Kim Jong Il Enjoys Art Performance
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il enjoyed an art performance given by members of the art groups of families of servicepersons of KPA units 963, 966 and 233 who participated in the first contest of the second-term of art groups of families of servicepersons.
Among the audience were Kim Kyok Sik, chief of the KPA General Staff, Kim Jong Gak, first vice-director of the KPA General Political Department, and other commanding officers of the KPA and Secretary Kim Ki Nam and Department Director Jang Song Taek and other senior officials of the Central Committee of the WPK.
The members of the art groups put on the stage dialogic poem "Members of Mt. Paektu Family and Socialism," drama and chorus "Let's Bear in Mind", witty talk "Let's Close without Fail," short drama "Reverence," poem and story-telling " Family Tradition Means Tradition of Revolution" and other colorful narrative pieces of diverse genres.
Through the revolutionary and militant performance, they sang with high pride of their worthwhile life in which they are steadfastly advancing along the road of revolution under the loving care of Kim Jong Il.
He highly appreciated the success made by them in the performance, expressing great satisfaction over their splendid presentation distinct in its political import as it gives answers to the social issues in the era of Songun.
He praised them for having successfully created peculiar narrative pieces, noting that all the numbers put on the stage are the pieces great in cognitive and educational value as they make a profound ideological and artistic representation of important social and political issues arising in the struggle and life of human beings in the era of Songun,
He highly appreciated the feats performed by wives of servicepersons, saying that they are admirable women who sincerely help their husbands in their revolutionary work.
The contest among members of art groups of families of servicepersons are greatly contributing to popularizing the arts and revolutionizing the members of the families of the servicepersons, he said, setting forth important tasks which would serve as guidelines for further developing the popular and mass artistic activities.
U.S. to Offer Food to DPRK
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- As already reported, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States of America discussed the food aid issue at negotiations held in Pyongyang on May 6 and 7 to cope with the worldwide food crisis.
Accordingly, the U.S. government officially announced its decision to offer 500,000 tons of food to the DPRK on May 16.
100,000 tons are to be offered through NGOs in the U.S. and the remaining 400,000 tons through the WFP. Experts of the parties concerned will soon meet in Pyongyang to ensure the delivery of the first shipment of food before late June.
The DPRK is ready to provide all technical conditions necessary for the food delivery.
The food aid of the U.S. government will help settle the food shortage in the DPRK to a certain extent and contribute to promoting the understanding and confidence between the peoples of the two countries.
DPRK Government Offers Aid to Quake-hit China
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- As already reported, a strong earthquake hit Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province of China on May 12.
This caused huge human and material losses to many areas around the province of China.
The DPRK government offered 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Chinese government to help people in the quake-stricken areas eradicate the aftermath of the disaster and bring their living to normal as early as possible.
Messages of Sympathy to China
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, the Central Committee of the DPRK-China Friendship Association, the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League and other institutions and social organizations sent messages of sympathy to their Chinese counterparts in connection with a strong earthquake that hit Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province of China on May 12, claiming huge human and material losses.
The messages expressed deep sympathy to the people in the quake-stricken areas.
National Symposiums on Environment and Nature and Geography to Be Held
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- National symposiums in the fields of land environment and nature and geography will be held here.
A national symposium in the field of nature and geography will be held on July 23.
The symposium will discuss precious successes and experience gained in the study of general nature and geography and topography and the study of soil and biogeography, the study of the change of the fourth paleogeography and modern environment, in the fields of landscape ecology and planning the use of land, the study of the prevention of flood damage, the study of nature and geography on the basis of ultra-modern science and technology and the study of the setting up of scenic spots and sanctuaries for the purpose of a rational use of the nature environment and natural resources.
A national symposium in the field of land environment to be held on July 29 will discuss scientific research successes and experience gained in the work to protect environment including land planning, land management, air, water, soil and ecology.
New Stamps Published in DPRK
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Five kinds of stamps on the five revolutionary operas have been published in the DPRK.
Reflected in the stamps are impressive scenes and famous songs of the revolutionary operas "The Flower Girl", "The Sea of Blood", "Tell the Story, Forest!", "The Story of A Nurse"" and "The Song of Kumgang Mountain", which still inspire the Korean people to fresh exploits with great attraction.
