BomMinRyon Activities
Appeal Calls for National Reunification
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- The North, South and Overseas Side Committees for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration Sunday made public an appeal to all the fellow countrymen at home and abroad on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Korea's liberation.
The Korean Peninsula still remains divided into two, beset with the danger of war, though 65 years have passed since its liberation, the appeal noted, and went on:
A key to solving it lies in implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration as they are declarations for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country.
Military tensions and danger of war are escalating on this land day by day and this will bring the nation nothing but disaster.
Calling for resolutely smashing all the hostile acts of the U.S. imperialists and their followers keen on war and confrontation and boosting solidarity and unity among the people of all strata in the north and the south through visits and contacts, the appeal continued:
This year marks the centenary of the fabrication of the "Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty" and the 105th anniversary of the fabrication of the "Ulsa (1905) Five-point Treaty".
All the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and abroad should wrest apology and reparation for the criminal acts Japan committed against the Korean nation through history.
The spirit of sovereignty and independence displayed by martyrs in their struggle against the Japanese imperialists is still alive in the hearts of the Koreans.
Let us put an end to national division and achieve the independent reunification without fail, carrying forward the intention of the patriotic forerunners who laid down their lives without hesitation to retake the homeland from the Japanese imperialists.
Let us rally close under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and accomplish the historic cause of national reunification.
June 15 Cause Sure to Triumph
Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- Neither challenges nor obstructions on the part of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad can block the grand march of the Korean nation towards national reunification under the uplifted banner of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
Rodong Sinmun Tuesday observes this in a signed article.
It is the law of the development of history for the just cause of the popular masses to triumph, the article notes, and goes on:
The June 15 cause has tremendous vitality as it is based on the idea of "By our nation itself", the national spirit in the new century, and it is sure to win as it is the cause for the Koreans themselves who are vitally interested in national reunification.
The June 15 cause is, in essence, a struggle to promote the reconciliation, unity and cooperation between the north and the south in the spirit of "By our nation itself" and represents the mental power of "By our nation itself" and, at the same time, the vitality of the above-said cause.
The only way out for the Korean nation is to achieve reunification. Let us pave the way for the nation and national reunification with do-or-die determination and will. This is the unanimous will of the Koreans living in the June 15 era of reunification.
Over the past decade of the June 15 era of reunification the Koreans fully demonstrated the truth and the vitality of the idea of "By our nation itself".
The final victory of the June 15 cause is sure to be accomplished only when the Koreans at home and abroad unite as firm as a rock under the banner of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and wage a nationwide dynamic struggle to smash the moves of the anti-reunification forces to escalate the confrontation and start a war.
National Reconciliation Council Issues Open Questionnaire
Pyongyang, June 23 (KCNA) -- Of late the south Korean group of traitors is busy letting loose a spate of sheer sophism that it has never negated the north-south joint declaration in a bid to mislead public opinion and evade the responsibility for having pushed the inter-Korean relations to a collapse.
The National Reconciliation Council Wednesday issued an open questionnaire blasting this rhetoric.
Declaring that the puppet group of traitors can never evade the responsibility for having negated the June 15 joint declaration and brought the inter-Korean relations to a collapse, the open questionnaire demanded it stop at once making a mockery of the nation with clumsy excuses and sordid wordplays.
The open questionnaire cited facts to prove that the group negated the inter-Korean declarations.
After he came to power in February 2008, Lee Myung Bak said on a number of occasions his regime was not obliged to implement the declarations signed by the preceding regimes with the north.
Hyon In Thaek, puppet minister of Unification, asserted at a permanent committee of the "National Assembly" on February 19, 2009 that the June 15 declaration and the October 4 declaration are political declarations devoid of legal binding force.
Kim Ha Jung, the then minister of "Unification", when asked at the puppet National Assembly in November 2008 whether the present "government" respected the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, he answered it was difficult to say so because that meant a switchover in its policy.
Noting that the group's denial of the idea of "By our nation itself", the keynote of the June 15 joint declaration, meant the denial of the north-south joint declaration, the open questionnaire cited facts to prove it.
Lee Myung Bak in his "speech" made at a commemoration meeting on March 1, 2008 malignantly defiled the idea of "By our nation itself," terming it "chauvinist nationalism" and "narrow-minded nationalism" and blustered that the south-north relations could not be settled in the spirit of "By our nation itself". The group of the puppet ministry of "Unification" also slandered the idea of "By our nation itself," describing it as a "propaganda slogan of the north" and "a strategy of the united front".
Ever since its seizure of power the puppet conservative group has worked with blood-shot eyes to resort to the fascist suppression of the pro-reunification patriotic forces supporting the inter-Korean joint declaration and demanding its implementation, crying out for "eradicating pro-north leftist forces."
It made no scruple of committing such thrice-cursed atrocities as persecuting the former "presidents" who visited Pyongyang and signed the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and driving them to death.
Confrontation and war are incompatible with the June 15 joint declaration aimed at peace and reunification, the open questionnaire noted, declaring:
The Lee group of traitors can not escape the sledge-hammer blows of history for being the wicked foes of reunification and traitors to the nation who have created the present grave situation by bringing the inter-Korean relations to a collapse in violation of the inter-Korean joint declarations.
3rd Session of 12th SPA Held
Pyongyang, June 7 (KCNA) -- The Third Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Monday.
Deputies to the SPA participated in the session.
Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, took the platform.
Chairman Choe Thae Bok made an opening address.
Discussed at the session were agenda items on recall and election of premier of the DPRK Cabinet and organizational matters.
Deputy Kim Yong Il was recalled from the post of premier and Deputy Choe Yong Rim was elected to the post at the proposal of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee at the end of the discussion on the first agenda item.
Then followed discussion on the second agenda item.
Deputy Jang Song Thaek was elected as vice-chairman of the NDC at the proposal of Kim Jong Il.
Some Cabinet members were recalled and appointed at the session.
Deputies Kwak Pom Gi, O Su Yong and Pak Myong Son were recalled from the post of vice-premier while Deputy Ri Ju O from the post of minister of Light Industry, Deputy Jong Yon Gwa from the post of minister of Foodstuff and Daily Necessities Industry and Deputy Pak Hak Son from that of chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission.
Deputies Kang Nung Su, Kim Rak Hui, Ri Thae Nam and Jon Ha Chol were appointed as vice-premiers, Deputy Jo Pyong Ju as vice-premier and concurrently minister of Machine-Building Industry, Deputy Han Kwang Bok as vice-premier and concurrently minister of Electronics Industry, Deputy An Jong Su as minister of Light Industry, Deputy Jo Yong Chol as minister of Foodstuff and Daily Necessities Industry and Deputy Pak Myong Chol as minister of Physical Culture and Sports.
Deputy Choe Yong Rim was sworn in as premier at the session.
Meeting Marks Anniversary of Kwangju Uprising
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- A Pyongyang meeting was held at the Central Hall of Workers on Monday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Kwangju Popular Uprising of south Korean people.
Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party, Ryu Mi Yong, chairperson of the C.C., the Chondoist Chongu Party, Jo Chung Han, presidium member of the C.C., the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea, An Kyong Ho, director of the Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, leading officials of public organizations, presidents and rectors of universities and officials of power organs, working people, youth and students in the city of Pyongyang.
The Kwangju Popular Uprising was a just anti-U.S. and anti-fascist democratic resistance waged by the south Korean people to achieve the independence and democracy of society and the country's reunification against the colonial fascist rule of the U.S. imperialists and their lackeys. And it was a popular armed uprising in which all the citizens of Kwangju rose against the U.S. imperialists and the puppet military fascist clique, braving death.
