Congratulatory Message to Kim Jong Il from Putin

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from Russian President V. Putin on Feb. 16. The message said:
    Please accept my sincere congratulations to you on your birthday. Russia knows well about the role you have played for the development of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperative relations between our two countries. I am sure that the traditional friendly and many-sided ties between Russia and the DPRK will continue to expand in the interests of the two peoples in the future, too, and contribute to ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region, on the solid basis of the treaty concluded on Feb. 9, 2000. I wish you good health and success in your work and the Korean people happiness and prosperity.

Title of Honorary Citizen of Mongolia to Kim Jong Il

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was awarded the title of the honorary citizen of Darhan Ol Province, Mongolia. The ceremony of the delivery of the title was held in the building of the secretariat of the governor of Darhan Ol Province on Feb. 10.
    At the ceremony the chairman of the Presidium of the Conference of Citizens in Darhan Ol Province read a decision of the conference on awarding the title to Kim Jong Il and conveyed the certificate of the honorary citizen and medal to the DPRK ambassador to Mongolia.
    He said in his speech that he regards it as great honor and pride to register Kim Jong Il as an honorary citizen of the province and award the certificate and medal to him on the occasion of his birthday, adding that he would make positive efforts for developing the friendly relations between Mongolia and the DPRK in the future, too.

Grand March for Peace Staged in S. Korea

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A February 12 grand march for peace was staged in Phaengsong town of Phyongthaek City, Kyonggi Province on Feb. 12 as part of the actions against the expansion of the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek and forcible expropriation of land and for peace on the Korean Peninsula. It was sponsored by the All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the U.S. Military Base in Phyongthaek. Participating in it were members of civic and public organizations, inhabitants in the area designated as a site for the expanded U.S. military base in Phyongthaek, members of the Democratic Workers' Party and peace activists from different countries, at least 3,000 in all.
    A meeting took place at the playground of the Taechu Primary School in Phaengsong town. A message declaring the start of the grand peace march was read out at the meeting. It demanded the "government" totally cancel the plan for expanding the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek according to the will of the people who love peace, though belatedly. The meeting was followed by the grand peace march.
    Meanwhile, members of 12 religious organizations including the Hyangrin Church held a peace prayer service of Christians for checking the expansion of the U.S. military base in Phyongthaek on the same day.
    The organizations in a joint statement voiced their opposition to the expansion of the base aimed at threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and depriving the Phaengsong inhabitants of their cradle. They vowed to fight against the government's forcible expropriation of land.

Demonstration Synchronized Swimming Presented

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A demonstration synchronized swimming took place at the swimming pool of the Changgwang Health Complex Wednesday to celebrate February 16, the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. It was appreciated by Choe Yong Rim, Kim Jung Rin and other officials and working people in the city.
    Present there on invitation were a congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan headed by Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and other congratulatory groups of overseas compatriots, delegations and foreign guests.
    The "Song Devoted to Comrade Kim Jong Il" resounded through the pool when it was pervaded with the high national pride and immense happiness of holding Kim Jong Il in high esteem as the great sun of the 21st century.
    The performers presented graceful rhythms of synchronized swimming and refined teamwork, reflecting the best wishes extended by the Korean people and the world's progressive humankind to Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the greatest national jubilee. Through their numbers including "Thunder on Jong Il Peak", "Our General Is Best", "Ye, Bright Moon over My Country", "General and Children" they depicted with beautiful rhythms and refined skills the immortal feats Kim Jong Il has performed by ushering in the era of a new leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful nation with his Songun revolutionary leadership and the unanimous desire of the servicepersons and people of the DPRK to revere the illustrious commander of Mt. Paektu and follow him to the last.
    "For the Motherland," "This Is My Country" and other numbers won a high acclaim of the spectators as their performers successfully represented the ideological and thematic contents of the numbers with admirable synchronized swimming skills. The demonstration presentation ended with "Let's Advance Faster for Higher Goal" that reflected the firm faith and will of the servicepersons and people of the DPRK to effect a fresh surge in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation.

