Inter-Korean Economic Meeting Held
Seoul, December 6 (KCNA Correspondent) -- The first meeting of the north-south committee for economic cooperation was held in Seoul from Tuesday through Thursday.
Present there were members of the north side's delegation led by Jon Sung Hun, vice-premier of the Cabinet who is chairman of the north side to the committee, and members of the south side's delegation with Kwon O Gyu, deputy prime minister and minister of Finance and Economy who is chairman of the south side to the committee, as chief delegate.
Both sides at the meeting adopted an agreement after discussing specific issues arising in actively boosting the economic cooperation projects for the balanced development of national economy and co-prosperity according to the historic Oct. 4 declaration and the agreement reached at the north-south premier talks.
According to the agreement, both sides agreed to positively propel the reconstruction projects of Kaesong-Pyongyang Motorway and Kaesong-Sinuiju railways for jointly using the road and railroad on the west coast and reenergizing the freight transport.
They also agreed to cooperate with each other in different fields including the building of the zones for cooperation in shipping industry in Anbyon and Nampho areas, use of the sea route for direct sailing to Haeju by civilian ships, the revitalization of projects in the Kaesong industrial zone, the development of resources, agriculture, fishery, public health and environmental protection.
They decided to hold the second meeting of the north-south committee for economic cooperation in Pyongyang in the first half of 2008.
North Side's Delegation Back from Seoul
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the north side led by Vice-Premier of the Cabinet Jon Sung Hun flew back here Thursday after participating in the first meeting of the inter-Korean committee for economic cooperation held in Seoul.
DPRK Foreign Minister Meets New Zambian Ambassador
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs, met and had a talk with Lupando A. F. K. Mwape, new Zambian ambassador to the DPRK, on Friday when the latter paid a courtesy call on him.
Secretary General of International Kim Il Sung Foundation Here
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- Keith Bennett, secretary general of the International Kim Il Sung Foundation, and his party arrived here on December 6.
National Agricultural Exhibition and Public Presentation Held
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- The national exhibition and public presentation of agricultural scientific and technological achievements were held here from Wednesday through Friday.
Present there were officials, scientists, technicians, teachers and post-graduates of agricultural scientific research institutes, educational institutions, agricultural production guiding organs and production units.
The exhibition and public presentation were divided into six panels. Presented there were more than 120 papers on agro-scientific and technological achievements. Crops of new varieties, botanical chemicals and farm machines, etc. were on display.
The exhibits included data on successes of great practical significance including new varieties of high-yielding grains requiring less fertilizer, the method of cultivating rice in paddy fields without ploughing and results of the application of the technique for cultivating short apple trees.
Commemorative Postage Stamps Issued
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- Commemorative postage stamps (a kind of sheetlet and a kind of individual stamp) were brought out in the DPRK on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese woman hero Kim Jong Suk (December 24, 1917).
Printed in the upper parts of the sheetlet and the individual stamp are the letters "Commemoration of the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese woman hero Kim Jong Suk".
The sheetlet gives the image of Kim Jong Suk in military uniform and photographs showing her revolutionary activities.
Seen in the individual stamp is her snow-covered native home in Hoeryong.
Sports Games for Osandok Cup Open
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- The sports games for Osandok Cup opened on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
The participants in the games will compete in ice-hockey, figure skating, speed skating, short-track speed skating and skiing in Pyongyang, Samjiyon and other places.
An opening ceremony was held at the Ice Rink on Friday.
Present there were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, officials concerned and sportspersons.
Mun Jae Dok, chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, made a speech at the ceremony.
At the end of the ceremony, there was a hockey match between men's teams of the Jagang Provincial Sports Group and the Sports Group of the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex.
Grand People's Study House
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- The Grand People's Study House has made a considerable contribution to the noticeable display of the vitality of the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea for the education of all people.
Twenty-five years have passed since its opening. In those years the study house has offered books to and carried out educational activities for more than 40 million working people.
In the new century it has given lectures on up-to-date science and technology and reeducation including lectures and short courses on social and natural scientific theories to nearly 250,000 working people, thus greatly helping toward raising their standards of knowledge.
At least 135,000 people heard lectures of scientific theory and upwards of 78,000 people attended technical information lectures, lectures on requested themes and on-the-spot lectures. Thus, more than 213,000 officials from ministries, national institutions, industrial establishments, co-operative farms, and teachers, researchers, technicians and workers received different forms of education at the study house.
Meanwhile, reeducation, scientific and technical courses and foreign language courses were organized in a peculiar way for 34,000 odd scientists, technicians and on-site officials to help them enhance their general standards of knowledge.
