Past news

S. Korean Authorities' Crackdown upon Protesters against FTA Denounced

Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- The Headquarters of the All- People Movement for Checking the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement reportedly issued a statement on May 25 in which it charged that the south Korean "government" authorities' moves to crack down upon not only all members of the leadership of the headquarters but some cadres and members of its organizations in various sectors and regions are actions to quell the opinions of all south Koreans opposed to the conclusion of FTA with the U.S.
The "government" authorities' intensified suppression would only give further momentum to the actions of the people against the conclusion of FTA, the statement noted, declaring the headquarters would get the deal struck for the conclusion of the humiliating FTA nullified and bring to the justice of history without fail those lackeys of the U.S. who betrayed the people.

Restoration of Monument to Candlelight Demanded in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- Civic and public organizations of south Korea including the Society of Candlelight for Independence and Peace to Honor Hyo Sun and Mi Son reportedly called a press conference in front of the Jongro District Office in Seoul on May 25 at which they demanded that the monument to the candlelight be restored to its original state.
    Speakers at the press conference said that the erection of the "monument to the candlelight for independence and peace" was an expression of the will of the people not to allow the U.S. to trifle with their destiny anymore and branded the Jongro District Office authorities' rash acts of leaving the monument unprotected as an act of treachery.
    A press release read out there said that the monument reflected the strong desire of the people to honor the two schoolgirls and bring independence and peace to this land, adding that the above-said organizations would restore the monument by the concerted efforts of the people and certainly punish the sycophantic and treacherous acts of the Jongro District Office authorities.

U.S. War Moves Denounced

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- Members of the south Korean All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of U.S. Military Base in Phyongthaek and peace movement organizations of Japan reportedly held a joint rally in front of the U.S. military base in Ryongsan, Seoul on May 27 to denounce the war moves of the United States.
    Recalling that U.S. troops drove the residents of Phyongthaek out of their nest of living to expand the military base there, members of the measure committee said they were resolutely opposed to the expansion of the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek as it was one menacing peace on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the world.
    They declared they would wage an intensive mass movement such as the fight for the scrapping of "the draft special agreement on the burden share for the upkeep of the U.S. forces" and memorial services on the 5th anniversary of the death of two middle schoolgirls.
    Members of peace movement organizations of Japan exposed the fact that the United States was planning to bring a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, persistently seeking a tightened military alliance with Japan. They declared they would fight to curb the U.S. war scheme in solidarity with south Korean civic organizations.
    The participants in the rally denounced the U.S. war moves, holding literature denouncing the unjustifiable demand of the U.S. in the issue of the burden share for the upkeep of the U.S. forces in south Korea, its outrageous act related to the environmental recovery at the returned U.S. military base, its moves for the expansion of the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek and crimes committed by U.S. soldiers.

Central Zoo Attracts Many Visitors

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- The Central Zoo situated at the foot of Mt. Taesong in Pyongyang draws an endless stream of working people and school youth and children.
    Kim Jong Il visited the zoo on May 31, Juche 76 (1987). Over the last two decades since then, he has sent thousands of animals of nearly 250 species on dozens of occasions, leading the zoo with great care to function as working people's place for cultural recreation and a centre for the dissemination of scientific knowledge.
    Officials and employees of the zoo have updated the house of gift-animals, the aquarium and dozens of animal-sheds and successfully built a solid base for feed production by their own efforts. They have successfully put animal breeding on a scientific and technical basis, thereby adapting the gift-animals to the climatic conditions of Korea.
    Last year alone 19 sheds including the elephant-shed, the parrot-shed and the pheasant-shed were reconstructed on an expansion basis to meet the ecological need and add to their peculiar scenic beauty. At least 400 animals of 41 species including white cranes and monkeys were propagated in the same year.
    With rare animals on the steady increase, the zoo is crowded with visitors everyday.

