Message of thanks to leader of Libya
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of thanks to Moammer el Gaddafy, leader of the Great September 1 Revolution of Libya, leaving his country on July 16.
In the message Kim expressed deep thanks to Gaddafy for the cordial hospitality accorded to him and his party during the stay and extended friendly greetings to senior officials and people of Libya.
He also expressed the belief that his visit would mark an important occasion in invigorating and further developing the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Libya in conformity with the desire and fundamental interests of the two peoples.
The message sincerely wished Gaddafy good health and greater success in the work to defend the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation and build a free and prosperous, new society and the friendly Libyan people fresh progress and prosperity.
Kim Yong Nam arrives in Damascus
Damascus, July 16 (KCNA correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, arrived in Damascus this afternoon by a special plane to pay an official goodwill visit to the Syrian Arab republic at the invitation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Arriving with him were foreign minister Paek Nam Sun, minister of foreign trade Ri Kwang Gun, president of the Academy of Sciences Ri Kwang Ho, acting chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Mun Jae Chol and other suite members.
They were greeted by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, deputy prime minister of the cabinet and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, minister of irrigation Mohamad Radwan Martini, minister of higher education Hassan Risha, minister of economy and foreign trade Ghassam al-Rifai, Syrian charge d' affaires ad interim to the DPRK Haissam Saad and other officials concerned, DPRK ambassador e.p. to Syria Kim Hyong Jun and embassy officials.
A car carrying Kim Yong Nam and Bashar al-Assad headed for the city escorted by motorcycles.
A welcome ceremony took place at the People's Palace.
Talks held between Kim Yong Nam and Syrian President
Damascus, July 16 (KCNA correspondent) -- Talks between Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, and Bashar al-Assad, Syrian President, were held in Damascus Tuesday.
Both sides informed each other of the situation in their countries, exchanged views on the issue of boosting generation after generation the close DPRK-Syria friendly and cooperative relations forged in the common struggle for independence against imperialism and international issues of mutual concern and reached a consensus of views on the matters discussed.
The DPRK side said that the Korean people have achieved new successes in all fields, political, military, economic, cultural and foreign relations, true to the army-based policy of the Workers' Oarty of Korea led by Kim Jong Il, and made a great advance in carrying out the cause of independent national reunification under the banner of the June 15 north-south joint declaration. it expressed belief that the Syrian Arab people would achieve greater successes in their struggle to defend the sovereignty of the country and national dignity, build modern Syria and achieve territorial integrity and security and peace in the Mid-East region, while carrying forward the line and policies of their preceding leader, united behind the Arab Socialist Baath Party. The Syrian side expressed firm solidarity with the Workers' Party, army and people of Korea confidently waging the historic struggle to build a powerful socialist nation and achieve the national reunification after attaining the single-hearted unity.
It underlined the importance of putting an end to the interference and domination by foreign forces in ensuring regional peace and security and clarified the consistent stand of the Syrian government supporting the Korean people in their just struggle to achieve the reunification of Korea by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation in the new century without fail.
Present at the talks from the DPRK side were Paek Nam Sun, foreign minister, Ri Kwang Gun, minister of foreign trade, Ri Kwang Ho, president of the Academy of Sciences, Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Kim Hyong Jun, DPRK ambassador e. p. to Syria, and other suite members.
Present there from the Syrian side were Abdel Halim Khadam and Muhammad Zouher Masharika, vice-presidents, Abdul Kader Kaddoura, President of the People's Assembly, Muhammad Mustafa Miro, prime minister of the cabinet, Farouk al Shara, deputy prime minister of the cabinet who is also foreign minister, Mohamad Radwan Martini, minister of irrigation, Hassan Risha, minister of higher education, Ghassam al Rifai, minister of economy and foreign trade, Haissam Saad, Syrian charge d' affaires ad interim to the DPRK, and other officials concerned.
The talks proceeded in a sincere and friendly atmosphere.
That day one-to-one-talks were held between Kim Yong Nam and Bashar al-Assad.
Kim Yong Nam entertained by Syrian President
Damascus, July 16 (KCNA correspondent) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave a banquet in honor of Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on an official goodwill visit to Syria, at the al Damaskiya Hall Tuesday evening.
Present on invitation were President Kim Yong Nam, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun, minister of foreign trade Ri Kwang Gun, president of the Academy of Sciences Ri Kwang Ho, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Mun Jae Chol, DPRK ambassador e.p. to Syria Kim Hyong Jun, suite members and DPRK embassy officials in Damascus.
