Meeting for National Reunification Closes

   Mt. Kumgang Resort, June 16 (KCNA) -- A meeting for national reunification which was opened at Mt. Kumgang resort on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration came to a close on Monday.
    Prior to the closing ceremony there was a meeting of the north, south and overseas co-chairmen of June 15 All-Korean Committee.
    Discussed at the meeting were matters on increasing the role of the committee and the organizations of people from all walks of life in the north and the south of Korea and abroad in resolutely foiling the moves of the anti-reunification forces and firmly defending and implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
    Then followed a closing ceremony.
    Delegates from the north and the south and overseas made speeches first.
    An Kyong Ho, chairman of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, made a closing address.
    This meeting proved to be a significant national gathering at which all delegates of people from all walks of life from the north and the south and abroad have earnestly discussed practical measures for overcoming all obstacles lying in the way of promoting the June 15 era and advancing the national reunification movement, he said.
    The meeting strikingly demonstrated the will of the nation to implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, he noted, adding that nothing can stem the trend of the times advancing under the banner of "By our nation itself."
    He called on all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad to defend and continue glorifying the era of independent reunification just as the participants of the meeting have unanimously resolved.
    The delegates from the north and the south and abroad toured the area of Lagoon Samil that day.


Greetings to Icelandic President

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland, on June 12 on the occasion of its national day.
    Kim in the message wished the president of Iceland success in his work for the prosperity of the country.


Chinese Delegations Here

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- A delegation of civil aviation of China led by Li Jiaxiang, Director of the Administration of Civil Aviation of China and a delegation of the Ministry of Transport of China headed by its vice-minister Feng Zhenglin arrived here Monday by air.


Floral Basket to Kim Jong Il from Zhang Weihua's Family

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il was presented with a floral basket by the family of Zhang Weihua, anti-Japanese revolutionary martyr, on June 16 on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of his start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.


Activities for Increasing Ranks of Voluntary Unpaid Blood Donors

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has conducted diverse activities for increasing the ranks of voluntary unpaid blood donors.
    Blood transfusion can be ensured successfully only when people donate blood to the society and people of their own accord.
    Hence the government has put the collection of voluntary donors and the supply of blood as an important health policy and directed deep attention to the work.
    It has long established a well-arranged nation-wide blood supply system and brought up lots of competent blood-transfusion officials so as to guarantee the life security of the people.
    Mass media give highlight to the beautiful deeds of donors and medical workers who devote their blood for patients, thus making the donors feel the pride and honor.
    Along with this, propaganda activities are being done regularly to give a new understanding of blood donation to the people.
    As part of the work to increase the voluntary unpaid blood donors, colorful activities are organized in different parts of the country every year on the occasion of the "World Blood Donor Day" (June 14).
    Various functions marking this day are being held in accordance with the theme for the year "Giving Blood Regularly".
    A function of the "World Blood Donor Day" was held at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on June 16 under the co-sponsorship of the Ministry of Public Health of the DPRK, the World Health Organization and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Model blood donors were introduced and a photo exhibition and others were held there.


Story of Magnolia

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Magnolia has unfolded a fascinating scene in the Central Botanical Garden of the DPRK, pleasing its visitors.
    Magnolia is a deciduous bush which grows in ravines and on mountainsides except in some northern areas of Korea.
    This flowering tree loved by the people has a meaningful story.
    Visiting Mt. Jongbang in a year, President Kim Il Sung told officials that he had seen a nice flower there in his Changdok School days and he did not know what flower it was. And he instructed them to find it out.
    The flower which the President remembered so dearly was found at last under the meticulous care of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
    When he saw it, the President was hugely delighted, saying it was the very flower he meant.
    He said famous flowers in the world were called "ran" and it was advisable to name it "mokran" (tree ran or magnolia) meaning that it was a ran blooming on trees. And he continued: This tree represents the spirit of the Koreans as it is sturdy and its flower is beautiful.
    Today magnolia, the national flower, is in full bloom across the country, throwing its brilliance on every side.


Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Start of Work at C.C., WPK Observed

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Monday devotes a signed article to the 44th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    Kim Jong Il's 40 odd year-long history of leading the party is shining as an immortal history in which he has strengthened and developed the WPK into a mighty guiding force for the Songun revolution, the article notes, and goes on:
    In the course of the struggle over the past more than decade in which the Songun politics of Kim Jong Il has been implemented in all fields the WPK has grown extraordinarily stronger to be an invincible militant party capable of steering the cause of the Songun revolution to a victory despite any storm and trial.
    The above-said history of Kim Jong Il represents a history in which he has confidently oriented the party work and activities to firmly arm the members of the WPK and other working people with the Songun idea, steadily consolidated the single-minded unity of the party and revolutionary ranks with the Korean People's Army as the core and dynamically led the party members and people to live and struggle with the same militant spirit and revolutionary way of life as the KPA does.
    The WPK is invincible militant ranks as the spirit of devotedly defending the leader prevails throughout the party, a revolutionary party which conducts its work and activities the way Kim Jong Il does and a militant party which makes incessant leaping advances in socialist construction by enlisting the mental power of all the servicepersons and people.
    Kim Jong Il's strengthening and development of the WPK into a powerful guiding force for the Songun revolution constitutes the greatest exploit performed by him for the country, the revolution and the people, concludes the article.


Japan Urged to Redeem Its Crime-Woven Past as Early as Possible

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- A list of the Koreans, who were killed after being forcibly drafted to the Japanese imperialist aggressor army in the period of the Pacific War, was discovered by a Japanese and made known to the public recently.
    According to the list, the number of the Koreans who met miserable deaths in the war as soldiers and army civilian employees after being taken away by the Japanese imperialists at that time reached more than 20,000.
    Rodong Sinmun Monday observes in a signed commentary in this regard:
    The recent disclosure of the above-said list clearly proves once again the undeniable historic truth that a great many young and middle-aged Koreans died with their grudge unsettled in battlefields after being hurled there as bullet-shields in the war of aggression during the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule over Korea in the past.
    The recent disclosure of the crime is just a tip of the iceberg of the hideous crimes the Japanese imperialists committed against humanity by forcing Koreans to fall victim to their war of aggression in the past, the commentary notes, and goes on:
    In order to make up the shortage of manpower and material resources in the Pacific War provoked by the Japanese imperialist aggressors they kidnapped and forcibly drafted a large number of Koreans to hurl them into slave labor sites and shambles of war and drive them to deaths. These crimes are recorded in history and widely known to the world.
    What matters is that Japan has refused to honestly admit and repent of the hideous crimes committed by it against humanity during the illegal military occupation of Korea in the past and persistently evaded the responsibility for them though the old century is replaced by a new one.
    Japan is negating and embellishing its history of aggression and evading the responsibility to redress its past, not freed from the militaristic outlook on history. This is as foolish an act as pricking its own eyes.
    For Japan to honestly settle its criminal past is to win the trust of the world people and become a member of the international community with clean conscience.
    Japan had better discard its wrong way of thinking and stance and make a political decision to redeem its past, though belatedly.


Authorities' Moves to Block General Strike Flayed in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions issued a statement on June 13 to denounce the authorities for their blackmail aimed at blocking a general strike of workers, according to the south Korean CBS.
    The statement accused the Ministry of Labor of its undisguised interference and disturbance against a poll conducted by the confederation on the general strike demanding the renegotiations on the American beef import.
    It disclosed the fact that the ministry made blackmail phone calls on the Federation of Public Transport and Service Trade Unions, the Press Trade Union and other organizations affiliated to the confederation, saying: "Do you know this poll is illegal? Why are you taking the lead while other trade unions are keeping mum?"
    Noting that the confederation's poll on the general strike is an exercise of just rights, the statement demanded that the Ministry of Labor immediately stop its obstructive moves against the struggle of workers and the minister of Labor, who instructed the above-said blackmail against democracy, step down at once.


Human Rights Abuses against Juveniles Criticized in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The Teachers Union of south Korea on June 13 issued a statement titled "We denounce the police for forcing juveniles to write introspection on their participation in the candlelight rallies."
    Recalling the fact that the police have forced the juveniles, who were walked off when they were participating in the candlelight rallies, to write what it called "introspection," the statement said: This shows once again the shamelessness of the authorities claiming that "the international community affirmatively appreciates south Korea's efforts for the human rights improvement."
    Juveniles, too, have a right to express their thoughts on social matters and participate in any rally, the statement said, warning that the police authorities should draw a lesson from the doom of the dictatorial regimes.
    The union will never overlook the police's human rights abuses against juveniles, the statement said, stressing that it would wage a vigorous struggle in solidarity with civic and human rights organizations of different social standings.


