C.C., Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League Meets

   Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- The 36th plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League was held in Pyongyang on December 7.
    Present there were the members of the Central Committee of the league and officials.
    Kim Kyong Ho was relieved of his post as first secretary of the Central Committee of the league and recalled, and Ri Yong Chol was elected its first secretary at the meeting.


Energy Widely Developed in DPRK

   Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- Activities for developing energy are being undertaken under a far-reaching programme in the DPRK.
    The primary attention is being directed to making best use of water-power resources abundant in the country.
    Recent years have witnessed the construction of large-scale hydroelectric power stations including Thaechon Youth Power Station No. 4 and the Samsu Power Station in different parts of the country. And minor power stations are being extensively built in Jongphyong and Yonsan Counties and other areas where streams flow.
    Efforts are being made to find out various kinds of energy resources and, at the same time, to broaden the renewable energy field from the economic, social and cultural sectors to dwelling houses.
    Some time ago, scientists of the Central Heating Institute under the Ministry of City Management succeeded in developing the materials absorbing the solar heat with metal rich in the country and bio-methane is produced and introduced to rural dwelling houses in the Migok Co-operative Farm of Sariwon City and other areas of the country.
    Wind-driven generators with different capacities are also made and applied so as to fully solve the electricity for home use in rural and mountainous areas. A work for effective use of low-calory and fly-ash coals is being pushed ahead in earnest.
    The country is putting much effort in a scientific research work for raising the energy development to the advanced level.
    Efforts are being made not only to conserve the energy resources to maximum but also to keep survey and tunneling ahead of other works for securing more coal fields in the coal mines throughout the country.


Western-style "Democracy" Termed Sham Democracy

   Pyongyang, December 9 (KCNA) -- The imperialists and the paid bourgeois trumpeters are forcing other countries to introduce Western-style "freedom and democracy" describing them as the most "universal" and "perfect" ones and the model to be followed by the international community. But this is an insult to genuine freedom and democracy.
    Rodong Sinmun Sunday says this in a signed article.
    "Freedom and democracy" much touted by the imperialists are sham ones and they are nothing but camouflage to hoodwink working masses and cover up the reactionary nature of bourgeois dictatorship and the unpopular nature of the capitalist system, the article notes, and goes on:
    Bourgeois freedom allows a handful of the privileged to exploit and dominate popular masses, absolute majority of population, and lead carnal life. The Western-style "democracy" is the most reactionary and unpopular policy as it ruthlessly defies the desire and demand of the popular masses for freedom and democracy.
    The article cites practices of American-style "democracy" which the paid bourgeoisie trumpeters describe as "model of freedom and democracy."
    The imperialists seek to force other countries and nations to follow and introduce the Western-style political mode and way of life. It is high-handed practices aimed to deprive the people of those countries and nations of their option for ideology and ism, and acts of denying and violating democracy.
    It is foolhardy of the imperialists and their mouthpieces to try to cover up their unpopular and reactionary socio-political system and justify human rights abuses and crimes of aggression and war.
    If one allows and introduces the deceptive "democracy," being taken in by the U.S. sugar-coated rhetoric, one cannot defend the hard-won revolutionary gains, the sovereignty of the country and the destiny of the nation.


All Koreans Called upon to Champion Peace

   Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- The defence of peace presents itself as a vital issue for the Koreans who have lived in constant danger of war for the last several decades, exposed to the threat of aggression from foreign forces.
    Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article.
    The history of inter-Korean relations and the history of the reunification movement prove that national reconciliation, unity and reunification cannot be achieved unless durable peace is guaranteed on the Korean Peninsula, it notes, and goes on:
    All Koreans should intensify the nationwide struggle to defend peace, bearing deep in mind that the defence of peace guarantees the destiny of the nation.
    The danger of war can neither be cleared away nor durable peace achieved on the Korean Peninsula unless an end is put to the U.S. presence in south Korea and its war moves against the DPRK. All Koreans should focus the struggle for defending peace on the U.S. imperialists and wage a death-defying struggle against the U.S. and war.
    The Songun politics serves as a patriotic treasured sword of justice as it helps protect the peace of the country and security of the nation from aggression and war. It is possible to firmly defend the peace of the country and pave the wider avenue for national reunification and prosperity only when all Koreans support and uphold the Songun politics with ardent patriotism.
    The Korean nation's patriotic struggle to defend peace will gain in scope and strength.


