Kim Jong Il Enjoys Art Performance Given by Servicepersons of KPA Companies
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il appreciated an art performance given by servicepersons of a company of KPA unit 1912 and a company of KPA unit 985 who participated in the 31st art festival of KPA servicepersons.
They staged chorus "We Wish Comrade Supreme Commander Good Health", poem and song "So Happy to Be under the Care of the Respected Kim Jong Il", quintet to the accompaniment of musical instruments "Let's not Forget Our Friendship Wherever We May Go", trio "Blue Sky over My Country" and other colorful numbers of diverse genres.
After watching the exciting performance instilling confidence and optimism into the audience, Kim Jong Il expressed great satisfaction over the splendid performance flawless in the ideological contents and artistry staged by soldiers of companies. He extended high appreciation and thanks for their successful presentation.
Noting that all companies of the KPA have grown to be single-mindedly united ranks based on the ties of kinship, he stressed that the KPA is sure to win as the country has turned into a fortress guarded by such matchless companies.
All the companies that participated in the servicepersons' art festival clearly showed the real picture of the rapidly efflorescing and developing soldier culture, he said, adding that this signal turn clearly proves the validity and vitality of the WPK's literary and art policy on popularizing arts and strikingly demonstrates the Songun culture.
Noting that for the army to dynamically conduct revolutionary art activities is of great importance in boosting the combat capability of the units, he set forth highly important tasks which would serve as guidelines in further developing the mass cultural and art activities.
Among the audience were KPA Generals Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su and Col. General Yun Jong Rin and other commanding officers of the KPA.
First Round of Inter-Korean Premier Talks Closes
Seoul, November 16 (KCNA Correspondent) -- The first round of the inter-Korean premier talks closed on Friday.
At the talks both sides had an exhaustive discussion on practical issues arising in invariably upholding and honoring the June 15 joint declaration and fully implementing the October 4 declaration and adopted an agreement on the talks and annexed agreements.
The agreements were inked by Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Kim Yong Il and Prime Minister of the south Han Tok Su.
According to the agreement, the north and the south agreed to definitely turn the inter-Korean relations into those of mutual respect and trust in the spirit of "By our nation itself" and take steps to develop them for the purpose of reunification.
To this end, both sides agreed to take measures necessary for marking June 15 as a day common to the nation and hold celebrations of the 8th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration in Seoul next year with an attendance of authorities and people.
They also agreed to discuss such matters as readjusting their legal and institutional mechanisms and revitalize dialogues and contacts in different fields including their parliaments.
They agreed to set up "a West Sea special area for peace and cooperation" to meet the purpose of peace and common interests in the West Sea. As a necessary measure, they adopted an agreement on the formation and operation of "a committee for the promotion of the West Sea special area for peace and cooperation" to be co-chaired by officials at ministerial level. They agreed to hold the first meeting of the committee in Kaesong within December.
The north and the south agreed to positively push forward economic cooperation for the balanced development of the national economy and common prosperity.
To this end, both sides agreed to cooperate with each other in various fields including roads and railways, zones for cooperation in shipbuilding and the Kaesong Industrial Zone and form the North-South Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation to be co-chaired by officials at vice-premier level for the smooth progress of those projects. A relevant agreement was adopted and it was agreed to have its first meeting in Seoul from Dec. 4 to 6.
The north and the south also agreed to inaugurate the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Social and Cultural Cooperation with a view to promoting exchange and cooperation in history, language, education, culture, arts and other social and cultural fields and positively push forward cooperation projects in the humanitarian field from the stand of promoting national reconciliation and unity.
The north and the south agreed to hold the inter-Korean premier talks once in six months and the next round of the talks within the first half of 2008 in Pyongyang.
Roh Moo Hyun Meets Premier Kim Yong Il and His Party
Seoul, November 16 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Roh Moo Hyun, president of south Korea, Friday met Kim Yong Il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, and his party who participated in the first round of the inter-Korean premier talks.
