Kim Jong Il Inspects KPA Unit
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected KPA Unit 1319.
He was greeted on the spot by commanding officers of the unit.
He dropped in at a military lecture room and acquainted himself with its use before watching the training of soldiers.
After learning about how the unit was implementing its training program, he underlined the need to organize effective training to suit the specific conditions so that all the soldiers might acquire a high level of military technique and combat capability.
Seeing the green foliage formed by trees of various species in the compound of the barracks and the nearby mountains, he said that this vividly reflected ardent patriotism of the soldiers. He appreciated the efforts made by the soldiers of the unit to plant and tend a lot of trees every year to create thick forests.
At any unit one may visits, one may learn about the laudable feat it performed by radically changing the looks of posts and their surroundings through a dynamic drive to spruce up mountains and rivers of the country to look more beautiful, he said, adding that the soldiers of the KPA are playing a vanguard role in turning the country into a thick woodland and greenery, keenly aware that the country is dearer to them than anything else.
Then he went round an education room, a bedroom, a mess hall, a wash-cum-bath house and a daily provision store of Hero Kwon Il Nam Company and other places of the unit.
He acquainted himself in detail with all aspects of the life of the soldiers.
He praised the unit for having successfully built supply service facilities to the convenience of the soldiers in their living and stressed the need for all the commanding officers to provide better living conditions to the soldiers devoting themselves to the security of the country and the people.
He had a photo session with the servicepersons of the unit.
He was accompanied by KPA Generals Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su.
Greetings to President of Congo
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, on Wednesday on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of its independence.
Sincerely wishing the friendly Republic of Congo peace and prosperity, Kim in the message expressed the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would grow stronger.
Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Show to Be Arranged
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia show will be opened in Pyongyang in early September to celebrate the 60th birthday of the DPRK.
Attending it will be armed forces organs, ministries and national institutions, the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan and foreigners.
The show will serve as a festival of immortal flowers in high praises of the great men in which the Korean army and people and the world progressives pay highest tribute and greatest glory to President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
National Scientific and Technological Presentation Held
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A national scientific and technological presentation took place at the Three-Revolution Exhibition on August 12 and 13 in the run-up to the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK.
It brought together officials of scientific research and educational institutions, factories and enterprises and scientists and technicians from across the country.
The presentation was divided into panels of basic science and technology, applied science and technology, biology, agricultural science and technology, chemistry, light industry and medical science and technology.
It heard at least 140 papers highly appreciated at the inter-sector scientific and technological presentations held across the country in July.
The participants exchanged successes and experience gained in the research work for developing the ultra-modern science and technology, boosting the pilot domains of national economy, basic industrial fields and improving the standard of people's living.
Introduced there were successes achieved in putting IT, Nano-technology, bio-engineering and basic science on a high level and promoting the modernization of the national economy.
A closing ceremony was held on Wednesday.
National Vocal Contest Held
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A national vocal contest was held at the Yun I Sang Concert Hall from August 11 to 13 on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the DPRK.
It brought together at least 160 creators and artistes selected from among art organizations across the country. Prior to this contest its participants competed in such vocal pieces as solo, pangchang and chorus at the preliminary competition.
They successfully showcased the achievements made in their efforts to implement the Workers' Party of Korea's music policy on arranging and depicting well the famous songs of the DPRK as vocal pieces to meet the need of the times and suit the thoughts and feelings of the people.
A closing ceremony of the contest took place at the Pyongyang International Cultural Centre on August 13.
Meeting of Int'l Flower Research Centre Held
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The first meeting of the Board of Directors of the International Flower Research Centre took place in Pyongyang.
Present there were directors of the board from the north and the south of Korea and the overseas Korean community and different countries.
Kim Yong Chol, vice-director of the Pyongyang Horticulture Bureau, made a congratulatory address at the meeting, which was followed by speeches of Kim Myoung Joo, general president of the HS International Trading B.V. who is chairman of the International Flower Research Centre, and Kim Dong Uk, president of the south Korean Chondo Co., Ltd. Then the meeting discussed the action program of the centre.
