Kim Yong Nam Meets French Guests
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a cordial talk with Bruno Lafont, chairman and chief executive officer of the Lafarge Company of France, and his companion, Nassef Sawiris, chief executive officer of the Orascom Construction Industries of Egypt, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Wednesday.
Kim Il Chol Meets Delegation of VPA
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Il Chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces, Wednesday met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of senior political officers of the Vietnam People's Army led by Le Van Dung, secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and head of the VPA General Political Department.
Present there were Col. General of the Korean People's Army Sim Sang Dae and Le Van Cu, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK, and Dau Xuan Long, military attache of the embassy.
DPRK-Cuba Inter-governmental Consultative Committee Meets
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- The 27th meeting of the inter-governmental economic and scientific and technological consultative committee between the DPRK and Cuba took place in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
Present there were Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, officials concerned and members of the Cuban government economic delegation led by Ambassador to the DPRK Jose Manuel Galego Montano.
It discussed the issues of boosting the economic and scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries and expanding and developing the trade relations.
DPRK government cultural delegation visits to China
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- A DPRK government cultural delegation led by Jon Yong Jin, vice-chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, left here today to visit China.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the China-Korea Friendship Association led by Chairman Wu Donghe arrived here on the same day to participate in the celebrations of the 50th anniversaries of the DPRK-China Friendship Association and the China-Korea Friendship Association.
A delegation of the China-Korea Friendship Hongxing Farm headed by Zhang Fuping arrived here by air on the same day.
4th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- The 4th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair is open at the Three-Revolution Exhibition in Pyongyang.
It has drawn over 150 companies and enterprises from different countries and regions including the DPRK, China, Russia, Cuba, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom and Italy.
Among the exhibits there are machine tools, petrochemicals, electrical and electronic apparatuses, medicines, foodstuffs and daily necessities.
Attracting the interests of the visitors are various machine tools, jewel and metal crafts, stone crafts, light industrial products, furniture, Koryo medicines and health foods of natural plants presented by companies of the DPRK.
The delegations and delegates from different countries and regions participating in the fair have trade talks and sign mutually beneficial import and export contracts on goods.
The Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair is proving a good occasion in developing friendship, economic cooperation and exchange among the participants.
Newly Unearthed Koryo Relics on Show
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- An exhibition of relics belonging to the period of Koryo (918-1392) is open at the Korean Central History Museum.
On display are more than 80 pieces of relics including Koryo porcelain and tile bricks found in the course of recent unearthing the western group of architectures of Manwoldae, the royal palace site of Koryo, and 10-odd pieces of relics of the Koryo period collected by the Korean Central History Museum.
Tens of thousands of relics were discovered when the western group of architectures of Manwoldae was excavated. Among them there are celadon of peculiar shapes hither-to unknown, chimi (a kind of decorative tile) giving a glimpse of the magnificence of palace architecture in the Koryo period and various building parts and elements.
The celadon includes those with patterns of beautiful landscape and living customs.
The visitors are deeply impressed by the exquisiteness of the large celadon bowl with a sparsely embossed pattern of peonies in the center of the wide inner wall and bowls decorated with patterns done by various techniques.
Also attracting the attention of the visitors is a pot-bellied Koryo bottle, typical of Koryo porcelain. It is 30.3 centimeters in height and 10.8 centimeters in bottom diameter.
Different kinds of plates showing the multiform dietary life of the people of Koryo include a porcelain ware of peculiar shape with a lotus pattern covering its whole face against the blue green background.
Also on show are decorative building parts and elements of various shapes including an antefix with a concentric circle pattern and a building part with a dragon decoration as well as a pot-bellied celadon bottle inlaid with lotus and willow patterns, a celadon bowl engraved with a pattern of the phoenix, a celadon plate engraved with a pattern of lotus and a bronze statue of Merciful Goddess which is 68 centimeters high.
Scientific and Technological Public Presentation Held
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- A public presentation of science and technology in the field of protection of underground resources was held at the Grand People's Study House on Tuesday on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the promulgation of the "DPRK Law on the Underground Resources."
Present there were officials, scientists, technologists, teachers and experts in this field.
