Kim Jong Il Sends New Year Cards to Foreign Party and State Leaders

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent New Year cards to party and state leaders of various countries on the occasion of Juche 96 (2007). The addressees include Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and party and state leaders of Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Syria, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Uzbekistan, India, Yemen, Vietnam, East Timor, Malta, Monaco, Moldova, Belarus, Croatia, Ukraine, Guinea, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mauritius, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Tanzania, Algeria, Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago.
    He also sent New Year cards to the chairman of the Committee of the African Union, the director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea who is secretary general of the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" Council, the secretary general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea and the secretary general of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea.

Congratulatory Letters, Cards and Gifts to Kim Jong Il from Russian Dancing Troupe and Artistes

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with congratulatory letters, congratulatory cards and gifts by the State Academic Moiseyev Dance Company, its director and her husband and principal members of the company on the occasion of his birthday. They were handed to DPRK Ambassador to Russia Kim Yong Jae by Director Elena Scherbakova on Jan. 26.
    Meanwhile, Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the dean of the Conductor Faculty of the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory and his wife.
    The gift was handed to an official of the DPRK embassy in Moscow by Dean of the Faculty Stanislav Kalinin on Jan. 15.

Day of Sun and February 16 to Be Commemorated in Hungary and Denmark

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Hungarian Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 was inaugurated on Jan. 23. Chairman of the Hungarian Communist Workers' Party Gyula Thurmer was elected chairman of the preparatory committee.
    The Danish Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 was also inaugurated.
    Chairman of the Denmark-DPRK Friendship Association Anders Kristensen was elected chairman of the committee.
    These preparatory committees decided to hold various events on the two occasions.

Immediate Stop to U.S. Moves to Beef up Its Forces in S. Korea Demanded

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- The Swiss Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea sent a letter to the U.S. president on Jan. 25 protesting the U.S. moves for a new war on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. administration's deployment of F-117 Stealth fighter bombers in south Korea is a grave threat to the security of the DPRK and the peace on the Korean Peninsula, the letter said, and continued:
    The U.S. troops present in south Korea engrossed in ceaseless exercises for a war of aggression and their nuclear weapons are the very source of war on the Korean Peninsula.
    The letter strongly demanded the U.S. administration stop at once its moves to beef up its troops in south Korea, a threat to peace.
    There is no justification for them to remain in south Korea, the letter noted, urging them to quit it unconditionally.

Actions for Korea's Reunification Called for

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- A New Year meeting was held in Los Angeles on Jan. 26 under the sponsorship of the Western Committee of the U.S. Regional Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration. Present there were co-chairmen of the U.S. regional committee and figures of Korean organizations in the U.S.
    Speakers at the meeting accused the U.S. of refusing to implement the September 19 joint statement adopted at the six-party talks in 2005 and called upon the Koreans in the U.S. to turn out as one in the struggle to promote the peace and reunification of the country.
    They stressed the need for the Koreans from all walks of life to unite irrespective of ideology, religious belief and political view.

Repeal of NSL and Disbandment of GNP Demanded in S. Korea

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Ryu Son Min, chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Formation of the 15th-term south Korean Federation of University Student Councils, reportedly released a statement on Jan. 28 in which he demanded the repeal of the "National Security Law" (NSL) and the disbandment of the "Grand National Party" (GNP) standing in the way of reunification. Recalling that on Jan. 23 the Seoul Central District Court declared not guilty the victims of the "case of the Committee for the Reconstruction of the People's Revolutionary Party," a case faked up by the fascist dictatorial regime in 1974, the statement urged the need to thoroughly probe the truth behind the case with the recent court ruling as a momentum.
    Cases aimed at binding patriotic youth and students hand and foot are being faked up one after another and innocent people are thrown behind bars and forced to stand trial on charges of "receiving instructions from the north" and the like which are nothing but abnormal practices, though the nation lives in the June 15 era for reunification, the statement deplored.