Prior to the meeting, the Board of Directors of the International Flower Research Centre was organized.
The centre will conduct a joint research and development of new species of flowers and activate scientific and technological exchange on a worldwide scale, thus contributing to the horticultural development.
DPRK Players Prove Successful at Olympiad
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- DPRK players bagged two silver and four bronze medals in the 29th Olympic Games now underway in China.
Kim Jong Su placed second in the men's 50 meter free pistol and third in the men's 10 meter air pistol.
An Kum Ae carried off a silver medal in the women's 52kg class judo event.
And Pak Chol Min came third in the men's 66kg class judo, Won Ok Im in the women's 63kg class judo and O Jong Ae in the women's 58kg category weightlifting respectively.
Floral Basket to Kim Jong Il from Palestine
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a floral basket from Chief of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas on the occasions of the 55th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War and the 63rd anniversary of Korea's liberation.
The floral basket was conveyed to an official concerned by Palestinian Ambassador to the DPRK Mohammad Shahta Zarab on Thursday.
Reception Given by Palestinian Ambassador
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Palestinian Ambassador to the DPRK Mohammad Shahta Zarab hosted a reception at his embassy here on Wednesday on the occasions of the 55th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War and the 63rd anniversary of Korea's liberation.
Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Pyong Phal, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea who is chairman of the DPRK-Palestine Friendship Association, Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned.
Speeches were made there.
Arch of Triumph, Immortal Monument to National Liberation
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- More and more working people from all walks of life and school youth and children are visiting the Arch of Triumph, the immortal grand monument situated at the foot of Moran Hill with the approach of the 63rd anniversary of the national liberation.
The stone monument was unveiled in April of Juche 71 (1982) in reflection of the deep desire of the whole Korean people to convey to the posterity the revolutionary feats of President Kim Il Sung, who had successfully achieved the historic cause of the liberation of the country and returned to Pyongyang in triumph.
The Arch of Triumph with 60m in height and 50.1m in facade width and 36.2m in side width has four stories. The first and second stories are separated with a balcony and the second, third and fourth stories have diminishing flat roofs.
The words of the revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Il Sung" are carved in the middle of the arch. Also engraved there are Mt. Paektu, the ancestral mountain of Korea, and "Buglers of Guerilla Army". Beneath them there are the words "1925" and "1945" reflecting the revolutionary history of the President shining along with the liberation of the country and sculptures on subsidiary themes are embossed.
The gateway with the lineal beauty as the main is well harmonized with the arch-shaped line and the gate is decorated with 70 azalea blossoms. All these heighten the formative, symbolic and artistic qualities of the arch.
The unique feature of three-tiered roof displays well the magnificence and grace of the Korean architectural form in the view of architectural proportion of the whole body.
Meanwhile, the green land, buildings, the forest of Moran Hill and others around the arch make its depiction clearer.
The Arch of Triumph encourages the Korean people to the efforts to shine the immortal exploits of the President in the liberation of the country through generations and build at an early date a great, prosperous and powerful nation of Juche under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Successes Achieved in Comprehensive Exploration of Mt. Paektu
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The Group for Comprehensive Exploration of Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu of the DPRK has achieved great successes in the comprehensive exploration of Mt. Paektu over the last two decades.
The comprehensive exploration of the grand nature of Mt. Paektu started early in the 1980s. It entered a new higher stage after General Secretary Kim Jong Il climbed up on the top of the mountain on August 18, Juche 77 (1988) to give historic field guidance to the work of the above-said group.
The group measured the depth of water in over 12,500 points in the whole area of the lake and in this course it discovered that the topography of the bottom of the lake is like a hollow plate and the deepest point of the lake is 384m. It also made an overall survey and measurement of the shore of the lake.
