Credentials of Sri Lankan Ambassador Accepted
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, received credentials from Karunatilaka Amunugama, Sri Lankan ambassador to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present on the occasion was Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.
The president talked with the ambassador after receiving the credentials.
DPRK FM Meets New Sri Lankan Ambassador
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, had a talk with Karunatilaka Amunugama, Sri Lankan ambassador newly accredited to the DPRK, on Wednesday when the latter paid a courtesy call on him.
Choe Thae Bok Meets Luxembourgian Delegation
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and had a talk with the delegation of the Christian Social People's Party of Luxembourg led by Frank Engel, member of the Standing Committee of the party, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Wednesday.
Congratulations to Prime Minister of Serbia
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Kim Yong Il sent a congratulatory message to Mirko Cvetkovic on Tuesday on his appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia.
Kim in the message wished the Prime Minister success in his noble work for the prosperity of the country.
Meanwhile, DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun sent a congratulatory message to Vuk Jeremic on his reappointment as foreign minister of Serbia.
Lot of Sea of Blood-Style Revolutionary Operas Produced
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- Many Sea of Blood-style revolutionary operas were produced in the DPRK for the last decades since the revolutionary opera "Sea of Blood" was staged for the first time on July 17, Juche 60 (1971).
"The Flower Girl", "A Story of a Nurse", "Tell the Story, Forest!" and "The Song of Mt. Kumgang" were created with the "Sea of Blood" as a classic model.
The Sea of Blood-style revolutionary operas are run through with the profound philosophical nature and instill the truth of the class struggle and the revolutionary view on life into the audience and make a proper combination of popular character and national identity and simplicity. They are characterized by new original ways of opera representation such as the introduction of stanzas, pangchang, dances and streamlined three-dimensional stage decor.
The first year of the new century witnessed the 1,500th-performance of the revolutionary opera "Sea of Blood". The above-said five revolutionary operas are becoming more popular as the masterpieces of the era with the passage of time.
Nearly 300 famous music pieces of the operas are greatly loved by the people of the DPRK for being songs of life and struggle.
The above-said five revolutionary operas were staged in many countries of Asia, Europe and Africa, demonstrating the vitality of the Juche-based opera art to the whole world.
Drawing on the successes made in the creation of the five revolutionary operas, art troupes in Pyongyang and local areas produced such revolutionary operas as "Under the Bright Sun", "The Victory of Revolution Is in Sight", "Sea of Love", "The Bank of the River Tuman Bright with Morning Glow" and "Women of Namgang Village."
Oldest Buddhist Temple in Korea
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- The Kwangbop Temple located at the foot of Mt. Taesong in Pyongyang is the oldest one among the remaining Buddhist temples in Korea.
The temple, built in 392 A.D. when Buddhism began to be disseminated in the country, is a priceless historical relic showing the excellent architecture of the ancestors and time-honored cultural tradition.
The temple, which had been used as a center of religious life of Buddhists, boasting of its long history, was devastated completely by brutal bombings of the U.S. imperialists in July 1952 when the Korean War was at its height.
Even Buddhists had stopped visiting the place for scores of years since then. But it has been restored to its original state at the very site thanks to the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK for properly preserving and managing the cultural remains of the nation and ensuring the freedom of religion by law and in practice.
President Kim Il Sung visited the temple on February 12, Juche 80(1991). Then he said that there are many historical remains permeated with wisdom and talent of the Korean ancestors in different parts of the country, stressing that the historical relics and remains should be preserved and managed well as they are precious heritages giving national pride to the people.
The temple is often visited by Buddhists and people at home and abroad.
The chief priest of the temple conducts the visitors to the main building, Buddhist monastery and other buildings of the temple and its surroundings, saying that the Kwangbop Temple is well preserved and managed thanks to the government's cultural preservation policy.
Phanmun Hardy-orange Tree, Natural Treasure
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- There are lots of trees which have been registered as natural treasures in the DPRK.
Among them is Phanmun hardy-orange tree in Kaesong City.
The Phanmun hardy-orange tree is of significance in the study of its distribution as it grows in the northern boundary of its distribution.
The tree, 60-odd years old, has three trunks, each being respectively 52 centimeters, 46 centimeters and 45 centimeters in circumference.
It is 4.2 meters high and its crown is 5 meters in diameter.
The tree is round-shaped, adding beauty to the surrounding scenery.
Reckless Remarks of Commander of U.S. Forces in S. Korea Assailed
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- The newly appointed commander of U.S. forces in south Korea recently talked about the DPRK's "application" of what he called "Iraqi armed forces' tactics." Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary dismisses his remarks as a very insolent and grave political and military provocation as they seriously defile and hurt the dignity and self-esteem of the DPRK.
It goes on:
What merits a serious attention is the aggressive nature and danger of his anti-DPRK outbursts.
The remarks made by him calling on the U.S. forces and the south Korean armed forces to cope with something are nothing but sophism intended to introduce modern offensive means into south Korea under the pretext of "threat" from the DPRK and thus round off their preparations for starting the second Korean war.
