Talks Held between WPK and Syrian Political Party

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- Talks were held between Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, and Saaeed Eleia Dawood, director of the Organizational Department of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, on September 21.
    Present at the talks were officials concerned from the DPRK side and the director's party and the Syrian charge d'affaires ad interim here from the Syrian side.
    At the talks both sides informed each other of activities of their parties and exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly and cooperative ties between the two parties and a series of issues of bilateral interest.
    The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.


Message of Sympathy to Prime Minister of Thai Provisional Government

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of sympathy to Surayud Chulanont, prime minister of the provisional government of Thailand, in connection with the recent airliner crash that caused big casualties.
    Extending deep sympathy and condolences to the government and people of Thailand, the message expressed the belief that the prime minister and the government would eradicate the aftermath of the accident as soon as possible.


Message of Greetings to Malian President

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Thursday sent a message of greetings to Amadou Toumani Toure, President of Mali, on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Mali.
    Expressing the belief that the good friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Mali would continue to favorably develop in the mutual interests, the message sincerely wished the president greater success in his work for the stability and prosperity of the country.


Greetings to Maltese President

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to Eddie Fenech Adami, President of Malta, on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of its independence.
    Kim in the message expressed the belief that the relations between the DPRK and Malta would develop on good terms to meet the desire and interests of the two peoples.


DPRK Hit by Wipha-accompanied Downpour

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- The downpour brought by the typhoon Wipha traveling from Shandong Peninsula of China to the north of the West Sea of Korea fell in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for consecutive days from September 18.
    In particular, the amount of rainfalls in some areas in the western coast reaches nearly 50 percent of that in the period from August 7 to 14.
    From 09:00 of September 18 to 15:00 of September 20 it rained 268mm in Pyongyang City, 368mm, 338mm, 314mm and 309mm in Jangyon, Unryul, Ryongyon and Sinchon Counties of South Hwanghae Province respectively, 335mm, 254mm, 231mm, 228mm and 226mm in Nampho City and Songchon, Yangdok, Maengsan and Onchon Counties of South Phyongan Province respectively and 308mm, 274mm, 235mm, 229mm and 226mm in Sariwon City and Hwangju, Singye, Sohung and Suan Counties of North Hwanghae Province respectively.
    Heavy rains of over 230mm also fell in Chonnae and Pobdong Counties of Kangwon Province and Yodok County of South Hamgyong Province.
    Nampho city, South Phyongan Province witnessed rainfalls of 87mm and 76mm respectively between 03:00 and 06:00 and between 21:00 and 24:00 on September 18, Unpha County of North Hwanghae Province 85mm between 06:00 to 09:00 on September 19 and Samchon County of South Hwanghae Province 76mm between 03:00 and 06:00 on the same day.
    The rainstorms and strong winds are inflicting heavy losses to different sectors of the country.


Insan Revolutionary Battle Site Associated with Undying Feats of Kim Jong Suk

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- The Insan Revolutionary Battle Site in Jagang Province is the significant place where anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk energetically conducted her activities in August of Juche 26 (1937) to carry out President Kim Il Sung's strategic policy calling for conducting a nationwide dynamic anti-Japanese struggle for national liberation centering around an armed struggle.
    There are a log cabin at the foot of Mt. Turung where she guided meetings of chiefs of small units and groups and chiefs of underground revolutionary groups, a peasant's house and an inn where she imbued fire-field peasants and workers with anti-Japanese idea and patriotism, telling them legendary stories about Kim Il Sung, and Jinhung Night School Room where she taught its students how to sing the "Ten verse song" and so on.
    It is visited by people from all walks of life and school youth and children everyday.


New Cable-cars Operated on Mt. Paektu

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- New cable-cars started on operation on Mt. Paektu, the ancestral mountain of Korea.
     The cable-cars run between the Paektu Station and the Hyangdo Station on the peak of Mt. Paektu under the Paektusan (Mt. Paektu) Revolutionary Battle Site Cableway Management Office.
     The new cable-car has more seats than the former one and its exit is so convenient that many people get on and off at one time.
     Its vibration and noises are little. And visitors can command a bird's eye view of the splendid and beautiful scenery of Mt. Paektu through the wide windows.
     The cable-car service will provide better convenience to the visitors.


