Congratulations to Dominican President
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Leonel Fernandez Reyna upon his reelection as President of the Dominican Republic.
Expressing belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Dominica would grow stronger, Kim in the message wished the president success in his work for the prosperity of the country.
Greetings to President of Yemen
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of Yemen, Wednesday on the occasion of the 18th national day.
Kim in the message wished the people of Yemen prosperity and welfare, expressing the belief that the long-standing friendly and cooperative ties between the DPRK and Yemen would grow stronger in mutual interests.
Congratulations to PM and FM of Italy
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a congratulatory message to Silvio Berlusconi upon his appointment as Prime Minister of Italy.
The message wished him success in his work for prosperity of the country.
Meanwhile, Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs, sent a congratulatory message to Franco Frattini upon his appointment as Italian foreign minister.
British Embassy Officials Help Farmers
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Ambassador John Everard and staff members of the British embassy here helped members of the Paeksong Co-op Farm in Phyongsong City, South Phyongan Province in farm work on Wednesday.
The guests helped the farmers in pulling rice seedlings and transplanting them and enjoyed an art performance given by farmers during break.
They handed aid materials to the farm.
DPRK, Tax-free Country
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- More than three decades have elapsed since the tax system was abolished in the DPRK.
The word "tax" has faded out of the minds of the Korean people and the younger generation knows nothing of the word itself.
After the liberation of the country (August 15, 1945) the depredatory tax system of the Japanese imperialists was abolished and a popular and democratic tax system was established in the DPRK, thus putting an end to over 50 kinds of miscellaneous taxes and turning the taxation into a single one.
In Juche 44 (1955) the government of the country again cut the income tax of the workers and office employees by 30 percent, sharply reduced the tax burden of the handicraftsmen, entrepreneurs and merchants and decreased the agricultural tax in kind from 25 percent of the grain output to 20.1 percent on an average. From 1959 it reduced the agricultural tax in kind to 8.4 percent.
The agricultural tax in kind, which had been instituted right after the liberation, was eliminated in the period from 1964 to 1966 for good in accordance with "Theses on the Socialist Rural Question in Our Country" authored by President Kim Il Sung.
As a result there remained in the country only the income tax of the working people and the negligible local autonomy tax. The tax paid by the population amounted to two percent or less in the revenue of the state budget.
The Third Session of the Fifth Supreme People's Assembly adopted the law on the complete abolition of the tax system on March 21, 1974.
The DPRK thus became the first tax-free country in the world.
Brilliant Juche-Oriented Architecture
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- The architectural art of the DPRK is on the road of steady development under the guidance of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
On May 21, Juche 80 (1991), he made public the famous work "The Theory on Architectural Art" by consummating the achievements and experiences accumulated in the 1970s and 1980s when he ushered in a great heyday in architecture.
In the work he propounds an original idea on the essence and characteristics of architecture, especially on the revolutionary essence and characteristics of socialist architecture, Juche-oriented one.
And he clarifies anew the principle and theory on architectural creation and theory on architecture and guidance which should be maintained consistently by the parties of the working class in architectural practice.
The validity and vitality of the work have been convincingly proved after its publication.
Notably, the new history of the architecture for the immortality of the leader is attributable to the outstanding architectural idea and wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Determined to see President Kim Il Sung lying in state and add eternal shine to the President's revolutionary feats, he took care that the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the supreme sacred temple of Juche, was refurbished as the typical model of the architecture for the immortality of the leader.
All the structural elements and decorations of the palace give an excellent architectural depiction of the faith of the Korean soldiers and people to always hold the President in high esteem.
Under the energetic guidance of Kim Jong Il, towers for the President's immortality inscribed with the words of confidence of the Korean people "Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung Will Always Be With Us" have been erected in all parts of the country and the Monument to the Founding of the Party and the Monument to the Victorious Battle in Musan Area have been built as grand monumental edifices in the Songun era to convey the revolutionary exploits of the President down through generations.
The area of Mt. Paektu which bears brilliant marks of the revolutionary history of the President has been converted into a socialist fairyland of the Songun era.
Such new architectures as the e-library of Kim Chaek University of Technology and Kim Won Gyun Pyongyang Conservatory and the recently rebuilt Moranbong Theater, East Pyongyang Grand Theater and Taedongmun Cinema demonstrate the advantages of the Juche-oriented architectural idea and theory put forward by Kim Jong Il.