Congratulatory Letter to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on Feb. 16 on the occasion of his birthday. 　The letter said the DPRK has firmly protected the dignity as a sovereign state, thereby defending the homeland despite rigorous ordeals and demonstrating its might as a powerful socialist state which has so unbreakable single-minded unity and capability to defend itself as firm as an iron-wall that no formidable enemy dares provoke it, adding that this is the brilliant fruition of the Songun idea, Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    The letter noted that celebrating the significant February holiday, all the officials of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan are filled with the firm resolution to surely achieve fresh growth and progress in the movement of Koreans in Japan as intended by Kim Jong Il, looking up toward the blue sky over the homeland where he is and sharing the same will, intention and destiny with him.
    The letter evinced the determination to vigorously turn out in the patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and great national unity under the banner of "By our nation itself" and keep pace with the dynamic drive of the people in the homeland and thereby make a tangible contribution to the building of a socialist economic power.
    We will widely introduce your greatness and strengthen friendship and international solidarity with the Japanese people to build a public opinion favorable for urging Japan to redress its unsavory past according to the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and take a sincere approach toward the normalization of the relations between the DPRK and Japan, the letter said.

15th International Figure Skating Festival for "Paektusan Cup" Opens

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The 15th International Figure Skating Festival for "Paektusan Cup" opened here on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. An opening ceremony took place at the Ice Rink on Feb. 15. Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), officials concerned and working people and sportspersons in the city.
    Also present were congratulatory groups of overseas Koreans including the congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, delegations, diplomatic envoys of different countries and staff members of various embassies here and foreign guests.
    Amid the playing of the song "Congratulations on February Holiday", players of the DPRK, China, Russia, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan entered the ice rink amid the warm welcome of the spectators. Mun Jae Dok, chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, in his opening address expressed belief that the festival that has opened amid the best wishes of the Korean people and progressive humankind for Kim Jong Il would make great success thanks to the sincere efforts of the Korean sportspersons and close friends from other countries.
    The festival flag was hoisted while the song "The Brilliant Homeland" was solemnly played. A group of Korean figure skaters gave a performance at the opening ceremony. They impressively represented the ardent reverence of the Korean people and the world progressive people for Kim Jong Il who has performed the great immortal exploits on behalf of the times and history and their high praise of the great man with admirable rhythms to the tune of the song "Old Home Clad in Snow Flakes". Through the numbers including "The Sound of a Horse's Hooves in Mt. Paektu", "Twelve Months for Songun Victory", "Blue Sky over My Country" and "For the Motherland" they successfully represented the firm spirit and will of the Korean army and people to make a higher leap forward full of great ambition and confidence under the Songun revolutionary leadership of the WPK.
    Then followed exhibition performances given by figure skaters from different countries including China, Kazakhstan and Slovakia.
    They were highly acclaimed by the spectators each time they displayed high skating skills and refined and graceful movements.

People's Security Servicepersons' Meeting and Dancing Party Held

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A meeting of servicepersons of the Ministry of People's Security to vow loyalty to leader Kim Jong Il and their dancing party took place at the ministry on Feb. 15 on the occasion of the auspicious February 16. At the meeting the participants solemnly vowed to uphold Kim Jong Il as the sun of the 21st century generation after generation and fulfill their honorable mission and duty as political defenders of the Workers' Party of Korea in safeguarding the country and carrying out the cause of building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation. Then followed the dancing party.
    Present at the events were Minister of People's Security Ju Sang Song, Director of the Political Department Ji Yong Chun and other senior officials and servicepersons of the ministry.

