Preparatory committees formed abroad
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Preparatory committees were formed in Cambodia and Uganda to celebrate the 57th birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Kong Sam Ol, deputy prime minister in charge of the Royal Palace of the Kingdom and member of the standing commission of the central committee of the People's Party of Cambodia, was elected chairman of a Cambodian preparatory committee, upon instructions of King Norodom Sihanouk, and the Ugandan Minister of State for Water, Land and Environment chairman of a Uganda preparatory committee.
The Cambodian preparatory committee fixed the period from February 3 to 18 as celebration days and decided to hold colorful events, including a friendship meeting and a cultural function to celebrate most significantly the 57th birthday of Kim Jong Il.
Int'l figure-skating festival for "Paektusan Cup"
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- The 8th International Figure-Skating Festival for "Paektusan Cup" will be held in the DPRK from Feb. 14 to 17.
Famous figure-skaters of Russia, Ukraine, Austria and other countries, who gave a good account of themselves in the world figure-skating championships and other international games, will participate in the festival, according to information of the festival organizing committee.
The events of the festival include single (men and women), pair (short and free programs) and ice dance (compulsory, original and free programs).
Korean figure skaters of the Pyongyang Sports Group, the Wolmido Sports Group and other units will take part in the festival.
The festival will be held at the ice rink in Pyongyang.
The festival preparatory committee has already made every arrangement for lodging, boarding and transport for the participants.
The participants will exchange successes and experience gained in the figure skating and strengthen solidarity through the festival.
GI's murder under fire
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Spokesmen for the Korean Democratic Lawyers Association and the DPRK Society for Human Rights Studies published statements on Saturday denouncing the U.S. aggression troops' continued monstrous murder of South Koreans.
Their murder clearly proves that their loud-mouthed "charity" and "respect for human rights" are no more than hypocritical words to cover up their real nature as heinous aggressors and murderers, the statements said, and continued: As long as the U.S. imperialist brutes heedless of human rights and law remain in South Korea, the people can never be free from the danger of murder, outrages and plunder.
The statements expressed the belief that international human rights and judicial organizations that value justice and human rights and the progressive conscience of the world would condemn the human rights violation and murder by the U.S. imperialist aggression troops in South Korea and extend positive support and solidarity for the South Korean people in their just struggle for the national sovereignty and reunification.
Landmark measure to make new breakthrough in@national reunification
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- The measure for achieving the reunification of the country which was taken at a joint meeting of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations is a landmark step to save the grave situation prevailing on the Korean peninsula and make a new breakthrough in the efforts for national reunification.
Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed article today.
The daily goes on: The most urgent common task facing the Korean nation is for all the patriotic people, whether they are authorities or civilians, to prevent war and open a new phase in the struggle for reunification with concerted efforts of the nation, transcending difference in ideology and system.
The correct orientation and aim to save the Korean nation from the present crisis and the basic guarantee for its materialization are to achieve the independence and great unity of the nation. As clarified at the joint meeting, the authorities in the north and south and political parties and organizations at home and abroad should make 1999 a "year of national independence and great unity".
Whoever wants the reunification of the country is not allowed to break the three principles of national reunification that have been confirmed before the nation and if the north-south agreement is to be implemented, everyone should be faithful to these principles that have been reaffirmed in its preamble.
It is the DPRK's consistent stand to reunify the country through wide-ranging dialogue and negotiations between the north and the south. When the South Korean authorities stop joint military exercises, abolish the "National Security Law" and provide the freedom of the reunification movement and activities to the south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils and other pro-reunification patriotic organizations and personages, the door of wide-ranging dialogue and negotiations including the inter-Korean high-level political talks will be opened.
The measure taken at the joint meeting is a patriotic and realistic proposal of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government that have made every possible effort to reunify the country.
The South Korean authorities should show their will for national reconciliation and reunification by affirmatively responding to the proposal.
U.S. war strategy against DPRK
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- The "annual U.S. defense report" said last Tuesday that "the continuing military threat by North Korea poses the most significant near-term danger in East Asia and Pacific region," according to a news report.
The report said that "North Korea's ballistic missile development, which may develop the potential to strike the U.S. remains a significant concern" and that "nuclear, biological and chemical weapons should be removed from the Korean peninsula."