Revolutionary Tradition of Mass Culture and Art Carried Forward

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- Employees and art circle members of the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex gave art performances at the People's Palace of Culture a few days ago, winning accolade of the audience.
    Enjoying the performance, the spectators keenly felt once again that the tradition of revolutionary mass culture and art created in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle is being carried forward in the Songun era.
    President Kim Il Sung who set out on the road of revolution in his early years expounded in a unique way the mission and task of revolutionary literature and art suitable for the demand of the new times and wisely led the work for their realization, thus giving the origin to the mass culture and art.
    In the initial stage of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle he created such immortal classical works as "An Jung Gun Shoots Ito Hirobumi", "A mountain Shrine", "The Flower Girl" and performed them among people.
    The masterpieces not only implanted the anti-Japanese patriotism and consciousness of national independence in the minds of people but also constituted a motive power of forcefully rousing them to the anti-Japanese struggle.
    During the armed struggle against Japanese imperialism, he created revolutionary dramas including "The Sea of Blood" and revolutionary songs such as "Korean People's Revolutionary Army" and "The Song of the Anti-Japanese War", inspiring the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters and broad sections of people with faith in certain victory and indomitable will.
    The anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters always lived an optimistic life, dancing and singing the revolutionary songs including "Song of Revolution", "The Guerrilla March", "Song of People's Power" and "Song of General Mobilization" even in immeasurably difficult ordeals. They also wrote revolutionary dramas and novels to enrich the mass culture and art.
    In the hard-fought battles of the Fatherland Liberation War, servicepersons of the Korean People's Army, who inherited the traditions of the anti-Japanese war, made front-line musical instruments and danced and sang songs full of conviction in the victory and optimism to strike the enemy with terror.
    In the periods of the postwar rehabilitation and construction and the socialist construction, too, the Korean people built the gigantic creations for the development and prosperity of the country in different parts of the country, singing the revolutionary songs.
    Today officers' families of the KPA and workers in Hungnam have created a model of the mass culture and art in the Songun era to dynamically call the people all over the country to the construction of a great, prosperous and powerful nation.
    This shows that the tradition of the revolutionary mass culture and art established during the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle is being carried forward with credit in the DPRK.


Japan's SDF War Exercises under Fire

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- The Japanese reactionaries are describing the war exercises of the "Self-Defence Forces" as those for "preserving peace" and "combating terrorism," but it is nothing but red herring and an artifice intended to cover up their criminal nature.
    Rodong Sinmun today observes this in a signed article.
    The article cites facts to prove that the number of the SDF exercises is on the steady increase and that of the troops involved in them rapidly swelling as the days go by.
    It goes on:
    All the military exercises of the SDF vary in their period, venue and contents but what is generally common is that all of them are oriented towards the implementation of the scenario for reinvasion.
    What the Japanese reactionaries seek through madcap war exercises is to further expand the munitions industry of the country and arm the SDF with more modern weapons. They are now speeding up the development of ultra-modern weapons and the moves to establish their own missile defence system in a bid to boost their capability to wage a war.
    Another aim sought by them through these war maneuvers is to create a tense situation and push ahead with the establishment of a war-time system in the country. They are hell-bent on the war exercises, absurdly asserting that the security of Japan is being threatened by neighboring countries. And they are keen to create a war atmosphere throughout the country and woo the Japanese to sensitively react to the issue of war in a bid to build a public environment favorable for scrapping the "Pacifist Constitution" and working out a war constitution instead.
    The Japanese reactionaries are leaving no means untried to realize their old dream of the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere," which they failed to do in the past, availing themselves of the changed international situation.
    "Peace" and "combating terrorism" much touted by the Japanese reactionaries are, in essence, nothing but a slogan of war.


Formation of Progressive Solidarity Hailed in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration reportedly released a statement in support of the formation of the Solidarity for Progress in south Korea on Sept. 16.
    Noting that the formation of the solidarity is a historic deed of displaying the might of the united people, the statement said this achievement is the result of the efforts of the progressive camp to win the struggle against the conservative forces by the united strength of the people.
    It declared that the youth and students solidarity would take the lead in the struggle for independence, democracy and reunification in cooperation with the Solidarity for Progress in south Korea.
    For the present, the youth and students will actively take part in the information service and joint struggle to achieve the victory of the progressive camp in the "presidential election" this year, it said.