Congratulatory Letter to Kim Jong Il from C.C., AINDF

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the Central Committee of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front Thursday on the occasion of his birthday. Recalling that Kim Jong Il was born as a bright star over Mt. Paektu amidst the blessings of the era in the area where fierce battles were fought to win the great victory in the anti-Japanese revolution, the letter said that this was a great fortune for the nation as it promised a rosy future for carrying forward the revolutionary cause of Juche and a historic event which ushered in a new era of the human cause of independence.
    It was thanks to his birthday that the Korean nation has successfully carried out the cause of national independence century after century and dynamically steered the era of independence, exalting its dignity as the proud nation of holding the outstanding leader in high esteem down through generations, it said.
    It is also thanks to the leadership of Kim Jong Il endowed with the noble sense of moral obligation, extraordinary leadership ability, iron will and matchless grit that there has begun in the north a new era of carrying out the cause of perpetuating the memory of President Kim Il Sung unprecedented in history and it has decisively shattered the unprecedented moves of the imperialist allied forces to isolate and stifle it to make a solemn gunfire for the building of a great prosperous powerful nation, the letter noted, and continued:
    Your personality as a great man and the undying leadership exploits you have performed by demonstrating the dignity of the nation to the whole world and victoriously leading socialism of Juche, the building of a great prosperous powerful nation, national reunification and the cause of independence against imperialism with the might of Songun convince the fellow countrymen in the south of a happy day of national reunification and a bright morrow of the nation.
    We will encourage the people from all walks of life to fully support and remain true to the patriotic Songun policy pursued you and turn out as one in the patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and overall great unity under the uplifted banner of "By our nation itself".
    We will wage a more dynamic struggle against the U.S. and war to deal a deadly blow at the U.S. colonial rule and decisively frustrate the attempt of the pro-U.S. conservative group to come to power again through a strong anti-conservative alliance and thus certainly open up a new phase of independent reunification.

Public Presentation of Experience in Cultivating Kimjongilia Held

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A public presentation of the experience in cultivating Kimjongilia was held at the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Exhibition on Feb. 15. It brought together cultivators and researchers of Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia greenhouses of ministries and national institutions.
    Speakers presented the technique and experience they have gained in the course of cultivating Kimjongilia recognized as the world's most famous flower to be in more red and beautiful bloom.
    They said that highly proud and honored to raise the flower loved by humankind for being a flower devoted to the great man, they have achieved shining successes in cultivating and propagating the flower by paying primary attention to proper manuring and cultivation and provision of good conditions for its growth suited to the natural and climatic conditions and cultivation conditions of greenhouses in Korea.

Kimjongilia Exhibitions Held in Provinces

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Kimjongilia exhibitions are now under way in all provinces on the occasion of the auspicious February holiday. Displayed at the Pyongyang City exhibition hall are at least 3,500 potted beautiful Kimjongilias presented by officials and working people at all units of the city, representing boundless reverence for leader Kim Jong Il who has performed great exploits for the country, the nation and mankind with his great Songun revolutionary leadership.
    South Hamgyong, North Phyongan, South Phyongan, North Hwanghae, Jagang, Ryanggang and North Hamgyong provinces separately contributed thousands of potted Kimjongilias to exhibition halls, deeply impressing the visitors. Opening ceremonies of the exhibitions were held from Feb. 13 to 15.

Foreign Diplomats Visit Venue of Kimjongilia Festival

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The military attaches corps and the economic and commercial councilors corps here visited the venue of the 10th Kimjongilia Festival on Feb. 15 on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. The guests were deeply moved to see immortal flowers reflecting the best wishes extended by the Korean people and progressive mankind to Kim Jong Il deeply revered and trusted by all people.
    At the end of the visit military attaches made entries in the visitor's book.

Reception Given by Cuban Ambassador

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Cuban Ambassador to the DPRK Ruben Perez Valdes gave a reception on Feb. 15 on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Ro Tu Chol, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education, Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, Pak Sun Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, and other officials concerned.
    On hand were staff members of the Cuban embassy.
    The ambassador in his speech highly praised the heroic struggle waged by the Korean people for the building of socialism and national reunification under the wise and tested leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    The friendly relations between Cuba and the DPRK have grown stronger under the deep care of Kim Jong Il, the ambassador said, wishing him good health. Yang Hyong Sop, speaking next, said that Kim Jong Il has firmly defended the country, the revolution and socialism and laid a firm foundation for building a great prosperous powerful nation, while shattering the vicious moves of the hostile forces against the DPRK for the last more than decade under the uplifted banner of Songun. The fraternal relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Cuba provided by President Kim Il Sung and Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz have grown stronger day by day under the particular care of the top leaders of the two countries, he said, wishing the fraternal Cuban people greater success in their struggle to foil the U.S. imperialists' moves against socialism and defend the country, the revolution and the gains of socialism, rallied close around the Communist Party of Cuba headed by Fidel Castro Ruz.

