Kim Jong Il sends gifts to leading media of DPRK

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent gifts to the Rodong Sinmun, the Korean Central News Agency and the Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee of the DPRK. He has always paid deep attention to the newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, the news agency and the broadcasting organisation which play a pivotal role on the ideological front of the party. This time he showed such profound loving care as providing again many latest type computers and their related facilites to them.
    A ceremony of conveying the gifts took place at the People's Palace of Culture on Monday.
    After an address was made by secretary of the WPK Central Committee Jong Ha Chol to convey the gifts, director general of the KCNA Kim Ki Ryong and others evinced their resolutions to repay the great solicitude.

Open questionnaire to Bush

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification was reported to have made public an open questionnaire addressed to Bush on Jan. 16. Recently Bush said the U.S. would negotiate with North Korea but nothing has happened and, on the contrary, he is escalating the threat of a nuclear war to North Korea, the questionnaire said, and continued:
    Bush's assertion that the U.S. may talk but negotiations are impossible only reveals his deceptive intention to pacify the international community's criticism and throw a network of siege against North Korea.
    Bush should stop paying lip-service to dialogue but take a sincere approach toward negotiations and immediately conclude a non-aggression treaty with North Korea.
    The basic framework of the North Korea-U.S. Geneva Agreement calls for the U.S. provision of two light water reactors to North Korea in return for its freeze on its nuclear program for the generation of electricity. The U.S. is duty-bound to supply heavy oil to the DPRK.
    But the U.S. has increased the combat capacity of its forces in South Korea and escalated the threat of a war to North Korea after openly disclosing its plan to mount a preemptive nuclear attack on the north.
    It is the U.S. which breached the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Therefore, it should be referred to the international atomic energy agency to receive international sanctions.
    If the U.S. is truly interested in ensuring peace in Northeast Asia, it should urge Japan to freeze its nuclear facilities and drop arms. Asking Bush if he has a willingness to do so, the questionnaire stressed:
    The South Koreans do not want the U.S. troops to stay in South Korea. Peace will settle on the Korean Peninsula if it is reunified.
    Bush should pay heed to the strong domestic and foreign call for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea.

Rodong Sinmun on June 15 Joint Declaration

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article calls upon all the Koreans in the north, the south and abroad to turn out as one in the patriotic struggle to check and frustrate the U.S. imperialists' criminal hostile policy toward the DPRK under the uplifted banner of the June 15 Joint Declaration, a declaration of national independence and great national unity. National independence provides a basic guarantee for defending the peace and security of the country and making victorious progress of national reunification, it says, and goes on:
    Since the north and the south of Korea solemnly vowed through the joint declaration to pool the efforts of the nation itself in defending the dignity and interests of the nation and achieving peace and reunification, there is nothing to hesitate and read another's mind. The whole nation should have a transparent will for national independence to resolutely reject flunkyism and dependence on foreign forces and smash the u.s. moves for aggression, war and intervention.
    The dignity and security of the nation and the independent reunification of the country are unthinkable without the great unity of the 70 million Koreans.
    The Koreans can be united firm as one. If they place the destiny of the country and the nation above anything else and give priority to the reunification of the country, the cause common to the nation, they can achieve the great unity of the nation. When all the compatriots in the north, the south and overseas unite firm as one under the banner of national independence, the U.S. criminal war of aggression on the DPRK and its moves against the reunification of the country will certainly be frustrated.

Reception in honor of special envoy of Russian President

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov hosted a reception at the embassy on Monday evening in honor of the special envoy of the Russian President on a visit to the DPRK. Present on invitation were first Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Sok Ju, vice department director of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea Ji Jae Ryong, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kung Sok Ung and other officials concerned.
    Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs A. P. Losyukov, a special envoy of the Russian President, and his party were present.
    Speeches were made there.

CPRF secretariat denounces traitors' "declaration on situation"

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland Monday issued information bulletin no. 835 denouncing the "declaration on the situation" released by pro-U.S. traitor Kim Yong Sam and other motley crew in South Korea on Jan. 17. The bulletin said:
    The declaration said that no anti-Americanism should be allowed and there should be no demand for the U.S. troops' withdrawal from South Korea, and even faulted the north's legitimate self-defence measure of declaring its withdrawal from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The bulletin denounced this as a mockery of the DPRK's legitimate measure to protect the nation's dignity and sovereignty and the South Koreans' just patriotic struggle to punish the criminals and put an end to the U.S. domination and subjugation.
    The South Koreans waged incessant anti-U.S. struggle last year and greeted this year with anti-U.S. candlelight demonstrations, a clear proof of their resolute will to certainly force the U.S. imperialists to pay for the blood shed by the Koreans a thousand times. Anti-Americanism has now become an irresistible trend of the times in South Korea.
    No matter how desperately those imbeciles may work in the dumping ground of history, no one will lend an ear to them and they can never stem the nation's strong trend for independence.
    Those who swim against the trend of the times will only meet a miserable end.