Anniversary of Publication of Kim Il Sung's Famous Work Observed

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Thursday dedicates an article to the 21st anniversary of the publication of President Kim Il Sung's famous work "Historical Experience of Building the Workers' Party of Korea."
    The President, in his work, proudly reviewed the history of the building of the Workers' Party of Korea which was pioneered and advanced under the banner of Juche and gave perfect answers to the theoretical and practical questions arising in building a revolutionary party including the basic principles to be abided by in party building and activities, the issue of the unity of the party ranks and that of the party's leadership art, the author of the article notes, and continues:
    The President blazed the original path of the building of a revolutionary party and strengthened and developed it into powerful political general staff leading the revolution and construction to victory. These are feats which will shine through all generations.
    What is important in the feats of the President in party building is that he firmly consolidated the party as an organizational and ideological integral whole in which the monolithic ideological system is unshakably established.
    It is a brilliant fruition of the wise leadership of the President that the WPK is demonstrating great might as an invincible party which has achieved steel-like organizational and ideological unity and cohesion today.
    What is important next in his feats in party building is that he strengthened and developed the party into an invincible party which is deeply rooted among the popular masses and has become a harmonious whole with the masses.
    The essential characteristics of the policy of the WPK lie in that it pursues a policy of love and trust for the people and spares nothing when anything is for them.
    What is important next in his feats in party building is that he brought constant leaps and innovations in socialist construction by enhancing the leading role of the party.
    Each precious gain of the country displaying its imposing sight as a socialist power independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defense, bears the marks of noble devotion of the President in strengthening the leading role of the party in every way.
    Today the WPK is dynamically leading the struggle for the victory of the Juche revolutionary cause under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il. In reliance upon the rich experience and feats of party building provided by the President and the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il, the WPK will highly display its dignity and grand sight as the Juche-type revolutionary party, an ever-victorious party, to the whole world.

Patriotic Desire and Will of Koreans, Motive Force of Struggle for Reunification

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- The patriotic desire and will of the Koreans to achieve independent reunification at all costs under the banner of "By our nation itself" with high national dignity and consciousness of independence serve as motive force propelling the June 15 era of reunification, observes Rodong Sinmun in a signed article Thursday.
    It goes on:
    The noble patriotic zeal of the Koreans to achieve the country's reunification independently has reached a new, higher plane in the June 15 era of reunification.
    The idea of resolving the question of the country's reunification by the efforts of the Korean nation itself, which is laid down in the historic June 15 joint declaration, has strongly appealed to the minds of all the fellow countrymen aspiring after independent reunification and completely gripped their hearts. The idea of "By our nation itself" has become the spirit of the June 15 era of reunification and it has been able to powerfully spur on the struggle for independent reunification with great attraction as it represents so unequivocally the will and desire of the Koreans for independent reunification.
    Guided by the principle of "By our nation itself," the Koreans have resolutely stood against the unreasonable interference and disturbance of outside forces and dealt hard blows to the flunkeyist treacheries of the anti-reunification forces within the nation following the lead of outside forces.
    This stubborn struggle of the Koreans made it possible to preserve the principle of "By our nation itself," the principle of national independence, in the reunification movement and establish the structure of Korean nation's confrontation with the U.S.
    National independence represents the dignity and honor of the nation, its pride and self-respect as well as the indomitable will and spirit of the nation.
    Nobody can block the struggle of the Korean nation to defend its dignity and sovereignty.
    The patriotic traits of the Koreans eloquently manifested in the high degree of consciousness of independence and desire for independent reunification are the propelling force making the nation strong and adding shine to the June 15 era of reunification.
    All the Koreans should promote the development of the times and bring earlier independent reunification by displaying the spirit of national independence and patriotic enthusiasm to a higher degree.

