Kim Jong Il Inspects KPA Unit

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected KPA Unit 1701.
    After acquainting himself with the unit's performance of its duty, he watched its soldiers in firepower training. Expressing satisfaction over the fact that all the servicepersons of the unit have been trained as a-match-for-a hundred fighters capable of reliably defending the socialist country, he set forth the tasks to be implemented by it to further increase its combat capability.
    He learned about its servicepersons' cultural and emotional life, walking round cultural and educational facilities including an educational room and a library.
    Getting familiar with how its soldiers are using various kinds of cultural equipment and books available in the educational room and library and watching an art performance given by them, he praised the unit for having provided them with ample conditions for enjoying cultural rest anytime. He underscored the need to help them enrich their knowledge and improve their cultural attainments through diverse cultural and emotional life so that they may become comprehensively developed human beings.
    Then he went round a bedroom, a mess hall and a room for processing non-staple food and other supply service facilities. He highly appreciated the successes made by the unit, expressing great satisfaction over the fact that the unit has not only provided its servicepersons with good conditions for their diet by successfully building supply service facilities and minutely organizing the supply service but made full preparations for wintering.
    He had a photo session with the servicepersons of the unit.
    He was accompanied by KPA Generals Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su.


KCNA on Japan's Short-Sighted Policy

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Japan is so politically short-sighted that it can not see even an inch ahead.
    Recently, the Japanese Diet adopted a resolution urging the U.S. not to make haste in implementing its commitments under the February 13 agreement, saying that the U.S. plan to cross the DPRK off the list of "sponsors of terrorism" would seriously affect Japan-U.S. relations of alliance.
    The kernel of the resolution is that the U.S. should cater for Japan's taste not caring about peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia-Pacific.
    It is ludicrous for Japan to have adopted such resolution peppered with "threats" and "admonition" while challenging the general trend of the international situation although it does not know what it should do in the international arena.
    When judging from the viewpoint of the progressive international community wishing for global peace and stability, Japan is evidently standing in the way of the progress of the six-party talks.
    It is by no means fortuitous that media of several countries including the Voice of Russia warned of the danger of Japan's moves that may hamstring the process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as it behaves quite contrary to the commitments to be honored by the countries concerned under an agreement at the six-party talks for the mere reason that it does not meet its interests.
    Many countries hope to see the Korean Peninsula turned into one for peace and cooperation, not confrontation, and therefore, pay due attention to the normalization of the DPRK-U.S. relations and the successful progress of the six-party talks.
    The DPRK and the U.S. are the two major responsible parties at the talks and no one can replace them in playing such roles.
    This being a stark fact, Japan is talking about the face-saving on the part of an "ally," while busying itself peddling the "abduction issue" in a bid to meet the feelings of the right-wing conservatives at home, far away from the main purport of the six-party talks. This clearly indicates that Japan weak in its ability to assess the development has reached the limit in its ability to face up to the trend of the situation.
    No wonder, it is cold-shouldered even by the six parties as it has stood in the way of others while not doing what it should do with its eyes shut to its past crimes.
    It is an aim sought by Japan to deter the DPRK-U.S. relations from making progress and thus scuttle the six-party talks by every possible means and method.
    All facts go to clearly prove that Japan is neither qualified nor justified to participate in the six-party talks.
    Japan had better stop being involved in the talks.


Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Here

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Wu Dawei, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of China, who is chairman of the six-party talks and his party arrived here Monday.
    They were met by officials concerned and the minister councillor of the Chinese embassy here.


DPRK FM Meets Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister of the DPRK, met and conversed with Wu Dawei, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of China who is chairman of the six-party talks, and his party on Tuesday when the latter paid a courtesy call on him.


Lao Delegation Here

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the National Security Academy of Laos led by its Director Vilay Douangmany arrived here on December 18.


Wreaths Laid before Bust of Kim Jong Suk

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here and women of foreign embassies and missions of international organizations here respectively visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong on Tuesday to lay wreaths before the bust of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk there on the occasion of her 90th birth anniversary.
    They placed wreaths before the bust in humble reverence for Kim Jong Suk, woman commander of Mt. Paektu, and paid a silent tribute to her.
    Written on the ribbons of the wreaths were letters reading "The revolutionary exploits of Comrade Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese war hero, will be immortal!"


Foreigners Visit Revolutionary Museum

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here visited the Revolutionary Museum at the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces on Tuesday on the occasions of the 16th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's assumption of office as supreme commander of the Korean People's Army and the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
    They looked round the exhibited relics, being briefed on the fact that Kim Jong Il has steadily developed the KPA into an invincible army with his unique Songun leadership and on the undying feats of Kim Jong Suk, woman commander of Mt. Paektu who set a brilliant example in devotedly defending the leader.
    After the visit, they made an entry in the visitor's book.


