BomMinRyon Activities
KAPPC Resumption of Tour Depends on S. Side's Attitude
Pyongyang, March 4 (KCNA) -- The south Korean authorities are now becoming evermore vicious in their anti-DPRK nuclear row and "sanctions" against it, while openly disclosing their sinister intention to make the issue of resuming the tour of Mt. Kumgang and Kaesong area serve their purposes.
A spokesman for the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee issued a statement Thursday in this regard.
There is no need for our side to sit at the negotiating table with the authorities of the south side any longer now that it has done all it can guarantee the tour of Mt. Kumgang and Kaesong area at the level of its authorities, the statement said, and went on:
By nature the above-said tour started according to the contract between the said committee and Hyundai. Therefore, there is no ground whatsoever for the authorities of the south side to meddle in the issue and say this or that over it.
The south Korean tourists should be allowed to visit famous beauty spots of the nation no matter how the anti-reunification conservative group may try to block it.
We cannot leave the world famous beauty spots unvisited any longer now that there is an increasing request in south Korea and overseas for the tour of them.
Hence, we solemnly declare, as we had already clarified, that we would open the door to the tour of Kaesong area from March and that of Mt. Kumgang from April.
Conveniences and safety will be fully provided for the compatriots entering the area of our side from the south to tour Mt. Kumgang and the area of Kaesong.
The south Korean authorities' persistent blocking of the tour under far-fetched pretexts would compel our side to take decisive measures.
These measures may include the abrogation of all agreements and contracts on the tour provided by our side to the south side as special benefits, the freezing of real estates of the south side in the tourist areas and other matters.
Wether the road of the above-said tour is opened to the compatriots in the south or not will depend on the attitude of the authorities of the south side.
They will be held wholly accountable for all the consequences to be entailed by the failure to resume the tour.
DPRK Decides to Release American Trespasser
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- As already reported, the relevant organ of the DPRK conducted an investigation into Robert Park, an American national who was caught for trespassing on the northern border of the DPRK.
According to the results of the investigation, he trespassed on the border due to his wrong understanding of the DPRK.
The relevant organ of the DPRK decided to leniently forgive and release him, taking his admission and sincere repentance of his wrong doings into consideration.
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American Trespasser Interviewed
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- As already reported, American national Robert Park was detained for trespassing on the northern border of the DPRK in December last year.
He was interviewed by KCNA at his proposal while he was under investigation by the relevant organ of the DPRK.
At the interview, he said that he was taken in by the false rumor spread by the West and committed a criminal act in the end.
He went on to say:
I trespassed on the border due to my wrong understanding of the DPRK caused by the false propaganda made by the West to tarnish its image.
The West is massively feeding "Children of Secret State", "Seoul Train" and other documentary videos with stories about non-existent "human rights abuses" and "mass killings" in the DPRK and "unbearable sufferings" of its Christians and the like.
This false propaganda prompted me, a Christian, to entertain a biased view on the DPRK.
So I didn't know what to do at that time. I just prayed and fasted and that was my initial response, but year by year more news reports, international media reports came and there were more videos saying the same thing, in fact, saying that it was getting worse, and so that's why I started to become more and more distraught. If there are people in concentration camps, if Christians are dying like this, if there is starvation I have to die with them. If I help them I would go to Heaven but if I don't help them I would go to Hell.
At last I made up my mind to go to the DPRK.
Upon trespassing on the border, I thought I would be either shot to death by soldiers or thrown behind bars, prompted by Americans' false propaganda about the DPRK.
However, the moment I trespassed on the border, the attitude of soldiers toward the trespasser made me change my mind.
Not only service personnel but all those I met in the DPRK treated me in a kind and gentlemanly manner and protected my rights.
I have never seen such kind and generous people.
People have been incredibly kind and generous here to me, very concerned for my physical health as never before in my life. I mean, my family, of course, is concerned about my physical health but people here have been constantly concerned and I'm very thankful for their love.
Another shocking fact I experienced during my stay in the DPRK is that the religious freedom is fully ensured in the DPRK, a reality different from what is claimed by the West.
Being a devout Christian, I thought such things as praying are unimaginable in the DPRK due to the suppression of religion.
I, however, gradually became aware that I was wrong.
Everybody neither regarded praying as something unusual nor disturbed it. I was provided with conditions for praying everyday as I wished.
What astonished me more was that a bible was returned to me.
This fact alone convinced me that the religious freedom is fully ensured in the DPRK.
I came to have stronger belief as I had an opportunity to attend the service in the Pongsu Church in Pyongyang.
I worshipped and there, there was the Jondosa, there, there was a pastor, there was a choir, they knew the hymns, they knew the word of God. That's why I was completely amazed. But I began to weep and weep in the Christian service because I learned that there are churches and Christians such as Pongsu Kyohoe (Church) in different cities and regions all throughout the DPRK. They worship, pray and preach freely the word of the Bible and Christ word. I've learned that in the DPRK people can read and believe whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want, that there's complete religious freedom for all people everywhere throughout the DPRK.
What I have seen and heard in the DPRK convinced me that I misunderstood it. So I seriously repented of the wrong I committed, taken in by the West's false propaganda.
I would not have committed such crime if I had known that the DPRK respects the rights of all the people and guarantees their freedom and they enjoy a happy and stable life.
I have felt shock, embarrassment, shame. Here I'm in the lands where people respect human rights and, not just respecting human rights, they have actually loved me and showed me more than just human rights. They have shown me grace. I repent and ask for forgiveness to the DPRK for my misunderstanding totally DPRK's reality and my criminal illegal behavior. Had I known the reality of the DPRK, what I've learned here, what I have been shown here, what I've been taught here, what I've been informed here by all the kind people here about the DPRK, I would have never done what I did on the December 25th and I repent and I'm very sorry.
Prompted by my desire to redeem the crime I committed against the government of the DPRK, I would make every effort to let those who misunderstand the DPRK properly know what I experienced here so they may have a correct understanding of it.
He, as a Christian, expressed his will to earnestly pray so reunification may be achieved and peace settle on the Korean Peninsula as early as possible.
DPRK Proposes to Start of Peace Talks
Pyongyang, January 11 (KCNA) -- The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued Monday the following statement:
A year has gone by while the process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is standing at the crossroads due to serious challenges to it.
The denuclearization of the Peninsula is the goal of the policy consistently pursued by the Government of the Republic with a view to contributing to peace and security in Northeast Asia and the denuclearization of the world.
It was thanks to the sincere and exhaustive efforts of the Government of the Republic that dialogues had taken place for the denuclearization of the Peninsula since the 1990s and, in this course, such important bilateral and multilateral agreements as the "DPRK-US Agreed Framework" and the September 19 Joint Statement were adopted.
The implementation of all the agreements, however, stopped half way or was overturned. Since then the nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula has not been decreased, but on the contrary it has further increased and, consequently, even nuclear deterrent came into being.
The course of the six-party talks which witnessed repeated frustrations and failures proves that the issue can never be settled without confidence among the parties concerned. Still today the talks remain blocked by the barrier of distrust called sanctions against the DPRK.
It is our conclusion that it is necessary to pay primary attention to building confidence between the DPRK and the United States, the parties chiefly responsible for the nuclear issue, in order to bring back the process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula on track.
If confidence is to be built between the DPRK and the US, it is essential to conclude a peace treaty for terminating the state of war, a root cause of the hostile relations, to begin with.
When the parties are in the state of war where they level guns at each other, distrust in the other party can never be wiped out and the talks themselves can never make smooth progress, much less realizing the denuclearization. Without settling such essential and fundamental issue as war and peace no agreement can escape from frustration and failure as now.
The peace treaty by nature should have been already concluded in the light of its intrinsic necessity, regardless of the nuclear issue. Had durable peace regime been established on the Korean Peninsula long ago, the nuclear issue would have not surfaced.
Now that the issue of concluding the peace treaty is mentioned in the September 19 Joint Statement, too, it is good to move up the order of action as required by practice in the light of the lesson drawn from the failure of the six-party talks.