Also present were Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, vice presidents Abdel Halim Khadam and Muhammad Zouher Masharika, President of the People's Assembly Abdul Kader Kaddoura, prime minister of the cabinet Muhammad Mustafa Miro, deputy prime minister and minister of defence Mustafa Tlass, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs Farouk al-Shara, and deputy prime ministers, ministers, senior officials of the public organizations, the press and the army, charge d'affaires of the Syrian embassy in Pyongyang Haissam Saad and other officials concerned.
Bashar al-Assad in his speech said Syria and the DPRK have always helped each other in hard time, adding the government and the people of Syria have watched with pleasure that the DPRK has made ceaseless progress under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Both Syria and the DPRK are facing similar pressure but coping with it with national unity, bravery, development and sustained drive for modernization, he noted. he said he had no doubt that Kim Yong Nam's visit would mark a particular landmark for the development of Syria-DPRK relations and bear expected fruits.
In his speech Kim Yong Nam, expressing deep thanks for the warm hospitality accorded to him, said it clearly proved again how truthful and solid the DPRK-Syria friendship provided by President Kim Il Sung and President Hafez al Assad was. the Korean people extend firm support and solidarity to the government and people of Syria in their struggle to strengthen the national unity, build a self-reliant economy, regain the occupied Arab lands including golan heights and achieve a fair and comprehensive peace in the Middle East despite all sorts of challenge, he said, adding:
The Korean people sincerely wish them greater success in the future.
We will invariably stand on the side of the Syrian people unyieldingly struggling to meet all sorts of challenge from outside. we would like to have serious consultations with Syrian friends on practical ways to develop the bilateral relations to a higher level in the new century as expected and desired by the two peoples.
National weather forecast institute
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The National Weather Forecast Institute in Central District, Pyongyang, is a weather forecaster and meteorological research center. its precursor is the central meteorological service, which was founded on July 10, Juche 35 (1946).
The institute predicts the weather of each day, week and month and forecasts possible disastrous meteorological phenomenon. it also exchanges meteorological information with international meteorological institutes.
It also makes researches into various spheres of meteorology such as numerical weather prediction, atmospheric diffusion and satellite meteorology, and the change of weather in the past, the present and the future.
The meteorological information and the results of researches presented by experts of the well-equipped institute are widely used in various fields of the national economy including agriculture, construction and transport. they are also conducive to protecting environment of the country.
Hyesan blueberry-processing factory
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The Hyesan Blueberry-Processing Factory is situated in Hyesan city, Ryanggang Province.
Commissioned on September 9, June 51 (1962), the factory has a total floor space of over 4,800 square meters.
It produces jelly, jam, syrup and wine with blueberry, speciality of the northern alpine area. it produces over 1,000 tons of processed blueberries every year.
Blueberry wine is very popular.
More than 30-year-old blueberry wine is kept in oak barrels and other containers in the underground store of the factory. Processed blueberries are in high demand at home and abroad.
Stuffed specimen of sea animals made in DPRK
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The fisheries branch of the Academy of Sciences recently succeeded in manufacturing many specimen of sea animals.
Among them are a pollack, a flatfish and lockington belonging to vertebrata, a crab, a shrimp and a pond snail belonging to an arthropod and a starfish belonging to echinodermata, bivalvia and gastropoda belonging to a mullusca family found in the East Sea, 67 specimen of over 60 species in all.
The branch did not use an immersion method. The entrails, flesh and bones of sea animals were technically removed and stuffed with elastic fibrous substances instead, before getting them dry. they were finally coated with transparent substance to keep them in their original state.
The specimens can be permanently preserved as they retain their original shapes and colors.
Guinean provincial governor on Juche idea
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- Algassimou Biri, Governor of N'zerekore Province of Guinea, stressed the need to learn from the experience the DPRK has gained by applying the Juche idea, and disseminate it among the Guinean people so as to contribute to the building of prosperous Guinea.
Scientific accuracy and truth of the Juche idea was proven in the course of the Korean people's struggle to liberate the country and build Korean socialism under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung, he noted.
The governor was elected honorary chairman of the N'zerekore, Guinea, provincial committee for the study of the Juche idea at its inaugural ceremony on July 8.
A letter to leader Kim Jong Il was adopted at the ceremony.
U.S.-led joint maneuvers flailed
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The main purpose of the U.S.-led "Rimpac-2002" joint maneuvers is carrying out attacks on "imaginary states" under the new "operation against terrorism", Minju Joson wednesday says in a signed commentary, and goes on:
The U.S. President Bush's "strategy" will be announced in this autumn. It is based on his argument that if they wait until the enemy's threat is ripe, it would be too late, so it is necessary to contain it to avoid the worst one.