Present there were Han Tok Su, prime minister of the south, and officials concerned of the south side.
Kim Yong Il conveyed greetings from Kim Jong Il to the president.
Expressing deep thanks for this, the president asked the premier to convey his best regards to Kim Jong Il.
Noting that the premier talks achieved good success, he hoped that the agreed points at the talks would be successfully implemented in the future.
The president gave a luncheon for the premier and his party that day.
Premier Kim Yong Il and His Party Back from Seoul
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, and his party flew back here Friday after participating in the first round of the inter-Korean premier talks held in Seoul.
Kim Yong Nam Meets FM of New Zealand
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and conversed with Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Raymond Peters and his party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Friday when the latter paid a courtesy call on him. Present there were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Yong Il and officials concerned.
Pak Ui Chun Meets New Ambassador of Netherlands
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun met and conversed with Hans Heinsbroek, new ambassador of Netherlands to the DPRK, Friday when the latter paid a courtesy call on him.
On hand were an official concerned and a staff member of the embassy of Netherlands here.
Study Tour of Revolutionary and Battle Sites Begins
Hyesan, November 15 (KCNA) -- The study tour of the revolutionary and battle sites in Ryanggang Province in winter has begun.
Participating in the tour are servicepersons of the Korean People's Army, officials of institutions at different levels in Pyongyang and local areas, people from all walks of life and school youth and children.
Before leaving Hyesan they went round the Monument to the Victorious Battle of Pochonbo and the Monument of Dedicated Poem "May the Immortal March Shine."
They laid bouquets before the statues of President Kim Il Sung at the Pochonbo Revolutionary Battle Site, the shore of Lake Samji and other revolutionary and battle sites and paid tribute to him in humble reverence.
They toured the Secret Camp in Mt. Paektu, the Sajabong Secret Camp, the Chongbong, Konchang, Pegaebong and Mupho Bivouacs, the Monument to the Victorious Battle in the Musan Area, the Sinsadong Revolutionary Battle Site, the Rimyongsu Revolutionary Site and other revolutionary and battle sites in the area of Mt. Paektu.
They laid bouquets before the statue of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk at the Sinpha Revolutionary Site and visited the Phophyong Revolutionary Site.
In the course of the tour they are holding study and public presentation meetings on "Reminiscences of Anti-Japanese Guerrillas," meetings to evince their resolution, recital of long epic "Mt. Paektu", art performance and other colorful political and cultural events.
Scientific and Technological Presentation in Field of Fruit-Culture Held
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- A national scientific and technological presentation in the field of fruit-culture took place at the People's Palace of Culture on Nov. 14 and 15.
Presented this time were more than 150 papers on successes and experience gained in boosting the fruit production by putting the fruit tree cultivation on a scientific basis and making it intensive.
"Kingdom of Koryo" Produced
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- The Academy of Social Sciences has of late produced "Kingdom of Koryo", a collection of electronic screen pictures, which depicts with the aid of pictures the course of the founding of Koryo, the first unified state of Korea.
On the basis of historical facts, it reviews the course in which Wang Kon, a descendant of Koguryo, founded a powerful unified state by uniting the Korean nation into one.
Wang Kon, the founder of Koryo, after establishing the new dynasty in 918,launched into a strenuous struggle to recover the vast land once belonged to Koguryo and integrate the country, while pursuing a policy for its political stability.
In this course, Koryo annexed Silla in 935 and Later Paekje in 936, thus fulfilling the historic task for territorial unification.
The collection is winning popularity among people of all walks of life, especially among school youth and children, as it makes them ruminate Koryo history of the Korean nation.
New Medicine Database Built
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- The Academy of Koryo Medical Science of the DPRK has built a new Koryo medicine database.
The database, which contains more than 20,000 data on Koryo medicine, is of importance in developing Koryo medical science and boosting scientific and technical information service.
