First Round of Inter-Korean Premier Talks Opens
Seoul, November 14 (KCNA Correspondent) -- The first round of the inter-Korean premier talks was opened here on Wednesday.
Present there from the north side were Premier of the Cabinet Kim Yong Il and his party and from the south side Prime Minister Han Tok Su and those concerned.
At the talks Kim Yong Il said that what is important is for the north and the south to uphold and implement the June 15 joint declaration, to begin with, and hold fast to the principle of giving importance to the dignity and interests of the nation and making everything serve it.
For the Koreans to pool their will and efforts provides a sure guarantee for implementing the joint declaration, Kim said, adding: Proceeding from such viewpoint, the north and the south should promptly take positive steps to put into practice the matters specified in the points of the declaration, including matters of commemorating June 15, refraining from interfering in each other's internal affairs and adjusting the legal and institutional mechanisms in favor of national reunification.
The north and the south should positively reenergize and steadily expand and develop cooperation projects for the uniform development of the nation's economy and the co-prosperity on the principle of ensuring common prosperity and interests and mutual accommodation, as enshrined in the October 4 declaration, he said, referring to specific tasks for carrying out cooperation projects in economic, social, cultural and humanitarian and other fields and ways to do so.
If the October 4 declaration is to be successfully implemented, it is necessary for both sides to have a proper way of thinking, understanding and basic stand, among other things, and build, first of all, a new system and order as required by the new century and changed circumstances, he said, and went on:
The inter-Korean cooperation can make smooth progress only when both sides respect each other's systems because of the differing political, economic and social and cultural systems that exist in the north and the south.
Cooperation projects can make dynamic progress to bring earlier the era of peace and prosperity only when the inter-Korean relations are definitely turned into those of mutual respect and trust.
What is important next is for the north and the south to show their will to implement the declaration in practical deeds, not in words, he noted, declaring that the north would fulfill its mission and responsibility to implement the declaration in the future, too.
The prime minister of the south side, addressing the talks, said that the publication of the June 15 joint declaration was a great historical event that ushered in the era of peace and co-existence between the south and the north.
Referring to the achievements made in developing the inter-Korean relations since the publication of the joint declaration, he expressed the hope that the talks would prove to be a constructive dialogue which will result in bringing about a productive agreement. He clarified the stand of the south side for implementing the October 4 declaration.
The talks will continue till Nov. 16.
The prime minister of the south side gave a reception for Premier Kim Yong Il and his party in the evening.
Premier Kim Yong Il Leaves for Seoul
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, and his party left Pyongyang Wednesday to participate in the first round of the talks between the premier of the DPRK and the prime minister of south Korea to be held in Seoul.
Pak Ui Chun Meets Foreign Minister of New Zealand
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun met and had a friendly conversation with Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Raymond Peters and his party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Wednesday when they paid a courtesy call on him.
On hand were Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned.
New Zealand FM Arrives Here
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Winston Raymond Peters, foreign minister of New Zealand, and his party arrived here Wednesday.
DPRK and Russia Cooperate in Commerce and Economy
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- A protocol of the second meeting of the joint working group on cooperation in commerce and economy between the Committee for the Promotion of International Trade of the DPRK and the Sakhalin Regional Administration of Russia was signed here Wednesday.
Present at the signing ceremony from the DPRK side were members of the committee and from the Russian side were members of the delegation of the administration and a councilor of the Russian embassy here.
Kim Yong Nam Receives Credentials from Peruvian Ambassador
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, received credentials from Jesus J. Wu Luy, Peruvian ambassador to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Wednesday.
Present there were Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and a staff member of the Peruvian embassy.
After receiving the credentials, Kim Yong Nam had a talk with the ambassador.
Greetings to Chief of Palestinian National Authority
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Wednesday sent a message of greetings to Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and chief of the Palestinian National Authority, on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the proclamation of the State of Palestine.
Expressing the belief that the traditional relations of friendship between the DPRK and Palestine would grow stronger, Kim in the message wholeheartedly wished the Palestinian people success in their just cause to regain the legitimate national rights including the right to found an independent state with Kuds as its capital.
