BomMinRyon Activities
Anniversary of North Side Headquarters of Pomminryon Marked
Pyongyang, January 25 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun Wednesday dedicates a bylined article to the 21st anniversary of the North Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification (Pomminryon).
The inauguration of the headquarters in the wake of Pomminryon, parent body of the nationwide movement for reunification, marked an epochal turn in strengthening the driving force of national reunification and promoting the development of the nation's movement for reunification, the article says, and goes on:
The headquarters has fulfilled its responsibilities for staging nationwide movement for reunification for over two decades since its formation.
Formation of Pomminryon and its remarkable successes are a shining fruition of the idea of President Kim Il Sung, eternal sun of the nation, and leader Kim Jong Il on the great national unity and their wise leadership.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the three principles of national reunification and 5th anniversary of the October 4 declaration.
The three charters for national reunification and the inter-Korean declarations are a precious legacy Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il left to the Korean nation while making life dedication to the national reunification. They also constitute a solid foundation for independent reunification. It provides a sure guarantee for the victory of the independent reunification to preserve and creditably carry forward the peerlessly great men's patriotic legacy for reunification.
Implementation of the inter-Korean declarations also guarantees a rosy future of national reunification and represents genuine patriotism.
National independence serves as a basic principle for national reunification.
It is the requirement of the June 15 era of reunification to reject outside aggressors and pool efforts of Koreans.
Pomminryon should actively support the south Koreans' struggle for independence against the U.S. and Lee Myung Bak, thus making a tangible contrition to putting an earlier end to the history of national division and disgrace.
The great national unity is the mainstay for national reunification and main goal of Pomminryon's patriotic movement for reunification.
Koreans are responsible for the movement for national reunification and the solidarity and alliance of Koreans in the north, south and overseas is a treasured sword for the victory of the movement.
Notice to All Party Members, Servicepersons and People
Pyongyang, December 19 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Cabinet of the DPRK on Saturday announced the following notice to all party members, servicepersons and people:
The Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Cabinet of the DPRK notify with bitterest grief to all the party members, servicepersons and people of the DPRK that Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, passed away of a sudden illness at 08: 30 on December 17, Juche 100 (2011) on his way to field guidance.
He dedicated all his life to the inheritance and accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche and energetically worked day and night for the prosperity of the socialist homeland, happiness of people, reunification of the country and global independence. He passed away too suddenly to our profound regret.
His sudden demise at a historic time when an epochal phase is being opened for accomplishing the cause of building a powerful and prosperous socialist state and the Korean revolution is making steady victorious progress despite manifold difficulties and trials is the greatest loss to the WPK and the Korean revolution and the bitterest grief to all the Koreans at home and abroad.
Kim Jong Il, who was born as a son of guerillas on Mt. Paektu, the holy mountain of the revolution, and grew up to be a great revolutionary, wisely led the party, the army and people for a long period, performing undying revolutionary feats on behalf of the country, the people, the times and history.
Kim Jong Il possessed of personality and qualifications as a great man on the highest and perfect level was an outstanding thinker and theoretician who led the revolution and construction along the path of steady victories with his profound ideologies and theories and remarkable leadership. He was also peerlessly political elder and outstanding and illustrious commander of Songun and peerless patriot and tender-hearted father of the people who recorded the whole history of the revolutionary struggle with ardent love for the country and its people and noble dedication.
Considering it as his lifelong mission to carry to completion generation after generation the revolutionary cause of Juche started by President Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il pushed forward the revolution and construction in line with the idea and intention of the President as the dearest comrade and the most loyal comrade-in-arms of the President.
Kim Jong Il comprehensively developed in depth the immortal Juche idea, Songun idea, fathered by the President and glorified it as the idea guiding the era of independence with his clairvoyant wisdom and energetic ideological and theoretical activities. He firmly defended and carried forward the revolutionary traditions of Mt. Paektu with pure mind, thereby giving a steady continuity to the Korean revolution.
Kim Jong Il, genius of the revolution and construction, developed the party, army and state to be the party, army and state of Kim Il Sung, put the dignity and power of the nation on the highest level and ushered in the golden days of prosperity unprecedented in the nation's history spanning 5 000 years under the uplifted banner of modeling the whole society on the Juche idea.
Kim Jong Il, supreme incarnation of the revolutionary moral obligation, set a great example in perpetuating the memory of President Kim Il Sung unknown in human political history, thus making sure that the august name of the President, his undying revolutionary career and exploits always shine along with the eternal history of Juche Korea.
Kim Jong Il, great master of politics and illustrious commander born of Heaven, honorably defended the socialist gains, noble heritage bequeathed by the President, by dint of Songun politics despite the collapse of the world socialist system, the demise of the President which was the greatest loss to the nation, the vicious offensive of the imperialist allied forces to stifle the DPRK and severe natural disasters. He turned the DPRK into an invincible political and ideological power in which single-minded unity has been achieved and made it emerge a nuclear weapons state and an invincible military power which no enemy can ever provoke.
True to President Kim Il Sung's behest, Kim Jong Il set a gigantic goal to build a prosperous and powerful country and led an all-people general advance for attaining it, thus making the drive for a great revolutionary surge rage throughout the country and bringing about great innovations and leap forward on all fronts of socialist construction.
