Current News Articles
(Note: Here we collect the articles which give us a thinking. We hope you should also read them and think over as we do. However, the views expressed in the articles are not necessarily the same as ours.)
Rainy Season Begins in Korea
Pyongyang, July 4 (KCNA) -- The rainy season has set in across Korea from July 2.
Ryu Ki Ryol, director of the Central Hydro-Meteorological Institute under the Hydro-Meteorological Service, said in an interview with KCNA:
The rainy season this year came two days earlier than the previous years (July 4).
It poured in many areas of the country from 00:00 on July 2 to 12:00 on 3. The precipitations of Kusong County and Tongchang County, North Phyongan Province is respectively 113mm and 107mm, that of Sepho County, Kangwon Province 108mm and that of Yonan County, South Hwanghae Province 102mm.
The rainy season between July and August is related to the phenomena that damp air of high temperature is moving towards the country while the high atmospheric pressure formed in the northwest Pacific expanding towards it.
The rainfall in this season is tantamount to over 60 percent of the annual precipitation.
The rainy seasons in recent years are characterized with heavy rains or downpours.
The heavy rains, coupled with strong wind, often cause damage by flood, standing water and rainstorms.
It is expected that it will rain heavily in July, one month earlier than last year.
S. Korean Authorities' Traitorous "Pragmatism" under Fire
Pyongyang, May 30 (KCNA) -- The "pragmatism" advocated by the Lee Myung Bak group has resulted in nothing but increasing south Korea's colonial dependence, aggravating economic bankruptcy and impoverishment of people's living and bedeviling inter-Korean relations. With nothing can it justify "pragmatism" or convince anybody.
Rodong Sinmun today says this in its commentator's article.
Unacceptable is "pragmatism" touted by the Lee Myung Bak group as it is a criminal move to cover up their true colors as sycophantic traitors keen on confrontation with the north, stem the trend of the times towards independent reunification and peace and prosperity and reduce the inter-Korean relations to a plaything of outside forces, the article asserts, and goes on:
Lee's loudmouthed "pragmatism" is nothing but a treacherous rash act as it negates the idea common to the nation and incites confrontation with fellow countrymen, ignoring the fundamental characteristics and reality of the inter-Korean relations.
"No nukes, opening and 3,000 dollars" peddled by traitor Lee Myung Bak as a "policy toward the north" suffices to prove that he is desperately pursuing the confrontation between the north and the south in ideology, ism and system while calling for someone's "change" and blaming "human rights issue".
Lurking behind the signboard of "pragmatism" put up by Lee is his reactionary intention to negate and quell the spirit of "By our nation itself", the idea common to the nation clarified in the June 15 joint declaration.
"Pragmatism" on the lips of Lee is no more than an anti- reunification watchword as it is intended to reduce the inter-Korean relations to those between businessmen seeking selfish aims and perpetuate the national division in his own interests.
"National interests" and "reciprocity" oft-repeated by the Lee group are quite contrary to the principle governing the inter-Korean relations and the purpose of inter-Korean cooperation reflecting the unanimous will of the nation. These phraseologies go to prove that they are seized with the philistine disposition of the mean-spirited dealers who give primary consideration to narrow-minded pursuit of interests and seek their own profits, utterly indifferent to interests common to the nation and reunification.
Lee's "pragmatism" is little short of a hideous act of treachery as it is intended to sell off the national interests to the outsiders and make the dignity and sovereignty of the nation their plaything.
Under the signboard of "pragmatic diplomacy" Lee advocated the "priority to the south Korea-U.S. relations", claiming that the "development of inter-Korean relations is possible only when the relations between south Korea and the U.S. remain good." He also blustered that he would deal with the inter-Koreans relations depending on the relations with the U.S. He went the lengths of uttering that he would settle the issue of inter-Korean relations in the context of external relations by internationalizing it.
Lee, not satisfied with leaving south Korea to the tender mercy of outside forces, seeks to make the inter-Korean relations subject to the relations with the U.S in a bid to sell off the national interests to foreign forces.
The ulterior motive of Lee's "pragmatism" was brought to light by the recent visits he paid to the U.S. and Japan under the signboard of "pragmatic diplomacy."
He described cooperation with fellow countrymen as a "drain on resources", but was busy offering everything to his American and Japanese masters, disgustingly kowtowing to them. This is truth of the Lee group's loudmouthed "programmatic diplomacy."
All those facts go to prove that "pragmatism" much publicized by Lee is nothing but a fig-leaf to cover up the true colors of the Lee group as traitors and anti-reunification elements as it is the most odious sycophantic and treacherous watchword and the one aimed at realizing his political ambition by sacrificing the national interests to serve the outside forces.
KCNA Blasts Japan's Foolish Way of Thinking
Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- Japan is now working hard to keep the U.S. from delisting the DPRK as "sponsor of terrorism" as if it has no more important political and diplomatic pending issue than this.
Politicians of Japan still join the conservative forces in calling for prevention of delisting, pulling up the DPRK over the "abduction issue."
The chief delegate of Japan to the six-party talks said in a talk with the U.S. assistant secretary of State on March 17 that "the matter of delisting north Korea as sponsor of terrorism is a matter decisive of the Japan-U.S. alliance," calling for the "perfect bilateral relations of trust."
It is not an issue pertaining to a specified country to ensure peace including the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
That is why the countries concerned of the six-party talks and other countries in the region should behave themselves.
