Joint New Year Editorial of Leading Newspapers in DPRK

    Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi today released the joint New Year editorial "Glorify This Year of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the DPRK as a Year of Historical Turn Which Will Go Down in the History of the Country" on the occasion of the New Year, Juche 97 (2008).
    The following are excerpts from the editorial:
    Today we are greeting the New Year Juche 97 (2008) with a great ambition and optimism in the hope-filled future of socialist Korea.
    Our cause of building a great, prosperous and powerful country which made a vigorous advance under the leadership of the great Workers' Party of Korea has entered a new historical stage. At present, when a bright morning is breaking in this land dignified for Songun to promise prosperity, our soldiers and people are full of pride in being victors and of militant mettle, and the whole country is seething with an unprecedented spirit of creation and advance.
    Last year Juche 96 (2007), a year of proud victories, the great vitality of our Party's Songun-based revolutionary line was fully testified and a great advance was made in building a thriving country.
    Last year the firmness of our ideology and traditions and the political and military might of Songun Korea were demonstrated far and wide.
    By commemorating the 95th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army in a grand way, we demonstrated to the full the unshakable faith of our Party and people to complete the revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered on Mt. Paektu and the might of the army which has been prepared as an invincible, elite force. The road we are taking is the road of Juche, the road of Songun, opened by Kim Il Sung; the objective of our advance is a great, prosperous and powerful socialist country; and our might is the single-minded unity of the soldiers and people rallied around the Party.
    A prospect for a fresh leap forward was opened up in the building of an economic power.
    Technological restructuring was actively undertaken in the mining, metal, chemical and light industries and various other fields of the national economy, and construction of large-scale hydropower stations was vigorously promoted, resulting in the consolidation of the raw-materials and power-generating bases and the consumer-goods production bases in the country. Through the effort for setting up a self-supporting production system that relies on our own resources and technology, the independent character of the industry was further strengthened. The great stride made last year in the socialist economic construction gives us confidence that our economy is pulling round with great potentials.
    Last year the socialist culture of the Songun era was brought into full efflorescence, leading the whole country to become vibrant with a militant spirit and optimism.
    The creation of genuine prototypes of mass-based culture and art by our soldiers and workers and the production of works of musical art of our fashion are a valuable success that ushered in a new heyday of the developing socialist culture. A revolutionary way of cultural and emotional life prevailed across the country, and wonderful successes were achieved in the sports field giving delight to the people.
    The principled stand and will of our Republic to safeguard peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia and follow the road of independence to the end was strongly demonstrated. The international prestige of Songun Korea was raised to an unprecedented level, and the number of countries establishing good-neighbourly and friendly relations with us is on the increase. Today's developments show that it was absolutely correct for us to have followed the road of Songun and the cause of justice will surely emerge victorious.
    The proud victories and successes we achieved last year in the political, military, economic, cultural, diplomatic and all other realms are brilliant fruition of Kim Jong Il's outstanding strategy and tactics, his iron will and his tireless leadership.
    Kim Jong Il put forward the revolutionary policy of bringing about a fresh upswing in economic construction by relying on the victories and successes achieved in the Songun revolution while further strengthening the might of the socialist country powerful in the political and military realms, and called the entire Party, the whole army and all the people to its implementation. The great personality of Kim Jong Il who brought about historical events with outstanding leadership ability and noble affection for the country and fellow people, events that excited all the compatriots, struck the world with admiration. The present eye-opening reality which is being created under his leadership instills in our soldiers and people great confidence and optimism in the fact that the day of victory in the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country is not far.
    The New Year Juche 97 (2008) is a year of gigantic struggle, a year of jubilation in the national history, when a great change will be brought about in the history of our country and our revolution.
    Kim Jong Il said:
    "We must make our country, our motherland, ever more prosperous true to President Kim Il Sung's intention and cause."
    This year we are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the DPRK, our glorious motherland.
    Our Republic is a great people's country which embodies the Juche idea, the most dignified, invincible socialist power and the cradle of the eternal life and happiness of our people. The founding of the DPRK by Kim Il Sung was a historic event which made our people an independent and mighty revolutionary people and ushered in the building of a socialist state centred on the masses.
    The 60 years of the Republic is a history of gigantic changes in which it has risen to a power independent, self-sufficient and self-reliant in defence, writing a heroic epic of creation and construction under the leadership of the Party and the leaders, and also a sacred course through which the country has demonstrated the superiority and invincibility of socialism of our own style in the crucible of the anti-imperialist struggle. The history of our Republic is adorned with the immortal revolutionary annals of our Party which has brilliantly carried forward the cause of building a prosperous and powerful country of Kim Il Sung, the founding father of socialist Korea and the Republic. It is a great honour and pride for our army and people to greet the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK in the exciting period when the dignity and might of the country have risen to a high level and a heyday of prosperity and grandeur unprecedented in the national history has been ushered in by dint of Kim Jong Il's Songun-based politics.
    In 2012 we will greet the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung. It was his lifetime wish and cause to build a great, prosperous and powerful socialist country on this land, a country in which the national power is strong, everything thrives and the people live envying nothing in the world. It is our Party's determination and will to raise our economy and our people's livelihood to a high level by relying on the strong political and military might consolidated in the tempest of the Songun revolution, and thus open wide in 2012 the gate to a great, prosperous and powerful country without fail.
    Now is an era of great changes like the post-war days when our people built a socialist power in leaps and bounds through the grand march of Chollima in response to the call of the Party. In order to carry out in the near future the grand plan and objective set by the Party, we should make a fresh leap forward on all fronts of socialist construction, drumming up support for the general advance from the campaign of this year.
    "Glorify this year of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK as a year of historical turn which will go down in the history of the country!"--this is the militant slogan that we have to hold high.
    The political and ideological might, the quintessence of the national strength of Songun Korea, should be brought into fuller play.
    The present general onward march is an ideological one, and the fundamental guarantee for building a great, prosperous and powerful country is to motivate the mental power of the soldiers and people. Holding fast to the Juche-oriented theory of the importance of ideology as a mighty sword, we should direct primary effort to bringing into fullest play the mental power of all the soldiers and people, which is more powerful than nuclear weapons.
    The kernel of the mental power of our soldiers and people lies in defending the leader at the risk of their lives. We should make sure that the spirit of defending the leader at the cost of one's life and the spirit of single-minded unity are carried forward as the eternal soul and lifeblood of Kim Il Sung's nation. The whole Party, the entire army and all the people should firmly unite behind the headquarters of the revolution and single-mindedly uphold its ideology and leadership.
    The Juche idea and Songun idea of our Party constitute a great banner for national prosperity and a basis of the mental power of our people. We should arm ourselves with the Juche idea and Songun idea more thoroughly and conduct the revolution and construction in our own style, in the mode of Songun politics, in any circumstances.
    Socialism is the destiny and future of our people. Everyone should cherish the firm faith in the fact that Korean-style socialism our people chose and built is the best in the world and the noble view of life that no life is more fulfilling than the one devoted to society, collective, country and people. It is necessary to preserve the Juche character and national identity, thoroughly observe the revolutionary and class principles, and keep alive the true nature of socialism in all fields of social life. It is imperative to resolutely smash the enemy's reactionary ideological and cultural infiltration and psychological warfare and not to tolerate any elements that undermine our system and corrode our socialist morality and culture and our way of life.
    We should constantly increase the military strength of our Republic by holding fast to the Party's Songun-based revolutionary line.
    Strong defence capabilities are symbolic of the independent dignity of Songun Korea and a basic guarantee for its prosperity. Our Party is consistent in its revolutionary stand to hold the idea of giving prominence to the military affairs as the basic strategy in building a great, prosperous and powerful nation.
    The Korean People's Army is the backbone of self-defensive capabilities, and the might of the socialist military power is precisely that of the KPA.
    Under the slogan of "Defend the leadership of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il at the cost of our lives!" the KPA should intensify the campaign to win the title of O Jung Hup-led Seventh Regiment so as to demonstrate the might of the strong revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu fully prepared as the ranks of human bullets and bombs guarding the leader at the risk of their lives.
    Building up the national defence capacity is a nationwide, all-people undertaking. Priority should be given to the development of the defence industry as required by the line of developing the economy in the Songun era in order to consolidate the material foundations of the self-defensive military capacity. It is important to make the spirit of giving priority to the military affairs prevail in the whole society, strengthen militias including the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards and turn the whole country into an impregnable fortress. The army and people should secure unity of idea and fighting morale and continue to give full play to the spirit of supporting and helping each other in order to consolidate rock-solid the army-people unity, the pride of Songun Korea.
    The entire Party, the whole country and all the people should launch a general offensive to build an economic power.
    Today, the economy is the front of main efforts in the building of a great, prosperous and powerful nation. The main orientation in the building of an economic power in this period is to steadily strengthen the Juche character of the national economy and update it on the basis of latest science and technology so as to give full play to the advantages and vitality of our independent national economy. We should step up the building of an economic power by adhering to the principle of technically modernizing the economy while preserving the specific features of our economic structure, the principle of making people enjoy substantial benefit while ensuring the greatest possible profitability and the principle of developing external economic relations while putting main stress on tapping all domestic resources and potentials.
    This year we should make decisive efforts to shore up the basic industries, the vanguard sectors of the national economy, which constitute the lifeline of the socialist economic construction.
