Kim Jong Il's visit to Russia reported by Russian media
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA)) --Russian news media reported leader Kim Jong Il's official visit to the Russian Federation on a total of over 800 occasions, according to data available.
The newspaper Patriot said that though many heads of state visited Russia, mass media have never reported so much as this.
Itar-Tass and other news media gave prompt news coverage of Kim Jong Il' visit to Russia along his journey on nearly 400 occasions.
TV and radios broadcast news of his visit for more than 250 times.
Zabtra, Patriot, Pravda and many other papers carried special-write-ups with his portraits and photos of his official visit to Russia.
Reporting about achievements of his external activities, papers impressively wrote about his talented wisdom, extraordinary diplomatic stratagem and lofty moral obligation.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Algeria
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the Algerian national preparatory committee for the 15th World Festival of Youth and Students.
The national coordinator of the committee conveyed the gift to the head of the delegation of Korean youth and students participating in the 15th WFYS on August 16.
Speech of DPRK delegate at 53rd session of UN sub-commission on human rights
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The delegate of the DPRK made a speech when the agenda item article 6 (the issue of slavery system of modern version) was discussed at the 53rd session of the UN sub-commission on human rights held in Geneva on August 14.
He appreciated the commission for contributing to the international efforts to put an end to slavery of modern version, organised rape and sexual slavery during armed conflicts in particular.
Referring to the issue of the "comfort women for the army", he said that it has not yet been settled by the continued refusal of those responsible for it.
Former "comfort women for the army" are spending the last days of their life with mental and physical sufferings but the assailants are totally denying the past crimes and even justifying them, he noted, stressing:
If any country commits crimes against the international law, it should admit its responsibility for them and make due compensation for them. Japan can neither evade nor deny this.
WFP executive director feted
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government gave a reception in honor of Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Program, and her party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Saturday.
Invited to the reception were David Morton, resident coordinator of the United Nations and representative of the WFP, and other representatives of international organizations in the DPRK.
Foreign minister Paek Nam Sun and officials concerned were present.
Speeches were made there.
Reception given by Indonesian ambassador
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Indonesian ambassador to the DPRK Buchari Effendi hosted a reception yesterday on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of the independence of Indonesia.
Present on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Ri Kwang Gun, minister of foreign trade, other officials concerned and foreign diplomatic envoys here.
Speeches were made there.
Monument to three charters lauded
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The monument to the three charters for national reunification is a grand monumental edifice which has been erected to hand down the immortal exploits of President Kim Il Sung for national reunification to posterity.
Zhen Shuzhe, party deputy secretary of the Jilin city educational committee who is leading the friendship delegation of Yuwen Middle School in Jilin, China, said this in an interview with KCNA on August 18.
The monument was built as a monument of the times reflecting the Korean people's desire for reunification, he said, and continued:
The monument was built in specific architectural style and the sculpture of two women holding up a mark of the three charters bearing a Korean map gives a formative artistic depiction of the desire of the Korean nation for reunification.
The monument is a clear manifestation of the unanimous desire and unshakable will of the entire Korean nation to achieve national reunification at any cost under the banner of the three charters for national reunification.
Witnessing the 2001 grand festival for national reunification seething with the desire of all the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad for reunification, I was convinced that Korea is sure to be reunified in the near future, he added.
Delegates of S. Korean Won-Buddhism visit Korean Buddhist Federation
Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Delegates of the South Korean Won-Buddhism including Jang Ung Chol, general director of administration of Won-Buddhism, visited the central committee of the Korean Buddhist Federation today.
They were greeted by most venerable Pak Thae Hwa, chairman of the central committee of the federation, and officials.
Pak Thae Hwa and Jang Ung Chol conversed in an atmosphere overflowing with compatriotic feelings.
They laid stress on strengthening solidarity and unity between religious organizations in the north and the south under the banner of the June 15 north-south joint declaration to speed up reunification.
S. Korean religionists visit Tangun's mausoleum
pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Delegates of orders of the South Korean national religions council visited the mausoleum of King Tangun, ancestral father of the Korean nation, at the foot of Mt. Taebak in Kangdong county, Pyongyang, today to pray for him.
At the praying ceremony, a ritual prayer was read out.
The prayer hoped that Tangun would open wide the door of reunification, the cherished desire of the nation, and bring eternal prosperity to it.
The visitors looked round the monument to the reconstructed mausoleum of King Tangun, stone sculptures, the chamber of the mausoleum, etc.