Russian Military Band Feted

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The DPRK National Defence Commission gave a reception at the People's Palace of Culture on Feb. 15 in honor of the visiting central military band of the Defence Ministry of Russia. Present there on invitation were members of the central military band and staff members of the Russian embassy here.
    On hand were general officers and other officers of the Korean People's Army and officials concerned. Speeches were made at the reception.

Military Attaches Corps Feted

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of the People's Armed Forces gave a reception on Feb. 15 for the military attaches corps here on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. Present there on invitation were members of the corps.
    Kim Jong Gak, vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces, in his speech said that the birth of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il was a historic event of the nation as it guaranteed the destiny, future, dignity and honor of Kim Il Sung's nation. As led by Kim Jong Il, the Korean revolution has always advanced along the road of victory despite all sorts of ordeals of history, he noted.
    The Korean People's Army will always creditably discharge the sacred mission and duty to devotedly defend the headquarters of the revolution by firmly trusting and following the supreme commander only and sharing the will, intention and destiny with him, the speaker said, and went on:
    We will as ever continue developing the friendly and cooperative relations with the armies of various countries on the road of peace against imperialism under the banner of independence, peace and friendship.
    Military attache of the Cuban embassy Giraldo Abreu Morales who is doyen of the corps referred to the fact that Kim Jong Il, born as the son of guerrillas in Mt. Paektu, a holy mountain of Korea, set out the idea of attaching importance to the army long ago and has strengthened the KPA into a strong army capable of defeating any formidable enemy. He hoped that the officers and men of the KPA and the Korean people would register greater success in the struggle to build a great prosperous powerful nation and reunify the country under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, true to the wish of eternal President Kim Il Sung.
    The participants significantly celebrated the February holiday, singing songs and reciting poems praising Kim Jong Il.

Congratulatory Letter to Kim Jong Il from Chinese Technicians

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il on Feb. 15 received a congratulatory letter from the members of the Chinese technical team active at the glass factory built with Chinese aid. The letter said that all the members of the team are pleased to join the Korean people in celebrating the auspicious February holiday, the birthday of Kim Jong Il. Noting that under his wise leadership the Korean people have won one fresh victory after another in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation and in the struggle to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea, the letter hoped that the Korean people would build a rich and powerful country and achieve national reunification as early as possible.
    It reiterated their pledge to more closely cooperate with the Korean comrades, work hard and make a positive contribution to the steady consolidation of the Sino-Korean friendship as instructed by Kim Jong Il and Hu Jintao.

Papers Editorially Celebrate February Holiday

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Papers here today dedicate editorials to February 16, an auspicious holiday. Rodong Sinmun says that leader Kim Jong Il's history of revolutionary activities is the history of the great statesman and leader who has brought a bright prospect of the socialist cause in our era, weathering out the stern tempest of the revolution. It goes on:
    The history of the victory of Korean-style socialism built by President Kim Il Sung has been successfully carried forward by Kim Jong Il.
    It is thanks to his leadership that the army and people of the DPRK have always been optimistic about the future of Korean-style socialism despite so rigorous trials. He is a great guide who has indicated the road of the socialist cause in our era with his unique ideas and theories.
    He laid a solid foundation for the building of a great prosperous powerful nation and put the dignity and position of the country and the nation on the highest level despite stern ordeals baffling human imagination. This is the undying feat performed by him. Underscoring the need to carry forward the ever-victorious history of the Korean revolution and accomplish the cause of Korean style socialism true to the Songun leadership of the great headquarters of the revolution, the paper calls on all the servicepersons and people to repose undisputed trust in Kim Jong Il and devotedly protect the headquarters of the revolution.
    They should firmly trust and follow him only in any adversity with the iron faith and will that he represents their destiny and their country and socialism would be unthinkable without his leadership, it says, and continues: His Songun politics serves as a banner for winning the sure victory of Korean-style socialism.
    There is no other way for them than to apply the Songun political mode, regarding the Songun idea as guidelines. Songun means socialism and vice versa. It is necessary to intensify the drive to bring about a great Songun revolutionary surge in all fields of revolution and construction.
    The banner of Juche, the banner of socialism, will always remain a banner of revolution which we should hold aloft.
    Minju Joson calls on all the servicepersons and people to hold Kim Jong Il in high esteem with pure conscience, maintaining the firm stand that they know Kim Jong Il only as he represents the brain of the Korean revolution and is a central figure for the unity.

