Death of Ri Tu Ik mourned
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- Senior party and state officials, members of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, members of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, officials of party, armed forces and power bodies, ministries and national institutions, servicemen of the Korean People's Army, people from all walks of life and overseas compatriots visited the bier of vice marshal of the KPA Ri Tu Ik, member of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the WPK, in Sojang club on March 14 and expressed deep condolences over his death.
A wreath sent by leader Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the WPK, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, was seen standing by the bier.
Wreaths were laid in the name of the WPK Central Committee, the WPK Central Military Commission, the DPRK National Defence Commission, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, the DPRK cabinet, the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, ministries, national institutions and party and power organs in Pyongyang, KPA units and military academies.
They observed a moment's silence in memory of Ri Tu Ik who remained intensely loyal to the party, the leader, the country and the people till the last moments of his life.
They expressed profound condolences to the bereaved family.
Silver jubilee of CILRECO marked
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in Paris on March 9 to mark the 25th anniversary of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea (CILRECO).
Present at the meeting were honorary chairmen of the committee, personages from all walks of life and representatives of international organizations.
Introduced there were congratulatory messages to the committee from political parties and organizations of different countries including the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and international organizations.
Guy Dupre, secretary general of the committee, made a report and the DPRK chief representative in Paris and delegates from different countries made congratulatory speeches there.
The reporter and speakers recalled that the committee has contributed to the cause of the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea through such diverse activities as organizing over 20 international action campaigns and more than 40 international and regional conferences on the Korean issue.
They were unanimous in stressing that leader Kim Jong Il made a bold patriotic decision to host the north-south summit and publish the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, thus opening a bright prospect of Korea's independent and peaceful reunification.
Condemning U.S. President Bush for stepping up his hostile policy toward the DPKK and repeating bellicose remarks against it in a bid to strain the inter-Korean relations, they vowed to conduct more dynamic solidarity activities for Korea's independent and peaceful reunification.
A joint art performance and a reception took place at the end of the meeting.
Signature campaign supporting Korea's reunification
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- An international signature campaign was conducted in different countries and by a regional organization in support of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and in demand of the immediate withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea.
In Ethiopia, the heads of different units put their signatures to the signature papers on behalf of over 34,000 Juche idea followers, teachers and students and Taekwon-do fans.
General secretary Victor Oliva Miguel of the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru signed a paper on behalf of his party, and chairman Ibrahim Shamieh of the general union of Syrian peasants inked a paper on behalf of one million members.
Chairman Morad Ghaleb and secretary general Nouri Abdel Razzak Hussein of the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization signed a paper on behalf of the organization and chairman Juha Kieski of the Finnish National Committee for the study of the Juche idea on behalf of the Juche idea followers in Finland.
World art festival to be held in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- The 20th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be held with splendour in Pyongyang on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, the most auspicious holiday common to humankind.
The festival is timed to coincide with the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
This world art festival will be of ever-greater significance as it will reflect the unanimous aspiration and desire of the world progressives and artistes to sing high praises of the immortal revolutionary exploits performed by the president in the efforts to accomplish the human cause of independence and glorify them century by century.
The festival will be more meaningful as it will resound with world people's songs eulogizing the immortal feats, wise leadership and noble personality of leader Kim Jong Il, the sun of the 21st century, who has successfully carried forward and developed the president's revolutionary cause.
The festival will bring together over 90 art and acrobatic troupes made up of winners of international and national concours and other famous artistes from at least 60 countries, art troupes of overseas koreans and artistes at home. Put on stages will be colorful programs including vocal and instrumental music, dances and acrobatics.
Ri Hoe Chang censured for his reckless remarks
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- The solidarity for implementing the south-north joint declaration reportedly issued a statement on March 12, denouncing president Ri Hoe Chang of the "Grand National Party" of South Korea for making reckless remarks against the DPRK again during his trip to Japan.
On March 11 he told his Japanese master that the north was breaking the "promise" and it is hard to expect the settlement of the "issue of weapons of mass destruction" the statement denounced his outbursts as the same anti-national utterances against the north as he made during his U.S. trip toward the end of January.
He made such remarks because he has no common sense in international diplomacy and the inter-Korean issues and he is a treacherous politician fawning on the U.S. and Japan with his sinister intention to become "president" regardless of national destiny, the statement said, and warned:
If he fails to come back to national stand, only severe judgement by the nation and history will wait for him.
Withdrawal of U.S. nuclear war plan urged in S. Korea
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification reportedly issued a statement on March 12, censuring the U.S. for its reckless nuclear war plan recently disclosed.
The statement said:
The confidential report "reexamination of nuclear posture" made by the U.S. Department of defense early this year confirmed again that the "reduction of strategic weapons" on its lips was only a camouflage to cover up its brutal and violent nature.
The U.S., which does not hesitate to threaten humankind with its nuclear weapons, is real "axis of evil."
The Korean nation has never given the U.S. the right to obstruct the implementation of its task with nuclear weapons and will never remain a passive onlooker to its aggressive acts, the statement stressed.
Revolutionary battlefields and historic sites well preserved
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- There are many revolutionary battlefields and historic sites associated with the immortal revolutionary feats of the three generals of Mt. Paektu in South Hamgyong Province on the east coast of Korea.
President Kim Il Sung, leader Kim Jong Il and anti-Japanese war woman hero Kim Jong Suk are praised as the three generals of Mt. Paektu in Korea.
It was in the revolutionary battleground in Sinhung region that Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Suk personally commanded a small unit of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army and activities of political workers in the period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle.
Kim Jong Il left ineradicable footprints there to successfully carry forward and develop the glorious revolutionary traditions of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The revolutionary battlegrounds in Kumchang, Songgok, Soku and Songpha bear witness to the glorious feats Kim Jong Suk performed through her brisk activities to implement the president's line to achieve the country's liberation in the period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle.
The Tonghungsan Revolutionary Site and other revolutionary sites in the province tell how the generals of Mt. Paektu led the revolution and construction to victory while giving field guidance to the province until today since the liberation of the country.
The president's statues are standing in picturesque places including Mt. Tonghung in Hamhung, and revolutionary museums, historic monuments and other monuments were erected in the revolutionary battlegrounds and historic sites and historic relics are well preserved.
These sites are very instrumental in educating the visitors in the greatness of the three generals of Mt. Paektu.
Rodong Sinmun calls for maintaining independence
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- A country depending on foreign forces can not have its own view and faith and may dance to the tune of others and, finally, go to ruin.
Rodong Sinmun says this in a signed article.
This is proved by the situation of the East European countries that had once built socialism, the paper says, and goes on:
The situation of these countries gives a serious lesson that independence keeps a country alive and dependence on others brings forth flunkeyism and makes a mess of the revolution and construction.
It is more important to get rid of dependence on foreign forces and maintain independence in connection with the cunning moves of the imperialists.
Those countries that undergo socio-economic hardships and disasters of national disputes should find a solution to them by themselves and should not repose expectations in the imperialists' "aid" or "prescription".
The experience of the Korean revolution clearly shows that keeping an independent stand and the Juche character makes it possible to defend the sovereignty and interests of a country and demonstrate the dignity and honor of a nation.
The people aspiring after independence should not give up their independent faith and Juche character no matter what difficulties and hardships they may face but invariably advance along the road of independence.