DPRK ambassador to Iran appointed
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Nam was appointed as DPRK Ambassador E.P. to the Islamic Republic of Iran according to a decree of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.
S. Korean organization vows massive struggle
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- The National Teachers Union (Jongyojo) vowed to restart a massive struggle with a teachers' rally on Nov. 5 as a momentum, according to Seoul-based Radio No. 1.
The organization decided to launch a signature campaign on Nov. 6 demanding a poll of all teachers on the authorities' education policy, the withdrawal of the proposed revision of the "law on public employees" and so on.
The organization declared that it would launch a second massive struggle on Nov. 22 unless its demands are met.
DPRK's principled stand on DPRK-U.S. relations
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a commentary deals with the recent noteworthy positive moves for the improvement of the DPRK-U.S. relations.
It says:
Multi-faceted contacts and dialogues have been under way between the DPRK and the U.S. in recent years.
It was against this backdrop that a special envoy of the great leader Kim Jong Il paid a visit to the United States last october, the first of its kind in history, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern with President Clinton and senior officials of the U.S. administration and a historic joint communique reflecting both sides' will to make concerted efforts for the improvement of the DPRK-U.S. relations was issued.
Describing the DPRK-U.S. joint communique as a historic diplomatic document confirming the stands of the DPRK and the U.S. to improve the relations, the commentary says:
The document has not only an informative value but international legal validity. Accordingly, the DPRK and the U.S. are committed to implement the communique.
As part of the steps to honor it, the U.S. Secretary of State visited the DPRK recently and handed Kim Jong Il a personal letter carrying the view of President Clinton on issues related to the improvement of the DPRK-U.S. relations and sincerely discussed them.
The improved relations between the two countries are in line with the desire and interests of the two peoples.
The improved DPRK-U.S. relations are not only good for both countries but will greatly help preserve peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world.
The DPRK will do its best to develop the DPRK-U.S. relations on the principle of mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in other's internal affairs.
The U.S. should keep its faith and promise and honor its commitments.
Gold prize and special prize go to Pyongyang Moranbong Circus
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- A small group of Pyongyang Moranbong Circus received a gold prize and special prize at the 4th Wuhan International Acrobatic Festival.
A gold prize was awarded to Korean acrobatic number "somersault in flight" and a special prize to a magic number at the festival which brought together circuses from 12 countries and regions.
Great national unity called for
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- The new phase of national reunification that opened following the adoption of the June 15 north-south joint declaration more urgently calls for great national unity than ever before, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The Korean nation has actual possibilities and conditions enough to achieve great national unity as it is a homogeneous nation with a 5,000 year-long history, the article notes, and continues:
The Korean nation's unique tradition, language, culture, mental and moral qualities and manners and customs steadily developed in one and the same land.
The nature of our nation as a homogeneous nation remains unchanged. The Korean nation is one from a national point of view.
It is quite possible to achieve great national unity irrespective of classes, strata and ideologies if all members of the nation love the nation and set store by its sovereignty, identifying their lot with the destiny of the nation.
Through the historic Pyongyang meeting and the publication of the June 15 north-south joint declaration the respected leader Kim Jong Il brought about a turning point in the efforts to achieve national unity and paved an avenue for the whole Korean nation to attain the country's reunification by its own efforts as the master responsible for reunification, the article concludes.
Korean folk dance
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- Since ancient times in Korea, singing and dancing were part and parcel of work and life, particularly on major holidays and festivals of the year.
Folk dance, a traditional favorite of the public, has a rich flavor of Koreans' customs with distinctiveness from province to province. Its rhythms and composition were so easy, clear and natural as to remain widely popular through the ages.
The Korean dance has peculiar features in rhythm and movement tailored to national sentiment.
In general, the oriental dance stresses the movements of the upper part of the body relative to the lower, while the western dance is the opposite.
In contrast, Korean dance is anchored on the movements of arms with a proper combination of feet, affording a harmonious movement of both the upper and lower halves of the body to the time of gentle rhythm. The whole body seems to flow naturally in lyrical beats, with a dominant movement of arms. It is characterized by an obvious lack of impulsive or too-flamboyant movements and a preponderance of delicate and gentle yet vigorous movements.
As a reflection of Korean's diligent working life and virtuous customs, the folk dance underwent age-old polishing, its rhythms rich in national spicing. This serves as a priceless asset in furthering national dance in the light of modern needs.
The provincial stocks of folk dance are steadily tapped for representation and development on the modern stage.
Gathering for Japan-DPRK friendship held
Tokyo, November 5 (KNS-KCNA) -- A gathering for Japan-DPRK friendship was held in Tokyo on Nov. 2.
Invited to the gathering were the delegation of the Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries on a visit to Japan and Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
Motofumi Makieda, chairman of the Japan Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea, said in his speech at the gathering that the relations between Japan and Korea are not in the simple neighbor relationship. It will be the starting point of promoting mutual confidence between Japan and the DPRK for Japan to make an apology and compensation for the colonial rule it enforced over the Korean people for over 40 years in the past, he noted.
He called for undertaking in various forms and ways a vigorous movement for friendship with the Korean people and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the DPRK in all parts of Japan.
Kaechon-Thaesong lake waterway project makes brisk headway
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- Kaechon-Thaesong lake waterway project, a gigantic nature-harnessing project of eternal value, is making brisk headway.
Builders from different provinces and soldiers of the people's army are dynamically pushing ahead with the construction of channels and waterway tunnels extending 160 km, structures and lock gates.
Builders from South Phyongan Province removed huge quantities of earth in the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and fortitude though they were hard pressed for everything such as machines, fuel and various construction materials. This resulted in completing the digging of waterways and the driving of intake tunnels and wall concrete tamping.
Officials and builders from Pyongyang are now busy with the construction of embankments along channels after completing the digging of hundreds of metres of channels and the building of structures through a meticulous organization and command of bold and ambitious construction operations.
Builders from South Hwanghae Province recently succeeded in driving a waterway tunnel through a hill and finished the construction of structures, thus opening a bright prospect of completing the project in a short span of time. A work to widen the tunnel and bring the project to completion is now in full gear.
Constructors from Jagang Province, North Hamgyong Province and other provinces are also successfully pushing forward the waterway project despite difficulties.
11th national computer program contest and exhibition closes
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- The 11th national computer program contest and exhibition that opened on October 26 closed at the Three Revolution Exhibition yesterday with due ceremony.
The contest and exhibition were divided into a program contest, a program exhibition and a computerization exhibition of ministries and national institutions.
The first place at the program went to Korean optical character recognition program "Ryongnamsan" 3. 2 developed by Kim Il Sung University, uninterrupted Korean speech recognition program "Pyongyang" 2. 0 made by University of Science and the Korean chess program "Buruna" 2. 0 developed by Kim Chaek University of Technology.
Meanwhile, the special place at the program exhibition went to the standard Korean character program "Tangun" made by Pyongyang Program Center, the Korean language memory system "Pyongyang" developed by Kim Il Sung University and the production optimization system at the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex "Mitppuri" made by University of National Economics and the first place was given to fish farming information system "Sachol" 1.0 made by Kim Il Sung University and 13 others.
The Ministry of Power and Coal Industries and the Ministry of Public Health came first at the computerization exhibition of ministries and national institutions.
Study program "Jiwon" made by Kangdong Senior Middle School no. 1 won the first place among teachers and students of senior middle schools that participated in the contest and exhibition.