DPRK Government Economic Delegation Leaves for Cuba and Chile
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- A DPRK government economic delegation led by Rim Kyong Man, minister of Foreign Trade, left here Wednesday to visit Cuba and Chile.
DPRK Red Cross Society Delegation Leaves for Switzerland
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the DPRK Red Cross Society headed by Paek Yong Ho, vice-chairman of its Central Committee, left here Wednesday to participate in the 16th general assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the 30th conference of the International Red Cross to be held in Switzerland.
New Books Published
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- New books came off the press recently. They tell that the Japanese imperialists are the sworn enemy of the Korean people and the aggressive nature of the Japanese reactionaries will never change.
The book "We Indict the Japanese Imperialists for Their Century-Long Crime-Woven History" published by the Science and Encyclopedia Press cites with perfect logic and undeniable facts various types of crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in different periods to prove that all sorts of atrocities perpetrated by them against the Korean people in the last century were unprecedentedly hideous criminal acts to exterminate the Korean nation.
The book refers to the facts that the Japanese imperialists committed unpardonable man-killings and plunder and violated human rights for over 40 years after occupying Korea by force of arms and have openly pushed forward their moves for overseas expansion, whitewashing their history of aggression even today. It also assails the Japanese authorities for desperately pursuing a hostile policy towards the DPRK and frantically suppressing the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
The book "Story of Tok Islet" was brought out by the Social Science Publishing House.
The book having four chapters tells that the Korean people discovered Ulrung Island and Tok Islet before any others to use them as their cradles in the course of exploring the East Sea of Korea from ancient times and have exercised dominion over them for thousands of years.
The book cites historical facts such as the well known case of An Ryong Bok to prove that the "dominion over Tok Islet" much touted by the Japanese reactionaries still today is nothing but sheer sophism and part of their moves for reinvasion because they worked hard to realize their wild ambition for territorial expansion through Korean aggression from 800 years ago.
Children's Songs for Amusements, Heritage of Nation
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The children's songs which had been created and sung while playing amusements in the past are the heritage of the Korean nation.
They include songs on animals and plants and other songs children sang while playing housekeeping and hide-and-seek, building a sand house, jumping rope and holding tail.
Typical of them are the songs "Hide deeply" and "Rope-jumping."
The nursery rhyme "Hide deeply" was sung by children while playing a hide-and-seek. There are some differences in the words and melody according to local areas but the line of the words "Hide deeply and your hair is seen" is same.
The nursery rhyme "Rope-jumping" is popular not only in the northwestern provinces of Korea including Pyongyang but also in other parts of the country.
It has been widely sung by young girls when they played rope-jumping in spring and autumn.
The words of the song reflect figures of jumping rope and social conditions. And its melody is rhythmic, cheerful and bright.
Besides, there are children's songs "Seesawing," "Swinging", "Handclapping" and so on.
World Science Day for Peace and Development Observed in DPRK
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- A UNESCO science and technology book exhibition was held in the DPRK on the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development.
On display there were more than 1,000 copies of over 400 kinds of books on science and technology such as nano and universe technology and earth sciences, ecology, oceanography, coastal management, hydrology and geology and references for framing world-wide policy on science including the world science information, which have been published by UNESCO in recent two-three years.
The publications will be substantially helpful to the scientists and technicians of the DPRK.
Pak Song Ok, secretary general of the Organizing Committee of the Pyongyang International Science and Technology Book Fair, told KCNA that they will in the future, too, strengthen cooperation with UNESCO and disseminate more swiftly the latest scientific and technological data of the world to the DPRK and thus do much toward the scientific and technical development of the country.
Socialism, Life of Korean People
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il made public the work "Socialism Is the Life of Our People" on November 14, Juche 81 (1992).
The famous work expounds the theoretical and practical issues raised in protecting and advancing the socialist cause from the issue on applying thoroughly the Juche idea in all spheres of revolution and construction and strengthening the single-hearted unity of the leader, Party and popular masses to the issue on frustrating all sorts of slanders of socialism and bringing home the correctness and superiority of the socialist cause to the Party members and working people.
The last 15 years have experienced the validity and vitality of the work.
Capitalism was restored in some socialist countries in the 1990s. The US-led imperialists took the opportunity to focus the arrow of attack on the DPRK.