This led to defining the morphological characteristics of the lake and crater and scientifically proving that the lake is the deepest in the world as a lake on the mountain as it lies more than 2,750m above the sea level.
It succeeded in discovering the fact that atmospheric precipitation and wells and hot springs are the source of the water of the lake and that Amnok and Tuman rivers have their sources in the water flowing out of underground debouchment except the hole from which water goes out.
Several years of observation helped discover that 600mm annual precipitation is needed to make up for the loss of water in the lake but the annual average precipitation in the area is 2,269.2mm enough to keep the lake full of clear and clean water in four seasons.
The group also found out that there are 216 peaks more than 20 meters high when one commands a magnificent view of them including 16 main peaks which lie more than 2,600m above the sea level such as Janggun Peak 2,750m high, the highest peak on the grand Paektu mountain range stretching to the southernmost end of Korea, Haebal Peak, Hyangdo Peak, Ssangmujigae Peak, Tangyol Peak, Rakwon Peak, Paekun Peak, Chongsok Peak and Chonmun Peak.
The group succeeded in discovering ice caves dozens meters to more than 200m long at the foot of the outer rim of Janggun Peak, Haebal Peak and Tangyol Peak in 2006, thus proving that snow always exists in valleys of the body of Mt. Paektu.
The group also proved that the lake has preserved in the main the present shape from about 800 years before despite protracted evolution since its appearance and the history of living things in the water is very short.
The group observed that the permanent frozen layer on the lake is more than 10m thick and thickness of ice that stays on it for more than 210 days of the year is 1.5m and the ice is nearly twice as strong as that in plain areas.
The members of the group found out that the maximum wind speed on the mountain is 78.6m/s and observed the extreme values of atmospheric climate on the mountain, while discovering that minimum temperature on the mountain is -47.5 degrees centigrade.
They also made a scientific survey and analysis of the ecological environment in the water of the lake and, on this basis, bred chars of Tuman River in the water of the lake on an experimental basis before adapting them to its new environment.
They confirmed that at least 2,260 species of plants including 384 species of plants originating from the shore of the lake as well as more than 1,970 species of animals were distributed in the area and the number of birds habitant there account for 48 per cent of the species of birds habitant in the country.
They collected in the lake Rana temporaries, fresh water tortoises and other species of amphibian and reptiles and observed a moose weighing 200 kg, brown bear, wild boar, raccoon dog, big sea gull from the South Sea of Korea, bald eagle and others.
The overall survey of the mountain and the lake led to the discovery of such spectacular sceneries as water falls including Sagimun Falls, multifarious snow-covered scenery presented by Piru Peak, mysterious scenery of four seasons one can enjoy at one place, the wonderful scenery presented by water falls from the cliff of the crater at the end of summer rain, Koggul Falls from the cliff of Hyangdo Peak.
The group thus discovered the secret of the magnificent nature of the mountain that lasted for ages by waging a heroic struggle true to the noble patriotic intention of Kim Jong Il and his wise leadership, making the spirit of the mountain, the symbol of Juche Korea, and its fantastic scenery widely known to the world.
Reminiscences of Anti-Japanese Guerrillas, Priceless Revolutionary Pabulum
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- People of the DPRK are studying harder the book "Reminiscences of Anti-Japanese Guerrillas" on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the national liberation.
The book, the first edition of which saw the light in May of 1959, serves the Korean people as the precious revolutionary pabulum and true textbook of life.
The reminiscences impressively write the glorious revolutionary history and exploits of President Kim Il Sung who organized and led the anti-Japanese armed struggle to the victory and thus accomplished the historic cause of the national liberation.
They also vividly show the heroic struggle of anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters who armed themselves firmly with the revolutionary idea of the President, defended him politically, ideologically and with their lives and accepted and carried through his orders and instructions without reserve.
For this, the book has struck a deep impression on the readers and aroused them to action since its publication.
