Letter-carrying relay racers arrive
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- All the contingents of relay racers carrying letters of loyalty to the great leader Kim Jong Il arrived in Pyongyang on October 1 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Workerfs Party of Korea.
Among them were people from various provinces, servicemen of the Korean People's Army, people's security men and women, employees of railways and school youth and children.
They were accorded warm welcome and farewell by people from all walks of life, school youth and children and KPA soldiers on route to Pyongyang from historic revolutionary battle sites and other historic sites and various units of the three services of the KPA.
Korean cadres meet Italian parliamentary delegation
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and had a friendly talk with a parliamentary delegation of the republic of Italy led by Luciano Violante, president of the chamber of deputies, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall yesterday.
On the occasion, the head of the delegation expressed the belief that a new progress of relations between the two countries would be made by the efforts of parliaments of the two countries.
Premier of the DPRK cabinet Hong Song Nam met and conversed with the delegation on the same day.
Italian parliamentary delegation leaves
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- The parliamentary delegation of the Republic of Italy led by Luciano Violante, president of the chamber of deputies, left here yesterday after visiting the DPRK on the invitation of the Supreme People's Assembly.
A farewell ceremony for the delegation took place at the airport.
The delegation was seen off at the airport by Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, and officials concerned.
The delegation visited the Tower of the Juche Idea and the Mansudae Assembly Hall during its two-day stay in Pyongyang.
Talks between parliamentary delegations of DPRK and Italy
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- Talks between the delegations of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the parliament of the republic of Italy were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall yesterday.
At the talks, both sides informed each other of the situation in their countries, recognized the important role played by the parliaments of the two countries in developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples and discussed a series of matters of mutual concern.
Present at the talks were Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, officials concerned and members of the Italian parliamentary delegation led by Luciano Violante, president of the chamber of deputies.
Kim Yong Nam greets Cyprian President
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Cyprian President Glafcos Clerides on Sept. 30 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Cyprian independence.
In the message, Kim Yong Nam extended warm congratulations to the President, government and people of Cyprus on the Independence Day.
The message wished the President and people of Cyprus success in their work for the settlement of the Cyprian issue and the country's prosperity.
Kim Yong Nam greets Guinean President
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, yesterday sent a message of greetings to Guinean President Lansana Conte on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the Guinean Independence.
The message extended warm congratulations to the President and fraternal people of Guinea on the Independence Day.
It sincerely wished the President and the people of Guinea greater success in their work to realize the peace and stability of the country and national unity and make social and economic progress by their own efforts and expressed the belief that good relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would further develop.
State commendation to young builders of motorway
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- A ceremony was held yesterday to award state commendation to members of the shock brigade of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League who set an example in building the Pyongyang-Nampho Motorway.
The 40 odd km-long motorway from Pyongyang to Nampho, a port city on the west coast, is an important project to be completed on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Workerfs Party of Korea. The construction of many sections of the motorway is undertaken by the shock brigade.
Orders and medals including Kim Il Sung Youth Honor Prize, Order of National Flag 1st Class, Order of Labour were awarded to many young builders in recognition of their distinguished services, according to a decree of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly promulgated at the ceremony.
Number of S. Korean defoliant victims on increase
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- 63,879 ex-South Korean soldiers involved in the Vietnam War of aggression conducted by the U.S. from 1960s to 1970s were reported to be suffering from aftereffects of defoliant as of July 1, according to South Korean Radio No. 1.
This was disclosed at a "National Assembly" session held on September 29.
Peripheral neurosis and cancer of lung and larynx are considered to be most serious diseases caused by defoliant.
Not only ex-South Korean soldiers but an increasing number of their sons and daughters are diagnosed as defoliant victims.
More than 10,000 ex-South Korean soldiers died of aftereffect of defoliant, according to a Mainichi Shimbun issued on July 20, 1997.
U.S. Defense Secretary's remarks
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Cohen addressing a recent "annual security consultative meeting" held in Seoul reassured South Korea of "U.S. prompt and effective assistance in deterring and repulsing armed attack," while making much ado about "threat of biological and chemical weapons and long-range missiles."
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary assailing his remarks observes that the ulterior intention of the U.S. bellicose forces is to prevent the inter-Korean relations from favorably developing on the orbit of reconciliation, cooperation and unity after the historic Pyongyang meeting and the adoption of the north-south joint declaration.
The U.S. design to stifle the DPRK by force of arms remains unchanged, the commentary notes, and goes on:
We strongly condemn the intention of the U.S. bellicose forces to increase the U.S. military presence in South Korea and more desperately pursue the policy of stifling the DPRK under the pretext of "threat" as a grave challenge to the desire of all the Korean people for reunification and peace.
The U.S. should bear in mind that the strong warning of the Korean People's Army and people is not empty words.
The DPRK's position to deal with the U.S. bellicose forces will never change as long as their ambition to stifle it by force of arms remains unaltered.
Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's work observed
Pyongyang, October 2 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates an article to the 5th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's work "the Workerfs Party of Korea Is the Party of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung".
The work, which was published on October 2, Juche 84 (1995), serves as a great programme that clearly indicated ways of accomplishing the cause of party building of the leader.
The work comprehensively deals with immortal exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung and reflects the fixed faith and will of Kim Jong Il to glorify the WPK as an eternal party of the President.
The WPK has taken on more striking shape as the party of the President over the last five years, the article notes, and continues:
The President's idea and theories on party building have been fully embodied in the construction and activities of the party. As a result, the WPK has strengthened and developed to be an invincible party whose membership is armed with the monolithic idea of the leader and forms ideologically pure ranks acting as one under the unitary helmsmanship of the leader and which, deeply rooted among broad masses, leads them, shouldering upon itself the destiny of the country and the nation. All this is a precious fruition of indefatigable efforts made by Kim Jong Il.
Referring to the validity and vitality of the work, the article says: They are fully demonstrated by the fact that the WPK has grown stronger to be a revolutionary party resolutely defending and thoroughly implementing the revolutionary ideas of the President.
They also find a vivid expression in the fact that the unity and cohesion of the WPK achieved by the President has grown stronger and the ties of kinship between the party and people have been strengthened thanks to the thorough embodiment of his idea of believing in the people as in heaven in the construction and activities of the party.