Release of prisoners of conscience urged in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Over 360 civic, public and religious organizations of South Korea reportedly called for the release of prisoners of conscience and a stop to the police search for those on the want list. The Family Movement for Realizing Democracy, the Bar Association for a Democratic Society, the (South) Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the Citizens' Solidarity for Democratic Society and other organizations called a press conference on Jan. 16 and demanded in a preys release the "government" authorities' unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, stop to the police search, overall amnesty and reinstatement, abolition of the "Security Law", etc.
    Jo Sun Dok, permanent chairman of the family movement for realizing democracy, Yu Tok Sang, acting chairman of the KCTU, and others said that the first step for the realization of democracy and to ensure of human rights is to set free the prisoners of conscience and those on wanted list, abolish all evil laws including the SL and reform the system.
    Unreasonable measure for suppression of the prisoners of conscience and those on the want list should be withdrawn because they are seriously taken ill, they noted.
    They declared they will wage a struggle in the middle of February with a view to settling the issue of the arrested workers.

U.S. urged to give legal security assurances to DPRK

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The United States is keen to create the impression that it is deeply concerned for the solution of the nuclear issue through "dialogue" with the DPRK and "security guarantee." In this regard Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed commentary: This is not the true intention of the U.S. but a charade.
    By "dialogue" the United States does not mean a practical and productive dialogue based on equality but a meaningless dialogue devoid o any practice, a sort of "trial" at which the U.S. will question and pressurize the DPRK.
    The same can be said of the U.S. clamor for "security guarantee." Insisting on its demand that North Korea scrap its "nuclear program" before dialogue, the U.S. asserts that there is the possibility of discussing the issue of "giving security guarantee" only after the DPRK lays down its arms.
    The U.S. ballyhooed "dialogue" and "security guarantee" are aimed to firmly convince the international community that DPRK is to blame for the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula and to disarm the latter without fail.
    The DPRK can never accept such U.S. demands.
    The key to the solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula does not lie in the DPRK's abandonment of its "nuclear program" before dialogue.
    The fair benchmark for its solution is for the United States to remove all threats to the DPRK and give it legal security assurances.
    To this end it is necessary to conclude a non-aggression treaty with the United States as proposed by the DPRK. This is the key to the solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
    As far as the dialogue between the DPRK and U.S. is concerned, it should be a practical and productive one to find a fair and peaceful solution to the pending issues between them.
    If the United States truly wants dialogue with the DPRK it should have a sincere and impartial approach to it.
    The United States should drop its hypocritical and improper attitude toward "dialogue" and give the DPRK legal security assurances by signing a non-aggression treaty with it. Only then is it possible to settle the nuclear issue on the Korean Penisula.
    Everything depends on the U.S. attitude.

Equipment Assembly Complex

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The Equipment Assembly Complex in Hungnam city, South Hamgyong Province, Korea, plays a pivotal role in the country's industrial construction. The complex, founded in January Juche 52 (1963), has made a great contribution to important industrial projects for strengthening the independent national economy of the country and improving the people's living.
    Since its foundation, it has finished more than 260 projects including the Musan-Chongjin 100 km-lng concentrates transport pipelines, dressing plant no. 3 of the Komdok Mine, the Sunchon Vinalon Complex, the West Sea Barrage, the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex, the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex and the Sangwon Cement Complex.
    In recent years, it took part in the construction of the Anbyon Youth Power Station and the Taedonggang Beer Factory.
    It has processing bases capable of producing tens of thousands of tons of ordered machines and equipment every year and is fully equipped with modern means of construction.
    Technicians of the complex have made thousands of technical inventions and introduced them into production and construction. It has produced 24 heroes.

Increase in production

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Since the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made public a statement on the country's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Korean workers have stepped up production and construction, determined to win the final victory in confrontation with the U.S. imperialists. The miners of the Komdok Mine are countering the enemies' reckless economic blockade with increased production of non-ferrous metallic minerals.
    In recent days they have fulfilled at 105 percent their daily quotas much higher than those in the same period of last year.
    The mine's production of non-ferrous metallic minerals has reached a record high in the last ten years.
    The June 4 rolling-stock factory has topped its daily assignments of freight car production and repair.
    The Pyongyang Textile Mill, the Sinuiju Basic Foodstuff Factory and other light industry factories have fullfilled their daily quotas at 120 percent by putting the production processes on a modern basis and keeping equipment in full-capacity operation.
    An upsurge in production has also been reported from the Ryongsong Machine Complex, the Chollima Steel Complex, the Pyongyang Daily Necessities Factory and other industrial establishments.