Yang Hyong Sop said in his report that the uprising ended in a failure due to the U.S. imperialists and the puppet military fascist clique's barbarous bloody suppression, but it shook the colonial fascist rule of south Korea to its very foundation, fully demonstrated the indomitable will and heroic stamina of the south Korean people to achieve the independence and democracy of society and the country's reunification and powerfully encouraged the oppressed people in colonies to the struggle for national liberation.
The uprising taught the south Korean people a bitter lesson that the U.S. imperialists are the heinous aggressors and murderers who do not hesitate to commit horrible genocide when they deem it necessary for achieving their purpose of domination and meeting their interests and that they can never realize any desire unless the military presence and colonial domination of the U.S. imperialists are brought to an end, the reporter noted.
Saying that this year is a significant year marking the 10th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration and the 30th anniversary of the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo, he called upon all the compatriots in the north and the south and abroad to courageously frustrate all obstructions of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad under the banner of the joint declaration and vigorously accelerate the nation-wide grand march for reunification.
DPRK's April Holidays Commemorated
Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) -- Round-table talks, seminars, photo exhibitions and film shows were held in Tunisia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia from March 31 to April 5 to commemorate the Day of the Sun, the 17th anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and the 78th anniversary of the foundation of the heroic Korean People's Army.
Displayed in the venues of the events were photos on the glorious revolutionary histories and undying feats of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Speeches were made there.
The secretary general of the People's Unity Party of Tunisia said that the Korean people hold
Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the eternal President of the DPRK, adding that his party would always remember his immortal exploits.
Speakers at the seminar held in Bangladesh noted that Kim Il Sung turned the DPRK into the strongest fortress of independence in the world and made a great contribution to accomplishing the human cause of independence.
The chairman of the Pakistan Society for the Study of Independence said that the undying feats performed by Kim Il Sung in founding the army are shedding more brilliant rays thanks to the Songun politics pursued by Chairman of the NDC Kim Jong Il. No force on earth can match the might of the army and people of the DPRK led by him, the chairman added.
The participants of the film shows watched such Korean films as "Fireworks for a Thriving Nation", "Arms of Korea" and "The Country I Saw".
June 15 All-Korean Committee Meets
Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- A meeting of chairmen of the north, south and overseas sides to the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration (June 15 All-Korean Committee) took place here on Mar. 7 and 8.
Present there were the delegation of the North Side Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration led by Chairman An Kyong Ho, the delegation of the South Side Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration headed by permanent representative Kim Sang Gun, and the delegation of the Overseas Side Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration led by Chairman Kwak Tong Ui.
At the meeting the chairmen were unanimous that the north-south summit in Pyongyang in June, 2000 and the publication of the June 15 joint declaration marked a historic event as it dispelled the distrust and confrontation between the north and the south and ushered in a new era of national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
The meeting discussed practical issues arising in bringing about a new phase of national unity and the country's reunification under the banner of the north-south joint declaration this year marking the 10th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.
According to the press release issued at the meeting, its participants decided to open with splendor an event common to the nation to commemorate the anniversary with representatives of all political parties and organizations and personages of different circles in the north, the south and abroad supporting the declaration attending.
It was agreed to hold a main meeting, a photo exhibition, inter-sector meeting, art performance and others under the program of the event.
It was also decided to hold colorful functions in the north, the south and abroad to suit the actual conditions.
The three sides to the committee decided to separately form preparatory committees in order to successfully promote the event common to the nation and regional functions.
It was agreed to hold joint events of organizations in different fields and of various circles between the north and the south for the purpose of stirring up the atmosphere of the movement for reunification among Koreans in the run-up to the above-said anniversary.
They decided to have a working-level contact at an early date to further the consultations about the venue of the event and other issues.
Dynamic Movement for National Reunification Called for
Pyongyang, February 18 (KCNA) -- The Japanese Regional Committee under the Overseas Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration issued a statement on Feb. 12, calling for conducting the dynamic movement of national reunification.
Since the publication of the June 15 joint declaration that indicates a new way ahead of national reunification, many successes have been achieved in the movement of reunification for national reconciliation and unity, the statement said, and continued:
Contacts and cooperation between the organizations of different strata in the south and the north of Korea have been checked by the anti-reunification forces of south Korea and pro-reunification patriots are suppressed as reunification activities for implementing the declaration have been branded as "illegal," though.
The fellow countrymen have been faced with the task to meet all challenges of anti-reunification forces, put an end to the history of national division caused by outsiders and realize national reunification at an early date under the banner of the south-north joint declaration through national unity.
The organisation will actively contribute to holding a grand festival for reunification in hearty response to the proposal of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration for the successful holding of the joint events of the nation marking the 10th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.
The statement expressed the resolution to help such ardent desire for reunification prevail in the community of Koreans in Japan as seen in June 10 years ago and push ahead with colorful events and campaigns for national reunification.
DPRK on Reasonable Way for Sept. 19 Joint Statement
Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- The DPRK's proposal for concluding a peace treaty is a reasonable way for comprehensively and fully implementing the September 19 Joint Statement, declared a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK in a statement issued Monday.
If the joint statement is to be implemented, the spirit of mutual respect and equality, which keeps the statement vital, should not be violated and there should not be such practice as distorting the order of action, the statement said, and went on:
The joint statement calls for "harmoniously" settling the issues of denuclearization, normalization of relations, energy compensation and the establishment of a peace-keeping regime. There is no agreed point that the issue of establishing a peace-keeping regime can be discussed only when denuclearization makes progress. Only the principle of "commitment for commitment" and "action for action" is laid down as the only principle for implementing the joint statement.
Taking the situation of the U.S. side into consideration, the DPRK made such magnanimous efforts as keeping the discussion of denuclearization ahead of the debate on the issue of concluding a peace treaty at the six-party talks for more than six years. In 2008 the international community witnessed the blowing up of the cooling tower of the nuclear facility in Nyongbyon. The process of denuclearization made such substantial progress that the U.S. stopped applying the Trading with the Enemy Act and de-listed the DPRK as a "sponsor of terrorism".
This notwithstanding, the debate on the conclusion of a peace treaty failed to kick off, consequently pushing back the process of denuclearization. The mode of pushing ahead with denuclearization before discussing the peace-keeping regime ended in failure. The practical experience proved that pushing forward denuclearization in the absence of confidence is just like building a house without a foundation.
The DPRK is not opposed to the six-party talks and has no ground whatsoever to delay them.
There happened such a thing as taking issue even with the satellite launch for peaceful purposes as there was no confidence among the parties to the talks. A satellite launch has never been considered as problematic among the countries that trust one another. Such extreme encroachment upon the sovereignty of a country as discriminately taking issue with its satellite launch compelled it to take such self-defensive counter-measure as a nuclear test and the resultant sanctions caused such a vicious cycle of distrust as bringing the six-party talks to a collapse.
It is the purport of the DPRK's proposal for concluding a peace treaty to put an end to such vicious cycle of distrust and build confidence to push forward denuclearization. There will be a starting point of confidence building only if the parties concerned sit at a negotiating table for concluding a peace treaty.
If the six-party talks are to take place again, it is necessary to seek whatever way of removing the factor of torpedoing them. The latest sanctions are not particularly new for the DPRK as it has got used to blockade and sanctions for decades. But if the DPRK goes out for the six-party talks, remaining subjected to the sanctions, such talks will not prove to be equal talks as clarified in the Sept. 19 Joint Statement but the talks between "defendant" and "judge". The dignity of the DPRK will never allow this to happen. It is nonsensical for the DPRK to sit at the negotiating table with those countries that violate its sovereignty, allowing it to be persistently encroached upon, and discuss with them the deterrent it built to defend its sovereignty.
