Message of condolence to bereaved family of late Jong Ju Yong

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee on March 22 sent a message of condolence to the bereaved family of the late Jong Ju Yong over his death. The message said that Jong Ju Yong was an entrepreneur who contributed to the patriotic work for reconciliation and cooperation between the north and south of Korea, the great unity of the nation and reunification. Although he passed away, he will always be remembered by us for his patriotic services to reunification, it added.


Meeting held to mark Independence Day of Bangladesh

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held here on March 23 to mark the 30th Independence Day of Bangladesh under the sponsorship of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and the DPRK-Bangladesh Friendship Association. Present there were Sung Sang Sop, chairman of the central committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea who is chairman of the DPRK-Bangladesh Friendship Association, and other officials concerned.
    A speech was made there. messages of greetings to the Bangladeshi President Shahabuddin Ahmed and prime minister Sheik Hasina were adopted. The participants looked round the photos introducing Bangladesh.


Messages of condolence to bereaved family of late Jong Ju Yong

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The DPRK National Economic Cooperation Federation sent messages of condolence on March 22 to the bereaved family of the late Jong Ju Yong and the South Korean Hyundai Asan over his death. The message expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family and Hyundai Asan over the death of Jong Ju Yong who devoted his all to patriotic work, and prayed for the dead.


19th April Spring Friendship Art Festival to be held

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- It has been reported that the 19th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be held with splendour in Pyongyang on the occasion of Sun's Day, the birthday of President Kim Il Sung, the first to be commemorated in the new century. This day is commemorated every year as the greatest jubilee of humankind. The festival is expected to bring together more than 80 art and acrobatic troupes made up of national and international concours winners and famous artistes from 47 countries, art troupes of overseas compatriots and DPRK art troupes.
    Colorful programs including vocal and instrumental music, dance and circus pieces will be put on the stage.
    The festival will mark a momentous occasion of developing friendship, unity, cultural exchange and cooperation among peoples and artistes of different countries in the idea of independence, peace and friendship.


Joint Mori-Bush statement blasted

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today comments on the joint statement issued by the Japanese prime minister and U.S. President Bush at the end of the talks held during the former's recent visit to Washington. The commentary says:
    In the joint statement both sides noted that the U.S.-Japan alliance is the "foundation of peace and stability" in the Asia-Pacific region and reaffirmed the particular importance of maintaining "close consultations and coordination" regarding the DPRK, both bilaterally and trilaterally with South Korea.
    This revealed an extremely dangerous criminal intention of the United States to use Japan as a shock brigade in carrying out its Asia-Pacific strategy to stifle the DPRK by force of arms.
    Today the United States regards its aggressive Asia-Pacific strategy as the basis of its strategy for world domination and finds a master key to realizing it in the execution of its anti-DPRK strategy.
    The U.S. insistence on keeping as ever its forces in the Asia-Pacific region under the pretext of "regional security" only betrayed its true aim to permanently keep them in South Korea and in areas around it and use them as important means to carry out its strategy to stifle the DPRK.
    In the joint statement they underscored close policy coordination among the U.S., Japan and South Korea as regards the DPRK after singling out the "issue of North Korea" as the "most urgent regional issue". This is nothing but a dangerous plot to revive the already bankrupt "trilateral cooperation system" and stifle the DPRK by force.
    This is a daydream as the U.S. intention to destroy the DPRK by force can never succeed.
    It is the DPRK's principled stand and mode of retaliation to counter force with force and react to a hard line with the toughest policy.
    Those keen to stifle the DPRK will only meet a shameful fiasco and ruin.


U.S. State Secretary's remarks under fire

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Powell recently insisted that not only the "missile issue" of the DPRK but the "issue of reduction of its conventional military forces" should be brought up for discussion. In this regard Minju Joson today in a signed commentary says:
    This clearly indicates that the new U.S. administration is pursuing the policy of confrontation and war against the DPRK, not dialogue or negotiations.
    The present situation compels the DPRK to maintain the highest vigilance against the U.S. Whether the DPRK develops missiles or increases conventional military forces is an issue to be handled by itself according to its need. It is not the issue which allows the U.S. to meddle in it and say this or that about it.
    Lurking behind the new U.S. administration's talk about the DPRK's "missile issue" and the "issue of reduction of its conventional military forces" is a sinister design to realise its wild ambition to stifle the DPRK with ease by weakening its military forces and disarming it.
    Another war was averted and peace preserved on the Korean peninsula because the U.S. war moves were frustrated by the DPRK's strong military forces based on its line of giving priority to the army.
    The DPRK wants dialogue, but it does not wish to have dialogue with its sovereignty being infringed upon.
    The DPRK is prepared to meet U.S. challenge with challenge and react to its hardline policy with the toughest stand.
    If the U.S. persists in its moves to put military pressure upon the DPRK, pursuant to the policy of "strength," the DPRK will strongly react to it and deal deadly blows to the U.S. though the earth may collapse.