The "imaginary states" in question mean those countries hostile to the U.S.
The U.S. singles out the DPRK as one of the states. The army and people of Korea are fully ready to cope with any emergency.
The U.S. bellicose forces should clearly know that their reckless "preemptive attack" strategy would bring them the destiny of tigermoth.
S. Korean defense minister's belligerent remarks blasted
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The new "minister of national defense" of South Korea in his "inaugural speech" descried the armed clash in the West Sea of Korea on June 29 as a "provocation" made by the North and cried out for "a strong retaliation against it".
Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses this as a challenge and provocation to the North.
As for the incident, it was a premeditated provocation made by the South Korean military and no provocateur is, therefore, entitled to blame others irrespective of its outcome, the commentary says, and goes on:
The extremely hostile remarks made by the top boss of the South Korean army against the North compel it to doubt whether the South side is truly interested in the peace and stability of the country and the improved inter-Korean relations.
The North advises him to stop bluffing and talking rubbish as a fool. He will not be safe if he makes such war outcries.
There is no need to emphasize any provocative remark made by the South Korean defence chief may entail graver consequences.
He will have to pay a dear price for his irresponsible utterance. He is well advised to wag his tongue properly if he does not want to meet the same end as his predecessors'.
Earlier independent reunification of Korean nation called for
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The National Democratic Front of South Korea, together with all the people, will more vigorously wage a mass struggle for the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration based on the three principles of national reunification to bring earlier the day of the independent reunification of the nation.
A spokesman for the NDFSK stressed this in a statement released on July 13 to mark the 30th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's work "Let Us Struggle Resolutely to Implement the Three Principles of National Reunification", according to Seoul-based Radio Voice of National Salvation.
Clearly laid down in the work published on July 14, 1972 are highly important tasks for implementing the three principles of national reunification to the letter and ways to do so.
The work reflects Kim Jong Il's unshakable faith and will to bring earlier the reunification of the country true to the idea and intention of President Kim Il Sung. it also serves as the banner that the Korean nation should hold aloft for the reunification of the country, the statement said.
Saying that the historic June 15 joint declaration is a declaration for independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity strictly based on the three principles of national reunification, the statement stressed: the fellow countrymen should open up a new era of independent national reunification under the banner of the joint declaration, taking the great proposition "by the united efforts of our nation" as a key to the settlement of the reunification problem.
Withdrawal of U.S. forces from S. Korea urged
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- "We hold that for Korea's reunification to be accelerated, it is necessary to put an immediate end to the U.S. intervention in Korea's internal affairs, a main obstacle to the reunification, and get the U.S. forces withdrawn from South Korea."
This was stressed in a joint statement issued by nine political parties and organizations of Bangladesh, including the Workers' Party, the National Socialist Party and the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Association, on July 9 on the occasion of the June 25-July 27 month for anti-U.S. joint struggle.
To achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea is the supreme task of its nation at present, the statement noted, saying it is important to honestly implement the June 15 north-south joint declaration, a landmark of Korea's reunification.
The Bangladeshi people will as ever extend invariable support and solidarity to the Korean people in the struggle to reject the outsiders' intervention and reunify the country by the united efforts of the nation, it said.
Repression of students denounced in S. Korea
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The All-people Measure Committee for Ensuring Legal Activities of Hanchongryon (South Korean federation of university student councils) and Hanchongryon reportedly called a press conference in front of the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office on July 12.
At the press conference the permanent representative of the committee said that the "public security" authorities illegally detained the chairman of tenth-term Hanchongryon before issuing summons for its deputies. it has been proved that student Kim Jun Bae was killed by the police, he added.
A press release read out by the permanent chairman of the "National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification" pointed out that the "security" forces are seeking to define Hanchongryon as "enemy-benefiting organization" again in a bid to totally obliterate the "dissidents."
Then, the executive director of the measure committee declared that they would launch activities against those responsible for the death of Kim Jun Bae to be followed by the publication of a 1,000 religionists' declaration and a press conference and a protest visit to the court at the time of trial of the Hanchongryon chairman. They would also unfold various activities such as submitting a signature paper involving 100,000 citizens to the UN Commission on Human Rights and holding a citizens' court, he said.
GIs condemned for arrogant attitude
Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- The Vanguard of the Worker-Student solidarity in South Korea reportedly released a statement on July 11 condemning the U.S. forces for refusing to give up their jurisdiction over those responsible for the murder of schoolgirls.
The U.S. forces held that the South Korean side should not meddle in the case now that a complaint against the killers was brought to the U.S. military court. The statement expressed indignation at such arrogant practice of the U.S. forces.