National Meeting Marks Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Work

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture Monday to mark the tenth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "The Women Are a Powerful Force Pushing Forward the Revolution and Construction". The work, published on March 8, Juche 84 (1995), made a scientific and theoretical formulation of the position and role of the women in the revolution and construction, gave a comprehensive analysis of the glorious tradition and proud history of the Korean women's movement and underscored the need to establish an atmosphere of respecting the women in the whole society.
    The tradition of the Korean women's movement is a tradition established in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung and the history of the women's movement represents a brilliant history of the struggle to achieve the socio-political emancipation and independence of the women, the work noted.
    It highly praised the women heroes and patriots who have devoted their all to the struggle for the Party and the revolution, the country and the people since the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle.
    Pak Sun Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, in her report said that the work serves as an immortal great programme as it clearly indicated the road of the Korean women's movement in the new era of the Juche revolution, the Songun era, and a banner encouraging the women to fulfill their mission and tasks as the mistresses of the revolution and construction.
    Calling upon the women to become ardent patriots who make their life rewarding on the road of the Songun revolution, the reporter stressed that all the women should greet with loyalty the grand festivals marking the 60th anniversaries of the Workers' Party of Korea and the liberation of the country with shining labor achievements which they can boast before the times and history.
    Present at the meeting were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, and officials concerned.

Friendly Gathering with Syrian Embassy Officials Held

     Sariwon, March 7 (KCN£A) -- A friendly gathering with staff members of the Syrian embassy in Pyongyang was held at the Sariwon Art School in North Hwanghae Province Monday on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the March 8 revolution in Syria. Present on invitation were Syrian Charge d'Affaires ad Interim Muhammad Adib Alhani and embassy officials.
    Rim Chang Won, vice-chairman of the North Hwanghae Provincial People's Committee, members of the Korea-Syria Friendship Association, teachers and students of the art school were present there.
    The participants in the gathering went round various educational facilities of the school and saw students cultivating their artistic skills.
    Then they enjoyed an art performance given by students and talked to one another about the need to boost the cooperative relations between the two countries, deepening the friendship.

End to Suppression of Pro-Reunification Forces Urged in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) reportedly made public a statement on Mar. 2 denouncing the prosecution authorities for declaring former honorary Chairman of the organization Ri Jong Rin guilty. This is a blatant crackdown upon the movement for reunification and patriotism and a perfidy to all the Koreans heading for reunification under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration, the statement said, and continued:
    How can his patriotic activities for national reunification be "acts of benefiting the enemy" and the South Headquarters of Pomminryon struggling to drive out foreign and anti-reunification forces standing in the way of reunification by the concerted efforts of the Koreans be an "enemy benefiting organization"?
    The prosecution authorities are sadly mistaken if they calculate they can stop the advance of history by suppressing the pro-reunification patriotic forces by the force of the "National Security Law." They should discard the pro-U.S. flunkeyist viewpoint and face up to the trend of the times from the angle of the national view.
    They should stop at once the suppression of those forces and totally abolish the NSL.

S. Korean Judicial Authorities' Unjust Ruling Assailed

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- The south Korean judicial authorities declared the mass anti-U.S. candlelight rallies staged by south Koreans in protest against the murder of the two schoolgirls by an armored car of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces in 2002 as "illegal" and are locked in the crackdown upon those involved in those rallies. This outrage comes under fire by a statement issued by a spokesman for the Korean Students' Committee Monday. Recalling that the U.S. forces held a deceptive trial of those criminals, who mercilessly killed the little schoolgirls by an armored car in broad daylight, after letting them go about as they pleased for five months and declared them not guilty before whisking them away to the U.S., the statement said:
    This was an unbearable insult and mockery of the people in south Korea and all other Koreans and a wanton violation of justice and conscience.
    It was an entirely just and legitimate struggle to protect the dignity and sovereignty of the nation that south Koreans vigorously turned out in the anti-U.S. resistance to condemn the U.S., chieftain of aggression, massacre and evil, holding candlelights in various places.
    This being a hard fact, the pro-U.S. sycophantic and traitorous forces and the right-wing conservative forces of the Ministry of Justice in south Korea finally declared the above-said mass rallies as "illegal". This is a blatant challenge to the south Koreans in their struggle for independence against the U.S. and an unbearable insult to all Koreans.
    The youth and students in south Korea should never pardon those forces who work with bloodshot eyes to stem the trend of the south Korean society towards independence, democracy and reunification while going mad with pro-U.S. and fascist acts, but mete out a stern judgment to them.