Minju Joson Favors Proposal Made by North Side Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- As already reported, a general meeting of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration took place on Jan. 30. The meeting reviewed the patriotic movement conducted last year under the banner of "By our nation itself" to carry out the three major tasks--independent reunification, peace against war and great national unity--and discussed the orientation of activities of the north side committee to thoroughly implement the tasks of attaching importance to the nation, defending peace and achieving unity this year holding higher the banner of the June 15 joint declaration.
    It suggested the south and overseas sides to hold a function common to the nation in Pyongyang to mark the 7th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration and an Aug. 15 reunification event in the south side's area and organize colorful functions for reunification of organizations of people of different strata in a venue to be agreed upon and have a meeting of the June 15 All-Korean Committee at an early date to discuss the orientation of the national reunification movement this year.
    Minju Joson today in a signed commentary hails the proposal as a patriotic one for ushering in a heyday in the efforts to accomplish the cause of independent reunification this year on the basis of the successes achieved in the above-said patriotic movement last year.
    It goes on:
    It is the only way of consolidating the achievements made in the patriotic movement last year to implement to the letter the tasks of attaching importance to the nation, defending peace and achieving unity laid down in the joint New Year editorial for this year.
    The proposed events for reunification will put further impetus to the movement of all the Koreans to carry out the above-said three tasks.
    The June 15 All-Korean Committee, a nation-wide umbrella solidarity organization for the reunification movement, is called upon to discuss and decide on the orientation of the reunification movement as early as possible.

Congratulations to Kim Jong Il from Syria

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift, a big floral basket and a congratulatory message from Lieut. General Hassan Turkmani, deputy commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and minister of Defence of Syria, on the occasion of his birthday. A vice-director of the Section of Protocol of the Organizational and Administrative Department of the Ministry of Defence was authorized to convey them to the DPRK ambassador to Syria on Jan. 22.

Japan Urged to Fairly Settle Issue of Remains of Korean Victims of Forcible Drafting

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- We strongly urge the Japanese authorities not to resort to a sleight of hand to shirk off their responsibility for the issue of the remains of the Korean victims of the forcible drafting but immediately take an appropriate measure for a fair solution to the issue. A spokesman for the Association of the Korean Victims of the Forcible Drafting and Their Bereaved Families said this in a statement Thursday in connection with the recent disclosure of the fact that some of the Korean victims of the forcible drafting whose remains are allegedly preserved at Yutenji Temple in Tokyo have been proved alive and their remains the Japanese reactionaries claimed belonging to them were false to spark off the furor of the international community.
    What should not be overlooked is that the authorities of the land of Japs have handed over to south Korea approximately more than 8,800 boxes of the remains whose identities and hometowns have not been clearly proved since the liberation of Korea and, moreover, they said that they would pass more than a hundred boxes to it, the statement said, and continued:
    Lurking behind the Japanese authorities' handover of those remains which they have so far left uncared is their crafty intention to hush up the issue of the remains of the Korean victims of the forcible drafting, bury into oblivion the hideous human rights abuses committed by their country in the past and, furthermore, evade their responsibility to compensate for the crimes.
    Pointing out that the victims of the forcible drafting in the DPRK and their bereaved families vehemently denounce the Japanese authorities' hideous human rights abuses, the statement went on to say:
    For the present the Japanese authorities should conduct a comprehensive and deep-going investigation into the remains of the Korean victims of the forcible drafting, make public their total number, excavate their remains with care, conduct a DNA test without condition, find out their bereaved families and make full apology and compensation to them on the basis of the verification of the identities of the victims.
    They should, at the same time, help their bereaved families bury the remains in their native places or where their families reside as desired by the families, ferret out criminals responsible for the issue of the remains and sternly punish them.
    We will never tolerate such inhuman and irresponsible handover of the remains of victims of the north origin to south Korea without careful consideration, prompted by their discrimination against the north in handling the issue of remains, the statement warned.

Kim Yong Nam Receives Credentials from Spanish Ambassador

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, received credentials from Delfin Colome, Spanish ambassador e.p. to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and a staff member of the Spanish embassy here.
    After receiving the credentials, Kim Yong Nam conversed with the Spanish ambassador.

