Kim Jong Il goes round Songam cavern
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- General Secretary of Kim Jong Il went round the newly discovered and arranged Songam cavern Friday.
Going round the cavern, he acquainted himself in detail with its discovery and arrangement and expressed great satisfaction with the soldier-builders' successful completion of the difficult and gargantuan job of discovering the cavern and arranging it in proper shape as a good tourist site in a short span of time.
Saying that they have provided the people with another cultural treasure to boast of before the world, he highly praised their distinguished service.
One can know how beautiful and dear one's country is and display patriotism only when one knows well about the history, geology and culture of one's country, he said, stressing that the cavern should be shown to many people so that they may cherish the high national pride of living and making revolution in the homeland of Juche with beautiful and rich nature.
He underscored the need to take thoroughgoing measures for keeping the newly discovered Songam cavern in its original state and taking good care of it so as to show the visitors the scenic beauty beyond description because it is the nation's precious treasure of eternal value to be handed down to posterity.
Saying that it is necessary to spruce up the cavern and build sufficient facilities including outdoor resting places for visitors as many people will visit it in the future, he set forth concrete tasks to be carried out to do so.
He was accompanied by Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Ki Nam and Kim Yong Sun, secretaries of the Central Committee of the WPK, and others.
Kim Jong Il's work published in Italy
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "On having a correct viewpoint and understanding of the Juche philosophy" was brought out in booklet by the Firenze, Italy, group for the study of the Juche idea to commemorate the Day of the Sun and the army founding anniversary.
In a preface the booklet says: publishing the work the group stresses that it is important for all countries to conduct activities on the principles of the Juche philosophy.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Workers' Party of Turkey
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the Workers' Party of Turkey on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by Yalsin Buyukdagli, member of the Political Bureau of the central committee of the Party, on a visit to the DPRK.
Pyongyang declaration signed by 258 political parties
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Ten years have passed since the Pyongyang declaration "let us defend and advance the cause of socialism" was published.
Leaders and delegates of political parties aspiring after socialism including communist and Workers' Parties of various countries who came to the DPRK to participate in the celebrations of the 80th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung in April Juche 81 (1992) had bilateral or multilateral contacts and adopted the historic Pyongyang declaration which reflected the steadfast will to defend and advance socialism.
The publication of the Pyongyang declaration that confirmed that socialism is an ideal of humankind and comprehensively indicated the validity and invincibility of the cause of socialism and its noble aim and ways for its materialization was a great event which effected a new turn in the history of the world socialist movement.
Over the past ten years the declaration has been widely distributed among the parties and people aspiring after socialism and has put a strong impetus to the revolutionary change in the present times.
The declaration was signed by 70 political parties at the time of its adoption but has been signed by 258 political parties as of today.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Communist Party of Tajikistan
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the Communist Party of Tajikistan on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by chairman Shodi Shabdolov on a visit to the DPRK.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from first secretary of Bulgarian Communist Party
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the first secretary of the central committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The gift was handed to an official concerned by first secretary Alexander Paunov, on a visit to the DPRK.
Talks held between delegations of WPK and Brazilian political party
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Talks between the delegations of the Workers' Party of Korea and the October 8 Revolutionary Movement of Brazil were held here yesterday.
At the talks both sides informed each other of the activities of their parties and exchanged views on boosting the friendly relations between the two parties and a series of matters of mutual concern.
Present there were Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the political bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, officials concerned and the members of the delegation of the October 8 Revolutionary Movement of Brazil led by General Secretary Claudio Campos.
The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.
DPRK delegation leaves for South Africa
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) - A DPRK delegation led by Choe Su Hon, vice-minister of foreign affairs, left here yesterday by air to participate in the ministerial meeting of the coordinating committee of the non-aligned movement to be held in Durban, South Africa.
Anti-U.S. solidarity rally held in front of U.S. embassy
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The people's action for revising the South Korea-U.S. "status of forces agreement", the headquarters of the movement for the return of the U.S. military base in Ryongsan, the joint measure committee for retaking the U.S. military bases in our land and the all-people measure committee for closing the U.S. bombing ground in Maehyang-ri reportedly held the 31st anti-U.S. solidarity rally in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on April 16.
A resolution was adopted at the rally.
The resolution warned that if the United States continues to force South Korea to purchase U.S.-made fighters and the South Korean "Ministry of National Defence" to finally choose it, it will face the people's irresistible protest.
It said that the U.S. is going ahead with the "joint land management plan" only to undisguisedly reveal its intention to keep its forces in South Korea for an indefinite period in a bid to establish its military hegemony in east Asia.
Letters "long live the great army-based policy" unveiled
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Letters "long live the great army-based policy April 25, Juche 91" were carved on a natural rock on Mt. Suyang, a famous mountain of Korea, in Haeju city, South Hwanghae Province, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army.
The letters praise the greatness and invincible vitality of the army-based policy of leader Kim Jong Il.
Each letter is 21 metres in height and 10 metres in width and each stroke 2 metres in width and 1 metre in depth.
An unveiling ceremony took place on the spot yesterday.
Jong Ha Chol, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, made an unveiling address.
4th Kimilsungia show closes
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The 4th Kimilsungia show which was opened on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung closed.
