Halt to S. Korea-U.S. war exercises demanded

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- 8 peace and religious organizations including the People Opening the Door of Peace and Reunification, the Council for National Reconciliation and Independent Reunification and the Korean Catholic Priests' Council for Justice reportedly held a rally in front of the U.S. 8th army command in Ryongsan on March 22 demanding a stop to South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and the return of all U.S. military bases. Dismissing the largest-ever joint military exercises now going on under the pretext of coping with "emergency" on the Korean Peninsula as an extension of Team Spirit war exercise and moves to provoke a war against the north under "Operation Plan 5027," the organizations strongly demanded a halt to the sabre-rattling.
    Bitterly accusing the U.S. 8th army command of pressurizing the South Korean authorities in February to pay 12.9 billion won for the project of road construction and cover 50 percent of the expenses for building apartments in the U.S. embassy compound and other places, they urged the authorities never to yield to the pressure.
    They stated that the authorities should lend an ear to the voices of citizens and urge the U.S. Forces side to return its bases.

Anniversary of Bangladeshi Independence observed

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held at the Chollima House of Culture on Mar. 26 to mark the 32nd anniversary of Bangladeshi Independence. The meeting was addressed by Kim Jin Bom, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is vice-chairman of the Korea-Bangladesh Friendship Association.
    After the meeting the participants looked round the photos introducing Bangladesh.

Yun I Sang Concert Hall

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- The Yun I Sang Concert Hall stands in Yonggwang Street of central district, Pyongyang. The concert hall, named after Yun I Sang, a world-famous composer, was opened in November Juche 81 (1992).
    The 600-seat hall, which has no platform, does not need a sound-reinforcement system but its acoustics are very good.
    The inner walls of the hall were made to minimize the sound absorption.
    There are five cloud-shaped sound reflecting plates on the ceiling so that the performers can fully listen to the sound of their musical instruments.
    The beautifully decorated hall is considered to be an ideal one as the reverberation is 1.7-1.8 meters per second and the frequency is 1,000 hertz.
    The Yun I Sang orchestra gives performances regularly at the hall. It plays music composed by Yun I Sang and national and world classical music.
    More than 300 regular concerts, joint concerts with foreign artistes and recitals have been held since the hall was opened.

Yonggwang Furniture Company

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Products of the Yonggwang Furniture Company of Korea are increasingly popular among purchasers. The joint venture company, situated in Hyongjesan district, Pyongyang, produces more than 60 kinds of quality furniture including bed, SOFA, bedclothes chest and table.
    Sets of kitchen furniture are well received for choice.
    The company also accepts orders for furniture pieces. It meets the domestic demand for furniture through various service establishments.
    It also produces wallboard and coating materials of good quality.

S. Korean "National Assemblymen" reject troop dispatch to Iraqi war

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Voices opposing the passage of the "motion calling for troop dispatch" to the Iraqi war through the "National Assembly" are growing stronger from among its members from the democratic party, according to MBC of South Korea. At an executive committee meeting of the party, "National Assemblyman" Kim Kun Thae said that the majority of the population are opposed to the U.S. unjustifiable attack on Iraq as this war failed to get consent from the United Nations. And he urged the legislature to accept the anti-war protest made by 81 percent of the population.
    It will be helpful to everyone, after all, that the "National Assembly" rejects the authorities' request for the dispatch of troops to the Iraqi war, he said.
    Another "assemblyman" Ri Hae Chan said the current Iraqi war is bitter shame in human history as it has no justification.
    Kim Kyong Je, member of the "National Assembly", declared that they would submit an amendment carrying their stand since the dispatch of engineers group or medical group is little different from actual involvement in the war.
    Meanwhile, 17 "National Assemblymen" from the ruling and opposition parties reportedly called a "meeting of parliamentarians for peace against war" on March 25 and agreed to check the passage of the motion through the "National Assembly".

Japanese reactionaries' anti-DPRK racket denounced

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary denounces the Japan Defence Agency for making much fuss after the outbreak of a war in Persian gulf region. It set up an "emergency measure headquarters" and held meetings to take precautions, the commentary says, and continues: A meeting was held to discuss the issue of supporting the U.S. war against Iraq and the issue of strengthening "alert and watch on North Korea." It was agreed there to increase the flight of airborne warning and control plane of the Japanese air "self-defence force" in the air over the East Sea of Korea to monitor moves of the DPRK.
    The DPRK can not but take a serious note of the fact that the Japanese reactionaries have kicked up a racket against it following outbreak of the Iraqi war.
    Some days ago, the Japanese chief cabinet secretary said that the strengthened Japan-U.S. alliance is effective for deterring the threat from North Korea.
    But such moves of Japan pose a threat to the DPRK as they are targeted against it. Though the Japanese reactionaries are working hard to justify their U.S.-toeing policy, talking about the "threat from North Korea" and "deterrent force", it is quite impossible to hide their black-hearted design.
    It is a serious miscalculation for Japan to think it will go safe when the situation on the Korean Peninsula goes beyond control and a war breaks out there. If the Japanese reactionaries try to get something by escalating the tensions there, taking advantage of the second nuclear crisis sparked by the U.S., they will only dig their own graves.

