Kim Jong Il sees performance "Arirang"

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, this evening watched the mass gymnastic and artistic performance Arirang now successfully going on at the may day stadium. Seeing the performance together with him were Russian foreign minister Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov and his party.
    Kim Jong Il appeared on the platform amid the playing of the welcome music.
    Also taking the platform were secretaries of the Central Committee of the WPK Kim Kuk Thae, Jong Ha Chol and Kim Yong Sun, first vice-minister of foreign affairs Kang Sok Ju and other officials concerned.
    Seen on the platform were Russian guests and Russian Ambassador E.P. to the DPRK A. G. Karlov.
    Among the audience were officials of the party, armed forces and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, former unconverted long-term prisoners who are pro-reunification patriots, officers and men of the KPA, officials of scientific, educational, cultural and art and public health institutions and media organizations, labor innovators and working people in the city.
    Also seeing the performance were staff members of the Russian embassy here.
    The performance Arirang, a monumental masterpiece of the era, was acclaimed by the audience for its high ideological and artistic value.
    At the end of the performance all the performers and the whole audience broke into stormy cheers of "hurrah" and fireworks were displayed, turning the stadium into a veritable sea of flowers.
    Kim Jong Il acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.

Russian foreign minister arrives here

Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Foreign minister of the Russian Federation Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov and his party including vice-minister of foreign affairs A.P. Losyukov arrived here Sunday to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the invitation of the DPRK government. They were greeted at the airport by DPRK vice minister of foreign affairs Kung Sok Ung, other officials concerned and ambassador A. G. Karlov and officials of the Russian embassy here.

Russian foreign minister pays homage to President Kim Il Sung

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Russian foreign minister Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov today visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where President Kim Il Sung lies in state for perpetuity and paid tribute to him. Present there were his party and Russian ambassador here A. G. Karlov, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun, vice-minister of foreign affairs Kung Sok Ung and officials concerned.
    They paid homage in humble reverence to the President who made immortal contributions to the global peace and the cause of global independence and the development of friendly relations between the countries.
    Then, they looked round with keen interest orders, medals and certificates of honorary titles he received from the DPRK and different countries of the world, the mourning hall reminiscent of those days when the Korean people and the world's progressive people were deeply grieved over the loss of the great father of the nation, the outstanding great man in the era of independence, a train used by the President for his on-site guidance and foreign trips, and a car he used in the last period of his life.
    The foreign minister made the following entry in the visitor's book:
    I pay high tribute to comrade Kim Il Sung, the founder of the DPRK and an outstanding statesman who provided the friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Russia and the DPRK.

Kim Jong Il receives Russian foreign minister

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK, today received Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov, minister of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation, on a visit to the DPRK. Present there were Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of foreign affairs, and A.G. Karlov, Russian Ambassador E.P. To the DPRK.
    The Russian foreign minister courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il a personal letter from Russian President V. V. Putin and presented the top leader of the DPRK with his own gift.
    Kim Jong Il thanked for this, warmly welcomed the Russian foreign minister's visit to the DPRK and had a talk with him in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
    He hosted a dinner for the foreign minister this evening.
    Present on invitation were the foreign minister and his party, the Russian ambassador to the DPRK and staff members of the Russian embassy.
    Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Yong Sun, first vice-minister of foreign affairs Kang Sok Ju and vice-minister of foreign affairs Kim Kye Gwan were on hand.
    The dinner took place in an amicable atmosphere.

DPRK foreign minister meets Russian foreign minister

Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - DPRK foreign minister Paek Nam Sun had a talk in a friendly atmosphere with Russian foreign minister Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Sunday. Present at the meeting were the companions of the Russian foreign minister including vice-minister of foreign affairs A.P. Losyukov, Russian ambassador here A. G. Karlov, DPRK vice- minister of foreign affairs Kung Sok Ung and other officials concerned.

Talks between Russian and DPRK foreign ministers

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Talks between Paek Nam Sun, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov, foreign minister of the Russian Federation, took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Sunday. They expressed satisfaction with the ties between the two countries developing on good terms daily and exchanged views on boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries and some issues of mutual concern including international issues.
    The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.
    Present at the talks were DPRK vice minister of foreign affairs Kung Sok Ung and other officials concerned, the companions of the Russian foreign minister including vice-minister of foreign affairs A. P. Losyukov and Russian ambassador here A. G. Karlov.