The songs printed in the stamps are famous ones "Dear General, Where Are You?", " Star of General ", "Beloved Brother and Our Sisters", "Don't Cry, Ulnam" and others that the Korean people are fond of.
Four kinds of stamps showing national musical instruments of Korea have been also issued.
Reflected in the stamps are national musical instruments kayagum (Korean harp), jangsaenap (brass wind instrument), bass piri (Korean flute) and hyangpipha (Korean mandolin).
Strong-girl Produced
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- A strong-girl was produced in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Rim Jong Sim, 15, of the Juvenile Sports School of the Weightlifting Gymnasium in Chongchun Street captured three gold medals in the women's 48 kg category of weightlifting tournament at the recent Sports Contest for Mangyongdae Cup.
She lifted 8 more kilograms than the silver medalist and 10-odd more kilograms than the bronze medalist in total.
The women's weightlifting field of the DPRK has witnessed that some weight-lifters in the same age with Rim had participated in adult tournaments but none of them snatched three gold medals.
She began to learn weightlifting at the age of 11. She attended three national sports contests of juvenile sports school students at which she created eight new juvenile records, thus winning eight gold medals.
She made her appearance in tournaments of sports groups from last year and bagged three gold medals at youth contests on two occasions.@
Ordinary weightlifters practiced a movement scores of times but one or two repetitions are enough for her, stronger than others, to acquire the skill.
Her future is full of promise.
Visitors to Monument to Party Founding on Steady Increase
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Monument to Party Founding is visited by an endless stream of people these days.
According to information, more than 4.1 million servicepersons, people from all walks of life, overseas Koreans and foreigners have visited the monument for the past more than decade.
Among them foreigners and overseas Koreans number more than 200,000.
The visitors were deeply impressed by the feats President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il performed by founding the Workers' Party of Korea and leading it along the path of victory and glory.
The foreigners and overseas Koreans were struck with deep admiration at the undying feats performed by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in building the Juche-oriented party and the greatness of the WPK which achieved perfect unity with the popular masses.
They said that the unbreakable single-minded unity the WPK has achieved holding aloft hammer, sickle and brush indicates the way for the oppressed people to achieve progress and prosperity and ways to do so. Noting that the above-said monument, the only one in the world, is an icon serving as a source for national reunification, they emphasized that it would perform an admirable role in accelerating the reunification of Korea.
Anniversary of Kwangju Popular Uprising Observed
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- It has been 28 years since patriotic youth and students and people in Kwangju of south Korea turned out in the popular resistance for independence, democracy and reunification.
Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a signed article to the anniversary of this Kwangju Popular Uprising.
The uprising was an eruption of pent-up wrath and resentment of the south Korean people against the unpopular rule by the military fascist clique, and it was a heroic popular resistance that seriously shook the foundation of the fascist rule, the article notes, and says:
The uprising involving more than one million people from all walks of life proved once again the historical truth that the popular masses can defeat any outrageous enemy and realize independence when they struggle in unity, defying death.
The south Korean people's struggle for independence and democracy of society and national reunification is still arduous and the Kwangju uprisers' long-cherished desire for independence, democracy and reunification has not yet been realized.
The reality shows that it is hard to achieve peace of the country, security of the nation and the cause of national reunification unless the anti-national and anti-reunification moves of the sycophantic traitorous forces are checked in south Korea.
The Lee Myung Bak group is now seeking to overturn the precious achievements made in the June 15 era of reunification and reduce the south Korean society to the dark land of fascism again. Such anti-reunification reckless moves are laying a grave barrier to the development of inter-Korean relations and the cause of national reunification.
All the Koreans should bitterly condemn this group, who is running amuck to obstruct the way of independent reunification and peace and prosperity while negating the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, and resolutely smash its anti-reunification moves.
U.S. Pushes Forward Plan to Export Missiles to S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists are pushing forward the plan to export 50 AIM-9Xs to south Korea, according to Yonhap News of south Korea.
