Floral Baskets Laid before Kim Il Sung's Statues

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- Floral baskets were laid before the statues of President Kim Il Sung Thursday, the lunar New Year's Day.
    An endless stream of servicepersons, working people, school youth and children and overseas compatriots visited his statues in Pyongyang and different areas of the country.
    Floral baskets were laid before his statue on Mansu Hill.
    Seen before the statue was a floral basket sent by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
    Floral baskets were placed before the statue in the name of the party and armed forces organs, ministries, national institutions, KPA units, organs, enterprises, factories, farms and schools at all levels in Pyongyang, the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, etc.
    Written on the ribbons of the floral baskets were letters "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung Will Live Forever," "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung Will Always Be with Us," etc.
    The crowds paid homage to the President in humble reverence.
    Floral baskets were also laid before his statues in Pyongyang and local areas.

Music Concert Held on Lunar New Year's Day

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- A music concert celebrating the lunar New Year's Day, 2008 was held at the Moranbong Theatre Wednesday.
    Appreciating the concert were senior party and state cadres, officials of party organs, working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions, and creators, artistes and journalists in the fields of culture and art and media.
    It was performed by female soloists of Pochonbo "Unhasu" and musicians of the State Symphony Orchestra, a prestigious art troupe.
    Their repertoire included piano concerto "Song Devoted to Comrade Kim Jong Il," orchestra "Thunder on Jong Il Peak," orchestra and female soprano trio "The Glow over Kangson," orchestras "Unforgettable Echo of Lagoon Samil" and "Firm Determination," female sopranos "My Star" and "Spinning Ballad" and string ensemble for pizzicato "How Wonderful This Land Is."

People from All Parts of Country Enjoy Lunar New Year's Day

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- The people across the country significantly celebrated the pleasant lunar New Year's Day.
    Colorful performances and gatherings took place at art theatres and schoolchildren's halls in various provinces on the lunar New Year's Day.
    The performers there successfully represented through graceful and beautiful dances and peculiar melodies of folk instruments and folk songs the undying feats of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who brought back the soul of the nation once eclipsed amidst the storm of the times.
    National folk games of schoolchildren took place at Kim Il Sung Square and the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace in the capital city. Hamhung Square in South Hamgyong Province was animated with games that drew 20,000 schoolchildren. Folk amusement games of working people and children including Yut game, swinging, seesaw and peasant dances were held in Jagang, South Phyongan, Kangwon Provinces and other parts of the country.
    Meanwhile, public catering facilities such as restaurants which specialize in national dishes and souvenir kiosks were busy serving working people and school youth and children on the lunar New Year's Day.

Gathering Celebrating Lunar New Year's Day Held

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- A gathering celebrating the lunar New Year's Day "We Have Nothing to Desire More in the World" was held at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on Thursday on the occasion of the lunar New Year's Day.
    The palace was splendidly decorated by electronic devices depicting Kimilsungias and Kimjongilias, the immortal flowers, and magnolias, letters "A Happy Lunar New Year," "Year of Jubilee of National History," "Congratulations," etc., large gates built with pine twigs and festive lanterns.
    Attending the gathering together with schoolchildren were party, army and state senior cadres, the chairman of a friendly party, officials of party, armed forces and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, servicepersons of the Korean People's Army, officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and media, bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs, persons of merit, working people in Pyongyang, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, delegations and visiting groups of overseas Koreans and compatriots visiting the socialist homeland.
    Present there on invitation were diplomatic envoys, staff members of foreign embassies and representatives of international organizations here.
    Schoolchildren extended lunar New Year greetings to Kim Jong Il in humble reverence when the stage turned into a veritable sea of flowers and dancers. Through female chorus "New School Uniforms Given by Marshal," male solo "General Represents the Whole World," etc. the performers emphasized the fact that Generalissimo Kim Il Sung is always with schoolchildren as the Korean people are led by Kim Jong Il.
    Also put on the stage were high-pitched flute solo "My Best Country," accordion concert "May Snow Fall on Lunar New Year's Day," dance and story-telling by Korean schoolchildren in Japan "We Will Defend Our School to the Last," chorus "Three Million Youngsters Are United as One" and other colorful numbers making a successful ideological and artistic representation of the happy life of schoolchildren and their firm pledge to give steady continuity to the tradition of Mt. Paektu, believing in Kim Jong Il only.

Kim Jong Il Sends Birthday Spread to Centenarian

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was so kind as to send a birthday spread to Pak Hwak Sil living in 25th neighborhood unit of Thapje-dong No. 1, Taedonggang District, Pyongyang, who greeted the centenary of birth under the benevolent socialist system.
    She was born in February of 1908 as a daughter of drudger's family of Pyongyang. In her early days she lost her parents and could not but lead a miserable life, subjected to all sorts of humiliation and insult as part of the stateless nation.
    After the liberation of the country she could enjoy a genuine life. She devoted her wisdom and enthusiasm to the construction of the country. She performed labor feats in the construction of the capital as a highly skilled plasterer during the postwar period of rehabilitation, in particular.
    As a pensioner, she has enjoyed a happy life for over 40 years, benefiting from the popular healthcare policy of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    Free from an unbalanced diet, she keeps herself optimistic, mixing with neighbors. She is still good at seeing, hearing and speaking and even does kitchen chores.

