Kim Jong Il's answers to questions raised by president of Kyodo News Service
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il today gave answers to written questions raised by the president of the Kyodo News Service with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the DPRK near at hand.
The answers say:
Korea and Japan are geographically close countries, and they had maintained relations from olden times exchanging visits with each other. But in the past century discord and confrontation have brought the relations between the two countries to an extremely abnormal state. The abnormal relations between them that have lasted for over half a century since the end of the Second World War are, in every respect, harmful to either of them. Normalizing relations between the two countries and developing good-neighbourly relations accords with the aspirations and interests of the peoples of the two countries, and it is an urgent demand of the times.
Korea and Japan are Asian nations. They should live in friendship as nearest neighbours, not as near yet distant neighbours, and promote coexistence and coprosperity. This is our will and consistent standpoint.
The politicians of Korea and Japan are now entrusted with the historic mission to normalize the abnormal relations between the two countries. If responsible statesmen make decisions from a large point of view and get down to the task in order to realize the people's desires and interests and fulfil their noble historic mission, they will be able to find solutions to any problems existing between the two countries.
Prime Minister Koizumi will soon visit Pyongyang, and this will be a turning point in normalizing Korea-Japan relations. I welcome his visit to my country and believe that our meeting and talks will bring forth good fruits. We must open up a new chapter in the historical relationship between Korea and Japan by our common will and joint effort to improve their relations in every possible way.
The basic problem that must be solved to normalize Korea-Japan relations is to clean up the past unpleasant events that have taken place between the two countries.
If nothing is done to the history of rancor that has accumulated for a whole century, neither the normalization of state relations nor good-neighbourly, friendly relations can be realized.
Japan's settlement of past necessitates a sincere apology and due compensation that takes into full consideration the whole range of damage and sufferings it inflicted upon the Korean people. The lack of solution to these core issues has so far curbed the improvement of the bilateral relations and presented a variety of complicated problems.
The two countries are now tied up hand and foot, trapped as they are in mud-slinging over minor issues, but these will be settled smoothly when bilateral relations improve and mutual confidence is built.
An end to abnormal relations will also dissipate the security concerns of the Japanese people. Apparently the Japanese people are highly nervous about our defence build-up, but our defence policy is, to all intents and purposes, geared to self-defence. Our armed forces will mercilessly deal with those who provoke us, but we will never resort to force of arms against those who do not. If Japan gives up hostility for friendship towards us, it has nothing to fear about our defence upbuilding.
Finally, as for your question about my intention to visit Japan, I think there would be no reason why I should not visit Japan so long as bilateral relations develop favourably on a normal track.
DPRK cabinet arranges friendly meeting
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- The cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea arranged a friendly meeting at the People's Palace of Culture on Friday evening in connection with the successful closure of the 8th Pyongyang Film Festival of Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries.
Present on invitation at the meeting were delegations and delegates from different countries to the festival, honorary guests and members of the delegation of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
Also present were Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the cabinet, Kang Nung Su, chairman of the organizing committee of the festival who is minister of culture, Jong Mun San, director of the secretariat of the cabinet, vice-chairmen of the organizing committee and other officials concerned and moviepersons.
A speech was made at the meeting.
The participants talked about the successes and experience they gained in creating progressive films reflecting the worthwhile life of the people and their drive to build a new society and about the festival, deepening the friendly feelings.
Kim Jong Il's work published in Germany
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "Let Us Carry Out The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's Instructions For National Reunification" was published in booklet the Communist Party of Germany on September 8.
Improvement of DPRK-Japan relations is requirement of times
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- It is the common desire of the peoples of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Japan and the trend of the present era towards independence, peace and friendship to improve the bilateral relations and develop the good-neighborly ties between the two countries.
A lot of problems have been solved in the international political arena through efforts made to resolve the complicated problems, leftovers of the past century.
One of them is the issue of the DPRK-Japan relations which still remains unsolved. Though the two countries are neighbors, they are near yet far-off countries. It is high time the historical pending issue was solved and the two countries became near and close to each other.
The improvement of the bilateral relations is, in essence, an issue of developing new good-neighborly ties in conformity with the interests and desire of the two peoples and the requirement of the times.
Politicians of foresight have made efforts for the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations with common understanding of the issue.
The joint declaration adopted by the Workers' Party of Korea and the Liberal Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party of Japan and the ensuing joint agreements were the results of such common understanding and efforts.
The problems existing between the two countries should be solved by political decisions without fail early this century with the common understanding.
The improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations is in full line with the desire of their peoples. It would be in the national interests of Japan, too.
The 21st century is the century for Asia. The Asian region finds itself in the centre of the international politics and economic progress in the 21st century.
If northeast Asian countries including the Korean Peninsula have good-neighborly and friendly relations with each other, it will greatly propel the region's stable economic development, exchange and cooperation. In particular, the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations will be of weighty importance in ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region.
The issue of the DPRK-Japan relations should be solved positively as required by the times and desired by their peoples
Russian diplomats visit different places of DPRK
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov and other embassy officials here toured Kaesong on Sept 12.
In Panmunjom they looked round the hall where the armistice talks were held, the hall where the armistice agreement was signed, and the conference room of the military armistice commission.
They also saw the monument to the autograph President Kim Il Sung left on a historic document concerning the country's reunification at his last moments.