The DPRK will continue to make sincere efforts to persuade the parties concerned into accepting its realistic proposal based on experience and lesson.
Mass Rallies Held to Vow to Implement Tasks Set forth in Joint New Year Editorial
Pyongyang, January 4 (KCNA) -- Mass rallies of South Phyongan and Jagang Provinces took place in Phyongsong and Kanggye cities on Jan. 3 to carry through the militant tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial.
Attending them were leading officials of the party, power and economic organs and working people's organizations, people from all walks of life, youth and students.
Reports and speeches were made at the rallies.
Reporters and speakers said that the joint editorial of Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi serves as a militant banner dynamically encouraging the whole Party and army and all the people in the gigantic drive in this significant year.
They noted that they would give full play to the already reinforced production potentials and thus bring about a great change in the production of consumer goods and grain by thoroughly implementing with consistency the Party's policies of light industry revolution and agricultural revolution.
The workers in the four vanguard sectors including the electric power industry and coal industry should effect a great surge in production by ensuring the maximum speed of advance in the drive for bringing about a great revolutionary surge and thus provide a foundation for developing economy and improving the people's standard of living, they noted.
They called upon the Sungri Motor Complex to push ahead with the work to introduce CNC technology and the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex to perfect the fertilizer production system based on locally available raw and other materials to supply more fertilizers to the socialist cooperative fields.
They also called upon the officials and working people to wage a dynamic drive to glorify this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea as a year of great changes to be specially recorded in the history of building a thriving nation, full of conviction of victory and optimism.
Anniversary of Pomminryon Observed
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Friday dedicates a signed article to the 19th anniversary of the formation of the Pan-National Alliance for Korea's Reunification (Pomminryon).
Pomminryon formed on November 20, Juche 79 (1990) is a pan-national organization for the reunification patriotic movement which regards it as its mission to achieve Korea's reunification on the three principles-- independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity-- and unites close the pro-reunification movement organizations of Koreans of all circles and broad strata of compatriots at home and abroad and encourages them to accomplish the cause of independent reunification.
Pomminryon has made great successes in the efforts to achieve national reconciliation and unity and strengthen and develop the movement for national reunification over the past 19 years since its formation, the article says, and goes on:
Pomminryon has developed to be a pro-reunification movement organization with well-regulated organizational system as it has regional headquarters and branches, etc. in the north and the south and overseas where Koreans live, a mass organization which groups Koreans from all walks of life. It has successfully performed its mission and role, while energetically rousing all the Koreans to a struggle for great national unity and the country's reunification under the uplifted banner of the three charters for national reunification and the five-point policy for great national unity.
The advent of the June 15 era of reunification, guided by the idea of "By our nation itself", marked an important occasion of putting the activities of Pomminryon on a higher level.
Pomminryon has energetically explained the validity and vitality of the historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and the necessity to implement them and powerfully encouraged all Koreans at home and abroad in their efforts to put them into practice. It has laid bare and denounced every move of the anti-reunification forces to obstruct the implementation of the inter-Korean declarations, while negating them, in particular, and injected fresh energy into the movement for Korea's reunification.
Reunification festivals of various forms took place in the north and the south and overseas on the occasions of the anniversaries of the adoption of the June 15 joint declaration and the August 15 liberation day, the solidarity among the north and south sides and overseas side grew strong and the movement for national reunification has developed to be a nation-wide movement grouping workers, peasants, youth and students, women and people of all other strata. This would be unthinkable without the role of Pomminryon as an umbrella body for great national unity.
Sure to triumph is the patriotic cause of Pomminryon making a dynamic advance along the road of great unity and national reunification under the uplifted banner of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration amid the expectation of the Koreans at home and abroad and their positive support and encouragement.
Appeal to 70 Million Fellow Countrymen Issued
Pyongyang, October 26 (KCNA) -- The Religious Believers Council of Korea and the Memorial Commission for Martyr An Jung Gun issued an appeal to the 70 million fellow countrymen today, the centenary (October 26, 1909) of An's shooting to death Hirobumi Ito, the mastermind of aggression who forced the Korean nation into colonial slavery.
It was a just action against the Japanese imperialist aggressors and a patriotic deed which showed before the whole world that the Korean nation never wants to live as colonial slaves of foreign forces, the appeal said, and went on:
The soul of martyr An Jung Gun calls upon the fellow countrymen to a drive for the independent and peaceful reunification.
The atrocities the Japanese imperialists committed by trampling down upon the inviolable territory of Korea and imposing the unspeakable misfortune and sufferings upon the Korean nation are touching off bitter resentment among all the fellow countrymen even today though 100 years have passed.
To force the Japanese imperialists to settle all the crimes committed by them in the past is an important task of the Korean nation to defend the independent dignity and honor of the nation with 5000 year-long brilliant history and culture.
It is necessary to resolutely counter Japan's distortion of history and militarist attempt by the concerted efforts of the nation.
We set the period from Oct. 26, the centenary of the patriotic deed of martyr An Jung Gun, to March 26, 2010, the centenary of his martyrdom, as the "period of anti-Japanese joint struggle in memory of martyr An Jung Gun" and call upon all the fellow countrymen to turn out in the struggle for demanding Japan's apology and reparation.
An dedicated his life to national independence and the independent and peaceful reunified country.
But the Korean nation has not yet put an end to the tragic division forced by foreign forces though more than 60 years have passed since the Japanese imperialists' defeat.
In order to overcome foreign forces' pressure and achieve the cause of reunification, the greatest desire of the Korean nation, it is necessary to strive for national independence and peace and great national unity on the basis of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
Let all the fellow countrymen achieve independent reunification, peace and prosperity by pooling their will and strength irrespective of differing ideology, ism, political view and religious belief.
Let us achieve national unity and concord on the principle of pulling down the old barrier of distrust and confrontation among fellow countrymen and promoting mutual trust and reconciliation.
No force on earth can bar the fellow countrymen from advancing toward independent reunification, peace and prosperity.
We positively call upon all the fellow countrymen to make joint efforts for national reunification and prosperity under the uplifted banner of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, recollecting the patriotic deed of martyr An Jung Gun.
28th Yun I Sang Concert Opens
Pyongyang, September 28 (KCNA) -- The 28th Yun I Sang concert was opened with due ceremony.
An inaugural concert took place at the Yun I Sang Concert Hall on Monday.
Appreciating the concert were Kang Nung Su, minister of Culture, officials concerned, creators and artistes of the national art organizations, teachers and students in the field of art education.
Among the audience were the daughter of Yun and staff members of the German embassy here.
Before the start of the concert Han Chol, vice-minister of Culture, made an address.
Taking part in the concert were musicians of the orchestra of the Yun I Sang Music Institute and other national art organizations and the orchestra of Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory.
It begun with female solo "Fog Creeps up Jong Il Peak." Put on the stage were Korean lyric songs composed by Yun the early period of his activities "A Letter", "Coloides Conores" for a string ensemble and small orchestra "Konzertante Figueren."
The concert will last till Sept. 30.
Performance of Extravaganza "Arirang" Continues
Pyongyang, August 26 (KCNA) -- The grand gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang", a "Kim Il Sung Prize" laureate, is staged at the May Day Stadium located on Rungna Islet of Pyongyang amid great interest of peoples at home and abroad.
The extravaganza is a monumental masterpiece of the new century which was created with the folk song "Arirang" as its seed by combining the question on the nation's lot with the history of the Korean revolution.
It, which consists of a prelude, four acts and a finale, shows the ideological and thematic content in an ample and graphic representation.
The prelude in which the title "Arirang" appears with the rising sun as the background, and Act 1 impressively represent with famous songs the immortal feats performed by President Kim Il Sung who liberated the ruined country.