    The power industry sector should push ahead with the construction of large-scale hydroelectric power stations and minor power plants and raise the level of modernization of generating equipment to boost electricity production. Investment in the coal industry should be increased and precedence be given to prospecting and tunnelling to produce and supply enough coal needed for the economic development and the people's living. The metal industry sector should perfect and positively apply the iron-producing method of our style to turn out more iron and steel. The rail transport sector should keep the means of transport in good condition and reinforce them, establish strict discipline like the army and organize and command transport scrupulously to meet the growing demand for transport. Everything should be subordinated to shoring up the power, coal and metal industries and railway transport, production and technical modernization in the vanguard sectors be planned and directed in a unified way, and cooperation between these sectors be promoted.
    Efforts should be channeled into the geological prospecting and mining industry to develop and make the most of the country's resources, and an upswing be brought about in production in the machine, chemical and building-materials industries and forestry.
    The people's-living-first policy should be pursued.
    This policy reflects our Party's firm determination and will to make our people, who have pushed their way through trying ordeal and hardship, lead an affluent and cultured life to their hearts' content and give fullest play to the advantages of the people-centred socialism of our style. We should make this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of the DPRK, a worthwhile and delightful year which sees a substantial change in improving the people's standard of living.
    At present there is no more urgent and important task than solving the problem of food. The agricultural sector should radically increase grain output by planting high-yielding varieties on a wide scale and introducing advanced farming technology and methods as required by the Party's policy of bringing about a drastic change in agriculture. It should consolidate the achievements made over the past decade in implementing the Party's policy of improving potato farming and cultivate beans well as the KPA does. Agricultural officials and working people should make great efforts to do farming by themselves with the attitude of being masters.
    The light industry sector should continuously increase the items of consumer goods, ensure their high quality and thus fully satisfy people's demand for them. All the sectors of the national economy should increase the production of daily necessities by tapping the latent reserves to the maximum.
    The construction sector should push ahead with the building of Pyongyang, the capital of revolution, in such a bold way as it built Kwangbok and Thongil streets and construct a great number of rural houses as excellent as those at a village in Migok-ri. It should firmly maintain the principle of giving precedence to the building of infrastructure and enhance the sense of responsibility and role of city management officials. Land development and environmental protection, like afforestation, should be undertaken in a far-sighted way, so as to be of lasting significance.
    The policies of the Party and state for the people should be better implemented. Health officials should work as devotedly as the health officials in the Chollima era to promote the people's health, and thus give full play to the advantages of the people-oriented public health system of the country. They should arrange the rest centres and sanatoria, run them on a normal basis and lay out the scenic places as cultural resorts for the people.
    The role of science and technology should be decisively raised in building an economic power.
    Science and technology precisely means an economic power. The climate of attaching importance to science and technology should be created across the country, and the high-tech production system be set up in industrial establishments. Scientists and technicians should actively solve pressing scientific and technological problems arising in building an economic power, and all the sectors and units should launch a vigorous mass drive for technological innovation. Men of talent decide everything. A great number of personnel capable of taking a share in building a thriving nation should be trained by effecting a radical change in education as required by the Songun era and the IT age.
    Guidance over and management of economic affairs should be conducted in a responsible manner. It is necessary to establish the strict order and discipline of concentrating all economic work on the Cabinet and organizing and carrying them out under its unified command.
    The basic way to win victory in the general offensive for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country is to regard the exploits of our Party in the Songun leadership as guidelines and do everything the way Kim Jong Il does.
    Kim Jong Il's exploits in the Songun leadership contain the invincible revolutionary philosophy our army and people should regard as their motto, and embrace in a comprehensive way the strategy and ways for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country.
    All the people should stir themselves up with extraordinary patriotic zeal and creativity in order to bring about a great change in this year's socialist construction.
    Our people are a heroic people who built socialism on the ruins and a stout-hearted people who turned the "Arduous March" into the march to paradise through severe ordeals. We should all become standard-bearers of struggle and heroes of creation to leave remarkable trace of life in the efforts for the prosperity of the motherland and greet with dignity the grand festival in September with proud labour achievements made for the motherland.
    Our officials should stand in the van holding aloft the banner in today's general offensive. They should be genuine commanding personnel of the revolution to be appreciated by the people and remembered by the leader by working with greatest effort at their revolutionary posts as the officials did in the period of laying the foundations of the Party for inheriting the cause of Juche in the 1970s.
    All the Party organizations should enhance their militant function and role.
    They should hold fast to the work with people as their main task and intensify Party work to rally all the people around the Party more firmly and make the whole society filled with an atmosphere of enhanced political awareness. They should concentrate all their efforts on economic construction and the improving of the people's standard of living, and steer the administrative and economic work as required by the developing reality.
    Young people are the reliable successors to our Party's Songun revolutionary cause and the most vital combat unit in socialist construction. Youth league organizations should put primary effort to ideological education to thoroughly prepare young people as youth heroes and human bullets and bombs in the Songun era who will defend the headquarters of the revolution at the cost of their lives. Young people should actively learn from the revolutionary spirit and style of work of their previous generations. They should display their youthful resources and valour at labour-consuming sectors of socialist construction as befit the Party's Songun youth vanguard.
    Organizations of trade unions, agricultural workers' union and women's union should intensify their role as ideological educators to ensure that all their members and other working people perform great feats in the general march for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country.
    Last year witnessed a turning point in achieving national reunification.
    The historic inter-Korean summit meeting was held in October and the Declaration for Development of North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity adopted at the meeting amid great interest and expectation of all the compatriots. This was a significant event in advancing the cause of national reunification onto a new stage under the banner of the June 15 Joint Declaration. With our nation's enthusiasm for reunification mounting higher than ever before, the inter-Korean high-level negotiations took place and the road to many-sided cooperation was opened. The present reality gives us firm conviction that no force on earth can check the current of the June 15 reunification era and, when the nation united as one launches a vigorous struggle, the cause of national reunification will be realized without fail.
    All compatriots in the north and the south and abroad should conduct the national reunification movement more strenuously under the slogan of "Open up a new era of independent reunification and peace and prosperity by pooling the efforts of our nation!" The October 4 declaration for the development of north-south relations and peace and prosperity is an inspiring banner that propels the independent development and reunification of the nation and an action programme for applying the June 15 joint declaration to practice in an all-round way. By implementing the October 4 declaration thoroughly, we should shake off the hangovers from the age of confrontation, convert north-south relations into the by-our-nation-itself relationship not only in name but in reality and make a new history of peace and prosperity.
    The main agent of the national reunification movement is the Korean nation, and dependence on the outside forces will never settle the country's reunification issue at any time. In any case the dignity and interests of the nation should be placed above anything else, and the issues related to national reunification be settled from a viewpoint of national independence and by our nation itself.
    Pro-U.S. sycophancy and treachery of turning the back on the trend of the times towards reunification and hindering the reconciliation and unity of the nation should not be tolerated. Legal and institutional mechanisms should be adjusted in the interests of the development of inter-Korean relations and reunification.
    The source of war should be removed and lasting peace be ensured. Peace is most precious for the Korean nation that has been living in the constant danger of war for more than half a century. All the Koreans should launch a vigorous anti-war, peace campaign to foil the war moves of the hawks at home and abroad. An end should be put to the U.S. policy hostile towards the DPRK and the Armistice Agreement be replaced with a peace pact. The aggressive joint military exercises and arms buildup should be discontinued and the U.S. military bases be abolished in south Korea. The idea of confrontation regarding the fellow countrymen as the archenemy should be discarded, the military tension be eased, and the elements of dispute be removed.
    Inter-Korean cooperation is a noble patriotic undertaking for promoting the reconciliation and unity of the nation and achieving peace, prosperity and reunification. Inter-Korean economic cooperation should be encouraged in such a way that it is promoted in a diverse way and on the principle of serving the common interests and prosperity and satisfying each other's needs. Cooperation and exchanges between the north and south should be expanded and developed to make them contribute to national reunification substantially. Anyone who loves the country and the nation and wants reunification should make a characteristic contribution to the co-prosperity of the nation.
    The political parties and organizations and people from all walks of life in the north and south should subordinate everything to achieving the fellow countrymen's desire for reunification by uniting firmly for the great cause of the nation regardless of their political ideals and principles or their political interests and policies.
    All the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and abroad should make a vigorous nationwide effort for independent reunification, peace and prosperity under the "by our nation itself" banner to achieve national reunification at the earliest date.
    At present, defending global peace and security and advancing along the road of independence are the irreversible trend of the times. The reality shows the strong-arm policy and arbitrariness of imperialism do not work anywhere. Under the banner of independence, peace and friendship, the DPRK will continue to make earnest efforts for stability on the Korean Peninsula and peace in the world and further develop relations of friendship and cooperation with all the countries that are friendly toward it.
    Korean-style socialism that has tided over the storm and stress of history under the WPK's Songun leadership is vibrant with great vigour winning victory after victory, and the day is coming towards us when the building of a great, prosperous powerful country will emerge victorious. In the 60-year annals of the DPRK never has there been such a time as today when its dignity and power have reached the highest stage and the soldiers and people are full of confidence in the future and are burning with the enthusiasm for bringing about an upswing.
    As there are the experienced and seasoned leadership of the WPK, the strong political and military might and the fervent patriotic zeal of all the soldiers and people, a great, prosperous and powerful socialist country of Juche will surely be built on this land and shine to the world.
    Let us all work harder for the prosperity of the country and the completion of the revolutionary cause of Juche rallied closely around the headquarters of the revolution headed by Kim Jong Il.

