no reason, the letter said:
    We express concern over the fact that the Korean students in Japan, in particular, have become the targets of violence and threat by ultra-right gangsters.
    The Japanese authorities should protect all the Korean students in Japan including girl students going in their national dresses as required by the Convention on Children Rights.
    We demand the Japanese government apologize for the suppression of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan and take measures for preventing the reoccurrence of such acts and punish the criminals.

Japanese Authorities' Crackdown upon Chongryon Assailed

    Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- Hasanul Huq Inu, chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Bangladesh National Socialist Party, in a statement on December 30 last year blasted the Japanese authorities for intensifying their campaign against the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) these days, inciting enmity towards the Korean people. Pointing in detail to the facts that they have conducted ceaseless search operation against organizations under Chongryon and houses of its officials and put embargo on the DPRK ship "Mangyongbong-92," the statement said: This diametrically runs counter to the international laws including the Geneva Conventions and the spirit of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
    The Central Executive Committee of the party strongly demands the Japanese authorities pay heed to the mounting protest and criticism from the international community and immediately halt their unreasonable suppression of Chongryon.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rechazan el intento de Japon de hacerse miembro permanente del CS

    Pyongyang, 6 de enero (ATCC) -- El diario Rodong Sinmun difundio ese sabado un comentario individual que senala en particular: En estos dias, entre las autoridades niponas resuenan otra vez las voces insistiendo en que Japon debe ser pais miembro permanente del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU.
    Esto es una conducta atrevida y ridicula del enano politico y el clan de los samurais que siendo todavia pais criminal de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, se enfrascan solo en el expansionismo a ultramar al desentenderse de la liquidacion de su pasado criminal.
    Por otra parte, este pais insular es totalmente dependiente de Estados Unidos, su aliado de jerarquia superior.
    Pues, cuando sea planteado algun problema en la escena internacional, repite como un papagayo lo que EE.UU. dice al respecto en lugar de expresar su propia opinion basandose en su juicio independiente. He aqui la virulenta posicion diplomatica del pais isleno.
    Entonces, ?como es posible que un pais como Japon ocupe el puesto del pais miembro permanente del Consejo de Seguridad que tiene potestad de gestionar los problemas internacionales tan importantes como la guerra y la paz?
    El pais-archipielago debe saber que nunca puede comprar con el dinero esa banca ni ocuparla con el respaldo de alguna potencia.
    Hay un dicho coreano que reza: "no te atrevas a lo que nunca puedas hacer".
    Los samurais deben conocer de la situacion en que se hallan y ganar la confianza de la sociedad internacional al reflexionar y recompensar sinceramente sus crimenes cometidos en el pasado en detrimento del pueblo coreano y los otros asiaticos, como lo demandan la epoca y la opinion publica.

CRPP rechaza el intento del "GPN" de retornar al Poder

    Pyongyang, 6 de enero (ATCC) -- En estos dias, en el Sur de Corea se desata un escandalo al revelarse el documento de la estrategia del "Gran Partido Nacional" con miras a las proximas "elecciones presidenciales". @En relacion con esto, el portavoz del Comite por la Reunificacion Pacifica de la Patria (CRPP) hizo publica hoy una declaracion que senala en particular:
    Ese documento pondera la necesidad de inducir a los electores a la "tendencia antiprogresista y antiizquierdista" al analizar de manera ideologica la "causa del fracaso de la administracion estatal" del actual "gobierno".
    Senala asimismo que para la movilizacion general de las fuerzas conservadoras derechistas, diferentes estratos y entidades, liderados por el "GPN", incluyendo los religiosos, empresarios, juristas, asociaciones generales de universitarios y entidades civiles deben formar la "unidad vanguardista de conservadores" integrada por 300 mil personas con el proposito de desplegar activamente el "movimiento de propagacion de valores conservadores" y convertir luego el "movimiento derechista" en el "principal" entre los otros masivos.
    Este hecho vuelve a demostrar claramente cuan perversas son las maniobras del "Gran Partido Nacional" y otras fuerzas conservadoras ultraderechistas para usurpar el "poder" a fin de frenar la marcha del Sur de Corea hacia las reformas progresistas y revertir la corriente de la epoca de reunificacion del 15 de Junio.
    Aunque el "GPN" se limita a referirse al "enfrentamiento ideal", en realidad trata de conquistar por la fuerza el "Poder" movilizando a los groseros gangsteres ultraderechistas como lo hicieron en el pasado los tiranos fascistas militares.

Comite preparatorio del Peru para el Dia del Sol y el 16 de febrero

    Pyongyang, 6 de enero (ATCC) -- Quedo organizado el dia 2 en Lima el comite preparatorio nacional del Peru para el Dia del Sol (15 de abril, cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung) y el 16 de febrero (cumpleanos del Dirigente Kim Jong Il). La copresidencia de la entidad naciente esta integrada por el secretario general del Instituto Cultural y de Amistad Peruano-Coreano Yuri Cesar Castro Romero; el presidente del Movimiento de la Nueva Izquierda del Peru Alberto Moreno Rojas; el presidente del Frente Obrero, Campesino, Estudiantil y Popular del Peru, Genaro Ledesma Izquieta; el secretario general del Partido Comunista Peruano, Lenan Raffo Munoz; el secretario general del Partido Socialista Revolucionario del Peru Victor Oliva Miguel; el secretario general del Partido Socialista del Peru, Luis Mateo Munoz; el presidente de la Asociacion Peruana de Amistad General Kim Jong Il y de la Asociacion Nacional de Escritores y Artistas del Peru, Jose Antonio Gamara Puertas y el presidente del Comite Peruano de Apoyo a la Reunificacion Independiente y Pacifica de Corea Tani Baler Lopera.
    El comite fijo de febrero a abril como periodo de celebracion y decidio organizar diversas actividades politico-culturales en la capital y localidades.

Mitines para ejecutar las tareas presentadas en editorial conjunto

    Pyongyang, 6 de enero (ATCC) -- En las provincias de Hamgyong del Sur, de Phyong-an del Norte y del Sur tuvieron lugar la vispera los mitines para registrar un nuevo viraje en la construccion de la gran potencia prospera tocando con mas energia el tambor de la revolucion mediante el Songun (priorizacion militar) en respuesta al llamamiento del editorial conjunto de este ano. En los actos multitudinarios participaron los funcionarios directivos de los organismos del partido y el Poder, las instituciones economicas y las organizaciones de masas, innovadores laborales, trabajadores de distintos sectores, jovenes y estudiantes de las provincias arriba mencionadas.
    Los oradores dijeron que el editorial conjunto del Ano Nuevo es la bandera combativa que llama a todo el partido, todo el ejercito y todo el pueblo a la lucha por glorificar las inmortales hazanas revolucionarias del Presidente Kim Il Sung quien dio inicio a la obra de construccion de la potencia socialista del Juche y preparo la base eterna para llevarla a cabo y por exaltar el poderio de nuestra patria que avanza unida monoliticamente en torno al partido.
    Expresaron las determinaciones de lograr un nuevo viraje en la vida del pueblo y la labor economica de este ano bajo la direccion del partido en pleno acato a la intencion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il de realizar con brillantez el proyecto del Presidente para la construccion de la patria prospera.
    La construccion de la potencia economica es la demanda apremiante de la revolucion coreana y el desarrollo social en la actualidad y la digna causa historica para disponer de todos los aspectos de la gran potencia prospera, senalaron y expresaron las decisiones de desplegar una ofensiva en la construccion economica de este anos segun el llamamiento combativo del partido para contribuir a hacer de la Corea del Songun un paraiso del pueblo.