Act 2 "Arirang of Songun" depicts the reality of the country rapidly developing thanks to Songun and the happy life of its working people with peculiar dance movements, cheerful songs and gymnastic formations full of vigor.
Conspicuous in the current performance is Act 3 "Arirang of Happiness".
Graceful movements of dancers with flowers and ribbons in their hands and stunts of acrobats lead the audience to a mysterious and fascinating world.
Act 4 "Arirang of Reunification" and the finale "Arirang of Prosperity" represent well the strong will of the Korean people to reunify the divided country and build a great, prosperous and powerful nation.
All the scenes, songs and the pictures and words on the background reflect the reality of Juche Korea as it is.
An Open Letter to President Obama on Korea Policy
July 15, 2009
Dear President Obama,
As you likely know, on July 27, 1953, only a cease-fire agreement was signed by the U.S. with Korea, not a peace treaty. It is long overdue for the U.S. to sign a legally binding peace treaty with North Korea replacing the worldĄŻs longest 56-year old cease-fire. Without such assurances, the people of North Korea remain in fear that their sovereignty could be threatened at anytime by the U.S. in conjunction with its ally, South Korea.
The "Cold War" partition of the Korean Peninsula into two regions by the U.S. in August 1945 after Japan's surrender in WWII was imposed against the wishes of the Peninsula's people. The U.S., in effect, replaced the hated 40-year Japanese occupation of Korea, an action unequivocally opposed by the vast majority of the Korean people. Ironically, Korea, unlike Japan, had not invaded or occupied any other nation. This egregious assault on the Korean people ultimately led to what is called the Korean War in which 4-6 million Koreans were killed, mostly by incomprehensible bombing. The division and the war forcibly separated 10 million families. Most of them have never heard from one another, and by now, after 60 years, most have deceased.
The division of the ancient homogenous Korean people is one of the crimes of the Twentieth Century that remains unaddressed.
President Carter once admitted the USĄŻs profound responsibility for the division of Korea and tried to pull the U.S. troops out of Korea. We Koreans sincerely hope that you will follow through on President CarterĄŻs unfinished work on the Korean Peninsula.
Given the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, Koreans feel threatened by the prospect of another war as has happened so many times over the last 6 decades.
It is time for the U.S. to sign a peace treaty and normalize relations. For this to happen, the U.S. troops must be removed from what is now called South Korea, and the complete denuclearization of the Peninsula, including from all its surrounding waters.
We are urging the U.S. to sign a peace treaty with North Korea. We sincerely hope that you will take this necessary step to finally achieve peace in Korea.
Sincerely,
Hwayoung Lee
Chair Korea Truth Commission-U.S.
EM: hwayoungktc@yahoo.com
Anniversary of Publication of June 15 Joint Declaration Observed
Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- A national meeting was held at the Central Youth Hall on June 15 to observe the 9th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.
Present there were Kim Ki Nam, Yang Hyong Sop, the chairpersons of the friendly parties, members of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration and the North Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification and the Pan-national Alliance of Youth and Students for Korea's Reunification and working people in Pyongyang.
Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, made a report.
He said: The historic Pyongyang summit and the June 15 joint declaration were the brilliant fruition of the outstanding Songun politics and the experienced and seasoned leadership of Kim Jong Il who worked hard to accomplish the cause of national reunification without fail true to the noble intention of President Kim Il Sung who made every effort to achieve the reunification of the country.
The publication of the declaration made it possible for the movement of the Korean nation for reunification to advance straightly along the orbit of independence with a clear-cut goal and principles both in name and reality and rapidly develop into a nation-wide struggle involving all the fellow countrymen.
After providing the historic June 15 joint declaration and bringing about a landmark phase of national reunification Kim Jong Il wisely led the struggle for implementing the joint declaration, and thus performed great exploits to always shine in the country's history.
The reporter underscored the need for all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas to give further momentum to the struggle for preserving and implementing the north-south joint declarations.
Neither dialogue nor contact would be thinkable nor improved north-south relations could be expected without the implementation of the inter-Korean joint declarations, the reporter noted, stressing the need for the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and overseas to firmly unite as one under the banner of patriotism for reunification and open up new avenue for independent reunification.
The reporter called upon all the fellow countrymen to turn out in the struggle to shatter the war moves of the Lee Myung Bak group serving as shock brigade in the moves for "sanctions" against the DPRK following the U.S. policy for stifling it regardless of the destiny of the nation and to defend peace and security of the Korean Peninsula after withdrawing the U.S. troops from south Korea.
KCNA Report on One More Successful Underground Nuclear Test
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- The Korean Central News Agency released the following report on Monday in connection with one more successful underground nuclear test in the DPRK.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence in every way as requested by its scientists and technicians.
The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control and the results of the test helped satisfactorily settle the scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology.
The successful nuclear test is greatly inspiring the army and people of the DPRK all out in the 150-day campaign, intensifying the drive for effecting a new revolutionary surge to open the gate to a thriving nation.
The test will contribute to defending the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism and ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the region around it with the might of Songun.
DPRK FM Spokesman on Adoption of Final Document at Ministerial Meeting of Coordinating Committee of NAM
Pyongyang, May 1 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the follow answer to a question put by KCNA Friday in connection with the adoption of the final document at the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement:
The ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the NAM was held in Havana, Cuba on April 29 and 30 and the final document was adopted there.
The meeting decided not to include a Korea-related article dealing with the "six-party talks" in the final document, taking into consideration the recent situation prevailing in the Korean Peninsula.
The said article which had so far been included in the final documents of the NAM meetings was excluded this time. This fully reflects the present situation in which the "six-party talks" disappeared due to the vicious moves of the forces hostile toward the DPRK.
The U.S. and Japan perpetrated grave hostile acts against the DPRK by inveigling even the UNSC, thus bringing the "six-party talks" and the process of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula to collapse.
The inter-Korean relations have been driven into the worst phase due to the reactionary confrontational policy of the present south Korean conservative authorities.
The nations that participated in the Havana meeting expressed concern over the extremely dangerous situation created on the Korean Peninsula and admitted that there is no need to mention any longer the already defunct "six-party party" and the bedeviled inter-Korean relations.
The expression of their understanding of the stand of the DPRK that there is no need to keep the "six-party talks" for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is powerful support to the efforts of the DPRK to defend peace and security of the peninsula and achieve national reunification.
We are convinced that the NAM and its member nations will as ever extend invariable encouragement to the just cause of the DPRK.
The DPRK, a member nation of the NAM, will continue to remain true to the basic principle and idea of the NAM to protect the sovereignty of the country and oppose foreign forces' intervention and domination and actively contribute to further strengthening the NAM.
KPA General Staff Warns against Any Interception of Satellite
Pyongyang, April 2 (KCNA) -- The General Staff of the Korean People's Army in an important report on Thursday warned that if hostile forces take any slight move to intercept the DPRK's satellite for peaceful purposes, the KPA will make a prompt just retaliatory strike at it.
The report said: It is the Japanese reactionaries, the sworn enemy of the Korean people, who are perpetrating the most evil doings over the DPRK's projected satellite launch for peaceful purposes.
It is a legitimate right of a sovereign state in which no one can interfere to use space for peaceful purposes and the above-said satellite launch is a just work for the prosperity of the country and the nation and progress of humankind.
Prompted by this, the DPRK has already accessed to the international treaties on space and on March 21 sent cable notices on the issue of banning access to air space to be exposed to danger during the time the launch is expected to the civil aviation authorities concerned including those of the U.S., Japan, Russia, China, Switzerland and south Korea which control or use the relevant air space.
