Vietnamese President visits International Friendship Exhibition
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong visited the International Friendship Exhibition yesterday.
Accompanying him were Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of foreign affairs of the DPRK, Ri Hong, DPRK ambassador to Vietnam, and officials concerned.
The guests looked round with deep emotion the gifts President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il received from party leaders, heads of state and government and progressive personages of many countries.
The Vietnamese president left a souvenir to the exhibition.
After his inspection the president made an entry in the visitor's book that the exhibition on Mt. Myohyang is a great building vividly showing international friendship and solidarity between Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and friends of the five continents.
Reckless remarks of GNP group slammed
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- A group of the "Grand National Party" of South Korea let loose a spate of vituperation that the north was using the reunion of the separated families and relatives from the north and South of Korea in Mt. Kumgang a few days ago for money-making, so to speak, the north gets fees for entering the mountain.
Rodong Sinmun in a by-lined commentary today says:
Such preposterous remarks can be made only by a group of an anti-reunification treacherous party who depend on outside forces and do not want improvement of north-south relations.
Fees for entering Mt. Kumgang have never been raised and discussed in the recent reunion.
The treacherous GNP group's linking the reunion of separated families and relatives with money-making is an intolerable insult to the separated families and relatives and the fellow countrymen and a revelation of a criminal attempt to foil the reunion.
With this the GNP betrayed its dirty colours once again as an anti-national, anti-reunification and treacherous political party opposed to national reconciliation and unity and the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration.
We will never pardon the GNP group's vituperation and will let it make an apology for it.
Asian regional symposium demanding Japan's liquidation of its past closes
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- The Asian regional symposium demanding Japan's liquidation of its past closed yesterday after successful discussion of its agenda items.
Subcommittee meetings were held before its closing ceremony.
A subcommittee meeting on the Japanese army's crimes of sexual slavery heard speeches on the subject of "sufferings of women forced by the Japanese army in Indonesia", "the system of 'comfort women for the army' enforced by the Japanese army in China", "characteristics of the system of sexual slavery of Korean women by the Japanese army", "development of Taipei, China, comfort women case", "true facts on 'comfort women' for the Japanese army in the United States" and so on.
At a subcommittee meeting on the Japanese army's crimes of forced drafting and forced labour speeches were made on the subject of "the policy of forced drafting and forced labour of Korean young and middle-aged men by the Japanese imperialists is the war crime against humanitarianism", "on forced drafting and forced labor of Chinese people by Japan", "necessity of enactment of a 'special law' on probe into the truth behind victims of the forced mobilization under the Japanese imperialists' occupation", "on the issue of Korean victims of a-bombs" and others. The speeches were followed by a report of the investigation group for probe into the forced drafting of Koreans.
At a subcommittee meeting on Japan's distortion of history, militarization and turning to right wing speeches were made on the subject of "on Japan's distortion of history and its moves for militarization", "on Japan's moves to distort Korean history", "on the danger of Japan's moves for militarization" and others.
Speakers at the subcommittee meetings cited concrete facts of the inhuman crimes, crimes of forced drafting and forced labor and massacres committed by the Japanese imperialists in the past.
They strongly demanded that the Japanese government not cover up and distort the true facts of the Japanese imperialists' atrocities but make a thorough apology and compensation to the damaged countries and victims on the basis of admitting its legal responsibility for the crimes.
The subcommittee meetings were followed by a plenary meeting.
The plenary meeting heard reports about the subcommittee meetings by the chairmen of the subcommittees.
A letter of protest to the Japanese Prime Minister and a letter to the U.N. high commissioner for human rights were adopted.
A joint statement of organizations of the north, south and overseas demanding Japan's liquidation of its past was read out.
S. Korean "Defence Ministry" urged to drop U.S.-toeing policy
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- The 6th rally of citizens demanding the withdrawal of the decision to introduce F-15K fighters and urging the "national assembly" not to approve the joint land management plan was reportedly held in Seoul on April 27 under the sponsorship of the headquarters of the movement for retaking the U.S. military base in Ryongsan.
