Kim Jong Il Sends Congratulatory Message to Raul Castro Ruz

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il Monday sent a congratulatory message to Raul Castro Ruz, second 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.
    The message said:
    We extend warm congratulations to you in the name of the Workers' Party of Korea, the government and people of the DPRK on your election as president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba at the first session of the 7th National Assembly of People's Power.
    The above-said heavy responsibilities entrusted to you are an expression of the deep trust and high expectation of respected Fidel Castro and the Cuban party and people for you.
    Believing that the comradely and militant friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of the two countries provided by President Kim Il Sung and Fidel Castro would steadily grow stronger in the course of carrying out the common cause of socialism, the message sincerely wished him success in his responsible work.

New York Philharmonic Performs in Pyongyang

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The New York Philharmonic on a visit to the DPRK performed at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre Tuesday.
    Appreciating the performance were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kang Nung Su, minister of Culture, Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Pak Kwan O, chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, Song Sok Hwan, vice-minister of Culture and chairman of the Korean Association for Art Exchange, Kim Yon Gyu, chief of the State Symphony Orchestra, and working people in the city.
    Among the audience were diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here and foreign guests and overseas Koreans.
    Put on the stage were the DPRK's Patriotic Song, the U.S. national anthem The Star-Spangled Banner, WAGNER's Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin, DVORAK's Symphony No. 9, From the New World, GERSHWIN's An American in Paris, BIZET's Farandole from L'Arlesienne, BERNSTEIN's Candide Overture and orchestra Arirang.
    The world-renowned Philharmonic with a long history showed exquisite and refined execution and high representation under Chief Conductor Lorin Maazel.

Choe Thae Bok Meets Mongolian Ambassador

   Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a talk with Janchivdorjyn Lomvo, Mongolian ambassador to the DPRK who paid a farewell call on him, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Tuesday.

Kim Yong Nam Greets President of Dominican Republic

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Leonel Fernandez Reyna, president of the Dominican Republic, on Feb. 22 on the occasion of the 164th anniversary of its independence.
    Kim Yong Nam, in the message, expressed belief that the friendly relations newly established between the DPRK and the Dominican Republic would grow stronger in the mutual interests of the two peoples in the future and wished the president of the Dominican Republic greater success in his responsible work.

Kaleidoscopic Natural View of Tok Islet

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Tok Islet is the easternmost islet of Korea 87.4 km to the southeast of Kanryongmal, the southern tip of Ullung Island.
    With an area of about 0.19 square kilometers, it consists of two islets, So and Tong, and more than 30 exposed rocks lying scattered around them.
    It is not large in area, but it boasts of kaleidoscopic natural scene.
    Viewed from a distance, So and Tong Islets and Thanggon Peak are soaring in a row on the horizon. So it was once called "Sambong Islet" (three-peak islet).
    In So Islet there rises Thanggon Peak, a name which derives from the fact that the peak reminds one of the spirit of a man standing with an imposing air and its clean-cut summit looks like Thanggon (a horsehair skullcap worn by the man under his hat in old days).
    Natural springs gush at several spots, among them springs around Jinnaeam and one from a crack in a rock of an abrasion cave on the Mongdol Coast.
    Distributed in Tok Islet are about 70 species of plants including ten-odd species of trees such as Punus thunbergii, Euonymus radicus and camellia. Inhabiting the islet are sea-birds such as green pigeon, rare in the world, black-tailed gull and kestrel and land animals such as wild rabbit and rat.
    In recent years 22 kinds of birds and 37 kinds of insects have been discovered in the islet.
    A large number of seals swarm in the sea around the islet and it is a good habitat for fishes, shell-fishes, Crustacea and water chestnuts, as warm and cold currents cross each other there and it abounds in plankton.
    Thus, the fauna of Tok Islet is diverse, abundant and specific.

U.S. and South Korean Warmongers' Moves to Reorganize War Forces Blasted

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The warmongers of the U.S. and south Korea recently exchanged the memorandum of understanding to the effect that the south Korea-U.S. "combined marine command" will be replaced by an expanded "military command for combined marine forces."
    The Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued information bulletin No. 934 in this regard on Tuesday.
    The bulletin brands the projected reorganization of war forces by the U.S. conservative hard-liners and the south Korean bellicose forces, their followers, as another undisguised military provocation to the DPRK and an intolerable criminal act to bring the danger of war to the Korean Peninsula as it once again lays bare their aggressive design to stifle the DPRK by force.
    The reality goes to prove once again that they are utterly indifferent to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the unity and reunification of the nation and only pursuing the confrontation by force by straining the situation at any cost, the bulletin notes, and goes on:
    It is extremely brazen-faced and arrogant sophism to talk about "dialogue" and "peace," while leveling guns at the dialogue partner.
    The military bellicose forces of the U.S. and south Korea can never shirk the responsibility for having thrown stumbling blocks in the way of settling the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and developing the inter-Korean relations.
    The U.S. conservative hard-liners should face up to the reality and give up at once the extremely provocative and adventurous moves to reorganize war forces.
    The war-thirsty forces of south Korea would be well advised to clearly understand that their act of toeing the U.S. policy will only precipitate disaster and destruction.