Spirit of joining, assisting army in Korea

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The spirit of joining and assisting the army is ever growing among Korean people when a touch-and-go situation has been created in the country due to the unreasonable moves of the U.S. imperialists and its followers. After the government made public a statement on the country's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, young men and women including students met to demonstrate their willingness to participate in the sacred war for defending the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation at the cost of their life. They resolved to take revenge upon the U.S. imperialists if they dare touch even a plant and tree of Korea.
    Popular among university and middle school students are wartime songs and songs of the country-defending spirit such as "Let's join in the army," "We will defend the headquarters of revolution with our lives" and "Let's meet on the front."
    The spirit of assisting the army is also being fully displayed among people.
    People in North Hwanghae Province are sincerely assisting servicemen, regarding it as the highest expression of patriotism.
    Many families throughout the country have sent all their sons and daughters to the army.
    The spirit of joining and assisting the army is a token of the strong sense of patriotism of the servicemen and people and the single-hearted unity of the revolutionary ranks.

Bush administration's base trick flayed

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- High-ranking officials of the Bush administration recently blustered that they are "seeking ways except the use of strength to settle the nuclear issue of North Korea" and one of them is to convince other countries that "North Korea challenges not only the U.S. but the rest of the world." In this regard Rodong Sinmun today says in a signed commentary: The U.S. loudmouthed "ways except the use of strength" are a trick to isolate the DPRK internationaly.
    What the U.S. seeks here is to create the impression that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is not one that should be settled between the DPRK and the U.S. but one that should be solved between the DPRK and the international community in a bid to evade the chief blame for the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula and put international pressure upon the DPRK by pitting it against the international community.
    Such method of the U.S. is, in fact, the last resort of those driven into the tight corner and an expression of their vulnerability.
    The worst situation is prevailing on the Korean Peninsula because the United States, in conspiracy with the IAEA that departed from the principle of impartiality and international justice, kicked up a nuclear racket against the DPRK, gravely infringing upon its dignity, sovereignty and vital right.
    After all, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is one to be settled between the DPRK and the U.S. and, accordingly, there is no need for other countries to meddle in it.
    The only solution to the issue is for the U.S. to recognize the sovereignty of the DPRK and sign a non-aggression treaty with it through practical negotiations.
    If the U.S. persists in its moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula can never be settled.

Special envoy of Russian President leaves

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs A. P. Losyukov, a special envoy of the Russian President, and his party left here today after winding up their 4-day visit to the DPRK. They were seen off at the airport by Kung Sok Ung, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned, Andrei Gennadievich Karlov, Russian Ambassador to the DPRK, and embassy officials.

DPRK SPA delegation leaves for China

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK led by its chairman Choe Thae Bok left Pyongyang today to participate in the meeting of the executive council of the Asian Parliamentary Association for Peace slated to be held in Beijing. The delegation was seen off at the airport by SPA vice-chairwoman Ryo Won Gu and Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe.

North side's delegation leaves for inter-Korean ministerial talks

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- The north side's delegation led by Kim Ryong Song, chief counsellor of the DPRK Cabinet, today left Pyongyang to participate in the 9th North-South Ministerial Talks to be held in Seoul. The delegation was seen off at the airport by minister of culture Kang Nung Su, director of the secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland An Kyong Ho and first vice-chairman of the State Planning Commission Pak Chang Ryon who is the north side's chairman of the Committee for the Promotion of the North-South Economic Cooperation and other officials concerned.

S. Korean delegation arrives

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Preparatory Committee of the Headquarters for the Promotion of 2003 National Joint Functions led by Han Sang Ryol, permanent representative of Reunification Solidarity for the Implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Peace on the Korean Peninsula, Jo Song U, executive chairman of the People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation, and Kim Jong Su, representative of 7 orders arrived here today. The delegation consists of representatives of public and religious organizations in South Korea. It was greeted at the airport by Ho Hyok Phil, vice-chairman of the National Reconciliation Council, and officials concerned.