A resolution adopted at the rally recalled that the "Ministry of National Defence" announced the selection of "F-15K" of the U.S. Boeing Company as fighters of the next generation and earlier signed a deceptive "joint land management plan," which runs counter to the desire of the people and a violation of the sovereignty of the Korean nation.
The resolution said that its participants would struggle to force the ministry to withdraw the decision to select U.S.-made fighters, check the approval of the "joint land management plan" by the "national assembly", stop the building of apartment houses and seek the total return of the U.S. military bases in South Korea.
The participants marched as far as the U.S. military base in Ryongsan, passing by the building of the ministry.
Selection of U.S.-made fighters protested
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- A rally was reportedly held in Seoul on April 30 to demand the authorities not allow the selection of U.S.-made fighters. It was sponsored by the "joint action demanding probe into truth behind suspected outside pressure upon purchase of F-X and withdrawal of decision to buy F-15K."
A letter of protest to the chief executive was adopted at the rally.
The letter warned that the authorities should know they would come under historic popular fire if they allow the selection of "F-15K".
The letter charged that not allowing the selection of fighters but thoroughly reexamining it from its outset means restoring the damaged pride and defending national interests by rejecting bush regime's unjust pressure.
Women's society for independence formed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- A preparatory committee of the women's society for independence reportedly held an inaugural ceremony in South Korea on April 27.
Kim Son Mi, chairwoman of the committee, said that it was inaugurated to bring together progressive women in South Korea so that they may exchange views on their position and role and take an active part in political activities.
Clarifying its plan to conduct a widespread movement for the return of the U.S. military bases, she declared that the movement would be pushed forward not to seek a mere transfer of bases but to force the U.S. troops to go back to their land.
Anniversary of ARF observed
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- Today is a historic day when the precious tradition of great national unity was established in Korea.
President Kim Il Sung founded the Association for the Restoration of the Fatherland (ARF) on May 5, Juche 25 (1936).
The association, which grouped not only workers, peasants and intellectuals but also patriotic landlords, capitalists and religionists, transcending difference in ideology and political view, was a permanent anti-Japanese national united front, the first of its kind in Korean history.
The programme of the association carried the idea of achieving the great unity of the whole nation in the idea of patriotism and building a new strong and prosperous society.
The ARF played a big role in achieving the historic cause of national liberation by fighting against Japanese imperialism with the concerted efforts of the Korean nation.
The line of great national unity laid down in the ten-point programme of the ARF constituted the ideological foundation for the building of a new country and the movement for national reunification after its liberation in 1945.
The validity of this idea was clearly proved when public figures with differing political views and religious beliefs and representatives of political parties and public organizations in the north and the south got together to hold the April north-south joint conference in 1948.
This idea is also reflected in the three principles of national reunification, the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo and the ten-point programme of the great unity of the whole nation for the reunification of the country which are unanimously supported and approved by the compatriots in the north, south and abroad and were reaffirmed in the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
Vietnamese President leaves here
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese President Rran Duc Luong left here by special plane today after paying an official visit to the DPRK on the invitation of President Kim Yong Nam of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.
Tran Duc Luong and Kim Yong Nam came out to the airport.
A farewell ceremony for the Vietnamese president was held at the airport.
The national anthems of the two countries were played.
Tran Duc Luong, together with Kim Yong Nam, reviewed a guard of honor of the three services of the Korean People's Army.
A working woman presented a bunch of flowers to the Vietnamese President.
Among the farewell-bidders were Paek Nam Sun, minister of foreign affairs, Ri Kwang Gun, minister of foreign trade, Ri Hong, DPRK ambassador to Vietnam, and officials concerned.
The Vietnamese President and his entourage were seen off by Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK Do Thi Hoa and embassy officials.
Japan's militarist fever slammed
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- The history textbook for junior high schools that was examined and passed by the Japanese ministry of education and science some time ago carries sheer lies that Tok Islet, a territory peculiar to Korea, is a "Japanese territory" and ancient Japan "ruled over the southern part of the Korean Peninsula," not referring to Japan's unheard-of crimes committed against the "comfort women for the army".