Greetings to Fidel Castro Ruz

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il together with Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution on Monday.
    The message said:
    We, in the name of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government and the people of the DPRK, extend warm congratulations and comradely greetings to you and, through you, to the Communist Party of Cuba and the Cuban government and people on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution.
    Availing ourselves of this opportunity, we would like to express the conviction that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties, governments and peoples would continue to expand and grow stronger in the future, too, and wholeheartedly wish you earlier recovery of health and the Cuban people greater success in their work.

Kim Jong Il Sends Floral Basket to Cuban Embassy

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a floral basket to the Cuban embassy here on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution.
    The floral basket was conveyed to Enrique Montoto Cruz, charge d' affaires ad interim of the Cuban embassy, on Monday.

Greetings to Chief of Palestinian National Authority

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Mahmoud Abbas, chief of the Palestinian National Authority and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on Monday on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the start of the Palestinian revolution.
    In the message Kim Yong Nam sincerely wished the chief and the Palestinian people greater success in the cause of founding an independent state with Kuds as its capital and achieving enduring peace in the region.

Greetings to Sudanese President

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, president of the Republic of Sudan, on Monday on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of its independence.
    In the message, Kim sincerely wished the Sudanese president greater success in his responsible work for peace, stability and progress of the country, expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of the DPRK and Sudan would grow stronger.

Cuban Holiday Celebrated

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Ministries and national institutions of the DPRK sent floral baskets to the Cuban embassy here on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution.
    Floral baskets in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries were conveyed to Enrique Montoto Cruz, charge d' affaires ad interim of the Cuban embassy, on Monday.

Diplomas Awarded to DPRK School Children in International Children's Picture Exhibition

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- The International Children's Picture Exhibition on the theme of "We are children of the planet" was held in Russia some time ago.
    Displayed in the exhibition were several hundred pieces of pictures from various countries.
    The exhibits included pencil and crayon drawings, watercolors, Korean paintings and oils presented by school children from six to sixteen, which truthfully reflected their simple wish to live in a peaceful and free world.
    All of the 13 pictures presented by Korean children won diplomas.
    The Korean painting "The earth where we live ", the watercolor "In camping days", the pencil drawings "The universe is our living stage" and "To the stage of science" and others attracted the attention of experts and visitors for their high ideological and artistic value and truthful reflection of life.
    Visitors lavished praises on the socialist educational system of the DPRK, saying that the talents of the Korean school children were beyond their ages.

