Greetings to Mexican President
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President of Mexico, on Tuesday on the occasion of the 198th anniversary of its independence.
Kim Yong Nam in the message wished the Mexican people greater progress and prosperity, expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Mexico would continue to expand and develop in the interests of the two peoples.
Yang Hyong Sop Meets Myanmar Friendship Delegation
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with the Myanmar friendship delegation headed by Aung Thein Lynn, mayor of Yangon City and chairman of the Yangon City Development Committee, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Tuesday when it paid a courtesy call on him.
Visits
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the DPRK-China Friendship Association headed by Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health who is chairman of the Central Committee of the association, left Pyongyang on Tuesday to visit China.
Arriving on the same day to participate in the 11th Pyongyang International Film Festival were delegations and delegates of China, Singapore, Slovenia, Britain, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Brazil and Italy and a Russian member of international jury for the festival and a German guest of honor.
Earlier, a Mongolian delegation and Chinese, Tunisian and Indonesian members of international jury came here.
National Ssirum Tournament for Grand Bull Prize Held
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The Sixth National Ssirum (Korean wrestling) Tournament for Grand Bull Prize which was opened on Rungra Island of Pyongyang on September 13 was closed on Monday.
The tournament brought together more than 90 grapplers selected in each province. It took place, divided into catch-weight and body-weight category events.
More than 20 players competed with each other in the catch-weight event on a knock-out basis. Pak Chun Min, student of Kim Hyong Jik University of Education, who had won the fourth and fifth tournaments, came first at the sixth one again.
He was awarded the grand bull weighing nearly one ton, a gold bell, gold medal and diploma.
Meanwhile, the body-weight category event was held on a league match and knock-out basis.
The Pyongyang City team came first, the North Phyongan Provincial team second and the South Hamgyong Provincial team third in totals.
Chongryu Restaurant Facelifted
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Lots of working people are calling at the Chongryu Restaurant which has been spruced up to suit the requirement of the Songun era.
Spread in the octangular front-gate hall of the restaurant is a "jewel carpet" which delineates the lily of the valley with precious color stones. And its large-sized chandelier reminds one of bursting fireworks.
The front wall of the main entrance hall is clad with mirror and its ceiling is decorated delicately, which add gracefulness to the restaurant.
The large dining hall adjacent to the main entrance hall can house hundreds of customers at a time. Reflected on the front wall of the dining hall is a gigantic mural painting describing the Lagoon Samil at the foot of Mt. Kumgang, a world-famous scenic beauty.
There are general dining rooms on both sides of the second floor corridor where people are served with the various national dishes including tangogi soup, beef with vegetables cooked in casserole and various kinds of rice cakes. Each room is arranged in its unique way.
The walls engraved with beautiful flower patterns, lacquered tables inlaid with mother of pearl, chairs of various forms -- all these are delicate and graceful like artistic works.
The building of the restaurant is arranged in a unique formative and artistic way.
The visitors to the Chongryu Restaurant are deeply moved by the popular policy of the Workers' Party of Korea which has provided a wonderful service centre to the people.
Rodong Sinmun on DPRK's Bolstered War Deterrent Force
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Sovereignty is the life and soul of the Korean people and it is an exercise of the right to self-defence and a measure for legitimate defence for the DPRK to reinforce the war deterrent to cope with the U.S. moves for a new war.
Rodong Sinmun Tuesday says this in its by-lined commentary.
The commentary goes on:
The United States and the south Korean puppets staged the large-scale Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises in south Korea under the pretext of what they called "security" and "keeping the posture for joint defence" in August. This was a test offensive operation for mounting a preemptive attack on the DPRK, to all intents and purposes.
The United States is seeking to turn the south Korean puppet army into an independent war force under the pretext of "transferring the right to command wartime operations" and use it as a shock force for starting a war on the Korean Peninsula at any cost, while boosting the maneuverability of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces in south Korea and their offensive capability.
It is in pursuance of this scenario that the U.S. warmongers are persisting in their dangerous war exercises with the south Korean puppet army, massively reinforcing the armed forces in south Korea these days.
The U.S. bellicose forces' reckless military rackets patently prove that the U.S. imperialists remain unchanged in their wild ambition to stifle and dominate the DPRK by force of arms. The present reality clearly shows once again how just the DPRK was when it bolstered up its war deterrent to cope with the moves of the U.S. imperialists to stifle the DPRK.
A war has been averted and peace preserved on the Korean Peninsula so far because the DPRK has bolstered the self-reliant defence capability under the banner of the Songun. Songun guarantees the DPRK's sovereignty and the defence of peace. The DPRK is convinced of this through life experience. The DPRK will further increase its war deterrent as long as the U.S. imperialist warmongers continue pursuing the policy for stifling the DPRK.