The conclusion of the peace treaty will help terminate the hostile relations between the DPRK and the US and positively promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at a rapid tempo.
Upon authorization, the DPRK Foreign Ministry courteously proposes to the parties to the Armistice Agreement an early start of the talks for replacing the AA by the peace treaty this year which marks the lapse of 60 years since the outbreak of the Korean War.
The above-said talks may be held either at a separate forum as laid down in the September 19 Joint Statement or in the framework of the six-party talks for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula like the DPRK-US talks now under way in view of their nature and significance.
The removal of the barrier of such discrimination and distrust as sanctions may soon lead to the opening of the six-party talks.
If the parties to the AA sincerely hope for peace and security and the denuclearization of the Peninsula, they should no longer prioritize their interests but make a bold decision to deal with the fundamental issue without delay.
DPRK on US Envoy's Pyongyang Visit
Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry Friday gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA as regards the DPRK visit by the U.S. special representative for DPRK policy and his party:
Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for DPRK policy, and his party visited Pyongyang from Dec. 8 to 10. During their stay they had talks with the vice-minister for U.S. affairs of the DPRK Foreign Ministry and its first vice-minister met with them.
At the meeting and talks both sides had a long exhaustive and candid discussion on wide-ranging issues including the conclusion of a peace agreement, the normalization of the bilateral relations, economic and energy assistance and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Through working and frank discussion the two sides deepened the mutual understanding, narrowed their differences and found not a few common points. They also reached a series of common understandings of the need to resume the six-party talks and the importance of implementing the September 19 Joint Statement.
Both sides agreed to continue to cooperate with each other in the future to narrow down the remaining differences.
Every Korean Urged to Swim with Trend of Times in National Interests
Pyongyang, November 5 (KCNA) -- It is most important for the Koreans to place the interests common to the nation above anything else in solving the national issue and the issue of the inter-Korean relations.
Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed article.ĦĦIt goes on:
For the Koreans nothing is more vital requirements and interests common to them than to achieve national reunification.
The historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration are the patriotic reunification programmes for meeting the requirements and interests common to the nation.
The June 15 joint declaration deals with issues of achieving national reunification independently in the spirit of "By our nation itself."
The October 4 declaration clarifies the practical ways of definitely turning the inter-Korean relations into those of respect and confidence, putting an end to the military confrontation and building a lasting peace-keeping mechanism on the Korean Peninsula on the basis of the reconfirmation of the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
The implementation of the inter-Korean declarations is an unavoidable task of the times that should be implemented to meet the requirements and interests of the Korean nation in all fields.
The validity and vitality of the said declarations have been proved in reality.
The major projects for economic cooperation between the north and the south have got up steam again thanks to the north's magnanimity and they are supported and hailed by different circles of the south Korean society.
It has become an irresistible trend of the times to dynamically turn out to implement the inter-Korean declarations for the reconciliation and unity of the north and the south and national reunification.
It is a behavior guided by national conscience to put the interests common to the nation before those of an individual or a grouping and it is a wise attitude of any person in authority or a politician to know how to subordinate a trifle to something big, aware of the trend of the times.
Wen Jiabao's Visit to DPRK Welcomed
Pyongyang, October 4 (KCNA) -- Leading newspapers Sunday warmly welcome the visit to the DPRK by Wen Jiabao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
His visit to the DPRK is of weighty significance in view of historical period and political importance, Rodong Sinmun in an editorial notes, and says:
His visit goes to clearly prove that the Chinese party and government attach great importance to the Sino-DPRK friendship.
This visit by a goodwill mission of the Chinese people strikingly demonstrates the steadily-developing DPRK-China friendship and gives great encouragement to the Korean people working hard to build a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation.
Today the DPRK-China friendship is developing with each passing day under the deep care of the leaders of the two countries.
The Chinese party and government set store by the Sino-DPRK friendship and pay deep attention to consolidating and developing it.
The Korean people are rejoiced as over their own over the fact that everything is going well in China, and extend firm solidarity to the Chinese people in the efforts to build a harmonious society with Chinese characteristics and reunify the country.
It is the consistent stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to set store by the traditional DPRK-China friendship and develop it generation after generation. We are convinced that the bilateral friendship will grow stronger by the joint efforts of both sides.
Wen Jiabao's visit to the DPRK will register a new chapter in the history of the DPRK-China friendship and contribute to promoting the revolution and construction in the two countries.
Minju Joson editorially stresses that his visit will undoubtedly mark a valuable foundation for the development of the DPRK-China friendly relations.
Kim Jong Il Meets Chinese Envoy
Pyongyang, September 18 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il today met with State Councillor of the People's Republic of China Dai Bingguo who is special envoy of Hu Jintao, President of the PRC, and his party on a visit to the DPRK.
Present there was Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK.
On the occasion, the special envoy courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il a personal letter from Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the PRC. And he presented his own gift to Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Il expressed thanks for this and asked the special envoy to convey his regards to Hu Jintao. Then he conversed with the special envoy in an amicable atmosphere on the matter of invariably developing the friendly relations between the two countries and a series of issues of mutual concern.
Report on Bill Clinton's Visit to DPRK Made Public
Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) --A report on Former U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is as follows:
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his party visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from August 4 to 5.
Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, met with Bill Clinton and his party.
During their stay Clinton and his party paid a courtesy call on Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Clinton expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it. Clinton courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il an earnest request of the U.S. government to leniently pardon them and send them back home from a humanitarian point of view.
The meetings had candid and in-depth discussions on the pending issues between the DPRK and the U.S. in a sincere atmosphere and reached a consensus of views on seeking a negotiated settlement of them.
Kim Jong Il issued an order of the Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission on granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labor in accordance with Article 103 of the Socialist Constitution and releasing them.
Clinton courteously conveyed a verbal message of U.S. President Barack Obama expressing profound thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving the relations between the two countries.
The measure taken to release the American journalists is a manifestation of the DPRK's humanitarian and peaceloving policy.
The DPRK visit of Clinton and his party will contribute to deepening the understanding between the DPRK and the U.S. and building the bilateral confidence.
Inter-Korean Working Contact for Revision of Contracts on KIZ Made
Pyongyang, July 2 (KCNA) -- A north-south working contact for the revision of the contracts on the Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) was made on the spot on Thursday.
At the contact, the north side expressed regret over the fact that no progress has been made in the working contact though it made sincere efforts as evidenced by its advancement at the previous contacts of the constructive proposals for reexamining and renegotiating the work in the KIZ as required by the changed north-south relations and the present reality, etc.
It is necessary, above all, to refrain from doing anything to create difficulties in the way of the working contact, the north side held, recalling that unpleasant things contrary to the contact are taking place in south Korea without let-up and the campaign for "sanctions" and reckless remarks calling for confrontation in the systems are getting undisguised there.
Noting that even the "basic plan for defence reforms" simulating a "preemptive attack" and "contingency" is made public, the north side continued:
What should not be overlooked is that the authorities of the "Ministry of Unification" of the south side themselves are vociferating about "no nukes, opening and 3,000 dollars" and "resolute counteraction," spoiling the atmosphere of the contact.
When sitting face to face with the north side, the south side talks about "dialogue" and "sincerity" but incites confrontation behind the scene. Such behavior compels the north side to question whether the south side is willing to have the working contact or not.
Urging the south side to take honest attitude and stand toward the discussion on the revision of the said contracts, the north side went on to say:
Taking an insincere attitude toward the working contact from its start, the south side has groundlessly turned down our proposals without any deep study of them and raised issues irrelevant to the contact, creating complexity.
It went the lengths of floating even the story about the "closure" of the KIZ and some authorities are making very inappropriate remarks that "they would not negotiate in the same way as was done in the past."
The north side said the south side's assertion that it would not have the same dialogue as conducted in the past means it wants to have a contact for confrontation, questioning the south side what is the use of having a working contact if it is its stance. The north side urged the south side to refrain from doing such things quite contrary to the desire and expectation of the nation.