New Documentary Film Produced

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- The Group for the Production of Films for School Youth and Children of Pyongyang University of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts has recently produced new documentary film "Immortal Flowers That Blossomed at Campus."
    The film introduces Yu Hyang Rim, former pupil of the then Pyongyang Misan Primary School, who dedicated her life to safely protecting the a portrait of the three generals of Mt. Paektu from a critical situation at the age of 9 and Yu Kyong Hwa, former student of Kim Chol Ju University of Education, who dedicated her life to protecting the portraits of the peerlessly great persons from great danger and saving revolutionary comrades.
    It also tells stories about how firmly school youth and children are preparing themselves as revolutionaries intensely loyal to leader Kim Jong Il, who value their organization and collective and are ready to dedicate themselves to the country and people.

Fruitful Year in Development of National Culture

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- This year the Korean people have further developed their inherent and fine folk traditions and kept alive the good manners and customs.
    On the New Year's Day they made a New Year's call on the aged and elders and exchanged New Year's greetings with their close acquaintances.
    Conspicuous in the 7th Peasant Music and Dance Contest and National Sports Competition of Agricultural Working People in Pyongyang and other sports games which were held this year were the yut and chess games.
    The Fifth National Ssirum (Korean wrestling) Tournament for "Grand Bull Prize" and gold bell took place on the occasion of Chusok, a folk holiday of the Korean people, amid the great interests of Ssirum fans and working people.
    The Fifth National Korean Costume Exhibition and the Costume Exhibition for Four Seasons held in September served as a good occasion for further developing the national dresses in line with the aesthetic sense of the times.
    More than 800 pieces of Korean dresses were displayed at the exhibitions. The white silk jogori (jacket) and samhoejang and panhoejang (hoejang means ornamental edging of woman's jacket) jogori were highly appreciated by visitors as they conformed to the disposition of the Korean women who are fond of pure and neat ones with bright and soft colors.
    Great efforts were also directed to developing the national dishes.
    Cooking technique and experience were shared and new kinds of dishes were discovered through various food exhibitions including Holiday Food Exhibition of the Provincial Special Product Restaurants and Holiday Food Show.
    In particular, the Sariwon City Folk Street was built at the foot of picturesque Mt. Kyongam, contributing to the national cultural and emotional life of the working people.

Brisk Physical Culture and Sports Activities This Year

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- The Korean people have conducted dynamic physical culture and sports activities this year while hastening the general onward march of the Songun revolution with full confidence and optimism.
    On the first "Sports Day" of the year, defense sports, collective running, Ssirum (Korean wrestling), tug-of-war and other sports games took place at the ministries and national institutions and in the provinces, cities and counties, setting the whole country astir with mass physical culture and sports games.
    Industrial establishments and co-op farms have set up sports billboards in their compounds to disseminate common knowledge and information on physical culture and sports among the working people, while installing enough sports facilities.
    And they regularly organized running, health-promoting Taekwon-Do exercises and mass rhythmic gymnastics as well as various sports games with stress on defense sports and meticulously planned work for the month of the examination of people's physical strength in response to the call of the Party to popularize physical culture and sports and make them a daily routine.
    Schools all over the country have paid primary attention to the increase of the stature of boys and girls, harmonious development of their bodies and their acquirement of basic knowledge of sports and one or more sports techniques.
    Pyongyang was the venue of a series of mass sports games which drew the deep interest of the working people. Among them were the 12th sports contest of officials of national institutions for the "Paektusan Cup," the 38th sports games of artists and the 5th National Ssirum (Korean wrestling) Tournament for "Grand Bull Prize".
    The number of the model sports units has markedly increased in the country through unusual brisk physical culture and sports activities this year.

More than 2,250 Cases of Aerial Espionage against DPRK This Year

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- The number of the cases of aerial espionage committed by the U.S. imperialists against the DPRK in December reached more than 110 and that of those by the south Korean armed forces at least 70, totaling over 2,250 this year, according to a military source.
    U-2 of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces based in south Korea perpetrated aerial observation, photographing and electronic espionage against the depth of the DPRK and its all other areas on Dec. 31. The cases of espionage by this plane numbered 25 this month and more than 300 this year.
    They let three or four RC-12 and RC-7B fly in the sky above areas along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) for frantic aerial espionage everyday in December. The number of cases of espionage by those planes totaled at least 690 this year.
    When such military exercises for aggression as "RSOI" and "Foal Eagle" and "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military exercises were under way the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean armed forces committed aerial espionage against the DPRK by mobilizing more than 150 strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes with different missions.
    Overseas-based EP-3 flew in the sky above the east and west seas and their coastal areas of the DPRK for photographing on Dec. 26. RC-135 and E-3 periodically flew in the air over south Korea to spy all areas and eastern and western coastal areas of the DPRK in the year.
    Keeping pace with the U.S. imperialists' aerial espionage, the south Korean military war mongers let two or three RC-800 and RF-4C fly in the sky above the areas along the MDL for madcap aerial espionage everyday in the year.

DPRK's Important Days Observed in Peru

    Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- A national seminar on the Songun policy and revolutionary feats of Kim Jong Suk took place in Lima on Dec. 20 on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's assumption of supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army and the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk. It was sponsored by the Association for the Study of the Revolutionary Activities of Comrade Kim Jong Suk in Peru.
    Teresa Otiniano, chairperson of the association, and others in their speeches praised Kim Jong Il as the great leader who has strengthened and developed the DPRK into the most dignified and powerful state in the world.
    They noted that the Songun policy has created a world-wide sensation because it serves as a banner of struggle instilling courage and confidence in the victory of the cause of socialism into progressive mankind.
    They lauded Kim Jong Suk as the greatest woman revolutionary in the human history as she devoted her whole life to the cause of Juche of President Kim Il Sung and the sacred cause for independence and happiness of the popular masses.
    They stressed that Kim Jong Suk gave birth to and brought up Kim Jong Il, giving a sure guarantee for the rosy future of mankind and the accomplishment of the cause of socialism.
    An appeal to the world people adopted at the seminar expressed an unequivocal support to the Korean people in their struggle for independence against imperialism and called for waging a more vigorous struggle for the genuine freedom and well-being of the popular masses.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il felicita a Fidel Castro Ruz

    Pyongyang, 31 de diciembre (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, junto con Kim Yong Nam, presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la RPDC, envio este lunes un mensaje de felicitacion a Fidel Castro Ruz, primer secretario del Comite Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba y presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros de la Republica de Cuba con motivo del 49o aniversario del triunfo de la Revolucion Cubana.
    @El mensaje senala:
    @En ocasion del 49o aniversario del triunfo de la Revolucion Cubana, en nombre del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, el gobierno y el pueblo de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, enviamos nuestra calida felicitacion y saludo camaraderil a Usted y, por su conducto, al Partido Comunista de Cuba, el gobierno y el pueblo de la Republica de Cuba.
    @Aprovechamos esta oportunidad para expresar nuestra conviccion de que las tradicionales relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los partidos, los gobiernos y los pueblos de nuestros dos paises continuaran fortaleciendose y desarrollandose tambien en el futuro y le deseamos de todo corazon a Usted la recuperacion pronta de su salud y al pueblo cubano los mayores exitos en sus trabajos.