Kim Jong Il Greets Syrian President

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Monday sent a message of greetings to Bashar al¢¢Assad, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Syrian Baath Arab Socialist Party and president of the Syrian Arab Republic. The message reads:
    I extend warm felicitations to you and the friendly government of the Syrian Arab Republic and people on the 42nd anniversary of the March 8 Revolution in Syria.
    The March 8 Revolution was an epochal event of enormous significance in the history of your people's just struggle.
    Our people positively support your people in the just cause of defence of the sovereignty of the country and national dignity and a fair and package solution to the Middle East issue and will always remain on the side of your people in the future.
    Believing that your government and people will win a greater success in their work for achieving the prosperity and development of the country, decisively repelling the interference and pressure of the hostile forces, I avail myself of this opportunity of wishing you good health and happiness.

Rodong Sinmun on Women's Role in General March

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Tuesday calls for enhancing the role of the women in the current general march in an editorial dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the March 8 International Women's Day. Never before have the personality and dignity of the Korean women been respected and their position and role enhanced so immensely as today in the long history of the country, the editorial says.
    Recalling the immortal feats of the peerlessly great persons who successfully pioneered the Korean women's movement and devoted their all to strengthening and developing it, the editorial goes on:
    The Korean women's movement has greeted a new heyday in the new era of the Juche revolution, the Songun era. Leader Kim Jong Il is a rare statesman who has strengthened the Korean women's movement and developed it to a higher stage to meet the requirements of the Songun era.
    Under his care the Korean women have grown to be true woman revolutionaries and patriots steadfast in their faith in the Workers' Party of Korea, the leader and socialism and unfailingly loyal to the Songun cause of the Party. They are powerfully rolling one of the two wheels of the revolution in the present general march of the Songun revolution.
    All the women should cherish the immutable resolution always to defend the authority of Kim Jong Il in every way and share destiny with him to the last and the revolutionary view on life that joy, sorrow and ordeals are honor in following him by carrying forward the proud tradition of the Korean women in firmly defending and absolutely upholding the idea and line of President Kim Il Sung in the grim annals of the Korean revolution.
    The Korean women should fully display their revolutionary stamina in upholding the Songun revolutionary leadership of the headquarters of the revolution with loyalty. All the women should give fuller play to the excellent morale of our society, the moral of attaching importance to the military affairs and supporting the People's Army with all sincerity and powerfully demonstrate the mettle of the Korean women at all posts and all work sites of socialist construction.

U.S. Interference in Russia-Japan Bilateral Relations Assailed

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- The Japan-U.S. security consultative committee was reported to have released "Japan-U.S. joint statement" on Mar. 2 calling for a solution to the issue of the northern territory. In this regard the Foreign Ministry of Russia issued a statement clarifying Russia's stand of opposing the interference of the third party in the issue of the territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Commenting on this, Rodong Sinmun Tuesday says: The "joint statement" clearly reflects Japan's crafty intention to meet its own interests by counting on the U.S., the third party, and putting pressure upon Russia over the issue. It is very improper for Japan to plug the third party into the issue of the bilateral relations.
    Japan is gravely mistaken to think that it can handle the territorial dispute with Russia in its favor by employing such a mean trick.
    It is unreasonable for the U.S., styling itself an "international judge," to unilaterally side with Japan from a prejudiced stand while poking its nose into the Russia-Japan bilateral issue at the request of Tokyo.
    It is in pursuance of its ulterior aim that the U.S. is impertinently interfering in the territorial dispute between Russia and Japan and unilaterally taking side with Tokyo, its junior ally, in a bid to internationalize it, hamstring the efforts for a fair solution to the bilateral issue and displease Moscow.
    Such act of the U.S. has something in common with its deliberate fabrication of the DPRK-U.S. nuclear issue with an aim to internationalize the issue and exploit it for toppling the system in the DPRK.
    The unreasonable interference in the Russia-Japan bilateral relations by the third party would only complicate the solution of the issue.
    The U.S. and Japan had better handle the issue cool-headedly and stop rendering the Russia-Japan bilateral issue complicated.

Japan's Anti-DPRK Campaign Accused

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- The Japanese Democratic Party recently　presented what it called a "bill on preventing the human rights abuses in　north Korea" which calls for putting an end to the "issue of abduction and　human rights abuses by north Korea" to the House of Representatives. It is　said that the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, too, is contemplating the　introduction of the similar bill. In this regard Minju Joson today observes in a signed commentary:
    The above-said bill is little different from the "North Korean Human Rights　Act" in the U.S. in its criminal aim.
    The bill is aimed to build up international public opinion intended to　tarnish the DPRK's image and thus escalate the pressure upon it and "bring　down" its system. It is the real intention of the Japanese reactionaries to realize their　ambition for overseas expansion with the U.S. backing.
    Now that they dare try to "topple" the system of the DPRK, availing　themselves of the U.S. frantic moves to stifle it, the DPRK has no option　but to clarify its stand on Japan.
    The DPRK has shown Japan its utmost magnanimity and best will from its　consistent stand to contribute to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula　and the rest of the world by improving the DPRK-Japan relations in line with　the desire of the peoples of the two countries and requirements of the　times. Japan, however, has responded to this with bitter animosity. It is　the DPRK's principled stand to respond to good will and hostility in kind.
    Clear are the DPRK's present attitude and stand toward Japan. The DPRK will　not deal with Japan any more.
    The Japanese reactionaries should properly understand this attitude and　stand toward Japan and behave themselves, though belatedly. Everything will　entirely depend on the Japan's attitude.