Japan's Reckless Intention to Exercise "Right to Collective Self-Defence" Blasted

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- A "law to set referendum procedures for constitutional revision" was adopted at the session of the House of Councilors of Japanese Diet some days ago. This provided Japan with a legal foundation to replace the "Pacifist Constitution," which it has so far advocated as a symbol of the "Pacifist State" by a war constitution and helped it make a breakthrough towards building a "legitimate" militaristic and war state.
    Rodong Sinmun today observes this in a signed article carried in this regard.
    The moves of the Japanese reactionaries for the retrogressive constitutional revision very adversely affect the process to preserve the equilibrium of forces and stability in East Asia and the Pacific region, the article notes, and goes on:
    By settling the issue of exercising the "right to collective self-defence" to meet its militaristic purpose Japan seeks to pave the way for conducting military operations for overseas aggression single-handed.
    The Japanese reactionary ruling quarters' desperate bid to exercise the above-mentioned right is aimed to go beyond the framework of the limited "right to individual self-defense".
    If Japan is allowed to exercise the "right to collective self-defence" through the constitutional revision, it may hurl its combatant forces into any area any time to kick off a war of overseas aggression.
    Japan is set to reorganize its "Self-Defense Forces (SDF)" into "Self-Defense Armed Forces" through the constitutional revision. This means the conversion of the SDF into armed forces for overseas aggression of legal offensive nature.
    The Japanese reactionaries are keen to stipulate the exercise of the above-said right in the Constitution and put this plan into practice. This may put further spurs to the moves to reinforce the military bloc in the Asia-Pacific region including Northeast Asia, spark a new Cold War and arms race. Consequently, the relations between Japan and other countries in Asia may become more hostile as the days go by to lead to clashes.
    The DPRK is the primary target of the Japanese militarists' exercise of the above-said right. They are waiting for a chance to start a war to stage a comeback to Korea under the pretext of "supporting the U.S. armed forces."
    The servicepersons and people of the DPRK are heightening vigilance against the moves of Japan to exercise the "right to collective self-defence" and launch reinvasion and are fully ready to settle accounts with the Japanese militarists any time. If they exercise the above-said right against the DPRK, its army and people will mercilessly wipe out them through the toughest counter-actions.
    The Japanese reactionaries would be well advised to give up their wild ambition for overseas invasion, well aware that their exercise of the above-said right would only precipitate their own self-destruction, warns the article.

U.S. and South Korean Forces' Aerial Espionage Unabated in May

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialist aggressor forces committed more than 90 cases of aerial espionage against the overall areas of the DPRK and the south Korean armed forces at least 70 cases of aerial espionage in May, according to a military source.
    The U.S. imperialist warmongers were busy spying on the East and West coasts of the north side by mobilizing 15 reconnaissance planes of different types such as U-2 and RC-7B and overseas-based EP-3 on May 15, 17 and 19.
    On May 23, E-3 flew into the air over the areas of Kyonggi Province and North and South Chungchong Provinces to perpetrate aerial espionage while commanding the flying corps involved in madcap war exercises targeted against the north.
    RC-12 committed more than 50 cases of espionage in May.
    Warmongers of the south Korean armed forces infiltrated RC-800 and RF-4C and other tactical reconnaissance planes, two or three on a daily average, into the air over the areas along the Military Demarcation Line in coordinated operation with the U.S. forces to perpetrate intensive aerial photographing of the frontline areas and central parts of the north side.