Kim Jong Il envia cesto de flores a la embajada cubana

    Pyongyang, 31 de diciembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il envio un cesto de flores a la Embajada de la Republica de Cuba en Corea en ocasion del aniversario 49 del triunfo de la Revolucion Cubana.
    El cesto de flores fue entregado este lunes al encargado de negocios a.i. cubano, Enrique Montoto Cruz.

Editorial conjunto de Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun y Chongnyon Jonwi

    Pyongyang, 1 de enero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del Ano Nuevo 97 (2008) de la Era Juche, los periodicos Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun y Chongnyon Jonwi publicaron en sus ediciones del dia primero un editorial conjunto intitulado "Hagamos brillar este ano del 60 aniversario de la fundacion de la Republica como un ano de cambios historicos que se registre indeleble en los anales de la Patria".
    El texto resumido del editorial va como siguiente:
    Hoy acogemos el ano nuevo, el 2008, llenos de gran esperanza y optimismo por el prometedor futuro de la Corea socialista.
    Nuestra causa de la construccion de una gran potencia prospera, que avanza impetuosamente bajo la direccion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, ha entrado en una nueva etapa historica. Ahora, cuando en la tierra patria altamente dignificada por el Songun va amaneciendo la nueva y brillante manana de la prosperidad, nuestro Ejercito y pueblo estan colmados de orgullo y animo combativo de triunfadores y todo el pais se palpita de un espiritu de creacion y avance sin precedentes.
    El 2007 fue un ano de relevantes victorias en que se confirmo fehacientemente la gran vitalidad de la linea revolucionaria de Songun de nuestro Partido y se registraron grandes avances en la edificacion de la Patria rica y poderosa.
    En el ano transcurrido se manifestaron plenamente, a la vista del mundo, el caracter inconmovible de nuestra ideologia y tradiciones y el poderio politico-militar de la Corea de Songun.
    Al haber conmemorado con solemnidad el 95 aniversario del natalicio del gran Lider y el aniversario 75 de la fundacion del Ejercito Popular de Corea exhibimos sin reservas la firme determinacion de nuestro Partido y pueblo de llevar al termino la causa revolucionaria del Juche iniciada en el monte Paektu y el poderio del Ejercito Popular firmemente preparado como fuerzas armadas selectas capaces de vencer a cualquier enemigo. El que seguimos es el camino del Juche, del Songun, allanado por el gran Lider; el destino de nuestro avance lo constituye la gran potencia prospera socialista, y nuestra fuerza reside en la unidad monolitica en un solo haz de todos los integrantes del Ejercito y pueblo en torno al Partido.
    Ya se han abierto las perspectivas para dar un nuevo salto en la edificacion de la potencia economica.
    La reconstruccion tecnologica de diversos sectores de la economia nacional se ha acelerado energicamente, con enfasis en las industrias de extraccion, metalurgica, quimica y ligera, y se ha impulsado con fuerza la construccion de centrales hidroelectricas de gran tamano, lo cual redunda en la consolidacion de las bases de materias primas y energeticas y de produccion de articulos de consumo popular en el pais. En el proceso de la lucha por establecer un sistema de produccion independiente sustentado en los recursos naturales y tecnologias domesticos se ha acentuado el caracter autoctono de la industria. Los logros de la lucha del ano pasado en que la construccion economica socialista dio un paso agigantado nos convencen de que nuestra economia, propulsada por su enorme potencial, se esta resucitando de modo vigoroso.
    En el ano que acabo de pasar ha florecido plenamente la cultura socialista de la epoca de Songun, llenando todo el pais de impetu combativo y optimismo.
    En el seno del Ejercito Popular y la clase obrera se han creado genuinos modelos del arte y cultura por y para las masas y se han producido singulares obras de arte musical de nuestro estilo, lo cual constituye inapreciable exito anunciador de la llegada de la nueva epoca de prosperidad de la cultura socialista. En todo el pais reina el ambiente de vida cultural y recreativa revolucionaria. Por otra parte, en la esfera deportiva se registraron relevantes logros que dan alegria al pueblo.
    Se han manifestado poderosamente la voluntad y la posicion de principios de nuestra Republica de defender la paz y la seguridad en la Peninsula Coreana y el Nordeste de Asia y seguir hasta el fin por el camino de la independencia. El prestigio internacional de la Corea de Songun va elevando como nunca antes y crece el numero de paises que establecen con el nuestro las relaciones de buena vecindad y amistad. El desarrollo actual de la situacion demuestra que hemos sido mil veces justos en tomar el camino de Songun y la causa justa triunfa inexorablemente.
    Las relevantes victorias y logros alcanzados el ano pasado en las esferas politica, militar, economica, cultural, diplomatica y otras son resultados brillantes de la destacada estrategia y tacticas, de la ferrea voluntad y de la entusiasta direccion del camarada Kim Jong Il.
    Este trazo la revolucionaria orientacion de registrar nuevos avances en la construccion economica, al mismo tiempo de reforzar notablemente la capacidad de la potencia politico-militar socialista sobre la base de las victorias y logros de la revolucion de Songun, y llamo con fuerza a todo el Partido, el Ejercito y el pueblo a llevarla a la practica. La grandeza del estimado General, quien con su destacada capacidad politica y noble amor a la Patria y la nacion ha dado lugar a acontecimientos historicos que mueven el corazon de la totalidad de compatriotas, ha provocado la admiracion del mundo. La asombrosa realidad de hoy creada en virtud de su direccion colma a nuestro Ejercito y pueblo de gran optimismo y conviccion de que no es lejano el dia de la victoria en la construccion de la gran potencia prospera.
    El ano nuevo, el 2008, sera un ano de gigantesca lucha, un ano festivo de trascendencia historica para la nacion, toda vez que la historia de nuestra Patria y revolucion experimentara grandes cambios.
    El camarada Kim Jong Il senalo:
    "Debemos hacer mas rico y poderoso nuestro pais, nuestra Patria, en acato al proposito y la causa del Lider."
    Este ano vamos a celebrar el aniversario 60 de la fundacion de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, nuestra gloriosa Patria.
    Nuestra Republica es un gran pais popular donde se encarna la idea Juche, un inexpugnable pais socialista de alta dignidad y la cuna de la eterna vida y felicidad de nuestro pueblo. Su fundacion propiciada por el camarada Kim Il Sung fue un acontecimiento historico que convirtio a nuestro pueblo en un ente revolucionario independiente y poderoso y dio inicio a la obra de construccion del pais socialista centrado en las masas populares. La historia de 60 anos de nuestra Republica es la de grandes transformaciones que la han convertido en un poderoso Estado independiente, autosostenido y autodefensivo escribiendo una epopeya de creacion y construccion bajo la direccion del Partido y el Lider; la de hechos extraordinarios que evidenciaron la superioridad e invencibilidad de nuestro modelo de socialismo en medio de la severa lucha antiimperialista.
