Gift to Kim Jong Il from Chinese Family
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the family of Gan Yetao, former vice-chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association, on a visit to the DPRK.
It was handed to an official concerned.
Talks Held between Kim Yong Nam and Singaporean President
Singapore, August 1 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, had talks with Singaporean President S. R. Nathan at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.
Recalling that the DPRK was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Singapore, the Singaporean president said his country was grateful for this.
He stated that Singapore was deeply interested in boosting the relations with the DPRK, stressing that the two countries should maintain independence and tighten the bilateral ties as non-aligned countries.
The two sides at the talks exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly relations between the two countries and matters of mutual concern.
Present there were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun, DPRK Ambassador to Singapore Ji Jae Suk, Second Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Foreign Ministry Bilahari Kausikan and other officials concerned.
Kim Yong Nam arrived in Singapore that day.
Kim Yong Nam Feted by Singaporean President
Singapore, August 1 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Singaporean President S. R. Nathan arranged a banquet in honor of Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.
Present there on invitation were Kim Yong Nam, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun, DPRK Ambassador to Singapore Ji Jae Suk and other suite members.
Also present were the Singaporean president, Second Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Bilahari Kausikan and officials concerned.
The banquet proceeded in an amicable atmosphere.
Message of Thanks to Singaporean President
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Thursday sent a message of thanks to Singaporean President S. R. Nathan, departing from Singapore.
The message said that this time he exchanged views with the president on the issue of actively boosting the relations between the two countries and other matters of common concern and deepened the bilateral understanding and friendship.
Noting that the meeting offered an important occasion in putting spurs to the development of the bilateral relations, the message expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger thanks to their concerted efforts.
The message wished the friendly Singaporean people fresh progress and prosperity and the president good health, happiness and greater success in his work.
Kim Yong Nam Meets Goh Chok Tong
Singapore, August 1 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a warm conversation with Goh Chok Tong, senior minister of Singapore, who paid a courtesy call on him on August 1.
Present there were Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ji Jae Suk, DPRK ambassador to Singapore.
Also present there were Bilahari Kausikan, second permanent secretary of the Singaporean foreign ministry, and officials concerned.
Kim Yong Nam Returns Home
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, returned home Thursday after winding up his official goodwill visits to Mongolia, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia and Singapore.
Also coming back home with him were Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ri Myong San, vice-minister of Foreign Trade.
They were greeted at the airport by Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, Minister of Foreign Trade Rim Kyong Man, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon, and diplomatic envoys of Egypt, Russia, Mongolia and China here.
They left Singapore Thursday.
Greetings to Macedonian President
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Thursday sent a message of greetings to Branko Crvenkovski, President of Macedonia, on the occasion of the national day of his country.
Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the peoples of the DPRK and Macedonia would grow stronger, the message wished the president fresh success in his work for the prosperity of the country.
Swiss Cooperation Office Hosts Reception
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Country Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office of DPRK of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Katharina Zellweger Wednesday hosted a reception on the occasion of the national day of the Swiss Confederation.
Present there on invitation were officials concerned, diplomatic envoys of various countries and representatives of international organizations here.
Speeches were made there.
Schoolchildren's Singing Gathering Held
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Schoolchildren's singing gathering titled " The care of the respected general is the care of socialist homeland" was held in the plaza of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on August 1 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of famous work "Care of Homeland" created by Kim Jong Il longing for President Kim Il Sung on the road to the front.
The gathering began with a tale and chorus. Ham Kwang Chol, department director of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, said that Kim Jong Il viewed the homeland in close connection with the leader in his work "Care of Homeland" written in his teens, adding that this outstanding idea provides all youngsters with philosophical truth that the care of Kim Jong Il precisely means that of the socialist homeland.
They staged agitation poem and mixed chorus "My country is the country of the father general", a trio and pangchang "Our palace in Kwangbok Street" and other numbers impressively representing the bright feature of the schoolchildren growing with nothing to desire more in the world under the loving care of Kim Jong Il.
Officer of the Korean People's Army Ri Un Gyong, widow of Hero Kil Yong Jo, together with children of the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School mounted the stage and said in an excited tone that Kim Jong Il who takes care of the younger generation precisely means the care of the great sun.