National Meeting Marks World Women's Day

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- A national meeting was held at the People's Palace of Culture today to mark the 95th World Women's Day. Pak Sun Hui, chairwoman of the C.C., the Korean Democratic Women's Union, made a report at the meeting. She noted that international unity and solidarity of women have been strengthened in the efforts to liquidate imperialism and colonialism and achieve national independence and build socialism and great progress has been made in the development of the world women's movement in nearly one century after the world progressive women set March 8 as an international holiday of the working women the world over.
    The reporter said: The Juche-oriented Korean women's movement has covered a glorious path in the crucible of the Korean revolution crowded with heroic and epoch-making events under the wise guidance of the generals of Mt. Paektu.
    Leader Kim Jong Il represents the destiny of our country and nation and women as well as victory and his guidance serves as an eternal lifeline for the Korean women's movement.
    All the women should unite close around him to accelerate the general march for the Songun revolution and thus bring about a signal change in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and contribute to the successful accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche, she said.
    She urged the Korean women to open up a new phase for national reunification by fully realizing the three forms of cooperation?national independence, peace against war, and reunification and patriotism--in the idea of "By Our Nation Itself" and strengthen friendship and solidarity with all the progressive women of the world and vigorously struggle against the ever-more undisguised aggressive and arbitrary practices of the U.S. imperialists in the international arena.
    Present at the meeting were Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, Secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jung Rin, Chairperson of the C.C., the Chondoist Chongu Party Ryu Mi Yong and others.
    Also on hand were overseas Korean women staying in the socialist homeland.
    Present there on invitation were women of various foreign embassies and international bodies here.
    At the end of the meeting the participants appreciated a performance given by the State Symphony Orchestra.

International Red Cross Official Here

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- Reter Meister, chief representative for Asia-Pacific of the International Committee of Red Cross, arrived here today.

Methane Gas Lamp Developed in DPRK

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- The Heat Engineering Institute under the Academy of Sciences of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has developed a new kind of lamp using methane. The "Kwangmyong 2002-A"-branded lamp has been introduced in several units and rural dwelling houses in North and South Phyongan and North Hwanghae Provinces. The lamp, whose structure and operation are simple, can be applied to any forms of methane producers in rural communities and stock-farms.
    One cubic meter of methane is enough for two lamps for 7-8 hours, each of which is as luminant as a 100-watt electric bulb.
    It, with illumining elements made with alkali metals or rare-earth metallic oxide, produces no radioactive substances.
    The lamp was highly appreciated by the International Red Cross in October Juche 93 (2004).

Kim Jong Il Receives Commemorative Medal from Putin

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, received a medal commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War presented by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation. A ceremony of conveying the medal took place in grand style Tuesday.
    Kim Jong Il was present there.
    Also present were Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, Chief of the General Staff of the KPA Kim Yong Chun, member of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Yon Hyong Muk, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, and Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.
    Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Gennadiyevich Karlov and official diplomats of the embassy were on hand.
    The ambassador, upon the authorization, conveyed the medal to Kim Jong Il.
    A child of the Russian embassy here presented a bouquet to him congratulating him on receiving the medal.
    He extended thanks to the Russian president for awarding the commemorative medal to him.

Kim Jong Il Visits Russian Embassy

     Pyongyang, March 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, Tuesday visited the Russian embassy here at the request of the Russian ambassador to the DPRK. He was greeted at the embassy by Russian Ambassador Andrei Gennadiyevich Karlov and leading officials of the embassy.
    He expressed thanks for the kind invitation and had an amicable and friendly talk with the ambassador before posing for a photograph with the staff members of the embassy.
    Then the ambassador hosted a reception in his honor.
    Kim Jong Il was present at the reception on invitation.
    Also present on invitation were Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, Chief of the General Staff of the KPA Kim Yong Chun, member of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Yon Hyong Muk, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned.
    Staff members of the Russian embassy were on hand.
    The reception took place in a cordial atmosphere.
    A peculiar art performance specially prepared by children of the embassy was given there.
    The performance was acclaimed by the participants.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il presencia funcion de Coro Estatal Benemerito del EPC