Seafowl refuges

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The DPRK has six seafowl refuges-on Tok, rap, Unmu and Al islands and elsewhere. Tok island off Onchon county, South Phyongan Province is thick with shrubs of ash, elder and arrowroot, wormwood and strawberry, and the surrounding undersea rocks host abundant mussel, oyster and seaweeds. This condition makes a favourite habitat for seafowl the year round.
    The island is a wintering place for sea gulls and wild ducks and a summer breeding place for some 20 species of sea-birds including spoonbills and Chinese egret, native to northeast Asia and under worldwide protection.
    Seafowl breeding starts in late April and continues through mid-August. From late August, most of species, with their young, flock for food to seashores and estuaries of rivers, leaving the island gradually. In mid-September, only blacktailed gulls and some others are found staying.
    Rap island is a solitary island about 45 km southwest of Unjong-ri, Sonchon county, North Phyongan Province in northwestern Korea. Overgrown with rank wormwood, reeds and some shrubs, it hosts a dozen species of seafowl including hornbilled puffins, streaked shearwater and temmicks cormorants for breeding in April through June.
    The other reserves on Unmu, Taegam, Unggi Al and Thongchon Al islands are reserved for breeding of grey herons, white rumped swifts, bering island guillemots and others.
    The government guards against any environmental pollution around these refuges.


SPA delegation leaves

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK led by Kim Yong Dae, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, left here today to participate in the 105th conference of the inter-parliamentary union to be held in Havana. The delegation was seen off at the airport by Jang Chol, vice-chairman of the SPA, and Violeta Goodridge Culzac, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Cuban embassy here.


Greetings to Philippine secretary of foreign affairs

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- DPRK foreign minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to Teofisto T. Guingona on his appointment as secretary of foreign affairs of the Republic of Philippines. Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger and develop, the message wished him success in the performance of his new duty.


CPC delegation leaves

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The delegation of the Communist Party of China led by Zeng Qinghong went back home today at the end of its five-day visit to the DPRK. It was seen off at the airport by choe thae bok, officials concerned, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK Wang Guozhang and embassy officials.
    During its visit to the DPRK it went round Mangyongdae, the monument to the Workers' Party of Korea founding, the international friendship exhibition, etc.


Death of Jong Ju Yong mourned

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Sun, chairman of the the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee= Iong Un Op, chairman of the the DPRK National Economic Cooperation Federation= Pang Jong Sam, president of the General Corporation of Tourism on Mt. Kumgang and other officials concerned today paid a condolatory visit to the place where the members of the South Korean Hyundai Business Group now staying in Pyongyang to build a gymnasium met to mourn the death of Jong Ju Yong, former honorary chairman of the Hyundai Business Group. Kim Yong Sun and other officials paid silent tribute to the late jong who contributed to the patriotic work.
    Kim made the following entry in the mourners' book: "We express deep condolences over the death of Mr. Jong Ju Yong."


DPRK-Cambodia cultural exchange plan signed

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- A plan for cultural exchange between the DPRK and Cambodian governments for Juche 90-93 (2001-2004) was signed in Phnom Penh on March 20. It was signed by Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who was heading the DPRK government cultural delegation on a visit to Cambodia, and princess Norodom Buppha Devi, minister of culture and art of Cambodia.


Kim Jong Il sends wreath to bier of late Jong Ju Yong

    Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Leader kim jong il today sent a wreath to the bier of the late Jong Ju Yong, former honorary chairman of the Hyundai Business Group of South Korea, to express deep condolences over his death. The mourners' delegation led by vice-chairman Song Ho Gyong of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee laid a wreath before the bier of the late Jong Ju Yong.
    The members of the delegation observed a moment's silence in memory of the late Jong Ju Yong, who contributed to the patriotic work for reconciliation and cooperation between the north and south, the great unity of the nation and reunification, and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family.
    The head of the delegation conveyed what Kim Jong Il said of the death of Jong Ju Yong to the bereaved family.
    The bereaved family was deeply moved by the fact that Kim Jong Il sent a message of condolence and dispatched the mourners' delegation and asked the head of the delegation to convey the family's deep thanks to him.
    That day the delegation returned to Pyongyang by air.



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