Kim Jong Il's Russia visit hailed
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il's recent visit to the Far Eastern region of the Russian Federation greatly contributed to strengthening international solidarity with the Korean people's cause under the changing international situation.
The Asian Regional Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, the All India Indo-Korean Friendship Association and the Indian Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification said this in a joint statement on August 24.
The joint statement extended sincere congratulations to Kim Jong Il in the name of the Indian and Asian people who love justice and peace.
Day of Youth marked
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- Multifarious functions were held Wednesday, the Day of Youth, in Korea.
A performance was given by the national youth art squad at the Central Youth Hall to mark the anniversary.
Put on the stage were drama based on a true story "A Blessed Flower", chorus "Let Us Be General Kim Jong Il's Soldiers," dance "Our Style Is Best" and others.
Evening galas of youth and students took place in different parts of the country.
Various places in Pyongyang including plazas of the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Monument to Party Founding, the April 25 House of Culture, the Pyongyang Grand Theater and the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium were crowded with youth and students and working people who came out to celebrate the day.
The performance and evening galas fully demonstrated the faith, will and strong resolution of the Korean youth to be loyal to Kim Jong Il's army-based revolutionary leadership.
Namibian supreme order conferred on Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- The order of Welwitschia Mirabilis first class, the highest order of Namibia, was awarded to Kim Jong Il.
Sam Nujoma, President of Namibia, conveyed the order and diploma to Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, who was heading the DPRK delegation, on August 26 amidst a storm of applause of more than 10,000 participants in the open-to-visitors ceremony of the heroes cemetery.
The Namibian president also asked yang to convey his personal letter to Kim Jong Il.
He said the order was awarded to Kim Jong Il in recognition of his feats for Namibia and the world revolution.He has greatly contributed to the Namibian people's struggle for independence and their building of a new society, boosted the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries on the highest level, sent able technicians and experts to Namibia to help successfully complete the building of the cemetery, the Namibian President added.
Namibian Heroes Cemetery opens to visitors
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- The Cemetery of Namibian Heroes was opened to the public with due ceremony in Windhoek on Aug. 26 on the occasion of the Day of Namibian Heroes.
It was built with the DPRK's assistance.
Addressing the ceremony, President Sam Nujoma gave a briefing on the history of the Namibian people's struggle for the independence of the country against colonialists and feats performed by heroes in it. The cemetery was built to eternally glorify their lives and carry forward their fighting exploits, he added.
He also highly appreciated the DPRK technicians and experts for their sincere assistance to the huge project.
Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, made a speech there.
Minju Joson on Ulji Focus Lens
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson Thursday views the Ulji Focus Lens joint military exercises as a war drill for executing the U.S. strategy of keeping Korea divided and gaining military domination over the whole of the Korean Peninsula.
The war exercises, which the U.S. is staging in south Korea, against the DPRK at a time when the inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation process are in progress, are a grave challenge to the expectation and desire of the Korean nation and the international community, the paper says in a signed commentary, and goes on:
The U.S. has intentionally aggravated the situation on the Korean Peninsula whenever a favorable atmosphere was provided to put an end to confrontation and distrust between the north and the south and achieve national reunification.
It is the set will of the Korean people to achieve without fail independent national reunification, the supreme interest of the nation.
It is advisable for the U.S. to clearly see the will of the DPRK and relinquish its sinister attempt to block Korea's independent reunification.
Evasion of probe into suspected introduction of U.S.-made weapons condemned
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- The people working for peace and reunification, the citizens' solidarity for democratic society, the (South) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and other south Korean organisations reportedly made public a joint statement on August 23, accusing the south Korean Ministry of Defense of evading a probe into the suspected introduction of U.S.-made weapons and the board of audit and inspection of intending to turn down the people's demand for the probe.
The joint statement said:
The ministry claimed that the introduction of weapons is not an object of people's probe. This is because it is afraid of disclosing its crime of betraying the people and choosing U.S.-made fighters.
In fact, all the contents of the introduction of weapons have already been opened to the public and its secrecy was ineffective.
However, the defense ministry refused to comply with people's demand for probe, which is little short of trying to cover the sky with the palm of the hand.
The statement said that they would wage a powerful struggle if the board of audit and inspection yields to the unilateral assertion of the defense ministry and fails to conduct a probe as demanded by the people.
DPRK population center
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- The DPRK population center founded on July 11, Juche 74 (1985) is playing a vanguard role in the study of the population science.
It is situated in Phyongchon district, Pyongyang.
Most of its staff members are young promising scholars engrossed in their researches to open a new horizon for the study of population.
Prof. and dr. Hong Sun Won, director of the center, said that it was founded under a far-reaching plan of Kim Jong Il to rationally increase and develop population in conformity with economy, natural resources and environmental conditions of the country, adding that he has led the work of the center with warm care after clearly indicating ways for the center to follow.