Foreign Women Visit Mangyongdae Revolutionary School

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Women of foreign embassies and missions of international organizations here Tuesday visited Mangyongdae Revolutionary School on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
    They laid bouquets before the statue of President Kim Il Sung at the school and paid tribute to him.
    They were briefed on the 60-year long history of the school and the fact that its students are growing up to be the core of the Workers' Party of Korea and backbone of the Korean People's Army that will give steady continuity to the revolution.
    Then they went round a modernly equipped lecture room and other educational facilities and enjoyed an art performance given by students.


National Fine Art Exhibition Opens

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- A national fine art exhibition opened at the Korean Art Gallery on Tuesday to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk.
    Seen at the centre of the exhibition hall are fine art pieces portraying President Kim Il Sung in generalissimo's uniform, Kim Jong Il in marshal's uniform and Kim Jong Suk, woman commander of Mt. Paektu, in uniform of the anti-Japanese guerilla.
    On display at the hall are more than 80 fine art pieces of various kinds including Korean paintings, oil paintings and acrylics showing the greatness of the three generals of Mt. Paektu, the looks of Songun Korea and the indomitable faith and will kept by the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters.
    Among them are pieces are Korean painting "Comrade Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese war hero, devotedly defending Comrade Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the revolution", oil painting "Mother" and acrylic "Spring view in February".
    There are also Korean paintings "Pyongyang in fresh spring" and "In the days when the national flag and emblem of new Korea were created" showing the great exploits performed by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Suk in building a genuine people's country after achieving the historic cause of the liberation of the country through the bloody battles against the Japanese imperialists.
    Acrylic "The great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il receiving a pistol from his mother" and Korean painting "Towards the homeland" well represented the personality of Kim Jong Il as a great man who trained his gut and pluck as an illustrious commander under the care of the generals of Mt. Paektu.


Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Assumption of KPA Supreme Commandership Marked

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Working people's organizations held meetings on Monday to commemorate the 16th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's assumption of office as supreme commander of the Korean People's Army.
    At a meeting of workers and trade union members, the reporter and speakers said that Kim Jong Il's assumption of KPA supreme commandership was a great national auspicious event which provided a firm guarantee for the future destiny of the Workers' Party of Korea, the country and the people and it was an epoch-making event as it brought about the victorious future of the Juche revolution.
    Elaborating on the undying feats performed by Kim Jong Il in developing the KPA into an army of the leader and the party with his distinguished Songun revolutionary idea and leadership, they stressed that the military position of the Korean revolution has been impregnably cemented under the care of the brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu.
    At a meeting of agricultural workers, the reporter and speakers noted that Kim Jong Il assumed a heavy responsibility of the KPA supreme commander with the deep trust of the whole party and army and all the people. They also said that he formulated the Songun politics as a basic political mode of socialism and successfully solved the matter on the main force of the revolution in keeping with the demand of the times.
    At a meeting of women's union members, the reporter and speakers said that Kim Jong Il is an ever-victorious iron-willed brilliant commander as he has strengthened and developed the KPA into the vanguard of the Songun revolution and achieved the great victory in the struggle to defend socialism and build a great prosperous powerful nation.
    Reporters and speakers at meetings expressed their firm determination to contribute to accomplishing the cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation in the near future by building up the organizations as required by the developing realities and bringing about a new upsurge in the efforts to build an economic power, true to the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    The poem "General is our supreme commander" was recited at the above-said meetings.


New Books on Health Care Published

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- The Health Education Institute in the DPRK has this year brought out a number of books on health care and treatment of diseases.
     "Therapy by Use of Foodstuffs" explains how to cook and use foodstuffs efficacious for the treatment of diseases and gives concise conceptions and explanations about the causes and symptoms of the diseases.
     "Discrimination between Cerebral Hemorrhage and Cerebral Thrombosis" was published to give common knowledge of diseases of cerebral blood vessel to popular masses. Written in the form of questions and answers, it helps readers prevent mistakes which may be made in first-aid care and nursing for the lack of correct understanding of these diseases.
     "Effect of Alcohol on Body" describes in plain words the effect of alcohol on the human body and "Questions and Answers on Common Knowledge of Drug Treatment" and "Questions and Answers on Hygienic Knowledge" (part of application of antibiotic medicine) gives detailed information on making best use of antibiotics and other medicaments in families.
     Among the newly published books are "'Secret' of Our Bodies" (part of digestive organs), "Common Knowledge of Natural Treatment" (vol. 1), "Woman's Health Care before and after Childbirth", "Common Knowledge of Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers" and "Common Diseases of Women" which are helpful to the promotion of people's health.