The Korean people were compelled to undergo the "Arduous March" and forced march due to the unprecedented moves of the imperialists to isolate and stifle the DPRK and the natural disasters for successive years.
But the Korean people held aloft the banner of socialism with the faith in sure victory under the slogan "Let's always be cheerful although our path is thorny!"
The servicepersons pervaded the revolutionary soldier spirit throughout the country under the slogan of "Let us take charge both of national defense and socialist construction!"
The Kanggye spirit, torchlight of Songgang, torchlight of Ranam and Thaechon spirit created in different parts of the country show vividly the firm faith of the Korean people in socialism.
In these years, the Korean people successfully launched the artificial satalite "Kwangmyongsong No. 1", rezoned paddy and non-paddy fields to suit the land of socialist Korea. And they built a lot of tremendous creations such as the Kaechon-Thaesong Lake Waterway, Paekma-Cholsan Waterway, Thaechon Youth Power Station No. 4, Anbyon Youth Power Station, Hungju Youth Power Station No. 2, Youth Hero Motorway and Kwangmyongsong Saltern and many goat, chicken and fish farms.
The Korean people are speeding up the socialist construction with deep confidence in victory under the wise leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea.
They have keenly experienced through history and practice that if socialism is protected, they will win a victory and if it is given up, they will die.
Projected U.S.-Japan Joint Military Exercises under Fire
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The projected U.S.-Japan joint military exercises codenamed "Sharp Spear" are reckless saber-rattling from A to Z as it is aimed to provoke the second Korean war in view of their nature, contents and scale.
Rodong Sinmun Wednesday observes this in a signed commentary.
It goes on:
The above-said exercises targeted against the DPRK were projected at a time when the agreement adopted at the six-party talks is in the process of implementation and an atmosphere of dialogue is being created for the improvement of the relations between the DPRK and U.S. This indicates that the U.S. is keen to invade and stifle the DPRK in collusion with Japan, its war servant.
The commentary cites a series of recent developments including the disclosure of the fact that the U.S. forces present in south Korea have recently staged a drill for maritime landing operations targeted against the DPRK by mobilizing guided missile destroyers and worked out a scenario to mount nuclear attacks on some countries including the DPRK.
All facts go to prove that the U.S. still remains unchanged in its criminal design and wild ambition to stifle the DPRK by force of arms, it notes, and continues:
It is hypocrisy for the U.S. to claim that it is interested in peace on the Korean Peninsula. Its claim is nothing but an artifice to disarm the DPRK. The U.S. is keen to whip the latter, while holding out an olive branch.
The DPRK can never remain a passive onlooker to this. It will reinforce its war deterrent in every way under the situation where the U.S. is planning to launch a war against it at any cost.
As water and fire are mutually destructive, dialogue and war maneuvers cannot go together. The U.S. should face up to the reality with a cool head and stop its reckless military moves against the DPRK which put dialogue and peace at peril. This is the key to the settlement of the issue.
Implementation of Three Tasks for Korea's Reunification Urged
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- The struggle for implementing the tasks of attaching importance to the nation, defending peace and achieving unity is a sacred and patriotic struggle to glorify the June 15 era of reunification and accelerate the cause of national reunification.
Rodong Sinmun Wednesday says this in a signed article.
Noting that a key to successfully glorifying the June 15 era of reunification in the idea of "By our nation itself" is to thoroughly implement the above-said three tasks, the article goes on:
It is an important task facing the Korean nation to firmly maintain the stand of giving importance to the nation.
The Koreans should put the demand and interests of the nation above anything else and, on this basis, develop the inter-Korean relations and the reunification movement in the idea of "By our nation itself".
All Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should cherish deep in their minds the pride and self-confidence of being a member of the sagacious and resourceful Korean nation with the history of 5,000 years and warm patriotism to preserve the Juche character and national character and firmly defend the dignity and interests of the nation.
It is also important to hold loft the banner of defending peace.
The imperialists have made no scruple of launching military attack on sovereign states, regardless of the UN and international laws, only to realize their interests for aggression and domination. But no aggression forces dare spark off a war on the Korean Peninsula. This is entirely attributable to the Songun politics. Therefore, the Songun politics is the genuine banner of defending peace that the Korean nation should hold high.
