Agreement Signed between DPRK and Laos

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- An agreement on the formation of the joint information committee between the Information Committee of the DPRK and the Ministry of Information and Culture of Laos was signed in Vientiane on Wednesday.
    Attending at the signing ceremony were the members of the delegation of the Information Committee of the DPRK headed by its Chairman Kang Nung Su who is minister of Culture and the DPRK ambassador to Laos from the DPRK side and Mounkeo Oraboun, minister of Information and Culture, and officials concerned from the Lao side.
    The agreement was inked by Kang Nung Su and Mounkeo Oraboun.


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

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- A presentation of compositions "Looking up to the Sun of Songun" written by foreign students studying at Kim Il Sung University and Kim Hyong Jik University of Education was held at the Pyongyang Cultural Exhibition Friday on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    They presented narrative poem "Echo of Mt. Ryongnam", visitor's account "Visiting Revolutionary Museum of Kim Il Sung University", travel note "Following Footprints of Songun Brilliant Commander" and other writings.
    They sang well Korean songs including "General on a Galloping White Horse" and "We Will Be Loyal Down through Generations", making the presentation more meaningful.
    Prior to this, they looked round pictures showing the immortal exploits of Kim Jong Il, famous works of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and books introducing politics, economy, culture and history of the DPRK.


Sports Contest for Pochonbo Torch Prize Closes

   Hyesan, June 20 (KCNA) -- The sports contest for the Pochonbo Torch Prize that opened on June 4 came to a close.
    Players of the April 25 Sports Group proved successful in men's weightlifting and women's swimming while players of the Sports Group of the Ministry of Land and Marine Transport in rowing and canoeing events.
    Male players of the Pyongyang City Sports Group and female players of the Rimyongsu Sports Group came first in judo and female players of the Amnokgang Sports Group placed first in weightlifting.
    A closing ceremony was held at the Hyesan Stadium on Friday.


Reception Given by British Ambassador

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- John Everard, British ambassador to the DPRK, hosted a reception on Thursday on the occasion of the official birthday of the British Queen (national holiday).
    Present there on invitation were Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Han Chol, vice-minister of Culture, Hong Son Ok, vice-chairperson of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, officials concerned, diplomatic envoys of various countries and representatives of international organizations here.
    On hand were staff members of the British embassy here.
    Speeches were made there.


North Hwanghae Provincial Taekwon-Do Group

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The North Hwanghae Provincial Taekwon-Do Group is well known to the country as a competent group.
    The group has finished the winner consecutively in recent years in the National Taekwon-Do Championships for Jongilbong Cup and the National Taekwon-Do Technical Renovation Contests which are held every year.
    The group gives a scientific training in Taekwon-Do, a traditional martial art of the nation, under a far-reaching plan.
    Coaches have introduced new training methods to bring up Taekwon-Do aces and its reserve players.
    The group has produced a number of world-renowned Taekwon-Do players and captured eight trophies and 540-odd medals including over 210 golds at domestic games.
    Players of the group carried away five golds, one silver and one bronze at the 3rd International Martial Arts Games held in Thailand in April.
    The group got off the ground in October Juche 86 (1997) from the North Hwanghae Provincial Taekwon-Do School.


Brisk City Greening

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- City greening is in full swing in the DPRK.
    The Pyongyang Flower Institute has intensified researches to increase flower resources. It has bred many species of beautiful and fragrant flower seeds by bioengineering method while improving flower varieties.
    The Pyongyang Greenery Station is not only planting and tending a lot of flower seedlings according to seasons but also scrupulously organizing the work of propagating them.
    The station transplants cosmos of new high-grade breed, rose and Weigela florida and other flower shrubs in streets every year in proper combination with evergreens in an effort to further beautify the towns and villages and provide the citizens with an environment of cultural and emotional life.
    In order to encourage floriculture throughout the country, the government organizes various flower shows and fairs and widely introduces how to cultivate flower plants and how to care flower gardens and general knowledge on flower plants through mass media.


