TODAY'S NEWS (May.17.2001 Juche 90)
[CONTENTS]
*
Spokesman of DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs on developing relations with
EU
*
Japanese chief executive's remark under fire
*
Erection of monument to Kim Jong Il's exploits proposed in Russia
*
U.S. urged to stop hampering Mt. Kumgang tour
*
S. Korean authorities urged to stop abuse of power
*
U.S. "Missile Defence" system rejected in S. Korea
*
Putting national economy on modern and information basis called for
*
Scientific and technological information service active in DPRK
*
Int'l fact-finding group hears testimonies
*
Greetings to Norwegian King
*
S. and N. Korea-Japan network to be formed
For Spanish-speaking people
*
editado tomo 35 de "obras completas de kim il sung"
*
dirigente kim jong il recibe cartas de felicitacion de equipos de jugadores
*
ee.uu. no debe obstaculizar turismo al monte kumgang
Spokesman of DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs on developing relations with
EU
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The European Union decided to establish
diplomatic relations with the DPRK at a meeting of foreign ministers held in
Brussels on May 14 and officially informed the DPRK of it, said the
spokesman of the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an answer given to a
question raised by KCNA on Wednesday. He continued:
��� The DPRK appreciates and welcomes this decision as it was prompted by
the desire to develop the relations between the DPRK and the EU on a fresh
basis and thus contribute to peace and security on the Korean peninsula.
��� The DPRK has consistently maintained the stand to establish
good-neighbourly and friendly relations with all the countries of the world
friendly to the DPRK guided by the idea of independence, peace and
friendship, the tenets of its foreign policy.
��� Pursuant to this policy, in September last the DPRK proposed to the EU
to establish diplomatic relations and develop the bilateral relations on a
fresh basis in conformity with the need of the new century.
��� The top-level EU delegation's recent visit to the DPRK marked an
important occasion in developing the bilateral relations.
��� It was a historic event in the relations between the DPRK and the EU
that leader Kim Jong Il met the delegation.
��� Many countries of the world positively appreciate the relations between
the DPRK and the EU developing on good terms in keeping with the trend of
the times toward peace, detente and cooperation.
��� The DPRK will in the future, too, strive to develop the relations with
the EU in all fields.
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Japanese chief executive's remark under fire
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The chief executive of the Japanese
government expressed his intention to visit the Yasukuni Shrine in his
personal capacity as the prime minister on August 15. In this regard Rodong
Sinmun today in a signed commentary says:
��� The chief executive of Japan is seeking to create social atmosphere for
calling back the departed soul of the fallen militarists on the occasion of
the day of the most disgraceful defeat of the Japanese imperialists.
��� The visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, the symbol of militarism and overseas
aggression, is the most sensitive political issue. That is why it is a
touchstone that distinguishes Japan's position as to whether it intends to
turn away from militarism of the past or launch militarist aggression again.
��� The Japanese reactionaries have made military and legal preparations to
commit any war of aggression by accelerating the conversion of Japan into a
military power.
��� What remains to be done by Japan now is to get an ideological
preparation to mobilize its people in the event of its start of overseas
aggression.
��� The Japanese reactionaries are using the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine as
the best chance to do so.
��� The Japanese chief executive's planned official visit to the Yasukuni
Shrine pursues such a sinister aim.
��� By taking the lead in the official visit he seeks to woo cabinet members
and officials and all other people to follow suit in a bid to create social
atmosphere and implant militarism and revanchism into the Japanese.
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Erection of monument to Kim Jong Il's exploits proposed in Russia
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- TheRrussian Association for Friendship and
Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK proposed to erect a big monument in the
area of the secret camp on Mt. Paektu, the venue of a "meeting to
congratulate the sun of the 21st century," to convey to posterity the
exploits of leader Kim Jong Il whom the world people praise as the great sun
of the century. The organization clarified this stand in a statement issued
after discussing a proposal of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional
Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification to celebrate Kim Jong Il's
birthday next year with splendour.
��� The statement extended full support to the committee's proposal to
inaugurate national preparatory committees to grandly celebrate February 16,
2002, organize multifarious functions and hold the "meeting to congratulate
the sun of the 21st century" in the area of the secret camp on Mt. Paektu as
a grand international political and cultural festival.
��� Kim Jong Il is a brilliant leader and the great sun of the 21st century
who has made an immortal contribution to the Korean people's struggle for
socialism and national reunification, the statement said, adding:
��� The association will make every possible effort to significantly greet
February 16 next year.
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U.S. urged to stop hampering Mt. Kumgang tour
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The plan for South Koreans' tour of Mt.