Rodong Sinmun on Revolutionary Soldier Culture

   Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- The soldier culture created by the People's Army has immense attraction, greatly impressing all the people because it reflects the revolutionary soldier spirit, the great spirit in the present era.
    Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a signed article.
    It goes on:
    The essential characteristics of the soldier culture as a model of a new socialist culture, and its immense attraction and vitality lie in that it embodies the revolutionary soldier spirit.
    The revolutionary soldier culture truthfully represents the noble spiritual world of the People's Army devotedly defending the headquarters of the revolution. The spirit of devotedly defending the leader is the lifeblood of the KPA and its main characteristic feature.
    Embodied in the revolutionary soldier culture is the KPA's spirit of devotedly implementing the order of the respected supreme commander, its heroic self-sacrificing spirit.
    The above-said spirit serves as a source of invincible might of the KPA which finds nothing impossible either in the confrontation with the enemy or in socialist construction.
    The revolutionary soldier culture is pervaded with the KPA servicepersons' confidence in sure victory and revolutionary optimism.
    The revolutionary faith and optimism are the traits of the KPA which holds the great brilliant commander in high esteem as its supreme commander.
    The revolutionary soldier culture created under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il will eternally effloresce, powerfully encouraging the Korean people in their struggle for modeling the whole society on the Songun idea of Juche and the revolutionary soldier spirit and accomplishing the cause of building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation.


Japanese Imperialists' Forcible Drafting of Koreans Assailed

   Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries are desperately working to blot out the blood-stained history of aggression of Korea, but this only brings their brazen-faced nature into spotlight.
    Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article citing facts about the Japanese imperialists' forcible drafting of Koreans.
    During their colonial rule over Korea, the Japanese imperialists forcibly drafted or kidnapped at least 8.4 million young and middle-aged Koreans, imposing medieval slave labor upon them and using them as cannon fodder, the article notes, and goes on:
    They enacted many evil laws one after another and retrogressively revised them to commandeer Koreans by exercising military authority and legal power. Such legal measures included "law on state general mobilization," "order for compulsory people's labour," "revised order for compulsory people's labour," "order for compulsory labour of all middle-aged men" and "order for the women volunteers corps labour." They thus forcibly drafted Koreans irrespective of occupation, age and sex, forcing them to do slave labor and hurling them into shambles of war. In this way they committed such crimes against humanity as cruelly massacring Koreans and leaving them disabled and sexually crippled. The Koreans who had been forcibly drafted by the Japanese imperialists at that time were found doing slavery labor wherever the Japanese imperialists perpetrated aggression--different parts of Korea, Japanese Islands, the South Sea Islands, Philippines and other places.
    The Japanese imperialists shut Koreans up in concentration camps, denying them even elementary freedom and rights and minimum conditions for labor. Koreans were nothing but "talking machines" or "toiling animals" in service for the Japanese imperialists.
    An ex-intelligence officer of the Imperial Japanese Army stationed in the eastern region confessed that about 2,000 Korean draftees were forced to toil and moil in chains at the underground air-raid shelter of the Matsushiro general headquarters which had been under construction in top secret from April 1945 till the defeat of the Japanese imperialists.
    According to data available, more than 60,000 Koreans lost their lives in coal mines of Japan in the period from 1940 to 1944. Under the pretext of "keeping military secret," the Japanese imperialists massacred 5,000 Koreans in Kuril Islands and 2,500 Koreans in Urup Island.
    Many parts of Japan seem to shake still today with the towering grudge and anger of the great many Korean draftees who died in the alien land, subject to indescribable national humiliation and hardships.
    Japan had better stop playing clumsy sleight of hand to cover up the crimes committed against the Korean people in the past and settle them as early as possible.