The north side proposed the south side to begin with discussing the issue of land use tax, the top priority and essential matter, at this contact as it put forward comprehensive proposals at the last contacts as regards the issue of the revision of the contracts on the KIZ. The north side referred in detail to the purport and propriety of its proposal.
Saying that the level of the land use tax proposed by the north is by no means high in view of the universally accepted practice in the special zones of south Korea and other countries and the peculiarity and value of the KIZ and its prospect, the north side urged the south side to carefully study its proposal and honestly accept it.
Expressing once again its readiness to settle the difficulties which the enterprises of the south side are facing in the management, depending on the settlement of the issue of the land use tax, in particular, the north side stressed that the south side would reciprocate good faith and magnanimity in kind.
The south side, however, doggedly asserted that it cannot accept the just claim of the north side, not only avoiding the discussion of the basic issue but letting loose sheer sophism.
The south side did not hesitate to talk nonsense that it has not received any special treatment in the KIZ so far.
The north side strongly chided the rude and insincere attitude of the south side as a deliberate and premeditated provocation to scuttle the working contact and took serious note of this.
It declared that the fate of the working contact and the prospect of the KIZ will entirely depend on the future attitude of the south side.
DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman Clarifies Its Stand on UNSC's Increasing Threat
Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday as regards the UNSC's threat to put additional sanctions against the DPRK, terming its successful nuclear test a violation of the UNSC Resolution 1718.
Over the past several decades, the DPRK has made every possible effort for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but the U.S., instead of seeking a substantial removal of nuclear threats, has steadily increased the level of pressure upon the DPRK and it has eventually brought even the six-party talks to collapse in wanton violation of the principles of respect for the sovereignty and sovereign equality, the underlying spirits of the September 19 Joint Statement, over the DPRK's launch of satellite, the universally recognized right of each state, the statement noted, and said:
At present, some countries were shocked at the news of the DPRK's second nuclear test. But an exceptional act has its exceptional reason.
The recent nuclear test conducted by the DPRK is the 2054th one on the earth.
The five permanent members of the UNSC have conducted 99.99 percent of all the nuclear tests.
Those countries have posed the biggest nuclear threats to the world. But they took issue with our first nuclear test, which was conducted in October 2006 as a self-defensive measure to cope with increased nuclear threats by the U.S., terming it a "threat to the international peace" and adopted the sanctions resolution against the DPRK. This is exactly the UNSC Resolution 1718.
This resolution fabricated by the hypocrites has immediately invited a total rejection by the DPRK and we still do not recognize such resolution.
The UNSC with such a record produced the "presidential statement" on April 14 putting in question only the satellite launched by the DPRK for the peaceful purpose and put into force the sanctions under its Resolution 1718 on April 24 only to cause an unbearable insult to the dignity of our people and gravely infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK.
The DPRK is neither a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty nor to the Missile Technology Control Regime or MTCR. Such being the case, it has a right to conduct as many nuclear tests or missile launches as it wants in the event that the supreme interests of the state are infringed upon. Such self-defensive measures do not run counter to any other international law.
The UNSC has committed such unprecedented crime as the wanton infringement upon the right of a sovereign state to explore outer space for peaceful purposes and, instead of repenting of it, it is proactive in its outcry to cover up its crime. Under these circumstances, the DPRK, at this point, would like to draw a clear line of confrontation which will help clearly state who is to blame for the future unpredictable development of the situation.
First, the UNSC is involved in its high-handed act which will never be tolerated and it is the part of the self-defensive measures of the DPRK to respond to this with its own nuclear test which we had already made public to the world. There is a limit to our patience.
It is none other than the U.S. and other forces courting the U.S. favor who should be held entirely responsible for driving the situation to such a pass as they took the DPRK's peaceful satellite launch to the UN to launch a condemnation campaign.
It is what they said to the DPRK that a satellite launch belongs to an independent right of a sovereign state. But, after our actual satellite launch, they took sides with the U.S. in its move to condemn the DPRK.
Those countries remained silent when the large scale nuclear war exercises such as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises took place in the depth of the Korean peninsula. But, When the DPRK was compelled to conduct a nuclear test as a self-defensive measure, they are united in their voice, condemning it as "a threat to the regional peace and stability".
It means that they do not like the DPRK to possess what they had already put in place. In the final analysis, they mean small countries should obey big countries. The DPRK, though small in its territory and population, has self-confidence and grit that it is a politically and militarily strong country.
Second, we solemnly demanded that the UNSC make an apology for its crime of having seriously encroached upon the sovereignty of a sovereign state in gross violation of the Space Treaty and that it withdraw all its previously-crafted, unfair resolutions and decisions. Such a demand still remains in force.
As long as the Permanent Five alone invested with veto power and nuclear weapons have the mandate to identify what constitutes a "threat to international peace and security", the UNSC is not supposed to bring their own acts of intimidation into question indefinitely.
As long as the UNSC fails to respond to the DPRK's just demand, the DPRK will not recognize any resolution and decision of the UNSC in the future, too.
Third, if the UNSC will make further provocative actions, this will inevitably lead to the DPRK's approach towards adopting stronger self-defensive counter-measures.
The end of the Cold War worldwide works only between big powers, but a Cold War still persists on the Korean Peninsula.
The UNSC-crafted UN Command itself is a signatory to the Korean Armistice Agreement.
Any hostile act by the UNSC immediately means the abrogation of the Armistice Agreement.
The world will soon find out how the army and people of the DPRK will stand up against the high-handed and get-it-alone approach of the UNSC in defending its dignity and sovereignty.
The U.S. is keen on using a catchphrase "Carrot and stick."
It would be better for the "Donkey" of the U.S. Democratic Party to lick the carrot.
Prospect of KIZ Depends on S. Side's Attitude
Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The Central Special Zone Development Guidance General Bureau sent a message to the south side through the Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) Management Committee on Friday in connection with the fact that the north-south working contact for the revision of contracts on the KIZ has come to a rupture.
The working contact aimed to comprehensively reexamine and renegotiate the institutional preferential measures in the KIZ has faced the situation arousing concern due to the south side's perfidious attitude, the message says, and goes on:
The south side was compelled to respond to the contact on April 21 but it showed such seriously indecent attitude as delaying the contact for more than 10 hours while raising an unreasonable issue in disregard of even an elementary decorum and morality.
The south side promised to inform the north of the date for the next contact soon. However, it has delayed informing the north of the date for more than 20 days while getting hell-bent on a racket of confrontation with the DPRK over an issue outside the agenda despite the fact that the north side urged the south side on several occasions and showed such sincerity and magnanimity as informing it of the number of persons to be involved in the contact and its date and venue, etc. on its own initiative. The south side refused to respond to the contact the north side suggested again to have on May 12, driving the hard-won working contact to the crisis of rupture.
Moreover, the south side did not hesitate to kick up a row over the issue of a man who is now under investigation after being arrested red-handed for conducting a dishonest hostile act against the DPRK as an employee of Hyundai Asan in the KIZ and raise the issue as a precondition for the working contact.
By nature, the north side may revise laws and regulations and norms set by it and notify the south side of them and unilaterally put them into force as the KIZ is under its jurisdiction. But it offered the south side an opportunity of holding renegotiations with the north side, independent of the prevailing situation, taking the present north-south relations and the fate of the south side's businesses into due consideration.
However, the south side responded to our sincere efforts with a confrontational stand at last. This situation compels the north side to reconsider its stand to seek negotiated settlement of the issue as it has already informed the south side.
The north side solemnly notifies the south side of the following measures upon authorization:
First. We declare null and void the rules and contracts on the land rent, land use tax, wages, all sorts of taxes, etc. which we have so far applied to the south side in the KIZ out of special favor, guided by the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
Second. We will start going through the procedures for implementing the measures in line with the laws, regulations and norms to be revised as required by the changed situation and reality.
The enterprises and personnel concerned of the south side in the KIZ should unconditionally accept the above-mentioned matters and we do not care about them leaving the KIZ if they have no will to carry them out.