Han Chang Sik, chairman of the Association for the Protection of Underground Resources of the DPRK Natural Conservation Union, made a speech there.
The speaker recalled that the adoption of the law helped lay a firm legal foundation for surveying and registering natural resources found in abundance in Korea and effectively developing and using them in order to accelerate socialist economic construction.
Its participants heard papers introducing fresh and valuable successes and experience gained in the work to explore and develop mineral resources and researches into the comprehensive use of them.
U.S. Warmongers' Scheme for Preemptive Attack Flailed
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- The commander of the U.S. forces present in south Korea recently blustered that it is needed to streamline the procedure for the deployment of reinforcements from the U.S. mainland in the "event of contingency" on the Korean Peninsula. In the meantime the U.S. Department of State called for tightened strategic alliance in the 21st century in a vice-minister-level "dialogue on strategy" with the south Korean puppets.
Commenting on such behavior, Rodong Sinmun today brands it as an intentional provocation of the U.S. imperialists aimed at preemptive attack on the DPRK and permanent presence of the U.S. forces in south Korea.
The U.S. is clamoring about the peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on Korean Peninsula so as to create the impression that it is "interested" in it, the news analyst of the daily says, and goes on:
But the U.S. schemes to rapidly dispatch huge reinforcements of its forces to the Korean front from its mainland in the "event of contingency" on Korean Peninsula. This clearly shows once again that the U.S. call for "peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue" or "talks" is a trick to deceive the public opinions at home and abroad and that the U.S. is persistently seeking only preemptive attack on the DPRK.
Preemptive attack on the DPRK just means a war. The U.S. war-thirsty forces' recent clamor for streamlining of the deployment procedure for its reinforcements is little short of the dangerous signal flare fired to round off the preparations for provoking the second Korean war.
The U.S. scheme for preemptive attack on the DPRK is a betrayal of totally overturning the September 19 joint statement, in which both sides committed themselves to mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, and it is a reckless anti-peace deed of bringing the dark clouds of a nuclear war to Korean Peninsula.
The U.S. forces present in south Korea serve as the foremost military means supporting the realization of the U.S. strategy for aggression on the DPRK and Asia by force. That is why the U.S. warmongers are seeking the permanent presence of their forces in south Korea.
The reality has proven the validity of the measure taken by the DPRK to bolster its self-defensive capabilities.
The DPRK has the right to choose military action for its self-defence.
If the U.S. opts for preemptive attack on the DPRK arrogantly, this will create irrevocably serious situation and the former would be entirely held responsible for its consequences.
The U.S. bellicose forces would be well advised to clearly know who their opponent is and abandon their reckless scheme for preemptive attack.
Japan Feels Neither Moral Obligation nor Sense of Shame
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- Japan is the morally depraved and corrupt country without an equal in the world as it is so brazen-faced as to try to go without redressing its past crimes, totally denying them.
Minju Joson Wednesday observes this in a signed commentary.
It goes on:
The Italian prime minister recently visited Libya where he concluded a treaty on expressing apology and regret to its people for the material and human losses caused to them during the colonial rule and making reparation for them. In token of apology and reparation to Libya Italy returned marble statue "Venus of Cyrene," a cultural treasure it looted from Libya in 1913.
Japan's attitude is inconceivably mean when it is compared with the trend towards settling past wrongs that prevails in the international community.
Japan, like Germany and Italy, is a war criminal state which provoked World War II, bringing immeasurable misfortune and pain to the Asian people.
Japan, in particular, committed hideous crimes against humanity by imposing unprecedentedly huge human and materials losses to the Korean people, while keeping Korea under its occupation for more than four decades.
As a matter of fact, Japan caused so tremendous losses to the Korean people that all its wealth is not enough to adequately compensate for them and it has to kneel down before them hundreds of times to ask for forgiveness.
This being a hard reality, Japan is adding to its crimes perpetrated against the Korean people.
The Japanese reactionaries neither admit their past crimes nor make any apology for them but are justifying the acts of aggression perpetrated by Japan against Korea and other Asian countries.
What is more intolerable is the fact that the Japanese reactionaries are stepping up their hostile policy toward the DPRK, picking up unessential issues concerning the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations in a bid to evade their responsibility to make apology and reparation for the crimes at any cost.