It consummates remedies and prescriptions which have been created and developed to suit the habit of life and physical constitution of the Koreans for thousands of years and rich data substantiated through scientific researches into Koryo medicine.
It also gives data on Koryo pharmaceuticals, components of medicines, processing and manufacturing methods, standardization of traditional medicines and folk remedies.
Ri Kun Il, director of the Information Center, said that the academy renders all services to the scientists and medical workers in the field of Koryo medical science.
Performance of Soldiers Goes on
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- A performance of soldiers of companies of the Korean People's Army who had participated in the 31st art festival of KPA servicepersons is given every day at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang.
The performance truthfully represents the noble ideological and mental world of the revolutionary army and the optimistic life of its soldiers.
Such numbers as the narration and song "Dear General, Where Are You", a famous masterpiece, the poem and chorus "General Visits Our Post", the chorus "General Is with Soldiers" and the dialogic poem "General and Our Company" leave deep impressions on the audience by singing in an excited tone the true features of the harmonious whole and single-minded unity between the Supreme Commander and soldiers.
The choruses "We'll Become Seventh Regiment Today" and "Soldier's Road of March", the vocal solos "Fatherland I Stand Guard over" and "Blue Sky over My Country" and the instrumental music and song "For the Revolution", and many other numbers well depict the soldiers' pledge of faith to devotedly defend the headquarters of revolution and safeguard the socialist motherland with arms to the end.
The tale in singing "Our Soldier Days", the story and song "Life at Company Is Good" and the song to the accompaniment of accordion "Accordionist Has Come" are appraised by the audience as stage pieces of frontline flavor pulsating with vigor as they depict the soldiers' life with fresh and vivid subject matters peculiar to it.
After seeing the performance throbbing with the spirit of the times and overflowing with militant optimism and rich emotion, the audience is unstinting in praises, saying the soldiers of the Korean People's Army are the pioneer of the popular arts of the Songun era and the full-fledged representative of Songun culture.
Ri Hoe Chang's Run for "Presidential Elections" Flailed
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Ri Hoe Chang of south Korea is foolish enough to make desperate efforts to gratify his greed for power, a behavior quite contrary to the trend of the times and the will of the nation. This is no more than the last-ditch effort of a politician whose days are numbered.
Rodong Sinmun today says this in a commentary.
Ri is a diehard pro-American conservative and a traitor to the nation ill-famed for being an icon of conservatism, confrontation between fellow countrymen, and corrupt politics in south Korea, the news analyst says, and goes on:
He was twice defeated in the last "presidential elections." In fact, such defeat was a stern punishment by history and the people. However, this scum of history forsaken and marginalized by the nation is again going reckless, unable to repress his unlimited greed for power. His deed is lashing the people into fury as it is unpardonable political hooliganism mocking the history and the nation and going against the trend of the times.
It is quite natural that all the ruling and opposition parties and people from all walks of life in south Korea are becoming increasingly critical of his running for "presidential elections." As asserted by the public, Ri's action is a disgraceful "return" of "a guy crazy about the presidential office" or "a boss of conservatives" and it is no more than the desperate frenzy of the diehard reactionaries, ultra-rightist Cold War-minded forces to stem the trend of the history and bring back the era in which they could embezzle truck loads of money.
In a "declaration of his candidacy for the elections" Ri pulled up the north and criticized the ruling and opposition parties' policies toward it, terming the present government a "leftist government" and ballyhooing about the "nature of the state." Such provocative and dishonest remarks can be made only by a diehard separatist keen on anti-national and anti-reunification confrontation. His behavior is extremely disgusting as he again blew the worn-out trumpet to incite confrontation.
He has gone so mad with greed for power that he is neither sensitive to the trend of the times nor able to face up to the reality. Being a politician more dead than alive as he is forsaken by the people like a rotten dead tree, this guy is, however, making desperate effort to realize his dream of becoming a "president" by fishing in troubled waters. But for this he will only face a merciless judgement by history and people and destruction.