It is necessary to achieve the unity of the whole nation.
The unity of all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad should be strengthened in every way under the banner of "By our nation itself". And it should be thoroughly oriented to achieving the national reunification, the supreme task of the Koreans. It is urgent to whip up the atmosphere of reconciliation and unity among the Koreans and develop onto a new high stage the solidarity and unity of reunification movement organizations of different strata with the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration as a matrix.
And all Koreans should heighten their vigilance and decisively smash the despicable moves of the pro-American reactionary forces in south Korea who stand against the unity of the nation and the cause of independent reunification, negating the idea of "By our nation itself" and giving importance to outsiders and cooperating with them.
Security Authorities' Suppression Denounced in S. Korea
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Student organizations in south Korea reportedly made public statements denouncing the security authorities for their brutal suppression of the participants in the struggle for the abolition of the "National Security Law" (NSL).
The "All Students Together" in its statement on Nov. 6 accused the security authorities of brutally cracking down upon the demonstrators demanding the repeal of the evil law in front of the building of the "National Assembly" and taking to the police Ra Jin Suk, chairperson of the General Student Council of Konkuk University for 2002, and Hong Ki Ung, vice-chairman of the General Student Council of Seoul Industrial University for 2003, who were former deputies to the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), and the person in charge of handling the situation of the People's Solidarity for the Abolition of the NSL.
Noting that the number of those arrested on charge of violation of the NSL is on the steady increase when the desire of compatriots for reunification is growing stronger in south Korea, the statement deplored that there is no sign of any move to lift the labeling of Hanchongryon as "an enemy-benefiting organization" and the bill calling for the abolition of the NSL still remains on the shelf at the "National Assembly."
The headquarters of the "Seoul District Movement for Students' Involvement in Politics for Victory in the 2007 Presidential Elections" issued a statement titled "Abolish the Anachronistic Evil Law against Reunification and Release Detainees" on Nov. 7. It held that the NSL is a legal and institutional mechanism which should be repealed at any cost in order to develop the inter-Korean relations in favor of reunification as it is a very evil law in the present era blocking the reunification movement of the nation.
Active Campaign of Progressive Reform Forces Called for in S. Korea
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- Yun Ki Jin, chairman of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification, reportedly released an appeal "Let's win a victory in the 2007 presidential elections full of confidence in sure victory" on Nov. 7.
Noting that it is the goal to be attained by the headquarters without fail through a great anti-conservative alliance to prevent the pro-U.S. conservative forces from grabbing power, the appeal urged the camp for progressive reforms to advance faster with increased courage.
Calling for all-people actions for achieving national reunification, the appeal urged all the forces desirous of progress to turn out as one in the struggle to inflict a crushing defeat upon the fear-stricken U.S. and pro-U.S. conservative forces full of confidence in sure victory.
DPRK's Diamond Jubilee to Be Celebrated in Czech Republic
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee for celebrating the 60th founding anniversary of the DPRK was inaugurated with due ceremony in Prague on Nov. 8.
Present there were figures and members of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, the Czech, Moravian, Silesian Trade Unions' Association of the Czech Republic, the Paektusan Czech-Korean Friendship Association, the Czech Group for the Study and Materialization of the Juche Idea, and the newspaper Dialog of the Czech Republic.
Jaroslav Kafka, chairman of the Paektusan Czech-Korean Friendship Association, addressing the inaugural ceremony, said that the DPRK is a socialist bulwark which provides a sure guarantee for the future of mankind as it has firmly defended and strengthened socialism despite all sorts of challenges of the U.S. and other imperialist allied forces and difficulties created by them.
Noting that the DPRK is growing stronger thanks to the Songun policy of Kim Jong Il, he said that the next year which will mark the diamond jubilee of the DPRK would be recorded as a more significant year in the history of the struggle of the Korean people to develop socialist Korea and build independent reunified Korea.
Miroslav Stepan, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee at the ceremony.
The preparatory committee set the period from Dec. 1 this year to Sept. 15 next year as a period for celebrations and decided to organize multifarious political and cultural events, widely introduce the undying feats of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who greatly contributed to the founding and strengthening and development of the DPRK and the world cause of socialism and conduct activities in support of the struggle of the Korean people to build a great prosperous powerful nation and achieve national reunification.