The working people of all strata and school youth and children read with pleasure the reminiscences, which give noble truth of life to the readers and help them shine the true life of the revolutionaries. They also make it their daily routine to study reminiscences.
Most of the units of the country read reminiscences before starting their daily work and the study of the reminiscences is being done in various forms such as explanation, personal conversation, gathering for expressing impressions on reminiscences and debate to learn from positive examples of the guerrillas.
The working people of the country work and live in a revolutionary manner like the anti-Japanese guerrillas, always studying hard the reminiscences, priceless treasures of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Indelible Crimes of Japan
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Though 63 years have passed since Korea was liberated, the Korean people still remember the unprecedented inhumane crimes of the Japanese imperialists who enforced the criminal "conscription system" to forcibly drive out Korean young and middle-aged people as cannon fodder for their war of aggression.
They promulgated the "ordinance on special Korean volunteers for army" and carried it into effect forcibly to meet the deficient human resources after launching the aggressive Sino-Japanese War. In August of 1943, two years ahead of their surrender, they also promulgated the "ordinance on conscription system" to mobilize more and more Korean people for the war of aggression.
By it, the Korean adults were obligated to be "conscripted" and not only lots of youth and middle-aged people but also children in their teens were dragged out to battlefields only to die a cruel death.
According to data available, the number of those "conscripted" to the army and navy was 240,847, that of "volunteer soldiers" for the army 17,664, that of "student soldiers" 4,385 and that of civilians attached to the army and navy 154,186, totaling more than 417,000.
The number of Koreans who were subjected to the unbearable mental and physical sufferings on the battlefields and backbreaking working sites by the forcible "army conscription" and "labor drafting" amounted to more than 8.4 millions.
Over one million Koreans were slain cold-bloodedly by the Japanese imperialists and 200,000 Korean women were forced to serve the aggressor army as sexual slaves.
The brutal atrocities of the Japanese imperialists are inhumane war crime unprecedented in the world and are intolerable as thrice-cursed ones which imposed immeasurable sufferings upon the Korean nation.
Nevertheless, the reactionaries of Japan, far from apologizing and compensating for the hideous crimes they had committed against the Korean nation in the last century, are engaged in re-invasion moves such as distortion of the history of aggressive war and attempt to seize Tok Islet while evading the responsibility still in the 21st century.
The reactionaries of Japan must be clearly mindful that no matter how desperately they try to distort the history and cover up crimes, they can not shirk the responsibility for redeeming the past.
The Korean people will never forget the sanguinary aggressive crimes of the Japanese imperialists.
KCNA Blasts Moves to Justify Visits to "Yasukuni Shrine"
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The moves to justify visits to "Yasukuni Shrine" in Japan are becoming evermore pronounced since the outset of the new century.
This is nothing but a politically motivated foolish and reckless action of those who are so brazen-faced as to keep the bloodstained history of aggression perpetrated by the Japanese imperialists in the last century buried into oblivion and go without redeeming their past crimes for good.
"Yasukuni Shrine" is an ideological centre where the Japanese rulers "mentally enlightened" samurais and militarists before hurling them into continental aggression century after century.
It was in that place that warmongers grew up after being imbued with ultra nationalism and militarism. They launched aggression against Korea and Manchuria and ignited the Sino-Japanese war, the Pacific war and other wars of aggression, bringing so horrible misfortune and sufferings to humankind and plundering various countries of countless treasures and taking them to Japan.
The shrine bears witness to the monstrous crimes committed by Japan after occupying Korea and other Asian countries in the past.
Nevertheless, the Japanese reactionaries justify visits to it, claiming that they are "an internal affair" and branding the just demand of the Asian people for a halt to them as "interference in the internal affairs of Japan." This is nothing but an attempt to repeat at any cost the history of aggression and crimes in the past century in the 21st century.