As voices condemning the post Cold War U.S. war strategy are growing louder at home and abroad the U.S. has been spreading rumors about "North Korea's threat by ballistic missiles, and nuclear, biological and chemical weapons" since last year in a bid to justify its moves for domination.
Lurking behind this is the ulterior intention of the U.S. to continue to maintain its large armed forces of aggression in the Asia-pacific region under the unreasonable pretext of "military threat from the DPRK," strengthen military alliance, stifle the DPRK and militarily control the region and realise its ambition for world domination at any cost.
Greetings to Lao President
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings on Sunday to Khamtay Siphandone, President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
Expressing the belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples will continuously expand and develop in the interests of the two peoples, the message wished him greater success in his work for the defence of the gains of the revolution and the country's prosperity.
CPRF calls for inter-Korean dialogue on new basis
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- The north and the south should begin dialogue on a new basis, not repeating the past dialogue characterized by continuation of conflicting arguments, the spokesman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) urged.
In a statement issued today, the spokesman recalled that the February 3 joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK put forward a timely, landmark proposal in order to break through the present difficulties in the north-south relations and that a letter carrying the proposal was sent to the authorities, political parties, organizations and personages of South Korea.
The spokesman further said: The joint meeting took that positive measure, out of a noble desire and will to remove the danger of war with concerted strength and wisdom of the nation this year that marks the end of the 1900s and to greet a new millennium which will witness the reunification and prosperity of Korea.
Therefore, governments, political parties, organizations and peaceloving figures of many countries of the world are urging the South Korean authorities to accept this just proposal, unanimously hailing it a "constructive and positive proposal" and a "reasonable and practical measure."
At this time, the South Korean authorities also "welcomed" our new proposal for inter-Korean dialogue for reunification, considering it as "affirmative."
We think that it is fortunate.
As was clarified in our letter sent to South Korea, our new proposal for inter-Korean dialogue is within the framework which cannot be realized without implementing such urgent measures as suspending cooperation and joint military exercises with outside forces, repealing the "National Security Law" and guaranteeing the pro-reunification, patriotic organizations and individuals in South Korea free pro-reunification movement and activities.
The north and the south must no longer repeat past dialogues in which they had exchanged conflicting arguments but determinedly break with them and begin with dialogue on a new basis.
However, arguments about "dialogue without conditions" are being made in South Korea, turning away from the north-proposed measures which must be implemented beforehand.
Refusal to accept our priorities means an intention to have a war of words and the call for "dialogue without condition" shows they are not willing to have any dialogue.
Our priorities remove major obstacle to the north-south dialogue, which is indispensable for reunification-oriented dialogue between the two sides.
Now that the South Korean authorities welcomed the north-proposed inter-Korean high-level political talks, they should take a decisive step to implement those priorities.
This is the only one thing for them to do now. The prospect of the north-south dialogue depends on whether they are implemented or not.
If they are carried out, the dialogue can be held any time.
So, we set the latter half of the year as the time for the dialogue, in a broad-minded intention to give enough time for the south side to do so.
We hope the South Korean authorities will seriously study our letter and strictly implement those priorities so as to provide a favourable atmosphere for high-level political talks.
Foreign state and political party leaders on relations with DPRK
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Rwandan President Bizimungu Pasteur voiced full support for the efforts of the DPRK government and people to achieve the reunification of the country, when receiving credentials from Kim Tang Su, a new Korean Ambassador E.P. on January 27.
The political unity and signal scientific results achieved by the Korean people rallied close around the great Kim Jong Il last year are a great inspiration to the Rwandan people, he said.
He hoped that the DPRK would turn into a powerful country at an early date under the sagacious leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
On the same day, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, when receiving credentials from new Korean ambassador Kim Yong Il, sincerely hoped that the friendly relationship between Tunisia and the DPRK would continue developing on good terms.
General secretary of the People's Unity Party of Tunisia Mohamed Bel Hadi Amor said, when he met the Korean Ambassador, that he was convinced that the Workers' Party of Korea and the Korean people would win a great success in building a powerful nation.
GI's shocking murders in S. Korea
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) - GI's murders of South Korean women Jon Ji Na and Sin Cha Gum and a child Ri Po Bi are now touching off barrage of angry condemnation from the world people.
From the very day of their occupation of South Korea in September 1945 the U.S. aggression forces have committed bestialities.
In March 1946 GIs raped two mothers of babies and a 14-year-old girl in a Taejon-Mokpho train.