DPRK's Birthday Celebrated

   Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- Lectures, round-table talks, book and photo exhibitions and film shows were held in Mongolia, Guinea and Italy from September 4 to 8 on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the DPRK.
    On display in the venues of the functions were famous works of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, photos showing their immortal feats and books and photos introducing the Korean people's successes in socialist construction.
    The participants of the film shows watched Korean films "In order to Hold the Fatherly Leader in Higher Esteem" and "Military Parade and Mass Demonstration Marking the 50th Birthday of the DPRK".
    A teacher at Literary College of Mongolia who is member of the leadership council of the Mongolian Mt. Paektu Association for Independent Development said in his lecture that the DPRK founded by the President has grown strong to be a socialist power under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    Malik Souma, director general of the Kim Il Sung Institute of Agricultural Science in Guinea, stressed in his lecture that thanks to the Songun politics the Korean people have a rosier future and the cause of global independence will make more dynamic progress.
    Miriam Pellegrini Ferri, chairman of the Italian Committee for the Study of Songun Idea for Independence and Sovereignty, said after watching the Korean film that no force on earth can match the single-mindedly united Korean people as they hold the two great leaders in high esteem.
    A message of greetings to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the lecture in Mongolia.


For Spanish-speaking people



Conversan Choe Thae Bok y Saaeed Eleia Dawood

   Pyongyang, 21 de septiembre (ATCC) -- Tuvieron lugar el dia 21 las conversaciones entre el secretario del Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, Choe Thae Bok, y el jefe del departamento organizativo de la Direccion Regional del Partido Socialista del Resurgimiento Arabe de Siria (BAAS), Saaeed Eleia Dawood.
    En la ocasion estuvieron presentes, por la parte coreana, los funcionarios interesados y por la siriaca, la comitiva de Saaeed Eleia Dawood y el encargado de negocios a.i. en Corea.
    Ambas partes se informaron la situacion de las actividades de sus partidos.
     Igualmente, intercambiaron opiniones sobre el problema de ampliar y desarrollar mas las relaciones de amistad y colaboracion entre las dos entidades politicas y de otros asuntos de interes mutuo.
    Las conversaciones transcurrieron en un ambiente amistoso.


Kim Yong Il envia telegrama de consuelo a su homologo tailandes

   Pyongyang, 21 de septiembre (ATCC) -- El primer ministro del Consejo de Ministros de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Il, envio un telegrama de consuelo a su homologo del gobierno provisional del Reino de Tailandia, Surayud Chulanont, por muchas perdidas humanas causadas en este pais por un reciente accidente de avion.
    La misiva expresa la compasion y consuelo profundos al gobierno y al pueblo del Reino de Tailandia y manifiesta conviccion de que el destinatario y su gobierno recuperen cuanto antes las secuelas del siniestro.


"Tifon No.12" causa lluvia torrencial en Corea

   Pyongyang, 21 de septiembre (ATCC) -- En la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea no cesa desde el dia 18 una lluvia torrencial causada por el "Tifon No.12" que se mueve de la peninsula Shandong de China a la parte norte del Mar Oeste de Corea.
    En particular, en algunas zonas situadas en la costa occidental la precipitacion alcanza casi 50 % de la registrada desde el 7 al 14 de agosto.
    Entre las 9 del dia 18 y las 15 del 20, la precipitacion marco 268mm en la ciudad de Pyongyang; 368, 338, 314 y 309 en los distritos de Jangyon, Unryul, Ryongyon y Sinchon de la provincia de Hwanghae del Sur; 335, 254, 231, 228 y 226 en la ciudad de Nampho y los distritos de Songchon, Yangdok, Maengsan y Onchon de la provincia de Phyong-an del Sur; 308, 274, 235, 229 y 226 en la ciudad de Sariwon y los distritos de Hwangju, Singye, Sohung y Suan de la provincia de Hwanghae del Norte.
    Tambien, se registraron mas de 230mm en los distritos de Chonnae y Poptong de la provincia de Kangwon y en el de Yodok de la provincia de Hamgyong del Sur.
    Igualmente, algunas zonas fueron azotadas por un fuerte aguacero incluyendo la ciudad de Nampho de la provincia de Phyong-an del Sur, donde entre las 3 y las 6, las 21 y 24 del dia 18 cayeron 87mm y 76, el distrito de Unpha de la provincia de Hwanghae del Norte con 85mm entre las 6 y las 9 del dia 19 y el distrito de Samchon de la provincia de Hwanghae del Sur con 76mm entre las 3 y las 6.
    La lluvia torrencial acompanada de una fuerte turbonada trajo grandes perdidas en varios dominios.