Bangladeshi Ambassador Presents Credentials to Kim Yong Nam

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, received credentials from Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Bangladeshi ambassador to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Wednesday.
    On hand were Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and staff members of the Bangladeshi embassy.
    Kim Yong Nam conversed with the ambassador after receiving the credentials.


Pak Ui Chun Meets New Bangladeshi Ambassador

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister of the DPRK, met and had a talk with Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Bangladeshi ambassador newly accredited to the DPRK who paid a courtesy call on him on Jan. 23.


13th Paektusan Cup Sports Contest Opens

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- The 13th Paektusan Cup Sports Contest of officials from national institutions opened on the occasion of the auspicious February holiday.
    The contest involving nine events, including basketball, table tennis, tennis, Taekwon-Do and seesaw, will be held at Kim Il Sung Stadium, the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, the Taekwon-Do Hall and different gymnasiums in Chongchun Street, Pyongyang.
    Its opening ceremony took place at the Basketball Gymnasium in Chongchun Street on Wednesday.
    Present at the ceremony were Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, officials concerned and players and other employees of ministries and national institutions.
    Kim Pyong Phal, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, made an opening address there.
    At the end of the ceremony, there were men's and women's basketball games.


U.S. Forgets Pueblo Lesson

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- Fourty years have passed since the U.S. armed spy ship Pueblo was seized by seamen of the Korean People's Army.
     The Pueblo was captured on January 23, Juche 57 (1968) while spying on military and state secrets of the DPRK after intruding into its territorial waters in the East Sea of Korea up to 7.6 miles from Ryo Islet near Wonsan.
     The U.S. imperialists, far from admitting their crime, reacted to this deserving punishment with a military threat to the DPRK, claiming that their ship was seized in the "open sea" and it did not commit an espionage act.
     In face of the super stiff attitude of the DPRK determined to answer the "retaliation" of the enemy with retaliation and an all-out war with an all-out war, the U.S. administration was forced to sign a document solemnly apologizing for the espionage and hostile acts committed by its spy ship and giving assurances that it would not let any warship intrude into the territorial waters of the DPRK in the future.
     However, even before the ink was dry on the paper of apology signed by them, the U.S. imperialists illegally sent their large-size spy plane EC-121 in April 1969 and spy helicoptor OAH-23G in August 1969 into the air space of the DPRK, which were brought down by the KPA while committing espionage and hostile acts.
     But, after drinking the bitter cups of setback, they have continued committing espionage on the DPRK, including the incident of a reconnaissance helicopter in December 1994.
     The U.S. bellicose forces have of late massed reconnaissance planes of different types in and around south Korea and lengthened their flying hours while beefing up the forces of electronic operation and information espionage.
     "U-2" high-altitude strategic reconnaissance planes of the U.S. forces in south Korea committed air surveillance, photographing and electronic reconnaissance on the whole area of the DPRK on more than 300 occasions and the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean army carried out aerial espionage on 2,250 occasions or more in total last year alone.
     It is the temperament of the Korean people never to tolerate the encroachment upon the sovereignty of the nation.
     If the United States heads for increased tension, persisting in espionage acts against the DPRK, they will be unable to evade the lot of the Pueblo.


U.S. Urged to Draw Lesson from "Pueblo" Incident

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- Jo Il Min, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, and its staff members visited the U.S. imperialist armed spy ship "Pueblo" on Tuesday.
    They watched the video dealing with the espionage committed by the armed spy ship after infiltrating deep into the territorial waters of the DPRK and scenes showing the U.S. imperialists presenting a written apology before going round the arms and equipment and spying facilities aboard the ship.
    At the end of the visit Chief of the mission Jo Il Min issued a statement 40 years since the capture of the "Pueblo". The statement stressed that "Pueblo" is historical evidence proving before the whole world the victory of the DPRK in the confrontation with the U.S. to protect the national sovereignty and dignity.
    The statement urged the U.S. imperialists not to forget the historical lessons taught by the incidents of SS “General Sherman” and the spy ship “Pueblo”.
    If the U.S. imperialists persistently pursue their hostile policy towards the DPRK and their design to invade it, they will suffer a more shameful defeat before the Korean People's Army and people who have grown incomparably stronger than what used to be 40 years ago, united steel-strong around the Songun brilliant commander.