The U.S. government presented the plan for export of those missiles to Congress on May 14.
AIM-9X, a next generation type of Side Winder, is the latest short-range air-to-air missile capable of freely attacking targets.
The U.S. Defense Department declared that the plan would be pushed forward in relation with the proposal for additional sale of F-15Ks to south Korea and the introduction of missiles would help enhance the combat capacity of the south Korean puppet air force.
In the meantime, the south Korean authorities decided to purchase the U.S. missiles at the expense of huge funds.
Through such moves the U.S. imperialists seek a sinister purpose to further arm the puppet forces with modern weapons for aggression under the signboard of tightened "alliance" and hurl them as a shock brigade in executing its strategy to invade the DPRK.
Anti-U.S. Rally Held in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- The People for Achieving Peace and Reunification, the Confederation of Trade Unions, the Measure Committee of Inhabitants against Expansion of Drilling Ground in Mugon-ri and other civic and public organizations in south Korea held the 104th anti-U.S. solidarity rally in front of the U.S. embassy on May 13.
Speakers at the rally held that the opening of south Korean market to American beef and the conclusion of FTA would make the south Korean economy further dependent on the U.S.
They condemned traitor Lee Myung Bak's junket to the U.S. characterized by sycophancy and submission and his act of strengthening "alliance for drain on south Korean resources" and called on all the people to turn out in the vigorous struggle to protect their health and lives and the sovereignty of the nation.
A letter of protest addressed to the U.S. president was read out at the rally. It disclosed that the U.S. pressure on south Korea to totally open its market to American beef proves that it is keen to meet its interests only, clean indifferent to the lives and security of the south Koreans.
The struggle against the import of American beef is on a daily increase, the letter said, stressing that this is a warning to the U.S. which forces south Korea to conclude FTA despite opposition of its people, to say nothing of the issue of beef import.
The import of American beef, the conclusion of FTA and all other things pursued by the U.S. are, in essence, aimed to make south Korea more dependent on it and realize its ambition for world domination, the letter said, urging the U.S. to stop unjust domination and interference in the internal affairs of south Korea and withdraw its forces at once.
Suppression of Pomchonghakryon Assailed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- The Measure Committee for the Release of Yun Ki Jin, chairman of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon), issued a statement on May 13 to denounce the Seoul prison authorities for their violence.
The statement charged that the Seoul prison authorities threw Yun into a "punishment cell" in the prison on May 10 as he protested against a prison officer's outrageous violation of prisoners' rights.
The said punishment on Yun, who demanded the provision of just rights, standing against injustice, is a typical example showing the serious human rights abuses under the Lee Myung Bak regime, it pointed out.
The statement urged the authorities to stop human rights abuses against the prisoners, punish those concerned, abolish the "National Security Law" and set free Yun.
Abolition of NSL Urged in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) issued a statement on May 12 at which it stressed that the Lee Myung Bak "government" should immediately abolish the "National Security Law" and opt for implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
Referring to the fact that on May 7 the U.S., through the U.N., openly recommended the south Korean authorities to revise the NSL, the statement said this is a warning to the Lee Myung Bak regime that it should behave itself, squarely seeing the trend of the times.
The NSL should be abolished without fail, not be revised, it said that the South Headquarters of Pomminryon will not allow the authorities to continue abusing the NSL as a means of opposing reunification.
Lee Myung Bak Criticized for Moves to Distort History
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- The minister of Education, Science and Technology of south Korea, at a meeting with a conservative organization on May 14, revealed the scheme to comprehensively revise the present history textbooks, asserting that they have been written up "on a deviation way," south Korean CBS reported.
He went the lengths of claiming that examination on the issues of history would be started, arguing that the education in history has been veered to the "Left" owing to the textbooks screened by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources of the former regime.
The reckless remarks reveal the Lee Myung Bak regime's intention to push forward the distortion of history in real earnest.
After traitor Lee Myung Bak came to power, such acts of twisting history have been openly committed in south Korea as publication of distorted history textbooks sheltering the crimes of the Japanese imperialists and beautifying the U.S. colonial domination and the past fascist dictatorship.