Kim Jong Il, father of the nation and lodestar of national reunification, led all the fellow countrymen to the road of independence and great national unity with his rock-firm will to implement the instructions of the President for national reunification and ushered in the June 15 era of reunification in which the noble idea of "By our nation itself" is materialized.
As a great guardian of socialism and justice, he conducted energetic external activities for the victory of the socialist cause, global peace and stability and friendship and solidarity among peoples under the uplifted banner of independence against imperialism, thus remarkably raising the international position and prestige of the DPRK and making immortal contributions to the human cause of independence.
In the whole period of his protracted revolutionary guidance, he valued and loved the people very much and always shared weal and woe with them. He continued to make difficult forced march for field guidance, making unremitting efforts and working heart and soul to build a thriving country and improve the standard of people's living. He died from repeated mental and physical fatigue on a train in that course.
The whole life of Kim Jong Il was the most brilliant life of a great revolutionary who covered an untrodden thorny path with his iron will and superhuman energy, holding aloft the red flag of revolution. It was the life of the peerless patriot who dedicated his all to the country and its people.
He passed away to our regret before seeing the victory of the cause of building a thriving nation, the national reunification and the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche so ardently desired by him, but laid a strong political and military base for ensuring the steady advance of the Korean revolution through generations and provided a solid foundation for the eternal prosperity of the country and the nation.
Standing in the van of the Korean revolution at present is Kim Jong Un, great successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche and outstanding leader of our party, army and people.
Kim Jong Un's leadership provides a sure guarantee for creditably carrying to completion the revolutionary cause of Juche through generations, the cause started by Kim Il Sung and led by Kim Jong Il to victory.
We have the invincible revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu faithful to the cause of the Workers' Party of Korea, the great unity of the army and people closely rallied around the Party, the best Korean-style socialist system centered on the popular masses and the solid foundation of the independent national economy.
Under the leadership of Kim Jong Un we should turn our sorrow into strength and courage and overcome the present difficulties and work harder for fresh great victory of the Juche revolution.
Our army and people will hold leader Kim Jong Il in high esteem forever with unshakable faith and noble sense of moral obligation. True to his behests, they will make neither slightest concession nor delay on the road of the Juche revolution, the Songun revolution but resolutely defend his undying feats and glorify them for all ages.
All the party members, servicepersons and people should remain loyal to the guidance of respected Kim Jong Un and firmly protect and further cement the single-minded unity of the party, the army and the people.
Under the uplifted banner of Songun, we should increase the country's military capability in every way to reliably safeguard the Korean socialist system and the gains of revolution and make the torch lit in South Hamgyong Province, the drive for the industrial revolution in the new century, rage throughout the country and thus bring about a decisive turn in building an economic power and improving the standard of people's living.
We will surely achieve the independent reunification of the country by concerted efforts of all Koreans by thoroughly implementing the Three Charters for National Reunification and the north-south joint declarations.
Our party and people will strive hard to boost friendship and solidarity with the peoples of different countries, guided by the idea of independence, peace and friendship, and build an independent and peaceful, new world free from domination, subjugation, aggression and war.
Arduous is the road for our revolution to follow and grim is the present situation. But no force on earth can check the revolutionary advance of our party, army and people under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Un.
The heart of Kim Jong Il stopped beating, but his noble and august name and benevolent image will always be remembered by our army and people and his glorious history of revolutionary activities and undying feats will remain shining in the history of the country forever.
Japan Urged to Honestly Settle Its Past Crimes
Pyongyang, November 6 (KCNA) -- A main issue in the DPRK-Japan relations is for Japan to settle all its crimes committed by it against the Korean nation in the past. Rodong Sinmun Sunday observes this in a bylined article.
The abnormal hostile relations persist between the DPRK and Japan mainly because the latter has not redeemed its crime-woven past, the article notes, and goes on:
If countries are to develop their relations on good terms as is the case with relations between people, one of them should reflect on its past wrongs and draw a lesson from them.
It admits of no further argument that Japan should settle the issue of settling its past crimes, if the Korean people's unhealed wounds are to be cured and their bitter grudge settled and a new way is to be paved for mending the DPRK-Japan relations.
It is legal, moral and international commitments for Japan to make state apology and reparation for the crimes committed by it against the Korean people in the past.
But the Japanese reactionaries are going reckless in their moves to whitewash, justify and bury into oblivion forever their crime-woven past.
Japan's evasion of its responsibility to redress its past is a revelation of its black-hearted militarist intention to repeat its past crimes.
But for their ulterior aim to revive old colonial empire, they would not have embellished their shameful past.
For Japan to sincerely reflect on its wrong past is required for its own good, not for other's sake.
Japan will never be free from the heavy mental burden of guilty conscience as long as it tries to shun the settlement of its past.
It should honestly redress its past crimes if it is to get international trust.
Japan should drop its anachronistic wild dream and make a switchover in its hostile policy towards the DPRK. It should make a decision to redress its past crimes as early as possible in order to repair its relations with the DPRK.
If Japan settles its crime-woven past and rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK, it will be possible to improve its relations with the DPRK.
International Symposium Opens
Pyongyang, September 20 (KCNA) -- An international symposium in commemoration of Kim Il Sung University's 65th anniversary opened with due ceremony at the university on Tuesday.
The theme of the symposium is "Educational and Scientific Development and Kim Il Sung University". Hundreds of valuable papers will be presented there.