In the 1950s South Korean women were stripped off and painted in a U.S. military base in Pochon before being kicked out, and Yankees stabbed a shoeshine boy Kim Chun Il with a dagger and pulled out all the toenails of the feet and hair with a pair of pincers. His body, his head and face pitched and his hands and feet tied up, was found in a neglected crate.
Early in the 1960s GIs in a U.S. military base in Tongduchon cut short the hair of the two South Korean women Kim Sun Ja and Kim Jong Ae.
More than 100,000 cases of murder, robbery, rape, larceny and other crimes committed by GIs were reported by the 1980s.
In the 1990s GI's crimes showed a rise of more than 3,500 cases on yearly average.
5 of South Koreans fall victims of the crimes a day.
Murder of a South Korean woman Yun Kum Hui by Kenneth.
Michael, a private first class of the U.S. army, and murders of 7 other women by GIs from October 1992 to January 1998 were all committed in U.S. military bases and their vicinities.
In January 1996 a GI strangled a woman Ri Ki Sun to death, minced her body with a dagger, and another GI drove a military truck through a shop and a bookstore, leaving a grandma and three girls dead.
While in a military training in Rithaewon-dong, Seoul, Yankees threw a hand grenade at a dwelling house of a South Korean, enjoying murder spree. Some 20 other Yankees raped South Korean women after forcing them to take narcotics and drug smuggled from the U.S. An employee of the U.S. Embassy drove a car over two South Koreans. A son of an officer of the 8th U.S. army committed all kinds of outrages against a pregnant woman of South Korea. U.S. tourists and Americans commit crimes every day.
From the 1970s Yankees have used the internal organs and embryos of South Koreans for the manufacture of lethal weapons and researches into germ warfare in the U.S. they killed over 1,000 South Koreans by experimenting rodenticide and other virulence on them.
The South Korean authorities stopped "prosecuting" a GI who killed a South Korean woman Ho Ju Yon before setting fire on her body, approving murders of South Koreans by GIs present in South Korea.
More than 300 GIs committed violent crimes over January-July last year.
S. Korean people long for Marshal Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Yun Song Sik, a South Korean defector to North Korea, in a recent interview with KCNA, said just as all things in the universe need sunshine the South Korean people long for the sun that gives them light, heat and nutriment for life.
He elaborated on the reason behind the appearance of the slogan "Let us go north, come south and let us meet at Panmunjom ", saying that this represented the desire, will and call of the divided Korean nation that has suffered from the split caused by outside forces.
When he was working as a member of the "Central Council for National Independence and Reunification" in South Korea, he came to know the reunification proposal based on confederacy formula put forth by President Kim Il Sung in August 1960 he said, and continued:
The proposal is in full accord with the demand and will of pro-reunification pioneers and people in South Korea. It is the best way of reunification which can be accepted by all who want reunification.
He referred to the exploits performed by the President and the Marshal for reunification.
He further said:
All who are desirous of reunification worship them and follow the three charters of national reunification.
The South Korean people highly praise the Marshal who has a command of an outstanding strategy and conducts courageous activities as the saviour of the people, looking up to the Marshal who is leading the "forced march for the final victory" following the "arduous march" and steering the implementation of the blueprint for building a powerful nation.
Yun vowed to devote his heart and soul to the building of a reunified country.
Reminiscences "Greatness of Kim Jong Il" Vol. 2@published
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- The Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House brought out reminiscences "Greatness of Kim Jong Il" vol. 2.
It published in book form the manuscripts left by the Late Ho Tam, political bureau member and secretary of the C.C., the WPK.
The volume consists of two chapters.
Chapter 4 "the Great Man of Paektusan Type," a serial of "Greatness of Kim Jong Il" vol. 1 stresses that General Secretary Kim Jong Il is the greatest-ever commander in all ages and countries, under the titles "Hymn of praise to great man," "Who is brilliant commander" and "Ideal Commander."
Chapter 5 "Great man with human love" tells emotional stories about the greatness of Kim Jong Il, the incarnation of warm love for the people.
Organizing and guiding in economy in big way
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- The DPRK is organizing and guiding the economy in a big way to put production in all domains of the national economy on a steady footing and put the national economy as a whole on its right track and stabilize and improve the people's living standard.
Especially, the cabinet is exerting great efforts to solve the problem of shortage of electric power and food to make a breakthrough in building a powerful nation.