Cement Dispersant "KPY-99"

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Cement dispersant "KPY-99" has proved effective in cement production in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The dispersant, a product of latest science and technology, is liquid agent which has made its appearance in the cement engineering for the first time.
    It is surface-active agent and a kind of organic compounds, which is made by a new compounding method.
    It is strong in resistance to fire and prevents reinforcement bar from being rusted and the environment from being polluted. And it also does not do harm to the human body.
    It improves the quality of cement, increases its production and reduces the production cost, thus saving a great deal of manpower and electricity.
    It has been applied to various cement factories including the Sunchon Cement Complex and the Haeju Cement Factory, with the result that the cement production went up by 30-40 percent.
    Over the last decade, the dispersant has proved excellent on trial in China, Russia and other countries.

Revolutionary Songs Give Impetus to General Advance

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- Many songs about the Party and leader, the country and the people have been created in the DPRK and people, full of confidence in victory, are dynamically marching forward, loudly singing the songs in every nook and corner of the country to usher in a great heyday of Songun Korea. The Korean revolution, which was pioneered by President Kim Il Sung in the forests of Mt. Paektu, has emerged victorious along with songs.
    The paean "Star of Korea" sung by hot-blooded young people in the early years of the Korean revolution and lots of revolutionary songs created during the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle inspired the revolutionaries to the victory in the hard-fought war.
    "May, Month of Victory", "Song of Plowing" and other songs which were created after the liberation of the country clearly mirror the then people's endeavors for building a new country.
    Many songs arousing the army and people to decisive battles were composed in the years of the Fatherland Liberation War (1950-1953). They include "Song of Defending Homeland", "To the Road of Decisive Battle", "Mungyong Pass" and "My Song in Trench". There are also lots of songs reflecting the boundless reverence of the Korean people for the leader and Party and their optimistic life. Among them are "Song Devoted to Marshal Kim Il Sung", "With a Single Mind" and "We Are the Happiest".
    Singing these songs, the Korean people are carrying the Juche-oriented revolutionary cause pioneered by the President to the completion under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    Such revolutionary songs as "Arirang for Prosperity", "My Country Is Best" and "We Will Advance with Confidence" are popular among the people these days.

Lecture Given to Mark Sri Lanka's Independence Day

    Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- A lecture was given at the Chollima House of Culture today on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the independence of Sri Lanka. Present at the lecture were the chairman of the Korea-Sri Lanka Friendship Association and its members.
    The chairman at the lecture referred to the achievements made by the government and people of Sri Lanka in their efforts to achieve national reconciliation and unity and build a new prosperous society.

For Spanish-speaking people

Minju Joson apoya iniciativa patriotica de la parte Norte

    Pyongyang, 1 de febrero (ATCC) -- Segun trascendidos, la asamblea general del Comite Norteno para la Ejecucion de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio, efectuada el 30 de enero, hizo balance de los tres movimientos patrioticos del ano pasado desplegados bajo la bandera de "Entre nosotros, los connacionales" y discutio el rumbo de actividades de este ano del Comite Norteno para materializar consecuentemente las tres tareas: la preponderancia de la nacion, la defensa de la paz y el logro de la union, enarbolando la bandera de la declaracion mencionada. Y propuso al Comite Sureno y al ultramarino celebrar en Pyongyang el acto conjunto nacional por el 7 aniversario de la publicacion de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de junio y en suelo surcoreano, el acto del 15 de agosto para la reunificacion. 　Igualmente, planteo organizar en lugares acordados actos similares de las entidades de diferentes estratos del Norte y el Sur y convocar lo mas pronto posible la reunion del comite conjunto nacional del 15 de Junio para discutir el rumbo del movimiento de este ano por la reunificacion de la patria.
    　Al respecto, el periodico Minju Joson difunde este jueves un comentario individual que sigue:
    　Esto es una iniciativa patriotica para abrir este ano el periodo de gran auge en la realizacion de la causa de reunificacion independiente de la patria basandose en los exitos logrados el ano pasado en los tres movimientos patrioticos.
    　La via para consolidar los exitos del ano pasado en los tres movimientos patrioticos reside en materializar consecuentemente las tres tareas: la preponderancia de la nacion, la defensa de la paz y el logro de la union presentadas en el editorial conjunto de los periodicos Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun y Chongnyon Jonwi publicado en ocasion del Ano Nuevo.
    　Los actos arriba mencionados estimularan mas la lucha de los connacionales alzados en el cumplimiento de esas tres tareas. Seria mucho mejor que el comite conjunto nacional del 15 de junio, organizacion solidaria del movimiento pannacional por la reunificacion, discuta y fije cuanto antes el rumbo del movimiento de este ano por la reintegracion nacional.