It is none other than the south side's authorities which caused the north side to take such measures.
We can not show favor for an indefinite period to those who seek confrontation with fellow countrymen.
The south side will be held responsible for making the working contact aimed at modifying the contracts on the KIZ abortive and deteriorating the situation.Whether the situation will reach a more deplorable phase in the future or not entirely depends on the south side's attitude.
DPRK Foreign Ministry Vehemently Refutes UNSC's "Presidential Statement"
Pyongyang, April 14 (KCNA) -- The DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday flatly rejecting the brigandish "presidential statement" which the U.S. and its followers finally released by abusing the UNSC to condemn the DPRK's launch of satellite for peaceful purposes.
Saying that throughout history the UNSC has never taken issue with satellite launches, the statement continues:
First, the DPRK resolutely rejects the unjust action taken by the UNSC wantonly infringing upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and seriously hurting the dignity of the Korean people.
Second, there would be no need to hold six-party talks which the DPRK has attended.
Now that the six-party talks have turned into a platform for infringing upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and seeking to force the DPRK to disarm itself and bring down the system in it the DPRK will never participate in the talks any longer nor it will be bound to any agreement of the six-party talks.
Third, the DPRK will bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence in every way.
It will take the measure for restoring to their original state the nuclear facilities which had been disabled under the agreement of the six-party talks and putting their operation on a normal track and fully reprocess the spent fuel rods churned out from the pilot atomic power plant as part of it.
All Koreans Called upon to Remain True to Spirit of "By Our Nation Itself"
Pyongyang, March 23 (KCNA) -- "By our nation itself" is the basic idea which the Koreans should enshrine in their struggle for national reunification and it is the steadfast spirit of national independence and the spirit of national unity, says Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed article.
It goes on: The June 15 era of reunification turned the north-south relations characterized by mistrust and confrontation that lasted for more than half a century into those of reconciliation and unity. It goes to prove that "By our nation itself" is noble patriotic spirit as it helps bring earlier independent reunification, peace and prosperity.
National reunification should be achieved independently by the concerted efforts of the Koreans in the north and the south free from foreign interference. This is the core of the spirit of "By our nation itself" clarified in the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
All Koreans should have transparent awareness of national independence that they should independently solve the issue of national reunification related to the destiny of the nation by their concerted efforts. This is the key to rejecting foreign aggression and interference and flunkeyism and dependence on foreign forces and reenergizing the movement for national reunification. Despite the vicious obstructions of the U.S. and the Lee Myung Bak group the driving force for national reunification has grown strong, the movement for national reunification dynamic and national reconciliation and unity and independent reunification have become an irresistible trend of the times. This is ascribable to the spirit of "By our nation itself" firmly enshrined in the minds of the fellow countrymen.
The above-said spirit represents the will and faith of all Koreans to make everything meet the interests of the nation, loving and valuing it more than anything else, and wage the movement for national reunification by the concerted efforts of the Koreans. Giving full play to the spirit of "By our nation itself" alone guarantees the dignity and honor of the nation, national pride and self-esteem and the indomitable will and stamina of the Koreans.
Only when all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad turn out in the movement for national independence and reunification as one, is it possible to throw overboard the anti-reunification elements and traitors in south Korea, definitely turn the north-south relations into the ties between compatriots and open a new history of peace and prosperity.
KCNA on DPRK's Right to Space Development
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Recently the U.S. and some other countries claimed that the DPRK is making "preparations for launching long-distance missile."
It is a grave challenge to the DPRK that the anti-DPRK hostile forces spread the rumor about the DPRK's "preparations for launching a long-distance missile" with the "collected information" without proper understanding of the fact.
This is a vicious trick to put a brake on the wheel of not only the DPRK's building of military capability for self-defence but also scientific researches for peaceful purpose under the pretext of missile.
One will come to know later what will be launched in the DPRK.
Space development is the independent right of the DPRK and the requirement of the developing reality.
The DPRK's latest science and technology developing day by day in conformity with the trend of the present times when the world is advancing toward the road of pioneering space have registered big successes in the field of space development, too.
Dishonest forces are asserting that the DPRK is doing provocative deed in order to draw attention from anyone. But, such assertion itself is an insult to the DPRK.
The DPRK has no need to draw anyone's attention and wants nobody to interfere or meddle in the issue of the Korean Peninsula where only the Koreans live.
All Koreans Called upon to Reenergize Reunification Movement
Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- The June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration serve as a reunification programme common to the nation which nothing can replace in the movement for the country's reunification, says Rodong Sinmun Tuesday in a signed article.
It goes on: The historic north-south joint declarations serve as the reunification programmes common to the nation in the true sense of the word as they reflect the requirement and desire of the compatriots for independence and their aspiration and will for reunification and indicate the true way of achieving independent reunification.
The idea of "By our nation itself" calls for giving priority to the nation from the stand of national independence and taking a viewpoint of protecting its interests in the reunification movement.
The south Korean conservative ruling forces are selling off the dignity and interests of the nation to meet the interests of foreign forces, defiling the idea of "By our nation itself" and regarding those forces more important than the nation.
All Koreans should decisively check and foil the anti-reunification forces' moves going against the trend of the times toward independent reunification, guided by the idea of "By our nation itself," as called for by the joint editorial.
National reunification is sure to be achieved as long as the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration remain a milestone of national reunification and the idea of "By our nation itself," an ideological and moral weapon for achieving reunification, is deeply enshrined by the compatriots as unshakable faith.
All the compatriots should positively turn out in the struggle to firmly uphold and honestly implement the north-south joint declarations under the uplifted slogan of "Advance dynamically along the road of independent reunification under the banner of the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration!" put up by the joint New Year editorial, urges the article.
Six-Party Heads-of-Delegation Session Held
Pyongyang, December 12 (KCNA) -- The six-party heads-of-delegation session was held in Beijing from Dec. 8 to 11.
It discussed the issues of winding up as soon as possible the implementation of the October 3 agreement adopted in 2007 and closed with the adoption of its chairman's statement.
The parties participating in the session recognized the fact that there has been positive progress in the implementation of the measures taken at the second phase specified in the September 19 joint statement.
They agreed to round off the economic and energy compensation equivalent to the supply of a million tons of heavy oil to the DPRK in return for the disablement as stipulated in the October 3 agreement.
They welcomed the international community's participation in making economic compensation in place of Japan which totally refused to fulfil its commitment under the agreement reached among the six parties.
They also agreed to separately hold meetings of a working group for economic and energy aid, a working group for establishing a peace and security mechanism in Northeast Asia and the next six-party talks as early as possible.
KPA Sends Notice to S. Korean Puppet Military
Pyongyang, November 12 (KCNA) -- The south Korean puppet authorities including the military are, in actuality, getting frantic in their racket for confrontation with the DPRK, while paying lip-service to "respect" for the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, a programme for honoring it, and "resumption of dialogue" for implementing them.
The head of the north side delegation to the inter-Korean general -level military talks sent a notice to the south Korean puppet military on November 12, assailing this stand.
He officially informed the south Korean puppet military of the following actual crucial measure of the Korean People's Army which will be put into effect as it had already warned:
The south Korean puppet authorities' unchanged stand and attitude towards the historic two declarations have been finally confirmed.
Such stand and attitude are leading to the grave wanton violation of all the north-south agreements made according to the declarations.
The racket of confrontation with the DPRK kicked up by the south Korean puppet authorities including the military, in particular, is going beyond the danger level despite its repeated warnings.
Upon the authorization, we officially inform the south side that the actual crucial measure taken by the KPA to strictly restrict and cut off all the overland passages through the Military Demarcation Line will take effect from December 1 as the first step in connection with the above-said development.
The south Korean puppet authorities should never forget that the present inter-Korean relations are at the crucial crossroads of existence and total severance.
