Reception Given by Chinese Ambassador
Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Xiaoming gave a reception at his embassy Friday on the occasion of the second anniversary of Kim Jong Il's visit to the People's Republic of China.
Present there on invitation were Kim Yong Chun, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Pak Nam Gi and Ri Kwang Ho, department directors of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Thae Jong, vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and others.
On hand were staff members of the Chinese embassy.
The ambassador in his speech made at the reception referred to the efforts made by both sides for the development of the relations between the two parties and two countries under the agreement reached by the top leaders of the two countries over the last two years.
It is the steadfast stand of the Chinese party and government to steadily consolidate and develop the Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations, he said, adding that China would exert efforts to deepen exchange and cooperation between the two countries in various fields in the new year, too, to reap rich fruits.
Speaking next, Kim Yong Chun recalled that early in January 2006 the collective leadership and people of China warmly welcomed Kim Jong Il on a visit to China, accorded him cordial hospitality with utmost sincerity and made every possible effort for his successful visit.
He expressed the belief that the traditional DPRK-China friendship would grow stronger in the new year, too, in the spirit agreed upon between the top leaders of the two parties and two countries and thanks to the concerted efforts of the two peoples.
12th Kimjongilia Festival to Be Held
Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The 12th Kimjongilia Festival will be held at the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Exhibition in Pyongyang from the middle of February on the occasion of the February holiday.
The festival will draw armed forces bodies, commissions and ministries of the Cabinet, national institutions, servicepersons of the Korean People's Army and working people and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan and other overseas Korean organizations, overseas compatriots and foreign friends.
Meanwhile, exhibitions of the immortal flower will take place and visits will be paid to the greenhouses for Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia in different provinces of the country.
Rodong Sinmun Calls for Holding Fast to Socialist Ideology
Pyongyang, January 13 (KCNA) -- Socialist idea is the life and soul of socialism. The advantages and the invincible might of socialism are guaranteed by the socialist idea. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article.
It goes on:
The socialist society is the one which develops by dint of the might of ideology and the independent and creative activities of the people who are armed with socialist idea, quite different from all the preceding societies.
The consolidation and development of the socialist society and its destiny depend on how to conduct ideological work and prepare the people ideologically.
The victorious advance of the cause of socialism would be unthinkable without the development in depth of the socialist theory and unremitting ideological work.
Nothing is more primary and important than the ideological education for the party struggling for the cause of socialism and it is a fundamental requirement for defending socialism and victoriously advancing it to hold fast to the ideological education as a lifeline.
It is an invariable aim of the imperialists and the reactionaries to completely obliterate socialism on the earth.
The confrontation between socialism and imperialism is, in essence, the confrontation between the two ideologies.
The struggle to shatter imperialists' cunning and tenacious bourgeois ideological and cultural poisoning at present is an ideological confrontation with imperialism and war without gun-fire.
The historical lesson drawn from socialist construction and the reality show that it is an important issue related to the fate of socialism and its future to firmly arm the people with socialist ideology.
The history of socialist construction of the people of the DPRK is the great history in which they have firmly defended the ideological and cultural front of Juche and steadily strengthened it while smashing the imperialists' ideological and cultural poisoning and their psychological warfare.
The people of the DPRK are dynamically advancing along the road of socialism under the uplifted banner of the great Juche idea and Songun idea.
The socialist ideology, life of socialism, will win a final victory.
U.S. Urged to Roll back Its Hostile Policy toward DPRK
Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- It is a very urgent task for ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and other parts of Northeast Asia to put an end to the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK.
Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a by-lined article.
It cites facts to prove that the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK has laid a great obstacle in the way of reunification of Korea, the cherished desire of the Korean nation, and seriously affected the peaceful development of the country.
When looking back on history, the U.S. escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula through all sorts of moves whenever there was a sign of detente, the article notes, and goes on:
The extremely hostile policy pursued by the U.S. conservative hard-liners toward the DPRK has pushed the situation to the brink of war, touching off bitterness toward the U.S. among the Koreans.
