Kim Jong Il Visits Construction Site of Power Station
Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited the construction site of the Ryesonggang Power Station to encourage the builders there in the new year's drive.
Kim Jong Il exchanged greetings with those present to receive him before mounting the observation platform to command a bird's eye-view of the power station and learn in detail about its construction.
He extended warm greetings to the builders and their helpers, highly praising them for having done a lot of work in a matter of just one year and working miracles and innovations everyday from the outset of the year.
He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that another structure of eternal value is now under construction in the country, noting that the power station located in a good place was designed in such a way as to ensure profitability and the quality of the construction is on a high level so that it can be built into a structure to be handed down to posterity.
Feasting his eyes on the big man-made lake, the dam and Youth Power Station No. 1, he highly praised the feats performed by them, saying it was a great success that such huge amount of work has been done in a brief span of time in the spirit of self-reliance and fortitude.
The Kangdong Hydropower Construction Complex involved in the construction of the above-said power station is a construction unit of merits as it has built the Jangjagang Power Station, the Namgang Power Station and the Thaechon Power Station and many other large hydropower stations, greatly contributing to the realization of electrification in the country, he noted, underscoring the need to continue to glorify this proud tradition.
He set forth tasks to be implemented to speed up the building of the power station.
He called for completing the construction earlier than scheduled by waging a final charge, noting now that the major part of the construction project has been wound up, it is possible to carry out the remaining part of the project with ease if work is minutely organized and efforts are focused on it.
He expressed the expectation and belief that the builders and their helpers would successfully build the power station into a structure in the era of Songun.
He was accompanied by Choe Ryong Hae, chief secretary of the North Hwanghae Provincial Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Ri Yong Chol, first deputy department director of the C.C., WPK, and Generals of the Korean People's Army Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from King of Jordan
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on the occasion of the New Year Juche 97 (2008).
The gift was handed over to an official of the DPRK embassy in Beijing on Thursday.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Algerian President
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the occasion of the New Year Juche 97 (2008).
The gift was conveyed to an official of the DPRK embassy in Beijing on Thursday.
First Friday-Labor This Year Done
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Government employees in different parts of the country did the first Friday-labor this year on Jan. 4.
Officials of ministries and national institutions went to the Mangyongdae Farm in Mangyongdae District and Jangchon Co-op Farm in Sadong District with truck loads of farming materials and compost.
They carpeted fields with humus soil and dug ditches, etc, encouraging agricultural workers in making good preparations for this year's farming.
Government employees in different provinces, cities and counties also participated in worthwhile Friday-labor in the field of railway transport and farms and other work sites.
Help to Farmers Brisk
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Help to farmers is getting brisk from the outset of the new year in the DPRK.
On Friday officials of the ministries and national institutions including the Ministry of Power Industry, the Ministry of Chemical Industry, the Ministry of Railways and the Academy of Social Sciences sent at least 20,000 medium and small-size farm implements of dozens of kinds and more than 1,000 tons of compost to the Mangyongdae Farm in Mangyongdae District and the Jangchon Cooperative Farm in Sadong District, Pyongyang, prompted by their desire to help farmers.
Officials of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea went to the Kumchon Farm in Mangyongdae District and conveyed to it farming materials prepared by them with sincerity. They helped agricultural workers there in carrying compost and conducted agitation for increased production in the field.
Officials of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries went to the Thaekam Cooperative Farm in Sunan District, bringing with them hundreds of kinds of medium and small-size farm implements and farming materials, and gave helping hands to farmers there.
Help to farmers is also brisk in various provinces, cities and counties.
Commemorative Stamp Published in DPRK
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- A commemorative stamp (one kind of individual stamp) was published in the DPRK to greet the 80th anniversary of the founding of the newspaper Saenal (New Day).
It was the first revolutionary newspaper in Korea which was founded by President Kim Il Sung in Fusong on January 15, Juche 17 (1928).
Printed in the upper part of the stamp are words "Commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the newspaper Saenal".
It reflects the newspaper with Mt. Paektu, the sacred mountain of revolution, over which the sun rises, as its background.
The stamp also gives a picture of students against the fluttering youth league flag.