Ri Po Ik, Ardent Patriot

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- May 31 is the birth anniversary of ardent patriot Ri Po Ik, grandmother of President Kim Il Sung.
    She was born into an honest but poor family with strong sense of justice in Oryu-ri, Sadong District, Pyongyang in 1876.
    She lived with fortitude, remaining faithful to the national principles even in the dire poverty and hard toil.
    She instructed her sons that one should be always righteous. After Kim Hyong Jik, her eldest son, embarked on the road of revolutionary struggle, she actively encouraged and backed up him in his revolutionary activities, saying that in order to achieve the great cause of national liberation, a man should fight to the end with a firm determination.
    After Kim Hyong Gwon, her third son, took part in the revolutionary struggle, following his eldest brother, the Japanese imperialists further intensified outrages on the Mangyongdae family, but she did not yield her revolutionary constancy.
    When Kim Hyong Jik passed away in Juche 15 (1926), she even in deep sorrow said to President Kim Il Sung:
    "You must pick up the cause where he left off and win back the country, come what may. You may have no chance to take care of me or your mother, as is your filial duty, but you must give yourself heart and soul to the cause of Korea's independence. "
    When the President waged the anti-Japanese armed struggle, the Japanese imperialists sent renegades of the revolution to the house in Mangyongdae, carrying a fat roll of bank-notes with them in an attempt to make him "surrender".
    They tried to tempt her with the words that they would give him the post of commander of their Kwantung Army or commander of the Army present in Korea if he came over to them, but they failed.
    They forced her to join in the "surrender campaign" and dragged her to the rugged mountains of the shore of the Amnok River and northeastern areas in China, but they did not attain their purpose.
    At last he liberated the country. On October 14, 1945 when the President called at Mangyongdae, his dear native village, twenty years after he had left there, she said with happiness that she freed herself from life-long worries.
    Though her grandson was the head of state, Ri Po Ik, an ardent patriot, lived a frugal life, doing farming till the last moments of her life and died at the age of eighty-three.

Imperishable Feats in Building Revolutionary Party

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are recollecting the precious exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung in creating an example of the times in the building of a revolutionary party on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the publication of his famous work "Historical Experience of Building the Workers' Party of Korea" on May 31, Juche 75 (1986).
    He formed the Down-with-Imperialism Union, the origin of the WPK, in his early years when he pioneered the road ahead of the Korean revolution.
    Basing himself on the organizational and ideological preparations for founding a party made in the flames of the anti-Japanese revolution, he founded the Juche-typed revolutionary party without delay after the liberation of the country and thus opened up a new path for party building in the era of independence.
    After he founded the WPK, he had led to victory the most difficult and complex struggles including the deep-going social revolutions, the hard-fought Fatherland Liberation War, gigantic socialist construction and the efforts for defending socialism devoid of gun-firing.
    Thanks to his wise leadership the WPK could hold fast to its ideological purity and organizational integral whole without slightest vacillation when socialist ruling parties in various countries went to ruin by allowing the unprincipled "democracy" within the parties.
    It takes the most important place in his exploits that he had built the WPK in a far-sighted way so as to successfully carry forward the cause of the Party generation after generation.
    The President's ideas and leadership have been succeeded to the full by Kim Jong Il.
    Under his Songun revolutionary leadership the unity and cohesion of the WPK have been strengthened still firmer in the endeavors for protecting the country, nation and the destiny of socialism and hewing out a new path for building a great, prosperous and powerful nation in the fierce showdown with the U.S. imperialists. It has also been turned into the seasoned general staff of revolution which enjoys the unreserved support from the people and, thus displaying the dignity as the vanguard for independence against imperialists and the defender of justice.
    Under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il, the WPK will shine long as the glorious Party of President Kim Il Sung.

Wreaths Laid before Grave of Ri Po Ik

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- Wreaths were laid before the grave of ardent patriot Ri Po Ik in Mangyongdae on Thursday on the occasion of her 131st birth anniversary.
    Seen there was a wreath sent by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
    KPA guards of honor lined up before her grave.
    Present at the wreath-laying ceremony were Choe Yong Rim, secretary general of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, officials of the party organs, working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions and working people in Pyongyang.
    Laid before the grave amid the playing of the wreath-laying music were wreaths in the name of the WPK Central Committee, ministries, national institutions, educational and public health institutions, party and power bodies, working people's organizations and farms in Pyongyang.
    The participants observed a moment's silence, recollecting her exploits.