The relevant countries are now taking necessary measures after accepting the working steps taken by the DPRK in line with the international regulations and usage.
However, only Japan is making much ado as if something serious had happened, finding fault with even the DPRK's above-said advance notice and terming the launch of "Kwangmyongsong-2," the DPRK's experimental communications satellite for peaceful purposes, a "hostile act."
Kongo and Choukai, guided-missile destroyers of the Japanese aggressor forces and the destroyer Great King Sejong of the south Korean puppet navy have already been deployed in the East Sea of Korea.
The Japanese reactionaries, bereft of elementary reason, declared it as a state policy to "intercept" the satellite if the DPRK launches it.
The KPA General Staff solemnly declares as follows to cope with the prevailing situation:
1. If Japan recklessly "intercepts" the DPRK's satellite for peaceful purposes, the KPA will mercilessly deal deadly blows not only at the already deployed intercepting means but at major targets.
2. The U.S. should immediately withdraw its already deployed armed forces if it does not wish to be hurt by the above-said strike as DPRK clarified its stand on its projected satellite launch for peaceful purposes.
3. The south Korean puppet bellicose forces should refrain from disturbing the said launch, the pride of the nation, while currying favor with their U.S. and Japanese masters.
KPA Supreme Command Orders All Its Servicepersons to Be Fully Combat Ready
Pyongyang, March 9 (KCNA) -- The Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army released the following report on Monday as regards the madcap Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises for aggression kicked off by the gangster-like U.S. imperialists and the warmongers of the puppet military of south Korea:
The joint military exercises to be staged from March 9 to 20 will reportedly involve more than 26,000 U.S. imperialist aggression troops present in south Korea and overseas and hundreds of thousands of troops including the army corps, fleet command and units as big as flying corps of the puppet army of south Korea, super-large nuclear-powered carrier George Washington and Stennis task force of the U.S. imperialist aggressor navy made up of four Aegis cruisers, seven destroyers and nuclear-powered subs.
Prior to the exercises, the U.S. imperialists brought 12 F-16 fighter bombers and more than 400 air force personnel to the Suwon air force base in south Korea from their mainland earlier than scheduled and deployed dozens of overseas-based various type aircraft including fighter bombers, pursuit assault planes, electronic jamming planes and refueling tankers in the Osan and Kunsan air force bases.
B-52Hs, B-2As and F-22As have been deployed on Guam and other places around the Korean Peninsula to be ready to promptly go into action.
The U.S. imperialists and the warmongers of the south Korean puppet military more than doubled the period of the exercises as compared with that last year.
The exercises are something unprecedented in the number of the aggressor forces involved and in their duration. They are extremely adventurous ones for attack operation as they are characterized by arms buildup, infiltration into the rear, ground attack, coastal landing and surprise attack operations in contingency on the Korean Peninsula. They are, at the same time, a test war and nuclear war exercises for mounting surprise preemptive attacks on the DPRK from the land, sea and air.
A war will break out if the U.S. imperialists and the warmongers of the south Korean puppet military hurl the huge troops and sophisticated strike means to mount an attack on the DPRK while staging the above-said exercises.
The madcap Key Resolve and Foal Eagle are extremely adventurous and dangerous military provocations which can be seen only on the eve of a war and an undisguised military threat to the DPRK and a sort of a declaration of a war.
The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK have grown stronger thanks to the Songun politics under the care of the great illustrious commander of Mt. Paektu. They will never remain a passive on-looker to the prevailing situation now that dark clouds of war are gathering to hang over the homeland and armed clashes are imminent.
The KPA Supreme Command issued an order to all the servicepersons to be fully combat ready and follow every move of the aggressors with vigilance in view of the grave situation prevailing in the country and deal merciless retaliatory blows at them, should they intrude into the sky and land and seas of the DPRK even an inch.
This is a just measure for self-defence for protecting the sovereignty and dignity of the nation and Korean-style socialism as firm as an iron wall and a resolute stand and firm will of the strong revolutionary armed forces of Mt. Paektu to cope with the moves of the U.S. and the south Korean puppet warmongers to start a new war.
The army and people of the DPRK love peace and do not want confrontation and war.
Whenever the U.S. and the south Korean puppet authorities staged joint military exercises targeted against the DPRK, it drew their attention to their danger and served them warnings enough to help them understand it, repeatedly urging them to stop their reckless preparations for a war.
They, however, responded to our sincerity by blatant challenge and finally started the said madcap exercises aimed at launching the second Korean war.
All facts go to clearly prove that "stability" and "peace" on the Korean Peninsula touted by the U.S. imperialists are nothing but sophism and they are war maniacs seeking the escalated tension and war only and the arch criminals prodding the north and the south into armed conflicts.
This clearly proves once again that the pro-U.S. conservative group and warmongers of the puppet military of south Korea are a group of traitors seized with confrontation and war hysteria, staking their fate on outsiders in utter disregard of reconciliation and unity among Koreans, peace and reunification.
War maniacs should be dealt with arms, not with words.
Upon receiving the order of the KPA Supreme Command all the servicepersons of the KPA are fully determined to throw overboard the rubbish of history by fully displaying the inexhaustible mental power of the strong revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu and the might of the powerful arms built up under the Songun leadership.
There is no limit to the retaliatory measure of the KPA and no one can predict or evade it.
If the warmongers dare launch a war of aggression defying our repeated warnings, our revolutionary armed forces will counter it with resolute and merciless just war for reunification.
Rodong Sinmun on Sovereignty and Prosperity in Developing Countries
Pyongyang, January 28 (KCNA) -- The present era calls upon developing countries to make energetic efforts to tap all their human and material potentials to the maximum and thus outpace advanced countries, says Rodong Sinmun Wednesday in a signed article.
It goes on: Science and technology provide a sure guarantee for the independent development and national prosperity in developing countries in the new century.
No matter what high goal of development developing countries may set to make rapid progress, this will prove to be a mere desire unless it is supported by science and technology. Imperialists resort to arbitrary and unilateral actions, looking down upon developing countries and dictating them. This behavior is prompted by their arrogance and self-complacency that they have advanced science and technology.
Imperialists calculate that developing countries can neither live on nor achieve material prosperity unless they depend on them because of their backward science and technology no matter how big they have resources and population.
The present century is the century in which mankind makes a leap forward at the speed surpassing human imagination on the basis of the intellectual ability reached by it. It is the science and technology that provides a sure guarantee for the independent development and national prosperity in developing countries to suit the trend of the development in this era.
Science and technology serve as a key factor of making it possible for developing countries to achieve leaping progress and national prosperity in the present century.
There is a bright prospect for developing countries in their efforts to achieve scientific and technical development and material economic prosperity in the 21 century. They do not want to remain in the backward state but are striving hard to achieve a high goal to achieve independent development and national prosperity to suit the specific conditions of their countries and meet people's desire. They will bring about new changes in the field of science and technology and thus attain the high goal of their independent development and national prosperity in the new century.
S. Korean Authorities Indicted for Driving Inter-Korean Relations to Crisis
Pyongyang, December 25 (KCNA) -- The National Reunification Institute (NRI) Wednesday made public an indictment clarifying who is the arch criminal that has driven the inter-Korean relations to the worst phase and who is to blame for having bedeviled them.
The deteriorated inter-Korean relations are entirely attributable to the sycophancy and treachery and anti-DPRK confrontation pursued by the Lee Myung Bak group, the indictment notes, citing the following facts to prove them:
From the very first day of their office the south Korean authorities totally nullified and scrapped the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
The Lee Myung Bak regime asserted that the above-said declarations signed with the north by the preceding regimes are null and void and it is not obliged to implement them, crying out for regaining "the lost decade."