Imperialists' Strong-Arm Policy Bound to Go Bankrupt
Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- The imperialists' strong-arm policy can never tolerated in the international community as it is such a criminal act going against history as quelling the desire of the popular masses for independence and the advance of the times at present when all countries and nations are independently carving out their destinies. Rodong Sinmun Sunday observes this in a signed article.
The imperialists' strong-arm policy is, in essence, an important part of their foreign policy for aggression aimed to dominate and put under their control the progressive countries, those countries not obedient to them, the article says, and goes on:
They are so shameless as to justify such aggression and intervention as encroaching upon and violating the sovereignty and vital rights of other countries under the pretext of "justice of the international community".
The undisguised hegemonic and strong-arm policy pursued by them is causing such grave consequences as escalating the confrontation and tension in the international arena.
Their high-handed and strong-arm policy is strongly censured by the world for its reactionary nature and danger.
The U.S. is paying a high price for having resorted to high-handed and arbitrary practices, assuming an air of importance in the international arena. Nobody but the U.S. is to blame for this.
It is an anachronistic dream for the U.S. to try to bring to its knees and dominate other countries through high-handed practices.
Looking back on history, all those who tried to conquer other countries through high-handed practices met a miserable end without exception. It was evidenced by the miserable end fascist Germany, Italy and Japan met for committing brutal aggression and war in the past century.
The same lot awaits the modern imperialists who are following in the footsteps of the aggressors in the past, oblivious of the lesson taught by history.
Japan Urged to Stop Seeking Cooperation in Pressurizing DPRK
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries are these days becoming increasingly vociferous that the results of the "elections" in south Korea made it possible for Japan to exercise a great "influence" in Northeast Asia.
The Japanese political dwarfs seem to contend that the results of the "elections" in south Korea created an environment for increasing the pressure on the DPRK in cooperation with south Korea. This is, however, nothing but a narrow-minded way of thinking and a despicable behavior. Rodong Sinmun Saturday observes this in a signed commentary.
It is the invariable ambition of the Japanese militarists to reinvade and dominate the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese reactionaries are preoccupied with this ambition, the commentary says, and goes on:
The slogans of "security" and "prosperity" put up by the Japanese reactionaries are nothing but ones for aggression and plunder.
It is imprudent for the Japanese reactionaries to rave that they would "coordinate the six-party talks" while talking about "cooperation" with south Korea.
The "exercise of influence" on their lips is no more than outcries that they would direct all efforts to increasing "international pressure" upon the DPRK in a bid to disturb the six-party talks.
They are foolish enough to calculate that they can attain their sinister purpose by making U.S.-Japan-south Korea tri-angular system for cooperation in pressurizing the DPRK more realistic and workable.
Such poor scenario of the Japanese reactionaries would get them nowhere.
The DPRK does not care who comes to power in south Korea.
The persistent efforts on the part of Japan to realize cooperation in pressurizing the DPRK would only compel it to react to it more strongly.
Implementation of October 4 Declaration Called for
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The slogan "Open up a new era of independent reunification and peace and prosperity by pooling the efforts of our nation!" which was put up by the joint New Year editorial is the very just and realistic one for national reunification as it encourages the fellow countrymen to vigorously conduct a nationwide struggle for independent reunification and peace and prosperity under the banner of "By our nation itself".
Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a signed article.
It goes on:
The slogan is the one for independence and reunification and patriotism as it reflects the firm will and desire of all the Koreans to achieve the cause of national reunification and independently carve out the destiny of the nation under the banner of national independence.
It is a slogan for a nationwide struggle as it clarifies the common tasks and targets for the Koreans to accomplish at present and powerfully encourages them in their efforts to honor them.
The slogan appeals to the whole nation to implement the October 4 Declaration for Development of North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity.
Only when the declaration is strictly implemented is it possible to eradicate the leftovers of the era of confrontation and develop the inter-Korean relations into those guided by the spirit of "By our nation itself" and open up a new chapter of the national history, peaceful and prosperous, in name and reality.