Such action of the chief delegate of Japan fully reveals its ruling quarters' wrong stand and attitude toward the talks.
In fact, Japan was more greatly satisfied than any other country over the fact that the delisting process went without result last year, regarding this as a success of Japan's diplomacy.
This "diplomacy of pressure upon the DPRK" has been criticized not only in the international community but also in Japan.
Nevertheless, Japan is conducting poor diplomacy in a bid to disturb the six-party talks and fish in troubled waters.
But, it is greatly mistaken.
There will be nothing for Japan to get as it has failed to take its own position at the six-party talks due to its impure behavior and, on the contrary, been recognized as a disturber.
It is a political mistake and an act of going against the trend of the times that the Fukuda regime has got illusion about the above-said "diplomacy" as its predecessors did.
In 1970s Japan had to swallow up a bitter cup behind the diplomacy between China and the U.S. because of its failure to conduct effective East Asia diplomacy. If it drew a historical lesson from this, it would be logical that the present Japanese government authorities' diplomacy toward the DPRK over the international political and diplomatic affairs should be in step with the trend of the times.
It is preposterous that Japan has linked the already settled "abduction issue" with the matter of delisting.
Japan's shamelessness and moral vulgarity have been felt more keenly when taking into consideration the case of Germany, which has shown sincere stance and attitude toward the settlement of the past in the new century.
Japan had better get rid of such foolish way of thinking as going against the universal trend of the international political developments.
Japanese Foreign Minister's Reckless Remarks Refuted
Pyongyang, March 11 (KCNA) -- Some days ago, Japanese Foreign Minister Komura in a NHK TV appearance blustered that Japan would economically "cooperate" with north Korea if it fulfills its commitments, adding that "by the settlement of the past he meant huge economic aid."
Commenting on Komura's ridiculous remarks, Rodong Sinmun Tuesday says:
What he uttered reveals the crafty intention of the Japanese reactionaries to twist the essence of the issue of settling the past and paint themselves as "humanitarians" and "helpers." This is nothing but sheer sophism intended to cover up their crime-woven past and evade its responsibility to redeem it under the pretext of "economic aid."
The news analyst goes on: It is self-evident truth that the crime-woven past cannot be settled by way of "economic aid" under any circumstances.
The Japanese imperialists' brigandish aggression against Korea in the past and their military occupation and rule over Korea for nearly half a century were so hideous crimes that they can never be pardoned. Therefore, Japan should settle its past by making state reparation on the basis of its recognition of the Japanese imperialists' aggression from A to Z. Only by doing so can it convince the Korean people and other people of the world.
Japan's claim that "north Korea should fulfill its commitments" is nothing but a poor ruse to tarnish the image of the DPRK over the nuclear issue at any cost and prod other countries into putting international pressure upon the DPRK. It is well known to the world that Japan used to raise issues irrelevant to the solution of the nuclear issue at the six-party talks, throwing hurdles in their way. Komura is letting loose a spate of sophism only to become a laughing stock of the international community.
Japan's efforts to wrest any concession from the DPRK under the name of "economic aid" or use it as a lever for pressure would only render the situation more complicated.
Japanese Reactionaries' Suppression of Chongryon Assailed
Pyongyang, February 2 (KCNA) -- On January 21 the Japanese police authorities set in motion two large buses and at least 90 armed policemen to search the office of the Korean Kyoto Prefectural Commercial Association in Japan for five hours. The gangsters searched the Santan branch office in Kyoto Prefecture of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), regional commercial association and houses of its officials and arrested two officials of the association. Such search continued next day.
Rodong Sinmun Saturday in a commentary terms it another politically motivated provocation and a brutal hostile act against the DPRK and Chongryon which should not be overlooked.
The case brought up by them this time is nothing but a case booked by the Japanese prosecution late in November last year on the charge of the violation of the "law on taxation" only to see it peter out as it lacked any legal ground and was politically motivated to serve their sinister purpose, the commentary says, and goes on:
Through this they sought to stir up anti-DPRK sentiment at home and abroad in a bid to create bitterness towards the DPRK and tear Korean workers in commerce in Japan away from Chongryon, destroy its financial foundation and bring it down in the end.
Their disturbing moves against the DPRK and Chongryon are only adding to the crimes committed by Japan against the Korean nation. They will certainly have to pay dearly for these crimes.
Rodong Sinmun on Foreign Policy of DPRK
Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- It is the invariable stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK to consistently embody the idea of the foreign policy -- independence, peace and friendship, observes Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
Independence, peace and friendship represent the basic idea of the foreign policy of the WPK and the government of the DPRK, the article notes, and goes on: The idea of their independent foreign policy most fully meets the intrinsic wishes of the human beings to live and develop independently.
Without an independent stand, people cannot properly advance the revolution and construction and achieve final victory.
The DPRK never allows anyone to infringe upon its sovereignty, meddle in its internal affairs, dominate and control it. It is opposed to any act of violating the sovereignty of any other country.
It estimates and handles anything arising in the relations with other countries and all other issues with independence as a yardstick and resolutely struggles against the infringement upon independence.
The above-said idea of the peace-loving foreign policy represents the desire of the people to live in a peaceful world free from war.
People can successfully promote national prosperity and the building of an independent new society only in a peaceful environment.
Peace cannot be achieved by the effort of an individual country and people alone.
Mankind's desire for peace can come true only when the peace-loving progressive people get united and wage a dynamic struggle for defending peace from war.