Japan had better behave itself, bearing in mind that it will have future only when it redresses its past crimes.
Independence and Democracy in S. Korea Called for
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- South Korea is the worst tundra of human rights in the world as the political freedom, democracy and right to existence are most savagely trampled down there. Such serious human rights abuses in south Korea should never be overlooked.
Rodong Sinmun Wednesday urges this in a signed article.
It goes on:
South Korea has the poorest human rights record because of the U.S. military presence and colonial domination over it.
The U.S. has enforced a colonial enslavement policy for more than six decades, keeping south Korea under its military occupation in disregard of the will and wishes of the Korean nation. The U.S. imperialists' presence and domination deprived the south Korean regime of any political independence and have seriously infringed upon the sovereign rights and interests of people.
The socio-political foundation in south Korea itself is not aimed at guaranteeing the sovereign rights of the people. This bars the south Korean people from becoming true masters of the political life.
The "Constitution" in south Korea stipulates that the people shall be guaranteed "freedom" and "rights" but this is sheer hypocrisy in actuality. Freedom of the people's political life is ruthlessly violated on the strength of the fascist law in south Korea. To cite an example, the "National Security Law" is an unprecedented fascist law which savagely violates the people's freedom of ideological activities and rights to socio-political activities.
The rights to assembly and demonstration are the political rights which people are entitled to enjoy.
But the Lee Myung Bak group in south Korea are mercilessly trampling upon such rights of the people. The right to existence is the most elementary right of a human being. The south Korean people are, however, denied even this right. The number of jobless people is on the steady increase due to the unpopular economic policy of the group of traitors in south Korea and, consequently, the life of the working people is getting harder as the days go by.
The south Korean people can enjoy the genuine political freedom and rights only when the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces are forced out of south Korea and independence and democracy is achieved in the south Korean society.
S. Korean Puppet Authorities' Suppression of Hanchong Flayed
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- The Headquarters of the Actions of the 16th-term south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) issued a statement on Sept. 20 urging the puppet authorities to stop the suppression of the south Korean Council of Youth Organizations (Hanchong).
The statement accused the judicial authorities of contemplating staging a final trial of Hanchong on Sept. 25 on the charge of being "an enemy-benefiting organization".
They detained members of the 2002 Hanchong leadership and started the trial on the above-said charge, it noted.
As proved by the proceeding of the trial held so far, the labeling of Hanchong as an "enemy-benefiting organization" is a frontal challenge to the June 15 era of reunification, it said, and went on:
Hanchong is a legitimate mass organization grouping more than 60 youth organizations across south Korea.
The statement lashed out at the authorities for staging all sorts of ridiculous charades in a bid to create a situation in favor of them under the pretext of security by invoking the "National Security Law", the ghost-like law dating back to the old era.
The statement urged the authorities to stop the crackdown upon the progressive organizations including Hanchong.
Investigation into Participants in Candlelight Actions with Baby Carriages Blasted in S. Korea
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- The puppet authorities of south Korea recently staged a despicable investigation into those who were members of "the column of baby carriages" which participated in a candlelight action in a bid to block the struggle against the import of American beef, touching off public furor.
According to what was made public by a person concerned of the police on Sept. 19, the "Cyber Investigation Corps" of the Seoul Police Office demanded the three housewives who were members of the above-said column appear at the police station on the charge of violation of the "law on assembly and demonstration".
Worse still, policemen broke into their houses to get information about their husbands' jobs and positions, etc. and threatened them that they would issue warrants of arrest unless they appear at the police station.
In this regard, the above-mentioned housewives said that it was something deplorable that the police was going to punish the housewives who took part in the action out of their worries about their babies' health, adding that the police's threatening investigation was aimed at stopping the housewives from joining in the candlelight actions any more.
They protested against the police action, stating that they have never occupied the roads nor tried to do so, declaring that they would "respond to the investigation as they have done nothing wrong."
Meanwhile, the Democratic Labor Party and other opposition parties vehemently denounced the police for its unreasonable investigation into the above-said housewives.