Rodong Sinmun Observes Anniversary of Publication of Kim Jong Il's Work

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Friday dedicates a signed article to the 13th anniversary of the publication of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's work "Giving Priority to Ideological Work Is Essential for Accomplishing Socialism".
    The work published on June 19, Juche 84 (1995) comprehensively deals with the necessity to give priority to the ideological work in accomplishing the socialist cause, the basic tasks of the ideological work and the principle and ways for conducting it in the socialist society.
    The work is of great significance as it lucidly clarifies the truth of history that socialism wins, if a country holds fast to ideology, but it goes to ruin if it fails to do so, and indicates the way of making the socialist movement exceptionally vital, the article notes, and goes on:
    The publication of the work helped the people of the DPRK grasp the validity of the Party's line of attaching importance to the ideological work as stronger faith and provided the revolutionary parties and people with a powerful ideological and theoretical weapon for dynamically advancing the socialist cause while smashing the moves of the imperialists and the renegades of the revolution.
    The past more than decade since the work was published represents a fruitful period in which the greatness of the WPK steering the revolution and construction with the might of the ideology has been strikingly demonstrated.
    Kim Jong Il has led the revolution and construction to victory with the might of ideology. This wise leadership lies in the fact that he has strictly abided by the principle of giving priority to the ideological work under any conditions and circumstances and made sure that examples of the times were set one after another in the ideological work as required by the developing reality and actively generalized.
    It is thanks to the tested leadership of Kim Jong Il that the WPK has always conducted its ideological work with dynamism and a strong wave of leaping advance is sweeping throughout the country.
    The article calls for more thoroughly embodying the ideas and theories expounded by him in the work in order to glorify this year as a historical year to witness the fullest play of the mental power of all the servicepersons and people and a great leaping advance in the building of a great prosperous powerful nation.


Rodong Sinmun on Candlelight Actions in S. Korea

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The wave of people's dynamic candlelight actions sweeping all parts of south Korea is not a simple struggle to defend the vital rights from the import of American beef but a just patriotic struggle for protecting the sovereign dignity and rights of the nation and eliminating the group of traitors.
    Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article, and goes on:
    It is quite natural for the south Korean people to turn out in the struggle with candles in their hands to put an end to the traitorous policy of the Lee Myung Bak regime.
    Lee wrested power with the promise to recover "economy", take care of the "people's livelihood" and enforce "a policy for the common people". But he has done nothing for the toiling masses.
    Traitor Lee, regarding foreign forces more important than compatriots, has pursued with increased zeal the moves for confrontation and war against the DPRK in league with the U.S. and Japan, clamoring about the "restoration of the relations" with those countries and "stronger alliance".
    In the final analysis, the Lee "government" has done nothing but deepening south Korea's colonial dependency upon foreign forces, deteriorating economy and the people's livelihood and bedeviling the inter-Korean relations.
    It is the requirement of the times and the unanimous desire of the popular masses to develop the on-going vigorous candlelight actions in south Korea into all-people resistance for independence, democracy and reunification.
    The south Korean people are now aware that they can hardly think of social justice and progress or their existence as long as the Lee group are allowed to ride roughshod.
    They are nothing but cancer-like betes noires as they only do harm to the fellow countrymen. A boil should be lanced and a poisonous herb rooted out.


S. Korean Puppet Forces' Large-Scale Coordinated Land Exercise Flayed

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- A division of the puppet army of south Korea announced that it would stage a large-scale coordinated land exercise in areas of Jinjop town in Namyangju City and Naechon-myon in Phochon City of Kyonggi Province from June 18 to 20, according to KBS of south Korea.
    It was reported that armed forces and equipment would be massively involved in this exercise aiming at building a "civilian-government-army coordinated defence system".
    Keeping pace with the moves escalated by the U.S. imperialists for a war of aggression against the DPRK in south Korea and in the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula, the Lee Myung Bak bellicose forces are using the puppet armed forces for fanning up the atmosphere of confrontation and throwing hurdles in the way of achieving independent reunification, peace and prosperity.