The above-mentioned idea of the foreign policy presupposes boosting the friendly and cooperative ties with all countries and people of the world.
It is the avowed foreign policy of the DPRK to develop the friendly and cooperative relations with all the countries of the world advocating independence.
The DPRK will make every effort to establish sound international relations and order as a member of the international community.
Ri Hoe Chang's Run for "Presidential Elections" Flailed
Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Ri Hoe Chang of south Korea is foolish enough to make desperate efforts to gratify his greed for power, a behavior quite contrary to the trend of the times and the will of the nation. This is no more than the last-ditch effort of a politician whose days are numbered.
Rodong Sinmun today says this in a commentary.
Ri is a diehard pro-American conservative and a traitor to the nation ill-famed for being an icon of conservatism, confrontation between fellow countrymen, and corrupt politics in south Korea, the news analyst says, and goes on: He was twice defeated in the last "presidential elections." In fact, such defeat was a stern punishment by history and the people. However, this scum of history forsaken and marginalized by the nation is again going reckless, unable to repress his unlimited greed for power. His deed is lashing the people into fury as it is unpardonable political hooliganism mocking the history and the nation and going against the trend of the times.
It is quite natural that all the ruling and opposition parties and people from all walks of life in south Korea are becoming increasingly critical of his running for "presidential elections." As asserted by the public, Ri's action is a disgraceful "return" of "a guy crazy about the presidential office" or "a boss of conservatives" and it is no more than the desperate frenzy of the diehard reactionaries, ultra-rightist Cold War-minded forces to stem the trend of the history and bring back the era in which they could embezzle truck loads of money.
In a "declaration of his candidacy for the elections" Ri pulled up the north and criticized the ruling and opposition parties' policies toward it, terming the present government a "leftist government" and ballyhooing about the "nature of the state." Such provocative and dishonest remarks can be made only by a diehard separatist keen on anti-national and anti-reunification confrontation. His behavior is extremely disgusting as he again blew the worn-out trumpet to incite confrontation.
He has gone so mad with greed for power that he is neither sensitive to the trend of the times nor able to face up to the reality. Being a politician more dead than alive as he is forsaken by the people like a rotten dead tree, this guy is, however, making desperate effort to realize his dream of becoming a "president" by fishing in troubled waters. But for this he will only face a merciless judgement by history and people and destruction.
Rodong Sinmun on Characteristics of Present Era
Pyongyang, October 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il's proposition that "The present era is an era of independence in which the popular masses have emerged as the master of their destiny and the master dominating the world" defines the characteristics of the present era as an era of independence in which the popular masses have made their appearance as the master of their destiny and the master dominating the world. It is of great theoretical and practical significance in the accomplishment of the global cause of independence.
Rodong Sinmun says this in an article Monday, which reads in part:
This definition by Kim Jong Il is the most correct classic one based on a comprehensive analysis of the present world situation fundamentally different from the past period with the Juche-based viewpoint and stand.
The sophism of the imperialists who described the abnormal development in the form of the collapse of socialism in some countries in the late 1980s and the early 1990s of the last century as "bankruptcy of the cause of independence" and "end of socialism" was an anachronistic hokum of fools to deny hard historical reality and the law governing the development of humankind.
The present era is an era in which the idea of independence is winning and its main trend is characterized by Songun.
The popular masses are firmly standing in the center of the development of the history in the present era. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are advancing along the road of independence and Songun and they are playing an ever greater role in shaping the destiny of humankind and the future of the world. This is the essential features of the present era, which distinguishes it from the last era.
Nothing can block the trend of the historical development of the present era toward independence and Songun.
It is imperishable feats of Kim Jong Il for the global cause of independence that he gave a scientific analysis and assessment of the characteristics of the present era and has vigorously spurred on the development of human history.
Unity for Reunification Movement Urged
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The Koreans in the north and the south and overseas should turn out as one man in the patriotic cause of achieving and consolidating the unity of the whole nation under the uplifted banner of the June 15 joint declaration, the banner of "By our nation itself", urges Rodong Sinmun in an article Wednesday.
The by-lined article says: The present June 15 era of reunification calls all the fellow countrymen to unity.
The whole nation should get closely united, giving priority to the common interests of the nation regardless of ideology, idea and system.
Anyone who is truly concerned over the destiny of the country and nation and desirous of national reunification should neither absolutize the differences in ideology and system between the north and the south nor put the interests and demand of a specific class or stratum in the foreground. There must not be such unsavory conducts as turning aside from unity and distrusting and antagonizing each other because of the differences in ideology, system and political idea. All the Koreans should firmly unite as one with the noble desire for national reunification.
The unity of the nation should be achieved strictly on the principle of national independence.
No outsider can be allowed to step into or poke his nose into the national affairs of the Koreans. If foreign interference in the national affairs is allowed, it will lead to the encroachment upon the dignity and interests of the nation and the ruin of its destiny.
Dismantlement of "UN Command" Demanded in S. Korea
Pyongyang, July 31 (KCNA) -- Civic and public organizations and political parties of south Korea including the preparatory committee of the Solidarity for Progress of south Korea, the Citizen's Solidarity for Democratic Society and the Democratic Labour Party reportedly held a meeting near the U.S. embassy in Seoul on July 27 at which they made public a declaration on behalf of 756 figures from all walks of life.
The "UN Command", an aggressive military mechanism of the U.S., should be dissolved in order to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula, the declaration said.