    La historia de nuestra Republica tambien es la brillante historia de inmortales hazanas revolucionarias de nuestro Partido que ha venido luchando con teson por llevar a cabo la obra de construccion de una patria rica y poderosa, proyecto trazado por el gran Lider, fundador de la Corea socialista y padre de la edificacion del Estado. La politica de Songun que aplica el camarada Kim Jong Il ha llevado la dignidad y el poderio del pais al apogeo y ha propiciado una epoca de plena prosperidad y desarrollo nacional sin precedentes en la historia. La conmemoracion del sexagesimo aniversario de la fundacion del Estado en estos momentos de efervescencia historica es un motivo de gran honor y orgullo para nuestro Ejercito y pueblo.
    En el ano de 2012 se cumple el centenario del natalicio del gran Lider. Construir en este suelo una gran potencia socialista que tuviera gran capacidad nacional, prosperara en todos los sentidos y le garantizara al pueblo las optimas condiciones de vida envidiables por el mundo, era el proposito y la obra de toda la vida del gran Lider. La decision y voluntad de nuestro Partido es abrir de par en par, cueste lo que cueste, en ese ano significativo, la puerta que nos de acceso a la referida potencia desarrollando la economia y mejorando el nivel de vida del pueblo a partir de las grandes potencialidades politicas y militares de la nacion preparadas en el proceso revolucionario de Songun.
    Estamos en el momento de producir cambios trascendentales como cuando en cumplimiento del programa del Partido corrimos a alto ritmo durante la jornada de la gran marcha de Chollima en postguerra para construir un poderoso Estado socialista. Para alcanzar el ambicioso objetivo y meta disenados por el Partido dentro de pocos anos debemos, a partir de este ano, producir fuertes vientos de auge en todos los sectores de la construccion socialista con altos redobles del tambor que llamen a la ofensiva general.
    "!Hagamos brillar este ano del 60 aniversario de la fundacion de la Republica como un ano de cambios historicos que se registre indeleble en los anales de la Patria!", esta es la consigna combativa que vamos a enarbolar.
    Hay que reforzar la capacidad politica e ideologica, la primera potencialidad de la Corea de Songun.
    La marcha general que hemos emprendido es la ideologica y lo mas importante en la edificacion de la gran potencia prospera es motivar la capacidad espiritual del Ejercito y el pueblo. Debemos prestar la primordial atencion a hacer valer al maximo la firmeza espiritual de miles y miles de militares y civiles que es mas poderosa que el arma nuclear considerando nuestra original teoria de preferencia ideologica como la medida mas eficiente.
    La esencia de las fuerzas espirituales de nuestro Ejercito y pueblo reside en defender a muerte al Lider. Debemos lograr que el espiritu de defender al Lider a costa de la vida y la unidad monolitica sean una eterna tradicion y atributo de la nacion de Kim Il Sung. Todo el Partido, todo el Ejercito y todo el pueblo, unidos firmemente alrededor de la Direccion de la Revolucion, deben seguir con absoluta fidelidad sus pensamientos y liderazgo.
    La idea Juche, la idea de Songun de nuestro Partido es la gran bandera que garantiza la prosperidad del pais y la fuente principal de las fuerzas espirituales de nuestro pueblo. Debemos formarnos mas firmemente en esas doctrinas e impulsar el proceso revolucionario y constructivo a nuestra manera, segun senala la politica de Songun, sean cuales fueren las circunstancias.
    El socialismo es el destino de nuestro pueblo y garantiza su futuro. Todos deben poseer, sin excepcion, la firme conviccion de que el modelo de socialismo escogido y construido por nuestro pueblo es el mejor del mundo y el noble punto de vista de la vida, segun el cual no hay una vida mas digna que la que se ofrenda por la sociedad y el colectivo, por la Patria y el pueblo. Es preciso mantener el Juche y la identidad nacional en todos los ordenes de la vida social, atenerse firmemente a los principios revolucionarios, principios de clase y preservar los rasgos consustanciales al socialismo. Hace falta frustrar totalmente la penetracion de las ideas y culturas reaccionarias y la taimada campana psicologica que promueven los enemigos y no permitir ningun elemento que atente contra nuestro regimen politico y desvirtue nuestra etica y cultura socialista y nuestro modo de vida.
    Hay que incrementar constantemente el poderio militar de nuestra Republica en pleno acato a la linea revolucionaria de Songun del Partido.
    La gran capacidad de defensa es el simbolo de la dignidad de la Corea de Songun en independencia y la garantia fundamental de su prosperidad eterna. Es inmutable la posicion revolucionaria de nuestro Partido de considerar la prioridad militar como la estrategia principal de la construccion de la gran potencia prospera.
    El Ejercito Popular es la columna vertebral de las fuerzas armadas de autodefensa y su poderio representa el de la potencia militar socialista.
    El Ejercito Popular debe promover con mayor dinamismo el Movimiento por la obtencion del titulo del Septimo Regimiento O Jung Hup enarbolando el lema: "!Defendamos a costa de la vida la Direccion de la Revolucion encabezada por el gran camarada Kim Jong Il!" para demostrar la invencibilidad de las fuerzas armadas revolucionarias del Paektu que estan dispuestas a defender al Lider a costa de la vida convirtiendose cada uno de sus combatientes en fusil o bomba en el caso necesario.
    El reforzamiento de la capacidad de defensa del pais es una labor que incumbe a todo el Estado y el pueblo. Priorizando el desarrollo de la industria de guerra segun requiere la linea de construccion economica de la epoca de Songun hay que consolidar los cimientos materiales de la potencialidad militar autodefensiva. Es menester establecer a cabalidad en toda la sociedad el ambiente de dar importancia a los asuntos militares, reforzar la Guardia Roja Obrero-Campesina, la Guardia Roja Juvenil y otras fuerzas paramilitares y convertir a todo el pais en una fortaleza inexpugnable. Mediante el seguro logro de la identificacion del Ejercito y el pueblo en cuanto a sus rasgos ideologicos y su estilo de lucha y la continua manifestacion de un elevado habito de ayuda mutua entre uno y otro, se debe acerar su unidad, que es orgullo de la Corea de Songun.
    Todo el Partido, todo el pais y todo el pueblo tienen que movilizarse en la ofensiva general para la construccion de una potencia economica.
    Hoy dia, el principal frente de la edificacion de una gran potencia prospera es el de la economia. En la actualidad la orientacion principal de esta consiste en poner de manifiesto en todos los aspectos la superioridad y la vitalidad de nuestra economia nacional independiente realizando activamente su modernizacion sobre la base de los recientes logros cientificos y tecnologicos, al tiempo de ir reforzando sin cesar su caracter autoctono. Hay que acelerar la construccion de la potencia economica manteniendo el principio de remodelar tecnologicamente la economia nacional mediante la vitalizacion de las peculiaridades de sus estructuras, el de obtener la maxima rentabilidad para que el pueblo se beneficie efectivamente de ello, y el de promover las relaciones economicas con el extranjero considerando como lo principal movilizar sin reservas todos los recursos y posibilidades domesticos.
    Este ano hemos de concentrar la fuerza decisiva en apuntalar los dominios prioritarios de la economia nacional, los de las industrias basicas, que constituyen la via respiratoria en la edificacion economica socialista.