Short Course for Taekwon-Do Disseminators

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- A short course for Taekwon-Do disseminators took place in Pyongyang.
     Lecturers were instructors of the Korean Taekwon-Do Committee.
     The theory was combined with practical training in the lectures on Taekwon-Do.
     The trainees acquired quality for a more effective dissemination of Taekwon-Do.
     The short course given in six terms was a good occasion in disseminating Taekwon-Do on a broader scale and boosting the fervor of mass sports across the country.
     Short courses of Taekwon-Do were also given in South Hamgyong and other provinces.


Japan's Moves to Justify Overseas Expansion under Fire

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Some time ago, Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda at a press conference blustered that he would get the new "bill on special measures against terrorism" passed through the Diet come what may and in case it is voted down in the House of Councilors, he would get the bill passed through the House of Representatives with more than two-thirds approval. Meanwhile, at a meeting of heavyweights of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan he insisted that the Diet session should not be allowed to back away as it has been extended for the passage of the above-said "bill."
    Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary carried in this regard observes: The moves going on in Japan to adopt the new "law" lay bare the crafty artifice of the Japanese reactionaries to secure a legal groundwork for overseas expansion.
    The commentary goes on:
    In short, Japan seeks to realize its wild ambition for overseas aggression by legalizing overseas dispatch and operation activities of the "Self-Defense Forces" (SDF) under the pretext of "cooperation in the war on terrorism."
    Since the end of the Second World War, Japan, as a criminal state, has not hurled SDF into overseas military operation fearful of the pressure at home and abroad for more than a half century. It was against this backdrop that 9/11 occurred in the U.S. in the new century. As if Japan had been waiting for this to happen, it cooked up the "law on special measures against terrorism" under the pretext of "supporting the U.S.," sharply extending the sphere of activities of SDF as far as the region of the Indian Ocean.
    During the period, this law has been extended several times. Then, the validity of the "law" expired on November 1.
    The "law" became invalid due to the strong rebuff of the opposition parties which dominate the House of Councillors. Being regretful for this, the Japanese reactionaries proposed a new "bill on special measures against terrorism."
    Japan is working hard to institute a law allowing the extension of the sphere of activities of the Maritime "Self-Defence Force" beyond the boundary of Japan under the pretext of preventing the maritime transport of "materials related to weapons of mass destruction" on the premise of realizing military overseas expansion.
    The Japanese reactionaries are emerging war forces for overseas aggression gravely threatening the peace and security of Asia and the rest of the world.


Frustration of Imperialists' Neo-Colonialist Policy Called for

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Domination and plunder are the intrinsic nature of the imperialists. They are pursuing a neo-colonialist policy in a bid to attain their goals of aggression and plunder. They are thus intensifying their domination and plunder of other countries, pursuant to the policy.
    Rodong Sinmun Tuesday says this in a signed article.
    Neo-colonialism pursues a new policy which calls for subjugating colonial countries politically and economically by "recognizing" their independence and using "aid" as a bait and putting them in military bondage by making them subject to a military alliance or treaty, the article notes, and goes on:
    The above-said policy is mainly targeted against the countries which are rich in strategic resources and of military importance.
    When they find those countries fail to meekly obey them, they egg anti-governmental forces on to create social and political confusion and disorder and carry out their scenario to overthrow the governments of those countries in a bid to turn them into their colonies.
    The United States is working hard to put the areas of strategic importance and major regions rich in resources under its military control through the escalation of "anti-terrorism war" and intensify the domination and plunder of them.
    The imperialists are escalating the reactionary ideological and cultural offensive against other countries in an effort to benumb the people's consciousness of national independence and fighting spirit and destabilize and degenerate them for the purpose of attaining their goal of neo-colonialism.
    The imperialists are becoming more vicious in their moves for neo-colonialism through their hypocritical policy of "aid."
    Their "aid", in essence, means state-sponsored infiltration of monopoly capital overseas and a lever for economic aggression and subjugation.
    The imperialists put the new born independent countries under their economic control and stepped up the expansion of monopoly capital overseas with "aid" as a bait and used the export of capital and various concessions as means of plundering them of their rich resources and material wealth and hamstringing the development of their national economy in a bid to achieve their purpose of neo-colonialist subjugation.
    Neo-colonialism is little different from old colonialism in its nature.