The above-said policy of the U.S. should not be allowed to persist as it is an anachronistic one.
What the Korean nation wants is not division but peace and reunification.
Koreans are making every effort to promote national reconciliation and unity and achieve peace, prosperity and reunification in the idea of "By our nation itself."
The above-said U.S. policy is a main obstacle to the development of the inter-Korean relations.
It is also quite contrary to the trend of the present era and the desire of the humankind.
The main trends of the present era are not war and confrontation but reconciliation, cooperation and development.
The U.S. should not turn aside from this development and the changing world but swim with the trend of the times.
When the above-said U.S. policy comes to an end and peace settles on the peninsula, the world will be left without a hotspot where the situation remains tensest and the desire of humankind for peace will, accordingly, come true much earlier than expected, concludes the article.
Reception Given at DPRK Embassy in Beijing
Beijing, January 11 (KCNA) -- The DPRK embassy in Beijing gave a reception for Chinese officials in charge of foreign affairs Thursday on the occasion of the new year.
Present there on invitation were Uyunqimg, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, Liu Hongcai, deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Yi, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Li Shuzheng, chairwoman of the China-Korea Friendship Association, and other officials concerned.
The vice-chairman of the Standing Committee speaking at the reception said that last year the Korean people have achieved new successes in finding a way for development suited to their specific conditions, promoting the process of reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south and developing the friendly and cooperative relations with foreign countries while striving hard in the spirit of self-reliance under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by its General Secretary Kim Jong Il, adding that the Chinese people are sincerely rejoiced over them.
Noting that the traditional Sino-Korean relations of friendship continue to favorably develop under the deep concern of the top leaders of the two countries and by common efforts of both sides, he referred to the fact that the understanding between high-ranking officials of both sides has been maintained, the foundation of friendship further consolidated and exchange and cooperation promoted in various fields including economy and culture.
Saying that the year 2008 is a year of very important significance for the two countries, he sincerely wished the Korean people greater and fresh successes in all work this year.
The Chinese people will further promote mutual understanding and boost cooperation through so as to further develop the Sino-Korean relations, he stressed.
Release of Arrested Chairman of Hanchongryon and Repeal of Evil Law Urged in S. Korea
Pyongyang, January 13 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Progress of south Korea reportedly issued a statement on Jan. 2 demanding the release of the arrested chairman of the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) and the repeal of the "National Security Law" (NSL).
Outrageous violence is being committed from the outset of the year on the strength of the NSL, evil law against democracy, reunification and human rights, the statement said, strongly denouncing the public security authorities for resorting to the anachronistic suppression of Hanchongryon.
Terming it a repression of all the progressive forces, the statement urged the "government" and the "National Assembly" to repeal the NSL immediately, dissolve the public security mechanism and set free the prisoners of conscience at once.
We will join all the progressive forces on this land in their struggle till the day when the NSL is repealed, the statement stressed.
Youth and Students Organization in S. Korea Releases Resolution
Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) reportedly released a resolution titled "Let's usher in a new era of independent reunification, peace and prosperity under the uplifted banner of 'By our nation itself'!" on Jan. 5.
The resolution recalled that all compatriots achieved great success in the struggle for implementing tasks for attaching importance to the nation, defending peace and achieving unity last year and called for exerting positive efforts to implement the Oct. 4 declaration.
It underscored the need for the people from all walks of life to struggle to have the leftovers of the era of division eradicated, a new era of "By our nation itself" ushered in and legal and institutional mechanisms obstructive to the development of the inter-Korean relations and reunification adjusted.
It called for more energetically conducting information service on the Songun policy of the north which defends peace on the Korean Peninsula and waging a widespread movement against the U.S. and for the pullback of its forces.
It also underlined the need to build a peace-keeping mechanism on the peninsula free from the U.S. forces in order to ensure sure victory in the confrontation between the Korean nation and the U.S.
