Kim Jong Il Sends Message of Greetings to Syrian President
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il Thursday sent a message of greetings to Bashar Al-Assad, regional secretary of the Baath Arab Socialist Party and President of Syria, on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the corrective movement in Syria.
The message says:
I extend warm felicitations to you and your people on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the corrective movement in Syria.
The Syrian people have defended the sovereignty of the country and achieved great progress and prosperity, bravely meeting all challenges and difficulties since the movement.
I, availing myself of this opportunity, express full support and solidarity with you and the Syrian people in their just cause to defend the territorial integrity of the country and national dignity and fairly and comprehensively settle the Mideast issue and sincerely wish the friendly people of your country greater progress and prosperity.
Greetings to Syrian President
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Thursday sent a message of greetings to Bashar Al-Assad, President of Syria, on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the corrective movement in Syria.
Kim in the message said that the Syrian people have dynamically advanced along the road already chosen by them, bravely meeting challenges and difficulties true to the cause of their eternal leader Hafez Al-Assad.
He sincerely wished them great success in their cause for defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity and solving the Mideast issue in a fair and comprehensive way under the correct leadership of the president, expressing the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would grow stronger in the future, too.
Talks Held between FM of DPRK and FM of New Zealand
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- Talks between Foreign Minister of the DPRK Pak Ui Chun and Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Raymond Peters were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Thursday.
Present there from the DPRK side were officials concerned and from the New Zealand side the party of its foreign minister.
At the talks both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the bilateral relations and matters of mutual concern.
FM of New Zealand Feted
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The government of the DPRK gave a reception for Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Raymond Peters and his party on a visit to the DPRK at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Wednesday.
Present there on invitation were the foreign minister of New Zealand and his party.
Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Yong Il and officials concerned were on hand.
Pak Ui Chun said in his speech at the reception that it would be in the interests of the two countries to boost the bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation on the principle of respect for sovereignty, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, mutual benefit and equality.
Winston Raymond Peters said in his speech that it was not long since the two countries established diplomatic ties, but there are a lot of things to learn from each other, hoping that the good relations between New Zealand and the DPRK would go on.
DPRK Delegations Leave Here
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the International Affairs Institute led by its Vice-Director Ri Yong Thae left here Thursday to visit China and a delegation of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications headed by its Vice-Minister Pak Myong Chol to take part in the 1st board meeting of the Cheo Technology Joint Corporation to be held in Switzerland.
Video Meeting of Separated Families and Relatives Held
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The seventh video meeting of separated families and relatives was held on Wednesday and Thursday.
Separated families and relatives from the north and the south exchanged conversations, greatly excited to see each other on video as they were forced to live in separation for such a long time without knowing each other's fate due to the national division caused by foreign forces.
Those from the north side told their kin from the south about the worthwhile life they have led under the warm care of the DPRK and the devoted services they are rendering for the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation, true to the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Through the video meeting, the separated families and relatives from the north and the south once again keenly realized the tragedy of national division and renewed their will to positively turn out in the struggle to achieve the cause of reunification.
New Species of Short Apple Tree Cultivated in DPRK
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The State Academy of Sciences of the DPRK has achieved new results conducive to the development of fruit-culture.
It has deepened researches into high-yielding species of short apple tree and, in this course, completed a method of mass-proliferating an apple tree of highest yield.
The new method is simple in nursing saplings and can increase its efficiency three or four times the former method.
The saplings nursed by the new method are adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of the country to cut the production cost from their planting to the picking of fruits.
And it is possible to markedly increase the per hectare fruit yield, as many apple trees can be planted in a small area.
National Dishes Enriched in DPRK
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- National dishes are enriched in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to meet the modern taste.
This year has witnessed a folk dish show, a national show of local special dishes, etc. which were sponsored by the Korean Cooking Association.
In this course the varieties of time-honored Korean folk dishes have increased plentifully.
More than 6,000 kinds of folk dishes have so far been listed in the "Collection of Korean Dishes."
There are 160-odd kinds of boiled rice, the staple food, over 200 kinds of rice-cake and 40 kinds or more of noodle. Kimchi is also diversified in variety, which includes pickled mustard leaves and stems and coriander kimchi.
Restaurants specializing in national dishes have increased in number in Pyongyang in recent years. And folk food restaurants have been splendidly built to serve local special dishes in provinces, cities and counties.
The Chilgol Folk Restaurant in Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, serves various kinds of dishes peculiar to the nation such as rice-cake soup, Pyongyang cold noodle and fried rice.
The Folk Street Restaurant on the shore of Lake Kyongam in Sariwon City and restaurants in South Phyongan, South Hwanghae, Ryanggang and Kangwon Provinces serve traditional national dishes popular among the working people.