The study house has also directed efforts to increasing the IT level of book-lending services and rendering fast and accurate services while fully meeting the demands of broad strata of readers.
And it has successfully carried out its mission as a base of social education by undertaking brisk work for sprucing itself up as a large base of literature and base of scientific and technological data and translation and information of cutting-edge data of science and technology and introduction of new scientific and technical issues to scientific research institutions.
The study house rendering book-lending and educational services free to the working people is a grand seat of study for all people which the Koreans are highly proud of.
"Handbook of Korean Animals" Off Press
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- "Handbook of Korean Animals" (part of fishes vols. 1 and 2) was newly published.
The book compiled by the Zoology Institute under the State Academy of Sciences incorporates in a systematic way the fishes in all parts of the country.
It gives the history of research into fishes in Korea and natural and geographical environments in its territorial waters.
It also carries photo-illustrated data on the shape, ecology, distribution and economical significance of fishes including Hypophthalmichthys molitrix found by President Kim Il Sung in the lake Suphung and char in the Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu named by Kim Jong Il, dividing them into fish-acea and family.
It gives the scientific name of each species in English, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.
According to the author of the book Dr. Kim Ri Thae in the State Academy of Sciences, when the third volume of fish part is published, it will be the first comprehensive fish dictionary of 860 odd species of fishes living in Korea.
Release of Prisoners of Conscience and Arrested Workers Demanded in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 7 (KCNA) -- The organization called "joint action for the release of arrested workers, amnesty for them and their reinstatement " in south Korea reportedly held a press conference in Seoul on December 3, demanding that the authorities release all the prisoners of conscience and arrested workers.
Speakers at the press conference recalled that a group of more than 20 workers in jails in different parts of south Korea have been on hunger-strike since November 19 in demand of the abolition of the evil law on part-time jobs, stop to the conclusion of the FTA with the U.S., repeal of the "National Security Law" and the release of prisoners of conscience, etc. They demanded the authorities unconditionally release all the detained workers and the prisoners of conscience.
An action program of the organization was released at the press conference.
The organization declared that it would positively support the hunger-strike of the above-said workers, pay protest visits to jails for their release and stage a demonstration in front of "Chongwadae" and so on.
Meanwhile, civic and social organizations of different social standings called press conferences in Kwangju and Phohang on the same day to support the detained workers' hunger-strike.
Reunification of Korea Supported in Japan
Tokyo, December 5 (KNS-KCNA) -- The 25th national meeting of the movement for supporting Korea's reunification was held in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on December 2.
Present there were Motofumi Makieda, chairman of the Japan Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea, Masakazu Yokobori, secretary general of the Japan−Korea Society for Scientific and Educational Interchange, the chairman and members of the Chiba prefectural executive committee for the 25th national meeting and representatives from the organizations for solidarity with the DPRK in different parts of Japan.
Present on invitation were Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), and other officials of Chongryon.
At the meeting the chairman of the Japan Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea and the vice-chairman of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee made speeches and a congratulatory message from the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries was introduced.
Hirokazu Kitagawa, assistant director of the Secretariat of the Japan Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea, in a report at the meeting referred to the fact that the situation is favorably developing on the Korean Peninsula and expressed full support to the October 4 North-South Declaration.
He urged the countries participating in the six-party talks to properly implement the agreement and lodged a strong protest with the Japanese government and police against their crackdown upon Chongryon and Korean residents in Japan.
Holding that the present Japanese government should make a switchover in its hard-line attitude towards the DPRK, he urged the government to normalize the relations with it, above all, putting main emphasis on redeeming the crimes committed by Japan against Korea in the past.
He called on the organizations for Japan-DPRK friendship to take the lead in urging the government to make a switchover in its hostile policy towards the DPRK and normalize the Japan-DPRK relations on the basis of settling Japan's past wrongs as early as possible.
The meeting was followed by panel discussions on the subjects of "situation on the Korean Peninsula" and "Japan-DPRK relations," etc.
A resolution adopted at the meeting demanded the Japanese government clarify its stand of supporting the peaceful reunification of Korea, respect the agreement adopted at the six-party talks and immediately lift the sanctions against the DPRK and come out for the talks for the normalization of the bilateral relations on the basis of the Pyongyang Declaration.
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Jong Il inspecciona unidades de produccion del EPC
Pyongyang, 7 de diciembre (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 varias unidades de produccion del Ejercito Popular de Corea.
Le acompanaron el secretario del Comite Central del PTC Kim Ki Nam, el jefe de departamento del CC del PTC Jang Song Thaek, los primeros subjefes de departamento del CC del PTC Ri Yong Chol y Ri Jae Il y los generales de ejercito del EPC Hyon Chol Hae y Ri Myong Su.