Present at the inaugural ceremony were DPRK Vice-Premier Kang Nung Su, Chairman of the Education Commission Kim Yong Jin and President of Kim Il Sung University and Minister of Higher Education Song Ja Rip who is chairman of the organizing committee of the international symposium, officials of educational institutions and the Academy of Social Sciences, teachers and researchers.
Also present there were foreign delegations and delegates who came to participate in the symposium. They are a delegation of Education Ministry of China led by An Yufeng who is deputy head of Office, a delegation of Jilin University of China led by Secretary of Party Committee Chen Dewen, a delegation of the Harbin Institute of Technology of China led by President Wang Shuguo, a delegation of Yanbian University of China led by President Jin Bingmin, a delegation of Liaoning University led by Deputy President Guo Yongxin, a delegation of Dalian Foreign Languages University of China led by its President Dr. Sun Yuhua, a delegation of Far Eastern State University of Russia led by its Vice President Andrei Babco, a delegation of National University of Mongolia led by its Vice President Artbazar Galtbayar, a delegation of Sun Yat-sen University of China led by its Vice President Dr. Chen Chunsheng, a delegation of Beijing University of China led by Head of its Foreign Languages School Cheng Zhaoxiang, a delegation of Dalian University of Technology of China led by Head of its School of Mathematics Lu Yufeng, a delegation of Moscow M. V. Lomonosov State University led by its Vice Dean Galina Kedrova, Prof. Piao Jianyi who is delegate of Academy of Social Sciences of China, Prof. Jiang Baoyou who is a delegate of Shanghai Fudan University of China, Prof. Jin Haiying who is delegate of Renmin University of China, Vice Dean of Yantai University of China Ding Fengxi who is delegate of the university, a delegation of Yanbian Education Publishing House of China headed by its Vice Chief Jin Chungen, Associate Prof. Huang Dahua who is delegate of Qingdao Maritime University of China, and Nan Mingzhe, dean of Korean Language Faculty who is delegate of Qingdao University of Science and Technology of China, a delegation of Huazhong Agricultural University of China led by Prof. Meng Jinling, a delegation of Northeast Normal University of China led by Director of Institute Dr. Wang Deli, and Prof. Xiao Shufen, who is delegate of Yangzhou University of China, Department Director Alexander Zhebin who is delegate of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of Russia, Associate Prof. Alkin Sergei who is delegate of Novosibirsk State University of Russia, Prof. Christian Kirchner who is delegate of Berlin Hummboldt University of Germany, Lecturer Holmer Brochlos and Research Fellow Eric J. Ballbach who are delegates of Berlin Free University of Germany, Prof. Luong Van Ke, delegate of University of Social Sciences and Humanities of Vietnam, and Park Kiseok, director of Institute of Korean Language Studies of Australia who is its delegate, and a delegation of educators of Korea University of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan led by Kang Song Un, head of Library.
Present there on invitation were diplomatic envoys of various countries and representatives of international organizations and staff members of foreign embassies here.
Song Ja Rip, president of Kim Il Sung University, in his opening address said the symposium would be a meeting for exchanging successes and experience achieved in education and developing sciences and deepening the friendly relations among universities and scholars of different countries. He expressed the belief that it would achieve good success and mark an important occasion in developing exchange and cooperation between Kim Il Sung University and universities and institutes of various countries of the world.
Congratulatory speeches were made by DPRK Vice-Premier Kang Nung Su, the head of the delegation of Far Eastern State University of Russia and the heads of the delegations of Jilin University and Harbin Institute of Technology of China.
They expressed belief that the participants would exchange their achievements and experience and make positive contributions to national prosperity and human progress.
The participants heard a congratulatory letter from the Education Ministry of China at the opening ceremony.
Truth about Shelling Fabricated by S. Korean Military Warmongers Exposed
Pyongyang, August 10 (KCNA) -- The south Korean military warmongers are faking up again the burlesque that the army of the DPRK committed shelling "provocation" in the waters around Yonphyong Island and kicking up an anti-DPRK racket by mobilizing major media including KBS, MBC and Yonhap TV.
The head of the north side to the north-south military working-level talks gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA today in this connection:
At a time when a dynamic drive is making successful progress to build a thriving nation in all parts of the DPRK, there was normal blasting in the area of South Hwanghae Province close to the five islands in the West Sea of Korea on August 10 as part of the brisk construction of a gigantic object aimed at improving the standard of people's living,
Frightened by this, the south Korean military warmongers spread misinformation that the army of the DPRK perpetrated a shelling "provocation." They went the lengths of militarily reacting to this under that pretext.
It was preposterous in the age of science when latest detecting and intelligence means are available that they mistook the blasting for shelling and they proved shells fell in the waters around the "northern limit line" though no shells were fired. It was a tragicomedy that they indiscriminately reacted to what happened with counter-shelling even without confirming the truth about the case in the sensitive waters of the West Sea of Korea.
In order to paint the case as a "provocation" of the army of the DPRK, the south Korean military is making much fuss that its forces made a prompt "retaliatory action" as the firing of three shells was heard from near Yonphyong Island in the West Sea and one shell might have flown across the "northern limit line, " a sheer fiction.