The Lee Myung Bak gentries' reckless moves to totally distort history fully lay bare their true colors as a group of diehard sycophantic traitors and separatists.
Frustration of Move for Import of American Beef Called for
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Emergency Measure Committee of the Seoul District Federation of University Student Councils under the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils issued an appeal titled "Let's foil the move to open south Korean market to American beef without fail and deal inescapable blows at the pro-U.S. government" on May 10.
The appeal referred to the fact that the Lee Myung Bak group, much upset by the strong protest made by the people against the action taken by it to import American beef, made public what it called "a talk to the people" in which it "promised to immediately stop the import of American beef and investigate the case if mad cow disease occurs in the U.S."
The appeal questioned the "government" if it is really willing to stop the import of American beef when the disease breaks out in the U.S. as it sacrificed even the lives and interests of the people by meeting the demand of the U.S. as part of Lee's itinerary of his U.S. junket.
The "government" is sadly mistaken if it thinks nothing will happen if the issue of the beef import is glossed over by deception, the appeal noted, warning that the resistance will continue to rage unless the "government" gives up its attitude of submitting to the U.S.
It called on the youth and students to take the lead in the candlelight actions against the opening of south Korean market to American beef and deal inescapable blows at the pro-U.S. "government".
Import of American Beef Opposed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- Lawmakers from opposition parties including the Democratic Labor Party called a press conference at the "National Assembly" building in Seoul on May 15, opposing the negotiations on import of American beef, south Korean CBS reported.
At the press conference speakers said that the negotiations were wrong from the start and they were an act of putting the people's health and security on the altar without any principle only for the south Korea-U.S. "talks" and the U.S. Congress approval for FTA.
Lee Myung Bak and his "government" had concealed their intention to totally open south Korean market to American beef until the end of the "NA election" but announced their decision to hold the negotiations and agreed to unlimitedly import beef just after it, they charged.
They demanded that Lee tide over the present crisis and protect the health and security of the people.
Meanwhile, the Union of Stockbreeding Cooperatives entered a sit-in strike outside the NA building in Seoul on the same day to protest the authorities' import of American beef, south Korea's MBC reported.
The organization declared that they would stage the strike till their demand is met, contending that import of American beef aged more than 30 months and its by-products to south Korea will make it impossible to protect the health of the people.
Renegotiations on Import of American Beef Demanded
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Minjok Thongsin, an Internet newspaper of Koreans in the U.S., on May 12 carried its editor's article demanding the south Korean authorities renegotiate the import of American beef.
Recalling that there is towering resentment at the Lee Myung Bak regime as more than 80 percent of the south Korean people are critical of the outcome of the negotiations on the import of American beef, the article said:
Nevertheless, the Lee Myung Bak regime is patronizing the U.S. in defiance of the will of the people and the actions of people in south Korea in protest against this are, therefore, sweeping its all parts.
The signing of the south Korea-U.S. FTA is little short of totally leaving the economic sovereignty of south Korea to the tender mercy of the U.S. and its typical example is the total import of American beef.
The Lee Myung Bak regime is under fire for being a sycophantic and treacherous regime as it is enforcing only the policy of submitting to the U.S. and ignoring the nation.
Koreans in the U.S. are becoming increasingly critical of the moves of the authorities of south Korea to totally open its market to American beef, the article noted, holding that the import of American beef should be renegotiated under any circumstances.
The Lee Myung Bak regime will face stronger resistance than now if it continues yielding to the U.S. demand, warned the article.
For Spanish-speaking people
RPDC dona 100 mil US$ al gobierno chino
Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- Como ya trascendidos, el pasado dia 12, el distrito de Wenchuan de la provincia de Sichuan de China fue sacudido por un fuerte terremoto.
El desastre natural dejo grandes perdidas humanas y materiales en muchas localidades chinas en torno a dicha provincia.
El gobierno de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea dono 100 mil US$ al gobierno de la Republica Popular China para contribuir a que los habitantes de zonas damnificadas puedan resarcir cuanto antes las consecuencias del siniestro y estabilizar su vida.