Japanese Authorities' Suppression of Chongryon under Fire
Tokyo, November 12 (KNS-KCNA) -- A seminar took place in Tokyo on Nov. 8 under the sponsorship of the Seminar on Rights of Japan-resident Koreans to protest against the Japanese authorities' crackdown on the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and human rights abuses.
Shigeru Tokoi, representative of the Seminar, said that in recent years the Japanese authorities have got unprecedentedly outrageous in the political suppression of Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan and the violation of their rights. Nobody is allowed to encroach upon the freedom and equality of Koreans in Japan, the representative stressed.
At the seminar, Hong Sang Jin, secretary general of the Central Headquarters of the Korean Side to the Fact-finding Group on Forcible Drafting of Koreans, Kenjo Kogawa, a Japanese lawyer, and Akira Maeta, professor of Tokyo Zokei College, respectively made reports titled "The 1905 Treaty and the issue on remains of the victims of forcible drafting", "On the present conditions related to such matters as the decision to cancel the permission for use of the Great Music Hall in Hibiya Park, litigation over remedy and litigation over the case of fixed property tax imposed on Chongryon facilities and their prospect", and "We ponder over the suppression of Chongryon and racial discrimination".
They held that the violation of Japan-resident Koreans' rights was started as Japan fabricated the "Ulsa Five-point Treaty" in 1905 and put Korea under its colonial control.
They denounced the anti-DPRK policy of the Japanese authorities who have been hell-bent on suppression of Chongryon and encroachment upon rights of Koreans in Japan, distorting history, passing an unjust judgment on the lawsuit demanding reduction and exemption of fixed property tax and canceling the permission for rallies.
Noting that Japan has not shown earnest attitude toward the normalization of relations between the DPRK and Japan under the pretext of the "abduction issue" which already found its solution, they demanded that it immediately discard the national chauvinistic idea it has inspired, taking advantage of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK.
For Spanish-speaking people
Firmado protocolo sobre cooperacion economica entre Corea y Rusia
Pyongyang, 14 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Quedo rubricado el dia 14 en esta capital el protocolo de la segunda reunion del grupo comun de expertos sobre la cooperacion comercial y economica entre el Comite por la Promocion del Comercio Exterior Internacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y la administracion de la provincia de Sajalin de la Federacion Rusa.
En la ceremonia de firmas participaron por la parte coreana los miembros del comite arriba mencionado y por la rusa los miembros de la delegacion de la administracion de la provincia de Sajalin y el consejero de la embajada rusa en Corea.
Parten de Pyongyang el premier y su comitiva
Pyongyang, 14 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Salieron este miercoles de esta capital el premier del Consejo de Ministros, Kim Yong Il, y su comitiva para participar en la primera reunion entre los primeros ministros del Norte y el Sur de Corea, que tendra lugar en Seul.
Kim Yong Nam envia mensaje al mandatario palestino
Pyongyang, 14 de noviembre (ATCC) -- El presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, envio este miercoles un mensaje a Mahmoud Abbas, presidente del Comite Ejecutivo de la Organizacion de Liberacion Palestina y jefe de la Autoridad Nacional de Palestina, para felicitarle por el 19o aniversario de la proclamacion del Estado de Palestina.
El remitente expresa la conviccion de que se fortalecerian aun mas las tradicionales relaciones de amistad entre los dos paises y desea de todo corazon los exitos al pueblo palestino en el cumplimiento de la justa causa para recuperar sus legitimos derechos nacionales, incluso el derecho a la fundacion del Estado soberano con Kuds como capital.
Kim Yong Nam recibe cartas credenciales del embajador peruano
Pyongyang, 14 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Jesus J. Wu Luy presento este miercoles en el Palacio de los Congresos Mansudae ante el presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, sus cartas credenciales que le acreditan como embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica del Peru en Corea.
En la ocasion estuvieron presentes el vicecanciller coreano Kim Hyong Jun y un miembro de la embajada peruana.
Despues de recibirlas, Kim departio con el diplomatico.