Stronger Anti-U.S. Candlelight Resistance Called for

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification on June 13 issued a statement titled "Let's vent the grudge of Hyo Sun and Mi Son through stronger anti-U.S., anti-Lee Myung Bak candlelight resistance."
    The statement recalled that people throughout south Korea staged a stubborn struggle with candlelight in their hands to denounce the GIs for mercilessly killing two schoolgirls Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son on June 13, 2002.
    This was an eruption of the anger at the subjugation and oppression being perpetrated on the strength of the unequal south Korea-U.S. "SOFA" which defends all forms of killings and heinous crimes committed by GIs and a just struggle to protect the sovereignty of the nation, the statement said, and continued:
    The candlelight actions demanding the punishment of the GIs who killed the two schoolgirls and the total renegotiations on the import of American beef are the struggles to defend the independence and dignity of the south Korean people.
    Calling upon the youth and students to develop the anti-Lee Myung Bak struggle into the one for independence against the U.S., the statement underscored the need to intensify the actions to check traitor Lee Myung Bak's moves for confrontation and defend and implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.


Kim Jong Il Highly Praised

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Round-table talks, lectures, reading sessions and a film show were held in Indonesia, Mongolia, Guinea and Laos in the period from June 2 to 5 to mark the 44th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    Present at the functions were figures and members of the National Leading Council of the Diversity Unity Party of Indonesia, the Federation of Peace and Friendship Organizations of Mongolia, the Mongolia-Korea Friendship Society, a Guinean dressmaking school and the Laos-Korea Tin Company.
    Speeches were made there.
    Nurdin Purnomo, chairman of the National Leading Council of the Indonesian party, said that Kim Jong Il is a great master of leadership who has developed the WPK into the most powerful party and his exploits performed for the strengthening of the WPK over the past 44 years are really great.
    Ch. Surenjav, chairman of the Mongolian society, noted that under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il the Korean people have achieved signal successes in building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    The principal of the Guinean school said that Kim Jong Il is the most prominent leader in the present era as he has won the absolute trust of all the people any other statesman in the world failed to do.
    The participants of the film show watched Korean film "We Will Follow You to the End of the Earth".
    A congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il was adopted at a lecture in Mongolia.


Anniversary of Joint Declaration Observed

   Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- The Brazil-Korea Friendship Association released a bulletin titled "June 15 Era of Reunification and Kim Jong Il" on June 8 on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of publication of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    The bulletin in an article said that the epoch-making reality of the June 15 era of reunification on the Korean Peninsula would have been unthinkable without General Secretary Kim Jong Il of the DPRK.
    Noting that Kim Jong Il ushered in and has defended the June 15 era of reunification with his Songun politics, the article said: If the national strength of the DPRK as a whole had failed to be consolidated as invincible one by the Songun politics, the Korean nation would have suffered the calamity of a war ignited by outsiders.
    The June 15 era of reunification, which started with the publication of the joint declaration 8 years ago, has entered a new phase of development through the adoption of the October 4 declaration, the bulletin said, adding: The advance of the Korean nation toward the reunification is a trend of history nobody and no force can stop.