Kim Jong Il recibe mensajes y presentes de personalidades rusas

    Pyongyang, 1 de febrero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio mensajes y cartas de felicitacion y presentes que le dedicaran con motivo de su cumpleanos (el 16 de febrero) el Conjunto de Danza Folclorica Academica Nacional Moiseyev de Rusia, el matrimonio de la directora y los artistas estelares de esta banda. La directora Elena Scherbakova los entrego el 26 de enero al embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario coreano en ese pais, Kim Yong Jae.
    En tanto, dirigio presente al Dirigente el matrimonio de Stanislav Kalinin, decano de la facultad de directores del Conservatorio Nacional Chaikovski de Moscu.
    El decano lo entrego el 15 de enero a un funcionario de la embajada coreana en Rusia.

Comites preparatorios de Hungria y Dinamarca para efemerides coreanas

    Pyongyang, 1 de febrero (ATCC) -- Quedo constituido el 23 de enero el comite preparatorio de Hungria 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). Como presidente del comite naciente fue electo Gyula Thurmer, presidente del Partido de los Trabajadores Comunistas de Hungria.
    Igualmente, se fundo el comite homonimo de Dinamarca.
    Anders Kristensen, presidente de la Asociacion de Amistad Dinamarca-Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, fue elegido como titular de esta entidad.
    Ambos comites decidieron organizar diversas actividades en ocasion de esas efemerides coreanas.

Pueblo coreano marcha entonando canciones revolucionarias

    Pyongyang, 1 de febrero (ATCC) -- En la Corea del Songun (priorizacion militar), donde se abre la gran epoca de prosperidad con firme conviccion en la victoria, se crearon numerosas canciones sobre el partido, el lider, la patria y el pueblo. 　La revolucion coreana, iniciada en la selva del Paektu, ha recorrido siempre el camino victorioso con las canciones revolucionarias.
    　El himno "Estrella de Corea", que crearon en la etapa inicial de la revolucion coreana los jovenes revolucionarios traduciendo su infinita veneracion al Presidente Kim Il Sung, y las otras canciones nacidas en el periodo de la lucha revolucionaria antijaponesa permiten evocar los dias historicos en que los primeros superaban a fuego y sangre las pruebas de la revolucion bajo la direccion del segundo.
    　Los cantos compuestos despues de la liberacion de Corea, entre otros, "Mayo de victoria" y "Cancion de arada" reflejan al pueblo coreano luchando por construir una nueva patria.
    　Las canciones nacidas en el fragor de la Guerra de Liberacion de la Patria (1950-1953) tales como, "Cancion de la defensa de la patria", "Al combate decisivo", "Colina Mungyong" y "Mi cancion en la trinchera" hacen recordar de los dias de esta encarnizada contienda belica.
    　En tanto, el "Himno al Mariscal Kim Il Sung", "Siempre con fidelidad", "No tenemos nada que envidiar en este mundo" y otras canciones describen la infinita veneracion del pueblo coreano al partido y al lider y su vida optimista.
    　Entonando estas canciones, el pueblo coreano impulsa la causa revolucionaria del Juche iniciada por el Presidente bajo la orientacion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
    　En tanto, se repercuten en todas partes las canciones contemporaneas "Arirang de prosperidad", "Es mejor Pyongyang", "Iremos con gran fe en nosotros mismos", etc.
    　Tambien este ano, con coraje redoblado, el pueblo coreano avanzara hacia la cumbre de gran potencia prospera socialista cantando canciones revolucionarias y de lucha de la epoca del Songun (priorizacion militar).