All Koreans Called upon to Remain True to Spirit of "By Our Nation Itself"
Pyongyang, October 13 (KCNA) -- All Koreans should fully display the spirit of "By our nation itself" in order to meet the blatant challenge of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad, firmly adhere to the October 4 declaration, a programme for implementing the June 15 joint declaration, and successfully implement it. Rodong Sinmun Monday observes this in a signed article.
It goes on: The spirit of "By our nation itself" is inseparably linked with the October 4 declaration.
"By our nation itself" is the main spirit of the October 4 declaration as is the case with the June 15 joint declaration.
The above-said spirit gives a powerful impetus to the struggle to adhere to the historic October 4 declaration and implement it.
The spirit powerfully encourages all compatriots at home and abroad to creditably perform their role, united close as one under the banner of reunification, keenly aware of their responsibility as the driving force for the movement for national reunification.
It is the essence of the above-said spirit that all Koreans should solve the issue of national reunification by their concerted efforts in line with the independent will and wishes of the nation, aware of being responsible for achieving it.
The spirit of "By our nation itself" serves as a powerful engine encouraging all Koreans to implement the October 4 declaration as it is the main spirit of the historic October 4 declaration and embodies the consciousness of national independence and the idea of great national unity.
The moves of the Lee Myung Bak group in south Korea to hamstring the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration find a concentric manifestation in its efforts to stamp out the spirit of "By our nation itself" enshrined in the hearts of the Korean nation as the patriotic idea for reunification.
The October 4 declaration is not something that one is allowed to fail to implement in the way of developing the inter-Korean relations and achieving national reunification.
Whether national reunification is achieved or not hinges on how to implement the above-said north-south joint declarations.
Japan's Massacre of Koreans during Great Kanto Quake Indicted
Pyongyang, September 1 (KCNA) -- The History Society of the DPRK issued a memorandum on August 31 to indict the Japanese government for massacring Koreans in a premeditated and cruel manner during the great Kanto quake.
According to the memorandum, the Japanese government, taking the great quake that hit the area of Kanto, Japan in September 1923 as a golden opportunity for suppressing Koreans, mobilized the Interior Ministry, the army and the police and even ultra-right organizations including the "vigilant committee", thus killing more than 23,000 innocent Koreans in cold blood in little more than 10 days.
The Japanese government spread the fiction of "uprising of Koreans" in a bid to divert the Japanese people's criticism of government sparked off by the quake to killing Koreans. It then declared a "wartime martial law" and made "combat" preparations to kill defenseless Koreans in Japan, regarding them as "enemies".
The Kanto Martial Law Command ordered the army, the police and the "vigilant committee", etc. to commence the "operation for exterminating Koreans" after defining Koreans in Japan as "enemies and insurgents" according to the "wartime martial law". The command bolstered the ground and naval forces including Konoe division and the first division stationed in the area of Kanto in Tokyo and Yokohama.
The number of the troops present in the area under martial law reached more than 35,000 as of September 8 and more than 52,000 on September 10.
The Japanese government saw to it that organizations including the "vigilant committee" and "youth group" specializing in killing Koreans were organized with ultra-right elements and ordered them to cooperate with the army and the police.
The "vigilant committees" thus totaled 3,688 ? 1,595 in Tokyo metropolis, 603 in Kanagawa Prefecture, 300 in Saitama Prefecture, 366 in Chiba Prefecture, 336 in Ibaraki Prefecture, 469 in Gunma Prefecture and 19 in Tochigi Prefecture.
Under the direction of the command more than 70 army checkpoints were set up in the areas of Tokyo and Yokohama alone and hundreds of police boxes and police substations were ordered to operate as second checkpoints and Koreans among those passing through them were strictly screened and dealt with.
The Japanese man-killers left no means untried to ferret out Koreans. Typical of them were forcing the passers-by to pronounce five yen and 55 sen in Japanese, those confirmed to be Koreans to tie scarves around their foreheads, passers-by to speak about their birthdays in Japanese and beating them hard till they make screams for the purpose of screening them.
These man-killers went rampant with "hunting Koreans," scouring even mountains, riversides and meadows, to say nothing of streets, villages and houses, holding rifles, Japanese swords, daggers, bladed spears, bamboo spears, clubs and iron hooks and all other lethal weapons. When they caught Koreans, they cruelly killed them on the spot.
The number of the Koreans in Japan killed due to the Japanese government's cruel man-killing operations reached more than 23,000, according to the information released by the "Government-General in Korea".
The Japanese imperialist man-killers did not hesitate to commit such double crimes as burying a great number of dead bodies or burning them after spraying petroleum over them in order to keep the massacre of Koreans from being known to the world in the future.
After massacring Koreans, the Japanese government shamelessly tried to conceal or distort the truth about it in a bid to evade the criticism of it by the unbiased public and the responsibility for the crimes.
After proclaiming the "wartime martial law" the Japanese government organized the "temporary secretariat for rescuing quake victims" to eradicate the aftermath of the quake and set up in it a guard department working as a general command in charge of public security.
The guard department conducted false propaganda about "violence" and "crimes" of Koreans in Japan in a bid to hide the government's responsibility for crimes and decided to spread the story that their "violence" was masterminded by the "Reds", communists, behind the scene.
A typical decision was the September 5 top secret document "An agreement on the issue of Koreans."
The massacre and suppression of Koreans by the Japanese government and its henchmen were crimes against humanity unprecedented in history for their scale and the crafty and cruel nature of methods used by them.
Japan brought so unspeakable misfortune to the Koreans as an aggressor and plunderer and committed so hideous crimes against the Koreans in political, economic, military, cultural, moral and all other fields.
The Japanese government, however, is totally denying the crimes it committed in the past while dreaming of realizing the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere", far from repenting of and apologizing for its crime-woven past.
The Japanese government should bear in mind that if it runs reckless, oblivious of this, it will never be able to evade a thousand-fold revenge of Koreans but remain a sworn enemy of the Koreans as long as it does not sincerely repent of its past crimes.
Action of Pomchonghakryon Reunification Vanguard Started in S. Korea
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- The 21st-term Reunification Vanguard of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) on August 1 started its action to stage a grand candlelight march for sovereignty and peace against war and conduct a struggle demanding renegotiations on American beef import and punishment of Lee Myung Bak and opposing Bush's trip to south Korea.
Jong Tok Won, chief of the vanguard, made an address at the ceremony of starting its action held in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul on the same day.
He said that the vanguard would be organized around August 15 this year, too, to stir up the atmosphere of reunification across south Korea.
The organization will conduct its activities in real earnest with Bush's trip to south Korea as an occasion, he noted, adding:
It will vigorously wage information activities and struggle for peace against war in Seoul, Inchon and Kyonggi Province till August 7, holding high the slogans "Renegotiations on American beef import!" and "Opposition to Bush's trip to south Korea!"
After that it will stage an all-people grand candlelight march to punish the Lee Myung Bak "government" and retake the lost sovereignty, touring all parts of south Korea, divided into the east and west groups.
It is as clear as noonday that Lee Myung Bak's days will be numbered if he disregards and cracks down upon the people as the military dictators in the past did, the chief said.
Letters of protest to traitor Lee Myung Bak and Bush were read out at the ceremony.
The letters urged Lee to stop tightening the "alliance" for aggression with the United States, implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and the United States to come out to the total renegotiations on beef import as soon as possible.
At the end of the ceremony the vanguard conducted information activities in different parts of Seoul.
DPRK Foreign Ministry's Spokesman on U.S. Lifting of Major Economic Sanctions
Pyongyang, June 27 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA Friday as regards the U.S. announcement of its decision to lift major economic sanctions against the DPRK:
On June 26 the U.S. made public a decision on starting the process of taking the DPRK off the list of "state sponsors of terrorism" and exempting it from the "Trading with the Enemy Act" as a practical measure for lifting economic sanctions against the DPRK under the October 3 agreement reached at the six-party talks.
The DPRK appreciates and hails this as a positive measure.
What is important in the days ahead is for the U.S. to fundamentally drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK, a policy that compelled it to have access to a nuclear deterrent.