Special envoy of Russian President interviewed

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- A. P. Losyukov, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia who is a special envoy of the Russian President, said talks and conversations during his visit to the DPRK reached a consensus of views that more contacts are necessary to have a correct understanding of each other's stand. At a press conference at the airport today before his departure from here, he referred to useful talks and conversations held during his visit.
    He noted that he visited the DPRK to know better about the situation prevailing on the Korean Peninsula and discuss the issues of bilateral ties between the two countries.
    Recalling that Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, received him and his party, he extended thanks to Kim Jong Il for showing deep care for them.
    Noting that he had the honour of conveying a personal letter from President Putin to Kim Jong Il on the occasion, he said:
    "Kim Jong Il had a deep insight into the situation on the Korean Peninsula and international issues."
    The busy work done during his stay in the DPRK was rich in its content and was very useful, he noted.
    Very bright is the prospect of the development of the Russia-DPRK relations, he said, noting that they would further develop the Russia-DPRK relations in all fields according to the line laid down by the top leaders of the two countries.
    He answered questions put by media persons at the press conference.

Cabinet Premier meets new UK Ambassador

     Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Hong Song Nam met and conversed with new British Ambassador to the DPRK David Arthur Slinn at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today when the latter paid a courtesy call on him. Present was Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon.

For Spanish-speaking people

kim jong il se reune con enviado especial del presidente ruso

     pyongyang, 21 de enero (atcc) -- el dirigente kim jong il, secretario general del partido del trabajo de corea y presidente del comite de defensa nacional de la republica popular democratica de corea se reunio el dia 20 con el enviado especial del presidente de la federacion rusa, alexandr prokhorovich losyukov, quien es el viceministro de relaciones exteriores y su comitiva de vista en corea. participaron kang sok ju, primer viceministro coreano de relaciones exteriores y andrei gennadiyevich karlov, embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de rusia en corea.
    en la ocasion el enviado especial le entrego una carta personal del presidente vladimir vladimirovich putin.
    el dirigente expreso agradecimiento por el respecto y departio con el huesped en un ambiente caluroso y amistoso.
    el mismo dia el ofrecio un almuerzo en honor de los huespedes rusos.

kim jong il envio presenes a rodong sinmun, atcc y cnrtc

     pyongyang, 21 de enero (atcc) -- el dirigente kim jong il envio como regalos numerosas modernas instalaciones de computacion a la editora del periodico rodong sinmun, la agencia telegrafica central de corea y el comite nacional de radio y television de corea. el presta siempre gran atencion al periodico del partido, la agencia noticiera y la radio que desempenan un papel vertebral en el sector ideologico de nuestro partido.
    la ceremonia de entrega de presentes tuvolugar el dia 20 en el palacio cultural del pueblo.
    en el acto el secretario del cc del partido del trabajo de corea, jong ha chol, pronuncio palabras previas a la entrega de presentes. el director de la atcc kim ki ryong, y otras personas intervinieron haciendo firme su decision.

fervor de ingreso al ejercito y bellos rasgos de apoyo al ejercito

     pyongyang, 21 de enero (atcc) -- ahora que en corea se ha creado la delicada situacion debido a las injustas conjuras de los imperialistas norteaericanos y sus fuerzas satelites, se ponen mas de manifiesto entre los habitantes el fervor de ingreso al ejercito y bellos rasgos de apoyo al ejercito. es muy elevado el fervor de ingresar al ejercito de los jovenes que son fuerzas principales de la defensa nacional.
    los jovenes y estudiantes en el acto de apoyo a la declaracion del gobierno de la republica popular democratica de corea, decidieron tomar parte en la sagrada lucha por defender la soberania del pais y la dignidad de la nacion y vengarse mil veces mayor de os imperialistas norteamericanos si estos enemigos se atreven a tocar una mata de hierba y un arbol del pais.
    de los centros universitarios y las escuelas secundarias se oyen las canciones del tiempo de guerra y las otras: "companeros, alistemonos al ejercito", "defenderemos a ultranza la direccion de la revolucion" y "nos encontremos en el frente".
    los habitantes de la provincia de hwanghae del norte, bien conscientes de que apoyar al ejercito es un maximo patriotismo, ayudan con sinceridad a los militares como a sus proios hijos e hijas.
    no cesan de salir de todas partes del pais las familias de los militares revolucionarias que envian a todos sus hijos al puesto de defensa nacional como la familia de ri kun u del distrito de kaephung, ciudad de kaesong y la de ri myong gon del distrito de hwangju, provincia de hwanghae del norte.
    tal fervor de ingreso al ejercito y los bellos rasgos de apoyo al ejercito demuestran fehacientemente el ferviente patriotismo de nuestro ejercito y pueblo y el verdadero aspecto de la fila revolucionaria unida monoliticamente.