The ceaseless visits to "Yasukuni Shrine" in Japan are a total negation of the Japanese history of aggression and crimes and a version of the policy for "turning Japanese into subjects of the Japanese Emperor" and "keeping people in ignorance" in a bid to prepare the youngsters and other people as "a shock brigade" for reinvasion of Asia.
Then why is Japan so keen to revive militarism through ceaseless visits to "Yasukuni Shrine" and reckless remarks?
It is the most important task facing militarist Japan at present to reinforce the political and military base for continental aggression.
It considers it a primary task to bring up a lot of blindly "loyal subjects" capable of undertaking a war of aggression in the future, taking advantage of a new fascist environment growing strong throughout the Japanese society.
This betrays the real aim sought by the Japanese ultra-right forces in persistently trying to legalize and popularize the visit to "Yasukuni Shrine."
It is their calculation that they can realize their old dream of the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" when they make the younger generation believe that a war of aggression they launch is a "just war" and bring up them as adherents to militarism and Japan emerges a military power.
The Japanese politicians had better bear in mind that a visit to "Yasukuni Shrine" leads to militarism and destruction and disgrace.
All Koreans Called upon to Remain True to Idea of "By Our Nation Itself"
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The idea of "By our nation itself" serves as a powerful ideological and moral weapon in the June 15 era of reunification as it encourages the Koreans to achieve the country's reunification as early as possible on the principle of national independence.
Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article.
It goes on:
The idea of "By our nation itself" clarified in the historic June 15 joint declaration calls for independently discussing and solving the national issue, the issue of reunification, in line with the requirements and interests common to the nation by rejecting outside forces and pooling the efforts of the Koreans.
The whole course of the advance of the June 15 era of reunification represents the course of materializing the idea of "By our nation itself."
All the achievements made in the struggle for national unity and the reunification of the country since the publication of the June 15 joint declaration are the brilliant fruition of "By our nation itself," the basic idea of the joint declaration. The Koreans' movement for national reunification has definitely turned into a nationwide patriotic movement and a massive struggle, irrespective of idea and ism. The national reconciliation and unity have been promoted and the movement for national reunification has made dynamic progress under the banner of "By our nation itself" despite the blatant challenge and obstructions of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad. This goes to clearly prove that the idea of "By our nation itself" truly serves as a banner for promoting the advance of the June 15 era of reunification and leading it and an idea for all Koreans as it has tremendous vitality.
It is a sure guarantee for ensuring a steady dynamic advance of the June 15 era of reunification to fully support, firmly defend and thoroughly implement the idea of "By our nation itself," the idea of independent reunification.
All Koreans in the north and the south and overseas will firmly uphold the idea of "By our nation itself" despite any difficulties and ordeals and vigorously advance the June 15 era of reunification with its might.
Vigilance against Imperialists' "Appeasement" Strategy Called for
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The imperialists, frightened by the ever-growing anti-imperialist, independent forces, are now employing an "appeasement" strategy, painting themselves as their "supporters", "helpers" and "humanitarians", says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
It goes on:
The progressive people of the world should clearly see through the reactionary nature and danger of the strategy and heighten vigilance against it.
The said strategy is a crafty artifice to disarm other countries and nations ideologically and morally.
Under the present situation where the anti-imperialist, independent forces are growing strong worldwide the imperialists find it hard to resort to the method of undisguised use of strength only.
This prompts the imperialists to profess "detente" and "cooperation," swimming with the trend of the era towards independence and peace, in a bid to meet their ulterior purpose of hegemony.
The above-mentioned strategy is a very crafty and sinister scenario for domination.
They are stretching their tentacles of interference, talking about "settlement," "mediation" and "cooperation" and the like in case other countries are torn off by political and national disputes and economic crisis, etc.
The strategy is one of aggression and interference based on the carrot and stick tactics.
They are now becoming craftier and more vicious in their methods to achieve their goals of aggression and domination.
