Kim Jong Il Presented with Honorary Title and Provincial Key of Ecuador
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- The Office of the Presidential Envoy to Los Rios Province of Ecuador decided to award the title of honorary citizenship and a key of the province to General Secretary Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK.
A special meeting of the office was held on Aug. 14 to decide to award them to Kim Jong Il.
Present there were the presidential envoy to Los Rios Province, Trotsky Serano, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Finance of Ecuador who is president of the Canar Provincial Institute for the Friendship and Solidarity with DPRK of Ecuador, Daniel Alvarez, chairman of the Ecuadorian Committee for Supporting Korea's Independent and Peaceful Reunification, several mayors in the province and other persons from various circles.
A decision to award the title of honorary citizenship and a key of the province to Kim Jong Il was adopted there.
It said:
On the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of the DPRK the Office of the Presidential Envoy to Los Rios Province has decided to award the title of honorary citizenship of Los Rios Province to Marshal Kim Jong Il, distinguished leader of the Korean people, and present him with a key of the province in token of solidarity with the Korean people and the Korean revolution guided by the Juche idea, and in reflection of the respect and reverence of the inhabitants of Los Rios Province desirous of friendship and solidarity with the DPRK, regarding it a noble duty of the Ecuadorian state and regional autonomous governments to boost cooperation, friendship and solidarity with all countries in the world, reaffirming the exploits Marshal Kim Jong Il has performed by rendering great services for the development of the popular masses-centered socialist revolution and considering him as a great model in the struggle of the peoples of developing countries for independence and sovereignty.
Message of Condolences to Zambian Vice-President
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of condolences to Rupiah Banda, vice-president of Zambia, on Aug. 20 in connection with the fact that Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died of illness.
Kim in the message expressed deep condolences to the vice-president and, through him, to the dead and his bereaved family and the Zambian government and people.
Recalling that the Zambian president made a great contribution to the welfare of the Zambian people and the development of the country and put forth a great deal of efforts for boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, the message expressed belief that the Zambian government and people would overcome the grief and steadily achieve successes in the work for progress and prosperity of the country.
Secretary of C.C., WPK Meets Lao Women's Union Delegation
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the Lao Women's Union headed by President of its Central Committee Sysay Leudedmounsone at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
The head of the delegation said that she saw with her own eyes the successes achieved by the Korean people and women in socialist construction under the wise leadership of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il during her visit to the DPRK and was deeply moved by them.
She noted that she would exert all efforts to boost the traditional friendly and cooperative ties between Laos and the DPRK provided by President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Kim Il Sung.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from C.C., Lao Women's Union
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the Central Committee of the Lao Women's Union.
It was handed to Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, by Sysay Leudedmounsone, president of the Central Committee of the Lao Women's Union who is heading the delegation of the union, on a visit to the DPRK on Aug. 21.
KDWU Officials Meet Members of Delegation of LWU
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- A meeting between officials of the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union and the members of the delegation of the Lao Women's Union was held in Pyongyang today.
Present there were Vice-chairwoman Kim Kyong Ok and other officials of the Central Committee of the KDWU and the members of the delegation of the Lao Women's Union headed by President of its Central Committee Sysay Leudedmounsone.
Speeches were made there.
The participants talked about the activities of the women's unions of the two countries and successes and experience gained by them in the past.
DPRK Delegation Leaves for Foreign Countries
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- A DPRK friendship delegation led by Hong Son Ok, vice-chairwoman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is also vice-chairwoman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People, left here today by air to visit Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
National Students Information Science and Technology Exhibition Opens
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- A national students information science and technology exhibition was opened to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK.
Displayed in the exhibition are more than 700 inventions and technological products contributed by students of universities and colleges across the country through energetic activities for scientific inquiry.
An opening ceremony took place at the Three-Revolution Exhibition on Thursday.
Present there were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education, and others.
Ri Yong Chol, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, made an opening address.
Famous Koryo-made Fan
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- Fans have been used by the Korean people from olden time.
Fans came into being in Korea very long ago. Some discovered relics and records indicate that fans were widely used in the periods of Koguryo and Koryo.