It called for scrapping the aggressive south Korea-U.S. "alliance" which serves the U.S. interests only and all shackling "agreements" to support it.
On the same day members of civic and social organizations of south Korea including the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification, the Citizens' Solidarity for Democratic Society and the Solidarity for Social Progress in south Korea also held a seminar in Seoul on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the conclusion of the Armistice Agreement and called on the people to turn out in the actions for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces.
10 civic and public organizations of south Korea called a joint press conference in front of the building of the "Ministry of National Defense", demanding the dissolution of the "UN Command" and the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea.
Truth behind "Northern Limit Line" Disclosed
Pyongyang, June 25 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Monday carries an article contributed by a military commentator disclosing the truth behind the "northern limit line" and clarifying once again the principled stand of the DPRK on it in connection with the fact that the warlike forces of south Korea are perpetrating the intrusion into the waters of the north side in the West Sea of Korea not just as a mere provocation but are pursuing the brigandish purpose of bringing under control those waters invaded by them.
Pointing out that the "northern limit line" is an illegal ghost line, the article observes that the U.S. imperialist aggressor troops unilaterally drew the line inside the inviolable territorial waters of the DPRK after occupying south Korea under the helmets of the "UN forces".
The article goes on: The Korean Armistice Agreement (KAA) signed in July 1953 stipulated the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the ground and its extension in the East Sea of Korea but to everybody's regret it fell short of fixing the extension of the MDL in the West Sea of Korea.
The U.S. imperialists, utterly exhausted after sustaining an unprecedented defeat in the Korean war, ordered Clark, the then commander of the "UN forces", to fix the so-called "northern limit line" also known as "Clark line" in the West Sea of Korea in a bid to prevent south Korean fishermen from coming over to the north while checking traitor Syngman Rhee's reckless attempt at an "independent expedition to the north" and averting a war that may break out again accordingly.
The "northern limit line" was, therefore, a "final line for stopping the defectors to the north" and a boundary line banning the trespassing of ships unilaterally drawn by the commander of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces to meet Washington's self-justified interests.
It was precisely for this reason that the U.S. imperialists could not announce the existence of the "northern limit line" for such a long time, much less informing the DPRK side, one of the belligerent parties, of it.
The reason why the "northern limit line" is called an illegal ghost line can be explained by the fact that it was unilaterally drawn without any agreement reached between the two sides and is in breach of the KAA as well as the universally recognized law of the sea, the article notes, citing specific facts to prove it.
Saying that the assertion about the "northern limit line" is sheer sophism, the article goes on: The south Korean authorities, steeped in flunkeyism and submission to the marrow of their bones, seek to attain their political and strategic aims to put an end to the June 15 era of reunification and aggravate the north-south relations in a bid to please their American master at any cost.
They are, at the same time, working hard to achieve their sinister aim to maintain the "northern limit line" come what may in utter disregard of the north-south agreement on fixing a boundary line of non-aggression in the West Sea, though the issue of establishing peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula is high on the agenda.
It is the fixed will of the Korean nation to certainly force them to stop claiming the "northern limit line". The south Korean authorities should clearly understand that their moves of straining situation in the West Sea of Korea under the pretext of the "northern limit line" would be as foolish an act as that of a robber claiming that other's yard belongs to him after drawing a demarcation with rotten straw rope without the owner's knowledge.
The army and the people of the DPRK will never remain an on-looker to south Korean naval warships' reckless intrusion and movement in the inviolable waters of the north side and the south Korean military authorities' backstage manipulation.
The south Korean authorities had better think twice over their behavior so that the patience and the repeated warnings of the Navy of the Korean People's Army may not touch off their resentment and just resolute actions.
They would be well advised to pay heed to the warning of the KPA Navy that it is fully ready to go into actions to mercilessly punish the intruders by sending them into the bottom of the sea any moment as all the targets, big or small, are accurately sighted by all its strike means whose hit probabilities are fully guaranteed in any event.
GNP Branded as Filth of Times
Pyongyang, May 21 (KCNA) -- The Grand National Party of south Korea, a group of conservatives and a pro-American Cold War force opposing independence and reunification desired by all the Koreans and invariably pursuing flunkeyism, dependence on foreign forces and confrontation between the north and the south, is the filth of the times as it has no justification to exist in the present June 15 reunification era, says Rodong Sinmun in an article today.
The GNP is a traitorous party paying no heed to the desire of the times and the people and engaging itself in treachery, the article says, and goes on: The GNP is nowadays talking about "switchover in its policy toward the north" in accordance with the stream of changing situation in the Korean Peninsula. But this never means change in its anti-reunification and confrontation policy. It is no more than a deceptive trick of the fools who have been isolated and left in the cold at home and abroad because they persisted in the north-south confrontation, ignoring the requirement of the times and the aspiration of the people.
The GNP is a den of power fanatics and political frauds who are crazy only about power in the defiance of the entire nation's desire for independent reunification. The GNP gentries are making frantic efforts to gratify their ambition for seizing power while pursuing their factional or private interests, far from the demand of the times and desire of the people for independence and reunification. In fact, it would be right to assert that the politics of the GNP is characterized by scramble for power and treachery.
The outdated and corrupt GNP opposing independence and reunification of the nation and running amuck for the anti-reunification confrontation, has no room to remain in the era of independent reunification, the era of national reconciliation and unity.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Japan's Distortion of History Textbooks
Pyongyang, April 3 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday denouncing the Japanese authorities for becoming all the more undisguised in their moves to distort history despite unanimous censure and condemnation by the public at home and abroad.