     Pyongyang, 8 de marzo (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea presencio la funcion del Coro Estatal Benemerito del EPC. Le acompanaron en verla Pak Pong Ju, premier del Consejo de Ministros de la RPDC, Kim Il Chol, miembro del CDN de la RPDC y ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas Populares, Kim Kuk Thae y Kim Ki Nam, secretarios del CC del PTC, cuadros del Partido y el Estado, oficiales y soldados del EPC y funcionarios de sectores de literatura, arte, prensa e informacion.
    El Coro Estatal Benemerito condecorado con la "Orden de Kim Il Sung" puso en la escena las piezas "General de Corea", "Anhelo del soldado", "Agitase la selva", "Donde esta querido General", "Vamos rapido, buey pinto", "Largisimo camino de la revolucion del Songun (priorizacion militar)", "Hablaria del amor del soldado", "Caminemos al son del canto militar", "Mi tierra natal", "Camino de la victoria", "Encontremonos en el frente", "Trueno del Pico Jongil", "Por el camino de la revolucion continua bajo la bandera del Songun", entre otras.
    A traves de la funcion los ejecutantes describieron magnificamente la gloriosa trayectoria de la revolucion del Songun llena de victorias y glorias y mostraron bien la ferrea conviccion y voluntad del ejercito y el pueblo de cumplir sin falta la causa de la revolucion del Juche y la de la construccion de una gran potencia prospera enarbolando la bandera del Songun, aunque tropiecen con cualesquier pruebas y dificultades.
    Al termino de la funcion el Comandante Supremo respondio con la mano alzada al saludo de los ejecutantes y espectadores quienes le daban aclamacion fervorosa y valoro de alto el exito de su funcion.
    Se mostro muy satisfecho de que los artistas del Coro pusieron excelentes piezas en que fueron palpables el credo y la voluntad de Corea y el espiritu revolucionario de los militares y les agradecio por el respecto.
    Dijo que a traves de las dinamicas funciones de 10 anos el Coro Estatal Benemerito ha llegado a un nivel encumbrado y anadio que contar con este conjunto artistico digno de ser patrimonio nacional deviene un gran orgullo de nuestro partido, ejercito y pueblo.
    El Comandante Supremo expreso gran expectativa y conviccion de que todos los artistas del Coro, al desarrollar en el futuro tambien dinamicas actividades artisticas revolucionarias para estimular activamente al ejercito y el pueblo a una nueva lucha y proezas, pondran en pleno juego la potencialidad de trompeteros de la revolucion del Songun y de la combativa unidad artistica.

Acto central por 10 aniversario de publicacion de obra de Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, 8 de marzo (ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar el dia 7 en el Palacio Cultural del Pueblo el acto central por el 10 aniversario de la publicacion de la imperecedera obra clasica del Dirigente Kim Jong Il "Las mujeres devienen la poderosa fuerza que impulsa la revolucion y la construccion", publicada el 8 de marzo del 84(1995) de la Era Juche. La obra formula en lo cientifico y teorico la posicion y el papel que ocupan las mujeres en la revolucion y la construccion, analiza generalmente las gloriosas tradiciones y la orgullosa historia del movimiento de las mujeres coreanas y subraya la necesidad de establecer en toda la sociedad un ambiente de respeto a las mujeres.
    Senala que las tradiciones del movimiento de las mujeres coreanas fueron logradas en el periodo de la lucha revolucionaria antijaponesa bajo la direccion del Presidente Kim Il Sung y la del movimiento femenino es la historia de lucha por realizar la liberacion socio-politica y la independencia de las feminas.
    Valora de altas las proezas de las heroinas y las patriotas quienes consagraron toda su vida para el partido y la revolucion, la patria y el pueblo desde el periodo de la lucha revolucionaria antijaponesa hasta hoy.
    Pak Sun Hui, presidenta del Comite Central de la Union de Mujeres Democraticas de Corea, en su informe, senalo que la obra constituye un gran programa que aclara la via a seguir por el movimiento de mujeres de Corea en la nueva epoca de la revolucion del Juche y la del Songun (priorizacion militar) y una bandera que estimula a las mujeres a cumplir con toda su mision y deber como duenas de la revolucion y la construccion.
    Subrayo que las mujeres deben ser fervientes patriotas que saben dejar nobles huellas de vida en el camino de la revolucion del Songun y anadio que todas las mujeres deben celebrar el 60 aniversario de la fundacion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y de la restauracion de la patria con exitos laborales enorgullecedores ante la epoca y la historia.
    En el acto estuvieron presentes Kim Jung Rin, secretario del Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y otros funcionarios.