Russian foreign minister visits Liberation Tower

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Russian foreign minister Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov laid a wreath at the Liberation Tower on Moran Hill here on Sunday. Present at the ceremony were DPRK vice minister of foreign affairs Kung Sok Ung and officials concerned, the companions of the Russian foreign minister and Russian ambassador here A. G. Karlov and embassy officials.
    Guards of honor of the Korean People's Army were standing by the tower.
    Amid the wreath-laying music, a wreath was laid before the tower in the name of the Russian foreign minister.
    They observed a moment's silence in memory of the martyrs of the Soviet army and after the playing of the national anthem of Russia looked round the tower.

Russian foreign minister feted

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - The DPRK government gave a banquet at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today in honor of the foreign minister of Russia on a visit to the DPRK. Foreign minister Paek Nam Sun said in his speech he is very pleased that the close friend has come to Pyongyang again at a time when the friendly relations between Russia and the DPRK based on the close friendship between leader Kim Jong Il and Putin are favorably developing as the days go by.
    The Russian foreign minister's visit to the DPRK will mark one more significant occasion in further consolidating and developing the bilateral cooperative bonds in conformity with the intention and expectation of the two top leaders, he said, and went on:
    The Korean people follow with pleasure the many successes made by the Russian people in the work to build powerful Russia and sincerely wish them new success in the future work of the Russian leadership and people to achieve its social stability and economic progress.
    Foreign minister Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov said in his speech:
    The friendly relations between Russia and the DPRK are a valuable asset made thanks to the long-standing cooperation and common efforts in all fields. These relations are based on the principle of equality and mutual respect and benefit and further developing under the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between the two countries.
    The meetings of the two top leaders in Pyongyang and Moscow marked great events of particular significance.
    The Russian Federation welcomed the agreement reached between the heads of the north and the south and fully supports the inter-Korean dialogue.
    The goals set by the Russian and the DPRK sides presuppose their bilateral cooperation in different fields and Moscow will make positive efforts to achieve those noble aims.
    Present on invitation were Russian ambassador here A. G. Karlov and embassy officials, vice-minister of foreign affairs Kung Sok Ung and other officials concerned.

Military attaches' corps visits monument to war victory

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - The military attaches' corps here laid a floral basket at the monument to victory in the Fatherland Liberation War on Saturday, the 49th anniversary of the great victory in the Korean War. Written on the ribbons of the floral basket placed before the main sculpture "victory" were letters "Victory and glory to the heroic Korean People's Army officers and soldiers".
    The corps also laid a wreath at the revolutionary martyrs' cemetery on Mt. Taesong.
    Seen on the ribbons of the wreath were words "Glory to the anti-Japanese revolutionary martyrs"

Inter-Korean agreement on opening of meeting for national reunification hailed

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - The National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification reportedly issued a commentary on July 25 welcoming the agreement reached at the north-south working-level talks to open the August 15 meeting for national reunification in Seoul. It warmly welcomed the agreement reached at the talks here to open the meeting in Seoul on August 15 and 16, the commentary said, and went on:
    The July 23 agreement carries special significance in the light of the fact that it was made under the more complicated and graver situation at home and abroad than ever before and this is a demonstration of the firm will of the nation to preserve and implement the June 15 joint declaration to the letter under any circumstances.
    To open a non-governmental meeting for reunification in Seoul will mark another historic event which will prove the vitality of the declaration. This will mark a signal turn in frustrating the domestic and foreign separatists' moves to keep the nation divided, bringing a thaw in the frozen inter-Korean relations, strengthening solidarity and unity between the south and the north and putting spurs to the movement for reunification in the south.

Servile behavior of S. Korean defense ministry under fire

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - The All-People Measure Committee for Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son, Schoolgirls Killed by the U.S. Forces' Armored Car on July 24 held a press conference in front of the south Korean ministry of defense to condemn its servile behavior. On July 22, a spokesman of the ministry in a "briefing" on the killing of the two schoolgirls said that it would jointly publish an official stand with the U.S. side on July 29, claiming that it is difficult at the moment to get the jurisdiction transferred because it was an accident that happened while GIs were on duty.
    At the conference the organization charged that the ministry's behavior was an action of chilling the nation's campaign for probing the truth into the killing and punishing those responsible for it and an intolerable insult to their bereaved families.
    Dismissing the intention of the ministry to force the judicial authorities to abandon the exercise of jurisdiction, talking about the "original inequality of the ROK-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement", as a sycophantic and treacherous stand the press release bitterly denounced its behavior.
    It called for retraction of the remarks made by the spokesman for the ministry, his resignation and an apology from the minister of defense to all the people.

