U.S. Military Bellicose Forces' Attempt at Permanent Presence in S. Korea Denounced
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on Tuesday assailing the U.S. military bellicose forces for becoming evermore pronounced in their attempt to permanently keep their forces in south Korea.
On January 28, the commander of the U.S. forces in the Pacific blustered that after the transfer of the "right to command wartime operations" from the U.S. forces to the south Korean troops in April 2012, the U.S. forces would remain in south Korea.
The commander of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces in south Korea uttered on January 10 that "the U.S. forces positively support their permanent presence in south Korea."
Bitterly condemning the U.S. military for openly calling for its forces' permanent presence in south Korea, the statement termed this a sinister attempt to permanently keep Korea divided into two and stifle the DPRK by force and a blatant challenge to the ardent desire of all Koreans to usher in a new era of independent reunification and peace and prosperity by their concerted efforts.
The statement continued:
After occupying south Korea in the guise of "liberator" the U.S. imperialist aggression forces ignited a war against the DPRK in a bid to dominate the whole of the Korean Peninsula. They have lorded it over in south Korea for more than six decades, driving the situation to the worst phase through arms buildup, war exercises and military provocations for aggression.
They are now working hard to provoke a new war, reinforcing the aggression forces in south Korea and ceaselessly staging madcap joint military exercises targeted against the DPRK quite contrary to the trend of the times toward detente and peace.
It is a bitter lesson drawn from the past more than six decade-long history that as long as the U.S. forces are present in south Korea, it is impossible to achieve the reunification of Korea, realize detente and peace in the peninsula and provide a military guarantee for the development of the inter-Korean relations and prosperity common to the nation.
The DPRK will never pardon the U.S. imperialist aggression forces' wild ambition for their permanent presence in south Korea but will strongly react to it.
2nd National Pencil Drawing Festival Opens
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The second national pencil drawing festival celebrating February 16 opened at the Pyongyang International Cultural Center on Wednesday.
On display in the venue of the festival are "Visiting the field visited by a bumper crop" and "Instilling conviction and optimism about future," works depicting the immortal images of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Its participants were divided into groups of professional painters and amateur painters. Entries included more than 880 drawings selected from pencil drawing exhibitions held in Pyongyang and local areas.
On display are works representing the ardent feelings of all the servicepersons and people who earnestly long to see Kim Jong Il making endless journeys for field guidance for the sake of the country and the people through his total dedication and hope he will enjoy good health all the time and the beautiful traits of unity between the army and the people now in full bloom throughout the country.
Also on display are works portraying servicepersons and people out in the dynamic drive to build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and reflecting their happy life and the desire and will of the Koreans to accomplish the cause of national reunification at an early date under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration.
Present at the opening ceremony were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Song Min, chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Artists Union, officials concerned, painters and working people and youth and students in Pyongyang.
Ten-Day Film Show Opens
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- A ten-day film show was opened to celebrate February 16.
To be shown during this period are documentary films including "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il Provides On-site Guidance to Work in Different Fields" (a serial), "February 16, the Greatest National Holiday", "Bringing about a Great Turn through the Songun Revolutionary Leadership" and feature films including "The Nation and Destiny" (a serial), the "A Photograph", "Legacy" and "Pyongyang Nalpharam."
An opening ceremony was held at the Pyongyang International Cinema House on Wednesday.
At the end of the opening ceremony the participants watched the documentary film "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il Provides On-site Guidance to Work in Different Fields" (from Aug. 1 to December, Juche 96).
Ten-day film shows were also opened in various provinces on the same day.
Academic Degrees and Titles Awarded to Intellectuals
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Academic degrees and titles of the DPRK were awarded to intellectuals on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il.
The intellectuals have achieved fresh successes in the development of the nation's science and technology and the education for the rising generation by displaying a high degree of creative enthusiasm and revolutionary working spirit true to the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il and thus made a great contribution to the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation.
A ceremony of awarding academic degrees and titles took place on February 5.