The Lee group adopted the "theory of giving priority to the south Korea-U.S. relations" as its policy in a bid to stamp out the main spirit of the declarations and bring down their foundation.
The Lee regime declared "no nukes, opening and 3,000 dollars" as its "policy towards the north" in violation of the above-said declarations. When the criticism of this policy mounted, it has more desperately pursued confrontation with fellow countrymen after covering it with the veil of the hypocritical watchword "co-existence and co-prosperity."
The group of traitors took part in "co-sponsoring" a "resolution on the human rights issue in north Korea" to be submitted to the UN General Assembly, pursuant to the U.S. policy in November. It staged a reckless lobbying operation to get the paragraph supporting the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration in the draft document deleted from it.
The north-south dialogue and cooperation were suspended overnight due to the Lee Myung Bak regime though they had gained in scope and strength since the adoption of the June 15 joint declaration amid the expectation and concern of all the fellow countrymen and public at home and abroad.
The regime put up "denuclearization, reform and opening" as a precondition for improving the inter-Korean relations, thus rejecting dialogue.
It is investigating those organizations and businesses involved in the north-south cooperation undertakings and putting financial pressure upon them, etc, in a bid to force them to give up their participation of their own accord.
The Lee group has selectively barred and restricted the visits to the DPRK by the reunification movement organizations and other nongovernmental organizations of various circles and suppressed them, thus obstructing nongovernmental-level contacts and visits.
The traitorous clique unilaterally stopped the tour of Mt. Kumgang, which has been under way for the last decade amid the concern of the public at home and abroad, under the pretext of the case of a tourist that happened at Mt. Kumgang resort in last July.
The Lee group perpetrated an unpardonable provocation against the system in the north, extremely chilling the north-south atmosphere and driving the cooperation undertakings including the tour of Kaesong and the construction of KIZ to the crisis of total halt.
The group kicked up a row by bringing someone's non-existent "human rights" issue to the UN. This resulted in the closure of the Red Cross Liaison Office in Panmunjom, which has existed for several decades since early in the 1970s, and the cut-off of all the hot lines, which have been used as means for liaison between the north and the south, and made it impossible to conduct even humanitarian cooperation undertakings including reunion of separated families and relatives.
The south Korean authorities have desperately kicked up the anti-DPRK rackets to slander and stifle fellow countrymen under the pretexts of the "nuclear issue" and "human rights issue."
The group strengthened the posture for confrontation with the north, voicing opposition to the U.S. measure of delisting the DPRK as "a state sponsor of terrorism," complaining that south Korea "cannot agree with it."
It is laying hurdles in the way of the six-party talks, vociferating about "complete and accurate nuclear declaration" and "collection of samples."
At the recent meeting of heads of the delegations to the six-party talks the group behaved worse than any others under the pretext of "verification" in collusion with its U.S. and Japanese masters.
The south Korean authorities' anti-DPRK confrontational nature found a more vivid manifestation in the fact that they have become frantic in their moves for a war of aggression against fellow countrymen, trumpeting about "contingency" and "preemptive attack."
It is none other than the Lee group which is talking about "co-existence and co-prosperity" and "sincerity" on one hand and sharpening swords to kill fellow countrymen in collusion with the U.S. warlike forces on the other.
It is as clear as a pikestaff that the north-south relations will further deteriorate as long as the Lee Myung Bak regime persists in confrontation and war moves, negating the historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and standing in the way of dialogue and cooperation.
If the south Korean authorities are allowed to go on as what they do now, nobody knows what extreme crisis will happen in the days ahead.
The south Korean authorities had better ponder over the present inter-Korean relations if they do not want to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors who met a disgraceful end while going mad with confrontation with fellow countrymen.
Korean People's Cause of Great Unity Sure to Triumph
Pyongyang, November 20 (KCNA) -- The Korean nation's cause of great unity is sure to triumph, says Rodong Sinmun Thursday in a signed article dedicated to the 18th anniversary of the formation of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon).
Pomminryon grouping different organizations and broad strata of compatriots in the north and the south of Korea and abroad desirous of independent and peaceful reunification of the country is a nationwide pro-reunification movement organization giving an impetus to the cause of national reunification by arousing the patriotic zeal of all Koreans, the article notes, and goes on:
The formation of Pomminryon helped the Korean nation to increase the might of the patriotic driving forces for reunification in every way thanks to an organizational base for achieving the great national unity which provides a sure guarantee for national reunification. It also made it possible to develop in a nationwide scale more briskly, purposefully and consciously the movement for national reunification, which was conducted in the north and the south and abroad sporadically, under an umbrella organization for reunification movement.
Since its formation amid the unanimous support and approval of all Koreans Pomminryon has made a great contribution to the sacred cause of national unity and reunification true to the noble idea of great national unity and the patriotic intention of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the great sun of the nation and the lodestar of national reunification.
The Korean nation's cause of great unity and cause of independent reunification have developed on a new higher stage. The idea of "By our nation itself" has become a nationwide patriotic idea for reunification, and national reconciliation, unity and cooperation have become an irresistible trend of the times thanks to the adoption of the historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
Pomminryon should rally all Koreans of different social standings at home and abroad more closely under the banner of the great national unity and increase the driving force for reunification in every way. It should also resolutely foil the U.S. criminal moves for invading the DPRK and the south Korean Lee Myung Bak regime's criminal act of supporting them, holding higher the banner of "By our nation itself."
It is the firm belief of the Koreans that Pomminryon will as ever creditably discharge its heavy responsibility and role as a nationwide reunification movement organization and thus live up to the expectation of all of them, the article concludes.
DPRK's Stand on S. Korean Puppets' Anti-DPRK Confrontational Racket Clarified
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the north side delegation to the north-south military talks gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA Tuesday as regards the south Korean puppets' confrontational racket against the DPRK going beyond a tolerance limit with each passing day:
We clarify our stand that should the south Korean puppet authorities continue scattering leaflets and conducting a smear campaign with sheer fabrications, our army will take a resolute practical action as we have already warned.
Long ago we have seen through the sinister aim sought by the south Korean puppet authorities to go on with the anti-DPRK psychological warfare while citing what they called "peculiarities of the south Korean society" and "deeds of non-governmental organizations" as pretexts.
As far as the "peculiarities of the south Korean society" are concerned, the puppet authorities have put even the conservative media under their control.
As for the "deeds of non-governmental organizations", they are nothing but premeditated operations conducted by the conservative organizations which the "National Intelligence Service" and other institutions of the puppet authorities use as a shock brigade in kicking up an anti-DPRK confrontational racket while directly feeding and clothing them.
If the puppet authorities respond to our repeated warnings with excuses and pretexts, the army of the DPRK will have no option but to go over to practical actions as clarified at the October 2 north-south military working talks.
As for the "preemptive strike" which the puppet warhawks officially announced as a basic mode of strike at the DPRK, we will counter it with more powerful and advanced preemptive strike of our own style as we have already stated before the world. This is our steadfast stand.
The advanced preemptive strike of our own style is based on a preemptive strike beyond imagination relying on striking means more powerful than a nuclear weapon. It will, therefore, render any early warning system and interceptor system of the puppet warmongers completely ineffective, and the "preemptive strike" based on the so-called method of fighting a war centering on Network much touted by them will also prove futile.
The puppet authorities had better bear in mind that the advanced preemptive strike of our own style will reduce everything opposed to the nation and reunification to debris, not just setting them on fire, and it will turn out to be a just war of strike to build an independent reunified state on it.
If the south Korean puppet authorities keep approaching the historic inter-Korean declarations and all the north-south agreements based on them, quite contrary to their words, the DPRK will make a crucial decision including the total severance of the north-south relations.