It says: As already reported, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on Mar. 30 gave an instruction to delete the part dealing with monstrous crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against humanity in the past including the setting up and operation of "comfort centers" at Japanese army units or rewrite it as a distorted one, when screening history textbooks to be used by high schools in Japan.
Japan's renewed total denial of the history of aggression is an open mockery and challenge to its neighbors and the international community demanding justice and truth.
The Abe government's falsification of the stark historical facts is designed to repeat Japan's crime-woven history at any cost.
All the facts go to clearly prove that the Abe regime is typical of plot- breeding and hypocrisy as it abhors admitting its crimes more than anything else though it plays whatever sleight of hand to attain its sinister purpose.
Now it has become clearer that the "beautiful country" which they claim in the making is nothing but the same state keen on aggression as what used to be in the bygone days of the Japanese imperialists' rule.
If the Abe regime does not stop its anachronistic and foolish act, Japan will not have any future but meet only destruction.
Repeal of NSL Urged
Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- There come an unbroken chain of reports from early this year to follow up last year's media coverage about a series of alleged "spyring cases" in south Korea and a number of pro-reunification patriotic figures and people of different social strata standing for progressive reforms are persecuted or punished.
Noting that it is the infamous "National Security Law" (NSL) in south Korea which legally justifies such abnormal practices, Rodong Sinmun Wednesday says in a signed article:
The NSL is a shackle that arrests social progress in south Korea and a snag standing in the way of national reconciliation and unity and the reunification of the country.
The NSL is a fascist evil law rare to be seen that must not remain in force any longer in view of the background of its fabrication, its content and the present situation.
It is a pseudo law by nature which was cooked up by pro-U.S. traitors in a coercive manner without going through fair legal procedures.
It has grown all the more anti-communist and fascist whenever one regime was replaced by another in south Korea by the U.S.
It is the most treacherous fascist evil law that goes against democracy and reunification without an equal in content in the world.
The law also blocks up free travel, contact and dialogue between the north and the south.
It diametrically runs counter to the June 15 era of reunification and does so harm but not any good to the nation's efforts for national reconciliation and reunification and the progressive development of the south Korean society.
The notorious NSL should have been thrown into the garbage bin of history with the advent of the June 15 era of reunification. But it is still in force, spurting poison. This is entirely attributable to the challenge of the ultra-right conservative forces including the Grand National Party of south Korea (GNP) swimming against the trend of the times. The GNP itself means the NSL and vice versa.
In case the GNP comes to power, the repeal of the NSL will go up in smoke and it will become more venomous to bring back the bloody history of the nightmarish era of fascist dictatorship.
The fascist NSL should be repealed along with the disbandment of the GNP that brings the whirlwind of confrontation, war and fascism to this land.
Rodong Sinmun Calls for Great National Unity
Pyongyang, January 22 (KCNA) -- Great national unity is the mode of existence of the Korean nation and the propelling force in the accomplishment of the cause of reunification, declares Rodong Sinmun Monday. Noting that the issue of national reunification is, in essence, an issue of rejoining the cut blood vessels of the nation and achieving national unity as one nation, the author of the article says:
The key to pushing the movement for national reunification to victory lies in achieving the great unity of the whole nation, the driving force of national reunification.
The achievement of the unity of the whole nation stands out as an issue of greater importance in view of the situation of the country's reunification this year when the Koreans should add shine to the era of June 15 reunification and usher in the heyday of independent reunification.
Now the U.S. imperialists have gone to an extremely provocative and reckless stage in their war moves against the DPRK. It is none other than the U.S. imperialists who are bringing dark clouds of confrontation and war over the Korean Peninsula under the pretext of fictitious "threat" from the DPRK and it is again them who are egging the ultra-right conservative forces including the "Grand National Party" on to set off the counter wind of fascism and anti-reunification. The GNP traitors, with the backing of the U.S, imperialists, are making last-ditch efforts to drive back the June 15 era of reunification to the era of confrontation. This being the situation, the cause of independent reunification promoted by the Korean nation itself is facing a grave challenge and snag.
The reality shows that the advance of the June 15 era of reunification is accompanied by a life-and-death confrontation with separatist forces within and without standing in its way. And it teaches us again the truth that great national unity is the great foundation of national reunification.
The joint New Year editorial put forward the achievement of great national unity as one of the three tasks to be fulfilled by all the compatriots. This is entirely natural and realistic indication proceeding from the lawful demand of the developing reunification movement of the Korean nation.
To usher in the heyday of the cause of independent reunification this year, all the fellow countrymen should turn out energetically in achieving great national unity as required by the joint editorial.
Repeal of Draconic Law Demanded in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- The south Korean "Church Human Rights Centre" reportedly had a meeting at the "Christians Hall" in Seoul on Dec. 12 to demand the repeal of the "law on surveillance for public peace." At the meeting Son Jun Hyok, director of the department for cooperation with foreign countries of the Democratic Labor Party, accused the prosecution of still treating him as a violator of the above-said law, unreasonably branding the Pyongyang visit he paid last year with the permission of the "Ministry of Unification" as an "illegal visit made according to the north's instruction."
Lawyer Song Ho Chang said that "the law has long been controversial as it calls for double punishment of its violator, depriving him of not only freedom of thinking but restricting even freedom to reside and move after the release but it still remains in force."