172nd Friday Rally Held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- The 172nd Friday rally against the U.S. and war and for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops was reportedly held by the Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration and other civic and public organizations in south Korea in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on Nov. 9.
Speakers at the rally accused the U.S. of pressurizing the south Korean authorities to reinforce the "alliance" for war and openly disclosing the design for the permanent presence of the U.S. troops in south Korea at the "annual security consultative meeting" held recently.
Bitterly denouncing the U.S. for seeking permanent presence of its troops quite indifferent to the trend of the times, the speakers called upon all the people to turn out to implement the June 15 joint declaration and establish "a peace-keeping mechanism in Korea without U.S. troops" and bring the independent reunification of the country earlier.
On the same day, the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification of south Korea called a press conference at which it denounced the police authorities' illegal suppression of the participants in the anti-U.S. actions.
For Spanish-speaking people
Rodong Sinmun censura a Ri Hoe Chang como candidato presidencial
Pyongyang, 16 de noviembre (ATCC) -- El acto absurdo de Ri Hoe Chang de lograr a toda costa su ambicion del poder, en contra de la demanda de la epoca y la voluntad de la nacion, no pasa de ser el esfuerzo desesperado de un politicastro que ya tiene los dias contados.
Senala asi el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual de este viernes y prosigue:
Ri Hoe Chang es un perverso conservador proyanqui y traidor, que esta reconocido como simbolo del conservadurismo, la confrontacion nacional y la politica corrupta.
Francamente dicho, la derrota de Ri en las "elecciones presidenciales" de dos veces significa la severa sentencia de la historia y el pueblo. Sin embargo, este politiquero marginado de la epoca y repudiado por la nacion vuelve a levantar la cabeza para saciar la codicia del poder, lo que provoca la indignacion de toda la nacion.
Es el proceder imperdonable que burla la historia y la nacion e insulta la epoca.
Es natural que la presentacion de Ri como "candidato al presidente" sea objeto de censura y condenacion por parte de los partidos en poder y de oposicion y distintos sectores de la poblacion.
Segun la opinion publica, la "presentacion como candidato al presidente" del traidor es "retorno" vergonzoso del "fanatico presidencial" y "conservador" y el ultimo esfuerzo de las fuerzas reaccionarios y ultraderechistas por hacer retroceder la corriente de la historia.
En la llamada "declaracion de presentacion como candidato al presidente", Ri censuro la "politica para con el Norte" de los partidos en poder y de oposicion, hablando, en acusacion al Norte, del "poder izquierdista" y del "sistema gubernamental del Estado".
Estas palabras provocativas y malsanas las pueden proferir solo los fanaticos que se oponen a la reunificacion de la nacion y persiguen la confrontacion con el Norte.
Provoca la repugnancia el proceder de Ri quien vuelve a levantar el viento de confrontacion con el Norte nadando contra la corriente de la historia.
Embriagado por la ambicion del poder Ri perdio el sentido elemental de la epoca y la realidad. El vejestorio Ri trata de pescar en rio revuelto para hacer realidad su "sueno de acceder a la presidencia", pero con tales esfuerzos desesperados chocara solo con una severa sentencia de la historia y el pueblo.
Prosigue funcion de militares con espiritu de epoca del Songun
Pyongyang, 16 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Prosigue en el capitalino Palacio Cultural del Pueblo la funcion de los militares de companias participantes en el 31o Festival Artistico de Militares del Ejercito Popular de Corea.
Ese espectaculo muestra con gran verosimilitud el noble mundo ideo-espiritual y la vida optimista del ejercito revolucionario.
La narracion y cancion (obra maestra) "?Donde esta, querido General?", la poesia y coro "El General visito el puesto", el coro "El General se encuentra con los soldados", el poema en dialogo "El General y nuestra compania" y otras piezas dejaron profunda impresion a los espectadores por haber descrito de modo emocionante las verdaderas facetas de la unidad monolitica entre el Comandante Supremo y los soldados.