U.S. Imperialists and S. Korean Puppet Forces' Anti-DPRK War Exercises Flayed

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The warmongers of the U.S. imperialist aggressor troops and the south Korean puppet forces are now busy with joint exercises for a war of aggression against the DPRK, bringing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to an extreme pitch of tension, according to a military source.
    The exercises that started on June 16 with the massive involvement of F-15Ks of the puppet air force and F-16 and A-10 of the U.S. 7th air force in south Korea and strategic bombers, fighter bombers and air-refueling tanker from Pacific and the U.S. mainland have now reached their height.
    On June 17 a formation of Guam-based B-52H of the U.S. imperialist aggressor troops staged a madcap long-distance navigation drill under the simulated conditions of an actual war. They flew into the sky above south Korea and dropped bombs before flying back to the base, being refueled in the mid-air.
    Fighter bombers and assault planes belonging to the U.S. 7th air force and fighter bombers of the puppet air force staged madcap air battle exercises and drills of attacking ground targets and providing close air support on June 16 and 19.
    A guided missile destroyer of the 7th fleet of the U.S. Navy entered Pusan Port on June 13 and flying corps of the U.S. and puppet air forces were busy staging joint search operation drills in the sea from June 17 to 19.
    The puppet traitors kicked off a war maneuver on June 18 under the pretext of coping with "a contingency" after amassing armed forces in areas of Namyang, Phochon and Ryonchon of Kyonggi Province and are set to stage it till June 27.
    These madcap war maneuvers under way on the ground and in the sea and air are reckless plays with fire aimed at mounting a surprise preemptive attack on the DPRK.
    The U.S. and the south Korean puppets had better stop running amuck, pondering over the serious consequences to be entailed by their anti-DPRK war moves.


Candlelight Action Staged in Seoul

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- A candlelight rally against the import of American beef took place at the plaza in front of the Seoul City Office on June 18 with citizens of different social standings attending.
    Speakers at the rally said that the Lee Myung Bak group is conducting additional negotiations on the import of American beef in the U.S., emphasizing that all the people are aware that no matter how hard the chief of the headquarters for trade negotiations may try to conclude the additional negotiations, he will not succeed in regaining the people's right to protect their health and their right to quarantine inspection."
    Noting that the recently disclosed random sale of beef fraught with the danger of "mad cow disease" in the U.S. is again touching off international concern and criticism, they declared that the hygienic and quarantine inspection made by the U.S. of such beef can never be trusted.
    They warned that if the Lee Myung Bak group of traitors bars citizens from staging a large-scale candlelight demonstration on June 21 with "Myung Bak walled mountains", they will counter them with "people's bulwark".
    At the end of the rally, the participants staged a demonstration.


Kim Jong Il's Work Published in Mexico

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il's famous work "Giving Priority to Ideological Work Is Essential for Accomplishing Socialism" was brought out in booklet by the People's Socialist Party of Mexico Publishing House on June 12.
    The work published on June 19, Juche 84(1995) clarifies the idea of holding fast to the ideological work and keeping it ahead of all other work in order to successfully accomplish the cause of socialism.
    The work also expounds the idea that the main task of the ideological work is to model the whole society on the socialist idea and the ideological work should be conducted on the principle and by the method conforming to the intrinsic requirements of socialism.


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

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held in a city of Poland, a Korean book, photo and handicraft exhibition in Podolsk City in Moscow Region and a youth concert "Evening expressing reverence for General Kim Jong Il," a book and photo exhibition, a friendly meeting and a film show were held by the Laos-Korea Youth Friendship Centre and the Laos-Korea Tin Company in the period from June 5 to 11 on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    Displayed in the venues of the functions were famous works of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, photos showing their immortal feats, photos introducing Songun Korea and handicrafts representing the wisdom and talents of the Korean people.
    Speeches were made at the functions.
    The program of the above-said concert included such Korean songs as "Song of General Kim Jong Il", "Best Wishes" and "We Believe in You as in Heaven" and Lao songs.


Kim Jong Il's Party Leadership Feats Praised

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Political figures in Uzbekistan and Uganda made public statements on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    The director of the International Department of the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan said in a statement on June 16 that Kim Jong Il has demonstrated his quality and personality as an outstanding statesman and great leader of the people, looking after all party and state affairs of the DPRK for more than four decades.
    It is thanks to the Songun policy of Kim Jong Il that the DPRK is standing up firm against the U.S. styling itself "world's only super power" and opening up a new era of building a great prosperous powerful socialist nation full of confidence and optimism.
    The chairman of the Kampala City Committee of the Uganda National Resistance Movement noted in a statement on June 13 that Kim Jong Il has performed the undying exploits for the Korean and world revolutions, leading the WPK for nearly half a century.
    Under the dynamic and outstanding leadership of Kim Jong Il the WPK has demonstrated its might before the world as an organizer and guide of all victories of the Korean people, he noted, adding that the world unanimously admires the rock-firm unity and cohesion of the WPK and its perfect art to steer the revolution and construction.