The gathering closed with a poem and chorus "'Ready Always' for General Kim Jong Il." The performers fully represented the strong will of the rising generation to learn from the glorious youthhood and boyhood of Kim Jong Il and prepare themselves as dependable successors to the Songun revolution.
Foreign Delegations and Delegates Visit Revolutionary Battle Sites in Area of Mt. Paektu
Samjiyon, August 1 (KCNA) -- Delegations and delegates of Juche idea study organizations from different countries and regions visited the revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt. Paektu from July 30 to August 1.
Visitors laid floral baskets and bouquets before the statue of President Kim Il Sung standing on the shore of Lake Samji and paid tribute to him before being briefed on the Samjiyon Grand Monument and going round group sculptures.
Excited to stand atop Mt. Paektu, they presented impromptu poems and sang songs praising the great persons.
Chairman of the All-Russian Society for the Study and Dissemination of Kimilsungism Dmitryev Andrei said:
Standing on the top of Mt. Paektu, I am overcome with great excitement and feelings of solemnity. This tour convinced me that Mt. Paektu, the holy mountain of the revolution, was the source of the inexhaustible energies and strength displayed by President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in the whole course of the revolution and construction.
Visitors including head of the Group of Youth for the Study of Kim Jong Il Juche Idea in Vienna Thomas Losh said Mt. Paektu is not only the holy mountain of the Korean people but also a mountain dear to the world progressives, adding that Mt. Paektu is shedding more brilliant rays all over the world not merely because of its natural beauty but because it is associated with the noble will of the peerlessly great persons and the Korean revolution and cause of global independence would become brilliant realities thanks to Kim Jong Il.
They visited the Rimyongsu revolutionary site, the Chongbong Camping Site, the Paektu Hall and the Samjiyon Schoolchildren's Palace.
Withdrawal of U.S. Forces Demanded in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The "south Korean Federation of University Student Councils" (Hanchongryon) reportedly released a statement demanding the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea on July 27.
The statement noted that the U.S. forces should have withdrawn from south Korea according to the Armistice Agreement which calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Korea, but are still present there, threatening the peace on the Korean peninsula.
The U.S. is talking a lot about "peace" but scheming to perpetuate its forces' presence in south Korea as evidenced by their relocation, the expansion of their military bases and moves to reinforce the "UN command" behind the scene, the statement said, and went on:
Moreover, the U.S. is egging the pro-U.S. warlike forces in south Korea onto hamstringing exchange and cooperation with the north and becoming evermore undisguised in its moves to pose military threat to it with unceasing war exercises.
The statement declared that the Hanchongryon would take lead in the struggle to drive the U.S. forces out of south Korea and achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Peace and Reunification Called for in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Civic and public organizations of south Korea including the preparatory committee for Solidarity for Progress of south Korea reportedly held a meeting near the U.S. embassy in Seoul on July 28 calling for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces and the achievement of peace and reunification.
Speakers at the meeting noted what the U.S. forces do in south Korea is nothing but exercises for a war of aggression, all sorts of crimes and environmental pollution, adding that they are chiefly to blame for harassing peace, hamstringing efforts for reunification and bringing all sorts of misfortune.
They declared that they would stage more dynamic anti-U.S. actions of various forms to drive the U.S. forces out of south Korea and achieve peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
Repeal of "Law on Information Communications Network" Demanded in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification reportedly made public a statement on July 27 demanding an immediate stop to the enforcement of the "law on information communications network."
It said the law coming into effect that day was an evil law intended to close and watch Internet homepages of individuals and organizations calling for reunification by invoking the "National Security Law" (NSL).
The statement went on:
Before the enforcement of the law, the "ministry of information communications" sent an official notice to over 20 major organizations including the South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification and the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils, threatening that they would face penalties as the articles they posted in their Internet homepages were contravening the NSL.
Noting that Internet homepages were overflowing with fanatic articles of the pro-U.S. conservative elements calling the United States their "motherland" and decadent culture of the U.S. and Japan without restriction, the statement said: It is an intolerable act that the "government" authorities, shutting their eyes to this fact, crack down only upon the reunification movement organizations by invoking the NSL.
The statement demanded the authorities promptly scrap the "law" and dissolve such repressive tools as the "Intelligence Service" and the "Security Investigation Group."