Sri Lankan National Preparatory Committee Formed
Pyongyang, January 13 (KCNA) -- A Sri Lankan national preparatory committee for commemorating the Day of the Sun and Feb. 16 was inaugurated with due ceremony in Colombo on Jan. 3.
The minister of Justice of Sri Lanka was elected honorary chairman of the preparatory committee and Chairman of the Sri Lanka-People's Korea Friendship Association Reggie Ranatunge chairman of the preparatory committee at the ceremony.
The committee decided to widely introduce and disseminate the undying feats performed by President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il for the Korean revolution and the human cause of independence and hold multifarious events on the occasions of the significant Day of the Sun and the February holiday.
Joint Seminar Held in India
Pyongyang, January 13 (KCNA) -- A joint seminar of Juche idea study organizations of India on the joint New Year editorial of the DPRK was held in New Delhi on Jan. 4.
Displayed at the venue of the seminar were famous works of the peerlessly great persons, photos of Kim Jong Il inspecting units of the Korean People's Army and giving on-the-spot guidance to the work of various fields of the national economy and books and photos showing the advantages of the socialist system of the DPRK.
The floor was taken by Harish Gupta, secretary general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, S. P. Pathak, chairman of the Indian Society for the Study of Works of Kim Jong Il, Vishwanath, director general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, and others.
The speakers said that last year the Korean people made great achievements in the struggle to build a great prosperous powerful nation and reunify the country independently and peacefully entirely thanks to the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il, the sun of humankind in the 21st century, and the embodiment of the immortal Juche idea.
Thanks to Kim Jong Il's Songun politics the DPRK's dignity and national power have reached the highest level and a heyday of great prosperity unprecedented in the national history been ushered in, they said, wishing the Korean people greater success in building a great prosperous powerful nation this significant year.
They stressed that the October 4 Declaration for Development of North-South Relations, Peace and Prosperity is a banner encouraging the promotion of the independent development and reunification of the Korean nation and a programme for fully implementing the June 15 joint declaration.
The United States should put an end to its hostile policy toward the DPRK and dismantle its forces bases in south Korea, they stressed, expressing belief that Korea would certainly be reunified in the near future.
Korean People's Struggle for National Reunification Supported by Indian Organization
Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The All India Indo−Korean Friendship Association issued a statement on January 4 supporting the joint New Year editorial of the DPRK in which it demanded immediate withdrawal of the U.S. forces, the main obstacle to national reunification, from south Korea and expressed full solidarity with the Korean people in their struggle for the reunification of the country.
The statement said that the vitality of the Songun revolutionary line was powerfully demonstrated in the DPRK last year and a great advance made in building a rich and powerful country, adding that these shinning victories and successes are the brilliant fruition of the outstanding strategy and tactics, iron will and energetic leadership of Kim Jong Il.
The statement expressed belief that the unanimous desire of the Korean people to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country free from foreign interference would certainly come true.
Korean People's Just Cause Supported by Congolese Figure
Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Louis Andregoma, chairman of the Congolese National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, released a statement on Jan. 3 in support of the Korean people's just cause.
He said in the statement that the year 2008 will shine in the history more brilliantly as a page in the great era of Kim Jong Il, adding that now the banner of Songun is flying high and the hot wind of Juche sweeps all continents despite the moves of the imperialists to stifle the DPRK.
All the successes made by the Korean people as exemplified by strong defence capability, brilliant culture, peculiar and sound moral life and the daily developing economy are based on the Juche idea, he noted, and continued:
We adherents to the Juche idea will devote ourselves to winning victory in the cause of global independence under the banner of Juche.
Headquarters of Pomminryon in U.S. Calls for Great National Unity
Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- The Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) in the United States held the 19th general meeting of its leading members in Los Angeles on Jan. 5 at which it adopted a resolution for the new year.
The resolution said that the headquarters would not allow any moves disturbing the reconciliation and unity of the nation but wage a resolute struggle for achieving full national independence.