Mongolian Embassy Officials Help Korean Farmers

   Sariwon, May 31 (KCNA) -- Janchivdorjyn Lomvo, Mongolian ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy officials gave friendly helping hands to farmers of the DPRK-Mongolia Friendship Jongbang Co-op Farm here in rice-transplanting Thursday.
    During break the guests talked and sang together with farmers, deepening the friendship.
    The ambassador hoped that the farm would register greater success in the grain production under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il this year.
    They handed aid materials to the farm.

World No-Tobacco Day Marked

   Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- An event marking the World No-Tobacco Day took place at the People's Palace of Culture today.
    Present there were officials in the field of public health, officials of ministries and national institutions and working people in Pyongyang.
    On hand were the Swedish ambassador to the DPRK and staff members of the mission of the WHO here and other foreign guests.
    Ri Pong Hun, vice-minister of Public Health, said in an opening speech that there is growing social interest in the issue of no smoking on the occasion of the day, adding that all countries should deal with no smoking and tobacco control as a policy issue and take practical measures to this end.
    People should strive hard to quit smoking, well aware that smoking is injurious to health, he urged.
    Vason Pinyowiwat, acting representative of WHO here, spoke next.
    A lecture titled "Let's wage a brisk no smoking movement" was given by Kim Sun Hui, department director of the Office of Newspaper Public Health.
    The participants appreciated an art performance given by a hygienic information service team on the theme of no smoking and went round photos dealing with information activities on harmfulness of tobacco and no smoking activities of various forms.
    The day was also observed in different local areas of the country.

For Spanish-speaking people

Fuerzas navales del EPC advierten a belicistas surcoreanos

   Pyongyang, 31 de mayo (ATCC) -- Los militares del Ejercito Popular de Corea vigilan agudamente la provocacion militar de los belicistas del ejercito surcoreano y advierten que tomaran medidas pertinentes si esta continua.
    Senala la comandancia de las fuerzas navales del EPC en su informacion publicada la vispera en relacion con que los belicistas del ejercito surcoreano mandaron ayer un colectivo de buques de guerra a las profundidades de aguas jurisdiccionales de la parte Norte en el Mar Oeste.
    Segun el documento, a eso de las 11 y 20 del dia 30 (hora local), 7 buques de combate del ejercito surcoreano se infiltraron en las profundidades de aguas jurisdiccionales del Norte al sudoeste de la comuna de Sangyo del distrito de Kangryong de la provincia de Hwanghae del Sur.
    Con anterioridad, a eso de las 7 y 45 y de las 10 y 40, se produjo en igual zona la intrusion de 2 naves de guerra, precisa el texto y prosigue.
    A fin de evitar el empeoramiento de la situacion, la parte Norte demando a traves del aparato de comunicaciones la retirada inmediata de los intrusos, quienes respondieron con palabras tan agresivas como "abrir fuego" y "castigar".
    Esto deviene una grave provocacion militar, que lleva la situacion de esa zona maritima a una crisis muy delicada, y un desafio insoportable a la gran paciencia y perseverancia de los uniformados del EPC.
    Tal aventurera provocacion militar genera ahora una situacion extremadamente tensa en el Mar Oeste de Corea, que puede dar paso en cualquier momento a un nuevo choque armado.
    Los belicistas surcoreanos deben portarse con prudencia al ver correctamente la gravedad del caso.

