Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's work observed

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - It is the principle consistently maintained by the Workers' Party of Korea in health service to further improve the medical care for the people in keeping with the developing socialist society. Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed article dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's work "on some problems in improving and strengthening public health.
    It goes on:
    The work indicates overall tasks and ways of giving full play to the advantages of the socialist public health system in the DPRK and consolidating it.
    It gives perfect answers to the most urgent issues in the field of health care on the basis of the intrinsic nature of the socialist public health system provided by President Kim Il Sung in the DPRK and a scientific analysis of the world health care situation.
    The validity and vitality of the work have been clearly proved in the course of thoroughly implementing the WPK's line of preventive medicine and steadily improving the health care for people in the past ten years.

Distinguished producer of mass gymnastic display

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - The mass gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang" is going on, winning the admiration of audiences. Kim Jong Ho is one of the famous producers of the extravaganza. He was born in September 1944.
    After his graduation from Pyongyang University of physical education in 1969, he taught physical culture at a senior middle school. In that period he participated in creating mass gymnastic displays including "under the banner of the Workers' Party of Korea" in 1972.
    He became a producer of the mass gymnastic display creative group in 1975.
    He successfully created the parts of over 10 displays depicting the nation's heavy industry demonstrating the might of its independent national economy with the help of ladders and other heavy apparatuses.
    He has been active as deputy head in charge of technique and chief producer of the group since 1985.
    He produced tens of displays.
    Holding fast to the germ of the idea reflected in the scripts, he has devoted all his wisdom and energies to creating gymnastics high in ideological and artistic value and unique in technical skill.
    He helped Nigeria and 10 other countries create and perform mass gymnastic displays.
    He was awarded the title of merited sportsman in 1978 and the title of people's sportsman in 1985 for his distinguished services for the development of mass gymnastic display.

Mushroom picking in Korea

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - There are over 100 species of mushrooms in plain and mountainous areas of Korea. Among them, Songi mushroom (armillaria) growing in areas centering around Sinchang, South Hamgyong Province, is well known from olden times for its peculiar flavor and taste and nutritive value.
    It is called Songi for it is found only under pine trees. This mushroom sprouts from rootlets of pine trees between august and September.
    Songi mushroom is good for the treatment of rachitis and other diseases as it contains protein, oil, minerals and a lot of vitamin in particular.
    Fresh and processed mushrooms are very popular not only at home but on foreign markets.

U.S. Denounced for sparking global arms race

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - U.S. President Bush recently urged the Congress to approve the proposed defence budget for the fiscal year 2003 amounting to about 400 billion dollars. In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says that it is much bigger than the total amount of defense spending of 15 military powers put together except for the U.S. and such move will only widen the military gap between the U.S. and other countries. The commentary goes on:
    The U.S. is now playing a dishonest role of sparking and spearheading the global arms race.
    The Bush group claims that its arms buildup is aimed to cope with the "threat" from "terrorists" and "terrorist states". But this is brigandish logic.
    The U.S., in fact, regards terrorism as its state policy.
    The Bush group asserts that the U.S. should mount preemptive attacks upon those countries which it considers as likely to strike it and it is entitled to do so. This is shameless sophism intended to justify state terrorism.
    The "Rimpac" military manoeuvre now under way under the new pretext of "anti-terrorism" is a follow-up of the U.S. Scenario to threaten the DPRK by force of arms and make a preemptive attack on it. Such saber-rattling is straining the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of Asia and threatening peace and stability in the region the Bush group is well advised to face up to the reality and ponder over it.

U.S. anti-DPRK policy flailed in Mexico

Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - The Mexican fellowship union to honor the memory of President Kim Il Sung, the Mexican Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, the Mexico-DPRK Institute of Friendship and Cultural Interchange, the Lazaro Cardenas Trade Unions Front of Mexico and the Mexican Peace Movement on July 16 sent a letter of protest to the U.S. President denouncing the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK. The letter bitterly denounced the Bush administration for pursuing the anachronistic hostile policy towards the DPRK.
It urged the U.S. to respect the June 15 north-south joint declaration, withdraw its troops from South Korea at once and do things helpful to peaceful reunification of Korea.