Kumgang was accepted by the north in November 1998 out of noble patriotism
and the desire to contribute to national reunification by meeting the South
Koreans' strong wish to see Mt. Kumgang, the famous mountain of the nation,
and helping them contribute to national reconciliation, unity and great
national unity. The United States has hampered the tour in every way from
the outset as it is displeased with the favourably developing inter-Korean
relations and any movement for the reunification of Korea.
��� In order to scotch the Mt. Kumgang tour which started as an undertaking
for non-governmental cooperation when the relations between the north and
the south remained frozen, the U.S. directly meddled in this affair,
asserting that expenses paid for the tour would be "exclusively used for a
military purpose," and hampered it in various ways.
��� On December 28, 1998, when South Koreans' tour of Mt. Kumgang just
started under the contract with Hyundai the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun
reported that the U.S. North Korea policy coordinator, Perry, during his
visit to Seoul early December, referring to the South Koreans' tour of Mt.
Kumgang, expressed his apprehension as to the possible diversion of a huge
amount of money paid to the DPRK for the tour into military spending and,
accordingly, the South Korean authorities put the brake on Hyundai's
remittance to the north.
��� The February 2, 2001, issue of the Japanese Sankei Shimbun reported that
"the concern over North Korea's possible use of Hyundai's fund for a
military purpose has been expressed by both sides of the government and the
military since the days of the Clinton administration and the U.S. forces
command in South Korea met the Hyundai representative in November last year
to protest such assistance." This proves that the U.S. military authorities
pressurized South Korea not to pay for the tour.
��� Commander of the U.S. forces in South Korea Schwats testified at the
U.S. senate on March 27, 2001, that "threat from North Korea has grown more
serious than last year and North Korea is conducting intensive military
drills and busy buying arms," bringing into bolder relief the "threat from
North Korea" and craftily trying to support through such expression as "arms
purchase" his assertion that Hyundai's payment for the tour may be
exclusively used as military spending. (March 29, 2001, issue of Kyunghyang
Daily News)
��� A researcher specializing in Asian affairs at the investigation bureau
of the U.S. congress said on January 4, 2001, that "Washington government,
the people and the military are deeply concerned about the fact that North
Korea might have used the money the Hyundai paid to it for the tour for a
military purpose. The Bush administration would be critical of such deal."
(January 4, 2001, Voice of Free Asia) All these facts go to prove that the
U.S., undesirous of reconciliation, cooperation and reunification between
the north and south, was not pleased with the Mt. Kumgang tour from the
outset and is now meddling in every affair of other country, saying this or
that, and keen on obstructive moves.
��� If the tour is suspended or derailed, the U.S. and its followers who
have stood in its way will be held wholly responsible for it.
��� The U.S. is well advised to stop meddling in the Mt. Kumgang tour, the
business of the Korean nation.
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S. Korean authorities urged to stop abuse of power
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The UN human rights organization on May 11
demanded the South Korean authorities stop criminal actions against trade
unions and restrain the misuse of government power, according to Seoul-based
Yonhap News. The organization said:
��� The police force was hurled to crack down upon demonstrations of South
Korean workers, a result of recent massive dismissal and unemployment. It is
totally unacceptable to incriminate trade unions' actions.
��� It also laid down 13-point demands including reexamination of status of
part-time workers and guarantee of their rights and three labor rights to
teachers and public employees.
��� In this regard, the society for human rights movement, referring to the
people's sufferings growing due to unstable employment, the widening gap
between the rich and the poor, and high education fee, on May 12 urged the
authorities to implement the recommendations of the UN human rights
organization at once, said the MBC.
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U.S. "Missile Defence" system rejected in S. Korea
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The joint measure committee for checking
the U.S. NMD and TMD and achieving peace called a press conference in Seoul
on May 14, according to an Yonhap News report from Seoul. The organisation
said at the press conference that "missile defence" system, which is
believed to be pushed forward in real earnest with U.S. deputy state
secretary Armitage's tour of South Korea as a momentum, would spark a
world-wide arms race and the waste of tremendous resources and lay a major
obstacle to peace and reunification on the Korean peninsula.
��� The organisation called for a prompt stop to the moves to push ahead
with the "missile defence" system.
��� It accused the U.S. of seeking to sacrifice the Korean nation for the
development of the "Missile Defence" system.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Putting national economy on modern and information basis called for
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Putting the national economy on a modern
and information basis is prerequisite to attaining a high rate of growth in
production on the basis of the latest scientific and technological
achievements to build a powerful nation and improve the standard of people's
living, Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article says. It goes on:
��� Only when the national economy is placed on a modern and information
basis is it possible to put the economy on the world's level and develop it
our own way with our technology despite the imperialists' moves to isolate
and stifle the DPRK.