The slogan which calls for ushering in a new era of independent reunification and peace and prosperity by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation indicates the orientation and goals of the struggle to implement the declaration this year and powerfully encourages all the fellow countrymen in their drive to implement them, concludes the article.
NA's Submission to U.S. Assailed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- The People's Action against Troop Dispatch of south Korea reportedly called a press conference in front of the building of the "National Assembly" on December 28 last year to denounce the NA for taking a pro-U.S. submissive action to extend the presence of troops in Iraq.
At the conference the organization accused the NA of passing a "motion calling for the extension of the presence of troops in Iraq," thus totally breaking the promise for their pullback made with the people.
The pro-U.S. sycophantic forces have persisted in their moves to extend the presence of south Korean troops in Iraq in a bid to support the U.S. war of aggression, clearly proving that their loudmouthed "alliance" with the U.S. is nothing but an "alliance" for war, the organization said, and continued:
Those who seconded the motion will be recorded in the history accomplices in the U.S. war crimes and will never be able to escape the people's judgement, it warned, declaring that it will struggle to the last in demand of the withdrawal of the troops from Iraq.
Arrest of Chairman of Hanchongryon under Fire
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The south Korean security authorities arrested Ryu Son Min, chairman of the 15th-term south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon), on the dawn of Jan. 2 on the charge of violation of "the National Security Law (NSL)", according to the south Korean MBC.
The security authorities had cast a dragnet for Ryu by invoking the fascist evil law for the mere reason that he conducted activities to disseminate the Juche idea at the universities across south Korea after being elected chairman of Hanchongryon.
Students under Hanchongryon called a press conference before the police agency at which they branded the arrest of Ryu on the charge of violation of the NSL obstructive to the development of the inter-Korean ties and reunification as suppression of the progressive camp.
Brazil-DPRK Friendship Parliamentary Group Formed
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The Brazil-DPRK Friendship Parliamentary Group was inaugurated with due ceremony on December 19 last year on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's assumption of office as supreme commander of the Korean People's Army and the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
Present at the ceremony were members of the National Congress of Brazil.
At the ceremony Valdir Colatto, member of the House of Representatives, was elected chairman of the group.
The chairman referred to the significance of forming the group, noting that the group would contribute to developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in political, economic, cultural and all other fields and conduct brisk solidarity activities for supporting the Korean people in their struggle for national reunification and building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and activities to introduce the DPRK.
Korean People's Cause Supported in Philippines
Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- A meeting supporting the DPRK took place in Philippines on Dec. 7 last year.
The meeting briefed its participants on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and introduced solidarity letters from organizations of students including the student councils of a branch of Philippine University and C.S.S. University and figures of different circles.
A statement adopted there extended firm solidarity to the Korean people standing firm against the moves of the U.S. imperialists against the DPRK.
There took place the historic summit of the top leaders of the north and the south in October last year which resulted in the adoption of the Declaration for Development of North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity, the statement noted, saying that this is of great significance for the Korean people. It went on:
We warmly support the peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean cooperation, exchange, dialogues and negotiations for the development and prosperity of the Korean nation.
We strongly oppose the U.S. interference in the internal affairs of Korea.
We demand the U.S. withdraw its forces from south Korea immediately and drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
Korean People's Greatest Holidays to Be Marked in Ecuador
Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- The Ecuadorian preparatory committee for commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 was inaugurated with due ceremony in Quito on December 28 last year.
At the ceremony Humberto Ortiz Flores, honorary general manager of the Voluntad Publishing House, was elected general coordinator of the preparatory committee, Daniel Alvarez Celi, chairman of the Ecuadorian Committee for Supporting Korea's Independent and Peaceful Reunification, its Quito regional chairman and Trotsky Serano, international secretary of the Socialist Party-Ample Front of Ecuador and president of the Canar Provincial Institute for the Friendship and Solidarity with DPRK of Ecuador, its eastern regional chairman.
The preparatory committee decided to organize meetings, film shows and other colorful political and cultural events and TV special broadcasting on the above-said occasions.
DPRK's Joint New Year Editorial Supported by Indonesian Figure
Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- S. Arsiyad, chairman of the Indonesian Maritime Transport Workers' Union, made public a statement on January 2 in support of the part dealing with the issue of Korean reunification from the joint New Year editorial of the party, army and youth newspapers of the DPRK.