    En la rama de la industria electrica hay que aumentar con rapidez la generacion dando fuertes acicates al levantamiento de las grandes, medianas y pequenas centrales hidraulicas y elevando el nivel de modernizacion de sus equipos generadores. A la esfera de la industria de carbon le incumbe extraer suficiente cantidad de este mineral combustible, indispensable para el desarrollo economico y la vida del pueblo, al aumentar las inversiones y priorizar la prospeccion geologica y los trabajos de acceso. Sobre el sector de la industria metalurgica recae el deber de sacar mayor cantidad de materiales de hierro y acero con la perfeccion e introduccion activa de nuestro modo de fabricacion ferrica. El dominio del transporte ferroviario tiene que satisfacer la creciente demanda en cuanto al acarreo mediante el reajuste y reforzamiento de sus medios, el establecimiento de una disciplina tan ferrea como en el ejercito y la esmerada organizacion y mando del transporte. Es imperioso subordinarlo todo a revitalizar las industrias electrica, de carbon y metalurgica y el transporte ferroviario, organizar y dirigir de manera unificada la produccion y la remodelacion tecnologica de las ramas prioritarias y estrechar la cooperacion entre estas.
    Hay que empenarse en la prospeccion geologica y la rama de la industria extractiva para explotar y aprovechar de modo racional los recursos del pais y registrar un auge productivo en los dominios de las industrias mecanica, quimica y de materiales de construccion y en el de la silvicultura.
    Es preciso poner hincapie en dar primacia al bienestar del pueblo.
    Esto implica la inconmovible determinacion y voluntad de nuestro Partido, de hacer disfrutar a sus anchas de una vida abundante y culta a nuestro pueblo que ha tenido que superar severas pruebas y dificultades, y de poner en pleno juego la superioridad del socialismo a nuestro estilo, centrado en las masas populares. Tenemos que hacer de este ano del aniversario 60 de la fundacion de la Republica un ano lleno de orgullo y alegria en que se opere un viraje real en el mejoramiento del bienestar del pueblo.
    En el momento actual no hay tarea mas acuciosa e importante que resolver el problema de viveres y alimentos para el pueblo. En el sector de la agricultura se debe incrementar a ojos vistas la produccion de cereales mediante el cultivo en gran medida de las variedades de alto rendimiento y la introduccion de tecnicas y metodos de cultivo avanzados, segun la orientacion del Partido de realizar una revolucion en la agricultura. Hay que consolidar los exitos alcanzados durante los ultimos diez anos en la implementacion de la orientacion del Partido de efectuar una revolucion en el cultivo de papas, asi como realizar con esmero la cultivacion de soya como en el Ejercito. Los cuadros rurales y trabajadores agricolas tienen que empenarse en la lucha por hacerse cargo entero de las faenas agricolas desde la posicion de duenos.
    En el campo de la industria ligera es menester cubrir con satisfaccion las demandas del pueblo ampliando sin cesar la gama de indices de los articulos de consumo popular y asegurando su calidad en alto nivel. En todas las ramas de la economia nacional hace falta desplegar una lucha para aumentar la produccion de los articulos de primera necesidad con la maxima movilizacion de las reservas internas.
    Hay que empujar con grandeza de espiritu la construccion de la ciudad de Pyongyang, capital de la revolucion, como cuando se levantaban los repartos de Kwangbok y Thong-il, y erigir mas viviendas rurales tan excelentes como las levantadas en las aldeas de la comuna de Migok. En la esfera de la construccion se debe mantener firmemente el principio de anteponer la preparacion de las infraestructuras, asi como elevar la responsabilidad y el papel de los trabajadores del dominio de la urbanizacion. Hay que realizar de modo constante y duradero con vision de futuro la forestacion y otras tareas de la administracion territorial y la labor de proteccion ambiental.
    Es preciso materializar mejor las medidas populares del Partido y el Estado. Los trabajadores de la esfera de salud deben abnegarse para fomentar la salud del pueblo tal como lo hicieron los de la epoca de Chollima, para asi hacer gala de la superioridad del sistema sanitario popular de nuestro pais. Es preciso acondicionar mejor las casas de reposo, sanatorios y centros de convalecencia, normalizar su funcionamiento y convertir los lugares de paisaje notable en parajes de recreacion cultural que el pueblo frecuente con gusto.
    Para la construccion de la potencia economica es indispensable elevar decisivamente el papel de las ciencias y tecnologias.
    Estas son pronombres de una potencia economica. Hay que implantar en todo el pais el habito de darles importancia, y crear en las fabricas y empresas sistemas productivos basados en altos logros cientificos y tecnologicos. A los cientificos y tecnicos les incumbe el deber de solucionar de manera activa los apremiantes problemas cientificos y tecnologicos que se plantean en la construccion de una potencia economica, y a todas las ramas y unidades, el de desplegar con energia el movimiento masivo de innovacion tecnica. Los talentos lo deciden todo. Hay que realizar una revolucion en la educacion conforme a la demanda de la epoca de Songun, epoca de la industria informatica, y formar asi mayor numero de personas superdotadas capaces de hacerse cargo de importantes tareas en la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    Es necesario dirigir y administrar con responsabilidad la labor economica. Hay que implantar una ferrea disciplina y orden de que todas las actividades economicas esten concentradas en manos del Consejo de Ministros y sean organizadas y efectuadas bajo su mando unitario.
    La via fundamental para lograr la victoria en la ofensiva general por la construccion de una gran potencia prospera es cumplir todos los trabajos a la manera del gran General teniendo como guia los meritos acumulados por nuestro Partido en la direccion mediante el Songun.
    En estos meritos esta impregnada la invencible filosofia revolucionaria que ha de ser considerada como maxima por nuestro Ejercito y pueblo y estan sintetizados integralmente la estrategia y los metodos de combate para la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    Con miras a generar un cambio trascendental en la construccion socialista de este ano es preciso que todo el pueblo se levante con redoblado animo, extraordinario entusiasmo patriotico y espiritu creador.
    El nuestro es un heroico pueblo que ha edificado el socialismo a partir del cero, un pueblo de fuerte voluntad que, venciendo las severas pruebas, convirtio la "Marcha Penosa" en marcha hacia el paraiso. Todos tendran que ser abanderados de la lucha y heroes de la creacion que dejen claras huellas de su vida en el camino por la prosperidad de la Patria y entrar en el lugar del gran festival de septiembre con la frente alta y con dignos exitos laborales dedicados a la madre Patria.
    Los pioneros que deben situarse a la delantera de la ofensiva general de hoy portando en alto la bandera, son nuestros funcionarios. Al igual que los funcionarios de la decada de 1970, periodo de asentamiento de la base del Partido para continuar la causa revolucionaria del Juche, deben trabajar a toda capacidad en sus puestos revolucionarios y seran genuinos miembros del mando de la revolucion, reconocidos por el pueblo y grabados en la memoria del Dirigente.
    Hay que elevar la funcion combativa y el papel de las organizaciones partidistas.
    Las organizaciones del Partido de todos los niveles han de profundizar en su trabajo atendiendo principalmente el trabajo para con el hombre y de esta manera aglutinar aun mas solidamente a todo el pueblo en torno al Partido y hacer que toda la sociedad bulla en un elevado ambiente politico. En el trabajo partidista hay que concentrar la atencion en la construccion economica y la mejora de la vida del pueblo y timonear con acierto la labor administrativa y economica, conforme al desarrollo de la realidad.