��� The modernization of the national economy is a strategic line of
socialist construction and placing the national economy on an information
basis is a high phase of modernization. the modernization of the national
economy in the 21st century means modernization based on putting all fields
of the national economy on information technology (it).
��� Only when modernization is combined with it, is it possible to give full
play to the might of the material and technical foundation of the national
economy.
��� Placing the national economy on an information basis means equipping
production processes and management with it.
��� What is important for placing all fields of the national economy on an
information basis in conformity with the era of the information industry in
the 21st century is to develop information science and technology.
��� Korean-style socialism has strong potentialities to put the information
industry on the world's level in a short span of time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scientific and technological information service active in DPRK
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The Central Scientific and Technological
Information Agency is popular in the DPRK for its good service. The agency
renders, in the main, information service through its computer network. It,
at the same time, makes various forms of scientific and technological
information service.
��� Subscribers get all kinds of information everyday including new
scientific and techonological information, common knowledge and TV program.
The agency provides them with e-mail and electronic news services.
��� Meanwhile, the agency renders computer-processed services including
provision of scientific and technological computer encyclopedia and computer
foreign language dictionaries, database for different fields, books,
magazines, programs and information on common knowledge. it also publishes a
variety of computer publications.
��� It gives intensive and uninterrupted service to the institutes tasked to
solve the latest key scientific and technological problems. Through its
computer network the agency helps various units keep abreast of the trend of
scientific development in the world and actively promote production and
researches.
��� Services to form network or repair hardware are also available at the
agency.
��� Various institutions receive from the agency services for designing a
suitable network, purchase of equipment installing a network, technology of
its operation, management, development of programs for editing, training of
technicians, hardware overhaul and so on.
��� The agency is now busy with various projects to gather more scientific
and technological information to provide speedy and accurate information
service to different fields of the national economy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Int'l fact-finding group hears testimonies
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The international group to probe the truth
behind the GIs' atrocities headed by Ramsey Clark, former U.S. attorney
general, Wednesday visited the Sinchon Museum in South Hwanghae Province,
the DPRK. Displayed in the museum are materials proving that U.S.
imperialist aggression troops brutally killed more than 35,000 guiltless
civilians of Sinchon county or a quarter of its total population during
their 50-odd day occupation of the county in the last Korean War (June
1950-July 1953).
��� The atrocities committed there by GIs put the crimes the Hitler fascists
committed at the Oswiecim concentration camp in the shade.
��� The members of the group probed the truth behind mass killings, visiting
a bomb shelter of the then Sinchon county party organization, a powder store
in Wonam-ri, tombs of 5,605 patriots, 400 women and 102 children.
��� They heard testimonies made by those people who suffered untold
misfortune and sufferings at the hands of the GIs.
��� Testifying to the fact that their parents, brothers and sisters were
massacred in cold blood and they narrowly escaped from death, victims asked
the group to indict and denounce the U.S. imperialists for their crimes.
��� The head of the group said that as an American citizen he felt guilty
about GIs' atrocities during the Korean War. He noted that the testimonies
made by victims are of great importance as they exposed part of the U.S.
history of aggression of Korea. He stressed that materials and testimonies
gathered would be widely used to let many people know about the sufferings
the GIs brought to the Koreans.
��� He also noted that the U.S. government, afraid of the GIs' atrocities
beyond human imagination being known to the world, is trying to cover up the
truth.
��� Referring to the fact that GIs' crimes are still reported on the Korean
peninsula, he declared that they are certain to be settled generation after
generation.
��� The South Koreans cannot enjoy genuine freedom as the U.S. troops remain
in South Korea.
��� He underscored the urgent need to let the world know about the GIs'
atrocities not only for the sake of victims but for the prevention of such
crimes.
��� Brian Becker, chairman of the U.S. Get Out of Korea Committee, who is a
member of the group, said that he would make every possible effort for the
withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea and the realization of a
lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings to Norwegian King
��� Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of
the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to
Harald V, King of Norway, on the national day of his country. Extending warm
congratulations to the king and his people on the occasion, the message
wished him good health and happiness and the people of the country progress
and prosperity.
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S. and N. Korea-Japan network to be formed
��� Pyongyang, May 16 (KCNA) -- The network for postwar compensation for
damage, a Japanese civic organization, and the South Korean Council for
Promoting Compensation to the Pacific War Victims decided to inaugurate the
"network of south and north Korea and Japan for postwar compensation," a
permanent solidarity organization, to make a joint counteraction, according
to MBC from Seoul. The secretary general of the network said that the
distortion of facts in history textbooks mirrored the Japanese government's
wrong perception of history intended to evade postwar compensation, and that
"victims should unite and force Japan to apologize and compensate them."