Repeal of NSL Demanded in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- South Korean photographer-writer Ri Si U, who had been arrested on the charge of violation of the "National Security Law" (NSL) for the mere reason that he demanded the dismantlement of the "UN Command" and the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea, has reportedly been on a demonstration in demand of the repeal of the draconic NSL since December 3.
    Saying that he clearly realized behind bars it is the NSL which abridges the freedom of learning and speech and wantonly violates human rights, he accused the "government" and the "National Assembly" of paying no heed to the ever-growing expectation of various circles towards the repeal of the evil law following the publication of the October 4 Declaration.
    He, as a victim of the NSL, vowed to take the lead in actions for the repeal of the evil law.


Feats of Kim Jong Suk Praised

   Pyongyang, December 9 (KCNA) -- The Association for Friendship with the Korean People headquartered in Spain posted an article on its Internet homepage on Dec. 3 to mark the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
    The homepage praised in the article titled "Anti-Japanese War Hero Kim Jong Suk" that she was an indomitable revolutionary fighter and anti-Japanese war hero.
    She defended President Kim Il Sung at the cost of her life and greatly contributed to the victorious advance of the Korean revolution under his leadership, it said.
    It continued: She brought up Kim Jong Il in the fierce struggle against the Japanese imperialists, thus making it sure that a steady continuity is given to the revolutionary cause of Juche started by Kim Il Sung.
    Kim Jong Suk always lives in the hearts of the Korean people as anti-Japanese war hero, outstanding political activist and great mother of the revolution for her noble idea and the undying exploits she performed for the country and the people, the homepage noted, adding that her august name will shine brilliantly in the modern history of Korea.


Seminar on Songun Idea Held

   Pyongyang, December 9 (KCNA) -- The United Confederation of Koreans in Russia held a seminar on the Songun idea on December 4 to mark the 16th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's assumption of office as supreme commander of the Korean People's Army.
    Present there were Choe Pong Gil, chairman of the united confederation, other officials and compatriots.
    Speeches were made under the titles "Chairman of the National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il and the cause of Songun," "The essence of the Songun idea," "Independence, peace and Songun" and "To accomplish the Songun revolution."
    The speakers said that the main purpose of the Songun idea is to achieve independence of a country and a nation and popular masses.
    They spoke in praise of Kim Jong Il who has pushed forward the revolution and construction with the army as the core and the driving force, placing military affairs above any other affairs.
    The DPRK is demonstrating its dignity as an independent fortress which no formidable imperialist powers dare provoke, they said, adding that the cause of Songun of the DPRK will win victory after victory as long as its people are led by Kim Jong Il.


Feats of Kim Jong Il Praised in U.S. and Britain

   Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- The U.S. and British organizations posted pictures of Kim Jong Il and articles on their Internet homepages on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of his inspection of the Panmunjom mission of the Korean People's Army.
    The homepage of the U.S. Group for the Study of Songun Politics in the article titled "For the reunification of Korea, the immortal exploits performed at Panmunjom" recalled that Kim Jong Il paid a visit to the Panmunjom mission of the KPA on November 24, 1996 during which he said touching words before the monument to the autograph made by President Kim Il Sung at the last moments of his life.
    Kim Jong Il's historic inspection of Panmunjom imbued the Korean nation with the confidence and will to achieve certain victory in the struggle for national reunification, the homepage noted, adding that the reunification of Korea is sure to be achieved before long as the Korean people are led by him.
    The homepage of the British Association for the Study of Songun Policy said in the article titled "The historic footprints left at Panmunjom" that the gigantic footprints for leadership left by Kim Jong Il at Panmunjom represented an epochal event as it demonstrated to the whole world the unshakable faith and will, matchless courage and grit of the general of Mt. Paektu.
    The homepage noted that the eye-opening successes made in the development of inter-Korean relations and the movement for national reunification including the adoption of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and the October 4 North-South Declaration would be unthinkable without Kim Jong Il's inspection of the Panmunjom mission of the KPA.