Joint Military Exercises to Be Staged in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- The south Korea-U.S. "Combined Forces Command" announced on Feb. 1 that "Key Resolve-Foal Eagle 08" joint military exercises will be staged from March 2 to 7 throughout south Korea, according to a news report.
    The "Combined Forces Command" disclosed that the joint military drills are to involve equipment, capability and manpower in all aspects as they consist of the combined command drill and combined field mobile exercise to be staged under such diverse conditions as reception of U.S. reinforcements from outside of the Korean Peninsula, its staging and onward movement and integration.
    The trigger-happy elements claim that the joint military maneuvers are aimed at examining the military preparedness focused on defence and they are not of provocative nature.
    The codename "Key Resolve," a version of "RSOI and Foal Eagle" was contrived by the U.S. to calm down the public censure and condemnation at home and abroad that they are intended to unleash a war to invade the DPRK. This codename itself assumes very belligerent and provocative nature as it is designed to lead a war to victory through the effective deployment of the U.S. reinforcements in the event of contingency.
    The joint military exercises are, therefore, nothing but saber rattling to invade the north as is the case with "RSOI" and the "Foal Eagle" in every respect.

Security Authorities' Suppression of Movement for Reunification Denounced in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- The People's Solidarity for Abolition of the "National Security Law" (NSL) and the Teachers' Trade Union of south Korea (Jongyojo) reportedly called a joint press conference in Seoul on February 1 at which they denounced the security authorities for their crackdown upon the movement for reunification .
    At the conference speakers accused the security authorities of recently detaining Kim Hyong Gun, chairman of the reunification committee of the North Jolla Provincial Branch of Jongyojo, on charge of violation of the NSL, declaring that lurking behind this is a sinister intention to obliterate the education in the issue of reunification.
    The security authorities working hard to deny the June 15 joint declaration, in particular, are unpardonable, they said, stressing the need to put an end to the tragic reality in which the movement for reunification has become a target of suppression.
    A press release read out at the conference warned that if the security authorities continue cracking down upon the movement for reunification, failing to face up to the truth of history, they will certainly meet strong resistance of all people.

Birthday of Kim Jong Il Celebrated in Different Countries

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- Seminars, round-table talks, friendship meeting, film shows and book and photo exhibitions took place in Egypt, the Czech Republic, Laos and South Africa from January 27 to 30 on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il.
    On display in the venues of the functions were works of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, photos showing their immortal Songun leadership exploits and books and photos introducing Songun Korea.
    The chairman of the Misr Arab Socialist Party of Egypt and other members of its leadership said at a seminar that the Songun politics pursued by Kim Jong Il is a just policy helping all countries defend their sovereignty and one for the world peace-loving people to learn from as it is the most effective policy in the present times.
    The chairman of the Nymburk County Committee of the Communist Party of Czech and Moravia and the executive secretary of the Central Committee of the Czech, Moravian, Silesian Trade Unions' Association noted at the round-table talks that the signal successes achieved in socialist Korea are the great fruition of the Songun policy, Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    The secretary of the Mfumalanga Provincial Committee of the South African Communist Party said at a film show that the human cause of independence against imperialism is sure to triumph as it is led by Kim Jong Il possessed of the world-startling rare wisdom and leadership ability.
    Participants of the film shows watched Korean films including "They Are Together on the Way of Great Songun Leadership" and "The 75th Founding Anniversary of the Heroic Korean People's Army."

Kim Jong Il Praised by Egyptian

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- Ahmad Hassan, general secretary of the Nasser Arab Democratic Party of Egypt, issued a statement on January 30 on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il.
    In the statement he praised Kim Jong Il as the most distinguished leader in the present times as he is absolutely trusted by the Korean people.
    Kim Jong Il has performed great feats in the work for the prosperity of the country and nation with his outstanding leadership, the statement said, adding that his wise leadership is given to all domains of social development in the DPRK including politics, military, economy and culture.
    It expressed firm belief that Kim Jong Il would lead the Korean people to victory in their building of a great prosperous powerful nation and their cause of national reunification with his extraordinary ideological and theoretical wisdom and original political mode.

Korean People's Greatest National Holidays to Be Observed in Bangladesh

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- A Bangladeshi national preparatory committee for commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 and the 60th founding anniversary of the DPRK was inaugurated with due ceremony in Dhaka on January 27 under the co-sponsorship of the Workers' Party of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee.
    At the ceremony Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Bangladesh, was elected adviser to the preparatory committee and Garib Newaz, president of the Bangladesh People's League, its chairman.
    It decided to widely introduce the greatness and exploits of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il through media and organize colorful functions on the above-said occasions.