The statement said that the slogan "Open up a new era of independent reunification and peace and prosperity by pooling the efforts of our nation!" contained in the joint editorial is the slogan to be held aloft by the Korean people to achieve the reunification of their country.
The October 4 declaration adopted at the north-south summit in Pyongyang in October last year serves as a banner promoting the independent development and reunification of the Korean nation and an action program to thoroughly implement the June 15 joint declaration, the statement stressed.
It expressed the belief that the reunification of the country, the cherished desire of the Korean people, would surely be achieved.
DPRK's Important Days Marked in Different Countries
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- Friendship meeting, round-table talks, reading session, film show and photo exhibition were held in Cuba, Iran, Laos, Egypt and Guinea between Dec. 14 and 24 last year on the occasions of the 16th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's assumption of office as supreme commander of the Korean People's Army and the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
Displayed in the venue of the photo exhibition were photos showing the Songun revolutionary leadership feats performed by Kim Jong Il and those dealing with achievements gained in socialist construction in the DPRK.
Juan Jose Leon Vega, chairman of the Cuban Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, and the manager of the Iran-Korea Friendship Magsal Agro-Stock Farm and other speakers said at functions that Kim Jong Il, faithful successor to the revolutionary cause of President Kim Il Sung, has developed and strengthened the Korean People's Army into an army strong in idea and faith and revolutionary armed forces capable of decisively defeating any formidable enemy and wisely steered socialist construction through the Songun policy.
It is the greatest feat performed by Kim Jong Suk that she gave birth to Kim Jong Il and brought him up as the bright star of Mt. Paektu, making sure that the revolutionary cause of the President was successfully carried forward generation after generation, they noted, and continued:
Though she passed away long ago, she is always remembered by the Korean people and progressive mankind for her exploits.
They expressed hope that the Korean people would achieve fresh success in building a great prosperous powerful nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Participants of the film show watched Korean film "They were together on the road of providing the great Songun leadership."
Peerlessly Great Persons Praised
Pyongyang, January 5 (KCNA) -- The U.S. Group for the Study of Songun Politics posted on its Internet Homepage photos of Kim Jong Il and anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk, woman commander of Mt. Paektu, and articles under different titles on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of his assumption of office as supreme commander of the Korean People's Army and her 90th birth anniversary.
The homepage in an article praised Kim Jong Il as an invincible and iron-willed commander as he has made an immortal contribution to the cause of Juche-oriented army building, saying that his extraordinary personality and qualification as a military commander provided a sure guarantee for steadily developing the revolutionary armed forces and served as a main factor of achieving sure victories in the fierce confrontation with the U.S. imperialists.
Noting that the world progressives highly praise Kim Jong Suk as a legendary commander of bodyguards as she performed immortal feats for the Korean revolution and the history of the world revolution, the homepage praised her for setting a great example in devotedly defending the headquarters of the revolution.
The Peru Group for the Study of Kimilsungism also posted on its Internet homepage on December 21 last year an article praising Kim Jong Il's Songun leadership exploits under the title "The Songun politics and Juche idea, great exploits of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il".
For Spanish-speaking people
MINREX se refiere al proceso de ejecucion del acuerdo de 3 de octubre
Pyongyang, 5 de enero (ATCC) -- En relacion con la dilacion del proceso de implementacion del acuerdo logrado el 3 de octubre en las conversaciones a 6 bandas, el portavoz de la cancilleria de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea publico el dia 4 la siguiente declaracion:
Ya paso el 31 de diciembre de 2007, dia de vencimiento del plazo para el cumplimiento del acuerdo del 3 de octubre de las conversaciones a 6 partes.
Lamentablemente, esta pendiente la implementacion de los articulos acordados de dicho documento, excepto la neutralizacion de las instalaciones nucleares de nuestro pais.
Esta labor comenzo a principios de noviembre del ano pasado y, como lo acordado, se llevaron a cabo hasta el 31 de diciembre los trabajos en la "medida tecnicamente posible".