Practical actions are more important than their lip-service to "respect" for the two declarations adopted between the north and the south and the "resumption of talks" for the implementation of the agreements.
The army of the DPRK will provide a powerful military guarantee for the crucial decision to be made by our side in case the south Korean puppets persist in their undisguised act of scrapping the historic north-south declarations and military agreements.
The army of the DPRK will closely follow the future movement of the puppet authorities.
Rodong Sinmun on Advancing June 15 Era of Reunification
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- There is a raging anti-reunification storm in the way of the June 15 era of reunification, but nobody can check the trend of the nation's history towards justice, stresses Rodong Sinmun in a by-lined article today.
The June 15 era of reunification is a new era of the national reunification movement propelled by the idea of "By our nation itself", the idea that has been supported by all Koreans, the article says, and goes on:
Now all the Koreans are approving the above-said idea regardless of differences in ideology, political view and ism and, on this basis, joining in the strong current of the June 15 era of reunification. It has become the unanimous will and faith of the Koreans to reject outsiders and settle the problem of national reunification independently by their concerted efforts. No force on earth can block this advance of the era.
The June 15 era of reunification has brought bright future of national reunification, going through trials of history over the past years.
The United States is now getting more hell-bent on the hostile moves for aggression on the DPRK behind the curtain of "dialogue" and "peace". It aggravates the military confrontation and tension on the Korean Peninsula while laying obstacles in the way of the development of the national reunification movement.
The Lee Myung Bak regime in south Korea, zealously servile to the U.S., is bedeviling the inter-Korean relations and desperately trying to bring back the past era of confrontation while denying the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, its action programme.
But, any attempt of the foreign forces and the south Korean separatists to reverse the trend of the June 15 era of reunification can never come true. All the Koreans at home and abroad ardently support the present June 15 era of reunification, not the past era of north-south confrontation, and are vigorously pushing its advance.
The desperate moves of the foreign forces and the Lee Myung Bak group for confrontation against reunification are bound to go bankrupt as they go against the demand of the nation and the trend of the times, the article concludes.
Two Political Parties of North and South Issue Joint Statement
Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) --The Korean Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Labor Party of south Korea on Friday issued the following joint statement to denounce Japan's moves to grab Tok Islet and the suppression of Koreans in Japan:
63 years have passed since the Japanese imperialists were defeated and driven out of this land after not only brutally killing innocent Korean people and destroying everything Korean but looting many natural resources while suppressing by force of arms the Korean nation proud of the 5,000-year-long history and brilliant cultural tradition.
Japan should have made honest apology and reparation for the unheard-of crimes it committed against the Korean nation. But it has recently become evermore undisguised in its brigandish ambition to grab Tok Islet, part of the inviolable territory of the Korean nation, and further intensified the crackdown and persecution of Koreans in Japan.
The fact that Tok Islet is part of the inviolable territory of the Korean nation admits of no further argument from the historical, geopolitical and legal viewpoints.
Nevertheless, Japan is working hard to internationalize the issue of the islet, insisting on the far-fetched assertion that it belongs to Japan though it is part of the inviolable territory of Korea. This is a clear proof that it has not discarded its wild ambition to realize its old dream of "the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" while whitewashing its crime-woven history of colonial domination.
As far as the Koreans in Japan are concerned, they are our compatriots who were forced to do slave labor at munitions factories and coal mines after being forcibly taken away to Japan by the Japanese imperialists in the past and their descendents. Japan is, therefore, under a legal and moral obligation to guarantee the vital and democratic rights of the Koreans in Japan.
These being hard facts, Japan has insulted them and trampled down upon their national rights only to fully reveal its despicable true colors as a state violating human rights before the international community.
All this shows in the eyes of the world that Japan is a barbarian state bereft of even an elementary reason. This clearly indicates that Japan is set to launch reinvasion of Korea, while calling back the departed soul of the militarists, far from drawing a lesson from the bitter defeat it sustained in the past.
The Korean Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Labor Party bitterly denounce Japan for its moves to grab Tok Islet and intensify the suppression of Koreans in Japan, regarding them as an intolerable challenge to the sovereignty and dignity of the Korean nation.
The Korean nation is no longer a weak nation which used to be in the past when Japan killed Koreans as it pleased enforcing harsh rule over Korea.
All Koreans in the north and the south are following Japan's moves with a high degree of vigilance.
If Japan tries to seize even an inch of the territory of Korea again, oblivious of its inglorious past, all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad will throw Japan into the bottomless abyss of ruin by their concerted efforts.
Our two parties strongly urge Japan to discard the daydream of reinvasion, make honest apology and reparation for the crimes it committed against the Koreans and stop at once the suppression and persecution of Koreans in Japan.
The two parties will, in the future, too, join all compatriots at home and abroad in standing firm against Japan's moves to grab the islet and the suppression of Koreans in Japan, fully solidarizing with each other under the banner of "By our nation itself", the basic spirit of the historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
KCNA Calls for Replacement of Armistice Agreement with Peace Agreement
Pyongyang, July 26 (KCNA) -- 55 years have passed since the Armistice Agreement was signed in Korea.
The Korean nation has been exposed to the constant danger of war due to the state of ceasefire that has lasted for more than half a century.
The situation on the Korean Peninsula remains extremely tense but there is no legal and institutional mechanism to guarantee peace and security in the region.
This is attributable to the fact that the AA which calls for providing a legal guarantee for the security of the peninsula had already lost its legal binding force due to the U.S. violations of it.
The DPRK and the U.S. concluded the AA which stipulated the legal commitments to stop all hostile actions and contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Korean issue in the 1950s of the last century.
The U.S. brazen-faced perfidy resulted in scrapping the AA and keeping the escalated tension and the phase of war in the peninsula for several decades.
The U.S. has systemically violated the AA by wantonly breaching its provisions and rendering its mechanisms completely defunct.
After unilaterally declaring the abrogation of the paragraph 13 D of the AA in the 1950s, the U.S. introduced modern weaponry and equipment and more than 1,000 nuclear weapons of various types into south Korea, thus turning it into a huge arsenal and the biggest nuclear outpost in the Far East and converting it into a springboard from which to start military provocations against the DPRK.
The U.S. is still showing the sign of armed forces' cutbacks in other parts of the world but it is further reinforcing its armed forces in the Asian-Pacific surrounding the Korean Peninsula.
This is evidenced by the fact that the U.S. modern armed forces including nuclear-powered carriers are being amassed in the areas around the peninsula and the U.S.-led war exercises targeted against the DPRK are frequently staged.
This is a gross violation of the provisions of the AA which clearly bans the acts of threatening and blackmailing each other by introducing armed forces.
Due to hundreds of thousands of cases of U.S. violations of the AA, the state of ceasefire remains, in actuality, at very great peril.
It is quite impossible to prevent any accidental military conflict and catastrophic war as long as the present ceasefire mechanism is allowed to go on.
In order to put a definite end to the state of ceasefire on the peninsula it is necessary to replace the AA by a peace agreement.
This process is the key to terminating the military confrontation, removing the danger of war and guaranteeing the peace and security in the peninsula and the rest of the Asia -Pacific.
The tension can be defused on the peninsula and the danger of war removed from it only when the U.S. drops its hostile policy towards the DPRK and a peace agreement is concluded between the two sides.
The U.S., being a signatory to the Korean Armistice Agreement, is the real party that can discuss the issue of replacing the AA by a peace agreement.
Nevertheless, the U.S. has rejected or sidestepped the fair and realistic peace proposals advanced by the DPRK.
The AA still remains useless due to the irresponsible attitude on the part of the U.S.