In order to make their farce sound plausible, the south Korean belligerent elements made much fuss. They urgently increased the number of combat warships and flew fighters in the air near the five islands in the West Sea and alerted the frontline units. They, at the same time, ordered all the fishing boats of the south side to stop their operations and sail back to their ports and evacuated inhabitants.
The army of the DPRK cannot overlook the actions taken by the south Korean military to orchestrate another poor anti-DPRK charade in broad daylight on the basis of their misjudgment of the normal blasting made in the course of peaceable construction as shelling provocation.
The recent military racket was an extension of the inveterate bad habit of the tricksters. They fabricated the "Cheonan" warship sinking case, the hideous conspiratorial farce unprecedented in the history of the nation, launching an all-out confrontation with fellow countrymen. Not content with this, they committed the Yonphyong Island shelling, driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the worst war phase of exchange of fire.
Such burlesque is a product of the deliberate moves of the belligerent forces of the south Korean military to vitiate the atmosphere of dialogue in the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity and push the inter-Korean relations to the worst phase of confrontation and clash.
The DPRK side sent an open letter to the U.S. and the south Korean authorities in the name of the Panmunjom mission of the Korean People's Army, urging them to cancel their projected Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises this year. What merits a serious attention is that they faked up the above-said case to achieve their sinister aim to stage this saber-rattling as planned at any cost, defying the warning, in a bid to strain the situation on the Korean Peninsula again.
Lurking behind the recent racket is an ulterior aim: To secure a pretext for staging the above-said saber-rattling through the shelling case in a bid to have justification to launch an actual war of aggression against the north any time, while inciting atmosphere of confrontation with the DPRK through the fabrication of all kinds of "spy ring cases", "cases of the violation of the National Security Law" and "attempted assassinations".
Plots and fabrications are trite methods employed by those in a crisis.
What has become clear once again through the recent case is that the south Korean authorities, belligerent forces of the military, in particular, are the master hands at plots and fabrications who stoop to any infamy to escalate the confrontation with fellow countrymen.
The criminals can never escape a stern judgment by all the fellow countrymen.
The army and people of the DPRK will resolutely shatter all the plots and fabrications of those confrontation-minded elements against the DPRK and keep advancing to improve the inter-Korean relations and achieve the peace and reunification of the nation.
DPRK-China Friendship Develops through Centuries
Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- The DPRK and China are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bilateral treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
The treaty, which was signed by President Kim Il Sung and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai on July 11, Juche 50 (1961), demonstrated the bilateral friendship forged in the anti-imperialist joint struggle.
The Korean and Chinese people provided the tradition of friendship, closely cooperating with each other through centuries, based on revolutionary obligation.
From the early period of his revolutionary activities, the President advanced a unique line of forming an anti-Japanese united front involving the Korean and Chinese people and made much effort for its implementation.
In the period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle, he set a good example of joint action with Chinese anti-Japanese units through the battle in Dongning County Town in September 1933. In the battle the Anti-Japanese People's Guerrilla Army fully demonstrated its fighting capacity and the heroic mettle of the Korean revolutionaries.
The President successfully commanded joint operations with Chinese anti-Japanese units in Luozigou in June 1934 and in Fusong County Town in August 1936, through which he consolidated the united front.
In January 1933, he, leading a small number of members from his unit, made a long journey through the enemy line to encourage Wang Delin, commander of the National Salvation Army in northeast China, to continue the anti-Japanese struggle. At that time Wang's unit was being encircled by the Japanese army and treated coldly even by the Nanjing government.
When Comintern suggested separating anti-Japanese units in northeast China into Korean and Chinese units in the mid-1930s, he categorically rejected it out of the revolutionary obligation and sent many Korean commanding officers to Chinese units.
When China was in the thick of the civil war late in the 1940s, he rendered sincere assistance to the Chinese revolution, deepening friendship and unity with the Chinese people.
At that time, the Kuomintang army put under its control Shenyang, Siping, Changchun, Jilin and many other areas, railways and main roads in south and north Manchuria.
The Northeast Allied Democratic Army surrendered most areas of Manchuria to the enemy and retreated towards the River Amnok, the border between China and Korea.
The commander of the Liaoning Military District informed the President of the urgent situation and requested him to come to Dandong to give some recommendations.
Fierce battles were fought in the suburbs of Dandong city, exposed to strafing.
But, the President risked himself to go across the Amnok River and made strategic and tactical recommendations to bring about a radical turn in the war.
He underscored the need to build strong bases in rural areas and combine large-unit mobile operations with guerilla operations in the enemy rear in order to weaken the enemy's combat power. He also advised them to go to Mt. Paektu if they were driven into a corner, saying Korea will serve as their home front.
The commander, when meeting with the President later, said they could win the war, encouraged by his recommendations.
The President regarded it as internationalist duty of all the Korean people to assist the Chinese people in their revolutionary struggle and dispatched able commanding officers and soldiers to northeast China.
When Chen Yun, director of the Organizational Department of the Communist Party of China, visited Pyongyang as a special envoy of Chairman Mao Zedong, the President made up his mind to render sincere assistance to the Chinese people.
Since the U.S. imperialists and the Syngman Rhee regime were busy with preparations for a war against the north of Korea, able military and political cadres and war supplies were badly needed for the building of a regular army. But the President sent more than 100,000 rifles and large quantities of ammunitions, cloth for military uniforms and medicines to Chinese people to greatly contribute to their victory in the war.