It is proven by a fan found in the mural painting of Koguryo King Kogukwon's Mausoleum built in Anak County, South Hwanghae Province in the middle of the 4th century.
The then people used to make fans and give them to elders and close acquaintances with summer drawing near.
The folding fan made in the period of Koryo (918-1392) was fine in handiness and wonderful in decoration.
The fan the form and picture of which were varied, delicate and strong in national coloring was famous even in foreign countries.
It is told that a foreign emperor was fond of Korean fans, folding fans in particular, ordered people to make such fans in his country and named them Koryo Fan.
The Korean people, who are carrying forward the national tradition, are constantly developing the fan-making technology in their own way and are manufacturing elegant, beautiful, smart and handy fans suited to the modern aesthetic feelings.
Laver of Ongjin
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- The surroundings of Pha, Ryongho, Sin and other islets in the sea off Ongjin, South Hwanghae Province, is well known for the rich distribution of laver.
Laver which propagates through spores grows on rocks and stones in the sea.
Taking advantage of these characteristics of laver, its growers throw floats on the sea and get spores glued to them.
Dried laver is used as nutritious non-staple food as it contains 7 to 18 percent of carbonhydrate, 25 to 30 percent of protein as well as vitamins.
With the operation of a new laver processing factory and an artificial laver cultivation ground, it has become possible to supply larger quantities of laver to the people.
The laver of Ongjin is of good quality and the preservation of its pure breed is rewarding. So it is protected and propagated as a natural treasure.
Japan's Wild Ambition for Overseas Expansion Flayed
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- Aso, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, addressing a recent press conference, said that it was necessary to extend the existing "law on special measures against terrorism" for the refueling operation of the "Self-Defence Forces (SDF)" in the Indian Ocean at the extraordinary session of the next-term Diet as it will expire in January next year.
Noting that the world's attention is being shifted to Afghanistan from Iraq, he blustered that "it is illogical for Japan to pull out of Afghanistan when various countries are dispatching additional troops there." He even queried "Can the world understand Japan's unilateral non-involvement in the job done by the international community?"
Rodong Sinmun Thursday observes in a signed commentary in this regard:
The Japanese reactionary ruling forces are employing sleight of hand in their efforts to cover up their sinister intention, talking a lot about their "international contribution", but this will get them nowhere.
The SDF's dispatch to the Indian Ocean is a prelude to the Japanese militarist overseas aggression and a test military operation to undertake an actual war.
The desperate bid made by Japan for the SDF's dispatch overseas is aimed at laying a springboard from which to launch overseas aggression and start a war in any region any time.
Precisely for this reason Japan is so nervous about the military actions of SDF warships in the Indian Ocean expected to expire in several months to come and taking so much pain to extend them again at any cost.
Overseas aggression is an invariable ambition of the Japanese reactionaries. The sphere of the SDF's military operation is now covering Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean and extending to other parts of the world, going far beyond the boundary of Japan.
The Japanese reactionaries are making desperate efforts to turn Japan into a military giant and launch overseas aggression come what may in a few years to come in order to realize the old dream of "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" it failed to do in the past.
Japan claims that the international community wants it to make what it called "international contribution", but this is a nonsensical talk made by it, unaware of where it stands.
The Japanese reactionary ruling forces should understand that the international community including the Asian people remains vigilant against the "international contribution" on their lips.
The Japanese reactionaries had better behave themselves, mindful that their moves to turn Japan into a military power and launch overseas expansion only precipitate their self-destruction.
U.S. Urged to Roll Back Its Hostile Policy toward DPRK
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- It is entirely due to the U.S. criminal hostile policy toward the DPRK that the situation remains tense on the Korean Peninsula and hurdles are still lying in the way of peace and reunification despite the trend of the times toward dialogue and peace.
Rodong Sinmun Thursday observes this in a by-lined article.
It continues:
The U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK is a criminal policy of aggression to stifle the DPRK dynamically advancing along the road of socialism under the uplifted banner of independence and enslave the dignified people of the DPRK.