U.S. Accused of Bolstering up Its Air Force

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Anti-imperialist National Democratic Front in a statement on Jan. 22 denounced the U.S. imperialist warmongers for bolstering up their air force, according to Internet homepage "Kuguk Jonson".
    Accusing the U.S. of massively deploying latest type fighters in south Korea and around the Korean Peninsula while talking about "familiarization with local conditions” and "strategic flexibility" from the outset of the year, the statement termed this a grave provocation driving the situation to the phase of war.
    The statement went on:
    Peace and stability in south Korea and the rest of Northeast Asia are seriously threatened and the danger of war is increasing day by day due to the U.S. moves.
    The "peace" and "dialogue" much touted by the U.S. whenever an opportunity presents itself are nothing but window-dressing to mislead pubic opinion at home an abroad and conceal its vicious ambition for war against the DPRK.
    The U.S. conservative hardliners are scheming to build a new mechanism for cooperation to pressurize the DPRK through their provocative arms buildup and war exercises while talking about "stronger south Korea-U.S. alliance" but this is no more than a folly.
    No force on earth can quell the unanimous desire of the Korean nation to usher in a new era of independent reunification and peace and prosperity under the banner of "By our nation itself" and stem the trend of the times.
    The U.S. can never shirk off its responsibility for having delayed the peaceful settlement of the "nuclear issue" by straining the situation on the Korean Peninsula and increasing the danger of war.
    The U.S. should roll back at once its anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK and immediately withdraw from this land, taking its aggressor forces and war equipment with it.


Rare Sea-Crocodiles in Central Zoo

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- A pair of rare sea-crocodiles began to inhabit the Central Zoo in DPRK.
    The body length of the male is 54.8cm and that of the female is about 46cm. The male weighs 455g and the female about 320g.
    According to Pak Yong Hui, an official of the zoo, these crocodiles are gift animals presented to Kim Jong Il by a businessman of China.
    Learning that Kim Jong Il had sent many animals to the Central Zoo for the cultural and emotional life of the people, he, along with animal experts, went to Australia and obtained them.


Gift to Kim Jong Il from Russians

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- Vladimir Tolstikov, chairman of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK, and Slashova, chairperson of Managerial Committee of the Moscow Peace Fund and vice-chairperson of the association, presented a gift in their joint name to Kim Jong Il on the occasion of his birthday.
    The gift was conveyed to the DPRK ambassador to Russia on January 21 by Vladimir Tolstikov.


Japan's Reckless Moves to Build Missile Shield Assailed

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- The Defense Ministry of Japan, shortly ago, announced that it would soon operate such new anti-air system as automatic alert and control system under the pretext of countering the "intrusion" of "unidentified" fighters and others.
    Meanwhile, the headquarters for space science research of the Japan Organization for Space and Air Research and Development completed the plan for examining the launch of the new small satellite on Jan. 12.
    These facts go to prove that the Japanese reactionaries' military moves to boost the missile strike capability have entered the phase of full-scale implementation. Minju Joson Wednesday says this in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    It is the strategic target and invariable ambition for Japan to build a missile shield and secure a military edge in Northeast Asia and realize its ambition for overseas invasion through preemptive missile strike at other countries.
    The moves of the Japanese reactionaries to build a missile shield in conspiracy with the U.S. have already gone beyond the phase of joint research and reached such a practical stage as joint development and deployment of missiles and actions to boost the missile strike capability. As a result, the danger of these military moves is increasing day by day.
    The Japanese reactionaries are spending a stupendous amount of funds for steadily updating the missile technology. This aims at modernizing weaponry and equipment of the Japan "Self-Defense Forces" to enable them to reinvade other countries independently, not being mere supporters to the U.S. war, and realizing at any cost in the new century its old dream of the "Greater east Asia co-prosperity sphere," which it failed to do in the past, through preemptive missile strikes at other countries.
    It is clear as noonday that if Japan is allowed to build the missile shield in real earnest, it will seriously threaten the regional peace and increase the military confrontation and danger of war.
    This indicates that Japan is chiefly to blame for wrecking peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world.
    The Japanese reactionaries should bear deep in mind that their moves to build the missile shield for securing a military edge in Northeast Asia and mounting a preemptive attack would only precipitate their own self-destruction and immediately stop them.