Ishihara Accused of Distorting Japan's History

   Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Ishihara, an ultra-right politician of Japan, when interviewed by AFP recently, blustered that Japan has no intention to apologize for its past war of aggression, talking nonsense that the colonial countries which had been dominated by the white could achieve "independence," "thanks" to the Second World War waged by Japan.
    Rodong Sinmun Tuesday observes in a signed commentary in this regard:
    The Japanese reactionaries' reckless remarks distorting and denying the history of their aggression indicate that their shamelessness and moral vulgarity have reached their height.
    What Ishihara uttered is intolerable because it is nonsensical to assert that the Asian countries could achieve "independence," "thanks" to the war of aggression waged by the Japanese imperialists. The Japanese reactionaries' utterances distorting the war crimes are an intolerable insult and challenge to the Korean people and other Asians, victims of the war, and a ruse to fool and mock at the public.
    Ishihara's hysteria reflects the social climate in Japan where the preparations for staging a comeback to Korea are being sped up. His remarks are nothing but an open war agitation and dissemination of militarism.
    The Korean people and other Asians are following with high vigilance the dangerous moves of the Japanese reactionaries as they are aimed at inciting militarism in the Japanese society, while tampering with and justifying Japan's history of aggression.
    The Japanese reactionaries should clearly understand that their act of keeping to the road of militarism, refusing to make reparation for their past crimes and justifying them will only precipitate their disgraceful self-destruction.

Security Authorities' Suppression of People under Fire in S. Korea

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The People's Solidarity for Abolition of the "National Security Law (NSL)" of south Korea reportedly issued a statement assailing the security authorities' anachronistic suppression on Feb. 20.
    Accusing the security authorities of arresting Song Hyon A, chairwoman for information service of the Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration, the statement held that this action is an extension of the farce called the "case of an organization behind the students' movement" which the police authorities cited as a pretext for kicking up a racket of crackdown.
    Recalling that recently the truth about the cases faked up through the "investigation" conducted on groundless charges of violation of the NSL was disclosed one after another only to arouse public criticism, the statement condemned the security authorities for persisting in their suppression of people, refusing to face up to the trend of the development of the inter-Korean relations and invoking the anti-reunification and confrontational law.
    It declared that the organization would join all people desirous of democracy, human rights, peace and reunification on this land in the actions to frustrate the security authorities' suppression of people and have the evil law repealed without fail.
    The preparatory committee for the 16th -term south Korean Federation of University Student Councils issued a statement on Feb. 20 blasting the security authorities' arrest of Song Hyon A.

Joint Military Exercise Staged in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The south Korean authorities together with the U.S. reportedly staged the CPX, the first of its kind in the history of the joint military exercises, on Feb. 22.
    It was reported that the joint military exercise was staged as part of the "Chungmu plan" known as a "plan for wartime preparedness and mobilization" with the U.S. forces in south Korea and the south Korean troops and those concerned with the administrative work of south Korea and the U.S. involved.
    The "Chungmu plan" calls on the administrative organs in every city, county and district of south Korea to allow the U.S. reinforcements to use any moment not only land and facilities but individual properties including restaurant in case of "contingency."
    The anti-war peace, civic and public organizations of south Korea including the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification are strongly demanding a halt to the CPX, holding that the exercise would play the role of institutionally meeting and legalizing the unreasonable demands of the U.S. as it is linked with the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises.

Kim Jong Il's Work Published in Pakistan

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "The Workers' Party of Korea Is the Party of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung" was brought out in booklet by the Victorial Publishing House of Pakistan.
    This work, published on Oct. 2, Juche 84 (1995), serves as a great immortal programme for party construction and activities as it reviews with pride the glorious history of the Workers' Party of Korea which has paved a new way for building a revolutionary party in the era of independence under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung and indicates the road of strengthening and developing the WPK into an eternal party of the President.
    A book releasing ceremony was held on Feb. 20.

February Holiday Celebrated

   Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- Lectures were given in India, Italy, Democratic Congo and Congo and photo exhibitions and film shows took place at different units in Indonesia and India from Feb. 5 to 14 on the occasion of the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
    On display in the venues of photo exhibitions were photos showing him inspecting units of the Korean People's Army and giving field guidance to the work in different fields of national economy and those showing the advantages of the socialist system in the DPRK.
    Participants of the film shows watched Koreans films "They Are Together on the Way of the Great Songun Leadership," "February 16, the Greatest National Holiday," "75th Anniversary of the Heroic Korean People's Army" and "55thAnniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea."
    Speeches were made at the functions.
    The secretary general of the Indian Youth Group for the Study of Works of Comrade Kim Il Sung said that the DPRK has been praised by all countries and peoples aspiring after independence as it is led by Kim Jong Il.
    Constanzi Franco, secretary general of the Italian Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, said that as the DPRK has thoroughly embodied in all fields of the country the Juche idea fathered by President Kim Il Sung and developed and enriched by Kim Jong Il, it has dynamically advanced along the road chosen by itself despite the complicated international situation.
    Kanga Ngerien Jerom, chairman of the Group for the Study of Kim Jong Il Juche Idea of Democratic Congo, recalled that Kim Jong Il has protected not only the destiny of socialist Korea but the human cause of independence against imperialism and the world cause of socialism by pursuing the unique Songun politics, adding these exploits would shine long in history.
    The acting chairman and the acting secretary general of the National Guidance Council of the Vanguard Party of Indonesia said that their party would positively support all struggles of the WPK and the Korean people in the future, too.