The ambassador wrote in the visitors' book that he hoped the Korean people would certainly reunify the country under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission.
They also visited the Koryo Museum, the Mausoleum of Wang Gon, first king of Koryo, and other historical and cultural relics in Kaesong and enjoyed themselves near Pakyon Falls.
Next day, they visited orchards of the Sindae and Pukchang farms in Kwail county.
Pyongyang Film Festival closes
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- The 8th Pyongyang Film Festival of Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries, which opened on Sept. 4, closed at the Pyongyang International Cinema House Friday with due ceremony.
Present at the closing ceremony were Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, Kang Nung Su, chairman of the festival organizing committee who is minister of culture, and other officials concerned.
Also present were honorary guest of the festival Mohammad Hassan Pezeshk who is deputy minister of culture and Islamic guidance of Iran and his party, delegations and delegates of different countries and the delegation of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
Foreign diplomatic envoys and embassy officials in charge of cultural relations here were present on invitation.
At the ceremony the results of the examination of the films presented to the festival were announced by the festival jury, which was followed by an awarding ceremony.
According to the results, the Russian film "The Star" was awarded the golden statuette "Torch," the Polish film "The Cart Man" and the Indian documentary film "Scribbles On Akka" prizes for scenario, the Australian film "Serenades" and the Singaporean short film "Grandfather" prizes for production. And prizes for acting went to the male star of the Korean film "The Souls Protest" and the female star of the Iranian film "The Suit."
And the Chinese film "Hero Zheng Cheng Grong" was awarded a special prize by the international festival jury.
A letter of thanks to Kim Jong Il was adopted by the participants in the 8th Pyongyang Film Festival of Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries at the ceremony.
Minister of culture Kang Nung Su made a closing speech.
Agricultural workers' national sports games held
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- The second national sports contest among agricultural workers from across the country was held here from Sept. 8 to 13 in commemoration of the 54th birthday of the DPRK.
The contest drew over 60 organizations selected from inter-co-op farm preliminary games held in provinces.
The players competed in such events as Korean wrestling, Taekwon-do, swinging, sea-saw, Korean chess, yut and a tug of war.
Those from North Hwanghae Province came first while North Phyongan Province second and Pyongyang third.
A closing ceremony was held in the pleasure ground on Moran Hill Friday.
Present there were Sung Sang Sop, chairman of the central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea, and officials concerned.
At the ceremony cups, silk banners and citations were awarded to those groups and players who proved successful at the games.
National farm machine exhibition held
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- A national farm machine exhibition and technical innovation presentation took place in Sukchon county, South Phyongan Province, from Sept. 11 to 13.
On display at the exhibition were over 200 farm machines invented and manufactured by agricultural scientists, technicians and workers.
Attracting visitors' eyes were a four-furrow plough and an animal-drawn maize sower.
Introduced at the presentation were more than 20 pieces of scientific and technological success conducive to agricultural mechanization, and experience gained in inventing new farm machines including an all-purpose thrasher.
Greetings to Nicaraguan President
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to President of Nicaragua Enrique Bolanos on the occasion of its Independence Day.
He in the message rejoiced at the friendly relations growing stronger between the two countries and sincerely wished the president success in his responsible work for development of the country and welfare of his people.
South side's Taekwon-do exhibition team here
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- The south side's Taekwon-do exhibition team headed by president Ku Chon So of the South Korean Taekwon-do Association arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday as part of the plan to exchange the Taekwon-do exhibition teams between the north and the south under an agreement reached at the seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks.
The team was greeted by Kim Myong Chol, vice-chairman of the Korean Taekwon-do Committee, officials concerned and Taekwon-do players at the airport.
A Taekwon-do player presented a bouquet to the president.
Foreign delegations and delegates here
Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- Foreign delegations and delegates arrived here today to participate in the Pyongyang international economic technology and infrastructure exhibition.
Among the arrivals were those from Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Luxemburg, Liechtenstein, the Great Britain, Singapore and the European Union.
Separated families and relatives from north reunite with kinsfolk from south
Kosong, September 14 (KCNA) -- The 5th reunion of separated families and relatives from the north and the south of Korea began at Mt. Kumgang resort on Friday on the occasion of the autumn festival.
According to the agreement between both sides, 100 separated families and relatives from the north collectively met with kinsfolk from the south that afternoon.
Those from the north side today met with separated families and relatives from the south with a family as a unit.
A family atmosphere prevailed in the reunion between separated families and relatives from the north and the south.
They spent happy hours, sharing kindred feelings more than 50 years after their separation and having meals together. They had photographs taken together and exchanged souvenirs.
Meanwhile, the South Korean Red Cross gave a reception in honor of separated families and relatives from the north and the south.
Paek Yong Ho, vice-chairman of the central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society who is heading the north side's group that went to Mt. Kumgang, said in his speech that the thorough implementation of the June 15 joint declaration, a programme for independent national reunification, would pave the way for finding a wider-ranging solution to the humanitarian issue between the north and the south. He called upon all the compatriots in the north and the south to implement the joint declaration to the letter by their concerted efforts and thus bring earlier the day of the reunification of the country.
Those from the north and the south toured the scenic area of Samil Lagoon associated with the immortal history of the three commanders of Mt. Paektu.