Now all power stations are being operated in full-capacity, the construction of about ten hydro-power stations including Anbyon and Thaechon power stations commissioned partially is being pushed ahead and minor power stations are being built on a large scale.
The agricultural workers are successful in their efforts to expand the area under potato and boost grain production to decisively solve the food problem.
Working people are waging a drive to increase coal, iron and steel production, ease the strain on railway transport and bring about a turning point in the production of machine tools and trucks.
The introduction of electrical heating in dwelling houses in provincial seats, the increment of production of consumer goods and other projects for improving the people's living standard are being stepped up.
Officials of the cabinet and ministries have gone to the lower units to find a solution among the masses and tap reserves for increased production and saving.
This manner of work makes the prospect of the economic construction this year bright.
January plans were fulfilled by hydro-power stations in different parts of the country, the Ryongdae Briquette Complex, the Jenam Coal Mine, the Huichon General Machine Tool Plant, the Sungri General Motor Works, the Ryongsong Associated Machinery Bureau, the Kum Song Tractor Plant, the Sangwon Cement Complex, the Silk Industry Administration Bureau and many other units.
Joson Sinbo on Mt. Kumgang tour of "spokesman for Chongwadae"
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Joson Sinbo published in Japan carried an article today on the Mt. Kumgang tour of "spokesman for Chongwadae" of South Korea Pak Ji Won, which was written by the Newspaper's Pyongyang Correspondent.
The author of the article says:
Pak Ji Won, together with tourists, visited the north between January 31 and February 1 aboard the ship "Kumgang" of the Hyundai Business Group to make a tour of Mt. Kumgang.
And, it was shameless and imprudent for him to talk about "particular care from the north side," when he went back to the south.
Owing to a resolute measure of the north side against the South Korean authorities' obstruction to the payment for tourism, the ship "Kumgang" boarded by Pak Ji Won had to stay all night in the east sea south of the Military Demarcation Line and the tourists had to spend more than 10 hours in agony in the ship the next day. Moreover, the ship was kept under detention for two hours before returning home late at night.
Unluckily enough, the program of the tourists was cut short by one day and, consequently, the Hyun Dai Business Group had to pay even gratuity to the tourists.
This is a due punishment to the South Korean authorities who have obtrusively poked their noses into the Mt. Kumgang Tourism pushed by the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and the Hyun Dai Business Group and have obstructed this non-governmental cooperation between the north and the south in every way from the beginning, crying that the Hyundai Business group failed to obtain the "right to use Mt. Kumgang for 30 years" from the north and that the "timetable for the right to use must be specified."
But, Pak Ji Won described his painful tourism as a "result of particular care from the north side" and "achievement of his dream."
As a "spokesman of Chongwadae," he should have apologized to the tourists for their unexpected painful trip Caused by the South Korean authorities. Nevertheless, he was busy with justifying his poor position instead of making an apology.
Indeed, he deserves the title of "liar of Chongwadae."
Pak's shame warns the South Korean authorities that if they continue to poke their nose into non-governmental cooperation, they will sustain greater misfortune.
S. Korea urged to carry out priorities
Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Now that the South Korean authorities welcomed the DPRK-proposed inter-Korean high-level political talks, they should take decisive measures to carry out priorities raised by the DPRK, urged the spokesman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.
In a statement issued today, the spokesman said:
The future of the north-south dialogue entirely depends on whether the priorities are carried out or not.
If they are carried out, the inter-Korean dialogue may be held any time.
The February 3 joint meeting of the government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK proposed to the South Korean authorities to hold inter-Korean high-level political talks in the latter half of the year after priorities that stand in the way of reunification-oriented dialogue are carried out within the first half of the year at the latest.
The South Korean authorities "welcomed" this proposal as "affirmative," while arguing about "dialogue without conditions", turning away from the priorities.
The priorities are to suspend the north-targeted cooperation and joint military exercises with outside forces repeal the "National Security Law" and provide the pro-reunification, patriotic organizations and individuals in South Korea with freedom for pro-reunification movement and activities.
The north and the south should begin dialogue on a new basis, not repeating the past dialogue characterized by continuation of conflicting arguments but determinedly breaking with them, the spokesman held, adding:
We hope the South Korean authorities will strictly carry out the priorities so as to provide a favourable atmosphere for the high-level political talks.