U.S. Hegemonic Policy Bound to Go Bust

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- "The century of the U.S." much touted by the United States is bound to come to an end, observes Rodong Sinmun Wednesday in a signed article.
    "Monroe doctrine" long advocated by the U.S. is no longer workable, the article notes, and goes on: This indicates the failure of its hegemonic policy and reflects the reality in which the U.S. is standing isolated and rejected worldwide due to its arbitrary and unilateral policy and ambition for world domination.
    Citing facts to prove that the U.S. is evidently isolated from Latin-American countries and the U.S.-led war on terrorism and its Asia strategy for aggression are bound to go bust, the article notes:
    Regarding the Korean Peninsula as a main scene of confrontation of forces in the new century, the U.S. has directed its sharp edge to the DPRK.
    The DPRK has strongly reacted to the enemy's counterrevolutionary offensive with a revolutionary offensive under the uplifted banner of Songun. In this acute confrontation, the Korean people have won a great victory politico-ideologically, morally and strategically and tactically. The criminal attempt of the U.S. to stifle the DPRK, a forefront for accomplishing the cause of independence against imperialism and a socialist bulwark, met failure and bankruptcy. The world people no longer regard the U.S. as "the only superpower.” Encouraged by the Korean people who beat back the U.S. imperialists' anti-DPRK offensive, the world people are further intensifying their struggle for independence against the U.S. than ever before.
    Not a few changes are taking place in the international political landscape. The situation is now developing in the direction of multi-polarization despite the U.S. moves to build a unipolar world. Developing countries are emerging a force to reckon with in the international arena and playing a big role in propelling the multi-polarization of the world.
    The U.S. "Monroe doctrine" and "the century of the U.S." no longer work on Latin America and the rest of the world.


Condemnation of U.S. Human Rights Abuses Called for

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) --The report on the huge casualties caused by the U.S. brigandish Iraqi invasion released by the WHO recently clearly proves once again that U.S.-style "democracy" and "view on value" on the lips of the U.S. are not aimed at protecting human rights but nothing but a smokescreen for justifying its aggression against other countries and massacre of their civilians.
    Rodong Sinmun Wednesday observes this in a signed commentary.
    It goes on:
    The EU and other Western countries supporting the U.S. in its illegal and unethical Iraqi war of aggression are keeping mum about the U.S. worst human rights abuses while pulling up the DPRK and other anti-imperialist independent countries over their non-existent "human rights issues." This is a typical example of the politicization of human rights, application of double-standards and selectivity as regards this matter.
    The U.S. is apt to invent "human rights issues" of anti-imperialist independent countries in a bid to use them as levers for justifying its interference in the internal affairs of those countries and moves to pressurize and invade them and topple their governments. This is clearly evidenced by the fact that the U.S. is enforcing the illegal "North Korean Human Rights Act" aimed at wantonly meddling in the internal affairs of the DPRK after deliberately adopting it.
    If the above-said countries are truly willing to deal with human rights issue, they should bring the U.S. to the court of human rights and punish it as it is chiefly to blame for abusing human rights in wanton violation of people’s rights to enjoy independence and a genuine life, talking about sham human rights.
    This being a hard reality, they are keeping silent about the U.S., the world’s worst human rights abuser, and pulling up the DPRK over its non-existent "human rights issue" though it fully guarantees the people the right to enjoy independence and a genuine life. This is little short of backing the U.S. in its unjust interference in the internal affairs of other countries and human rights abuses.
    The noisy anti-DPRK "human rights" row kicked up by the U.S. and the EU and other Western countries more saliently reveals the injustice of their politicization, selectivity and application of double-standards in the matter of human rights.