Validity of army-based policy underscored

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- The DPRK's army-based policy, the policy of relying on the invincible revolutionary armed forces, is a principled and just policy of independence against imperialism and a noble policy of loving the country, the nation and the people as it makes it possible to fully guarantee and firmly protect the popular masses' demand for independence and interests and the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the nation from the imperialist reactionaries' all sorts of encroachment. Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed article.
    It goes on:
    The army-based policy of the Workers' Party of Korea serves as a mighty treasured sword in safeguarding the country as it firmly guarantees the security and sovereignty of the country and the nation.
    It is entirely thanks to the invincible military power built up under the banner of the army-based policy that the sovereignty and right to existence of the country and the nation are firmly defended in the fierce confrontation with the arrogant and outrageous imperialist aggressors.
    Today the DPRK stands firm against the imperialist superpower, maintaining the toughest posture backed by the strong military power towards it, and its international dignity and position are rising day by day.
    The army-based policy of the WPK means a policy of national unity and a policy of reunification as it is based on the noble idea of all-embracing politics and a policy of attaching importance to the future as it provides for laying a firm military foundation for the prosperity of the country and the nation.
    The historic Pyongyang meeting and the adoption and publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration go to clearly prove that the army-based policy of the WPK is, indeed, a patriotic policy for achieving the unity of the nation.
    Reflected in the policy are ardent love for the nation and a noble outlook on the future as it is aimed not only to guarantee the existence and dignity of the members of the nation but provide them with a happy life and look after both the present and future of the country and the nation in a responsible manner.
    The army-based policy of the WPK that saved the country and the nation from the worst ordeals of the 20th century will remain shining more brilliantly as a patriotic policy of Kim Jong Il and a great banner of national prosperity, concludes the article.

Greetings to Foreign Minister of Serbia and Montenegro

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Paek Nam Sun, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Goran Svilanovic upon his appointment as Foreign Minister of Serbia and Montenegro. Expressing the belief that the traditional relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms, the message wished the foreign minister new success in his responsible work to consolidate the external prestige of the country.

KCNA refutes Tokyo governor's anti-DPRK outbursts

     Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- Tokyo metropolitan governor Ishihara, ultra-right reactionary element in Japan, reportedly let loose a string of anti-DPRK outbursts when interviewed by the Washington Post on March 24. He said that Japan should take revenge upon North Korea as regards the issue of kidnapping while calling for Japan's rearmament. He went to the lengths of talking nonsense that North Korea will meet the same fate as Iraq's. This can be heard only from such a psycho as Ishihara.
    His demeanour is shame to Japan and an intolerable infringement and an open challenge to the DPRK, an inviolable independent and sovereign state. This has, therefore, touched off the Koreans' bitter wrath.
    As the international community strongly asserts, the U.S. attack on Iraq is a wanton violation of the sovereignty of Iraq and it can never be justified under any circumstances.
    The U.S. is keen to stifle the DPRK by force by mounting a preemptive attack on its nuclear facilities and escalating Washington's nuclear war.
    Ishihara's support to the U.S. attack on Iraq and anti-DPRK outbursts that it will meet the same fate as Iraq's lay bare Japan's sinister intention to stage comeback to Korea and destroy the DPRK, taking advantage of the U.S. moves.
    This is clearly evidenced by his vociferous call for Japan's rearmament.
    Needless to say, the DPRK is the first target of Japan's moves to rearm itself and emerge as a military power.
    The DPRK has built up self-defensive capability strong enough to beat back any formidable enemies at a single stroke under the banner of the army-based policy. Ishihara, ignorant of this fact, is comparing the DPRK with Iraq and calling for Japan's rearmament. This is a political cartoon which reminds one of a puppy knowing no fear of a tiger.
    What should not be overlooked is that he talked about taking revenge upon North Korea over the issue of kidnapping.
    Japan committed the biggest aggression in the 20th century.
    During its colonial rule over Korea Japan forcibly drafted more than 8.4 million young and middle-aged Koreans and hurled them into a war of aggression and drove them into hard labor and forced over 200,000 Korean women to provide sex for the imperial Japanese army. It can not but be a schizophrenic paroxysm for a mere politician of such a war criminal state to talk about the abduction issue, an issue which had already been solved, and any revenge upon North Korea while keeping mum about the past crimes of Japan.
    Japan should feel deep regret at the fact that such a schizophrenic as Ishihara is debasing Japan's political morality and mentality.