At the ceremony, professorship was conferred on Nam Il Ryong, chief of a department of Kim Il Sung University, Kim Ju Hyong, room chief of Kim Chaek University of Technology, and others, and degrees of doctor and master and associate professorship on more than 780 persons including Pak Ki Chang, dean of a faculty of Kim Chaek University of Technology.
13th Paektusan Cup Sports Contest of Officials from National Institutions Closes
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The 13th Paektusan Cup Sports Contest of Officials from National Institutions, which opened on January 23 on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il, was closed on Wednesday.
The contesters were divided into three groups.
The State Planning Commission, the Mansudae Art Studio and the Bureau for Foreign Service separately placed first in team standing.
Its closing ceremony took place at the Basketball Gymnasium in Chongchun Street.
Cups, citations and medals were awarded to the successful units and players at the ceremony.
Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and others were among those present there.
Brisk Preparations for Sports Activities Celebrating February Holiday
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission of the DPRK is making every possible effort to prepare colorful sports functions to be held on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il (February 16).
The 17th "Paektusan" Prize International Figure Skating Festival will take place in the Ice Rink from Feb. 15 to 17 and a demonstration performance of synchronized swimming will be presented in the Changgwang Health Complex in celebration of February 16.
The Sports Contests for Paektusan Cup will be held before full houses in the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, the Ice Rink, gymnasiums in Chongchun Street and other places.
The commission is stirring up enthusiasm of school youth and children, players, coaches and officials who are due to participate in the festival and demonstration performance and is gearing up the preparatory work for holding the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival in a significant and grand way.
It is beautifully decorating the venues for functions and providing various facilities including luminaire in a scrupulous way.
Posters for the festival and demonstration performance have been created.
Floral Baskets and Congratulatory Letters to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with floral baskets and congratulatory letters by the diplomatic corps and officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here on the occasion of his birthday.
The floral baskets and congratulatory letters were conveyed to Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, by Egyptian Ambassador to the DPRK Moustafa Mohamed Ahmed Al Hatter who is doyen of the corps and to an official concerned by Muhammad Saeed Khan, councilor of the Pakistani embassy, on behalf of officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of the embassies on Wednesday.
Yang Hyong Sop Meets New Iranian Ambassador to DPRK
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a talk with Morteza Moradian, new Iranian ambassador to the DPRK, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Wednesday.
Greetings to PM of Grenada
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Prime Minister Keith Mitchell on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of independence of Grenada.
Wishing Grenada progress and prosperity, the message expressed the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would develop in the mutual interests.
Floral Basket to Kim Jong Il from Chinese Family
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a floral basket by the family of Zhang Weihua, anti-Japanese revolutionary martyr, on February 6 on the occasion of the lunar New Year's Day, Juche 97 (2008).
Anniversary of S. Korean People's National Salvation Struggle Observed
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held at the Central Workers' Hall in Pyongyang Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the February 7 national salvation struggle of the south Korean people.
The people's anti-U.S. resistance was triggered off by workers' strike against the U.S. imperialists' introduction of the "UN Temporary Commission on Korea" into south Korea on Jan. 8, 1948. It reached its height with Seoul workers' general strike on Feb. 7 as a momentum. Broad masses in almost all urban and rural areas and at factories, mines and schools across south Korea turned out in the anti-U.S. struggle.
An Kyong Ho, director of the Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, in a report said that the February 7 national salvation struggle was an eruption of the pent-up grudge and resentment of the people against the U.S. imperialists' moves for aggression and domination and a mass anti-U.S. struggle to realize their desire to build a united independent state, sovereign and democratic.
The struggle taught a bitter lesson that in order to establish national sovereignty and achieve genuine democracy in south Korea it is necessary to wage an incessant struggle till an end is put to the U.S. domination and subjugation and the U.S. imperialist aggression troops are withdrawn from it and that people from all walks of life should unite close under the banner of independence and reunification and struggle against the outsiders and their stooges as an organized force, he said.
He called upon all the fellow countrymen to wage a nationwide struggle to put an end to the U.S. military occupation and domination over south Korea, defend national dignity and sovereignty and usher in the new era of independent reunification, peace and prosperity.