Anti-U.S. Independence Called for
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The way to realize the independent reunification and the cause of peace and prosperity is to intensify the struggle for independence against the U.S. so as to put an end to the interference and aggression moves of the foreign forces.
Rodong Sinmun Tuesday observes this in a by-lined article.
It is none other than the United States which divided the Korean nation into two, and it is due to the U.S. that the tragedy of division has lasted century after century, the article points out, and says:
Owing to the vicious anti-reunification moves of the U.S., the sovereignty of the Korean nation, which values its dignity more than others, is being violated even now in the 21st century and the Korean Peninsula has been turned into the most dangerous hot spot in the world.
It goes without saying that all the Koreans should put an end to the U.S. military occupation and domination over south Korea under the banner of anti-U.S. independence in order to remove the danger of war and ensure durable peace in the Korean Peninsula and achieve the national reconciliation and unity and independent reunification.
The present grave reality gives a serious lesson that if the Korean nation fails to terminate the outsiders' domination and interference, aggression and war moves, it would be eternally impossible for it to achieve its reconciliation and unity, reunification and prosperity.
The foreign forces do not want the Korean nation's reunification at all, and the U.S. will get more pronounced in its war moves against peace and reunification.
The great unity of the entire Korean nation guarantees the victory of the struggle for independence against the U.S.
Only when all the Koreans fight, closely united as one, is it possible to put a period to the outsiders' domination and interference in the reunification problem, internal affairs of the nation, and defend its sovereignty and dignity.
The banner of "By our nation itself" is just the banner of steadfast independence and strong unity.
The victory in the struggle for independence against the U.S. is in store for the Korean nation advancing under the banner of "By our nation itself."
Lee Myung Bak Group's Whirlwind of Suppression Denounced
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The European Regional Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration in a statement on Sept. 8 denounced the Lee Myung Bak group of traitors for whipping up a whirlwind of suppression throughout south Korea.
The statement recalled that there go on in south Korea these days candlelight actions of people from all walks of life blasting the Lee Myung Bak "government" for pursuing unpopular and anti-reunification policies in betrayal of the people.
Noting that the present regime has left the health and lives of the people to the tender mercy of the U.S. through the import of beef fraught with the danger of "mad cow disease" and put the territorial sovereignty at peril through its servile "pragmatic diplomacy," the statement lambasted the regime for mercilessly arresting or taking into custody the candlelight demonstrators protesting against it and openly cracking down upon the progressive camp.
It accused the conservative ruling forces of resorting to frantic anti-reunification moves as evidenced by their act of inciting confrontation with fellow countrymen through outbursts calling for a "preemptive attack" and the suppression of patriotic figures including the chairman of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification on charges of the violation of the ill-famed "National Security Law."
Such rash acts on the part of the Lee "government" will only touch off resentment among people of all social standings, the statement said, warning that should the regime persists in brutally suppressing people under the pretext of ensuring security in utter disregard of their desire for social democracy and reunification, it will meet nationwide anti-"government" resistance.
Japanese Reactionaries' Moves for Overseas Expansion under Fire
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Shortly ago the Japan Ministry of Defence asked its government and Diet to approve the defense budget for the new fiscal year amounting to 4 840 billion yen (44.4 billion US dollars) or 2.2 percent bigger than that for fiscal 2008. It is said it is the first time in seven years that the ministry asked for an increase in the defense budget.
Minju Joson today observes this in a signed commentary: It is the assertion of the Japanese reactionaries that the defense spending should be duly increased as the sphere of the "Self-Defence Forces"' overseas activities gains in scope and the substance of their operations gets diverse.
It goes on:
It is the long-harbored sinister intention of the Japanese reactionaries to turn their country into a military power and thus rush headlong into overseas aggression.
The commentary cites facts to prove that the issue of ensuring the SDF's overseas military activities is now handled as the most acute and important political matter in Japan.
Japan's history has no such precedent that the Japanese political circles handled the issue of the SDF's overseas military activities as an important state affair. This indicates that the Japanese reactionaries have openly pushed forward their militaristic policy for overseas expansion at a national level.
It is already long since Japan's militaristic moves for overseas expansion went beyond the danger level and these are posing a serious threat to the peace and security in Asia.
Japan's reckless moves to realize the old dream of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" are touching off the unanimous hatred and vigilance of the international community.
The Japanese reactionaries would be well advised to halt their anachronistic and foolish moves at once, cogitating about the serious consequences to be entailed by their policy for overseas aggression.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Peru
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a gift by the Ccatcca District Office of the Quispicanchis Province of the Cuzco Region of Peru on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK.