All Koreans Called upon to Turn out in Struggle for National Reunification
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Wednesday in a signed article calls on all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas to turn out in the nationwide struggle for independent reunification and thus creditably perform their responsibility and role as a driving force for national reunification.
It says:
The reality requires all Koreans who love the country and nation to single-mindedly unite and continue dynamically advancing the era of independent reunification, while meeting the challenge of the anti-reunification forces by the efforts of the driving force of the nation.
It is none other than Koreans who are keenly interested in solving the reunification issue and who should work hard for its settlement.
The Koreans' struggle for national reunification is a patriotic struggle against the traitors and anti-reunification forces in league with outsiders. Koreans could achieve landmark successes which they longed to witness so much after the publication of the historic June 15 joint declaration because the forces for independent reunification united close under the banner of "By our nation itself" were incomparably stronger than the anti-reunification forces. All Koreans at home and abroad aspiring after independence and patriotism should go united as one to frustrate the moves of aggressive outsiders and their followers, anti-reunification forces in south Korea. This is the only way for the Koreans to advance toward independent reunification.
What is important is that people from all walks of life in the north and the south and abroad should attach importance to the nation and harden their attitude and stance to pool efforts for the nation, aware of their position and role as a driving force for solving the issue of reunification.
The stand of attaching importance to the nation and the nation-first spirit serve as a motive force helping Koreans dynamically accelerate the advance for independent reunification with conviction in sure victory and indomitable fighting spirit. No force on earth can replace the Koreans in the efforts to accomplish the cause of national reunification.
Japan's Massacres of Civilians under Fire
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Book "Slaughter at Sea, The Story of Japan's Naval War Crimes" written by a British historian was published some days ago. In the book, he disclosed the barbaric murder of tens of thousands of seamen of the allied forces and many peaceable civilians committed by the Japanese Navy during the Second World War in wanton violation of the Geneva agreement.
Minju Joson today observes this in a signed commentary carried in this regard: The facts dealt with in the book show only part of the brutal massacres committed by the Japanese imperialists in the past, an added proof that the Japanese imperialists are the most barbarous and cruel murderers and cannibals in history
Citing facts to prove that the Japanese imperialists perpetrated hair-raising bestial massacres after occupying Southeast Asian countries during the Sino-Japanese war and the Pacific war provoked by them, the commentary goes on:
The Japanese reactionaries have neither made reparation nor apologized for the unprecedentedly hideous crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in the past but are embellishing and distorting their crime-woven past history.
Japan is the only country in the world which has neither admitted its past crimes nor apologized nor made any reparation for them.
Humankind will never forget the history of unprecedented hideous crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in the past but force them to pay for the blood shed by it at any cost.
U.S. Development of New Type Weapon Targeted against DPRK under Fire
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Recently the U.S. and Japan agreed to jointly develop an interceptor missile with multiple warheads and installed a satellite communications system aimed at the remote control of combat operations in an unmanned plane.
Rodong Sinmun today observes in a signed commentary carried in this regard:
This proves that they are buckling down to developing a new type weapon in a black-hearted attempt to strike the DPRK and other countries from the U.S. mainland.
This brought to daylight the true aim sought by the U.S. war-like forces in stepping up the preparations for a war of aggression against the DPRK under the absurd pretext of "threat" from it.
The U.S. repeatedly clarified its will not to invade the DPRK by force of arms. If this had been true, the U.S. should have refrained from military actions threatening the DPRK. However, it is smiling before delegates of the DPRK, while whetting swords to attack it.
The above-said frantic moves of the U.S. prove once again that it persistently seeks to stifle the DPRK by force.
The reckless military moves stepped up by the U.S. trigger-happy forces to develop the new type weapon behind the scene of dialogue compel the DPRK to bolster its war deterrence.
The U.S. is sadly mistaken if it calculates it can go safe after its remote-controlled unmanned planes attacked other countries from its mainland. The capability to make long-distance strikes is not the monopoly of the U.S.
Provocative U.S.-S. Korea Joint Live Shell Firing Exercise to Be Staged in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppets announced that they would stage a provocative joint live shell firing exercise at the U.S. combined firing range in Phochon, Kyonggi Province on May 22.