Commenting on it, Rodong Sinmun today dismisses this as an unpardonable insult and a new crime against the Korean people who sustained painful damage by Japan in the past.
The Japanese authorities' examination and approval of the distorted history textbook clearly prove that the distortion of history in Japan has been legalized under the patronage, manipulation and intervention of not only right-wing organizations but the government as well, the commentary notes, and goes on:
They are keen to drive out the new generations to militarization and overseas aggression by instilling the distorted history into their mind.
Militarization and overseas expansion are being pushed ahead in Japan as a state policy.
The Japanese reactionaries' ever-mounting moves for mental cultivation and awakening to militarism for a war of aggression are being oriented to the reinvasion of the Korean Peninsula.
The distorted history textbook seeks a silent call that Japan should dominate Korea again.
The Japanese reactionaries' moves to invade and dominate Korea again are being put into practice.
They are well advised to act with discretion, mindful of the grave consequences to be entailed by their moves.
Japan's history of aggression in the 20th century clearly tells that militarism brought nothing but disasters, misfortune and ruin to Japan.
Letter to U.N. high commissioner for human rights
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- A letter to U.N. high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson was adopted on May 4 at the Asian regional symposium demanding Japan's liquidation of its past held in Pyongyang.
Recalling that the last meetings defined the acts of the imperial Japanese army as the monstrous inhumane crimes, called the Japanese authorities to task for them and requested them to take relevant steps, but they accepted none of these just demands and recommendations, the letter said:
Especially, the Japanese authorities have made neither apology nor compensation to the DPRK, the biggest victim, and resorted to the hostile policy toward it for more than half a century after the war, making the Koreans very angry.
Considering that you and the authorized U.N. organizations should pay deep attention to the grave consequences to be entailed by the arrogant and criminal acts of the present Japanese authorities and take strong and practical measures so that the Japanese government may make an official apology and state compensation for its past war-time crimes as soon as possible, we ask you as follows:
1. To set up in the office of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights a section specialized in the issues of calling Japan to task for its war-time crimes and restoring the honor and dignity of the victims on the basis of the reports, recommendations and resolutions already submitted to the office.
2. To form a fact-finding group and guarantee its activities to investigate and control the damage done by imperial Japan in all areas of Asia and all the past documents and materials preserved in Japan.
3. We courteously propose you and members who are at responsible posts of the U.N. to personally meet with the prime minister of the Japanese government and let him sincerely approach the recommendations and resolutions of the relevant organs of the U.N. related to the inhuman crimes of imperial Japan and immediately implement them.
Letter of protest to Japanese prime minister
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- A letter of protest to the Japanese prime minister was adopted at the Asian regional symposium demanding Japan's liquidation of its past held here.
Requesting him to make a correct political bold decision with his leadership ability, the letter said:
Firstly, the Japanese government, basing itself on admitting Japan's aggressive and criminal past history, should punish those responsible by law and make an official apology and convincing compensation to all the victims and damaged states.
Secondly, the Japanese government should stop at once the unreasonable moves to distort history and revive militarism and show at home and abroad in practice its will not to repeat the criminal past.
Thirdly, the Japanese government should recognize that the issue of liquidating the past monstrous crimes against the Korean nation is the hardcore issue of settling the DPRK-Japan relations, honestly approach the issue of liquidating its past and fundamentally redress the anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK.
Fourthly, the Japanese government should refrain from laying obstacles in the way of implementing the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration with a correct understanding that to speed up the reunification of the Korean Peninsula is the only solution to removing the tensions in Northeast Asia and guaranteeing permanent security.
The letter stressed that an immediate solution of the above-said issues is an important undertaking to improve the moral and international image of Japan and promote Japan's genuine reconciliation and trust with Asian countries.
It expressed expectation that the Japanese prime minister would lend an ear to the unbiased world public and take positive steps.