The gravity of the issue lies in that the truth behind the severe human rights abuses by the law has not been brought to light and that the security authorities interpret and apply this law as they please to meet their political purpose.
Pak Song Hui, executive secretary of the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy, said that the information about the law, which had not been made public for belonging to the category of "the third-class secret," has been partly brought to light some days ago after the arrest of Kang Sun Jong, adviser to the Reunification Solidarity. Pak demanded the law be abolished under any circumstances.
The "Church Human Rights Centre" in a joint written prayer said that it would strive hard for the repeal of the above-said law suppressing conscience and freedom of thinking and, furthermore, for the repeal of the "National Security Law."
-----------------
Abolition of NSL Demanded in S. Korea
Pyongyang, December 13 (KCNA) -- A meeting demanding the repeal of the "National Security Law" and putting an end to the public security forces' suppression was reportedly held in Seoul on Dec. 9 with members of civic and public organizations and youths and students attending under the sponsorship of the People's Solidarity for the Abolition of the NSL. Speakers at the meeting charged that though the "government" and the ruling party said they would abolish the NSL, this evil law still remains in force.
They went on: There has been an unbroken occurrence of cases of crackdown this year as evidenced by the arrest of Prof. Kang Jong Gu of Dongguk University, the seizure and search in the Pusan branch of the "National Teachers Union" and the arrest of Choe Hui Jong, permanent researcher at the south Korean Institute for Civil Rights Studies. This is a clear proof that the progressive camp is exposed to brutal suppression.
The "case of the Single-Minded Association," in particular, is aimed at "painting the Democratic Labor Party as a group of spies." The public security authorities are perpetrating again the "witch-hunting operation" by seizing the opportunity to invoke the unjustifiable NSL.
Human rights are unthinkable as long as the NSL remains in force.
A resolution read out at the meeting noted that more people were arrested this year on charge of violation of the NSL than the preceding years, calling for resuming the campaign for the repeal of the law.
Discrimination against Koreans in Japan Denounced
Pyongyang, November 1 (KCNA) -- The promotion committee of the 3rd Conference of Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) of Overseas Koreans reportedly called a press conference in Seoul on Oct. 27 to expose the inhuman and vicious discrimination against Koreans in Japan by the Japanese authorities and ultra-right reactionary forces such as threat, violence and economic sanctions.
The speakers at the press conference noted that countless were the cases of threat and assault against Koreans by the ultra-right reactionary forces in Japan. They expressed concern, saying the seriousness of the matter lay in that the victims were children who should be protected and girl students wearing chima and jogori (Korean costume).
They said: Some time ago, Korean children received a phone call and e-mail threatening "All of you will be killed. Go back to Korea." Ultra-right gangsters even let loose an ugly torrent of abuses such as "Go back to your country" through megaphones nearby a school of Koreans in Japan. These are impudent acts which can never be tolerated.
The Koreans in Japan are leading a very uneasy life under all manner of oppression and watch by the Japanese authorities. We, jointly with human rights defence forces of the international community, will answer this will a tough reaction.
The speakers strongly demanded the Japanese authorities an apology for such acts, measures to prevent their recurrence, severe punishment of the perpetrators, reflection on the past, improvement of the status and treatment of the Koreans in Japan, and so on.
U.S. Touted "Spread of Freedom and Democracy" under Fire
Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -The U.S. touted theory of "spreading freedom and democracy" is nothing but a deceptive slogan for aggression and interference aimed at realizing its ambition for world domination and sophism to justify its undisguised state-sponsored terrorism and human rights abuses, observes Rodong Sinmun Thursday in a signed article.
It goes on: The U.S. much publicized "freedom" and "democracy" mean exercising its unlimited freedom and power whereby it can do anything as it pleases, while ignoring the dignity and rights of other countries and infringing upon the sovereignty of other independent states in defiance of international law and norms governing the international relations.
The U.S. is pressurizing other countries and nations to accept its political mode and lifestyle. This is nothing but an exercise of power to deprive the people of other countries of their rights to choice of ideology and suppress freedom and an act of denying democracy itself.
Its moves to "spread freedom and democracy" are an extension of its "war on terrorism".
The U.S. exported "democracy" to spark such color revolutions as "orange revolution" and "rose revolution" which culminated in the regime changes in some countries.
Much pleased with this development, the U.S. adopted the theory of "spreading freedom and democracy" as a lever for realizing its ambition for world domination with ease without shedding any blood and is now keen to put it into practice.
The U.S. annually spends a billion dollars for its operations to bring down governments in other countries.
It is also escalating its economic pressure and blockade against other countries under the pretext of "spreading freedom and democracy".
Its much vaunted "spread of freedom and democracy" is a link in the chains of its moves for "globalization."
The U.S. is deeply interfering in the internal affairs of other countries in a bid to model all fabrics of social life in those countries such as politics, economy and culture on the American pattern. In a word, the reactionary nature of the U.S. moves to "spread freedom and democracy" lies in that it is aimed at Americanizing the world.
Different regions and countries of the world including Mideast, Central Asia and Africa are made targets of the U.S. moves to "spread freedom and democracy".
It is vital for defending the sovereignty of countries and the dignity of nations and ensuring true democracy to heighten vigilance against the U.S. assertion for "the spread of freedom and democracy" and frustrate it.
It is impossible to defend the destiny of a nation when it is taken in by the U.S. crafty preaching of "democracy", the article concludes.
Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration Called for
Pyongyang, July 8 (KCNA) -- All Koreans in the north and the south and overseas should wage a dynamic three-point patriotic movement, holding high the banner of independent reunification, peace against war and great unity of the whole nation as called for by the joint New Year editorial in order to put powerful spurs to the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration. Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a signed article. It goes on:
The patriotic movement for independent reunification is a movement to achieve the reunification of the country by the Korean nation itself, free from outside interference as required by the joint declaration.
The joint declaration regards national independence as a fundamental principle of reunification and calls for settling all issues arising in the cause for reunification independently in line with the will and interests of the Koreans.
The keynote of the patriotic movement for independent reunification is to independently settle the issue of reunification of the country from the view and stand of giving importance to the nation while putting the national dignity and interests above anything else guided by the idea of "By our nation itself" and call on all Koreans to meet through national cooperation the challenges of the U.S. imperialists and traitorous forces in league with them who are opposed to Korea's reunification and accelerate the process of reunification.
The patriotic movement for peace against war is the one for defending peace and security of the country and achieving peaceful reunification in line with the main purpose of the joint declaration.
It is an important idea of the historic joint declaration to reunify the country peacefully by the Koreans themselves through dialogue and cooperation, not by use of force, on the basis of national reconciliation and unity.
Whoever supports the joint declaration and hopes for its implementation should turn out in the patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and great national unity irrespective of ideology, political view and religious faith and thus contribute to the cause of national reunification, the article concludes.
Reactionary Nature of Economic Globalization Disclosed
Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -The reactionary nature of economic globalization lies in that it bars each state from playing the role as the master of its national economy, hamstrings the independent development of economy in the developing countries, in particular, accelerates the pauperization of those countries and increases their economic dependence upon the West. Rodong Sinmun Tuesday observes this in a signed article in connection with the fact that the imperialists' evermore undisguised moves for economic globalization are rebuffed and condemned by the world public.
The article recalls that international conferences of developing countries held in recent years including an international conference on the globalization and the issue of development held in Havana in February dealt with the adverse consequences entailed by the imperialists' economic globalization and discussed issues of boosting economic cooperation and exchange among the developing countries.
The economic globalization is rejected worldwide because it does not contribute to the prosperity and development of humankind quite contrary to what the imperialists claim but aggravates economic confrontation and contradictions between the West and the developing countries and serves as a lever for the imperialists' domination and subjugation of other countries and nations, the article notes, and goes on:
The stepped-up economic globalization would only get the developing countries marginalized in the world economy and render them increasingly dependent upon the economy of the imperialist powers.
This reality requires the developing countries to take positive practical measures for boosting the South-South cooperation on the principle of the collective self-reliance and jointly counter the imperialists' economic globalization.
It is the desire and stand of the developing countries to achieve independent development free from political and economic subjugation. The struggle of progressive humankind including the developing countries to achieve socio-economic progress and independent development by their concerted efforts, opposed to the economic subjugation and plunder by the U.S.-led imperialist powers will bear good fruits.
DPRK Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Slams Japan's Claim to Tok Islet
Pyongyang, April 6 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry in a statement issued on April 6 accused the Japanese authorities of recently allowing the description of Tok Islet as part of Japan's territory in the history textbooks for high schools after instructing the same thing as regards textbooks for middle schools last year. Branding such behavior as an unpardonable shameless act peculiar to Japan, the statement said:
It admits of no argument that the islet belongs to Korea's territory from the historical point of view and in the light of international law.
Nevertheless, the Japanese authorities have obstinately insisted that the islet belongs to Japan's territory. Obviously this is prompted by their wild ambition for aggression and territorial expansion.
Japan is keen to realize its wild ambition of reinvasion, oblivious of the historical lesson drawn from the bitter defeat it suffered after setting out on overseas aggression under the slogan of "The Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" in the past. Japan keeps tampering with its history and its chief executive continues visiting the "Yasukuni Shrine" despite the unanimous curses and denunciations of the international community including its neighboring countries. All this is mainly attributable to the U.S. backing and patronage.
Japan is now under strong fire by its neighboring countries for its claims that not only Tok Islet but Diaoyu Islands and the Southern Kurils belong to its territory. The historical lesson requires the countries in the region never to allow Japan's wild ambition for territorial expansion but heighten the vigilance against it and jointly react to it.
The reality today when there exist close to the DPRK the dangerous bellicose forces getting frantic in their wild ambition for territorial expansion clearly proves once again that Pyongyang was entirely just when it took measures to steadily bolster the military capability for self-defence including nuclear deterrent to defend the peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia.
The Japanese reactionaries would be well advised to stop their moves for territorial expansion and racket against the DPRK and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan that may result in their self-destruction, and behave with discretion, drawing a lesson from history.
KCNA Accuses U.S. of Inciting Civil War in Iraq
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) --Bloodshed and violence among factions have never ceased in Iraq since the U.S. invasion of the country. They have now gone to extremes. The recent attack on a Shiite mosque has escalated tension among factions and increased social unrest.
Armed men strut about the streets and the number of victims of clashes between Shiites and Sunnites reaches 30 on a daily average, reminiscent of a civil war.
The unceasing clashes among nationalities and factions have created the imminent danger of a civil war that would engulf Iraq, to say nothing of Baghdad. Violence among factions in Iraq is an inevitable product of the war of aggression launched by the U.S. and its interference in the internal affairs of the country. The U.S. suppression and massacre of civilians and its wrong policy of inciting confrontation among factions are reducing Iraq to a land where an evil cycle of terrorism and retaliation and extreme chaos and disorder prevail and where freedom and democracy are crudely violated.