The center is conducting diverse researches aimed to make a scientific estimation of the prospects of the country's population and solve a series of issues concerning the work to keep the balance between the population and economy and resources. In this course it is solving scientific and technological issues arising at the units concerned.
It also disseminates knowledge about population by publishing such periodicals as "news of population", science information, books and other information bulletins. It also functions as a population database.
It has close relations with international population organizations and academic organizations.
Gifts to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- At least 50, 000 gifts are on display at the International Friendship Exhibition in the DPRK.
All of them were presented by party and state leaders and celebrities of 157 countries to Kim Jong Il who has performed immortal feats for the Korean revolution and the human cause of independence.
In recent years alone 11,100 more gifts were on display.
At least 320 gifts were presented to Kim Jong Il by heads of state and famous political and public figures of different countries and international organizations on the occasion of his birthday this year.
Among them are oil paintings "Sky Above River Neva" and "Two Girls On Bali Islet" presented by Russian President V.V. Putin and Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri and a painting "Spring Scene" by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
A sword, national musical instruments and national costumes presented by Guinean President Lansana Conte last April reflect his boundless respect for Kim Jong Il.
After visiting the exhibition, guests from China, Russia, India, Ecuador, Bulgaria and other countries made entries in the visitor's book. Among them are letters saying "Comrade Kim Jong Il is the sun of the 21st century" and "Korea led by H.E.
Kim Jong Il will always emerge victorious", an indication of their admiration for his high dignity and greatness.
About 200-year old tree on cliff
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- A national exhibition of teaching aids and experimental apparatuses opened here on Wednesday on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of "theses on socialist education."
Put on display at the exhibition halls were more than 5,800 pieces of various teaching aids and experimental apparatuses, their models and photos.
Many of them were invented to suit the psychological features of children of various ages when teaching them basic sciences, foreign languages and elementary technologies in the secondary general education.
Attracting the attention of visitors were such aids and apparatuses as computer-controlled antenna direction measuring device and microcalorimeter and other devices which can contribute to raising the scientific and theoretical level of higher education to meet the requirements of the it era.
Education minister Pyon Yong Rip addressed the opening ceremony.
National exhibition of educational equipment opens
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- About 200-year old Sophora Japonica is growing on the Chongryu cliff on beautiful Moran Hill in Pyongyang.
Listed as natural monument no. 3 by the state the queer-looking tree adds to the beautiful scenery of the cliff on Moran Hill, one of the eight beauty spots of Korea from the olden times.
Unlike other straight-growing ordinary japonicas, this tree has its roots stretched into a hollowed place of the cliff like a wedge and several thick branches growing luxuriant from its thick wooden stem 5 m from the surface of the cliff.
The branches look like a fan opened overlooking the River Taedong.
It is about 10 m tall.
It is very instrumental in scientific study.
Senior party and state officials join youth celebrating their day
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, Hong Song Nam and other senior party and state officials and leading officials of the provincial, city and county party and power organs and working people's organizations on August 28 joined youth of the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Plant, the Pyongyang Thermal-Power Complex and the February 8 Jikdong Youth Coal Mine and other industrial establishments, cooperative farms and universities in significantly marking the day of youth.
The youth and senior party and state officials placed floral baskets and bunches of flowers before statues of President Kim Il Sung and the monuments to on-site instructions given by the three commanders of Mt. Paektu.
The officials congratulated the youth on their labor achievements and encouraged them and enjoyed the holiday, joining the youth in dancing and playing diverse games.
Rodong Sinmun on Korean people's profound reverence for Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- The Korean people revere Kim Jong Il as their father. This ardent reverence was clearly expressed during his historic visit to the Far Eastern region of Russia.
In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article says:
No force on earth can stop the Korean people from following him.
The Korean people had always been thoughtful of him since they heard the news that he left here to visit the Far Eastern region of the Russian Federation.
The people's wishes for his good health grew stronger than ever before in every nook and corner of the country.
They did their best to live and work as intended by him. As a result, everything went well as he wished and great achievements were made in all domains of the country while he was conducting external activities far away from the country.
Production went on at a high rate in all parts of the country including Ryongsong and Kusong and great progress was made in the efforts to implement the party's economic policy.
Kim Jong Il longed to see the people while conducting his activities abroad and they worked hard with ardent reverence for him who has devoted himself to the prosperity of the country.
This is the true picture of the country where all the people are single-heartedly united around Kim Jong Il as members of his family.
Kim Yong Nam meets Thai company delegation
Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a talk with the delegation of Lox Pac of Thailand headed by executive vice-president of the Loxley Public Company Limited and chairman of Lox Pac Jingjai Hanchanlash in a friendly atmosphere at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Thursday.
Present there were minister of post and telecommunications Ri Kum Bom, vice-chairman of the Northeast Asia Telephone Communications Company Kim In Chol, and others concerned.
The head of the delegation extended congratulations to Kim Jong Il on his fruitful visit to the Far Eastern region of Russia.
He said that they would make efforts to steadily develop the friendly relations with the DPRK.