Anniversary of Transfer of Koguryo's Capital to Pyongyang Marked
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- A symposium of social scientists was held on Thursday to mark the 1,580th anniversary of the transfer of the capital of Koguryo to Pyongyang.
The symposium heard six papers which explained and proved the transfer of the capital of Koguryo to Pyongyang in 427 and its historic significance as it contributed to promoting the development of social history in Korea and had a great impact on exalting the national honor and the international prestige of Korea in the middle ages.
Dr. Son Su Ho, director of an institute of the Academy of Social Sciences, spoke under the title "Relics dating back to Koguryo which were discovered in the vicinity of Pyongyang and restored to their former glory under the wise guidance of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il". He said: The tomb of King Tongmyong was discovered and its nature scientifically proved in the 1970s thanks to the patriotic intention of the peerlessly great men and their wise guidance. It was successfully rebuilt into a mausoleum of the founder of powerful Koguryo.
A work was energetically undertaken to unearth relics dating back to Koguryo in the vicinity of Pyongyang including Anhak Palace, Kwangbop Temple, the Walled City of Pyongyang, the Wall on Mt. Kobang, three tombs in Kangso, the tomb with mural paintings in Tokhung-ri, a wooden bridge across the River Taedong and restore them to their original state. This helped clarify a lot of historical and archeological problems on a scientific basis and hand national treasures down to posterity.
Dr. Ri Kwang Hui, a deputy dean of a faculty of Kim Il Sung University, in a speech made under the title "Process of Koguryo's southward advance and historical background against which its capital was transferred to Pyongyang" proved that Koguryo conducted strenuous activities to realize its cherished desire to unify the land where Koreans had lived as a homogenous nation for thousands of years.
Citing facts to explain the struggle waged by Koguryo at four stages for the unification of the three kingdoms in the period before early in the 5th century, he said that through its southward advance Koguryo made every preparation for transferring its capital to Pyongyang.
Then the floor was taken by Assistant Professor and Master Han Yong Chan, a dean of a faculty of Kim Chol Ju University of Education, and Master Kang Se Gwon, room chief of the Academy of Social Sciences, and others. They in their papers said that the transfer of Koguryo's capital to Pyongyang raised the position and role of Pyongyang as a sacred land of the nation in the wake of the fall of Ancient Korea by carrying forward the tradition whereby importance was given to the transfer of the capital of Koguryo to Pyongyang for a long period and that after the transfer of its capital Koguryo augmented its national power and positively pursued the policy of southward advance, bringing the cause of territorial unification close to its completion.
They cited facts to prove that the transfer of Koguryo's capital to Pyongyang marked an important event in giving continuity to the legitimacy of the national history and irrefutably proving the succession of kingdoms in Korea.
The symposium was attended by officials, teachers, researchers, journalists and editors in the fields of social science, education, the preservation of cultural relics and the press.
DPRK Team Beats Chinese Team
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The DPRK team beat the Chinese team 1:0 in the group F qualifier for the 2008 AFC U-19 Soccer Championship held in China on Wednesday.
The DPRK team placed first by winning all the four qualifiers played in the group and was thus qualified to participate in the above-said championship.
U.S. Policy of Double Standards Blasted
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The unreasonable policy of double standards pursued by the U.S. over the nuclear issue is further increasing the danger of a nuclear war and gravely threatening global peace and security.
Rodong Sinmun Thursday observes this in a signed article.
The U.S. application of the double standards is evidenced by the fact that it has pushed ahead with the modernization of nuclear weapons, regarding it as a means for realizing its wild ambition to dominate the world, and revealed its undisguised scenario to mount preemptive nuclear attacks on other countries, it notes, and goes on:
The U.S. loudmouthed "nuclear non-proliferation" is prompted by its impudent brigandish assertion that it has the right to threaten, blackmail and attack other countries with nukes but they should never be allowed to have access to nukes. It is wantonly violating the NPT by behaving as it pleases in utter disregard of the treaty. This application of double standards is hamstringing the process of nuclear disarmament and sparking off a global nuclear arms race.
The U.S. application of the double standards over the nuclear issue finds a vivid manifestation in that it is putting pressure and sanctions upon those countries opposed to ideology and system of the U.S. under the pretext of "nuclear issue", while conniving at and even backing the development and production of nukes by its allies.
If the U.S. has a fair stance, it should blame Japan and Israel for their moves for nuclear weaponization and drop its partial policy of double standards, the policy of cooperating with some countries in the nuclear development while deterring those countries incurring its displeasure from conducting nuclear activities for peaceful purposes.
The U.S. nuclear strong arm policy is reducing the NPT to a dead document and egging non-nuclear states on to have access to nuclear means.