Japan's unreasonable behavior slammed

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - Recently the Japanese authorities appointed Japanese to the post of directors general under the "pretext" of offering government loan to credit associations of Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) to be established in the Kinki area. Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed commentary describes this as a high-handed practice of trampling underfoot the general will and democracy of the members of the Korean associations. It goes on:
    The Japanese authorities' forcible replacement of the directors general in violation of democracy through the abuse of power and money is in contravention of Japan's "Law on Finance". It is also an illegal act that does not accord with the "articles" what they called "provisions of observance" forced upon the newly-established associations.
    They did such a behavior, far from giving help to the credit associations of Chongryon even a bit as they went bankrupt owing to the economic depression of Japan. This cannot be construed otherwise than prosecution and political suppression of Koreans quite contrary to the elementary common knowledge.
    Their replacement is not simply confined to an economic and financial issue but prompted by their dark-hearted intention to take this opportunity to destroy the mass foundation and financial base of Chongryon, disorganize it and, furthermore, intensify the anti-DPRK moves.
    It is an inviolable right and a deserved duty for compatriots in Japan to operate the credit associations built in the spirit of supporting and assisting each other under the guidance of Korean directors general chosen by themselves.
    If the Japanese authorities continue resorting to the anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon racket and the moves to destroy the credit associations of Koreans, they will be held wholly responsible for all the ensuing consequences.

Legitimacy of Hanchongryon urged in S. Korea

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - The All-Society Measure Committee for Legal Activities of Hanchongryon (South Korean Federation of University Student Councils) and the All-people Solidarity called a press conference in Seoul on July 19 and made public a declaration calling for the legitimacy of Hanchongryon, signed by 1,066 people of various social strata, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported. The declaration said describing Hanchongryon as illegal was a denial of universal human rights and violation of vital rights to democracy. The definition of Hanchongryon as "enemy-benefiting" should be cancelled, it urged.
    The organizations said they would make public a declaration of people from all walks of life for the legitimacy of Hanchongryon before August 3 when deputies to Hanchongryon were expected to be summoned to the prosecutor's office. They also declared that they would bring the issue to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
    After the press conference, the participants and some 80 deputies to Hanchongryon made a protest visit to the "national police office."

Planned sale of S. Korean companies condemned

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - The South Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) reportedly released a statement on July 18 demanding the withdrawal of the plan to sell off South Korean power companies. The plan is as good as offering national economy lock, stock and barrel to the United States and ruining the nation, said the statement. On July 15 the "Korea Power Corporation" announced that the Namdong Power Company had been chosen as the first to be sold among its five subsidiary thermal power companies. It also announced that two companies including the Namdong Power Company, would be privatized by 2004 and three others would be sold one after another from the ensuing year.
    The statement charged that the announcement is little short of turning down the demand of workers in this sector who had long staged strikes against the sale and selling off key industrial sectors to foreign firms.
    We, in solidarity with the workers who are undauntedly fighting in the teeth of suppression, will launch a vigorous struggle against the U.S. imperialists seeking to ruin all the nation through economic plunder as well as nuclear war moves, the statement added.

International signature campaign

Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - Political parties and organizations of Peru and Colombia have participated in the international signature campaign supporting the June 15 north-south joint declaration and demanding immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea. As of July 9, over 206,390 members of the Communist Party, the Socialist Party and the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students, the Group for the Study of Kimilsungism and the General Kim Jong Il Amicable Institute, the Tomasatitu Contemaita Women's Society, the Asia-Kanete Peasants' Association signed the signature paper in Peru, and all the members of the Colombian Communist Party joined in the signature campaign.

Anecdotes about Kim Il Sung

    Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) - One day in March 1974, President Kim Il Sung summoned an official to ask about the gifts prepared for the members of the Korean art troupe in Japan who were expected to visit the homeland soon. He told the official he thought the revolutionary opera "Song of Mt. Kumgang" would be the best gift for them who had been missing the homeland. He also said it would be good for them to learn how to perform the opera during their stay.
    Thanks to his recommendation, the Korean artistes formed the "Kumgangsan Opera Troupe" and rehearsed the opera before going back to Japan.
    The revolutionary opera "Song of Mt. Kumgang", which impressed Japanese audiences, was a special gift the president had provided to Koreans in Japan.
    Here is another anecdote about him.
    One spring day in 1971, he, who was giving on-site guidance to South Hamgyong Province, told his aide that he had something to do in Hamhung City in the morning and would like to visit rural villages around the city in the afternoon.
    On hearing this, the aide went there prior to the President's trip to examine the condition of the road. Upon hurrying back, he informed the president of the bad condition of the road.
    Listening to him, however, the President said that he could not withdraw his plan because of the road.
    The fact shows his devotion to the people based on his noble outlook on them.