The measure taken by the U.S. to lift the major sanctions which it has applied against the DPRK, listing it as an enemy state for more than half a century, should lead to totally withdrawing its hostile policy toward the DPRK in all fields in the future.
Only then can the denuclearization process make smooth progress along its orbit.
Other participating nations of the six-party talks should also fully honor their commitments to make economic compensations in time as already promised.
The six parties should have the fulfillment of all their commitments verified and monitored on the principle of the September 19 joint statement which calls for denuclearizing the whole Korean Peninsula in a verifiable manner.
The DPRK will sincerely implement the September 19 joint statement, closely following each party's fulfillment of its commitment on the principle of "action for action" in the future, too, as it submitted a complete and accurate declaration on its nuclear activities this time in keeping with the U.S. measure for political compensation.
Crimes Committed by Lee Myung Bak Group during 100 Days of Their Office Brought to Light
Pyongyang, June 2 (KCNA) -- The National Reunification Institute made public a white paper Sunday disclosing the crimes committed by traitor Lee Myung Bak of south Korea for the past 100 days since the first day of his coming to power, talking about "lost decade."
The past 100 days of the conservative group's office are characterized by disgrace and crimes as it reduced south Korea to a complete colony of the U.S. and brought the north-south relations to collapse and made the dark clouds of confrontation and war hang over the Korean nation, the paper notes.
Citing facts to prove that Lee Myung Bak is the worst sycophantic traitor, the paper goes on: The traitor totally restored the humiliating master-servant relationship while talking about "tightened south Korea-U.S. alliance" quite contrary to the nation's desire for independence.
A particular mention should be made of the fact that during his junket to the U.S. in April he peddled "three principles for south Korea-U.S. alliance" such as "alliance based on value," "alliance based on confidence" and "peace-making alliance" and clang more tightly to the coattails of his American master, asserting that he would "upgrade south Korea-U.S. relationship to strategic alliance in the 21st century." (Yonhap News on April 16, 2008)
The ulterior aim sought by the Lee Myung Bak group in working hard to quell the desire of the nation for independence was brought to light when he made desperate efforts to delay the transfer of the "rights to command wartime operations" from the U.S., talking about "damaged alliance", although the transfer is scheduled to be made by April 2012.
It even disclosed its intention to take an active part in the U.S.-led PSI and the Missile Defence System which even its preceding regimes hesitated to do.
No sooner had the traitor come to power than he staged large-scale Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises after introducing U.S. imperialist aggression troops into south Korea and he is now contemplating hurling puppet forces' warships to the U.S.-led RIMPAC exercises for aggression slated to be staged in June. In February he held a "consultative meeting for the study of security" on Jeju Island by inviting there U.S. and Japanese military warhawks in a bid to knock into shape "triangular military alliance" for aggression. It adopted a "declaration" calling for establishing a triangular system for military cooperation and working out a joint military action plan and putting them into practice in "contingency." The Lee group also agreed to stage joint military exercises involving the U.S., Japan and south Korea from June. (Choongang Ilbo on February 20, 2008)
Lee Myung Bak reduced south Korea into a total colony of the U.S. in the economic field, too. Soon after his coming to power he went busy with the moves to conclude the south Korea-U.S. FTA and totally opened south Korea's market to American beef, thus committing such treachery as allowing American beef fraught with the danger of mad cow disease to find its way to south Korean market unhindered.
Lee also worked hard to Americanize south Korea's culture.
No sooner had Lee seized power than he proposed the "plan for intensified English education" unprecedented in history which calls for banning the use of Korean language but allowing the use of English only in school education from primary schools and adopted it as a policy.
He went the lengths of describing the actions taken by the ancestors to set fire to the U.S. pirate ship "General Sherman" and send it to the bottom of the river and their erection of "monuments to repelling aggressors' invasions" in different parts of Korea as a "big blunder" and raving that "such trouble should never be allowed to repeat itself." He even made the gesture of granting Korean names to U.S. ambassadors and brasshats of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces before their assumption of office in south Korea.
He was so insane as to name a general of the U.S. forces in south Korea "Ulji," surname of a famous patriotic commander of Korea, shortly ago. (Yonhap News on May 22, 2008)
Lee Myung Bak formed the "government" with pro-U.S. stooges and even appointed foreigners including American as policy advisers.
This traitor even blustered that he would let even a foreigner hold the ministerial post if necessary in the future. (Yonhap News on April 9, 2008)
He is holding Japan as dear as his ancestral tablet, keeping mum about the crimes committed by it in the past under the watchword of "new era of cooperation" and "future-oriented conception."
The white paper also cites facts to prove that Lee pushed the north-south relations to catastrophe.
The traitor negated the June 15 joint declaration, a great programme for national reunification in the new century, and the October 4 declaration, a programme for putting the joint declaration into practice, and stood in the way of their implementation.
Even before coming to power the traitor took issue with the above-said declarations, terming them "theory-like" and "abstract." As soon as he was elected "president" he openly negated what the preceding "government" agreed with the north, raving that the "new government" has no obligation to implement them." (Dong-A Ilbo on February 2, 2008)
The Lee group slashed every paragraph of the above-said declarations, putting up "pragmatism" as a slogan for its rule.
He opposed the first paragraph of the October 4 declaration, claiming that implementing it is little short of setting June 15 as a "national holiday" and accepting the federal formula. As for the paragraphs dealing with the north-south relations, he opposed them, asserting they are aimed to have the "National Security Law" repealed. As far as the paragraphs dealing with peace are concerned, he rejected them, claiming that they seek "the neutralization of the northern limit line" and "they are likely to cause a problem to security." And when referring to the paragraphs dealing with economic cooperation, he insisted he cannot accept them as they are tantamount to "a drain on resources under the pretext of economic cooperation."
The true aim sought by the Lee group in touting "no nukes, opening and 3,000 dollars" as "a policy toward the north" is to negate the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and break the north-south relations.
The Lee group slandered the idea of "By our nation itself" clarified in the June 15 joint declaration as "narrow-minded nationalism" and "exclusionist nationalism." They are working hard to justify "no nukes, opening and 3,000 dollars" and getting noisier in the "nuclear racket" and "human rights row" against the DPRK, crying out for "open nationalism." This is nothing but a revelation of their intention to scrap the June 15 joint declaration and bring the inter-Korean relations to collapse.
The Lee group has deliberately evaded the commitments stipulated in the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
It has harshly persecuted and suppressed people of different social standings involved in the reunification movement in south Korea.
Its moves to incite confrontation with the DPRK found their vivid expression in letting loose bellicose outbursts against the DPRK and stepping up the preparations for a war of aggression against it.
Of late this group proposed the "resumption of dialogue" and the setting up of "south-north liaison offices". But this is nothing but a ridiculous ploy to hoodwink the public opinion and evade the responsibility for bedeviling the north-south relations.
The paper also lashed out at the Lee group for reducing south Korea to a dark land under the fascist dictatorship.
This group has directed all efforts to establishing undemocratic fascist dictatorship and has not bothered to purge anyone they deemed standing in the way of doing so even a bit.
This group has also become all the more frantic in suppressing political opponents and progressive forces involving people of various social strata.
Not a few politicians including those who ran for presidency as candidates from ruling and opposition parties have been subject to the persecution and investigation by fascist prosecution after becoming targets of political reprisal by Lee. There appeared again riot police equipped with cushion helmet, shield and electric shock devices as well as water cannons and "Paekgoldan" which earned ill-fame during the fascist regime in the past. The "summary trial system" calling for punishing the accused without going through the procedures of public trial was restored in south Korea.
The Lee group's fascist true nature found a vivid manifestation in their brutal suppression of the wide-spread struggle waged by people from all walks of life in south Korea.
This group malignantly slandered even the heroic popular resistances waged by south Koreans in the past.
A typical example of this is that the "New Right Textbooks Forum", a political force backing the traitorous group, published a textbook in March describing traitor Park Chung Hee's "May 16 military coup" as a "revolution" and distorting and downplaying the movement for democratization waged by south Koreans from all walks of life including the April 19 popular uprising and the May 18 popular uprising. (Thongil News on April 24, 2008)
All what has happened in south Korea are awful consequences and tragic product of treacherous "pragmatism" advocated by Lee Myung Bak.