Withdrawal of "Northern Limit Line" urged

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - The Pusan Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration and the South Korean General Federation of Petty Fishermen's Associations in a joint statement on July 25 demanded the U.S. withdraw the "Northern Limit Line," according to a news report. Holding the U.S. chiefly responsible for the recent armed clash in the West Sea, the statement said: the armed clash occurred because of the "Northern Limit Line" unilaterally drawn by the U.S.
    It continued:
    The U.S. has not made any response to the north's proposal to discuss the issue of the line. This suggests that by dragging on the discussion of the issue the U.S. seeks to use it as a pretext to spark armed clashes between the south and the north in a bid to contain the north by force of arms.
    Drawing attention to the fact that such a group of sycophantic traitors as the Grand National Party is chiming in with such U.S. attitude, the statement said:
    The political camp should immediately stop foolish acts to use the armed clash for its political purpose and positively come out to seek a fundamental settlement of the issue.

Wreaths and floral baskets laid on victory day

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Wreaths were placed at the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery on Mt. Taesong and the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery and floral baskets were laid before the monument to victory in the Fatherland Liberation War by senior officials of the party, the state and the army, servicepersons of the People's Army and working people on July 27, the 49th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War. Seen standing at the two cemeteries were wreaths sent by leader Kim Jong Il.
    Placed there were wreaths in the joint name of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the cabinet of the DPRK.
    Wreaths, bunches of flowers and flowers were placed at the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery in the name of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions, units of the KPA, scientific, educational, public health institutions and media organizations, party and power organs, factories and farms here.
    They were also laid at the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery in the name of working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions, units of the KPA, scientific, educational, cultural, art and public health institutions and media organizations, party, power and economic organs, factories and farms here.
    Present at the wreath-laying ceremonies were Kim Yong Nam, Jo Myong Rok, Kim Il Chol, Yang Hyong Sop, Kim Ki Nam and other senior officials, and Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, and Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the C.C., the Chondoist Chongu Party, and others.
    That day wreaths were also placed before the martyrs' statues, the monuments to fallen fighters of the People's Army and their cemeteries in different parts of the country.
    Floral baskets were laid before the main sculpture "victory" of the monument to victory in the Fatherland Liberation War in the joint name of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the WPK and floral baskets, bunches of flowers and flowers in the name of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions, KPA units, scientific, educational and public health institutions and media organizations, party and power organs and factories here.
    Hong Song Nam and Kye Ung Thae were among those present at the floral basket-laying ceremonies.

Congratulations to Indian President

Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on July 25 sent a warm congratulatory message to A. P. J. Abdul Kalam upon assumption of his office as President of the republic of India. Expressing belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger to meet the need of the new century, the message sincerely wished the President great success in his responsible work to build powerful and prosperous new India.

Greetings to Peruvian President

Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidum of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Alejandro Toledo Manrique, President of Peru, on the occasion of its independence day. Kim extended warm congratulations to the President, the government and the people of Peru.
Wishing the President success in his work for the country's prosperity, the message expressed belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would continue to favorably develop.

Japan's moves for overseas aggression slammed

    Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) - The issue of revising the law on the Japan Defense Agency the keynote of which is to reorganize the operational command system of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) has been placed on the order of the day to become a topic of discussion in the political circle of Japan. Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article says that this projected reorganization means rounding off Japan's war preparations as it is a new military step of the Japanese reactionaries for overseas aggression.
    It goes on:
    Japan cannot successfully carry out large-scale overseas military operations without building an operational command system capable of commanding and operating the SDF in a comprehensive and co-ordinated way, which is expected to take the lead in overseas aggression and, accordingly, it should establish the system without fail. This is the unanimous view of the Japanese reactionaries.
    They are keen to reorganize the operational command system of the SDF as required by their aggression and modern war in a bid to enable the SDF to discharge its mission and duty as aggression armed forces.
    This plan of the Japan Defense Agency is a dangerous one as it is aimed to make the SDF appear exactly as the imperial army did, the army which earned an ill-fame for its murder, destruction, arson and plunder during the Second World War.
    If this plan is realized, Japan will be put under the military system whereby its prime minister will function as commander-in-chief of its armed forces as in the period of imperial Japan.
    This is a very dangerous development which calls for high alert.
    The plan is fraught with greater danger as it is timed to coincide with the moves to adopt the law on the emergency.
    The call made by the crafty and vicious Japanese reactionaries for making the SDF effective is a war outcry and the above-said plan is a dangerous step for war.
    The Japanese reactionaries have emerged one of the most dangerous forces of aggression in the present century.
    There is no doubt that the Japanese reactionaries rushing headlong towards overseas expansion will start a war of aggression anytime.