Como el ultimo proceso de ella, actualmente esta en marcha la extraccion de barras de combustible usadas, programada para casi 100 dias.
Sin embargo, los demas paises participantes en la cita a 6 bandas no cumplieron ni a la mitad sus compromisos como el suministro a la RPDC de aceite pesado, equipos energeticos y materiales.
Sigue demorandose el programa de entrega de aceite pesado para cada mes y sucede lo mismo en los procesos de trabajo para el ofrecimiento de equipos energeticos y materiales.
Ademas no fue cumplido tampoco el compromiso de EE.UU. de tachar a la RPDC de la "lista de los paises que apoyan al terrorismo" y poner fin a la aplicacion contra ella de la "ley de comercio con los paises hostiles".
En resumidas cuentas, entre las 6 bandas, la RPDC es la abanderada en el cumplimiento de los respectivos compromisos.
Nuestro pais tambien ha hecho efectivamente todo lo que tocaba hacer en cuanto al problema del aviso nuclear, del cual ultimamente se derivan comentarios erroneos en algunas partes.
Ya en noviembre del ano pasado, elaboramos una nota de aviso nuclear y notificamos su contenido a la parte norteamericana.
A instancia de EE.UU., realizamos con este pais debates suficientes sobre el contenido del aviso.
Puesto que la parte norteamericana planteo las "sospechas" de concentracion de uranio, a peticion de los estadounidenses, les dimos la prerrogativa de visitar algunas instalaciones militares en que se emplearon los tubos de aluminio importados y les facilitamos las muestras.
De esta manera, les explicamos con sinceridad que los polemicos tubos de aluminio no tienen nada que ver con la concentracion de uranio.
En cuanto al rumor de cooperacion nuclear con Siria, dimos una respuesta al concretar ya en el texto del acuerdo del 3 de octubre nuestra promesa de "no transferir las armas nucleares, las tecnologias y los conocimientos sobre esta esfera".
Esto fue tambien la medida que hemos tomado segun el consenso de un debate previo con la parte norteamericana.
Todos los hechos muestran evidentemente donde estan ahora las causas de la dilacion del proceso de implementacion del acuerdo del 3 de octubre.
En todos los acuerdos contraidos en las conversaciones a 6 bandas, inclusive la declaracion conjunta del 19 de septiembre, esta penetrado el principio de "accion vs. accion".
Ya que se demora el cumplimiento de los compromisos de los demas paises participantes, ultimamente, de acuerdo con el principio de "accion vs. accion", entra obligadamente en moderacion la velocidad de los trabajos de neutralizacion de nuestras instalaciones nucleares.
Nuestro pais sigue abrigando esperanza en que se cumplira satisfactoriamente el contencioso acuerdo si todos los paises hacen en conjunto sinceros esfuerzos ateniendose al principio de actuar simultaneamente.
Kim Jong Il recibe regalo del rey jordano
Pyongyang, 5 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio regalo que le dedicara el rey de Jordania, Abdullah II, en ocasion del Ano Nuevo 97 (2008) de la Era Juche.
El presente fue trasladado el dia 3 a un funcionario de la embajada coreana en China.
Kim Jong Il recibe presente del presidente argelino
Pyongyang, 5 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera el presidente de la Republica Argelina Democratica y Popular, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, con motivo del Ano Nuevo 97 (2008) de la Era Juche.
El regalo fue trasladado el dia 3 a un funcionario de la embajada coreana en China.
Emitido sello dedicado al 80o aniversario del periodico Saenal
Pyongyang, 5 de enero (ATCC) -- En Corea fue emitido un nuevo sello individual dedicado al 80o aniversario de la primera edicion de Saenal, primer periodico revolucionario de Corea fundado el 15 de enero del 17 (1928) de la Era Juche en Fusong, China por el Presidente Kim Il Sung.
En la parte superior del sello se leen las letras de "En conmemoracion del 80o aniversario de la fundacion del periodico Saenal".
En el esta dibujada una edicion de Saenal, detras de la cual se ve el Paektu, sagrado monte de la revolucion, donde se escenifica la salida del sol.
Ademas, describe a los ninos escolares parados delante de la bandera de la union de la juventud flameando.