The U.S. would be well advised to face up to the present trend of history and the situation and make a bold decision to replace the AA by a peace agreement as early as possible.
June 15 Meeting for National Reunification Closes
Mt. Kumgang Resort, June 16 (KCNA) -- A meeting for national reunification which was opened at Mt. Kumgang resort on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration came to a close on Monday.
Prior to the closing ceremony there was a meeting of the north, south and overseas co-chairmen of June 15 All-Korean Committee.
Discussed at the meeting were matters on increasing the role of the committee and the organizations of people from all walks of life in the north and the south of Korea and abroad in resolutely foiling the moves of the anti-reunification forces and firmly defending and implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
Then followed a closing ceremony.
Delegates from the north and the south and overseas made speeches first.
An Kyong Ho, chairman of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, made a closing address.
This meeting proved to be a significant national gathering at which all delegates of people from all walks of life from the north and the south and abroad have earnestly discussed practical measures for overcoming all obstacles lying in the way of promoting the June 15 era and advancing the national reunification movement, he said.
The meeting strikingly demonstrated the will of the nation to implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, he noted, adding that nothing can stem the trend of the times advancing under the banner of "By our nation itself."
He called on all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad to defend and continue glorifying the era of independent reunification just as the participants of the meeting have unanimously resolved.
The delegates from the north and the south and abroad toured the area of Lagoon Samil that day.
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June 15 Meeting for National Reunification Opens
Mt. Kumgang resort, June 15 (KCNA) -- A meeting for national reunification to mark the 8th anniversary of the publication of the historic June 15 joint declaration was opened at the Mt. Kumgang resort on Sunday.
Present at the meeting were delegations of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration headed by its Chairman An Kyong Ho, the South Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration headed by its Chairman Paek Rak Chong and the Overseas Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration headed by its Co-Chairmen Kwak Tong Ui and Mun Tong Hwan.
Paek Rak Chong made an opening address.
Then the national meeting for implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration was held.
The representatives of the delegations from the north and the south and overseas sides made speeches.
The speakers noted that the historic inter-Korean summit meetings resulted in the publication of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, providing a grand prelude to the era of independent reunification guided by the idea of "By our nation itself" and laying a firm foundation for peace and co-prosperity of the nation.
Referring to the achievements made in the efforts to achieve national reconciliation, unity and independent reunification over the past 8 years, the speakers said that they clearly testify to the validity and vitality of the June 15 joint declaration.
They called for defending and upholding the banner of "By our nation itself" and never allowing any attempt and action to mar and downplay the historical significance of the north-south joint declaration.
A joint resolution made public at the meeting called for invariably upholding the June 15 joint declaration as a great programme for reunification common to the nation and resolutely checking all sorts of moves for confrontation and division blocking the reconciliation and reunification.
It underscored the need to dynamically conduct the nationwide movement to overcome the challenges to the nation and interference into its internal affairs and defend the national dignity, interests and sovereignty.
It called for strengthening the solidarity with political parties, organizations and figures of different social standings at home and abroad and expanding the June 15 All-Korean Committee and exalting its position and role.
Meanwhile, a joint photo exhibition of the north and the south and overseas sides was held and a reception was given to mark the 8th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration on the same day.
28th Anniversary of May 18 Kwangju Popular Uprising Observed in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- A function took place in Kwangju on May 18 to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the May 18 Kwangju Popular Uprising under the sponsorship of the South Headquarters of the Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (Bomminryon).
It was attended by members of the South Headquarters of Bomminryon, the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils, the south Korean Council of Youth Organizations, the south Korean Federation of the Poor and other organizations grouping people of different social standings.
The participants visited the cemetery in Mangwoldong to pay silent tribute to those who were brutally killed by the fascist dictators 28 years ago.
Then followed a rally.
Speakers at the rally said that the uprising, which took place in Kwangju in May 1980, was resistance of the people who turned out to oppose the military dictatorship and realize democracy.
Denouncing traitor Lee Myung Bak for pursuing humiliating diplomacy towards the U.S. and a policy of confrontation with the north, they said that it is the urgent task facing the people to thoroughly implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration.
Noting that to build on this land a society where the people would become a master of everything as early as possible means properly inheriting the spirit of the May 18 uprising, they called on the citizens of Kwangju to take the lead in frustrating the Lee Myung Bak "government's" moves for the import of American beef and defending the people's right to existence.
They underscored the need to steadily struggle to have the aggressive "alliance" with the U.S. scrapped and the U.S. troops withdrawn from south Korea.
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Inheritance of Spirit Displayed by Participants in Kwangju Uprising Called for
Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- The South Headquarters of the Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification released a statement titled "Let us achieve independence, democracy and reunification by inheriting the May spirit" on May 18 on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Kwangju Popular Uprising.
The statement recalled that 28 years ago, the people from all walks of life in Kwangju turned out to achieve the national reunification and democracy against the military dictatorial regime which trampled down with jackboots the people's ardent desire for democratization. The fighting spirit displayed in the uprising still prevails throughout south Korea, it noted, and went on:
Since traitor Lee Myung Bak from the Grand National Party of south Korea, a descendent of the man-killers during the May 18 popular uprising, came to power, the departed soul of dictators has haunted on this land again. People of different social standings are angered by the moves of the group of traitors to hamstring the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and bring the inter-Korean relations back to those in the past era.
The true nature of the dictatorial forces keen on sycophancy towards the U.S. can never change, the statement noted, calling upon all the people to turn out to defend the June 15 joint declaration and implement the October 4 declaration so as to carve out independent reunification and the future of peace and prosperity.
Meanwhile, the South Headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification in a statement on May 17 said that the people turned out in the struggle against the U.S. and Lee Myung Bak by carrying forward the spirit of the participants in the Kwangju popular resistance.
The statement called upon the youth and students to conduct the struggle to impeach pro-U.S. traitor Lee Myung Bak, descendent of the fascist dictatorial forces, aware of their mission as pioneers and vanguard of the times.
Rodong Sinmun on Great Programme for Reunification
Pyongyang, April 29 (KCNA) -- No one can deny or wipe out the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, the great programme for reunification common to the Korean nation both in name and reality.
Rodong Sinmun today stresses this in a signed article.
Charging that the conservative ruling forces of south Korea are getting pronounced in the moves to overturn all the achievements made in the era of independent reunification while denying the above-said historic declarations, the article says:
The June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration serve as a basis for developing the inter-Korean relations and realizing the cause of national reunification as they clearly indicate the principles and ways for the reunification of the Korean nation and the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula.
The main idea of the declarations is "By our nation itself", and it has become the basic spirit of the present era of independent reunification.
The essence of this idea of "By our nation itself" is that Korea's reunification should be realized independently and peacefully by the united efforts of the Koreans responsible for it while thoroughly rejecting the aggressive and anti-reunification outsiders. It is the idea of national independence against foreign forces, the idea of great national unity and the idea for peace both in name and reality. Independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity are the cherished desire of the Korean nation, and they serve as the fundamental principle for national reunification and the only just way for realizing the cause of reunification.
The June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, which are the great reunification programme common to the nation and carry the unquestionable truth of national reunification, can never be a political bargaining object, and their significance in the history of the nation will never be impaired by any political charlatan's denial.
The Lee Myung Bak group's moves to erase the declarations and bring the era of independent reunification back to the past era of confrontation are an action of swimming against the trend of the times and an intolerable treachery of doing harm to the fellow countrymen in collusion with the foreign forces.
If such group's anti-reunification moves are allowed, it will be impossible to defend the precious gains achieved in the June 15 era of reunification and expect a victorious advance of the era of independent reunification.