The gift was handed to an official of the DPRK embassy in Lima by Pedro Illanes Paucar, governor of the district, on Sept. 8.
The governor said that socialist Korea has always remained a symbol of their hope by demonstrating the might of the country before the whole world while decisively meeting the military pressure of the U.S., undeterred by the collapse of the socialist countries in Eastern Europe.
We, holding the three generals of Mt. Paektu in high esteem as honorary governors of the district, deem it great pleasure to present the gift representing the best wishes of all its residents to respected General Secretary Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK, the significant holiday of the Korean people, he noted.
DPRK Birthday Marked in Uzbekistan
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Koreans in Uzbekistan held functions on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the DPRK.
Present there were compatriots in Uzbekistan, the DPRK ambassador to Uzbekistan and staff members of his embassy.
A ceremony of laying a floral basket before the full-length picture of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il in the DPRK embassy there was held on September 9.
The participants placed a floral basket and bouquets before the picture and paid tribute to them.
Earlier, a meeting was held on Sept. 7.
Speakers at the meeting praised the President who led the anti-Japanese armed struggle to victory, achieving the liberation of the country and founding the DPRK.
They renewed their resolution to work harder for the prosperity of the DPRK and national reunification true to the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
The meeting was followed by an art performance.
Meanwhile, a photo exhibition took place.
Exploits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il Praised in India and Switzerland
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- G. Debarajan, secretary of the Central Committee of the All-India Forward Bloc, released a statement on September 6 on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the DPRK.
The statement noted that the foundation of the DPRK six decades ago marked a great historic event that paved the way for building a powerful socialist state in Korea.
It stressed that President Kim Il Sung turned the DPRK into a powerful socialist state and a true country serving the people and led the Korean people to emerge a dignified people on the international arena.
It said that the Korean people have striven hard to build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation in Korea and hasten the independent and peaceful reunification of the country true to the behests of the President under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il.
It wished the Workers' Party of Korea and the Korean people bigger success in carrying out the socialist cause, united close around Kim Jong Il.
The Switzerland-Korea Committee in its statement issued on September 8 on the same occasion explained in detail how the DPRK was founded, adding that under the wise leadership of the President and Kim Jong Il socialist Korea has turned into a political and ideological power and a military power by overcoming all sorts of trials and difficulties.
Anniversary of DPRK Celebrated in Other Countries
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Political parties, government ministries, institutions, organizations and personages of different countries sent floral baskets to the DPRK missions in their countries between August 26 and September 9 to celebrate the 60th birthday of the DPRK.
Among them were the Commission for External Affairs of the C.C., the Communist Party, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Construction, the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front, the Union of Friendship Organizations, the General Confederation of Labor, the Women's Union, the Farmers Union, the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Parliamentary Group, the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee, the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Club, the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Kindergarten and the Hanoi City Boxing Club of Vietnam; the Commission for External Affairs of the C.C., the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; the Foreign Ministry of Myanmar; and the United Malays National Organization, the People's Movement and Zawala Company of Malaysia.
They also included the vice-prime minister and defence minister, the vice-prime minister and foreign minister, the chairman of the Propaganda and Education Ideological Commission of the C.C., the People's Revolutionary Party, the secretary of the C.C., the People's Revolutionary Youth Union, the chairman of the C.C., the Federation of Trade Unions and the chairman of the C.C., the National Construction Front of Laos; the vice-president of Syria, the deputy general secretary of the Baath Arab Socialist Party and the deputy regional secretary, the director of the Organizational Department and the director of the Department of Security of its Regional Leadership, the minister of Defence, the minister of Foreign Affairs, the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the chairman of the General Union of Peasants of Syria; the Indian foreign minister; the foreign minister and the vice-chairman of the National Democratic Party of Egypt and the chairman of the Egypt-Korea Friendship Association; the chairman of the Communist Party of Sweden; and the secretary of the General People's Committee and the advisor of the National Security of Libya.
The floral baskets were laid before the portraits of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Birthday of DPRK Observed in Various Countries
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- Personages of different countries visited the DPRK embassies in their countries between September 5 and 9 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the DPRK.
The visitors were the chairwoman of the Party for Peace and Unity, the director of the State Academic Moiseyev Dance Company and mayors of Nakhodka, Partizansk, Pokino and Artyom Cities in Russia, the vice-minister of Public Security of Laos, the deputy secretary general of the Central Committee of the People's Revolutionary Youth Union of Laos, the chairman of the Ethiopian Youth Study Group of the Juche Idea and the general secretary and executive members of the Addis Ababa Youth Association of Ethiopia.