Armored Horse in Koguryo
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Koguryo, with fine military equipment, could defeat incessant aggression of foreign forces and defend the country with credit for nearly 1,000 years.
The armored horse is a typical heritage showing the then developed military hardware of Koguryo, a powerful state in the Orient.
The cavalrymen and their horses were all iron-clad in Koguryo.
The panoply of horse varied from others of foreign countries at that time. It was manufactured for convenient use in protection of horse and battle activities.
The horse panoply consists of helmet, coat of mail and riding equipment.
The helmet was made in the shape of horse head. It has iron plates for protection of ears and cheeks and a hole for nostrils. The horse amour covers even the lower parts of legs.
It is proved by historical records including "Samguksagi" and "Koguryobongi", tomb murals belonging to Koguryo and other relics.
The iron-clad cavalry of Koguryo stroke terror into the hearts of the enemy.
Studying-While-Working System of Education Pays Off
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The education system of studying while working in the DPRK has been steadily perfected, demonstrating its vitality.
Over three decades since the publication of the theses on socialist education, an education system to train spot-technicians has been established in all sectors of the national economy. As a result, the study-while-working colleges have been set up in a rational way in urban and rural areas and industrial and farming areas and their function and role enhanced.
In only ten years after the publication of the above-said theses, over 40 more colleges were opened. And the year of Juche 73 (1984) witnessed establishment of six more colleges for the mining, metallurgical and machine-building industries.
The colleges over the country have dynamically conducted activities to provide well educational conditions and environment. Now, they were all equipped with modern educational facilities and experimental instruments.
The colleges have intensified practical education to raise capable technicians. In particular, they widely operated the spot-studying courses.
The colleges have produced many spot-engineers and technicians. Hundreds of graduates became senior officials of industrial establishments and co-op farms, holders of academic degrees and titles and Heroes of Labor. More than 550 teachers in the colleges have been awarded academic degrees and titles.
The number of technical inventions made by graduates and students of the colleges reaches tens of thousands. At present 40-50 percent of technical inventions in industrial establishments and co-op farms are done by graduates of factory colleges, farm colleges and fishermen's colleges.
The study-while-working system will make a greater contribution to the intellectualization of the whole society in the DPRK.
Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Work Observed
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates an article to the 33rd anniversary of the publication of Kim Jong Il's historic work on accelerating the modeling of the whole society on the Juche idea by radically improving the party work.
This work, published on August 2, Juche 63 (1974), is an important work as it comprehensively laid down all the ideological and theoretical guidelines for strengthening the Workers' Party of Korea as required by new historical phase for modeling the whole society on the Juche idea.
The last more than three decades since Kim Jong Il put forward the programme on modeling the entire party membership on the Juche idea are adorned with the most shining successes in the history of the WPK's development, the article says, and goes on:
The struggle to model the entire party membership on the Juche idea resulted in firmly establishing the ideological system of President Kim Il Sung, the monolithic leadership system, throughout the party and remarkably strengthening the close ties of kinship between the party and the popular masses and working unprecedented miracles and innovations in all fields of socialist construction under the leadership of the party.
Kim Jong Il's wise leadership over the work to develop the WPK into a powerful guiding force of the Juche revolution found a vivid manifestation in the course of the more than decade-long history in which it has advanced under the banner of Songun.
The high dignity and invincible might of the WPK in the era of Songun lie, first of all, in that the entire party has developed into the powerful vanguard devotedly protecting the leader.
A radical turn has taken place in the ideological and moral traits of the party membership in the course of developing the struggle to strengthen the party ranks guided by the ideas and theories clarified by Kim Jong Il.
The high dignity and invincible might of the WPK in the era of Songun are manifested in that the army and the people have become a harmonious whole. The last more than decade was a glorious period in which the trust of the army and the people in the party have grown incomparably deeper and the single-minded unity of the party, the army and the people stronger than ever before. Herein lies the invincibility of the Songun revolution.
The WPK which has grown stronger under the banner of modeling the entire party membership on the Juche idea, the banner of Songun is fully demonstrating its militant might through the drive to build a great prosperous powerful nation.
All Koreans Called upon to Remain True to Principles of National Reunification
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- The June 15 joint declaration provides the cause of national reunification with ideological and moral strength to make a steady dynamic advance toward victory despite manifold difficulties and ordeals. It is based on the principle of national independence reflected in the idea of "By our nation itself".