During the three-year-long northeast China liberation war, the Korean and Chinese units pooled efforts to defeat the one million-strong Kuomintang army and rebel units. An estimated 700,000 of the one million were killed, injured or arrested.
Hundreds of thousands of young Korean people took part in the liberation operations in different parts of China, including the northeast area, and the Korean units led by Kang Kon, Pak Rak Gwon, Choe Kwang and other commanders played a big role in regaining occupied cities and areas of military importance and bringing about a turn in the war.
Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai said the flag of the People's Republic of China was permeated with blood shed by Korean communists and people and that the Chinese people would never forget the Korean people's sincere assistance.
The DPRK-China friendship provided by leaders of elder generations of the two countries was strengthened with the Chinese people resisting America and aiding Korea during the Korean war.
When the U.S. imperialists started the war, the Chinese party and government organized the Chinese People's Volunteers and sent them to the Korean front under the banner of resisting America and aiding Korea, safeguarding the home and defending the motherland.
Before their dispatch, Mao Zedong said the Chinese and Korean people would fight to the last against the common enemy, uniting like brothers and sharing weal and woe with each other. The volunteers, deeply aware of the meaning of his remark, fully displayed a spirit of self-sacrifice and bravery in the war.
The revolutionaries and people of the two countries consolidated their unity and friendship through anti-Japanese and anti-U.S. battles, sharing the same destiny.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited the command of the Chinese People's Volunteers in Hoechang County, South Phyongan Province last year and said many volunteers, including Mao Anying, a son of Mao Zedong, lost their lives in the Korean front. Though six decades has passed, the Korean army and people have always kept their heroic feats in their memory.
The conclusion of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance served as solid foundations for steadily developing the traditional friendship forged between the two countries in the protracted revolutionary struggle and socialist construction.
In line with the treaty, the parties, governments and people of the two countries have powerfully accelerated socialist construction, steadily expanding and developing friendly and cooperative ties in all fields.
They have also respected and helped each other to keep the U.S. and its allies from unleashing another war on the Korean peninsula and the rest of East Asia and safeguard the world peace.
The bilateral friendship and cooperation are developing vigorously thanks to deep concern of leader Kim Jong Il and the Chinese leadership of a new generation.
Kim Jong Il visited China seven times in the new century to carry forward the tradition of the bilateral friendship provided by the revolutionaries of the elder generations and make great exploits in the development of the bilateral ties.
His latest China visit in May proved that the DPRK-China friendship with a long history and tradition is well-tried, indestructible one which would remain unchanged through generations.
6.15 All Committee Decides to Open Rally for Peaceful Reunification
Pyongyang, June 1 (KCNA) -- June 15 All-Korean Committee expressed deep concern over the grave situation prevailing on the Korean Peninsula and issued a press release Wednesday for the purpose of thoroughly implementing the north-south joint declaration in keeping with the aspiration and wishes of all fellow countrymen.
According to the press release, the North, South and Overseas Side Committees for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration agreed to open a grand national rally for peaceful reunification marking the 11th anniversary of the joint declaration in Kaesong (industrial zone included) on June 15 with 100 persons from the north, 100 persons from the south and at least 60 persons from overseas attending in the direction of making a positive contribution to national concord and peace and reunification of the country in the spirit of the joint declaration on the above-said occasion.
They agreed to organize colorful events such as an opening ceremony, a seminar, inter-sector meetings, an art performance, visits to historic sites in Kaesong area and a closing ceremony.
They also agreed to hold colorful events in various areas in the north and the south and abroad.
April Spring Friendship Art Festival Opens
Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The 27th April Spring Friendship Art Festival was opened with due ceremony at the Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Indoor Stadium on April 10.
Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People¡Çs Assembly, Kang Nung Su, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Minister of Culture An Tong Chun, chairman of the Festival Organizing Committee, Ryang Man Gil, chairman of the Pyongyang City People¡Çs Committee, officials concerned and working people here.
Also present were foreign and overseas Korean artistes, delegations of various countries, diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here, staff members of foreign embassies here, foreign guests and overseas compatriots.
An Tong Chun in his opening speech said that the festival would provide the foreign artistes with a significant occasion for exchanging success and experience gained in the development of culture and making a contribution to the development of the human culture and arts.
Convinced that the festival would be successful as expected by the Korean people and progressive cultural artistes, he declared the festival open.
Foreign and DPRK artistes hoisted the festival flag.
Congratulatory speeches were made by Zhang Hao, head of the Jilin Provincial Symphony Orchestra of China, and Jean-Francois Mancel, member of the National Assembly under the People¡Çs Movement Union of France who is a guest of honor of the 27th April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
The DPRK artistes gave a performance at the ceremony.
Kim Yong Nam Conveys Sympathy to Chairman of Chongryon
Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday sent a message of sympathy to So Man Sul, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), in connection with the fact that Chongryon and compatriots suffered huge human and material losses due to the killer earthquake and tsunami that hit vast areas centered on the Tohoku region of Japan.
In the message Kim Yong Nam noted that it is a demonstration of the united might of Chongryon that after the sudden occurrence of the disastrous quake its Central Standing Committee took emergency measures and is conducting positive rescue activities to protect the precious lives and properties of the compatriots in the quake-hit areas.