U.S. and Japan's Impudent Behavior Assailed

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- The U.S. and Japan should drop their sinister intention to abuse the nuclear issue for their unjust political aims and be given due punishment by the international community for their past nuclear crimes, says Minju Joson today in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    The U.S. and Japan have already lost moral face to talk about nuclear non-proliferation. Nevertheless, they, styling themselves as a "nuclear judge", are impudent enough to instruct other countries to ensure "transparency" in their nuclear activities while threatening to impose "sanctions" on them.
    These disgusting acts can be perpetrated only by those brazen-faced countries.
    All countries are equal in the international community. No one invested the U.S. and Japan with privileged position.
    However, the past nuclear crimes of the U.S. and Japan have not been called into question because the former is the "only superpower" in the world and the latter is its ally. This is a tragedy of the world politics in the 21st century.
    Such unfair and old international political order should be corrected without fail.
    It is the stark reality that the worldwide efforts for nuclear non-proliferation are now proving futile owing to the double-standard policy of specified countries in the international arena.
    This shows that to drop the double standards is needed more urgently in the nuclear field than in any other field.


World People's Boundless Reverence for Kim Jong Il

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- The ardent reverence for Kim Jong Il is growing deeper among the world people as the days go by.
    This year has witnessed that he was awarded honorary titles, orders and medals in Russia, Mongolia, Brazil, Egypt and Ecuador and the "International Kim Il Sung Prize" by the "International Kim Il Sung Prize Council" on the occasion of February 16, his birthday.
    The special prize first class was conferred on him by the Arab Association for Arts, Culture and Information in Egypt, the title of honorary academician of the International Sociology Academy by the "Protectors of Arts for the Century", a Russian international charity fund, the Honorary Merit Medal of Industrial Work by the Brazilian National Federation of Industrial Workers, the order "Star of Friendship" by the Federation of Peace and Friendship Organizations of Mongolia and the titles of honorary professor and "Master of Journalists" and the Education Merit Medal by Guayaquil University of Ecuador.
    The plate bearing the august names of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il was added to the monument "Good Angel of Peace" erected at the Park Commemorating the 850th anniversary of Moscow, this year. Earlier in September last year their names were inscribed in the monument "Good Angel of Peace" in Bryansk Region of Russia.
    His Songun policy, independent policy was lauded at functions celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the foundation of the Workers' Party of Korea and the 81st anniversary of the formation of the Down-with- Imperialism Union held in 70-odd countries and international and regional organizations.
    Figures of the academic, mass media and cultural circles of Russia and Ukraine brought out the book "Great Succession" which collects articles praising his immortal feats.
    Written and disseminated in various countries were the book "Kim Jong Il's Korea", the words of song "Invincible Banner", the poem "Kim Jong Il and Royal Azalea Blossom" and others. This profound respect clearly manifests the faith and will of the world progressive people to confidently advance along the orbit of independence.


Visual Aids and Experiment Apparatuses Donated to DPRK School by Mongolian Ministry

   Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of Mongolia donated visual aids and apparatuses for biological experiments to the DPRK-Mongolia Friendship Pyongyang Songyo Middle School No. 1.
    Present at the presentation ceremony held on Dec. 17 were Vice-Chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Jon Yong Jin who is vice-chairman of the DPRK-Mongolia Friendship Association, officials concerned, teachers and students of the above-said school, Mongolian Ambassador to the DPRK Janchivdorjyn Lomvo and staff members of the embassy here.
    Speeches were made there.


For Spanish-speaking people



Kim Jong Il inspecciona subunidad de la Unidad No. 1925 del EPC

   Pyongyang, 18 de diciembre (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea (PTC), Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Comandante Supremo del Ejercito Popular de Corea (EPC), inspecciono una subunidad de la Unidad No. 1925 del EPC laureada con el Titulo del Septimo Regimiento de O Jung Hup.
    Despues de enterarse del estado de cumplimiento del deber de la unidad, entro en la sala de leccion militar donde se cercioro del estado de entrenamiento de los oficiales y expreso satisfaccion de que todos los miembros de mando, al realizar persistentemente el entrenamiento, se forman como competentes comandantes dispuestos de elevada tecnica militar y la capacidad de mando, y presento las tareas para fortalecer la combatividad de la unidad.
    Al recorrer la sala de leccion politica, la de educacion y otras instalaciones de cultura y ensenanza se entero del estado de su gestion y elogio el hecho de que la unidad despliega dinamicamente la labor politica y diversas actividades culturales y forma a los militares como heroes de bomba del nuevo siglo impulsando energicamente el movimiento por aprender el noble espiritu revolucionario de los heroes Ri Su Bok y Kang Ho Yong.
    Acto seguido, al visitar el dormitorio, el comedor, el bano, el lugar de descanso al aire libre y otros lugares de la unidad, atendio con amor paternal la vida de los militares prestando profunda atencion a los detalles de la vida desde la condicion del dormitorio hasta el uso de la sauna y los metodos culinarios.
    Se mostro alegre de que aun en invierno frio los soldados pasan los dias felices de servicio militar en el dormitorio, la sala de educacion y el dormitorio calentados templadamente y evaluo altamente el hecho de que los oficiales con el cordial amor a los soldados les ofrecen a estos una excelente condicion de vida.
    El Dirigente dio como recuerdo los binoculos, la ametralladora y el fusil automatico a los militares de la subunidad y se fotografio junto a estos.
     Le acompanaron los generales de ejercito del EPC Hyon Chol Hae y Ri Myong Su.