Otros programas como coros "Seremos el Septimo Regimiento de hoy" y "Ruta de marcha del soldado", los solos "Mi patria que defiendo" y "Cielo azul de mi pais", el instrumento musical y cancion "Por la revolucion" tradujeron el juramento de conviccion de los soldados de defender a costa de la vida a la Direccion de la Revolucion y salvaguardar con el fusil la patria socialista hasta las ultimas consecuencias.
Fueron calificadas de piezas dinamicas con olor a la trinchera la cancion y relato "Nuestra epoca de servicio militar", la narracion y cancion "Es buena la vida de la compania" y la cancion acompanada de acordeon "Vino un acordeonista", que trataron original y trivialmente los temas propios del servicio militar.
Despues de disfrutar esa funcion matizada por el espiritu de la epoca, optimismo combativo y ricos sentimientos, los espectadores elogian a los soldados del EPC como precursores del arte masiva de la epoca del Songun (priorizacion militar) y ejecutores consecuentes de la cultura de igual nombre.
Comienza recorrido por sitios historicos de la revolucion
Hyesan, 15 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Quedo iniciado el recorrido de la estacion invernal por los campos de combate y lugares historicos de la revolucion en la provincia de Ryanggang.
La caravana esta integrada por los militares del Ejercito Popular de Corea, funcionarios de las instituciones centrales y locales a todos los niveles, trabajadores de diferentes sectores, jovenes y ninos escolares.
Los caravanistas partieron de Hyesan tras recorrer el Monumento a la Victoria de la Batalla de Pochombo y la lapida del poema dedicatorio "Que brille esta eterna ruta de marcha".
Luego realizaron ceremonias de homenaje en las estatuas de bronce del Presidente Kim Il Sung erguidas en el lugar de combate revolucionario antiguo de Pochombo, a la ribera del lago Samjiyon y otros lugares de igual indole, despues de depositar ramos de flores.
Recorrieron los lugares de la zona del monte Paektu, entre otros, los campamentos secretos de este monte y del pico Saja, los campamentos en los picos Chong y Pegae, Konchang y Mupho, el Obelisco a la Victoria en la Batalla de la Zona de Musan, el lugar de combate revolucionario de Sinsadong, el lugar historico de la revolucion de Rimyongsu, etc.
En particular, colocaron ramos de flores ante la estatua de bronce de la heroina de lucha antijaponesa Kim Jong Suk situada en el lugar historico de la revolucion de Sinpha y le rindieron homenaje, antes de viajar al de Phophyong.
En el trayecto ellos organizan variadas actividades politico-culturales como el cenaculo de lectura de las "Reminiscencias de los guerrilleros antijaponeses", el acto de juramento, el recital de la epopeya "El monte Paektu", la funcion de piezas artisticas, etc.
Producido "Reino de Coryo"
Pyongyang, 16 de noviembre (ATCC) -- Ultimamente, la Academia de Ciencias Sociales de Corea produjo la coleccion de imagenes electronicas "Reino de Coryo" que describe a base de hechos historicos como Wanggon, uno de los descendientes de Coguryo, logro la integracion de la nacion coreana y fundo el primer Estado potente unificado de Coryo.
Ese rey fundador, quien habia fundado su dinastia en 918, practico la politica para garantizar la estabilidad politica del pais y lucho tenazmente por recuperar vastas tierras, que pertenecian antes a Coguryo, y unificar el pais.
Por fin, Coryo logro anexar a Silla en 935 y a Paekje posterior en el proximo ano cumpliendo asi la historica tarea: la integracion territorial.
El nuevo producto hace a los habitantes de diferentes sectores, jovenes y ninos escolares echar una vista retrospectiva a la historia nacional en el periodo de Coryo.