June 15 Joint Declaration Supported

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The Institute for Foreign Policy Studies, the Council for History Studies, the Institute for Public Management Studies, the World Affairs Council and the Educational Association of India made public a joint statement on June 14 on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    The statement said that the joint declaration is a great banner indicating the way of achieving Korean reunification, adding that "By our nation itself", the basic spirit of the declaration, has become the spirit of the era for the Korean people desirous of independent reunification and an idea for all Koreans.
    The reality goes to prove that the June 15 era of reunification promises reunification and prosperity of Korea and nobody can divert or stop the advance of the Koreans hewing out their destiny by their concerted efforts, the statement noted, calling upon the world progressives to voice stronger support and solidarity for the Korean people in their struggle for the independent reunification of the country.
    Meanwhile, the Society for the Promotion of the Relations between Austria and DPRK in a statement issued on June 15 hoped that all work for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula would make successful progress in the spirit of the joint declaration.


More Dynamic Movement for Inviting Koreans in Japan to Come to Fold of Chongryon Called for

   Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- An enlarged meeting of the 2nd session of the 29th Standing Council of the Korean Federation of Workers in Commerce in Japan (KFWCJ) was held at the Korean Commercial Hall in Tokyo on June 17.
    Ho Jong Man, chief vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), addressing the meeting, called on all the workers in commerce to join in the "100 day movement for inviting Koreans in Japan to come to the fold of Chongryon" proposed by the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon to greet the 60th anniversary of the DPRK with ardent patriotism and shining success in the work. He underscored the need for the KFWCJ to treat with warm compatriotic love the compatriots undergoing all sorts of ordeals and pain and render devoted service for the worthwhile future of compatriots.
    He also called upon all the Korean workers in commerce to promote the reestablishment and expansion of the economic network of compatriots and exalt the dignity and authority of the commercial organization inside and outside Japan.
    A reporter and speakers at the meeting underlined the need to achieve shining successes in the above-said movement.
    Meanwhile, the 2nd meeting of the 21st Central Committee of the Korean Youth League in Japan was also held on the same day.
    A reporter and speakers at the meeting pointed to the successes and experience the youth league has gained in the movement by keeping pace with the drive of the youth in the homeland, stressing the need for the league to play a vanguard role in the movement.


For Spanish-speaking people



Kim Jong Il recibe telegrama de agradecimiento de Xi Jinping

   Pyongyang, 20 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, Kim Yong Nam y Yang Hyong Sop, presidente y vicepresidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema, recibieron un telegrama de agradecimiento que les dirigiera el dia 19 Xi Jinping, miembro del Comite Permanente del Buro Politico del Comite Central del Partido Comunista de China y vicepresidente de la Republica Popular China, partiendo de esta capital tras terminar su visita a Corea.
    En la misiva el remitente expresa a los destinatarios sincero agradecimiento por haber dado cordial hospitalidad a los visitantes y organizado minucioso programa de visita y continua:
    Durante la visita no solo vimos el hermoso paisaje de Corea sino tambien presenciamos con nuestros ojos los exitos loables que bajo la direccion del Partido del Trabajo de Corea encabezado por el Secretario General Kim Jong Il el pueblo coreano ha logrado en la causa de la construccion socialista y pudimos sentir en carne propia el sentimiento de profunda amistad del pueblo coreano al chino.
    Durante nuestra estancia aqui, intercambiamos con profundidad las opiniones sobre las relaciones China-Corea y otros problemas de interes comun y alcanzamos amplia comprension comun.
    A traves de la presente visita ambas partes profundizaron mas el entendimiento y la confianza mutuos y promovieron el intercambio y cooperacion en varios sectores entre los dos paises.
    Estoy satisfecho del exito logrado en la presente visita.
    Deseo a la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea el enriquecimiento y prosperidad y al pueblo coreano la felicidad.