The "appeasement" strategy adopted by them suggests that they are finding themselves in a more difficult position and inching close to a decline and ruin.
The increased frenzy made by the imperialists to realize their hypocritical "appeasement" strategy compels the countries and people aspiring after independence to bolster up the forces for self-defence with a high degree of vigilance.
It is the necessity and truth of history that justice is sure to prevail over injustice.
Lee Myung Bak Regime Condemned in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration in south Korea issued a statement titled "Lee Myung Bak regime is intolerable" on August 9.
The traitorous Lee Myung Bak group formed a "mobile corps of police officers" reminiscent of the past "Paekgoldan" and decided to pay money to policemen according to their "records of arrest", stirring up the resentment of the people, the statement said.
It charged that such behavior is aimed at putting down the candlelight actions at any cost.
It further said: Not content with violent suppression of the candlelight actions demanding the total renegotiations on American beef import, the Lee Myung Bak pro-U.S. conservative regime is seeking to arrest the people at random, even paying money to policemen in reward of their arrest records. This proves that the regime is disregarding the demand of the people and their life.
The statement warned that the people will never pardon traitor Lee.
Lee Myung Bak's Dismissal of Manager of Public Broadcasting Service Protested
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Various circles of south Korea on August 11 staged a protest against the action taken by traitor Lee Myung Bak to dismiss Jong Yon Ju, manager of the KBS, in a bid to put the public broadcasting service under his control.
The All-People Action to Check Moves to Control Broadcasting Services and Suppression of Netizens called a press conference in front of the KBS Office in Youido in Seoul at which it denounced the traitorous group's moves to control broadcasting services.
The press conference was followed by a candlelight rally.
It was participated in by lawmakers from political parties including the Democratic Labor Party, employees of the KBS and citizens.
That day employees of the KBS held an emergency general meeting at which they formed the "action of the KBS staff to defend public broadcasting services".
The Democratic Party called a press conference at which it declared that it would struggle against the "government's" moves to suppress the freedom of speech, holding that the dismissal of the manager of the KBS was obviously an illegal action.
The Democratic Labor Party also declared it would launch a new struggle to protect the public nature of media.
Meanwhile, Jong Yon Ju who was unreasonably dismissed by the group of traitors declared he would stage a legal struggle, adding that Lee Myung Bak who reduced the public broadcasting services to his private institutions would be recorded as a criminal in history.
S. Korean Air force's Participation in Joint Aerial Maneuvers under Fire
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The People for Achieving Peace and Reunification of south Korea issued a statement on August 9 to denounce the puppet warmongers for letting their air force participate in large-scale joint aerial military exercises with the U.S.
The statement recalled that the south Korean air force was to take part in the Red Flag joint aerial military exercises to be staged in a U.S. air force base in Nevada State from August 9 to 23.
The air force's mobilization of F-15K fighters, in particular, is an indication that the military exercises are aimed at examining the capability for a preemptive attack on the north, the statement noted.
Persons concerned with the military disclosed that through the joint aerial military exercises its participants would get familiar with the operations to hold the command of the air through an offensive, fulfill the mission to strike ground targets, etc. and use even JDAM and laser guided missiles, the statement said, and continued: This proves that the scenario for making a preemptive strike at the north is being implemented at a specific phase.
The above-said military exercises based on the latest tactics of the U.S. Air Force are the largest-ever war exercises in the Asia-Pacific region. Involved there will be huge U.S. aggressor forces including the Navy and Marines and its satellite forces.
The statement noted with concern that the south Korean armed forces' participation in such military exercises means their involvement in the U.S.-led operations targeted against the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity.
This will increase south Korea's military dependence upon the U.S. and the south Korean armed forces will be completely reduced to a lever for carrying out the U.S. strategy for world domination, it added.
It strongly demanded an immediate stop to the above-said military exercises as they will threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula and aggravate the military confrontation between the south and the north.