The meeting was attended by Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Chondoist Chongu Party, and other leading officials of power organs, public organizations and educational institutions, officials concerned and working people in Pyongyang.
Japan's Attempt to Step up Revival of Militarism Flayed
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The Japanese authorities have publicized the "issue of peace" as their diplomatic task of the year since the outset of the year but it is nothing but an impudent attitude of a political dwarf and a motto for overseas expansion veiled with "peace." Dailies Wednesday observe this in their signed commentaries.
Rodong Sinmun says:
Japan is making eyes at the international community while talking about its "peace-making capacity." Lurking behind this is a sinister attempt to undisguisedly step up the revival of militarism through the retrogressive revision of the constitution as evidenced by its moves to legalize Japan's possession of regular armed forces under the mask of "ensuring world peace."
Japan is keen to occupy the position as a military power and pursue military power politics in different parts of the world under the pretext of "making an international contribution to peace." It is a scenario of the Japanese reactionary ruling quarters to dispatch as many troops of the Japan "Self-Defence Forces" as possible to any area overseas by instituting a "permanent law" in a bid to stage a test operation, preliminary operation for aggression and realize their ambition for invading Asia with it as a springboard.
Japan feigns a smile, talking about "keeping world peace" with a dagger hidden behind its belt. Herein lies the danger of Japan's diplomacy for this year.
Japan's moves for "cooperation for pressure" would be unthinkable without its sinister moves for militarist reinvasion. Its much touted-"triangular cooperation for pressure" is aimed at reinforcing the springboard from which to hold initiative in the diplomacy towards Northeast Asia. In other words, Japan, ostracized at the six-party talks for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula till now, is becoming so imprudent as to try to take initiative and behave as a political power.
But Japan would be well advised to know that it is ridiculed by the international community as it is resorting to crafty diplomacy and poor attitude to achieve its sinister political purpose with other's help without its own single card.
Minju Joson advises Japan to learn from others how to administer political affairs instead of dreaming a foolish dream.
Security Authorities' Suppression of Pro-Reunification Figures Denounced in S. Korea
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification reportedly made public a statement on January 29 denouncing the security authorities for their moves to bring back the days of fascist dictatorship by invoking the "National Security Law" (NSL).
Recalling that the security authorities inflicted a heavy penalty upon peasant poet Jong Sol Gyo on charge of violation of the NSL and put into custody Kim Hyong Gun, a teacher affiliated to the Teachers' Trade Union of south Korea, for the mere reason that he conducted the education in the issue of reunification in the wake of their arrest of Ryu Son Min, chairman of the 15th-term south Korean Federation of University Student Councils, at the outset of the year, the statement branded these actions as desperate moves to bring back the days of fascist dictatorship and thus prolong their remaining days even a bit.
It demanded the security authorities halt at once the crackdown upon the pro-reunification patriots and release those arrested and detained.
Annual Meeting of Nigerian Juche Idea Study Organization Held
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- An annual meeting of the Nigerian National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea took place in Abuja on Jan. 24.
It was attended by members of the national committee, the Group for the Study of Kimjongilism, the Group for the Study of the Juche Philosophy and the Group for the Study of Songun Policy in Nigeria.
M. M. Alhassan, chairman of the national committee, made a report at the meeting which was followed by speeches of the chairmen of the groups.
The reporter and speakers referred to the successes and experience gained in the work to introduce and study and disseminate the Juche idea and the Songun idea last year and the action program for this year.
They discussed the ways for applying the Juche idea and the Songun idea in line with the specific conditions of Nigeria and expressed the resolve to conduct in diverse forms and methods the activities to support the Korean people in the efforts to build a great prosperous powerful nation and achieve national reunification.
For Spanish-speaking people
Encuentro de amistad por 16 de febrero en Hotel Coryo
Pyongyang, 6 de febrero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del cumpleanos (16 de febrero) del Dirigente Kim Jong Il, el Ministerio de Cultura organizo este martes en el Hotel Coryo de Pyongyang una proyeccion filmica y un encuentro de amistad en honor de los funcionarios encargados de asuntos culturales de las embajadas de varios paises en Corea.