    Los jovenes son dignos continuadores de la causa revolucionaria del Songun de nuestro Partido y la mas vigorosa unidad de combate en la construccion socialista. Las organizaciones de la Union de la Juventud, prestando la atencion primordial a la educacion ideologica, deben preparar firmemente a todos sus miembros como heroes juveniles, como heroes de la epoca del Songun dispuestos a combatir lanzandose como balas y bombas para defender a vida o muerte la Direccion de la Revolucion. Es necesario desplegar con dinamismo entre los jovenes la labor destinada a llevarlos a aprender del espiritu revolucionario y el estilo de combate de las generaciones anteriores. Los jovenes, como vanguardia juvenil al servicio del Partido en la epoca del Songun, tienen que exhibir su inteligencia y osadia en los puestos mas dificiles y duros de la construccion socialista.
    Es preciso elevar aun mas el papel de las organizaciones de la Federacion General de los Sindicatos, la Union de Trabajadores Agricolas y la Union de Mujeres Democraticas como educadoras ideologicas para que todos sus integrantes y demas trabajadores creen meritos resonantes en la ofensiva general por la construccion de una gran potencia prospera.
    En el ano transcurrido se abrio una coyuntura trascendental en el camino de la reunificacion de la Patria.
    En medio de la gran atencion y esperanza de todos los compatriotas se realizo el historico Encuentro Cumbre Norte-Sur de Octubre y se firmo la Declaracion para el Desarrollo de las Relaciones Norte-Sur, la Paz y la Prosperidad, lo cual constituye un importante evento para promover hacia una nueva fase la empresa de la reunificacion de la Patria bajo la bandera de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio. En medio del auge del fervor nacional por la reintegracion tuvieron lugar las negociaciones de alto rango entre el Norte y el Sur y se ha abierto el camino de la cooperacion multifacetica. La realidad actual nos da la conviccion de que con nada se puede bloquear el curso de la epoca de la reunificacion del 15 de junio y de que si la nacion lucha con valentia unida en un haz es posible materializar sin duda alguna la reunificacion de la Patria.
    Todos los compatriotas del Norte, el Sur y el extranjero, con la consigna "!Unidos nosotros, los connacionales, abramos la nueva epoca de la reunificacion independiente, la paz y la prosperidad!" en alto, tienen que desplegar de modo mas vigoroso el movimiento por la reunificacion de la Patria.
    La Declaracion para el Desarrollo de las Relaciones Norte-Sur, la Paz y la Prosperidad del 4 de Octubre, es la bandera que estimula el desarrollo y la reunificacion independiente de la nacion, y un programa practico que propiciaria el cumplimiento de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio en todas sus dimensiones. Debemos cumplir cabalmente lo acordado en la Declaracion del 4 de Octubre para liquidar los residuos del tiempo de enfrentamiento, convertir las relaciones Norte-Sur a la letra en las entre nosotros, los connacionales, y forjar una nueva historia de paz y prosperidad.
    El sujeto del movimiento por la reunificacion de la Patria es nuestra nacion y el apoyo en las fuerzas extranjeras nunca sera una solucion de la reunificacion de la Patria. En todos los casos debemos resolver entre los connacionales los problemas relacionados con la reunificacion partiendo de la posicion de independencia nacional y poniendo por encima de todo la dignidad y el interes de la nacion. No hay que permitir la obediencia servil a los Estados Unidos y los actos traidores a la nacion que van a contrapelo de la inclinacion de la epoca a la reunificacion e impiden la reconciliacion y unidad de los compatriotas. Es preciso reajustar los mecanismos legales e institucionales a favor del desarrollo de las relaciones Norte-Sur y la reunificacion.
    Hace falta eliminar el origen de la guerra y preservar la paz duradera. No hay algo mas valioso que la paz para nuestra nacion, que vive corriendo el permanente peligro de la guerra desde hace mas de medio siglo. Todos los integrantes de la nacion deben atizar las llamaradas de la lucha antibelica por la paz encaminada a frustrar las maniobras de guerra agresiva de los belicistas internos y externos. Pondran el punto final a la politica hostil de EE.UU. contra Corea, sustituiran el acuerdo de armisticio por otro de paz, se opondran a los ejercicios militares conjuntos y el incremento armamentista de caracter agresivo y desmantelaran las bases militares norteamericanas en el Sur de Corea. Es necesario abandonar la posicion de confrontacion que considera a sus compatriotas como "enemigos principales", aliviar la tension militar y eliminar las causas de los conflictos.
    La cooperacion entre el Norte y el Sur es una noble actividad patriotica que promueve la conciliacion y la unidad de la nacion y facilita la paz, la prosperidad y la reunificacion. Hay que fomentar la cooperacion economica multifacetica entre ambas partes sobre la base de los principios de interes comun y prosperidad mutua y de beneficios mutuos. Esta colaboracion e intercambio deben ampliarse y desarrollarse a favor de facilitar realmente la reunificacion del pais. Todos los compatriotas que aman la Patria y la nacion y desean su reunificacion, deberian hacer contribuciones singulares a la prosperidad de la nacion segun sus posibilidades.
    Los partidos politicos, las organizaciones y todos los sectores y capas del Norte y el Sur, unidos firmemente en aras de la gran causa nacional, dejando a un lado sus propios planteamientos y opiniones, intereses y estrategia, tienen que someterlo todo a la realizacion del anhelo nacional por la reintegracion.
    Con la bandera de "Entre nosotros, los connacionales" en alto, todos estos, tanto del Norte y del Sur como del extranjero, libraran una dinamica lucha por la reunificacion independiente, por la paz y prosperidad a fin de adelantar cuanto antes la reintegracion de la Patria.
    Hoy dia, defender la paz y seguridad en el mundo y avanzar por la via de la independencia es una corriente indetenible de nuestra epoca. La realidad demuestra que la coercion y la arbitrariedad del imperialismo no pueden pasar impunes en cualquier lugar. Tambien en lo adelante, nuestra Republica, manteniendo en alto la bandera de la independencia, la paz y la amistad, luchara energicamente por la estabilidad de la Peninsula Coreana y la paz en el mundo y fortalecera y desarrollara aun mas las relaciones de amistad y de cooperacion con todas las naciones que nos tratan con buena intencion.
    Nuestro socialismo, que ha superado severos contratiempos y pruebas a lo largo de la historia bajo la direccion del Partido mediante el Songun, gana victoria tras victorias, con inagotable animo y vigor, y se nos acerca el dia del triunfo en la construccion de la gran potencia prospera. Los 60 anos de la historia de nuestra Republica no conocen un tiempo como el presente en que la dignidad y el poderio del pais han llegado al maximo grado y el Ejercito y la poblacion estan pletoricos de la fe en el futuro y el fervor por el avance.
    Por contar con la avezada y probada direccion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, el fuerte poderio politico-militar y el ardiente entusiasmo patriotico de todos los soldados y habitantes, seguramente se levantara en nuestra tierra patria una gran potencia prospera socialista sustentada en el Juche, la cual salpicara brillos por todo el mundo.
    Todos, unidos compactamente en torno a la Direccion de la Revolucion encabezada por el camarada Kim Jong Il, luchemos con tenacidad por lograr la prosperidad de la Republica y completar la causa revolucionaria del Juche.