DPRK Praised in Bulgaria
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Bulgaria on Aug. 7 on the occasions of the 60th birthday of the DPRK and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of DPRK-Bulgaria diplomatic ties.
Attending it were officials of a Bulgarian city administration and the Bulgaria-Korea Friendship Association and citizens. Present on invitation were the DPRK ambassador to Bulgaria and staff members of the embassy.
Speeches were made there.
The vice-chairman of the Bulgaria-Korea Friendship Association said that the foundation of the DPRK and the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 60 years ago were great historic events.
He went on:
Since its foundation, the DPRK has consistently made long strides along the road of socialism, and today it has turned into a political and ideological power.
The DPRK is a genuine man-centered socialist state as it has fully applied the Juche idea, founded by President Kim Il Sung, in all spheres of its state activities, regarding it as the one and only guidelines.
Socialist Korea has become an object of envy in the international community as a country where welfare of the people is steadily promoted, people are free of tax and systems of free education and free medical care are enforced.
The DPRK astonished the world by successfully launching its first artificial earth satellite "Kwangmyongsong No. 1" in August 1998 and has built powerful war deterrent by putting spurs to the building of a military power under the banner of Songun.
Korea's reunification is, in essence, a matter for retaking the half of the country from the outsiders' domination and establishing the nation's sovereignty in the whole of Korea, the vice-chairman said, adding:
The prospect for solving the problem of Korea's reunification depends on how to apply "By our nation itself", the idea of national independence set forth at the first north-south summit which was held in June 2000 after 55 years of the division of the country.
The progressive public circles in Bulgaria always express invariable support and solidarity with the Korean people in their just struggle.
Memorial Lecture for Korean Victims of Great Kanto Quake Given
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- A memorial lecture for the Korean victims was given in Tokyo on August 9 in demand of the probe into the truth about the massacre of Koreans and apology and reinstatement of the victims, 85 years after this massacre during the great quake that hit Kanto, Japan in September 1923.
It was sponsored by the "executive committee" grouping Japanese and south Korean figures and Koreans in Japan.
At the lecture speakers underscored the need for Japan to clarify its state responsibility for the above-said mass killings of Koreans.
A statement issued at the lecture urged the Japanese government to deeply reflect on the fact that it has concealed the truth about the above-said massacre, apologize for it and make positive efforts to reinstate the victims.
For Spanish-speaking people
Tendra lugar exhibicion floral por 60 aniversario de fundacion de RPDC
Pyongyang, 14 de agosto (ATCC) -- Sera inaugurada a principios de septiembre en la capitalina Exposicion Permanente de Kimilsungia y Kimjongilia la exhibicion de estas flores con motivo del 60o aniversario de la fundacion de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea.
En este evento participaran las instituciones de las fuerzas armadas, ministerios y organos centrales, la Chongryon (Asociacion General de Coreanos Residentes en Japon) y huespedes extranjeros.
En este festival floral los militares y habitantes coreanos y la humanidad progresista del mundo volveran a rendir el mas sublime homenaje y la maxima gloria al Presidente Kim Il Sung y al Dirigente Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Il recibe cesto de flores del mandatario palestino
Pyongyang, 14 de agosto (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio un cesto de flores que le dirigiera el jefe de la Autoridad Nacional de Palestina, Mahmoud Abbas, en ocasion del 55o aniversario de la victoria del pueblo coreano en la Guerra de Liberacion de la Patria (27 de julio) y del 63o aniversario de la liberacion de Corea (15 de agosto).
El embajador palestino en Corea, Mohammad Shahta Jarab, lo entrego el dia 14 a un funcionario coreano.
Corea, sede de reunion de Consejo de Centro de Planta Decorativa
Pyongyang, 14 de agosto (ATCC) -- Pyongyang se hizo hoy la sede de la primera reunion del Consejo del Centro Internacional de Investigacion de Flores.