The U.S. forces' presence in south Korea is a vivid manifestation of the criminal hostile policy toward the DPRK. The U.S. has systematically escalated its moves to threaten and invade the DPRK with its forces of aggression present in south Korea as a shock force, illegally keeping them there for more than six decades.
Even at this hour the U.S. is staging the provocative Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises to invade the DPRK in south Korea with huge forces and ultra-modern war hardware involved.
The above-said policy constitutes a main factor of hamstringing the efforts to achieve the independent reunification of the Korean nation and develop the inter-Korean ties.
The U.S. is instigating the anti-reunification forces in south Korea keen on flunkeyism and dependence on foreign forces to stir up the atmosphere of confrontation with fellow countrymen in a desperate bid to bar the cause of national reunification.
The emergence of the pro-U.S. conservative Lee Myung Bak "government" in south Korea was a product of the plot and scenario of the U.S. to hold in check the Korean nation's reconciliation and unity and independent reunification.
The U.S. is now driving the Lee group to the political and military confrontation with the DPRK under the slogans of "security" and "alliance".
The reality proves that it is impossible to ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula nor is it possible to achieve national independence and reunification unless an end is put to the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK.
The article urges the U.S. to roll back at the earliest possible date its hostile policy toward the DPRK, a leftover of the old era of confrontation that runs counter to the trend of the times toward independent reunification and peace and prosperity.
Attempt to Revive Fascist Dictatorship Flayed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- The people from all walks of life in south Korea staged in Seoul on Aug. 16 a struggle against the traitorous Lee Myung Bak group's moves to revive the fascist dictatorship, according to KBS of south Korea.
Religious organizations including the Catholic Priests' Council for Justice held a mass on the situation at which they charged that the security authorities mercilessly cracked down upon the participants in the 100th candlelight action and are interrogating those arrested at several police stations in Seoul.
The organizations declared that religionists would join the citizens in the candlelight struggle against the violence of the security forces.
The All-People Action against Control of Broadcasting Services and Suppression of Netizens held a rally in front of the KBS Office in Youido, Seoul to bitterly criticize the "government's" moves to put public broadcasting services under its control.
Meanwhile, the People's Measure Council against the Total Opening of south Korean Markets to American Beef called a press conference in Seoul on Aug. 18, urging the "National Assembly" to take a positive step for dismissal of the chief of the Police Office.
Suppression of Progressive Camp Assailed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- The People for Achieving Peace and Reunification in south Korea in a statement issued on August 18 condemned the traitorous Lee Myung Bak group's reckless crackdown upon the progressive camp.
The statement accused the police authorities of walking off Han Sang Ryol, permanent co-representative of the Solidarity for Progress of south Korea, on Aug. 14 in the wake of the prompt arrest of Pak Sok Un, chairman of its permanent steering committee on Aug. 13.
Terming this fascist action a blatant challenge to the progressive forces, the statement declared that the evermore undisguised violence of the police authorities can never be tolerated.
It is a foolish dream for Lee to think he can hold in check the fierce candlelight actions staged by people from all walks of life through brutal crackdown, the statement noted.
It strongly demanded Lee put an end to the crackdown upon the progressive forces and participants in the candlelight actions and immediately release the arrestees, though belatedly.
Stop to Ulji Freedom Guardian Called for in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration of south Korea on Aug. 18 released a statement demanding a stop to the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises being staged by the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppets.
The statement charged that the joint military drills are war ones for aggression being staged according to the scenario for a war of aggression against the north.
The said war exercises pose a grave threat to peace and security of Northeast Asia as they not only drive the deteriorated inter-Korean relations into catastrophe but also escalate the confrontation and tension on the Korean Peninsula, the statement said.
It held that the north-targeted war exercises for aggression being waged by the U.S. and the south Korean authorities under the pretext of "normalization of relations" and "building of peace mechanism" clearly prove who is arch criminal threatening peace on the peninsula.
The war drills now underway amidst the U.S. and the south Korean authorities' intensified "cooperation" for stifling the north would throw a bigger obstacle in the way of reunification, the statement said, strongly opposing the war exercises for aggression going against peace and reunification of the peninsula.