As a matter of fact, the U.S war-thirsty forces are mulling the continued delivery of the latest type war hardware and other equipment such as interceptor missiles to the south Korean puppets.
What merits a particularly serious attention is that the U.S. is contemplating plugging south Korea into the missile defense system (MD). After listing the DPRK as the main target of the MD, the U.S. warlike forces are seeking to build it on the Korean Peninsula in collusion with the south Korean puppet armed forces. They are now actively involved in it.
The U.S. bellicose forces are massively bringing their forces of aggression into south Korea, a blatant challenge to the DPRK, their dialogue partner. This is further deteriorating the situation. This reckless criminal act, a revelation of the U.S. unchangeable hostile policy towards the DPRK, is hamstringing the process of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and leading the situation to the brink of war.
If the U.S. truly stands for detente and peace on the Korean Peninsula, it should take a practical step for dropping its hostile policy towards the DPRK which finds its manifestation in the massive introduction of armed forces of aggression into south Korea and military provocations against the DPRK.
Candlelight Action Unabated in S. Korea
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- People of different social standings in south Korea waged a candlelight action in Seoul on July 13 in protest against the import of American beef and the authorities' scheme to put media under their control.
The speakers at the candlelight rally bitterly condemned the police for terming the candlelight actions "illegal" and brutally cracking down upon them.
They demanded that the "government" withdraw the humiliating "official instructions" on the hygienic conditions for the American beef import and conduct the overall renegotiations on it.
At the end of the rally, its participants staged a demonstration.
After arriving at the building of the "Yonhap News Agency," the demonstrators joined its unionists going on a sit-in strike in front of the main entrance to protest the Lee Myung Bak traitorous group's ploy to put media under its control.
They contended that if the group is allowed to appoint its lackey director general of the "Yonhap News Agency," it will not be able to fulfill its mission as a public media organ but be reduced to a private institution for the specified forces.
Noting that the Lee "government" is seeking to put under its control not only the "Yonhap News Agency" but KBS and MBC one by one, they held that such scheme should never be allowed.
They went on an all-night sit-in strike.
Anniversary of Demise of Kim Il Sung Commemorated
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- A remembrance meeting, a seminar on the feats of President Kim Il Sung, a photo exhibition and a film show took place in Pakistan on July 7 and 8 on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of his demise.
On display in the venue of the photo exhibition were photos showing the revolutionary career and immortal exploits of the peerlessly great man.
The minister of Information of the Sind Provincial Government said at the meeting that Kim Il Sung pursued the policy of believing in the people as in Heaven, regarding as a maxim of life and struggle the truth that if one trusts the people and depends on them, one is sure to always emerge victorious but if one is forsaken by the people, one is bound to always suffer a defeat.
He continued:
The President traveled a lot to mix with people. He visited every nook and corner of the country to provide field guidance till the last moments of his life, always finding himself among people.
Akrak Aktar Hamidi, chairman of the Society for the Study of Self-Reliance of Pakistan, at the seminar, referred to the fact that the President fathered the immortal Juche idea, clearly indicating the way to be followed by humankind.
A director of the Social Science Institute in Karachi noted at the seminar that progressive humankind is well aware of the undying exploits of the President, adding that the DPRK is a great country which has emerged victorious thanks to the single-minded unity of the leader, the Party and the masses and a country which successfully accomplished the cause of perpetuating the memory of the President.
Letters to General Secretary Kim Jong Il were adopted at the meeting and the seminar.
Kim Il Sung Remembered in Bulgaria
Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- The Bulgaria-Korea Friendship Association issued its bulletin on July 8.
The bulletin in an article said that the demise of Kim Il Sung, President of the DPRK, was an indescribably great loss for the Korean people and the progressive people of the world.
It recalled General Secretary Kim Jong Il made sure that the Kumsusan Memorial Palace was built into a supreme temple of Juche and the Juche Year and the Day of the Sun were instituted, thus successfully accomplishing the cause of perpetuating the memory of the President.
Pointing in detail to the fact that the President was awarded orders, medals and honorary titles by many countries of the world and international organizations, the bulletin stressed that the world progressives pay highest tribute to the President.
It edited articles titled "Pyongyang Declaration" and "Month of International Solidarity with the Korean People".
For Spanish-speaking people
Kim Yong Nam recibe cartas credenciales de embajador srilankes
Pyongyang, 16 de julio (ATCC) -- Karunatilaka Amunugama entrego este miercoles en el Palacio de los Congresos Mansudae al presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, Kim Yong Nam, las cartas credenciales que le acreditan como nuevo embajador extraordinario y plenipotenciario de la Republica Democratica Socialista de Sri Lanka en Corea.
En la ocasion estuvo presente el vicecanciller coreano Kim Yong Il.
Tras recibirlas, Kim Yong Nam departio con el representante diplomatico.