February Holiday Celebrated

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Meetings were held at the units of the three services of the Korean People's Army and in every province, city and county on Feb. 15 to celebrate February 16, the auspicious holiday. At the meetings, the reporters said that thanks to the auspicious day in February when leader Kim Jong Il was born as the bright star over Mt. Paektu, there opened a rosy prospect of carving out the destiny of the nation and accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche and the army and people of the DPRK came to be blessed with the illustrious leaders generation after generation and there began a new history of Kim Il Sung Korea winning one victory after another under the ever-victorious banner of the Juche idea, the Songun idea.
    Kim Jong Il was the first in history to make a scientific clarification of the undisputed position of the leader and his decisive role in the revolutionary movement, they noted, adding that on this basis, he has developed in depth the Juche-oriented revolutionary theories on a new higher stage and successfully carried forward and enriched President Kim Il Sung's precious Songun revolutionary exploits and tradition. They said that in the last more than decade, the most difficult period of the Korean revolution, Kim Jong Il provided a powerful military guarantee for accomplishing the cause of Juche, consolidated the unity of the Workers' Party of Korea and the revolutionary ranks as firm as a rock and strengthened the driving force of the Korean revolution into the strongest militant force with the KPA as its core and main force, while making endless long journeys for great Songun revolutionary leadership. They called upon the Party members, KPA servicepersons and people to protect Kim Jong Il politically and ideologically with their lives in any adversity and remain true to the ideology and leadership of the WPK.
    Present at the meetings were servicepersons of the KPA three services, officials of the respective local Party and power bodies and social organizations and people from all walks of life.

Leader and Songun

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The ever-victorious tradition of the Korean Revolution that was pioneered at the point of bayonet is being successfully carried forward under the guidance of Kim Jong Il, the brilliant commander of Songun. Born in Mt. Paektu on February 16, Juche 31 (1942) during the warfare against the Japanese imperialists, he grew up among guerrillas and experienced the importance of guns more keenly than anybody else.
    Seeing the military parade at the opening ceremony of Pyongyang Institute in February 1946 and the military parade of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in February 1948 after national liberation, he firmly resolved to strengthen the army into an invincible one so that no formidable enemy could invade Korea again. In order to guarantee the final victory of the Korean revolution by dint of arms, he gave field guidance to the Guard Seoul 105 Tank Division named after Ryu Kyong Su of the KPA on August 25, 1960, which marked the start of his Songun revolutionary leadership.
    From then on he has been putting his heart and soul into strengthening the KPA to be matchless revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu, inspecting one unit after another. He has successfully applied President Kim Il Sung's idea and line on attaching importance to the military affairs in his Songun politics to powerfully push forward with the socialist cause of Juche.
    Over the last ten-odd years in particular, he has further cemented the military position and the single-minded unity of the revolutionary ranks with the KPA as the core and as the driving force and shattered the enemy's persistent moves to isolate and stifle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
    The distance covered by him for the inspection tour of KPA units in the year of 1996 alone to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the country and the nation totaled over 10,000 kilometers.
    His inspection tour of Songun has served as a powerful driving force in increasing the combat capability of the KPA in every way and making the whole society replete with the revolutionary soldier spirit, inspiring the people and the army to build a great prosperous powerful nation.
    The Korean people, under the leadership of the brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu, will glorify the ever-victorious history, the history of Songun without the slightest vacillation in any trial and adversity.