They laid floral baskets and bouquets and made bows before the full-length pictures of President Kim Il Sung standing together with General Secretary Kim Jong Il at the embassies.
They noted with high appreciation that Kim Il Sung founded the DPRK and led it to victory under the complicated and difficult situation after the liberation of the country and that Kim Jong Il has demonstrated the might of the DPRK to the whole world with his original Songun politics.
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Jong Il recibe presente de municipalidad distrital del Peru
Pyongyang, 16 de septiembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que con motivo del 60o aniversario de la fundacion de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea le dirigiera la municipalidad distrital de Ccatcca, Provincia de Quispicanchis, region de Cusco del Peru.
El alcalde Pedro Illanes Paucar lo entrego el dia 8 a un funcionario de la embajada de Corea en este pais.
El dijo que la Corea socialista que demuestra a todo el mundo la potencia del pais enfrentandose resueltamente a la presion militar de Estados Unidos sin vacilacion aun ante el derrumbamiento de los paises socialistas de Europa oriental ha venido sirviendo del simbolo de su esperanza.
Destaco que para todos los habitantes del municipio que enaltecen a los 3 Generales del monte Paektu (el Presidente Kim Il Sung, el Dirigente Kim Jong Il y la heroina de lucha antijaponesa Kim Jong Suk) como alcandes honorarios de la municipalidad distrital es una gran alegria dirigirle al Dirigente Kim Jong Il presente lleno del anhelo de todos ellos mismos.
Kim Yong Nam expresa condolencias al presidente ruso
Pyongyang, 16 de septiembre (ATCC) -- El presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, envio el dia 14 un telegrama de consuelo al presidente de la Federacion Rusa, Dmitri Anatoliyevich Medvedev, en relacion con la caida en este pais de un avion de pasajeros que causo la perdida humana.
En la ocasion el remitente expresa profundas condolencias y consuelo al destinatario y, por su conducto, a las victimas y sus familiares y desea de todo corazon que el gobierno ruso repare cuanto antes las consecuencias del accidente aereo.
VI Torneo Nacional de Lucha Coreana por "Premio Gran Toro"
Pyongyang, 16 de septiembre (ATCC) -- Quedo terminado el dia 15 el VI Torneo Nacional de Lucha Coreana por el "Premio Gran Toro", inaugurado el dia 13 en la isla Rungra de esta capital.
En este torneo participaron mas de?90 jugadores seleccionados de todas las provincias del pais y se efectuo dividido en la lucha por sistema de comparacion y en la lucha por categoria del peso corporal.
En la categoria de comparacion, mas de 20 jugadores competieron a modo de todos contra todos. Pak Chun Min, estudiante de la Universidad Pedagogica Kim Hyong Jik, quien gano victorias sucesivas en los cuarto y quinto torneos, obtuvo el primer lugar registrando triple victoria.
Le fueron otorgados un gran toro vivo (casi una tonelada), la campanilla de oro, la medalla dorada y el diploma.
Por otra parte, tuvieron lugar los partidos por categoria del peso corporal.
Segun la clasificacion general de la competencia, la ciudad de Pyongyang ocupo el primer lugar y las provincias de Phyong-an del Norte y de Hamgyong del Sur, correspondieron respectivamente a la segunda y tercera posiciones.
Personalidades extranjeras visitan representaciones coreanas
Pyongyang, 16 de septiembre (ATCC) -- Para felicitar el 60o aniversario de la fundacion de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, las personalidades de varios paises visitaron del dia 5 al 9 las representaciones de la RPDC en sus respectivos paises.
Entre los visitantes figuran la presidenta del Partido por la Paz y la Unidad de Rusia, la directora del Conjunto de Danza Folclorica Academica Nacional de Moiseyev y los alcaldes de las ciudades de Najodka, Partizansk, Pokino y Artyom, de Rusia; el viceministro de Seguridad Publica y el subsecretario general del Comite Central de la Union de la Juventud Popular Revolucionaria, de Los; el presidente del Comite de Jovenes Etiopes para el Estudio de la Idea Juche, el secretario general y los miembros ejecutivos de la Asociacion de la Juventud de Addis Abeba de Etiopia.
Ellos depositaron los cestos y ramos de flores ante el retrato de cuerpo completo del Presidente Kim Il Sung y del Dirigente Kim Jong Il estando juntos y les hicieron reverencia.
Elogiaron que el Presidente fundo la RPDC bajo la situacion tan complicada y ardua despues de la Liberacion de Corea (el 15 de agosto de 1945) y la condujo a la victoria, y que el Dirigente exalta plenamente a todo el mundo el poderio de la RPDC practicando la original politica de Songun (priorizacion militar).