Normalization of Relations between DPRK and Japan Urged
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- A meeting calling for the normalization of relations between the DPRK and Japan took place in Tokyo on Sept. 17 on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of the publication of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
Sumiko Shimizu, representative of the Japanese Women's Society for Solidarity with the Korean Women who is co-representative of the Liaison Council for Denuclearization and Peace in Northeast Asia and Normalization of the Relations between Japan and the DPRK, said that the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration was so significant that it opened up the prospect of bringing about a landmark advance in the relations between the two countries.
She, however, deplored that over the past six years the Japanese government failed to take even a single step towards the implementation of the declaration but further deteriorated the Japan-DPRK relations.
Members of the Diet Azuma Konno and Nobuto Hosaka said they would strive to put into practice the good declaration and agreement made between Japan and the DPRK and thus realize the normalization of the relations between the two countries.
A resolution adopted at the meeting reaffirmed the significance of the Pyongyang declaration and called for joint efforts for the normalization of the relations between Japan and the DPRK so as to bring about a decisive advance in achieving the goal.
The resolution called upon the Japanese people to conduct actions to urge the Japanese government to lift the sanctions against the DPRK and render humanitarian assistance to it and fulfill its commitment to give energy and economic assistance to the DPRK under the agreement reached at the six-party talks and resume the talks on the normalization of the relations between the two countries.
Korean Exhibition Held in Vietnam
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- A Korean book, photo and handicraft exhibition was opened with due ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi on Sept. 9 to mark the 50th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's visit to Vietnam and the 60th birthday of the DPRK.
On display in the exhibition hall were works of Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, photos showing their immortal exploits, books and photos introducing Songun Korea and Korean handicrafts.
Attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition were personages of political and public circles and popular masses in Vietnam. Present on invitation were the DPRK ambassador to Vietnam and staff members of the embassy.
Addressing the ceremony, the Vietnamese vice-minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the exhibition would greatly contribute to the development of the friendly relations between the two countries, offering an opportunity for the Vietnamese people to have a deep understanding of the successes achieved by the government and people of the DPRK over the past six decades.
The peoples of the two countries have steadily strengthened the friendly relations provided by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung long ago, he said, expressing the expectation that the exhibition would produce good results.
At the ceremony the participants watched a Korean film showing a long history of the Korean nation and a video introducing the grand gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang".
The exhibition will last till Oct. 1.
DPRK Birthday Celebrated
Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- Meetings, film shows and round-table talks took place in Russia, Bulgaria, Austria, France, Romania, Egypt and Kuwait between Sept. 3 and 11 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK.
On display in the venues of the events were works of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, photos showing their immortal feats, and books and photos introducing Songun Korea.
Oleg Shenin, chairman of the Communist Party of Soviet Union, said at a meeting that over the past six decades the DPRK successfully carried out the building of a new society, the postwar rehabilitation and construction, the socialist revolution and socialist construction. The credit for this goes to the wise guidance of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the great leaders of the international labor movement and the socialist cause, he stressed.
He praised Kim Jong Il as the most prominent leader in the 21st century who has wrought world-startling miracles in political, military, economic, cultural and all other fields.
Edmond Jouve, director-general of the European Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, said at a meeting that Kim Il Sung's cause of building a rich and powerful nation is being successfully carried forward to completion by Kim Jong Il.
The chairman of the Supreme Council of the Socialist Party of Romania said at round-table talks that Kim Jong Il has defended socialism of Korea with the Songun politics and that the DPRK under the uplifted banner of socialism is invincible.
The general secretary of the Misr Arab Socialist Party of Egypt said at round-table talks that Kim Il Sung advanced the principles to be adhered to by the DPRK and laid a solid foundation for its steady progress. This is an example that peoples of developing countries should follow in state building, he added.
Appreciated at film shows were Korean films introducing the torchlight procession of youth and students celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the grand gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang", a Kim Il Sung Prize winner, and Pyongyang in four seasons.
Messages of greetings to Kim Jong Il were adopted at meetings and round-table talks held in Russia, Bulgaria and Austria.
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Jong Il recibe presente del jefe de delegacion vietnamita
Pyongyang, 24 de septiembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dedicara el jefe de la delegacion de los funcionarios politicos de alto rango del Ejercito Popular de Vietnam, de visita en Corea.