For Spanish-speaking people

delirio de un psicopata - comentario de atcc -

     pyongyang, 27 de marzo (atcc) -- segun informaciones, ishihara, reaccionario ultraderechista de japon, en sus declaraciones dadas el 24 de marzo a "washington post", "exhorto el rearme de japon", dijo que debe vengarse de la rpdc por el problema del secuestro y solto sofisteria de que "esta tendria el mismo destino que irak". la peroracion de ishihara es la intolerable violacion y abierto desafio a la rpdc, sagrado estado soberano independiente.
    como senala la sociedad internacional, el ataque de ee.uu. contra irak siendo un intolerable acto de violacion a la soberania no puede justificarse por nada.
    la sociedad internacional condena los actos criminales de ee.uu. que en desacato al espiritu de la carta de la onu desarrolla la guerra contra irak y con los misiles y otras armas modernas de exterminio masivo asesina a numerosos habitantes inocentes.
    pero, ese maniaco japones dijo que apoya esa guerra de ee.uu. contra irak y que norcorea tendria el mismo destino que irak. esto no pasa de ser un disparate para perpetrar la nueva agresion a la rpdc y arruinarla en adhesion a las maniobras de ee.uu. encaminadas a dar el primer golpe a las instalaciones nucleares de corea y ampliar la guerra nuclear.
    lo prueba su reciente exhortacion al rearme de japon.
    huelga decir que el primer blanco de este rearme y la conversion de japon en la potencia militar es la rpdc.
    bajo la bandera de priorizacion militar nuestro pais tiene un poderio autodefensivo capaz de rechazar de un golpe la agresion de cualquier enemigo. al ignorar esta realidad suelta tal sofisteria. de veras, es una caricatura politica de la historia que hace recordar un tonto que se lanza en donde angel se teme andar.
    lo que no se puede pasar por alto es que ese tipejo esgrime la teoria de "venganza" con respecto al problema del "secuestro".
    japon mancho con actos de agresion la historia de la humanidad del siglo xx y durante su dominacion colonial en corea secuestro a mas de 8 millones 400 mil jovenes y adultos coreanos para llevarlos al campo de la guerra de agresion y los lugares de trabajo duro y a mas de 200 mil coreanas para obligar a estas la vida de esclavas sexuales de las tropas japonesas. pero, un tipejo politico de tal pais criminal de guerra cacarea del problema del "secuestro" ya resuelto, y de una "venganza" sin hablar ni una palabra de sus crimenes. es un paroxismo del psicopata.
    japon debe lamentar su moralidad politica e inteligencia afectada por tal maniaco.

ambicion militarista de japon

     pyongyang, 27 de marzo (atcc) -- el periodico "rodong sinmun" en un comentario individual de hoy condeno a la agencia de defensa de japon que en coincidencia con la guerra en la region del golfo persico arma alborotos consistentes en organizar la "direccion de medidas urgentes", celebrar la reunion y mantener la postura de alerta. el comentario senala:
    en un conciliabulo para discutir los problemas de apoyo a ee.uu. en guerra contra irak y del fortalecimiento de la "alerta y vigilancia a norcorea" fue consultado el asunto de fortalecer el vuelo del avion de vigilancia y control de la "fuerza aerea de autodefensa" en el cielo sobre el mar este de corea.
    no podemos pasar por alto tales alborotos de los reaccionarios japoneses que nos incitan con motivo de la guerra estallada en otra region.
    hace poco, el director del secretariado del gabinete de japon dijo que el fortalecimiento de la alianza japon-ee.uu. tiene tambien la eficiencia de detencion contra la amenaza de norcorea".
    esto es un acto hostil a la rpdc y una amenaza a esta.
    esos reaccionarios japoneses tratan de justificar su politica de obediencia a ee.uu. hablando de la "amenaza de norcorea y "detencion", pero no podran encubrir jamas su ambicion verdadera.
    si piensan que en el caso de estallar la guerra en la peninsula coreana japon estara a salvo, eso es una gran equivocacion.
    si ellos quieren lograr algo al agravar la tension de esta peninsula adhiriendose a las maniobras de ee.uu. para crear la segunda crisis nuclear aceleraran su autodestruccion.