For Spanish-speaking people



Kim Jong Il dirige el Complejo de Maquinaria de Pukjung

   Pyongyang, 16 de junio (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, dirigio sobre el terreno el Complejo de Maquinaria de Pukjung.
    Al recorrer varios procesos de produccion del complejo, el Dirigente hizo conocimiento detallado del estado de reconstruccion tecnica y de produccion.
    Evaluo altamente los meritos de la clase obrera del complejo destacando que ella contribuyo en gran medida al desarrollo de la industria naval al dedicar toda su inteligencia y pasion a la sagrada lucha por construir una patria prospera y, en particular, incremento subitamente la produccion al lograr en los ultimos anos un trascendental progreso tecnico.
    Este complejo, que despues del armisticio de la pasada guerra coreana (1950-1953) fabricaba el motor de tubo incandescente, se ha convertido hoy dia en una poderosa base de maquinaria capaz de fabricar modernos motores de diversos tipos necesarios al desarrollo de la industria naval del pais, enfatizo.
    Tras subrayar la gran importancia que tiene la industria de maquinaria en el desarrollo de la economia nacional, presento las tareas que tiene por delante el complejo.
    Ya que nuestro pais es el maritimo, hay que seguir prestando profunda atencion al desarrollo de la industria pesquera y al transporte maritimo, dijo y continuo que para este fin, el complejo debe producir mayor cantidad de eficientes motores de diversos modelos necesarios para la construccion de modernos barcos pesqueros y cargueros.
    Apunto que los productos de este complejo son modernas maquinas que requieren alta precision y anadio que para satisfacer los requisitos cientifico- tecnicos, hay que modernizar y cientifizar los procesos de produccion y dinamizar al mismo tiempos las labores para introducir las tecnologias avanzadas.
    Ratifico que sin la ciencia y tecnica no se puede pensar en el rapido desarrollo de la economia nacional y enseno que a fin de cumplir a tiempo en un alto nivel la tarea de produccion de los motores de barco y otros equipos asignados, el complejo debe impulsar con mas vigor la reconstruccion tecnologica basada en la ciencia y tecnica modernas.
    Acto seguido, el Dirigente felicito a los hombres benemeritos quienes contribuyeron a la produccion de maquinaria y se fotografio junto a ellos.
    Le acompano el secretario responsable del Comite del Partido del Trabajo de Corea en la Provincia de Phyong-an del Norte, Kim Phyong Hae.


Kim Jong Il dirige Combinado de Fundicion de Hierro Septiembre

   Pyongyang, 16 de junio (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il, Secretario General del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y Presidente del Comite de Defensa Nacional de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, dirigio sobre el terreno el Combinado de Fundicion de Hierro Septiembre.
    Ante todo, el Dirigente se detuvo frente al monumento a la visita de orientacion del Presidente Kim Il Sung donde al recordar la trayectoria que recorrio el combinado escucho la explicacion sobre el estado de materializacion de sus instrucciones dadas sobre el terreno.
    Acto seguido, recorrio el taller de acero donde se realizaba el trabajo de colada, el proceso de fundicion de hierro Juche acondicionado nuevamente y otros procesos de produccion para hacer conocimiento detallado del estado de equipamiento tecnico y la situacion de produccion.
    El Dirigente dijo que a resultas de la tenaz lucha que desplegaron los obreros y tecnicos de la empresa, los profesores e investigadores de la Universidad Politecnica Kim Chaek aunando sus fuerzas y facultades creadoras, se resolvio satisfactoriamente el problema de la produccion del hierro Juche de que se interesaba tanto el Presidente Kim Il Sung.
    Las valiosas experiencias, que acumularon los profesores e investigadores de la Universidad y los obreros de la empresa, prueban que solo al poner de pleno manifiesto el espiritu revolucionario de autoconfianza y el estilo de lucha es posible esperar ingenio extraordinario e invenciones innovadoras y allanar el campo especifico de ciencia y tecnica, destaco.
    El Dirigente indico las tareas que incumben a la empresa.
    Para acondicionar el combinado como empresa modelo, hay que seguir prestando primordial atencion a la modernizacion y cientifizacion, apunto.
    Expreso esperanza y conviccion de que la clase obrera del Combinado de Fundicion de Hierro Septiembre volvera a dar pruebas del temperamento heroico y espiritu de triunfo seguro.
    Le acompano el secretario responsable del Comite del PTC en la provincia de Phyong-an del Norte, Kim Phyong Hae.