Le Van Dung, secretario del CC del Partido Comunista de Vietnam y jefe de la Direccion Politica General del Ejercito Popular de Vietnam, quien preside la delegacion, lo entrego el dia 23 al primer subjefe de la Direccion Politica General del Ejercito Popular de Corea, Kim Jong Gak.
Presentacion cientifico-tecnica para proteccion de recursos subterraneos
Pyongyang, 24 de septiembre (ATCC) -- Con motivo del 15o aniversario de la proclamacion de la "Ley de los recursos subterraneos de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea", tuvo lugar el dia 23 en el Palacio de Estudio del Pueblo la presentacion cientifico-tecnica de la rama de proteccion de estos recursos.
En la ocasion participaron los funcionarios, cientificos, tecnicos, profesores y especialistas vinculados con este dominio.
El presidente de la Asociacion de Proteccion de Recursos Subterraneos de la Federacion de Proteccion de la Naturaleza de Corea, Han Chang Sik, hizo uso de la palabra.
El orador dijo que la aprobacion de la ley mencionada significo el firme cimiento juridico para acelerar la construccion economica socialista al controlar y registrar los recursos naturales abundantes en el pais y al explotarlos y utilizarlos eficientemente.
En el foro se dieron a conocer los nuevos y valiosos exitos y experiencias logrados en la prospeccion y explotacion de minerales y en la investigacion para su uso general.
Exposicion de nuevas reliquias de Coryo
Pyongyang, 24 de septiembre (ATCC) -- En el Museo Nacional de la Historia de Corea esta montada ahora la exposicion de reliquias del periodo de Coryo (918 - 1392).
Estan exhibidos mas de 80 objetos, incluyendo las porcelanas de Coryo y tejas, que fueron hallados durante la investigacion del grupo de edificios en la parte occidental de Manwoldae, solar del palacio real de Coryo. Tambien, se ven mas de 10 piezas entre las reliquias del mismo periodo coleccionadas por el Museo Nacional de la Historia de Corea.
En Manwoldae fueron descubiertas decenas de miles de reliquias, entre otras, las porcelanas de verdeceledon de formas originales, que no habian sido conocidas hasta la fecha, chimi (una especie de las tejas de adorno) que muestra la majestuosidad de la arquitectura del palacio en el periodo de Coryo y las piezas prefabricadas de diversos generos.
Entre las primeras figuran las porcelanas con estampas que describen el hermoso paisaje natural y las otras relativas a las costumbres de vida.
Causa la admiracion de los visitantes la delicadeza de la escudilla azul con las flores de peonia en relieve y de los cuencos con dibujos adornados de diferentes maneras.
Tambien salta a la vista Coryomaebyong (una especie de botella) con 30.3 cm de alto y 10.8 cm de diametro de la base que asimila de la mejor manera las caracteristicas tipicas de la porcelana de Coryo.
Entre disimiles platos, que muestran la vida alimentaria de los moradores de esa epoca, se destaca una porcelana de forma particular cubierta de las flores de loto dibujadas en su fondo de color zafirino.
Se puede ver tambien en la exposicion la teja de adorno con dibujos de circulos concentricos, las piezas prefabricadas de diferentes formas inclusive la de dragon dibujado, la botella azul con las estampas de sauce y flor de loto, el cuenco azul de ave fenix incrustada, la escudilla azul con dibujos de la flor de loto y la imagen de pie de bronce de Dios budista de la clemencia con 68 cm de alto.
27a sesion de Comision de Consulta entre Corea y Cuba
Pyongyang, 24 de septiembre (ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar el dia 24 en esta capital la 27a sesion de la Comision de Consulta Economica y Cientifico-Tecnica entre los gobiernos de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y la Republica de Cuba.
Participaron el ministro de Comercio Exterior Ri Ryong Nam y otros funcionarios interesados y los miembros de la delegacion economica gubernamental de Cuba encabezada por el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario en Corea Jose Manuel Galego Montano.
En la ocasion fueron discutidos los problemas sobre el fortalecimiento de la cooperacion economica y cientifico-tecnica y la ampliacion y desarrollo de las relaciones comerciales entre los dos paises.