The U.S. security can be guaranteed only by nuclear disarmament, not by nuclear arms buildup. If the U.S. truly stands for nuclear non-proliferation and peace, it should stop applying double standards, abide by the principle of impartiality and make a policy switchover towards the elimination of nukes.
Security Authorities' Suppression of People's Just Struggle under Fire in S. Korea
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The "Organizing Committee for the Day of All-People's Action for 2007" reportedly called a press conference at the meeting hall of the south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Seoul on Nov. 12 in protest against the security authorities' brutal suppression of the all-people struggle.
Speakers at the press conference referred to the fact that the security authorities mobilized a huge police force to suppress the actions expected to take place on "Nov. 11, the day of all- people's action in 2007 for checking the conclusion of the south Korea-U.S. FTA, for the abolition of part-time jobs and for peace against war" and perpetrated such brutal action as dragging more than a hundred participants in the struggle to police stations in Seoul only. They declared that they would launch a legal and more massive struggle on the "second day of all-people's action" on Dec. 1.
Information Bulletin Published in Russia to Mark WPK's Birthday
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The International United Confederation of Koreans published the October issue of information bulletin "Reunification".
Under the caption "On the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the foundation of the Workers' Party of Korea" the bulletin carried articles titled "It is the life and soul of the party to achieve the independence of the people ", "The WPK advancing under the banner of independence against imperialism" and "The WPK, the guide of the Songun cause, and Kim Jong Il" contributed by Vladimir Markov, secretary of the C.C., the "Communist Union" Party of Russia, and others.
The articles noted that the ideology, line, strategy and tactics set forth by the WPK indicate the way of accomplishing the cause of independence against imperialism, adding that there are ever-growing trust and expectation of the world progressives towards the WPK as it is advancing under the uplifted banner of independence against imperialism.
The articles referred to the fact that the WPK, holding Kim Jong Il in high esteem as the top leader, has consolidated the single-minded unity of the whole society in every way under his leadership and remarkably augmented the political and ideological and military capability for the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation by enforcing the Songun policy in all fields.
The bulletin carried accounts of a meeting and other colorful events held in Moscow on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the WPK.
It also reported about a DPRK-Russia joint ceremony held in Moscow to release new stamps.
The bulletin edited an article on the efforts of the Korean people for national reunification and its prospect contributed by Vorontsov, chief of the Section for Korea of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
It also conveyed the news of the inter-Korean ties.
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Jong Il envia mensaje de felicitacion al presidente Sirio
Pyongyang, 15 de noviembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, envio el dia 15 un mensaje de felicitacion a Bashar al-Assad, secretario regional del Partido Socialista del Resurgimiento Arabe y presidente de la Republica Arabe de Siria, con motivo del 37o aniversario del Movimiento de Rectificacion en este pais.
El mensaje va como sigue:
Hago llegar mi calida felicitacion a Ud. y al pueblo sirio con motivo del 37o aniversario del Movimiento de Rectificacion en Siria.
Despues de este movimiento, el pueblo sirio salvaguardo la soberania del pais y logro un gran desarrollo y prosperidad superando valientemente los desafios y dificultades de toda clase.
Aprovechando esta oportunidad, expreso irrestricto apoyo y solidaridad con la justa causa de Ud. y su pueblo por la integracion territorial del pais, la defensa de la dignidad nacional y la solucion global y comprensiva del problema del Medio Oriente y deseo de todo corazon al amistoso pueblo sirio mayor progreso y prosperidad.
Iniciada primera reunion entre premieres de Norte y Sur de Corea
Seul, 14 de noviembre (Corresponsal de ATCC) -- Quedo iniciada el dia 14 en esta ciudad la primera reunion entre los primeros ministros del Norte y el Sur de Corea.
En la ocasion participaron por la parte nortena el premier Kim Yong Il y su comitiva, y por la surena, su homologo Han Tok Su y otros interesados.
Al hacer uso de la palabra, Kim Yong Il subrayo la importancia de que ambas partes defiendan y materialicen sobre todo la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio y mantengan con firmeza el principio de dar importancia a la dignidad e intereses de la nacion y sujetar lo todo a esto.
La garantia fundamental de la ejecucion de la Declaracion reside en marchar uniendo las voluntades y las fuerzas entre la nacion coreana, dijo y resalto que desde tal punto de vista, el Norte y el Sur deben tomar cuanto antes medidas activas para llevar a la practica los problemas estipulados en los articulos de la declaracion como el de conmemorar el 15 de junio, el de no intervenir en los asuntos internos de la contraparte y el de revisar los aparatos juridicos e institucionales a favor de la reunificacion.