F-16, AH-64, tanks and artillery pieces of the U.S. forces in south Korea and helicopters of the first air brigade of the south Korean puppet troops will be reportedly involved in the exercise.
An officer concerned of the headquarters of the puppet army said that the purpose of the exercise is to ensure the coordination of air and land fire and boost the joint capability of U.S. troops and south Korean puppet troops.
Import of American Beef Opposed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Members of the Solidarity for Progress, the Federation of Women Organizations and other civic and public organizations in south Korea called a press conference in front of Chongwadae on May 14 to denounce the authorities for moving to import American beef.
Speakers at the press conference expressed their irrepressible resentment at the "government" sticking to the stand that "it would not stop the import even if mad cow disease is discovered" in the U.S. and "it would import American beef as scheduled."
Charging that Lee Myung Bak is not qualified to stay in power as he lends a deaf ear to voices of the people demanding the nullification of negotiations, they warned that they would wage strong popular actions unless the authorities stop the above-said import.
A letter of protest to the "government" was read out.
The "government's" stand on importing American beef as scheduled despite the unanimous opposition of people of different social standings is nothing but a revelation of the intention not to hesitate to sacrifice the people to meet the interests of the U.S., the letter said, demanding it immediately nullify the negotiations.
Meanwhile, a youth measure council against the total opening of south Korean market to American beef was inaugurated in Seoul on May 16.
It groups 10 youth organizations including the south Korean Council of Youth Organizations and the Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration.
Speakers at the inaugural meeting demanded the "government" nullify the negotiations on the import of American beef and dismiss the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Aquatic Products and Lee Myung Bak make an open apology to the people.
A declaration on actions was read out then.
It called upon all young people to take the lead in the actions against the import of American beef to protect the lives and security of the people, irrespective of political view and religious belief.
All People Called upon to Struggle against "Government" in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- The All-People Movement Headquarters for Impeaching Lee Myung Bak in south Korea held a meeting in Seoul on May 17 at which it called on all people to turn out in the struggle against the "government".
Speakers at the meeting asserted that traitor Lee Myung Bak is immoral and incompetent and "mad cows" should be sent back to the U.S. and the traitor to Japan.
It is the best way for realizing the people's desire to impeach Lee Myung Bak, they said, calling on all people to dynamically struggle till the traitor is ousted.
A resolution read out at the meeting stressed that they would wage a vigorous struggle to have the traitor impeached without fail and foil the unpopular economic policy.
Moves of Lee Myung Bak Group against Reunification under Fire
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- Chairman of the International United Confederation of Koreans (International Kothongryon) Sok Myong Son issued a statement titled "We vehemently denounce the Lee Myung Bak regime's moves for confrontation against reunification" on May 13.
The statement accused the Lee group of running amuck, echoing the nuclear racket of foreign forces quite contrary to the trend of the June 15 era of reunification in which Koreans are advancing under the banner of "By our nation itself".
It noted that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula was spawned as the U.S. converted south Korea into the world's largest nuclear arsenal and posed a nuclear threat to the DPRK for the purpose of stifling it with nukes.
Recalling that the U.S. shipped various type missiles and means for nuclear delivery and even neutron bombs known as "weapons of devil" into south Korea and staged madcap nuclear war exercises targeted against the DPRK together with the bellicose forces of south Korea every year, increasing the danger of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula to extremes, the statement went on:
This being a hard reality, the Lee group, seized with extreme fever for confrontation with compatriots, is hell bent on sycophancy towards the U.S. and confrontation with the DPRK to achieve its sinister aim at any cost.
If the Lee group continues acting bootlickers and war servants for the U.S., turning their backs on compatriots, they will suffer nothing but disgrace and self-destruction, the statement warned. It bitterly denounced them for their sycophancy towards the U.S. and moves for confrontation against the nation and reunification.
Information Bulletin Released in Germany
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- The German Branch of the Korean Friendship Association headquartered in Spain released an information bulletin on May 9.
The bulletin edited articles under various titles including "DPRK, Socialist Country".
The articles highly praised President Kim Il Sung for successfully building the DPRK into a socialist state centered on the popular masses.