Neither freedom nor democracy is guaranteed and people are at feud although they live in the same country. This is the stark reality of Iraq.
It is as clear as noonday that if the intensified violence among factions leads to a civil war in Iraq, it will spread like a strong earthquake affecting the whole Mid-east. The U.S. war of aggression of Iraq brought violence, social chaos and tragedy to the country, not peace and stability.
No wonder, former U.S. President Carter, commenting on the matter, said that the Iraqi war launched by the U.S. was a war of injustice that strangled democracy and increased violence.
The U.S. invaded a sovereign state in March 2003 under an absurd pretext invented by it to meet its political and economic purposes defying the United Nations and in gross violation of international law. It was an unpardonable crime.
The U.S. is hatching despicable plots to drive a wedge among factions in Iraq and escalate violence there in a bid to plunge the whole country into a civil war of genocide. This is little short of doubling or trebling its war crimes committed against the Iraqis and other people of the world desirous of global peace and stability. It is quite natural that the world public is becoming increasingly assertive that the U.S. president and war fanatics should be brought to an international tribunal so that they may be judged as war criminals and forced to pay for the catastrophic aftermath of the Iraqi war.
This notwithstanding, the chief executive and the defense secretary of the U.S. claim that the Iraqi people are at the moment of choice and media are hyping up violence among religious forces. This is the height of folly.
The wars waged by the U.S. in different parts of the world can never be interpreted as just wars as injustice can not prevail over justice and a lie can never turn out to be truth.
Rodong Sinmun on Three-point Patriotic Movement
Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The idea and leadership of Kim Jong Il are now serving as a victorious banner which powerfully encourages the 70 million fellow countrymen in their nation-wide efforts to conduct the dynamic three-point patriotic movement under the banner of "By our nation itself". Rodong Sinmun today observes this in a signed article.
It says: This is clearly proved by the reality that the Korean nation is advancing this year, holding high the slogan "Let us vigorously forward the patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace against war and great national unity under the banner of 'by our nation itself!'".
Kim Jong Il's idea and leadership are the driving force that helps all the fellow countrymen turn out in the road of independent reunification in the high spirit of national independence.
His great idea of national independence opened the June 15 era of reunification advancing in the idea of "By our nation itself". The 70 million fellow countrymen are now vigorously conducting the movement for independent reunification across the country under the banner of "By our nation itself" in an effort to establish national sovereignty and national independence and cooperation are prevailing in the history of the nation. This proud reality is a brilliant fruition brought about by the embodiment of his great idea of national independence.
His idea and leadership serve as a banner for encouraging the fellow countrymen in their struggle to frustrate the aggression and war moves of the bellicose forces at home and abroad and defend peace and security of the country.
The structure of confrontation between the Korean nation and the United States has been formed in the Korean Peninsula amid the daily growing struggle of the 70 million fellow countrymen for peace against war. This is proceeding from the confidence and pluck of the Korean nation encouraged by the great patriotic Songun politics which helps firmly defend national dignity and sovereignty and peace and security of the country.
His idea and leadership are the great motive force to achieve national reconciliation and unity and strengthen the driving force of national reunification in every way.
The reconciliation and unity of the Korean nation has opened the new era of "By our nation itself" startling the world people thanks to his wide patriotic all-embracing politics. He leads whoever strives for national reunification with national conscience, irrespective of capitalist, army general or ruling stratum, to stand in the ranks of great national unity and embraces anyone who repents of wrong doings and intends to devote himself to the cause of national reunification even though he betrayed the nation and took a wrong road in the past.
U.S. Chiefly Accountable for Having Totally Scrapped DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework
Pyongyang, January 16 (KCNA) -- The United States can never evade its responsibility for having totally scrapped the DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework (AF) and delayed the settlement of the nuclear issue in a deliberate manner. Rodong Sinmun Monday observes this in a signed commentary. It goes on:
Some officials are spreading misinformation that the DPRK is to blame for the end of the unsuccessful construction of the light water reactors (LWRs), while demanding it "compensate" for this.
The main spirit of the AF called on both sides to respect each other's sovereignty and create reconciliation and trust in order to put an end to the hostile relations between them and, furthermore, ensure peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and other parts of Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world. The LWR project, a key point of the AF, was considered to be a guarantee for terminating the hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S. and finding a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Under the AF the U.S. was committed to providing two LWRs to the DPRK by the year 2003 in return for the latter's freeze of nuclear facilities and supplying 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to it every year till their construction is completed. The U.S. also gave the DPRK assurances that it would not threaten the latter with nukes.
The U.S., however, has not fulfilled any commitment under the AF. The Bush administration categorically refused to implement the AF and has systematically perpetrated premeditated acts of totally scrapping official documents signed between the DPRK and the U.S., unreasonably asserting that a series of agreements including the AF signed by the preceding regime with the DPRK are "beneficial" to it only, while being harmful to the U.S. interests and prestige.
It is quite nonsensical for some politicians to urge the DPRK to "compensate" for the unsuccessful end of the LWR construction in stead of holding the U.S. chiefly accountable for the abrogation of the AF.
It is the DPRK that has to claim compensation for the loss caused by the suspension of the LWR project.
Whoever is concerned about the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula should properly know who stands for the denuclearization of the peninsula and who persistently blocks it.