U.S.-S. Korean Joint Military Exercises under Fire
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- The Switzerland-Korea Committee released a statement on Aug. 14 to denounce the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises staged by south Korea and the United States.
The statement charged that the above-said maneuvers of the U.S. troops and the south Korean puppet armed forces are a criminal act of threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and the Asian-Pacific region as they are part of the preparations for invading the DPRK.
The U.S. imperialists continue their moves to stifle socialist Korea behind the curtain camouflaged with such rhetoric as "dialogue" and "improvement of relations" and the Lee Myung Bak pro-American conservative group attaches top priority to the strengthening of the south Korea-U.S. "alliance" rather than to the improvement of the inter-Korean relations and the national reunification, it pointed out.
The statement further said:
The Lee group has totally denied the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and the October 4 declaration, instead of implementing them, while pushing ahead with the preparations for a war against the DPRK in conspiracy with the U.S. This is a vicious challenge to all the Korean people and the world progressive mankind aspiring after peace and reunification.
The U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet clique should stop the aggressive Ulji Freedom Guardian war exercises at once and the U.S. imperialist aggressors should go out of south Korea.
Birthday of DPRK to Be Celebrated in Italy
Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- An Italian preparatory committee for celebrating the 60th anniversary of the DPRK was inaugurated with due ceremony in Rome on Aug. 14.
Roberto Gabriele, general secretary of the Movement for Peace and Socialism of Italy, was selected chairman of the preparatory committee.
The preparatory committee decided to publish famous works of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, hold political and cultural events including a seminar on their exploits and a celebration meeting and widely introduce Songun Korea through media on the occasion of the above-said anniversary.
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Jong Il recibe titulo de ciudadano honorifico del Ecuador
Pyongyang, 21 de agosto (ATCC) -- Con motivo del 60o aniversario de la fundacion de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, la Gobernacion de la provincia de Los Rios del Ecuador decidio otorgar al Dirigente Kim Jong Il el titulo de ciudadano honorifico y la llave de esta provincia.
La resolucion correspondiente fue aprobada en la reunion especial de la gobernacion sesionada el dia 14.
En la ocasion participaron el gobernador de la provincia, Juan Jose Barquet Touma, el subsecretario del Ministerio de Finanzas, Trotski Serano quien es presidente del Instituto Provincial de Canar del Ecuador por la Amistad y la Solidaridad con la RPDC, Daniel Alvarez, presidente del Comite Ecuatoriano de Apoyo a la Reunificacion Independiente y Pacifica de Corea, los alcaldes de la provincia y otras personalidades de distintos sectores.
El texto de la resolucion aprobada en la ocasion sigue:
La Gobernacion de la Provincia de Los Rios Considerando
Que el Estado Ecuatoriano y las entidades de regimen seccional autonomo tienen la altisima mision de propender al fortalecimiento de vinculos de cooperacion, paz, amistad y solidaridad con las naciones del mundo,
Que en el presente ano, la RPDC, conmemora el acontecimiento de su profunda significacion historica el 60o aniversario de la fundacion de la RPDC, que ha contribuido al fortalecimiento de su revolucion socialista, centrada en el desarrollo humano-centrico integral del pueblo coreano,
Que la historia de la humanidad y la memoria colectiva de los pueblos del Tercer Mundo que luchan por su independencia y autodeterminacion, recuerdan como paradigma y ejemplo de valor, abnegacion, entrega y coraje, al clarividente lider Mariscal Kim Jong Il.
Acuerda
Declarar ciudadano honorifico de la provincia de Los Rios, como homenaje al Mariscal Kim Jong Il, carismatico dirigente y conductor del pueblo coreano.
Otorgar al Mariscal Kim Jong Il, como reconocimiento de admiracion y hermandad con el pueblo coreano y su revolucion guiada por los principios redentores de la idea Juche, la llave de la provincia de Los Rios, en testimonio de hospitalidad y aprecio de esta provincia que aspira a construir lazos de hermanamiento y solidaridad con la RPDC.