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For Spanish-speaking people
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editado tomo 35 de "obras completas de kim il sung"
��� pyongyang, 17 de febrero (atcc) -- la editora del partido del trabajo
de corea dio a luz el tomo 35 de "obras completas de kim il sung", coleccion
de la inmortal idea juche que compila de manera sistematica y globalmente
por orden cronologico las obras del gran lider, presidente kim il sung. el
tomo contiene 23 obras clasicas entre otros informes, discursos, discursos
resumen, conferencias y charlas del presidente kim il sung de marzo a
octubre del 54 (1965) de la era juche.
��� sintetiza las ideas, teorias y orientaciones que el presento para
fortalecer en lo politico, economico y militar nuestras fuerzas
revolucionarias y acelerar la causa de reunificacion de la patria y el
movimiento revolucionario del mundo.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
dirigente kim jong il recibe cartas de felicitacion de equipos de jugadores
��� pyongyang, 17 de febrero (atcc) -- el gran dirigente kim jong il
recibio cartas de felicitacion que le dirigieran con motivo de su cumpleanos
los equipos de jugadores de varios paises participantes en el decimo
festival internacional de patinaje artistico sobre hielo por el "premio
paektusan". los jefes de los equipos de patinadores artisticos sobre hielo
de rusia, china, ucrania, belarus, gran bretana, checo y francia las
entregaron a un funcionario pertinente de corea.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ee.uu. no debe obstaculizar turismo al monte kumgang
��� pyongyang, 17 de mayo (atcc) -- se dio inicio al turismo al monte
kumgang en noviembre de 1998 partiendo del noble ideal fraternal de
satisfacer el deseo de los surcoreanos de ver al famoso monte kumgang y de
contribuir a la reconciliacion y la gran unidad nacional para lograr la
reunificacion de la patria. pero, ee.uu. obstaculizo desde el principio en
todas las direcciones el turismo al monte kumgang.
��� a fin de frustrar el turismo al monte kumgang iniciado como trabajo de
cooperacion no gubernamental en el periodo del cierre de las relaciones
norte-sur ee.uu. intervino directamente en este trabajo diciendo que "se
destina exclusivamente para los gastos militares" el costo del turismo.
��� el 28 de diciembre de 1998 cuando se dio inicio al turismo al monte
kumgang en cooperacion con hyundai, el periodico japones "yomiuri shimbun"
informo que perry, coordinador de la politica con respecto a corea de ee.uu.
de visita en sudcorea a principios del mismo mes se preocupo de que enorme
suma de dinero remesado a la rpdc a costa del turismo al monte kumgang
podria utilizarse enteramente como gastos militares y que de acuerdo con eso
las autoridades surcoreanas pusieron freno a la remesa del grupo hyundai a
la rpdc.
��� el periodico japones "sankei shimbun", en el numero del dia 2 de febrero
del ano 2001, informo que "el gobierno y el circulo militar en el periodo
del mandato de clinton se preocuparon del uso para fines militares de los
fondos de hyundai y por eso, en noviembre del ano pasado la comandancia del
ejercito norteamericano ocupante de surcorea expreso protesta por ese
respecto en entrevista con un representante del grupo hyundai".
��� el 27 de marzo de 2001, schwats, comandante del ejercito norteamericano
ocupante de surcorea, en el senado de ee.uu. dio testimonio de que "la
amenaza de norcorea se ha hecho mas critica que el ano pasado, norcorea
libra ejercicios militares intensivos y compra armamentos" tratando de
insinuar manosamente el uso exclusivo para gastos militares del costo de
turismo del grupo hyundai.
��� (periodico surcoreano "kyonghyang sinmun", 29 de marzo de 2001.)
��� el 4 de enero de 2001, un investigador encargado de asuntos asiaticos
del buro de investigacion del congreso norteamericano, senalo: "ahora, el
gobierno y el pueblo de washington y el circulo militar se preocupan
grandemente del posible uso para fines militares del costo del turismo
remitido a norcorea por el grupo hyundai. la administracion de bush tratara
de manera critica estas transacciones.".
��� ("radio de ee.uu. para asia libre" 4 de enero de 2001).
��� todos los hechos demuestran que ee.uu. disgustado de la reconciliacion,
cooperacion y la reunificacion del norte y el sur se oponia, desde el
principio, al turismo al monte kumgang interviene en cada asunto para poner
obstaculo.
��� ee.uu. y sus seguidores deben asumir la entera responsabilidad del caso
en que se interrumpa o se frustre el turismo al monte kumgang.
��� ee.uu. debe dejar de obstaculizar el turismo al monte kumgang que se
desarrolla dentro de la nacion coreana.
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