ATCC comenta actitud de Japon en cuanto a cita seis-partitas

   Pyongyang, 18 de diciembre (ATCC) -- Japon es un pais falto de vision politica.
    Recientemente, arguyendo que el plan de Estados Unidos de excluir a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea de la "lista de los paises que apoyan el terrorismo" ejercera graves influencias sobre las relaciones de alianza con Japon, la dieta de este pais dio visto bueno al "proyecto de resolucion", que demanda a aquel no apresurarse a cumplir sus compromisos segun el acuerdo logrado el 13 de febrero en las conversaciones a 6 bandas.
    Lo clave de ese proyecto es que EE.UU. siempre haga cosas que gusten a Japon pase lo que pase con la paz y estabilidad de la region de Asia y el Pacifico, inclusive la Peninsula Coreana.
    Es una conducta muy ridicula que ese pais isleno, que ni siquiera sabe lo que le toca hacer en el escenario internacional, aprobara ese "proyecto" plagado de ciertas "amenazas" e "instrucciones" desafiando a la corriente general de la situacion internacional.
    Para la sociedad internacional progresista, que desea la paz y la estabilidad del mundo, Japon no es mas que el estropeador de dichas conversaciones.
    No por casualidad, la "Voz de Rusia" y otros medios de prensa extranjeros advierten que la postura de Japon, que rechaza el cumplimiento de compromisos por parte de los paises interesados segun el acuerdo referido porque esto no le conviene a sus caprichos, puede llevar al fracaso el proceso de desnuclearizacion de la Peninsula Coreana.
    Numerosos paises desean que la Peninsula Coreana fuera la zona de paz y cooperacion sin confrontacion y prestan debida atencion a la normalizacion de las relaciones RPDC-EE.UU. y a la marcha fructifera de la cita seis-partitas.
    Nadie podra reemplazar a estos dos paises que son miembros principales de ese dialogo.
    Sin embargo, ignorando tal realidad objetiva y el objetivo principal de las conversaciones, Japon escandaliza el "problema de secuestro", que refleja la corriente conservadora derechista de este pais, y aboga por guardar el decoro de "aliado".
    Esto muestra la ya carente facultad de Japon de juzgar la tendencia de la epoca.
    Este pais es menospreciado entre los participantes en la cita a 6 partes porque solo se dedica a echar a perder cosas ajenas en lugar de recompensar sus crimenes del pasado.
    El objetivo de Japon es impedir a todo trance el mejoramiento de las relaciones RPDC-EE.UU. y llevar al fracaso ese dialogo.
    Todos los hechos demuestran que el pais isleno no tiene calificacion ni justificacion para tomar parte en esa cita.
    Seria aconsejable que Japon deje de participar en las conversaciones a 6 bandas.


Canciller coreano se reune con el vicecanciller chino

   Pyongyang, 18 de diciembre (ATCC) -- El canciller coreano Pak Ui Chun departio el dia 18 con el viceministro de Relaciones Exteriores de China, Wu Dawi, presidente de las conversaciones a 6 bandas, quien le hizo una visita de cortesia, y su comitiva.


Mongolia dona medios visuales y aparatos de ensayo

   Pyongyang, 18 de diciembre (ATCC) -- El Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Ciencia de Mongolia dono medios visuales y aparatos de ensayo para el laboratorio de biologia a la Escuela Secundaria No. 1 Songyo de Pyongyang de Amistad Corea-Mongolia.
    En la ceremonia de donacion efectuada el dia 17 estuvieron presentes Jon Yong Jin, vicepresidente del Comite de Relaciones Culturales con el Extranjero y de la Asociacion de Amistad Corea-Mongolia, y otros funcionarios coreanos, los profesores y alumnos de dicha escuela.
    Tambien se distinguian el embajador Janchivdorjyn Lomvo, y otros miembros de la embajada de Mongolia en Corea.
    En la ocasion hubo discursos.