DPRK's Significant Days to Be Observed

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- Romanian and Mongolian preparatory committees were inaugurated with due ceremony on Jan. 16 to commemorate the Day of the Sun and February 16, the birthdays of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
    Chairman of the Romania-Korea Friendship Association Victor Voichita was elected chairman of the Romanian preparatory committee. Chairman Ch. Surenjav and Executive Chairman B. Baigalmaa of the Mongolia-Korea Friendship Association were elected chairman and secretary general of the Mongolian preparatory committee.
    The Romanian preparatory committee decided to widely introduce the brief history of revolutionary activities of the peerlessly great men and their immortal exploits and the Korean people's efforts for building a great prosperous and powerful nation and hold colorful political events on the occasions of the above-said days.
    The Mongolian preparatory committee set the period from January 17 to April 25 as a commemoration period and decided to organize various political and cultural functions during the period.
    Meanwhile, a Syrian preparatory committee for commemorating the Day of the Sun and February 16 and the 60th birthday of the DPRK was formed on January 16.
    Saaeed Eleia Dawood, director of the Organizational Department of the Regional Leadership of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party and chairman of the Syrian Arab-Korea Friendship Association, was elected chairman of the preparatory committee.
    The preparatory committee set the period from January 17 to September 15 as a commemoration period and decided to hold colorful events in the period.


DPRK's Joint New Year Editorial Hailed in Various Countries

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- Friendship organizations in Egypt and Austria issued statements in support of the joint New Year editorial carried by leading newspapers of the DPRK.
    The Egypt-Korea Friendship Association in a statement on Jan. 13 said that the joint New Year editorial, which clarified the tasks to be carried out by the Korean people in the new year and the ways to do so, is of weighty significance as it indicated how to promote the well-being of the people, develop the country and defend the dignity of the nation from any challenges of the imperialists.
    The association expresses full support and solidarity with all policies set forth by the DPRK and wishes the Korean people greater progress and welfare and prosperity under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il, the statement added.
    The Society for the Promotion of the Relations between Austria and the DPRK in a statement on Jan. 15 noted that proud victories and achievements made in the DPRK last year are a brilliant fruition of Kim Jong Il's distinguished strategy and tactics, iron will and tireless leadership.
    The statement expressed full support to the Korean people in their efforts to build a prosperous and powerful nation and bring earlier the peaceful reunification of the country under the slogan "Glorify this year of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK as a year of historic turn which will go down in the history of the country!"


U.S. Arms Buildup Flailed by Swiss Organization

   Pyongyang, January 23 (KCNA) -- The Switzerland-Korea Committee issued a statement on Jan. 14 to denounce the U.S. for its aggressive arms buildup in the Asia-Pacific region.
    The United States' reinforcement and relocation of forces in its military bases in Japan have fully revealed its intention to invade the DPRK with Japan as a base and lay a "siege" to the Asian region, the statement said.
    Recalling that the U.S. imperialist armed spy ship "Pueblo" intruded the territorial waters of the DPRK in January 1968, 40 years ago, only to be captured by the Navy of the Korean People's Army, it warned that the U.S. war provokers should never forget this historical lesson.
    The statement held that the U.S. should withdraw its armed forces and military bases from south Korea, normalize relations with the DPRK, replace the armistice agreement with a peace agreement and stop at once the war moves against the DPRK.


For Spanish-speaking people



Kim Yong Nam recibe cartas credenciales de embajador bengali

   Pyongyang, 23 de enero (ATCC) -- Munshi Faiz Ahmad presento este miercoles en el capitalino Palacio de los Congresos Mansudae ante el presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, sus cartas credenciales que le acreditan como nuevo embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica Popular de Bangladesh.
     En la ocasion estuvieron presentes el vicecanciller coreano Kim Yong Il y los miembros de la embajada bengali.
     Tras recibirlas, Kim Yong Nam departio con el diplomatico.