Templo budista mas antiguo en Corea
Pyongyang, 16 de julio (ATCC) -- El Templo Kwangpop al pie del monte Taesong de Pyongyang es el mas antiguo de Corea.
Es un templo construido en 392, primer periodo cuando se divulgaba el budismo en Corea. Es una de las valiosas reliquias historicas que demuestran la sobresaliente arquitectura y larga tradicion cultural de los antepasados.
El templo sirvio de una base de vida religiosa de los budistas, pero se destruyo completamente por el bombardeo indiscriminado de los imperialistas yanquis en julio de 1952, periodo de la Guerra de Liberacion de la Patria.
En el mismo terreno a donde no frecuentaban hasta los budistas durante decenas de anos posteriores, se reconstruyo en estado original el Templo Kwangpop gracias a la politica del Partido del Trabajo de Corea y el gobierno de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea de conservar bien los patrimonios culturales nacionales y asegurar legal y practicamente la libertad de la creencia religiosa.
El Presidente Kim Il Sung recorrio el templo el 12 de febrero del 80 (1991) de la Era Juche y dijo que por doquier de nuestro pais abundan reliquias historicas en que estan impregnados el ingenio y el talento de los antepasados. Dio instrucciones de conservar bien los vestigios y reliquias historicas que infunden el orgullo y dignidad nacional al pueblo.
Ahora al Templo Kwangpop vienen con frecuencia los budistas y los visitantes del pais y el extranjero.
El sacerdote en jefe del templo dice a los visitantes que gracias a la politica de conservacion cultural del Estado el Templo Kwangpop se mantiene excelentemente en estado original y los guia a recorrer el pabellon Taeung, el monasterio y otros edificios del templo y sus periferias.
Editado boletin en Bulgaria
Pyongyang, 16 de julio (ATCC) -- La Asociacion de Amistad Bulgaria-Corea dio a luz el dia 8 el boletin.
El articulo insertado en el boletin senala que el fallecimiento del camarada Kim Il Sung, Presidente de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea fue una gran perdida indecible para el pueblo coreano y la humanidad progresista del mundo.
Apunta que el Dirigente Kim Jong Il hizo acondicionar el Palacio Memorial Kumsusan como el sagrado lugar supremo del Juche y definir la Era Juche y el Dia del Sol, y de esta manera realizo con brillantez la causa de la eternidad del Lider.
El boletin dio a conocer detalladamente que numerosos paises del mundo y las organizaciones internacionales otorgaron al Presidente Kim Il Sung las ordenes, medallas y titulos honorificos y agrego que la humanidad progresista del mundo le rinde el mas noble homenaje.
Ademas, redacta los articulos intitulados "Declaracion de Pyongyang" y "Mes de solidaridad internacional con el pueblo coreano"
Rodong Sinmun condena al comandante yanqui en Sur de Corea
Pyongyang, 16 de julio (ATCC) -- Recientemente, el nuevo comandante de las tropas norteamericanas ocupantes del Sur de Corea hablo de la supuesta "aplicacion de tacticas de las fuerzas insurgentes de Irak" por parte de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea.
Esto deviene una provocacion politico-militar que ofende e insulta gravemente la dignidad y el orgullo de Corea.
Asi senala el periodico Rodong Sinmun en un comentario individual de este miercoles y continua:
Lo problematico del caso es el caracter agresivo y peligroso que entrana ese disparate anti-RPDC.
En particular, el dijo que las "tropas norteamericanas y el ejercito surcoreano tienen que hacer frente" al supuesto rival, partiendo de su artimana de dar buen impulso a los trabajos para introducir en suelo surcoreano modernos medios de ataque utilizando como pretexto a la RPDC y ultimar la preparacion de la segunda guerra coreana.
Realmente, las fuerzas belicistas norteamericanas tratan de seguir entregando a los titeres surcoreanos el misil antibalistico y otros armamentos sofisticados.
Lo mas grave es que EE.UU. trata de involucrar al Sur de Corea en el establecimiento del sistema antimisiles.
Hoy dia, las fuerzas belicistas norteamericanas planean implantar en la Peninsula Coreana con la incorporacion activa del ejercito titere surcoreano una red de defensa antimisil, cuyo blanco principal sera evidentemente la RPDC.
Ellas insultan arbitrariamente a la RPDC, su contraparte del dialogo, e introducen en gran medida las fuerzas armadas agresoras en el Sur de Corea agravando mas la situacion.
Esto es la demostracion de su invariable politica hostil a Corea y el imprudente acto criminal para detener el proceso de desnuclearizacion de la Peninsula Coreana y llevar la situacion al borde de la guerra.
Si EE.UU. desea de veras el alivio de tension y la paz en la Peninsula Coreana, debe tomar la medida practica de abandonar su politica hostil a Corea que se expresa en el aumento de las fuerzas armadas agresoras en suelo surcoreano y en los actos de provocacion militar contra la RPDC.