G.S. Kim Jong Il's birthday celebrated in Peru

Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) -- A decision on congratulating General Secretary Kim Jong Il on his 56th birthday was adopted at the ninth plenary meeting of the C.C., the Communist Party of Peru (Red Motherland) on February 1. The decision said they extend warm congratulations to General Kim Jong Il on his 56th birthday and wish the DPRK greater success in socialist construction. Reaffirming their support for the Workers' Party of Korea in the efforts for putting an end to the state of armistice and achieving the peaceful and democratic reunification of the Korean Peninsula by means of confederacy, it said they would positively attend the celebrations for September 9, the 50th birthday of the DPRK. Meanwhile, eight political parties of Peru including the Communist Party and the Socialist Party made public a joint statement on Feb. 10 congratulating General Kim Jong Il on his 56th birthday.

G.S. Kim Jong Il registered as honorary citizen of Peru

Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) -- The Coisco, Ancash region, City Council of Peru registered General Secretary Kim Jong Il as its honorary citizen on the occasion of his 56th birthday. At the registration ceremony on February 8 the mayor said it is great honor and pride of the city to award the honorary citizenship to General Kim Jong Il, leader of the Korean people. Printed in the honorary citizen's certificate are the following letters: "The Coisco City Council awards the title of honorary citizen to his excellency Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, on the occasion of his 56th birthday. February 8, 1998."

Second Kimjongilia exhibition opens

Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) -- The second Kimjongilia exhibition opened here on Friday. On show at the hall were more than 2,000 Kimjongilias cultivated by many units and people across the country with unbounded loyalty and filial piety to General Kim Jong Il. Also displayed are Kimjongilias presented by a Japanese botanist, Motoderu Kamo, overseas Koreans and foreign delegations. Present at the opening ceremony were Pak Song Chol, politburo member of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and Vice-President of the DPRK, officials concerned, working people, servicemen and public security officers. Also seen there were a delegation and a visiting group of overseas Koreans, Chinese, Mongolian, Japanese and Russian delegations and delegate to the exhibition. Vice-Premier Jang Chol made an opening address. On the same day the organizing committee for the exhibition gave a party.

Source of war should be removed first of all

Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) -- The controversial ban on the use of anti-personnel mines on the Korean Peninsula is drawing world public attention. Almost the countries of the world are calling for the ban. Since there is a wide field of mines along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) of the Korean Peninsula, their call confirms with a durable peace and stability on the Peninsula and the humanitarian desire of the world people. The mine problem of the peninsula should be certainly and finally settled. To this end, one should consider how the problem appeared and what its cause is and concentrate on removing it. The problem was produced by the U.S. military presence in South Korea. After it occupied South Korea militarily and divided Korea, the United States marked off the MDL willfully. It has also armed the South Korean puppets to push ahead with the preparations for a war against the DPRK. Since it was defeated in the three-year Korean war in the early 1950s, the United States has resorted to every conceivable means and method to ignite another Korean war. It has systematically reinforced not only its troops present in South Korea and the South Korean puppet army but also its military presence in Japan and, at the same time, made the largest field of mines in the world along the MDL. In order to cope with the new war preparations of the U.S. and the South Korean puppets, we have no other choice but increase the self-defensive capabilities and take necessary steps. If the United States did not occupy South Korea by force of arms, there would not have been the MDL on the Korean Peninsula. And if the United States did not escalate the war preparations, the mine problem would not have been raised. All facts prove that the final solution to peace and stability and the mine problem of the peninsula depends on the pullout of the U.S. troops from South Korea. That is why we have proposed that the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea should be discussed as a main agenda item at the "four-way talks" for a durable peace on the Peninsula. If the U.S. troops withdraw from South Korea, the mine problem will be settled easily and a durable peace and stability be ensured on the Peninsula.

Congratulatory message to G.S. Kim Jong Il from Russian President

Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message on Feb. 13 from Russian President B. Yeltsin on the occasion of his birthday. The message expressed the belief that to consolidate the friendly relations between the two countries and continue to develop many-sided ties and cooperation of mutual benefit is in the interests of the Russian and Korean peoples and is also conducive to creating atmosphere of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Egyptian President visits Korean book exhibition

Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) -- A Korean wing opened on February 5 in the 30th Cairo International Book Fair. On show there were famous works of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il and various kinds of books and picture albums. The Korean wing was visited by President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the People's Assembly, the Minister of Agriculture who is deputy Prime Minister, and other high-ranking officials of Egypt.

Gift to G.S. Kim Jong Il from Chairman of MPRP

Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from N. Enkhbayar, Chairman of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), on the occasion of his birthday. The gift was handed to Choe Thae Bok, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, by O. Enkhtuvshin, Secretary of the MPRP who is leading the visiting delegation of the MPRP. A gift to General Kim Jong Il in the name of the delegation was also conveyed.