It said that the Korean people are energetically expediting the building of a great prosperous powerful nation, pursuant to the Songun policy of General Secretary Kim Jong Il this year marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK.
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Yong Nam felicita al presidente dominicano
Pyongyang, 21 de mayo (ATCC) -- El presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, envio la vispera un mensaje de felicitacion a Leonel Antonio Fernandez Reyna con motivo de su reeleccion como presidente de la Republica Dominicana.
El remitente expresa su conviccion de que las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los dos paises se fortaleceran y se desarrollaran aun mas en lo adelante y le desea al destinatario exitos en su trabajo para la prosperidad del pais.
Enviadas ofrendas florales a embajada china en Corea
Pyongyang, 21 de mayo (ATCC) -- El Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, el Comite de Defensa Nacional y el Consejo de Ministros, de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, enviaron el dia 20 a la Embajada de la Republica Popular China en Corea una ofrenda floral a nombre comun para expresar condolencias por muchas perdidas humanas ocasionadas por el fuerte terremoto que sacudio el distrito de Wenchuan de la provincia de Sichuan de China.
Tambien fueron enviadas el mismo dia las ofrendas florales a nombre de los ministerios, organos centrales y entidades de masas, entre otros, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, el de Seguridad del Pueblo, el de Comercio Exterior, el de Salud Publica y el Comite de Relaciones Culturales con el Extranjero.
Cuadros del partido y el Estado visitan a embajada china
Pyongyang, 21 de mayo (ATCC) -- Los cuadros del partido y el Estado visitaron el dia 20 a la Embajada de la Republica Popular China en Corea para expresar condolencias por numerosas perdidas humanas ocasionadas por el devastador terremoto que azoto el distrito de Wenchuan de la provincia de Sichuan de China.
Entre ellos figuraban Kim Yong Chun, Choe Thae Bok, el vicepremier del Consejo de Ministros Ro Tu Chol, el canciller Pak Ui Chun, el ministro de Salud Publica Choe Chang Sik quien es presidente del Comite Central de la Asociacion de Amistad Corea-China, el presidente interino del Comite de Relaciones Culturales con el Extranjero Mun Jae Chol y el subjefe de departamento del CC del Partido del Trabajo de Corea Pak Kyong Son.
Los visitantes dejaron letras en el libro de condolencias.
Este dia, hicieron otro tanto los funcionarios de ministerios, organos centrales y entidades de masas asi como los representantes diplomaticos de varios paises acreditados en Corea.
Rodong Sinmun denuncia desarrollo de armas de nuevo tipo de EE.UU.
@ Pyongyang, 21 de mayo (ATCC) -- Ultimamente, Estados Unidos y Japon decidieron desarrollar en comun los misiles de interceptacion con multiojivas e instalaron en el avion teledirigido el sistema de telecomunicacion por satelite para el mando de combate de larga distancia.
Esto prueba que ellos se entregan al desarrollo de armas de nuevo tipo bajo la siniestra intencion de atacar desde el propio territorio de EE.UU. a Corea y otros paises del mundo.
Asi senala el diario Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual insertado el dia 21 y continua:
Asi se puso al desnudo la naturaleza de las fuerzas belicistas norteamericanas que dan acicate a los preparativos de guerra de agresion al Norte de Corea so pretexto de la supuesta "amenaza" de este.
EE.UU. expreso reiteradamente que no invadiria en lo militar a Corea. Si esto es la verdad, EE.UU. debe abstenerse de sus actos militares que amenazan a la RPDC. Pero ellos sonrien por delante y por detras afilan el cuchillo para atacar a Corea.
La actitud de EE.UU. que se entrega a las maniobras de desarrollo de armas modernas contra la RPDC demuestra evidentemente una vez mas que ellos abrigan invariablemente la intencion de aplastar a esta con fuerzas.
El atrevido movimiento militar de las fuerzas belicistas norteamericanas que dan espuelas al desarrollo de armas de nuevo tipo detras de la cortina del dialogo azuza a la RPDC al mayor fortalecimiento de las fuerzas disuasivas de guerra.
Parece que EE.UU. tiene cuenta de que al atacar a otros paises manejando los aviones teledirigidos en su propio territorio, el mismo estara a salvo. Pero, ellos se equivocan. La capacidad de ataque a larga distancia no pertenece solo a EE.UU.