Rodong Sinmun today observes this in a signed article.
It goes on:
National independence serves as a fundamental principle of national reunification as it is most just and realistic and has tremendous vitality.
The principle originated from the intrinsic requirement for settling the issue of national reunification.
The Korean nation was split into two by foreign forces and is still suffering from the division. If the foreign forces are allowed to interfere in the issue of Korean reunification, the issue can never be settled as they are hell-bent on the moves against reunification in a bid to pursue confrontation between the north and the south of Korea and seek the permanent division of the Korean Peninsula.
It would be impossible to achieve national unity and reunification without independence.
The principle of independence is based on a scientific clarification of the role to be played by a driving force in the movement for national reunification.
The driving force for national reunification is none other than the Korean nation itself. It is the Koreans who have undergone pain and misfortune resulting from the division of the country and it is again Koreans who ardently desire for national reunification and wish to live in the reunified land. Therefore, no others can be responsible for the issue of reunification but the Korean nation which has vital interests in the movement for the reunification of the country and no one can replace the Korean nation in the struggle for national reunification.
The Korean nation should be responsible for the movement for national reunification and play such role. This means letting the Korean nation take the initiative in settling the issue of reunification, not allowing any foreign forces to interfere in the internal issue of the Korean nation but settling all matters of the nation by its concerted efforts. In other words, it is the Juche-oriented role to firmly maintain the independent stand and adhere to the principle of independence in the movement for national reunification.
The principle of independence reflects the noble and patriotic idea and mentality of the members of the Korean nation.
This principle is most scientific and just one for reunification as it is based on the intrinsic requirements for settling the reunification issue and the role of the driving force in the movement for national reunification and reflects the patriotic idea and feelings of the Koreans, concludes the article.
Doctorate in Linguistics Awarded to Overseas Korean
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of awarding a doctorate in linguistics of the DPRK to Prof. Pak Ki Sok of the Korean Language Institute of Australia was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Thursday.
The doctorate was conferred upon Pak in recognition of the study he has pursued for the uniform development of the Korean national language based on the Pyongyang cultured language and the contribution he has made to teaching it to overseas Koreans while being engaged in education in the Korean language and study of it.
Kim Jong Il Inspects KPA Unit
Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected KPA Unit 136.
He acquainted himself with the unit's performance of duty before watching its servicepersons in military training.
He set forth tasks to be fulfilled by the unit to boost its combat capability, expressing satisfaction over the fact that its commanding officers and soldiers have put the training on a regular basis as required by the WPK's policy of military training and all of them have thus grown to be a-match-for-a hundred fighters.
Noting that all the servicepersons could acquire high military technique and combat capability as the unit has paid primary attention to the training, he added that intensifying the military training provides a sure guarantee for increasing the combat capability of the unit.
He watched servicepersons having a meeting to congratulate exemplary soldiers in their outdoor resting place.
Highly praising them for holding the meeting in a peculiar manner, he gave a pep-talk to them who are glorifying every moment of their military service with shining feats in order to become young heroes in the Songun era ready to dedicate even their youth and lives to the country without hesitation like Hero Ri Su Bok.
The KPA is conducting diverse political work in a unique way best suited to the psychological peculiarities of soldiers, he noted, underscoring the need to steadily intensify the ideological education in order to train all of them to be strong in idea and faith.
Then he took deep care of soldiers' service and living, making the rounds of an educational room, bed-room, mess hall, wash-cum-bath house, non-staple food store and entertainment, cultural and supply service facilities.
Calling on the commanding officers of the unit to make tenacious efforts to provide the soldiers with good living conditions, he indicated ways to do so.
He gave the servicepersons of the unit a pair of binoculars, a machine gun and an automatic rifle as gifts and had a photo session with them.
He was accompanied by KPA Generals Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su.
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Jong Il inspecciona comandancia de Unidad Combinada No. 264
Pyongyang, 2 de agosto (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, inspecciono la comandancia de la Unidad Combinada No. 264 del EPC.
En la sala de mando operacional, el Comandante Supremo hizo conocimiento del estado de cumplimiento del deber de la unidad por parte del comandante de esta.