Estuvieron presentes los consejeros de dicho centro del Norte y el Sur de Corea y en Ultramar y paises extranjeros.
El foro escucho el discurso de felicitacion de Kim Yong Chol, subdirector de la Direccion de Floricultura de Pyongyang, el discurso de Kim Myoung Joo, presidente del Centro Internacional de Investigacion de Flores y presidente general de la Empresa Comercial Internacional HS de Holanda y el de Kim Tong Uk, presidente de la Sociedad Anonima Chondo del Sur de Corea y discutio la orientacion de la labor del Centro.
Antes de la reunion, fue organizado el consejo de dicho Centro.
El centro contribuira al desarrollo de floricultura por medio de estudiar y desarrollar en comun nuevas variedades de flores y de librar animadamente el intercambio cientifico y tecnico internacional.
ATCC fustiga intento de Japon de justificar visita al Yasukuni
Pyongyang, 14 de agosto (ATCC) -- Desde el principio del nuevo siglo hasta la fecha, se tornan cada vez mas abiertas las maniobras de Japon para justificar la visita al "santuario Yasukuni" a rendir culto a los imperialistas japoneses muertos en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Esto deviene una locura politica de los tipejos sinverguenzas para ocultar la ensangrentada historia de agresion perpetrada en el siglo pasado por los imperialistas japoneses y eludir para siempre la liquidacion del pasado criminal.
Los gobernantes japoneses utilizaron de siglo en siglo el "santuario Yasukuni" como base ideologica para "civilizar espiritualmente" a los samurais y militaristas y estimularlos a la agresion al continente.
En ese lugar fueron formados los maniacos de guerra inyectados hasta en sus tuetanos de ultranacionalismo y militarismo.
Ellos desataron las guerras que impusieron grandes desgracias y sufrimientos a la humanidad como la agresion a Corea y Manchuria y las guerras China-Japon y del Pacifico y saquearon a muchos paises las riquezas de suma astronomica que fueron transportadas a Japon.
Por esta razon, ese santuario resulta testigo historico que acusa a la vista de todo el mundo los crimenes barbaros que perpetro Japon en el siglo pasado ocupando a Corea y otros paises de Asia.
Sin embargo, los reaccionarios japoneses legalizaron la visita a ese lugar como "asunto interno" y califican de "intervencion en los asuntos internos" la justa demanda de los pueblos asiaticos que la rechazan.
Esto parte del intento de repetir a toda costa en el nuevo siglo la historia de agresion y los crimenes cometidos en el siglo pasado.
La visita al santuario que en Japon no cesa de siglo en siglo es la global negacion a la historia de agresion y crimen de este y, a la vez, la variedad de la politica de "conversion de los japoneses en nuevos ciudadanos" y la de mantener la poblacion japonesa en el "oscurantismo" para adiestrar a los habitantes y los miembros de nueva generacion como "brigada de choque" para la nueva agresion a Asia.
Entonces, ?Por que vuelve a marchar Japon por el camino del militarismo visitando reiteradamente al "santuario" y lanzando disparates?
Completar la base politico-militar para la agresion al continente se presenta como la tarea mas importante en la actualidad para Japon militarista.
Lo primordial en ello es adiestrar en gran escala a los "subditos fieles" capaces de encargarse de la guerra de agresion del futuro al utilizar el ambiente neofascista que se fomenta en la sociedad en general.
He aqui la verdadera intencion de las fuerzas ultraderechistas de Japon que maniobran para legalizar y popularizar la visita al "santuario".
Piensan que al convencer a las nuevas generaciones que la guerra agresiva es la "guerra justa" podran hacer de estas adeptos al militarismo, convertir a Japon en una potencia militar y realizar su sueno antiguo con la "esfera de coprosperidad de gran Asia Oriental".
Los politicastros japoneses deben tener presente que la visita al "santuario Yasukuni" es el camino hacia el militarismo y el de ruina y verguenza.