Displayed at the show were more than 5,500 potted Kimilsungias produced with sincerity by units and people from all walks of life cultivating Kimilsungias and Indonesia and other countries. The show was visited by more than 400,000 Korean people as well as overseas compatriots' delegations, foreign delegations and the participants in the 20th April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
A closing ceremony took place at the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia exhibition yesterday. present there were premier of the cabinet Hong Song Nam and other senior officials.
The jury announced the results of the 4th Kimilsungia show at the ceremony.
The best prizes were awarded to the ministry of the people's armed forces, the academy of sciences, the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League and many other units and excellent prizes and prizes of meritorious service and labour to different units, working people, servicemen of the Korean People's Army and students.
And special prizes were also awarded to the Indonesian embassy here and the Dongyuan Trading Company of Dandong, China.
Kim Yong Nam meets political party delegations of Syria and Thailand
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, member of the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party and national progressive front led by Muhammad Zouher Mashariqa, member of the national and regional leadership of the Arab Socialist Baath Party and vice-president of Syria, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall yesterday.
On the occasion the head of the delegation said that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two peoples were provided by president Hafez Al Assad and President Kim Il Sung. These relations are now growing stronger thanks to the leaders of the two countries, he noted.
He wished the Korean people greater success in the work to overcome the difficulties and achieve the development of the country under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Kim Yong Nam met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the Thai Rak Thai Party led by Krasae Chanawongse, member of its executive committee, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on the same day.
The head of the delegation said that Kim Jong Il is successfully carrying forward and developing the revolutionary cause of Kim Il Sung.
The Thai government is supporting the Korean people in their struggle to reunify the country, he said, hoping that Korea would be reunified according to the policy for national reunification advanced by Kim Il Sung.
Floral basket to DPRK embassy by Ugandan President
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Ugandan President, sent a floral basket to the DPRK embassy in Kampala on April 15 on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
The secretary of the presidential office laid the basket before the portrait of Kim Il Sung to pay tribute to him, authorized by the Ugandan President.
He said: we will in the future, too, strive to further strengthen and develop the long and close relations of friendship between the two countries based on the close relations between Museveni and Kim Il Sung.
He expressed belief that the Korean people would advance and complete the socialist cause and achieve the country's reunification without fail under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Group performances of art festival given
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Group performances were given by artistes of different countries participating in the 20th April Spring Friendship Art Festival at theaters in Pyongyang on Friday.
The Ukrainian dance troupe, a Maltese musician and his party, a Cuban musician, the Indian Orrisa dance troupe, the Polish musical group, the Malaysian art troupe, the Kirgyz art troupe, the art troupe of the Japan-Korea musical and artistic interchange, the Japan Meirang musical band and a Madagascan vocal soloist gave performances at the Mansudae Art Theater.
The Egyptian Reda National Dance Troupe, a Danish musician and his party, an Italian musician and his party, the Cypriot musical group, the Bulgarian art troupe, the Belgian traditional folk musical group and a Cambodian singer and his party performed at the ponghwa art theater.
The group of famous actors and actresses of Russia, the Ukrainian musical group, the Armenian musical group and the Swiss flute quartet gave performances at the Moranbong Theater.
The Indonesian Grusoekarno Art Troupe, the Uzbek art troupe, the Vietnamese art troupe and the Singaporean Thas art troupe put their programs on the stage at the central workers' house.
The Mongolian art troupe, the Nepalese dance troupe, the French musical group, the Belorussian music troupe, the Norwegian art troupe, the Norwegian musical group, a Romanian musician and his party performed at the east Pyongyang grand theater.
Meanwhile, the art troupe of Koreans in the United States, the art troupe of the International United Confederation of Koreans, the Tajik Art Troupe and the Moldovan musical troupe gave their performances at the Pyongyang international cinema house.
The Chinese, Russian, Mongolian, Swedish and French circuses and a Portuguese juggler and his party performed at the Pyongyang Circus Theater.
The performers highly praised the immortal feats of President Kim Il Sung and extended the greatest glory to leader Kim Jong Il.
They put on stages art pieces spiced with national flavour, singing of truth and justice.
Anniversary of Pyongyang declaration observed
Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today carries a signed article on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Pyongyang declaration headlined "let us defend and advance the cause of socialism."
The article says:
The declaration published on April 20, 1992 reaffirmed that socialism represents a genuine popular society where the people become a master of everything and everything serves them. It underscored the need for all countries and peoples to go in for socialism without fail if they are to enjoy an independent and creative life in the society free from domination and subjugation.
It also clarified that the socialist movement is an independent movement and the socialist cause is not only a national cause but a cause common to humankind.
Recalling that over the past decade since the publication of the declaration the revolutionary parties and people of the world have restarted the socialist movement and waged a vigorous struggle to advance the global cause of socialism, taking the declaration as their common militant programme, the article goes on:
The declaration was signed by 70 political parties at the time of its adoption but the number of the political parties that have inked it has reached nearly 260 as of today. This is a clear proof that the declaration enjoys absolute support and sympathy of the world revolutionary parties and people and it is the irresistible trend of the times and the law-governed process of the historical development to go in for socialism and independence.
The declaration which confirmed that socialism is an ideal of humankind and a society representing its future is a militant programme common to humankind as it reflects the will and interests of the people advocating independence.
The global cause of socialism and the human cause of independence can make a triumphant advance only when they forge ahead, holding high the banner of the declaration.
The workers' party and people of Korea will always remain faithful to the declaration and make every effort for the victory of the global cause of socialism and the human cause of independence.