Estuvieron presentes el viceministro Paek Han Su y otros funcionarios de dicho ministerio y los cineastas.
Los participantes vieron la pelicula coreana "Kang Ho Yong".
Acto seguido, se realizo el encuentro de amistad donde los participantes cantaron e intercambiaron las opiniones sobre el desarrollo de la cooperacion y el intercambio entre los paises en sectores de cultura y arte.
Kim Jong Il recibe cestos de flores y cartas de extranjeros
Pyongyang, 6 de febrero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio cestos de flores y cartas de felicitacion que en ocasion de su cumpleanos (16 de febrero) le dirigieran el Cuerpo Diplomatico y los funcionarios encargados de asuntos culturales y de amistad de las embajadas de varios paises acreditados en Corea.
@Los cestos y cartas fueron trasladados el dia 6 al secretario del CC del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Choe Thae Bok, por el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica Arabe de Egipto, Moustafa Mohamed Ahmed Al Hatter, quien preside el citado cuerpo, y a un funcionario coreano por el consejero de la Embajada de la Republica Islamica de Pakistan, Muhammad Saeed Khan, en representacion de los funcionarios arriba mencionados.
Preparativos para actividades deportivas por 16 de febrero
Pyongyang, 6 de febrero (ATCC) -- El Comite de Direccion de Deportes de Corea acelera los preparativos para las actividades deportivas que van a efectuarse con motivo del dia de nacimiento (16 de febrero) del Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
Del dia 15 al 17 se realizaran en el Patinadero Cubierto y en el Centro de Cultura Fisica Changgwangwon el 17o Festival Internacional de Patinaje Artistico sobre el Hielo por el "Premio Paektusan" y la actuacion modelo de natacion sincronica por el 16 de febrero, respectivamente.
Y en el Palacio de Deportes de Pyongyang, el Patinadero Cubierto y los centros deportivos del reparto Chongchun se efectuara con solemnidad la competencia deportiva por el "Premio Paektusan".
El CDDC promueve las labores para incitar el entusiasmo de los jovenes y ninos escolares, jugadores, entrenadores y funcionarios que tomen parte en el Festival Internacional de Patinaje Artistico sobre el Hielo por el "Premio Paektusan" y en la actuacion modelo de natacion sincronica y para efectuar de manera significativa y solemne las ceremonias de apertura y clausura del festival.
Ademas, organizan con precision las labores para adornar hermosamente los lugares de los actos y disponer de los aparatos de iluminacion y otras varias instalaciones necesarias.
@En tanto, se crearon las pancartas para el 17 Festival Internacional de Patinaje Artistico sobre el Hielo por el "Premio Paektusan" y la actuacion modelo de natacion sincronica.
Iniciado ciclo de cine por el 16 de febrero
Pyongyang, 6 de febrero (ATCC) -- Quedo inaugurado el dia 6 en la Casa Internacional de Cinematografia de Pyongyang el ciclo de cine en celebracion del 16 de febrero (cumpleanos del Dirigente Kim Jong Il).
En esta ocasion se proyectaran los documentales "El gran Dirigente, camarada Kim Jong Il dirige sobre el terreno las labores de varios sectores" (en serie), "El 16 de febrero, maxima fiesta nacional", "Produciendo gran viraje con la direccion sobre la revolucion mediante el Songun (priorizacion militar)" y las peliculas "La nacion y el destino" (en serie), "Una fotografia", "Herencia", "Nalpharam de Pyongyang", etc.
Terminada la ceremonia inaugural, los participantes vieron el documental "El gran Dirigente, camarada Kim Jong Il dirige sobre el terreno las labores de varios sectores" (parte del periodo entre el primero y el 12 de agosto del 96 <2007> de la Era Juche).
El mismo dia, el ciclo de cine quedo iniciado tambien en todas las provincias.