Segun la Declaracion del 4 de Octubre, el Norte y el Sur deben dinamizar y ampliar sostenidamente las labores de cooperacion en el principio de la prosperidad e intereses comunes y del intercambio mutuamente beneficioso para lograr el desarrollo unificado de la economia nacional y la coprosperidad, destaco y se refirio a las tareas concretas y remedios para llevar a la practica los problemas de cooperacion en las esferas economica, sociocultural, humanitaria, etc.
Para ejecutar exitosamente la Declaracion del 4 de Octubre es importante que ambas partes tomen el pensamiento, el entendimiento y la posicion fundamental correctos y establezcan ante todo nuevo regimen y orden conforme al nuevo siglo y nuevas circunstancias, recalco.
Dado que en el Norte y el Sur existen diferentes sistemas politicos, economicos y socioculturales, deben respetar el regimen de la contraparte para la marcha favorable de las labores de cooperacion bilateral, acoto.
Prosiguio que cuando se convierten las relaciones Norte-Sur en las de respeto y confianza mutuos, se impulsaran activamente las labores de cooperacion y se adelantara la epoca de la paz y la prosperidad.
Ademas, es importante que el Norte y el Sur demuestren sus voluntades de ejecutar la declaracion no con palabras sino con sus acciones practicas, apunto.
Por ultimo, ratifico la posicion del Norte de seguir cumpliendo con fidelidad la mision y responsabilidad que tiene para la ejecucion de la declaracion.
Por su parte, el premier surcoreano dijo que la publicacion de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio fue un gran evento historico que dio inicio a la epoca de la paz y coexistencia entre el Sur y el Norte.
Se refirio a los exitos logrados en las relaciones intercoreanas despues de publicado ese documento historico y expreso la esperanza de que el presente encuentro se haga una cita constructiva para lograr acuerdos productivos.
Seguidamente, aclaro la posicion de la parte Sur para la ejecucion de la Declaracion del 4 de Octubre.
Las conversaciones continuaran hasta el dia 16.
Ese dia, el premier surcoreano ofrecio por la noche un banquete en honor de su homologo del Norte y sus acompanantes.
Conversaciones entre cancilleres de Corea y Nueva Zelanda
Pyongyang, 15 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Tuvieron lugar este jueves en el capitalino Palacio de los Congresos Mansudae las conversaciones entre los ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Pak Ui Chun, y de Nueva Zelanda, Winston Raymond Peters.
En la ocasion participaron por la parte coreana los funcionarios correspondientes y por la neocelandesa, la comitiva del canciller.
Ambas partes intercambiaron opiniones sobre el problema de desarrollar mas las relaciones entre los dos paises y los otros de interes mutuo.
Rodong Sinmun denuncia injusta politica nuclear de EE.UU.
Pyongyang, 15 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Hoy dia, debido a la injusta politica nuclear de doble rasero de Estados Unidos, el Globo Terraqueo corre cada vez mayor peligro de la guerra nuclear y se ven amenazadas gravemente la paz y la seguridad del mundo.
Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 15 y continua:
La aplicacion de esa politica norteamericana en el problema nuclear se manifiesta en que el imperio toma las armas nucleares por su medio para satisfacer la ambicion de dominar el mundo, acelera la modernizacion de estos artefactos y expone abiertamente su intencion de atacar preventivamente con ellos a otros paises.
EE.UU. habla mucho de la "prevencion de proliferacion nuclear" partiendo de su logica de bandido de que si puede amenazar, chantajear y atacar con armas nucleares a otros paises, estos nunca deben tenerlas.
La actitud de dos caras de EE.UU., que viola flagrantemente el Tratado de No Proliferacion, lejos de comprometerse a este, impide el desarme nuclear y acarrea una carrera armamentista nuclear a escala mundial.
De mal en peor, EE.UU. tolera tacitamente y hasta ayuda el desarrollo y la produccion de armas nucleares de sus aliados, pero practica la presion y sancion a los paises con diferentes ideas y sistemas acusandolos del "problema nuclear".
Si EE.UU. tiene una posicion imparcial, debe cuestionar el armamentismo nuclear de Japon e Israel y dejar de practicar su parcial politica de doble rasero que permite la cooperacion nuclear con algunos paises y persigue impedir las actividades nucleares con fines pacificos de los paises que no le agradan.
La politica de coercion nuclear de EE.UU. hace un papel mojado del Tratado de No Proliferacion y empuja a los paises desnuclearizados a preparar los medios nucleares.
La seguridad de EE.UU. no esta en el refuerzo de armas nucleares sino en el desarme nuclear.
Si EE.UU. quiere esforzarse por prevenir la proliferacion nuclear y la paz, debe poner fin a la aplicacion de la pauta de doble rasero en el problema nuclear, observar el principio de imparcialidad y cambiar su politica hacia la cancelacion de armas nucleares.