Kim Yong Nam envia telegrama de consuelo al vicepresidente zambio
Pyongyang, 21 de agosto (ATCC) -- El presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, envio el dia 20 un telegrama de consuelo al vicepresidente de la Republica de Zambia, Rupiah Banda, en relacion con que el presidente de este pais, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, fallecio a consecuencia de una enfermedad.
En su telegrama el remitente expresa sus profundas condolencias al destinatario y, por su conducto, al difunto y sus familiares, al gobierno y el pueblo de este pais africano.
Destaca que el presidente contribuyo grandemente al bienestar del pueblo zambio y el desarrollo del pais e hizo muchos esfuerzos por el desarrollo de las relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre los dos paises, y expresa su conviccion de que el gobierno y el pueblo de Zambia lograran exitos en su labor para el progreso y la prosperidad del pais superando la tristeza.
Exposicion de estudiantes por el dia de fundacion de la RPDC
Pyongyang, 21 de agosto (ATCC) -- Quedo montada hoy en la Exposicion Permanente de las Tres Revoluciones (ideologia, tecnica y cultura) la exposicion nacional de la ciencia y la tecnica de informatica de estudiantes por el 60o aniversario de la fundacion de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea.
Fueron exhibidos alli mas de 700 invenciones y productos tecnicos que los estudiantes de las universidades y escuelas especializadas de todo el pais investigaron y perfeccionaron en el proceso de dinamicas actividades de investigacion cientifica.
En la ocasion estuvieron presentes el secretario del Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea Kim Jung Rin, el ministro de Educacion Kim Yong Jin y otros funcionarios.
Ri Yong Chol, primer secretario del CC de la Union de la Juventud Socialista Kim Il Sung pronuncio el discurso de apertura.
Rodong Sinmun denuncia ambicion expansionista de Japon
Pyongyang, 21 de agosto (ATCC) -- En su reciente rueda de prensa, el secretario general del Partido Democratico Liberal de Japon, Aso, subrayo la necesidad de dar prorroga en la dieta provisional de la proxima legislatura a la "ley de medidas especiales frente al terrorismo" para la operacion nodriza de las "Fuerzas de Autodefensa" en el Mar Indico, que sera vencida en enero del ano proximo.
Destacando que la atencion mundial se desvia de Iraq y se enfoca en Afganistan, dijo que "seria ilogica la retirada de Japon cuando todos los paises envian mas tropas a Afganistan" y se pregunto: "?sera aceptable en este mundo la ausencia de Japon en lo que hace la sociedad internacional?".
Por mucho que las fuerzas gobernantes reaccionarias de Japon hablen de la "contribucion internacional", nunca podran ocultar su malsano objetivo detras de ella.
Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual del dia 21 y continua:
El envio de las "fuerzas de autodefensa" al Mar Indico deviene el preludio de la agresion a ultramar de los militaristas japoneses y la operacion militar experimental para la guerra real.
Japon esta ansioso por despachar a otros paises a sus efectivos porque pretende preparar de esta manera el trampolin de agresion a ultramar y provocar la guerra en cualquier momento y en cualquier zona.
Por esta razon, esta desesperado desde ahora para prolongar la operacion militar de los buques de sus "fuerzas de autodefensa" en el Mar Indico que va a terminar unos meses despues.
La agresion a ultramar es la invariable ambicion de los reaccionarios japoneses.
Hoy dia, el teatro operacional de las "Fuerzas de Autodefensa" ya no es el territorio nacional sino adquiere el ambito internacional, incluyendo las regiones de Asia y el Pacifico y del Mar Indico.
Los reaccionarios japoneses estan obsesionados por lograr dentro de unos anos la conversion de su pais en una potencia militar y emprender el camino de agresion a ultramar para realizar a toda costa su antiguo sueno de la "Esfera de coprosperidad de gran Asia Oriental" frustrado en el siglo pasado.
Ese pais isleno habla como si la sociedad internacional deseara su "contribucion internacional" sin saber que los pueblos asiaticos y otros integrantes de ella estan tomando precaucion de este embuste.
Los reaccionarios japoneses deben actuar con prudencia teniendo presente que sus maniobras para la conversion de su pais en una potencia militar y la expansion a ultramar adelantaran su autodestruccion.