Inaugurada 13a competencia deportiva por "Premio Paektusan"

   Pyongyang, 23 de enero (ATCC) -- Quedo iniciada el dia 23 en el Centro de Baloncesto en el reparto Chongchun la 13a competencia deportiva de funcionarios de los organos centrales por el "Premio Paektusan" en ocasion de la jubilosa fiesta (el 16 de febrero, cumpleanos del Dirigente Kim Jong Il).
    En el presente certamen tendran lugar los partidos de 9 disciplinas, entre ellas, baloncesto, tenis de mesa, tenis, Taekwon-do y salto sobre el balancin en el Estadio Kim Il Sung, el Palacio de Deportes de Pyongyang, el Centro de Taekwon-Do y varios centros deportivos en dicha avenida.
    En la ocasion participaron el secretario del Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea Kim Jung Rin y otros funcionarios, los jugadores y empleados de los ministerios y organos centrales.
    El presidente del Comite Central de la Federacion General de los Sindicatos de Corea, Kim Pyong Phal, hizo uso de la palabra inaugural.
     Al termino del acto inaugural, tuvieron lugar los partidos de baloncesto de ambos sexos.


Minju Joson denuncia proyecto de sistema antimisiles de Japon

   Pyongyang, 23 de enero (ATCC) -- Ultimamente, el ministerio de Defensa de Japon, so pretexto de hacer frente a la "intrusion" de cazas "no identificados, publico que pondria pronto en operacion el sistema de alarma automatica y control que es un nuevo sistema antiaereo.
    Por otra parte, el pasado dia 12, la sede de investigacion de ciencia espacial de la Organizacion de Investigacion y Desarrollo Aeroespacial de Japon dio toque final a la elaboracion del proyecto de examen de lanzamiento de un nuevo minisatelite.
    Tales hechos prueban que las maniobras militares de los reaccionarios japoneses para elevar la capacidad de ataque de misiles entraron en la etapa de ejecucion decisiva.
    Asi senala el periodico Minju Joson en un comentario individual del dia 23 y continua:
    Tomar la supremacia militar en la region del Nordeste Asiatico mediante la implantacion del sistema antimisiles y realizar la ambicion de agresion a ultramar por medio de asestar un ataque preventivo de misiles contra otros paises es la meta estrategica e invariable ambicion del pais isleno.
    La implantacion del sistema antimisiles que promueven los reaccionarios japoneses en contubernio con EE.UU. ya rebaso la etapa de estudio comun y entro en la etapa practica, es decir el desarrollo y emplazamiento comun y la elevacion de la capacidad de ataque de misiles, y su peligrosidad se agranda de dia en dia.
    Los reaccionarios japoneses renuevan de continuo la tecnica de misiles invirtiendo enormes fondos no solo para jugar el rol de acompanante de guerra de EE.UU., sino tambien para modernizar los armamentos de las "fuerzas de autodefensa", de modo que estas se lancen a solas al camino de la nueva agresion y lograr a toda costa en el nuevo siglo el antiguo sueno de la "esfera de coprosperidad de gran Asia Oriental" por medio de asestar un ataque preventivo de misiles a otros paises.
    Es obvio que con la entrada en la etapa crucial de la estructuracion del sistema antimisiles de Japon se vera amenazada gravemente la paz de la region, y recrudecera la confrontacion militar y se agrandara el peligro de la guerra.
    Esto demuestra que Japon es perturbador de la paz y estabilidad de la region del Nordeste Asiatico y el resto del mundo.
    Los reaccionarios japoneses deben tener presente que la implantacion del sistema antimisiles para tomar la supremacia militar en la region del Nordeste Asiatico y asestar el ataque preventivo a otros paises es un acto de autodestruccion y poner de inmediato fin a tales maniobras temerarias.


Kim Jong Il recibe presentes de personalidades rusas

   Pyongyang, 23 de enero (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presentes que en ocasion de su cumpleanos le dirigieran a nombre comun Vladimir Tolstikov, presidente de la Asociacion Rusa de Amistad y Cooperacion Cultural con la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea y Slashova, vicepresidenta de esta asociacion y presidenta del Comite de Gestion del Fondo de la Paz de Moscu.
    Vladimir Tolstikov los entrego el dia 21 al embajador coreano en Rusia.