The message expressed sincere hope that all the organizations of Chongryon and compatriots would eradicate the aftermath of the quake as early as possible by displaying indomitable will, warm compatriotism and concerted efforts and ensure the stable life of the above-said compatriots.
Overseas religious Koreans: Letter to Lee Myung-bak
Honorable Lee Myung-bak,
Last year, the sinking of Cheonan and the Yeongpyeong Island crisis turned North-South relations into one of military confrontation, and the specter of war on the Korean peninsula shook the entire world. Dialogue and exchange between North and South ceased, and the prospect of a Korean peninsula aflame in a deluge of fire made all of us tremble with fear and insecurity.
But as we enter the new year, dark storm clouds seem to be fading, and the turn towards peace and security is a welcome relief. North and South officials are discussing dialogue without preconditions. Whichever side initiated it, it deserves our most heartfelt applause.
A Korean peninsula without nuclear weapons has been the declaration and hope of not only North and South Korea but all neighboring countries since 1990. To make it a reality, North and South pursued persistent dialogue and negotiations bilaterally as well as in international meetings and finally adopted the North-South joint declaration of June 15, 2000.
North and South overcame cold-war hostility and confrontation and opened wide the door to reconciliation and cooperation. In Korea, this consisted of family reunification, inter-Korean exchanges in various fields, construction of the Kaesong industrial zone, opening of the inter-Korean railway, opening of ports for inter-Korean trade, and internationally, the six party talks on the north¡¯s nuclear issue overcame multiple hurdles towards progress.
The Uri Party government succeeded the Sunshine policy of the previous administration, actively sustained inter-Korean cooperation through the policy of peaceful prosperity, and insisted on resolving the North¡¯s nuclear issue through dialogue. The policy of peaceful prosperity prioritized peacemaking on the Korean peninsula, promoted the expansion of the North-South economy to construct the foundation of a national economic community, and produced the October 4 summit declaration.
In this way, for the first time in fifty-five years of division, North and South were able to pursue the peaceful resolution of the Korean peninsula situation, including the North¡¯s nuclear program, and maintain peace. They also began to construct, through reconciliation and cooperation, the foundation of co-existence and co-prosperity that would be the basis of national unification, and contribute to security in the Northeast Asia region and global peace.
Had the October 4 summit declaration had the opportunity to be realized, by now peace and security would surely have spread their roots on the Korean peninsula and freely advanced through the trans-Siberia railroad all the way to Europe.
North Korea also, encouraged by inter-Korean economic cooperation, exchange, and joint tourism venture, might have recovered its once-struggling economy, and escaped international isolation to pursue omni-directional diplomacy. The six party talks yielded the September 19 and February 13 agreements, and North Korea began steps to dismantle its nuclear program and facility in exchange for political, diplomatic and economic support from the United States and others.
Unfortunately, with the accession of the Grand National Party led by President Lee Myung-bak, all dialogue and the relationship of exchange and cooperation between North and South ceased. And despite great expectations for President Obama, who took office one year later with the promise of dialogue without preconditions, we have yet to see any substantive progress in this regard. It might be possible that this was due to North Korea¡¯s nuclear test after Obama¡¯s inauguration. With its hands tied in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States could not effectively resolve North Korea¡¯s nuclear issue, and as a result, North Korea is now a nuclear weapons state with the capacity to produce at least several nuclear weapons.
President Lee Myung-bak¡¯s ¡°Denuclearization, Openness, and 3000¡± plan, which insists on denuclearization as a precondition to assistance, was inappropriate for the time. What's more, disregarding the hard-gained June 15 and October 4 declarations between North and South completely contradicted common sense. Had inter-Korean relations not been frozen in this way, we would not have had the Cheonan sinking and the Yeonpyeong Island incident, nor the second nuclear test.
President Lee Myung-bak,
We appeal to you, for the sake of your honor, as well as the Grand National Party¡¯s honor, to prioritize inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation in the remaining two years of your term. To this end, we urge you to immediately open dialogue between North and South Korean officials, and begin projects that are mutually beneficial. Some in the government insist dialogue can only begin after North Korea proves its sincerity about denuclearization. But we urge you, should the North initiate a meeting, accept it. If we step forward with sincerity, they will surely follow.
We must resolve our many issues with calmness and between our people. In other words, we need to return to the spirit of June 15 for the normalization of inter-Korean relations.
President Lee Myung-bak,
The fact that North and South have been divided for the past sixty-five years and lived as enemies is sad and sorrowful enough. Why should we divide ourselves even further into Left and Right and spend the rest of our lives cursing and fighting each other? Objectively speaking, it¡¯s true that the social classes and individuals commonly referred to as ¡°Leftists¡± are really no further left than center-right. Obama and Clinton are liberals who belong to the U.S. Democratic Party, and they can hardly be labeled leftists. Relative to the rest of the world, South Korea and the United States are clearly under a conservative two-party or multi-party system.
The majority of the Korean people, including eight million overseas Koreans, desire the growth of democracy in our homeland, peaceful regime change between the ruling and opposition parties, advancement of welfare and peace, and above all, reunification between North and South.
Lastly, we pray for the good health of President Lee.