For Spanish-speaking people



Paz garantiza reunificacion y prosperidad de Corea

   Pyongyang, 8 de diciembre (ATCC) -- La defensa de la paz es un problema vital para la nacion coreana que durante varias decadas, vino viviendo siempre bajo el peligro de guerra debido a la amenaza de agresion de las fuerzas extranjeras, subraya el diario Rodong Sinmun.
    @En un articulo publicado este sabado, el rotativo asevera que la historia de las relaciones Norte-Sur y la trayectoria del movimiento por la reunificacion demostraron que sin la paz duradera en la Peninsula Coreana, es imposible lograr la reconciliacion, la unidad y la reunificacion de la nacion.
    Toda la nacion coreana -demanda el articulista- debe intensificar la lucha pannacional por defender la paz al tener presente que el destino de si misma depende de como hacerlo.
    Prosigue que mientras persisten la ocupacion del territorio surcoreano por Estados Unidos y sus maniobras belicas contra la RPDC, nunca se eliminara el peligro de guerra en la Peninsula Coreana ni se lograra la paz duradera en esta area.
    Por lo tanto, en la defensa de la paz es preciso dirigir a los imperialistas norteamericanos la punta de lanza y desplegar a costa de la vida la lucha antiyanqui y antibelica, afirma.
    La politica de Songun (priorizacion militar) deviene el medio patriotico y justiciero para prevenir la agresion y la guerra y defender la paz del pais y la seguridad de la nacion, enfatiza y exhorta a todos los coreanos a apoyarla con el calido patriotismo para preservar con firmeza la paz del pais y asegurar la reunificacion y la prosperidad de la nacion.
    Por ultimo, el articulo asegura que cobrara auge la lucha patriotica de la nacion coreana por defender la paz.


Entidades de EE.UU. e Inglaterra elogian a Kim Jong Il

   Pyongyang, 8 de diciembre (ATCC) -- Con motivo del 11 aniversario de la inspeccion del Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea, Kim Jong Il, sobre la representacion del EPC en Phanmunjom, las entidades norteamericanas e inglesas dieron en sus sitios Web de Internet articulos acompanados de fotos de el.
    El sitio Web de internet del Grupo de Estudio de la Politica de Songun (priorizacion militar) de EE.UU. en un articulo intitulado "Las inmortales hazanas registradas en Phanmunjom para la reunificacion de Corea" da a conocer que el 24 de noviembre de 1996 el General Kim Jong Il inspecciono la representacion del EPC en Phanmunjom y profirio palabras significativas ante el monumento al autografo que el Presidente Kim Il Sung dejo en el ultimo momento de su vida.
    La historica inspeccion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il sobre Phanmunjom infundio a la nacion coreana la firme fe y la voluntad de lograr la reunificacion de la patria, senala el articulo y prosigue que bajo su orientacion se lograria en un futuro no lejano la reunificacion de Corea.
    El sitio Web de Internet de la Asociacion de Estudio de la Politica de Songun de Gran Bretana, en el articulo intitulado "Las huellas historicas dejadas en Phanmunjom" subraya que la inspeccion del Dirigente sobre Phanmunjom fue un gran evento que manifesto a todo el mundo la inconmovible conviccion, la voluntad, la audacia y el temperamento incomparables del General del monte Paektu.
    Los milagrosos exitos logrados en el desarrollo de las relaciones Norte-Sur y en el movimiento por la reunificacion de la patria como la aprobacion de la Declaracion Conjunta Norte-Sur del 15 de Junio y la Declaracion Norte-Sur del 4 de octubre son inconcebibles al margen de la inspeccion del Dirigente sobre la representacion del EPC en Phanmunjom.


Sesionado 36o pleno del CC de Union de Juventud Socialista Kim Il Sung

   Pyongyang, 8 de diciembre (ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar el dia 7 en esta capital el 36o pleno del Comite Central de la Union de la Juventud Socialista Kim Il Sung.
    En la ocasion estuvieron presentes los miembros del CC de esa organizacion juvenil y otros funcionarios.
    En lugar de Kim Kyong Ho destituido, Ri Yong Chol fue electo como primer secretario del CC de la Union de la Juventud Socialista Kim Il Sung.