Fuerza motriz de lucha por reunificacion de la patria

   Pyongyang, 31 de mayo (ATCC) -- La aspiracion y voluntad patrioticas de la nacion coreana tendente a realizar sin falta la reunificacion independiente con alta dignidad nacional y conciencia independiente bajo la bandera de "entre nosotros, los connacionales", sirven de fuerza motriz que lleva adelante la epoca de reunificacion iniciada el 15 de junio.
    Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 31 y continua: En la actual epoca de reunificacion llega a la etapa superior el noble patriotismo de la nacion coreana de reunificar el pais de modo independiente.
    La idea de resolver el problema de reunificacion de la patria con las propias fuerzas de la nacion coreana, planteada en la historica Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio, fue aprobada unanimemente por toda la nacion coreana que la desea.
    �@Por reflejar tan claramente esa voluntad y aspiracion de la nacion coreana, el ideal de "entre nosotros, los connacionales" sirve del espiritu de la epoca del 15 de junio y pudo impulsar energicamente la lucha por la reunificacion independiente.
    La nacion coreana rechazo rotundamente la injusta intervencion y las maniobras obstructoras de las fuerzas foraneas ateniendose al principio de "entre nosotros, los connacionales" y golpeo duro a las maniobras entreguistas de las fuerzas anti- reunificacion dentro de la nacion que siguen a aquellas.
    Gracias a la tenaz lucha de la nacion coreana, se mantiene ese principio y se defiende la tradicion de independencia nacional en el movimiento por la reunificacion. Asimismo, en esta labor se establecio la estructura de toda la nacion coreana vs. EE.UU.
    En la independencia nacional descansan la dignidad y honor de la nacion, el orgullo nacional, la indoblegable voluntad e impetu de la misma.
    Nadie puede bloquear el camino de lucha de la nacion coreana por defender su dignidad y soberania.
    Todos los coreanos deben manifestar plenamente el espiritu de independencia nacional y el fervor patriotico para promover el desarrollo de la epoca y adelantar la reunificacion independiente.

Rodong Sinmun se opone al "derecho a autodefensa colectiva" de Japon

   Pyongyang, 31 de mayo (ATCC) -- Hace poco, fue aprobada la "ley del plebiscito" en la camara de consejeros de la dieta japonesa. De esta manera, Japon pudo tener el marco legal para enmendar en la belicista la actual "constitucion pacifista", con que se pintaba hasta la fecha como "Estado pacifista", y abrio la brecha para construir legalmente un Estado militarista y belico.
    Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual de este jueves y continua:
    Las maniobras de los reaccionarios japoneses para reformar la constitucion dan influencias negativas sobre el equilibrio de la fuerza y la estabilidad en la region de Asia Oriental y el Pacifico.
    Ese pais isleno trata de solucionar el problema de ejercicio del "derecho a la autodefensa colectiva" conforme a su objetivo militarista para abrir asi el camino de desarrollar a solas las operaciones militares agresivas en ultramar.
    Lo esencial de este asunto reside en eliminar las restricciones del "derecho a la autodefensa particular".
    En caso de permitirse el ejercicio del "derecho a la autodefensa colectiva" por la enmienda constitucional, es muy probable que Japon despache a sus fuerzas armadas de combate a cualquier tiempo y lugar para desencadenar la guerra de agresion a otros paises.
    Mediante esa enmienda, los japoneses tratan de convertir a las "fuerzas de autodefensa" en el "ejercito de autodefensa" para capacitarlas legalmente para la agresion a ultramar.
    Tales maniobras aceleraran el fortalecimiento de los bloques militares y produciran una nueva guerra fria y carrera armamentista en la region de Asia y el Pacifico, inclusive el Nordeste Asiatico. Tambien, se empeoraran cada dia mas las relaciones entre Japon y otros paises asiaticos, lo cual causara al fin y al cabo hostilidades y consiguientes conflictos entre ellos.
    La Republica Popular Democratica de Corea es el primer blanco del ejercicio del "derecho a la autodefensa colectiva" de los militaristas japoneses. Estos tratan de iniciar nueva agresion a Corea bajo el pretexto de "apoyar a las tropas norteamericanas".
    El ejercito y el pueblo de Corea se mantienen muy alertos ante las maniobras arriba mencionadas de los imperialistas japoneses y estan firmemente decididos a destruirlos sin falta en la batalla final. Si ellos ejercen el "derecho a la autodefensa colectiva" contra la RPDC, el ejercito y el pueblo de esta los castigaran despiadadamente con el golpe de superdureza.
    Los reaccionarios japoneses deben abandonar su ambicion de agredir a otros paises, al tener presente que el ejercicio del polemico derecho los llevara a la autodestruccion.