February 3, 2011
Overseas persons of faith/religions concerned about the future of our nation (Protestant, Buddhist, Won Buddhist, Catholic)
Kang Wi-jo, Kim Sang-eui, Kim Sang-Yil, Kim Soon-whan (Europe), Kim Young-chul,
Kim In-sik, Kim Jae-bum, Kim Jin-yang, Kim Hyun-hwan, Moon Dong-hwan,
Min Kyong-suk, Park Ki-shik, Park Moon-jae, Paik Seung-bae, Sunoo Hak-won,
Shin Dae-shik, Ahn Yong-ku, Woo Keong-ah, Yoon Kil-sang, Yoon Young-mu,
Lee Mee-il, Lee Sun-joo, Rhee Syngman, Lee Young-bin (Europe), Lee Hwal-woong, Chun Sun-young (Canada), Chung Kiyul (China), Chung Inn-kyoung,
Chung Chang-mun, Cho Kun-sam, Cho Myung-ji, Chee Chang-boh, Choi Jong-an, Hahm Sung-guk, Hong Sung-hyun
Rodong Sinmun Calls for Confidence-building between DPRK and US
Pyongyang, January 11 (KCNA) -- It is the master key to settling the present situation for the United States to drop its stance hostile to the DPRK and put an end to the DPRK-U.S. military confrontation.
Rodong Sinmun Tuesday says this in a bylined commentary.
It goes on:
Nothing is more pressing and urgent than to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula. It is the best way for settling issues to build confidence between the DPRK and the U.S.
It is necessary to conclude a peace treaty between the DPRK and the U.S. in order to terminate the state in which they are technically at war, the root cause of the hostile relations between them.
The state of armistice on the peninsula is just like having a time bomb posing a constant threat not only to the security in Northeast Asia but the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.
The conclusion of the peace treaty is not the issue of one side giving any benefit to the other side or paying back for it. This is a realistic political issue beneficial to the parties concerned including the DPRK and the U.S. and international community and conducive to ensuring peace and security of Asia and the world.
When a peace-keeping mechanism is built, it will help not only ensure durable peace and security on the peninsula and pave the way for national prosperity but open a phase favorable for peace and security in Northeast Asia. It will be beneficial to the U.S., too.
If there are politicians intelligent and sensitive to the trend of the times in the U.S. they should properly understand this and have a pragmatic judgment and option. There is no reason for the U.S. to refuse to roll back its hostile policy toward the DPRK if it truly stands for confidence-building between the DPRK and the U.S. and peace and denuclearization of the peninsula.
KPA Demands S. Korea to Stop Plan for Shelling from Yonphyong
Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- The puppet warmongers of south Korea are set to fire again shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK north of the maritime guard line of the Korean People's Army from December 18 to 21 by mobilizing lots of striking equipment newly introduced into the island, blatantly challenging the unanimous aspiration and demand of the people at home and abroad desirous of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.
They are floating information that the projected shelling from Yonphyong Island is a routine annual drill to be periodically conducted in waters of the south side south of the "northern limit line".
The waters off Yonphyong Island, the target of their shelling, are the inviolable territorial waters of the DPRK.
Newly appointed puppet Minister of Defense of south Korea Kim Kwan Jin and other puppet military warmongers, far from drawing a due lesson from the last provocative shelling incident on Yonphyong Island, are set to perpetrate new military provocations. They are letting loose a spate of such reckless remarks as "the exercise of the right to self-defense," "severe punishment by combined combat forces" including strike flying corps and "not ruling out an all-out war leading to striking enemy's bases" and the like.
It is the ulterior intention of the newly installed puppet military to save the face of the south Korean military which met a disgraceful fiasco by perpetrating the second adventurous shelling from Yonphyong Island. Through this the group of traitors craftily seeks to save its hardline policy towards the north, a policy against the nation, peace and reunification, from total failure and preserve the illegal "northern limit line".
No one in the world would allow those who drew a line inside other's court, without its owner's knowledge, and insist it belongs to them and shamelessly conduct saber-rattling to preserve it.
What should not be overlooked is that even the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces present in south Korea are openly shielding the puppet military warmongers' shelling exercises on Yonphyong Island, asserting that it is "not a violation of the Armistice Agreement."
Even riff-raffs belonging to the already defunct Military Armistice Commission are coming to the island under the guise of "observers" in a bid to take a direct part in providing military assistance to the provocative shelling drill in communication, medical care, etc.
The head of the delegation of the KPA side to the north-south general-level military talks sent the following notice to the south Korean puppet forces at 12:20 on Friday in connection with the fact that the puppet military warmongers' reckless military provocations reached a grave phase under the wire-pulling of their American master:
The puppet military warmongers should take a prompt measure to stop the planned provocative maritime shelling from Yonphyong Island.
In case they conduct the above-said shelling at last despite the warning served by the KPA in advance, it will deal the second and third unpredictable self-defensive blow at them to protect the inviolable territorial waters of the DPRK as it had declared before the world.
It will be deadlier than what was made on Nov. 23 in terms of the powerfulness and sphere of the strike.
The south Korean group of traitors and the puppet military warmongers had better cogitate about the KPA's warning.
CPRK Warns S. Korean Puppet Group Not to Do Rash Act
Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- The south Korean puppet group is now getting hell-bent on the wholesale racket for confrontation with the DPRK while groundlessly taking issue with the army of the DPRK over its due punishment meted to the group for its reckless military provocation.
In this regard, a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea released a statement on Friday.