Significant Commemoration of Day of Sun Called for by Pakistani Organization

   Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) – The Pakistan-Korea Friendship Association made public an appeal to the organizations for friendship and solidarity with the DPRK in different countries of the world on January 25 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun.
    The appeal said that the distinguished feats of President Kim Il Sung are always remembered by all revolutionaries and peoples in the world for their immortality and historical significance, stressing the association decided to commemorate the Day of the Sun with great enthusiasm.
    It called on all organizations for friendship and solidarity with the DPRK in different countries of the world to form preparatory committees, make public function programs and significantly commemorate the Day of the Sun this year and in the year 2012 through diverse activities to glorify the exploits of the distinguished leader including seminars, round-table talks, exhibitions and publication of books.

For Spanish-speaking people

Rinden homenaje a Kim Il Sung con motivo del Ano Nuevo Lunar

   Pyongyang, 7 de febrero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del primero de enero segun el calendario lunar, los oficiales y soldados del Ejercito Popular de Corea, trabajadores, jovenes y ninos escolares y coreanos residentes en ultramar rindieron homenaje hoy al Presidente Kim Il Sung ante sus estatuas de bronce erguidas en la capital y localidades del pais.
    　Ante la estatua de bronce en la capitalina colina Mansu se distinguia un cesto de flores enviado por el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea.
    　Fueron depositados igualmente los cestos de flores a nombre de los organismos del partido, las fuerzas armadas, los ministerios, los organos centrales, las unidades del EPC, y de los organismos a todos los niveles, empresas, fabricas, granjas y escuelas en la ciudad de Pyongyang, asi como de la sucursal del Frente Democratico Nacional Antiimperialista en Pyongyang.
    　En las cintas de los cestos se leian: "Sera inmortal el gran Lider, camarada Kim Il Sung", "El gran Lider, camarada Kim Il Sung estara para siempre con nosotros", etc.
    　Tras depositarlos, los participantes en esta ceremonia rindieron tributo al Presidente.

Ofrecido concierto por el Ano Nuevo Lunar

   Pyongyang, 7 de febrero (ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar el dia 6 en el Teatro Morambong el concierto por el Ano Nuevo 2008 segun el calendario lunar.
    Lo disfrutaron los cuadros del partido y el Estado, los funcionarios del partido, organizaciones de masas, ministerios e instituciones centrales, creadores, artistas y periodistas de los dominios de cultura y arte, de prensa e informacion.
    En la ocasion actuaron las solistas del grupo "Unhasu" de la banda musical Pochombo y los ejecutantes de la prestigiosa Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional.
    En la escena fueron presentados el concierto para piano "Himno al camarada Kim Jong Il", la musica orquestal "Trueno del pico Jongil", la musica orquestal y trio de sopranos "El crepusculo de Kangson", la musica orquestal "Inolvidables ecos del lago Samil" y "Me marcho dejando aqui mi alma", el soprano "Mi estrella" y "Tharyong sobre rueca", la orquesta de cuerda "Es mejor este territorio" y otras piezas.

Panorama de Pyongyang en el Ano Nuevo Lunar

   Pyongyang, 7 de febrero (ATCC) -- Hoy es el primero de enero segun el calendario lunar, fiesta tradicional del pueblo coreano.
    En todas las avenidas capitalinas adornadas en colores de fiesta se respiran la idiosincrasia y los habitos folcloricos de la nacion coreana.
    Los capitalinos iniciaron esta jornada rindiendo tributo al Presidente Kim Il Sung, eterno Sol del Juche y fundador de la Corea socialista, en el Palacio Memorial Kumsusan o ante sus estatuas de bronce erguidas en la colina Mansu y otros lugares.
    Varios lugares de esta capital, entre otros, la Plaza Kim Il Sung y las explanadas frente al Arco Triunfal y al Palacio de Deportes de Pyongyang estan congregados los ninos escolares en vestimentas nacionales divirtiendose con juegos folkloricos como la cometa, el volante, la peonza, el trineo, el molinete, etc.
    Este peculiar panorama hace recordar a los pasajeros de su infancia.
    Tambien resultan espectaculares los juegos de Yut, ajedrez y el concurso culinario que se entablan por unidad de organos, empresas y familias.
    Citada por la Agencia Telegrafica Central de Corea, Ri Sun Hui (de 80 anos de edad), quien reside en el municipio de Pothonggang, dijo que cada primero de enero lunar significa para las amas de casa una oportunidad para medir sus habilidades culinarias.
    Hay un dicho antiguo del pueblo coreano, segun el cual, para lograr la abundante cosecha y tener buena salud en un ano es preciso llenarse de los platos sabrosos en su primer dia, senalo.
    　Continuo que los coreanos comparten con los familiares, parientes y vecinos los platos de fiesta como chaltok (pastel de harina de arroz glutinoso), sirutok (torta cocida a vapor), tokguk (trozos de arroz en caldo), jijim (fritura), sanjok (carne asada en broqueta), yakgua (pastilla de harina, miel, aceite, etc.) y kangjong (turron).
    Segun esta costumbre tradicional, este ano tambien nuestros familiares y parientes nos reunimos con diversos platos preparados con esmero y pasamos alegres momentos saboreandolos, finalizo.
    Por otra parte, en la red de servicios gastronomicos de la capital se ofrecen el fideo en caldo y el arroz cocido en sopa caliente, comidas tipicas de Pyongyang, que acentuan el clima festivo.