The conservative group of south Korea is now making desperate efforts to prolong its dirty remaining days but with nothing can it stem the trend of the times and the desire of the nation for independence, democracy and reunification, concludes the paper.
Rodong Sinmun Calls for Adhering to Three Principles of National Reunification
Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- The three principles of national reunification call for solving the issue of national reunification independently on the principle of national self-determination free from interference of outsiders, reunifying the country peacefully without a recourse to arms and promoting the great unity of the entire nation irrespective of differing ideology and system. They, therefore, serve as the most just programme for reunification and a charter for reunification common to the nation as they reflect the desire and will of the Korean nation for reunification, says Rodong Sinmun Saturday in a signed article.
It is 36 years since President Kim Il Sung advanced the three principles, the article says, stressing that in this period they gave a powerful impetus to the nation's movement for reunification and their validity and vitality have been fully proved.
It goes on: The three principles of national reunification indicate principles and ways of reunifying the country in a smooth way without any deviation in reliance upon the concerted efforts of the Korean nation as they were advanced with the nation's requirements for independence and its interests, the essence and nature of the issue of the national reunification and the present state of national division into due consideration.
The three principles are clearly reflected in the June 15 joint declaration, the article says, calling upon all the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad to vigorously push forward the movement for national reunification by their concerted efforts under the uplifted banner of the three principles and thus successfully carry out the President's last instructions for national reunification.
All Koreans Urged to Remain True to Three Principles of National Reunification
Pyongyang, March 27 (KCNA) -- The three principles of national reunification --independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity -- and the idea of "By our nation itself," an embodiment of the principles, serve as an invariable banner in the June 15 era of reunification to be consistently held aloft by all Koreans no matter what wind may blow.
Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed article. It goes on:
"By our nation itself" fully represents the idea of national independence and peaceful reunification, the idea of defending peace and the idea of the great national unity in the June 15 era of reunification.
he reunification of the country is a matter to be settled by the Koreans themselves and an issue related to the sovereignty of the nation.
As the U.S. imperialists, who divided the Korean Peninsula into two parts, are desperately hamstringing the efforts to achieve national reconciliation, unity and reunification while interfering in the internal issues of the Korean nation, it is more important than anything else to maintain independence and strictly abide by the Juche-based stand of the nation, while categorically rejecting and opposing flunkeyism and dependence upon foreign forces.
National reunification should be achieved by peaceful means without recourse to force of arms.
The differences in ideologies and systems cannot be solved by use of force and it is necessary, therefore, to achieve the reunification of the country by peaceful means under all circumstances, putting aside all differences.
It is the great national unity of the Korean nation that can frustrate the moves of the separatist forces at home and abroad against national reunification and advance the movement for it. The eye-opening successes made in the above-said movement since the adoption of the June 15 joint declaration convincingly prove that the might of the Koreans united close in the idea of "By our nation itself" provides a sure guarantee for the victory in the cause of independent reunification.
Specific methods may vary according to the change of the situation in the struggle for national reunification, but fundamental principles of national reunification can never change, concludes the article.
Rodong Sinmun on History of Songun Revolutionary Leadership
Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- The whole history of Kim Jong Il's Songun revolutionary leadership is the sacred revolutionary history of a great revolutionary and statesman which cannot but be called a forced march, says Rodong Sinmun Tuesday in a signed article.
The forced march is a mode of activity and leadership peculiar to Kim Jong Il, a mode which runs through his revolutionary activities.
He considered it as an immovable creed to complete the Korean revolution in the spirit of forced march that started on Mt. Paektu and by the mode of forced march in the course of hewing out the way of the unprecedentedly arduous and rigorous revolution together with President Kim Il Sung long ago. Kim Jong Il adorned the whole course of revolutionary leadership with ceaseless forced march.
He has continued making the forced march in the whole course of revolutionary leadership, deeply aware of his noble mission and confident that the harder he works, the richer and stronger the country becomes and the happier its people get. The immensely valuable tradition and wealth for the victory of the Juche revolution would be unthinkable without his tireless efforts and zeal.
In the course of weathering out hardships and ordeals to remain loyal to the leader, the Korean people learned from his spirit of making a forced march, acquired such strong idea and faith as struggling the way he did and emerged heroes in creation who know nothing impossible.
His history of the forced march is a precious history of struggle as he has worked exceptionally hard not merely for today but for the prosperity of the country and nation in the distant future.
"Love Future!" is a slogan put up by him while making an endless forced march with a revolutionary view on life that one must live not merely for today but for future.
This forced march is a continuation of the long journey of the forced march made by President Kim Il Sung all his life.
Kim Jong Il set out on the road of the revolution after making a firm pledge to glorify Korea true to the intention of the President and has since carried out the forced march for several decades to honor his pledge.
Every day of his forced march was characterized by his profound love and devotion to the country, the revolution and the people.
Kim Jong Il has always emerged victorious in the struggle with his indomitable will, reacting to the enemy's hard-line policy with the toughest stand with the fixed faith and grit that he who laughs last laughs longer by holding higher the red flag of the revolution whenever the situation got more difficult.
An immensely rosy future is in store for the country thanks to the dynamic leadership of Kim Jong Il who has glorified sacred history of the Songun revolution with endless forced march.
DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Issue of Implementation of October 3 Agreement
Pyongyang, January 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK released the following statement Friday as regards the delay in the implementation of the October 3 agreement made at the six-party talks:
It is beyond Dec. 31, 2007, the deadline set in the Oct. 3 agreement.
It is regrettable that points agreed there remain unimplemented except the disablement of the DPRK's nuclear facilities.
The disablement started early in November last year and all the operations were completed within the "technologically possible scope" as of Dec. 31.
At present, the unloading of spent fuel rods scheduled to be completed in about 100 days is underway as the last process.
However, the delivery of heavy fuel oil and energy-related equipment and materials to the DPRK, commitments of other participating nations, has not been done even 50 per cent.
The schedule for the monthly delivery of heavy fuel oil as well as the delivery of energy-related equipment and materials and relevant technical processes are being steadily delayed.
The U.S. has not honored its commitments to cross the DPRK off the list of "sponsors of terrorism" and stop applying the "Trading with the Enemy Act" against it.
Looking back on what has been done, one may say that the DPRK is going ahead of others in fulfilling its commitment.
As far as the nuclear declaration on which wrong opinion is being built up by some quarters is concerned, the DPRK has done what it should do.
The DPRK worked out a report on the nuclear declaration in November last year and notified the U.S. side of its contents.
It had a sufficient consultation with the U.S. side after receiving a request from it to have further discussion on the contents of the report.
When the U.S. side raised "suspicion" about uranium enrichment, the DPRK allowed it to visit some military facilities in which imported aluminum tubes were used as an exception and offered its samples as requested by it, clarifying with sincerity that the controversial aluminum tubes had nothing to do with the uranium enrichment.
As far as the fiction about nuclear cooperation with Syria is concerned, the DPRK stipulated in the October 3 agreement that "it does not transfer nuclear weapons, technology and knowledge". This is our answer to this question.
This was also done in line with the prior discussion with the U.S. side.
All facts go to clearly show what is the reason behind the delayed process of the implementation of the October 3 agreement.
Consistent in all agreements reached at the six-party talks including the September 19 joint statement is the principle of "action for action".
Now that other participating nations delay the fulfillment of their commitments, the DPRK is compelled to adjust the tempo of the disablement of some nuclear facilities on the principle of "action for action."
The DPRK still hopes that the October 3 agreement can be smoothly implemented should all the participating nations make concerted sincere efforts on the principle of simultaneous action.
Koreans Called upon to Give Momentum to Atmosphere of Reconciliation and Unity
Pyongyang, December 13 (KCNA) -- All Koreans are called upon to give further momentum to the atmosphere of reconciliation and unity and boost their solidarity and alliance with a view to proudly glorifying the June 15 era of reunification and bringing earlier the historic day of independent reunification. This call is made by a signed article of Rodong Sinmun Thursday.