Se mostro satisfecho de que los oficiales y los soldados de la unidad consolidaron como una muralla de acero el baluarte militar del socialismo al estilo coreano al materializar cabalmente la linea militar del partido y presento las tareas para incrementar por todos los medios la combatividad de dicho destacamento.
Acto seguido, recorrio un gimnasio, invernadero de hortalizas y otros lugares de la unidad.
Expreso su gran satisfaccion por el hecho de que la unidad aprovecha de modo eficiente las excelentemente acondicionadas instalaciones de intendencia y de deporte necesarias a la vida y la forja de constitucion fisica de los uniformados, en particular, suministra a estos durante todo el ano frescas verduras cultivadas en ese invernadero de alta eficiencia economica.
Evaluo altamente los esfuerzos de los comandantes de aqui quienes prestando profunda atencion a la intendencia, prepararon excelentes condiciones de vida para los uniformados.
Recorriendo el recinto del cuartel bien cuidado como un parque senalo que se nota el orgulloso aspecto del EPC, heredero del modo de vida de los guerrilleros antijaponeses.
Al decir que la unidad hizo muchas cosas en los ultimos anos en el fortalecimiento de la combatividad, la administracion de la unidad y otras esferas, valoro de grandes los exitos logrados por los militares de la unidad.
Luego de concluir su inspeccion a la comandancia, el Comandante Supremo, junto con los oficiales y soldados de la unidad, presencio en la casa de los militares una funcion del grupo de propaganda artistica de esta unidad.
Se mostro muy complacido por esa magnifica funcion de alto valor ideo-artistico y aprecio los exitos logrados por el grupo en este espectaculo y sus actividades artisticas de caracter combativo.
Le acompanaron los subjefes de departamento del CC del PTC, Hwang Pyong So y Kim Sung Yon.
Kim Yong Nam conversa con el presidente de Singapur
Singapur, 1 de agosto (Corresponsal de ATCC) -- Tuvieron lugar el dia primero en el Palacio Presidencial las conversaciones entre Kim Yong Nam, presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, y S. R. Nathan, presidente de la Republica de Singapur.
En la ocasion el mandatario singapurense recordo que la RPDC es uno de los paises que reconocieron primero a su pais y anadio que los singapurenos estan agradecidos por el respecto.
Singapur esta muy interesado en el desarrollo de las relaciones con Corea, apunto Nathan y agrego que es importante para los dos paises no alineados mantener la independencia y fortalecer las relaciones bilaterales.
En este encuentro ambas partes intercambiaron opiniones sobre el problema de desarrollar mas las relaciones de amistad entre los dos paises y otros asuntos de interes mutuo.
Ahi estuvieron presentes por la parte coreana el vicecanciller Kim Hyong Jun y el embajador coreano en Singapur Ji Jae Suk y por la singapurense el segundo secretario permanente de la cancilleria Bilahari Kausikan y otros funcionarios.
Kim arribo ese dia a Singapur.
Kim Yong Nam departe con Goh Chok Tong
Singapur, 1 de agosto (Corresponsal de ATCC) -- Kim Yong Nam, presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, departio este miercoles en un ambiente cordial con Goh Chok Tong, ministro superior de la Republica de Singapur, quien le hizo una visita de cortesia.
En la ocasion estuvieron presentes el vicecanciller coreano Kim Hyong Jun, el embajador coreano en Singapur Ji Jae Suk, el segundo secretario permanente de la cancilleria singapurense Bilahari Kausikan y otros miembros correspondientes.
Conversaciones entre Choe Thae Bok y Thongsing Thammavong
Pyongyang, 1 de agosto (ATCC) -- Tuvieron lugar este miercoles en el capitalino Palacio de los Congresos Mansudae las conversaciones entre el presidente de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Choe Thae Bok, y el presidente de la Asamblea Nacional de la Republica Democratica Popular Lao, Thongsing Thammavong.
En la ocasion ambas partes intercambiaron las opiniones sobre el problema de fortalecer y desarrollar aun mas las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los parlamentos de los dos paises y otros asuntos de interes mutuo.
Participaron por la parte coreana el presidente del grupo de parlamentarios de amistad Corea-Laos Kim Wan Su y otros funcionarios, y por la laosiana, los miembros de la delegacion de la Asamblea Nacional de Laos y el encargado de negocios a.i. de este pais en Corea.