EE.UU. resuelve entregar alimentos a la RPDC
Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- Segun trascendidos, frente a la crisis alimentaria de alcance mundial, la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y los Estados Unidos de America debatieron el problema de ofrecimiento de alimentos en las negociaciones que tuvieron lugar los dias 6 y 7 en esta capital.
Basandose en esto, el gobierno de EE.UU. publico oficialmente el dia 16 la entrega de 500 mil toneladas de alimentos a la RPDC.
De ese total, 100 mil toneladas seran entregadas a traves de las organizaciones no gubernamentales de EE.UU. y 400 mil toneladas, por conducto del Programa Mundial de Alimento.
A fin de posibilitar la llegada del primer embarque antes del fin de junio, se reuniran pronto en esta capital los especialistas de las partes interesadas.
La RPDC esta lista para facilitar las condiciones de trabajo necesarias al proceso de ofrecimiento de alimentos por EE.UU.
La entrega de alimentos por parte del gobierno de EE.UU. ayudara en cierto grado a resolver la escasez alimentaria y contribuira al fomento del entendimiento y confianza entre los pueblos de ambos paises.
Mas de 4 millones 100 mil visitan al Monumento a Fundacion del Partido
Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- Ultimamente, el Monumento a la Fundacion del Partido es uno de los lugares mas visitados de esta capital.
Segun estadisticas disponibles, durante mas de 10 anos pasados, lo visitaron mas de 4 millones 100 mil uniformados del Ejercito Popular de Corea, trabajadores de diferentes sectores, compatriotas residentes en ultramar y extranjeros.
Entre ellos, se totalizan en mas de 200 mil los extranjeros y coreanos residentes en ultramar.
Durante el recorrido, los visitantes nacionales recuerdan con mucha emocion las hazanas del Presidente Kim Il Sung, fundador del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, y del Dirigente Kim Jong Il que condujeron a esta agrupacion por la unica senda de victorias y glorias.
Igualmente, los extranjeros y los compatriotas en ultramar quedaron profundamente impresionados de las imborrables hazanas realizadas por el Presidente y el Dirigente en el cumplimiento de la causa de construccion del partido del Juche y de la grandeza del PTC que esta unido monoliticamente con las masas populares.
Ellos destacaron que la inquebrantable unidad monolitica del PTC, que avanza levantando el martillo, la hoz y la pluma, indica el camino y los remedios de la lucha de los pueblos oprimidos por el progreso y la prosperidad.
Continuaron que el Monumento a la Fundacion del Partido, unico en este mundo, desempenara un papel magnifico en los trabajos para adelantar la reunificacion de la patria siendo simbolo y fuente de los recursos para alcanzarla.
Entidad universitaria surcoreana publica llamamiento
Pyongyang, 17 de mayo (ATCC) -- El comite de medidas emergentes de la Federacion de los Consejos Generales de Estudiantes Universitarios de la Region de Seul, adscrita a la entidad homonima del Sur de Corea, hizo publico el dia 10 un llamamiento intitulado "Frustremos sin falta las maniobras para la apertura a la importacion de la carne de res norteamericana y demos un golpe irremediable al poder proyanqui".
El documento apunto que ante la fuerte protesta de los habitantes surcoreanos contra esa medida comercial, la camarilla de Lee Myung Bak publico la supuesta "declaracion al pueblo" senalando que "si brota la enfermedad de vacas locas en EE.UU., suspenderia de inmediato la importacion de la carne de res y abriria una averiguacion".
?Acaso tendria la voluntad de suspender la importacion este 'gobierno' que vendio hasta la vida y los intereses del pueblo al aceptar las demandas de EE.UU. durante la visita de Lee a ese pais?, pregunto.
Estaria muy equivocado si el 'gobierno' piensa apaciguar las criticas a la importacion con medidas enganosas, subrayo y advirtio que si el 'gobierno' no abandona su actitud sumisa a EE.UU., no se apagaran las llamas de resistencia.
Por ultimo, llamo a los jovenes y estudiantes a ponerse al frente de la lucha con velas encendidas contra la apertura a la importacion del producto pecuario de EE.UU. para dar un golpe irremediable al 'poder' proyanqui.