Presentacion de composiciones de estudiantes extranjeros en Corea

   Pyongyang, 20 de junio (ATCC) -- Con motivo del 44o aniversario del inicio (el 19 de junio de 1964) del trabajo del Dirigente Kim Jong Il en el Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, tuvo lugar el dia 20 en la Exposicion Permanente de Cultura de Pyongyang la presentacion de composiciones "Adorando al Sol del Songun (priorizacion militar)", creadas por los estudiantes extranjeros que cursan en la Universidad Kim Il Sung y la Universidad Pedagogica Kim Hyong Jik.
    En la ocasion ellos publicaron los articulos como la poesia narrativa "Ecos del monte Ryongnam", las notas de visita "En el Museo de la Historia Revolucionaria de la Universidad Kim Il Sung", las notas de viaje "Siguiendo las huellas del General Insigne del Songun".
    Los participantes dieron mas significado a ese encuentro al interpretar perfectamente las canciones coreanas "General corre a caballo blanco", "Con la eterna fidelidad" y otras.
    Con anterioridad, los estudiantes extranjeros pasaron revista a las obras maestras del Presidente Kim Il Sung y el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, las fotos alusivas a las hazanas inmortales de este y los libros que dan a conocer la politica, la economia, la cultura y la historia de Corea.


Funcion por el 44o de inicio de trabajo de Kim Jong Il en CC de PTC

   Pyongyang, 20 de junio (ATCC) -- Tuvo lugar el dia 19 en la Casa Central de la Juventud la funcion de canciones y bailes en homenaje al 44o aniversario del inicio del trabajo del Dirigente Kim Jong Il en el Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea.
    La disfrutaron los cuadros del partido, el ejercito y el Estado, los funcionarios de las instituciones del partido y las fuerzas armadas, organizaciones de masas, ministerios y organos centrales, oficiales y soldados del Ejercito Popular de Corea y trabajadores capitalinos.
    En la escena presentada por los artistas de las entidades artisticas centrales se pusieron el solo femenino y coro "Cancion al camarada Kim Jong Il", la orquesta de cuerda "Trotes en el Paektu", el baile "Azalea de la patria", el trio femenino "Partido Madre", el coro femenino "Nilriri del Songun", el coro "Arirang de prosperidad" y otras piezas.
    Los ejecutantes elogiaron altamente las imborrables hazanas del Dirigente quien con la gran idea, la teoria y la destacada capacidad politica, convirtio el PTC en la fuerza orientadora de la revolucion del Songun y el autentico partido madre que conduce a la victoria la causa de la independencia de las masas populares.
    El mismo dia se ofrecio tambien la funcion de los integrantes del grupo artistico del Palacio de Escolares y Ninos de Mangyongdae.


Festividades en varios paises por 19 de junio

   Pyongyang, 20 de junio (ATCC) -- En ocasion del 44o aniversario del inicio del trabajo del Dirigente Kim Jong Il en el Comite Central del Partido del Trabajo de Corea, tuvieron lugar del dia 5 al 11 el mitin en una ciudad de Polonia, la exhibicion de libros, fotos, bordados y productos artesanales de Corea en la ciudad de Podolsk de la region de Moscu de Rusia, el concierto de la juventud "Noche de veneracion al General Kim Jong Il", la exhibicion de libros y fotos, el encuentro de amistad y la proyeccion filmica en el Centro Juvenil de Amistad Laos-Corea y la Compania de Estano Laos-Corea.
    En las ocasiones fueron exhibidas las obras maestras del Presidente Kim Il Sung y el Dirigente Kim Jong Il, las fotos sobre sus imborrables hazanas, las otras alusivas a la Corea del Songun (priorizacion militar), los bordados y productos artesanales que muestran el ingenio y los talentos del pueblo coreano.
    En los actos hubo discursos.
    En el concierto ofrecido en Laos fueron interpretadas las canciones coreanas tales como "Cancion del General Kim Jong Il", "Deseo" y "Le confiamos como el cielo" y las laosianas.