Unity is what keeps the nation alive and serves as an engine propelling the cause of reunification, the article says, and goes on: For the Koreans, a homogeneous nation, the issue of unity is vital to the nation and indispensable for the national prosperity. Koreans should go united not only for their existence but for national prosperity and the demonstration of the might of the nation to the world.
National unity is essentially required by the nature and characteristics of the struggle for national reunification.
Koreans were not split because of any contradictions and conflicting elements within the nation. The issue of Korea's reunification is not aimed to eliminate any contradictions within the nation or remove institutional antagonism but to rejoin the blood ties of the nation severed by the foreign forces and achieve national reconciliation.
It is unbearable national misfortune and tragedy for the Koreans to have been forced to live separated in the north and south for over six decades due to the outside forces. All Koreans should go united in order to put an end to this tragedy of the national history at an early date. The reconciliation and unity of the entire nation precisely mean the reunification of the country.
Outsiders and ultra-right conservatives of south Korea, their lackeys, have spoken ill of "By our nation itself," the idea common to the nation, by hook or by crook, displeased with it. Lurking behind this is their sinister intention to deter the Koreans from achieving the national unity and foster antipathy and confrontation among fellow countrymen.
All Koreans should work harder to achieve the unity of the entire nation on the basis of the achievements made in the course of the struggle for unity.
Resolution "Peace, Security and Reunification of Korean Peninsula" Adopted at UN
Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- The resolution "Peace, Security and Reunification of Korean Peninsula" jointly proposed by the north and the south of Korea was unanimously adopted at the plenary session of the 62nd UN General Assembly on October 31.
Convinced that dialogue and cooperation between the north and the south of Korea are essential for ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, the resolution hailed and supported the north-south summit meeting and the "Declaration for the Development of North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity" in October 2007.
The resolution encouraged the north and the south in their efforts to fully and faithfully implement the declaration and thus consolidate peace on the Korean Peninsula and lay a solid foundation for achieving peaceful reunification and called upon the member nations of the United Nations to support the process of dialogue, reconciliation and reunification of the north and the south and contribute to peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in other parts of Northeast Asia and, furthermore, in the rest of the world.
Declaration for Development of North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity
Pyongyang, October 4 (KCNA) -- A declaration for the development of north-south relations and peace and prosperity was made public in Pyongyang Thursday.
The declaration is as follows:
President Roh Moo Hyun visited Pyongyang from October 2 to 4, 2007 under an agreement reached between Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, and Roh Moo Hyun, president of the Republic of Korea.
Historic meetings and talks were held in the period of the visit.
The meetings and talks reconfirmed the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration and frankly discussed all issues related to boosting the north-south relations, achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula, prosperity common to the nation and reunification.
Expressing the belief that the nation can open up the era of national prosperity, the new era of independent reunification, when it pools intention and strength, both sides declare as follows to boost the north-south relations on the basis of the June 15 joint declaration:
1. The north and the south shall uphold and positively implement the June 15 joint declaration.
The north and the south agreed to independently solve the reunification issue in the spirit of "By our nation itself", put the dignity and interests of the nation above all and orientate everything to this objective.
The north and the south agreed to push ahead with the matter of commemorating June 15 reflecting the will to invariably implement the joint declaration.
2. The north and the south agreed to definitely convert the north-south relations into those of mutual respect and confidence irrespective of differing ideologies and systems.
They agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other side but solve problems related to the north-south relations in favor of promoting reconciliation, cooperation and reunification.
They agreed to adjust their legal and institutional mechanisms with a view to developing the north-south relations to meet the purpose of reunification.
They agreed to positively promote dialogues and contacts in all fields including parliaments of both sides to solve all the issues related to boosting the inter-Korean relations in line with the desire of the nation.
3. The north and the south agreed to closely cooperate with each other in the efforts to put an end to the hostile military relations and ensure detente and peace on the Korean Peninsula.
They agreed not to antagonize each other but to ease the military tension and settle disputes through dialogues and negotiations.
They agreed to oppose any war on the peninsula and faithfully honor the commitment of non-aggression.
The north and the south agreed to hold the talks between the minister of the People's Armed Forces of the north side and the minister of National Defence of the south side in Pyongyang within November this year with a view to discussing measures for building military confidence including the proposal for fixing waters for joint fishing in order to prevent accidental clashes in the West Sea and turning them into peaceful ones and the issue of providing military guarantees for various forms of cooperation undertakings.
4. The north and the south shared the understanding about the need to put an end to the existing armistice mechanism and build a lasting peace mechanism and agreed to cooperate with each other in the efforts to push forward the issue of arranging the meeting of the heads of state of three or four parties directly concerned on the Korean Peninsula and declaring an end to a war.
They agreed to make joint efforts to ensure the smooth implementation of "September 19 joint statement" and "February 13 agreement" made at the six-party talks for the solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
5. The north and the south agreed to reenergize economic cooperation and make its sustained development on the principles of ensuring common interests and co-prosperity and meeting each other's need with a view to ensuring balanced development of national economy and achieving common prosperity.
The north and the south agreed to encourage investments for economic cooperation and energetically push forward the construction of economic infrastructure and development of resources and grant various kinds of preferential treatment and special privilege to suit the peculiarities of cooperation undertakings between compatriots.
The north and the south agreed to establish "special area for peace and cooperation in West Sea" covering Haeju area and waters off its surrounding areas and positively push forward undertakings including the issue of setting waters for joint fishing and those for peace, construction of special economic zone, active use of Haeju Port, direct passage of civilian vessels through Haeju Port and joint use of the estuary of the River Rimjin.
The north and the south agreed to complete the construction of the first-phase project of the Kaesong Industrial Zone at an early date, start its second-phase development, begin the railway freight transport between Munsan and Pongdong and rapidly take all the measures for institutional guarantees including the issues of passage, communications and customs clearance.
They agreed to discuss and push forward the issue of reconstructing and repairing the railways between Kaesong and Sinuiju and the motorway between Kaesong and Pyongyang in order to jointly use them.
They agreed to build zones for cooperation in ship-building in Anbyon and Nampho and conduct cooperation undertakings in different fields including agriculture, healthcare and environmental protection.
They agreed to upgrade the present "North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation" to the "joint committee for inter-Korean economic cooperation" at vice-premier's level for the satisfactory promotion of inter-Korean economic cooperation.
6. The north and the south agreed to develop the exchange and cooperation in the social and cultural fields such as history, language, education, science and technology, culture and arts and sports to add shine to the time-honored history and fine culture of the Korean nation.
They agreed to start the tour of Mt. Paektu and inaugurate the Mt. Paektu-Seoul direct flight to this end.
They agreed to let the cheering groups of the north and the south participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics by using the train to run on the west coastal railroad for the first time.
7. The north and the south agreed to positively push forward the humanitarian cooperation undertakings.
They agreed to expand the meeting of separated families and relatives and go ahead with the work to exchange video correspondence.
To this end, the north and the south agreed to permanently post representatives of both sides at the reunion centre at Mt. Kumgang resort when completed with a view to putting the reunion of separated families and relatives on a regular basis.
They agreed to positively cooperate with each other in case of calamities including natural disaster on the principle of compatriotism, humanitarianism and mutual support and assistance.
8. The north and the south agreed to strengthen the cooperation in the efforts to meet the interests of the nation and rights and interests of overseas Koreans on the international arena.
The north and the south agreed to hold the talks between the premier of the north and the prime minister of the south for the implementation of this declaration and decided to hold its first meeting in Seoul within November this year.
The north and the south reached an agreement on ensuring that the top leaders of both sides meet from time to time to discuss pending issues for the purpose of developing the inter-Korean relations.
October 4, 2007
Pyongyang
Kim Jong Il // Roh Moo Hyun
Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission // President of the Republic of Korea