Evening Gala of Servicepersons Held

     Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces took place at Jonsung Square on Feb. 15 to celebrate the auspicious February holiday. Attending the gala were Minister Kim Il Chol and leading officials of the ministry and servicepersons.
    Amid the playing of "Congratulations on February Holiday", "February Is Spring" and other songs, the participants danced, extending the greatest glory and the warmest congratulations to Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il who was born as a great son of guerrillas and has led the revolutionary cause of Songun which started in the forest of Mt. Paektu.
    They also danced to the tune of such songs as "Worthwhile Military Service" and "Blue Sky over My Country", waving flags of the KPA Supreme Commander, the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK.
    Dancing to the tune of song "We Will Defend the Headquarters of Revolution with Our Lives", the participants renewed their iron will to remain loyal to the idea and leadership of Kim Jong Il and fully display the invincible might of the ranks of human bullets and bombs ready to devotedly defend their leader, the strong revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu, in the struggle to defend socialism and build a great prosperous powerful nation.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il recibe mensaje de felicitacion de Putin

     Pyongyang, 16 de febrero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, recibio un mensaje de felicitacion que le dirigiera el dia 16 Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Presidente de la Federacion Rusa. 　La misiva senala:
    　En ocasion de su cumpleanos, hago llegarle mi mas sincera felicitacion. 　Rusia conoce bien del papel que juega usted para el desarrollo de las relaciones de amistad, buena vecindad y cooperacion entre los dos paises.
    　Estoy convencido de que en el futuro tambien las tradicionales relaciones de amistad y los vinculos multilaterales entre la FR y la RPDC seguiran ampliandose conforme a los intereses de los dos pueblos basandose estrictamente en el tratado concertado el 9 de febrero de 2000 y contribuiran al afianzamiento de la paz y la seguridad de la Peninsula Coreana y la region de Asia y el Pacifico.
    Le deseo a usted buena salud y exitos en su trabajo y al pueblo coreano la felicidad y prosperidad.

Embajador cubano ofrece banquete en honor de fiesta de febrero

    　Pyongyang, 16 de febrero (ATCC) -- Con motivo del cumpleanos del Dirigente Kim Jong Il el embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica de Cuba acreditado en Corea, Ruben Perez Valdes, ofrecio el dia 15 un banquete. Estuvieron invitados el vicepresidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea Yang Hyong Sop, el vicepremier del Consejo de Ministros Ro Tu Chol, el ministro de Educacion Kim Yong Jin, el presidente del Comite Central de la Federacion General de los Sindicatos de Corea Ryom Sun Gil; Kim Kyong Ho, primer secretario del CC de la Union de la Juventud Socialista Kim Il Sung, la presidenta del CC de la Union de Mujeres Democratas de Corea Pak Sun Hui y otros funcionarios.
    Tambien participaron los miembros de la sede diplomatica. El embajador cubano, en su discurso, evaluo altamente la lucha heroica del pueblo coreano que se empena por la construccion socialista y la reunificacion de la patria bajo la sabia y probada direccion del Comandante Supremo Kim Jong Il. Apunto que las relaciones de amistad entre Cuba y Corea se desarrollan mas por la profunda atencion del Comandante Supremo y le deseo buena salud. Yang Hyong Sop, en su discurso, dijo que a lo largo de mas de 10 anos el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, al enarbolar la bandera del Songun (priorizacion militar) frente a las siniestras maniobras de las fuerzas hostiles a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, salvaguardo firmemente la patria, la revolucion y el socialismo y preparo una firme base de la construccion de una gran potencia prospera. Las fraternales relaciones de amistad y cooperacion entre Corea y Cuba preparadas por el Presidente Kim Il Sung y el estimado companero Fidel Castro Ruz -senalo- se consolidan y se desarrollan cada dia mas en medio de la especial atencion de los dirigentes de los dos paises.
    Deseo que el hermano pueblo cubano, compactamente unido en torno al Partido Comunista de Cuba encabezado por Fidel, logre mayores exitos en la lucha por frustrar las maniobras anti socialistas de los imperialistas yanquis y salvaguardar la patria, la revolucion y las conquistas socialistas.