Noting that unity is a powerful weapon for frustrating the despicable moves of the U.S. and pro-U.S. conservative forces, the resolution declared that the headquarters would join the compatriots in the actions for implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
The resolution called upon the compatriots to make steady advance, holding aloft the banner of great national unity, noting that the organization would invigorate the movement for reunification, positively solidarizing with progressive movement organizations in other regions and getting in organic touch with organizations of Pomminryon in the south and the north and overseas.
Turn in Movement of Koreans in Japan Called for
Tokyo, January 10 (KNS-KCNA) -- Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), released a statement on Jan. 10 in support of the joint editorial issued by Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi.
The statement said:
It was thanks to the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il, deep loving care and solicitude shown by him for the overseas Koreans and the benevolent homeland that Chongryon has made signal achievements in the patriotic movement and strikingly demonstrated its invincible spirit and might while foiling every unprecedentedly reckless act of the reactionaries inside and outside Japan to suppress and destroy Chongryon.
This year is a historic year in which Koreans will mark the 60th anniversary of the DPRK, genuine motherland and beacon of hope for the Koreans in Japan, as a great event of the nation.
Chongryon and overseas Koreans in Japan, who have lived and fought sharing their destiny with the socialist homeland, will make tangible contributions as full-fledged overseas citizens of the DPRK to the work to glorify the 60th anniversary of the DPRK as a great auspicious event of the nation to shine long in the history of the country and fling open the gate to the great prosperous powerful nation without fail in a few years to come.
We, firmly solidarizing with all compatriots in the north and the south and abroad, will wage a dynamic nationwide struggle for independent reunification, peace and prosperity under the uplifted banner of "By our nation itself" and thus contribute to bringing earlier the day of glory the nation will greet Kim Jong Il in the square of reunification.
We will defend Chongryon which is the noble heritage left by President Kim Il Sung out of patriotism and which has won victory after victory along with the brilliant history of the DPRK, and strengthen and develop it.
For Spanish-speaking people
Recepcion de embajador chino por 2o aniversario de visita de Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, 12 de enero (ATCC) -- Liu Xiaoming, embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica Popular China en Corea, ofrecio la vispera en su sede diplomatica un banquete en ocasion del segundo aniversario de la visita del Dirigente Kim Jong Il a la RPCh.
Entre los invitados figuraban el vicepresidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la RPDC, Kim Yong Chun, los jefes de departamento del Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Pak Nam Gi y Ri Kwang Ho, el subjefe de departamento del CC del PTC, Kim Thae Jong, el vicecanciller Kim Yong Il y otros funcionarios coreanos.
Participaron tambien los miembros de la embajada china.
El embajador chino senalo en su discurso que en el ultimo bienio ambas partes hicieron ingentes esfuerzos por el desarrollo de las relaciones entre los dos partidos y los dos paises a tenor del acuerdo entre los maximos dirigentes de ambos paises.
Anadio que consolidar de continuo las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre China y Corea constituye la invariable posicion del partido y el pueblo de la primera y destaco que tambien en el ano nuevo trabajaran para profundizar el intercambio y la cooperacion bilaterales en diversas ramas y dar resultados fructiferos.
Le siguio en usar la palabra Kim Yong Chun quien recordo ante todo que el colectivo de la direccion central y el pueblo de China dieron calurosa bienvenida al Dirigente Kim Jong Il cuando este visito a esta nacion vecina en principios de 2006, le trataron con gran hospitalidad e hicieron todos los esfuerzos posibles por la realizacion exitosa de esa visita.
Expreso su conviccion de que gracias al espiritu del acuerdo entre los maximos dirigentes de los dos partidos y paises y a los esfuerzos conjuntos de ambos pueblos, la tradicional amistad bilateral se desarrollara aun mas tambien en el ano nuevo.
Rodong Sinmun demanda poner fin a politica hostil de EE.UU. a Corea
Pyongyang, 12 de enero (ATCC) -- Hoy, poner fin a la politica hostil de Estados Unidos a Corea deviene una tarea muy apremiante para la paz y la seguridad de la Peninsula Coreana y del Nordeste Asiatico.
Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un articulo individual del dia 12 y continua:
La politica hostil de EE.UU. a Corea obstaculizo grandemente la obra de la reunificacion de la patria, anhelo de la nacion coreana, e impidio gravemente el desarrollo pacifico del pais.
A lo largo de la historia, cada vez que aparecia indicio del alivio de la tension en la Peninsula Coreana, EE.UU. nadaba contra la tendencia del alivio de la tension.
La extremada politica hostil a Corea de las fuerzas ultraconservadoras estadounidenses llevo la situacion al borde de la guerra y provoca el sentimiento hostil del pueblo coreano a este imperio.
Esta politica anacronica no debe perdurar.
La nacion coreana no desea la division sino la paz y la reunificacion.
Los coreanos se esfuerzan por todos los medios por lograr la reconciliacion y la unidad de la nacion, la paz, la prosperidad y la reunificacion segun el ideal de "Entre nosotros, los connacionales".
La politica norteamericana de hostilidad a Corea deviene un obstaculo principal que frena el desarrollo de las relaciones intercoreanas.
Y contraviene enteramente a la corriente de la epoca actual y la aspiracion de la humanidad.
La corriente principal de la epoca actual no se dirige a la guerra ni la confrontacion sino a la reconciliacion, la cooperacion y el desarrollo.
EE.UU. debe justipreciar tal evolucion de la situacion y el cambio del mundo y comportarse de acuerdo con la corriente de la situacion.
Cuando se ponga fin a la politica hostil de EE.UU. a Corea y sea duradera la paz en la Peninsula Coreana, desaparecera uno de los focos de guerra mas calientes en el mundo y se hara realidad cuanto antes la aspiracion de la humanidad a la paz.
Entidad india se solidariza con lucha del pueblo coreano
Pyongyang, 12 de enero (ATCC) -- Al publicar el dia 4 una declaracion de apoyo al editorial conjunto de los principales periodicos coreanos difundido por el Ano Nuevo 97 (2008) de la Era Juche, la Asociacion de Amistad India-Corea de toda la India demando la retirada inmediata de las tropas norteamericanas, que devienen el escollo principal para la reunificacion de Corea, y expreso su entera solidaridad con la lucha del pueblo coreano por reunificar el pais.
El ano pasado, se confirmo fehacientemente la gran vitalidad de la linea de la revolucion del Songun (priorizacion militar) y se registraron grandes avances en la edificacion de la Patria rica y poderosa, senala la nota.
Esas relevantes victorias y logros son resultados brillantes de la destacada estrategia y tacticas, de la ferrea voluntad y de la entusiasta direccion del Dirigente Kim Jong Il, resalta.
Estamos seguros que sera realizado sin falta el deseo unanime del pueblo coreano de reunificar el pais de modo independiente y por via pacifica sin permitir la intervencion de las fuerzas extranjeras, finaliza el texto.
Louis Andregoma apoya la justa causa del pueblo coreano
Pyongyang, 12 de enero (ATCC) -- El presidente del Comite Nacional del Congo para el Estudio de la Idea Juche, Louis Andregoma, dio a la publicidad el dia 3 la siguiente declaracion:
El ano 2008 se registrara en la historia como otra pagina brillante de la epoca de Kim Jong Il.
Aun bajo las maniobras de atropello de los imperialistas, hoy dia, flamea en lo alto la bandera del Songun (priorizacion militar) y el calido viento del Juche recorre todos los continentes.
Se basan en la idea Juche todos los logros del pueblo coreano como la poderosa capacidad de defensa nacional, la cultura brillante, la vida moral peculiar y sana y la economia creciente cada dia mas.
Nosotros, los adeptos a esa magna idea, nos sacrificaremos en el camino para alcanzar la victoria de la causa de verificacion de la independencia del mundo bajo la bandera del Juche.