Short Biographies of Three Generals of Mt. Paektu Posted on Internet Homepage

    Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The International Alliance of Societies for the Study of the Juche Idea and Songun Policy in East European and Central Asian Regions posted the short biographies of President Kim Il Sung, General Secretary Kim Jong Il and Anti-Japanese War Hero Kim Jong Suk on its Internet homepage on Feb. 16.
    The homepage carried the photos of the three generals of Mt. Paektu.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il felicita a Raul Castro Ruz

    Pyongyang, 26 de febrero (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 el presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema, Kim Yong Nam, envio el dia 25 un mensaje de felicitacion a Raul Castro Ruz, segundo secretario del CC del Partido Comunista de Cuba y presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros de la Republica de Cuba.
    El mensaje senala:
    En relacion con que usted fue elegido como presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros de la Republica de Cuba en la primera sesion de la septima legislatura de la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular de la Republica de Cuba, le enviamos a usted nuestra calurosa felicitacion en nombre del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, el gobierno y el pueblo de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea.
    Esta vez usted se hizo cargo de los importantes puestos de presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros de la Republica de Cuba, lo cual deviene una expresion de alta confianza y esperanza a Ud. por parte del respetado companero Fidel Castro Ruz, el partido y el pueblo de Cuba.
    Convencidos de que las camaraderiles y combativas relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los pueblos de los dos paises preparadas por el gran lider, camarada Kim Il Sung y el respetado companero Fidel Castro Ruz se fortaleceran y se desarrollaran incesantemente tambien en el futuro en el cumplimiento de la causa comun del socialismo, deseamos de todo corazon a Ud exitos en su labor responsable.

Choe Thae Bok se reune con el embajador mongoles

   Pyongyang, 26 de febrero (ATCC) -- El presidente de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Choe Thae Bok, departio el dia 26 en el Palacio de los Congresos Mansudae con Janchivdorjyn Lomvo, embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de Mongolia en Corea, quien le hizo una visita de despedida.

Kim Yong Nam felicita al presidente dominicano

    Pyongyang, 26 de febrero (ATCC) -- El presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, envio el dia 22 un mensaje de felicitacion al presidente de la Republica Dominicana, Leonel Fernandez Reina, con motivo del aniversario 164 de la independencia de este pais.
    El remitente le expresa al destinatario su conviccion de que las relaciones de amistad establecidas nuevamente entre Corea y Dominica se ampliaran y se desarrollaran en el futuro conforme a los intereses de los pueblos de ambos paises y le desea mayores exitos en su trabajo responsable.

CRPP condena a EE.UU. y belicistas del Sur de Corea

    Pyongyang, 26 de febrero (ATCC) -- En relacion con que recientemente, Estados Unidos y los belicistas surcoreanos intercambiaron la nota de entendimiento sobre el establecimiento de la "comandancia de las fuerzas maritimas conjuntas" Sur de Corea - EE.UU. como la "comandancia de las fuerzas maritimas conjuntas ampliadas", el Comite por la Reunificacion Pacifica de la Patria (CRPP) hizo publica el dia 26 la informacion No. 934.
    @Esta reorganizacion de las fuerzas armadas belicas promovida por los conservadores intransigentes de EE.UU. y sus seguidores belicistas surcoreanos vuelve a demostrar claramente su naturaleza agresiva para atropellar con la fuerza a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y deviene otra provocacion militar abierta a esta y un imperdonable acto criminal para acarrear el peligro de guerra en la Peninsula Coreana, subraya la nota y prosigue:
    @La realidad comprueba de nuevo que EE.UU. y las fuerzas belicistas del Sur de Corea no tienen ningun interes en la paz y la estabilidad de la Peninsula Coreana ni en la unidad y la reunificacion de la nacion coreana sino pretenden agravar de todas maneras la situacion persiguiendo la confrontacion entre las fuerzas.
    Hablar del "dialogo" y de la "paz" apuntando el fusil a su contraparte del dialogo es un sofisma descarado y arrogante.
    EE.UU. y las fuerzas belicistas surcoreanas no pueden evadir la responsabilidad por obstaculizar seriamente la solucion del problema nuclear de la Peninsula Coreana y el desarrollo de las relaciones Norte-Sur.
    Las fuerzas conservadoras intransigentes estadounidenses deben ver correctamente la realidad y poner de inmediato fin a sus maniobras muy aventureras y provocativas encaminadas a la reorganizacion de sus fuerzas armadas.
    @Las fuerzas belicistas surcoreanas deben saber que la obediencia a EE.UU. buscara solo desastres y arruinamiento. @