The recent military provocation by the puppet group is a product of the deliberate and premeditated plot hatched by it to save its smear confrontational campaign from total bankruptcy, tarnish the daily rising might of the DPRK, scuttle the efforts for improving the north-south relations and tide over the domestic and international isolation and crisis, it points out, and says:
The group perpetrated the recent provocation prompted by a sinister calculation that in case the DPRK did not make any reaction it would take it as "a tacit recognition" of the illegal "northern limit line" and make it a fait accompli and in case the DPRK took a military counter-action, it would use it as a pretext for kicking up anti-DPRK smear campaign.
This notwithstanding, the chief executive of south Korea did not bother to cry out for "much stronger punishment" while pulling up the DPRK. This is nothing but last-ditch efforts of those who were hit hard after making hasty provocation.
The prevailing situation clearly proves that the DPRK's warnings and domestic and foreign concerns that the seizure of power by the Lee Myung Bak group of conservatives would bedevil the inter-Korean relations and lead to a war were by no means for nothing.
If the puppet group insists on confrontation with the DPRK, the DPRK does not have any idea of dodging it at all.
It is the temperament of the DPRK to resolutely counter confrontation with confrontation and war with war.
The army and people of the DPRK are now greatly enraged at the provocation of the puppet group while getting fully ready to give a shower of dreadful fire and blow up the bulwark of the enemies if they dare to encroach again upon the DPRK's dignity and sovereignty even in the least.
The group should not run amuck, clearly understanding the will and mettle of the highly alerted army and people of the DPRK to wipe out the enemies.
Escalated confrontation would lead to a war and he who is fond of playing with fire is bound to perish therein.
Gone are the days when verbal warnings are served only.
We will respond to good faith in kind but punish the provocateurs encroaching upon our dignity and sovereignty with resolute and merciless counter-action.
Telephone Notice to Ministry of Unification of south Korea
Pyongyang, November 11 (KCNA) -- The General Guidance Bureau for the Development of Scenic Sports Thursday sent a telephone notice to the Ministry of Unification of south Korea urging it to urgently open the north-south authorities working talks on the resumption of tour.
The notice expressed regret over the fact that the DPRK side proposed to have talks on the resumption of tour two times on October 2 and 14, but the south side has not sent any reply to it up to this date though tens of days have passed since then, talking about "examination" and "the sending of a notice later".
It again proposed to have the above-said talks in Kaesong on November 19 as it is urgently needed for the normalization of the reunion of separated families and relatives.
If those talks are opened, it will create an atmosphere favorable for the inter-Korean Red Cross talks, too, slated to take place on Nov. 25.
Inter-Korean Red Cross Working Contact Made
Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- The third round of the inter-Korean Red Cross working contact for the reunion of separated families and relatives was made in Kaesong Friday.
At the contact the DPRK side advanced a draft agreement which rationally adjusted the issues including the issue on the venue of reunion left undecided at the previous two rounds of contacts.
It agreed to meet the request of the south side to choose the Mt. Kumgang Reunion Center as the venue of the reunion by accepting it with magnanimity out of noble compatriotism and from humanitarian stand.
Thanks to the positive and sincere efforts of the DPRK side, both sides at the contact adopted an agreement on holding the reunion of separated families and relatives at the Mt. Kumgang Reunion Center and Kumgangsan Hotel from October 30 to November 5 and holding inter-Korean Red Cross talks in Kaesong on October 26 and 27 in order to solve humanitarian issues including the matter of putting the reunion on a normal basis.
This made it possible to bring great joy to all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas desirous of successful realization of the reunion of separated families and relatives.
CPRK Accuses S. Korea of Releasing Final Report on "Cheonan" Case
Pyongyang, September 16 (KCNA) -- The Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea Issued information bulletin No. 964 on Sept. 15 accusing the south Korean puppet Ministry of Defence of releasing a final report on the "Cheonan" case and opening it to the public.
The puppet military group in the report, repeating the results of investigation announced in May, added the course of investigation, its contents and results of analysis to the final report in a bid to make it sound plausible. It went so mean as to distribute cartoons insulting those who cast doubts about the warship case, the information bulletin said, and went on:
The disclosure of the conspiratorial nature of the warship case brought bitter shame to the puppet military group. It, however, raised the case again and provoked the north, trumpeting about the final report and the like. This is no more than the last-ditch efforts to recover from the setbacks it suffered in the diplomacy over the "Cheonan" case, prevent the voices demanding the improvement of inter-Korean relations from rapidly mounting and weather the serious political crisis caused by its domestic and foreign policy failures.
The information bulletin branded the above-said farce as an unpardonable serious provocation to the DPRK and a sinister conspiratorial burlesque to put a damper on the public opinion asserting the improved inter-Korean relations.
The warship case, a hideous fabrication of modern brand, became a laughing stock of all the people as experts not only in south Korea but neighboring countries and the United Nations and even those who participated in the joint investigation expressed divergent views on the cause of the sinking, etc. and it is fraught with many doubts, it noted, and went on:
No matter how often the puppet group employs sleight of hand to make this fiction sound real, it will only suffer bitterer disgrace.
The group would be well advised to stop the ridiculous charade before being exposed to bitterer shame and humiliation.
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 world¡¯s 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 US¡¯s 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 Carter¡¯s 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