U.S. urged not to put brake on inter-Korean dialogue
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- As already reported, the inter-Korean minister-level talks that were temporarily stalemated owing to the obstructions of outsiders resumed to reach major agreements.
The recent talks prove that when the process of inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation and cooperation is promoted smoothly it will lead to the reunification of the country.
This is another indication that the reunification of Korea can surely be achieved through inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation and cooperation and it is a task of the nation that should be carried out without fail.
A stumbling block lying in the way of realizing the cherished desire of the nation is the attitude of the U.S. responsible for the issue of the Korean peninsula.
It is well known that inter-Korean relations have developed smoothly in all aspects in the wake of the publication of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration last year. That means that the Korean people have laid the foundation for the independent settlement of the issue of national reunification, a result of the painstaking efforts exerted for more than half a century.
The rapid process of reconciliation and cooperation between the north and south of Korea is facing a serious challenge in the wake of the emergence of the present U.S. government.
The Bush administration, pursuant to the anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK, comprehensively reexamined what was agreed upon between the DPRK and the preceding U.S. administration to improve the bilateral relations, while putting pressure upon the South Korean authorities to "adjust the tempo of inter-Korean dialogue."
It has covertly encouraged the ultra right-wing anti-reunification elements of South Korea to put a brake on the inter-Korean peace process.
It is not the first time that the U.S. blocked the progress of inter-Korean relations. Whenever the atmosphere of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation and the desire of the Korean people for reunification mounted, the U.S. worked hard to dampen them under unreasonable pretexts.
The historic lesson shows that for the smooth inter-Korean dialogue it is necessary, first of all, to terminate the interference of outsiders.
The U.S. should stop throwing a wet blanket over the favourably developing inter-Korean dialogue, going against the desire and will of the Korean people for reunification.
If the inter-Korean dialogue that has progressed since it was resumed with so much effort is brought to a stalemate owing to the U.S. intervention and obstructions, its consequences will be more serious than ever before.
Greetings to President of Cyprus
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, yesterday sent a message of greetings to Glafcos Clerides, President of Cyprus, on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of its independence.
The message wished the president and people of Cyprus greater success in their work for the peaceful settlement of the Cypriot issue and the prosperity of the country and expressed conviction that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further develop.
Greetings to Nigerian President
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Sept. 25 sent a message of greetings to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of its independence.
Expressing belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger, the message wished the president and people of Nigeria greater success in their work for national unity and prosperity, regional peace and stability.
Autumn festival in Korea
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Today, 15th day of the 8th lunar month, is the autumn festival day, one of the folklore holidays including the lunar New Year's Day and Tano (May Festival).
On the day Koreans prepare a variety of food with newly harvested grains of the year and fruits and visit their ancestral graves to hold memorial services. They also enjoy diverse folk games.
On this festival day they never forget to prepare rice cakes steamed on the laver of pine needles with beans, red beans, chestnuts and jujubes, etc.
Fried, steamed or boiled yellow hens and small green bean sprouts are also prepared as special food for the festival.
Among the essential ingredients of festival food are persimmon, chestnut, jujubes, walnut, gingko nut, apple, pear, etc.
Folk games include peasant dance, a-tug-of-war, Korean wrestling, archery and a circle dance.
The DPRK has actively carried forward and developed the long-standing folklore heritages.
The autumn festival day is marked as a national holiday and a series of measures are taken for holiday-makers.
Additional bus service is provided for those visiting their ancestral graves.
Every village and region hums with Korean wrestling, swinging, a tug-of-war, archery and other folk games.
Rodong Sinmun on national reunification
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun in a signed article today says that the reunification of the Korean nation is an inevitable trend of national history and a lawful requirement for national development.
The article says:
National reunification is a lawful requirement for national development firstly because the Koreans are a nation of the same blood who has lived in the same territory with the same language and culture for thousands of years.
Imperialists' aggression brought the Korean nation the tragedy of division.
National reunification is a lawful requirement for national development also because it is the cause of putting an end to the outside forces' domination and interference and establishing national sovereignty throughout Korea.
Another reason is that it is the cause to eliminate the distrust and confrontation between the north and the south and achieve national unity.
The article calls on all the fellow countrymen to pool the will and strength in the spirit of patriotism and national independence and further strengthen the national unity in the struggle to implement the north-south joint declaration.
52nd anniversary of China observed
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the foundation of the People's Republic of China.
Rodong Sinmun in an article carried on this occasion says:
The foundation of the republic was a precious gain which the Chinese people achieved through a protracted arduous struggle and an epoch-making event which brought about a radical turn in the history of China.
52 years covered by the republic was a proud road of creation and construction.
The steady development and progress made by china is a fruition of the Chinese people's devoted struggle.
Today the Chinese people are working hard to speed up the country's modernization and build socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the Communist Party of China headed by respected Jiang Zemin.
China has exerted efforts to ensure peace and stability in Asia and other parts of the world and develop its relations with other countries in Asia and the rest of the world, pursuant to its independent foreign policy.
The Korean people sincerely hope that everything will go on well in China.
The DPRK-China friendship is growing stronger thanks to the great concern of the leaders of the two countries.
The strengthening and development of the DPRK-China friendship conform to the interests of the two peoples and the trend of the development of the international relations in the new century. They also contribute to the efforts to promote the revolution and construction in the two countries and ensure peace in Asia and the rest of the world and achieve the human cause of independence.
It is the task of the two peoples to steadily develop the DPRK-China friendship.
It is the consistent stand of the WPK, the DPRK government and the people to develop the DPRK-China friendly relations. These friendly ties and cooperative relations will become closer thanks to the concerted efforts of the peoples of the two countries.
The Korean people wish the friendly Chinese people new successes in their work to build new modern china and reunify the whole country.
Jangsusan resort
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Mt. Jangsu, known as "the Mt. Kumgang of Hwanghae Province", has been developed in to a public resort.
Builders have removed 4.3 million cubic metres of earth, piled stones over a distance of 48 km, laid 12 km of power lines, made a 24-km hiking track and erected 50 structures at 37 places, from the entrance with a guiding map and tiger sculpture to the last of the twelve bends on the track with a farmers' rest home and pavilion.
Greetings to Guinean President
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- President Kim Yong Nam of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK today sent a message of greetings to Guinean President Lansana Conte on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the independence of Guinea.
The message sincerely wishes the president and people of guinea great success in the efforts for defending the sovereignty of the country and the territorial integrity and achieving national unity and socio-economic progress and expresses belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries will expand and develop to meet the need of the new century.