Inaugurado congreso nacional para la reunificacion

   Monte Kumgang, 15 de junio (ATCC) -- Quedo inaugurado el dia 15 en este monte el Congreso Nacional para la Reunificacion en homenaje al VIII aniversario de la publicacion de la Declaracion Conjunta Norte-Sur del 15 de Junio.
    En la ocasion participaron las delegaciones de los Comites norteno, sureno y ultramarino para la Ejecucion de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio, presididas por el presidente An Kyong Ho, por el presidente Paek Rak Chong y por los copresidentes Kwak Tong Ui y Mun Tong Hwan.
    En el acto, Paek pronuncio el discurso de apertura.
    Acto seguido, tuvo lugar la Conferencia Nacional para la Ejecucion de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio y la Declaracion del 4 de Octubre, en la cual los delegados del Norte, el Sur de Corea y en ultramar hicieron uso de la palabra.
    Los oradores dijeron que gracias a los historicos encuentros-cumbre de ambas partes fueron publicadas dichas declaraciones, lo cual posibilito abrir el historico preludio de la epoca de la reunificacion independiente bajo el ideal de "Entre nosotros, los connacionales" y preparar el firme cimiento para la paz y la coprosperidad de la nacion.
    Se refirieron a los exitos logrados a lo largo de estos 8 anos en el camino para la reconciliacion, la unidad y la reunificacion independiente de la nacion y recalcaron que esto constituye clara prueba de la justeza y la vitalidad de la Declaracion Conjunta arriba mencionada.
    Senalaron que deben enarbolar la bandera de "Entre nosotros, los connacionales" y no permitir jamas cualesquier intentos y actos tendentes a palidecer la historica significacion de la Declaracion Conjunta Norte-Sur.
    En el foro fue aprobada la resolucion conjunta, que se refiere a que deben mantener invariablemente la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio como gran programa comun de la nacion para la reunificacion y frustrar tajantemente todas las maniobras de confrontacion y division que impiden la reconciliacion y la reunificacion nacional.
    El documento subraya la necesidad de desarrollar un energico movimiento pannacional por defender la dignidad, intereses y la soberania de la nacion rechazando el desafio e intervencion en los asuntos internos.
    Ademas, hace mencion de realizar la solidaridad con varios partidos politicos, entidades y personalidades de distintos sectores del interior y exterior del pais, ampliar el Comite Conjunto Nacional del 15 de Junio y elevar su posicion y papel.
    El mismo dia, se efectuo la fotoexhibicion conjunta del Norte, el Sur de Corea y ultramar y se ofrecio el banquete en conmemoracion del 8o aniversario de la publicacion de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio.


Clausurado congreso nacional para la reunificacion

   Monte Kumgang, 16 de junio (ATCC) -- Quedo clausurado este lunes el congreso nacional para la reunificacion en homenaje al 8o aniversario de la publicacion de la Declaracion Conjunta Norte-Sur del 15 de Junio, que habia sido inaugurado en este monte.
    Antes de la ceremonia de clausura, tuvo lugar la reunion de los copresidentes del Norte, el Sur y ultramar del Comite Nacional Conjunto del 15 de Junio.
    En la ocasion se discutieron los problemas relativos al mejoramiento del papel del Comite Nacional Conjunto y las entidades de distintos estratos del Norte, el Sur y ultramar en defender y ejecutar consecuentemente la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio y la Declaracion del 4 de Octubre frustrando las maniobras de las fuerzas opositoras a la reunificacion.
    Acto seguido, tuvo lugar la ceremonia de clausura en que primeramente hicieron uso de la palabra los delegados del Norte, el Sur y ultramar.
    El presidente del Comite Norteno para la Ejecucion de la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio, An Kyong Ho, pronuncio el discurso de clausura.
    El presente acto fue un conclave nacional muy significativo en que los delegados de distintos estratos del Norte, el Sur y ultramar discutieron sinceramente las medidas practicas para eliminar toda clase de obstaculos colocados en el curso de la epoca del 15 de Junio y llevar adelante el movimiento por la reunificacion de la patria, apunto.
    A traves del mitin, se manifesto patentemente la voluntad de la nacion de implementar la Declaracion Conjunta del 15 de Junio y la Declaracion del 4 de Octubre, dijo y subrayo que no hay nada que podra bloquear la corriente de la epoca que marcha bajo la bandera de "Entre nosotros, los connacionales".
    Como lo acordado unanimemente en la presente cita, todos los coreanos del Norte, el Sur y ultramar deben mantener y seguir glorificando la epoca de reunificacion independiente, exhorto.
    Este dia, los participantes en el acto realizaron un picnic en la zona del lago Samil.