Ante todo, el Dirigente visito la granja de algodon adscrita a la unidad no. 1596 del EPC.
Tras escuchar la explicacion el Dirigente hizo conocimiento detallado del estado de cultivo ejemplar de algodon al recorrer las parcelas extendidas infinitamente.
Con los esfuerzos tenaces la granja aumento sistematicamente en los ultimos anos la produccion y acumulo muchas experiencias necesarias para la cientifizacion del cultivo de algodon, dijo y evaluo los exitos logrados por los trabajadores de la granja.
Tambien en el cultivo de algodon la solucion del problema de semilla es un eslabon principal, dijo y subrayo la necesidad de prestar especial atencion a la labor para estudiar e introducir las mejores variedades de corto ciclo vegetativo y alto rendimiento.
Hay que labrar la tierra conforme a las razones cientifico-tecnicas que satisfagan la demanda biotecnologica para elevar el rendimiento con pocos materiales y mano de obra, apunto y senalo la necesidad de completar el sistema de cultivo a estilo coreano e introducir activamente los metodos de cultivo avanzados.
El Dirigente Kim Jong Il visito la Fabrica de Elaboracion de Algodon construida por los militares del ejercito popular.
Al ver los procesos de produccion el Dirigente hizo conocimiento detallado del estado de equipamiento tecnico y de produccion.
Para normalizar en alto nivel la produccion hay que mejorar constantemente la labor de mantenimiento de instalaciones y de administracion tecnica y elevar incesantemente el nivel tecnico y de calificacion de los productores, destaco e indico las tareas que incumben a la fabrica.
El Dirigente visito el lugar de exhibicion de productos de la Fabrica Combinada de Materiales de Construccion.
Alabo que es muy buena la calidad de los materiales de construccion expuestos y destaco que esta fabrica combinada de gran capacidad construida nuevamente posibilita traer un salto cualitativo en el sector de construccion del pais.
El Dirigente indico las tareas que se presentan para normalizar la produccion de la fabrica y acondicionarla con vistas al futuro.
El Dirigente senalo que todos los funcionarios directivos deben hacer con esmero la labor de organizacion e impulsar con tenacidad todas las labores con el estilo de lucha revolucionario como lo hacen los miembros directivos del ejercito popular para brindar cuanto antes una vida mas abundante a nuestro pueblo.
Kim Jong Il recibe carta personal de Bush
Pyongyang, 7 de diciembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio la carta personal del presidente de los Estados Unidos de America, George W. Bush.
El asistente del secretario de Estado de EE.UU., Christopher Hill, de visita en Corea, la entrego el dia 5 al canciller coreano, Pak Ui Chun.
1a reunion del Comite Conjunto de Cooperacion Economica Norte-Sur
Seul, 6 de diciembre (Corresponsal de ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar del 4 al 6 del mes en curso en esta ciudad la primera reunion del Comite Conjunto de Cooperacion Economica Norte-Sur de Corea (CCCENS).
En la ocasion participaron los miembros de la delegacion nortena encabezada por el vicepremier Jon Sung Hun, quien es presidente de la parte Norte del CCCENS, y los integrantes de la delegacion surena presidida por el delegado-jefe Kwon O Gyu, quien es vicepremier, ministro de Finanzas y Economia y presidente de la parte Sur del CCCENS.
Ambas partes discutieron los problemas concretos que surgen para ampliar activamente la labor de cooperacion economica para el desarrollo equilibrado de la economia nacional y la coprosperidad segun la historica Declaracion del 4 de Octubre y el acuerdo aprobado en las conversaciones entre los premieres del Norte y el Sur.
Ademas aprobaron un acuerdo, segun el cual, el Norte y el Sur impulsaran activamente la reconstruccion y la reparacion de la autopista Kaesong-Pyongyang y las vias ferroviarias Kaesong-Sinuiju a fin de dinamizar el uso conjunto de las carreteras y ferrovias de la costa occidental y el transporte de mercancias por ellas.
Al mismo tiempo, decidieron colaborar en varias esferas como la edificacion de las zonas de cooperacion en construccion de barcos en Anbyon y Nampho, el paso de las embarcaciones civiles por la ruta maritima directa a Haeju, la activacion de la zona industrial de Kaesong, el desarrollo de recursos naturales, la agricultura y la industria pesquera, la asistencia medica y la proteccion del medioambiente.
Ambas partes acordaron convocar en el primer semestre de 2008 en Pyongyang la segunda reunion del CCCENS.